Chapter Summaries

Hu learned that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had intercepted the Ryoka’s communications and helped prevent him from reaching them, while Kenpachi drove Mayuri away from the Senzaikyū. At dawn, Aizen was found impaled on a tower, Hinamori accused Gin and nearly sparked a fight between the divisions, and Ichigo decided to storm the Senzaikyū to rescue Rukia.

• Fon Shaoling told Hu to intercept Mayuri Kurotsuchi instead of trying to find Ichigo and the others, and Hu rushed toward the Senzaikyū.
• Ichigo and Ishida arranged to meet near the Senzaikyū, but Mayuri overheard them and led the Twelfth Division there to capture the Ryoka.
• Kenpachi confronted Mayuri inside the Senzaikyū and forced him to withdraw, while Hu learned that Marechiyo Ōmaeda had already disabled the Ryoka’s Denreishinki.
• Hinamori discovered Aizen impaled on a tower, and Kira reported his death as Gin arrived and Hinamori accused him of murder.
• Hinamori attacked Gin, Kira intervened, and Tōshirō stopped the ensuing confrontation between the Third and Fifth Division members.
• After hearing that Aizen was dead and losing contact with Uryū and Hu, Ichigo set out for the Senzaikyū to take Rukia back to the World of the Living.

After Sōsuke Aizen was reported dead and Ichigo and the other Ryoka lost contact with Hu, Hu rescued Uryū and Orihime from Mayuri Kurotsuchi and defeated his Bankai. He reunited with the injured Ichigo at the Senzaikyū, and Yoruichi led them toward a safe house.

• Ōmaeda learned that Sōsuke Aizen had been found dead and sent Hu to reconnect with the Ryoka while he went to investigate.
• Hu followed Ichigo's Reiatsu to the Senzaikyū, where Ichigo fought Kenpachi Zaraki, then sensed Uryū and Orihime battling Mayuri Kurotsuchi nearby.
• Hu intervened to protect Uryū and Orihime, but Mayuri released his Bankai and poisoned Hu during their fight.
• Uryū and Orihime provoked Mayuri into authorizing Hu to use Bankai, and Hu's Heaven's Punishment Jiku'a drove back the poison and destroyed Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo.
• Hu carried Uryū and Orihime to the Senzaikyū, where Orihime healed the badly wounded Ichigo, and Yoruichi arrived to lead them to safety.
• Mayuri picked up his broken Zanpakuto and screamed in despair.

Ichigo learned that Sōsuke Aizen had engineered Rukia’s execution to obtain something hidden inside her, but he rushed to face Byakuya before Yoruichi could finish explaining the plan. Yoruichi and Hu stopped the fight and took Ichigo and Uryū away, with Yoruichi promising to make Ichigo stronger within three days.

• Ichigo woke in Yoruichi’s hideout and tried to find Chad, but Yoruichi stopped him and said Chad was alive and receiving treatment.
• Ichigo explained that his Denreishinki had broken and that he had heard a captain opposing Rukia’s execution had died; Yoruichi revealed that Aizen had faked his death and wanted to extract something from Rukia.
• Ichigo and Uryū rushed to the Senzaikyū after sensing Byakuya’s Reiatsu, where they found Ganju injured and Ukitake confronting Byakuya.
• Ichigo and Uryū attacked Byakuya, but Yoruichi restrained Senbonzakura before its release while Hu held his Phantom Blade to Byakuya’s neck.
• Hu challenged Byakuya over his blame for Rukia’s execution, and Yoruichi declared that Hu acted under her orders as head of the Shihoin family.
• Yoruichi drugged and carried off Ichigo, while Hu incapacitated Uryū and followed; Yoruichi promised Byakuya a temporary truce and three days to make Ichigo stronger.

Cilian convinced Captain-Commander Yamamoto to investigate doubts about Aizen’s death, and Unohana’s autopsy revealed that the supposed corpse was a high-precision Reishi Gigai. Yamamoto realized Aizen had deceived him and demanded that Cilian explain everything the Second Division had uncovered.

• Yamamoto questioned Cilian about the Second Division’s suspiciously passive conduct during the Ryoka invasion, and Cilian described his investigation into Aizen and other irregularities.
• Cilian asked Yamamoto to question whether Aizen was truly dead, and Yamamoto agreed to inspect the body with him.
• At the morgue, Cilian warned Yamamoto that Tōsen’s Suzumushi was “not pure” and used a dark-gold sphere intended to break illusions, but it revealed nothing.
• Unohana reexamined Aizen’s body and found no tissue remnants where the Saketsu and Hakusui should have been, concluding that it was a high-precision Reishi Gigai.
• Yamamoto recognized that Aizen had deceived him and ordered Cilian to report everything the Second Division had discovered, including speculation.

