is bleach episode 253 filler?

As Ichigo and Rukia Kuchiki look at the dozens of Gillians standing in the center of the lake, Ichigo wonders what this is all about and what happened to Muramasa, who floats in the air behind the Gillians and screams as black-red Reiatsu surges around him. Stating his body is burning up, Muramasa proclaims he must withstand this pain as blood trickles from his left eye.

Reaching out, Muramasa says Kōga's name. When several streams of darkness burst out of his body, Muramasa screams Kōga's name as the darkness condenses into several large Hollows.

As the Gillians roar, Ichigo fires a Getsuga Tenshō, which bifurcates three large Hollows.