Recaps

After returning from the dead, Chiba Makoto helped defeat Aizen Sōsuke’s invasion and reorganized the Thirteen Divisions under Unohana Retsu. As Makoto consolidated control and strengthened his bonds with Unohana Retsu and Ise Nanao, he learned that Zero Division and the returning Yhwach threatened the worlds.

• Chiba Makoto broke free of Aizen Sōsuke’s Kurohitsugi with his Bankai, Tree Realm Birth, and crushed Aizen’s dragons, but Aizen survived and escaped through a Garganta.
• Chiba Makoto helped return Karakura Town to the World of the Living, healed wounded Soul Reapers, and learned the scale of the war’s casualties.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni resigned as Captain-Commander and left to lead Shin'ō Academy, while Unohana Retsu took command and appointed new officers.
• Chiba Makoto formed a Special Operations Unit for the Human World under Hirako Shinji and welcomed Amagai Shūsuke, who was secretly Aizen Sōsuke in disguise.
• Ise Nanao revealed the Ise Clan’s cursed Divine Sword: Mirror of the Eight Realms, which had reacted to Makoto, and warned that the Soul King’s power within him could make him a stabilizing wedge for the worlds.
• Chiba Makoto and Unohana Retsu acknowledged their control of Seireitei, concealed their true unity from Zero Division, and discussed the coming threats of Zero Division and Yhwach’s Sternritter.
• After spending the night with Unohana Retsu, Chiba Makoto covered her duties during her three days of seclusion, then accepted an invitation to a Fifth Division banquet organized by Hinamori Momo.

Chiba Makoto and Aizen Sōsuke maneuvered around the Kurosaki family as Ichigo and his allies launched a rescue mission in Hueco Mundo. The arc ended with Kurosaki Masaki taken toward Soul Society for treatment while Kurosaki Makoto stayed behind to hold Aizen in check.

• Chiba Makoto altered Nemu Kurotsuchi’s appearance and spiritual pressure, naming her “Nothing” as she began a new life in the Seireitei.
• At Aizen Sōsuke’s banquet, Makoto rejected Aizen’s claim that they were alike, and Aizen resolved to prove that he understood Makoto.
• Makoto and Aizen investigated Kurosaki Isshin’s Gigai by staging an attack on the Kurosaki family, then took Masaki and Isshin’s Gigai while arranging a staged battle to draw Ichigo into the crisis.
• After Ichigo and his allies pursued the kidnappers, Makoto discovered Ichigo’s unusual mix of Quincy, human, Soul Reaper, and Hollow traits and chose to cultivate him rather than destroy his body.
• Isshin trained Ichigo in the Dangai, and Ichigo entered Las Noches with Final Getsuga Tensho to confront Aizen while Isshin, Ishida Uryū, and Chad Yasutora searched for Masaki.
• Aizen defeated Ichigo and Isshin’s efforts to protect the others, while Ishida Uryū and Chad recovered Masaki’s Hollowifying spirit body from Aizen’s experiment rooms.
• Chiba Makoto arrived in Las Noches, disrupted Aizen’s attack, and revealed that his Kidō rope had tracked Aizen and exposed a flaw in his plan.
• Makoto sent Isshin and Ichigo to take Masaki to Soul Society for treatment, while Kurosaki Makoto stayed behind to keep Aizen in check and urged Ichigo and Ishida Uryū to fight for those they cherished.

After Yhwach declared war, Chiba Makoto and the Thirteen Divisions prepared for the Wandenreich’s invasion and fought to reclaim their stolen Bankai. As the Soul Reapers turned the battle around, Makoto realized the enemy’s real target was Shin'ō Academy, where Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released his Bankai and Kyōraku Shunsui challenged the current leadership.

• Chiba Makoto stabilized Kurosaki Masaki, canceled the planned attack on Hueco Mundo, and helped the Kurosaki family settle near the Fourth Division while the Thirteen Divisions trained for two years.
• Yhwach’s forces attacked Las Noches, but Aizen Sōsuke confronted them, rejected an alliance, and learned that Yhwach planned to declare war on the Thirteen Divisions.
• Sternritter Nnanana Nnajakupp and Driscoll Berci attacked Chiba Makoto, and Berci’s Star Mark stole his Bankai before Unohana Retsu killed Nnajakupp and Chiba stopped Aizen from killing Berci.
• Chiba Makoto explained the Sternritter’s Bankai-stealing ability to the captains, and he and Kurotsuchi Mayuri prepared Spirit Body Layering and a countermeasure for the coming invasion.
• The Wandenreich invaded the Seireitei, while Kurosaki Ichigo searched for Ishida Uryū, fought Mask de Masculine in the Dangai, and then entered the battlefield to face Pepe Wachanabe.
• Kurosaki Ichigo killed Pepe Wachanabe and helped hold the line, while Chiba Makoto fought four Sternritter and provided emergency healing across the Seireitei.
• Chiba Makoto defeated Gadis and neutralized Giselle’s zombie attack, while Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s Shadow Invading Medicine sealed the Sternritter’s Schrift and let the Soul Reapers reclaim their stolen Bankai.
• Chiba Makoto suspected the Wandenreich was targeting Shin'ō Academy and rushed there, where Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released Zanka no Tachi and Kyōraku Shunsui criticized Unohana Retsu and Chiba Makoto’s leadership.

After Yhwach’s first assault devastated the Seireitei, Chiba Makoto restored Ichigo’s powers and led the Soul Reapers into the Wandenreich. The counterattack reached Silberburg, where Chiba’s modified Reishi suppressed the Sternritters’ Schrifts and the battles turned in the Soul Reapers’ favor.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni unleashed Zanka no Tachi against Yhwach, but Royd Lloyd’s deception and Yhwach’s surprise attack left Yamamoto gravely wounded as Chiba Makoto intervened.
• Yhwach escaped the Seireitei with Aizen Sōsuke, leaving Kyōraku Shunsui and many others dead and the Shin'ō Academy students wiped out.
• Chiba Makoto rallied the captains, arranged for Orihime Inoue to restore Yamamoto’s arm, and set a counterattack against the Wandenreich for five days later.
• Chiba Makoto restored Ichigo’s powers and helped him form twin Zangetsu blades, then sent him to train against Zaraki Kenpachi in Muken.
• Yhwach named Ishida Uryū his heir, while Chiba Makoto used planted Reishi particles to locate the Wandenreich and led the Soul Reapers through a passage into it.
• Chiba Makoto’s Secret Garden collided with the Wandenreich, allowing the Thirteen Divisions to launch their attack as Ichigo and Zaraki Kenpachi charged toward Silberburg.
• Nianzol Wale evaded Ichigo’s attacks, while X-Axis nearly killed Kensei Muguruma before Ichimaru Gin struck and killed X-Axis with Bankai: God Killer Spear.
• Chiba Makoto’s modified Reishi suppressed the Sternritters’ Schrifts, and Kuchiki Byakuya defeated Es Nott as Chiba and Unohana Retsu continued toward Silberburg.