Recaps

In Junrinan, Sixth Division Captain Soi Fon repeatedly tried to recruit the ramen shop owner Araki, while her subordinates waited outside to bring her back. Araki unexpectedly accepted her invitation after his mission system issued him a task to go to the Seireitei.

• Two Sixth Division Third Seat Officers argued outside Araki’s ramen shop over who should enter and fetch their captain for a meeting.
• Soi Fon teased and argued with Araki, then ordered tonkotsu ramen and paid his inflated price despite complaining about it.
• Araki served Soi Fon a bowl of clear-broth noodles, and she ate while inviting him to join the Gotei 13 again.
• Araki agreed to go to the Seireitei after his exclusive mission system issued him a mission, leaving Soi Fon stunned.

Araki agreed to go to the Seireitei in three days, while Saito Furofushi assumed he would join her Sixth Division as its vice-captain. After Saito returned to the Seireitei, Araki closed his ramen shop and prepared to leave Rukongai for his own reasons.

• Saito Furofushi asked Araki to go to the Seireitei with her, and he said he would leave in three days after settling his affairs in Rukongai.
• Saito invited Araki to the Sixth Division and hinted that she had a surprise for him, while Araki concealed that he had not agreed to join her division.
• Saito left the ramen shop, kicked two Sixth Division members who had been arguing outside, and ordered them to return with her.
• A Sixth Division member warned Saito that Jūjizai was angry about her frequent trips to Rukongai, but Saito dismissed the warning and said Araki might become their vice-captain.
• After Saito and her subordinates vanished with Shunpo, Araki closed his shop and quietly opened his System Panel.

Araki raised his Spiritual Might to second class after spending a billion experience points, then learned that his Fullbring, Ever-Blooming Flower, could link his life to someone who loved him. Its power would grow according to the Spiritual Pressure of the first person he bound himself to, so he decided to marry Unohana Retsu.

• Araki collected experience from his completed daily tasks and spent a billion points to raise his Spiritual Might from third class to second class.
• Araki recalled arriving in Soul Society, training under the Genji School's head instructor, and receiving the Genryu menkyo kaiden that unlocked his system panel.
• Araki examined Ever-Blooming Flower and learned that it could keep him and a person who loved him alive as long as either still had Spiritual Pressure.
• Araki discovered that the first person bound to Ever-Blooming Flower would determine the strength of its Reishi Manipulation ability.
• Araki decided to marry Unohana Retsu so his Fullbring would gain power from her Spiritual Pressure.

After centuries of waiting and training, Araki prepared to learn the Bankai of his Zanpakuto, Yakushi Rurikō, before challenging Unohana Yachiru. He left his century-old ramen shop behind and headed into the later districts of Rukongai to train in seclusion.

• Araki reflected on waiting for Unohana Yachiru to reach her full strength while he accumulated experience and grew stronger over the centuries.
• Araki summoned his Zanpakuto, Yakushi Rurikō, and resolved to learn its Bankai before confronting Unohana.
• Araki decided to find a secluded, spacious place in the later districts of Rukongai for Bankai training.
• Araki told his regular customers that his ramen shop would never reopen, gave one of them the key, and left.

Yamamoto learned that Araki planned to come to the Seireitei and looked forward to his return, while Unohana Yachiru yearned for a worthy opponent. In Ryugan, Araki began Bankai training by ambushing his Zanpakuto spirit and demanding its true name.

• A 1st Division member reported that Araki had told Saito Furofushi he would come to the Seireitei soon, and Yamamoto welcomed the news while pretending he did not need Araki’s help.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe recalled that Yamamoto had secretly arranged for Saito to send Araki money by giving her an extra salary.
• Saito drunkenly told her Sixth Division members that Araki would become their lieutenant, while a hidden 1st Division member recorded her words.
• Unohana Yachiru defeated the 11th Division members who attacked her together and lamented that she could not find a worthy opponent.
• Araki entered his inner world to train Bankai, impaled his Zanpakuto spirit Ruriko with his awakened fruit ability, and demanded its true name.

