The Best Episodes Directed By Noriyuki Abe

The showdown between Team 7 and Ao begins. Team 7 works together to bring Ao down with various attacks and jutsu, but he proves to be a difficult adversary due to his use of scientific ninja tools.

Koji Kashin continues his battle with Jigen, whose body is revealed to have been taken over by Isshiki Otsutsuki. He continuously hits Jigen with a barrage of attacks in an attempt to drag Isshiki out of his body and destroy him.

A boy is attacked by a wild bear, introducing a plague that affects only males.

Part Three of the Four Week Long Special Project for the Broadcast's Tenth Anniversary - Sasuke’s defeat to Gaara, and later Itachi, forces him to realize that he is not strong enough to get revenge against his older brother.

Ichigo Kurosaki greatly struggles with Ulquiorra Cifer in his released form and to further drive it in, Ulquiorra shows Ichigo his second release.

Yusuke Urameshi is having a typical day. He's cutting class, arguing with teachers and getting into fights with his rival Kuwabara. But then Yusuke does something that betrays his killer rep. He dives in front of a speeding car to push a little boy out of harm's way! Yusuke has sacrificed his life for the sake of another, but is this really the end of this brash young man?

The Shinigami and Visored, attacking Sōsuke Aizen, are unable to defeat the treacherous captain.

Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto joins the battle against Sōsuke Aizen, only for his Zanpakutō's abilities to be sealed by Wonderweiss Margela.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Ginjou Kuugo both release their Bankai to settle the score.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra Cifer conclude their battle.

Rukia Kuchiki's execution ceremony commences, but does not proceed as planned.

Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's battle reaches its conclusion.

A conspiracy connecting several recent events in Soul Society is revealed.

4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu informs the Gotei 13 that Sōsuke Aizen is alive as the latter reveals his machinations.

5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen removes the Hōgyoku from Rukia Kuchiki's Soul and retreats to Hueco Mundo.

After becoming a Shinigami, Ichigo Kurosaki refuses to help Rukia Kuchiki with her work as the local Shinigami of Karakura Town.

After learning to access the power of Zangetsu in addition to his own, Ichigo Kurosaki concludes his battle with 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

The Shinigami and Visored vow to protect Ichigo Kurosaki and defeat Sōsuke Aizen.

Kujou Nozomi’s Zanpakuto breaks in the midst of trying to protect Yamamoto-Genryuusai Shigekuni from Inaba Kagerouza’s attack.

As the merged Inaba Nozomi Kujō is confronted, the captains and lieutenants battle the Reigai.

As the captains and lieutenants fight against the Reigai, Ichigo Kurosaki uses his restored powers to fight the fused form of Kagerōza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō.

Ichigo Kurosaki battles against Grand Fisher.

Fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has the uncanny ability to see ghosts, but otherwise lives an ordinary life. However, once a Shinigami named Rukia Kuchiki appears before him, everything changes.