Ep. 97: Hitsugaya confronts Ichinose in the Rukongai forest while Kariya prepares for an invasion in Kusajishi.

97

Uryuu observes that Rantao resembles the Bount Yoshino Souma. Rantao explains that Yoshino’s soul was a copy of her own and that the Bounts resulted from an experiment led by her research team to create immortal souls. In a forest within the Rukongai, Hitsugaya engages Ichinose in combat. Renji Abarai, Rangiku Matsumoto, Ichigo, and Chad arrive at the scene. Meanwhile, in Kusajishi, Kariya readies himself to invade the Seireitei. This narrative segment belongs to the Bount: Assault on Soul Society arc, specifically identified as episode 6 of 18. The events highlight the origins of the Bounts and the escalating conflict involving multiple characters across different locations within the Soul Society.