Recaps

Araki warned Yamamoto about the Quincy, but Yamamoto threw him and Unohana Retsu out of the 1st Division Barracks after growing tired of his advice. Months later, Chōjirō Sasakibe came to the 11th Division seeking Araki and found Unohana still treated as captain by her division members.

• Araki urged Yamamoto to deal cautiously with the Quincy and kill their leader if the opportunity arose, so Yamamoto threw Araki and Unohana Retsu out of the 1st Division Barracks.
• Araki returned to the 11th Division Barracks, shut himself away in his office, and left Unohana to manage the division.
• Several months later, Chōjirō Sasakibe arrived at the 11th Division Barracks and asked the guards to report his visit to Captain Araki.
• The guards said Unohana managed the division and were unsure where Araki was, puzzling Sasakibe.
• Unohana corrected the guards on how to address her in front of visitors, then told Sasakibe that Araki was waiting for him in the Captain's Office.

Unohana Retsu escorted Chōjirō Sasakibe to the 11th Division Captain’s Office, where he met Araki. Sasakibe mistook Araki’s bloodshot eyes for evidence of his tireless efforts with Unohana and told him to learn restraint.

• Unohana Retsu politely led Chōjirō Sasakibe through the 11th Division while he nervously reflected on how frightening she seemed.
• Unohana Retsu left Sasakibe to meet Araki alone after he suggested she join their discussion.
• Sasakibe entered the Captain’s Office and saw Araki’s bloodshot eyes.
• Sasakibe urged Araki to learn restraint and not ruin his gifted body, while Araki wondered what he meant.

Chōjirō Sasakibe came to Araki seeking training so he could grow stronger and remain worthy of serving Genryūsai, and Araki led him to a prepared sparring ground. Araki used his future sight to anticipate Sasakibe’s visit, then began their training by challenging him to force Araki to draw his Zanpakuto.

• Sasakibe worried that Araki was wasting his talent, but Araki denied it and teased him for coming to the 11th Division seeking a beating.
• Sasakibe explained that Genryūsai had begun training every day after taking Araki’s advice to heart, inspiring Sasakibe to ask Araki for help getting stronger.
• Araki agreed to train Sasakibe and led him to a clearing prepared by Unohana Retsu, revealing that his advanced Observation Haki had let him foresee Sasakibe’s arrival.
• Araki told Sasakibe to attack and warned that he would be beaten if his progress disappointed him.
• Sasakibe released Suzumebachi and appeared in front of Araki, who caught its blade and kicked Sasakibe to the ground without drawing his own Zanpakuto.

Chōjirō Sasakibe challenged Araki outside the 11th Division dojo and unleashed his Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, to prove his strength and loyalty to Genryūsai. Sasakibe ran his sword through Araki, but Araki survived by turning part of his chest to mist and slapped him down.

• 11th Division members watched as Araki knocked Sasakibe down without drawing his Zanpakuto, then Sasakibe rose and recalled how Araki had surpassed him since their days at the Genji School.
• Sasakibe explained that he had refused to become a Genji School instructor so he could remain close to Genryūsai as his shadow, then activated Bankai and summoned a storm of golden lightning.
• The 11th Division members crowded at the windows until their human ladder toppled and broke the dojo wall, leaving them with a clear view of the battle.
• Sasakibe gathered the lightning into his rapier and charged Araki, piercing through his body and believing he had killed him.
• Araki slapped Sasakibe away, pulled the sword from his chest, and explained that he had used Reishi Manipulation to turn the pierced area into mist.

After defeating Chōjirō Sasakibe in a Bankai spar, Araki advised him to exploit his Zanpakuto’s speed and train his core Soul Reaper skills. Araki left Sasakibe in the hands of Unohana Retsu as his instructor, and Sasakibe faced training with the former Kenpachi.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni sensed Chōjirō Sasakibe and Araki’s Spiritual Pressure and hoped Sasakibe would learn from their encounter.
• Araki disarmed Sasakibe, returned his Zanpakuto, and told him to use its speed for surprise attacks rather than fighting head-on.
• Araki urged Sasakibe to train his four foundational skills, and Sasakibe asked him to become his instructor.
• Araki said he had found Sasakibe a better teacher, then left him with Unohana Retsu, who revealed she would train his Zankensoki.
• Sasakibe saw Unohana’s bloodthirsty aura and regretted coming to the 11th Division for training.

