Chapter Summaries

Araki trained Aizen for three months, teaching him about Shunkō and the Thousand-Mile Heaven-Reaching Palm while revealing that he belonged to Division 0. Aizen discovered that Unohana Retsu was Araki’s only apparent weakness, then waited outside the 1st Division Captain’s Office as their latest fight began in earnest.

• Araki defeated Aizen in training, explained that only Division 0 members could master the Thousand-Mile Heaven-Reaching Palm, and gave him a booklet detailing both it and Shunkō.
• Aizen trained with Araki for three months, growing stronger and learning more about Kyoka Suigetsu as he searched for Araki’s weaknesses.
• Aizen used Kyoka Suigetsu to spy on Araki and Unohana Retsu, mistook their private combat for an intimate encounter, and concluded that Unohana was Araki’s only weakness.
• Aizen decided that Unohana was too powerful to exploit and resolved to keep searching for another weakness in Araki.
• Aizen waited outside the 1st Division Captain’s Office while Araki and Unohana fought inside, where Unohana activated Bankai and challenged Araki with her eight thousand ways to make him use Bankai.

After a century of training under Araki, Aizen Sōsuke completed his apprenticeship and chose to leave the 1st Division for the 5th Division. He joined Captain Arimura Soma’s division and met Third Seat Officer Shinji Hirako, who distrusted Aizen’s perfect smile.

• Over a second century, Araki’s investments and security efforts helped Rukongai thrive, while the Gotei 13’s divisions changed and gained new leaders, including Hikifune Kirio in the 12th Division.
• Araki announced that Aizen had completed his hundred-year apprenticeship, during which Aizen mastered Soul Reaper arts and greatly increased his Spiritual Pressure.
• Araki offered Aizen the choice of staying in the 1st Division as vice-captain or joining another division as an ordinary member, and Aizen chose the 5th Division.
• Araki, Unohana Retsu, and Saito Furofushi joked and sparred after Aizen left, while Aizen arrived at the 5th Division barracks.
• Captain Arimura Soma introduced Aizen to the 5th Division, and Third Seat Officer Shinji Hirako privately recognized that Aizen’s smile seemed fake.

Shinji Hirako was assigned to show Aizen Sōsuke around the 5th Division, and their mutual suspicion began a relationship that would shape their future roles. Meanwhile, Araki’s disciples discussed Aizen’s ambitions and the expedition to Hueco Mundo, where Kuruyashiki prepared to return after documenting the dangers he had encountered.

• Captain Arimura assigned Shinji Hirako to introduce Aizen to the 5th Division, and Shinji pretended they were getting along as he led Aizen away.
• Shinji confronted Aizen about his fake smile, while Aizen became intrigued by Shinji and began considering what changes he might bring to the Gotei 13.
• Yoruichi, Kyoraku, Tokinada, and Ukitake discussed why Aizen had joined the 5th Division and anticipated the return of Kuruyashiki’s expeditionary army.
• Kuruyashiki prepared to return to the Soul Society after a century in Hueco Mundo, having encountered powerful Menos and recorded information about Gillians, Adjuchas, and Vasto Lordes.
• Aizen contemplated using Menos after learning about Kuruyashiki’s findings.

Araki welcomed Kuruyashiki and the Hueco Mundo expeditionary force back to Soul Society, rewarded their service, and recruited them into the 1st Division. After a brief spar in which Araki defeated Kuruyashiki, he took Unohana Retsu’s hand and headed off with her.

• Araki and the captains welcomed Kuruyashiki and his battered expeditionary soldiers as they returned from a century in Hueco Mundo, and Kuruyashiki presented Araki with his map and records.
• Araki appointed Kuruyashiki leader of the 1st Division’s Menos Extermination Squad and used Ruriko to heal the expeditionary soldiers’ injuries.
• Kuruyashiki ordered his soldiers to take a week of leave before reporting to the 1st Division, then he and Ashido accompanied Araki back to the barracks.
• Kuruyashiki asked Araki to spar and released Gagaku Kairo, but Araki struck him down with God Avoidance and sent Ashido to retrieve him.
• Araki took Unohana Retsu’s hand after Kuruyashiki and Ashido left, intending to spend time alone with her.

