Order! Forbid rescue of Orihime Inoue

 is the one hundred and forty-second episode of the Bleach anime.

Ichigo Kurosaki learns of Orihime Inoue's disappearance and decides to rescue her.

Summary
The day after the third battle against the Arrancar in Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki falls out of his bed in the Kurosaki Clinic during a dream and criticizes himself for being so cliché as he rubs his head, only to be bewildered upon discovering that his right wrist has been healed of the stab wound inflicted by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's Zanpakutō, leading him to concentrate and recognize Orihime Inoue's Reiatsu on his wrist with visible shock.

Suddenly, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya appears on his windowsill and confirms that this is most likely the case as he tells Ichigo to come with him because they have a situation to address. Shortly afterward, Ichigo is brought to Orihime's apartment in his Shinigami form, where he discovers Rukia Kuchiki, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa assembled inside the living room. While Ichigo wonders why everyone is here, Hitsugaya asks Rangiku if the spirit wave interference is gone.

Once Rangiku affirms this, Hitsugaya has her open a video link on the large screen in the room to the screen set up in Soul Society, but is startled when 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake appears on the screen instead of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. When Hitsugaya questions why he is here, Ukitake states that there is some news which he felt that he should tell Ichigo and the Shinigami Strike Force himself before revealing that he was the last person who saw Orihime when she entered the Central Senkaimon to return to the Human World, shocking Ichigo and the other Shinigami.

As Ukitake deduces from their reactions that Orihime never arrived in the Human World, Ichigo demands to know what is going on and what happened to Orihime, which prompts Ukitake to explain that her fate is uncertain because the two guards assigned to escort her returned through the Central Senkaimon alive, where they claimed that Orihime was abducted by an Arrancar and possibly killed, to Ichigo's mortification. With Rukia protesting him presenting this idea, Ukitake apologizes for having to say it and clarifies that they only know of the Arrancar appearing and Orihime disappearing with him shortly afterward.

However, Ichigo vehemently denies this being possible and holds up his right arm for a surprised Ukitake to see while informing him that his wrist was injured too badly for anyone in Karakura Town to heal during yesterday's battle, only for it to be completely healed with traces of Orihime's Reiatsu on it by the time that he woke up this morning, which means that she cannot be dead. Suddenly, Yamamoto concurs with this and calls it highly regrettable as he approaches the screen from behind Ukitake. When Ichigo picks up on him calling this regrettable, Yamamoto elaborates that Ichigo's evidence of Orihime being alive implies that she has betrayed them.

Yamamoto asserts that Orihime would not have been allowed to visit Ichigo had she been abducted, meaning that Orihime must have joined the Arrancar of her own free will. Upon seeing Ichigo angrily protesting this, Renji grabs him by the shoulder and tells him to stop now so he does not make things worse prior to addressing Yamamoto directly and offering to go to Hueco Mundo as the leader of the Strike Force so he can capture the traitorous Orihime, to Ichigo's amazement. In response, Yamamoto firmly asserts that Renji will not do so since the Shinigami Strike Force will be returning to defend Soul Society now that they know the Arrancar are battle-ready.

when Rukia realizes that he wants them to abandon Orihime, Yamamoto confirms this and concludes that she is only one girl while they have the fate of worlds to consider, leading a conflicted Rukia to refuse to obey this order. However, Yamamoto reveals that he suspected as much and took necessary precautions while a Senkaimon opens in the room to reveal 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, the latter of whom tells the Shinigami Strike Force to come with them per Yamamoto's orders as Byakuya informs them that he and Kenpachi have been instructed to use force if necessary, which means that they should not resist.

With the other Shinigami intimidated by this, Ichigo accepts Yamamoto's decision and requests that the latter simply tell him how to enter Hueco Mundo without having Soul Society directly assist him so he can save Orihime by himself, due to her being his friend. Despite this, Yamamoto refuses to let Ichigo do this, to the latter's astonishment, and details how the Gotei 13 requiring Ichigo's assistance in the coming battle means that they cannot permit him to do as he wishes or throw his life away before ordering Ichigo to stand by and await further orders, leaving Ichigo clenching his fist in frustration.

While stepping into the Senkaimon, Rukia solemnly apologizes to Ichigo prior to the Senkaimon closing and leaving Ichigo alone in the room. Later that day, as the sun begins to set, Tatsuki Arisawa frantically runs through Karakura Town and grabs the shoulder of a woman who looks like Orihime from behind, only to apologize in shame upon seeing that she is someone else. After looking inside the nearby donut and ice cream shops, Tatsuki runs along a riverbank and stops to catch her breath, where she recognizes the site as being the area she and Orihime watched fireworks from and begins to cry as she questions where Orihime went.