After two days of destructive training left Ryugan Forest in ruins, a Gotei 13 Soul Reaper investigated and learned from a boy that a man wielding a Zanpakuto had caused the devastation. The Soul Reaper hurried toward Seireitei after realizing the man might not be a Gotei 13 member, while Araki stood outside the city and then vanished.

• A Gotei 13 Soul Reaper arrived at the ruined Ryugan Forest and struggled to explain its destruction to his superiors.
• The Soul Reaper caught a young boy watching him and questioned him about what had happened to the forest.
• The boy said he had seen a man in white, glowing with Lapis Lazuli light, destroy the forest with a Zanpakuto.
• The Soul Reaper initially suspected the man had successfully trained his Bankai, then grew alarmed when the boy said the man wore white clothes rather than Shinigami Robes.
• The Soul Reaper gave the boy money and rushed toward Seireitei, hoping he was not too late.
• Outside Seireitei, Araki remarked on the fine weather and vanished.

Araki entered the 11th Division barracks to challenge Unohana Yachiru and prove his swordsmanship. After he killed the members who attacked him, Unohana emerged and welcomed him as an opponent worthy of battle.

• Unohana sensed Araki outside the barracks and recognized his strength.
• Araki entered openly and announced that he had come to test his blade against Unohana Yachiru.
• The 11th Division members surrounded Araki, drew their Zanpakuto, and attacked him.
• Araki stood unharmed as the attackers' blades shattered and blood-red wounds appeared on their chests, leaving them dead in the courtyard.
• Unohana came out of the dojo, saw Araki among the fallen members, and said she had finally found an opponent worth fighting.

Araki confronted Unohana Yachiru at the 11th Division barracks after defeating its guards, then revealed that he had obtained Genryū menkyo kaiden from Yamamoto. Unohana drew her Zanpakuto, and their battle began, leaving the 11th Division members overwhelmed by their Spiritual Pressure.

• The 11th Division Seated Officers surrounded Araki and demanded to know how he had defeated their guards, but Araki dismissed them and challenged Unohana Yachiru.
• Araki introduced himself as Genryū: Menkyo Kaiden, and Unohana recognized him as the troublesome disciple Yamamoto had mentioned.
• The 11th Division members reacted with shock when they learned Araki had obtained menkyo kaiden from Yamamoto.
• Unohana drew her Zanpakuto and prepared to fight Araki, while the surrounding division members were trapped between their killing intents.
• A drop of water broke the silence, Araki and Unohana unleashed their Spiritual Pressure, and Araki's black lightning knocked the 11th Division members down as their blades clashed.

Araki fought Unohana Yachiru through the Seireitei, drawing the First Generation Gotei 13 captains to watch. Saito Furofushi discovered that the mysterious fighter was Araki, the man she had been waiting to appoint as her vice-captain.

• Araki and Unohana Yachiru battled from the 11th Division barracks through the streets, damaging the Seireitei as Araki waited for more spectators to gather.
• Saito Furofushi sensed the clash from her office and grew furious when its tremors shattered her teacup.
• Saito Furofushi punished two Sixth Division Seated Officers for barging into her office, then left to confront the fighters.
• Saito Furofushi joined the gathered captains, including Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Shihoin Sennichi, Obana Danjirō, and Shijima Tomokiri.
• Saito Furofushi saw Araki fighting Unohana Yachiru and exclaimed in disbelief that he was the opponent she had been waiting for.

Saito Furofushi discovered that Araki was fighting Unohana Yachiru and learned from Chōjirō Sasakibe that Araki was Yamamoto’s disciple, returning to the Gotei 13. She realized Araki was expected to defeat Unohana and become the 11th Division captain, not join her Sixth Division.

• Saito tried to rush over to Araki and Unohana, but Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni stopped her and ordered her to watch the fight.
• Shihoin Sennichi told Saito that Chōjirō Sasakibe might know what was happening, so Saito went to question him.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe explained that Araki was Yamamoto’s disciple, had earned menkyo kaiden at the Genji School, and had decided to return to the Gotei 13.
• Sasakibe said Araki was challenging Unohana to claim the Kenpachi title and prove Genryu’s strength, and expected him to become captain of the 11th Division.
• Saito realized Araki would not become her Sixth Division vice-captain and lamented that she had been there first.

