Chapter Summaries

Chiba Makoto demonstrated a new Reishi Arrow technique to Ishida Uryū and heard Ishida Sōken ask him to protect his grandson. When Kurotsuchi Mayuri arrived and tried to take Makoto to the Seireitei, Makoto challenged his authority.

• Chiba Makoto showed Ishida Uryū how to guide a fired Reishi Arrow with a Reishi Thread.
• Ishida Sōken asked Chiba Makoto to look after Ishida Uryū, worried the Seireitei’s threat would endanger his family.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri emerged from a Senkaimon and accused Ishida Sōken and Chiba Makoto of killing Menos Grande in a way that prevented their purification.
• Chiba Makoto argued that Hollow purification in the World of the Living fell under Captain Ukitake’s responsibility, not the Twelfth Division’s.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri invited Chiba Makoto to the Seireitei, and Chiba Makoto asked what gave him the right to do so.

Chiba Makoto confronted Kurotsuchi Mayuri and swiftly crippled him before Mayuri unleashed his Bankai, Golden Sōkatsui Jizō. With the Bankai charging at him, Makoto told Ishida Uryū to watch as he prepared to demonstrate how a captain-class Soul Reaper’s Bankai could be crushed.

• Chiba Makoto mocked Kurotsuchi Mayuri and dismissed his threats, prompting Mayuri to draw his Zanpakuto.
• Mayuri began his Shikai release, but Makoto shot Reishi Arrows through his shoulders and knees, dropping him to the ground.
• Mayuri erupted in rage and activated his Bankai, Golden Sōkatsui Jizō, which charged at Makoto while spewing poison gas.
• Black Cat Yoruichi warned Makoto about the Bankai’s lethal features, but he told Ishida Uryū to watch his demonstration.

Chiba Makoto defeated Kurotsuchi Mayuri by piercing Golden Sōkatsui Jizō with a Reishi Arrow, then spared him when Nemu Kurotsuchi intervened. Back in Seireitei, Mayuri ordered Nemu to drug Makoto, but a summons to a captains’ meeting interrupted his revenge plan.

• Chiba Makoto fired a Reishi Arrow that pierced Golden Sōkatsui Jizō and disabled Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi stepped in front of Mayuri, and Makoto let the arrow disperse before it reached her.
• Nemu helped Mayuri return to Seireitei, where he replaced his damaged body and saw that his Bankai had been permanently damaged.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri ordered Nemu to prepare drugs and find a way to inject them into Kurosaki Makoto.
• A Hell Butterfly summoned Kurotsuchi Mayuri to the First Division to explain why he had released his Bankai in the World of the Living, and he left with Nemu.

Kurotsuchi Mayuri was questioned at a captains’ meeting about entering the World of the Living and fighting Kurosaki Makoto. Ukitake Jūshirō and Komamura Sajin defended Makoto, leaving Mayuri unable to persuade the captains to target him.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni demanded that Kurotsuchi Mayuri explain why he had gone to the World of the Living and released his Bankai without authorization.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri claimed escaped Adjuchas-class Menos Grande had attacked Quincy, and revealed that Kurosaki Makoto had defeated them with ease.
• Unohana Retsu pressed Kurotsuchi Mayuri about his fight with Makoto, and Mayuri admitted that Makoto had defeated his Bankai and forced him to switch to a spare body.
• Ukitake Jūshirō told the captains that Makoto sought friendly relations with the Seireitei, while Kurotsuchi Mayuri warned that Makoto threatened it.
• Komamura Sajin supported Ukitake Jūshirō and accused Kurotsuchi Mayuri of provoking a war, weakening Mayuri’s effort to target Makoto.

Chiba Makoto saw through Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s scheme after Nemu Kurotsuchi offered herself to repay him, but he accepted and led her upstairs. He left Nemu waiting in his bedroom while he went into the bathroom.

• Chiba Makoto returned to the flower shop and found Nemu Kurotsuchi waiting there.
• Nemu thanked Chiba Makoto for sparing Kurotsuchi Mayuri, but he dismissed her gratitude and asked why she had come.
• Nemu claimed she had come to repay him with her body, shocking Chiba Makoto and Black Cat Yoruichi.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri monitored their conversation from the Technological Development Department and anticipated his hidden medicine would affect Chiba Makoto.
• Chiba Makoto recognized the trap and the drugs concealed in Nemu, yet agreed to her offer and led her upstairs.
• Chiba Makoto told Nemu to wait in his bedroom, then entered the bathroom and shut the door.

Chiba Makoto brought Nemu Kurotsuchi a specially made Gigai and told her to work at his flower shop under the name Shadow. Kurotsuchi Mayuri blamed Urahara Kisuke for the Gigai’s technology, while Yoruichi confronted Kisuke after discovering he had made it for Makoto.

