The Man of Immortality

A recap of the final moments of Ichigo and Kenpachi's fight from Episode 38. After Zangetsu appears, the episode number appears and Zangetsu stand before Ichigo. He questions Ichigo's resolve, does he want to fight, win, or live? Ichigo announces he wants to win. He says the other two are meaningless. Zangetsu pulls Ichigo into his heart again. Zangetsu notes that though the battle rages outside, the inner world is un-phased. He tosses Ichigo a sword used by shinigami trainers. Ichigo objects, saying that Zangetsu is his sword. Zangetsu refuses Ichigo his sword, and a fake Shadow Ichigo appears, taking the zanpakutou instead. He tells Ichigo to steal the zanpakutou away from himself to earn the right to wield him again. The battle begins and Ichigo blocks. He notes the excellence of Zangetsu's zanpakutou and feels his current sword inferior. Shadow Ichigo then takes to throwing the zanpakutou at Ichigo to keep him at bay. Shadow Ichigo mocks him, noting that Ichigo is unworthy of Zangetsu. Ichigo notes that he never did try to commune with his zanpakutou, and recalls Kenpachi being the same way. Ichigo tries to attack, blocking the thrown sword, but is thrown off balance. Shadow Ichigo says it's time to end this, and attacks. Ichigo raises his sword confidently, asking Zangetsu to help him more, asking for forgiveness, and suddenly, Ichigo and Shadow Ichigo's swords switch. Ichigo now has Zangetsu and Shadow Ichigo the normal sword! Back to reality, Kenpachi feels a sudden disturbance and turns.
After the commercial break, Shadow Ichigo asks Zangetsu if Ichigo can be trusted. He says Ichigo's power will be his someday before disappearing. Zangetsu tells Ichigo that when Ichigo is sad, it rains in his heart. He asks Ichigo not to be sad anymore so it won't rain and volunteers his help to stop the downpours.

Back in reality, Ichigo is standing in a storm of raietsu, Zangetsu whole again, his bleeding stopped. Ichigo attacks with unreal speed, cutting Kenpachi's shoulders badly and pushing him back. Kenpachi is winded finally. He wants to end the fight soon, but Kenpachi seems determined to fight. Ichigo cuts his face, and Kenpachi trips him back. The more cuts he receives, the more insane with bloodlust Kenpachi seems to become. Ichigo suddenly notes that Kenpachi seems to have gotten stronger as well. Kenpachi gives a speech on the joy of fighting, and it switches to Yumichika and Ikkaku talking. Ikkaku mocks Yumichika for his afro that is the result of Ganju's explosion, and then the two notes that Kenpachi is in battle. We see the battle while the two wonder if Kenpachi is losing.
Kenpachi seems to enjoy the bloody mess and suddenly rips his eye patch off. A shockwave and a surge of energy. On the rooftop, Yachiru is joined by the message carrier. She threatens the man not to bother her no matter how urgent the message while Kenpachi is fighting. Kenpachi explains to Ichigo that his eye patch infinitely eats away at his spirit energy to keep it under control. he is now infinitely stronger. With one slash, he cuts a nearby building in half. Ichigo calms himself and talks with Zangetsu for a moment. Zangetsu announces that Kenpachi and his sword are working against each other because they are not in tune. Ichigo places his trust in Zangetsu, and Ichigo also explodes with raietsu. Kenpachi is pleased and amazed, but mocks Ichigo's trust in his sword. Their raietsus call out to each other in bloodlust and the two attack. In one fatal, deciding blow, an explosion occurs, leveling all nearby structures. Yachiru is barely saved. Blood. A tense standoff between Ichigo and Kenpachi. Ichigo is impaled and collapses. Kenpachi stands victorious. To be continued.