After losing to Araki, Kuruyashiki visited the Gotei 13 to test himself against its captains, with Ashido following him. Kuruyashiki beat Yoruichi and Soifon with ease and moved on toward the 5th Division.

• Kuruyashiki told Ashido that Araki was far stronger than he was, then set out to visit the Gotei 13 and challenge its captains.
• Kuruyashiki challenged Yoruichi, took her hair tie during their fight, and declared victory after she had agreed that touching her once would count as a win.
• Yoruichi chased after Kuruyashiki, insisting the fight did not count, while Ashido followed them toward the 3rd Division.
• Soifon accepted Kuruyashiki’s challenge after Yoruichi warned her that he had defeated her.
• Kuruyashiki cut through Soifon’s Shunkō and knocked her down with one punch, then changed his intended destination from the 4th Division to the 5th Division.

After defeating Soifon, Kuruyashiki continued his attempt to test his limits against the Gotei 13 captains, while Yoruichi and Soifon followed to watch. Kuruyashiki reached the 11th Division and found Kenpachi Zaraki eager to fight him, while Aizen Sōsuke revealed himself as the true captain of the 5th Division.

• Yoruichi comforted Soifon after Kuruyashiki defeated her, then took her to follow Kuruyashiki and watch his challenges.
• Kuruyashiki told Ashido he was testing his limits, explained he would not challenge Unohana Retsu because he could not defeat her without his forbidden Bankai, and suggested she might even surpass Araki in some way.
• Araki and Unohana Retsu continued their private battle in the 1st Division Captain's Office while Saito Furofushi lay unconscious nearby.
• Kuruyashiki defeated 5th Division captain Arimura in one move, sensed a hidden monster among the division members, and vowed to return; after he left, Aizen Sōsuke emerged as the real captain of the 5th Division.
• The captains of the Sixth, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Divisions declined or avoided Kuruyashiki's challenge, so he went to the 11th Division, where Kenpachi Zaraki welcomed him to fight.

Kuruyashiki challenged Kenpachi at the 11th Division, while Kyoraku explained to Ashido that Unohana had once been Unohana Yachiru, the legendary first Kenpachi. The chapter ended with Kuruyashiki and Kenpachi beginning a fierce battle in the division’s rear garden.

• Kuruyashiki revealed that he had come to fight Kenpachi, and the two prepared to face each other.
• Ashido told Kyoraku that Kuruyashiki had won three of four challenges, losing only to Araki and skipping Unohana’s division.
• Kyoraku explained that Unohana had been the first Kenpachi and that Araki had later inherited the title before becoming Captain-Commander.
• Kuruyashiki and Kenpachi went to the 11th Division’s rear garden and exchanged their opening blow, with Kenpachi sending Kuruyashiki flying.
• Kuruyashiki and Kenpachi roared and charged at each other as their Spiritual Pressure surged into the sky.

Kenpachi fought Kuruyashiki in the Seireitei, overpowering his Shikai and forcing him to concede before Araki transported them to Hueco Mundo. There, with Soul Society’s strongest watching from afar, the two prepared to unleash their Bankai.

• Kuruyashiki initially appeared to suppress Kenpachi, but Kenpachi adapted to his swordsmanship and forced him to release Gagaku Kairo.
• Kenpachi destroyed Kuruyashiki’s regenerating Shikai creatures with Nozarashi, and Kuruyashiki conceded because he could not safely use his Bankai in the Seireitei.
• Araki arrived with Unohana, opened a Transcendent Gate, and led Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki into Hueco Mundo so they could fight without endangering the Seireitei.
• The 11th Division members followed them through the gate, while Araki warned the spectators not to pursue the fighters into Hueco Mundo.
• After traveling far into Hueco Mundo, Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki stopped, faced each other, and called out Bankai at the same time.

Araki kept the 11th Division from approaching Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki’s battle, while Kuruyashiki’s Bankai opened a vast Abyss that devoured the landscape. As Aizen and others learned the Bankai’s limitations, Kenpachi endured its attacks and prepared to strike the enormous maw directly.