Chōjirō Sasakibe completed two and a half months of special training with Unohana Retsu, improving despite repeatedly being defeated. As he prepared to return to the 1st Division, he saw Araki emerge from his office to welcome Katori Bakuunsai and wondered whether their old friendship had faded.

• Unohana Retsu defeated Sasakibe again, then pinned him to the barracks wall with hidden blades when he rose to continue fighting.
• Unohana used her Shikai to treat Sasakibe's wounds, while Araki gave up watching the training and took a nap.
• After two and a half months, Sasakibe thanked Unohana for teaching him and said he would return for more guidance when the 1st Division was less busy.
• Sasakibe left the 11th Division and saw Araki escorting and welcoming Katori Bakuunsai, captain of the 8th Division.
• Sasakibe realized Araki had come out to greet Katori, unlike when Sasakibe himself had arrived for training.

Araki dealt with Katori Bakuunsai’s request to borrow his supposedly regenerative “treasure” by redirecting her to Sasakibe, then went after Saito Furofushi for spreading the rumor. Sasakibe escaped Katori’s attack and returned to the 1st Division, where the near-death experience seemed to loosen his Shunpo bottleneck.

• Araki ignored Sasakibe, restrained him with Bakudō #99, and took Katori Bakuunsai to his office.
• Katori asked to borrow Araki’s “treasure” for research, explaining that Saito Furofushi had told her it could regenerate like a lizard’s tail.
• Araki used ROOM to transport himself and Katori to Sasakibe, then offered Sasakibe’s treasure in his place.
• Araki left for the 6th Division Barracks to confront Saito Furofushi while Katori raised her naginata against Sasakibe.
• Sasakibe fled to the 1st Division Barracks and realized his Shunpo seemed to have improved after escaping Katori.

Araki confronted Saito Furofushi for spreading a rumor about his regeneration, and months of visits ended with Saito secretly enjoying their encounters. When Araki’s advanced Observation Haki foresaw an attack, he alerted the Gotei 13 as the Quincy invasion began.

• Araki barged into the 6th Division Barracks and grabbed Saito by her twin ponytails, demanding that she explain the rumor to Katori Bakuunsai.
• Saito later clarified the rumor to Katori and gave him ten lewd novels to make peace, after which Katori apologized to Araki and Chōjirō Sasakibe.
• Over the following months, Araki continued visiting Saito, who privately enjoyed the attention while Araki grew increasingly exhausted.
• Araki’s advanced Observation Haki showed him a future vision, so he used Tenteikūra to send a warning to the Gotei 13.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Chōjirō Sasakibe, Saito Furofushi, and the other captains prepared for battle as the Sternritter entered the Soul Society and the Quincy war began.

Yhwach led the Quincy assault on the Seireitei, while Yamamoto ordered the Gotei 13 into battle. At Shūwamon, overwhelmed Soul Reapers retreated as Officer Sugiki stayed behind to cover them.

• Yhwach ordered his Quincy forces to attack the Seireitei’s Four Gates and told a young subordinate to carry out his mission.
• Soul Reaper reports confirmed that Quincy were attacking all four gates, and Yamamoto led the Gotei 13 out to fight.
• Quincy arrows overwhelmed the defenders at Shūwamon, where a boastful Sternritter slaughtered Soul Reapers as they tried to withdraw.
• After the Sternritter shot Officer Sugiki in the leg, Sugiki released Hidanmaru and turned back to hold off the Quincy.
• A Seated Officer led the surviving Soul Reapers away, leaving Sugiki to face the enemy alone.

Araki rescued Sugiki Sōichirō, then used ROOM to defeat the Quincy at Shūwamon and gathered their hearts into a throne. He offered the surviving Quincy a choice between dying in battle or trading their companions’ heads for the hearts, with Yhwach’s head securing the return of them all.

• Araki arrived in time to deflect the arrow aimed at Sugiki and used Ruriko to heal him and restore his lost leg.
• Araki severed the Sternritter member’s legs with ROOM, ordered Sugiki to retreat to the 11th Division, and asked the Quincy where Yhwach was.
• The Sternritter member refused to answer, so Araki killed him and used ROOM to cut every Quincy on the Shūwamon battlefield in half.
• Araki revealed the Quincy hearts he had collected and killed one Quincy by crushing that man’s heart.
• Araki sat on the Throne of Hearts and offered the Quincy a choice: attack and die, or trade five companions’ heads for one heart, with Yhwach’s head returning all the hearts.

Araki forced the Quincy at Shūwamon to choose between betraying their comrades and opposing Yhwach, using the hearts in his throne to punish them until most knelt or died. He reported that Shūwamon was suppressed and Yhwach was absent, then turned to the fallen Quincy.

• Araki offered the Quincy at Shūwamon a choice, but they hesitated, knowing either path would brand them traitors.
• A Quincy attacked Araki, so Araki struck the hearts in his throne and caused groups of Quincy to collapse and die.
• The would-be attacker lowered his bow, and many Quincy knelt before Araki while those who refused to kneel were killed by Lapis Lazuli light.
• Araki ordered the surviving Quincy to bring him their comrades’ heads or kill Yhwach, then vanished with the throne.
• Araki used Tenteikūra to tell the Gotei 13 captains that the Quincy at Shūwamon were suppressed and Yhwach was not there.
• Araki looked over the Quincy corpses and prepared to make use of them.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni annihilated the Quincy attacking Hakutōmon and ordered the Gotei 13 to withdraw toward the Seireitei’s interior, suspecting Yhwach had bypassed the gates. Yhwach had instead attacked the great noble clans, revealing that his true objective lay in the heavens.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni received Araki’s report that Araki had quickly suppressed the fighting at Shūwamon, then continued advancing through Hakutōmon.
• Yamamoto unleashed Ryujin Jakka and burned the Quincy forces and all other living beings on the battlefield to ashes.
• Yamamoto told Chōjirō Sasakibe to report his victory, and Sasakibe announced to the divisions that Yamamoto had personally killed the attackers.
• Yamamoto ordered the Gotei 13 to retreat inward and surmised that Yhwach might have entered the Seireitei while the captains fought at the gates.
• Yhwach attacked the territories of the great noble clans and declared that he intended to force the beings in the heavens to intervene by killing the heads of the five families.

Yhwach watched the Soul King Palace and pursued his plan to replace his father, while Saito Furofushi and fellow captains slaughtered the Quincy at Seireitei’s east gate. The captains joined forces and continued cutting down the enemy as the remaining Quincy despaired.

• Yhwach stood among the ruins, looking toward the Soul King Palace and resolving to absorb his father's power and become a god.
• After Chōjirō Sasakibe's Tenteikūra, Saito Furofushi complained that her division was falling behind while the Quincy prepared to attack her.
• Saito disarmed and slaughtered the Quincy with her Zanpakuto, speeding up as she demanded to know how many enemies remained.
• Shihoin Sennichi arrived and killed a charging Quincy with a kick, then told Saito he had left the Shihoin Clan's affairs to his younger brother.
• Katori Bakuunsai joined Saito and Sennichi, relayed that the Captain-Commander was summoning them, and helped them continue killing the Quincy.
• The surviving Quincy called the captains butchers and despaired as corpses piled up at Seiryūmon.

The First Generation Gotei 13 captains slaughtered the Quincy invaders at Seiryūmon and Kōryūmon. After the captains at all four gates reported victory, they headed toward Yamamoto Genryusai.

• Iwahara Kinra and Sanjōji Yuhō joined the battle at Seiryūmon and brutally killed the Quincy surrounding them.
• Saito Furofushi, Shihoin Sennichi, Katori Bakuunsai, Iwahara Kinra, and Sanjōji Yuhō wiped out the invaders at Seiryūmon without accepting surrender.
• Iwahara Kinra relayed Obana Danjirō's message that the invaders at all four gates had been defeated and that the captains should gather near Yamamoto Genryusai.
• At Kōryūmon, Shijima Tomokiri killed the last surviving Quincy, disrupting Sakagashira Saizou's experiment.
• Obana Danjirō invoked Yamamoto Genryusai's name to quiet the captains, and they set off toward him.

As the Quincy invasion engulfed the Seireitei, Araki’s preparations turned the 11th Division barracks into a makeshift hospital, where Unohana Retsu guarded wounded Soul Reapers. A Quincy attack squad stormed the barracks, and Unohana swiftly beheaded its overconfident leader.

• Ōtokawa Uki left Igarashi in charge of the 10th Division’s chaotic battlefield and used Shunpo to answer Sasakibe’s summons beneath the 1st Division Barracks.
• The wounded from across the Gotei 13 were treated at the 11th Division barracks, where its soldiers crudely amputated injuries while Unohana Retsu watched over them.
• Sugiki Sōichirō reassured the wounded that Araki could reattach their missing limbs after the war.
• A group of Quincy discovered the 11th Division barracks and attacked, believing there were no captain-level Soul Reapers inside.
• The Quincy leader mocked Unohana Retsu’s appearance and revealed his identity, but Unohana beheaded him before he could finish speaking.

