The Invisible Enemy! Hitsugaya's Merciless Decision

 is the one-hundred and thirtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

The Shinigami Strike Force searches for the Cloning Arrancar.

Summary
In the past, Shōta Toyokawa walks through Karakura Town with his sister, Yui Toyokawa, as Souls following their deaths in a car crash that same day which separated them from their parents. Continuing to search for their parents all over the city and in the pouring rain for several days with the Humans around them unable to perceive them, Shōta and Yui are unable to locate them and fall asleep beneath a tree in a forest one night. Some time later, Shōta wakes up and discovers that Yui is missing.

After realizing that Yui left to look for their parents by herself, Shōta frantically runs through the forest and repeatedly calls out to her. Upon hearing Yui scream in fright, Shōta rushes toward her location and sees her sitting in a clearing, only to stop in fright upon entering the clearing and being confronted by the original Hollow form of the Cloning Arrancar. With the Hollow glaring at Shōta through his jaws and roaring, a terrified Shōta begins inching back despite Yui's pleas to save her and eventually flees, leaving Yui to collapse and beg Shōta to come back as the chuckling Hollow approaches her from behind.

In the present, Shōta stands before 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto next to Yui, who is sitting on a swing in the park, and concludes that he was trembling on the ground far away from the park when he regained consciousness that night before calling himself despicable for running away and abandoning Yui to her fate while crying into his sleeve. When Rangiku questions what happened next, Shōta asserts that he deeply regretted what he did and gathered up the courage to return to the park, but did not find Yui there. In the past, Shōta finds himself standing before another Arrancar clone in the park, where he demands to know where Yui is.

However, the Arrancar clone declines to answer, and when an intimidated Shōta tells him to give Yui back, the Arrancar clone tells him to look for Yui himself and laughs. Angered by this, Shōta picks up a rock and throws it at the Arrancar clone's head, causing the latter to begin chasing him in irritation and leading to Rangiku herself saving Shōta. In the present, Shōta states that he abandoned Yui and points out how Yui still has faith that he will protect her. Suddenly, Rangiku puts her hand on his shoulder and kneels as she observes that it must have been hard for him and wipes away the tears from his eyes when he begins sobbing once more.

Rangiku reminds Shōta that Yui was saved and was reunited with him even though she does not know what to make of the situation, meaning that it is not too late for him to protect Yui. However, with Shōta acknowledging this, Rangiku ruminates on the true reason that Yui encountered one of the Arrancar clones prior to being contacted by her captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who informs her that he lost track of the Arrancar clone he was pursuing. Upon being asked about where he is, Hitsugaya details how he is taking care of a Soul who was attacked by the Arrancar clone, though he seems to be too terrified to say whether or not he saw anything.

Suddenly, while Hitsugaya and Rangiku agree to return to Orihime Inoue's apartment, the Soul behind Hitsugaya glows with red Reiatsu and transforms into an Arrancar clone, alerting Hitsugaya right before he attacks the latter with his fist and causes Hitsugaya to drop the Denreishinki as he leaps out of the way at the last second, to Rangiku's alarm. Drawing his Zanpakutō and facing the laughing Arrancar clone, Hitsugaya curses and deduces that he can transform into a Human Soul in order to stay hidden and attack other Souls. When the Arrancar clone lunges toward him, Hitsugaya swiftly cuts off its right arm.

After clutching the stump of his arm in pain, the Arrancar clone transforms back into his Soul form, now missing an arm as well, and frantically runs into an adjoining alley connecting to the street nearby, where Hitsugaya follows him and discovers that he has vanished. Hitsugaya moves to the top of a construction site with Shunpo and realizes that he cannot detect the Arrancar clone's Reiatsu in this form either. Following this, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa appears next to Hitsugaya with Shunpo and explains that he came to make sure Hitsugaya was okay after receiving a concerned call from Rangiku.

In response, Hitsugaya notes that things have become troublesome and promises to tell Yumichika everything once they return to Orihime's apartment. Shortly afterward, with Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Yumichika, Shōta, and Yui back in the apartment, Hitsugaya assures Rangiku that he is fine and just dropped his Denreishinki because he let his guard down. Once Yumichika notes that 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame is currently monitoring Karakura Town, Rangiku reveals that she has been wondering about something potentially related to the appearances of the Arrancar clones, which Hitsugaya decides to hear her out on.

With Shōta and Yui standing silently against the wall, Rangiku details how the date and time of Yui's confrontation with the Arrancar clone means that there is a high probability of her being the first Soul that the Cloning Arrancar encountered. However, Rangiku is unable to tell an inquisitive Yumichika of how Yui survived since it does not even seem like the latter remembers this event. While Yui apologizes for this, Yumichika asks Hitsugaya what he thinks, but Hitsugaya remains unresponsive and continues staring at Yui, to Rangiku's confusion, before realizing what is going on and telling the others that he has figured something out.