• Chiba Makoto emerged from the bathroom with a doll-like Gigai and told Nemu Kurotsuchi he had it made for her.
• Chiba Makoto watched Nemu enter the Gigai, named its body Shadow, and told her that would be her flower-shop stage name.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri realized the Gigai interfered with his surveillance and accused Urahara Kisuke of making it with advanced technology.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri examined the data on his damaged Bankai and concluded that Urahara Kisuke had known its weaknesses.
• Yoruichi returned to Urahara Kisuke’s shop, clawed him awake, and asked whether he had made a Gigai for Kurosaki Makoto.
• Urahara Kisuke admitted he had made the Gigai for Makoto, and Yoruichi condemned him before leaving him confused and scratched.

Chiba Makoto put Nemu Kurotsuchi to work at his flower shop in Kage's modified doll, keeping her isolated from the Soul Society while he studied artificial souls and hoped to help her develop emotions. Nemu began learning the job, but Chiba made her repayment depend on how long she believed Kurotsuchi Mayuri's life was worth, leaving her with no clear way to leave.

• Chiba Makoto taught Nemu Kurotsuchi flower-shop work, and she quickly learned the basics and memorized flower names.
• When Chiba asked Nemu to make lunch, she offered to prepare nutrient solution, so he assigned cooking to Snopas instead.
• Chiba put Nemu in charge of receiving customers and told her she could return to the Seireitei whenever she believed she had repaid Kurotsuchi Mayuri's life.
• Black Cat Yoruichi realized Chiba's answer could keep Nemu working at the shop indefinitely unless Kurotsuchi Mayuri ordered her back.
• Chiba's modifications to Kage's doll cut off Soul Society communications and let him monitor Nemu's soul as he explored Kurotsuchi Mayuri's unfinished artificial-soul technology.
• Black Cat Yoruichi wondered whether Chiba's apparent interest in Kage's doll came from its black stockings.

Nemu Kurotsuchi repeatedly tried to drug Chiba Makoto while working at his flower shop, but each failed attempt led to him examining her. Months later, Chiba Makoto read a coded message from Unohana that the Twelfth Division had made no moves, while he wondered what Kurotsuchi Mayuri was researching.

• Nemu Kurotsuchi sneaked into Chiba Makoto's bedroom to drug him, but he caught her and brought her in for a lesson and Gigai maintenance.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi continued working at the flower shop and making failed attempts to drug Chiba Makoto, while Kurotsuchi Mayuri grew convinced Urahara Kisuke was interfering.
• Urahara Kisuke sneezed, and Tsukabishi Tessai gave him cold medicine while Urahara wondered why Yoruichi had beaten him over a Gigai.
• As winter arrived, Black Cat Yoruichi curled up in Chiba Makoto's arms, and he decoded Unohana's message that the Twelfth Division had made no moves.
• Chiba Makoto suspected Kurotsuchi Mayuri was researching something against him, but remained confident that his control over Reishi countered technology and drugs.

Ishida Uryū visited Chiba Makoto after months of failing to match his strength and pleaded to be taught how to become a true Quincy. Chiba Makoto took him to the woods and began explaining Quincy talent, leaving Uryū to face the limits imposed by how much Reishi he could gather.

• Ishida Uryū arrived at Kurosaki Flower Shop and confessed to Chiba Makoto that months of training had only made him more aware of his weakness.
• Chiba Makoto encouraged Uryū to seek help from his father, Ishida Ryūken, and told him Ryūken was a powerful Quincy.
• Uryū asked Chiba Makoto to teach him, and Chiba agreed to show him a few techniques.
• Chiba Makoto took Uryū and Nemu Kurotsuchi to the snowy woods and explained that Quincy talent largely depended on the amount of Reishi they could gather.
• Chiba Makoto said Ryūken might believe Uryū was unsuited to be a Quincy because his limited Reishi gathering restricted his potential, then began to add, “However...”

Chiba Makoto showed Ishida Uryū how stable, high-density Reishi Arrows could overcome his mixed-blood limits, then told him to focus his Quincy training on Hirenkyaku and arm strength. Ishida Uryū eagerly accepted the new direction.

• Chiba Makoto explained that Ishida Uryū's main limitation was the density of the Reishi Arrows he could form.
• Chiba Makoto gave Ishida Uryū a stable, high-density Reishi Arrow and instructed him to fire it.
• Ishida Uryū used the arrow to blast away nearly half a mountain, astonishing himself with its power.
• Chiba Makoto told Ishida Uryū he could provide powerful arrows and that his training should focus on how to use them.
• Chiba Makoto advised Ishida Uryū to abandon rapid volleys and train Hirenkyaku and arm strength.

