Ichigo Strikes Back! This is my Bankai

'''Ichigo Strikes Back! This is my Bankai''' is the one-hundred-fifty-second episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: December 12, 2007
 * English Airdate: September 26, 2009
 * Opening Song: After Dark
 * Ending Song: Tane wo Maku Hibi
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 252, Chapter 253, Chapter 254 (to page 9).
 * Kanji: 一護反撃！こいつが俺の卍解だ
 * Romaji: "Ichigo hangeki! Koitsu ga ore no bankai da"
 * Arc: The Hueco Mundo arc Part 1

Summary
As Renji continues to run through Las Noches, he senses Ichigo's reiatsu and notes that the other reiatsu he's fighting appears to be strong. Renji suddenly feels another reiatsu from behind him and he looks to see who it is, only to find Dondochakka running at him at full speed. As Dondochakka runs at him, he explains to Renji that he's looking for Nel, but Renji tells him he doesn't know where she went and he suddenly realizes that Dondochakka's lost. Dondochakka tells Renji that Nel ran after Ichigo and Dondochakka begins crying but Renji tells him that she'll be safe with Ichigo. However, Dondochakka tells him that this isn't the reason why he's worried and he continues to run towards Renji, causing the Shinigami to run even faster from the Hollow. Dondochakka asks him why he's running away and Renji explains that it's because it's instinct to run away from something when you're being chased. Renji then tells Dondochakka to turn around and look for Nel, since she isn't here.

Ichigo is sent into the air from one of Dordonii's cyclones and then immediately kicked into the ground by Dordonii himself. Nel then warns Ichigo that another cyclone is being sent towards him, but Ichigo is too slow to react and is pummeled further into the ground. The cyclone then sends Ichigo into the air again and Dordonii tells Ichigo to use his Bankai. Another cyclone then sends Ichigo crashing into the ground again and as Ichigo blocks yet another cyclone, Dordonii tells Ichigo that he can't fathom why he'd conserve his reiatsu when fighting someone like him. The cyclone then "bites" into Ichigo and slowly brings him into the air. The cyclone stops in midair and Dordonii once again tells Ichigo to use his Bankai. Ichigo brings his Zanpakutō close to him, as if to use Bankai. However, Ichigo immediately fires off a Getsuga Tenshō, allowing him to simultaneously destroy the cyclone holding on to him and free himself. Nel yells to Ichigo if he's okay, but he ignores her as Dordonii continues to explain to Ichigo that he can't win in his current state. Dordonii then sends more cyclones towards Ichigo and the Shinigami is quickly overwhelmed. Dordonii tells Ichigo that he'll continue to fight him until he decides to use his Bankai, but if he continues to be stubborn, he'll die and Dordonii kicks Ichigo into a wall. Dordonii then holds down the Shinigami with two cyclones and Nel worriedly yells out to Ichigo. Dordonii tells Ichigo that it seems as if Nel is very worried about him and he tells Ichigo that he should use his Bankai now and Ichigo seemingly prepares to do just that. However, this ends up being a trick and Ichigo uses Shunpo to appear directly in front of Dordonii and swings his Zanpakutō down on the Arrancar. Ichigo prepares to fire off a Getsuga Tenshō, but before he can he is punched away from Dordonii and the Arrancar fires off a Cero at Ichigo.

However, Nel appears in front of Ichigo and she swallows the Cero, shocking both Dordonii and Ichigo. Nel can't hold the Cero down though and she fires it directly back at Dordonii, successfully hitting the Arrancar. Nel tells Dordonii not to be mean to Ichigo, but Dordonii simply ignores her and he immediately fires off a Bala at Nel and she hits the ground. Dordonii tells Nel that she's something else for being able to reflect his Cero, but her mischief went too far. Dordonii then sends a cyclone towards Nel to finish her off, but Ichigo fires off a Getsuga Tenshō and simultaneously splits the cyclone in half and cause an injury across Dordonii's shoulder. Ichigo is then shown to have activated his Bankai, to which Dordonii remarks that he has been waiting for this. Ichigo apologizes to Nel for thinking that the only way he could fight the Espada on equal footing would be to not use Bankai against anyone else but them and he calls himself dumb because of this. However, Dordonii praises Ichigo on what he did, explaining that it's good to create guidelines for yourself when you fight and that you have to do that in order get more powerful. Ichigo tells him that it doesn't matter if his friends end up getting hurt in the process and Dordonii deduces from this statement that Ichigo feels as if strength is simply something you need so you can protect your friends. Dordonii then points out that he knows about Ichigo's Hollowfication and that he wants him to use that power as well.

Dordonii sends a cyclone at Ichigo but he easily stops it with a single swing of his blade and Dordonii remarks that his reiatsu is impressive, but he still wishes to see him at full strength. Dordonii then sends another cyclone at his opponent but Ichigo blocks the attack easily. However, as he does this, Dordonii informs Ichigo that he'll do anything to see his full strength and he goes to attack Nel. He is able to cause a small cut to Nel's cheek, but Ichigo quickly stops the Arrancar before he can do any serious damage to her. Dordonii tells Ichigo that he shouldn't get mad and points out that Ichigo's goals are to protect his friends, while his own goals are to see him at full strength, meaning that he's simply using the situation to help him achieve his own goals. Ichigo angrily asks Dordonii if he has any shame, but Dordonii tells him that he does - the shame that he has yet to get his opponent to use his full power. Ichigo decides to do things Dordonii's way and he puts Nel down and has her go back. Ichigo warns Dordonii that he'll only see this power for a second and he dons his Hollow mask. Dordonii begins to laugh madly because of Ichigo's immense reiatsu, but before he can battle against Ichigo he is cut down in a single swing from Ichigo's blade. Ichigo then reiterates to Dordonii that he would only see his power for a single second and he removes his Hollow mask. Dordonii then falls to the ground, unconscious.

While unconscious, Dordonii recalls his time as an Espada and remembering that once Aizen obtained the Hōgyoku, he knew he would be kicked out of the group. Dordonii suddenly regains consciousness and see's Nel hovering over him and Nel spits up saliva on the Arrancar. Dordonii begins to scream and he asks Nel what she's doing and Ichigo explains that Nel's saliva has healing powers. However, when Nel shows an example of how she spits up so much "saliva", Dordonii comes up with the conclusion that it's actually puke and the two of them get into an argument. Nel then begins to puke all over Dordonii and he lets out a huge scream. After cleaning himself up, Dordonii remarks that he has lost and he explains to Ichigo that he truly thought he could win. Dordonii states that he wanted to come back to the Espada, even though he knows that Aizen thinks of them as nothing but tools of war. He explains that once you've been to the top, you can never forget the view and that he thought he would be able to come back to the Espada if he beat Ichigo at full power. Dordonii then informs Ichigo that these thoughts haven't changed at all and he gets back up, ready to continue his battle. Ichigo is surprised from this and Dordonii tells him that he shouldn't have healed an enemy he knew nothing about. Ichigo warns Dordonii that he still hasn't been fully healed, but Dordonii tells him that injuries mean nothing in the face of true determination and he charges towards Ichigo.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Renji Abarai
 * 2) Dondochakka Bilstin
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Dordonii Alessandro Del Socacchio
 * 5) Nel Tu
 * 6) Ulquiorra Cifer (flashback)
 * 7) Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (flashback)
 * 8) Nnoitra Jiruga (flashback)
 * 9) Szayel Aporro Granz (flashback)
 * 10) Aaroniero Arruruerie (flashback)

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Dordonii Alessandro Del Socacchio

Powers and Techniques used
Shinigami techniques:

Hollow techniques:

Techniques used:

Zanpakutō released:

Bankai:

Resurrección used:

Other Powers: