Recaps

Ryūken Ishida allowed Aijima and her companions to experiment on his dying wife, Kanae, hoping they could save her. Their Hollow and Soul Reaper powers revived her as an Undead, and the chapter ended with Ryūken learning what her new life would be like.

• Ryūken reflected on his marriage to Kanae and decided to let the unknown organization attempt to save her.
• Aijima examined Kanae and discovered that Quincy souls were bound to their bodies by a unique energy that caused them to disperse into Reishi after death.
• Pandele injected Kanae with Hollow power, and Aijima followed with Soul Reaper power, causing Kanae to sit up alive.
• Aijima concluded that Hollow power let Kanae's soul reassemble and Soul Reaper power activated it, while the process erased the Quincy energy she had studied.
• Aijima told Ryūken that Kanae had become an Undead and could no longer be a Quincy.
• Mingmo explained that Kanae would age at the rate of a soul-based life-form and could adjust her appearance with difficulty, then the group left.

Ichigo grew up under his parents’ protection, while Masaki and Isshin learned that Karakura Town was full of spiritually powered residents. As Ichigo entered his teens, Masaki saved him from a Hollow, and he later met Orihime and Sado before turning fifteen.

• Shinoka told Ichigo about the world after death, but Ichigo could not use Shinoka’s powers, and Masaki and Isshin argued over whether he should learn to fight.
• Isshin contacted Mingmo and tested equipment, while the Kurosakis discovered that many nearby households were moving away and that Karakura Town was covered with Spiritual Power icons.
• When Ichigo ran away from Masaki beneath a bridge, a Hollow attacked him, and Masaki destroyed it with her bow before telling him to wait until he was sixteen to awaken his powers.
• Jun helped Masaki use up the remaining power from White, and later gave fourteen-year-old Ichigo a shield generator and decoy so he could travel without his parents.
• Ichigo met Orihime when Sora Inoue died at the Kurosaki Clinic, and he later encountered Sado, fought alongside him, and began following him around.
• Ichigo turned fifteen.

Ichigo Kurosaki followed a Soul Reaper to Hilltop Park and found Rukia Kuchiki fighting a powerful Hollow. With Rukia badly injured and his barrier failing, Ichigo accepted her offer to transfer her Soul Reaper Power, and he cut the Hollow down.

• Ichigo accompanied Yasutora Sado to his KFC job, then noticed a Soul Reaper near his home and sensed spiritual power at Hilltop Park.
• Ichigo ran to the park and found Rukia fighting a Hollow whose armor her sword could not pierce.
• Ichigo tried to distract the Hollow with a Temporary Soul, but it ignored the lure and attacked him and Rukia as his barrier held it back.
• Rukia realized Ichigo could see spirits naturally and offered to turn him into a Soul Reaper; Ichigo eagerly agreed.
• As the barrier broke, Rukia stabbed Ichigo to transfer her Soul Reaper Power, and Ichigo's blade cut the Hollow's jaws in two.

Ichigo awakened as a Soul Reaper after drawing all of Rukia’s power, and Mingmo restored the damaged park before Ichigo brought Rukia home. There, Rukia recognized Isshin as Captain Shiba, and Isshin and Masaki helped heal her and took her in for the night, while they worried that Ichigo might be a child of destiny.

• Ichigo killed the Hollow and discovered he had taken all of Rukia’s Soul Reaper power; Mingmo restored the ruined grove and advised Ichigo to take Rukia home.
• Ichigo introduced himself and Rukia to each other, then carried her back to his house, where Masaki welcomed them and called Isshin to treat Rukia.
• Rukia recognized Isshin as Captain Shiba, and Isshin recognized her as Kiyohara, leaving Ichigo confused about their connection.
• Isshin gave Rukia a Spiritual Power storage earring, which replenished her power through Ichigo, and she used his Healing Device to recover.
• Masaki insisted Rukia stay the night and made Isshin sleep on the couch; afterward, she and Isshin worried that Ichigo had become a child of destiny.

Ichigo discovered that he could no longer use his Soul Reaper powers, while Rukia found that her own abilities had sharply weakened after giving them to him. Urahara traced her condition to a resonance between their Reishi cores, and Isshin arranged for Rukia to stay with the Kurosaki Family while Mingmo examined them.

• Ichigo demonstrated that he could not leave his body or use Soul Reaper abilities, and Rukia explained Soul Burial after sending a Dead Soul to Soul Society.
• Isshin told Rukia that awakening Ichigo’s Spiritual Power had reduced her Spiritual Pool, but Rukia realized her other attributes had fallen as well.
• Isshin took Rukia to Urahara, who found that her Reishi core was resonating with Ichigo’s and sent the examination report to Mingmo for further investigation.
• Urahara gave Rukia a Gigai, and Isshin called Mingmo to arrange examinations and ask for a place for Rukia to stay.
• Mingmo suggested Rukia stay with the Kurosaki Family, and Isshin called Masaki before inviting Rukia to remain at their home.

Rukia went to a research institute with Ichigo and Isshin, where Aijima discovered that Ichigo had retained some of Rukia’s Spiritual Power and showed them how she could recover it. After receiving a school transfer and supplies to live in the World of the Living, Rukia resolved to investigate the mysterious organization before returning to Soul Society.

• Ichigo and Isshin took Rukia to a research institute, where Aijima examined Ichigo and Rukia.
• Rukia mistook the institute’s people for dangerous enemies and took Aijima hostage, but Harribel knocked her out.
• Aijima found that Ichigo had retained part of Rukia’s power and warned that it could damage Rukia’s Reishi core if she did not recover it.
• Rukia and Ichigo discovered that pressing their palms together and synchronizing their Spiritual Power returned some of Rukia’s power.
• Mingmo gave Rukia a school uniform, student ID, transfer certificate, and Memory Modifier for her stay in the World of the Living.
• Rukia decided to investigate the organization, while Isshin told her she could uncover whatever she was able to learn.

Masaki welcomed Rukia into the Kurosaki home and helped her settle into a room of her own, while the family teased her and Ichigo about becoming a couple. The next morning, Masaki taught Rukia about modern clothing, grooming, and makeup, leaving Rukia moved by the warmth of having a mother.

• Masaki showed Rukia the room she had prepared for her, and Karin and Yuzu teased her about becoming Ichigo’s sister-in-law.
• The Kurosaki family watched Ichigo and Rukia train, but Rukia blushed and fled to her room before they could finish.
• Masaki encouraged Ichigo to pursue Rukia, while Ichigo and Rukia separately struggled with their feelings that night.
• Masaki helped Rukia choose clothes and explained bras and modern grooming after Rukia admitted she wore chest bindings in Soul Society.
• Masaki spent the morning teaching Rukia makeup and sharing how she balanced fighting with family life, and Rukia wondered if this was what having a mother felt like.

Rukia joined Ichigo at school, then accompanied him on a Hollow hunt and learned that his allies included powerful figures outside Soul Society. Ichigo showed her that their organization monitored Karakura Town and cities across Japan, leaving Rukia alarmed and determined to uncover their true intentions.

• Rukia introduced herself as Ichigo’s distant relative at school, then joined Ichigo and Sado at KFC before setting out with Ichigo as a Soul Reaper.
• Ichigo defeated a Hollow that Rukia could not finish, and he told her that Aijima was a nine-hundred-year-old Soul Reaper protected by fighters stronger than captains.
• Rukia argued with Ichigo over his claim that Soul Society was weak, then decided she needed to investigate the people around Aijima and report them to Soul Society.
• Ichigo stopped Rukia from running off and taught her Shunpo, which she learned in less than half an hour.
• Ichigo used Spiritual Power to activate a phone as a radar receiver and showed Rukia that Aijima’s organization could monitor Karakura Town, Tokyo, and other cities across Japan.

Ichigo and Rukia visited Mingmo so Rukia could learn who she was and what was happening in Soul Society. Mingmo revealed that three forces were fighting over Soul Society and warned Rukia that her Reishi core was in danger, leaving the pair urged to train before war began.

