Chapter Summaries

The Gotei 13 captains gathered at the 1st Division for a meeting called by Araki, while Shinji and Kyoraku endured teasing over their past behavior. The meeting began with Urahara Kisuke arriving late to his own inauguration, leaving the assembled captains unimpressed by their new 12th Division captain.

• Shinji Hirako and Aizen Sōsuke arrived early at the 1st Division barracks, where Hiyori kicked Shinji and Love Aikawa reprimanded her.
• The captains assembled outside Araki’s office, and Isshin Shiba explained that he had become 10th Division captain after Shiba Zehong was called away by Tokinada.
• Unohana Retsu emerged from Araki’s office and silenced Kyoraku Shunsui after hearing him joke about her age.
• Araki called the captains into the meeting and reflected that Aizen Sōsuke might someday lead the Seireitei.
• Urahara Kisuke overslept while absorbed in an experiment, searched for his washed Captain’s Haori, and rushed toward the meeting.
• Urahara Kisuke arrived late in his new Captain’s Haori, apologized to the assembled captains, and made a careless first impression.

Araki welcomed Urahara Kisuke as the new captain of the 12th Division, while Urahara worked to earn Sarugaki Hiyori’s trust and recruited Mayuri Kurotsuchi from the Maggot’s Nest. The chapter ended with Yoruichi teasing young Byakuya during a visit to the Kuchiki estate.

• Araki concluded the Captains’ Meeting, ordered Kyoraku to guard the gate for a year, and sent the other captains away.
• Urahara introduced himself to the captains, eased their concerns about his strength, and began building a better relationship with Hiyori.
• Urahara decided he needed an assistant and took Hiyori to the Maggot’s Nest, where he showed his strength and found Mayuri Kurotsuchi imprisoned.
• Urahara agreed to Mayuri’s conditions and invited him to help with the 12th Division’s research, while Hiyori recoiled at Mayuri’s insults.
• Yoruichi, Kaien, and Kūkaku visited Byakuya at the Kuchiki estate, where Yoruichi teased him and he chased after her.

Kensei Muguruma investigated the disappearances of souls in Rukongai, saved Shuhei Hisagi from a Hollow, and discovered that ten of his soldiers had vanished. While Kensei camped at the site, Aizen Sōsuke and Kaname Tosen attacked him and prepared to frame Shinji Hirako, as Araki watched from the Seireitei.

• Kuchiki Ginrei told Shiba Kaien about the talented Shino Academy graduate Ichimaru Gin, while Kaien and Kūkaku joined him for tea.
• Urahara Kisuke appointed Mayuri Kurotsuchi as a Third Seat Officer and deputy director, leading to repeated clashes between Mayuri and Hiyori Sarugaki.
• Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori investigated souls disappearing in Rukongai, where Kensei saved Shuhei Hisagi from a Hollow and promised to await him at the 9th Division.
• Kensei found ten sets of 9th Division robes and ordered his officers to investigate the disappearances while he camped at the site with Hiyori and his subordinates.
• Kaname Tosen, disguised as Shinji Hirako, attacked Kensei and his officers; Aizen Sōsuke ordered Tosen to use Kensei and Hiyori for experiments and keep the survivors alive as witnesses.
• Aizen planned to make Shinji the apparent culprit, while Araki watched from his office and anticipated Aizen's eventual exposure.

After Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki’s Spiritual Pressures vanished, Araki dispatched a team to investigate a suspected virus while Kenpachi Zaraki waited in reserve. The team discovered that Aizen Sōsuke had orchestrated Soul Reaper Hollowfication, and Kenpachi set out for Rukongai District after Kaname Tosen staged a bloody return to the Seireitei.

• Araki assigned Shinji Hirako, Rose Otoribashi, Love Aikawa, Hachigen Ushōda, and Lisa Yadōmaru to investigate, while Urahara Kisuke was ordered to prepare the 12th Division for a possible virus.
• Shinji and the others found Kensei Muguruma and Hiyori Sarugaki Hollowfied; Kensei overwhelmed the group, and Shinji used Bankai: Sakanade to make the Hollowfied captains fight one another.
• Shinji contacted Urahara, who recognized the incident as an experiment in Soul Reaper Hollowfication and left secretly to help, while Aizen Sōsuke and Kaname Tosen watched from nearby and then withdrew.
• Kaname Tosen returned to Hakutōmon covered in blood with three injured division members, claiming that their captain needed help, and collapsed after delivering his message.
• Kenpachi learned that the investigation team had suffered heavy losses and headed toward Rukongai District, dismissing his division members’ warning with, “Who do you think I am?!”

