The Fire (episode)

For the volume of the same name, see THE FIRE.

The Fire is the sixth episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and the three hundred and seventy-second episode of the Bleach anime overall.

Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto battles Yhwach and activates his Bankai for the first time in 1,000 years.

Summary
While reading Sōken Ishida's journal on a riverbank in Karakura Town, Uryū Ishida notices two pages stuck together and pulls them apart to reveal information on a Quincy extermination performed 1,000 years ago, to his surprise and confusion. Questioning if this is related to the extermination from 200 years ago as well, Uryū sees a drawing of a younger Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and wonders what it is meant to signify.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Yamamoto stands before Yhwach, who grins at him while holding an unconscious 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki up by the throat. With the flames behind him dying down and flickering beneath his feet as he approaches Yhwach, Yamamoto suddenly dashes forward with Shunpo faster than Yhwach can react, pulls Zaraki from his grasp, and sets the latter down several meters away before musing that it has been a thousand years since they last met and announcing that he has come to end Yhwach's life. Elsewhere, Robert Accutrone skids back after blood spurts from a wound on his chest.

Having been slashed by a revitalized 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, Robert notes that it is indeed good to see that his spirits have been lifted, but declares that Yamamoto will lose because the Shinigami are not the only ones excited by their bosses fighting. Suddenly, just as Äs Nödt, Bazz-B, and NaNaNa Najahkoop attack Yamamoto from above, they are engulfed in a massive explosion of fire from Yamamoto's Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, visible from Shunsui and Robert's location, leaving the latter stunned as the former notes that someone did misjudge the situation since conventional wisdom does not apply to Yamamoto.

With 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, and 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura smiling at this as well, the limp bodies of Äs, Bazz-B, and NaNaNa fall to the ground while Yhwach admonishes them as deserving this for interfering in his battle. In response, Yamamoto simply cracks his neck and right shoulder, and when Yhwach observes that he seems to want to say something, Yamamoto attacks Yhwach with a slash of his sword, cutting through the latter's left forearm and causing Jugram Haschwalth to call out to him in concern while the resulting blood droplets sizzle upon hitting the ground.

Yamamoto notes that Yhwach has not changed at all in the last thousand years and promises that his habit of undervaluing his subordinates will end here as he briefly envisions Yhwach standing atop a pile of Wandenreich corpses, though Yhwach simply counters that despite Yamamoto's age, his enraged state hearkens back to his younger years while briefly seeing Yamamoto as a middle-aged man. Upon being rushed at by Yamamoto, Yhwach leans back, narrowly avoiding the latter's blade as it passes over his nose, and kicks at Yamamoto, who is sent flying onto a nearby roof by the force of this upon blocking Yhwach's leg with his sword.

Leaping after Yamamoto, Yhwach drives his hand into the roof where Yamamoto was standing once the latter leaps back and rips several tiles out to throw at him, though Yamamoto merely repels them with flames and sends them hurtling back toward Yhwach, who holds his arms in front of his face to block them. When Yamamoto comes down on him with a spinning vertical slash that cuts through the entire building, Yhwach leaps out of the resulting dust cloud and finds Yamamoto standing next to him with his sword held ready to slash, forcing Yhwach to summon his Reishi Sword and cut through the flames when Yamamoto attacks him.

Upon hearing Yamamoto observe that he has finally drawn it, Yhwach notes that he sounds like he has been waiting for this, which prompts Yamamoto to confirm that he has because he intends to crush every aspect of Yhwach until nothing is left while the flames around him intensify until suddenly disappearing. With the entire Seireitei becoming much brighter as well, Yhwach and Haschwalth are left stunned as 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake mentally realizes that his throat feels dry and Shunsui's lower lip cracks open. In the Fourth Division barracks, Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu asks her captain, Retsu Unohana, if her skin feels dry.

After teasing Isane about how cute it is for her to be worrying about her skin, to Isane's alarm, Unohana internally urges Yamamoto to finish this battle before his power destroys all of Soul Society while a glass holding a flower without water on the table next to her begins to crack. Simultaneously, water droplets fall to the ground and begin evaporating as Cang Du realizes that the wings of his stolen Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, are melting. Seeing this, Hitsugaya affirms that he cannot use it anymore and reveals that every droplet of water in Soul Society is beginning to evaporate, with Ukitake and Shunsui recognizing this as well.