Chiba Makoto began training Ishida Uryū through punishing hand-to-hand combat to strengthen his body and study how Reishi interacted with Matter Particles. As Karakura Town settled into a fragile calm, a young Soul Reaper arrived to take over the local duties, drawing the attention of Aizen Sōsuke and Chiba Makoto.

• Chiba Makoto gave Ishida Uryū special bracelets and ordered him to train by surviving Kage's attacks without firing Reishi Arrows.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi, concealed inside a Kage doll, overwhelmed Ishida Uryū in combat until he collapsed unconscious.
• Chiba Makoto arranged for Ishida Uryū to undergo daily hand-to-hand combat training, and Ishida Ryūken allowed it despite disapproving.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi worked at the flower shop and gradually seemed more at ease in her quieter life.
• A young female Soul Reaper guided by a Hell Butterfly arrived in Karakura Town to take over her predecessor's duties.
• Aizen Sōsuke and Chiba Makoto both noticed the arriving Soul Reaper.

Chiba Makoto reunited with Kuchiki Rukia after she arrived in Karakura Town, teasing her about mistaking the World of the Living for the Soul Society. After warning her about humans with spiritual awareness, he secretly saved a photo of her and realized the original timeline was about to begin.

• Chiba Makoto opened his window and found Kuchiki Rukia watching him from a utility pole.
• Kuchiki Rukia was startled when Makoto photographed her and learned he was Kurosaki Makoto, Ukitake Jūshirō's friend.
• Rukia asked Makoto to delete the photo, but he showed her an image without her in it and warned her about the World of the Living.
• Rukia called Makoto a pervert and disappeared, while he secretly altered the camera to save a photo of her.
• Makoto connected Rukia's arrival to the approaching events involving Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryū, Sōsuke Aizen, Yhwach, and Hyōsube Ichibē.

Seven years after arriving in the World of the Living, Chiba Makoto continued investigating Matter Particles and secretly observing Aizen Sōsuke, who was monitoring Karakura Town and Kuchiki Rukia. The next morning, Chiba encouraged Nemu Kurotsuchi’s cooking before leaving his flower shop for Karakura First High School, where a passerby warned him about an explosion on Matsushita Street.

• Chiba Makoto reflected that seven years of fusing with Matter Particles had increased his control over them but had not produced a substantial change in his power.
• Aizen Sōsuke monitored Chiba Makoto and then watched Kuchiki Rukia, unaware that Chiba used the same surveillance channel to observe him.
• Chiba speculated that Aizen was focused on Kurosaki Ichigo as well as the incomplete Hogyoku, and wondered how Aizen knew Urahara Kisuke would hide it in Kuchiki Rukia.
• Snopas prepared Chiba’s toiletries and clothes, while Nemu Kurotsuchi made breakfast; Chiba praised Nemu and told her companions should be allowed to improve at what they were not good at.
• Chiba left the flower shop for Karakura First High School and learned from a passerby that an explosion had occurred on Matsushita Street and the area had been sealed off.

Chiba Makoto arrived at Karakura First High School, where he taught flower arrangement and ran into Inoue Orihime after she crashed into him and ruined her bento. He began class with Kurosaki Ichigo and the others, asking the students to interpret and refine his arrangement.

• Chiba Makoto met Inoue Orihime at the school entrance after she fell and scattered her bento, then offered to share his lunch with her.
• Chiba Makoto reminded Inoue that she had crashed into him nine times that month, and she blushed before running inside.
• Chiba Makoto went to his office and checked his teaching schedule before preparing for class.
• Chiba Makoto entered Inoue Orihime's classroom, where Kurosaki Ichigo, Chad Yasutora, and Arisawa Tatsuki were among the students.
• Chiba Makoto showed the class a flower arrangement he had made and asked the students to interpret it and describe how they would refine it.

Chiba Makoto taught a flower arrangement class, fending off flirtatious questions and invitations while Kurosaki Ichigo watched. After class, Chiba learned that Masaki and Isshin had left on a trip for their anniversary, and he invited Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin to dinner at the flower shop.

• Chiba Makoto let the students work on flower arrangements while he read, and several girls approached him for guidance and flirtatious invitations.
• Honjo Chizuru invited Chiba to her home, but Arisawa Tatsuki stopped her and dragged her away after she made an inappropriate remark.
• Kurosaki Ichigo received a note from Asano Keigo complaining about Chiba’s popularity, then thought about the strange black-clothed figure he had seen fighting a monster.
• Chiba asked Ichigo why Masaki and Isshin were away, and Ichigo explained that they had left for a trip ahead of their wedding anniversary.
• Chiba invited Ichigo, Yuzu, and Karin to eat dinner at the flower shop.

Chiba Makoto kept up his ordinary teacher routine while reflecting on Kurosaki Ichigo’s sheltered upbringing and meeting Nemu Kurotsuchi on the rooftop to receive a lavish bento. He waited for Inoue Orihime in the ikebana clubroom and invited her to lunch, remaining curious about her unusual power.

• Kurosaki Ichigo refused to taste Nemu Kurotsuchi’s cooking, while Chiba Makoto reminded Inoue Orihime to meet him in the clubroom for lunch.
• Chiba Makoto reflected that Kurosaki Ichigo had hidden his ability to see souls and had been kept unaware of the supernatural world by his parents.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi delivered a general’s bento to Chiba Makoto on the rooftop, and he noticed that she seemed to enjoy cooking and was developing her own preferences.
• Chiba Makoto unlocked the ikebana clubroom and waited for Inoue Orihime, thinking about the nature of her Shun Shun Rikka power.
• Inoue Orihime nervously entered the clubroom, and Chiba Makoto invited her to share the bento.

Chiba Makoto invited Inoue Orihime to work at his flower shop, disguising his support as a paid job and promising she would always have food. After she left, he revealed that he had secretly placed a Wood Kishi in her food to monitor her, hoping to learn how she had gained a power suspected to be a "Name."

• Chiba Makoto shared food with Inoue Orihime and chatted with her until she relaxed.
• Chiba Makoto teased Inoue Orihime about keeping an embarrassing story from Kurosaki Ichigo, then asked her to work at his flower shop.
• Inoue Orihime worried she would be a burden, but Chiba Makoto insisted she accept the job and promised to feed her.
• After Inoue Orihime thanked him in tears, Chiba Makoto revealed that he had mixed a Wood Kishi into her fish roe to monitor her condition and investigate her newfound power.
• Chiba Makoto explained that he had quietly supported Inoue Orihime and other impoverished orphans in Karakura Town for years.

Ishida Uryū told Chiba Makoto he planned to transfer to Karakura First High School and revealed that he had fought his father again. Chiba Makoto sensed Kuchiki Rukia and Kurosaki Ichigo meeting, then realized Urahara Kisuke and Kurosaki Isshin were likely helping bring it about.

• Ishida Uryū visited Chiba Makoto at the flower shop and announced his plan to transfer to Karakura First High School for easier access to training.
• Chiba Makoto noticed Ishida Uryū's bandages, and Ishida Uryū admitted he had beaten Ishida Ryūken in another fight.
• Chiba Makoto told Ishida Uryū to make his own decision, and Ishida Uryū left without resolving his conflict with his father.
• Chiba Makoto told Snopas that Inoue Orihime would soon work part-time at the flower shop and asked Snopas to look after her.
• Chiba Makoto sensed Kuchiki Rukia's spiritual pressure overlapping with Kurosaki Ichigo's and chose not to interfere with their meeting.
• Snopas told Chiba Makoto that Urahara Kisuke had taken Yoruichi away, leading Chiba Makoto to suspect Kurosaki Isshin and Urahara Kisuke were advancing the meeting for their own purposes.

A Hollow attacked Kurosaki Ichigo and his sisters, badly injuring Kuchiki Rukia as she tried to protect them. Chiba Makoto rushed to intervene, but Urahara Kisuke blocked his way, and the chapter ended with the two preparing to fight.

• A Hollow attacked Kurosaki Yuzu and Kurosaki Karin, and Kurosaki Ichigo charged at it to protect them.
• Kuchiki Rukia stepped in front of the Hollow, but it bit her shoulder and left her badly wounded.
• Chiba Makoto headed toward the Kurosaki Clinic, but Urahara Kisuke stopped him with a Kidō barrier.
• Chiba Makoto demanded that Urahara Kisuke move aside, and Urahara drew his Zanpakuto when Chiba threatened to kill him.
• Chiba Makoto fired a Reishi Arrow at Urahara, who blocked it with Benihime.
• Chiba Makoto accused Soul Reapers of being untrustworthy and enlarged his arrow as he prepared to attack Urahara.

Chiba Makoto fought Urahara Kisuke, overwhelming him with powerful Reishi Arrows and nearly shooting him in the head. Yoruichi Shihoin stopped Makoto at the last moment, but his anger and suspicion toward her left the confrontation unresolved.

• Chiba Makoto fired a powerful Reishi Arrow at Urahara Kisuke, who blocked it with his Modified Blood Haze Shield.
• Urahara Kisuke used Benihime and a bottle to absorb the weakened arrow and refract its spirit particles into a Reishi Arrow aimed at Makoto.
• Chiba Makoto caught the refracted arrow bare-handed and fired it back, forcing Urahara Kisuke backward.
• Chiba Makoto appeared behind Urahara Kisuke and aimed another arrow at his head.
• Yoruichi Shihoin seized Makoto's hand before he could release the arrow and urged him to listen to her explanation.
• Makoto angrily resisted Yoruichi, who restrained him and ordered Urahara Kisuke to explain himself.