• Araki refused the 11th Division’s pleas to watch the battle up close, and Unohana Retsu agreed that they should stay back.
• Kuruyashiki revealed that his Bankai was the devouring Abyss, which began swallowing the land and everything across a vast area.
• Araki raised the 11th Division into the air so they could witness the Abyss, and the soldiers thanked him for keeping them out of danger.
• Aizen joined Kyoraku and Yoruichi, and Kyoraku explained that Kuruyashiki’s Bankai attacked indiscriminately and left his Zanpakuto unusable for six months.
• Kenpachi rejected Kuruyashiki’s demand that he admit defeat, gathered his Spiritual Pressure into his Zanpakuto, and swung at the Abyss’s enormous maw.

Kenpachi defeated Kuruyashiki in a catastrophic Bankai clash, and Araki healed them before turning to recruit more Vasto Lordes for his Twelve Divine Generals. Araki named Dihyera Mahoraga and set out to win over Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and Tier Harribel using Aizen’s notes.

• Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki unleashed their strongest attacks, nearly shattering Hueco Mundo, and Kenpachi emerged as the victor before both fighters collapsed.
• Araki healed Kenpachi and Kuruyashiki, protected them with a barrier, and sent the gathered Soul Reapers back to Seireitei.
• Araki met Barragan at Las Noches, learned that Dihyera had become a Vasto Lorde, and named him Mahoraga as one of his Twelve Divine Generals.
• Dihyera told Araki that Kuruyashiki had once defeated him with Shikai, prompting Araki to suspect he was the unnamed Vasto Lorde from the novel SAFWY.
• Barragan identified the other Vasto Lordes as Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and Tier Harribel, and Araki prepared to recruit them with advice from Aizen’s notebook.
• After Aizen returned to Seireitei, he sensed that something belonging to him was getting farther away.

Araki used his power and Aizen’s strategies to recruit Nelliel and Halibel as Divine Generals, while also claiming Cien and Roka from Szayelaporro. With nine generals gathered, he prepared to return to the Seireitei and thank Aizen for his help.

• Araki empowered Barragan’s Adjuchas and sent them to capture Halibel and Nelliel, but they revived repeatedly and overwhelmed both Vasto Lordes.
• Araki freed Szayelaporro’s clone, helped him identify himself as Cien Granz, and bestowed on him the true name Sindura.
• Araki recruited Roka Paramia from Szayelaporro and gave her the true name Andira.
• Araki rescued Nelliel, destroyed her attackers, restored her strength, and named her Anila.
• Araki defeated the Adjuchas attacking Halibel, persuaded her to follow him, and named her Pajra.
• Araki left Hueco Mundo for the Seireitei, planning to thank Aizen, whose advice had helped him secure his recruits.

Araki returned to the Seireitei, questioned Genryūsai about Arturo Plateado, then released the sealed Vasto Lorde and forced him into Hueco Mundo. Arturo arrived before Araki and nine Vasto Lorde-class Hollows, where Araki declared himself Arturo’s master and god.

• Araki returned to the 1st Division barracks with the unconscious Kuruyashiki and Kenpachi, then reunited with Saito Furofushi and Unohana Retsu.
• Araki visited Genryūsai at the Shino Academy and learned that Arturo Plateado was sealed beneath Central 46.
• Araki tricked the sages and judges of Central 46 into signing an agreement that made them owe him one trillion one hundred billion, then broke Arturo’s seal.
• Arturo emerged and slaughtered the sages and judges, while Araki revealed that he had killed Central 46’s guards.
• Araki crushed Arturo with his Spiritual Pressure, opened a Garganta, and sent him from Soul Society to Hueco Mundo.
• Arturo found Araki seated on a throne among nine Vasto Lorde-class Hollows, and Araki declared himself Arturo’s master and god.

Araki defeated Arturo in Hueco Mundo, renamed him Shōdoro, and sent him to the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli. Years later, Araki took Azashiro Sōya as his disciple and began his brutal training, while Aizen learned that Sōya’s abilities could counter his own.

