Chapter Summaries

Ye Yang let Soi Fon rest, handled her division paperwork, and discussed Tōshirō’s powerful Zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru, and upcoming year at Shin'ō. Three days later, Rukia joined the Thirteenth Division and found a warm welcome from Lieutenant Kaien Shiba.

• Ye Yang let Soi Fon sleep in, handled her simple paperwork, and asked Marechiyo Ōmaeda to review some documents in exchange for a meal.
• Ye Yang told Soi Fon that Tōshirō had awakened Hyōrinmaru and was strong enough to graduate from Shin'ō within a year.
• Ye Yang and Soi Fon agreed that Tōshirō should attend Shin'ō despite his strength so he could gain the experience.
• Byakuya arranged for Rukia to join the Thirteenth Division without an entrance assessment, prompting other squad members to gossip about her.
• Kaien Shiba introduced himself to Rukia, corrected her greeting, and welcomed her to the Thirteenth Division.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya rapidly advanced through Shin'ō and applied to graduate after only ten months, prompting Yamamoto to personally set and conduct his assessment. Tōshirō began the match against Yamamoto with Shunpo, a sword strike, and Hadō, but Yamamoto calmly blocked his attacks.

• Tōshirō entered Shin'ō at the top of his class, skipped ahead to the sixth year, and remained among its strongest students.
• After six quiet months, Tōshirō applied to graduate, and Yamamoto arranged a personal assessment for three days later.
• Ye Yang told Tōshirō to show all his abilities and suggested he might need to use Subjugation of the Heavens against Yamamoto.
• Yamamoto announced that Tōshirō would pass if he demonstrated his abilities to Yamamoto's satisfaction, as captains and other spectators watched.
• Tōshirō opened the assessment by attacking Yamamoto with Shunpo and his Zanpakuto, but Yamamoto blocked the strike with his cane.
• Tōshirō followed with Hadō #33: Sōkatsui, which Yamamoto stopped with the tip of his cane.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya faced Yamamoto in his graduation examination, revealing Hyōrinmaru and a series of increasingly powerful ice techniques. After Tōshirō fainted from unleashing his unfinished ultimate move, Yamamoto declared that he had passed, and the captains marveled at his potential.

• Tōshirō used Kidō against Yamamoto, then released his Zanpakuto, Hyōrinmaru.
• Tōshirō used ice attacks to trap Yamamoto briefly in an ice formation, but Yamamoto escaped unharmed.
• With Ye Yang's permission, Tōshirō summoned a huge ice dragon and unleashed Ice Dragon Breath.
• Yamamoto released Ryūjin Jakka, and its flames overcame Tōshirō's frost after Tōshirō fainted and Ye Yang caught him.
• Yamamoto declared Tōshirō had passed his graduation examination, while Shunsui and Ukitake praised his future potential.

Tōshirō joined the Tenth Division, where Rangiku teased him, and quickly earned the Third Seat. Ten years later, Ye Yang watched events in Soul Society and resolved to protect Kaien and his wife from the danger he believed Aizen posed.

• Ye Yang let Tōshirō choose his division but ruled out the Second Division, and Tōshirō joined Isshin's Tenth Division.
• Rangiku welcomed Tōshirō by teasing him and pulling him into her arms, leaving him embarrassed and unable to resist.
• In his second month, Tōshirō defeated the former Third Seat and claimed the position.
• Over the next ten years, Renji became the 11th Division's Sixth Seat, Kira became the Third Division's Third Seat, and Hinamori fell under Aizen's influence.
• Ye Yang suspected Aizen was connected to Kaien's future death and Isshin's departure, and vowed to save Kaien and his wife.

Ye Yang rushed to rescue Shiba Miyako and found her near death after the Hollow defeated the scouting party. Kaien confronted the Hollow alone, but it possessed him; Ye Yang sealed and separated most of the Hollow from Kaien, then sought help to save him.

• A wounded Punishment Force member told Ye Yang and Soi Fon that the Hollow had overwhelmed the Thirteenth Division's scouting party, so Ye Yang hurried to the scene.
• Ye Yang found the party slain and could not locate Shiba Miyako's Zanpakuto, then realized she might still be alive and rushed to the Thirteenth Division.
• Kaien left with Ukitake and Kuchiki to face the Hollow, and Ye Yang had temporarily sealed Miyako in suspended animation to preserve her life.
• Kaien's Zanpakuto shattered when he touched the Hollow's antenna, and the Hollow entered his body while he fought it barehanded.
• Ye Yang restrained the possessed Kaien with Kidō, took him and Miyako to the Shihoin Clan, and used his Bankai and Spatial Seal to separate and kill most of the Hollow's spirit body.
• Ye Yang healed Miyako's injuries but could not fully remove the Hollow's fused spirit from Kaien, so he sought help to save him.