In the Study Chamber beneath the Visored warehouse, Mashiro Kuna approaches Shinji Hirako with a strange package that she found outside, and when Shinji wonders what it is, Mashiro admits that she does not know before responding to Shinji's criticism of her picking up random packages by questioning why she should not when it was right outside the warehouse. Upon opening the package, Shinji discovers clean bandages inside and wonders why Ichigo Kurosaki would do this, only to call him a fool upon finding a note thanking the Visored inside. Meanwhile, at the Kurosaki Clinic, Yuzu Kurosaki questions what they should do first.

Standing outside Ichigo's bedroom door with Yuzu and Isshin Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki suggests that they do dinner first, and when Yuzu wonders why they are not starting with a bath, Isshin proclaims that none of this will happen before a passionate embrace from him and charges at the door, resulting in it being pushed off its hinges to fall down alongside Isshin inside Ichigo's room. With Ichigo sitting at his desk nearby, a chuckling Isshin admits that he missed, only for Ichigo to halfheartedly apologize. When Karin invites him to eat dinner so Yuzu can clear the table, a distracted Ichigo states that he does not feel hungry tonight.

Though Karin reveals that Yuzu prepared all his favorite foods, Ichigo continues to decline, prompting Yuzu to assure him that he does not need to apologize and tell Karin and Isshin to give Ichigo some space, which Isshin reluctantly agrees to before they all exit the room. Once the door shuts, Kon leaps onto Ichigo's bed and mockingly praises him for apologizing three times in a row, but does not receive a response and assumes that Ichigo is acting gloomy because he is constipated. Upon seeing Ichigo standing up, Kon assumes that he wants to fight, but Ichigo simply asks him to move off the bed, which Kon meekly acquiesces to.

With Kon demanding to know why he is so out of it, Ichigo lies on his bed and stares at his right hand, prompting Kon to assume that they are doing palm readings and attempt to do so to himself, only to be startled by the results. The next day, at Karakura High School, an irritated Misato Ochi sarcastically thanks Ichigo for deciding to visit his class and whacks his head with her binder as she claims to have thought Ichigo had lost interest in advancing to the next grade and deduces that he was not actually in the hospital because of an accident, with Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima commenting on how much she is whacking him.

When Ichigo meekly observes that she changed her hair, Misato thanks him for noticing, only to angrily proclaim that she did so three week ago and chop Ichigo's head with her hand, causing him to grunt in pain while Keigo and Mizuiro observe that her hand looks sore. In the hallway shortly afterward, Keigo enthusiastically greets Ichigo and attempts to leap in front of him while he walks down the hall, but Mizuiro stomps his head down to the ground and cheerfully asks Ichigo where he was for the last month since him not answering his phone left them somewhat worried, which prompts a smiling Ichigo to apologize and state that he was busy.

Unnerved by this response, Mizuiro reveals that he got tickets for the screening of Bad Shield 2, and after learning from Mizuiro that this is scheduled for December 5th, Ichigo promises to try to return by then and thanks a disturbed Mizuiro before walking away, only to suddenly be confronted by a sweating and distressed Tatsuki, who tells him that she cannot find Orihime anywhere in the entire town and that her presence simply disappeared yesterday. When Tatsuki accuses him of knowing where Orihime is, Ichigo dismissively claims that he does not and that Tatsuki should probably take another look around since Orihime is unlikely to actually be missing.

In turn, Tatsuki angrily grabs Ichigo by the collar, to his further surprise, and denies this because she can constantly feel Orihime's presence and gauge her location from it, even when it gets weak as though she is behind a wall for a period of time, before asserting that Ichigo must know something about it disappearing completely yesterday. With Ichigo bluntly reiterating that he does not know anything and questioning what is wrong with her, Tatsuki wonders if he believes that she is an idiot and reveals that she has seen him fighting Hollows in his Shinigami form several times before now, to Ichigo's considerable shock.

However, when Tatsuki suggests that it is time for him to tell her what is going on, an initially uncertain Ichigo coldly declares that it is none of her business. In response, an outraged Tatsuki punches Ichigo's head through the window behind him, causing glass to rain down into the courtyard below while a shocked Keigo restrains her and Mizuiro asks a fallen and bloodied Ichigo if he is alright. Demanding to know what she is to Ichigo since she thought they were friends, Tatsuki points out how Ichigo is keeping things from her now even though she has helped him out many times when he was in trouble and sullenly calls him a jerk.

