Ishida, The Utmost Limits of Power!

 is the forty-fourth episode of the Bleach anime.

Uryū Ishida removes his Sanrei Glove to defeat 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

Summary
Standing before Uryū Ishida as the latter stands with the tendrils of Ransōtengai radiating off his body, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi observes that he is able to stand despite having his limbs immobilized by Mayuri's Shikai, Ashisogi Jizō, because of Ransōtengai while Uryū rips off the damaged left sleeve of his uniform and begins wrapping it around his wounded left arm to staunch the bleeding.

Mayuri mentally details how Ransōtengai consists of bundling Reishi together into countless strings that connect to immobilized body parts in order to forcibly move them like puppet strings. With Uryū finishing the binding of his arm, the Reishi tendrils around him refine and solidify into thin strings which wrap themselves around his wounded arm before turning invisible, allowing him to raise and move it, as Mayuri notes that this technique was originally developed by elderly Quincy so they could continue fighting Hollows by ignoring any injuries they sustained.

While concluding that Ransōtengai exists so its users can fight until their bodies turn to dust, Mayuri describes it as the ultimate battle technique of the Quincy, and as the aura around Uryū violently disperses outward in a gust of wind, Mayuri admits that he thought it was a lost art because none of the 2661 Quincy he studied could perform even part of Ransōtengai, leading him to praise Uryū as a genius for being able to use it at such a young age. However, Uryū decries referring to this by such a commonplace term, to Mayuri's confusion, and clarifies that his Ransōtengai is not a defensive technique nor a way to prolong his life.

Upon being told by Uryū that it is an expression of his will to fight until he avenges his master even if he is reduced to a corpse, a disappointed Mayuri decides that he is just a novice brat instead of a genius. In the past, a young Uryū stands in Ryūken Ishida's office as his father reads a book from his library and brings up him visiting Sōken Ishida before reminding Uryū that he was told to stop going there. Though Uryū attempts to protest, Ryūken orders him to stop making excuses and asserts that it is pointless to save the dead because that is the job of the Shinigami, meaning that Uryū should instead focus on studying how to save the living.

Further stating that he has no interest in being a Quincy and Uryū has no talent for it, Ryūken declares that the Quincy will die out with Sōken's generation. When a shocked Uryū questions why he hates the Quincy so much, Ryūken turns to him and claims that they are not profitable, further stunning Uryū. Some time later, as he kneels before a weeping Uryū in a park, Sōken admits that there is some truth in what Ryūken says due to being unable to bring in substantial income just by being a Quincy in the modern age and him having a family to support. Despite this, Uryū points out how he can see Hollows and the people they attack, whom the Shinigami cannot handle.

After bringing up how Ryūken must be able to see them as well, Uryū wonders how he can say such things and proclaims that he wants to become a powerful Quincy who can protect those people from the Hollows so Ryūken will acknowledge the Quincy, leading a touched Sōken to thank him. In the present, Uryū raises his hand and forms his Heilig Bogen, Kojaku, in a flurry of energy that briefly swirls around him as Mayuri notes that he is interested in Uryū now before deciding to take him back alive so Uryū can be his research subject. In the past, Sōken walks Uryū home as the sun begins to set and requests that he try to understand Ryūken as well.

Sōken asserts that one's sense of justice is simply defined by what one wishes to protect, and as Uryū sarcastically inquires if Ryūken wants to protect his money, Sōken stops and places his hand on Uryū's head while promising that he will understand one day, at which time he should also know what he wishes to protect. Withdrawing the Sanrei Glove box from his cloak, Sōken hands it to Uryū and states that he is leaving this with him for that time, to Uryū's surprise and recognition. In the present, a chuckling Mayuri withdraws a fleshy kusarigama from the golden cone covering his left ear and throws it at Uryū, who dodges with Hirenkyaku.

As he reappears in midair and fires four Heilig Pfeil at Mayuri before evading another strike of his kusarigama by moving back down to the ground when they all miss, Uryū recalls opening the box containing the Sanrei Glove after Yoruichi Shihōin, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado left him to train alone at his behest prior to entering Soul Society, as well as Sōken's description of the Sanrei Glove as a device with the power to disperse Reishi at high levels. In the past, Uryū's left hand bleeds as he repeatedly fires Heilig Pfeil from his Sanrei Glove-enhanced Kojaku into the nearby forest for a full day and night, which Sōken advises will bring him to the pinnacle of Quincy power.

