Ichigo discovers that Chad, Orihime and Ishida have all been training too.  With Yoruichi the cat as their guide, they travel to Soul Society where they acquire the help of fireworks master Kukaku Shiba to help them enter the Shinigami’s compound, Seireitei .  Kukaku’s brother, Ganju, also comes along to fight.  The group is separated inside Seireitei and have to fight against the Shinigami they encounter.  Ichigo faces his most powerful enemy yet in 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zarachi.  Even though Ichigo wins, he is severely injured.  He pushes on and finally manages to meet Rukia, but Captain Byakuya Kuchiki stands in his way.

SEASON 3 (EPISODES 42-63)

Ichigo and his friends, though separated, continue to try to rescue Rukia from her imprisonment as her execution date looms closer. To their luck, some of the Shinigami are having doubts about the fairness of Rukia’s sentence. Renji attempts to rescue Rukia himself and confronts his own Captain, Byakuya Kuchiki. Meanwhile, Kenpachi Zaraki, 11th Division’s Captain, has switched to Ichigo’s side and battles two other captains. Finally, Ichigo completes his Bankai and makes his move on the day of Rukia’s execution; however, the powerful Byukuya still stands in his way. But a even greater challenge awaits everyone at the conclusion.

SEASON 4 (EPISODES 64-91)

Season 4 is composed entirely of anime filler episodes, meaning no material from the Bleach manga is used, ie. the episodes suck. The plot involves Ichigo and friends taking on a group of special humans called the Bount. Similar to vampires, the Bount stay immortal by consuming the souls of humans. Ichigo’s group is helped in their hunt for the Bount by three new modified souls provided by Urahara. Several Shinigami also show up during the course of this story arc including Renji, Yoruichi, Soi Fon, Byakuya, Kenpachi and more.

SEASON 5 (EPISODES 92-109)

If you thought you couldn’t stand more Bleach filler episodes… well, here’s more. Season five thankfully concludes the Bount story arc. The Bount manage to enter Soul Society and several Shinigami Captains are sent to fight them. Hint: the Shinigami win.

SEASON 6 (EPISODES 110-131)

Having finally returned to the manga source material, season six introduces the arrancar, a group of especially powerful Hollow who are under the command of Aizen. A group of arrancar attack Karakura Town. Ichigo and friends confront them and are supported by a special team of Shinigami led by Captain Hitsugaya. Ichigo realizes how weak he is compared to the arrancar when he is easily beaten by Grimmjow Jeagerjaques. Ichigo is then taken in by a group of ex-Shinigami called the Vizards who teach him to control his inner Hollow powers. Episodes 128-131 of this season are filler episodes… yes, again.

SEASON 7 EPISODES (132-151)

Episodes 132-137 are filler episodes. Ichigo completes his training with the Vizards just in time to encounter the second invasion of the arrancar; however, as Ichigo and his Shinigami allies are distracted, the arrancar Ulquiorra attacks Orihime and threatens to kill her friends if she did not follow him back to Heuco Mundo to Aizen’s fortress. Shinigami Commander Yamamoto-Genryusai declares Orihime a traitor and forbids any exertions into Heuco Mundo. However, Ichigo, Chad and Uryu enter Heuco Mundo regardless with Uarahara’s help. They are later assisted by Rukia and Renji who disobeyed the Commander’s orders to help rescue Orihime. They meet a stranger arrancar child named Nel and her guardians. After being rescued by Ichigo’s group when other arrancars attack, Nel agrees to guide everyone to Las Noches, Aizen’s fortress.

SEASON 8 (EPISODES 152-167)

As Ichigo’s party enter the perimeter of Las Noches, they are attacked by powerful Privaron Espada and Aizen’s own Espada. Rukia is forced to fight what appears to be her deceased Captain, Kaien. Chad defeats the Privaron Espada Gantenbainne Mosqueda, but is then confronted by the powerful Espada Nnoitra Jiruga. Ishida is able to best the Privaron Espada Cirucci Thunderwitch, and then joins Renji in the tough fight against the Espada Szayel Grantz. Ichigo, after fighting the Privaron Espada Dordonii, is once again faced with Grimmjow. Grimmjow has Orihime with him but only because he wants her to heal Ichigo so they can have a fight to the death at full strength.

SEASON 9 (EPISODES 168-189)

Season 9 is another filler episode season. New characters introduced include Syusuke Amagai, a newly appointed Captain to replace Aizen for Division 3 and Lurichiyo Kasumioji, a young princess of the Soul Society nobility. The story arc involves a power struggle inside Lurichiyo’s noble house which Ichigo and Amagai become involved in.

Season 10 continues where season 8 left off with the battle between Grimmjow and Ichigo. Ichigo has the upperhand, however, their battle is interrupted when Nnoitra appears, defeats Grimmjow and begins to overpower Ichigo. Nel aids Ichigo after she transforms back to her original form, that of Neliel, a former Espada. However, she soon reverts back, but both she and Ichigo are saved by the arrival of Kenpachi. Soul Society has finally sent reinforcements: Kenpachi comes to help Ichigo, Byakuya goes to save Rukia, Mayuri aids Ishida and Renji, and Retsu Unohana is able to revive Chad. Episodes 204-205 and 213-214 are filler.

Episodes 206-212 consist of the Turn Back the Pendulum story arc which tell the history of how the Vizards came to be and Urahara’s early days in Gotei 13.

Season 13 begins a filler-only story arc involving the zanpakutou of the shinigami going rogue and wrecking havoc to Soul Society. Commander Yamamoto has gone missing and a man named Muramasa, who is a former zanpakutou, appears to have the ability the give other zanpakuto Independence and allow them to take a human form. Ichigo and Rukia return to Soul Society to investigate, but fall into Muramasa’s trap.