Chapter Summaries

At his elder brother’s funeral, Kyoraku Shunsui learned that his sister-in-law risked being forced back to the Ise Family under Soul Society’s noble regulations. She rejected hiding with the Shihoin Clan and chose to secure her daughter’s freedom herself, while Kyoraku’s friends uncovered his secret and Tokinada urged him to seek Teacher Araki’s help.

• Kyoraku Shunsui mourned his elder brother as his sister-in-law grieved at the memorial hall.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada explained that the rules could force Kyoraku’s sister-in-law to leave the family, and he suggested that Kyoraku marry her or that Yoruichi shelter her.
• Kyoraku’s sister-in-law refused to hide in the Shihoin Clan and told Kyoraku she would make sure her daughter, Ise Nanao, would be free.
• After she sent the others away, Kyoraku’s sister-in-law collapsed, determined to sacrifice her life to end the Ise Family’s curse for her daughter.
• At a tavern, Tokinada confronted Kyoraku about his secret after Kyoraku placed his two Zanpakuto on the table.
• Kyoraku admitted he wanted to save his sister-in-law, and Tokinada advised him to find Teacher Araki.

Tokinada, Yoruichi, and Ukitake made plans to protect Kyoraku’s sister-in-law from the Ise Family, while Kyoraku struggled with whether to intervene. After a dream reminded him to protect those he cared about, he confronted the Ise Family when they arrived with an order from Central 46, but his sister-in-law chose to go with them.

• Tokinada assigned Yoruichi to seek the Five Great Noble Clans’ support and Ukitake to accompany Kyoraku’s sister-in-law to the Ise Family; he offered to abduct her if their plans failed.
• Kyoraku returned home, covered his sleeping sister-in-law with a blanket, and later dreamed of Araki urging him to become strong enough to protect those he cared about.
• Kyoraku woke and found Ise Family members at his residence, demanding to take his sister-in-law before her mourning period had ended.
• The Ise Family leader showed Kyoraku an authentic order from Central 46, and Kyoraku resisted as the family members tried to take his sister-in-law.
• Kyoraku’s sister-in-law stepped past the Kyoraku Clan retainers and agreed to go with the Ise Family, telling Kyoraku not to worry about her.

After the Tsunayashiro clan head used Central 46 to target Kyoraku’s sister-in-law and the Genryu faction, Kyoraku and Tokinada rushed to rescue her from the Chamber of Penance. Araki prepared to retaliate, while Genryūsai received a confidential order that moved his coming duel with Araki forward and had a Central 46 messenger killed to keep the secret.

• Araki learned that Central 46 had intervened in Kyoraku’s family matter and sent Saito Furofushi to investigate.
• Tokinada recognized that the Central 46 order was aimed at the Genryu faction, and he sent Ukitake to check the Ise Clan while telling Kyoraku to stay behind.
• At the Five Great Noble Clans’ meeting, the Tsunayashiro clan head revealed that he was using Central 46 and the missing Eight Mirrors Sword to pressure Yoruichi and the Genryu faction.
• Yoruichi warned Kyoraku, Ukitake, and Tokinada that the Tsunayashiro head was behind the scheme, and Ukitake reported that Kyoraku’s sister-in-law was not at the Ise Clan.
• Kyoraku and Tokinada headed for the Chamber of Penance, while Araki learned the plot’s details and prepared to settle scores with those listed in his ledger.
• Genryūsai received a confidential Central 46 letter, declared that his duel with Araki would be moved up, and left the messenger to be killed by Oshiba Genshirō.

Kyoraku and Tokinada discovered that Kyoraku’s sister-in-law had never been held in the Chamber of Atonement and was instead being sent to Sokyoku Hill for execution. Kyoraku rallied Yoruichi and Ukitake to disrupt the execution plan, while Yoruichi delayed the noble clan heads; Kyoraku and Tokinada then arrived at the Shihoin Clan.