Ye Yang brought Kaien and Miyako to the World of the Living so Kisuke Urahara could treat Kaien, whose spirit was merging with a Hollow. Urahara completed the treatment, and Ye Yang joined him and Yoruichi in visiting Hirako and the Visored so Kaien could learn to control his inner Hollow.

• Ye Yang told Soi Fon that Aizen had caused Kaien’s Hollowfication and that only Kisuke Urahara could treat him.
• Ye Yang took Kaien and Miyako to the World of the Living and found Urahara at his shop with Yoruichi.
• Urahara examined Kaien, treated him with the Hōgyoku, and said Kaien would need help controlling his inner Hollow.
• Ye Yang, Urahara, and Yoruichi traveled to the Visoreds’ hiding place, where Hiyori greeted Urahara by throwing a slipper at him.
• Ye Yang stepped forward and greeted Hirako and the other Visoreds.

Ye Yang sought the Visored's help for Kaien, then returned to Soul Society and arranged to hide Kaien and Miyako's survival. He reassured Soi Fon that he would stay with her, and they spent the night together.

• Ye Yang told Hirako and the Visored that Aizen had created a Hollow that could make Zanpakuto disappear, and asked them to help Kaien; Hirako agreed.
• Ye Yang updated the Visored on Soul Society's captains and left for Soul Society before his absence was discovered.
• Ye Yang told Ukitake that Kaien and Miyako had survived but that Kaien still carried part of a Hollow, so Ukitake agreed to report them dead in action.
• Ye Yang told Kūkaku what had happened and asked her to keep Kaien's survival secret.
• Ye Yang returned to Soi Fon, reassured her that Kaien was safe and promised he would never leave her; they went home together and spent the night together.

After spending the night together, Ye Yang and Soi Fon faced his parents’ enthusiastic approval and their questions about marriage. They agreed to get engaged first and wait to hold the wedding until Yoruichi returned from the World of the Living.

• Ye Yang’s mother discovered that Soi Fon had spent the night in his room, learned they had become intimate, and took over making their lunch.
• Ye Yang woke Soi Fon, and they got dressed and joined his parents for the meal.
• Tsukiyo asked Soi Fon to call her and Seigen Dad and Mom, and Soi Fon did so.
• Seigen and Tsukiyo urged Ye Yang and Soi Fon to marry soon, but Ye Yang said they would wait for Yoruichi to attend their wedding.
• Ye Yang’s parents proposed an engagement as a middle course, and Ye Yang and Soi Fon agreed.

After Kaien and Miyako died, Ye Yang’s life continued through an engagement, Isshin’s disappearance, and Tōshirō’s rise to captain. Twenty years of peace ended as Rukia was assigned to the World of the Living, setting events in motion.

• Gin told Aizen that part of the Hollow remained fused with Kaien and that Urahara might help Ye Yang, while Aizen said Kaien’s fate would not affect their plans.
• The Thirteenth Division held Kaien and Miyako’s funeral, leaving Rukia devastated by Kaien’s death.
• Six months later, Ye Yang and Soi Fon held an engagement banquet attended by captains and noble houses.
• Five years later, Isshin disappeared from Soul Society, and Tōshirō passed his captaincy test after revealing his Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru.
• After twenty years of peace, Renji was poised to transfer to the Sixth Division, but Rukia received an assignment to spend a month in the World of the Living.

Ye Yang visited Urahara and then the Kurosaki family after arriving in the World of the Living on assignment. He left Isshin’s home when he sensed Rukia nearby and headed for the Urahara Shop.

• Rukia accepted a Gigai from Urahara because Ichigo had absorbed nearly all her Spiritual Power, leaving her too weak to return to Soul Society.
• Ye Yang met Urahara, explained that he had come to see Isshin, and declined to use Urahara’s new Gigai product.
• Ye Yang visited Isshin and met Karin and Yuzu, then discussed Ichigo’s growing Spiritual Power with Isshin.
• Ichigo returned home and introduced himself to Ye Yang, whom he recognized from the street that morning.
• Ye Yang sensed Rukia nearby, left the Kurosaki home, and headed for the Urahara Shop.

Ye Yang watched Uryū Ishida’s Hollow bait draw Ichigo Kurosaki into a battle with a Gillian, then anticipated Byakuya’s arrival to retrieve Rukia. After Byakuya gravely wounded Ichigo, Ye Yang intervened and sent Byakuya and Rukia back through the Senkaimon while Ichigo lay unconscious.