• Araki crushed Arturo with one finger, nullified his regeneration, and renamed him Shōdoro before sending him into the Eastern Pure Land of Lapis Lazuli.
• Over the following years, Araki blamed Yamamoto for Central 46’s destruction and kept Soul Society stable while a new Central 46 formed.
• Kuruyashiki brought Azashiro Sōya to Araki, who apologized for the Azashiro Family’s past persecution and accepted Sōya as his disciple.
• Sōya returned home to tell his sister the news, then briefly glimpsed Aizen using Kyoka Suigetsu as he headed to the First Division barracks.
• Araki recognized that Sōya had mastered Bankai and warned him to rely on his Shikai before assigning Unohana Retsu to train him through repeated lethal attacks and revivals.
• Aizen examined information about Sōya and realized that the new disciple’s abilities could counter his own.

Azashiro Sōya completed a century of training under Unohana Retsu and another under Araki before Araki assigned him to lead a new force against Quincy whose large-scale Hollow extermination threatened the balance of the Three Worlds. The chapter ended with Azashiro confronting Quincy in Hueco Mundo and releasing his Zanpakuto as the battle began.

• After Azashiro endured Unohana Retsu's test and returned home to reunite with his sister, Araki began training him in swordsmanship and Zanpakuto slashes.
• A century later, Azashiro passed Araki's test, and Araki ordered him to exterminate Quincy whose Hollow killings disrupted the balance of the Three Worlds.
• Azashiro established the 1st Division's Quincy Special Assault Squad and recruited 150 members, with help from Genryūsai and Sasakibe.
• Araki sent a message to Quincy descendants, and a group of about twenty Quincy left Hueco Mundo before Azashiro's squad arrived.
• Azashiro led his squad into Hueco Mundo, where Soul Reapers attacked the Quincy still hunting Hollows; Azashiro released his Zanpakuto against them.

Azashiro Sōya fought the Quincy invasion in Hueco Mundo, uncovered their plans to attack Soul Society, and withdrew after Arturo Plateado appeared and killed the remaining pure-blood Quincy. After the battle, Aizen Sōsuke used Kyoka Suigetsu to ensnare Arturo and declared his intention to unify Hueco Mundo.

• Azashiro Sōya deduced that the Quincy were probing the Gotei 13's strength to prepare another invasion of Soul Society, then fought off their ultimate forms and killed several pure-blood Quincy.
• Arturo Plateado arrived, killed more Quincy, and forced Azashiro to withdraw with his squad through the Senkaimon.
• Azashiro returned to his forces, defeated the remaining Quincy, and led his squad back to Soul Society while Arturo watched from Hueco Mundo.
• After Azashiro left, Arturo encountered Aizen Sōsuke and thought he had killed him, only to discover he had been deceived by Kyoka Suigetsu.
• Aizen explained that his Zanpakuto controlled all five senses and asked Arturo to help him unify Hueco Mundo, which he intended to claim as his own.

Aizen entered Hueco Mundo and tried to recruit Arturo, while Araki arranged for him to explore the realm under the watch of his subdued Vasto Lordes. Thirty years later, several Gotei 13 positions changed hands, Tokinada left the 9th Division to form a Fullbring research squad, and Araki reluctantly accepted Kensei Muguruma as the new captain.

• Aizen offered Arturo a place at his side, but Arturo refused and revealed that there were multiple Vasto Lordes in Hueco Mundo before leaving to hunt elsewhere.
• Arturo informed Araki of Aizen’s arrival, and Araki ordered his divine generals to play along while Aizen explored Hueco Mundo.
• Azashiro Sōya returned from the Quincy extermination mission, documented Quincy abilities, and planned to urge Araki to launch a third Hueco Mundo expedition.
• Kyoraku Shunsui recruited his niece Ise Nanao into the 8th Division and arranged openings for her classmates in the 13th Division.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada studied reports about Fullbringers, while Urahara Kisuke became the 2nd Division’s Third Seat Officer and Hikifune Kirio completed Temporary Soul technology.
• Thirty years later, Shinji Hirako and Love Aikawa became captains, Tokinada left the 9th Division to lead a Fullbring research squad, and Araki approved Kensei Muguruma as Tokinada’s successor.

Araki approved Soifon’s transfer request and Rose Otoribashi’s captain assessment, then answered Genryūsai’s summons and restored Yuki after the Bakkōtō had driven him mad. He ordered the Kasumioji Clan to surrender its Bakkōtō and those responsible for attacking Yuki within a week, leaving the threat of his personal visit hanging over them.

