Thank You

Back in Karakura Town, Ichigo and Rukia dispatch a dragonfly-shaped Hollow, though Ichigo takes a hit and Rukia has to finish it. She notices he never used flash steps to dodge, an early sign his strength is slipping. Zennosuke Kurumadani, the town's assigned Shinigami, interrupts to scold them for acting without his approval. The next day Ukitake, realizing Ichigo's reiatsu is fading once more, instructs Rukia to keep him out of combat.

Over the following nights Ichigo keeps trying to fight, but his power collapses mid-battle. Uryū and Rukia bail him out, and Uryū invents an excuse about a spirit in the park to spare him further exposure. Between the skirmishes, Ichigo takes Rukia and his classmates ice skating and they watch fireworks together, a rare stretch of ordinary life.

A larger, tougher Hollow ambushes them on the walk home and overpowers Ichigo, who apologizes to Rukia for being a burden. She insists she will always help him because they are friends, then freezes the creature's legs on his cue. Summoning the last of his strength, Ichigo unleashes what he calls his final Getsuga Tenshō, destroys the Hollow, and collapses from exhaustion.

Waking at home, he admits to Rukia, Sado, Uryū, and Orihime that he always knew his powers were dying and that Rukia had orders to stop him. Outside, he can no longer sense the spiritual world, and Rukia begins to fade from his eyes. She jokes that she can still see him even if he cannot see her, tells him she will pass along his regards to everyone, and vanishes as Ichigo quietly says goodbye and thank you.

Adapted from chapter 423, the episode closes out both the Gotei 13 Invading Army arc and the second part of the Fake Karakura Town arc, marking the loss of Ichigo's Shinigami abilities. Flashbacks revisit techniques from across his history, including Mugetsu and the Final Getsuga Tenshō. The picture-book segment shows a now-powerless Ichigo, in his white kimono, resolving to enjoy high school at last, only for Yuzu to remind him he is about to begin his stressful final year.