Chapter Summaries

Haruto visited Nanao Ise at her home, where her grandparents learned of his extraordinary Kidō skill and offered him a secret text on advanced Kidō. The chapter ended with Haruto preparing to study the rare techniques numbered above seventy-five.

• Nanao Ise practiced Shakkahō in her courtyard while her grandparents watched.
• Haruto arrived at Nanao's home with gifts, and her grandmother teased Nanao about thinking he had forgotten their promise.
• Haruto accepted the Ise couple's offer to stay the night rather than waste time returning to the academy dormitory.
• The Ise elder questioned Haruto about his Kidō knowledge, and Haruto said he had learned every technique in Nanao's book.
• The elder judged Haruto capable of earning a high seat in the Gotei 13 and presented him with an ancient bamboo book containing advanced Kidō.

Haruto accepted an old Ise Clan priest’s Kidō manual after learning Nanao was the clan’s last direct descendant, then understood that Zanka no Tachi could be wielded through the soul itself. The next morning, he set out for his home in Rukongai’s East 66th District, planning to practice Kidō and obtain supplies along the way.

• The old man revealed that Nanao was the Ise Clan’s last direct descendant and gave Haruto a manual containing his insights into Zanka no Tachi.
• Haruto accepted the manual to protect Nanao, and the old man explained how the advanced Hadō could be used without relying on a sword.
• Haruto realized that his soul, rather than his Zanpakuto alone, was the key to casting Zanka no Tachi and releasing his power.
• Haruto bid farewell to the Ise Clan and left for East 66th District with provisions and his Shin'ō Academy uniform packed away.
• Haruto chose a route through Rukongai where he could practice Kidō and rely on his strength to get supplies from local gangs.

Haruto tested the destructive power of Raikōhō, continued working on Zanka no Tachi, and used Daichi Ten'yō to cover the crater he had made. He traveled to East District 45, Yoshiwara, and found himself amid its lively nighttime streets.

• Haruto tested Raikōhō and observed that it blasted a crater roughly fifteen meters wide and four meters deep.
• Haruto reflected on his slow progress with Zanka no Tachi and used his Zanpakuto as a medium to become more familiar with it.
• Haruto used Daichi Ten'yō to fill and level the crater before setting off toward Rukongai.
• Haruto traveled toward the lights of a nearby district, hoping to find a peaceful place to spend the night.
• Haruto arrived in East District 45, Yoshiwara, and walked its bustling pleasure-district streets.

Haruto sought a place to sleep for the night in Yoshiwara and paid for an expensive all-night room. While being led upstairs, he spotted an Eighth Seat of the 11th Division enjoying the pleasure quarter with his Zanpakuto and badge nearby.

• Haruto decided to find an inn in Yoshiwara after night fell and entered a shop that offered him a first-time-customer discount.
• Haruto chose the whole-night service for ten silver dollars so he could stay and sleep without being turned out early.
• A burly shop worker led Haruto upstairs after his attitude changed upon learning Haruto would pay for the night.
• Haruto saw an Eighth Seat of the 11th Division in the open playroom, accompanied by young-looking people and with his Seated Officer's badge on the floor.

Haruto booked a room in the Yoshiwara District, where an apparent young worker revealed herself to be an illusion created by a mass of insects. After realizing a powerful illusionist had invited him upstairs, Haruto prepared to confront the figure behind it.

• Haruto passed a room of revelers and asked the attendant to find him a young worker without heavy makeup.
• A girl in a translucent furisode entered Haruto’s room and moved to sit in his lap.
• Haruto sensed something wrong, drew his Zanpakuto, and called the girl filthy when her illusion began to fail.
• The girl’s appearance melted away, revealing a burlap sack that released a swarm of insects, and she invited Haruto upstairs to talk.
• Haruto judged the illusionist to be a powerful Seated Officer and secured his Zanpakuto before deciding to go upstairs.

Haruto went to meet Naa Ichihara, the influential owner of Yoshiwara, while keeping Zanka no Tachi ready in case she threatened him. After they exchanged names and discussed his ambitions at Shin'ō Academy, Haruto guessed that a member of the Four Great Noble Clans had driven her family out of Seireitei, and her silence confirmed it.

• Haruto prepared to hold Zanka no Tachi and planned to seek help from the Gotei 13 if his meeting turned dangerous.
• Haruto climbed to the fifth floor and found Naa Ichihara waiting among liquor bottles and a pipe.
• Naa introduced herself as Yoshiwara's owner, known as the Great Magistrate, and asked Haruto for his name.
• Haruto said he came from East 66th District and dismissed the idea of joining a minor noble family.
• Naa asked if Haruto wanted to join one of the Four Great Noble Clans, and Haruto asked which clan had driven her family from Seireitei.
• Naa remained silent, confirming Haruto's guess.

Haruto met Naa Ichihara, learned that the Tsunayashiro Clan had supported her people, and received a Kidō Orb containing Dankū. After assessing its limits and suspecting Naa had already mastered Dankū, Haruto challenged her to make a larger investment in exchange for protecting Yoshiwara District’s reputation.

• Naa Ichihara revealed that the Tsunayashiro Clan had helped her people, and Haruto claimed he had never heard of the clan while mentioning his close friend in the Kuchiki Clan.
• Naa Ichihara gave Haruto a Kidō Orb containing the secret teachings of Dankū and explained its six-month recharge and demanding requirements.
• Haruto realized Naa Ichihara might already know Dankū and concluded that the orb could still be valuable even if he could not use it himself.
• Haruto argued that the orb was not enough to protect the reputation of the pleasure quarter and Yoshiwara District, then challenged Naa Ichihara to test his demand.

Haruto provoked Naa Ichihara into attacking, then used Zanka no Tachi to withstand her Shikai and earned a second Kidō Orb. Afterward, he questioned whether the Heavenly Bedding Pill had affected his judgment and examined the difficult, powerful Kyōmon technique he had obtained.

• Haruto decided to let Naa Ichihara make the first move, believing she wanted something from him and that he could exploit her lower Spiritual Pressure.
• Naa Ichihara revealed her already-released Zanpakuto, Black Swallowtail, and sent a swarm of black butterflies at Haruto.
• Haruto cast Hadō number seventy-eight, Zanka no Tachi, and the butterflies that struck him left him briefly paralyzed but otherwise unharmed.
• Naa Ichihara gave Haruto a second Kidō Orb, apparently shocked that her Zanpakuto had not affected him as expected.
• Haruto wondered whether the Heavenly Bedding Pill had influenced his reckless behavior and resolved to be more cautious.
• Haruto studied Kyōmon's demanding requirements and limitations, then considered modifying the technique and learning it as his Kidō talent improved.

Haruto left Yoshiwara after spending the night safely in Manager Ichihara’s guest room, but a group of Soul Reapers and lower nobles followed him into a remote part of Rukongai. The nobles confronted him over his disrespect, setting up a likely fight.

• Haruto slept through the night in the fourth-floor guest room and woke to breakfast delivered by the girl who had turned into bugs.
• Haruto learned that Naa Ichihara had gone to District 41, declined her offer of hospitality, and left Yoshiwara.
• Haruto noticed an unfamiliar Soul Reaper Reiatsu following him and led the pursuers away from the busy streets.
• Haruto confronted two Soul Reapers and two civilians in a dead end, recognizing the civilians as lower nobles and the group as Shin'ō Academy seniors.
• A gloomy young nobleman accused Haruto of disrespecting his seniors and threatened to teach him a lesson.

Haruto confronted Rikujō Kyōya and his allies, who had lured him to a deserted street to kill him, and faced Onizuka, an 8th Seat of the 11th Division. The battle began when Haruto fired Byakurai at Onizuka’s raised Zanpakuto.

• Rikujō Kyōya introduced himself and explained that he wanted to avenge his younger brother, while threatening Haruto with a secluded burial.
• Kyōya called on Onizuka, the 8th Seat of the 11th Division, who emerged to block Haruto’s escape.
• Onizuka rejected Haruto’s warning about the consequences of attacking a Shin'ō Academy student and declared that he would kill him.
• Haruto realized his attackers were serious and tried to deter them by claiming his future ties to the Fifth Division would invite an investigation.
• Onizuka drew his Zanpakuto, and Haruto cast Hadō #4: Byakurai, striking the blade he held in front of himself.