Shinji Hirako and Urahara Kisuke rescued the Hollowfied captains, but Kenpachi Zaraki pursued them and Aizen Sōsuke used their disappearance to frame them for the experiments. As Aizen’s accusations spread through the Seireitei, the chapter left Urahara and Shinji’s whereabouts unknown and their guilt being presented to Central 46.

• Shinji Hirako explained the Hollowfication and the enemy’s darkness-based attack to Urahara Kisuke, while Tessai Tsukabishi arrived and subdued the captains with Bankin.
• Kenpachi Zaraki arrived, defeated the Hollowfied captains, and tried to kill them, but Shinji, Urahara, and Tessai fought him long enough to escape with the captains.
• Urahara brought the group to a hidden training ground beneath the Sokyoku and began treating the captains with the Hogyoku, while Shinji revealed that he too had been Hollowfied.
• Kenpachi searched the divisions for Urahara and Shinji, while Aizen Sōsuke misled him and spread evidence meant to implicate them in the Hollowfication experiments.
• Aizen used the injured 9th Division officers, Kenpachi’s account, and the missing captains to reinforce his accusations before Central 46 as Ukitake Jushiro comforted him.

Central 46 condemned the missing captains and branded Urahara Kisuke and Shinji Hirako criminals, while Aizen Sōsuke was confined after failing to defend Hirako. Urahara stabilized the Hollowfication victims and planned to flee with them to the Human World, unaware that Tessai Tsukabishi was secretly reporting to Araki.

• Central 46 sentenced the Hollowfied captains to execution, ordered Urahara Kisuke and Shinji Hirako exiled to Hueco Mundo, and gave Shihoin Yoruichi a warning that a new sage expanded into a public apology.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi claimed command of the 12th Division and Department of Research and Development, while Aizen Sōsuke was sentenced to five years of confinement after pleading for Hirako without evidence.
• Urahara Kisuke used his Hogyoku to stabilize Hirako and the other Hollowfied captains, then concluded that an enemy with a second Hogyoku had framed them and planned to flee to the Human World.
• Shihoin Yoruichi refused to apologize, and Shinji Hirako awoke, learned they were wanted fugitives, and suspected Aizen Sōsuke had framed him.
• Tessai Tsukabishi secretly reported Urahara's escape plan to Araki, who ordered him to keep following the group and wait until they reached the Human World.

Araki agreed to follow Urahara's plan while Yoruichi attacked Central 46 and fled to the Human World. Five years later, Aizen became captain of the 5th Division and told Gin that Araki was the one person he feared, prompting Gin to seek Araki out.

• Yoruichi told Araki that Urahara and Hirako suspected a traitor and had taken the Hollowfied captains and a valuable item to the Human World, and Araki agreed to control the Senkaimon and let events unfold.
• Yoruichi confronted Central 46, admitted she had helped rescue Urahara and the others, beat up the sages and judges, and left Soul Society for the Human World.
• Central 46 later blamed Yoruichi as the Hollowfication incident's mastermind, while Aizen used his confinement and influence to monitor events and wait for his release.
• Aizen secured the captains' recommendations and became captain of the 5th Division, then appointed Ichimaru Gin as his vice-captain.
• Aizen told Gin that Araki was the strongest person he had ever seen and the one person he feared, and urged Gin to become Araki's disciple so he could experience Araki's strength himself.

Aizen brought Ichimaru Gin to Araki, who accepted Gin as a trainee and revealed that he already knew Aizen’s schemes and intended to retire. Years later, Araki protected Kuchiki Koga from Central 46 and tested Koga’s Zanpakuto, Muramasa, which refused to appear before him.

• Aizen introduced Ichimaru Gin to Araki and recommended that Araki train him in the 1st Division.
• Araki told Gin that he knew about Aizen and Urahara Kisuke’s Hogyoku plans, Aizen’s framing of Shinji Hirako, and Gin’s connection to Rangiku.
• Kaname Tosen revealed that he had been loyal to Araki from the beginning, and Araki ordered Gin to keep training while continuing to act alongside Aizen.
• After five years, Yhwach’s heartbeat returned later than the Wandenreich’s prophecy predicted, and Haschwalth concealed the delay from the other Quincy.
• Central 46 and Kuchiki Ginrei asked Araki to rule on Kuchiki Koga’s dangerous Zanpakuto, and Araki claimed responsibility for Koga rather than allowing his blade to be sealed.
• Araki ordered Koga to use Muramasa on him, but Muramasa refused to appear because it feared trying to control Araki.

