Reality of the Despair, the Assassin's Dagger is Swung

Reality of the Despair, the Assassin's Dagger is Swung is the sixtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: December 6, 2005
 * English Airdate: April 20, 2008
 * Opening Song: Ichirin No Hana
 * Ending Song: Life
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 168, Chapter 169, Chapter 170, Chapter 171.
 * Kanji: 絶望の真実、振り下ろされた凶刃
 * Romaji: "Zetsubō no shinjitsu, furiorosareta kyōjin"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Rescue arc

Summary
10th Division captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, enter the Central 46 Chambers' compound. At the entrance to the main hall, they stop cold and gaze in horror at the sight before them: The entire Central 46 Assembly has been slaughtered. Upon inspection, Hitsugaya finds that the blood is already black and flaking, he quickly comes to a realization that all the orders issued by Central 46 ever since Renji Abarai's defeat by Ichigo Kurosaki were fake. He decides that Gin Ichimaru couldn't possibly have done all of this by himself and probably had help.

While he is inspecting the bodies he is surprised to hear the voice of Izuru Kira, Ichimaru's lieutenant in the 3rd Division, saying he figured he'd find Captain Htsugaya there. Hitsugaya questions his involvement but Kira turns back and runs away. Hitsugaya and Matsumoto give chase.

Outside, Hitsugaya attempts again to interrogate Kira. The latter replies that he was ordered by Central 46 to unlock the door so that Hitsugaya could enter the Compound, he then suggests that instead of chasing him asking pointless questions, Hitsugaya should worry about Momo Hinamori who broke out of her prison cell and has been following him the entire time. Hitsugaya departs to find Hinamori and leaves Kira to his lieutenant.

Having only Matsumoto on his trail, Kira stops and releases his Zanpakutō, Wabisuke. Having cut Matsumoto's sword eight times, her sword becomes significantly heavier. Matsumoto releases her own Zanpakutō to defeat Kira.

Back in the Central 46 chamber, Hinamori is surprised by Ichimaru, who tells her to follow him. He leads her to Seijo to Kyorin, the living quarters of the central 46, where she meets Sōsuke Aizen, Her former captain and partner whom she believed to be deceased. Aizen apologizes to Hinamori for hurting her by staging his death. As she weeps tears of joy he holds her and apologizes again, then bids her farewell before skewering her through her stomach. Aizen and Ichimaru leave as Hinamori lies dying on the floor.

As Aizen and Ichimaru are leaving the living quarters, they run into a distraught Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya is shocked to see Aizen alive and demands explanations. Aizen assures Hitsugaya that he is alive and tells Ichimaru he needs to explain Hitsugaya's presence there. Ichimaru replies that Kira must not have been able to keep Hitsugaya occupied. Hearing this exchange, Hitsugaya asks what the two are talking about, and is answered by Aizen that they are talking about "The breaking down of an enemy's fighting power...". Hitsugaya hangs on to the word 'enemy' and asks for Momo's whereabouts. Sensing Hinamori's presence behind them, Hitsugaya flash steps to her side.

Aizen provokes Hitsugaya to attack, saying no other person but Ichimaru has ever been fit to be his lieutenant. He explains that he wasn't lying but that no one else was capable of understanding, as his true identity was beyond them. He says Hinamori's admiration for him made her easier to control, since admiration is the furthest quality from understanding. After hearing that Hitsugayaha's had enough, and he draws his sword, releasing it as he does, he then reveals his bankai.

4th Division captain, Retsu Unohana, and her lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu, rush to the scene.

Hitsugaya lunges forward impaling Aizen through the chest, as Aizen's body is covered with ice; he smirks and to Hiysugaya's surprise disappears. A wider shot reveals Aizen standing behind Hitsugaya, his sword dripping blood, and a huge gush of blood spraying out of Hitsugaya's body.

Aizen tells Unohana that her presence there is not a complete surprise to him. She replies that Seijo to Kyorin is the perfect location for him to carry out his plans, after having used a gigai to stage his death. Aizen then reveals the true power of his Zanpakutō, Kyōka Suigetsu, as that of complete hypnosis. By revealing a person to the released Kyōka Suigetsu he is able to control his five senses. Unohana then understands that since Kyōka Suigetsu's powers are based on sight, the blind Kaname Tōsen has been Aizen's cohort from the start, and Aizen confirms it.

At the same time Tōsen is blocking Renji Abarai's path as he is running away with Rukia Kuchiki in his arms. Without a word, Tōsen transports the three of them to the Sōkyoku, right when Ichimaru transports himself and Aizen there.

Finding himself back at the Sōkyoku and greeted by Aizen, Abarai struggles to understand the situation. Aizen orders him to leave Kuchiki and back away.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * Rangiku Matsumoto
 * Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * Sōsuke Aizen
 * Kenpachi Zaraki
 * Shunsui Kyōraku
 * Gin Ichimaru
 * Byakuya Kuchiki
 * Sajin Komamura
 * Izuru Kira
 * Momo Hinamori
 * Retsu Unohana
 * Isane Kotetsu
 * Kaname Tōsen
 * Soifon
 * Mayuri Kurotsuchi

Powers and techniques used
Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:


 * Wabisuke (侘助, Miserable Man)
 * Haineko (灰猫, Ash Cat)
 * Hyōrinmaru (氷輪丸, Ice Ring)
 * Kyōka Suigetsu (鏡花水月, Mirror Flower, Water Moon)

Bankai:


 * Daiguren Hyōrinmaru  (大紅蓮 氷輪丸, Great Crimson Lotus Ice Ring)

Techniques used:


 * Kanzen Saimin (完全催眠, Complete Hypnosis)