Kira and Kifune, Offense and Defense of the 3rd Division

Despite the patrols of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Ichigo, Rukia, Amagai, and Shu manage to make contact with the third division members, and head towards the training grounds of the third division, which was Lurichiyo's last known location. Kira begins to fight Kifune, and initially gains the advantage by using his shikai to increase the weight of Kibune's zanpakuto. Kifune uses his bakoto to negate Kira's shikai, as he continues to fight. Discussing his past, Kibune reveals that he was ostracized in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for not protecting his weaker division members during missions, and assigned to squad specialized in hunting down hollows as a result. He states that the bakoto will give him enough power to gain respect from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.