Byakuya's anger, collapse of the Kuchiki family

Byakuya's anger, collapse of the Kuchiki family is the two hundred fifty-sixth episode of the Bleach anime.

A party is being held at the Kuchiki Family Manor when two rogue Zanpakutō spirits, called Tōjū, attack and disrupt the place.

Summary
Following the end of the Zanpakutō Spirit attacks caused by Muramasa, Byakuya Kuchiki holds a party in his mansion for the Sixth Division.

Renji thinks it will be a good way for the Division members to fraternize with Byakuya, though Rukia notes how nervous they are. The two talk for a little longer about Byakuya throwing the party, when Renji is whisked off by a fellow Division member; because this happens while Rukia was lecturing him, she believes he didn't listen to her, and walks back inside.

She returns to her quarters and discovers two interlopers smashing things inside one of the rooms. She moves to engage them, but remembers she doesn't have her Zanpakutō, leaving her on the defensive. Rukia narrowly avoids their attacks until Sode no Shirayuki arrives.

The female Zanpakutō drives off one of them, but is ambushed when she tries to prevent him escaping; luckily, Senbonzakura arrives, not only saving her, but defeating the other interloper. Rukia is shocked to see them in their spirit forms again, but is told that they never agreed to return back to being swords in the first place. Soon after this, Byakuya arrives and sees the two Zanpakutō. Byakuya, Rukia and their Zanpakutō then visit Captain Mayuri in his Division.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi says he didn't expect visitors and is asked why neither Senbonzakura nor Sode no Shirayuki is in their sword forms. Mayuri reveals that he never intended to return them to their original states; all he did is remove Muramasa's control over them. He adds that when they were originally brought forth as spirits, they were never pacified, and some killed their own Shinigami masters. While this would normally kill the Zanpakutō too, these are abnormal. Mayuri identifies this as something new, and tasks Rukia with capturing the one that escaped earlier; he warns her that these rogue spirits, which he pens as Tōjū, are effectively in a state of power equivalent to constant Bankai.

With this knowledge, the four visitors leave. Rukia ponders the difficulty of the task, but Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki are both keen to fight. She argues with them both until Renji arrives to inform Byakuya of a change of guard. Byakuya decides to leave Rukia in charge while he deals with it. He and Renji both leave.

Senbonzakura and Sode no Shirayuki both suggest large scale destruction to lure out the target, though Rukia quickly discounts their ideas. Sode no Shirayuki suggests something else: another party, this time at Tenth Division's headquarters. They do so but Captain Hitsugaya is unhappy with their unauthorized decisions; however, nonetheless he allows it anyway, saying it can loosen up his subordinates. The plan ultimately fails, as there is no sign of the target.

Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki have a quiet chat afterwards, during which Sode no Shirayuki reveals her inner turmoil regarding the events revolving around Muramasa. Rukia tries reminding her of the times when it was her who needed saving.

This is cut short when the Tōjū from before arrives. Capturing him proves more difficult when he engages in combat, assuming a tornado-like form. Rukia is quickly pushed aside minutes after the battle begins leaving Sode no Shirayuki to find him primarily alone. However, she starts to gain a disadvantage and is almost killed before Rukia stops him. Together, they defeat him with a combination of Sode no Shirayuki's ice abilities and Rukia's Kidō.

Later, Rukia reports to Captain Kyōraku and Captain Ukitake that the Tōjū was delivered to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. They agree it was probably for the better and Ukitake reveals that similar reports are coming in from elsewhere. Rukia and Sode no Shirayuki agree to continue working as a team to defeat the Tōjū.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin gives some already established information about the Tōjū; When Ichigo asks why him what he is doing there, Gin replies he thought they would be getting screen time again. It turns out Ulquiorra never bothered to tell Gin directly that the Hueco Mundo arc isn't resuming yet. Instead, he passed it to Yammy, from whom it was supposed to pass to Wonderweiss, Starrk, Baraggan and Gin in that order, but it was obviously lost or distorted somewhere along the way. Ichigo asks if they were playing the telephone game.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Renji Abarai
 * 2) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 3) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 4) Tōjū Duo
 * 5) Sode no Shirayuki
 * 6) Senbonzakura
 * 7) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 8) Nemu Kurotsuchi
 * 9) Ashisogi Jizō
 * 10) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 11) Haineko
 * 12) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 13) Kaien Shiba (flashback)
 * 14) Aaroniero Arruruerie (flashback)
 * 15) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 16) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 17) Sōgyo no Kotowari

Powers and Techniques Used
Kidō used:
 * Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō (六杖光牢, Six Rods Prison of Light) (flashback)
 * Hadō #73. Sōren Sōkatsui (双漣蒼火墜, Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down) (flashback)
 * Hadō #33. Sōkatsui (蒼火墜, Blue Fire, Crash Down)

Techniques used: Shinigami techniques used:
 * Tsugi no mai, Hakuren (次の舞・白漣, Next Dance, White Ripple)
 * Some no mai, Tsukishiro (初の舞・月白, First Dance, White Moon)
 * San no mai, Shirafune (参の舞・白刀, Third Dance, White Sword) (flashback)
 * Shunpo (瞬歩, Flash Steps)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * Sode no Shirayuki (袖白雪, Sleeved White Snow)
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms)