Chapter Summaries

Tokoyo Misao learned that Isshin Shiba had been sentenced to execution and volunteered to question the Central 46 Chambers, while Aizen prepared a trap around his visit. The captains dispersed to hunt the Ryoka and guard against hidden threats, leaving Tokoyo Misao to decide his next move under Aizen’s watch.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi identified Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions, and Tokoyo Misao threatened him over Orihime Inoue before Ukitake confirmed she was safe.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported that the Central 46 Chambers had sentenced Isshin Shiba to death on Sōkyoku Hill two days later.
• Tokoyo Misao questioned why the Central 46 Chambers had chosen such an extreme sentence and offered to visit them in person.
• Yamamoto allowed Tokoyo Misao to question the Central 46 Chambers but ordered preparations for Isshin Shiba’s execution to continue.
• Aizen decided to set a trap for Tokoyo Misao, while Yamamoto ordered the captains to pursue the Ryoka and guard the Seireitei against threats in the shadows.
• Aizen questioned Tokoyo Misao about his plans and emphasized his ties to Isshin Shiba and the Ryoka, while Tokoyo Misao told the captains not to take the intruders too seriously.

Tokoyo Misao entered the Central 46 Chambers and found all forty-six councilors dead, where he spoke with Gin Ichimaru before Gin vanished. When Unohana and Byakuya arrived, Rukia stood between them and Tokoyo, insisting there had to be a misunderstanding.

• Aizen left to pursue his plans involving Orihime, while Tokoyo Misao headed for the Central 46 Chambers and Soi Fon warned Byakuya that Tokoyo might attack the councilors.
• Yamamoto ordered Byakuya and Unohana to observe Tokoyo and stop him if he attacked, while Rukia learned of the plan through her hair ornament and hurried to the Chambers.
• Tokoyo crossed the bridge unchallenged and found the councilors dead inside, where Gin Ichimaru claimed he had not been seen and discussed his resolve to kill Aizen.
• Gin disappeared into the darkness as Byakuya, Unohana, and Rukia entered and found the dead councilors surrounding Tokoyo.
• Unohana prepared to fight, but Rukia leaped in front of Tokoyo and pleaded that the scene was a misunderstanding.

Tokoyo Misao exposed Sōsuke Aizen’s role in the killings, but Aizen manipulated the report to make Misao and Tōshirō Hitsugaya look guilty. Misao sent Rukia Kuchiki away to help Orihime as the Stealth Force arrived, while Hitsugaya faced suspicion back at the Tenth Division.

• Vice-Captain Sasakibe announced that Aizen had been killed by Hitsugaya and that Misao had murdered the Central 46 councilors, then relayed orders to arrest them both.
• Byakuya Kuchiki and Unohana noticed Sasakibe’s message was suspicious, and Misao explained that Aizen had killed the councilors and that the Wandenreich and a Royal Guard monk were enemies.
• Misao spotted Aizen concealed by Tosesato and shattered the bridge with an air cannon, but Aizen escaped.
• Rukia Kuchiki activated Bankai, but Misao kissed her until the ice broke and asked her to look after Orihime before blasting her out of the Chambers toward the Tenth Division.
• At the Tenth Division, Rangiku Matsumoto questioned Hitsugaya about Aizen’s death, while Hitsugaya denied knowing how Aizen had died.

Aizen disguised as Tokoyo Misao rescued the Tenth Division from the Detention Unit and led Orihime Inoue toward the Shrine of Penitence after learning Isshin Kurosaki faced immediate execution. He claimed a Hōgyoku hidden inside Isshin was the reason and asked Orihime to erase it once he extracted it.

• Rangiku Matsumoto left Tōshirō Hitsugaya with the Tenth Division while she went to find Orihime Inoue, and the division members prepared to defend him from the Detention Unit.
• Aizen found Orihime Inoue, gained her trust, and led her to the Tenth Division, where he used Kyōka Suigetsu to make everyone see him as Tokoyo Misao.
• Aizen incapacitated the Detention Unit members with Tosesato, and the Tenth Division welcomed him as Captain while Orihime reunited with Tōshirō.
• Aizen told Orihime and Tōshirō that the Noble Council was demanding Isshin Kurosaki's immediate execution, then sent Tōshirō toward Sōkyoku Hill and took Orihime to the Shrine of Penitence.
• Aizen claimed a Hōgyoku was hidden inside Isshin, said he could extract it with his Spirit-Penetrating Glove, and asked Orihime to erase it using her awakened power.

