Chapter Summaries

Liu Ziyun followed Yoruichi Shihōin to her hidden base, healed Ichigo Kurosaki, and explained that he had been framed while saving Ichigo’s mother. He left Ichigo with Yoruichi to learn Bankai in three days, while Ichigo resolved to grow strong enough to help clear his teacher’s name.

• Liu Ziyun secretly followed Yoruichi Shihōin to her underground base and revealed that he had tracked her there.
• Liu Ziyun healed Ichigo Kurosaki with Life-Taker, and Ichigo recognized his teacher after waking.
• Yoruichi Shihōin told Ichigo that Liu Ziyun had been framed while saving Ichigo’s mother and Uryū Ishida’s mother.
• Liu Ziyun left to check on Uryū and Orihime, while Yoruichi explained that Ichigo had to rescue Rukia himself to draw out the person who framed Liu Ziyun.
• Yoruichi explained Bankai and said she would train Ichigo to achieve it in three days, and Ichigo agreed.

Liu Ziyun intervened in Uryū Ishida’s battle with Mayuri Kurotsuchi, secretly diverting Uryū’s lethal arrow and persuading Mayuri to keep his presence quiet. After bringing the wounded Uryū to safety, Liu explained that the conflict was part of a larger plan and urged him to recover before rescuing Rukia Kuchiki.

• Liu Ziyun watched Mayuri Kurotsuchi attack Uryū Ishida and Orihime Inoue, then saw Uryū break the Sanrei Glove and unleash his Quincy power.
• Uryū Ishida’s arrow nearly killed Mayuri Kurotsuchi, but Liu Ziyun secretly deflected it, and Mayuri agreed not to report Liu’s presence.
• Liu Ziyun obtained an antidote from Nemu Kurotsuchi and took the injured Uryū Ishida to the Underground Space, where Isane Kotetsu treated him.
• Uryū Ishida questioned why Liu Ziyun had not rescued Rukia Kuchiki, and Liu explained that the unfolding crisis would expose the mastermind and affect the Soul Society’s plans.
• Liu Ziyun told Uryū Ishida to recover before joining his companions to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, and Uryū resolved not to disappoint his teacher.

Liu Ziyun checked on the captured allies, then visited Ichigo Kurosaki’s training and advised him to control rather than rely on Zangetsu. He returned to Isane Kotetsu and Uryū Ishida, revealed that they would intervene on the day of Rukia’s execution, and promised Isane they would no longer have to hide once it was over.

• Liu Ziyun confirmed Orihime Inoue was safe in the 11th Division and Ganju Shiba and Yasutora Sado were being treated in the Fourth Division, then met Retsu Unohana.
• Liu Ziyun told Retsu Unohana that Uryū Ishida had nearly killed Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi and that he had threatened Mayuri into keeping their encounter secret from everyone but the Captain-Commander.
• Liu Ziyun spent the night with Retsu Unohana, then went to Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara’s Secret Base and asked Yoruichi to let Ichigo Kurosaki rest from training.
• Liu Ziyun told Ichigo Kurosaki to learn to control Zangetsu’s power instead of relying on it, and Ichigo agreed to consider the lesson.
• Liu Ziyun told Uryū Ishida they would join the effort to stop Rukia’s execution and asked Isane Kotetsu to watch over him until then.
• Liu Ziyun promised Isane Kotetsu that they would no longer have to hide after the rescue was over, and she agreed to wait for him.

Liu Ziyun arranged for Jūshirō Ukitake and Captain Kyōraku to destroy the Sōkyoku so the mastermind would emerge, then predicted that Rukia’s execution would be moved up to spur Ichigo Kurosaki’s training. Renji Abarai arrived with news that the execution was set for noon the next day, and Ichigo’s Reiatsu surged as he vowed to master Bankai before then.

• Liu Ziyun asked Jūshirō Ukitake to help Captain Kyōraku destroy the Sōkyoku, saying the mastermind would not appear otherwise.
• Liu Ziyun visited Retsu Unohana, then went to Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara’s Secret Base to check on Ichigo Kurosaki’s training.
• Liu Ziyun told Yoruichi Shihōin that Renji Abarai would bring news that Rukia’s execution had been moved up, and Yoruichi paused Ichigo’s training so he could rest.
• Renji Abarai arrived at the base and announced that Rukia’s execution was scheduled for noon the next day, then manifested Zabimaru to train for Bankai.
• After Liu Ziyun challenged Ichigo Kurosaki to give up, Ichigo’s Reiatsu surged and shattered his sword as he vowed to master Bankai that day.
• Yoruichi Shihōin agreed to prepare her family’s divine equipment for Ichigo, while Ichigo and Renji continued training for Bankai.

