Rangiku Matsumoto vs. Izuru Kira is a battle which takes place during the Ryoka Invasion when all of Soul Society is in turmoil over the intrusion by the Ryoka. Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto of the 10th Division comes into conflict with fellow Lieutenant Izuru Kira of the 3rd Division.
Prelude
Hitsugaya chasing Kira.
Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, of the Tenth Division, suspecting something is off with the murder of Captain Sōsuke Aizen, goes to the Central 46 Chambers to investigate with his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto. Finding the Central 46 massacred, he is interrupted by the arrival of Izuru Kira, lieutenant of the 3rd Division, whom they follow out. Kira asks him if he should be following him instead of protecting Momo Hinamori, lieutenant of the 5th Division, whom he had left in the 10th Division's barracks safe behind a barrier. He states his barrier, though strong against outside attacks, is easy to break from within, and Momo has been following Hitsugaya all along. Hearing this, Hitsugaya, leaving Rangiku Matsumoto to deal with Izuru Kira, goes back looking for Momo Hinamori.[2]
Battle
Wabisuke's Shikai
After Hitsugaya leaves, Kira stops running and confronts Rangiku. When she asks him what Captain Gin Ichimaru is involving him in, Kira asks if she knows the special ability of his Zanpakutō, Wabisuke. When she tells him he does not talk about such things, he, telling her Momo Hinamori and Lieutenant Renji Abarai both know, says he will let her know too. Kira, releasing his Zanpakutō, proceeds to attack Rangiku, who blocks his attacks with her sword.[3]
Haineko's Shikai.
When she is left unable to lift her own sword, Kira tells her his Wabisuke doubles the weight of whatever it strikes: if he strikes twice, the weight is doubled once again, and with a third, it is doubled yet again. The opponent is bent down, due to the weight of his sword, sticking his head out, hence the name Wabisuke. Rangiku, telling him if her sword is too heavy to be carried, she would not hold it at all, releases her Zanpakutō, Haineko. As Haineko turns into ash, she states it can slice anything it comes into contact with. They begin to fight.[4]
Aftermath
After the conspiracy of Sōsuke Aizen and his accomplices Gin Ichimaru and Captain Kaname Tōsen is revealed, Matsumoto is seen pondering her captain Hitsugaya losing. Kira, suffering from slight scratches, is in a state of shock after hearing Momo had been grievously injured, even though his captain, Gin Ichimaru, had promised she would not be harmed.[5]