Unohana Retsu killed the Quincy who attacked the 11th Division Barracks, then left after the Captain-Commander summoned her. The Third Seat Officer took charge of the barracks and ordered patrols as the war continued.

• Unohana Retsu swiftly killed the Quincy leader and cut down the remaining attackers when they drew their bows.
• Unohana sheathed her Zanpakuto, told everyone to clean up the barracks, and sat back down.
• Unohana sensed a summons from the Captain-Commander and left the barracks using Shunpo.
• The Third Seat Officer took command and ordered Ishikawa, Tanaka, and Tsuchida to patrol for enemies.

The Gotei 13 captains gathered beneath Sogyoku Hill and fought off a Quincy assault while Araki faced Yhwach far from the barracks. Yhwach tried to recruit Araki as his son, but Araki attacked him instead.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the captains assembled beneath Sogyoku Hill, with Araki missing from the gathering.
• Yamamoto explained that Araki had chosen the meeting point after discovering enemy troops, and the captains realized he might be in danger.
• Quincies surrounded the captains, who charged into battle as Saito Furofushi worried about Araki.
• About thirty ri from the barracks, Araki encountered Yhwach, who offered to make him his son and enlist his power.
• Araki rejected Yhwach's offer and activated K-ROOM: Piercing Wave, apparently striking Yhwach's horse.

Araki rejected Yhwach’s offer to become his son and join the Sternritter, then killed Schubert when the vice-captain challenged him. Yhwach attacked Araki after he chose to fight, and the chapter ended as they clashed.

• Araki rejected the Quincy mission and slashed Yhwach’s horse rather than accept Yhwach’s offer.
• Yhwach assigned Schubert to fight Araki, but Araki stabbed Schubert from behind and split him in two.
• Yhwach destroyed Schubert’s remains with Reishi arrows and offered Araki Schubert’s place as vice-captain if he became Yhwach’s child.
• Araki released Ruriko with the command “Intimidate them!” and fired a barrage of light arrows at Yhwach.
• Yhwach blocked Araki’s arrows, declared that Araki had made his choice, and charged at him with his blade.

Araki fought Yhwach, using mistification, Haki, and his Zanpakuto’s abilities to evade attacks and land a serious wound after testing whether Yhwach could see the future. Yhwach became enraged and released immense power, so Araki unleashed his full Bankai, the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.

• Yhwach cleaved Araki in two, but Araki turned to mist and re-formed before striking back.
• Araki coated his Zanpakuto with Armament Haki and Conqueror’s Haki, wounding Yhwach and forcing him to retreat.
• Araki dodged Yhwach’s Heilig Pfeil and evaded a giant spear by opening a hole in his body, then used K-ROOM: Piercing Wave to pierce Yhwach’s chest.
• Araki used ROOM to swap places with a Quincy, who was caught and destroyed by Yhwach’s attack.
• Yhwach erupted with Spiritual Pressure and vowed to punish Araki, who answered by releasing his Bankai, Medicine Master Buddha: Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.

Araki used his Yakushi Twelve Vows Bankai to trap Yhwach in a Buddhist Pure Land, but Yhwach eventually broke free, and their battle left Araki exhausted. After Araki refused Yhwach’s demand to submit, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni arrived with the Gotei 13 and confronted the wounded Quincy king.