Affirming to Yumichika that it has something to do with the matter at hand, Hitsugaya relays the Arrancar clones' ability to transform into Human Souls, which allows them to conceal their Reiatsu and escape the notice of Soul Society so they can approach other Souls in this guise and absorb their Reiryoku in order to multiply further. As he elaborates that the Arrancar clones can absorb many souls at once and gather an incredible amount of power in a short period of time by duplicating themselves, a shocked Rangiku deduces that this means Yui might be a disguised Arrancar clone, prompting a protective Shōta to insist that Yui has nothing to do with this.

With an apologetic Rangiku asserting that they have to proceed carefully since they do not know this for certain, Hitsugaya stands up and draws his Zanpakutō prior to sidestepping Shōta when the latter rushes toward him. However, Hitsugaya simply presses the hilt of his Zanpakutō against Yui's forehead and attempts to perform Konsō, only for the light to fade without anything happening to Yui, to the astonishment of Rangiku. While Shōta rushes over to Yui, who tearfully tells him that she does not know what is going on, Hitsugaya sheathes his Zanpakutō and determines that the Cloning Arrancar has definitely done something to Yui.

Hitsugaya concludes that they do not know when Yui will show her true form and that she is definitely dangerous before instructing the others to have Soul Society examine Yui's Reiatsu immediately. Some time later, in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake and 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon stand behind Rin Tsubokura in front of the Seireitei's monitor as Akon informs Hitsugaya, who is sitting in front of the monitor in Orihime's apartment, that they now have all the necessary Reishi samples, leading Hitsugaya to request that they hurry while Yumichika types on a computer.

With Rangiku adjusting a monitoring headband onto Yui's head, Akon admits that he never expected the Arrancar clones to become the Souls that they consume, which prompts Ukitake to muse that they are increasing their power this way and waiting for the right time to come, though Hitsugaya vows that they will find and destroy the Cloning Arrancar himself before this happens. Once Ukitake acknowledges this, Akon promises to contact Hitsugaya as soon as he gets the results from the analysis and ends the transmission, leaving Hitsugaya to declare that he is going to have Yui stay within a Kidō barrier until they get those results.

Though Shōta protests this because of how sorry he feels for Yui, Rangiku reminds him that this is for Yui's own protection due to the Cloning Arrancar having done something to her or possibly even pursuing her right now, which means that this is a way they can protect her. After concluding that the Cloning Arrancar cannot get to her while she is within the barrier, Rangiku assures Shōta and Yui that they will defeat the Cloning Arrancar in the meantime and asks them to believe in the Shinigami. When Rangiku asks her to endure this for a little while, Yui states that she is a bit scared, to Shōta's concern and Rangiku's sympathy.

Suddenly, Rangiku has an idea and gives the ocarina necklace that she was wearing around her neck to Yui, who is delighted even though it is not quite the same as the one she had before she died. With Yui now agreeing to stay inside the barrier and Shōta reluctantly going along with her, Rangiku thanks her as Yumichika gets up and announces that he is going to trade places with Ikkaku, only for Hitsugaya to assert that he will trade off with Ikkaku instead and order Yumichika to go to the Urahara Shop so he can inform 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai of the situation while Rangiku looks after Shōta and Yui.

As Shōta watches them intently, Hitsugaya warns the others to not let their guard down because they do not know what the Cloning Arrancar is planning. Outside, the Cloning Arrancar appears in a cloud of black miasma once more and chuckles before observing that his power is almost at its peak. The next day, Shōta sits outside the Kyōmon set up by Hitsugaya and watches Yui sleep inside while recalling their search for their parents across Karakura Town following their deaths. When Yui awakens and sits up in her bed, Shōta asks her if she slept well, which leads Yui to confirm this prior to expressing a desire to go outside.

In turn, Shōta admits that he cannot let Yui out even though he wants to, and with Yui wanting to see their parents, Shōta begins to sadly tell her that this is not likely to happen. Suddenly, Yui asserts that it is alright and that she can get out of here with his help, to Shōta's confusion. Standing up, Yui has Shōta do the same and walks over to the Kyōmon, which she places her hand against with a request for Shōta to do the same. Once Shōta places his hand on the other side of the Kyōmon in the same place Yui's hand is, he is startled to see the barrier dissolve outward from the point of contact and wonders what this is.

With Yui inviting Shōta to come with her, Akon approaches his technicians in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and inquires about their findings, which prompts Hiyosu to invite Akon over to his terminal and see the composition of Yui's Soul matches their suspicions. Back in Orihime's apartment, Rangiku drops her bag of groceries in shock upon seeing that Shōta and Yui are missing from the monitor room and questions where they could have gone. After Hitsugaya enters and asks her about what is wrong, Rangiku alerts him to the Kyōmon disappearing, leading Hitsugaya to examine Yui's bed and note there are still Reiatsu traces present.

