Senbonzakura's Bankai! Offense and Defense of the Living World

'''Senbonzakura's Bankai! Offense and Defense of the Living World''' is the two hundred and forty ninth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: December 8th, 2009
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Anima Rossa
 * Ending Song: Sakurabito
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 千本桜卍解！現世の攻防
 * Romaji: Senbonzakura bankai! Gensei no koubō
 * Arc: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc

Synopsis
Kenpachi Zaraki fights against Tenken’s Bankai form. He takes a big hit, but gets up to fight again. Yoruichi Shihōin reveals to Haineko and Tobiume the truth about Muramasa, and the Captains trapped by Ryūjin Jakka decide to escape. Meanwhile, Uryū Ishida and Yasutora Sado battle Muramasa and later Senbonzakura. Orihime Inoue tries to reason with Muramasa, to no avail. Muramasa tries to summon some Hollows, but Rukia Kuchiki stops him with Kidō. He tries again, this time successfully. Muramasa makes it to the place were Kōga Kuchiki is sealed, while Rukia, Orihime and Sado fight the Hollows, and Ishida takes on Senbonzakura. The seal is released as Ishida strikes Senbonzakura. Muramasa reveals to Rukia his plan to resurrect Kōga. Just after the coffin disintegrates, Ichigo Kurosaki arrives.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Yamamoto recalls the times that Ryūjin Jakka has been there for him when needed to heat up an oven, when it was cold and when he baked sweet potatoes. Using Hyōrinmaru's Bankai, he intends to freeze his Zanpakutō spirit to snap it out of Muramasa's brainwashing. Shunsui remarks that perhaps, Ryūjin Jakka had become tired of doing chores.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Tenken
 * Kenpachi Zaraki
 * Yachiru Kusajishi
 * Yoruichi Shihōin
 * Tobiume
 * Haineko
 * Muramasa
 * Katen Kyōkotsu (flashback)
 * Sōgyo no Kotowari (flashback)
 * Ryūjin Jakka
 * Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * Jūshirō Ukitake
 * Shunsui Kyōraku
 * Hyōrinmaru
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * Uryū Ishida
 * Yasutora Sado
 * Orihime Inoue
 * Senbonzakura
 * Oscar Joaquín de la Rosa
 * Rukia Kuchiki
 * Kōga Kuchiki
 * Ichigo Kurosaki

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used:
 * Hadō #33 Sōkatsui (蒼火墜, Blue Fire, Crash Down)
 * (The seal placed on Kōga, released by Muramasa)

Techniques used: Zanpakutō released:
 * Shunkō (瞬閧, Flash Cry)
 * Santen Kesshun (三天結盾, Three Sacred Links Shield)
 * El Directo (巨人の一撃 (エル・ディレクト) The Strike of the Giant)
 * Muramasa's mental powers

Shikai:
 * Senbonzakura (千本桜, "Thousand Cherry Blossoms")

Bankai:
 * Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō (黒縄天譴明王, Heavenly Punishment of Kokujō's King)
 * Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (千本桜景厳, Vibrant Display of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms)

Quincy Powers:
 * Hirenkyaku (飛廉脚; lit. "flying screen step/god step")
 * Seele Schneider (魂を切り裂くもの（ゼーレシュナイダー, kon wo kirisaku mono; lit. that which slits the soul; German for "soul cutter)

Other Powers:
 * Brazo Derecha de Gigante (巨人の右腕 (ブラソ・デレチャ・デ・ヒガンテ), buraso derecha de higante; Spanish and Japanese for "Right Arm of the Giant")
 * Shun Shun Rikka (盾舜六花, Six Flowers of the Hibiscus Shield; Six Princess Shielding Flowers in the English anime)