Renji Surprised?! The Two Zabimaru

At the Fourth Division, Shunsui and Ukitake compare notes on the crisis with Unohana, learning that Yamamoto and Byakuya remain missing and that the manifested spirits have severed themselves entirely from their Shinigami. Reports of the blades vanishing without a trace lead Hisagi to suspect they may have changed shape, moments before a black tornado cuts down two of his men and resolves into Kazeshini, whose swordsmanship he recognizes as his own.

Searching rubble for a clue to Byakuya's fate, Renji is confronted by two strangers who introduce themselves as his zanpakutō. He struggles to accept that the spirits once resembled a monkey and a snake now appear as the bickering pair Saru and Hebi, who declare they have come to eliminate him after heeding a voice urging them to follow instinct. Joining hands, they form Zabimaru and press the attack while Renji hesitates to draw against them.

Inside Ichigo's inner world, Muramasa appears and reveals that he has killed his own master and grown fascinated by Ichigo's Hollow-like power. When Ichigo refuses to explain it, Muramasa forces open the hollow in his chest, drawing out Hollow Ichigo, who greets the intruder with a grin. On the rooftops, Kazeshini grazes Hisagi and mocks him for depending on a blade whose sickle shape, he claims, was always meant for reaping lives. As Renji is battered by the two spirits and questions why they fight, Muramasa explains how his voice awakens the blades' true instincts, then approaches Hollow Ichigo, who abruptly rushes and attacks him.

The captains confirm the rebellion has cut the manifested spirits loose from their wielders. Kazeshini ambushes Hisagi, and Renji is confronted by Saru and Hebi, the transformed spirit of Zabimaru, who intend to destroy him. Muramasa enters Ichigo's inner world, admits to killing his own master, and forcibly manifests Hollow Ichigo, explaining that his voice liberates a zanpakutō's darkest instincts. Rukia is revealed to be recovering at the Fourth Division after her clash with Sode no Shirayuki.

An anime-only episode belonging to the Zanpakutō Unknown Tales storyline, with no adapted chapters. A comedic closing segment features Orihime and Rangiku forcing watermelon stew on a bound Ichigo and Uryū. The episode introduces Zabimaru's dual-bodied spirit form and sets Hollow Ichigo against Muramasa.