Aizen tricked Orihime Inoue into using her power to accelerate the fusion of two unfinished Hōgyoku, then revealed his betrayal. Tokoyo Misao arrived and took the unconscious Orihime away while Aizen prepared to use Isshin to expose Soul Society’s secrets.

• Aizen explained Orihime Inoue’s Fullbring and led her to Isshin’s cell, where she freed him.
• Aizen removed the Hōgyoku from Isshin and deceived Orihime into using Shun Shun Rikka on it.
• Orihime’s power accelerated the Hōgyoku’s fusion, but Isshin warned her, and she stopped and attacked Aizen with Kidō.
• Aizen blocked Orihime’s spells, revealed his plan, and incapacitated her as Tokoyo Misao arrived and caught her.
• Tokoyo Misao recognized Aizen’s deception, agreed to let him use Isshin, and left with Orihime.

Tokoyo Misao slaughtered nobles on his way to Sōkyoku Hill, where Isshin Kurosaki faced execution and Tōshirō Hitsugaya denied killing Aizen. Sōsuke Aizen appeared, stabbed Momo Hinamori, and left Tōshirō charging at him before a strange pain stopped him.

• Tokoyo Misao left Orihime Inoue in Rukia Kuchiki’s care, kissed Rukia, and headed for the noble district.
• Tokoyo Misao killed the nobles on his list, including the final upper noble who pleaded that he had done nothing to offend him.
• At Sōkyoku Hill, Isshin Kurosaki begged Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to spare him, while Yamamoto used the execution to draw out hidden threats.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya arrived with Rangiku Matsumoto and told Yamamoto he had not killed Aizen; Momo Hinamori then attacked Tōshirō, but Rangiku blocked her.
• Sōsuke Aizen appeared and stabbed Momo Hinamori after she embraced him, then Tōshirō unleashed his Bankai and charged at Aizen before pain froze him and forced him to retreat.

Aizen revealed his betrayal at Sōkyoku Hill and fought the captains while Ichigo rescued Isshin. Yamamoto blocked Ichigo’s escape to draw out Tokoyo Misao, and Aizen challenged Yamamoto’s rule over Soul Society as the battle escalated.

• Aizen defeated Sajin Komamura with Black Coffin and wounded Tōshirō, while Yamamoto held back and Chōjirō Sasakibe fell to Aizen’s attack.
• Ichigo Kurosaki broke Isshin Kurosaki free, and Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake arrived to confront Aizen.
• Kaname Tōsen attacked Ukitake and Gin Ichimaru joined Aizen, revealing that both had been working with him.
• Yamamoto blocked Ichigo from leaving with Isshin, hoping to force Tokoyo Misao to reveal his allegiance.
• Unohana took the injured captains to treat them as Aizen confronted Yamamoto and criticized Soul Society’s stagnation and its reliance on Rukongai.

Aizen revealed Soul Society’s exploitation of Rukongai souls, but Ichigo chose to fight him first to prevent the destruction of the three worlds. As the battle escalated, Aizen demonstrated copied ice powers and deceived the captains with an illusion, leaving him below the execution platform with Kaname Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru.

• Aizen told Ichigo that Soul Society used Rukongai souls as reserve Reishi, and Isshin silently confirmed that Aizen’s claims were true.
• Ichigo attacked Aizen, explaining that stopping his plan to destroy the balance of the three worlds came before confronting Soul Society over its treatment of souls.
• Aizen wounded Ichigo with a second Zanpakuto, identified as Enrakyōten, then used it to imitate Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s Daiguren Hyōrinmaru.
• Ichigo struck Aizen with a powerful Getsuga Tenshō, but Aizen countered and wounded him again while declaring that only Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto could stop him.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake attacked what they believed was Aizen, but Ichigo warned them that they were striking Tōshirō Hitsugaya instead.
• Ichigo revealed that Aizen had been standing below the execution platform all along, with Kaname Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru behind him.

Tokoyo Misao revealed his pursuit of supremacy in a human body and explained that Soul Society itself was not the enemy, but its rulers were. As Yamamoto and the others struggled to counter Aizen’s Complete Hypnosis, Tokoyo Misao stepped forward to face him, while Shunsui and Ukitake sought a way to identify what they were seeing.

