Battle of the Kasumiōji Assassins

Prologue
Kumoi is seen addressing his new group of assassins and their leader, Hanza Nukui. He presents Nukui with his own Bakkoto, and he takes it with gratitude. He then tells Hanza and the other assassins to eliminate Lurichiyo in the real world. The Bakkoto attaches itself onto his arm, and he smiles as the power courses through his body.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Enryu is standing guard outside Urahara Shop, whilst Ririn, Noba and Kurodo try and tell them to leave. Behind them, Lurichiyo is preoccupied with a ping-pong ball strapped to a racquet, whilst Jinta and Ururu watch on. Ururu comments on her natural skill, but Jinta says it is just beginner's luck. When they get in an argument, Enryu is quick to break it up.

Urahara explains that there is a shortage of reishi in Soul Society, which is limiting the supply of merchandise to his shop. He assumes that this is no natural incident; that someone is doing this on purpose. He goes on to say that the decrease in Reishi occurred around the time that Lurichiyo appeared. Yoruichi buts in, saying that this has never occurred before, and that the two incidents are connected.

Hanza and the other assassins appear on the outskirts of Karakura Town. Hanza then instructs the assassins to separate Ichigo and the others from Princess Lurichiyo. They move out, while Hanza wonders how good the Substitute Shinigami really is, to have defeated the other assassins.

Battle
While Ichigo and his friends are walking with Kenryu, Enryu and Lurichiyo, they all feel an unusual reiatsu rippling throughout the town. Ichigo tells Rukia and Orihime to escort Lurichiyo back to her house, with Uryu and Sado following him to find the source of the unusual reiatsu. The three of them notice that their enemies' reiatsu has diffused, and they realise they were lured into a trap. .

Ichigo and his friends split up also, with Ichigo coming across the leader of the assassins, Hanza Nukui. Ichigo recognises the reiatsu of the man to that of which he experienced in Soul Society. Hanza introduces himself to Ichigo, stating that he wants to see how much skill a Substitute Shinigami has. Meanwhile, Uryu is seen running down a road, and jumps to dodge several daggers.

Uryu notices four assassins standing before him. Sado also has encountered the assassins, and is able to dodge most of their strikes effortlessly, but releases his Brazo Derecha de Gigante in order to take the offensive. Rukia and the others are seen running to the house, but four assassins emerge from the nearby river, and proceed to surround them forthwith.

Ichigo and Hanza clash, and he recognises Hanza's sword as the one that the previous assassin utilised. Ichigo is able to parry all of Hanza's attacks with ease, and Hanza backs off momentarily. Ichigo states that the previous assassin was a lot stronger than him, and Hanza accepts this as the truth, as he cannot defeat Ichigo with strength alone.

Suddenly, purple reiatsu surrounds Hanza, as his Bakkoto's tentacles wrap around his right arm. He then releases the abilities of his Bakkoto, Saiga, as the dial on the hilt lights up brilliantly. Ichigo blocks the glare with Zangetsu, assuming that he has the ability worked out. But Hanza divulges to him that the weapon is more powerful when used by a person with higher reiatsu. Ichigo shouts out, as the light completely swathes his body.

Meanwhile, Uryu is seen using his Ginrei Kojaku in order to fight against the assassins, who dodge the arrows with ease. Uryu is amazed at their significant speed, and dodges a direct attack from another assassin. He resolves to move to a more open area, in order for him to fight better. The assassins continue to pursue him as he goes on the move.

Sado is seen struggling against the assassins, and thrusts his right arm forwards, with the assassin blocking his attack with his sword. Rukia is also seen experiencing difficulty against the assassins, who continue dodging her attacks, as they try to launch a surprise attack upon Orihime, who is guarding Lurichiyo. But Orihime shields them with her Santen Kesshun, whilst counterattacking with Koten Zanshun.

She tells Kenryu and Enryu to run for it, as she and Rukia are surrounded by Assassins. Meanwhile, Ichigo is seen inside Saiga's mirror, and he realises that he cannot move his body. Hanza laughs wildly, stating that his body will be paralyzed so long as he is trapped inside the mirror. He then goes on to explain that the more reiatsu the user has, the stronger the sword becomes.

Hanza says that he will kill him in one strike, but Ichigo refuses to believe this, as black reiatsu pours forth from his body, which cracks Saiga's mirror. But Hanza is unperturbed, proceeding to strike the immobilized Ichigo, who wills his body to move, but before Hanza can strike him, the mirror breaks, much to the surprise oof the combatants. Suddenly, Yoruichi bursts through the mirror with Shunko, sending Hanza recoiling backwards.

Ichigo thanks Yoruichi for saving his life, but Yoruichi shrugs him off, as Hanza tries to attack first. Yoruichi then tells him to check the reiatsu of the other assassins. Uryu fires off incessant arrows at the assassins, with each hitting its target, as Sado and Rukia successfully defeat their opponents. Hanza gasps in surprise, and tries to retreat, but Ichigo follows him.

Hanza shines Saiga's light at Ichigo, causing him to evade, resulting in him fleeing the scene. At the other areas, the assassins are seen to be simultaneously committing suicide, exploding in brilliant bursts of blue energy. Hanza curses the intervention of Yoruichi Shihoin, and remarks that Ichigo's reiatsu was unnatural. He then goes on to say that defeating them won't be an easy task.