Araki and Unohana Yachiru fought across the ruined battlefield as the Gotei 13 members watched, unable to intervene. After a brief pause, Unohana coated her blade in blood and both fighters unleashed their Spiritual Pressure, preparing for the real battle.

• The Gotei 13 members watched Araki and Unohana Yachiru fight but stayed back because their power made it impossible to approach.
• Araki used his strength to knock Unohana away, and she landed on the ruins more than ten meters from him.
• Araki noticed Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the other captains watching from the rooftops, then turned his attention back to Unohana.
• Unohana said the warm-up was over and cut her palm, coating her Zanpakuto’s blade with blood.
• Araki dropped his playful act and released his Spiritual Pressure as Unohana’s power surged, while Yamamoto watched their movements with a sharp gleam in his eyes.

Yamamoto ordered the Gotei 13 captains to evacuate their division members while he remained to watch Araki and Unohana Yachiru fight. With the area cleared, Araki and Unohana unleashed their Bankai, filling the Seireitei with overwhelming Spiritual Pressure.

• Yamamoto ordered the Gotei 13 captains to take their division members back to their barracks and leave the battle to him.
• Shihoin Sennichi persuaded Saito Furofushi to leave, while the captains dispersed and Yamamoto and Chōjirō Sasakibe watched the fight.
• Obana Danjirō found his 5th Division members, explained Yamamoto's orders, and shielded them from the battle's Spiritual Pressure.
• Araki and Unohana Yachiru raised their Zanpakuto after the divisions began withdrawing and declared Bankai.
• Araki released Yakushi Rurikō Sekai as Unohana released Minazuki, and seven-colored Ruriko light and a Sea of Blood spread to clash across the Seireitei.

As Araki and Unohana Yachiru’s Bankai flooded the Seireitei with Crimson Light and a Sea of Blood, the Gotei 13 withdrew to their divisions. Back in the Sixth Division barracks, Saito Furofushi vented her frustration and secretly hoped Araki would defeat Unohana Yachiru.

• Obana Danjirō shielded the 5th Division members from Araki and Unohana Yachiru’s Bankai, then ordered them back to their division.
• Obana Danjirō left the battle site, and the Crimson Light and Sea of Blood engulfed the ground he had protected.
• The leaders of the other divisions followed Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s orders and returned to their barracks with their members.
• Saito Furofushi returned to the Sixth Division barracks in a rage, snapped at her members’ questions, and shut herself in her Captain’s Office.
• The Sixth Division members joked outside Saito Furofushi’s office until she heard them and ordered them to swing their swords ten thousand times.
• After her members left, Saito Furofushi admitted to herself that they had helped her vent, then wished for Araki to beat Unohana Yachiru.

Araki and Unohana Yachiru resumed their Bankai duel after Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni contained their destructive powers within a ring of fire. Araki overwhelmed Unohana with a devastating slash, then they continued fighting, while Yamamoto left an opening in the flames so others could witness his disciple’s strength.

• Araki and Unohana Yachiru’s Bankai began covering the battlefield, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released Ryujin Jakka to contain their powers within a two-li-wide sea of fire.
• Yamamoto told Araki and Unohana to continue their duel inside the fire, then sat nearby to watch.
• Araki gathered his power and split Unohana’s Sea of Blood and prepared technique with a single slash, also cutting a gap through Yamamoto’s wall of flames.
• Araki placed his blade against Unohana’s neck and reminded her to focus on their fight, reigniting her fighting spirit.
• Araki and Unohana exchanged wounds as the Sea of Blood and Crimson Light healed them, and they continued their battle with wild laughter.
• Yamamoto left the gap in the fire wall open so onlookers could witness Araki’s strength and fear him.

Araki defeated Unohana by revealing that Ruriko assimilated her Spiritual Pressure and stamina, then restored her strength instead of letting her die. Unohana vowed to grow strong enough to kill Araki, and he caught her as she fell, beginning their bond as two swordsmen who would fight for each other.

• Unohana realized Araki's Ruriko had assimilated her Spiritual Pressure and stamina, leaving her unable to continue fighting.
• Unohana accepted her defeat and asked Araki to cut her down, and he stabbed her before restoring her vitality.
• Araki told Unohana she could not die while he lived and challenged her to defeat and kill him herself.
• Unohana declared her love for Araki and vowed that he would die only beneath her blade.
• Unohana donned her blood-red robe as Araki manifested his Jade Guanyin, and he caught her when she fell.