• Uryū Ishida’s bait attracted a Gillian-class Menos Grande, and Urahara encouraged Ichigo to fight while Ye Yang kept other Hollows away from civilians.
• Ichigo fought the Gillian, drew out some of his immense Spiritual Power, and survived after Uryū helped him release the power before it overwhelmed his body.
• Byakuya and Renji arrived to take Rukia back to Soul Society, and Uryū tried to protect her before Ichigo came to his aid.
• Ichigo defeated Renji but Byakuya struck him down with Senka, damaging his Saketsu and Hakusui.
• Ye Yang intervened, asked Byakuya to take Rukia back while he handled matters in the World of the Living, and knocked Ichigo unconscious as Byakuya and Rukia entered the Senkaimon.

Ye Yang returned to Soul Society and learned Rukia had been sentenced to execution, then waited for Ichigo and the others to arrive. When the Ryoka entered Seireien, he found Yoruichi and brought her home to reunite with her parents.

• Ye Yang left Ichigo in Urahara's care and returned to Soul Society, where he learned Rukia had been sentenced to execution by Sōkyoku in one month.
• Ye Yang considered Byakuya's conflict between his promise to Hisana and his vow to uphold noble dignity, and prepared for Aizen's betrayal by obtaining a Hōgyoku extraction device and a fake Hōgyoku from Urahara.
• Gin Ichimaru faced questioning at a captains' meeting about letting the Ryoka escape, but an intrusion alarm interrupted the gathering.
• Aizen and Gin exchanged staged remarks that Tōshirō overheard, while Ye Yang sensed the intruders and hurried toward Yoruichi's Spiritual Pressure.
• Ye Yang found Yoruichi in cat form and insisted she return home with him before helping Ichigo obtain the Tenshintai.
• Yoruichi changed into human form and reunited tearfully with her parents, Tsukiyo and Seigen.

After Ichigo’s battle with Kenpachi, Aizen’s apparent murder threw Soul Society into alarm, and Rukia’s execution was moved up to three days away. Yoruichi and Ye Yang brought Ichigo to train for Bankai so he could save Rukia, while Ye Yang concealed that he recognized Aizen’s corpse as a product of Kyōka Suigetsu.

• Yoruichi found the unconscious Ichigo after his fight with Kenpachi, had his severe injuries treated, and he set out to find Rukia the next morning.
• Hinamori discovered Aizen’s bloodied body pinned to the Great Eastern Wall, and Ye Yang stopped her from attacking Gin before taking the corpse to Unohana for examination.
• Ye Yang and the other officers learned that Soul Society would remain on alert and that Rukia’s execution had been moved to three days later.
• Yoruichi took Ichigo to the underground training base with the Tenshintai, and Ye Yang joined them.
• Ye Yang revealed to Ichigo that he was Yoruichi’s younger brother and a lieutenant of the Second Division, then Yoruichi promised to train Ichigo to defeat Byakuya within three days.

Yoruichi began Ichigo’s three-day Bankai training while Ye Yang prepared to help Shunsui and Ukitake save Rukia. That night, Tōshirō confronted Gin, whose attack was stopped by Rangiku.

• Yoruichi used the Tenshintai to summon Zangetsu, who challenged Ichigo to find and defeat the real Zanpakuto among countless swords.
• Ye Yang discussed Rukia’s suspicious death sentence with Shunsui and Ukitake, then gave them a Shihoin spiritual tool to destroy the Sōkyoku when it was released.
• Shunsui and Ukitake agreed to hold off Yamamoto while Ye Yang carried out his plan.
• Tōshirō attacked Gin with Hyōrinmaru, but Gin aimed Shinsō at the injured Momo Hinamori.
• Rangiku intercepted Gin’s strike and warned him she would become his enemy; Gin withdrew Shinsō and disappeared.

Ye Yang secretly removed the Hōgyoku from Rukia and replaced it before her execution, while Renji tried to reach her by fighting Byakuya. Renji awakened Bankai but was defeated, though he managed to wound Byakuya before collapsing.

• Ye Yang visited Rukia, knocked her unconscious, removed the Hōgyoku from her chest, and replaced it with an identical bead.
• Renji headed to save Rukia, but Byakuya confronted him and refused to let him pass.
• Renji revealed that he had learned Bankai and attacked Byakuya with Baboon King, Snake Tail King.
• Byakuya disrupted Renji's Bankai with Kidō, restrained him, and defeated him with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Renji insisted he would save Rukia and charged Byakuya again, leaving a broken blade lodged in Byakuya's chest before falling.
• Byakuya covered the fallen Renji with his Ginpakukazahana no Uzuginu and acknowledged that Renji's fangs had reached him.

Ichigo interrupted Rukia’s execution and helped Ukitake and Shunsui destroy the Sōkyoku, while Renji carried Rukia away. Ichigo fought Byakuya as Yamamoto confronted Ukitake and Shunsui, and a golden figure whisked Soi Fon away as Ye Yang followed.