Liu Ziyun supervised Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki’s Bankai training, teaching Renji about the limits of his newly achieved Bankai and discussing their reasons for saving Rukia Kuchiki. Renji left to prepare for the rescue while Ichigo continued battling Zangetsu’s growing forces, convinced by instinct that he could attain Bankai.

• Liu Ziyun considered revealing Renji Abarai’s Bankai’s true name but decided Renji was not yet strong enough to control its power.
• After a morning of training, Liu Ziyun healed Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki in a Hot Spring, where Renji explained his bond with Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo reaffirmed his resolve to save her.
• Renji Abarai defeated Zabimaru’s manifestation and achieved Bankai, but Liu Ziyun warned that Baboon King Zabimaru was fragile and that Zabimaru did not fully recognize him.
• Yoruichi Shihōin told Renji Abarai that Ichigo Kurosaki’s instinctive belief in his own power could help him attain Bankai.
• Renji Abarai recovered, said goodbye to Ichigo Kurosaki, and left the Underground Space with Liu Ziyun.
• Zangetsu multiplied his materialized forms and surrounded Ichigo Kurosaki, who continued fighting and trusted that he had the power to achieve Bankai.

Liu Ziyun prepared his allies for Rukia’s execution, then watched Renji Abarai challenge Byakuya Kuchiki on the way to the Sōkyoku. After Byakuya defeated Renji, Liu healed him and sent Byakuya ahead to another fight while Renji recovered.

• Liu Ziyun assigned Isane Kotetsu, Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, and Ganju Shiba their roles for the next day and healed Sado and Ganju.
• Liu Ziyun asked Kenpachi Zaraki to help Orihime Inoue, then followed Renji Abarai toward the Sōkyoku the next morning.
• Renji Abarai fought Byakuya Kuchiki, revealed his Bankai, and was defeated after Byakuya released Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Byakuya Kuchiki acknowledged Renji’s resolve before leaving, and Liu Ziyun began treating Renji with Life-Taker.
• Liu Ziyun teased Byakuya about Renji and Rukia’s future child, then sent Byakuya ahead to the Sōkyoku and left Renji to follow after recovering.

Ichigo Kurosaki stopped the Kokuto, destroyed the execution platform, and rescued Rukia Kuchiki. With the Sōkyoku shattered, Renji Abarai fled with Rukia while Liu Ziyun stayed hidden.

• Liu Ziyun hid on Sōkyoku Hill and pulled the wounded Renji Abarai into the woods to keep him from acting too soon.
• Yamamoto-Genryūsai ordered the execution to begin, and the Kokuto transformed from the Sōkyoku spear and swooped toward Rukia Kuchiki.
• Ichigo Kurosaki appeared and blocked the Kokuto with Zangetsu, then Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku destroyed it with the Shihoin Family Crest shield.
• Ichigo Kurosaki smashed the execution platform and carried Rukia Kuchiki from the wreckage.
• Liu Ziyun kicked Renji Abarai out of hiding, and Ichigo Kurosaki threw Rukia Kuchiki to him and ordered him to escape with her.
• Renji Abarai caught Rukia Kuchiki and ran away with her.

As the battle at Sōkyoku Hill began, Liu Ziyun intervened to protect the injured and keep events moving while Ichigo Kurosaki fought Byakuya Kuchiki. Byakuya and Ichigo eventually stopped holding back and resumed their duel with genuine killing intent as Liu Ziyun and Yachiru Kusajishi watched.

