Turning Point: Rescue the Captain-Commander

Turning Point: Rescue the Captain-Commander is an event taking place in the Zanpakutō Rebellion. It focuses upon the discovery of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's whereabouts, as well as the unveiling of Muramasa's true plans.

Prologue
Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi confronts Kenpachi Zaraki, stating that he had no right to handle his Zanpakutō. Kenpachi curses under his breath, as Mayuri smiles brilliantly. Ichigo Kurosaki screams out in pain, as Mayuri prepares to inject him with a vaccine. He reassures Ichigo, stating that if he doesn't heal him, he shall die. However, Ichigo resists Mayuri's jabs, saying that he does strange things to his patients whilst healing them. Almost to confirm this statement, as Mayuri squeezes the trigger, an acid-like serum splashes onto the ground.



Mayuri then asks him who told him such a thing, to which he states that Uryū did. As Mayuri prepares to inject Ichigo, he uses Shunpo to move out of the way. However, Mayuri calls out to Nemu, who appears almost instantaneously, proceeding to subdue Ichigo, much to his surprise. Whilst Ichigo is pinned to the ground, Mayuri prepares to administer the serum, until he is interrupted by the arrival of Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake.

Shortly after the arrival of the two captains, Retsu Unohana arrives on the scene with the remainder of the 4th Division. She relieves Mayuri of his duty, as Ichigo feels relieved at this. However, Mayuri states that creating a cure to the poison is no easy feat, to which Unohana counters, saying that they have successfully healed the other victims of Ashisogi Jizō. As Mayuri relents, the two exchange icy glares,with him declaring that he shall create a more potent variant of the poison, the likes of which even she could not cure.



Renji interrupts them, as Unohana states that several lieutenants were being pursued around Seireitei by Ashisogi Jizō. She explains further, stating that they succumbed to its poison, but have since recovered in the 4th Division barracks. Ukitake approaches a stricken Rukia, asking whether she is alright. He asks whether or not she was able to stop Byakuya, to which she stares silently at him, as Ukitake wonders what Byakuya's motives are.

Meanwhile, in the Zanpakutō cave, Byakuya Kuchiki appears before Muramasa, who congratulates him upon his task. As a Jigokuchō flies towards him, Byakuya asks whether he will make travel to the Real World, but Muramasa beckons him into following. Kenpachi states that he is leaving to find Byakuya, but Yoruichi and Sui-Feng appear, stating that finding him will be no easy feat. They ask her whether she knows where Byakuya is, to which she divulges that she is aware of where the Zanpakutō are keeping the Captain-Commander, much to their surprise.

The Prisoner Appears


As Byakuya proceeds to follow Muramasa into the depths of the cave, they come across a large pyramid-like structure guarded by three figures. Much to Byakuya's surprise, in the epicenter of the pyramid, sat Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, as Muramasa understands that he is affiliated with him. Byakuya inquires of the three beings levitating above the massive structure, to which Muramasa confirms that they are Zanpakutō, and that their strength together is enough to rival his own.

Byakuya seems at edge with this comparison, and moves towards the pyramid. As he nears the construct, Yamamoto senses his presence, instinctively releasing Ryūjin Jakka. The resultant flames are stopped by the barrier, but several are able to get through, scalding Byakuya slightly. One of the figures calls out to him, stating that he cannot just interfere with their channeling reiatsu. Muramasa states that he hasn't been able to get his Zanpakutō to obey him, stating that Yamamoto is a difficult man to crack.



As Ichigo walks around the manor, he reminisces about his prior encounter with Byakuya, a he overhears the conversation with Yoruichi and the two captains. Yoruichi reveals that she has detected Yamamoto's new reiatsu, to which they wonder what their next course of action is. Kenpachi asks Yoruichi whether he will be able to fight if he goes, to which she tells him not to go berserk and kill the Captain-Commander by accident. They then resolve themselves to invade the Zanpakutō cave, as the Zanpakutō patiently await their arrival.

Suddenly, a figure approaches them, as Haineko is alerted to his presence. Kazeshini stumbles into the clearing, collapsing before the others. They crowd around his body, revealing a deep cut in his back, as Muramasa appears. He promptly approaches Kazeshini, telling him to rest and heal his injuries. However, Kazeshini questions Byakuya's presence amongst them, as Muramasa explains that he is achieving something essential to their aims.

Entering the Den of the Enemy


The other Zanpakutō catch on this as well, asking why they had to get injured whilst protecting a Shinigami. He reassures them, stating that the Shinigami will not interfere them, so long as they have Yamamoto in their possession. Meanwhile, at a forest entrance, Kyōraku and Ukitake recognize Yamamoto's reiatsu, as they also recognize the presence of a strong barrier. He postulates that Muramasa was unable to control Ryūjin Jakka, so he had no choice but to seal him within a barrier.