Back in front of Yhwach, Yamamoto holds a charred katana and declares that he has activated his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi. Though Haschwalth is incredulous at Yamamoto's Bankai being such a pitiful blade, Yhwach warns him to not underestimate it because Zanka no Tachi seals all the flames of Ryūjin Jakka within the blade and allows Yamamoto to end battles in a single strike by engulfing whatever he cuts in explosive flames. With Yhwach concluding that it is a blade of hellfire, Yamamoto recalls him seeing this Bankai a thousand years ago, but questions if it is really the same as he remembers and invites Yhwach to find out.

When Yamamoto rushes forward and slashes at him, a startled Yhwach evades backward, allowing the blade to cut through his cloak, and wonders why he is not engulfed in flames from this. Yhwach mentally asserts that Yamamoto's power is fire, even if his Bankai is different from a thousand years ago, and ponders where the flames are now if this is the case prior to Yamamoto slashing downward, narrowly missing Yhwach's face, and inadvertently striking the ground with the tip of Zanka no Tachi, erasing a massive chunk of it and the building behind Yhwach, who realizes with astonishment that the flames are now in the tip of the blade.

After Yamamoto confirms this and leaps toward him, Yhwach throws and kicks three large chunks of rubble at Yamamoto, who destroys them all with Zanka no Tachi, and moves to Yhwach, whom he trades dodged blows with prior to the two of them landing on opposite ends of a nearby roof. Yamamoto holds up Zanka no Tachi and identifies this ability as Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin, which focuses all of his flames into the tip of his blade to erase everything it touches without a trace rather than emit heat or explosive flames, before coming down on Yhwach with a downward slash that strikes the edge of the roof once Yhwach sidesteps it.

Though he proclaims that he merely needs to cut Yamamoto down without being touched by his blade and slashes at him, Yhwach is speechless to see Yamamoto unharmed and his own Reishi Sword having had most of its blade erased by this. With Yhwach landing on the ground and expressing confusion at this, Yamamoto lands several meters away from him and recounts how Yhwach's army was massacred a thousand years ago before declaring that he will make them remember how they are merely a horde of corpses waiting to be burned as flames encircle his feet and enshroud his body, setting the nearby buildings alight.

While Yhwach stares in astonishment at these flames, Yamamoto points out that there must also be a West if Zanka no Tachi has an East and identifies the flames covering his body as Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui, causing Yhwach to see him as his younger self from their first battle using the same ability. Yamamoto explains that these flames reach a heat of 15,000,000 degrees Celsius, preventing Yhwach from even touching him now, and notes that using his Bankai causes himself and his blade to be enveloped by the sun while the ground beneath his feet heats up and melts, which results in his feet beginning to sink into it.

Nearby, Haschwalth muses that such immense heat would not be visible as flames and assumes that the flames around him are an illusion, but quickly realizes that Yamamoto's Reiatsu is instead so powerful that it resembles flames when emitting from him. Approaching Yhwach with the ground beneath his feet continuing to melt, Yamamoto states that he is going to end this battle now before Yhwach, himself, and all of Soul Society are destroyed by this power. Back in Karakura Town, Uryū reads that the Quincy empire of 1,000 years ago known as the Lichtreich intended to destroy all Hollows and invaded Soul Society, who opposed them.

After learning that the Lichtreich was routed by the Gotei 13, Uryū turns the page to find Sōken's account of the Shinigami unilaterally deciding to exterminate the remaining Quincy 200 years ago as a threat to the balance and his conclusion that Shinigami and Quincy will forever be at odds. Suddenly, Uryū recalls his alliance with Ichigo Kurosaki during their intrusion into Hueco Mundo and their debate about Uryū breaking his promise to Ryūken Ishida to never help a Shinigami again, as well as his earlier abstaining from helping the Arrancar in Hueco Mundo and Ichigo's acceptance of this, leaving Uryū with mixed emotions.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Yhwach mentally observes that it feels like his entire body is burning and that only his Blut Vene is preventing him from turning to ashes at this distance. Upon seeing Yhwach standing still, Yamamoto questions if he is just going to stand there and admits that this question was somewhat spiteful, since Yhwach's Reishi Sword is broken and he cannot attack Yamamoto, before claiming to not blame Yhwach for just standing there and assuring him that he can run away if he likes. However, Yamamoto vows to track Yhwach down and kill him regardless, which prompts Yhwach to form and fire a large Heilig Pfeil at him.

