Chapter Summaries

Haruto identified Kitahara Kenshin’s weapon as a dangerous Bakkōtō and confronted him over his ties to two noble clans and his motives. Haruto prepared to fight without Kidō or drawing his sword, while Kitahara insisted his close-combat Zanpakuto gave him the advantage.

• Ayaka and Kiyone recoiled from the slimy weapon on Kitahara Kenshin’s arm, and Nanao recognized that it was unusual.
• Haruto explained that Kitahara’s weapon was a Bakkōtō made from a Hollow, which absorbed Reiatsu, granted abilities, and could devour its wielder.
• Haruto accused Kitahara of accepting gifts from the Kasumioji and Fushizuku Clans and questioned whether his pursuit of revenge was truly righteous.
• Haruto deduced that Kitahara’s Bakkōtō could break seals or barriers, allowing him to overcome Bankin Taihō.
• Haruto challenged Kitahara to fight but ruled out using Kidō to avoid damaging the waterways or burdening the Fourth Division.
• Kitahara argued that Haruto’s Hakuda was not his specialty and warned that Kitahara’s Zanpakuto was especially dangerous in close combat.

Haruto confronted Kitahara Kenshin in the underground waterway, where Kenshin used a pill to combine Hollowfication with Bankai. After Haruto killed him, he discovered that Captain Miyano and Lieutenant Miyano Fujimaru had been secretly following him.

• Kitahara Kenshin swallowed a pill from the Bakkōtō and unleashed Hollowfication while in Bankai, blasting open the waterway above.
• Haruto recognized the Hollow Reiatsu and suspected Aizen’s experiments might be connected to the attack and the noble clans’ schemes.
• Haruto told Ayaka and the others to retreat as Kenshin’s drugs, Bakkōtō, and Hollowfication threatened to overwhelm his mind.
• Haruto drew Seisen and killed Kitahara Kenshin, leaving his Zanpakuto and the writhing Bakkōtō behind.
• Haruto sensed two hidden figures and revealed Captain Miyano and Lieutenant Miyano Fujimaru, who had been secretly following him.

Haruto confronted the Miyano siblings about killing Seigen Kyōshiba and explained that the Seireitei had needed him to do it, but an explosion interrupted their conversation. He and Kisuke Urahara began arranging the siblings’ departure to the World of the Living while Haruto prepared to fake a Vasto Lorde attack on the Gotei 13.

• Miyano Matsuri and Miyano Fujimaru told Haruto they had met with Captain Hirako and asked whether he had killed Seigen Kyōshiba and Ika.
• Haruto admitted killing Seigen because the Seireitei needed him to, and the siblings said they wanted to learn the truth rather than attack him.
• Haruto said he lacked enough Reiatsu to stop the siblings from leaving, but an explosion destroyed the waterway before they could depart.
• Haruto knocked out the Miyano siblings and met Kisuke Urahara, who had disabled the surveillance network and brought Gigai.
• Haruto and Kisuke planned to send the Miyano siblings to the World of the Living to meet the Shusuha siblings, while Haruto prepared to fake a Vasto Lorde attack on the Gotei 13.

Haruto answered the Captain-Commander’s questions about Kitahara Kenshin’s death and the Vasto Lorde attack, then visited Kisuke Urahara’s research institute to discuss Hollowfication experiments. Kisuke learned how Kitahara’s transformation differed from his own, but Haruto was unsure whether the lack of a Vasto Lorde fragment explained the difference.

• Haruto defended his account of the battle before Captain-Commander Yamamoto and the assembled captains, saying Kitahara Kenshin’s Zanpakuto had been countered by his own and that he had defeated Kenshin with Shunpo.
• The captains ended their questioning without resolving how Kitahara died, then discussed retaliating against Baraggan and Las Noches while Haruto left the matter to them.
• Haruto visited Kisuke Urahara’s research institute beneath Karakura Town and learned that Kisuke had built a device to convert test subjects between Reishi and Kishi.
• Haruto told Kisuke that another Soul Reaper had conducted Hollowfication experiments and that Kitahara lost his reason and could not maintain a human form after transforming.
• Kisuke asked whether Kitahara’s transformation had failed because he lacked a Vasto Lorde fragment, and Haruto said he doubted that was the main cause.

