The Cruel Arrancar, Ulquiorra's Provocation

 is the one hundred and sixty-first episode of the Bleach anime.

As the Espada react to the death of Aaroniero Arruruerie, Ichigo Kurosaki is confronted by Ulquiorra Cifer.

Summary
With 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai staring in shock and questioning what just happened after his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, is destroyed upon activation, Szayelaporro Granz resumes his explanation and informs Renji that he cannot perform Bankai in this room, which Renji repeats in disbelief. Mocking Renji for needing to say it again in order to memorize it, Szayelaporro elaborates that the shape, nature, Reiatsu, Reishi composition, and ultimate form of Hihiō Zabimaru are all familiar enough to him that he was able to make some adjustments to the area in order to seal it.

When Renji counters that only someone who was struck by Hihiō Zabimaru could know these things, Szayelaporro attributes this to his older brother and, upon realizing Renji does not remember his name, informs the latter that Yylfordt Granz is his older brother, to Renji's astonishment. Once Szayelaporro comments on him remembering such a fool, Renji deduces that he is not here to avenge Yylfordt, which Szayelaporro confirms prior to detailing how he had implanted Rokureichu all over Yylfordt's body prior to his battle that he collected data on Hihiō Zabimaru from while examining his corpse afterward.

Szayelaporro describes his brother as just a box for his data collection that he is too mature to get mad over the breaking of, and when Renji coldly states Szayelaporro is the fool if this is the case, Szayelaporro simply notes that Renji's comments continue to confirm his judgement of Renji being mind-bogglingly stupid. After promising Renji that he can neither win nor escape, Szayelaporro draws his own Zanpakutō and admits this is an exciting moment for him due to being the first time he has met someone who can actually perform Bankai, prompting him to request an unnerved Renji not struggle too much so his corpse is left as intact as possible.

Meanwhile, Rukia Kuchiki kills Aaroniero Arruruerie with San no mai, Shirafune, causing the other Espada and their Fracción around Las Noches to learn of Aaroniero's death through his Cognition Synchronization. While Emilou Apacci asks Tier Harribel what she wants to do, Baraggan Louisenbairn calls Aaroniero a stupid punk for getting himself killed like this as Zommari Rureaux meditates in his palace and Nnoitra Gilga walks away silently. Meanwhile, Coyote Starrk is woken up by Lilynette Gingerbuck jamming a finger into his mouth, causing him to bolt upright and violently gag while clutching his throat.

With Lilynette cheerfully greeting him, Starrk attempts to fall back asleep, but Lilynette hits and tickles him until he stays awake and informs him that Aaroniero has been killed, prompting Starrk to question what she wants him to do about it. Simultaneously, Renji releases his Shikai, Zabimaru, and begins attacking Szayelaporro, who visibly struggles to block and repel its strikes with his Zanpakutō. Mocking Szayelaporro for his poor performance after claiming to have complete data on Zabimaru, Renji surmises that the former cannot keep up with his actual movements despite this knowledge, to Szayelaporro's consternation.

However, when Renji attempts to deliver the finishing blow to a seemingly frightened Szayelaporro by extending Zabimaru directly toward him, Szayelaporro immediately becomes calm and reveals that he was only pretending before casually holding up his Zanpakutō to completely deflect Zabimaru, which is sent hurtling upward instead while a smirking Szayelaporro lets it grind along his blade and Renji stares in shock. After forcing Zabimaru away, Szayelaporro slashes his Zanpakutō forward, creating an energy projectile that slams into Renji's left shoulder and draws blood as he drops to the ground and falls to one knee.

Across from Renji, Szayelaporro claims that Renji's attack speed is actually slower than what he has on record and that he was simply making Renji dance on the palm of his hand. Suddenly, a cursing Renji notices the positioning of Szayelaporro's feet and realizes that the latter barely moved while dodging and blocking his attacks, which Szayelaporro confirms as he explains that he was testing the quality of Renji's attacks, asserts that they are below his expectations, and questions if this is the best Renji can do without his Bankai. In response, an angered Renji leaps into the air and extends Zabimaru toward Renji once more.

A smug Szayelaporro states that he no longer needs to see Renji's attacks to counter them and rushes forward to slash through Renji's left shoulder, drawing a large amount of blood in the process, prior to looking back and concluding that he can see through these attacks. When Renji stubbornly attacks him with Zabimaru once more, Szayelaporro effortlessly bats aside the blade with his Zanpakutō and jumps up to Renji to slash at him again, this time cutting off a large portion of Renji's cape and sending him crashing to the ground in pain in the process, while declaring that this type of attack will not work on him anymore.

From behind Szayelaporro, Lumina and Verona approach and inform him that Aaroniero is dead, which leads Szayelaporro to admit that he was too preoccupied to notice the report he received and take a moment to process the information before telling Renji that both of them are dead. With Renji expressing confusion at this, Szayelaporro elaborates that one of his friends and an Espada killed each other, which he sarcastically claps for and praises as an accomplishment, and responds to Renji wondering how he knows that they are both dead by asserting that they are and revealing that the woman's name was Rukia.

In turn, an enraged Renji swings Zabimaru at Szayelaporro. Though Szayelaporro easily blocks this with his Hierro-protected wrist and comments on how predictable Renji's reaction was since he has already been told that Shikai is not enough to harm an Espada, Renji rips Zabimaru back toward himself in an explosion of force, grazing an alarmed Szayelaporro's temple in the process, and demands that Szayelaporro get out of his way as Szayelaporro grins in amusement. Elsewhere, Ichigo Kurosaki stops in shock with Nel Tu under his arm upon sensing the drop in Rukia's Reiatsu in a hallway in front of a set of stairs.

Suddenly, Ulquiorra Cifer admits that he underestimated Ichigo's senses due to believing the latter was just a boy with a lot of Reiryoku while appearing on the steps behind Ichigo with Sonído and noting that it has been a while since they last met. During this, Uryū Ishida pauses in a hallway with Pesche Guatiche and mentally observes that there are several different Reiatsu nearby, with one of them being engaged in battle and another being Rukia's, to his concern. When Pesche wonders what is wrong and if Uryū sensed something happening to his friends while addressing him as Ichigo, Uryū reminds Pesche of his real name.

Despite this, Pesche continues referring to Uryū as Ichigo and asks the latter where they are going, leading an irritated Uryū to assume that he is doing this on purpose, and when Pesche claims that it is easy for Uryū to play the straight man in relation to his comedy, Uryū simply walks away and admonishes Pesche for wasting time while the latter runs after him. Back at the stairs, Ulquiorra walks down toward a stunned Ichigo, who remembers his previous encounters with Ulquiorra in Karakura Town and identifies him by name, prompting Ulquiorra to note that he does not recall introducing himself to Ichigo.

Upon reaching the bottom of the steps and dismissing this, Ulquiorra informs Ichigo that Rukia is dead, to the latter's shock, and elaborates that Rukia and Aaroniero killed each other prior to asserting that she is quite dead due to a trident being thrust through her abdomen. With Ichigo accusing him of lying since her Reiatsu just dropped and questions how he could know this since he did not fight her, Ulquiorra reveals Aaroniero had the ability and duty of Cognition Synchronization, which allowed him to instantly relay data about any enemy he was facing to all of his comrades. Simultaneously, Orihime Inoue repeatedly bangs on the door of her chamber.

Having seen Rukia collapsing from her injuries as she attempted to crawl away, a crying Orihime begs to be let out and asserts that she did not want this to happen. Back at the stairs, Ichigo walks away from Ulquiorra and tells the latter that he is going to save Rukia upon being asked. Despite Ulquiorra reiterating that Rukia is dead, Ichigo refuses to believe him, leaving Ulquiorra to accept this and question why Ichigo is not killing him first. In turn, Ichigo observes that he has no reason to kill Ulquiorra, to the latter's confusion, and points out how he has not hurt any of Ichigo's friends yet even though they are enemies.

