We can divide the entire episode 9 into two parts, Ichigo in the Royal Palace, and Kenpachi’s training.
The Royal Palace
So Ichigo is being submerged by hulky-looking men in special suits in Tanjiro’s Kirinden. We also get to see Bleach’s classic humor. And Tanjiro suddenly hits Ichigo. Ichigo is surprised but Tanjiro then affirms him fit to leave and go to the next place. Renji springs up and says he’s healed too. To test him, Tanjiro attacks him and Renji withstands with willpower. Acknowledging his efforts, he lets Renji leave with Ichigo.
Both Ichigo and Renji are transported to Gatonden – Kirio‘s place. When they leave, Tanjiro and his henchmen talk about how they both need special suits to stay in the White and Red Hell, but Ichigo and his companions are swimming in it naked. They are special, especially Ichigo.
At Gatonden, Ichigo and Renji meet Kirio, the Captain of Squad 12 before Urahara. She feeds them lavish and big dishes one after another. Midway, Ichigo grows contemplative about whether should they be doing this while everyone else is getting ready for the next invasion. Renji cheers him up by saying that we can only train if we heal and fill up our bellies.
Kirio affirms this by telling them that the food and healing in the Royal Palace are on another scale from the Soul Society, and tells them a bit about how Squad Zero members are chosen and why she was chosen. After reviving their reishi with her food, Kirio sends them off to the next place, to the founder of Zanpunkos.
Kenpachi’s Training
Shunsui Kyōraku receives a letter at the start of the Episode which puts him to be the new Head Captain. He’s in front of the Council and appeals to have two lieutenants. Nanao and third seat of Squad 1. He convinces them eventually.
Then he moves on to the real agenda, training Zenpachi to learn zanjutsu. The Council relents after he assures them that they need him in the next invasion. He then calls in Unohana for the task and it’s revealed that she’s the previous Kenpachi before Kenpachi. Well, I already knew this from the Manga I was excited to see how it would be. But, it was also sad since only one of them can make it out of this battle.
It was so much better in the anime version. Kenpachi and Unohana have their fight in the lowest level, Muken, of the Great Underground Prison. We find out that Kenpachi gave Unohana a scar on her chest – she covers it with her braided hair. And that she was a part of the Genyrusai’s Killer Thirteen Court Guard Squads as Squad 12 Captain, and she’s the reason for the squad’s values.
Their fight starts, and Unohana, has Kenpachi down, and a tear slides down from Kenpachi’s eyes when he thinks he will die without defeating Unohana, the person he has long admired.
It ends with a mysterious of note of Kenpachi not dying and Unohana speculating.
Looking for More…
The next episode will shine a light on Kenpachi’s Zanpukto, and more about Ichigo and his Zanounkto.
While you wait, you can catch up on Kosuke Fujishima’s You’re Under Arrest Manga finally gets its first new chapter or Hirohiko Araki Hints at JJBA Part 9: JOJOLANDS Protagonist in Interview.