• Araki reassured Kensei Muguruma, approved his captain assessment, and told Tokinada not to cause too much trouble while using the clan’s Senkaimon to reach the Human World.
• Soifon asked to transfer back to the 2nd Division after training Rose Otoribashi to captain level, and Araki agreed to hold captain assessments for Rose and Kensei.
• Araki ignored Chōjirō Sasakibe outside his office overnight, then went with him to meet Genryūsai at Shino Academy.
• Genryūsai showed Araki the imprisoned Yuki, whose Bakkōtō had taken control of him; Araki cut away the corrupted portion and restored Yuki with his Zanpakuto.
• Yuki told Genryūsai that the Kasumioji Clan had destroyed his evidence and moved its Bakkōtō factory, while Araki declared the Bakkōtō itself evidence of the clan’s wrongdoing.
• Araki sent Sasakibe to give the Kasumioji Clan one week to surrender its Bakkōtō, disclose how they were made, and hand over those responsible for attacking Yuki, or face Araki’s personal visit.

Chōjirō Sasakibe delivered Araki’s orders to the Kasumioji Clan over its Bakkōtō operation, but chief steward Kumoi tried to evade responsibility by framing the poisoned clan head, Hisui. Araki saw through the scheme and went to confront Kumoi, while young Rurichiyo arrived just as the confrontation began.

• Chōjirō Sasakibe ordered the Kasumioji Clan to surrender its Bakkōtō production method, destroy its equipment, and hand over those responsible for an attack at the factory.
• Kumoi denied knowing about the Bakkōtō operation, then rejected an assassin’s suggestion to kill Araki and decided to give Hisui the antidote only so he could send her to face judgment in his place.
• The Kasumioji Clan delivered its Bakkōtō and manufacturing method to Araki, along with Hisui, whom it falsely named as the mastermind.
• Araki left Hisui with Unohana Retsu and went to the Kasumioji Clan to deal with Kumoi.
• Rurichiyo confronted Kumoi about her missing mother, and Kumoi lied that Hisui had been taken away by the Gotei 13 for her crimes.
• Araki arrived behind Rurichiyo, told someone to cover her eyes, and rejected Kumoi’s plea for another chance before a sharp sound rang out.

Araki resolved the Kasumioji Clan’s Bakkōtō crisis, and Hikifune Kirio departed for Division 0, leaving the 12th Division captaincy vacant. Nearly fifty years later, Yoruichi recommended Urahara Kisuke for the position as Aizen prepared to begin his plan against Shinji Hirako.

• Araki killed Kumoi, had the Death Squad remove his body, and later returned the awakened Hisui safely to Rurichiyo.
• The Kasumioji Clan agreed to supply the Gotei 13 with training equipment and concealed weapons as compensation for the Bakkōtō incident.
• Genryūsai told Yuki and Amagai Shusuke that Araki had resolved the crisis, inspiring Shusuke to aim to join the 1st Division.
• Hikifune Kirio left the 12th Division for Division 0, and Hiyori promised to protect the division in her absence.
• Yoruichi asked Araki to consider Urahara Kisuke for the vacant 12th Division captaincy, and Araki ordered him to take the captaincy assessment.
• Aizen declared that the time had come to begin his plan and watched Shinji Hirako in the 5th Division barracks.

Yoruichi assigned Feng Shōryō to work with Urahara Kisuke, while Kenpachi instantly killed a challenger from the Rukongai. Urahara passed his captaincy examination and became captain of the 12th Division, as Aizen prepared a Hollowfication plot and the Gotei 13 gathered for a captains' meeting.

• Yoruichi ordered Feng Shōryō to work with Urahara for a week, and Soifon agreed despite Shōryō's objections.
• Kijō challenged Kenpachi for the title and was killed with a single strike, becoming a joke among the Gotei 13.
• Feng Shōryō spent a week with Urahara, who focused on experiments, and Urahara passed his Bankai examination to become captain of the 12th Division and director of the Department of Research and Development.
• Aizen planned to combine his Hogyoku with Urahara's and stage a Hollowfication spectacle while keeping his role hidden from Shinji Hirako.
• The Gotei 13 captains and vice-captains gathered at the 1st Division, and Aizen urged Shinji to hurry before following him to the meeting.