Chapter Summaries

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.

Soi Fon’s history, personality, and Zanpakuto were examined as she fought Yoruichi, whose Shunkō gave her the advantage. Just as Yoruichi prepared to kill Soi Fon, a ray of light struck and slowed her.

• Soi Fon’s family history and admiration for Yoruichi were recounted, along with how her imagined Shikai and soul-rooted Bankai produced the distorted Suzumebachi Raikōben.
• Soi Fon and Yoruichi fought at close range, with Yoruichi repeatedly countering Soi Fon’s assassination strikes.
• Soi Fon unleashed a technique combining Kidō and Hakuda, increased her speed and strength, and kicked Yoruichi hard enough to make her bleed.
• Yoruichi explained the Shihoin’s ancient power and activated Shunkō as she moved to kill Soi Fon.
• A ray of light used Petrification to slow Yoruichi just before her foot struck Soi Fon.

Isuzu Shimizu interrupted Yoruichi’s fight with Soi Fon, revealed that Jun had sent her to prevent them from attacking the wrong person, and gave Soi Fon secrets about Soul Society’s plans. She separated Soi Fon’s Shikai and Bankai, leaving Soi Fon with Suzumebachi Tiger Stripe while the other blade, Jusha, refused to let her use its Bankai.

• Isuzu appeared in her Resurrección form and stopped Yoruichi from kicking Soi Fon, then revealed her identity and explained that Jun had sent her.
• Isuzu told Yoruichi that Soi Fon was her devoted follower and clarified that Jun was not responsible for the incident 118 years earlier.
• Isuzu said she had petrified the Punishment Force without killing them, gave Soi Fon a booklet, and secured her promise not to reveal its contents before events unfolded.
• Isuzu explained that Jun and Aizen were temporary allies, and Yoruichi agreed to act only as a bodyguard for Ichigo and the others.
• Isuzu used a knife to separate Soi Fon’s Shikai and Bankai, then gave her Jusha while warning that Soi Fon would have to win its favor to learn its Bankai.
• Suzumebachi entered Bankai as gold-and-black gauntlets called Suzumebachi Tiger Stripe, whose Tiger Stripe Needle added poison when its stinger was pulled out; Soi Fon discovered she could no longer use Jusha’s cannon Bankai.

Ichigo was ambushed by Gin Ichimaru while racing to rescue Rukia, and Jun intervened before Ichigo could die. Jun challenged Gin’s assumptions about his strength and Zanpakuto, leaving Gin to reconsider his plan to kill Aizen and the nature of Shinsō.

• As Ichigo ran toward the Fourth Tower, Gin attacked him with Kamishini no Yari from behind walls, repeatedly wounding him.
• Ichigo activated Bankai and charged forward, but Gin’s extended blade pierced him and cut him nearly in half as Rukia watched from her cell.
• Jun confronted Gin at gunpoint, accepted Gin’s agreement to let Ichigo go, and criticized his plan to provoke a confrontation between Aizen and the Captain-Commander.
• Jun rescued Ichigo with spiritual power and Kaido, then Urahara appeared and carried Ichigo away.
• Gin reflected that Shinsō did not represent his true nature, and Jun gave him another Zanpakuto while warning him that Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu was an illusion-type sword, not a water type.

After Kenpachi Zaraki’s defeat, Jun learned that Ichigo had been rescued by Kisuke Urahara and sent Aozumi and Kōga to protect the badly injured Uryū and Orihime. Byakuya nearly attacked the pair, but Aozumi stopped him and brought them into the Kuchiki residence, leaving Byakuya questioning himself.

• Jun explained to the Punishment Force that he had learned Kaido from a wounded Fourth Division teammate, then heard that Soi Fon had failed to stop Yoruichi and that Kisuke Urahara had rescued Ichigo.
• Jun asked Aozumi and Kōga to look after two injured youngsters near their home, then warned Kaien to protect Ganju after learning Ganju had helped the Ryoka enter Seireitei.
• Uryū and Orihime fled through an alley near the Tachikawa and Kuchiki residences, but Uryū collapsed from his injuries as Orihime used Sōten Kisshun to heal him.
• Byakuya found Uryū and Orihime and drew his Zanpakuto, but Aozumi stopped him and told him she would help rescue Rukia.
• Aozumi thanked Uryū and Orihime for risking themselves for Rukia and took them into the Kuchiki residence with Kōga’s help, leaving Byakuya wondering whether he was truly heartless.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya defeated Sado and took him to the Fourth Division, while Aozumi persuaded Byakuya to reconsider Soul Society’s orders concerning Rukia and the Ryoka. As Uryū and Orihime recovered at the Kuchiki estate, a brilliant silver patch appeared on Uryū’s bloodied clothes, leaving everyone puzzled.