• Yhwach resisted Araki’s Yakushi Twelve Vows illusion, but the vows drained much of his power before he escaped back to the Soul Society.
• Araki attacked Yhwach with the Chakravartin Holy King’s palms and a defense-piercing sword, then detonated the Holy King and two Attendants in a final blast.
• Yhwach survived the explosion and held a Quincy sword to Araki’s neck, demanding that he submit or die.
• Araki refused Yhwach and escaped with ROOM, then stabbed the half-dead Quincy Sedlitz, prompting Yhwach to pursue him.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni arrived with the Gotei 13 and confronted the injured Yhwach, preparing to release his Bankai.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni defeated Yhwach with a Bankai strike after Araki and Chōjirō Sasakibe created an opening, and the Soul Reapers celebrated their victory. Yhwach survived as a charred corpse in the shadows, where he and Jugram Haschwalth began the Wandenreich’s plan to return and conquer the world.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni activated Bankai and prepared to fight Yhwach, who drew his sword for their final clash.
• Araki manipulated Yhwach’s reishi, allowing Chōjirō Sasakibe to stab him from behind and distract him.
• Yamamoto brought down a flaming sword strike that apparently burned Yhwach to ashes, while Saito Furofushi and Unohana Retsu caught the exhausted Araki.
• A 1st Division member took Araki for treatment after Obana Danjirō stopped Saito and Unohana from fighting over him.
• Chōjirō announced the Soul Reapers’ victory, though Yamamoto suspected Yhwach would return and thought Araki might one day face him.
• Yhwach revealed he had survived in the shadows, renamed his empire the Wandenreich, and told Jugram Haschwalth that he would reclaim his power and the world.

After recovering in the hot springs, Araki returned to healing injured members of the 11th Division. Hyosube Ichibei then arrived on behalf of the Soul King and asked whether Araki could use his ability to put the Soul King back together.

• Araki woke from a nightmare in the hot springs, where Yamamoto and the First Generation Gotei 13 captains crowded around him and demanded sparring matches.
• Araki left the hot springs after Yamamoto said the Soul King had personally named him and wanted to see him, though Araki remained wary of the summons.
• Several days later, Araki used ROOM to reattach the final injured squad member's leg and restore him.
• Hyosube Ichibei appeared behind Araki, introduced himself as a member of Division 0, and said the Soul King wished to see him.
• Hyosube Ichibei asked Araki whether his ability could put the Soul King back together.

Hyosube Ichibei invited Araki to join Division 0, but Araki initially refused until Oetsu Nimaiya tempted him with daily parties. Araki accepted the invitation to visit the Soul King Palace, leaving Unohana Retsu worried behind.

• Araki prepared to release his Zanpakuto when Hyosube Ichibei approached, but lowered his hand after Hyosube explained he meant no harm.
• Hyosube asked whether Araki's ability could affect the Soul King and invited him to join Division 0, but Araki refused.
• Oetsu Nimaiya arrived and offered to throw parties with Araki every day, prompting Araki to nearly accept before noticing Unohana Retsu's icy aura.
• Araki accepted Division 0's invitation to visit the Soul King Palace and left with Oetsu Nimaiya, while Hyosube explained the situation to a worried Unohana Retsu.

Araki agreed to help gather the Soul King’s scattered fragments, then learned his Zanpakuto unnerved Hyosube Ichibei because it had evolved beyond the monk’s ability to control. Araki departed with Division 0 for the Soul King Palace, leaving Sasakibe worried but reassured by Yamamoto.

• Hyosube told Araki that Division 0 wanted him to gather the Soul King’s scattered fragments if his power could affect the Soul King, and Araki agreed.
• Oetsu examined Araki’s Zanpakuto, and Hyosube revealed that its Shikai and Bankai names differed from the ones he knew.
• Hyosube recoiled from Araki’s sword, while Araki’s Zanpakuto hinted that the monk feared the “True Buddha.”
• Araki, Hyosube, and Oetsu reached Shiba Clan territory, where Yamamoto and Sasakibe came to see them off.
• The Shiba Clan head fired the Shiba Cannon, launching Tenchuren and carrying Araki and Division 0 toward the Soul King Palace.
• Sasakibe worried that he might never see Araki again, but Yamamoto told him to leave everything to Araki.

Araki arrived at the Soul King Palace with the Monk, who explained its layout and offered to raise Araki’s Spiritual Pressure to First-Class before he met the Soul King. Araki accepted, suspecting the Monk intended to use him for a hidden purpose.

• The Monk and Araki reached the Soul King Palace aboard the Tenchuren, and Araki felt the immense spirit particle density as he stepped onto the Omotesando.
• The Monk showed Araki the detached palaces of himself and Oetsu Nimaiya, while Araki recognized that the palaces were vital to Division 0 members’ survival and resurrection.
• Araki asked where Oetsu had gone, and the Monk claimed he had sent him to fetch something.
• The Monk told Araki he would visit his detached palace before meeting the Soul King because Araki’s current Spiritual Pressure was too weak to restore the Soul King’s lost fragments.
• The Monk offered to train Araki to First-Class Spiritual Might, and Araki agreed while deciding to turn the Monk’s plan to his own advantage.