• Tokoyo Misao showed Aizen his blood-red arm and declared that he intended to attain supremacy in a human body.
• Tokoyo Misao explained to Ichigo Kurosaki that Soul Society was not inherently wrong, but its rulers were responsible for its problems.
• Aizen explained that Kyōka Suigetsu permanently hypnotized the five senses of anyone who had seen its Shikai, and Yamamoto attacked him with Ryūjin Jakka.
• Ichigo Kurosaki blocked Yamamoto’s flames with Getsuga Tenshō, but Yamamoto realized that Aizen’s hypnosis had made him mistake Tokoyo Misao for Aizen.
• Yamamoto promised to discuss Rukongai’s reform if Ichigo captured or killed Aizen, but Tokoyo Misao stopped Ichigo and sent him to protect Isshin.
• Tokoyo Misao and Aizen faced each other as Shunsui and Ukitake tried to work out how to identify them, while Ichigo could not even tell whether he was himself or Isshin.

As Aizen escaped to Hueco Mundo through a Negación, Rangiku Matsumoto begged Tokoyo Misao to save Gin Ichimaru. Tokoyo tore open the Negación and pulled Gin back into Soul Society, while Aizen escaped and Soi Fon challenged Misao over why he had not stopped him.

• Rangiku Matsumoto saw Gin Ichimaru rising inside the Negación and begged Tokoyo Misao to keep him from leaving Soul Society.
• Ichigo Kurosaki struck the Negación with Getsuga Tenshō, but the attack had no effect, and Yamamoto explained that nothing could interfere with those inside its light.
• Tokoyo Misao promised to help Rangiku, tore open Gin's Negación, and dragged him back into Soul Society.
• Aizen entered Hueco Mundo as the Garganta closed, while Gin loosened his grip on his Zanpakuto and let Tokoyo Misao rescue him.
• Rangiku touched Gin's face, then sobbed and struck his chest as he apologized for failing to do what he had intended.
• Soi Fon asked Tokoyo Misao why he had not pulled Aizen down too, and he replied by asking whether she would have fought Aizen.

The captains convened a meeting with representatives from the World of the Living and interrogated Gin Ichimaru about Aizen’s plans. Gin revealed that he had served Aizen undercover to recover the Soul King Fragment taken from Rangiku Matsumoto, and the chapter ended with Tokoyo Misao pointing out how Soul Society had failed to protect them.

• Shunsui Kyōraku proposed that Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, and their companions attend the captains’ meeting as representatives of humanity, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto agreed.
• Soi Fon arrested Gin Ichimaru, while Tokoyo Misao told Rangiku Matsumoto that Gin would have to atone for his crimes and promised to argue for a lesser sentence.
• Tokoyo Misao joined the captains’ side at the meeting, where Gin Ichimaru described Aizen’s plan to create the Ōken and break into the Soul King Palace.
• Kisuke Urahara identified Karakura Town as Aizen’s likely target, and Gin Ichimaru confirmed that Aizen intended to use the city to create the Ōken.
• Gin Ichimaru revealed that Aizen had taken a Soul King Fragment from Rangiku Matsumoto, explaining that he had spent over a hundred years undercover to find Aizen’s weakness and recover it.
• Orihime Inoue cried over Gin Ichimaru’s story, and Tokoyo Misao told her that she had missed how Gin and Rangiku had suffered without anyone in Soul Society noticing.

Tokoyo Misao argued that humans should not be expected to fight Aizen while the dead continued to suffer in Rukongai, and Ichigo, Orihime, Sado, and Uryū backed calls for reform. Yamamoto agreed to create a Rukongai Redevelopment Committee, and Tokoyo asked Urahara to manage it as he prepared to set out three nonnegotiable conditions.

• Tokoyo Misao challenged Yamamoto to explain why Rukongai remained so harsh, arguing that death should bring people release from suffering.
• Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida supported reform and questioned why humans should help Soul Society while the dead were exploited.
• Tokoyo Misao asked Yamamoto for a direct answer about Rukongai, while Sasakibe said reform would take time; Ichigo argued that resources and Soul Reaper strength could speed redevelopment.
• Soi Fon accused Tokoyo Misao of admitting to the Noble Street massacre, but realized the captains were unlikely to put him on trial.
• Yamamoto proposed a Rukongai Redevelopment Committee, and Tokoyo Misao asked Kisuke Urahara to manage its work while he served as supervisor.

Tokoyo Misao and Soul Society’s leaders approved reforms to reincarnation and devised a plan to lure Aizen into a replica of Karakura Town instead of destroying the real city. The meeting then turned to how they could actually defeat Aizen, whose strength Tokoyo warned made the trap insufficient.

• Tokoyo Misao proposed ending delays in reincarnation, letting wandering souls choose when to reincarnate, and ensuring they entered reincarnation happily; the captains unanimously supported the reforms.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto said the Quincy king would not attack until he regained enough power, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi proposed blowing up Karakura Town to kill Aizen.
• Kisuke Urahara suggested building a superficial replica of Karakura Town in Rukongai and swapping it with the real city, and Mayuri agreed the plan was possible.
• Tokoyo Misao offered the vacant noble houses as building materials, and Byakuya Kuchiki supported using the cleared plots for new administrative departments.
• Yamamoto assigned Soi Fon’s Stealth Force to demolish the houses, while Tokoyo warned that the fake city could serve as a battlefield but not as a decisive trap against Aizen.
• Kenpachi Zaraki asked Tokoyo whether Aizen had truly become so powerful.

Tokoyo Misao explained that Kenpachi Zaraki’s hellish power and battle instincts could make him a match for Aizen, and proposed training him in Muken with Unohana’s help. After Yamamoto warned that Zaraki alone was not enough, he offered to guide Ichigo, who questioned whether Yamamoto was stronger than Tokoyo.

• Soi Fon threatened to fight Tokoyo Misao after the others teased her about liking him, but Unohana persuaded her to wait until after the meeting.
• Tokoyo Misao revealed that Kenpachi Zaraki was the source of his blood-red arm’s power and suggested Zaraki’s strength came from Hell.
• Tokoyo Misao and Yamamoto argued that Zaraki’s battle instincts could help him find Aizen despite Kyōka Suigetsu, but Unohana said Zaraki was still incomplete.
• Tokoyo Misao proposed that Zaraki train with him in Muken until he could control his power, with Unohana’s help.
• Yamamoto insisted Zaraki was not enough as a trump card, and Urahara said Ichigo and Orihime had power to rival Aizen, though Orihime had fallen under Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Yamamoto offered to guide Ichigo, who asked whether Yamamoto was stronger than Tokoyo Misao.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto tested Ichigo, Orihime, Uryū, and Sado with his Reiatsu, then took Ichigo to train. In Muken, Tokoyo Misao fought Soi Fon and defeated her decisively, leaving her overwhelmed by memories of Yoruichi Shihōin.

• Captain-Commander Yamamoto released his Reiatsu, and Ichigo, Orihime, Uryū, and Sado reacted to its pressure while Sado shielded Uryū.
• Captain-Commander Yamamoto invited Ichigo to the training ground, while Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake praised Tokoyo Misao's strength.
• Tokoyo Misao told Kenpachi Zaraki to bring Yachiru to Muken, then went there with Soi Fon and Unohana.
• Sōya Azashiro asked Tokoyo Misao whether he intended to kill the Soul King, and Misao reaffirmed his respect for the Soul King's choice.
• Soi Fon fired her Bankai at Tokoyo Misao, but he emerged unharmed and caught her when she attacked with Shunpo.
• Tokoyo Misao slammed Soi Fon into the ground until she stopped resisting, and she broke down while remembering Yoruichi Shihōin.

Tokoyo Misao fought Unohana in Muken while Soi Fon watched, first learning about Unohana’s brutal healing and endurance and then witnessing an encounter that left her stunned. After leaving Muken, Misao discussed Sōya Azashiro’s possible return to Soul Society and found Kenpachi Zaraki lost near the Fifth Division before a messenger arrived.

• Soi Fon explained that she had envied Tokoyo Misao’s strength because she believed Yoruichi Shihōin had left her behind for being weak, and Misao offered to teach her.
• Unohana activated Minazuki and began fighting Tokoyo Misao in Muken, while Soi Fon refused to leave and watched.
• Tokoyo Misao repeatedly tore Unohana apart, and Minazuki restored her each time until her fighting grew increasingly intense and Soi Fon was left speechless.
• After the fight, Tokoyo Misao and Unohana dressed and left Muken with Soi Fon, who struggled to face Misao.
• Urozakuro complained about the mess, and Tokoyo Misao discussed Sōya Azashiro’s possible release, while Azashiro said he would leave Muken only when Kenpachi Zaraki died.
• Tokoyo Misao used Eternal Eyes to locate Kenpachi Zaraki near the Fifth Division, but a messenger appeared before he could retrieve him.