• Yamamoto ordered the Sōkyoku released, but Ichigo arrived in time to stop Kikōō from striking Rukia.
• Ukitake and Shunsui used Ye Yang’s spirit tool to destroy Kikōō, while Ichigo smashed the execution frame.
• Ichigo sent Renji off with Rukia, then defeated Isane and Sasakibe and clashed with Byakuya.
• Yamamoto confronted Ukitake and Shunsui, who fled by Shunpo to keep the fight from endangering others.
• A golden figure took Soi Fon away, and Ye Yang followed them in secret.

Aizen revealed that he had faked his death and manipulated those around him, then used Kyōka Suigetsu to escape with Gin. Unohana uncovered his deception and located him at the Sōkyoku while arranging for the wounded Hinamori to be treated.

• Aizen reunited with Hinamori, then stabbed her and left with Gin as Tōshirō arrived.
• Tōshirō confronted Aizen and Gin, learned they had been allies from the beginning, and attacked Aizen with his completed Bankai.
• Unohana stopped Tōshirō and explained how Ye Yang’s advice led her to discover that Aizen’s supposed corpse was a decoy.
• Aizen revealed Kyōka Suigetsu’s Complete Hypnosis and explained that Tōsen had been his subordinate from the beginning because he could not see.
• Aizen and Gin vanished, and Isane located them at the Sōkyoku while Unohana ordered her to alert the Soul Society and went to treat Hinamori.

Isane revealed Aizen’s conspiracy to the Soul Society as Aizen defeated Ichigo and Renji, explained his plan to obtain the Hōgyoku hidden inside Rukia, and extracted it from her. Byakuya saved Rukia from Gin’s attack, and the battle continued with Byakuya resolved to protect her.

• Isane broadcast Unohana’s and her own account of Aizen’s crimes, causing the Soul Reapers to stop fighting and turn against Aizen.
• Aizen defeated Renji and Ichigo, then explained how he had manipulated the Ryoka’s invasion to distract Soul Society while pursuing the Hōgyoku.
• Aizen revealed that Urahara had hidden the Hōgyoku inside Rukia and that his execution plot was designed to draw it out.
• Komamura attacked Aizen with Hadō #90, but Aizen defeated him and continued describing how he had killed Central 46 and controlled its orders.
• Aizen removed the Hōgyoku from Rukia and ordered Gin to kill her, but Byakuya intercepted Gin’s blade and carried Rukia to safety.

Ye Yang broke Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen out of Gillian-class Negación and refused Aizen’s offer to join him, declaring Soul Society his home. Aizen revealed he had created his own flawed Hōgyoku and anticipated Ye Yang’s intervention, then threatened to escape with the aid of a Vasto Lorde-class Negación.

• Kūkaku, Yoruichi, Soi Fon, Ye Yang, and the Thirteenth Division’s officers surrounded Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen, but Gillian-class Negación beams descended to rescue the three traitors.
• Ye Yang used Silver Rend to destroy the Negación barriers and bring Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen back to the ground.
• Aizen invited Ye Yang to join him, but Ye Yang said Soul Society was his home and that he would help rebuild it.
• Aizen crushed the Hōgyoku he carried, revealing it was a fake, then produced an identical Hōgyoku and said he had created it before Urahara had made his own.
• Aizen explained that he wanted to combine his flawed Hōgyoku with Urahara’s, and admitted he had expected Ye Yang to stop his escape and break the Gillian-class Negación.
• Aizen claimed a Vasto Lorde-class Menos Grande could create Negación that even Ye Yang could not break, leaving Ye Yang asking how Aizen planned to take the Hōgyoku from him.

Aizen outmaneuvered Ye Yang by threatening the Shihoin family, forcing him to surrender the Hōgyoku before escaping to Hueco Mundo with two Vasto-class Menos Grande. After Aizen’s departure, Soul Society treated its wounded, and Byakuya apologized to Rukia.

• Aizen revealed that two Vasto-class Menos Grande had appeared above the Shihoin residence and threatened Ye Yang’s family unless he handed over the Hōgyoku.
• Ye Yang accepted Aizen’s deal and gave him the real Hōgyoku, allowing Aizen and his companions to escape through Negación while the Menos Grande withdrew from the Shihoin residence.
• Aizen declared his intention to stand in the heavens, and Ye Yang realized that he had underestimated Aizen and relied too much on his knowledge of the story.
• Unohana told Ye Yang that Tōshirō was unharmed and Hinamori was recovering, while the Fourth Division treated the injured, including Byakuya and Renji.
• Byakuya explained his conflict between duty and his promise to Hisana, thanked Ichigo, and apologized to Rukia.
• Yoruichi, Ye Yang, and Soi Fon returned to the Shihoin Clan, and Yamamoto cleared Yoruichi and Kisuke Urahara of their former charges.