For the Sake of the Believers! Byakuya vs. Hitsugaya!

As Yamamoto scorches the counterfeit Kyoraku and Ukitake with his flames, Byakuya crosses paths with a Reigai of Hitsugaya guarding a chokepoint. The double releases his Bankai and traps Byakuya behind walls of ice, arguing that borrowed strength from Inaba is the only way an imitation can defend what it believes in. Byakuya answers with his own release, shattering the ice constructs and condemning the copy for leaning on another's power rather than any pride of its own.

At the Urahara Shop, Ichigo watches the wounded recover and grows restless. Kon insists he stay to guard Nozomi, but Nozomi herself questions why they keep shielding her and quietly heals a portion of Ichigo's spent Reiatsu with a rare Kido, startling everyone. Meanwhile Unohana slips away from her own Reigai and Inaba by feigning a fight, understanding that her survival matters more than a doomed duel.

The Reigai-Hitsugaya springs a trap, coaxing Byakuya into scattering the ice into fine snow so he can bury him under a hundred blossoming flowers. Byakuya breaks free with a spherical technique that nearly kills his opponent, and a decisive counter finally drops the imitation. Elsewhere Yamamoto realizes the false captains were fighting only for a draw, buying time for their comrades, as Ichigo convinces Urahara to open a path to Soul Society and bids Nozomi farewell.

Byakuya defeats the Reigai duplicate of Hitsugaya, rejecting its claim that relying on Inaba's power counts as protecting a belief. Nozomi demonstrates an unexpected healing ability, restoring some of Ichigo's Reiatsu.

Unohana escapes the trio hunting her by treating the encounter as a distraction rather than a battle. Yamamoto deduces the Reigai are stalling for a stalemate, and Ichigo persuades Urahara to return him to Soul Society despite his fading Shinigami strength.

An anime-original entry from the Gotei 13 Invading Army arc with no source chapters, positioned between Recapture Seireitei! The Captains Move! and The Two Hinamoris, Hitsugaya's Resolution.

The Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book gag has Ichigo receive an audition flyer for a Bleach rock musical, after which Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya appear in absurd costumes urging him to perform with fiery spirit.