Kuchiki Koga demonstrated Muramasa to Araki, who chose to let him keep the Zanpakuto under strict warning. Forty-five years later, Kuchiki Byakuya fought his family for permission to marry Hisana, while Gin completed fifty years of training and set out to become a captain.

• Koga manifested Muramasa, whose ability failed against Araki, and Araki decided not to seal the Zanpakuto as long as Koga served faithfully.
• Araki established the 1st Division's Seireitei Inspection Squad under Koga, despite protests from Central 46 and the noble factions.
• Forty-five years into Gin's training, Araki heard that Byakuya had fallen in love with Hisana, a woman from Rukongai District.
• Byakuya challenged Kōjun, matched his Kidō, and used Bankai and Shūkei Hakuteiken before Koga and Ginrei stopped his attack; Kōjun still granted him victory and permission to marry Hisana.
• After five more years, Gin completed his training and went to Aizen to pursue a captain's position, while Byakuya prepared to marry Hisana.

At Byakuya and Hisana’s wedding, Araki confronted Mayuri over the escaped Bounts and sent him to hunt the Bounts in the Human World. Araki then empowered Rukia before Aizen, Gin, and Tosen entered Hueco Mundo, where Araki had arranged a staged conquest for Aizen.

• The Kuchiki estate hosted Byakuya and Hisana’s wedding, while Aizen, Gin, and Tosen pretended to be at odds to mislead Kyoraku and Ukitake.
• Araki exposed Mayuri’s Bount and artificial Soul King experiments, approved his research with restrictions, and tasked him and Kenpachi with hunting the escaped Bounts.
• Araki found Rukia in Inuzuri and infused her with a lapis lazuli light, after which she discovered she had become unusually strong.
• After the wedding, Aizen, Gin, and Tosen secretly set out for Hueco Mundo, believing they would find no enemies there.
• The Vasto Lordes prepared to act out Araki’s staged Hueco Mundo conquest for Aizen, while Araki began swordsmanship training with Unohana Retsu.

Aizen recruited Hueco Mundo’s powerful Hollows by defeating Arturo and promising to build a more orderly world, then transformed them into his Espada. Five years later, he led a united Hueco Mundo from Las Noches while Araki watched his disciple’s progress.

• Aizen used Kyoka Suigetsu to deceive Barragan, secured his cooperation, and learned where the other powerful Hollows lived.
• Aizen exposed Ikkomikidō’s hidden weakness and won his cooperation, then led Barragan and the others to Arturo’s territory.
• Aizen defeated Arturo with his swordsmanship and the Chishui Mirror, prompting Dihyera, Szayelaporro, and Cien to pledge allegiance.
• Aizen persuaded Roka, Halibel, Nelliel, and Lilynette to join him by promising to spread their ideal of order throughout Hueco Mundo.
• Over the next five years, Aizen used the Hogyoku to transform the Hollows into Arrancar, rebuilt Las Noches, and assigned the ten Espada their ranks.
• Aizen addressed the Espada in Las Noches as Araki praised him for managing Hueco Mundo.

Byakuya told Hisana that the Kuchiki Clan had found her younger sister, Rukia, and arranged to bring them together, while Rukia learned of Hisana’s search for her and prepared a gift. Elsewhere, Araki placed two rescued siblings in Mayuri’s care, and Aizen noticed Byakuya at Shino Academy.

• Byakuya reassured Hisana that she was worth the enormous cost of her treatment, learned she still worried about her abandoned sister, and promised to help her reunite with Rukia.
• Araki confirmed that Mayuri had captured the surviving Bount and Ran'Tao, then entrusted him with two rescued siblings and noticed Nemu No. 5 in the research department.
• Byakuya visited Shino Academy and told Rukia that Hisana was alive, ill from searching for her, and wanted to see her.
• Rukia told Renji about Hisana and asked what gift she should bring, then made a cookie that caused Renji to collapse after he ate it.
• Aizen spotted Byakuya leaving Shino Academy before going to teach his class, where Hinamori Momo admired him.

Araki sent Byakuya and Kūkaku to the Soul King Palace to train after refusing Byakuya’s captain examination request. There, Hikifune Kirio boosted their Spiritual Pressure before they were transported to Araki’s detached palace, where the First Generation Gotei 13 awaited them.

• Hinamori Momo praised Aizen to Toshiro Hitsugaya, while Rangiku Matsumoto arrived and joined Momo in teasing him about joining the 10th Division.
• Byakuya thanked Araki for treating Hisana and asked to take the captain’s examination, but Araki said the current Gotei 13’s standards were higher and accepted Byakuya as a nominal disciple.
• Araki put Byakuya to sleep, took him to the Shiba Clan estate, and launched him and Kūkaku Shiba toward the Soul King Palace in the Tenchuren.
• Oetsu Nimaiya greeted Byakuya and Kūkaku, revealed that Araki and Genryūsai belonged to Division 0, and confiscated their Zanpakuto.
• Hikifune Kirio fed Byakuya and Kūkaku food that rapidly increased their Spiritual Pressure, then sent them to Araki’s detached palace for another trial.
• Byakuya and Kūkaku encountered the First Generation Gotei 13 in Araki’s detached palace.

Rukia reunited with Hisana, graduated from Shino Academy, and joined the 13th Division while Renji joined the 11th. After ten years of training, Byakuya returned, defeated Ginrei to become captain of the 6th Division, and reunited with Hisana; years later, Aizen’s preparations for the coming war advanced as Araki sensed the approaching crisis.

• Rukia visited Hisana with Renji, reunited with her sister, and decided to finish her studies and enter the Gotei 13 through her own efforts.
• Rukia and Renji graduated from Shino Academy; Rukia joined the 13th Division, while Renji chose the 11th Division to pursue greater strength.
• Byakuya and Kūkaku completed ten years of training at the Soul King Palace and received strengthened Zanpakuto from Oetsu Nimaiya before returning to Soul Society.
• Byakuya defeated Ginrei in front of the 6th Division and became its captain, then returned to the Kuchiki estate to see Hisana.
• Araki arranged for Kusaka’s duplicate Hyōrinmaru to be replaced, while Aizen, Tosen, and Gin created the Hollow White as the Three Worlds’ long peace neared its end.
• Araki declared that his preparations were complete as the Soul King’s Almighty stirred, while Rangiku dragged Isshin back to work at the 10th Division.

Isshin Shiba met Masaki Kurosaki in Karakura Town and gave up his Soul Reaper powers to save her from a Hollow infection. Araki arrived at Urahara Kisuke’s shop just after the treatment worked, leaving Isshin unable to see the Captain-Commander standing beside Masaki.

• Toshiro Hitsugaya reported that two Soul Reapers assigned to Naruki City had died, and Isshin left for the Human World to investigate.
• Aizen, Kaname Tosen, and Ichimaru Gin arrived in Karakura Town to study White and search for Shinji Hirako and the others.
• Masaki Kurosaki killed White after Isshin was wounded by a hidden attacker, then White grew into a larger threat and Isshin used Dankū to contain the explosion.
• Isshin returned to Soul Society but later secretly went back to Karakura Town after he could not stop thinking about Masaki.
• Urahara Kisuke explained that Masaki could be saved if Isshin gave up his Soul Reaper powers, and Isshin agreed to the treatment.
• After Urahara restored Masaki’s condition, Araki appeared at the shop, while Isshin knelt toward the wrong spot because he could no longer see him.

Ryuken learned that Araki, the Soul Reaper Captain-Commander, was a pure-blooded Quincy and that the Ishida family inherited its Quincy power from him, not Yhwach. After Soken revealed that Araki had ordered the extermination of Yhwach’s Quincy descendants, Ryuken tried to save Masaki but was knocked unconscious, while Araki fortified Masaki against Yhwach’s Auswählen and turned his attention to Isshin.

• Araki admitted to directing the Soul Reapers’ war against the Quincy two hundred years earlier, and Ryuken fired a Heilig Pfeil at him before Araki caught and crushed it.
• Araki revealed that he was a Quincy and challenged Ryuken to ask Soken about the Ishida family’s lineage; Ryuken collapsed in the rain and was brought home by Katagiri.
• Ryuken confronted Soken, who revealed that the Ishida family’s Quincy power came from Araki and that the Soul Reapers had exterminated Yhwach’s descendants to secure Araki’s lineage’s dominance.
• Soken told Ryuken that the Kurosaki family was Yhwach’s last remaining bloodline, then knocked Ryuken unconscious when he tried to save Masaki.
• Araki infused Masaki with Quincy power to protect her from Yhwach’s Auswählen, then looked toward Isshin as Urahara warned him.

Araki sentenced Isshin Shiba to exile in the Human World and ordered Urahara Kisuke to keep investigating the plot that framed him and the Visored. After Araki left, Urahara and Yoruichi prepared to act against their enemy, while Ryuken Ishida discovered that his nightmare about Masaki and Isshin had come true.

• Araki sentenced Isshin Shiba to a hundred years of exile, then rebuked Urahara Kisuke for failing to identify the mastermind behind the Hollowfication incident.
• Araki ordered Urahara to remain in the Human World until he found everyone responsible, then returned to the Soul Society through the Transcendent Gate.
• Yoruichi arrived at Urahara Shop, learned what had happened, and agreed with Urahara that their long-prepared revenge plan could begin.
• Urahara and Yoruichi turned their attention to Masaki Kurosaki, whose Hollow hole had vanished and who was beginning to wake.
• Ryuken Ishida woke from a nightmare about Masaki and Isshin, but found Isshin standing in the Ishida Family estate and realized the events had been real.

After years of separation and changing paths, Masaki Kurosaki and Isshin Shiba married, and their son Ichigo was born with intertwined Quincy, Hollow, and Soul Reaper powers. Araki, Aizen Sōsuke, and the awakening Yhwach sensed the Child of Destiny’s birth as events began to gather momentum.

• Isshin Shiba left the Ishida Family dinner and announced that he would settle in Karakura Town, while Ryuken Ishida struggled with Masaki’s closeness to him.
• Masaki Kurosaki entered university, later chose a life with Isshin, and married him with Soken Ishida as witness; Ryuken returned from abroad and announced his engagement to Katagiri Kanae.
• Shiba Tenjun and Shiba Zehong arrived at Masaki and Isshin’s wedding with a suitcase of gold and congratulated the couple.
• Ryuken Ishida and Katagiri Kanae married, and Katagiri gave birth to Uryu Ishida; about seven months later, Masaki gave birth to Ichigo.
• White, the Quincy power within Masaki, and the Soul Reaper power within Isshin became entangled with Ichigo’s own Soul Reaper power.
• Araki watched newborn Ichigo, Aizen Sōsuke anticipated his birth as a test subject, and the sleeping Yhwach began to stir.

Nine-year-old Kurosaki Ichigo witnessed Masaki Kurosaki defeat Grand Fisher, then learned that Yhwach had awakened and used Auswählen against the Quincy. As Yhwach prepared for war, Araki and Unohana Retsu welcomed their daughter, Araki Yachiru.

• Ryuken Ishida visited newborn Kurosaki Ichigo in the Human World and complained that the boy resembled Isshin.
• Araki told Unohana Retsu about Ichigo’s mixed powers, then the two began planning for a child of their own.
• Nine years later, Masaki rescued Ichigo from Grand Fisher and killed the Adjuchas-class Hollow after its attack failed against her armor.
• Masaki sensed her Quincy power being drained, visited the Ishida residence, and learned from Soken that Yhwach had awakened and used Auswählen.
• Yhwach ordered Haschwalth to report on Soul Society and its leaders, while Araki monitored the Wandenreich through power taken from Masaki.
• Unohana gave birth to Araki Yachiru, whose immense inherited powers impressed Araki while Yhwach dismissed family ties as a weakness.

Araki and Unohana Retsu's daughter, Araki Yachiru, was born with extraordinary spiritual power, and six years later Kurosaki Ichigo met Kuchiki Rukia and became a Soul Reaper. As Ichigo began patrolling Karakura Town with Rukia, Araki and Aizen Sōsuke watched his development while competing powers inside Ichigo awakened.

• Araki welcomed the captains, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, and Division 0 to celebrate Araki Yachiru's birth, while Yoruichi revealed herself in cat form and received the captains' promise not to report her to Central 46.
• Six years later, Kurosaki Ichigo saw Kuchiki Rukia in Karakura Town, then kicked her when she ignored him after entering his bedroom.
• A giant Hollow attacked Ichigo and Rukia, so Rukia transferred her Soul Reaper power to Ichigo, who cut down the Hollow with one strike.
• Inside Ichigo, Yhwach sealed away his Hollow and Soul Reaper powers, but Araki's power intervened and took the sealed blade as the two powers agreed to wait for Ichigo's choice.
• Rukia woke Ichigo the next morning, struck his soul from his body, and took him on patrol as a trainee Soul Reaper.
• Aizen Sōsuke watched Ichigo on a screen, while Araki discussed Ichigo's awakening and Yachiru's antics in Soul Society, where she rode on Kenpachi's shoulders and urged him to fight.