Issue: #9
The race to save Rukia from the Soul Society is officially on, and Ichigo and company have come to their first roadblock, a very, very big roadblock. Jindanbô, the monstrous, fez-sporting gatekeeper hasn't let a single soul enter the Western Gate he guards in over 300 years, and he isn't about to change his mind about it just because Ichigo's crew wants to go through. But, in a where-the-rubber-me...
Creators: Kit Fox, Liza Coppola, Gonzalo Ferreyra, Sean Lee, Lance Caselman, Alvin Lu, Joe Yamazaki, Rika Inouye, Tite Kubo, Hyoe Narita, Andy Ristaino, Marc Weidenbaum
Characters: Gin Ichimaru, Uryu Ishida, Yoruichi Shihōin, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora Sado, Orihime Inoue, Kūkaku Shiba
Story arcs: Soul Society