Ichigo Rages! The Assassin's Secret

'''Ichigo Rages! The Assassin's Secret''' is the one-hundred eighty-seventh episode of the Bleach anime.

Amagai reveals his true intentions to Yamamoto.

Summary
After Captain Shūsuke Amagai reveals himself as a traitor and takes off with Rurichiyo Kasumiōji, Ichigo Kurosaki wonders what he has done. Rukia Kuchiki says that he used a Kidō spell she has never seen before, and theorizes that it is a unique spell that allows him to move freely and hide his reiatsu. Ichigo becomes angry and Rukia says that there is no way they can find him. Ichigo yells that there has to be, but before he can finish his sentence, a Jigokuchō arrives on the scene.

At his office, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is approached by Amagai who has arrived with Rurichiyo. Yamamoto asks what he wants and why he has Rurichiyo. Amagai asks if Yamamoto has never considered that there might be people who would murder him if they had the chance. Yamamoto asks to what end someone would murder him. Amagai merely says the name of Shin'etsu Kisaragi, stating that he has come in his stead from the depths of hell to end Yamamoto's life. He draws his Zanpakutō, but before he can do anything, Ryūsei Kenzaki arrives and unleashes his Benishidare. As a purple mist covers the area, Amagai states that he thought he completely hid his reiatsu and that the princess has very dedicated bodyguards. Kenryū silences him and then uses his Sange technique on Amagai, firing many pink spikes at the traitorous captain. Rurichiyo runs for Kenryū and Amagai attempts to prevent this, but is interrupted by Rusaburō Enkōgawa and his Daichimaru. Amagai is trapped within the Tatami and Enryū rushes to Rurichiyo as Kenryū unties her. Rurichiyo comments on Enryū's voice which she is hearing for the first time. Enryū becomes embarrassed, but Rurichiyo says she likes it.

Kenryū says that it is their chance and Rurichiyo gets up, but Amagai breaks out of the Tatami, forcing Enryū to jump in front of the flying pieces of rock to save Rurichiyo. Amagai goes to Yamamoto's desk and grabs the Bakkōtō, sitting on it. Yamamoto asks what he plans to do with the sword and Amagai smiles as he pulls the nucleus from it. He explains that during previous fights, they were set to devour the reiatsu of their wielders and when he feeds them to his own Bakkōtō, its true power is activated. He takes the end cap off of his weapon, revealing a nucleus of its own inside. The nucleus pops out and devours the one in Amagai's hand. He taps the weapon against his blade and the nucleus stretches out and wraps itself around his arm, taking on a new form of a black dragon shaped gauntlet with a green blade of energy coming from the mouth and several nuclei lining it.

Yamamoto comments that he was not sure what Amagai was planning and that he did not know he possessed a Bakkōtō. Yamamoto then removes his Haori and frees his Zanpakutō from its cane. He releases Ryūjin Jakka and sets the area aflame, causing Kenryū and Enryū to use Shunpo to move Rurichiyo to safety. Yamamoto sends his flames hurtling towards Amagai, who merely stabs the ground with his Bakkōtō, causing the flames to dissipate. Yamamoto looks at his sword curiously and asks what Amagai did. Amagai reveals that his Bakkōtō's ability is to totally negate the powers of a Shinigami, stating that as long as it is activated, all Zanpakutō are useless except for his own Raika. He unleashes his Bankai as a torrent of flame surrounds him. He twirls his blade above his head before slamming it to the ground, launching a wave of fire at Yamamoto and destroying the wall behind the Captain-Commander.

On the ground below, Enryū pushes two large rocks off of himself and Rurichiyo. Rurichiyo asks her bodyguards if they are all right and Kenryū, out of breath, says that it is nothing. Amagai looks their way and is surprised that they are still alive. He angrily asks what Rurichiyo is looking at and asks if she wants to die first. Yamamoto tells Amagai to cease his threats, saying he is his opponent and those three have no part in this. Amagai says he is wrong and that Yamamoto is not the only one he is after. He says he is taking down the successor of the Kasumiōji clan alongside Yamamoto. As he prepares to strike them down, he is interrupted by the arrival of Ichigo who comes flying towards Amagai, yelling Rurichiyo's name. Ichigo apologizes for taking so long before backing off. Rukia joins him and Amagai asks how they found him. Rukia says that Kenryū sent a Jigokuchō and the two bodyguards breathe a sigh of relief. Ichigo asks Yamamoto why he is not fighting back, but he stays silent. Amagai scoffs and says that it would not work even if he tried, informing Ichigo of his Bakkōtō's ability. Rukia is shocked by this and Amagai says that Yamamoto's flames cannot touch him. Ichigo says that he does not want to believe Amagai is really an enemy, but he guesses it is true, asking who he truly is.

