Fury of the Shark! Harribel Releases

'''Fury of the Shark! Harribel Releases''' is the two hundred and seventieth-third episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: June 1st, 2010
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: ChAngE
 * Ending Song: Stay Beautiful
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 353, Chapter 354
 * Kanji: 鮫の猛威！ハリベル解放
 * Romaji: "Same no mōi! Hariberu kaihō"
 * Arc: The Fake Karakura Town Arc

Summary
Outside the walls of Las Noches, Yammy, Rukia, Renji and Chad all sense the disappearance of Ulquiorra's Reiryoku. Ichigo's friends wonder if he had won, but Yammy punches in anger through the wall, as he realizes Ulquiorra was defeated, and he had intended to go help him after he was finished with the three. He tells the trio that they are no match for him, since he has been increasing his Reiatsu during the past few days by eating and sleeping a lot. Chad notices that Yammy grows larger as he speaks and Chad remembers that he was near human size when he first came to Karakura Town. Renji then tells them to look at the tattoo on Yammy's shoulder, signalling him as the 10th Espada, and reminds them that they each fought stronger Espada than him and survived. He tells them they shouldn't worry about Yammy just because of his size, but that they should simply defeat him and go see Ichigo.

These words, however, only serve to enrage Yammy, who draws his Zanpakutō and releases his Resurrección, Ira. The sheer force that erupts from Yammy's release pushes the three back and they stare in amazement as Yammy grows to a gargantuan size. As they look on, the 1 digit in the tattoo is erased. In his released form, Yammy looks like a titanic beast with eight pairs of legs, two arms and a tail. Yammy then reveals that, if he properly recharges beforehand, his release turns him into the strongest Espada, and so the Espada ranks go from nine to zero instead of ten to one, as they thought. With that he clenches his fist and throws a punch at the trio, who all dodge the blow. Renji attempts an attack with his Shikai, but is swatted away by Yammy. Rukia manages to stop Yammy's next attack with Tsukishiro, but Yammy effortlessly breaks the ice and continues his rampage. Chad is able to withstand Yammy's punch with his armored right hand's shield, which he follows with a La Muerte. Although Yammy was surprised by the attack, it leaves him unharmed.

Renji decides to release his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, but the sword's first clash with the Espada's fist causes it to break into its links. Renji uses the broken links for a binding technique on Yammy, allowing Chad and Rukia to use a united assault of El Directo and Hakuren, but Yammy manages to defeat all of their techniques by simply increasing his Reiatsu. The three are pushed back and half buried in the sand that rose to the air when Yammy blocked their attack. As they look back at Yammy, they find that once again he was left unscathed. Yammy says that he told them they wouldn't be a match and launches a Cero at the three.

In fake Karakura Town 10th Division's Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya is fighting 3rd Espada, Tia Harribel. The Espada attacks, forcing the captain to release his Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, but still he is thrown down into the street. Harribel launches her Ola Azul at Hitsugaya. At a nearby street, 7th Division's Captain Sajin Komamura is standing guard as 3rd Division's Lieutenant Izuru Kira is healing four incapacitated lieutenants. Kira grows concerned as he watches the captains struggling against the rivals. 8th Division's Captain Shunsui Kyōraku is fighting 1st Espada, Coyote Starrk. Starrk manages to land a successful hit, tearing through the captain's straw hat and nicking his head. Kyōraku tells Starrk he was surprised by his abilities, but Starrk replies that since Kyōraku's hat and kimono are still in place, he is the one truly surprised. Hitsugaya tries to make his way to Harribel, but she manages to keep him at bay with shots of Ola Azul. Eventually she surprises him and lands a hit of her own, sending him into the pavement again.

2nd Division's Captain Soifon and Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda are fighting 2nd Espada, Baraggan Luisenbarn. Soifon is crouching on a rooftop, exhausted. Ōmaeda regains consciousness and gets out from under the rubble in which he was buried. Barragan remarks that their efforts weren't very impressive, as they weren't even able to get him to move. He smashes his throne with a single punches and takes out his Zanpakutō, a large battleaxe. Ōmaeda suggests to his captain that it's time to release the limit seals so that they could go all out against their enemies. Barragan is fascinated to learn that the Shinigami might still have something up their sleeve and urges them to use it. Soifon, however, explains that the limit seals weren't applied this time, because of the emergency situation they were in. Ōmaeda shudders when he realizes they were all fighting at the peak of their powers from the start.

Harribel, seeing how little effort it took of her to get the upper hand over Hitsugaya, asks if this is all a captain has to offer, since her Fracción were killed by a captain. She decides to finish Hitsugaya off and then go avenge the lives of her Fracción. She releases her Resurrección, Tiburón. Hitsugaya notes that Her outwards appearance was hardly changed by the release, but remembers that he must keep his guard against her. Without a word, Harribel raises her weapon and slashes off Hitsugaya's right hand and wing. Believing the young captain to be defeated, Harribel tells him he never stood a chance, as one bite from the shark was enough to send the ice dragon flying into the sea. Kira cries out for Hitsugaya, but Komamura reminds him that he must have faith in his comrades, he asks him to keep on healing the other lieutenants. Harribel now sets her sights on Yamamoto, the man who destroyed her followers, but she is forced to hold back an attack from an unharmed Hitsugaya, the one she cut down was an illusion made of Ice. Hitsugaya advises Harribel not to belittle the captains' abilities so much.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Yamamoto tells Soifon he has great expectations of her in this battle, Soifon acknowledges it. But when the Captain-Commander wants to tell Ōmaeda to do his best as well, he can't remember the lieutenant's name. Embarrassed, Ōmaeda tries to whisper his name to the Captain-Commander, but the latter either doesn't hear or ignores the lieutenant and refers to him as 'you'. Ōmaeda is crushed to find his supreme commander doesn't know his name, but he is devastated when his captain tells him that this shows his opinion about him.

Fights

 * Yammy's Rampage
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Tia Harribel
 * Shunsui Kyōraku & Jūshirō Ukitake vs. Coyote Starrk
 * Soifon & Marechiyo Ōmaeda vs. Baraggan Luisenbarn

Powers and Techniques Used
Kidō used Techniques used
 * Bakudō #37, (flashback)
 * Bakudō #73, (flashback)
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Hollow techniqus used

Zanpakutō released

Shikai:
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Bankai:
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Resurrección used
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Other powers