Hitsugaya Howls!

Hitsugaya Howls! is the 48th episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: September 6, 2005
 * English Airdate: September 8, 2007
 * Opening Song: D-tecnoLife
 * Ending Song: Happypeople
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 130, Chapter 131, Chapter 132.
 * Kanji: 日番谷、吼える!
 * Romaji: "Hitsugaya, hoeru!"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Rescue arc

Summary
Continuing the battle started in the last episode, Ichimaru tells Kira that he should stand out of the way, as it is dangerous, but Hitsugaya tells Kira he better run like hell, because he might kill Kira by accident during his fight with Ichimaru. Ichimaru and Hitsugaya finally cross blades, and after a little sparring, Hitsugaya takes the lid off of his power to show Ichimaru how serious he is, they run at each other, and the battle rages on. Ichimaru taunts Hitsugaya until he releases his Shikai, effectively cutting off the attacks Ichimaru has been aiming at Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya then takes it up another notch, and lets out the spirit of his zanpakutou, aiming his power at Ichimaru. Kira gets caught in Hitsugaya's attack and is frozen, but Ichimaru blocks Hitsugaya's attack and is caught by the chain at the end of Hitsugaya's hilt. Ichimaru pulls out his ace in the hole and extends his Zanpakutou in an attempt to kill Hinamori, but Matsumoto blocks it, saving Ichimaru. Matsumoto threatens to fight Ichimaru if he doesn't back down, and Ichimaru decides that it is a good time to retreat, and he and Kira leave the scene of the fight.

We return to the hidden hideaway, where Yoruichi ponders Ichigo's growth as a swordsman, and makes some calculations about the amount of time that they will have left after Ichigo achieves Bankai, coming to the conclusion that they will have a few days after Ichigo achieves Bankai. However, Ichigo's spiritual growth is not as rapid as his sword skills, and Yoruichi worries that they will surpass the limit for Bankai release, which is three days. She decides to give it another day.

In the Shrine or Pentinence, Rukia learns that her execution date has moved once more, and she will be executed the next day.

In the 4th division infirmary where Hinamori lays, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto are visiting her. Hitsugaya thanks Matsumoto for saving Hinamori, and ponders the letter Aizen left. He wonders if it is actually Ichimaru who wants the power of the Soukyoku. When Hitsugaya learns that Rukia's execution date has been changed, he decides that it is time to stop the execution.

Renji finds the underground training ground, and makes a dramatic entrance. He taunts Ichigo about sneaking around to do Bankai training. He tells Ichigo and Yoruichi that Rukia's execution date has once again been moved. He says that he followed Ichigo's reiatsu to the underground training ground to finish his Bankai training, and retreats into a corner to train with Zabimaru. Yoruichi starts to say that it's impossible to achieve Bankai in that time, and Ichigo stops her, saying that he will definitely reach Bankai in time to save Rukia.

Rukia, meanwhile, contemplates her last wish, which will be to send Ichigo and company back to the real world. She slips into a dream, where she dreams about Kaien-dono, the man she killed.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Yoruichi Shihōin.