Renji's Confrontation

Renji's Confrontation is the thirtieth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: May 3, 2005
 * English Airdate: April 22, 2007
 * Opening Song: D-tecnoLife
 * Ending Song: Houkiboshi
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 94, Chapter 95.
 * Kanji: 立ちはだかる恋次
 * Romaji: "Tachihadakaru Renji"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Sneak Entry arc

Summary
Hanatarō’s way to get to the Shrine of Penitence is by way of the underground water tunnels that run throughout the whole of Seireitei and would allow them to go anywhere unobstructed. Ganju asks if the other Shinigami would know of this place, since all they did was to lift an ordinary floor tile. Hanatarō replies that only the 4th Division, specialized in relief and supplies, know their way around the maze of tunnels – not because they use it as supply routes, as Ganju had imagined, but because, being the weakest division that gets all the chores pushed on them, cleaning here is also their job. Ganju comments that the 4th Division must be incredibly pathetic, but Hanatarō giggles and says that it is not too bad. Ichigo asks him why he is so willing to help them get to the Shrine of Penitence despite their being his enemies. Hanatarō quietly replies that he had heard all about Ichigo from Rukia, and turns his head to face Ichigo, asking him to please save Rukia.

Yasochika Iemura from the 4th Squad is giving his scheduled report to the gathered lieutenants (not all present), saying that almost all of the 11th Squad has been annihilated, and two high-ranking officers Ikkaku and Yumichika both have left the front lines due to serious injury, and the 4th Division is currently investigating injury status of the other divisions. All of the lieutenants are shocked by this, as Iemura continues, saying that they have so far confirmed three Ryoka, two of which have taken a 4th Division member as hostage and are heading their way, though, due to the inability to sense their spirit force, they are unsure of their location. Renji remembers the time when he was beaten up by Ichigo, as Matsumoto remarks that they have to collect more intelligence and Iba adds that they haven’t heard from Hanatarō either and since they think he got beat, will search around block 20, west quarter. Matsumoto asks if it is not Kamaitachi Jirōbō and when Iba confirms it, Hisagi Shūhei (9th) comments that even Jirōbō, Jidanbō’s little brother, had gotten beat. Kira Izuru (3rd) asks what the hell is going on and as the rest of the lieutenants converse, Hinamori gasps, turning to say something to Renji, but realizing that he has disappeared and the door is left ajar.

Hanatarō tells them that before being transferred to the Shrine of Penitence, Rukia had been kept in the 6th Division holding cell, to which he had been assigned to clean. He had been scared at first because she was nobility, but after being scolded for adding the “-sama” honorific to her name in her gentle voice, he had grown to look forward to his daily cleaning visits to her cell. A little at a time, Rukia would also talk to him about all kinds of things, like when he had once asked about the food and drink in the living world, and she had told him about juice packs that require a certain trick to drinking them. She had been baffled by it - and he would have been too – but Ichigo had taught her how to drink it. She had also told him about how a modified soul could be put into a stuffed animal, and Hanatarō had remarked that the person must have been crazy. Rukia had smiled as she agreed with him. Hanatarō adds that the majority of the things she had shared were about Ichigo, and soon after, the formal order for her execution had come. Hanatarō asked her if the one she gave her Shinigami powers to was the one she often spoke of, and she had replied that it was – Kurosaki Ichigo, whom she, although having spent only two months with, trusted entirely. Yet, because of her, his fate was twisted and he has been hurt terribly – whatever she does do now, she could never fully atone.

Ganju remarks that Rukia must be another unusual Shinigami, and Ichigo, a look of seriousness on his face, agrees with him and gets to his feet, saying that is the reason why they came to save her. He walks off, keeping up a fast pace as her words to Hanatarō and the memories of her run through his mind. Ganju and Hanatarō run after him, asking him to wait and slow down as he says to himself that all that’s happening is his own fault and not Rukia's, running now through the tunnel. He declares that he will not let her die.

A floor tile is suddenly lifted in a foggy place and a head pops out – Hanatarō, who then indicates to the others that the coast is clear and to come up. He climbs out and says that this is the exit nearest to the tower, Ganju commenting as he comes out that it’s been a while since he would breathed fresh air. Hanatarō points out the Shrine of Penitence and Ganju comments that although they have come rather close, from here on will be the tough part. The fog starts to lift and Ichigo tells them to hurry as he starts off, stopping abruptly when he notices someone coming down the stairs. This someone has red hair, and Ichigo’s eyes widen as the person becomes fully visible – his opponent from that night. Renji pushes up his visor and asks if Ichigo remembers his face, Ichigo replying that he’d forget if he could, but there being a mountain of stuff to return to him, he hasn’t – Abarai Renji. Renji descends the stairs, saying that he didn’t expect Ichigo to remember his name, grinning. Ganju asks who this guy is, whose spirit force is on a different scale than the others he has met so far, is, and a frightened and shocked Hanatarō gaspingly replies that it is Abarai Renji – lieutenant of the 6th Division. Renji, walking towards Ichigo, says that he had thought Ichigo dead after Byakuya’s attack, and Ichigo starts to walk towards him as well, ignoring Ganju’s pleads for him to stop. Renji adds that however Ichigo had survived, he is impressed, but, drawing his Zanpakutō, proclaims that this is the end, because, as he had said, he was going to kill the one who stole Rukia’s powers. Ichigo puts a hand on the hilt of Zangetsu as they increase their speeds. Renji says that as long as Ichigo is alive, Rukia will never regain her powers, and Ichigo retorts that the reason why they have brought Rukia back was merely to kill her, so Renji will just have to let him pass. He charges at Renji with Zangetsu, Renji blocking with Zabimaru as he tells Ichigo that to pass, he will have to defeat him.

