Battle of the Females? Katen Kyōkotsu vs. Nanao!

'''Battle of the Females? Katen Kyōkotsu vs. Nanao!''' is the two hundred and sixty-fourth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: March 30, 2010
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Anima Rossa
 * Ending Song: Tabidatsu Kimi e
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 女の戦い？花天狂骨vs七緒！
 * Romaji: "Onna no tatakai? Katen Kyōkotsu VS Nanao!"
 * Arc: Beast Swords arc

Summary
Captain Shunsui Kyōraku of the 8th Division is drinking saké with the two spirits of Katen Kyōkotsu under a blooming plum tree, when his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, interrupts him. She insists that her captain should behave a little more responsibly during the Tōjū crisis. In fact, she has come to remind him that they are meant to be on a Tōjū hunting mission. The captain declines, suggesting Nanao goes in his stead, taking his Zanpakutō spirits with her, however the more mature side of the Zanpakutō, Kyōkotsu, also refuses to go and Nanao is left with the immature and strange side, Katen, as her partner.

Nanao soon encounters problems with the spirit when she tries to make small conversation but gets no response. When she puts her hand on the spirit's shoulder, Katen materializes her sword and attacks, forcing Nanao to dodge the blow, before dissipating her sword and stepping away. Nanao is then startled by Rangiku Matsumoto, lieutenant of the 10th Division tapping her shoulder. While Nanao explains to Rangiku that they are on a Tōjū hunting mission she notices the spirit running off and then senses the Reiatsu of a Tōjū and follows her.

When she catches up to her, Nanao finds Katen on a rooftop, torturing a strange looking Tōjū by repeatedly slashing him without landing a killing blow. Distraught by Katen's apparent lack of emotion, Nanao ensnares her with Hainawa, telling her that the hunting of a Tōjū is not a game. Katen breaks the spell and proceeds to attack again, but Nanao stops her by shooting Byakurai in her path. The Tōjū uses the distraction to run away, immediately followed by Katen.

Back at the headquarters, Nanao explains herself and apologizes to her captain. Kyōraku consoles her by saying the Tōjū probably won't get very far after being injured, but he also suggests she and Katen don't have to work together if they can't get along, since they can each finish the job on their own. Nanao is offended by his suggesting she can't handle her orders and walks off angrily. Kyōkotsu, the mature half of the spirit, explains that Katen is fond of cruel games, which doesn't sit well with the stiff-necked vice-captain.

Nanao finds Katen staring at the budding cherry tree. When she greets her the spirit again responds violently, and Nanao understands that whenever she is startled, she will take the offensive. Nanao explains that she is partially responsible for the Tōjū escaping, but that there was a problem with the way Katen behaved during the fight. When Nanao looks back at where the spirit was standing, she once again sees only air. Later on Nanao meets with Rangiku again and the latter offers to help get Nanao closer to Katen, saying she has a way with wayward youths.

The two lieutenants find the spirit at the tree again. Rangiku is surprised to see how cold Katen is, so different from her master. Rangiku tries to reach Katen's heart through clothes, boys and candy; but when those three fail she gives up and tells Nanao she should do the same. Katen returns to the cherry tree and Nanao comes to think that perhaps the spirit likes the surrounding of the tree. Nanao decides to throw a party under the tree to get closer to Katen, but during the party Katen gets up and walks away again, and Nanao follows her.

Nanao finds Katan at the dwindling plum tree. When the last flower drops from the tree, Nanao catches it and suddenly realizes that Katen's passion is for flowers, she puts the fallen flower into the spirit's hair. Realizing the spirit has been staring at naked trees waiting for them to blossom, Nanao takes Katen to the blooming peach tree, explaining that the peach always blooms after the plum blossoms drop. When Katen wants to use her sword to pick the blossoms, Nanao stops her and asks her to set the sword near the tree.

As the two are looking at the flower Nanao picked blowing in the wind Nanao is sideswiped by the Tōjū from before, who leaves a cut in her arm. The Tōjū is targeting Katen, for having tortured him during their last encounter. Katen is unarmed, having left her sword by the tree. She tries to make for it but the Tōjū blocks her path, forcing her to dodge his blow. The Tōjū picks up Katen's sword and throws it away before attacking. Katen manages to dodge a few blows but eventually takes a hit and falls to the ground. He picks her off the ground and informs her that he intends to play with her the same way she's played with him the last time, but Nanao stops him by firing Shakkahō at him, causing him to drop Katen.

The angered Tōjū informs Nanao that now she has become his target as well. He attacks but is stopped by Katen grabbing his arm. He effortlessly throws her away, sending her flying through a brick wall and incapacitating her. The Tōjū attacks again, but before he can land a blow on the petrified Nanao, Kyōraku arrives at the scene and blocks him. Realizing he is now facing a captain, the Tōjū moves to Katens side, threatening her life if Kyōraku makes a move, but the captain uses Shunpo to reach him and kills him with a single blow.

At a later party with all of the Gotei 13, Rangiku asks Nanao if Katen has changed at all, to which Nanao replies that perhaps there wasn't need for her to change at all. When Katen heads off again towards the peach tree, Nanao follows her and Katen puts a peach flower into her hair: a symbol of their new friendship.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin reveals how the Espada have been burning time on their forced break from the studio. Starrk and Lilynette are asleep; Baraggan is playing chess with Tōsen; Harribel appears to have been caught in the shower, but as the camera zooms in it turns out to be Gin himself. The Image in the monitor changes to a close up of Harribel warning Gin not to spy on a lady. Gin promises to be more careful.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Katen Kyōkotsu
 * 2) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 3) Nanao Ise
 * 4) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 5) Bearded Tōjū
 * 6) Four unnamed Shinigami
 * 7) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 8) Zabimaru
 * 9) Renji Abarai
 * 10) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 11) Izuru Kira
 * 12) Haineko
 * 13) Momo Hinamori
 * 14) Tobiume
 * 15) Sentarō Kotsubaki
 * 16) Hyōrinmaru
 * 17) Kiyone Kotetsu
 * 18) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 19) Jūshirō Ukitake

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used Techniques used Zanpakutō released
 * Bakudō #4,
 * Hadō #4,
 * Hadō #31,

Shikai: