Ep 171. Bleach 171

Ichigo and his friends find themselves in a dangerous situation as a new enemy, Muramasa, reveals himself. Muramasa is a rogue zanpakuto spirit with the ability to control other zanpakuto and their wielders. In this episode, Muramasa sets his sights on Ichigo's zanpakuto, Zangetsu, and sets a trap to separate him from the others.

Meanwhile, Captain Unohana and her squad investigate a strange phenomenon in the Soul Society. They discover that many zanpakuto have been stolen, leaving their owners defenseless. The thefts are connected to Muramasa, who seeks to gather enough zanpakuto to create an army.

Ichigo, along with his companions, Senbonzakura and Haineko, must fight their way through Muramasa's minions to reach Zangetsu. Along the way, they encounter other zanpakuto spirits who have joined Muramasa's cause. These spirits have their own reasons for joining Muramasa and are not easily convinced to change sides.

As Ichigo and his friends draw closer to Zangetsu, Muramasa uses his powers to turn the zanpakuto against him. Ichigo is forced to fight against Zangetsu, who has become controlled by Muramasa. In this battle, Ichigo must not only defeat his own zanpakuto but also liberate him from Muramasa's influence.

Elsewhere in the Soul Society, Captain Hitsugaya and his squad face a similar challenge as they confront Captain Sogyo no Kotowari and his zanpakuto, Katen Kyokotsu. The zanpakuto spirits have also been taken over by Muramasa, and Hitsugaya must find a way to defeat them without harming the spirits or their wielders.

As the episode comes to a close, Ichigo and his friends face a difficult decision. In order to save Zangetsu, they must destroy Muramasa's physical body. However, this will also mean destroying the zanpakuto spirits he has collected. The team must weigh their options carefully before making a final decision.

Overall, Bleach season 9 episode 171 is an action-packed and suspenseful episode. It introduces an intriguing new villain and showcases the complex relationship between the zanpakuto and their wielders. Fans of the series will be on the edge of their seats as Ichigo and his friends face this new threat and try to save their cherished zanpakuto.