In the present, Mayuri rapidly spins his kusarigama above his head and laughs as he hurls it multiple times at Uryū, who dodges each time with Hirenkyaku. Blocking two of Uryū's Heilig Pfeil with the kusarigama, Mayuri throws it at Uryū twice more and carves up the ground with it, leading Uryū to duck around it both times and fire another Heilig Pfeil. While moving to the side, Uryū recalls Sōken's warning to never take off the Sanrei Glove once he has mastered it because it will elevate his Reishi-collecting ability beyond the limits of a Quincy and cause him to lose his Quincy powers after briefly gaining enormous power, which he describes as a powerful flame that will harm Uryū.

With his right leg cut by Mayuri's kusarigama, Uryū rolls to a halt and deflects the subsequent strike of the kusarigama with Kojaku, leading Mayuri to suggest that they go to his laboratory now before he kills Uryū. As he pulls back another Heilig Pfeil, Uryū remembers Sōken telling him that he will eventually face an unavoidable battle far beyond his current abilities if he still wishes to follow the way of the Quincy after finding what he wishes to protect and fires the Heilig Pfeil, only to be cut on his other leg by Mayuri's kusarigama, causing him to fall to his knees. Uryū struggles to regain his footing as he continues to deflect the kusarigama with Kojaku.

After having his left shoulder and right thigh sliced by Mayuri's kusarigama, Uryū falls to his knees once more and recalls Sōken telling him to put on the Sanrei Glove in such circumstances before reiterating his warning to never remove it once Uryū does so. As he crumples up his kusarigama and retracts it into his ear, Mayuri explains that he knows of many ways to take Uryū back without killing him if the latter does not mind experiencing severe pain and offers to show him one such way now while approaching Uryū. Mentally noting that there is a limit to the effectiveness of Ransōtengai and that he cannot hold out forever, Uryū mentally apologizes to Sōken.

A shaking Uryū slowly stands up and mentally admits that he does not understand his father's feelings or know what he himself wishes to protect, but concludes that he does know what cannot be forgiven as he holds Kojaku out in front of him. While mentally apologizing to Sōken once more, Uryū declares that he must disobey his master one last time and grasps one of the protrusions on the wrist of the Sanrei Glove before breaking it off, causing the Sanrei Glove to burst apart along with most of Uryū's right sleeve as Uryū himself is enveloped in a swirling column of energy that surges into the sky above while a shocked Mayuri questions what this is.

Having activated the Quincy: Letzt Stil, Uryū stands in the clearing dust with newly-formed armor over his chest and right leg, a massive flame of Reishi emanating from a jet on his right shoulder, and a new, more mechanical form of Kojaku in his hand. As an alarmed 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi watches from the ground nearby, Mayuri is left stunned by Uryū's new attire and inflated Reiatsu, which he has never seen before. Upon hearing a clinking sound, Mayuri is further astonished to see the buildings around Uryū disintegrating into Reishi and being channeled into the flame on Uryū's back, leading Mayuri to realize Uryū is absorbing the Reishi buildings.

After mentally detailing how all the structures in Soul Society are made of Reishi and Uryū is breaking those bonds to forcibly absorb the Reishi, Mayuri describes this as complete subjugation of Reishi and sweats as he claims that Uryū is exceeding the limits of power that are permitted to Humans, only for Uryū to respond by forming a Heilig Pfeil in his hand with angled lines of Reishi emanating from the flame on his back and firing it at Mayuri, who leaps back in surprise. Though he manages to evade the Heilig Pfeil while acknowledging its speed, Mayuri suddenly finds Uryū in the air above him as the latter fires another Heilig Pfeil directly at Mayuri.

The Heilig Pfeil crashes down into Mayuri in a large explosion of force, and as he lands near the resulting cloud of dust, Uryū instructs Mayuri to weep for forgiveness and never appear before him again if he wishes to live. With Uryū promising to fire a Heilig Pfeil that is three times more powerful than the last one if he refuses, Mayuri stands up in the clearing dust with blood spilling from his destroyed left arm and berates Uryū for getting cocky. Deciding to respond with appropriate force to a Quincy toying with him, a laughing Mayuri holds out Ashisogi Jizō and activates his Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, causing the mouth on his blade to open.

While Mayuri glows with red Reiatsu, his Zanpakutō generates a massive caterpillar-like creature with a baby's head and arms as well as a large halo floating above it that lands on the buildings behind him. With Uryū in disbelief over an already-released Zanpakutō being capable of this, Mayuri cackles and mocks Uryū for not knowing that Zanpakutō have two stages of release before detailing how Ashisogi Jizō is the first stage while Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō is the second. As Mayuri proclaims that the deadly poison spewed by Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō will definitely kill Uryū, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō unleashes a large volume of poisonous vapor from its mouth.

