Recaps

Black Ant examined Uryu Ishida, restored his Quincy powers, and learned that Quincy abilities were governed by a mysterious endpoint. After Uryu left to search for Inoue, Black Ant and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni were interrupted by news that Sosuke Aizen had been murdered.

• As Black Ant and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni headed for the First Division barracks, Black Ant studied Uryu Ishida’s Reishi and restored his powers and burned body.
• Uryu Ishida awoke, realized his spiritual power had returned, and asked Black Ant whether he had saved him.
• Black Ant said he had only treated Uryu out of curiosity and told him that Inoue had been taken away by the Bleach.
• Uryu thanked Black Ant and fled to look for Inoue, wary of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s Reiatsu.
• A Bleach messenger stopped Black Ant and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and reported that Sosuke Aizen, captain of the Fifth Division, had been murdered.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni brought Black Ant to investigate Aizen Sōsuke’s apparent murder, where Momo Hinamori accused Ichimaru Gin without evidence. Black Ant discovered that the body was a fake and concluded that Aizen had staged his death; Yamamoto asked what he had noticed.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni invited Black Ant to the scene of Aizen Sōsuke’s apparent death, and Black Ant agreed to watch.
• Yamamoto and Black Ant arrived to find Aizen’s body nailed to a tower while Momo Hinamori and Izuru Kira were restrained after fighting.
• Momo Hinamori accused Ichimaru Gin of murdering Aizen, but she could offer no proof, and the captains remained wary of Ichimaru Gin.
• Black Ant examined the body and detected no lingering Reiatsu or signs that it had ever held consciousness.
• Black Ant concluded that the corpse was fake and told Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni what he had discovered.

Black Ant revealed that Aizen Sōsuke’s corpse was fake, leading Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni to conclude that Aizen was alive and had betrayed the Gotei 13. Ichimaru Gin pointed the captains toward Aizen’s possible involvement in the Hollowfication incidents a century earlier, and Yamamoto ordered a full search for him.

• Black Ant examined the corpse and explained that Aizen’s Reiatsu coated its surface while its interior lacked the traces of a real death.
• Retsu Unohana agreed that the corpse was strange, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni declared that Aizen Sōsuke was not dead.
• Momo Hinamori rejoiced that Aizen was alive until Soi Fon told her that this meant he had betrayed the Gotei 13.
• Ichimaru Gin recalled Withered Flower and prompted Retsu Unohana to suspect that Aizen had conducted Hollowfication experiments there and caused the captains’ Hollowfication a century earlier.
• Ichimaru Gin said he had no proof, while revealing that Aizen had suggested transferring him out of the Fifth Division.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni ordered the captains to search for Aizen Sōsuke with all their strength.

Tokinada Tsunayashiro searched the Great Spirit Library for records of the Mysterious Hollow but found only blank books. Aizen concluded that the missing history and the vanished dark sphere might be connected, and left to reconsider his plans.

• Tokinada Tsunayashiro searched the Great Spirit Library and found that its books covering the century-old Mysterious Hollow incident were blank.
• Tokinada wondered whether he had brought the Mysterious Hollow to Soul Society or created it, and questioned his connection to it.
• Aizen arrived and confirmed that the Library held no information about the Mysterious Hollow.
• Aizen connected the lost records to the dark sphere that had hovered over the Seireitei and noted that the sphere had vanished too.
• Aizen decided his plans needed to change and left the Library while Tokinada remained lost in thought.

Aizen moved openly through Seireitei under Kyoka Suigetsu while the divisions searched for him after his staged death was exposed. He reunited with Ichimaru Gin, and the two left together, each seeming to have found a purpose.

• A highest-level alert announced that Aizen had betrayed the Gotei 13, shocking his admirers and the division captains.
• Aizen passed through the 3rd Division's area unnoticed as Kyoka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis concealed him from the searchers.
• Ichimaru Gin returned from Aizen's staged death scene and calmly drank tea in the 3rd Division barracks amid the search.
• Aizen arrived at the barracks and told Gin he had believed Gin's story about staying near him to stop his plans.
• Gin said he had stayed with Aizen without knowing his purpose, and Aizen replied that they might already have found it.
• Aizen stepped into the moonlight, and Gin followed him with his Zanpakuto at his abdomen.

