Winged Eagles 2

Overwhelmed that so many wounded fighters would guard him, Ichigo protests, but Shinji insists the struggle belongs to everyone and that letting him die alone would only feed their fury. Hitsugaya opens the offensive, his blow blocked as Aizen mocks his recklessness; the young captain retorts that someone has to move first and praises the traitor for not reaching for Kyōka Suigetsu at once. Kyōraku joins in, and the two captains press Aizen together. Komamura thanks Ichigo for arriving before his anger consumed him, then charges, while Shinji sends Love, Rose, and Lisa forward and notes that bringing Unohana was the wiser call for healing.

Suì-Fēng snaps Ichigo out of his daze, warning that the opening will vanish if he hesitates, and rushes in with a flustered Ōmaeda trailing behind. Recalling Byakuya's claim that no captain needs his aid, Ichigo resolves to trust them and study the flow of battle. Hitsugaya lectures Aizen that a captain raises his sword from duty, never as mere hateful violence, and declares him unworthy of the rank. Aizen counters by reminding him he harbors the deepest hatred of anyone present, especially now that Momo has recovered. Provoked, Hitsugaya unleashes his Bankai, admitting he came only to destroy, as Kyōraku warns him against losing himself.

The third chapter of volume 45, THE BURNOUT INFERNO, its title extends the earlier eagle imagery to the allies rallying at Ichigo's side. Unohana is glimpsed tending to Hachigen Ushōda and the split Hiyori Sarugaki. The chapter was adapted in episode 292, All Out War! Aizen vs. Shinigami, and features a flashback to Byakuya Kuchiki.