The poisonous vapor flows toward Uryū as Mayuri claims that not being able to do research on an excellent specimen like him is regrettable, and as Uryū covers his nose and mouth with his arm, Mayuri laughs maniacally and commands Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō to go, prompting Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō to extend its Retractable Blades and begin charging toward Uryū, who readies another Heilig Pfeil in Kojaku and aims it forward before firing. Shattering the nearby roof tiles and tearing through Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, the Heilig Pfeil hurtles down the length of the alley and damages the surrounding walls as a shockwave and explosion emanate from its firing position.

As the dust clears, a shocked Nemu sees Mayuri standing with a large hole in his torso and struggling to breath behind Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, which has been split down the middle by Uryū's attack and crashes into the ground. With a panting Uryū standing with the bowstring of Kojaku snapped in two, Mayuri curses him and stabs his broken Zanpakutō into his own neck, and as Uryū stares in astonishment, Mayuri coughs up blood before his body bursts apart into green liquid that begins dripping out of his clothes and down the nearby walls. While Uryū assumes that his Zanpakutō has the ability to liquefy whatever it cuts, Mayuri admits that this was close.

When Mayuri states that one's last resort should only be used after much consideration, Uryū realizes that he was saving this ability in case he needed to escape. However, while Uryū begins forming another Heilig Pfeil and nocking it in Kojaku, Mayuri asserts that this would be useless because he cannot be attacked in any way while in this form even though he cannot perform attacks either. Explaining how he will not be able to change back from this form for a few days and will spend that time tending to his injuries in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Mayuri bids Uryū farewell and proclaims that the outcome of him dying will not change.

A cursing Uryū suddenly coughs up blood and clutches his throat as he observes that the poison is working its way through his system, leaving him without much time. However, Uryū is surprised when Nemu reveals that she has an antidote for the poison behind the lieutenant's badge on her left arm, leading him to put away Kojaku. After helping Nemu sit up against the wall, Uryū inquires if she would not be more comfortable lying down, but Nemu assures him that this is fine and directs Uryū to pull the flask of antidote from her arm. Upon being told to drink it first, Nemu details how the toxin will not affect her because her body is made of the same substance as Mayuri's is.

Though Nemu offers to drink some of the antidote first in order to prove that it is not a trap, Uryū dismisses this due to it being illogical to entrap someone who was going to die of poison anyway, and as he unscrews the lid of the flask and prepares to drink, Nemu thanks him for not killing Mayuri by aiming for his head, prompting Uryū to assert that it was a fluke and that he had intended to kill Mayuri with that shot. With Nemu reiterating that he still did not kill Mayuri and describing the antidote as a token of her appreciation for this, Uryū stands up and turns away while questioning how she could feel this way about someone as horrible as Mayuri.

Admitting that she does not understand it either, Nemu recalls how she was somewhat relieved upon realizing that Mayuri was not dead. After sitting in silence for a few seconds, Nemu tells Uryū to go if he has drunk the antidote and promises that she will be alright when the other Shinigami show up, leading Uryū to drink the antidote and set the flask down on the ground before thanking Nemu for it and bidding her farewell as he walks away. Some time later, with dawn breaking, Uryū limps along the wall near the steps leading up to the Senzaikyū compound and notes how heavy his legs are while mentally observing that he cannot move his arms.

While a scrap of his improvised bandage floats away and disintegrates along with the frayed Ransōtengai strings attached to it, Uryū briefly leans against the wall and states that his time as a Quincy is coming to an end. As he forces himself to keep walking and reaches the steps leading up to the compound, Uryū assures himself that Orihime is fine because Makizō Aramaki would obviously lead her here. Uryū begins slowly walking up the steps and wonders how the other Ryoka are, and as he concludes that he must believe they are alive, Uryū realizes that he could rescue Rukia Kuchiki himself if he is the first one here, which would make Ichigo Kurosaki angry.

Smiling at the thought of this, Uryū reaches the top of the steps and is shocked to see 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen standing in the pavilion before him. Promising Uryū that he bears no ill will toward him, Tōsen declares that he must eliminate Uryū for the sake of their peace and releases his Shikai, Suzumushi, releasing a high-pitched chime that inverts the color of the surrounding area and envelops a stunned Uryū.