As Mizuiro attempts to approach him over this, Ichigo asks him and Keigo to take care of Tatsuki for him and to stay far away from him prior to leaving while Tatsuki screams at him. That night, Kisuke Urahara stands outside the Urahara Shop and welcomes Ichigo, who arrives in his Shinigami form. When Ichigo questions how Urahara knew he would come here, Urahara deduces that Ichigo wants to know how to get to Hueco Mundo and tells him the method is ready. After the two of them drop down into the Study Chamber below, Urahara explains that he barred Orihime from front-line combat because he was afraid that Aizen might target her due to her powers.

Urahara admits that it did not work because he was mistakenly too concerned with her feelings and too passive about protecting her, which is why he is prepared to help in any way he can. Upon being told by Ichigo that this will mean going against Soul Society, a smiling Urahara notes that it will not be the first time he has done so. Suddenly, Uryū Ishida observes that Ichigo looks hopeless while sitting on a tall rock formation behind him, and when a startled Ichigo asks him why he is here, Yasutora Sado approaches him and asserts that they are going to Hueco Mundo as well since Urahara told them everything.

With Ichigo refusing to let this happen since they are not strong enough even though he appreciates the gesture, Sado manifests his Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, which has significantly changed shape, and throws a powerful punch imbued with energy that Ichigo is forced to block with his Shikai, Zangetsu, resulting in a powerful explosion that destroys several large rocks around them. In the aftermath, Sado questions if this was not strong enough for Ichigo and requests that he believe in them rather than try to do it all himself because they want to help. Once Uryū hops down from the rock formation he was sitting on, Urahara suggests that they get started since the three of them seem to be ready.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
As 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, and the Shinigami Strike Force exit the Central Senkaimon in the Seireitei, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai brings up how Byakuya appeared at a very convenient time in Orihime Inoue's apartment and wonders if he and Kenpachi were waiting for their time to appear, prompting Rukia Kuchiki to admonish him for being rude. However, Byakuya confirms that is is exactly what happened and asserts that it is part of his job, and when Rukia expresses amazement at him going to such lengths, Byakuya simply notes that he did not mind because he killed a lot of time with Kenpachi, who turns around and grins at them.

Events

 * Good Bye Halcyon Days

Powers and Techniques Used
Shinigami Techniques:

Arrancar Techniques:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Fullbring:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes= Trivia=
 * The other students being alarmed by Tatsuki Arisawa confronting Ichigo Kurosaki in the hallway.
 * Ichigo and Kisuke Urahara dropping down into the latter's Study Chamber.
 * Flashbacks to Orihime Inoue entering the Dangai with her Shinigami escorts and being confronted by Ulquiorra Cifer.
 * Tatsuki searching for Orihime Inoue around Karakura Town and failing to find her.
 * Karin Kurosaki, Yuzu Kurosaki, and Isshin Kurosaki trying to celebrate Ichigo's recovery with him, only for Ichigo to send them away and go to sleep after ignoring Kon's antics.
 * Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima commenting on Misato Ochi whacking Ichigo for missing school.
 * Keigo demanding to know what Mizuiro is doing after the latter stomps him to the ground.
 * Ichigo addressing Tatsuki by name when the latter confronts him.
 * A recollection of a young Tatsuki rescuing Ichigo from two bullies and talking to him about how he can see spirits.
 * Ichigo is less bloodied after Tatsuki punches his head through the window.
 * Urahara is not smoking a pipe when Ichigo meets him outside the Urahara Shop.
 * In the manga, when Ichigo arrives at Orihime's apartment, Rukia Kuchiki addresses him by name; here, she instead looks at him silently.
 * In the manga, when Jūshirō Ukitake reveals Orihime's disappearance, Tōshirō Hitsugaya is in the center of the room while flanked by Ichigo and Rukia; here, Rukia is instead in the center while flanked by Ichigo and Hitsugaya.
 * In the manga, Ukitake expresses shock when Ichigo explains how his wrist was injured in yesterday's battle; here, he does not express shock until Ichigo reveals that there are now traces of Orihime's Reiatsu on it.
 * In the manga, when appearing in the Senkaimon, Kenpachi Zaraki is scratching his neck with his right hand while resting his left arm over his stomach; here, he instead has both arms crossed over his stomach.
 * In the manga, Rukia is pulled into the Senkaimon by Renji; here, she instead steps inside on her own.
 * In the manga, when confronting Ichigo over Orihime's disappearance, Tatsuki is accusatory of him throughout; here, she is instead confused and concerned at first, only becoming accusatory when suggesting that Ichigo knows where Orihime is.
 * The scene of a young Tatsuki bringing up the rumors that Ichigo can see spirits was not adapted in episode 8 and is only presented here in a heavily abridged flashback form without any accompanying dialogue.