After defeating Unohana, Araki became the new Kenpachi and captain of the 11th Division, while Genryūsai privately celebrated his victory. Araki took Unohana to the division barracks, laid down his rules, and opened his system to check his gains as the division members reacted to his unusual arrival.

• Genryūsai formally named Araki the new Kenpachi and captain of the 11th Division after Araki defeated Unohana.
• Araki teased Genryūsai, then carried the unconscious Unohana away while Genryūsai admitted his relief and pride to himself.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe congratulated Genryūsai on Araki’s victory, and Genryūsai ordered him back to the 1st Division Barracks.
• Araki told the 11th Division members to obey his orders, train until they could no longer move, and leave him undisturbed in the Captain’s Office.
• Araki set Unohana down in the office and opened his system to check his gains, while the division members erupted into an uproar over his arrival.

After defeating Unohana, Araki awakened his Fullbring and bound it to her, raising his Reishi Manipulation to level ten. With Unohana unconscious, he awaited someone to test his new abilities, and Saito Furofushi arrived at his office.

• The 11th Division members accepted Araki as their captain and resumed training after discussing his victory over Unohana and his connection to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Araki awakened Ever-Blooming Flower and chose Unohana Yachiru as its first bound character, despite Saito Furofushi also meeting the favorability requirement.
• Binding Unohana raised Araki's Reishi Manipulation from level one to level ten, and he realized it would strengthen his control over reishi and make Kidō easier.
• Araki decided to postpone leveling up Kidō and looked for someone to test his new abilities while Unohana remained unconscious.
• Saito Furofushi arrived outside Araki's office demanding to speak with him, and Araki welcomed the prospect of using her as a test subject.

Araki waited for Saito Furofushi to arrive as experimental material, while the 11th Division members blocked her from entering his office to protect Unohana and their division’s honor. When Araki opened the door, he found Saito trying to advance with the battered members clinging to her legs, and asked what they were doing.

• Araki decided to welcome Saito Furofushi, who had come to the 11th Division after hearing the news.
• The 11th Division members refused to let Saito enter Araki’s office, fearing she would discover what Araki and the unconscious Unohana were doing inside.
• Saito warned the members to move aside and released her Spiritual Pressure, prompting them to fight to keep her away from the office.
• Araki opened the door to find Saito struggling forward as battered 11th Division members clung to her legs, then shut and reopened it to confirm the scene was unchanged.
• Araki asked Saito and the members what they were doing.

Saito Furofushi visited Araki to make sure he was unharmed, and Araki brought her to the 11th Division dojo to ask her to attack him. The chapter ended with Saito drawing her Zanpakuto and preparing to strike.

• Saito Furofushi admitted she had come to check on Araki, then tried to leave after seeing he was safe.
• Araki stopped Saito and said he needed her help, then carried her to the 11th Division Swordsmanship Dojo.
• The battered 11th Division members watched them leave and complained that Araki was popular with female captains.
• At the dojo, Araki told Saito to draw her Zanpakuto and slash him head-on.
• Saito shook off her confusion, drew her blade, and let her killing intent emerge.

Araki bound Saito Furofushi to his Fullbring before their fight, then discovered that injuries he healed were felt as pain by everyone connected to him. Saito’s attacks wounded Araki but also hurt her, and Araki continued testing how his Fullbring’s healing worked.

• Saito Furofushi challenged Araki to establish her standing in the family, and Araki bound her to his Fullbring.
• Saito slashed at Araki, but the strike shifted from his neck to his shoulder; Araki healed the wound, and Saito felt the same pain despite being unharmed.
• Araki explained that his Fullbring’s Shared Sensation made bound people feel pain when he healed, while his Zanpakuto could block that sensation.
• Saito attacked Araki’s foot, felt pain in her own sole, and watched his wound heal as Araki urged her to continue.
• Araki realized his Fullbring healed actively in ordinary situations and activated passively only when an injury threatened life or death.