• Soi Fon ordered the lieutenants to pursue Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki, but Ichigo Kurosaki blocked their way and defeated Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Chōjirō Sasakibe.
• Byakuya Kuchiki confronted Ichigo Kurosaki, and the two began fighting while Soi Fon attacked Jūshirō Ukitake’s subordinates.
• Liu Ziyun stopped Soi Fon from harming Kiyone Kotetsu and threatened to hurt Yoruichi Shihōin, who appeared and carried Soi Fon away.
• Liu Ziyun sent Retsu Unohana, Isane Kotetsu, and Kiyone Kotetsu away with the injured, then stayed at Sōkyoku to watch Ichigo and Byakuya fight.
• Liu Ziyun urged Byakuya to use Bankai, then ordered both fighters to stop holding back; Ichigo and Byakuya resumed their duel with full strength as Yachiru Kusajishi watched from Liu Ziyun’s shoulder.

Ichigo Kurosaki struggled against Byakuya Kuchiki until Liu Ziyun provoked his suppressed Hollow power into emerging. Ichigo’s first Hollowfication wounded Byakuya, and the two continued their fight as Liu Ziyun watched.

• Ichigo activated Tensa Zangetsu and fought Byakuya, who raised the battle’s intensity with Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Uryū Ishida, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and a Soul Reaper from the 11th Division arrived at Sōkyoku Hill and learned from Yachiru Kusajishi that Rukia Kuchiki had escaped.
• Orihime explained that Rukia was important to Ichigo because she had changed his world, while Liu Ziyun said Ichigo had to prove his resolve to Byakuya.
• When Ichigo weakened, Liu Ziyun wounded him with Byakurai and threatened his friends, driving Ichigo’s Reiatsu to surge.
• A half-white Hollow mask appeared on Ichigo, and he broke free and slashed Byakuya, leaving him with a deep wound.
• Liu Ziyun explained that Ichigo’s Hollow power had been suppressed and was necessary for his growth, then watched as Hollowfied Ichigo continued fighting Byakuya.

Liu Ziyun explained why Ichigo Kurosaki had to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, then hid with Byakuya Kuchiki to wait for her return. Sōsuke Aizen appeared with Rukia and a wounded Renji, while Isane Kotetsu revealed Aizen’s betrayal and the slaughter of Central 46.

• Ichigo Kurosaki tore off his Hollow mask, and Liu Ziyun ended his fight with Byakuya Kuchiki.
• Liu Ziyun told Ichigo Kurosaki that rescuing Rukia Kuchiki was necessary, then took Byakuya Kuchiki into hiding and said they would wait to save Rukia.
• Liu Ziyun and Yachiru Kusajishi watched Ichigo Kurosaki and the others leave Sōkyoku Hill, but two pillars of light soon brought Sōsuke Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, Kaname Tōsen, Rukia Kuchiki, and an unconscious Renji Abarai back.
• Liu Ziyun told Byakuya Kuchiki to wait until Aizen removed something from Rukia before they acted.
• Isane Kotetsu reported through Tenteikūra that Aizen had faked his death, Central 46 had been slaughtered, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori were gravely wounded.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ended his confrontation with Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, while Yoruichi took Soi Fon toward Sōkyoku.

After Aizen revealed his betrayal and took the Hōgyoku from Rukia, Liu Ziyun and the gathered Soul Reapers tried to stop him. Aizen escaped through a Garganta with Gin and Tōsen, declaring his intention to rule the heavens.

• Ichigo arrived to protect Renji and Rukia, but Aizen defeated him and used Complete Hypnosis to overpower Komamura.
• Liu Ziyun explained Kyouka Suigetsu to Byakuya, then intervened as Gin tried to kill Rukia after Aizen removed the Hōgyoku from her.
• Byakuya rescued Rukia while Liu Ziyun blocked Gin; Yoruichi, Soi Fon, and the gatekeepers joined the fight, but Aizen defeated the gatekeepers with Black Coffin.
• Rangiku and Hisagi restrained Gin and Tōsen as Yamamoto and the other captains surrounded Sōkyoku Hill.
• Negación descended and lifted Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen toward a Garganta, while Yamamoto stopped the others from attacking.
• Aizen removed his glasses and declared that he would rule the heavens.

After Aizen escaped to Hueco Mundo, Liu Ziyun helped treat the wounded and told Rukia Kuchiki the truth about her past and the survivors he had saved. At a captains’ meeting, the Soul Reapers planned to prepare for Aizen’s next move in Karakura Town and addressed reforms to Central 46 and the status of the Ryoka.

• Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen vanished through the Garganta, and Liu Ziyun turned to help Unohana organize treatment for the wounded.
• Liu Ziyun told Rukia Kuchiki that Byakuya had kept his distance to protect her, the Hōgyoku had been sealed inside her, and Kaien Shiba and Shiba Miyako were alive in the World of the Living.
• At a captains’ meeting, Liu Ziyun warned that Aizen might create the King’s Key in Karakura Town and proposed using Kisuke’s fake town while Soul Reapers kept watch.
• Yamamoto approved a team for Karakura Town, including Liu Ziyun and Isane Kotetsu, and Liu Ziyun declined Yamamoto’s offer to become a captain.
• Liu Ziyun urged Yamamoto to limit Central 46’s power and opposed treating Uryū Ishida as a threat while Aizen remained the priority.
• Yamamoto decided to make Ichigo Kurosaki a Substitute Soul Reaper and adjourned the meeting.

Liu Ziyun returned to the World of the Living to monitor Ichigo Kurosaki and prepare for Aizen’s plans. When Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo attacked Karakura Town, Liu Ziyun stopped them and urged Ichigo to seek help from the Visored.

• Liu Ziyun sent Ichigo Kurosaki and the others back to the World of the Living, then returned there himself and confirmed Kisuke Urahara’s Karakura Town replacement plan was ready.
• Liu Ziyun asked Shinji Hirako to contact Ichigo Kurosaki, then went back to his martial arts school.
• Liu Ziyun confronted Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo after they arrived in Karakura Town, and directed Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado to check for injured people.
• Liu Ziyun sent Ichigo Kurosaki to fight Yammy Llargo while he spoke with Ulquiorra about leaving Aizen.
• When Ichigo froze during the fight, Liu Ziyun caught Yammy’s blade and forced the Arrancar to retreat through a Garganta.
• Liu Ziyun told Ichigo to speak with the people who had contacted him, saying they could help him with his current situation.

Liu Ziyun explained that the Visored could help Ichigo control his Hollowfication, then brought him to their underground hideout and entrusted his training to Shinji Hirako. The group prepared to use the Arrancar as opponents to strengthen themselves against Aizen’s threat.

• Ichigo asked Liu Ziyun about the people they had encountered, and Liu explained that Aizen had used them as Hollowfication test subjects and that they sought strength to fight him.
• Liu told Ichigo that the Visored’s experience could help him control his Hollow, though Liu only understood the theory behind Ichigo’s complex powers.
• Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi Shihōin emerged from hiding, and Liu explained the Arrancar’s strength and warned that many Soul Reapers could struggle against them.
• Yoruichi agreed that they needed to grow stronger, and Liu proposed using the Arrancar to sharpen their abilities and push past their limits.
• Liu brought Ichigo to the Visored’s hideout, asked Shinji Hirako to explain Hollowfication and its dangers, and left Ichigo in his care.

Shinji Hirako explained that Hollows and Soul Reapers draw on the same power, and that Ichigo Kurosaki’s inner Hollow is part of his own soul. He told Ichigo to train until he could conquer and accept the Hollow, then called for someone to demonstrate the training.

• Shinji Hirako led Ichigo Kurosaki to a secluded Training Ground and explained Ziyun's theory that Hollow and Soul Reaper powers share the same source.
• Shinji explained that the Hollow within Ichigo was part of his own power, unlike the separate Hollow power injected into the Visoreds by Aizen.
• Shinji said an unknown power suppressed Ichigo's Soul Reaper abilities, causing some of that power to break free through the Hollow.
• Shinji advised Ichigo to conquer the Hollow without destroying it, then accept and coexist with it.
• Shinji told Ichigo to strengthen his Reiatsu and body, and asked the others to demonstrate the training.

While Ichigo Kurosaki trained with the Visored, Tōshirō Hitsugaya led Soul Society reinforcements to Karakura Town and met Liu Ziyun. The group settled into separate lodgings, and Tōshirō and Rangiku left Ichigo’s house without meeting the mysterious person Liu had mentioned.