When Hitsugaya wonders how the Kyōmon was broken, Rangiku theorizes that Shōta and Yui did it, though Hitsugaya admits that he is not sure, and asserts that they need to look for the children prior to the monitor flickering on to display Ukitake and Akon. After Ukitake informs them that he has the test results they requested, Hitsugaya tells Rangiku to go out and look for Shōta and Yui while he hears what Akon has to say and joins her afterward. While Rangiku acknowledges this and runs off, Akon reveals that Yui is a clone created by the Cloning Arrancar, to Hitsugaya's disbelief, and that she must have had strong Reiryoku as a Human.

Akon elaborates that this began when the Cloning Arrancar encountered Yui as a Hollow and absorbed her Reiryoku by chance, explosively boosting his own power and giving him the ability to create self-replicating clones that could amass more power for his main body, which he did in a short amount of time by consuming a large number of Souls. Despite Hitsugaya pointing out how Yui seemed to be moving of her own accord, Akon counters this and asserts the Cloning Arrancar is controlling her, meaning there is a high probability of her personality being an act, before concluding alongside Hitsugaya that destroying the Cloning Arrancar will cause her to disappear.

Simultaneously, Yui leads Shōta to the park that Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo crashed down into weeks ago, where Shōta asks Yui where they are going, only for Yui to slyly smile and tell him to follow her, which Shōta reluctantly complies with. Back at the apartment, Hitsugaya questions if Shōta has high Reiryoku like Yui does, Akon muses that there is a possibility of relatives having the same level of Reiryoku, which allows Hitsugaya to deduce that Yui used Shōta's power to break the Kyōmon and that the Cloning Arrancar is after Shōta's Reiryoku. Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Rangiku leaps between several rooftops and wonders where Shōta went.

Upon seeing Shōta and Yui in the park below from the top of a telephone pole, a startled Rangiku moves down and calls out to them as she questions how they broke the Kyōmon. In response, Shōta scoffs and claims that it was easy to dissolve the barrier, and when Rangiku begs him to come back instead of going any further, Yui tersely tells her to not interfere and begins emanating flame-like red Reiatsu, to Rangiku's surprise, prior to turning around with red eyes. With Shōta unnerved and Rangiku wondering what this Reiatsu is, Yui's Reiatsu intensifies in strength and creates a powerful wind that sends Shōta and Rangiku flying back.

Several growling Arrancar clones begin appearing around Shōta and Yui while Ikkaku senses what is happening from atop a building and leaps into the air in excitement, with Yumichika musing that they seem to be prepared and leaping down to the ground below from a railing. As Hitsugaya races across Karakura Town with Shunpo, Yui invites a hesitant Shōta to come to her, though Rangiku warns him against doing so, and the eerie whistle-like melody begins to play, causing Shōta to begin walking toward Yui against his will, to his shock. When Rangiku rushes toward him in turn, one of the Arrancar clones attempts to strike her, but Rangiku leaps into the air.

Drawing her Zanpakutō after evading the Arrancar clone's attack, Rangiku comes down on it with a slash that cuts him in half and begins running toward Shōta. While Rangiku cuts two more Arrancar clones in half with separate slashes and calls out to him, Shōta continues approaching Yui, and when a fourth Arrancar clone lunges toward her in midair after she leaps toward Shōta, Rangiku steps on his head and jumps over his body, only for the Arrancar clone to whip its tail around and strike her in the back with enough force to send her flying across the park away from Shōta, though she manages to recover and land on her feet following a long slide.

Suddenly, as Shōta frantically and repeatedly calls out to her, Yui's eyes change from red to her normal blue and her Reiatsu aura fades, resulting in Shōta falling back and collapsing. A swearing Yui begins trembling and addresses Shōta while the Reiatsu aura briefly appears and disappears around her. With a concerned Shōta inquiring about what is wrong, Yui tearfully demands that he not come any closer and screams in pain.

Arrancar Encyclopedia
Gin Ichimaru announces that he is going to explain the Arrancar numbering system today and brings up the numbers 11, 13, 15, and 16, corresponding to Shawlong Koufang, Edrad Liones, Yylfordt Granz, and Di Roy Rinker respectively, on the screen behind him and details how they are assigned according to the birth order of Arrancar starting from 11, with the most powerful among them being numbered from 1 to 10 by order of strength as the Espada. However, before Gin can reveal what Ulquiorra Cifer's number is, Ulquiorra steps out from behind him and asserts that it is not time to reveal that, to Gin's dismay.

Events

 * Cloning Arrancar Threat

Powers and Techniques Used
Shinigami Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques: