Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ōko Yushima

Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Ōko Yushima is the final fight that takes place during the Reigai Uprising.

Prelude
After venturing into Soul Society with Kisuke Urahara and Kon in order to regain his lost Shinigami powers, Ichigo Kurosaki regains them, but their weakened state allow his inner Hollow to make a move to take over. . Weakened and fighting off his Hollow's influence, Ichigo along with Urahara and Kon head outside, only to be confronted by the Reigai army. However, the true Gotei 13 arrives, having escaped their earlier conflict and offers to hold off the Reigai while Ichigo and company carry on. As they run though, Ichigo passes out, only to wake up inside a building. Urahara regretfully informs him that in his weakened state, he is a danger to everyone and that they need to leave him behind. To be safe, Urahara binds Ichigo to the floor with a high level Bakudō spell. Left alone and with nothing to keep him in check, Ichigo's Hollow takes over and Ichigo assumes a fully Hollowfied state, breaking out of his bindings and escaping into the streets. As the Hollowfied Ichigo bursts on to the streets, several Shinigami are drawn to the area. As they panic after seeing Ichigo, Reigai Nanao Ise arrives and tells the Shinigami to deal with the Hollow. They charge but are quickly defeated by the Hollow. The Reigai Nanao attempts to stop him but is unable to. However, his rampage is suddenly stopped by the arrival of the newly reformed Ōko Yushima in mod soul form.

Battle
As Yushima walks past him, Ichigo temporarily regains control, wondering who he is. He quickly loses control again and fires a Cero at Yushima who stands before him. Yushima quickly dodges and Ichigo follows, firing another Cero. Yushima dodges as Ichigo charges at him. In response, Yushima fires a Shitotsu Sansen, binding Ichigo to a rock. However, as Yushima begins to walk away, through sheer power, the Hollowfied Ichigo breaks through the spell and leaps into the air to attack Yushima. Yushima responds with Hadō 58. Tenran. As Ichigo is blown back, Yushima hits him with Bakudō 99 part 1 Kin, slamming him to the ground and binding him to it. Yushima prepares to finish Ichigo off but hesitates as Nozomi Kujō's feeling come to the surface for a moment. As this happens, Rukia Kuchiki charges Yushima as Renji Abarai knocks him back with his released Zanpakutō.

Arriving along with them Uryū Ishida notices that the Reiatsu of the man before them feels like Kagerōza Inaba's, prompting Yasutora Sado to realize that Inaba got a hold of Nozomi. Orihime Inoue becomes saddened by this as everyone readies themselves. Yushima tells the group that they must know by now that they stand no chance against him and asks what they came for. Rukia tells him that they came to save their friends. The mention of the word friends reminds Yushima of moments in his life in which he felt the loneliness of not having friends. He tells them that if their lives mean so little that they are willing to throw them away for others, they can die there then.

Yushima quickly gets behind the group, but Uryū fires an arrow at him. Yushima easily cuts through the arrow and Uryū explains to everyone how Yushima's Zanpakutō works. Yushima apologizes then for underestimating Uryū and says he will show them his true power. Renji attacks but is thrown back and wounded as his Zanpakutō strikes Yushima's. Sado and Rukia attack but Yushima dodges. Uryū then fires a volley of arrows at Yushima who manages to absorb and fire them back. Everyone is thrown back except Orihime, who shields herself and the bound Ichigo.

As everyone lays on the ground, wounded, Yushima reveals that this is the power of his true Zanpakutō, Sumitsukigasa. He explains that Sumitsukigasa has the power of both Inaba and Nozomi's Zanpakutō and that his Zanpakutō now has no downsides and continue to absorb and return attacks infinitely. Renji stands up and prepares to attack. Uryū tries to tell him not to, but he activates his Bankai and attacks, but his attack is quickly thrown back at him. Sado says that any attack they send at Yushima will be sent right back at them. Standing up, Uryū says that their only option is to mount an attack that Yushima cannot absorb. Everyone gets up and Uryū fires his Licht Regen at Yushima as Rukia fires her Tsugi no mai: Hakuren at him from the other side. Renji attacks with his Bankai, but Yushima knocks it apart before appearing in front of Renji. Yushima says that he will take them all down one by one so they cannot coordinate their attacks and goes to stab Renji, but Sado appears and defends Renji.

Uryū yells to Rukia who then unleashes another Hakuren. However, Yushima, greatly angered, manages to knock away the attack barehanded. He then stabs through Sado's armored arm and slashes Renji's chest, cutting them both down. Uryū fires another volley at Yushima, but once more it is fired right back at him. The resulting force is enough to rip the chains the bind the Hollowfied Ichigo up from the ground and send him flying back. Yushima says that now that he has absorbed Nozomi, his power far surpasses everyone else's. Rukia asks if this was why Inaba was after Nozomi and Yushima says that this was the original power of his Zanpakutō, but he was too weak to wield it before. Rukia asks if he plans to use this power to rule the Soul Society. Yushima laughs and says no, he plans to destroy the Soul Society. Raising his Zanpakutō, he goes to kill Rukia, but as he goes to stab her, the Hollowfied Ichigo steps in and takes the attack for her.

Nozomi and Ichigo both regain momentary control and Nozomi calls out to him, causing his Hollow form to crack away, but his Shinigami powers to once again fade. He falls to the ground and Rukia asks if he is okay. Rukia tries to attack Yushima while he is distracted, but Yushima dodges easily. Orihime rushes to Ichigo and Rukia tells her to take Ichigo and run. Ichigo however, says he cannot leave and tells everyone how when he touched Yushima's blade, he felt Nozomi inside. Yushima recounts to himself that his consciousness went blank for a moment and calls over to his lab for Reigai Nemu to bring him more fusion stabilizer. Overhearing this, Rukia makes note that his fusion is not permanent yet. Yushima calls out to Ichigo, saying ignoring him was a mistake and goes to finish him, but all of Ichigo's friends come to his side to support him. Yushima tells them all to step aside, but Uryū says they are not obedient enough to do as their enemy says. Renji says they will never hand their friend over, prompting Yushima to go into a tirade about friends, saying that they are uselessly spilling their blood for others. He then prepares an attack.

Uryū jumps above to fire arrows at Yushima while Rukia and Sado attack from the sides, but Yushima absorbs their attacks and fires them back at them. Renji attacks with his Bankai, but Yushima easily breaks it apart. However, hidden inside the links of Renji's Bankai is Uryū, who jumps out and cuts Yushima's back. Yushima says he should have been more wary, noting Uryū's Seeleschneider's ability. Uryū says he cannot see Yushima winning and attacks again, firing Seeleschneiders at him, who knocks them to the ground. Sado attacks, but Yushima pierces his right arm. As Yushima tries to pull his sword out however, he finds he is stuck. Renji seizes the opportunity and reverts to Shikai in order to wrap Yushima up. Rukia then grabs his sword with Hainawa and pulls him to the ground, signaling Uryū to stab his last Seeleschneider into the ground in order to complete the pentagon for Sprenger.

However, Yushima simply laughs as the attack dissipates, having never released its blast of energy. Yushima escapes his bindings and cuts down Renji, Sado and Rukia. Yushima tells Uryū that he figured out his attack as he was setting it up and used his Zanpakutō to absorb the Reishi contained in the Seeleschneiders. Uryū however counters, saying he knew full well that Yushima would absorb the Reishi contained in the Seeleschneiders. As he says this, Sado, Rukia, Renji and Orihime all move to one of the Seeleschneiders and pours their own Reishi into them, reactivating the Sprenger. Uryū yells out that it is over as the pentagonal blat of energy consumes Yushima. Ichigo worries for a moment, but Uryū says he is not going to trigger the explosion of the Sprenger, but rather keep him imprisoned in the barrier, draining him of his energy through the cut on his back which will undo his fusion with Nozomi.

As he says this though, Yushima manages to grab his Zanpakutō and activate his Hajokuri technique, causing a tower of purple Reishi to rise from the ground. The tower consumes the Sprenger's Reishi, dissipating it and setting Yushima free. He then fires the stored Reishi back at his opponents and goes to finish Ichigo with a massive wave of green energy. Just as it is about to hit though, the wave splits in two to go around Ichigo.As the wave clears, Ichigo and company find Yushima in the middle of a breakdown as Nozomi tries to gain control. Ichigo talks with Nozomi, saying he will set her free.

Nozomi moves her sword to her neck though and asks Ichigo to kill her now. Ichigo refuses, but Nozomi continues to plead with him. She explains that it is her turn to protect everyone. Ichigo says that he can't and Yushima regains control and goes to strike Ichigo. Renji blocks it and saves Ichigo. Rukia steps in and tells Ichigo to go. Yushima then sweeps his sword, knocking Renji and Rukia down. Walking to Ichigo, Yushima inquires why he uses the word friends. Unable to understand, he raises his sword to Ichigo's chin and asks again. Yushima says that it is meaningless and that a solitary existence is the only way to live. He then details how he did everything by himself and is about to succeed. Ichigo however, calls him pathetic. He tells Yushima how everything he has done has been with the assistance of others. His mod souls are based on other people, Nozomi allows him to wield his Zanpakutō. All of this because of others.

Yushima goes to strike Ichigo down but as he goes to do so, the Reigai Nemu arrives with fusion stabilizer and Yushima simply kicks Ichigo away. Nemu hands Yushima the fusion stabilizer, but Ichigo then notices the lion key chain on her ponytail, the same one Nozomi gave to Kon. Nemu then kicks Yushima with incredible strength. Nemu then reveals that she is actually Kon, who is in a Reigai. Rukia then removes Kon from the Reigai and puts him back in his plushie. Kon then informs everyone that Mayuri liquified himself and escaped to his lab where he and Urahara defeated the Reigai Nemu and placed Kon inside the body. Kon then gives Ichigo a mod soul pill which restores his Shinigami powers. Kon says he kept his promise and now it is Ichigo's turn. He throws Ichigo the lion key chain and Ichigo activates his Bankai as he prepares to defeat Yushima.

