Senbonzakura, Crushed! Zangetsu Thrusts through the Sky

'''Senbonzakura, Crushed! Zangetsu Thrusts through the Sky''' is the fifty-seventh episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: November 8, 2005
 * English Airdate: March 30, 2008
 * Opening Song: Ichirin No Hana
 * Ending Song: Life
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 159, Chapter 160, Chapter 161.
 * Kanji: 千本桜、粉砕! 天を衝く斬月
 * Romaji: "Senbonzakura, funsai! Ten o tsuku zangetsu"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Rescue arc

Summary
Soifon boasts to a worn out Yoruichi about a technique so new, she hadn't even named it yet. Yoruichi however wows Soifon by revealing that the technique has a name - Shunkō. As Yoruichi charges her own Shunkō, the clothes on her upper back and shoulders are torn to shreds. Before attacking, Yoruichi warns Soifon that even she cannot control the attack very well. A brilliant flash lights up the forest.

In the aftermath of the attack, Soifon is revealed to be standing in the middle of a trench, dug out by the Shunkō, still burning at its edges. Soifon and the ground behind her though are unaffected. Yoruichi says she didn't tell her former partner of this technique because she knew it was too dangerous. Enraged, Soifon attacks, but Yoruichi stops her with Hanki. Soifon fails to understand how Yoruichi still surpasses her after a century of isolation. As she resumes her Shunkō and attacks again she recalls on her childhood and her previous relationship with Yoruichi until the day Yoruichi left the Soul Society and Soifon alike.

In her rage, Soifon unleashes a wild attack, topped with a Shunkō, which Yoruichi again blocks. Her resolve collapsing, Soifon begs Yoruichi for an explanation as to why she was left behind, since she would have gone anywhere with Yoruichi.

At the Sōkyoku Hill Ichigo is locked in a battle with Byakuya, the effects of which are seen and sensed throughout the Seireitei. Ichigo demands that Byakuya reveals his Bankai, saying he would not allow Byakuya to hunt down Rukia, and that only a monster would threaten to murder his own sister. Byakuya replies that he does intend to kill Ichigo and then Rukia, but that Ichigo has yet to earn the right to die by his Bankai, and with that releases his Shikai, Senbonzakura.

Ichigo seems to be about to take a hit from Senbonzakura but repels it with a flash of energy emitted from his sword. The flash tears through the hill and through Byakuya's left arm, cutting off his captain's badge. Byakuya inquires into the meaning of the flash that hit him, asking Ichigo if it was his Zanpakutō's special power. Ichigo explains that when he swings his sword, all of his spiritual pressure is absorbed by the Zanpakutō and released again in a "super high density beam" which greatly amplifies the swing.

Ichigo confesses that he wasn't even sure how to use the technique at will until he'd used it against Senbonzakura. He reveals the name of the technique as Getsuga Tenshō. He then once again demands to see Byakuya's Bankai.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Yoruichi Shihōin
 * Soifon
 * Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * Ikkaku Madarame
 * Byakuya Kuchiki
 * Ichigo Kurosaki
 * Kisuke Urahara (flashback)
 * Zangetsu (flashback)

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:
 * Hōmonka (蜂紋華, hornet's crest)
 * Shunkō (瞬閧, Flash Cry)
 * Hanki (反鬼, Reverse Demon)
 * Getsuga Tenshō (月牙天衝, Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * Suzumebachi (雀蜂, Hornet)
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms)