Kariya and the Bounts arrive in the Soul Society and find themselves battling two Soul Reaper lieutenants, but the abundance of reishi in the Soul Society gives the Bounts a ready source of power, rendering them formidable opponents. Ichigo and friends arrive in the Soul Society, and when Rukia is injured in a fight, Ichigo follows her to the Kuchiki house, where he asks Byakuya to fight alongside him against the Bounts.
Byakuya refuses and insists they leave it up to the 13th Court Squad Guards, but soon enough Byakuya finds himself in a one-on-one battle with Kariya.
