Spoilers ahead for “GATE OF THE SUN,” including the outcome of Renji Abarai’s fight with Uryu Ishida. In Part 3, Episode 7 of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War—series Episode 33—Renji gets an anime-original confrontation that puts his post-training abilities on display. The episode lets him press Uryu with So-Oh Zabimaru and combined techniques, but Uryu ultimately defeats him.
Which episode is “GATE OF THE SUN”?
“GATE OF THE SUN” is Part 3, Episode 7, and series Episode 33. The distinction matters because episode guides may number the third cour separately, while Aniplex lists the episode as Episode 33. Aniplex’s listing gives the title and broad setup: Ichigo’s group advances toward Yhwach’s newly formed castle as Lille Barro snipes at the Soul Reapers approaching it.
During that advance, Renji encounters Uryu. The matchup turns the episode’s larger push toward Yhwach into a personal clash between two former allies now fighting on opposing sides.
What happens in Renji and Uryu’s fight?
Spoilers for the fight’s progression and ending: Episode coverage describes the Renji–Uryu confrontation as new to the anime and a departure from the manga’s sequence. Anime Corner calls it a “brand new fight” and says the episode “broke from the manga”; ComicBook.com also reported on the new matchup. These are reports about the adaptation, rather than a claim that every beat in the episode is absent from the source material.
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Renji shows what Royal Guard training changed
Renji closes the distance and brings out So-Oh Zabimaru, the upgraded form of his Bankai, using it alongside other techniques. The exchange gives him room to demonstrate the abilities he gained after training with the Royal Guard, rather than leaving that development as background information. The fight’s emphasis is on Renji actively testing those abilities against an opponent who knows him well.
Uryu takes the exchange
Renji’s improved offense does not carry him to victory. Anime Corner’s account says Uryu’s powers ultimately prove sufficient to defeat him. That result preserves the threat Uryu poses as an opponent: the scene gives Renji a substantial showcase without suggesting that new strength alone can settle the conflict between them.
Rank #2
Why add an anime-original confrontation?
The change gives the anime a chance to foreground a character-and-rivalry beat that is not presented in the same way in the manga’s sequence. Instead of moving only through the advance toward Yhwach’s castle, the episode pauses for Renji and Uryu to test each other directly. That shifts the pacing toward a self-contained duel and makes Renji’s post-training capabilities part of the action.
There is production context for additions like this. In a November 16, 2024 interview, series composition writer Masaki Hiramatsu said, “And many original anime scenes will be added in the future.” The interview also says Tite Kubo was consulted about whether added scenes fit his interpretation and about depictions of techniques. That supports describing the additions as part of the production process with Kubo consulted; it does not establish that he personally wrote every added moment. Read the interview with Hiramatsu.
Rank #3
The adaptation choice works on two levels: it gives Renji a focused demonstration of his upgraded fighting style, and it makes the advance toward the enemy stronghold less purely transitional. The scene adds character emphasis and a different rhythm; the available reporting does not establish that one version is definitively better or that viewers broadly prefer the anime’s choice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to watch or collect Part 3
VIZ promotes a home-video release for the full third cour with bonus behind-the-scenes material. That is a Part 3 release, not a disc dedicated to Episode 7; check VIZ’s current listing for available formats and details. VIZ’s official Bleach page also lists manga and books, though the anime-original Renji–Uryu fight should not be expected in a particular manga volume.
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Rank #4
- Weight (Approximate): 0.23
- Country of Origin: US
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