Release! The New Getsuga Tenshō

'''Release! The New Getsuga Tenshō''' is the two-hundred thirty-sixth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: Spetember 8, 2009
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Shōjo S
 * Ending Song: Mad Surfer
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 放て！新たなる月牙天衝
 * Romaji: "Hanate! Arata naru Getsuga Tenshō"
 * Arc: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc

Summary
Shūhei Hisagi is wounded in a surprise attack by his Zanpakutō Kazeshini, but Izuru Kira intervenes to help him, and using Kidō, binds Kazehini long enough for the two of them to escape. Renji Abarai's fight with Zabimaru continues, and Zabimaru takes the advantage when they are able to activate Bankai while Renji, no longer able to control them, cannot. Renji considers his own weaknesses, and tricks Zabimaru into taking his sword, then breaks it with Hadō #31 Shakkahō and uses Higa Zekkō to defeat Zabimaru by firing the broken shards at them. Ichigo Kurosaki fights Zangetsu, and struggles when Zangetsu activates Bankai. He uses a new Getsuga Tenshō working together with his inner hollow to defeat Zangetsu, and forces Muramasa to retreat. Zangetsu reveals that Muramasa is using a technique to awaken the Zanpakutō's instincts and by doing so, he can control them.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Shūhei Hisagi
 * Kazeshini
 * Izuru Kira
 * Ichigo Kurosaki
 * Muramasa
 * Zangetsu
 * Hollow Ichigo
 * Zabimaru
 * Renji Abarai

Powers and Techniques used
Kidō used:
 * Bakudō #37 Tsuriboshi (吊星, Suspending Star)
 * Hadō #31 Shakkahō (赤火砲, Shot of Red Fire)
 * Hadō #4 Hainawa (這縄, Crawling Rope)

Techniques used:
 * Getsuga Tenshō (月牙天衝, Moon Fang Heaven-Piercer)
 * Higa Zekkō (狒牙絶咬, Bite of a Broken Baboon's Fang)

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:
 * Kazeshini (風死, Wind Death)
 * Zabimaru (蛇尾丸, Snake Tail)

Bankai:
 * Tensa Zangetsu (天鎖斬月, Heavenly Chain Moon Cutter or Heavenly Chain Cutting Moon)
 * Hihiō Zabimaru (狒狒王蛇尾丸, Baboon King Snake Tail)

Trivia

 * In the ending theme song animation, Wabisuke and Kira are seen in place of Ichigo and Zangetsu.