Muramasa's True Identity Revealed

Muramasa's True Identity Revealed is the two hundred fifty-third episode of the Bleach anime.

Captain Byakuya Kuchiki defeats Kōga Kuchiki as Muramasa loses all control and transforms into a Hollow version of himself. While Ichigo Kurosaki battles Muramasa, many Shinigami and their Zanpakutō Spirits arrive to help.

Summary
As Ichigo wonders what happened to Muramasa while facing a large group of Gillians, Muramasa is fighting a losing battle to keep his Reiatsu in check. As he tries to withstand the pain, he repeatedly calls for his master, to no effect as hundreds of Hollows from within his body are released. Ichigo tries to fight them off with Getsuga Tenshō, wondering where they came from, to which Rukia suggests they were absorbed by him, but have been freed. As Muramasa loses control, more Hollows are attracted to the area. Ichigo attempts to fight them off, but as more continue arriving, Uryū Ishida's fires his arrows, which prove more effective for the large group. Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue join the group just in time for Orihime to protect them from a Cero shot by a Menos. As the group looks on, Muramasa implodes into a spiritual black hole.

Elsewhere, Kōga and Byakuya's clash comes to an end. Byakuya staggers, but Senbonzakura appears and supports him. Kōga is mortally injured, and has to support himself with his spear to keep himself from falling. Refusing to admit defeat, he calls for Muramasa. Despite his call, his Zanpakutō does not come, and he topples over into the water and dies. With Kōga defeated, Senbonzakura comments that his power caused him to have preposterous goals, to which Byakuya states that it was because he lacked the mind to control himself. As Senbonzakura tells Byakuya he can return to where he belongs, Byakuya simply tells his Zanpakutō Spirit he talks too much.

Meanwhile, the horde of Hollows attracted by Muramasa's explosion of Reiatsu are now hopelessly dragged into and absorbed by the black hole. To the group's surprise, Gillians are also hoisted into the air and sucked into the vortex. Once all the Menos are absorbed, the black hole begins pulsating before flash of light appears, followed by an explosion. When the smoke from the explosion clears, Muramasa appears in a new form, that of a Hollow. Rukia Kuchiki explains that Zanpakutō share their body and soul with their masters, bonding with their souls and living in symbiosis with them. Therefore, Muramasa had to rely on energy absorbed from Hollows to stay alive. Due to Kōga's betrayal, the Hollow energy spun out of his control, giving him his new form.

Muramasa continues to release his Reiatsu, and the group realizes that they must stop him before it engulfs all of Karakura Town. Muramasa attacks Ichigo, who blocks his attack as he forcefully gets driven back. Muramasa proves far too agile for Uryū's arrows, which miss at each turn. When Muramasa goes for Rukia and Orihime, he is stopped by Chad, who blocks him with his Brazo Derecha de Gigante and throws him off course. As Muramasa recovers, Ichigo comes down from above and attacks, but is blocked and repelled. After a short pause, in which Muramasa attempts to regain his self-control, he charges a Cero and launches it straight at Rukia and Orihime. The two are saved by the arrival of Byakuya and Senbonzakura, who block the Cero.

As Rukia notices his injuries, Byakuya insists that they must deal with Muramasa, and states Muramasa must have completely turned into a Hollow to be able to fire a Cero. However, as Muramasa renews his struggle to control the Hollow powers within him, Orihime runs towards the struggling spirit and pleads with him to stop fighting, telling him that Kōga is dead. Though Rukia tries to stop her, Orihime continues, believing that the Hollows have not yet taken him over, as he is still fighting for control. The confused Muramasa calls for Kōga again, despite his transformation. Orihime, still pleading, steps even closer. Just as it appears as if Muramasa had won, the Hollow takes over again and Muramasa attacks Orihime. She blocks instinctively with Santen Kesshun, but the shield breaks and Orihime is thrown back, with Rukia going after her.

Muramasa's attacks again, but is blocked by Ichigo, who forces him back and proceeds to counterattack. The two spar for a while before Muramasa unleashes a barrage of Bala, which Ichigo avoids by Hollowfying. Ichigo responds to Muramasa's next Cero with a Getsuga Tenshō, which hits him. Muramasa is hurt, but quickly recovers and begins to open a Garganta in the sky. Ichigo attempts to stop him, at which point the Garganta attracts more Hollows which get in his way. Chad, Uryū, Byakuya, and Rukia fight off the Hollows, while Ichigo reaches Muramasa and manages to hit him with a point blank Getsuga Tenshō.

Badly hurt, Muramasa falls to the ground. Ichigo lands next to him and to his surprise, Muramasa suddenly transforms again. Changing form, Muramasa states that he can't lose and engulfs Ichigo with his shifting mass. Orihime attempts to help, but is taken back by Rukia, who tells her they need to move. Muramasa transforms into a huge dome-like structure that emits Gillians, which attack the group while the Garganta continues to expand. Byakuya releases Senbonzakura and dispatches most of the Menos, but one chases Rukia and Orihime.

As it is about to fire a Cero, Sode no Shirayuki arrives and freezes it with Tsugi no mai, Hakuren, destroying it as a result. Rukia is surprised to see Sode no Shirayuki, who reveals that she has been accompanied several officers of the Gotei 13, all of whom have reunited with their Zanpakutō and prepare for battle.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Kaname Tōsen discovers a massive drop in the Menos Grande population. He expresses to Gin Ichimaru his concern that somebody might be poaching them. It turns out that Tōsen has been taking care of the Menos, keeping an eye on their health and monitoring their diet in order to create the ultimate Menos. Gin wonders where he intended to ship them to.

Fights

 * Byakuya Kuchiki vs. Kōga Kuchiki (Concluded)
 * Return of the Zanpakutō Spirits

Powers and Techniques Used
Kidō used:
 * Hadō #33

Hollow techniques:

Techniques used:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Shinigami techniques used:

Fullbring used:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Other powers: