Bleach/The Strongest Shinigami! Ultimate Confrontation Between Teacher and Students

The Strongest Shinigami! Ultimate Confrontation Between Teacher and Students
Season 3, Episode 14
Airdate	October 25, 2005
Production Number	55
Written by	Genki Yoshimura Masahiro Okubo Masashi Sogo Michiko Yokote Natsuko Takahashi Rika Nakase
Directed by	Noriyuki Abe
← 3x13 An Accomplished Oath! Get Back Rukia!	3x15 → Supersonic Battle! Determine the Goddess of Battle
Bleach — Season Three

The Strongest Shinigami! Ultimate Confrontation Between Teacher and Students is the fourteenth episode of the third season of Bleach, and the fifty-fifth episode overall. While Ichigo fights with Byakuya, Soi Fong is distracted by Yoruichi and the two betraying captains who destroyed Sōkyoku are cornered by their general.

Co-Stars: Lex Lang (Marechiyo Oomaeda), Cindy Robinson (Soi Fong), Kate Higgins (Retsu Unohona/Nanao Ise), Cindy Robinson (Isane Kotetsu), Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai), Jeannie Elias (Kiyone Kotetsu), Michael Lindsay (Sentarou Kotsubaki), Liam O'Brien (Jushiro Ukitake), Michael Sorich (Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai), Steve Kramer (Shunsui Kyouraku), Wendee Lee (Yoruichi Shihouin)

Plot Overview

Now that Ichigo has the power to go up against three ranked soul reapers, he turns his attention to Byakuya, who attempted to attack him while he was busy with the others. But, his attack fails because Ichigo is far too fast to be wounded by the same move a second time. When Ichigo blocks the attack, Byakuya asks him why he's so intent on saving Rukia. Ichigo turns the question on him and neither one gets an answer. Seeing that conversation is pointless, the two go straight to battle and Byakuya declares that he will kill Ichigo and perform Rukia's execution himself.

While they fight, Rukia and Renji escape down the stairs and have a heart-to-heart discussion on why she shouldn't be blaming herself for changing Ichigo's fate. He tells her that he and Ichigo will help her carry the weight so that she won't have to do it alone. She apologizes for being so foolish and they continue their escape, although none of the Captains are trying to follow. Instead, the Commander-General is more interested in exacting vengeance on Ukitake and Kyouraku for their involvement in the destruction of Sōkyoku. They escape, along with Nanao, but they're forced to leave Ukitake's subordinates behind. Soi Fong attempts to kill Kiyone on the spot, but she's tackled by Yoruichi.

Eventually, the captains reappear in an area of the city which has been decimated by battle in hopes that any fighting there will keep casualties to a minimum. Almost immediately after they get to the area, they find the commander-general waiting for them. Nanao tries to do something to turn the tide of battle, but Yamamoto-Genryūsai's spiritual pressure is too intense for her to handle. Her captain takes her somewhere safe before she can't possibly get hurt in the ensuing battle and comes back quickly to assist Ukitake against their leader. The two try to reason with him, but he refuses to accept their idea of justice. Instead, he releases his zanpakutō and attacks with his flaming sword.