Penetrate the Center with an Enormous Bombshell?

Penetrate the Center with an Enormous Bombshell? is the twenty-fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: March 29, 2005
 * English Airdate: March 2, 2007
 * Opening Song: *~Asterisk~
 * Ending Song: Thank You!!
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 83, Chapter 84, Chapter 85.
 * Kanji: 巨大砲弾で中央突破?
 * Romaji: "Kyodai hōdan de chūō toppa?"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Sneak Entry arc

Summary
The episode begins with a recap of Episode 24, when Ichigo lost his concentration causing their spirit orb to destabilize and explode. Then Kuukaku told him that he shouldn't have lost his concentration. Then, Ichigo falls asleep, after being stomped on by Kuukaku several times. Ganju get's up looking surprised (with a big lump on his head, after he Kuukaku hit him telling him that he was also to be blamed). Yoruichi walks over to Ichigo, and explains to Ganju that he is just sleeping. Then Yoruichi screams, and the screen switches. It's later on in the day, and Ichigo is still sleeping, while Ganju is off behind him chanting something. Ichigo wakes up saying: "CATNIP!", than asks Ganju: "What the hell was I dreaming about?". Ganju [obviously] replies by saying: "How the hell should I know?". Ichigo then asks: "Why was I sleeping here anyway?" Ganju responds in the same way. Ichigo asks him what he was reading, Ganju then gives Ichigo a rather rude response; telling him it's none of his business. Ishida walks in and tell's Ichigo and Ganju that it's time to go.

The screen changes to just outside of the cannon. Ichigo says: "Yoruichi-san! Your tail looks like one of those really bendy tooth brushes!", Yoruichi then get's a really displeasing red aura around him, and say's: "Do you have a problem wiht that!?". Ishida then explains to Ichigo that he's the one who did that, and that it took all three of them (Ishida, Chad and Orihime) just to get Ichigo off of Yoruichi's tail. Ganju then arrives, sporting a very err... nice... outfit. He explains that it's his Battle Costume. Ichigo's wondering what it's for, because Ganju is only seeing them off. He then walks up to Ichigo, and starts to say: "Listen. My brother was killed by death gods!". He also tells Kuukaku to listen. His speech goes like this: "My brother... Was a genius. He was accepted to the death god institute on the first try. At that point, his spirit power was already at level 6. That was in the junior adjadent of the 13 court gaurdian squads. Then, he graduated the 6 year curriculum in 1 year and joined one of the actuall squads. In only 5 years he managed to climb his way up to lieutenant. But he was killed! He was betrayed by the death gods who were his comrades! I was still a kid back then, so I don't remember the details. But there are two things that I will never forget: Faces! Two Faces! The deom-like face of the death god who dragged my betaen and dying brother home... And the face of my brother happily thanking that death god. Why he did that... Why he seemed so happy... I still don't know. But there's one thing I can say: My brother didn't despise the death gods. He didn't hate them."

The speech went on for about 3 minutes, Ganju then grabs Ichigo's shoulder and says: "You're different from other death gods.". A flash back of when Ichigo tells Ganju why he want's to save Rukia plays. Ganju then say's: "Thats the feeling I get. I think that if I go with you I might find something out." After this, Yoruichi asks everyone if they're ready to use the cannon. They all, of course, say yes. Ichigo then asks if Yoruichi is able to make the cannonball; Yoruichi then tries. Ichigo lay's the orb down, and Yoruichi walks onto it. Success! He emits a perfect cannonball on his first try. Kuukaku calls Ganju up to the foot of the cannon and asks him if he's mastered it yet. He say's yes, and Kuukaku uses some sort of demon magic to make an opening at the bottom of the cannon, where the people go in.

Everyone enters the cannon, and Yoruichi begins to explain the plan for when they get into the court. He states that; when you're in, if you find a captain, run away without a moments hesitation. The screen switches to Kuukaku, who is just about to fire the cannon. She chants something strange, and her artificial arm lights on fire as she holds it up above her head. She lowers her arm, and the oil around the cannon ignites, and Kuukaku chants the words: "Embraced by 25 suns, the cradle of sand will spill blood.". The fire then goes back into her arm, and back out, but up to the top of the cannon. It breaks a string of beads around the middle of the cannon, and the group is fired off into the air; "KAGIZAKI!". B part begins.

The group is in the air, and the cannon-ball speed's up and turns out towards the court. Ganju pulls out a scroll, and explains that Kagizaki is a 2 part spell: First, the chant to fire it off, and then the continuation spell. The continuation spell control's the speed and trajectory of the cannon-ball. Everyone begins to uniformly regulate their spirit power, while Ganju begins to chant the continuation spell. Though, Ichigo's spirit power is to high for him to control easily, so he has to work really hard to lower it to the levels of everyone else. The screen changes.

At the emergency meeting, an alarm is sounding saying that there are intruders. All squads must take defensive positions. At the meeting, Zaraki Kenpachi (The 11th squad captain) leaves to find Ichigo's group. On the way out, a small pink haired girl comes out and says: "Ken CH~AN!", Apparently her name is Yachiru. "'Tis unavoidable" the first squad captain say's, while in the meeting "The squad meeting is temporarily dismissed." "I will notify you later of Ichimaru's status."."All squads, proceed to defensive positions.". The captains begin to walk out of the room. "It seem's the alarm sounds quite conveniently these days." Captain Aizen say's to Captain Ichimaru on his way out. "I 'Aint sure I undertand" replies Ichimaru "...What yer tryin' to say.". "Do you think that excuse will work?" says' Aizen. "You had best not underestimate me.". He walks away, and Captain Hitsugaya (the short guy) was standing behind him with a concerned look on his face. The screen changes. Rukia is sitting down, looking out the window. She then gives a surprised look- and the screen changes. Kenpachi and Yachiru are running, they stop. "W-What is that!?" Renji say's, after yet, another screen change. He looks up into the sky, and see's the cannon-ball closing in. Everyone in the ball begins to pour in all their soul power, as the ball hit's the anti-soul shield. The ball breaks through, but then when it's in, it breaks in mid-air. Everyone then has to grab onto someone else, so that they won't get seperated when they fall. Ganju begins to move towards Ichigo, but Ichigo get's really freaked out and tries to get him away. They have to grab onto the person closest to them as hard as they can- of course that's not a problem for Ganju and Ichigo, as they're already at each-others throats. Yoruichi then goes onto Ichigo's shoulder, Chad holds onto Orihime, but Ishida is flying away. Chad let's go of Orihime, as Ishida is falling out of the safe zone. Chad goes out with him, and grabs him and throws him back into the safe zone and onto Orihime. Chad falls alone. Orihime and ichigo try to grab each others hand, but the safe zone disipates first, and they all fly away. Now Kenpahi has to make a very... tough, decision. Which of the 4 separate balls holds the most powerful ryoka? ... "WHICH IS IT!?"

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Shunsui Kyōraku.