Senbonzakura's Bankai! Offense and Defense of the Living World

'''Senbonzakura's Bankai! Offense and Defense of the Living World''' is the two hundred and forty ninth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: December 8th, 2009
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Anima Rossa
 * Ending Song: Sakurabito
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 千本桜卍解！現世の攻防
 * Romaji: Senbonzakura bankai! Gensei no koubō
 * Arc: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc

Synopsis
Kenpachi fights against Tenken’s Bankai form. He takes a big hit, but gets up to fight again. Yoruichi reveals to Haineko and Tobiume the truth about Muramasa, and the captains trapped by Ryūjin Jakkaa decide to escape. Meanwhile, Uryu and Chad battle Muramasa and later Senbonzakura. Orihime tries to reason with Muramasa, to no avail. Muramasa tries to summon some Hollows, but Rukia stops him with Kido. He tries again, successfully. Muramasa makes it to the place were Koga is sealed, while Rukia, Orihime and Chad fight the Hollows, and Ishida takes on Senbonzakura. The seal is released as Ishida strikes Senbonzakura. Muramasa reveals to Rukia his plan to resurrect Koga. Just after the coffin disintegrates, Ichigo arrives.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Tenken
 * Kenpachi Zaraki
 * Yachiru Kusajishi
 * Yoruichi Shihōin
 * Tobiume
 * Haineko
 * Muramasa
 * Katen Kyōkotsu (flashback)
 * Sōgyo no Kotowari (flashback)
 * Ryūjin Jakka
 * Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * Jūshirō Ukitake
 * Shunsui Kyōraku
 * Hyōrinmaru
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * Uryū Ishida
 * Yasutora Sado
 * Orihime Inoue
 * Senbonzakura
 * Oscar Joaquín de la Rosa (in Chad's inner world, actually Muramasa in disguise)
 * Rukia Kuchiki
 * Kōga
 * Ichigo Kurosaki

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used:
 * Hadō #33 Sōkatsui (蒼火墜, Blue Fire, Crash Down)
 * Unknown unsealing Kidō (used by Muramasa)

Techniques used: Zanpakutō released:
 * Shunkō (瞬閧, Flash Cry)
 * Santen Kesshun (三天結盾, Three Sacred Links Shield)
 * El Directo (巨人の一撃 (エル・ディレクト) The Strike of the Giant)

Shikai: Bankai:
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, "Thousand Cherry Blossoms")
 * Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō (黒縄天譴明王, Heavenly Punishment of Kokujō's King)
 * Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (千本桜景厳, Vibrant Display of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms)

Quincy Powers:
 * Hirenkyaku (飛廉脚; lit. "flying screen step/god step")
 * Seele Schneider (魂を切り裂くもの（ゼーレシュナイダー, kon wo kirisaku mono; lit. that which slits the soul; German for "soul cutter)

Other Powers:
 * Brazo Derecha de Gigante (巨人の右腕 (ブラソ・デレチャ・デ・ヒガンテ), buraso derecha de higante; Spanish and Japanese for "Right Arm of the Giant")
 * Shun Shun Rikka (盾舜六花, Six Flowers of the Hibiscus Shield; Six Princess Shielding Flowers in the English anime)
 * Muramasa's mental powers