Araki tested his Fullbring and Zanpakuto against Saito Furofushi, who left the 11th Division Barracks frustrated and determined to become stronger than Unohana. The division members accepted Araki as their true captain, while Unohana awakened and Araki turned to more pressing concerns.

• Araki stabbed and twisted his own thigh to test his Fullbring, making Saito Furofushi feel the pain, and Saito mistakenly injured her own foot after guessing how the ability worked.
• Saito asked Araki to let her cut him without the ability, but his body turned to mist; when she struck again, Araki activated the ability and made her feel pain.
• Saito limped out of the 11th Division Barracks, while its members praised Araki and recognized him as their captain.
• Saito noticed Araki had healed her foot and resolved to become stronger than Unohana so she could stand by Araki's side.
• Unohana awakened, and Araki had something more important to attend to.

After waking, Unohana chose the name Unohana Retsu and agreed to remain in the 11th Division as Araki’s vice-captain so they could grow stronger and fight again. Half a month later, Old Man Yama summoned Araki.

• Araki suggested the name Retsu, and Unohana accepted it as her new name.
• Unohana recognized that Araki had grown too strong for her to defeat and agreed to postpone their duel.
• Araki persuaded Unohana to stay in the 11th Division, where he appointed her vice-captain.
• Over the next half month, Unohana handled the division while Araki completed his daily tasks and spent time with her.
• Old Man Yama summoned Araki.

After receiving a Tier 2 EXP Pack for becoming an 11th Division captain, Araki improved his Shunpo and Kido while reflecting on the limits of ordinary experience gains. He and Unohana Retsu headed to a mandatory Captain’s Meeting, where Araki feared a thousand-year-old enemy was about to invade Soul Society.

• Araki learned that his captaincy reward was a Tier 2 EXP Pack worth one billion experience points and considered how becoming Captain-Commander might earn him a Tier 1 pack.
• Araki spent his accumulated experience raising Shunpo, Hado, Bakudo, and Kaido to LV5.
• Araki found Unohana Retsu directing sword training at the 11th Division dojo and used his Zanpakuto to remove the sweat from her body.
• Araki told Unohana Retsu that Soul Society’s recent peace made him uneasy, then led her toward the 1st Division barracks for Yamamoto’s mandatory Captain’s Meeting.
• Unohana Retsu followed Araki, gripping her Zanpakuto and silently resolving to stay by his side.

Newly appointed 11th Division Captain Araki attended his first Gotei 13 captain’s meeting with Unohana Retsu, joking about Yamamoto and provoking Saito Furofushi before the meeting began. Yamamoto assigned Araki his place among the captains, where Araki immediately regretted being seated between two strange-looking men.

• A 1st Division member escorted Araki and Unohana Retsu to the conference room after the two arrived last.
• Araki joked about Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the captains’ appearances as he entered the meeting.
• Saito Furofushi confronted Araki over his staring at Katori Bakuunsai, and Unohana slapped away Saito’s attempt to grab him.
• Yamamoto ended the argument, permitted Unohana to attend, and ordered the captains to take their places.
• Unohana guided Araki to his assigned spot between the 13th Division captain and the Ninth Division captain, prompting Araki to wish he could change seats.

At the First Generation Gotei 13 Captain's Meeting, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni publicly presented Araki as his favored successor, leaving the other captains wary and unconvinced. After the meeting, Araki set succession aside and warned Yamamoto that the Quincy were becoming restless, prompting Yamamoto to vow to kill them.

• Araki daydreamed during Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's opening remarks and privately judged the odd-numbered division captains' appearances.
• Yamamoto called on Araki to introduce himself as the new captain of the 11th Division, and Araki said Unohana Retsu still managed the division's affairs.
• Yamamoto praised Araki and asked whether anyone had questions, leading the captains to realize he had convened the meeting to present Araki as his successor.
• The captains stayed silent under Yamamoto's pressure, and Yamamoto adjourned the meeting while Saito Furofushi remained confused about what had happened.
• After Shihoin Sennichi and Katori Bakuunsai dragged Saito away, Araki told Yamamoto that the Quincy were growing restless under their Emperor.
• Yamamoto reacted with killing intent and declared that the Quincy should be killed until they behaved, while Araki remained confident in his strength.