After the search for Aizen failed, the Central 46 Chambers moved Rukia Kuchiki’s execution up to noon, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni asked about Black Ant. Yamamoto and Chōjirō Sasakibe set off for the Sōkyoku but took a road toward the forest, while Aizen and Kaname Tosen arrived at the First Division library.

• The Central 46 Chambers approved moving Rukia Kuchiki’s execution forward to noon that day.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni asked Chōjirō Sasakibe about Black Ant, who had been reading in quarters near the First Division library.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe told Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni that he had invited Black Ant to watch the Sōkyoku execution.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and Chōjirō Sasakibe left for the Sōkyoku but headed toward the forest behind the Seireitei’s mountain instead.
• Aizen and Kaname Tosen arrived at the entrance to the First Division library.

Aizen and Kaname Tosen entered the First Division Library to confront Black Ant, whom Aizen identified as a threat after he saw through Kyoka Suigetsu. Aizen left Tosen cautious but confident that his plans would continue.

• Black Ant studied records in the First Division Library and considered how understanding Reishi could reveal ways to overcome limits.
• Aizen examined Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's plaque and admitted he wished to avoid a direct confrontation with the Captain-Commander.
• Kaname Tosen sensed Black Ant's weak Reiatsu and wondered why Aizen had sent him to deal with someone who seemed so weak.
• Aizen explained that Black Ant had seen through Kyoka Suigetsu and warned Tosen not to underestimate him or let him reach the Sōkyoku.
• Tosen resolved to stop Black Ant if necessary, while Aizen dismissed the danger and entered the library with Tosen following.

Aizen confronted Black Ant in the First Division Library and sensed a destined rivalry between them. After ordering Kaname Tosen to restrain Black Ant, Aizen left as Tosen released his Zanpakuto and began activating Bankai.

• Aizen found Black Ant reading in the First Division Library while Kaname Tosen tried to assess his Reiatsu.
• Black Ant dismissed Aizen's schemes and said he had no interest in knowing him.
• Aizen told Black Ant that he felt they were destined enemies, and Black Ant replied, "Perhaps you once looked up at me."
• Aizen ordered Tosen to restrain Black Ant and warned that Black Ant would not die easily.
• Tosen released his Zanpakuto and began activating Bankai, and Aizen cautioned him not to die.

Kaname Tosen trapped Black Ant inside his Bankai, Enma Kōrogi, which stripped away every sense except touch, and prepared to kill him. Black Ant remained unfazed and turned to confront Tosen just as he was about to strike.

• Kaname Tosen challenged Black Ant and activated his Bankai, Enma Kōrogi, enclosing the First Division library in a dark barrier.
• Inside the barrier, Black Ant lost his sight, hearing, smell, and ability to sense Reiatsu, but analyzed the phenomenon and felt delighted by another Reishi entanglement reaction.
• Kaname Tosen took Black Ant's book, cut it apart, and explained to himself that his Bankai left its victims helpless in a Hell of Blindness.
• Kaname Tosen decided to disobey Aizen's orders and kill Black Ant before he could hinder their plans.
• As Kaname Tosen aimed his Zanpakuto at Black Ant's heart, Black Ant turned around with a smile and invited him to try killing him.

Kaname Tosen used Enma Kōrogi to blind and disorient Black Ant, then stabbed and slashed him repeatedly. Black Ant survived losing all his blood and criticized Tosen’s crude use of his Bankai as his blood began glowing blue.

• Kaname Tosen stabbed Black Ant through the heart, but Black Ant touched Suzumushi’s hilt and briefly nullified Enma Kōrogi.
• Kaname Tosen pulled away and restored Enma Kōrogi’s effects, then attacked Black Ant at high speed so he could not touch the sword again.
• Kaname Tosen slashed Black Ant more than fifteen times, including across the throat, and the wounds erupted as his blood poured out.
• Black Ant remained standing without blood and told Kaname Tosen that he had wasted Enma Kōrogi by using it only to enable sword attacks.
• Kaname Tosen wondered why Black Ant was still alive, and the blood on the ground began to shine blue.

Black Ant demonstrated that he could reset his body by drawing scattered blood back into place, but Kaname Tosen discovered that moving him out of position stopped the process. Black Ant then revealed a defense adapted to Kaname Tosen's Reiatsu, leaving Tosen unable to cut him as the battle continued inside Enma Kōrogi.