Haruto urged Kisuke Urahara to expand his research into Arrancarfication and ways to reverse Hollowfication, anticipating that the hidden experimenter might target Hollows or build an Arrancar army. After arranging to borrow a new Tenshintai to train Seisen’s Bankai, Haruto received news that Shusuke Amagai had become the Third Division Captain.

• Haruto suggested that Urahara research Arrancarfication and cures for Soul Reapers who had undergone Hollowfication, warning that the secret experimenter might pursue those methods.
• Urahara agreed to study reversing Arrancarfication and discussed the possibility that the hidden experimenter could command an army of Arrancar Hollows.
• Haruto asked Urahara to lend him a Tenshintai so he could train Seisen’s Bankai, and Urahara agreed to make a new one after Yoruichi took the original to practice Shunkō.
• A Stealth Force member delivered the First Division’s announcement that Shusuke Amagai, a member of the 31st Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, had been appointed Third Division Captain.

Haruto visited the Fourth Division to check on his wounded subordinate Soi Fon and found her recovering under Isane's care. He told Soi Fon that he had killed Kitahara Kenshin, then began to suggest what she could do to prevent another disaster.

• Haruto heard that Shusuke Amagai had returned to Soul Society and left the Tenth Division captaincy vacant after refusing Yamamoto's appointment.
• Haruto visited the Fourth Division and learned from Iemura Yasochika that Soi Fon was being treated in special ward seven.
• Isane treated Soi Fon, who reflected on her skill and the Heavenly Bestowed Armament scarf she wore.
• Haruto arrived and thanked Isane, while Soi Fon interrupted their affectionate exchange and reopened her wound by coughing.
• Haruto told Soi Fon that he had killed Kitahara Kenshin and began advising her on how to prevent similar losses.

Soi Fon asked Haruto to help her grow strong enough to reach captain-level, and he agreed to seek her transfer to the Patrol Corps after she recovered. After leaving the Fourth Division, Haruto received an invitation to Shusuke Amagai’s appointment celebration and questioned whether Amagai had truly approved it.

• Soi Fon asked Haruto if she could grow stronger by following him, and he agreed to discuss transferring her to the Patrol Corps once she recovered.
• Haruto told Soi Fon she would serve as Naa Ichihara’s assistant, and Isane questioned him about his past meeting with Ichihara before telling Soi Fon to recover properly.
• Haruto left the Fourth Division and was stopped by Funakiri, the newly appointed Third Seat of the Third Division.
• Funakiri invited Haruto to a celebration for Shusuke Amagai’s appointment as captain, saying the invitation had been his idea.
• Haruto asked whether Shusuke Amagai had agreed to the celebration.

Haruto declined Shusuke Amagai’s invitation after learning that Amagai claimed to know about the Vasto Lorde who had ambushed him, then went with Ginjiro to the Kuchiki Clan at Ginrei’s request. There, Byakuya revealed that Hine had died and hinted that Kōga had been affected, leaving Ginrei to explain the situation.

• Haruto told Funakiri to decline Shusuke Amagai’s invitation, but reconsidered after hearing Amagai knew about the Vasto Lorde that had ambushed him.
• Ginjiro delivered Ginrei Kuchiki’s request for Haruto to come to the Kuchiki Clan, and Haruto agreed.
• At the Kuchiki Clan, Ginjiro left Haruto with Byakuya, who was dressed for mourning.
• Byakuya told Haruto that his aunt Hine had died and that the mourning hall was closed.
• Haruto suspected Kōga had been affected by Hine’s death, and Byakuya said Ginrei would explain more in the side hall.