Cilian explained his evidence that Aizen had conducted Hollowfication experiments and used Kyōka Suigetsu to hypnotize Soul Society, while Yamamoto prepared to draw him out at Rukia’s execution. At Yoruichi’s base, Ichigo learned the execution would still happen and committed to training to save Rukia, while Yoruichi kept her secret pact with Gin hidden.

• Cilian and Unohana laid out evidence against Aizen, and Cilian identified Yexing Hu and Ichigo Kurosaki as likely immune to Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Yamamoto took Cilian’s last Still Water and planned to stop the execution at the last moment to force Aizen to appear, while Unohana prepared the Fourth Division for casualties.
• At Yoruichi’s base, Ichigo questioned Byakuya’s cold behavior toward Rukia and insisted on training to become stronger than him.
• In a flashback, Gin asked Yoruichi for the safe method of extracting the Hōgyoku from Rukia, and she told him it was hidden in the Tsunayashiro Clan’s great library.
• Back in the present, Yoruichi said the execution would happen despite Ōmaeda’s efforts, and Ichigo agreed to begin training so he could save Rukia.

Aizen left the Tsunayashiro Clan's great library with Gin and revealed that he planned to execute Rukia the next day, leaving Gin worried about the rushed operation. Later, a forged letter led Hinamori to attack Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and the chapter ended with Hitsugaya and Gin fighting.

• Aizen told Gin that he had already found the information he wanted in the library and planned to stay at the Pure Tower Residence Grove.
• Aizen casually told Gin that he intended to execute Rukia the next day, and Gin hurried back toward the Third Division, alarmed by the sudden change.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya confronted Gin and Kira, accusing Gin of sneaking away with Kira, before Hinamori arrived and pointed Tobiume at Hitsugaya.
• Hinamori read a letter claiming Hitsugaya planned to destroy Soul Society with the Sōkyoku, and she attacked him while Hitsugaya insisted the letter was false.
• Hitsugaya charged at Gin, but Hinamori stepped between them and was struck unconscious; Gin taunted Hitsugaya, who then drew his Zanpakuto and attacked him.

Gin and Tōshirō fought until Gin used Momo Hinamori to force Tōshirō to hesitate, but Rangiku stopped his attack and made him lower Shinsō. Gin revealed that Aizen had taken part of Rangiku’s soul and promised to make him pay before leaving with Kira, while Rangiku and Tōshirō decided to investigate what was happening in Seireitei.

• Gin and Tōshirō exchanged sword strikes until Tōshirō released Hyōrinmaru and attacked Gin with ice dragons.
• Gin threatened Tōshirō with Shinsō’s extended blade, which was aimed along a path that would hit the unconscious Momo Hinamori.
• Rangiku intercepted Shinsō with her Zanpakuto and persuaded Gin to put down his sword.
• Gin told Rangiku that Aizen had taken a fragment of the Soul King from her and that he had filled the resulting wound with part of his own soul.
• Gin asked Rangiku to tell Hu that he would fulfill his promise the next day, then left with Kira.
• Rangiku asked Tōshirō to help uncover what was happening in Seireitei, and he agreed to investigate with her.

With Rukia's execution moved to that afternoon, Ichigo continued his Bankai training while the Stealth Force began helping the Ryoka and investigating the conspiracy. The chapter left Ichigo preparing to meet the deadline as allies across the Seireitei mobilized to stop the execution and capture Sōsuke Aizen.

• Yoruichi prepared to use the Tenshintai as Ichigo trained, and Ichigo began fighting Zangetsu in the real world.
• Tōshirō and Rangiku heard that Rukia's execution would take place nineteen hours later and set out to stop it.
• Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Fon Shaoling agreed to help the Ryoka interrupt the execution, with Yamamoto ordering the captains to attend and capture Sōsuke Aizen.
• Renji arrived at the training ground and revealed that Rukia's execution had been moved to that afternoon, while he was also close to achieving Bankai.
• Ichigo refused to give up and his Reiatsu began rising as Hu reported that the Stealth Force would clear the way to Sōkyoku Hill.
• Stealth Force members freed Sado, Ganju, and Hanatarō, offered Kenpachi a chance to fight, and gave Tōshirō and Rangiku records about Central 46 and Rangiku's falsified soul examination.

