Bleach Episode 17 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Ichigo Dies!

Ichigo, fighting Renji Abarai, gains sudden power, then is cut down by Byakuya Kuchiki's Senka and left dying in the rain while Rukia is taken to Soul Society; Urahara rescues him and agrees to train him for 10 days.

• Renji's assault and Ichigo's surge

  Renji attacks Ichigo, who unexpectedly rises with a burst of Reiatsu, slashes Renji's visor and forces him to retreat, while Rukia tries to stop Renji and Ichigo gets up despite his wounds.

• Byakuya's intervention

  Byakuya severs Ichigo's Zanpakutō blade and uses Senka to stab him twice, shattering his Soul's vital spots so he will die within the hour.

• Rukia's departure

  Rukia begs Byakuya to take her back to Soul Society, tells Ichigo to stay put, and walks through the Senkaimon while Ichigo lies helpless in the rain.

• Urahara's rescue and training offer

  Urahara heals Ichigo at the Urahara Shop, reveals a way to reach Soul Society, and sets a 10-day training condition, which Ichigo accepts.

Recent Timeline

• Quincy extermination and Ishida's death (Episode 14)

  About 200 years ago the Shinigami exterminated the Quincy, a decision Urahara explains was made to prevent the universe's destruction, since Quincy eradication of Hollows had upset the balance of Souls between Soul Society and the Human World. Sōken Ishida was later attacked by five large Hollows and could not defeat them alone; the Shinigami arrived two hours after he began fighting, and he died. His grandson Uryū blames this on the Shinigami failing to acknowledge the Quincy's ideals. Ichigo later cut down a Menos Grande with a massive vertical slash after pushing through its Cero, and the Menos Grande retreated 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 appeared in the air behind Rukia outside the Kurosaki Clinic. Renji analyzed her body and realized she was in a Gigai, then declared they had found her. This ended her hidden stay in the Human World.

• Rukia's farewell letter decoded (Episode 16)

  Ichigo decoded Rukia's hidden farewell letter by removing every 'ta' syllable. The message revealed she had left for personal reasons, asked him not to search for her, and told him to burn the letter and go into hiding. The letter confirmed her departure was deliberate and set up Ichigo's decision to go after her.

• Ichigo defeated and Rukia taken back (Episode 17)

  After Ichigo's burst of power failed to save him, Byakuya used Senka to stab him twice, ending the fight. Byakuya shattered the vital spots of Ichigo's Soul, leaving him to die within the hour. Rukia asked Byakuya to take her back to Soul Society and left through a Senkaimon, leaving the wounded Ichigo behind, and was taken back to face execution.

• Urahara rescues Ichigo (Episode 17)

  Urahara and Yoruichi found the dying Ichigo in the rain and brought him to the Urahara Shop, where he was healed. Urahara agreed to reveal the route to Soul Society only if Ichigo trained with him for 10 days.

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.

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.

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.

Byakuya Kuchiki (Captain Byakuya)

Soul Society · Kuchiki Clan · Captain · Gotei 13 · 6th Division

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

6th Division Captain of Soul Society who coldly cuts down Ichigo and takes Rukia back to Soul Society.

• Combat display

  Shatters Ichigo's Soul at the vital points Saketsu and Hakusui with a fast Senka, leaving him to die within the hour.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Family, Mixed)

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

  Her older brother; he refuses to let her interfere and takes her back to Soul Society.

• Renji Abarai (Hierarchy, Neutral)

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

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Opponent who wounds Ichigo fatally and mocks him.

World Memo

• Return to Soul Society restricted

  Only Shinigami can return to Soul Society, and a Shinigami who has lost their powers cannot do so until they regain them.

• Orders sent via Denreishinki

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

• Hollow purification by one blow

  Purifying a Hollow means attacking it from behind and splitting its head in one blow; this minimizes the Shinigami's injuries and keeps them from discovering the Hollow's identity.

  Purifying a Hollow is not killing it; the Hollow's soul is cleansed so it can enter Soul Society, which is why Shinigami exist.

• Gates of Hell reserved for sinners

  The Gates of Hell are reserved for Souls and Hollows who committed sins while alive. The Zanpakutō only washes away sins committed after death.

• Project Spearhead cancelled in Soul Society

  Soul Society once ran a program called Project Spearhead that placed artificial combat souls into dead human bodies to fight Hollows; it was cancelled because it would force corpses to fight, and all Mod-Souls in development were slated for destruction.

• Mod-Souls must be destroyed by law

  Under Soul Society's law, Mod-Souls must be destroyed; these laws exist to protect Humans.

  Soul Society issued the destruction order soon after each Mod-Soul was created, so its death date was fixed the day after creation.

• Chain of Fate keeps soul tied to body

  The Chain of Fate connects a soul to its body, and while it remains intact the soul is prevented from dying.

  Once a soul's Chain of Fate is completely severed, the soul cannot be returned to its body.

  A human's Chain of Fate is severed from the body when they die; normally the soul then waits for a Shinigami to come along and help it pass over.

• Jibakurei take half a year to become Hollow

  Without damage to its chest hole, a Jibakurei takes about half a year to become a Hollow; damage to the chest hole speeds up the process.

• 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.

• One-month execution waiting period

  In Soul Society an execution usually comes only after a waiting period of about one month, and this differs from how executions are carried out for humans.

Clue Board

• Urahara's group identity (Episode 7)

  Urahara and his employees can see and hear Ichigo, which surprises him. Ichigo asks who they are, and Urahara hesitates without giving an answer.

• Ichigo's potential to become a monster (Episode 10)

  Saidō notes that a Shinigami's Reiryoku is their life energy and asserts that Ichigo's immense power means he could become a monster, a possibility left open.

• Uryū's advance knowledge of Hollow location (Episode 11)

  Uryū names the street where the new Hollow will appear before Rukia's Denreishinki reports the order. The source of his knowledge is not explained.

• Source of Sado's giant arm (Episode 12)

  Sado does not understand why armor suddenly appeared on his arm, why he could release such a powerful attack with it, or why he suddenly could see Bulbous G clearly.

• 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.

• Suppressed Reiryoku origin (Episode 14)

  Rukia conjectures that Ichigo's power was almost completely suppressed until just now, which is why she sensed nothing from him and why no Hollow attacked him before. The cause of the suppression is unexplained.

  Ichigo's Reiryoku seems to stay at maximum without conscious control, so Uryū infers he holds an immense reserve; where this comes from is still unstated.

• 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.

• Cause of Uryū's bandaged injuries (Episode 15)

  Uryū arrives at school with bandaged arms and claims he fell down the stairs, though no one believes him. Keigo saw Uryū mumbling and acting strangely in a park the day before, with strange people and explosions nearby. Rukia says the injuries are self-inflicted, but the true cause is not explained.

• 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.

• Source of Ichigo's transformation (Episode 17)

  Saidō asks how a Human like Ichigo can transform this way and how he got the ability. Ichigo refuses to answer, so the source remains unexplained.

  The tassels on Ichigo's Zanpakutō move by themselves and then burst off as a wave of Reiatsu is released, and Ichigo himself does not understand why he feels great and no longer in pain.

• Withheld route to Soul Society (Episode 17)

  Urahara reveals that a way to reach Soul Society exists but withholds how it works, agreeing to tell Ichigo only if he trains with him for 10 days.

Battle Record

Renji and Ichigo fight on the street; Ichigo unleashes surging Reiatsu, Byakuya intervenes with Senka and wounds Ichigo, who collapses; the Shinigami leave him behind.

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

Renji vs Ichigo street battle

Ichigo's Reiatsu surge and Byakuya's intervention · Episode 17

Location: street in Karakura Town

Trigger: Ichigo refuses to yield and Renji moves to finish him

Shinigami vs Ichigo

• Shinigami — combatants: Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki
• Ichigo — combatant: Ichigo Kurosaki

Outcome: Ichigo collapses after Byakuya's Senka strikes; Shinigami withdraw through a Senkaimon

Aftermath

• Rukia pleads to help Ichigo and is restrained by Renji
• Byakuya agrees not to deal the finishing blow; Ichigo is left dying with his Soul's vital spots shattered

Ability Table

Music Releases

• *~Asterisk~ (OP)
• Thank You!! (ED)