• Black Ant restored his wounds by resetting his blood cells, then explained that ordinary slashes could not harm him.
• Kaname Tosen deduced that Black Ant had to remain in his original position for the reset to work.
• Kaname Tosen blasted Black Ant out of position with Hadō #31: Crimson Fire Cannon, preventing the reset from restoring him.
• Black Ant regenerated his chest and formed a defensive structure tailored to Kaname Tosen's Reiatsu.
• Kaname Tosen's repeated slashes failed to cut Black Ant, and he reacted with shock while insisting that Black Ant still could not touch him inside Enma Kōrogi.

Black Ant revealed that Enma Kōrogi’s true power was to lower Reishi movement, exposing how Kaname Tosen had misunderstood and limited his Bankai. Black Ant restored Tosen’s sight, leaving him experiencing light and color for the first time as the Bankai vanished.

• Kaname Tosen believed Black Ant was still trapped by Enma Kōrogi, but Black Ant explained that he had used vibrations in the Reishi to understand Tosen’s words.
• Black Ant revealed that Enma Kōrogi’s essence was lowering Reishi movement and that Tosen had only used it to weaken his opponents’ senses.
• Kaname Tosen backed against a wall, horrified as Black Ant approached and challenged his understanding of his Bankai.
• Black Ant touched Kaname Tosen’s brow, causing his eyes to regenerate and his sight to return as Enma Kōrogi disappeared.
• Kaname Tosen looked at colors, sunlight, and his own hands for the first time while Black Ant walked away.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered Rukia Kuchiki’s execution to begin early and promised she could die believing Ichigo and the other intruders would return safely. The Sōkyoku was released, and as its fiery bird rushed toward Rukia, Jushiro Ukitake and Ichigo Kurosaki raced toward the execution platform.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto arrived at Sōkyoku without Chōjirō Sasakibe and ordered Genshirō Okikiba to begin the execution.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked Rukia Kuchiki for her final words, and she asked him to let Ichigo and the other intruders return safely.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto promised the intruders would be allowed to return after the execution, while Retsu Unohana told Isane Kotetsu that the promise let Rukia face death in peace.
• The executioners released the Sōkyoku, which transformed into a fiery bird and flew toward Rukia Kuchiki.
• Jushiro Ukitake and Ichigo Kurosaki rushed toward the execution platform through the distant sky.

Jushiro Ukitake and Yoruichi Shihōin destroyed the Sōkyoku and helped Ichigo Kurosaki rescue Rukia Kuchiki, while the captains questioned Ukitake’s actions. As Byakuya Kuchiki prepared to fight Ichigo, Ichimaru Gin suddenly attacked, striking down Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sajin Komamura.

• The Sōkyoku was released, and Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū formed above Rukia Kuchiki as Ichigo Kurosaki appeared before it.
• Jushiro Ukitake and Yoruichi Shihōin used the Shihoin Clan’s Heavenly Armament to destroy Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, and Soi Fon pursued Yoruichi as she fled.
• Ukitake defended his decision to stop the execution, while Ichigo destroyed the execution frame and rescued Rukia.
• Byakuya Kuchiki approached Ichigo to defend the Kuchiki Clan’s honor, and Ichigo faced him after handing Rukia to his companions.
• Ichimaru Gin released Shinsō and pierced Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sajin Komamura, while Jushiro Ukitake dodged the attack.

Ichimaru Gin revealed his ruthlessness by grievously wounding Toshiro Hitsugaya and Sajin Komamura, shattering the captains’ belief that he had endured hardship to stop Aizen. Retsu Unohana evacuated the injured on Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto’s order, leaving Gin behind.

• Toshiro Hitsugaya cursed Ichimaru Gin after Gin pierced his heart, then used Hyorinmaru to seal his wound.
• Sajin Komamura attacked Gin with Tenken, but Gin broke the strike and sent its force back into Komamura, revealing his wolf-headed appearance as his helmet broke.
• Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu prepared to intervene, but Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered Unohana to take the wounded for treatment.
• Retsu Unohana had Minazuki swallow the badly injured Sajin Komamura, while Isane helped Toshiro Hitsugaya aboard.
• Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu flew away with the injured, and Unohana warned Isane that staying might get her hurt.

Aizen revealed that he had disguised himself as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and explained that the other captains had been removed or occupied. As Aizen walked toward Rukia Kuchiki, Ichimaru Gin blocked Jushiro Ukitake’s attack.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni ordered Genshirō Okikiba to evacuate the troops from the execution platform and told Jushiro Ukitake to stand down.
• Jushiro Ukitake released Sōgyo no Kotowari and challenged Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni after noticing his behavior was abnormal.
• Jushiro Ukitake accused Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni of being an impostor, and Ichimaru Gin identified the disguised figure as Aizen.
• Aizen revealed himself and said the outcome was already decided, noting that the real Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni was away and the other potential opponents were absent or occupied.
• Jushiro Ukitake attacked Aizen, but Ichimaru Gin intercepted him and said Captain Aizen believed Ukitake would not use his full strength there.
• Aizen passed Jushiro Ukitake and continued toward Rukia Kuchiki.

Aizen revealed that Kyoka Suigetsu had kept the Seireitei under Complete Hypnosis and declared that the Aizen Sōsuke everyone knew had never existed. As Aizen approached Rukia, Jushiro Ukitake warned that she was his target, while battles continued around them.

• Uryu Ishida explained that he, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado had always seen Aizen’s real appearance, while Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai had mistaken him for Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
• Aizen revealed that Kyoka Suigetsu controlled all five senses and that anyone who had witnessed its release had been hypnotized.
• Renji Abarai stepped in front of Rukia and challenged Aizen, who said the Aizen Renji had known had never existed.
• Jushiro Ukitake shouted that Rukia was Aizen’s target, but Ichimaru Gin wounded him with Shinsō while he was distracted.
• Ichigo Kurosaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, and others continued fighting as Bankai and Bakudō were invoked.

Aizen overwhelmed Ichigo Kurosaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Renji Abarai while revealing that he sought the Mysterious Hollow information and Kisuke Urahara's Hogyoku hidden inside Rukia. After gravely wounding Ichigo, Aizen faced Byakuya's renewed Senbonzakura attack.

• Byakuya Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki used their Bankai against Aizen, but Aizen's Dankū blocked both attacks.
• Renji Abarai attacked Aizen with Zabimaru, but Aizen crushed the blade with his Reiatsu and severely wounded him.
• Aizen told Renji Abarai that he wanted the Mysterious Hollow information and the Hogyoku inside Rukia, not Rukia herself.
• Ichigo Kurosaki charged Aizen, but Aizen caught Tensa Zangetsu between two fingers and said Ichigo was still not good enough.
• Aizen slashed Ichigo Kurosaki across the chest, and Byakuya Kuchiki surrounded Aizen with Senbonzakura blades.

Aizen cut down Ichigo Kurosaki and defeated Byakuya Kuchiki as he advanced toward Rukia, while Kaname Tosen restrained her companions. The chapter ended with Kaname admitting he had failed after Aizen spotted Black Ant examining the Sōkyoku spear.

• Aizen struck Ichigo Kurosaki down, but Ichigo's Hollow power did not emerge.
• Aizen effortlessly deflected Byakuya Kuchiki's attacks and told him that the truth about Ginrei Kuchiki's death lay within Rukia Kuchiki.
• Aizen used Kyoka Suigetsu to grievously wound Byakuya and continued toward Rukia.
• Kaname Tosen appeared behind Uryu Ishida, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado and immobilized them with his Reiatsu.
• Kaname told Aizen that he had failed, and Aizen saw Black Ant examining the Sōkyoku spear near the execution platform.

Black Ant let Aizen proceed as long as no one died, while Aizen subdued the group and extracted the Hogyoku from Rukia Kuchiki. Aizen then crushed the orb’s barrier to investigate the past that had vanished a hundred years earlier.

• Black Ant told Aizen he would not interfere as long as Aizen spared everyone’s lives, and Aizen asked whether he could sever their limbs instead.
• Aizen and Kaname Tosen attacked the group; Tosen knocked Uryu Ishida, Renji Abarai, and Yasutora Sado unconscious and stopped Orihime Inoue from fighting back.
• Kaname Tosen threw Rukia Kuchiki to Aizen, who said he wanted both to explore the lost past and pursue power.
• Aizen used his transformed arm to reach into Rukia Kuchiki’s chest and remove the Hogyoku, while her wound healed.
• Aizen crushed the Hogyoku’s outer barrier and prepared to see what happened during the century that had vanished.

