The Invasion of Soul Society was a major conflict detailing Sōsuke Aizen's and Gin Ichimaru's attack on the Real Karakura Town located in Soul Society, and the final battle between Ichigo Kurosaki and Sōsuke Aizen.
The conflict started when Aizen and Gin arrived in Soul Society where the Real Karakura Town was located and started to chase down Ichigo's classmates, Keigo Asano and Tatsuki Arisawa
The conflict ended when Ichigo arrived after having learned the Final Getsuga Tenshō to confront Aizen in a final battle and defeat him. Aizen was then sealed by Kisuke Urahara and Ichigo lost his Shinigami powers due to the use of the Final Getsuga Tenshō.
Prelude
Having defeated their challengers in the Fake Karakura Town, Aizen and Gin head through the Dangai in order to reach the Real Karakura Town in Soul Society. Soon however, they are confronted by the Kōtotsu and Gin warns Aizen to hurry up as they can do nothing to stop it. Aizen, however, walks up to it and allows it to collide with him, leaving himself unharmed and the Kōtotsu destroyed. Aizen then invites Gin to carry on with him towards the Soul Society [1]
Ichigo and Isshin head into the Dangai.
Back in the Fake Karakura town, Isshin Kurosaki hobbles towards Ichigo and headbutts him to pull him out of his state of awe. Ichigo says that their situation is hopeless as they cannot defeat Aizen with that amount of Reiatsu. Isshin realizes that Ichigo is able to sense Aizen's Reiatsu and tells him to come with him as if he does not, all of Karakura Town will be destroyed and his friends will die. Ichigo regains his resolve and the two head open a Senkaimon. [2]
Meanwhile, in Soul Society, Aizen notes that they did not end up at Karakura Town, but rather a little ways away from it. Gin asks Aizen not to make it sound like it was his fault as it was Aizen's destroying of the Kōtotsu that made them land here. Aizen admits that it is true and the two walk towards Karakura Town.[3]
Ichigo enters Jinzen.
In the Dangai, Isshin and Ichigo run towards Soul Society when Isshin stops and notes that he cannot sense the Kōtotsu. Isshin says that this gives him an opportunity to have Ichigo learn the Final Getsuga Tenshō. Isshin explains that the Dangai is cut off from time and space and that time flows faster here. This means spending considerable time in here will result in little time passing outside. Isshin explains to Ichigo that he will stop the current as Ichigo enters Jinzen.[4]
Early Stages
Keigo and Tatsuki carry their classmates.
Keigo wakes up in Karakura town and notices that everyone else is asleep. He runs into Tatsuki who has found Chizuru Honshō and Michiru Ogawa, both of which are sleeping too. Each of them carries one of the girls and they decide to explore the area. At the same time, Aizen and Ichimaru arrive at the border of the town.[5]
Ichigo fights Tensa Zangetsu.
Ichigo awakes in his inner world, which is submerged in water and is met with Tensa Zangetsu, who attacks him and refuses to teach him the Final Getsuga Tenshō. He recriminates Ichigo for having fallen into despair and pulls Hollow Ichigo out of his chest. Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Aizen finds Tatsuki and Keigo and threatens their lives. Tatsuki tells Keigo to run while she stays behind.[6]
Rangiku saves Don Kanonji and Tatsuki.
In Ichigo's inner world, Hollow Ichigo and Tensa Zangetsu merge as the latter explains that Ichigo's battle shall be with the two of them, as they both are the two parts of Ichigo's power. In Karakura Town, Aizen prepares to kill Tatsuki when Don Kanonji steps in to save her, but becomes another target for Aizen. They are both saved again by the arrival of Rangiku Matsumoto.[7]
Middle Stages
Gin threatens Rangiku.
Rangiku tells Don Kanonji to run. Gin asks Aizen if he can talk with Rangiku elsewhere. Aizen allows it and Gin grabs Rangiku and runs off with her. Aizen notes that Gin is an interesting child. Rangiku manages to break free of Gin. She tells Gin that she is here because of him and wants answers from him. Gin however, raises his Zanpakutō to her and tells her that she is in his way.[8]
Gin betrays Aizen.
Gin returns to Aizen and says that he has killed Rangiku. Aizen says that he had believed that Gin held some feelings towards Rangiku, but Gin says that he is a snake and does not have feelings. Gin walks by Aizen and Aizen tells Gin his plan. Gin says that it is good and places his hand on Aizen's sword. He then releases Kamishini no Yari from under his sleeve and it impales Aizen. Gin explains the only way to escape Kyōka Suigetsu's abilities. He says that he had known that he was the only one that could kill Aizen. Aizen says that he knew Gin would betray him and brought him to Soul Society to see how he would do it. Aizen mentions however, that Gin's attack would not kill him. Gin then explains the true poisonous nature of his Zanpakutō and activates it, leaving Aizen with a gaping hole in his chest. [9]
Ichigo confronts Aizen in Karakura Town.
Gin goes to grab the Hōgyoku, but Aizen tries to stop him. Gin makes it out with the orb and looks at it. Suddenly, an eruption of Reiatsu reveals that Aizen has entered a new form. Aizen states that the Hōgyoku is already his whether it is with him or not. He approaches Gin and slashes him across the chest.[10] The Hōgyoku then crumbles in Gin's hand and reforms in the center of Aizen's chest. Aizen grabs Gin by the wrist and tears his arm off and stabs him in the chest. He thanks Gin for helping him evolve and throws him into a nearby building.[11] Rangiku, unharmed, runs for Gin. She holds his dying body in her arms and cries. Gin affirms that he has failed and apologizes to Rangiku. At this moment, Ichigo arrives with a new look and carrying Isshin on his shoulders.[12]
End Stages
Ichigo injures Aizen.
Ichigo senses that Karin and Yuzu are safe and Aizen notes that he can't feel any Reiatsu coming from him. Gin notices the strength in Ichigo's eyes and decides he can leave the rest to him. Ichigo asks Aizen to fight somewhere else and pushes him to the outskirts of the town. [13]
Aizen uses a fully powered Kurohitsugi.
Ichigo and Aizen start fighting, the latter speaking of the superiority of his evolution and the power he has gained. Ichigo surprises him by stopping a blow from his Zanpakutō with his bare hand, which prompts Aizen to use a full incantation Hadō #90 Kurohitsugi, but it is ineffective. Ichigo then slashes Aizen with his Zanpakutō. [14]
Aizen evolves once again and appears to take the upper hand of the battle, injuring Ichigo's left arm. Ichigo then decides to put an end to the battle, utilizing the Final Getsugo Tenshō. He reminisces the last of his fight with Tensa Zangetsu, in which he allowed himself to be stabbed by the spirit, and Tensa Zangetsu's admission of his wish to protect Ichigo.[15]
Ichigo using the Final Getsuga Tenshō.
Ichigo tells Aizen that the Final Getsuga Tenshō consists of him becoming The Getsuga, but that it will cost him his Shinigami powers. While Aizen ponders if Ichigo could have really surpassed him, Ichigo uses Mugetsu and the sky turns black. [16]
Aizen is sealed away.
Aizen survives Ichigo's attack and he tries to attack Ichigo, whose powers are starting to disappear. Aizen's Zanpakutō disappears as he claims he has reached a new level of evolution, but instead, a Kidō seal is activated and Urahara appears revealing he implanted that seal when they battled in the Fake Karakura Town. Urahara explains the Hōgyoku has rejected Aizen as its master. Aizen confronts Urahara about his ideals and the nature of the Soul King but he is sealed within the Kidō. [17]
Aftermath
Later, Ichigo talks with Urahara about the recent events. Urahara says that Aizen will be taken to Central 46. Ichigo then questions whether the Hōgyoku really rejected Aizen or if Aizen sought to be nothing other than an ordinary Shinigami. Orihime, Uryū, Rukia, Sado, and Renji appear and find Ichigo. They are all happy to see him and emotional over everything that has transpired. Ichigo laughs at them. Suddenly, he collapses and everyone rushes to help him while he screams in pain.[18]
10 days later, Aizen is sentenced by Central 46 to 18,800 years in the lowest underground prison. After taunting the judges, they increase his sentence to 20,000 years. [19] In Soul Society, Captain Commander Yamamoto chastises Captains, Shunsui Kyōraku, Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki for losing their Haoris. While Ukitake notes that Soul Society is not ready to replace Yamamoto yet.[20] Tōshirō Hitsugaya trains in a nearby cave and his lieutenant, Rangiku reminisces about the death of Gin.[21] In the Human World, Orihime, Sado, Uryū and Rukia look over Ichigo as he awakens from a slumber of one month. Rukia says that they know that Ichigo lost his powers and explains what has happened to his body. They all step outside as Ichigo says goodbye to Rukia as she fades from his sight.[22]
References
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 407, pages 1-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 407, page 7-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 407, pages 13-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 407, page 15-19
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 408
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 409-410
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 411
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 412, page 7-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 414, page 3-20
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 415, page 6-19
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 416, page 6-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 416, pages 14-17
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 417
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 418
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapters 419-420
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 420, pages 11-19
- ↑ Bleach manga, Chapter 421
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 422, page 11-20
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 423, page 1-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 423, page 4-6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 423, page 7-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 423, page 12-19
| Major Participants | Ichigo Kurosaki • Isshin Kurosaki • Rangiku Matsumoto • Sōsuke Aizen • Gin Ichimaru • Keigo Asano • Tatsuki Arisawa • Chizuru Honshō • Michiru Ogawa • Tensa Zangetsu • Hollow Ichigo • Don Kanonji • Mizuiro Kojima • Zennosuke Kurumadani |
| Events | Arrival in Karakura Town • Gin Ichimaru vs. Sōsuke Aizen • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Sōsuke Aizen |