Despite the patrols of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, Ichigo, Rukia, Amagai and Shū manage to make contact with the third division members, and head towards the training grounds of the third division, which was Lurichiyo's last known location. Kira begins to fight Kibune, and initially gains the advantage by using his shikai to increase the weight of Kibune's zanpakutō. Kibune uses his bakōtō to negate Kira's shikai, as he continues to fight. Discussing his past, Kibune reveals that he was ostracized in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for not protecting his weaker division members during missions, and assigned to squad specialized in hunting down hollows as a result. He states that the bakōtō will give him enough power to gain respect from the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.