Kenpachi Zaraki and his companions set out for Sōkyoku Hill while the Stealth Force helped Yasutora Sado, Hanatarō, and Ganju Shiba escape the underground prison. Renji Abarai challenged Byakuya Kuchiki to reach Rukia, but after Byakuya defeated his Bankai, Renji collapsed, still alive, as Byakuya left his broken Zabimaru beside him.

• Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa followed a Stealth Force operative toward Sōkyoku Hill.
• Yasutora Sado, Hanatarō, and Ganju Shiba accepted the operative's help and escaped the underground prison in a smoke bomb.
• Renji Abarai fought through Sixth Division members and reached the Fourth Depth Prison, where Byakuya Kuchiki confronted him.
• Renji blocked Byakuya's Senka, released Zabimaru, and revealed his Bankai, Baboon King Zabimaru.
• Byakuya disrupted Renji's control of Bankai, bound him with Rikujōkōrō, and overwhelmed him with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Renji charged Byakuya with his broken sword and collapsed; Byakuya left Zabimaru's hilt beside him while Renji continued breathing.

Gin Ichimaru visited Rukia in the Fourth Depth Prison and provoked her into wanting to live and save her friends. Meanwhile, Kenpachi confronted Tōsen, and Komamura discovered the Stealth Force member’s mission to help the Ryoka, leaving him torn between his orders and what he had learned.

• Rukia sensed Renji’s Reiatsu fading, and Gin told her Renji and the other Ryoka might die before offering to help her escape.
• Gin withdrew his offer, but his words reignited Rukia’s determination to live and protect her friends.
• Kenpachi, Ikkaku, and Yumichika confronted Tōsen after he appeared on their route, and Kenpachi stopped him from attacking a Stealth Force member.
• Kenpachi stayed to fight Tōsen while Ikkaku led the Stealth Force member onward toward Sōkyoku Hill.
• Komamura found Chad, Ganju, and Hanatarō with a Stealth Force member and read orders directing them to help the Ryoka rescue Rukia.
• Ganju used red smoke to free the member from Komamura, while Chad held off Iba; Komamura then drew his sword toward the member as he questioned the Second Division’s mission.

Rukia Kuchiki faced execution at Sōkyoku Hill as the captains gathered, while Byakuya Kuchiki arrived after defeating Renji and struggled with a suppressed memory. Captain-Commander Yamamoto unleashed the Sōkyoku, which transformed into a giant flaming bird and surged toward Rukia.

• Rukia Kuchiki was chained to the Sōkyoku Scaffold, while Fon Shaoling and Marechiyo Ōmaeda discussed the missing captains and prepared Hu to intervene if Ichigo Kurosaki failed to arrive.
• Byakuya Kuchiki left the defeated Renji behind with his Silver-White Kaze no Hana and struggled as a memory of a woman named Hisana resurfaced before being forcibly suppressed again.
• Hu encountered Byakuya on the way to Sōkyoku Hill, but declined to fight him and told him he looked awful.
• Byakuya joined the captains and avoided looking at Rukia, who asked Captain-Commander Yamamoto to spare Ichigo Kurosaki and the other Ryoka after her execution.
• Captain-Commander Yamamoto promised that the Ryoka would return safely, then ordered the Sōkyoku unleashed.
• The Sōkyoku transformed into a giant bird of crimson flame and surged toward Rukia.

Ichigo Kurosaki saved Rukia from the Sōkyoku execution with help from Ukitake and Kyōraku, then faced the captains so Renji could take her away. As Ichigo confronted the pursuers, Hu intercepted Sōsuke Aizen at the execution-ground entrance.

• Captain-Commander Yamamoto explained the Shellbreaker King's origins as a monster from another world and described how he and Ōetsu Nimaiya had forged the Sōkyoku to contain it.
• Hu experienced a memory of a horned warrior fighting demons and sensed that the Shellbreaker King carried the warrior's aura.
• Ichigo blocked the Shellbreaker King's attack on Rukia, and Ukitake and Kyōraku destroyed its projection while Ichigo broke the scaffold and freed her.
• Ichigo put Rukia in Renji's arms and stayed behind to face the captains, while Renji fled with her and Ōmaeda obstructed the pursuit.
• Hu challenged Sōsuke Aizen with a thrown Summoned Sword as Aizen and Gin Ichimaru approached the execution platform.

