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Arc Overview's

1. Agent of the Shinigami Arc (The Substitute Arc)

The Agent of the Shinigami arc is the first in the Bleach anime series and containd 20 episodes which aired in Japan from October 2004 through to February 2005 and in the US from September 2006 to January 2007.

Ichigo Kurosaki an orange-haired teenager from Karakura Town, Japan. He is able to see ghosts, which allows him to see Rukia Kuchiki, a Shinigami (Death God) who protects the town.
A creature known as a Hollow, due to a large hole that is present somewhere on the body of each one, attacks Ichigo's home and injurs Rukia. Ichigo takes some of her powers to fight the monster by forcing the shinigami's Katana through his chest. Rukia appears at Ichigo's school the next day and explains to him that she has lost all of her power, instead of the fraction she was going to lend him. Ichigo is forced to take her place as Shinigami of Karakura Town whilst she recovers her powers. He is made to destroy Hollows and shepherd souls to the afterlife of Soul Society.

Ichigo has an abnormally large spirit power or Reiatsu. Unfortunately for him, this power attracts Hollow to him who wish to feed off of it. His power also affects nearby humans with spirit energy.
A group of spirit users, known as "Quincys" were almost completely exterminated by the Shinigami many centuries ago. One of Ichigo's classmates, Uryuu Ishida, and his father are the only two surviving Quincy. Uryuu dispises Ichigo because of his Shinigami powers.
Uryuu tries to prove to Ichigo that Quincy have more power than Shinigami and challenges him to a Hollow-hunting contest, which goes terribly wrong, summoning masses of the beasts. Orihime Inoue and Yasutora "Chad" Sado, two if Ichigo's classmates, are spiritually awakened during this battle and come to their aid.

Whilst Rukia's powers are recovering, she becomes close friends with Ichigo and her classmates, Chad, Orihime and Uryuu. However, she knows that she cannot atay in the real world for long. In Soul Society, she is now a wanted criminal for her over-due stay in Karakura Town.
Renji Abarai and her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki are sent to the real world to arrest her and take her back to Soul Society for sentencing. Uryuu attempts to protect her but is cut down by Renji. Ichigo appears and fights to protect her, but Byakuya defeats him, strips him of Rukia's powers and leaves him for dead. Fortunately, he is saved by Kisuke Urahara.

Kisuke Urahara owns a shop in Karakura Town and was once a resident of Soul Society. He takes Ichigo to his shop and tends to his wounds. Ichigo is offered the chance to save Rukia from certain death, but to do so, he must die!
He is separated from his body and given just 72 hours to recover his Shinigami powers. If he fails, he will become a Hollow, at which point he will be destroyed.
Ichigo manages to achieve this goal and becomes a Shinigami once more. Lead by Urahara and Yoruichi, a talking cat, Ichigo, Chad, Uryuu and Orihime travel to Soul Society in an attempt to rescue Rukia.

2. Soul Society: The Sneak Entry Arc

This Arc contains 21 episodes and was aired in Japan from March 2005 to July 2005. In the USA, it was known as "The Entry Arc", and aired between February 2007 and July 2007.

Lead by Yoruichi, Ichigo, Chad, Orihime and Uryuu enter Soul Society, but are not permitted entry through the gigantic gates by an equally huge gate keeper. Ichigo fights him and the gate is opened, but on the other side, waiting for them is Ichimaru Gin, captain of the third squad. Yoruichi recomends that they retreat and find another entrance.
Yoruichi takes them to Kukaku Shiba's house. She owns a large cannon for fireworks, but agrees to fire the group over the wall into Seireitei using the cannon. She also sends ther brother as an assistant, Ganju Shiba, who is encountered in episode 21, riding a boar with some other gang members. Ganju hates Shinigami since his borther, Kaien Shiba was killed during a mission.
When the cannon fires the group over the wall, they become separated and spread throughout Seireitei and have to make their own ways back to each other, fighting enemies along the way.

Being fired over a wall by use of a huge cannon is not the most subtle way to enter anywhere, especially when that anywhere is somewhere like Seireitei, which has 13 squads, many of which contain blood-thirsty killers; or captains. The command is sent out to all the squads to capture the intruders.
The party advance through Seireitei, beating the lover-ranking Shinigami with ease. Ichigo and Death God-hating Ganju landed together after their spectacular entrance and are forced to face-off against Renji, who was first encountered in the first Arc. Ichigo defeats him once again, sending disarray through the squads. The captains are called upon to aid in the capture of Ichigo and the gang.
Meanwhile, a squad captain, Sosuke Aizen is found brutally murdered. He is found pinned to a wall with his own Katana. The Shinigami begin to suspect other Death Gods of the murder.

Kenpachi Zaraki, captain of the 11th squad meets up with Ichigo for a fight. he is renound for being the most blood-thirsty captain of all, killing the former squad captain without even releasing his sword. He believes himself to be undefeatable. Ganju is sent to free Rukia whilst they dual. Ichigo and Zaraki both admit defeat due to their injuries and the fact that they collapse.
Ichigo is saved and healed by Yoruichi, who turns out to be a human woman, and not an ill-tempered male cat. She also reveals that she and Urahara were both squad captains in the past. More on that story later.

Ganju arrives at Rukia's prison only to discover that it was her that killed Kaien, his brother. Rukia killed Kaien because his body had been full consumed by a Hollow and it had become dangerous for him to be left alive. Rukia feels guilty for his death as he was her responsibility.
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki arrives at Rukia's jail after noticing the open door. Byakuya kicks several shades out of Ganju, but Ichigo comes to the rescue and begins to battle the Captain. This batthe is cut short as Yoruichi appears and knocks Ichigo unconscious, ending the battle.

3. Soul Society: The Rescue Arc

The third Bleach story arc is presented in a series of twenty-two episodes, and ran from July 2005 to January 2006 in Japan and in the US from July 2007 to May 2008.

After knocking Ichigo unconscious and escaping Byakuya, Yoruichi begins training Ichigo to use the most powerful of all zanpakuto release techniques; Bankai. Renji then begins training along side Ichigo and informs him that Rukia's execution date has been changed.
Meanwhile, Uryuu battles with Captain Mayuri Kuritsuchi, captain of the 12th squad and head of the research bureau. Uryuu is injured heavily near the beginning but manages to use a Quincy technique, known as ransotengai, to continue fighting with him. Uryuu manages to keep battling and eventually defeats Mayuri, but at a cost. He is no longer a Quincy.
Mayuri manages to survive and escape by turning into liquid.

Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya, captain of the 10th squad, believes that Captain Gin Ichimaru was the one who murdered captain Aizen. He confronts and fights him, but the battle ends when Hitsugaya's Liutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto arrives.
The following day, Kenpachi, captain of the 11th squad, rescuse Ichigo's captured friends, but is forced to fight when confronted by Captain Kaname Tosen. Kenpachi defeats Tosen, even after he uses him Bankai; a sense-disorientation bubble of darkness.
Renji goes to rescue Rukia, but is stopped by Byakura, Rukia's brother, who sems adament that she must die. Even with his newly-developed Bankai, Renji is defeated by the experienced Byakuya. Rukia's execution begins, but she is saved by the new-and-improved Ichigo.

Rukia is rescued and taken away by Renji as Ichigo and the other Shinigami begin to fight. Three liutenants begin to persue Renji and Rukia, Isane, Omaeda and Sasakibe, but Ichigo takes them out with blistering speed and doesn't even once touch Zangetsu.
Ichigo and Byakuya begin to fight. Ichigo demonstrated incredible improvement in skill and worries Byakuya, but he fights back with equal strength. Ichigo is almost about to die when his inner Hollow bursts free and begins to fight in his place. Ichigo manages to remove the mask and finishes the fight with Byakuya, with Ichigo being victorious.
Meanwhile, Captains Kyoraku and Ukitake escape the execution grounds to a remote area where they can battle General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai, captain commander and head of the first squad. The battle begins with Genryusai igniting the battlefield with his Shikai.
Captain Soifon and Yoruichi also battle. Yoruichi, Soifon's former mentor defeats her using the Flash Cry technique in a tearful ending.

Captain Hitsugaya and his second in command, Matsumoto, arrive at the Central 46 Chanbers to find it deserted. They break in to find the 46 slaughtered and that Aizen is still alive. Hitsugaya and Aizen fight, with Aizen defeating Hitsugaya with very little effort.
He then travels to the execution ground where Rukia is. Tousen and Gin are uncovered as being Aizen's accomplices. Aizen extracts the Orb of Distortion from Rukia, despite the best efforts of Ichigo, Renji and Captain Komamura. Before Aizen can escape however, the entire officers corps of the Gotei 13 arrive and stop him.
Several Menos Grande appear, distracting the Gotei 13 and allowing Aizen to escape with his accomplices to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo and the Gang then return to the real world, leaving Rukia behind. She is no longer going to be executed, so it was safe for her to stay in Seireitei.

4. The Bounto Arc

Originally airing in Japan from January 2006 to August 2006 and in the USA from May 2008 to December 2008.

Hello, and welcome to Bleach's first filler Arc! yay! yay! I hear you all say! The anime was catching up to the Manga too quickly, so the Bount Arc was created to allow Tite Kubo more time to release some new content.

Ichigo and crew, minus Rukia, return to the real world and continue with their lives as if nothing had happened. Renji arrives and Chad and Orihime are taken away by three mysterious figures. Ichigo is lured in and finds that he must play a game to save their lives.,br> After a few games, the three are revealed to be Urahara's creations; modified souls. Urahara tells the group of the Bount, a group of near immortals that can live forever by absorbing spirit particles, kind of like vampires, but without the whole neck thing.
Ichigo runs into and battles one of these Bount, Yoshino Soma. Ichigo is nearly killed when Rukia arrives just in tome to save him. Conveniant, no?

This reunion doesn't last long as the group seddenly wencounter another Bount, Ryo Udagawa. He fights Ichigo and the gang and manages to escape, capturing Uryuu in the process. Yoshino rescues Uryuu and reveals the need for a Quincy in their plans.
She takes Uryuu to the hospital where he is attacked by the Bount twins, Ho and Ban. Ganji and Hanataro arrive and exterminate the twins before they can get Uryuu. Back in Soul Society, the appearance of the bount has sparked life into the 13 divisions and research is done on the Bount to find out more about them.
Back in the real world, Ichigo and friends find the Bount headquarters and begin their assault. Ichigo fights Udagawa, who attempts to betray Jin Kariya, the leader of the Bount. Maki Ichinose, a deserter of the 11th squad, kills Udagawa and then turns on Ichigo.

The fight ends almost as quickly as it started as Kariya steps in and quickly defeats Ichigo with very little effort. Yoshino now tries to kill Kariya, but fails and gets killed in return, enabling the creation of the Bitto, which capture and concentrate human souls, allowing the Bount to become even more powerful.
The Bount begin an assault all on Karakura Town, engaging Ichigo, his friends and the Shinigami all over the town. After some tough fighting, the Bount are forced to retreal to a cave where a Senkai gate to Soul Society had been constructed. Ugaki, anothet Bount, slows down the Shinigami progress towards the cave, but is defeated by Renji and Zabimari, his Bankai.

Uryuu, still powerless, is confronted by Nemu Kurotsuchi, she shinigami who helped him in his battle in Soul Society. She gives him a battle accessory to restore his Quincy powers. Ichigo fights Kariya again and is defeated... again, but by using his Bankai, he was able to fight on equal footing with the Bount.
Uryuu then arrives, shooting an arrow into the gate, ollowing it to open and permitting entrance into Soul Society, but it is all part of a plan to defeat them.

What did I tell you? Dull, right? Its ok.. theres only one more Arc with them in it...

5. Bount Assault on Soul Society Arc

Aired in Japan from August 2006 to January 2007 and the USA from December 2008 to April 2009.

The Bount are very dofficult to defeat in Soul Society as they have the power to absorb spirit particles and regenerate. As Soul Society is made entirely of spirit particles, they are able to heal insanely quickly.
The arc shows numerous battles all over Soul Society, but the main focus is on the battle between Kariya and Ichigo. An incredibly fierce battle ensues between the two, with the victory going to Ichigo, of course.
Kariya disintigrate and dies, but he is not the last of the Bount. Go Koga and Ran Tao survive and apologise for their actions. They reflect on their lives up to that point in the last episode.

6. The Arrancar Arc

Originally aired in Japan from January 2007 to October 2007 and in the USA air date from April 2009 to August 2009.

Kon (in Ichigo’s body) is attacked by Grand Fisher, but is later saved by Isshin Kurosaki who has recently gotten his hollow powers back.
Uryu, meanwhile is attacked by another Arrancar, and is rescued by his father Ryuken Ishida.
Shinji Hirako is sent from the Vizard (Shinigami with hollow powers) posing as a new student at Ichigo’s school, to coerce Ichigo so that he might learn more about developing his hollow powers, the same trick Hitsugaya’s team (Renji, Toshiro, Rangiku, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Rukia) pull in order to patrol Karakura town, after Yammy and Ulquiorra (the Arrancar) began sucking the souls from those in the vicinity.
During the ‘draining’ chad and Orihme happen upon them, and are grievously injured. Though Ichigo appears to save them, he is unable to do so since the hollow inside him does not allow him to fight. Kisuke Urahar and Yoruichi Shihoin eventually rescue them all from Yammy and Ulquiorra.
Grimmjow and his Arrancar appear later to attack the team and Ichigo. Ikkaku defeats his opponent with a new bankai, and the rest prevail after Soul Society allows them to remove their limiters. Ichigo defeats Grimmjow after a trying battle, during which he realizes that his inner hollow is hindering his ability to fight, and as a result takes Shinji up on his offer to train with the Vizard.

Ichigo overcomes his hollow possession, and develops his mask powers, which he later uses to fend off Grimmjow and three other Arrancar. Rukia and Shinji appears to assist Ichigo after his hollow mask breaks, but Orihme is unable to leave Soul Society due to ulquiorra threatening to kill her friends. He is the one to later end the battle between Ichigo and co and the four Arrancar.

7. The Hueco Mundo Arc

The Hueco Mundo Arc aired between October 2007 and April 2008. It contains 23 episodes and has not yer aired in the USA.

Having forced an entry into Hueco Mundo, Ichigo and co need to divide in order to face the trials that lie along 5 paths infront of them. Ichigo defeats his first opponent the Privaron Espada (Dordonil) having reluctantly used his bankai and hollow mask after Dordonil provokes his own fate by attacking Nel.

Uryu fights and defeats the Arrancar Cirucci Thunderwitch after unleashing ‘Seele Schneider’ while Rukia battles the Espada Aaroniero Arruruie. After a brutal fight during which Rukia is stabbed through the torso, shemanages to defeat Aaroniero using her Zanpakuto’s third dance. She later falls unconscious as a result of her injuries suffered from the battle.

Chad’s full power comes to surface while facing and ultimately conquering Gantenbainne Mosqueda having exposed his fighting style as using his right arm for defence only, and his left for offence. However later falls prey to the more powerful Espada Nnoitra Jiruga.

Renji and Dondochakka attempt to bring down Szayel Apporro Granzproving more difficult than originally anticipated due to the battle room having a paralyzing effect on his bankai. Having defeated Thunderwitch, Uryu then acts as backup for Renji, but neither persevere, and they watch Szayel leave after he challenges them both to a fight in the future.

Ichigo confronts Ulquiorra who misinforms him of Rukia’s death, and a heated battle ensues.

Despite Ichigo’s bankai and hollow mask, he fails to defeat Ulquiorra (who he during the battle realizes not to be the top ranked Espada) though Grimmjow interferes healing Ichigo so that he may have his own fight with him. This then takes place after Grimmjow locks Ulquiorra in an alternate dimension.

Finally, their battle takes place in Las Noches, during which Nel and Orihme cheer Ichigo on, though fearing that he is becoming a hollow having noticed the look in his eyes while fighting. Ichigo defeats Grimmjow (in his resurrection form) with his bankai and hollow mask, and promises to kill both Ulquiorra and Aizen as well as seeing to it that his friends are safe.

8. The New Captain Shusuke Amagai Arc (The Pendulum Arc)

This arc aired in Japan from April 2008 to October 2008.

What is Bleach's number one problem? Thats right.. bloody filler episodes and seasons! guess what happens in this Arc thats relevant to the story line? Thats right! Sod all! Rant over! On with the description!

The new captain, Shusuke Amagai, takes Gin Ichimaru's former seat as captain of the 3rd squad. At the same time, three new characters; characters—Princess Rurichiyo Kasumioji and her two Shinigami guardians, Kenryu and Enryu arrive in the real world and move into the house next to Ichigo's. There is an attack on the princess, through which Ichigo and Rukia become involved, naturally. The assassin is weilding a strange tentacle-like (this is Japanese animation of course) sword with immense power. She is captured and Ichigo persues her.

Ichigo and Soifon begin to battle, as the 2nd division believe that he was trying to stop a marriage, but Rukia interveens, leabing Soifon behind a massive wall of ice. Amagai also confronts Ichigo, but joins his cause after understanding the real reason for their actions.

Kira uncovers that Kifune is working Komui, the man trying to steal the head seat in the princess's nobel house. Kira barely manages to defeat Kifune, and is taken by Renji to the Captain Commander to repair his infected weapon. The other squads become aware of the corruption in the nobel house and launch an assault on the manor. As they reach the house, a battle begins between Hitsugaya and Agamai. Ichigo meanwhile, manages to find Komui, who is killed by Agamai, who then kidnaps Rurichiyo and the appears behind Yamamoto-Genryusai.

Agamai, it seems, was the master behind the plan all along (no surprise there). Amagai seeks revenge against Yamamoto for the death of his father. Amagai is slain and the Arc somes to an end.

9. The Hueco Mundo Arc Part 2

Aired from October 2008 to April 2009 and is yet to air in the USA.

MORE ON THIS ARC COMMING SOON!!

10. The Fake Karakura Town Arc

The season has begun airing on April 2009 to July 2009 in Japan and has yer to air in the USA.

A very basic Arc where Aizen's assault on Karakura Town begins. A great deal of carnage, but no real fights in the way of displays of power.

Urahara has spent time erection 4 pillars around Karakura Town, and when Aizen and crew arrive they are activated, sending the real Karakura Town to soul Sociery and replacing it with the fake one. This prevents Aizen from completing his work and allows for a safer fighting ground.

Four of Aizen's subordinates are sent to the pillars to destroy them, but they are persued by four Shinigami, Ikkaku Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Shuhei Hisagi and Izuru Kira. Battles commence at each pillar, with only one of the pillars being partially destroyed.

Aisen Tousen and Gin are trapped behind a wall of fire, created by the captain commander, so that he cannot fight. This allows for the individuals to be picked off before the fight begins with the three traitors.

Leanwhile, in Soul Society, Inoue is being held captive by Ulquiorra, the 4th Espada, under Aizen's orders. Chad, Renji, Rukia and Ichigo are running to rescue her when the whole of the Exquias squad, a group of Hollow that kill off fallen members, block their path and they are forced to battle.
Chad, Renji and Rukia stay behind to battle them whilst Ichigo carries on ahead to find Inoue.

Within these battles, each character gets to show off some of their own talent. Ayasegawa gets to use his full Shikai sword release as no one outside can see him, Kira shows how ruthless he can be, Shuhei Hisagi shows his sword release and Ikkaku gets his arse well and truly kicked. Komamura has to step in to use his sword release to finish the fight. Following the end of the pillar battles, the mid-level hollow now attack the captains and their battles begin. The captian Commander has to step in to finish one battle with a giant hollow that is the cupmination of three other Hollow.

The season ends with three otherwise irrelevant episodes that have nothing to do with Karakura Town or the battle taking place in the main story line. This was done so that more time could be given for the writers to publish more material in the Manga.

11. Zanpakuto Unknown Tales Arc

The season began airing on July 28, 2009 in Japan on TV Tokyo.

There is a revolution of an entirely different kind going on in Soul Society. The Shinigamis' Zanpakuto are stripping themselves from their owners bodies and forming independent bodies of their own. They are doing this because of another rebellious Kanpakuto - Muramasa. He has the ability to call-forth a soul reaper's soul, the Zanpakuto, and release them from their prison cell of a body, aka the Shinigami.

All but the captain Commander's soul slayer were taken from their Shinigami. Ryuujin Jakka is one of the3 olders Zanpakuto in Soul Society and is faithful to it's owner, the Captain Commander. For this, the two were some how locked away.

Rukia fights her soul slayer and nearly hills herself in the process by using Blue Fire Crash Down at point-blank range. As she didn't manage to defeat her Zanpakuto, she is still left without power. Muramasa shows up and take the Zanpakuto away.

When Ichigo arrives, he confronts Muramasa, but Zangetsu is eventually forced out. He tells Ichigo that he must fight him without the ability to use him Bankai. If he wins, his powers will be restored. If he should lose, then Zangetsu will leave him.

The battle begins and Ichigo talks to the Hollow side of his soul, which agrees to lend him his power, providing that he doesn't use the mask. At the last second, Ichigo manages to release a powerful attack and learns to control his Hollow powers without the mask.

The spell over Zangetsu is broken and he returns to Ichigo.