Bleach Episode 16 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

The Encounter, Abarai Renji!

Rukia flees the Kurosaki Clinic after recalling her life in the Human World, and is confronted by Renji Abarai, who attacks her on the street. Byakuya Kuchiki appears, and Uryū Ishida intervenes after the fight draws him in. At the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo finds Kon taped behind the toilet and reads Rukia's farewell letter, which must be decoded. Ichigo resolves to go after Rukia, but Kisuke Urahara appears. Ichigo arrives at the street, fights Renji, and is wounded badly when Renji's Shikai, Zabimaru, pierces his shoulder.

• Rukia flees and Renji attacks

  Rukia, leaving the clinic, is confronted by Renji, who slashes at her and reveals that she is to be taken in for giving her powers to a Human.

• Uryū intervenes on the street

  Uryū Ishida arrives on the scene and is wounded by Renji, who then nearly kills him before Byakuya watches from behind.

• Ichigo's farewell letter and rescue plan

  Kon reveals that Rukia left a farewell letter, which Ichigo decodes. Ichigo decides to save her as a Shinigami, and Urahara appears at the window.

• Ichigo fights Renji

  Ichigo arrives in a shihakushō and fights Renji, who reveals Zabimaru and pierces Ichigo's shoulder as Byakuya and Rukia watch.

Recent Timeline

• Numb Chandelier destroyed and Ichigo finds Uryū (Episode 13)

  Orihime uses Koten Zanshun with the Shun Shun Rikka to bisect Numb Chandelier from within, destroying it and ending its seed-control attack on the students, Tatsuki, and Chizuru. Ichigo then cuts a large Hollow in half just as it is about to attack Rukia, Kon, and Uryū, and lands behind Uryū to declare he has finally found him, ending the separate searches for the two.

• Shinigami exterminate the Quincy (Episode 14)

  About two hundred years ago the Shinigami exterminated the Quincy, a fact that shocked Ichigo when Rukia told him. Urahara explains the decision was made because the Quincy had to be eliminated to prevent the destruction of the universe, since their eradication of Hollows disrupted the balance of Souls between Soul Society and the Human World.

  Sōken Ishida, meanwhile, was attacked by five large Hollows and could not defeat them alone. The Shinigami arrived two hours after he began fighting, and he died. Uryū blames this on the Shinigami failing to acknowledge the Quincy's ideals.

• Menos Grande retreats from Karakura Town (Episode 14)

  Ichigo pushes through the Menos Grande's Cero and cuts it with a massive vertical slash. The Menos Grande retreats by pulling the Kūmon around itself, ending the threat that had drawn Ichigo and Uryū into the fight.

• Rukia located by Soul Society officers (Episode 15)

  Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki appear in the air behind Rukia outside the Kurosaki Clinic. Renji analyzes her body and realizes she is in a Gigai, then declares they have found her, ending her hidden stay in the Human World.

• Rukia's farewell letter decoded (Episode 16)

  Ichigo decodes Rukia's hidden farewell letter by removing every 'ta' syllable. It reveals she left for personal reasons, asked him not to search for her, and told him to burn the letter and go into hiding. The letter confirms her departure was deliberate and sets up Ichigo's decision to go after her.

Character Graph

Fishbone D

Hollow

Hollow that pursues the dead girl and then turns on Ichigo's family, seeking a soul with high Reiryoku. He is destroyed when Ichigo cuts through his mask.

• Target

  Was drawn by Ichigo's suppressed power, which had been leaking through the dead girl.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  The Human whose power he hunts; he is destroyed by Ichigo.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Hostility)

  Shinigami who wounds him and is wounded in return.

• Karin Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Girl he seizes and threatens to devour.

Yuzu Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who can see ghosts but cannot interact with them. She tries to keep peace at dinner and is jealous of Ichigo's spirit attention.

• Spirit sight

  Can see spirits but cannot speak to or touch them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Older brother she worries over.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older twin sister who is unconcerned by the family conflict.

Rukia Kuchiki (Princess of the Rukongai)

Shinigami · Kuchiki Clan

Shinigami sent from Soul Society to exorcise Hollows and send Pluses on. She first appears by purifying a Hollow in town and later forces her powers into Ichigo.

A Shinigami adopted into the noble Kuchiki Clan, formerly known as the "Princess of the Rukongai"; currently in the Human World hunting Hollows and has been delayed in returning to Soul Society.

• Role

  Explains Shinigami duties to Ichigo: sending Pluses to Soul Society with Konsō and purifying Hollows.

• Current state

  Stuck in a Gigai after Ichigo took most of her Shinigami powers.

• Reputation

  Was famous at the Shin'ō Academy under the nickname "Princess of the Rukongai" after her adoption into the Kuchiki Clan.

• Current status

  Keeps receiving orders to purify Hollows and has not returned to Soul Society; has a Denreishinki that alerts her to Hollows, and is hiding her Shinigami identity from Ichigo's family.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Pact, Colleague, Friend, Mixed)

  Partner forced by circumstance; she gave him her power to save his family and bickers with him throughout.

  Met in the Human World; she is wary of his family's safety and shows concern for him, which Saidō teasingly suggests is romantic interest.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow she fights and wounds, and who threatens Ichigo's family.

• Eikichirō Saidō (Colleague, Hostility)

  Fellow Academy student two years behind him; she does not remember him and he is an Onmitsukidō agent sent to question her.

Eikichirō Saidō (Saidō)

Soul Society · Onmitsukidō · Shinigami

A Soul Society figure who plays spinning tops with children and is approached in an alley by an Onmitsukidō member about his next target, Rukia Kuchiki.

A Shinigami who fights Grand Fisher alongside Ichigo and Rukia and holds a close, teasing rapport with Rukia.

• Assignment

  Receives an assignment from an Onmitsukidō member to find out what else lies behind Rukia Kuchiki's offense in the Human World.

• Academy history

  Two years ahead of Rukia at the Shin'ō Academy, and was popular there according to himself, though Rukia does not remember him.

• Mission

  Confronts Rukia about Soul Society Shinigami growing irritated at her delayed return and questions her about her Human World activities; fights Ichigo after learning he is a Substitute Shinigami.

• Conduct

  Fights aggressively, ignores danger in the battle, and is sometimes shown falling asleep unexpectedly.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Colleague, Mixed)

  Fellow Shin'ō Academy alumnus two years behind him; he mocks her romantic interest in Ichigo and threatens to take her back to Soul Society.

  A fellow Shinigami; he teases her about coming of age and assures her he will not break up a serious couple.

Isshin Kurosaki (Isshin)

Human

Father of the Kurosaki household who runs the clinic with his children. He is mourning his late wife and is at odds with his children.

Ichigo's father, who grieves Masaki's death while encouraging his son to move on.

• Household

  Enforces dinner at 7:00 pm and quarrels physically with Ichigo.

• Masaki

  Speaks of Masaki's wishes, including her view of his smoking, and insists that no one is responsible for her death.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Son he spars and fights with, though he cannot see ghosts.

  His father; he tells Ichigo not to blame himself and encourages him to live well.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Daughter who cares for him and the household.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Daughter who is cold toward him.

Karin Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who is skeptical of ghosts and does not believe in them. She is calm and blunt at home.

Karin has seen monsters like the Hollows before and has been wondering what Ichigo's connection to them is; she identifies Sado as Ichigo's friend and sees the Hollow Bulbous G clearly.

• Disbelief

  Claims ghosts do not exist to her as long as she does not believe in them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older brother she dismisses, and who rescues her from Fishbone D.

  Karin is Ichigo's sister; she comments that his heroic attitude is like Sado's and she has been wondering about his connection to monsters.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger twin sister who worries about her lack of reaction.

• Yasutora Sado (Colleague, Mixed)

  Karin meets Sado, recognizes him as Ichigo's friend, and fights beside him against Bulbous G, telling him he is just like Ichigo in his heroic reasoning.

Yasutora Sado

Karakura High School

Ichigo's classmate who offers to help the Kurosaki family clean up.

Sado recalls his childhood in Mexico, where his grandfather Oscar Joaquín de la Rosa praised his physical gifts and taught him to use his large, strong fists to protect rather than hurt others.

• Role

  Offers help to the Kurosaki family after the house was damaged.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Affinity)

  Classmate who offers help.

Orihime Inoue

Karakura High School · Human

Ichigo's classmate who is close to Tatsuki and whose only family, her brother, died after a car accident three years ago.

Vows to never forgive anyone who hurts Tatsuki, whose loyalty she repays after being protected by her.

• Family loss

  Her only brother died at the Kurosaki Clinic three years ago after being badly injured in a car accident.

• Brother bond

  Recognized her Hollow brother Acidwire and sacrificed herself to intercept his bite out of guilt over her past neglect of him.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Neutral)

  Classmate whom she has not spoken to much; she was the girl crying at the Kurosaki Clinic years ago.

Byakuya Kuchiki (Byakuya)

Soul Society · Kuchiki Clan · Captain

Captain who is Rukia's adoptive brother; accompanies Renji and watches the fight, having been sent from Soul Society to recover Rukia.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Family, Mixed)

  Her brother by the Kuchiki Clan; she addresses him as brother when he appears.

• Renji Abarai (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  His Lieutenant, who asks him to confirm his suspicions about the Human.

Ichigo Kurosaki (Ichigo)

Human · Shinigami · Substitute Shinigami

Fifteen-year-old tenth grader from Karakura Town whose family runs a clinic. He has been able to see ghosts since childhood and ends the episode with Shinigami powers he took from Rukia.

Human who received Rukia's Shinigami powers; fights Renji to protect her and is wounded by Zabimaru.

• Shinigami powers

  Gained Shinigami powers by taking in Rukia's Zanpakutō and power, and now wields a large Zanpakutō of his own.

• Motive for fighting Hollows

  His mother was killed by a Hollow; he wants no one else to suffer as his family did, and aims to protect as many people as possible.

• Zanpakutō

  Carries an unusually large Zanpakutō that he has never compared to other Shinigami blades until meeting Renji.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Pact, Friend, Affinity)

  The Shinigami who forced him into becoming one; they clash constantly yet cooperate against Fishbone D.

  Goes to save Rukia after she leaves alone, having discovered her farewell letter.

• Isshin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Father who fights and bickers with him yet shares the household.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Younger sister who worries over him.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger sister who is dismissive of him and whom he rescues from Fishbone D.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow that hunts him for his Reiryoku and has attacked his sisters.

• Uryū Ishida (Colleague, Mixed)

  Shifts from rivalry to a fragile alliance, though he still criticizes Uryū's plan.

• Renji Abarai (Other, Hostility)

  Opponent in battle; Ichigo is the Human Renji is hunting and the two fight over Rukia.

Renji Abarai (Renji)

Soul Society · 6th Division · Lieutenant

6th Division Lieutenant of Soul Society who appears in the air behind Rukia, analyzes her body statistics, and realizes she is in a Gigai.

Lieutenant of the 6th Division who was sent to take Rukia back and hunt the Human who received her powers; came from Rukongai like Rukia.

• Discovery

  Declares that they have found Rukia and grins widely.

• Shikai

  Releases Zabimaru, a segmented blade that can extend and wrap around an opponent.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Colleague, Hostility)

  Fellow Rukongai-born Shinigami who was raised by the Kuchiki Clan; he treats her current Human-like behavior as a betrayal of her Shinigami duty.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Hunts Ichigo as the Human who took Rukia's powers and fights him to recover them.

• Byakuya Kuchiki (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves under Byakuya as his Captain, accompanying him on the mission.

Uryū Ishida (Uryū)

Quincy · Classmate · Human

A Quincy who hates Shinigami and specifically hates Ichigo Kurosaki; ranked first on the final exam and sits in Ichigo's class, where he is in the handicrafts club with Orihime Inoue.

Classmate of Rukia who openly hates Shinigami; intervenes to protect Rukia and is wounded by Renji.

• Quincy identity

  Introduces himself by full name to Renji and says it is nice to meet him, revealing he is a Quincy who hunts Hollows with a Heilig Pfeil.

• Taunting Ichigo

  Taunts Ichigo as a mere Substitute Shinigami who received his powers from Rukia Kuchiki and cannot lift a finger without her permission.

• Awareness of Ichigo

  Has known Ichigo has high Reiatsu since Ichigo entered school and became a Shinigami; has watched Ichigo and Orihime from afar and challenges Ichigo to a duel.

• Master-disciple tie

  Revealed as a child who was taught by Sōken; Sōken's death drives Uryū's hatred of Shinigami.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Colleague, Mixed)

  Uryū openly hates Ichigo, criticizes his ignorance of basic Shinigami matters, and challenges him to a duel to prove who is stronger and that Shinigami are unnecessary.

  Rivals who begin to fight side by side against the Menos Grande after Ichigo points out that it is too hard to do alone.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Friend, Affinity)

  Classmate who helps her when she is attacked, despite her insisting he is not involved.

• Orihime Inoue (Colleague, Neutral)

  Shares a handicrafts club with Orihime, who knows his name and points him out to Ichigo.

• Renji Abarai (Other, Hostility)

  Hostile confrontation with Renji, who vows to kill him.

World Memo

• Orders sent via Denreishinki

  Soul Society sends orders and alerts to Shinigami through the Denreishinki device, which shows the target location on its screen.

• Shinigami duties and passing over

  Shinigami have two duties: sending Pluses to Soul Society through Konsō, and purifying Hollows. A Shinigami must treat all spirits equally and cannot help only those who happen to be nearby, since this follows from their role as balancers. A Shinigami must be willing to go anywhere and to sacrifice their own life for it.

  In the Human World, being sent to Soul Society is called passing over.

• Onmitsukidō Shinigami organization

  The Onmitsukidō is a Shinigami organization to which Saidō belongs.

• Quincy kill Hollows, Shinigami purify them

  Shinigami purify Hollows and send them to Soul Society with their Zanpakutō, while the Quincy sought to completely kill Hollows, believing they were avenging their loved ones; this belief led to their destruction.

• Quincy tribe extinct 200 years ago

  The Quincy were a tribe scattered throughout the world that specialized in destroying Hollows; humans with powers like Ichigo's sensed Hollows and trained to fight them, forming the tribe, and the tribe was destroyed about 200 years ago.

  The Shinigami exterminated the Quincy 200 years ago because the Quincy's elimination of Hollows was judged to threaten the destruction of the universe.

• Balance of Souls between worlds

  Shinigami are called Balancers in Soul Society, and roughly equal numbers of Souls are kept in Soul Society and the Human World at all times, with Souls able to travel between the two worlds.

• Central 46 dispatch authority

  Central 46 decides whether Shinigami strike units or the Keigun are sent to handle a case, and the Keigun is the alternative force that could have been dispatched.

Clue Board

• Shrieker's reason for pursuing the child (Episode 4)

  Shrieker has devoured two Shinigami who tried to perform Konsō on the child and relentlessly pursues the soul, but he refuses to explain why unless Rukia lets him devour her soul.

• Mod-Soul survival (Episode 7)

  Rukia is surprised some Mod-Souls still exist despite the order to destroy all those in development, and Ichigo wonders how this one survived being created and discarded.

  Urahara intends to destroy the pill, but Rukia takes it and hands it to Ichigo. The Mod-Soul then lives on inside a plushie body.

• Rukia's hidden offense (Episode 8)

  An Onmitsukidō member targets Rukia Kuchiki for staying too long in the Human World, but insists something else lies behind the order. Saidō is tasked to find out what it is.

  Saidō says Rukia has committed a serious crime. Rukia refuses to explain it. Saidō doubts her stated reason for not returning to Soul Society, the recurring Hollows and purification orders, and suspects a cover story.

• Missing Hollow after purification order (Episode 11)

  A purification order was received for a Hollow, but no Hollow appeared in the alleyway or after the search. Rukia suspects the Denreishinki may be broken, but the cause is not explained.

• Ichigo as the source of Shun Shun Rikka (Episode 13)

  Shun'ō says Ichigo is the reason the Shun Shun Rikka were born, but Tsubaki cuts off the explanation before it is given.

• Rukia's weakening Gigai connection (Episode 13)

  Rukia's hand fails to move properly and her connection with her Gigai has weakened lately, making her body hard to move. Urahara warns she cannot keep faking this forever. The cause is not yet explained.

  Rukia's Hadō #4 Byakurai is deflected by a large Hollow, and she wonders whether her powers have not returned at all; the cause is left open.

• Urahara's reason for binding Rukia (Episode 14)

  Urahara binds Rukia with a Bakudō and says the battle is necessary for both her and Ichigo, but what that necessity is remains unstated.

• Purpose of the Soul Society search (Episode 15)

  Renji and Byakuya appear behind Rukia and confirm she is in a Gigai. Renji says they have found her. The reason Soul Society sent them to search for her is not given.

• Rukia's withheld news for Ichigo (Episode 15)

  Rukia insists she is only tired from the previous day's incident and acts solemn and strange all day. After visible internal debate she starts to tell Ichigo something, but Kon interrupts before she can say it. What she meant to say remains unrevealed.

• Death sentence threat for Rukia and the Human (Episode 16)

  Passing Shinigami powers to a Human is described as a grave crime. Renji says the Human will be killed after Rukia is taken in, and states that Rukia will also die in Soul Society. The outcome has not been shown.

• Unexplained reason for Rukia's departure (Episode 16)

  The decoded letter cites only 'personal reasons' for Rukia leaving and asks Ichigo not to search for her and to burn the letter and hide. Kon theorizes that something happened between her and Soul Society, but no reason is given.

• Hiragana cipher in Rukia's letter (Episode 16)

  Rukia's farewell letter appears as nonsensical hiragana. A tanuki drawing hints that all instances of 'ta' must be removed, and Ichigo decodes it that way, revealing the readable text.

Battle Record

Soul Society member Renji Abarai attacks Rukia Kuchiki on a Karakura street to find the Human who received the power she transferred to them and seize that Human. Uryū Ishida and then Ichigo Kurosaki intervene. Byakuya Kuchiki watches from the side. The fight is still unresolved at the end of the episode.

Menos Grande at the Kūmon

Recalled fight · Episode 14

Location: Kūmon

Sides

• Ichigo Kurosaki — combatant: Ichigo Kurosaki
• Menos Grande — opponent: Menos Grande

Outcome: Ichigo scarred the Menos Grande

Aftermath

• Rukia worries the news will reach Soul Society

Uryū's Heilig Pfeil hunt

Injury aftermath · Episode 11– (Ongoing)

Location: park

Sides

• Uryū Ishida — hunter: Uryū Ishida

Outcome: Uryū returns to class with bandaged arms and claims he fell down the stairs

Aftermath

• Classmates do not believe Uryū's fall account
• Ichigo and friends discuss Uryū's strange behavior

Renji's street attack on Rukia

Karakura street fight · Episode 16– (Ongoing)

Location: street outside the Kurosaki Clinic, Karakura Town

Trigger: Renji Abarai seeks the Human who received Rukia's Shinigami powers

Soul Society forces vs Rukia's allies

• Soul Society — attacker: Renji Abarai / observer: Byakuya Kuchiki
• Rukia's side — defender: Rukia Kuchiki, Uryū Ishida, Ichigo Kurosaki

Outcome: Undecided at episode end; Ichigo is wounded and down while Renji prepares to kill

Ability Table

Music Releases

• *~Asterisk~ (OP)
• Thank You!! (ED)