Hu confronted Aizen at Sōkyoku Hill, but Gin held him back while Aizen continued onward; Ichigo and Byakuya fought over Rukia as Yamamoto set a plan in motion to draw Aizen out. Yoruichi carried Fon Shaoling away, and Unohana treated the injured before heading to Central 46 with Isane to confirm something.

• Hu declared Aizen under arrest, but Gin intercepted him and battled him while Aizen walked up the stairs.
• Ichigo blocked Byakuya’s attack and challenged him over his refusal to save Rukia; the two clashed again.
• Yamamoto confronted Ukitake and Kyōraku, then sent Fon Shaoling to follow Renji while he tried to draw Aizen out.
• Kiyone and Sentarō tried to stop Fon Shaoling, but Yoruichi seized her and carried her into the forest.
• Unohana used Minazuki to bring the unconscious Lieutenants and Isane to the Fourth Division barracks, then dispatched medical teams to ongoing battles.
• Unohana ordered Isane to accompany her to Central 46 to confirm something.

Ganju, Chad, Uryū, and Orihime fought Sajin Komamura and Tetsuzaemon Iba near the Seventh Division, enduring Tenken through teamwork and Orihime’s healing. As Komamura insisted Rukia Kuchiki’s execution was certain, the Shellbreaker King’s flaming bird collapsed over Sōkyoku Hill, showing that Ichigo had changed the battle.

• Ganju used Chili Bombs to incapacitate Komamura, while Chad blocked Iba from reaching his captain.
• Komamura recovered, unleashed Tenken, and repeatedly attacked Ganju until Chad took a strike meant for him.
• Orihime shielded Chad long enough for him to rescue Ganju, while Uryū pinned Iba with Reishi arrows.
• Komamura attacked Uryū, but Chad and the others joined the fight, protecting Orihime and wearing Komamura down through a battle of attrition.
• Komamura told the Ryoka that Rukia Kuchiki’s death was certain because the execution had begun, but Chad and Uryū refused to give up on Ichigo.
• The Shellbreaker King’s giant bird of flame collapsed after its Core Spell was cut apart, and Uryū told Komamura that the destruction proved what he meant.

Komamura received a secret order identifying Sōsuke Aizen as the mastermind behind the rebellion and halting Rukia’s execution, while Yoruichi and Fon Shaoling prepared for the final confrontation at Sōkyoku Hill. Elsewhere, Yoruichi reconciled with Fon Shaoling and the Onmitsukidō, and Yamamoto surprised Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Nanao Ise by sitting down instead of attacking them.

• Komamura read a number one secret order from Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, Soi Fon, and Retsu Unohana naming Sōsuke Aizen as the traitor and ordering the Gotei 13 to stop the execution and capture him.
• Komamura ordered Tetsuzaemon Iba to receive treatment from the Fourth Division after accepting the order.
• Yoruichi told Fon Shaoling that Aizen would need Sōkyoku Hill to extract the Hōgyoku, and the two agreed that it would be the final battlefield.
• Yoruichi acknowledged Fon Shaoling’s growth and promised to apologize to the Second Division, prompting Sakiro and the Onmitsukidō to emerge and share their own complaints.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai caught up with Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Nanao Ise, then sat down and said he needed to rest.

Cilian confronted Aizen on Sōkyoku Hill, using Thousand Mechanisms to resist Kyōka Suigetsu and unleash his Bankai. He wounded Aizen with two devastating slashes before collapsing, leaving Aizen to hurry toward Sōkyoku as their allies sensed Cilian’s fading Reiatsu and moved to respond.

• Cilian met Aizen on the platform and used his anti-illusion armament to prevent Aizen from controlling his senses with Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Cilian and Aizen fought with swords and the weapons of Thousand Mechanisms, and Cilian pierced Aizen’s throat before Aizen regenerated with an Injection Potion.
• Cilian released Bankai: Thousand Mechanisms: Formless and used Parting from Form to force Aizen to cut off his left arm, then struck him with Emptiness through several Dankū barriers.
• Cilian exhausted his strength before he could deliver a third slash, and Aizen recognized that the lingering wound was severing his connection to the world.
• Aizen headed for Sōkyoku to extract the Hōgyoku while Byakuya remembered Hisana, Yoruichi and Fon Shaoling sensed Cilian’s fading Reiatsu, and the Captain-Commander broke free of Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Hu sensed Cilian’s Reiatsu plummet, shouted his name, and rushed up the steps, leaving Gin behind.

Hu and Gin fought fiercely on the stairs of Sōkyoku Hill, with Gin revealing his Bankai and pushing Hu to unleash his own. Hu defeated Gin, then rushed toward the middle platform when Cilian’s Reiatsu suddenly plummeted, while Gin remained behind and rejoiced that Rangiku could be saved.

• Hu confronted Gin about hiding the bracelet Rangiku had given him and questioned his plan to leave with Aizen.
• Gin released Kamishini no Yari and used its extreme speed and shifting blade length to injure Hu and expose the limits of his Shikai.
• Hu unleashed Heaven's Punishment Jiku'a, whose demonic phantom fought alongside him and overwhelmed Gin with coordinated attacks.
• Hu asked Gin whether he wanted to continue, but sensed Cilian’s Reiatsu collapsing and flew toward the middle platform.
• Gin stayed among the rubble, laughed that Rangiku could be saved, and acknowledged how much Hu had grown.

Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Byakuya Kuchiki on Sōkyoku Hill, and Byakuya asked him to save Rukia. As Yexing Hu rushed to confront Aizen, Unohana revealed that Central 46 had been dead for a month and that Aizen had attacked Hitsugaya, prompting Yamamoto to order an operation to apprehend him.

• Byakuya Kuchiki admitted defeat and pleaded with Ichigo Kurosaki to save Rukia, and Ichigo promised he would.
• Yexing Hu left the wounded Cilian in Fon Shaoling’s care and raced toward Sōkyoku Hill to confront Aizen.
• Yexing Hu reached the summit and charged at Aizen as Ichigo prepared to find Rukia.
• Retsu Unohana revealed that Central 46 had been dead for at least a month and identified Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen as conspirators.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai ordered the captains to pursue Aizen, and he allowed Uryū Ishida to join the operation.

Hu fought Aizen on Sōkyoku Hill as Aizen tried to extract the Hōgyoku, revealing his true Bankai and enduring Aizen’s attacks. After rejecting Aizen’s attempt to use their shared history against him, Hu awakened Sparda’s sealed horn within the Sōkyoku Spear and transformed into a new demonic form wielding the Blade of Power, ready to face Aizen.

• Aizen used a device built from Urahara’s research to remove the dark red flame from his chest, then prepared to extract the Hōgyoku from the Sōkyoku.
• Hu and Ichigo attacked Aizen, and Ichigo exposed the crushed syringe Aizen had used to inject himself with drugs.
• Hu explained that his shrinking demonic shadow reflected his still-growing body, then unveiled his true Bankai, Heaven’s Punishment Jiku’a: Heavenly Demon Armor.
• Hu shifted between Jiku’a and Beowulf forms to battle Aizen, breaking through his Kidō and destroying a Black Coffin and Dankū.
• Aizen tried to shake Hu’s resolve by claiming that his schemes had brought Hu together with Cilian, Soi Fon, and the others, but Hu refused to thank him for causing chaos.
• Hu touched the Sōkyoku Spear, awakened Sparda’s sealed horn, and reforged it with the weapon’s Reishi into the Blade of Power, transforming into a new demonic form before challenging Aizen.

Hu battled Aizen with the Blade of Power, but Aizen used Kaname Tōsen’s Enma Kōrogi to ambush him and seize Rukia and Renji, forcing Hu to surrender the Hōgyoku in exchange for their lives. The captains gathered to confront Aizen, but a Garganta opened above Sōkyoku Hill and Gillian arrived as Yamamoto ordered the final battle to begin.

• Hu overpowered Aizen’s defenses, but Aizen’s controlled Renji and Rukia charged into the fight while Kaname Tōsen trapped Hu and Ichigo in Enma Kōrogi and stabbed Hu.
• When the darkness lifted, Hu severed Tōsen’s right arm, but Aizen held Rukia and threatened Renji, then demanded the Hōgyoku in exchange for them.
• Hu accepted the bargain, and Aizen extracted the Hōgyoku from Rukia before Yoruichi and Fon Shaoling rescued her and Renji with help from Byakuya.
• Yamamoto and the captains surrounded Aizen and Gin, while Ichigo carried the wounded Rukia and Renji away for treatment.
• A Garganta opened overhead and Gillian emerged; Yamamoto crushed the Still Water Cilian had given him and ordered everyone to attack Aizen, his accomplices, and the Menos Grande.