Once he casually cuts through the Heilig Pfeil, which explodes in two halves behind him, Yamamoto recalls facing off against Yhwach 1,000 years ago alongside Chōjirō Sasakibe and acknowledges that all he has left are his arrows. However, when Yamamoto rises off the ground and rushes toward him to finish this, Yhwach activates Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger, creating several towering columns of Reishi bearing the Quincy Cross in a large area around himself, and declares that this is the ultimate defensive spell of the Quincy that combines offense and defense to rend asunder any who enter with the light of God.

Despite this, Yamamoto reiterates that Yhwach cannot harm him and embeds Zanka no Tachi into the ground several meters away from Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger prior to promising the dead slain by his blade a moment of battle if they will aid him and activating Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin, causing thousands of skeletons to crawl out of the ruptured earth and advance on Yhwach, with the Reishi pillars around the latter collapsing. When an astonished Yhwach demands to know what this is, Yamamoto details how he has heated the ashes of those he has slain so they can serve as his limbs and chase his targets until they turn to dust.

In response, a scoffing Yhwach chastises Yamamoto for raising the dead as a Shinigami and claims that he does not deserve to be called one prior to leaping into the air and promising that something like this will not stop him. However, when Yhwach crashes into a wall formed by dozens of skeletons rising in front of him to intercept his attack, Yamamoto observes that his mouth is working far better than his eyes are and instructs Yhwach to take a closer look at the skeletons around him, causing a shocked Yhwach to recognize the faces of Zeidritz, Hubert, and Argola as Yamamoto wonders if he is seeing the faces of the subordinates he mercilessly killed.

Though he questions if a cursing Yhwach is regretting not stealing his Bankai earlier, Yamamoto clarifies that rather than decide not to steal Zanka no Tachi, Yhwach was unable to do so because the Wandenreich steals Bankai by seeing and understanding its power, with Yamamoto not using his real power even a thousand years ago and thus preventing Yhwach from stealing what he cannot comprehend. Turning and walking away, Yamamoto assures Yhwach that he is not leaving and invites the latter to attack him once he has battled through his dead subordinates, which results in a screaming Yhwach blasting away the skeletons around him with a burst of force.

With Yamamoto noting that he had a shred of humanity left after all, Yhwach stumbles through the encroaching horde of skeletons and reiterates that he cannot be stopped by something like this as he crushes bones and skulls underfoot, only for Yamamoto to counter that he can see Yhwach's tears. After ruminating on how painful it must be for Yhwach to crush his subordinates just to reach Yamamoto and how Yhwach must hate him for using a strategy as low as bringing his dead subordinates back to the battlefield, Yamamoto proclaims that none of it compares to the Shinigami that he has slaughtered today and performs Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin.

The blazing slash performed by Yamamoto incinerates the skeletons before him and engulfs Yhwach in a blinding light while obliterating his left forearm and a large chunk of his torso, leaving him to fall on the ground as Yamamoto deactivates Zanka no Tachi. While heavy rain begins to fall across the Seireitei, Yamamoto turns and begins walking away, but Yhwach merely admits that he was not strong enough and requests forgiveness, causing Yamamoto to stop in his tracks and look back in confusion. Internally, Yamamoto questions who Yhwach could be apologizing to when he is the one who started this battle and who has ultimately lost it.

With Yhwach apologizing to Yhwach for being unable to carry out his orders, Yamamoto frantically demands to know who he is just before the First Division barracks are engulfed and destroyed by a massive pillar of blue Reishi flames. As Yamamoto calls out to his 3rd Seat, Genshirō Okikiba, the real Yhwach appears behind him with Hirenkyaku, and as a startled Yamamoto curses him, Yhwach addresses Royd Lloyd, who lies on the ground before him after ceasing his usage of The Yourself and returning to his normal appearance, and praises his performance in convincing the Gotei 13 that he was Yhwach.

As a stunned Royd tearfully expresses gratitude for this praise, Yhwach raises his hand, points his index finger at Royd, and obliterates the latter with a Heilig Pfeil, instantly killing him. After Royd's severed leg falls to the ground beside Yhwach, Yamamoto questions what the former has been doing this whole time, only for Yhwach to counter by asking Yamamoto about what lies beneath the First Division barracks, which leads Yamamoto to realize that he has been in the Central Great Underground Prison prior to Yhwach revealing that he spoke to Sōsuke Aizen, leaving Yamamoto completely aghast.

In the past, Yhwach stands before and addresses Sōsuke Aizen, who lies bound and restrained to a pole before him and immediately identifies Yhwach to the latter's surprise. Aizen notes that he has many ways of discovering Yhwach's name, though he admits that he did not believe he would get to see Yhwach in person, and explains that he does not need to ask Yhwach why he is here because the unpleasant Reiatsu swirling around on the surface is enough for him to deduce what is happening. Observing that this simplifies things, Yhwach invites Aizen to serve him as one of the Special War Powers, leaving Aizen bemused at being invited into the Wandenreich.

Though Yhwach asserts that they share the same path of destroying Soul Society, Aizen refuses his offer because he cannot stand to see the Quincy Emperor following in the footsteps of a Shinigami, prompting Yhwach to claim that they are done here and begin walking away. Suddenly, Aizen wonders if he is really done, which causes Yhwach to stop walking, and points out how the latter came here because he saw Aizen's power as a threat, only for Yhwach to detail how the Hōgyoku fused to Aizen would make killing him or restraining him to return to Silbern with take too long, which Aizen credits as a wise decision.

With Aizen concluding that it is best to minimize the time they spend sharing the same path when dealing with someone who must eventually be eliminated, Yhwach smirks and departs, leaving Aizen alone in the silence. In the present, Yhwach assumes that Yamamoto has exhausted his powers while fighting Royd, and when Yamamoto denies this and activates Zanka no Tachi once more, Yhwach immediately steals it with his own Medallion and clarifies that rather than the Wandenreich being unable to steal his Bankai, it is too strong for anyone other than Yhwach himself to wield, which is why he had Royd not attempt to steal it until he returned.

Offering to summon the corpses of Yamamoto's subordinates with Zanka no Tachi, which causes Yamamoto leap toward him in rage, Yhwach summons his massive Sankt Bogen in the air above himself and fires an equally large Heilig Pfeil down into the ground before him, forming a long Reishi Broadsword that Yhwach pulls out of the rupturing ground. While Yamamoto stops in stunned silence at the sight of this and lowers his sword, Yhwach bids him farewell and slashes diagonally downward at Yamamoto, drawing a large amount of blood as Yamamoto is cut through at the left shoulder by the blade.

Fights & Events

 * Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vs. Royd Lloyd (concluded)
 * Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto vs. Yhwach
 * Fall of the Seireitei

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Quincy Techniques:
 * }}
 * }}
 * }}

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:
 * (stolen)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Spirit Weapons:
 * Reishi Pistol
 * Reishi Sword
 * }}
 * Reishi Broadsword

Schrifts:

Items:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Changes= Errors=
 * NaNaNa Najahkoop admonishing Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto for fighting their leader alone and Äs Nödt asserting that this is the end for him.
 * Royd Lloyd noting that the Shikai and Bankai of every Zanpakutō are connected.
 * Yamamoto declaring that not even Blut Vene can stop Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin.
 * Yamamoto verbally deciding to make the flames of Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui visible so Royd can see them as well.
 * Yamamoto questioning why Royd is holding out his hand, prompting Royd to assert that the Quincy Cross and Heilig Pfeil are not the only tools available to Quincy.
 * Yamamoto musing that the Wandenreich is cautious about Ichigo Kurosaki because he has only acquired Bankai recently and still has room to evolve.
 * The flashback detailing Royd and Loyd Lloyd being born as twins who were confused by both the doctor and nurse who delivered them as well as their parents, with their identical nature leading them to realize that they could mimic the appearance and certain attributes of other people as they grew up.
 * Uryū Ishida continuing to read Sōken Ishida's journal and coming across a section on the Quincy extermination which occurred 1,000 years ago, where he finds a depiction of Yamamoto using his Bankai.
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Suì-Fēng, and Sajin Komamura smirking after seeing Yamamoto blast Äs, NaNaNa, and Bazz-B with an explosion of flame.
 * Several flashbacks to Yamamoto's original battle against Yhwach, paralleling his current battle against Royd.
 * Royd's blood droplets sizzling after they hit the ground.
 * Royd evading a slash from Yamamoto and kicking the latter to a nearby rooftop, where he pelts Yamamoto with rooftop tiles and moves back to the ground, only to find Yamamoto preparing to slash him from behind.
 * The glass holding the flower near Retsu Unohana cracking from the extreme heat.
 * Royd flying into the air and throwing three large chunks of rock at Yamamoto, who obliterates them with Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin and follows Royd to a nearby rooftop.
 * Yamamoto attacking Royd after explaining Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin and destroying part of the roof they are standing on, along with a large portion of the ground and building beneath it.
 * Royd leaping back down to the ground after his Reishi Sword is mostly destroyed by Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui, with Yamamoto following him.
 * Yamamoto proclaiming that the Wandenreich died 1,000 years ago and he is merely here today to remind them that they are corpses waiting to be burned.
 * The flames around Yamamoto exploding outward in a wide blast, setting the nearby buildings alight.
 * Uryū finishing the section of Sōken's journal on the two Quincy exterminations and recalling his own alliance and friendship with Ichigo despite the latter being a Substitute Shinigami.
 * Royd envisioning Zeidritz, Hubert, and Argola standing amid dozens of other fallen Wandenreich soldiers around Yamamoto.
 * Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin obliterating all of the skeletons summoned by Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin.
 * Flashbacks to Genshirō Okikiba as Yamamoto remembers that he was guarding the First Division barracks.
 * A large amount of blood spurting from Yamamoto as Yhwach cuts through him.
 * In the manga, Robert Accutrone telling Shunsui Kyōraku that it is good to see his spirits lifted takes place before Yamamoto reiterates that he has come to take Yhwach's life; here, it instead takes place afterward.
 * In the manga, Yamamoto announcing the name of his Bankai and Royd warning Jugram Haschwalth to not underestimate it due to Yhwach's memories of its power occur before other Shinigami around the Seireitei react to the increased heat; here, it instead occurs afterward.
 * In the manga, Royd's Reishi Sword has most of its blade cleanly erased with a flat edge when he attacks Yamamoto with it; here, the remainder of the blade is instead cracked with an uneven, slanted edge.
 * In the manga, Yamamoto explains that his Bankai having an East means it must also have a West prior to making Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui visible; here, he instead does so afterward.
 * In the manga, when Royd fires a Heilig Pfeil at him, Yamamoto lets it explode against the hilt of Zanka no Tachi without injury; here, he instead cuts it in two, leaving the halves to explode behind him.
 * In the manga, Yamamoto walks away from Royd prior to theorizing why the latter has not stolen his Bankai; here, he instead does so afterward.
 * In the manga, Royd mentions Yhwach when requesting forgiveness; here, he instead does not.
 * In the manga, Yhwach relays his conversation with Sōsuke Aizen to Yamamoto by explaining that the latter rejected his offer to join the Wandenreich and accepting that they have time to change this; here, the conversation is instead shown in a recollection, with Aizen clarifying that he finds it shameful for the Quincy Emperor to be following in his footsteps on a quest to destroy Soul Society and Yhwach noting that it would be too time-consuming to kill or subdue Aizen due to the Hōgyoku merged with him.
 * Immediately after having his left arm destroyed by Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin, Royd is depicted lying on the ground with both of his arms intact. This error is later fixed in the home media release.