Haruto learned that Kuchiki Hine had been murdered by Tsunayashiro Getsuritsu, prompting Kōga Kuchiki to attack the Tsunayashiro Clan and kill Getsuritsu and nineteen elders. The Golden Seal Noble Assembly confined Kōga, while Haruto discovered that Sōjun had been wounded by his own Zanpakuto and suspected Muramasa was responsible.

• Haruto agreed to help the Kuchiki Clan and met Ginrei Kuchiki, Sōjun, and Byakuya in the clan’s side hall.
• Ginrei Kuchiki told Haruto that Hine had been murdered by Tsunayashiro Getsuritsu, whose motive remained unknown.
• Ginrei explained that Kōga had stormed the Tsunayashiro Clan and killed Getsuritsu, nineteen senior elders, and four Captain-level fighters in total.
• Ginrei told Haruto that the Golden Seal Noble Assembly had placed Kōga in confinement rather than arresting him, fearing the Kuchiki Clan’s power.
• Haruto learned that Sōjun had been cut by his own Zanpakuto and asked whether Kōga’s Muramasa had controlled it.

Haruto learned that Kōga had escaped after freezing the Golden Seal Noble Assembly’s confinement facility, likely under Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s influence. The Kuchiki family warned that Kōga might use Muramasa’s Bankai, whose range covered the entire Seireitei, leaving Haruto to ask whether even Ryūjin Jakka could be affected.

• Kuchiki Sōjun suggested that Muramasa had not controlled Kōga, and identified Tsunayashiro Tokinada as a skilled manipulator who had shared a confinement facility with him.
• Ginrei Kuchiki said Haruto must bring Kōga back before he fully released Muramasa’s Bankai or kill him.
• Byakuya explained that Kōga had frozen the confinement facility beneath the Golden Seal Noble Assembly, and Haruto learned the incident had happened half an hour earlier.
• Kuchiki Sōjun said Muramasa’s Shikai had a radius of about one reiri, while its Bankai could reach the entire Seireitei.
• Haruto asked whether the Captain-Commander’s Ryūjin Jakka would also be affected by Muramasa.

Haruto and Byakuya left the Kuchiki residence to confront the chaos caused by Kōga’s Muramasa, whose Bankai materialized Zanpakuto across the Seireitei. Their own Zanpakuto appeared and attacked them, and Haruto faced Yugram Seisen as she challenged him to fight with his Quincy abilities.

• Ginrei Kuchiki agreed to let Byakuya accompany Haruto to confront Kōga, but Muramasa’s Bankai activated before they could leave.
• Ginrei and Sōjun shut themselves off from their Zanpakuto as explosions and cries for help spread through the Seireitei.
• Senbonzakura and Seisen materialized, forcing Byakuya and Haruto to fight their own Zanpakuto without killing them.
• Haruto explained that Muramasa could keep acting even if Kōga died, making Muramasa himself a target.
• Yugram Seisen drew her Reishi-forged saber and told Haruto to fight her with his Quincy abilities.

Muramasa’s Bankai caused Zanpakuto to materialize across Soul Society, but Yamamoto and Yoruichi quickly contained its effects while Kisuke Urahara defeated the materialized swords near the Second Division. Kisuke then faced a Reigai that looked and felt just like him, and prepared to fight.

• Yamamoto sealed Ryūjin Jakka with Bakudō #99 and left the First Division barracks to investigate the disturbance.
• Yoruichi used her Heavenly Bestowed Armaments Guard to end the abnormality affecting her golden short blade, then transformed into a cat to go outside.
• Kisuke subdued the materialized Zanpakuto near the Second Division with Benihime and restrained them without causing lasting injuries.
• A Reigai resembling Kisuke appeared, and Kisuke guessed it had been created from Reiatsu recorded during the Valley of Screams incident.
• Kisuke challenged the Reigai and prepared to fight.