Aizen recovered his memories of He-El by absorbing the Hogyoku and realized how much time he had wasted preparing to face him. Black Ant rejected Aizen’s attempt to entice him with his past and advanced with the Sōkyoku Spear, leaving Aizen warning Gin and Kaname to flee.

• Aizen crushed the barrier around the Hogyoku and regained his memories of He-El.
• Aizen swallowed Kisuke Urahara’s Hogyoku, hoping to complete the power he needed before Black Ant could stop him.
• Aizen tried to tempt Black Ant with details of his former name and past, but Black Ant said he did not consider his current name lowly.
• Black Ant advanced on Aizen with the Sōkyoku Spear, using his command over Reishi and flames while holding back his true abilities.
• Aizen recognized the danger and told Gin and Kaname Tosen to flee.

Black Ant wielded the Sōkyoku Spear’s true power and crushed Ichimaru Gin with a single attack, forcing Aizen to abandon the execution platform. The platform broke apart, and Aizen began evacuating Kaname Tosen and the wounded Gin through yellow barriers.

• Aizen told Ichimaru Gin that they needed to flee because Black Ant’s power was beyond what they could handle.
• Jushiro Ukitake realized Black Ant had gained the Radiant Ruin King’s willing control as Black Ant drew out the Sōkyoku Spear’s power.
• Black Ant tapped the ground toward Ichimaru Gin, unleashing a pillar of fire that blasted Gin across the Seireitei and pinned him against the Soul Veil, gravely wounded.
• The attack’s shockwave struck Jushiro Ukitake and split the execution platform, sending a third of its floating island crashing down.
• Aizen told Kaname Tosen to leave first, and yellow barriers descended toward Tosen and the wounded Ichimaru Gin.

Aizen stayed behind to face Black Ant while Negación carried Kaname Tosen and Ichimaru Gin away. He tried to awaken Ichigo Kurosaki’s Hollow instincts as a shield, and the chapter ended with Ichigo thrown toward Black Ant as a Hollow mask spread across his face.

• Black Ant approached as Negación began carrying Kaname Tosen and Ichimaru Gin away, and Aizen told Kaname Tosen that he could not escape the attack that way.
• Aizen challenged Black Ant with the promise of a new escape technique, while Black Ant advanced with the Radiant Ruin King's power burning around him.
• Aizen lifted the weakened Ichigo Kurosaki with his Zanpakuto and urged him to awaken and fight using his Hollow instincts.
• Black Ant said Kyoka Suigetsu could no longer fool him because he tracked Aizen through space rather than his senses.
• Aizen threw Ichigo Kurosaki toward Black Ant, and a Hollow mask began spreading across Ichigo's face.

Black Ant defeated Hollowfied Ichigo Kurosaki and pursued Aizen, whose body was badly damaged but whose Hogyoku had begun accepting his will. As Black Ant prepared to attack Aizen again, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni erupted from the First Division’s rear mountain and attacked him.

• Hollowfied Ichigo Kurosaki attacked Black Ant, but Black Ant broke through his frantic techniques and shattered his Hollow mask with the Radiant Ruin King.
• Black Ant used spatial perception to find Aizen fleeing toward the First Division barracks and pursued him on the Radiant Ruin King.
• The Radiant Ruin King struck Aizen and burned away half his body, exposing the two Hogyoku as they merged.
• Aizen regenerated and realized the Hogyoku had begun accepting his will, then noticed someone approaching.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released Ryujin Jakka in Shikai and attacked Black Ant.

Black Ant agreed to Aizen’s three-year deadline to gather powerful opponents, then struck him with a precisely controlled Byakurai that nearly destroyed his body. Aizen’s Hogyoku began rebuilding him, and he killed the white-uniformed people who confronted him before leaving the unfamiliar space and declaring that he was waiting for someone at the White House.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni attacked Black Ant, but the Radiant Ruin King blocked Ryujin Jakka and charged to fight him.
• Aizen retreated from Black Ant and proposed that he would bring the strongest people in the Three Realms to fight him in three years.
• Black Ant accepted the deadline and fired Byakurai at Aizen, decomposing most of his body while sparing his consciousness and the Hogyoku.
• Aizen’s Hogyoku began reconstructing his body as the white-uniformed people in the unfamiliar space argued over who would claim him as a toy.
• Aizen released Kyoka Suigetsu and killed the people in white uniforms, then left the space after saying he was waiting for someone at the White House.