Over at the Kasumiōji compound, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake asks Captain Byakuya Kuchiki if everything is secure, to which Byakuya answers that the lieutenants are finishing off those still resisting. Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya asks Captain Shunsui Kyōraku what his situation is and Shunsui replies that the Bakkōtō smithy is under their control. He says that Captain Suì-Fēng is handling it personally, as Yoruichi Shihōin then asks where Amagai is. Hitsugaya responds, stating that Amagai went back to Seireitei after the first group charged in. Yoruichi is shocked by this and Hitsugaya asks if something has happened and Yoruichi tells him that Amagai is the mastermind behind this all. Hitsugaya is stunned and Yoruichi says that Kisuke Urahara had her check out Soul Society's storehouses while everyone was distracted. She says she found the Kasumiōji's dark secret and that the first person to create a Bakkōtō was Gyōkaku Kumoi. He used the sword making techniques that he gained making weapons for the royal family to make the katanas. She says that a Bakkōtō can give a wielder power beyond their limits, but with dramatic side effects.

Ukitake says he does not know how Amagai learnt of the Bakkōtō, but he is sure he worked with Kumoi to get them. Yoruichi states that the Bakkōtō must be part of Amagai's greater plan. Shunsui notes there is that and he became a captain and knows how Soul Society works. Yoruichi says that Amagai sprung into action as soon as he was made a captain. She says that everything he has done has been to gain the trust of other Shinigami in order to execute his plan but an x-factor was thrown in to the mix. Byakuya correctly guesses that it is Ichigo and Yoruichi, and says that Ichigo made Amagai execute his plan earlier than he had planned. He then threw Soul Society into chaos with Kumoi's ambition and the help of Makoto Kibune. Byakuya says that Kibune's defeat at the hands of Izuru Kira provided concrete evidence, but Amagai's plan accounted for that. Hitsugaya says that Amagai made a mockery of the Gotei 13 and Byakuya wonders what Amagai's plan actually is.

Yamamoto asks Amagai how he knows Shin'etsu Kisaragi's name and Amagai reveals that he was his father and says that Yamamoto killed him. Rukia is shocked to hear this and Ichigo asks Yamamato if Amagai is telling the truth. Yamamoto confirms this, flashing back to when Shin'etsu charged at him while surrounded by flames. Yamamoto killed him as he charged, as he then asks how Amagai knew he killed him. Amagai says that his father did not die when Yamamoto cut him and that something had been wrong with his father that day so he went to look for him. When he found him, he was on the verge of death but managed to say it was Yamamoto who killed him before dying. Amagai then says that years later, he changed his name and his personal information so he could enter the Gotei 13 in order to gather information.

After searching, he finally understood the meaning of his father's final word, Bakkōtō. He says his father found out about the Bakkōtō by chance and went to the Kasumiōji compound to investigate, but was cut down by Yamamoto. Amagai claims that Yamamoto conspired with the Kasumiōji and silenced his father when he found out about the Bakkōtō. Amagai says that even as the Kasumiōji's actions grew more suspicious, Yamamoto did nothing about them, claiming he had no jurisdiction. Due to that, he trained endlessly and gained the trust of the Kasumiōji family, eventually receiving a Bakkōtō of his own. He rose through the ranks of the Patrol Corps and finally became a captain. He says the time has come and that he will avenge his father as he sends a wave of flame hurtling towards Yamamoto.

Back at the Kasumiōji compound, Shū Kannogi runs towards the gathered captains. He begins to warn them of Amagai's plot, but Hitsugaya cuts him off, stating that they are already aware of it and asks why Shū is alone. Shū pleads with them to save Ichigo and the others and Byakuya asks what he means. Shū explains that Ichigo pursued Amagai to Yamamoto's office. Over at the First Division barracks, Ichigo knocks Amagai's attack away. Amagai yells at Ichigo to move, but he refuses, saying that all he has done is spew self-centered garbage. Amagai says he has only spoken the truth, but Ichigo says he does not care if it is true or not. He asks Amagai if he realizes what his selfishness has put others such as Rurichiyo through. Ichigo yells at Amagai, saying that if he wants revenge he has to do it on his own and not drag innocent people in. Amagai tells him to stay out of his affairs, and Ichigo simply takes a battle stance. Amagai tells him once more to move away, but Ichigo says that if he wants him to move, he will have to move him himself.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Chōjirō Sasakibe is seen to have witnessed two English gentlemen having tea in the past, which apparently had such a profound impact upon his life that he now grows his own tea leaves. He is seen placing tea inside his heating implement, to which he turns the switch vehemently, as Ichigo and the others witness a huge explosion in the 1st Division quarters, to which Sasakibe denies any involvement.

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Shūsuke Amagai

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:

Shinigami techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * (flashback)
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Bankai:

Bakkōtō used:
 * (flashback)
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