Episode Title:
The White Haze
Episode Description:
After completing his training with all of Squad 0, Ichigo begins descending to the Seireitei and informs Kisuke of his arrival. Haschwalth leads Uryū to the defeated BG9 and Cang Du for judgement. As a giant scale appears behind Haschwalth, the two defeated Stern Ritters lose their lives and powers. Haschwalth reveals that all those who are given a portion of Yhwach's soul have their powers, knowledge, and skills absorbed by Yhwach along with their Soul upon dying. As Rukia scours the Seireitei, she is alarmed by the arrival of Stern Ritter "F": (The Fear), Äs Nödt, who is looking for Byakuya's Senbonzakura. As she is much stronger now and has learned what her Zanpakutō really does, specifically its ability to lower its users temperature and anything she touches to absolute zero, she is able to freeze Äs Nödt. Angered by Rukia's dismissal of fear, Äs Nödt activates his Vollständig (Tatarforäs), which transmits fear just upon the sight of his grotesque body. When she is trapped because of a moment of fear, Byakuya steps in to recognize her growth. Äs Nödt taunts Byakuya, but the latter allows Rukia to stand on her own. She unleashes her dangerous Bankai, Hakka no Togame to instantly freeze Äs Nödt to death. Byakuya holds Rukia together, while she undoes it and tells her to train with the Bankai, so she does not accidentally kill herself with it. While tending to Rose and Kensei, Kotetsu and 11th Squad lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi are attacked by a Stern Ritter.
