Byakuya, Disappearing with the Cherry Blossoms

Ichigo finds Rukia Kuchiki injured in the world of the living, whilst a strange woman, who uses Rukia's abilities, is attacking her. It is revealed that this woman is in fact Rukia's zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki. Ichigo successfully forces the renegade zanpakuto into submission, and Sode no Shirayuki retreats back to Soul Society. Ichigo brings Rukia to Kisuke Urahara's shop, where she reveals that the Soul Reapers' zanpakuto have attacked their masters, and reveals that Byakuya Kuchiki was seemingly defeated by his own zanpakuto, Senbonzakura. Yoruichi Shihoin returns from investigating Soul Society, and reveals that everyone who met with Muramasa has survived. The remaining Soul Reapers of the Gotei 13 squads have regrouped to the 4th Division headquarters while they try to re-establish their defenses and learn more about the zanpakuto rebellion. Urahara observes that only the zanpakuto in Soul Society are affected and that those in the real world are unaffected, and decides to try to capture one of the materialized zanpakuto in an attempt to learn more about their new enemy. In the middle of the night, Rukia leaves for Soul Society, apparently in search of Byakuya. Ichigo and Yoruichi leave in an attempt to go after Rukia and to save Soul Society.