Next Episode Preview
Noting that he cannot return to his normal form for a while after using Nikushibuki, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi laments being unable to eat or even take a shower, though he wonders if a large enough container would assist in the latter. However, upon having water poured on him, Mayuri decries this as diluting him, leading Uryū Ishida to admit that the technique is more inconvenient than he thought.

Fights

 * Uryū Ishida vs. Mayuri Kurotsuchi (concluded)

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:
 * Retractable Blades

Quincy Techniques:

Other Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Music

 * 01:26 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 04 - BL_75
 * 03:05 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 18 - BL_33
 * 05:14 - Bleach OST 1 - 10 - Will of the Heart
 * 07:47 - Bleach OST 1 - 19 - Never Meant To Belong
 * 08:43 - Bleach OST 1 - 18 - Battle Ignition
 * 11:26 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 12 - BL_16 (Destiny Awaits - Other Version)
 * 13:38 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 15 - BL_35
 * 14:40 - Bleach OST 1 - 09 - Enemy Unseen
 * 16:44 - Bleach 5th Anniversary Box CD 1 - 01 - BL_29
 * 17:43 - Bleach OST 1 - 13 - Burden of the Past

Anime Notes
Removed Content:
 * Sōken Ishida assuring Uryū Ishida that he is also right to think differently from Ryūken Ishida about the Quincy.
 * Sōken mentioning that most Quincy cannot even form a Heilig Bogen while wearing the Sanrei Glove due to how much power it holds.
 * Mayuri Kurotsuchi mentally admitting that the Heilig Pfeil hurtling toward him is too fast for him to dodge with Shunpo.
 * Mayuri declaring that Uryū's doom is sealed and explaining how his Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, sprays lethal poison made from his blood for a wide radius that will not harm Mayuri himself.
 * Uryū promising to shoot Mayuri before he can release the poison and Mayuri daring him to try.
 * Uryū asserting that Nemu Kurotsuchi would be better off lying down and her assuring him that she will be alright sitting up.
 * Nemu noting that the other Shinigami will be coming because they will have seen Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō.
 * Uryū observing that the other Ryoka should be on their way to Senzaikyū, which he refers to by name, and that he just has to wait if they are not.

Added/Expanded Content:
 * Uryū concentrating Ransōtengai on his left arm by refining the Reishi tendrils into thin strings around it and demonstrating its regained mobility by clenching his fist.
 * Uryū decrying being called a genius for his use of Ransōtengai as too commonplace a term and declaring that it is an expression of his will to fight rather than a defensive technique or a method of prolonging his life, followed by Mayuri changing his mind and calling him a novice brat instead.
 * Uryū attempting to interject when Ryūken tells him that saving the dead is the job of the Shinigami.
 * Uryū bracing himself for battle between recalling his conversation with Ryūken and his conversation with Sōken.
 * Sōken reacting to Uryū addressing him as "Master".
 * Uryū briefly surging with power after reforming his Heilig Bogen, Kojaku.
 * Sōken handing the Sanrei Glove box to Uryū during their walk home and Uryū recognizing it.
 * Mayuri fighting with his kusarigama after pulling it out and Uryū dodging it multiple times while firing back, only to get cut on each limb and eventually decide to use the Quincy: Letzt Stil.
 * A flashback to Uryū's training with with Sanrei Glove after his friends leave, with him seeing the glove in its normal state and repeatedly firing Heilig Pfeil into the forest for a full day and night even as his left hand begins to bleed.
 * Mayuri suggesting that he and Uryū return to his laboratory before Uryū is killed and offering to show Uryū an extremely painful way to take him back without killing him while retracting his kusarigama back into his ear.
 * Mayuri laughing maniacally before activating his Bankai and glowing with red Reiatsu after doing so.
 * Uryū being shocked by Ashisogi Jizō having a second release and Mayuri briefly explaining Shikai and Bankai to him.
 * Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō unleashing a wave of poisonous gas that rolls over Uryū before extending its Retractable Blades and charging at him.
 * Mayuri noting that one's last resort should only be used after much consideration.
 * Uryū cursing after Mayuri escapes.
 * Uryū attaching Kojaku to his hip.
 * Uryū pulling the flask of antidote off Nemu's arm with her direction and offering to let her drink it first.

Censorship:
 * After being shot by the first Heilig Pfeil from Uryū while using the Quincy: Letzt Stil, Mayuri's left eye is not damaged and his left arm, while still dripping a large amount of blood, is only destroyed up to his shoulder rather than nearly to his neck and has not splattered blood on the left side of his haori.
 * After having a hole blown in his chest by Uryū's final attack, Mayuri does not have pieces of his skeleton visible at the upper part of his wound, and his arm stump is not spurting blood.
 * Uryū's arms are not bleeding after his final attack; consequently, he is not bleeding when walking to Senzaikyū.
 * Mayuri stabbing himself in the throat is not shown in full; first, his broken Zanpakutō is shown exiting the back of his neck, then he is shown with the remainder buried in the front of his neck.
 * When Mayuri activates Nikushibuki, his eyeball is not shown falling out of his liquefied head.
 * When the poison begins to affect Uryū, he is not directly shown coughing up blood and his skin does not begin to discolor.

Changes:
 * The Ransōtengai aura disperses and becomes invisible as Mayuri finishes detailing how the technique works instead of remaining visible until Uryū activates the Quincy: Letzt Stil.
 * Uryū is wearing his Quincy uniform instead of regular clothes and a backpack when speaking to Sōken.
 * In the manga, Mayuri pulls out his kusarigama while promising to take Uryū back alive; here, he pulls it out after completing his speech.
 * In the manga, Mayuri decides to make Uryū his research subject alongside Orihime; here, he only mentions making Uryū his research subject.
 * In the manga, Mayuri does not get to use his kusarigama after pulling it out because Uryū immediately activates the Quincy: Letzt Stil, knowing that he does not have the power to continue the battle otherwise; here, Uryū attempts to continue fighting with his normal level of power, but is repeatedly wounded by Mayuri's kusarigama while failing to hit Mayuri with any of his Heilig Pfeil, leading him to activate the Quincy: Letzt Stil only after noting that his Ransōtengai has a limit and he cannot fight forever, which is never established in the manga. Additionally, Mayuri seemingly seals and sheathes his Zanpakutō while fighting with his kusarigama, while in the manga he continues holding it and maintaining its Shikai form.
 * Sōken explaining the properties of the Sanrei Glove occurs while Uryū is training with it in the past and fighting Mayuri in the present in addition to his physical appearance in Uryū's flashback to his childhood, in the form of his two separate monologues in chapter 124 and chapter 125 being merged into a single speech, which concludes before Uryū activates the Quincy: Letzt Stil instead of after he does so.
 * When Mayuri grabs his Zanpakutō off the ground, it is facing the opposite direction from its position in the manga and is sealed rather than in Shikai.
 * In the manga, Mayuri explains how the poison of Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō is made from his blood and he is immune to it, which later leads Nemu to reveal that she is also immune to the poison because she shares Mayuri's blood; here, Mayuri simply declares that the poison will kill Uryū and does not mention it being made from his blood, so when she explains why she is immune, Nemu instead states that her body is made from the same substance as Mayuri's is.
 * In the manga, Mayuri mentions not being able to experiment on Uryū after Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō extends its Retractable Blades; here, he mentions this before it does.
 * In the manga, after learning of the power of Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō, Uryū promises to shoot Mayuri before he can be poisoned and Mayuri dares him to try while sending Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō charging at him; here, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō releases a wave of poison first, Uryū remains silent, and Mayuri simply commands Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō to charge at him.
 * The fletching of the Heilig Pfeil produced by Uryū while using the Quincy: Letzt Stil lacks the intricate design that it has in the manga.
 * Uryū's final attack against Mayuri does much more damage to the surrounding area here than it does in the manga by ripping through walls it passes by and leaving a trail of smoke and debris in its wake.
 * In the manga, Uryū initially moves to attack after Mayuri begins escaping, but stops when Mayuri explains why it would be futile; here, he fully forms and nocks another Heilig Pfeil, only to still not attack while Mayuri escapes.
 * In the manga, Uryū gradually drinks the antidote over the course of his conversation with Nemu; here, he drinks it all right before leaving.
 * In the manga, the entirety of the battle between Uryū and Mayuri takes place in the daytime; here, it begins at night and concludes as dawn breaks on the following day.
 * In the manga, Uryū mentally notes that his Ransōtengai is wearing off; here, it is instead shown by having part of his makeshift bandage fall off and disintegrate along with some frayed Ransōtengai strings.
 * In the manga; Uryū assures himself that Orihime is fine because her Reiatsu is stronger than Makizō Aramaki's and she would have had the upper hand against him; here, he instead tells himself that Aramaki probably brought her to Senzaikyū.

Errors:
 * When Mayuri prepares to activate his Bankai, his Zanpakutō is initially in its sealed state, only to suddenly return to its Shikai form a few seconds later.