• Masaki questioned Ichigo about Rukia’s distracted behavior, and Ichigo privately wondered whether he was starting to think of Rukia romantically.
• Rukia swallowed a Mod Soul during class and set out with Ichigo to investigate the people around Mingmo, despite Ichigo’s warning that they already knew everything about her.
• Ichigo and Rukia traveled toward the Research Institute, where Rukia explained her position in the Kuchiki Clan and Soul Society’s struggle against Hollows.
• Mingmo gave Ichigo and Rukia Spiritual Power Cards and demonstrated her Bankai Reiatsu, which prevented them from using their own Spiritual Power.
• Mingmo explained that her group, Soul Society, and another force were competing for Soul Society, then warned that weaker fighters would become cannon fodder and that Rukia’s Reishi core was developing a problem.

Rukia recovered her Spiritual Power while Ichigo grew stronger, and Jun’s faction manipulated events to bring Kūgo Ginjō to Karakura Town. After Ginjō’s soul-devouring caused him to undergo a painful Hollowfication while still alive, Ichigo and Rukia tried to stop him, and Urahara offered them a way to extract his soul.

• Rukia restored her Spiritual Power in less than a month, and Jun arranged for her to notice his faction’s activities so she would remain in the World of the Living and investigate.
• Jun’s group lured Kūgo Ginjō to Karakura Town, where Rukia and Ichigo confronted him but could not defeat him after he had mastered Fullbring.
• Ginjō developed the Soul-Devouring Technique, killed people to consume their souls, and began transforming into a Hollow while still alive.
• Hollows arrived through a Garganta and fought Ginjō’s corrupted Dead Souls, while Ichigo and Rukia attempted to restrain him.
• Urahara arrived with a Soul-Extraction Glove and told Rukia and Ichigo to use it to knock Ginjō’s soul out, explaining that their encounter was a trial.

Ichigo entered his inner world to learn a technique from Zangetsu while Rukia struggled to hold off Ginjo. After Old Man Zangetsu trained him, Ichigo returned and destroyed Ginjo with Getsuga Tenshō.

• Rukia and Ichigo knocked Dead Souls off Ginjo and performed Soul Burials, but their attacks failed to break through his defenses.
• Rukia froze Ginjo with her ice techniques while instructing Ichigo to synchronize his Spiritual Power with his sword.
• Ichigo entered his inner world, where White attacked him and Old Man Zangetsu intervened before offering to teach him a skill.
• Rukia continued fighting Ginjo as his mask grew and he knocked her into a building with a blast of black light.
• Ichigo returned, blocked Ginjo's attack, and erased him with Getsuga Tenshō.

Jun learned that Soul Society had discovered Ichigo’s powers and ordered a team to pursue Rukia, while Byakuya was assigned to lead it. Rukia hid from the Soul Reapers, but Ichigo realized she was protecting him and rushed to help her as Orihime, Sado, and Uryū followed.

• Jun attended the captains’ meeting, where the Captain-Commander showed footage of Ichigo and Rukia fighting a Menos Grande and ordered Byakuya to lead a six-person pursuit team.
• Jun told Byakuya to spare Ichigo if possible, and Byakuya’s officers recognized a resemblance between Ichigo and former Captain Isshin Shiba.
• Renji Abarai asked to join the team, while Aozumi and Kōga discussed Rukia’s situation with Byakuya.
• Rukia detected six Soul Reapers in Karakura Town, warned Ichigo to hide, and went alone to the park where they had first met.
• Uryū reasoned that Rukia was protecting Ichigo from a likely death sentence; Ichigo rushed to the park, and Uryū, Orihime, and Sado followed after spotting a Soul Reaper nearby.

Ichigo confronted the Soul Reapers sent to take Rukia back, determined to stop her execution, but Byakuya defeated him and took Rukia to Soul Society. As Ichigo’s friends sought help for him, Rukia steadied herself and believed Ichigo would grow stronger.

• Ichigo learned that Rukia was sentenced to death and vowed to protect her, then fought Renji with Zangetsu and Getsuga Tenshō.
• Ichigo clashed with another Soul Reaper before Byakuya arrived and confirmed that Rukia would be executed.
• Ichigo challenged Byakuya, but Byakuya struck his Reishi cores, disabled him, and took Rukia away.
• Sado caught the falling Ichigo, and he, Orihime, and Uryū decided to contact a woman who might help treat him.
• Rukia stopped crying as Byakuya took her to Soul Society and silently urged Ichigo to get stronger.

Ichigo and his friends prepared to enter Soul Society and save Rukia, while Jun Shimizu arranged to witness Zaraki’s challenge against Kenpachi Azashiro. Zaraki unleashed Nozarashi against Azashiro’s attacks, and Jun watched eagerly for him to reveal even greater strength.

• Sōdō Shinsō healed Ichigo and explained that Byakuya Kuchiki had defeated him skillfully, while Mingmo said Rukia faced execution under Soul Society’s rules.
• Ichigo decided to go to Soul Society to save Rukia, and Orihime, Sado, and Uryū agreed to join him; the Shopkeeper arrived to help train them.
• Jun and Kenpachi Azashiro discussed Zaraki’s challenge, and Azashiro said he would leave the 11th Division whether he won or lost.
• Jun went to the Forest of Menos to witness the Kenpachi challenge between Zaraki and Kenpachi Azashiro.
• Zaraki charged Azashiro with Nozarashi, then cut apart the giant branches Azashiro sent against him while Jun urged him to show more power.

Zaraki fought Sōya Azashiro’s roots until the pressure pushed him to awaken Bankai and unleash a devastating attack. When the dust cleared, Sōya’s hand was buried in Zaraki’s chest, and the battle’s outcome remained uncertain.

• Sōya Azashiro attacked Zaraki with enormous branches and roots, but Zaraki repeatedly used Shunpo and his sword to break them apart.
• Zaraki adapted to moving in short bursts while Sōya added more roots, turning the fight into a contest between Zaraki’s cutting and Azashiro’s assimilation.
• Jun told the watching group that Zaraki had only been using Shikai, and Zaraki complained that Azashiro’s attacks were too repetitive.
• Zaraki unleashed Bankai, Nozarashi Ashura King, and three sword-force arcs blasted apart the roots and sent fragments across the battlefield.
• Jun and the others approached after the dust settled and saw Sōya’s hand buried in Zaraki’s chest while Zaraki held his raised sword without striking.

Sōya Azashiro entered Zaraki’s inner world and possessed a Red Oni to help defeat him, but the battle ended with Azashiro exhausted and Zaraki still standing. Jun declared Zaraki the winner, and after Azashiro accepted defeat and was destroyed, Jun restored Zaraki’s Spiritual Power and offered to help him train his Bankai.

• Sōya Azashiro found Zaraki fighting oni in his inner world and realized that eating them made Zaraki stronger.
• Sōya Azashiro possessed a Red Oni and joined the battle, striking Zaraki while the other oni kept him occupied.
• As Zaraki grew stronger by eating another Red Oni, Sōya Azashiro used all his Spiritual Power to behead him, but Zaraki’s counterattack destroyed the possessed body.
• Sōya Azashiro returned to the outside world nearly transparent, while Zaraki’s oni form vanished and he remained able to fight.
• Jun ruled that Zaraki had won, and Sōya Azashiro accepted defeat before Zaraki struck him down.
• Jun restored Zaraki’s Spiritual Power and offered to help him enter his inner world to train, then worried that Zaraki’s Bankai could make him a dangerous opponent for Ichigo.

Ichigo and his friends trained with Bakkōtō weapons and recovered in the hot spring while preparing to save Kuchiki. Meanwhile, Kenpachi Zaraki battled in the Heartspirit World and began controlling his demonic aura.

• Jun’s faction used Bakkōtō technology and Spiritual Power storage devices to train Ichigo and his friends beneath the Research Institute.
• Ichigo struggled against Shinsō Sōdō’s Getsuga Tenshō, then joined Sado, Orihime, and Uryū in the hot spring, where they joked about their training and called themselves comrades.
• Uryū, Sado, and Orihime left the hot spring before Ichigo, who resolved to get stronger despite his slower recovery.
• Kenpachi Zaraki fought endless enemies in the Heartspirit World as a demonic aura emerged, but blue light repeatedly restored his clarity and dispersed it.
• Zaraki emptied his Spiritual Power, endured the aura’s bloodlust, and absorbed it without Heartspirit’s help, beginning to control it.

Urahara told Ichigo and the others that Rukia had been sentenced to the Sōkyoku Execution, and they entered Soul Society through a surprise route in the Dangai. They reached Yoruichi’s estate, where Jun reunited with Isuzu and warned the group about Soul Society’s powerful fighters.

• Urahara explained Rukia’s execution sentence and prepared the group to enter Soul Society without alerting its defenders.
• Yoruichi led Ichigo, Sado, Orihime, Uryū, and the veiled woman through the Dangai, where Sado broke open a passage into Soul Society.
• Yoruichi guided the group through an estate and settled them in a room while she went to gather information.
• Jun arrived, embraced the veiled woman, and revealed that she was Isuzu, an Arrancar whose Hollow mask Uryū noticed.
• Jun identified himself as a Gotei 13 captain and explained which Soul Reapers the newcomers should avoid, including Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Jun advised the group to leave the estate openly so Soul Society would know Urahara and Yoruichi supported them.

Jun learned that Ichigo and the others had set out to rescue Rukia, but he stayed out of their way while the group followed Yoruichi’s directions into the Gotei 13. Their first attempt to slip past a patrol failed, and Uryū’s Quincy attack helped them escape as the Soul Reapers raised the alarm.

• Jun told the group that Rukia was being held in the fourth prison of the Confession Palace, then returned home to Isuzu before activity drew him to the Tenth Division.
• Jun restored order at the Tenth Division and discussed Rukia’s sentence with Tōshirō, who left to investigate the commotion.
• Soi Fon ordered the Second Division to keep news of the youngsters’ movements quiet and went to the Shihoin Family estate to find Yoruichi.
• Ichigo, Sado, Orihime, and Uryū followed Yoruichi’s map but ran into a Seventh Division patrol led by Third Seat Asada Ayu, who called for help after Ichigo’s attack.
• A cat knocked Asada Ayu unconscious, but Soul Reapers caught up with the group as they fled; Uryū fired Light of Rain, wounding their pursuers and helping the four escape.

Jun learned that the Ryoka were being pursued through Seireitei as Yoruichi led Ichigo and the others past Tōshirō and out through the south gate. The group reached Kūkaku Shiba’s home in Rukongai, where Ichigo discovered that Kūkaku was his older cousin and the group settled in for the night.

• Jun received orders about the Ryoka, including a warning to avoid contact and a summons for senior seated officers on patrol.
• Tōshirō tracked the group to Seireitei’s wall area, but Yoruichi used camouflage and Kidō: Insect March to misdirect his Kakushitsuijaku.
• Yoruichi led Ichigo, Sado, Orihime, and Uryū through the south gate into Rukongai, where Sado knocked out the gatekeeper Jirōbō.
• Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko recognized Yoruichi and brought the group to Kūkaku Shiba’s residence in District 26.
• Kūkaku explained that the group was in Rukongai and scolded Ichigo for wanting to return to Seireitei immediately.
• Kūkaku revealed that she was Ichigo’s older cousin, then led the group to the guest rooms for the night.

Kūkaku explained that the Shiba Clan’s spirit orb cores had once been used to enter the Soul King Palace and trained Ichigo and his friends to control them. After Ichigo failed to master the technique, Kūkaku used a special sword on him and showed the group how the cores could become weapons and barriers, while Jun planned to put them under harsher training.

• Kūkaku told Ichigo and his friends that the Shiba Clan had guarded the Soul King’s gates and that spirit orb cores could grant passage to the Soul King Palace.
• Shinren reported that Rukia Kuchiki’s execution was tentatively set for twenty days later, the captains had ordered Ichigo’s group killed, and chaos would soon erupt inside the Seireitei.
• Uryū, Orihime, and Sado learned to shape barriers with their spirit orb cores, but Ichigo made no progress despite Ganju’s instruction.
• Kūkaku mocked Ichigo for failing and stabbed him with a special sword that Jun had made for him, while Uryū recognized it might be a special Zanpakuto.
• Kūkaku demonstrated how the spirit orb cores could form swords, shields, and barriers, and Ganju encouraged Sado to test his strength against one.
• Jun and Kūkaku discussed the group’s training, and Jun decided to throw them in front of Kenpachi the next day before turning his attention to Isuzu.

