Prologue
Kifune captures the cat.
A 3rd Division patrol group is seen chasing after a cat, with Izuru and the others struggling to capture it. The cat climbs up a wall, where Makoto Kifune, the division's new third seat, captures it, much to the delight of the rest of the patrol group. Kira confirms that it is the cat in question, and the rest of the squad comment upon the dreary nature of the missions they've been given over the past few days. [1].
The rest of the group follows Makoto to get drinks, whilst Kira files the report. Kira enters the the captain's chamber, and he believes he sees Gin waiting for him. Kira seems shocked, as Amagai had called him by his first name. Kira presents the day's reports to Amagai, and asks upon the menial nature of the 3rd Division's missions as of late.[1]
Amagai explains that the 3rd Division needs to regain the trust of the Gotei 13, as their previous captain betrayed Soul Society. He then asks Kira where Kifune is, to which he states he is out drinking with the other division members.Kira bows to Amagai as he leaves the office, telling Kira to loosen up, that if he's feeling down, he should go out too.[1]
Kira, Amagai and Kifune train the Third Division.
The next day, Kira, Kifune and Amagai assemble the members of the Third Division, in order to train in co-operative combat, in which people wear colored headbands and work in groups to subdue the enemy, which keeps rotating at random stages, in order to improve decision making within the Third Division. Makoto directs the team members, as they catch onto the concept quickly. [1]
After the training session, the Division is seen washing up, and several members comment that Amagai's drills are unlike anything the Third Division has seen. Kira overhears some squad members stating that Kifune is more reliable than him, and is interrupted by Kifune, who tells him that what he has done is nothing compared to how Kira kept the Third Division in order after Ichimaru's defection.[1]
Amagai drinks with Kyoraku.
Izuru excuses himself, as Kifune watches him leave. He is then seen drinking sake with Renji and Iba, who are surprised at how much he is drinking. Shunsui and Amagai enter the drinking house, and request for a private room. Amagai then asks Kyoraku if it is possible to co-ordinate the Divisions into working together. Kyoraku says that it is no easy task.[1]
Shunsui refers him to Ukitake, and they toast. As Amagai drinks the sake, he collapses drunk on the floor. Kira is seen working on reports, and Kifune tells him that nothing is amiss in Soul Society. Kifune then asks him why he has a lack of confidence in his abilities, but before he can answer, a Hell Butterfly emerges, informing them that something has occurred in the ruins of the execution ground.[1]
Izuru and Kifune arrive at the execution ground.
They arrive at the execution ground, and find that another division member has already found his way there. He introduces himself as Shinta Seko, and they examine the ruins, but fall into the execution ground when a section of platform collapses. Izuru saves Shinta from falling to his death, but is injured himself. Izuru notices the presence of an unusual reiatsu, and realises that there are Hollows caged up under the execution ground.[1]
To their surprise the grilles containing the Hollows inexplicably open, and Kifune and Kira are given no choice but to dispel the Hollows. They successfully defeat most of them, but Kira realises that he left Shinta alone, and sees Shinta getting absorbed by one of the Hollows. Izuru immediately goes to his aid, but Kifune gets there first, knocking the Hollow to the ground.[1]
Kira protects Shinta from Kifune's attack.
The other Hollows converge upon Kifune, who then releases his Zanpakuto's Shikai, Reppu, and dispels the remaining Hollow with ease. Some of the other Hollow fly upwards, and Izuru is worried of the damage they will cause if they enter Seireitei. But Kifune has his back turned, and proceeds towards the Hollow he knocked down before. He raises Reppu, preparing to kill it with Shinta inside.[1]
Izuru intervenes, releasing his own Zanpakuto to counter Kifune's attack. Kifune explains that Shinta was too weak to fulfill his duty as a Shinigami, and therefore has no right to live. He then goes on to say that he was unable to prevent the previous Captain's defection, due to the fact that he defended the weak. Kifune attacks him once more, with the clashing Reiatsu instantly killing the Hollows and freeing Shinta.[1]
The Third Division regroups at the base of the execution ground.
Amagai appears overhead, asking if they are okay. Kifune relays the current situation to his captain, as the medical crew comes forwards to take Shinta into their care. Kira notices that Wabisuke was chipped during his short conflict with Kifune. The division regroups at the base of the execution ground ruins, where Izuru inquires of his captain the whereabouts of the Hollows that escaped, to which he says that he finished them all off.[1]
Another division member, Aida, states that Shinta is in poor condition, and they are unsure whether he'll live. He also states that someone rigged the platform to collapse, in order to make it crumble under pressure. Izuru eyes Kifune uneasily, as they stare at each other for several moments. Amagai wonders what's wrong, and they both deny that something occurred, much to his concern.[1]
Aftermath
Mayuri berates the Third Division.
Mayuri is seen berating the members of the Third Division responsible for killing his experimental Hollows, and places the blame equally upon Nemu and Amagai. At the Kasumi-Oji compound, the gates are seen opening inexplicably, and the gatekeepers proceed to close the door, but not before Lurichiyo escapes through the gate. She sneaks around the compound, and is surprised by a man who approaches her.[1]
Ichigo is woken up by Kenryu and Enryu, who tell him that Lurichiyo has gone missing once more. Gyokaku Kumoi appears before Lurichiyo, stating that she should return to the Kasumi-Oji household, as she didn't tell him of her whereabouts. Ichigo goes to Soul Society alongside Rukia, Kenryu and Enryu, and they are met with hostile resistance from the gatekeepers. [2]
Ichigo, Rukia, Kenryu and Enryu search for Lurichiyo.
Kenryu tells them to stand down, and they head towards the Kasumi-Oji palace, deciding to split up to search for her. Rukia comes across Kenpachi, who starts looking for Ichigo. Kenryu and Enryu discover Lurichiyo's hat, and they get locked in a room by Gyokaku Kumoi. As Lurichiyo's procession arrives at the palace, she gets out, and is greeted by another child, as they proceed inside to prepare for the tea party.[2]
Ichigo notices her entering the palace, and proceeds to follow her. As Ichigo nears the palace gates, he is confronted by the guards, who prepare to attack him. Ichigo uses shunpo to escape from the guards. Ichigo arrives at the tea party, which shocks Lurichiyo. Ichigo tells her to come with him, because everyone else is waiting for her. She refuses outright, as guards instantly surround Ichigo.[2]
Ichigo blocks the assassin's attack.
As Lurichiyo is walking away, she sees a girl crying, who then leads her to the outskirts of the area, and proceeds to attack her. Lurichiyo tries to run away, but she trips, and the girl tries to deal the killing blow, However, Ichigo intervenes, blocking the girl's attack, asking Lurichiyo if she is okay. The girl sees the guards arriving, and she slumps to the ground, resulting in Ichigo being framed as the attacker.[2]
However, once the guards are off-guard, the girl attacks, cutting down all of the guards, attempting to attack Lurichiyo once more. Kenpachi smashes through the wall, catching the little girl before she can kill Lurichiyo. The girl then gets rid of the illlusion, revealing herself as one of the assassins, and attempts to kill Kenpachi. But Kenpachi cut him down before he could do so, as Rukia appears on the scene.[2]
Ichigo, Kenpachi and Rukia watch Lurichiyo's procession leave.
As Ichigo watches Lurichiyo's procession take her back to the Kasumi-Oji household, he realises what a burden being born into a noble family is. Once they leave, Rukia conveys to Kenpachi that they are working on a top-secret mission, and asks him whether he can keep a secret. Kenpachi agrees, and walks off. As Ichigo and Rukia return to the Real World, he senses an unusual reiatsu, but ignores it.[2]