Zaraki, Yachiru still on his back and running along the roof, stops and says that Ichigo’s fight against Renji has begun – having beaten a 3rd-Seater (Ikkaku), Ichigo had better beat a lieutenant, or he would not be a fun opponent for him. Yachiru asks him how he knows that they are fighting despite not having the ability to sense others’ spirit power, and Zaraki laughs, replying that it is because he is strong. Yachiru comments that he is weird. Three Shinigami ask each other if any have found anything, one remarking that it’s been a while since the intrusion and the number of injured just keeps going up, there being no hint that they will catch the cunning Ryoka soon – even the captains and lieutenants are holding regular conferences to get a hold of the situation. Suddenly, someone at the end of the alley they are in shouts that someone has seen Jirōbō lying nearby, and they all run off, probably to Jirōbō.

Ishida and Orihime had been listening nearby, and pop their heads out when they leave and stepping out into the open. Ishida remarks that Ichigo and the others must really be going at it, because the surveillance has gotten tighter. Orihime says that they should be okay if whoever they meet is the same level as the one they had met earlier, but Ishida has something else on his mind – he senses Ichigo’s spirit force along with Abarai Renji’s. Remembering the fight Ichigo and Renji had had that night, he says that Ichigo has found himself a tough opponent. Ayame and Shun’ō interrupt his thoughts and shock him by appearing in his face and looking at him inquisitively as they ask if he is okay, if he has any pain or if he is running a fever. He replies that he is okay and not to worry, and Orihime says that she’s glad – there are times when he drifts off into space and she gets worried. Ayame and Shun’ō then return to her hairpins, and Orihime tells Ishida that they should hurry on, both starting to run. Chad is also running, up the stairs and thinking to himself that Ichigo’s spirit power is increasing, but his opponent’s is extremely powerful, so he should hurry.

Ichigo and Renji cross swords, then break away from each other and have a staring competition, which is broken by Ichigo who lunges at Renji and smashes Zangetsu down on a miserably small Zabimaru. Ganju calls out that Renji is a lieutenant, so no matter how strong Ichigo is, he wouldn’t be able to win. Hanatarō’s point of view differs, and as he says, Ichigo is completely overwhelming Renji and pushing him back with Zangetsu on his heels and all the way across the floor and into a wall. Hanatarō asks what Ichigo is, and Ganju, eyes open wide, says that that is what he would like to know as well. Renji uses Zabimaru to push Ichigo’s Zangetsu back a bit, asking him how he plans to save Rukia – even if he defeats him here, there are still 11 more lieutenants and 13 captains above them. Or does he plan on defeating all of them, too? Other than that, there is no other way he can save Rukia. Ichigo asks Renji how many lieutenants and captains there are, claiming that no matter the number of either, he’ll just beat them all if they get in his way. Renji asks him what the basis for his confidence is, and how he can be so full of himself – just because his Zanpakutō has changed, it doesn’t mean that he has gotten stronger.

Zabimaru starts to glow and Renji is able to push Ichigo away as he releases Zabimaru, sending it extending in Ichigo’s direction and, although Ichigo uses Zangetsu to block it, pushing him all the way back into a wall and right through it, barely missing Hanatarō and Ganju as well. Renji retracts Zabimaru, saying that Ichigo judges his strength based on their one earlier match, but he is wrong – when a Shinigami of lieutenant rank or higher enters the living world, their powers are reduced by five times in order not to cause unnecessary influence there. In other words, his power is now five times it was then, and no matter how much stronger Ichigo has become, he has absolutely no chance of defeating him. Ichigo, to the surprise of everyone present, picks up Zangetsu and emerges from the hole created when he had smashed through it, saying that if that last attack was Renji’s true power, then defeating 11 other guys like Renji won’t be a problem for him, because the attack had not hurt in the least. Renji takes a step toward him, calling him a stupid bastard.

A flock of birds fly past the window of the Shrine of Penitence, where Rukia sits, suddenly opening her eyes as though sensing something.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
The featured character is Rangiku Matsumoto.