After Tōshirō Hitsugaya was appointed acting captain of the Ninth Division, Tokoyo Misao protested the transfer and put Gin Ichimaru to work alongside Rangiku Matsumoto in the Tenth Division. Tokoyo then sent Orihime Inoue and Uryū Ishida back to school, agreed to help Yasutora Sado grow stronger, and brought Sado to meet Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru about Zaraki’s power.

• Tokoyo Misao learned that Tōshirō Hitsugaya had been appointed acting captain of the Ninth Division and rushed to protest losing him from the Tenth Division.
• Tokoyo assigned Gin Ichimaru to help Rangiku Matsumoto handle the Tenth Division’s paperwork, warning Gin that Rangiku would face consequences if he betrayed them.
• Tokoyo ordered Orihime Inoue and Uryū Ishida to return to school, advised Uryū to discuss Quincy training with his family, and agreed to help Yasutora Sado get stronger.
• Tokoyo led Sado to Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru, then asked Zaraki whether he wanted to master his hidden power despite Yachiru potentially returning to his body.

Tokoyo Misao brought Kenpachi Zaraki to Muken and pushed him to unleash Nozarashi and then Bankai in a fierce battle. Zaraki’s transformed power appeared to come largely from Hell, and Tokoyo Misao met his charge with a black torrent around his arm and blade.

• Tokoyo Misao led Kenpachi Zaraki, Yachiru, and Yasutora Sado to Muken, where he told Sado to observe their fight and draw out his own power.
• Tokoyo Misao blocked Zaraki’s first attack with his blood-red arm, and Yachiru told Zaraki to call out Nozarashi.
• Zaraki released Nozarashi and traded blows with Tokoyo Misao, using his swordsmanship and instincts to land a hit while Sado and Sōya Azashiro watched.
• After Tokoyo Misao repeatedly battered him, Zaraki spat out part of his lung, then followed Yachiru’s instruction to call her name and activate Bankai.
• Zaraki transformed with blood-red skin, horns, fangs, and black facial markings, and Tokoyo Misao recognized the markings as resembling those of people returned from Hell.
• Zaraki charged with a terrifying strike, and Tokoyo Misao enveloped his arm and blade in a black torrent before swinging to meet him.

Tokoyo Misao studied how X affected his body and began integrating it into both arms, while Yasutora Sado awakened a second power during harsh training with Sōya Azashiro. In Hueco Mundo, a Hollow removed his mask in an imperfect transformation, and Kaname Tōsen recorded the results.

• Tokoyo Misao healed Kenpachi Zaraki after his body collapsed from the power of his final attack, then asked Sōya Azashiro to train Yasutora Sado.
• Tokoyo Misao used Eternal Eyes to examine X, concluded it fused more readily with a human body than a Reishi body, and began integrating it into his arms.
• Sōya Azashiro overwhelmed Yasutora Sado with Kidō, then taunted him about being unable to protect Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Yasutora Sado rose again, awakened the Left Arm of the Devil, La Muerte, and struck Sōya Azashiro before collapsing; Sōya caught him and praised his potential.
• In Las Noches, a Hollow tore off his mask and released increased Reiatsu, while Kaname Tōsen judged the transformation into a Soul Reaper neither a success nor a failure.

In Muken, Tokoyo Misao's increasingly uncontrolled rage disrupted his training battle with Kenpachi Zaraki, prompting Sōya Azashiro and Unohana to confront him. Misao appeared close to losing control as Azashiro warned that his anger would consume him.

• Tokoyo Misao repeatedly dismembered and taunted Kenpachi Zaraki while Unohana healed them from the sidelines.
• Zaraki collapsed and failed to get up even after Unohana restored his body, and Misao stomped on him while insulting him.
• Unohana noticed Misao was acting unlike himself and challenged his excessive taunting.
• Misao responded to Unohana with a ferocious threat, then stomped Zaraki again, making him bleed despite his unconsciousness.
• Sōya Azashiro warned Misao that his growing anger was burning away his reason and would ultimately destroy him.
• Urozakuro urged Azashiro to throw Misao out, while Azashiro remained concerned about Misao's worsening emotional state.