However, Ulquiorra reveals that he is the one who brought Orihime to Hueco Mundo, which causes an angered Ichigo to drop Nel Tu while moving back with Shunpo, immediately attack Ulquiorra with his Shikai, Zangetsu, and confirm that Orihime did not come here of her own free will after all, though Ulquiorra merely blocks this with his wrist and comments on how interesting it is that Ichigo came all the way here to save Orihime even though he was not sure of her innocence. In turn, Ichigo demands to know if Ulquiorra knows that everyone now believes Orihime is a traitor because of what he did with her.

Affirming this as being exactly what he intended, Ulquiorra wonders if Ichigo has a reason to fight him now as the Reiatsu radiating outward from them expands in scope and intensity. With Nel huddling down and sheltering herself from the intense clash, Ichigo disengages from Ulquiorra to tell her to stay back and observe that they are going to do this the hard way. After apologetically asserting that he will not hold back because he is in a hurry, Ichigo activates his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and leaps out of the resulting surge of Reiatsu.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
At the Kuchiki Manor, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki pauses in the middle of calligraphy upon noticing something just before 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi pushes up one of the floor pads near him to take several pictures of Byakuya with a camera as 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu corrects her for saying "butter" instead of "cheese" when doing so. Upon seeing Isane and Nemu attempting to flee, Byakuya snaps his fingers and has the Manor's guards immediately pin them down before menacingly unsheathing his Zanpakutō and asserting that they lost from the moment they chose him as their target even though he does not know what they are planning, to Isane's fright.

Fights

 * Renji Abarai & Uryū Ishida vs. Szayelaporro Granz
 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ulquiorra Cifer

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Hollow Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Arrancar Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:
 * (flashback)

Resurrección released:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Anime Notes
Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes=
 * A flashback to Renji Abarai's battle against Yylfordt Granz.
 * An extended flashback of Renji's memories of Yylfordt, including the latter's Resurrección.
 * Yammy Llargo and Nnoitra Gilga noticing Aaroniero Arruruerie's death, with the former scoffing in contempt and the latter walking away silently as Tesra Lindocruz addresses him.
 * Lilynette Gingerbuck leaping onto Coyote Starrk and tickling him in addition to repeatedly hitting him so that he will stay awake.
 * Renji battling Szayelaporro Granz with Zabimaru and seemingly overwhelming the latter, only for Szayelaporro to reveal that he was pretending to struggle and repeatedly wound Renji while deflecting Zabimaru, with Renji realizing that Szayelaporro was not moving much while dealing with his attacks from the beginning.
 * Uryū Ishida noticing the Reiatsu of those nearby and expressing annoyance at Pesche Guatiche continuing to call him Ichigo Kurosaki.
 * Extended flashbacks to Ichigo's previous encounters with Ulquiorra Cifer.
 * Aaroniero Arruruerie appearing behind Ulquiorra as the latter explains his Cognition Synchronization.
 * Orihime Inoue reacting to Rukia Kuchiki's situation by asserting that she did not want this to happen.
 * Ichigo dropping Nel Tu to the ground as he moves with Shunpo.
 * Ichigo does not have blood on his face when confronted by Ulquiorra.
 * In the manga, when recalling what she was shown by Aaroniero's Cognition Synchronization, Orihime recalls Rukia impaled on Nejibana; here, she instead recalls Rukia struggling to crawl away with shards of Nejibana embedded in her torso before collapsing.
 * In the manga, after Ichigo disengages from Ulquiorra, he tells Nel to stay back before she addresses him; here, the order of these two events is instead reversed.
 * In the manga, Ichigo does not verbally activate his Bankai; here, he instead does.