• Tokinada used his Bankai to incapacitate the Central 46 agents guarding the Chamber of Atonement, and he and Kyoraku fought their way to the Second Deep Cell.
• Tokisaki told Kyoraku and Tokinada that Kyoraku’s sister-in-law had been sent directly to Sokyoku Hill for execution, and Chōjirō Sasakibe’s summons confirmed the order.
• Kyoraku took command, assigned Yoruichi to delay the clan heads and Ukitake to stall the execution, and borrowed the Shihoin Clan’s Divine Class Item from Yoruichi.
• Yoruichi intercepted the Tsunayashiro, Kuchiki, and Shiba clan heads and dragged them back into their meeting, where she proposed expelling the Tsunayashiro Clan and making it pay the other clans’ living expenses.
• Yoruichi continued provoking the Tsunayashiro head as part of the counterattack, while Kyoraku and Tokinada arrived at the Shihoin Clan.

Kyoraku Shunsui rescued his sister-in-law from execution, but Tokinada and Ukitake failed to destroy Hokage after Yamamoto stopped them. Araki killed Hokage with one slash, then entered a Garganta with Yamamoto for a duel, leaving the Gotei 13 behind.

• Kyoraku and Tokinada collected a Divine Class Item from Yushiro, while captains gathered at Sogyoku Hill for the execution.
• Kyoraku arrived at the execution platform through the shadows and freed his sister-in-law as Hokage attacked.
• Tokinada activated the Shihoin Clan Divine Class Item to restrain Hokage, but learned it needed two captain-class Soul Reapers to work fully.
• Yamamoto stopped Ukitake from helping Tokinada, and Hokage renewed its attack on Kyoraku and his sister-in-law.
• Araki killed Hokage with a single slash, then entered a Garganta with Yamamoto as the two prepared to duel.

After Genryūsai and Araki departed for Hueco Mundo to duel over the next Captain-Commander position, Unohana Retsu stopped Central 46’s agents from reporting the news and began planning retaliation against those who spread it. The chapter ended with Kyoraku reassuring his sister-in-law that Araki would win.

• Sasakibe announced that Genryūsai and Araki had gone to Hueco Mundo to duel, and that Genryūsai would resign as Captain-Commander if he lost.
• Unohana Retsu decapitated the Central 46 agents who tried to leave and warned the gathered captains and soldiers not to spread the duel’s details.
• Unohana Retsu let the crowd depart, then ordered Saito Furofushi and Kenpachi to follow the departing witnesses and kill those responsible for spreading the news.
• The captains of the 3rd and 5th Divisions and the soldiers passed the news through Seireitei, while Unohana Retsu recorded names for future retaliation.
• Kyoraku’s sister-in-law worried that she had caused the duel, and Kyoraku told her that Araki would certainly win.

Kyoraku reunited with his eldest sister-in-law and feared the punishment awaiting him when Araki and Genryūsai returned. Meanwhile, Tokinada and his allies killed the Tsunayashiro clan head and took Enrakyoten, while Araki and Genryūsai arrived in Hueco Mundo to settle their battle for leadership of the Gotei.

• Kyoraku thanked Unohana Retsu for promising to explain his actions to Araki, then took his eldest sister-in-law home as Tokinada and Ukitake left to handle the Tsunayashiro Family.
• The Tsunayashiro clan head planned to exploit Kyoraku's supposed grief, but Tokinada confronted him and revealed that Kyoraku's sister-in-law had survived.
• Tokinada's allies ambushed and restrained the Tsunayashiro clan head, and Tokinada killed him and claimed Enrakyoten.
• Tokinada thanked Yoruichi, Ukitake, the Shiba Clan, Soifon, and Tessai Tsukabishi for helping him, then planned to return the clan head's body to the Tsunayashiro Family.
• Araki and Genryūsai arrived in Hueco Mundo and prepared to fight for the Captain-Commander position of the Gotei.

Araki and Genryūsai’s long-awaited duel began in Hueco Mundo, where Araki revealed that he had held back during their sword and hand-to-hand exchanges. Genryūsai unleashed his Bankai and demanded that Araki show his own, but Araki pointed to a Holy King already watching over the world.

• Genryūsai burned Szayelaporro’s experimental Hollow, Detector Number Three, and Szayelaporro learned that Araki had returned to Hueco Mundo.
• Barragan ordered Hueco Mundo’s Hollows not to interfere with Araki’s duel, while Szayelaporro stopped Lilynette from going to see Araki and the two fought.
• Genryūsai released Ryujin Jakka and clashed with Araki, who sent him flying with a single strike after they traded sword blows.
• Araki used Shunkō to outpace and strike Genryūsai with wind, lightning, ice, and fire techniques, prompting Genryūsai to end their warm-up.
• Genryūsai and Araki both called Bankai, and Genryūsai’s power turned Hueco Mundo’s night into day.
• When Genryūsai demanded to see Araki’s Bankai, Araki pointed toward a Holy King praying above Hueco Mundo.

Araki unleashed his true Bankai across the Three Worlds, defeated Genryūsai, and became the new Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. After persuading Genryūsai to join Division 0, Araki prepared to begin his next plan for Soul Society.

• Araki revealed his true Bankai, causing the Chakravartin Holy King to appear across the Three Worlds and shake Hueco Mundo, the Human World, and Soul Society.
• Araki fought Genryūsai, countered his four Zanka no Tachi techniques, and overwhelmed him with a vast Thousand-Hand Medicine Master Tathagata Palm.
• Araki defeated Genryūsai, who accepted the loss and named Araki the next Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
• Araki invited Genryūsai to join Division 0, persuaded him with the prospect of improving Shino Academy, and opened a Garganta to Soul Society.
• Araki looked ahead to his plan for Soul Society as its new Captain-Commander, while Kenpachi and Saito continued purging corrupt nobles and Yhwach remained sealed in a crystal coffin.

After returning from the Soul King Palace, Araki took over as Captain-Commander and began his era by consolidating control over the Gotei 13. The chapter ended with Aizen Sōsuke enrolling at Shino Academy as an apparently ordinary student.

• Central 46 failed to enforce its authority as the Gotei 13, Onmitsukidō, and Kidō Corps refused to help it pursue Kenpachi and Saito Furofushi, who exposed crimes committed by the nobles they had killed.
• After Araki and Genryūsai remained absent for months, Nagase Antaro infiltrated the 11th Division barracks to destroy evidence, but Saito Furofushi and Kenpachi captured him.
• Araki revealed that he and Genryūsai had returned seven months earlier and spent that time in the Soul King Palace, where Genryūsai joined Division 0 and Araki trained him to control his enhanced power.
• Araki killed Nagase Antaro, named himself the new Captain-Commander, appointed Kenpachi as the 11th Division captain, and summoned the Gotei 13 captains to a meeting.
• Araki announced his appointment to the captains, who gathered for the first Captain's Meeting in months and formally began his era in the Gotei 13.
• Aizen Sōsuke enrolled at Shino Academy and introduced himself as an ordinary student.

Araki presided over his first Captain’s Meeting as Captain-Commander, killed the conspirators holding the 3rd and 5th Division captaincies, and arranged replacements for several vacant divisions. The chapter ended with Tokinada bringing the Tsunayashiro elders an urn of his father’s ashes and revealing that the Family Head had smashed it.

• Araki told the captains he had killed the 3rd Division captain for conspiring against the Azashiro Family, while Shiba Zehong persuaded Kuchiki Ginrei to accept Araki’s explanation.
• The 5th Division captain arrived, tried to flee after seeing Araki, and was struck down, stripped of his Bankai, and handed to Yoruichi for questioning.
• Tokinada recommended Soifon for the 3rd Division captaincy, and Araki appointed her after Yoruichi failed to answer questions about the Onmitsukidō.
• Araki left the 7th Division captaincy to the Tsunayashiro Family, accepted Hikifune Kirio as a future candidate for the 12th Division, and heard Ukitake’s suggestion that a promising 5th Division officer could take over.
• Central 46 argued over Araki’s actions but concluded it could not effectively challenge him because of his authority as a Royal Guard.
• Tokinada returned to the Tsunayashiro Family with an urn of ashes and revealed Enrakyoten, prompting the Family Head to realize the ashes belonged to his father.

Tokinada used the return of Enrakyoten and his master Araki’s backing to seize the Tsunayashiro Family Head position, while family elders maneuvered for power and estates. Araki then went to Central 46 and persuaded its members to fund a Hollow-subjugation force by secretly lending money that they planned to recoup by pressuring the noble clans for matching contributions.

• Tokinada presented the former Family Head’s ashes and Enrakyoten, dismissed the elders’ accusations, and insisted that the family needed to choose a new head.
• The elders proposed voting for the next Family Head, but Tokinada wounded the Fifth Elder and demanded a place in the election; Araki arrived and forced the elders to accept Tokinada as their candidate.
• The Second Elder supported Tokinada, then killed the injured Third Elder to claim his estate, while Tokinada appointed the Fourth Elder to replace him.
• Tokinada declared himself the new Tsunayashiro Family Head and kept Enrakyoten, then left the family’s affairs settled.
• At Central 46, Araki warned that Hueco Mundo’s higher-level Menos were multiplying and proposed creating a force to subjugate them.
• Araki persuaded Central 46 to lend ten billion ryo for the force, with the sages and judges planning to recover their money by making the noble clans contribute matching funds.

Araki used Central 46’s enormous loan to pressure the Five Great Noble Clans for protection fees, then welcomed Genryūsai back from the Soul King Palace and accompanied him to Shino Academy. There, Araki met student Aizen and delivered a demonstration of his power before a violent recruit from the Eleventh Division interrupted the ceremony by launching hundreds of students into the air.

• Araki received one hundred billion Rings from Central 46 as a loan and told Saito Furofushi to inform the Five Great Noble Clans that Central 46 had funded the Gotei 13.
• Genryūsai returned from the Soul King Palace with his Zanpakuto sealed, and Chōjirō Sasakibe and former 1st Division members pledged to follow him to Shino Academy.
• Genryūsai and Araki arrived at Shino Academy, where Araki encountered student Aizen and briefly startled him by catching him after a staged fall.
• Genryūsai and Araki addressed the students, and Araki released overwhelming Spiritual Pressure during his short speech.
• A disheveled young man cut open the assembly hall doors, announced that students could join the Eleventh Division by surviving his strike, and launched hundreds of students into the air.

Araki summoned Kenpachi to the Shino Academy, where Genryūsai stopped his rampage, then collected funds from the Five Great Noble Clans for Hollow extermination. Back at the 1st Division barracks, Araki found Genryūsai trying to borrow his money to pressure other divisions into contributing to the Shino Academy and refused.

• Araki’s summoned Kenpachi rampaged through the Shino Academy until Genryūsai knocked him down and calmed him.
• Araki asked the Five Great Noble Clans for funds, and Shiba Tenjun claimed the Shiba Clan had no money and offered his sister Shiba Zehong instead.
• Zehong confronted Tenjun at the Shiba estate after Araki relayed his offer, and Tenjun admitted he had made a foolish suggestion.
• The other four clans agreed to split the Shiba Clan’s two-hundred-billion-kan contribution, and Araki stored the collected money.
• Araki returned to the 1st Division barracks and found Genryūsai beside his money, asking to borrow it to make other divisions contribute to the Shino Academy.
• Araki refused to lend Genryūsai the money.

Araki refused Genryūsai’s request for a loan, then gave him 2.5 billion after they haggled before secretly using a recruitment campaign to delay Central 46’s repayment demands. Kuruyashiki joined the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force, defeated ten 1st Division assessors, and asked to fight Araki.

• Araki refused to lend Genryūsai money, but eventually agreed to give him 2.5 billion after they bargained over the amount.
• Araki ordered Saito Furofushi to publicize recruitment for a Hueco Mundo expeditionary force, explaining that the campaign was meant to convince Central 46 that the money was being put to use.
• Central 46 praised Araki’s publicity drive and dismissed the chance that anyone would actually enlist, but Kuruyashiki found a notice in Junrinan and went to register.
• Kuruyashiki told the 1st Division assessors not to go easy on him, then defeated all ten of them without releasing his Spiritual Pressure.
• Kuruyashiki asked the stunned 1st Division member to arrange a fight with Araki, the Captain-Commander.

Kuruyashiki came to the 1st Division to challenge Araki, but a chain of misunderstandings turned his request into a supposed attempt to seize Araki’s Captain-Commander position. Araki attacked before Kuruyashiki could explain, and their fight began with a single slash.

• Kuruyashiki asked a 1st Division member to arrange a fight with Araki, and the member went to report the request while warning him not to force his way inside.
• Saito Furofushi kicked the reporting member away, then decided to interrupt Araki and Unohana Retsu before going to confront Kuruyashiki herself.
• Saito told Araki that Kuruyashiki intended to challenge his position, and Araki left the office to meet him.
• Kuruyashiki praised Araki and said he wanted to test himself against the strongest Soul Reaper, but Araki called him a brat trying to take his position.
• Araki drew his Zanpakuto and used God Avoidance against the still-confused Kuruyashiki.

