Final Chapter·Zanpakutō Unknown Tales

Final Chapter·Zanpakutō Unknown Tales is the two hundred and fifty-fifth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: January 26th, 2010
 * English Airdate:
 * Opening Song: Anima Rossa
 * Ending Song: Sakurabito
 * Manga Chapters: None
 * Kanji: 終章・斬魄刀異聞篇
 * Romaji: "Shūshō·Zanpakutō Ibun Hen"
 * Arc: Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc

Synopsis
As the dome grows unstable and the Shinigamis fight the Gillians outside, Ichigo fights Muramasa inside his inner realm, which is collapsing from the grudges of the hollows he consumed to sustain himself. Ichigo questions Muramasa's devotion to Kōga in spite of his apparent motives for freeing the zanpakutō's, and insists that he should know what a true bond between a Soul Reaper and a zanpakuto is. Ichigo defeats Muramasa, causing the two to leave his inner world. Muramasa dies after realizing the error of his ways and Byakuya thanks Ichigo.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Ulquiorra and Nel tell Ichigo that the series won't be going back to the Hueco Mundo arc just yet. Ichigo is most upset to be the last person to know of this, being the main character. Ulquiorra asks the viewers to bare with them.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * 1) Yasutora Sado
 * 2) Orihime Inoue
 * 3) Uryū Ishida
 * 4) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 5) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 6) Muramasa
 * 7) Zangetsu
 * 8) Kōga Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 9) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 10) Hōzukimaru
 * 11) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 12) Hyōrinmaru
 * 13) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 14) Tenken
 * 15) Ruri'iro Kujaku
 * 16) Haineko
 * 17) Wabisuke
 * 18) Zabimaru
 * 19) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 20) Momo Hinamori
 * 21) Tobiume
 * 22) Sajin Komamura
 * 23) Soifon
 * 24) Suzumebachi
 * 25) Sode no Shirayuki
 * 26) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 27) Senbonzakura
 * 28) Gegetsuburi
 * 29) Izuru Kira
 * 30) Renji Abarai

Zanpakutō released
Shikai: Bankai:
 * Muramasa

Techniques used

 * Muramasa's unnamed Illusion technique
 * Muramasa's unnamed Energy wave technique
 * Muramasa's unnamed Spiritual Threads technique
 * Muramasa's unnamed Spiritual Threads technique
 * Muramasa's unnamed Spiritual Threads technique