Season 11, Episode 216 - "Elite! The Four Shinigami"
21 April, 2009
Ichigo arrives in the 5th Tower to save Orihime and confronts Ulquiorra. Ulquiorra unsheathes his sword and they begin their battle. Meanwhile, back at the fake Karakura, Espada Barragan Luisenbarn takes command since Aizen is trapped inside Yamamoto's fire prison. His first plan of action is to destroy the four pillars protecting Karakura, and he sends out four giant hollows to do the job. Soul Reapers Ikkaku Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Izuru Kira, and Shūhei Hisagi each take one pillar, and after defeating the hollows with ease, are matched up against Choe Neng Poww, Charlotte Cuuhlhourne, Avirama Redder, and Findore Carias, four of Barragan's six Fraccion. Each is introduced to the other and the battle for Karakura begins.