Now in Bankai, Ichigo stares down Yushima for a moment before charging him. The two trade blows for a minute before Ichigo manages to throw Yushima back. As he goes to deliver another blow, Yushima regains his composure and knocks Ichigo back some. As dust surrounds them, they continue trading blow after blow until Rukia and the others charge Yushima. Battling on pillars of ice that Rukia created, Yushima manages to easily knock away Sado, Uryū and Renji, but takes a direct blow from Rukia's Hadō #73 Sōren Sōkatsui. Ichigo attacks from beyond, plowing downwards into Yushima with his mask on before firing a point blank Getsuga Tenshō, causing a large explosion. On the ground, Orihime shields everyone while Uryū notes that Yushima is unable to absorb Hollow powers.

Ichigo explains to Yushima that his Getsuga is more powerful than he had encountered before because he was holding back. Having not wanted to lose his powers, he kept himself from using his full strength, but said when he lost his powers, he realized he could not stand the thought of not giving him his best shot. He then tells Yushima that he will defeat him with everything he has. Yushima says that Ichigo is different from their last fight, but then begins to twirl his Zanpakutō before appearing behind Ichigo in an instant, having cut him across the chest. The two opponents now weakened, hold each other off, breathing heavily. After Ichigo says he will save Nozomi, Yushima tries to end it and slashes at Ichigo, cutting off the lion key chain. Kon leaps into the air to save it and Yushima distorts time in order to cut Ichigo. However, he hits Kon and Ichigo manages to then block the strike. Ichigo grabs Yushima's sword and puts on his mask, preparing another full power Getsuga. Yushima tries to punch him, but Ichigo dodges and fires his attack point blank, setting off an explosion of epic proportions.

As the dust settles, Ichigo stabs his sword into the ground in order to stabilize himself. In the crater left by the attack, Yushima sits, wide eyed and burned. Ichigo climbs into the crater and Yushima tries to grab his Zanpakutō but Ichigo tells him no. Yushima's hand then turns blue for a moment before being consumed in pain. Nozomi gains control for a moment and tells Ichigo to finish them. Kon hobbles to the edge of the crater and tells Ichigo to shatter Yushima's Soul Sleep. Ichigo runs at Yushima, preparing to shatter his soul sleep, but Yushima regains himself and blocks the attack. Ichigo tells him that he lost, but Yushima refuses. Gathering his strength, Yushima says that if he is going to lose his body, he will destroy everything.

Slamming his Zanpakutō into the ground, he activates his Renzan-Hajō Kūri technique. A massive fortress of green light appears atop the hill as a giant symbol appears in the sky. Uryū realizes he is absorbing the Reishi of Soul Society itself. A beam fires, destroying a large chunk of Soul Society. Ichigo tries to attack the fortress, but his efforts prove futile. Yushima says he did not expect things to end like this, but does not care now. As Yushima laughs maniacally, his own Reigai Gotei 13 charges his attack, intent on stopping it. Yushima attempts to pour more power into it, but Nozomi manages to regain some control and forces Yushima to stop. The Reigais destroy the fortress, setting off a truly massive explosion that consumes them and the hill.

Now back in Shikai, Ichigo tells Yushima that all that is left to do is to rescue Nozomi. Yushima breaks down, repeatedly asking why he cannot defeat Ichigo. He attacks Ichigo, trading blows with him while trying to figure out just why Ichigo is so strong. Ichigo knocks him back, but Yushima grabs his Zanpakutō again for another attack. Ichigo shatters his Zanpakutō, but Yushima grabs one of the jagged pieces and attempts to keep fighting but Ichigo swiftly ends it with a long, deep cut across Yushima's chest.

Aftermath
Defeated, Yushima's fusion is undone and he reverts to Inaba and Nozomi. Inaba asks Nozomi if they were mistaken, but she says she does not know. As Inaba begins to fade away, Nozomi whispers something to him. He laughs for a moment before completely dissipating. She picks up his pill, but it fades as well. Kon runs to Nozomi, asking if she is okay. She says she is fine, but notices his right arm. Kon says it is time to return to the Human World, however, Nozomi begins to glow. She asks Ichigo to forgive her and reveals that when she regained control of Yushima's body last, she stabbed herself in order to end it.

She tells Kon that this is the way it should be, but he cannot accept it. She tells him that at his end, she told Inaba that she would be his friend. She says that she learned what it meant to have friends and that it was now her turn to teach Inaba. Kon says he will not let her die, but she simply says thanks. Saddened, he says he could not protect her, but she says that that is not true and that he did. Nozomi says she can finally hear deep inside her soul and Kon says if he can put his ear to her breast, he may be able to too. Crying, she picks him up and hugs him, saying he really is a pervert. Both crying, Nozomi fades away.