Battle against Hō & Ban

The Battle Against Hō and Ban is a battle that initially takes place in Karakura Hospital but eventually goes out into the streets of Karakura Town. It is the first true victory that Ichigo and the others have over the Bount.

Prologue
Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends go to see Uryū Ishida in the hospital, where he tells them about Yoshino Sōma and how it is forbidden for a Bount to consume a human soul because of the imbalance in power it would create. Despite this, a Bount name Jin Kariya is trying to do just that and Yoshino wants to stop him. Uryū, as a Quincy, was told he was the key to Kariya's plan and must be protected at all times although he's not sure why they need him. Ichigo wonders if they can trust her but Uryū reminds him that she rescues and returned him safely. Kisuke Urahara decides to come up with a plan and the others go to see him off. While alone, Uryū thinks os how Yoshino's saddened eyes were like his mother's.Meanwhile, Ryō asks Kariya if it's really all right to leave Yoshino alone; he states that they have a deal and she won't leave him. Two young Bount are then shown to be in the room as well.

In hospital, a nurse helps Uryū, telling him he's the only patient on this floor and gives him something to call her attention with. Uryū explains that he's the only patient because his father owns the hospital. The others tell Uryū to get some rest. Later, Yasutora Sado wonders why the Bount need a Quincy causing some arguments between Ririn and Kon. Meanwhile, Hanatarō Yamada has a job at a store, amazed at how the Human World works. Hanatarō is sent to investigate a crash outside and finds Ganju Shiba, who has scared people off. Surprised, Hanatarō takes Ganju away before the police arrive.

With no enemies at the hospital, the group wonders if they should stay while the two young Bount observe the lack of power their enemies have and the the amount of resistance they'll show. After a short argument between Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo, Rukia notices a constant drip from a tap, however her attempts to stop it cause more water to flow from the sink. Renji Abarai and Orihime Inoue bring buckets to stop the water from the sink.

Orihime notices that at the current rate the water is going to overflow and she suggests that she gets a nurse. Orihime then notices a noise coming from a room and she opens the door for it, only for water to flow out everywhere from it. Uryū suddenly wakes up from what's going on and Ichigo tells him to just focus on sleeping. As this happens, the mod-souls sense a Bount in the area and Noba remarks that there's a doll. The overflowing water suddenly takes on a mind of its own and begins attacking the group.

Battle
Uryū is encased in the water and begins drowning so Sado tries to save him but he is unable to get rid of the water with just his hands but Ichigo frees him using his Zanpakutō. The water continues to attack them, so they run out ofthe room and try to use a towel to stop the water from coming under the door. The young Bounts remark that they should reveal themsevles to their opponents soon. The group runs away but more water quickly confronts them. Renji slashes it and it recedes so Orihime wonders if the water is some sort of Bount's doll. They decide to head downstairs.

They are attacked by more water downstairs and Uryū states that the Bount must be controlling the water. Ichigo attacks the water while Sado and Uryū are encased in water and begin drowning. Renji gets rid of the water but they are quickly encased again. Warning everyone, Rukia fires a '''Hadō #31. Shakkahō''' with an incantation at the water, successfully saving the two of them. The group runs away and the Bount remark that the Shinigami are making their task troublesome.

The group check a map to see where they can go as Uryū insists nobody else is being attacked because the Bount are after him. They decide to take the elevator as the Bount decide to finish this soon. Ichigo gets angry over the grou hitting a dead end as they turn another way. The hallways get dark then as the group reaches a door guarded by Hō and Ban. The Bount summon their dolls, Guhl and Günther, which prompts the group to decide to escape.

Kurōdo reveals that Noba's powers are limited while in plushie-form so he can't get data on the Bount. Eventually the group comes to the elevators, however, water starts pouring out of them, forcing them to retreat. Renji and Rukia use '''Hadō #31. Shakkahō''' however, they're not strong enough so Ichigo uses a lighter and gas tank to destroy the water. Water is then forced from the surrounding rooms so Renji and Ichigo stay behind to fight the water as the others head into the elevator to escape, encouraged to do so by Ichigo.

As the elevator descends, Ichigo and Renji continue to battle the dolls with Renji eventually releasing his Zanpakutō to keep up with the battle although their efforts still fall short. When the elevator arrives at the bottom, Ichigo breaks the doors and the two of them jump down the shaft to quickly escape. Reuniting with the others, they are stunned to see it raining outside. Hō and Ban reappear and continue their assault on the group, combining their dolls to finish their opponents. Ichigo demands that Sado, Orihime and Uryū escape as the others begin to fight again.

Renji attacks with Zabimaru and Rukia fires another Shakkahō but they make little impact on the water dolls. The water envelopes Ichigo and Renji, causing them to begin drowning. Sado and Orihime stop running and rukia is encased also. Uryū insists that they give him up as he is becoming a burden to them. Ichigo silences him and demands that the three of them escape as the Shinigami fight the dolls. Orihime tries to object but Sado convinces her otherwise as they should protect Uryū. They run away again.

Meanwhile, Yoshino is at a store where she is approached by Ryō Utagawa. He requests that she return to Kariya, enquiring if she will deny the one she loves. Yoshino states that love eventually grows old, especially when one is denied any sort of freedom. Ryō hints that Kariya is about to make his move but Yoshino is unconcerned due to the self-reliant nature of the Bounts. Ryō wonders why Kariya tolerates her and she seems unworthy but Yoshino replies that he is more naive than he looks. She informs Ryō that his lust for power will be his undoing.

Ganju is now working with Hanatarō and they leave once their shift finishes. Ganju informs Hanatarō about Kūkaku Shiba sending him to investigate the strange presence in town. Hanatarō agrees that Retsu Unohana gave him the same order. Ganju suddenly senses a strange reiatsu. Back at the battle, Rukia frees everyone with another Shakkahō but they quickly encased by water again. Ichigo is unsuccessful in using Zangetsu to free himself. They are freed when Hō and Ban decide to pursue Uryū instead or letting him get away.

Elsewhere, Sado and Orihime decide to get out of the rain and go to a nearby factory. A large ball of water appears and attacks the three of them. Sado drops Uryū during the battle and the water moves to attack him. Orihime appears and uses Santen Kesshun however the water eventually breaks through the shield. Hō and Ban inform them that they can't escape. Sado tells Noba and Kurōdo to protect Uryū and Sado activates his armored arm. Sado blasts the water but is unable to do any damage to it. The bount state they can't win in the rain and send their dolls after them. Sado tries over and over but is unable to destroy the water. He then attacks the Bount themselves and they evade the attack, stating they have to stay together. Hō is hit by Sado, however, which causes the water to stop and allows them to escape.

Meanwhile, the others are shown running towards them and Ichigo states that the Bount twins won't attack them separately. He concludes that they have to stay together to attack them and if they want to win they'll have to separate them. At the Bount Mansion, Maki Ichinose is shown reading a book as a Bount called Gō Koga arrives, insisting it is too dark. They disagree over this and Ichinose offers Koga tea, which he declines whilst asking where the others are. Ichinose reveals he is the first to show up.

When Sado's group arrives at the factory, Kurōdo points out that it's leacking water. Orihime notices Uryū's fever is worsening and Uryū states that he doesn't want to be a burden to them anymore. Hō and Ban reappear and ask him to come with them. They send their water dolls in grab Uryū with the water. They begin strangling him as a demonstration to stop Sado from attacking them. Ichigo and the others arrive and demand Uryū is released but the Bount state they should have left when they had the chance. They decide to show off their dolls' true abilities.

A ball of water is sent towards Ichigo, but the Shinigami destroys it with a swing of his Zanpakutō. However, the bits of water form back together and forms itself on top of Ichigo's face. The water does the same to everyone else and water goes into the mouths and noses of everyone. Hō and Ban explain that they can go into anywhere there is water and that 70% of the Human body is water. Hō and Ban then order for their doll to tear Ichigo and the others bodies from the inside out. Everyone begins suffering immense pain and the mod-souls wonder what they should do. Noba suddenly uses his powers to teleport Ban away from Hō. They try to get next to each other again, but Noba continues separating the two of them. This ends up causing their dolls power to stop and Ichigo and the others are saved from the water.

Ichigo realizes that his deduction from earlier was correct and that they really do have to separate the two of them. Hō goes up to Ban, who is now unconscious due to falling a good distance because of Noba's teleportation and tries to wake him up so they can continue using their power. As he does this, Ichigo swings his Zanpakutō at the water holding Uryū and saves the Quincy. Ichigo tells Hō that he should just quit since it's all over now, but Hō tries to fight by just using his doll alone. Rukia tries to dispatch of the water with a Shakkahō, but her attack misses and Hō uses the water to attack everyone. Rukia continues trying to attack the water with Shakkahō, but her attack is too weak and she is hit away by the water. Ganju suddenly breaks through a nearby wall with Seppa and the sand from the wall encases the water and destroys it. Hanatarō is also with him and a shocked Ichigo asks them what they're doing here. The water suddenly reforms to attack the group, but Ganju throws a firework at it and destroys the water.

Aftermath
Hō and Ban grab onto their chests in pain and their bodies suddenly grow old and turn into dust, much to the shock of everyone else. Rukia remarks that even though they looked like children, they were most likely very old and well past their limits. She states that once their dolls were lost, there was nothing left to hold them together and that's why they just died. Orihime suddenly realizes that Uryū is missing and outside Uryū is shown walking towards somewhere. At the Bount Mansion, Ichinose and the rest of the Bount are shown together. Kariya enters the room and Ichinose welcomes him back. Kariya tells Ichinose that he did a good job and then asks Ryō where Hō and Ban are. Ryō states that they were most likely defeated, but Kariya simply laughs at this.