Haruto fought Onizuka, whose Zanpakuto absorbed and drew in Kidō, and used illusions and misdirection to exploit its limits. He killed Onizuka and burned away the bodies, then revealed how he had prepared the deception.

• Onizuka released his Zanpakuto, which absorbed Haruto’s Kongōbaku and Shōtenkyū and transformed into a shield.
• Haruto used Kyokkō and Sekienton to create a Kidō-based illusion, while Onizuka charged and struck the decoy.
• Haruto’s Haien burned Onizuka’s four companions, distracting Onizuka and drawing his attention away from Haruto.
• Haruto appeared behind Onizuka and killed him with Byakurai before his shield could defend him.
• Haruto burned Onizuka’s corpse with Haien and explained that he had concealed his tactics behind the illusion and fire.

After killing Onizuka, Haruto found a gold koban and a pill apparently meant to attract Hollows, then confronted Rikujō Kyōya, who had been hiding nearby. Haruto forced Rikujō to trade his wealth and information for his life, and Rikujō revealed that his duplicate had been made by placing a Modified Soul inside a Reigai.

• Haruto examined Onizuka's ashes and took the gold koban and a fragile white pill that seemed capable of attracting Hollows.
• Haruto spotted Rikujō Kyōya hiding nearby and demanded wealth or information in exchange for sparing him.
• Rikujō offered five gold koban, but Haruto demanded valuable information about middle-ranking nobles as well.
• Under Haruto's pressure, Rikujō revealed that the puppet he had used was a copy made by placing a Modified Soul inside a Reigai.
• Haruto identified a Reigai as a Gigai made using spiritual power, and Rikujō confirmed it.

Haruto killed Rikujō Kyōya after learning he had only obtained a blank Reigai body, then continued his journey to District 66. He found the village where he had once lived largely deserted and in disrepair.

• Haruto questioned Rikujō Kyōya about Reigai technology and learned he had only a blank body and a Gikongan.
• Haruto killed Rikujō Kyōya, burned his remains, and took the blank Reigai body.
• Haruto cleaned up, left the battlefield, and resumed his journey toward home after assessing his combat strength.
• After six days, Haruto arrived at District 66 and recalled his past there.
• Haruto walked through the neglected village and found few signs of life, concluding its people had suffered since he left.

Haruto returned to District 66 after five years and found his old home neglected and the gang he had left behind absorbed into a larger one. After restoring the house and honoring his grandmother at the Buddhist altar, he met Inukai and began asking what had become of their people.

• Haruto recognized Jōsuke, an old follower, and told him to have Inukai wait at their usual place.
• Haruto reached his former home, cleared out the cobwebs and pests with Kidō, and solemnly declared that he was home.
• Haruto lit incense at the Buddhist altar he had made to honor the grandmother who raised him.
• Inukai arrived and told Haruto that the gang had been absorbed, District 66 was controlled by one gang, and nine familiar members remained.
• Haruto asked Inukai whether the others had died or surrendered, then turned to examine how Inukai had changed.

Haruto learned that a Hollow had driven the village’s residents from their well and that a Soul Reaper had joined the rival gang instead of resolving the threat. He planned to inspect the well that night, then finished his Zanpakuto training and noticed his Reiatsu was growing faster despite the Heavenly Bedding Pill.

• Haruto asked Inukai why the gang and his old home had fallen into ruin, and Inukai explained that he had surrendered to protect a treasure from people seeking it.
• Haruto learned that a Hollow still lurked by the village well at night and that a Soul Reaper who had come to deal with it later became the rival gang’s commander-in-chief.
• Haruto told Inukai to take him to the well that night so they could confirm whether the Hollow was still there, and Inukai agreed to follow him.
• At night, Haruto completed his Jinzen with the Asauchi and reflected that Zanka no Tachi strengthened his communication with his soul and Zanpakuto.
• Haruto noticed that his Reiatsu was growing about thirty percent faster despite the Heavenly Bedding Pill’s ongoing effects.

Haruto went with Inukai to the well, where a gang ambushed him with the help of a fugitive Soul Reaper. Bound by Hōrin, Haruto learned the attacker was the Seventh Division’s twelfth seat, and the Soul Reaper began charging a powerful Hadō.