• Sado emerged from a secret passage in the Abandoned District and refused to surrender when Tōshirō Hitsugaya confronted him.
• Tōshirō defeated Sado despite his desperate attack and carried the unconscious man to the Fourth Division.
• Aozumi challenged Byakuya’s belief that he had to obey Soul Society’s rules, and Byakuya admitted that Rukia and the Ryoka did not deserve to be killed.
• Byakuya left for his division, agreeing to exchange a few blows with Ichigo Kurosaki while claiming he knew nothing about the matter.
• Orihime treated Uryū and helped him change, and Aozumi discovered a bright silver patch on his bloodied clothes that Uryū could not explain.

Jun investigated the damage caused by the Quincy and discovered a tiny Kōtotsu in the ruins, leading him to conclude that Soul Society had been created by a Quincy. He shared his theory with Isuzu and wondered what using Uryū’s power would cost him.

• Jun visited Jing, Lisa, and Nanao, warned them not to risk their lives against the Quincy, and then went to inspect the ruined pit with Tenjirō Kirinji and Ōetsu Nimaiya.
• After Kirinji and Nimaiya left, Jun noticed that Nimaiya had deliberately hidden something beneath the rubble and chose not to disturb it.
• Jun returned home and used Earth Spirit to retrieve a tiny object from the soil, then magnified it until he and Isuzu recognized it as Kōtotsu.
• Jun concluded that the Soul King and Yhwach were Quincy and that a Quincy had created Soul Society, and he speculated about an ancient war between gods and demons.
• Jun told Isuzu that his old story about Soul Society’s past might be true, then considered the cost Uryū might face after using his power.

Jun discovered that Uryū’s silver blood had formed after he erased Spiritual Power and could have killed him, though Orihime’s healing saved his life and left his power stronger. He then revealed that Rukia was not in mortal danger and explained that rescuing her required stopping the Sōkyoku Execution and defeating Byakuya.

• Jun arrived at the Kuchiki estate and joined Uryū, Orihime, Aozumi, and Kōga for tea, where the conversation turned to Uryū’s recent injury.
• Orihime and Aozumi noticed a silver patch on Uryū’s bloodstained clothes, and Jun recognized it as dangerous silver blood formed in a Quincy’s body.
• Jun learned that Uryū’s power had increased after Orihime healed him, and concluded that erasing Spiritual Power produced silver blood that could cause fatal organ failure if left untreated.
• Jun explained that silver blood had caused the deaths of many Mixed-Blood Quincy six years earlier, and Uryū thanked Orihime for saving his life.
• Orihime questioned Jun’s calmness about Rukia, and he admitted that her life was not in danger if someone stopped the Sōkyoku Execution and defeated Byakuya.

Jun Shimizu watched Aizen fake his death and pretended to grieve while concealing that he knew the truth. As Soul Society blamed the Ryoka and panic grew, Little Lion and Rangiku began investigating Aizen’s death.

• Jun left Isuzu and reached Aizen’s morgue, where he saw through Aizen’s illusion of a corpse and acted heartbroken in front of the others.
• Retsu Unohana sensed that Aizen’s body was missing but declared him dead, while Gin Ichimaru helped Jun leave before he broke character.
• At the captains’ meeting, Jun demanded that Soul Society find Aizen’s killer and argued that the Ryoka could not have defeated him; Central 46 then ordered the Ryoka killed on sight.
• Uryū Ishida and Orihime Inoue escaped after being caught, and Ichigo Kurosaki attacked the Confession Palace before Sajin Komamura drove him off.
• Little Lion and Rangiku visited the Fifth Division to investigate Aizen’s death, where they discussed Aizen’s popularity and bickered over Little Lion’s title.

Tōshirō investigated Aizen’s death with Rangiku, questioned Momo, and searched Aizen’s home without finding clues. Jun challenged Tōshirō to consider his resolve and goals, then warned that their interests could eventually make them enemies.

• Tōshirō asked Momo when Aizen arrived and how she found him, and she recounted discovering his body after preparing muffins.
• Tōshirō and Rangiku searched the Fifth Division and Aizen’s home but found no useful evidence.
• Tōshirō agreed with Rangiku’s suggestion to seek Jun’s advice about the investigation.
• Jun asked whether Tōshirō was prepared to investigate the conspiracy and warned him not to trust people without question, including Jun himself.
• Jun explained that Soul Society needed a pillar of belief and urged Tōshirō to pursue lasting change with perseverance and a clear goal.

Tōshirō and Rangiku grappled with Jun’s warning about the danger ahead, while Tōshirō investigated Aizen’s death and tried to understand Jun’s power. He correctly suspected that Aizen had been the Central 46, but dismissed the conclusion and decided to investigate the Central 46 instead.

• Tōshirō sent Rangiku to rest, telling her he trusted her and wanted her to rejoin him after she recovered.
• Rangiku returned to Jun and demanded to know whether Tōshirō’s life was in danger; Jun confirmed it and told her to ask the person closest to her for answers.
• Tōshirō asked Soi Fon for the Second Division’s investigation record on Aizen, and her reaction made him suspect Jun had influenced her.
• Tōshirō found no useful clues in the record and developed confused theories about Jun, Soi Fon, the Captain-Commander, and the Central 46.
• Tōshirō briefly deduced that Aizen had been the Central 46, dismissed the idea as impossible, and resolved to investigate the Central 46.