Jun guided Ichigo through accepting White and old man Zangetsu as parts of his own power, explaining that instinct and battle drive were essential to mastering them. After Ichigo endured a dangerous surge of spiritual power and briefly manifested a horned Hollow mask, he returned to normal and immediately fell asleep.

• Jun explained to Ichigo that his inner world, old man Zangetsu, White, and his instincts all belonged to him, while White challenged him to embrace battle instinct.
• Ichigo accepted both figures as his powers, and Jun warned that training could kill him and that he could only handle part of their strength.
• Old man Zangetsu began the training, unleashing a red surge that forced the group outside to contain Ichigo within a Barrier.
• Yoruichi and Kūkaku took turns sustaining the Barrier as Ichigo's Reiatsu turned first blood-red and then black, with Shinren supplying a second earring to help.
• Ichigo emerged wearing a horned Hollow mask, tore it off, told everyone he was back, and fell asleep.

Ichigo fought Kenpachi Zaraki while trying to reach Rukia, and won after awakening Hollowfication. Jun stopped Ichigo from killing Zaraki, then reunited Zaraki with Yachiru, who had been preserved as a Mod Soul.

• Kūkaku launched Ichigo, Uryū, Orihime, Sado, Ganju, and Yoruichi toward the Seireitei, but the barrier's explosion scattered them in different directions.
• Kenpachi Zaraki intercepted Ichigo and drove him away from the Thirteenth Division as they fought across the Seireitei.
• Ichigo activated Bankai and used his speed and Getsuga Tenshō against Zaraki, but Zaraki's Reiatsu and strength kept the fight going.
• Ichigo awakened Hollowfication and severely wounded Zaraki, but Jun intervened before Ichigo could kill him and declared Ichigo the winner.
• Jun reattached Zaraki's arm and explained Hollowfication, then revealed that he had preserved Yachiru as a Mod Soul.
• Zaraki joyfully reunited with Yachiru while Ichigo continued toward his mission to save Rukia.

Uryū and Orihime fought Ise Jun and her sisters after arriving in the Seventh Division, but escaped when Uryū used Spiritual Power Erasure to exploit the limits of Jing’s Shikai. They reached the noble residential district and hid near the Kuchiki family’s estate.

• Ganju landed in the Seventh Division compound, where Komamura bound him and ordered Iba to fetch Kaien.
• Jing, Nanao, and Lisa confronted Uryū and Orihime, and Jing’s Shikai limited everyone’s Spiritual Power to a low level.
• Orihime tried to attack Jing, but Jing caught and returned her Arc Heaven Slash Shield before revealing her Shikai’s effect.
• Uryū used Spiritual Power Erasure to destroy part of the mountainside, then escaped with Orihime while the three women stayed behind.
• Uryū and Orihime emerged from behind the mountainside, and Orihime bandaged his wound before they headed into the noble district near the Kuchiki estate.

Yoruichi helped Sado escape through secret passages while Soi Fon pursued them, then drew Soi Fon away from the Shihoin estate to fight. Their clashing assumptions about betrayal and the Shihoin Family deepened the conflict, and Yoruichi resolved to act after Soi Fon attacked her.

• Yoruichi used Sado to distract the Second Division and guided him through secret passages toward safety.
• Yoruichi fought off Soi Fon while escorting Sado through the Shihoin estate, then sent him onward alone.
• Yoruichi changed clothes and lured Soi Fon out of Seireitei to the borderlands of Soul Society.
• Soi Fon declared that she would kill Yoruichi because she believed she was stronger, and Yoruichi sent her flying with unfamiliar Hakuda.
• Yoruichi and Soi Fon traded accusations based on misunderstandings about their motives and the Shihoin Family, and Yoruichi decided she had made up her mind.