• Ichigo Kurosaki began grueling Hollowfication training with Shinji Hirako and the Visored.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya led Rangiku Matsumoto, Renji Abarai, Rukia Kuchiki, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa through the Senkaimon to Karakura Town.
• Isane Kotetsu guided the group to Liu Ziyun’s dojo, where Liu assigned their lodgings and told Rukia that Ichigo was away training.
• Liu Ziyun told Tōshirō to visit Ichigo’s house with Rangiku and meet someone there, but refused to explain who it was.
• Tōshirō and Rangiku went to Ichigo’s house, found no one home, and left without meeting the person.

Liu Ziyun pushed Ikkaku Madarame to use Bankai by overwhelming him in combat, but Ikkaku refused and was knocked unconscious. Liu then attacked Yumichika Ayasegawa, who released Fuji Kujaku as the fight intensified.

• Liu Ziyun challenged Ikkaku Madarame during combat practice and repeatedly urged him to use Bankai.
• Ikkaku Madarame refused, insisting he would use Bankai only when truly necessary, so Liu Ziyun attacked him more fiercely.
• Liu Ziyun defeated Ikkaku Madarame and ordered Yumichika Ayasegawa to carry him back to his room after confirming he was alive.
• Liu Ziyun immediately challenged Yumichika Ayasegawa, forcing him to defend against a series of powerful attacks.
• Yumichika Ayasegawa's Reiatsu surged, and he released his Zanpakuto by calling, “Bloom, Fuji Kujaku!”

Liu Ziyun forced Yumichika Ayasegawa to confront his habit of hiding Ruri'iro Kujaku’s true ability, then pushed him to release it fully. Yumichika awakened his true Shikai, but Liu Ziyun still outmaneuvered him and ended with Life-Taker at his shoulder.

• Liu Ziyun revealed that Yumichika’s Zanpakuto was truly named Ruri'iro Kujaku and absorbed Reiatsu, while Yumichika admitted nothing.
• Liu Ziyun released Life-Taker, challenged Yumichika’s reliance on a half-released Shikai, and broke Fuji Kujaku with a precise strike.
• Yumichika reflected on his past battles, then picked up his broken blade and reached out to his Zanpakuto.
• Yumichika fully released Ruri'iro Kujaku, transforming it into multicolored vines that attacked Liu Ziyun from every direction.
• Liu Ziyun deflected the vines, questioned Yumichika’s confidence, and appeared behind him with Life-Taker resting on his shoulder.

Liu Ziyun defeated Yumichika Ayasegawa and urged him to stop hiding his Zanpakuto’s true ability, while Ikkaku Madarame recovered. He then brought Tōshirō Hitsugaya to Urahara’s underground training ground to help him grow stronger, where their training was about to begin.

• Yumichika Ayasegawa conceded defeat, and Liu Ziyun challenged him to stop suppressing his Zanpakuto’s power for fear of his comrades’ judgment.
• Liu Ziyun told Yumichika Ayasegawa to apologize to his Zanpakuto and asked him to tell Ikkaku Madarame to fight seriously next time.
• Isane Kotetsu treated Ikkaku Madarame’s injuries while Yumichika Ayasegawa stayed in his room to deepen his communication with his Zanpakuto.
• Liu Ziyun sought out Tōshirō Hitsugaya and offered to help him become stronger through training.
• Liu Ziyun and Tōshirō Hitsugaya went to Kisuke Urahara’s underground training ground, where Renji Abarai and Yasutora Sado were sparring.
• Liu Ziyun summoned Life-Taker and faced Tōshirō Hitsugaya in an open area of the training ground.

Liu Ziyun exposed Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s weaknesses in a spar by outmatching his swordsmanship and revealing a second Zanpakuto. After learning not to let assumptions leave him vulnerable, Tōshirō resumed the fight with a more cautious assault.

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Liu Ziyun fought with their unreleased Zanpakuto, but Liu Ziyun’s superior swordsmanship drove Tōshirō into a disadvantage.
• Tōshirō released Hyōrinmaru and bound Life-Taker with an ice chain, but Liu Ziyun summoned a second Zanpakuto and broke free.
• Liu Ziyun attacked with twin blades, and Tōshirō halted him with an ice dragon that shattered against Liu Ziyun’s crossed swords.
• Liu Ziyun explained that Tōshirō’s surprise at seeing two Zanpakuto had left him open, and Tōshirō thanked him for the lesson.
• Tōshirō resumed the fight with greater caution and sent ice dragons at Liu Ziyun from multiple directions.