THE BLOOD WARFARE

In the Research Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi studies alarming readings as Hollows keep disappearing from the Human World, and he concludes that only Quincy could erase them so completely. In Karakura Town that night, an unseen figure scatters Hollow Bait before two newly assigned Shinigami, the timid Ryūnosuke Yuki and the sharp-tongued Shino Madarame, arrive to patrol. Split up against Yuki's wishes, he is soon chased by a large Hollow and finds Shino bloodied and held aloft by ape-like Huge Hollows.

Just as the first Hollow tears into Yuki, a Getsuga Tenshō cuts it in half and Ichigo arrives with his friends. Uryū severs the hand gripping Shino, Sado catches her, and Orihime heals them both while the trio and Ichigo tear through the swarm of Huge Hollows that pours from the buildings. Ichigo finishes the rest with Tensa Zangetsu, introduces himself to the stunned Yuki, and later hosts the recovering rookies at the Kurosaki Clinic amid Orihime's bakery bread and easy banter.

The gathering is broken when Asguiaro Ebern drops onto Ichigo's bed and is promptly kicked out the window. Their duel above town sees Ebern taunt Ichigo into using his Bankai, all while wielding a Quincy Cross despite his Arrancar-like mask. In the Rukongai, Ikkaku and Yumichika investigate a village emptied of every resident, its only clue a set of footprints that simply stop. Back in the Seireitei, seven masked intruders appear in Yamamoto's office, kill a messenger, and declare war on behalf of the Wandenreich.

Chōjirō Sasakibe is impaled by a massive Heilig Pfeil as Luders Friegen promises Soul Society's annihilation in five days before the group escapes through Shadows. Enraged, Yamamoto unleashes Ryūjin Jakka. In Karakura, Ebern activates a Medallion meant to steal Ichigo's Bankai, but Tensa Zangetsu holds and Ichigo blasts him with a Getsuga Tenshō before Ebern flees via a Shadow. At Silbern, Yhwach cuts off the arm of a squabbling Luders and calmly asks his subordinates to report on the coming peace.

Hollows vanish across the Human World, hinting at Quincy activity. Rookie Shinigami Yuki and Shino are ambushed in Karakura Town and saved by Ichigo and his friends. Asguiaro Ebern duels Ichigo and tests a Medallion that fails to erase his Bankai. Seven Wandenreich messengers invade Yamamoto's office, impale Chōjirō Sasakibe, and declare war within five days. Chōjirō warns that the enemy can steal Bankai. Yhwach reveals himself at Silbern.

This is the first episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and adapts Chapters 480 through 484. It has no opening theme, and its ending is Rapport. It premiered in Japan on October 11, 2022, and in English on November 4, 2022. Featured events include the concluded arrival of the new guardians, Ichigo against Asguiaro Ebern, and the Rise of the Wandenreich. The adaptation expands the Karakura Town battle and relocates several manga scenes, and a trivia note points out that despite taking place around 2003, Ichigo's room contains a PlayStation 5 and an iPad.