• Haruto and Inukai set out through the dark forest toward the well, but Inukai explained that the gang had blocked the original route.
• Haruto sensed people nearby, and Inukai dropped his torch and fled as a crimson Hōrin rope bound Haruto.
• A group of gang members surrounded Haruto with torches, while a male Soul Reaper mocked him and identified himself as the Seventh Division’s twelfth seat.
• Haruto called the Soul Reaper a fugitive, and the man threatened him while claiming he was only punishing a student who interfered in Hollow matters.
• The Soul Reaper drew his Zanpakuto and began chanting Hadō #65 as Nagumo watched nearby.

Haruto defeated a Seventh Division Soul Reaper who had used a Kidō Orb to cast Gaki Rekko, then killed him and Nagumo with Raikōhō. He recovered the orb from the crater and decided to sell it.

• Haruto broke free of the Soul Reaper’s Hōrin and overwhelmed his Gaki Rekko with a controlled release of Zanka no Tachi.
• Haruto explained that the Soul Reaper’s Kidō was crude and that the gap between their Reiatsu made his binding technique ineffective.
• Nagumo accepted that Haruto had won their contest, but the Soul Reaper threw him to the ground and angrily challenged Haruto again.
• Haruto interrupted the Soul Reaper’s chant and struck him, Nagumo, and their guards with Raikōhō, leaving a crater.
• Haruto found a Kidō Orb among the ashes, inferred that it had helped the Soul Reaper learn Gaki Rekko, and decided to sell it.

Haruto learned that Inukai had betrayed him to gain Kidō lessons, then killed him after testing his Shō. He resumed his search for the Hollow near the well, lured it out with Hollow Bait, and prepared to fight an opponent whose strength nearly matched his own.

• Inukai admitted that a Soul Reaper had offered to teach him Kidō, and he demonstrated his Shō for Haruto.
• Haruto praised Inukai's Kidō, then struck him with Hadō #1: Shō and killed him.
• Haruto left the battlefield without recovering the dead Soul Reaper's Zanpakuto and headed to the village well to find the Hollow.
• Haruto searched the clearing using Bakudō #58: Kakushitsuijaku, but could not locate the Hollow's Reiatsu.
• Haruto crushed Hollow Bait, and a powerful Hollow appeared less than twenty meters away.
• Haruto judged the Hollow to be a suitable opponent and readied himself to fight.

Haruto fought a Giant Hollow, using Kidō to expose its weaknesses and discover that its Reiatsu-powered leaps could be disrupted. He baited the Hollow into cutting through Hōrin and began binding it with Sajō Sabaku.

• Haruto illuminated the clearing and revealed a nearly five-meter-tall Giant Hollow concealed beneath a black curtain.
• The Giant Hollow struck from behind and cut Haruto's arm, but Haruto used Tsuzuri Raiden and hidden Hainawa to bind it before blasting its chest with Byakurai.
• Haruto learned that Hainawa could not seal the Hollow's Reiatsu and that the Hollow's mask remained its weak point.
• Haruto used Daichi Ten'yō to tilt the ground beneath the Hollow as it leapt, then sent Hōrin ropes toward it as bait.
• The Giant Hollow cut through Hōrin, and Haruto released Sajō Sabaku from behind it.

Haruto fought a giant Hollow whose speed, armor, and red energy attacks resembled Arrancar abilities, and he struggled to break through its defenses. He ended the chapter by using Tsuriboshi to trap the Hollow in Sajō Sabaku.

• Haruto restrained the giant Hollow with Sajō Sabaku and repeatedly struck its mask with enhanced Byakurai, but the attacks stopped penetrating it.
• The giant Hollow fired a Cero-like beam, which Haruto split with a Zanka no Tachi-enhanced slash.
• The Hollow attacked again with Bala, blasting Haruto and breaking free from the chains as he defended with Enkōsen.
• Haruto baited the Hollow into missing an attack, then tried to catch it with Shitotsu Sansen, but it evaded the Kidō.
• Haruto combined Tsuriboshi with Sajō Sabaku, binding the giant Hollow from every direction and trapping it head to toe.