Ukitake agrees, stating that they are lucky that Ryūjin Jakka is not an enemy. Yoruichi says that the cave was designed to act like a maze, stating that she has discovered a secondary entrance, in which she believes the Zanpakutō are using. Yoruichi tells them to proceed with caution in the enemy's den, but Kenpachi refutes this, walking into the cave without thinking. Despite this, Ukitake agrees with his logic, stating that they cannot let the enemies make the first move, proceeding to enter the cave.



Before Ichigo can follow them, however, Yoruichi states that they will be using the secondary entrance. In the cave, the Zanpakutō are alerted to the presence of the Shinigami, causing Muramasa to smile. As Kenpachi walks through the dimly-lit cave, asking Yachiru for directions. Yoruichi directs Ichigo through the secondary entrance, as they hop over stalagmites piercing through a body of water. Ichigo asks Yoruichi whether she thinks Byakuya is there also, to which she states that she doesn't know what he is planning.

This causes Ichigo to lose his footing, falling into the inlet. He emerges moments later, as Yoruichi berates him, stating that losing his temper will not assist in bringing Byakuya back. She says it is possible that he could have something up his sleeve, as she is ambushed by Tobiume, tangled in her bells. While she is immobilized, they proceed to run her through with their swords, but she uses Utsusemi to evade their movements. She moves out, using Shunpo to knock Haineko into a nearby wall, lifting Tobiume up with one hand.

As Ichigo watches on, she tells him to go ahead, stating that the Captain-Commander takes top priority over everything else. He emerges from the inlet, propelling himself off a stalactite, moving away from them. Meanwhile, Kyōraku and Ukitake enter an elevated area, whereupon Katen Kyōkotsu and Sōgyo no Kotowari appear before them. As the two prepare to fight each other, Tenken and Gonryōmaru appear before Kenpachi, stating that he no longer has to search for them.

Whilst Ichigo runs through a passageway, he senses Yamamoto's reiatsu from afar, whereupon a cloaked figure appears in his path. Ichigo tries to slash at the figure, which merely uses Shunpo to move away from him, as if beckoning him to follow. He pursues the Zanpakutō spirit, who leads him to a large rock formation, where he senses Yamamoto's reiatsu again. He immediately scales the formation, but as he reaches the top, an injured Kazeshini appears before him.

Kazeshini morphs into a twister, proceeding to entangle Ichigo within his chains. As Ichigo falls helplessly to the ground, Kazeshini tells him to die, prompting him to release his Bankai in freefall. From the resulting explosion, he is able to cut Kazeshini easily, pushing him back. After briefly clashing, Ichigo releases a point-blank Getsuga in Kazeshini's face, the attack sending him hurtling into the ground. Ichigo looks despondently into the crater, noticing Kazeshini's broken Shikai, promptly apologizing to Shūhei.

The Confrontation
He makes it to the top layer, noticing the pyramid-shaped barrier surrounding Yamamoto. As he approaches the barrier, the flames flare up, scalding Ichigo's hand. When he prepares to attack the barrier, Muramasa attacks from behind, his sword hurtling at Ichigo. He deflects this attack, as Muramasa is impressed that he made it this far. Ichigo states that he can no longer go easy on him, as everyone is depending upon him to free Yamamoto.

Ichigo's blade immerses itself in black reiatsu, sending a Getsuga Tenshō racing towards Muramasa. Yoruichi senses his reiatsu flaring, and assumes that he is currently facing off against Muramasa. The attack collides with him, who fends it off with his katana. He tells Ichigo that that attack is insufficient to defeat him, provoking Ichigo into releasing his Hollow powers. While the other Shinigami fight the Zanpakutō, they come to the conclusion that their efforts were solely focused upon stalling for time.

As Ichigo clashes with Muramasa, the Zanpakutō spirit tells him to fight harder, telling him to release his ultimate attack. As the other Shinigami attempt to go to Yamamoto's location, their Zanpakutō stop them in their tracks. As Yoruichi pins her opponents to the wall, she deduces that their role in the proceedings was to separate them from Ichigo, which prompts Ukitake to wonder why Muramasa is so interested in Ichigo, noting that Muramasa does not intend to kill him.

Kyōraku deduces that he is waiting for something, as they simultaneously come to the conclusion that Muramasa is waiting for Ichigo to use his ultimate attack. Ichigo sends the Hollow-powered Getsuga towards Muramasa, who fends off the attack with his sword once more. Yoruichi arrives on the scene moments too late, as the swathing energy circles around the area. Ichigo watches on in awe, as Muramasa sends the attack hurtling towards Yamamoto's barrier.

A huge explosion emerges, causing clouds of smoke to encompass the area. Kyōraku and Ukitake emerge in the aftermath of the attack, as Ichigo pants heavily. The other Zanpakutō watch eagerly, as the barrier cracks into pieces, with Yamamoto emerging from his fugue state. As he emerges, Muramasa seizes the opportunity, raising an outstretched hand towards him.