For the Sake of Fighting! The Awakening Nozomi!

In Soul Society, Inaba repairs a destroyed Reigai and readies the copies of Hitsugaya, Komamura, and Kenpachi for a strike on the Human World. Meanwhile, the Shinigami gathered at the Kurosaki Clinic weigh their options through Nanao, who relays Unohana's warning that the Reigai grow far more dangerous once their limiters come off. Nozomi volunteers to fight, convinced her Zanpakutō can counter Inaba's powers, though she cannot yet recall its name. Ikkaku dismisses the gamble and storms out, but Ichigo proposes awakening her dormant blade through training.

As the group spars with Nozomi, her Zanpakutō repeatedly drains their Reiatsu. Urahara and Tessai spring a trap in the Dangai to stall the advancing Reigai, buying time by freezing the space themselves. Ikkaku, brooding over his first meeting with Kenpachi, warns Nozomi that a real battle is unforgiving and she must be willing to strike back, a lesson she takes to heart after resolving to help everyone even at the cost of her life.

When the Reigai of Kenpachi breaks free and reaches the Human World, Ikkaku attacks it alone, refusing help and buying the others time. Yumichika urges Ichigo to hit Nozomi with genuine killing intent, and during a final barrage, including Ichigo's Bankai and a Getsuga Tenshō, Nozomi recalls the name Arazome Shigure and releases her Shikai. She rushes to the wounded Ikkaku, whose Bankai has been shattered, and unleashes a powerful blast at the Reigai as he collapses.

Inaba prepares the Reigai captains to invade the Human World. Nozomi trains by absorbing her allies' Reiatsu and, spurred by Ikkaku's advice, finally awakens her Shikai, Arazome Shigure. Urahara and Tessai trap the Reigai in the Dangai. Ikkaku fights the Reigai of Kenpachi alone and is defeated, prompting Nozomi to intervene with her newly released power.

This is an anime-only episode within the Gotei 13 Invading Army arc, with no manga chapters. It aired in Japan on July 19, 2011, and in English on February 9, 2014. A closing picture-book gag involves the Shinigami leaving belongings in Ichigo's room and Yuzu discovering Hisagi's mistakenly grabbed magazine.