Bount Invasion

The Bount Invasion was a major conflict detailing the war between the Soul Society and the last remnants of the Bount. It was an invasion held by Jin Kariya and his followers Gō Koga, Yoshino Sōma, Maki Ichinose, Mabashi and Sawatari

The conflict started when Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends returned from the Soul Society after rescuing Rukia Kuchiki and they are put through various tests by a group of Modified Souls created by Kisuke Urahara for the purpose of training them.

The conflict ended when Ichigo defeated Kariya, the leader of the Bounts and returned to Karakura town with his friends once again.

Prelude
After arriving back from Soul Society, Ichigo has difficulty readjusting to everyday life but is thrown back into things when Orihime Inoue is kidnapped. Ichigo and friends are then put through a series of tests with more and more people eventually disappearing after each test. When finally Ichigo's group confront the three kidnappers, they learn the entire thing was a test orchestrated by Kisuke Urahara and everyone is informed of the Bount.

Urahara explains that the three kidnappers are Modified Souls that also serve as Bount sensors and gives a different one to Ichigo, Sado and Orihime. All three sensors detect a Bount later and Ichigo is the first to arrive. Ichigo battles against the Bount but struggles greatly until Rukia Kuchiki arrives. Another Bount arrives and kidnaps the first, ending the battle. Later, Ririn senses another Bount and everyone heads off to find him. They engage Utagawa and Utagawa begins fighting dirty, trying to attack the powerless Uryū Ishida. Before Utagawa can get his hands on Uryū though, Yoshino arrives and saves him, taking the Quincy with her. Utagawa is then forced away by the arrival of Tessai Tsukabishi, Renji Abarai, Jinta Hanakari and Ururu Tsumugiya.

Uryū is later found in Karakura Hospital and when his friends arrive, he tells them what he learned of the Bount, namely that they are beginning to consume Human souls and need a Quincy is needed in their plan. The sink then begins flooding and they try to stop it but have no success. The water then begins to attack the group and a struggle begins. Everyone finds it difficult to battle water as it constantly reforms itself as it goes after Uryū. The battle continues but the group still has no luck in destroying the water. They eventually get out of the hospital and confront the two young Bount. After separating the two, Ganju Shiba arrives and with the aid of his fireworks, defeats the two Bount, earning the team their first victory against the Bount. However, Uryū has gone missing. After collapsing in the street, Uryū is saved once more by Yoshino. She takes him back to her room and explains more of the history of the Bount. However, their time is cut short by the arrival of Gō Koga who manages to capture Uryū and Yoshino. They are taken back to the Bount's mansion and Yoshino is thrown into a cell. Kariya confronts Uryū then and asks him to join the Bount. Uryū refuses and he is locked in a cell. Meanwhile, after searching for some time, Ichigo and the others arrive at the mansion and after some difficulty getting in, they manage to finally enter the mansion where they are greeted by the Bount.

Early Stages
In the Bount mansion, Ichigo and friends are confronted by Jin Kariya who greets them and calls Ichigo by his full name. Shocked, Ichigo asks how he knows this and Kariya says that it is his business to know. Ichigo says he is going to take Uryū back but Kariya says he will not give him up. Ichigo prepares to fight the Bount when Ryō Utagawa activates his doll and attacks. Ichigo worries about taking seven Bount on at once but Utagawa says that Ichigo will only fight him. Utagawa asks Kariya to remove his crest and he does so, placing it on the ground. Utagawa begins sending snakes to attack Ichigo who struggles at first. Ichigo tries to cut Utagawa but Utagawa merely uses his snakes as a shield. Finally Ichigo manages to cut his opponent but a Pentagram appears under Utagawa and a mass of snakes attacks Ichigo from all directions. When Ichigo is finally able to destroy them all, Utagawa has his snake steal Kariya's crest. He explains that with that, he will become the leader of the Bount. However, Maki Ichinose appears and kills the traitorous Bount and then prepares to battle Ichigo.

Ichigo and Ichinose begin trading blows but Ichinose gains the upper hand with his speed. Ichinose then uses a special attack from his Zanpakutō to envelop Ichigo in light. Ichigo is then attacked by shadows. Slamming his Zanpakutō into the ground, Ichigo is able to save himself with a small explosion. Kariya then steps in and says that he will finish things as he has taken an interest in Ichigo. Kariya asks Ichigo to join them but Ichigo quickly declines. Ichigo attacks Kariya but it is useless. Kariya places a finer on Ichigo's head, immobilizing him and then flicks him, sending him flying against the wall. Kariya and Ichinose begin to walk away then but Ichigo gets up, prepared to continue. However, the mansion is attacked by Ururu Tsumugiya and Jinta Hanakari. The Mod Souls find Uryū who then runs to get Yoshino. Everyone flees the mansion then. Later that night, the Bount examine the ruins of the mansion and Kariya tells the others to let things be.

Later, at the Urahara Shop, Yoshino and Uryū talk about Kariya. She says that she does not really understand what he is trying to do. Uryū asks her about her pride as a Bount and she relates it to his Quincy pride. She says that the Bount are unable to reproduce and that they will fall to ruin over the years. As Uryū falls asleep, she gets up and gives him a kiss on the forehead, thanking him and saying goodbye. She then leaves the store and heads to the Bount mansion. She confronts Kariya, who tries to reason with her one last time but she summons her doll, asking if it would not mind dying here with her. He understands and attacks Kariya but Kariya is too quick. Yoshino is nearly hit by one of Goethe's fire blasts and Kariya warns her of her power. He then reveals that Yoshino is the only Bount with the power of motherhood. He grabs Yoshino and tells her he needs her power. Crushing her crest, Goethe goes wild and burns Kariya's shirt off, revealing that he has a crest on his chest and that he has merged with his doll. Yoshino then call Goethe who attacks Kariya only to be killed. However, the pieces of him enter Yoshino and they fuse. She makes one final charge at Kariya who strikes her down. Her body then disappears into a green light which forms at Kariya's feet. He recites a chant and a red seal. Dozen's of eggs emerge from the seal and hatch, becoming the Bitto. Kariya and the Bitto then disappear.

Middle Stages
Inside a cave, Kariya explains the new bitto to the other Bount. He tells them that the bitto collect the souls of living humans and that it is highly purified. He calls a bitto over and pours its contents into a glass. Drinking from it, his power increases wildly. All the other Bount agree to take part in drinking from the bitto with the exception of Mabashi refuses. Kariya punishes Mabashi for this and then states that he is the new law. The Bount then drink from the Bitto, gaining a large increase in power and Kariya goes over to Mabashi and forces him to drink. Meanwhile, in Soul Society, Tōshirō Hitsugaya has formed a team of Shūhei Hisagi, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Rangiku Matsumoto and Izuru Kira to investigate the Bount in the real world. In the real world, the bitto have swarmed the streets, taking many souls. Keigo Asano is attacked and left unconscious. When Ichigo arrives and tries to take him away, Gō Koga arrives.