Originally posted by: Ryllharu
There's absolutely no way I can speculate, so I'll just throw a few ideas out and leave the rest up to you guys:

1. Why is the Hollow mask back again?
2. Byakuya's sword (you can tell from the hand) has no blade.
3. What did Yoruichi change into at the end of the last eps, a bigger cat, perhaps some spiritual tiger?
4. Despite everyone's Byakuya-love (same with Itachi-love from Naruto), Ichigo HAS gotten a lot stronger through his literally constant days of training with Urahara and the fighting experience (what Urahara was also teaching him) he gained in Soul Society. He did hit a proportionally weakened Renji way back in eps 16 and now beat him and Kenpachi. Ichigo *might* have a chance. But, Kenpachi couldn't release his sword, despite his massive power.

1. Perhaps its because Ichigo is part Hollow - part Death God somehow? Perhaps because he is a reincarnation of "him" that Byakuya mentioned ominously back when they first met? Or perhaps he has a demon sealed in him when he was a baby, or perhaps he is a SuperSaiyan, or perhaps he is a Newtype, or perhaps the Ultimate Coordinator or... or he could just be some mysterious reincarnation of someone, or still part Hollow from Uruhara's test...

2. Umm.. you sure? That thing did some sweet damage last time I saw it used... Regardless of having no blade it cuts, stabs, slices dices and makes pepperoni mices!

3. See BS filler episode with Hercule, I mean Don Kanoji. He was probably once a great Shinigami or that who got reincarnated as a cat.

4. Ichigo probably still lacks what Byakuya relies on, SKILLS, swordsmanship skills. He has practiced probably for centuries more than Ichigo, seems smart as a tack, is quick as hell and can release his sword sprit.

Originally posted by: Darknodin
yea!? Who is that Byakuka guy?? He seems week... maybe he's a poser or sumthing... trying to look tough with super strong reiatsu... but I bet he cannot even lift more than half of Ichigo's sword... ha!

You are an idiot. Did you see what he did to Ichigo about 20 episodes or so back? He is smart and extremely fast and totally ruthless in battle.