Araki defeated Kuruyashiki, then accepted him into the 1st Division and appointed him to lead a second Hueco Mundo expedition. Five years later, the expedition force was ready, and Central 46 panicked when they realized Araki meant to carry out the mission rather than use it as a pretext to profit.

• Araki's slash knocked Kuruyashiki through the Seireitei's barrier toward the Soul King Palace, where Hyosube Ichibei caught him and hurled him back to the Seireitei.
• Kuruyashiki recovered enough to tell Araki he had never intended to replace him as Captain-Commander, and Araki realized Saito Furofushi and a 1st Division soldier had distorted his message.
• Araki punished the soldier by making him the 1st Division's Chief Restroom Officer for a hundred years, while Saito remained in Araki's office.
• After recovering, Kuruyashiki joined Araki's 1st Division and asked to command the Hueco Mundo Expeditionary Force; Araki appointed him captain of the Special Hollows Assault Squad and put him in charge of recruiting and training its members.
• Five years later, Kuruyashiki had assembled the expeditionary force, prompting Central 46 to complain that Araki was actually going to exterminate Hollows instead of sharing the profits they expected.
• Araki told Central 46 that he would repay their money on his own terms and claimed he had placed it in the Soul King Palace.

Araki sent Kuruyashiki’s expeditionary force to Hueco Mundo after empowering its soldiers with a combat-strength buff, then turned Central 46’s debt claim into a demand that they reimburse the expedition’s expenses. Back at the 1st Division, Araki and Unohana Retsu battled with their Zanpakuto while Aizen Sōsuke arrived to report for duty and began revising his plans around Araki.

• Araki delivered a rousing speech that secretly strengthened the expeditionary force, and Kuruyashiki led the soldiers through the Senkaimon toward Hueco Mundo.
• A Central 46 sage confronted Araki over a debt, but Araki handed him a bill for the expedition’s expenses and left the sage outside the barracks.
• Araki returned to his office, where Unohana Retsu argued with Saito Furofushi before challenging Araki to test her new combat techniques.
• Unohana and Araki fought in the rear hall, releasing their Zanpakuto and Bankai as Saito complained from the sidelines.
• Aizen Sōsuke arrived at the 1st Division to report for duty and, after observing Araki and the two women, decided to use the division as a springboard toward greater power.

Araki heard Aizen’s thoughts and made the wary prodigy his disciple, while Aizen resolved to learn Araki’s abilities and eventually surpass him. The next day, Araki began teaching Aizen that Spiritual Pressure determined Soul Reaper battles and demonstrated the lesson by releasing his own overwhelming power.

• Aizen privately planned to study Araki’s weaknesses, but Araki read his thoughts and recognized his captain-level Spiritual Pressure.
• Araki asked Aizen to become his disciple, and Aizen accepted after concluding that Araki had already seen through his abilities.
• Araki told Aizen to report to his office daily, while Aizen left determined to earn Araki’s trust and learn all his abilities.
• Unohana Retsu questioned Aizen’s wary manner and his failure to address her as Mistress; Araki said Aizen could become his successor as Captain-Commander.
• Aizen arrived at the Captain’s Office the next afternoon, and Araki taught him that Spiritual Pressure decided battles before releasing his overwhelming Spiritual Pressure.

Araki overwhelmed young Aizen with his Spiritual Pressure, then began training him through brutal lessons in swordsmanship, combat, Kidō, and movement. Aizen learned about Division 0 and endured Araki’s relentless instruction, ending the chapter determined to change the world.

• Araki released overwhelming Spiritual Pressure, and Aizen pretended to surrender while privately marveling at his teacher’s strength.
• Araki took Aizen to Sogyoku Hill and began swordsmanship training, but his first strike split the hill and forced Aizen to flee.
• Araki healed Aizen and demonstrated his power in hand-to-hand combat, Kidō, and the Thousand-Mile Heaven-Reaching Palm while explaining Division 0.
• Araki taught Aizen Shunpo and Shunkō through a punishing chase, then continued his combat training as Aizen resolved to change the world.