Shusuke Amagai prepared to confront Yamamoto after he and Funakiri dealt with the Third Division. Meanwhile, Haruto defeated Yugram in a Quincy ability duel, and Yugram returned to Seisen with hope that the Quincies could escape Yhwach’s control.

• Funakiri reported that the Third Division had been dealt with, and Shusuke Amagai ordered him to accompany him to the First Division to settle the score with Shigekuni Yamamoto.
• Haruto and Yugram exchanged attacks using Sanctuary Praise and Heilig Pfeil while testing each other’s defenses.
• Haruto used Gritz Holy Devour: White Face Descent to weaken Yugram’s Quincy Crosses and break through Gojūbaku.
• Haruto fired a powerful black-and-crimson arrow that passed close to Yugram, who conceded defeat without using Vollständig.
• Yugram returned to Seisen, expressing hope that the Quincies could be free from Yhwach’s control.

Haruto and Byakuya defeated their Zanpakuto, then chose to help protect the Seireitei instead of immediately pursuing Kōga. In the Fourth Division, Soi Fon and Isane contained Suzumebachi and Itegumo until Haruto arrived, prompting Itegumo to call out to him.

• Byakuya trapped Senbonzakura with Kidō and finished the fight with Kurohitsugi, returning the Zanpakuto to his waist.
• Haruto stopped Byakuya from rushing after Kōga and urged him to help reduce the damage across the Seireitei first.
• Soi Fon and Isane captured Suzumebachi and Itegumo in the Fourth Division, where Kiyōnosuke Yamada had helped clear the wards.
• Itegumo broke free and attacked Soi Fon with freezing wind, but Haruto blocked the blast with Dankū.
• Itegumo called out to Haruto loudly, drawing everyone's attention.

Haruto arrived to find Isane and Soi Fon safe, while Kiyone explained how she had defeated her Zanpakuto. As Haruto and Kiyonosuke discussed the crisis, Byakuya fought Tengumaru in the Seventh Division, and Shinji subdued Sakanade before Kaien arrived at the Fifth Division.

• Kiyone reunited with Isane and revealed that she had defeated her Zanpakuto, Tiger Cannon, whose power increased with the size difference between it and its target.
• Kiyonosuke asked Haruto to resolve Muramasa’s problem quickly because the Fourth Division could not function normally; Haruto noted that he had seen few injured Soul Reapers on his way there.
• Byakuya went to the Seventh Division and learned that Tengumaru could breathe fire and grow stronger by eating flames, so he attacked with Senbonzakura.
• Shinji Hirako defeated Sakanade by using a modified mask to block its fragrance, then removed the mask.
• Kaien Shiba arrived at the Fifth Division’s main gate and called out to Shinji.

Aizen confronted a Kyōka Suigetsu materialization and defeated it with Kurohitsugi, then warned Shinji Hirako that the apparent Kaien Shiba was an impostor. Meanwhile, a covert group finished looting and slaughtering nobles while the Gotei 13 remained distracted by the Zanpakuto rebellion.

• Aizen materialized Kyōka Suigetsu, rejected its suggestion to help with his research, and clashed with it using Kurohitsugi.
• Aizen shattered Kyōka Suigetsu’s illusion and trapped its water-shaped body in a true Kurohitsugi.
• Aizen appeared in the barracks and told Shinji Hirako that the Kaien Shiba before him was a fake.
• Shinji Hirako recognized that something felt wrong, while Aizen confirmed the impostor was not his friend.
• A group of more than thirty black-robed figures gathered after silently killing nobles and stealing valuables and intelligence.

Assassins attacked the Tsunayashiro Clan, but Tenma Fushizuku’s assault ended with Tokinada stabbing Terukatsu Tsunayashiro from behind. Meanwhile, Mashiro Kuna subdued the materialized Zanpakuto in the Ninth Division and helped Kensei, while events at the Eighth Division were left unresolved.

