Aizen Assassinated! The Darkness which Approaches

'''Aizen Assassinated! The Darkness which Approaches''' is the thirty-fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: June 7, 2005
 * English Airdate: May 27, 2007
 * Opening Song: D-tecnoLife
 * Ending Song: Houkiboshi
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 101, Chapter 102.
 * Kanji: 藍染暗殺！忍び寄る闇
 * Romaji: "Aizen ansatsu! Shinobiyoru yami"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Sneak Entry arc

Summary
Hinamouri learning of Aizen's death. Ichimaru appears to question what's going on, and Hinamouri recalls Hitsugaya's warning to beware Ichimaru. Hinamouri suddenly becomes furious, charging Ichimaru, but is stopped by Kira. Kira announces his loyalties lie first with his captain, and Ichimaru leaves, satisfied. Hinamouri begs Kira to move, but he refuses. She is now furious at Kira for letting him get away. She releases her zanpakutou, and Kira rebukes her for getting carried away. She tries to attack him anyways, and Kira announces he will fight back. He releases his zanpakutou, and the two clash, but are stopped by Hitsugaya, who warns them to remain still. He orders them both arrested, then rebukes Hinamouri. On her way to the cells, Hinamouri glares hatingly at Ichimaru. Ichimaru apologizes to Hitsugaya for the wasted time, and Hitsugaya accuses him of attempting to kill Hinamouri. Ichimaru rejects the idea, and Hitsugaya warns him that if she drops one drop of blood, Hitsugaya will kill him. A tense moment, then the security arrives, only to be shocked at Aizen's death. Hitsugaya orders the body to be taken down and leaves.

Underground, Ganju wakes to find Hana drooling on his pant leg. Ichigo appears, fully restored, and says to let Hana sleep. The two marvel at Hana's devotion, and Ganju evaluates their predicament. He wants Ichigo's reassurance that he's committed, and Ichigo merely recalls Rukia's face crying. Ichigo indirectly reassures Ganju, and Hana wakes up from a nightmare apparently. Outside, Kenpachi waits on the roof.

A flashback. Ichigo's first meeting with Sado, whose name he pronounces wrong. Ichigo notes they share the same age and class, then tries to stagger off, thanking Sado. Sado notes that Ichigo is wounded and notes all the older students who tried to beat up Ichigo just before. He asks why, and Ichigo says it's his hair color. The two walk off, asking if Sado really wants to be called Sado and Chado.

Sado wakes up inside a warehouse of some sort. It was all a dream, apparently. He hears a noise outside and rustling at the door. He summons his armor, and prepares to fight. The doors break open and the scene changes back indoors. Hana has some sort of energy pill in his hands, and Ichigo and Ganju question it's effectiveness. Hana has one, but seems no different. Back above ground, Ichigo notes it odd that there's still no security where he fought Renji. Ganju asks if the others now that Ichigo is okay, but Ichigo merely reassures that they can feel raietsu's so they probably know. Ganju asks about Sado, but Ichigo says he's the only one he can feel the raietsu of.

Back to Sado, Sado seems to have easily beaten all the shingiami easily, and asks the last concious one where the Shrine of Pentinence is. He hesitantly points it out, then tries to attack Sado when Sado runs. Sado bends the zanpakutou, and the shinigami apologizes generously. Sado gives him another chance, and the man makes use of it.

Ichigo and the others begin heading toward the shrine, and Sado seems to be getting close as well. Inside, Vice-Captain Nanao notes Sado. Captain Kyouraku decides to stop him, and Nanao asks to go in his stead. Kyouraku refuses the offer while hitting on her, but is rejected. Kyouraku seems confidently cocky about the upcoming fight. The others head hastily to the shrine, and Hana's energy pills finally seem to have kicked in as he beats them to the top of the stairs. The pathway ahead is empty. The three dash off, but are quickly stopped by an extremely powerful raietsu. The source is Captain Kenpachi.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Hanatarō Yamada.

Characters in order of appearance

 * 1) Sōsuke Aizen
 * 2) Momo Hinamori
 * 3) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 4) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 5) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 6) Gin Ichimaru
 * 7) Izuru Kira
 * 8) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 9) Ganju Shiba
 * 10) Hanatarō Yamada
 * 11) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 12) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 13) Yasutora Sado
 * 14) Nanao Ise
 * 15) Shunsui Kyōraku

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:
 * Momo's unnamed ability

Zanpakutō released:
 * Wabisuke (侘助; roughly "Miserable Man," translated in the English manga as "the penitent one")
 * Tobiume (飛梅, "Flying Plum Tree")

Other Powers:
 * Right Arm First Form (巨人の右腕 (ブラソ・デレチャ・デ・ヒガンテ), buraso derecha de higante; Spanish and Japanese for "Right Arm of the Giant")