







Deep within some ruins, monks perform an act of sealing upon a shrine that explodes, killing all the monks as a mysterious figure emerges from the shrine. Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki plans to rest away his Sunday morning with Rukia Kuchiki and Kon, until his sister Yuzu arrives to reveal a police officer was attacking their father, Isshin. After discovering the officer was actually 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Ichigo and the others visit a fast-food restaurant (that Hanatarō Yamada works at) where Renji reveals Soul Society sent him on an urgent mission. Before this can be explained, the being from the ruins attacks the town and proves a formidable adversary when he brutally injures Ichigo. At which point, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya arrives to keep the being at bay.
At Urahara's Shop, he reveals that the being is a Zanpakutō-lacking Shinigami named Baishin, who terrorized Soul Society until they sealed him away forever...or so it seemed. At which point, Soul Society members arrive to take action (excluding the 11th Division's Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi due to navigational problems). The group splits up around the city to take on Hollows summoned by Baishin. Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji arrive at the ruins to find Baishin, who drains Ichigo's spirit energy to the point of passing out. When Baishin attempts to kill Rukia, Renji arrives to take the blows and use the last of his energy with Higa Zekkō on Baishin, who is left weak until he enters a Bankai form.
With Rukia and Renji defeated, Hitsugaya arrives and attempts to overpower Baishin with his Bankai form, but fails. With the group too late, Baishin prepares to kill Hitsugaya until stopped by Ichigo, who regains consciousness and proves more formidable. At the climax of the fight, Ichigo enters his Bankai and easily overpowers and bifurcates Baishin, who's Zanpakutō falls to the ground. With the fight over, Ichigo reveals that Baishin was one with his Zanpakutō and wanted his body back. After having brief sympathy for Baishin, the group wonders what happened to Kenpachi and Yachiru, who still fail to find them. At the end it shows Kenpachi and Yachiru chasing a bullet train, they eventually end up vacationing on it. Every other Shinigami ends up spending time in the Human World, with mixed results. For example; Hitsugaya is stuck in a student uniform, Byakuya Kuchiki appearing in a carriage wearing 18th century clothing (much to Renji's and Ichigo's chagrin), Yoruichi Shihōin and Urahara Kisuke going on a date (causing Soifon to become utterly enraged), and Sajin Komamura surprisingly uses a normal Gigai (a Shinigami golden segment hinted he'd use a dog Gigai) . Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen, and Sōsuke Aizen also appear at the very end (wearing modern clothing), with Gin telling the audience to "be careful on the way home".
Unidentified spirits begin appearing in Karakura Town. A mysterious Soul Reaper who calls herself Senna appears and begins destroying the spirits. Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki confront her about the situation, but she refuses to answer any questions and leaves. Ichigo follows her while Rukia searches for answers. Ichigo meets up with Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto at the Urahara Shop, who have been sent to earth to investigate why the real world is suddenly appearing as a reflection in the sky in Soul Society.
Kisuke Urahara explains that a dimension between Soul Society and the real world, the Valley of Screams, has expanded to the point that it is connecting the two worlds. The spirits seen earlier are "Blanks", souls without memories that were lost in the space between the two worlds and that comprise the Valley of Screams. The memories of the Blanks combine to form a single being, the "Memory Rosary." Upon further investigation, it is revealed that Senna is this being.
The Gotei 13 are sent to try to deal with the problem of the expanding valley, however the "Dark Ones", a group of exiles from the Soul Society seeking revenge for the past, appear and capture Senna. They take her to the Valley of Screams and attach her to a device powered by the Blanks that will cause the Valley to collapse, resulting in a collision between the real world and the Soul Society that would destroy both worlds.
Ichigo travels to the Valley to rescue Senna while Rukia goes to get reinforcements from Soul Society. However, General Yamamoto wants to destroy the Valley before it collapses and refuses to order a rescue mission with only an hour left. In the Valley, Ichigo is overpowered by the large number of blanks, but he is saved by the arrival of his many friends from the Soul Society. While the group battles the Dark Ones and Blanks, Ichigo battles and eventually defeats their leader, Ganryu.
The process of the collapse has gone too far to completely stop. Senna sacrifices herself to push the two worlds back apart to save Ichigo. Senna asks Ichigo to take her to the graveyard so she can see her name on her gravestone. Though the stone is blank, Ichigo lies and tells her that her name is on it. Believing him, she expresses contentment that she once had a life of her own before fading away. Rukia notes that once the power of the Blanks fades away, so will all memories of Senna. After the credits, Ichigo is walking on the bridge where the portal was and sees a red ribbon, the one that he had bought Senna, floating down from the sky then sees a girl who looks just like her running past him, he smiles and continues on with his walk.
Senna is created from the memories of souls ejected from the circle of life, and is called the Memory Rosary. Despite her spunky, upbeat, and carefree personality, she is also haunted by the many memories that reside in her. In her gigai form she is dressed in a school uniform. When she transforms into a Soul Reaper, she wears the standard Soul Reaper uniform with a large red ribbon tied around her waist. She sacrifices her life to push the two worlds apart.With the whole of Soul Society looking for Hitsugaya, Ichigo as a soul reaper on patrol accidentally stumbles upon Squad 2 Captain Soifon while she is conducting an investigation of the transport site. Soifon informs him of the events happening in the Soul Society and dispels the kido surrounding them. As Soifon disappears with her crew, Tōshirō makes his presence known and passes out in front of Ichigo and Uryu. Awakening in the Kurosaki residence, Tōshirō refuses to explain what's happening. In the midst of their discussion, Ichigo is attacked by the two arrancar before he can force the issue. Tōshirō escapes, continues to avoid capture, and things only look worse when the Soul Reaper thief, identified as Former Soul Reaper Sōjirō Kusaka, uses Hyōrinmaru, a sword identical to Hitsugaya's, to injure Shunsui Kyōraku. Tōshirō's capture is then made top priority and his execution is approved.
Meanwhile, back in the human world, Rukia has caught up with Ichigo. The gang exchange information, and Rukia reveals rather surprising, in-depth knowledge of Hitsugaya's personality, as well as some rather accurate guesses as to what Hitsugaya plans to do next. During the talk, Ichigo realizes what might be troubling Hitsugaya and leaves to find him.
Through his wandering to avoid capture, Tōshirō eventually manages to track Sōjirō down, where it is revealed that the two managed to manifest the same zanpakutō. Because it is impossible for the same zanpakuto to be wielded in Soul Society, the two were forced to fight to the death. Tōshirō did not wish to fight, but was left with no other option as Kusaka attacked, claiming that he was the only one worthy of Hyōrinmaru. In the fight, Kusaka is dealt a serious wound. Before the battle could be decided, the Military Corps carried out his execution. Cursing Central 46 and Soul Society, Kusaka died and was reborn in Hueco Mundo, where he became a hollow and started his plans of revenge against the Soul Society. Once he learned of the King's Seal and its powers, which allows the user to freely manipulate time, space, and matter within a small space, he leapt at the opportunity to settle the score with both Hitsugaya and Soul Society.
Using the King's Seal, Sōjirō teleports Tōshirō and himself to Soul Society, needing the power of Tōshirō's bankai to break the seal. When Tōshirō refuses, Sōjirō breaks the seal himself, having learned bankai himself with the help of the King's Seal. However, because he lacks the control which Tōshirō possesses, the power goes berserk and threatens to destroy both Soul Society and the real world. With much help, Ichigo in his Visored form and Tōshirō manage to destroy Sōjirō's dragon-like bankai form. Returned to his regular form, Sōjirō and Tōshirō have one last clash. Kusaka is defeated and dies, finally understanding that he really wasn't worthy of Hyōrinmaru. In the end, Tōshirō is cleared of all charges and the King's Seal is restored, allowing Tōshirō to finally put his past to rest.