• Bakkōtō-wielding assassins slaughtered the wounded Tsunayashiro Clan guards and reached the main hall.
• Terukatsu Tsunayashiro confronted Tenma Fushizuku, who had led the attack and appeared to seek the Tsunayashiro Clan’s position.
• Terukatsu Tsunayashiro accused Tenma Fushizuku of ordering Kuchiki Hine’s death and interfering behind the scenes.
• Tokinada emerged from the flames and stabbed Terukatsu Tsunayashiro through the heart.
• Mashiro Kuna defeated the materialized Zanpakuto in the Ninth Division and knocked out Kensei’s Tachikaze.
• Mashiro Kuna helped Kensei and the Ninth Division survive the rampaging Zanpakuto; the chapter then shifted to the Eighth Division captain’s office.

Muramasa’s Bankai stirred conflict across several divisions, but the Eighth Division’s Shunsui Kyōraku and other Soul Reapers found ways to resist or contain the threat. In the Twelfth Division, Kirio Hikifune traced the commands controlling the Reigai to a mysterious thirtieth basement level of the Seireitei Research Institute.

• Lisa Yadōmaru faced her materialized Zanpakuto while Shunsui Kyōraku confronted Reigai Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, and Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, with Katen Kyōkotsu unaffected by Muramasa’s ability.
• Ayaka, Nanao, and Yayahara Yuyu subdued Ayaka’s Zanpakuto, Makeup, after it suppressed Nanao’s Reiatsu.
• Isshin Shiba suppressed the Zanpakuto rebellion in the Tenth Division, while members of the 11th Division recovered and Kenpachi Kuruyashiki fought his Zanpakuto.
• Kirio Hikifune’s Kidō barrier blocked Muramasa’s influence, and she used her laboratory screens to investigate the Reigai.
• Kirio Hikifune discovered that the commands controlling the Reigai came from the Seireitei Research Institute’s thirtieth basement level.

Sae decided to investigate the institute’s problem involving Yushima Oko while Haruto intervened in the battle against the materialized Zanpakuto at Ugendo. At the First Division barracks, Shusuke Amagai and Funakiri prepared to face the Captain-Commander’s flames, with Amagai releasing Raika and its Bakkōtō.

• Sae recognized that the researchers needed to produce results and considered visiting Dangai Research Department head Yushima Oko.
• Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako struggled against Ukitake’s materialized Sōgyo no Kotowari and Nejibana while unable to use their own Zanpakuto or Kidō.
• Haruto arrived using Shunkō, knocked the Zanpakuto unconscious, and bound Sōgyo no Kotowari with golden locks before leaving the couple to continue.
• Kaien and Miyako decided to return the captured Zanpakuto to Ukitake and then help elsewhere.
• At the First Division barracks, Shusuke Amagai asked Funakiri about his motives, and Funakiri said he had followed Amagai for power.
• Amagai released Raika, whose Bakkōtō opened its maw as the pair faced the Captain-Commander’s wall of flames.

Shusuke Amagai confronted Captain-Commander Yamamoto over his father’s death and unleashed his Bankai, while Funakiri stayed behind to fight Genshirō Okikiba. Elsewhere, Haruto assessed Byakuya’s battle against Love Aikawa and headed with him to the Golden Seal Noble Assembly.

• Shusuke Amagai used his Bakkōtō’s Zanpakuto-nullifying power to clear a path to the First Division barracks.
• Genshirō Okikiba let Shusuke Amagai pass to meet the Captain-Commander, while Funakiri remained behind to face him.
• Shusuke Amagai confronted Shigekuni Yamamoto about killing his father’s mentor, Shin'etsu Kisaragi, then activated Raika: Gōenkaku.
• Byakuya returned after fighting Love Aikawa, and Haruto explained that the battle had shown him the difficulty of facing captains.
• Haruto and Byakuya set off for the Golden Seal Noble Assembly.