Byakuya, Disappearing with the Cherry Blossoms

Chasing a spike of spiritual pressure across Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki catches a battered Rukia Kuchiki as she tumbles out of a Senkaimon. Moments later a second gate deposits Sode no Shirayuki, who freezes the ground at her feet and coolly announces she has come to claim Rukia. Ichigo trades ice attacks and Getsuga Tenshō with the spirit until she withdraws, and a fading Rukia reveals that the woman is the living form of her own Zanpakutō.

Recovering at the Urahara Shop, Rukia recounts the night everything unraveled. Muramasa declared the age of Shinigami rule over, freed the spirits of every officer present, and revealed that Genryūsai Yamamoto had been sealed after his own blade refused to betray him. In the chaos that followed, released spirits torched the Seireitei while the captains scrambled to survive. Byakuya crossed swords with Senbonzakura and was swallowed by a wave of blade petals, after which no one could locate him.

Yoruichi returns from a scouting trip to confirm the Gotei 13 still stands but is badly wounded, and that Byakuya alone remains unaccounted for. Refusing to wait, Rukia slips back to Soul Society on her own. Ichigo insists on following, and with Yoruichi's backing he persuades a reluctant Urahara to open a path.

Sode no Shirayuki manifests in the Human World and openly turns on Rukia, establishing that the rebellion has reached the World of the Living. Muramasa's origin as the mastermind is laid out, along with the sealing of Yamamoto by the combined power of Katen Kyōkotsu, Sōgyo no Kotowari, and Minazuki. Uryū theorizes that the enemy's control over spirits functions only inside Soul Society, since Ichigo, Urahara, and their weapons remain unaffected. Rukia secretly departs for Soul Society out of worry for Byakuya, prompting Ichigo to gather allies and give chase.

This entry is part of the anime-exclusive Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc and adapts no manga chapter. Much of its runtime is delivered as flashback, retelling the opening night of the uprising from Rukia's perspective. A closing Arrancar Encyclopedia bit has Gin Ichimaru walking through the kanji of several Resurrección names before begging Ichigo to let him host the segment himself.