Ryoka Invasion

The Ryoka Invasion takes place during the Soul Society Arc. Rukia Kuchiki a Shinigami or death - god is on a mission to exterminate Hollows in the real world. It is here that she meets Ichigo Kurosaki who is a student at the Karakura High School in Karakura Town. She lends him her Shinigami powers in order to save himself and his family from a powerful Hollow that attacks them due to Ichigo's enormous Spirit Power. Rukia and Ichigo then become friends and soon Ichigo begins to take care of her Shinigami duties unofficially. However, as Rukia cannot return to Soul Society without her powers and this causes for Renji Abarai, lieutenant of the 6th Division and Byakuya Kuchiki his captain as well as Rukia's adoptive brother, to come to the real world in order to retrieve her and to face trial for some serious offences, that is giving her powers to a human. Ichigo fights Renji but is fatally injured by Byakuya who cuts off his Soul Sleep and Chain Link. Rukia leaves with the two after telling Ichigo that she would never forgive him if he tried to stop her. Kisuke Urahara saves him and takes him back to his house where Ichigo trains to regain his own Shinigami powers and to toughen up in order to face strong combatants in Soul Society. Orihime Inoue as well as Yasutora Sado train to strengthen their newly found powers under the guidance of Yoruichi Shihōin and Uryū Ishida attains the Quincy Final Form. Thus, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yoruichi Shihōin, Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue leave for Soul Society to save Rukia Kuchiki from being executed.

Synopsis
The group enters Soul Society through Kisuke Urahara's Senkaimon into West Rukongai. As Ichigo learns that the place before his eyes is Seireitei, the Court of Pure Souls he charges towards it. However a wall falls down barricading Seireitei against the outsiders or the Ryoka. The gatekeeper of the White Way, Jidanbō Ikkanzaka appears and challenges Ichigo to a duel. But he loses easily and accepting his defeat he opens the gate. However, Gin Ichimaru Captain of the Third Division of the Gotei 13 had been lying in wait for them and he slashes Jidanbō as punishment for losing and proceeds to kill him but is stopped by Ichigo. He then draws his Zanpakutō and releases it hurling both Ichigo and Jidanbō outside. The gate slams shut and after Orihime Inoue heals Jidanbō they set off to look for Kūkaku Shiba who according to Yoruichi Shihōin is the only one who can help them get into Seireitei. As they are looking for information on Kūkaku's whereabouts Ganju Shiba appears and challenges Ichigo to a duel for he hated the Shinigami but is unable to stay and end it as he is running late. The following day they find Kūkaku's residence and she agrees to help them and also says that she would be sending her brother along with them. The brother turns out to be Ganju and after a brief squabble between him and Ichigo which is resolved by Kūkaku they begin to prepare for the mission.

The plan is to enter Seireitei which is protected both above the ground and under ground by a barrier from the air using Shiba's Cannon to forcibly enter the area but in order to do this they would have to concentrate their Spirit power into maintaining a Spirit Orb. Inoue, Ishida and even Sado is able to do it except for Ichigo who at last after hours of practice gets it right. Later he is shocked to find that even Yoruichi who is in the form of a cat is able to do it effortlessly. Then they take off for Seireitei but as they try to stabilize the orb in order to land smoothly it goes horribly wrong and the group splits and lands in four different directions. Ichigo lands with Ganju, Inoue with Uryū Ishida and Sado and Yoruichi by themselves. As soon as they land Ichigo and Ganju meet with Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa the third and fifth seated officers of the Eleventh Division. Ganju runs off and Yumichika follows him. Ichigo stays to fight Ikkaku. the battle between them is fought on equal grounds and Ichigo wins quite wounded but not as bad as Ikkaku. He patches up the unconscious Ikkaku and finally asks where Rukia Kuchiki is being held. Ikkaku warns Ichigo about his captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, as he would come for Ichigo as he was the strongest in the group and as Zaraki was not interested in fighting weaklings. Finally Ichigo makes his way towards the Shrine of Penitence where Rukia is being kept. Elsewhere Ganju is having a tough time with Yumichika at his heels and escapes narrowly several times with the help of his fireworks and Earth Magic. He escapes at last leaving the narcissistic Yumichika with a burnt hairstyle.

Ishida and Inoue make their way across the streets of Seireitei keeping out of trouble but as they are hiding from Kenpachi Zaraki, Jirōbō Ikkanzaka the Fourth seat of the Seventh Division and the brother of Jidanbō Ikkanzaka,spies on them and tries to attack Inoue as she is caught unaware but Ishida saves her. Jirōbō keeps on telling them that they stand not a chance against him as he is a projectile expert. Inoue tries to attack him with her Tsukabischi but but he slashes through him and then tries to attack her but Ishida shoots him with his Quincy arrow. Jirōbō tries to release his Zanpakutō but is interrupted by Ishida who then shoots through his Chain Link and Soul Sleep resulting n the loss of his Shinigami powers. They continue their search for the others as well as Rukia. Ichigo and Ganju meet again but are surrounded by the Eleventh Division squad members.

They try to use Hanatarō Yamada seventh seat of the Fourth Division as a hostage but ultimately run away along with him as Sado creates an explosion but misses him. They make their way through a network of sewers towards the Shrine of Penitence but meet up with Renji Abarai the Sixth squad Lieutenant. Renji tells Ichigo that he would not let him pass and they begin to battle. At first Ichigo is pushed back because Renji's power was not limited as it had been in the real world but as he makes his resolve and utilizes the training he had undergone with Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo begins to fight Renji with a new zeal although he is hurt. Finally Renji realising he had lost and also that he had wanted to save Rukia tells Ichigo to save her as he passes out.