Chapter Summaries

Kurosaki Ichigo fought Zaraki Kenpachi outside the Senzaikyū and won, but collapsed from his injuries before he could reach Kuchiki Rukia. Unohana Retsu took the wounded fighters, along with Hitsugaya Tōshirō, to the Fourth Division Barracks for treatment.

• Zaraki Kenpachi removed his eyepatch and fought Kurosaki Ichigo with growing excitement as Ichigo pushed past his limits to protect his friends and rescue Kuchiki Rukia.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Zaraki Kenpachi landed their final blows, and Zaraki fell while Ichigo remained standing.
• Kurosaki Ichigo tried to continue toward the Senzaikyū but collapsed after seeing visions of Kuchiki Rukia and Chiba Makoto.
• Unohana Retsu arrived and ordered Fourth Division Soul Reapers to carry Zaraki Kenpachi and Kurosaki Ichigo to the barracks for treatment.
• Unohana Retsu also took the injured Hitsugaya Tōshirō for treatment, while Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō stayed out of her way.

Chiba Makoto reunited with Unohana Retsu in the Fourth Division barracks, where she asked him to help treat Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Kurosaki Ichigo. Meanwhile, Ishida Uryū and Inoue Orihime infiltrated the barracks to find Ichigo but struggled to search without drawing attention.

• Chiba Makoto and Unohana Retsu reminisced about his reforms to the Fourth Division and exchanged affectionate remarks.
• Unohana Retsu asked Chiba Makoto to help treat Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Kurosaki Ichigo, and he agreed to stay and assist her.
• Chiba Makoto spotted Yamada Hanataro heading toward a warehouse, followed him around a blind corner, and made him cry out in pain.
• Ishida Uryū and Inoue Orihime escaped the Technological Development Department and entered the Fourth Division barracks to rescue Kurosaki Ichigo before Kuchiki Rukia.
• Ishida Uryū and Inoue Orihime found the busy, expansive barracks too difficult to search discreetly and began looking for Ichigo room by room.

Ishida Uryū and Inoue Orihime split up to search for Kurosaki-kun while Chiba Makoto, disguised as Yamada Hanataro, treated Hitsugaya Tōshirō. Hitsugaya complained about Chiba Makoto without recognizing him, and the chapter ended with Chiba giving him an injection.

• Ishida Uryū and Inoue Orihime agreed to search for Kurosaki-kun separately and use Tsubaki Oni to stay in contact.
• Chiba Makoto, disguised as Yamada Hanataro, entered Hitsugaya Tōshirō’s ward and found Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku scolding him.
• Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo left Chiba alone with Hitsugaya after he claimed Captain Unohana had praised his healing skills.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō complained that Hinamori Momo and Matsumoto Rangiku compared him unfavorably to Chiba Makoto, whom he accused of being a hypocrite.
• Chiba Makoto told Hitsugaya Tōshirō that his injection might hurt, then gave it to him.

Chiba Makoto treated Hitsugaya Tōshirō’s internal injuries without anesthetic after warning him that it might affect his growth, leaving Hitsugaya exhausted and unresponsive. As Chiba left the infirmary, Ishida Uryū grabbed him from behind and ordered him not to move.

• Hitsugaya Tōshirō cried out during treatment, while Yamada Hanataro apologized for causing him Level 12 Pain.
• Chiba Makoto told Hitsugaya that surgery would require an incision and warned that anesthetic could affect his growth.
• Hitsugaya refused anesthetic so he could remain ready to fight, and Chiba proceeded with the operation.
• Matsumoto Rangiku and Hinamori Momo entered after the treatment and found Hitsugaya drenched and staring blankly at the ceiling.
• Chiba left the infirmary, but Ishida Uryū caught him from behind and told him not to move.

Chiba Makoto let Ishida Uryū believe he had taken Yamada Hanataro hostage and guided him toward Kurosaki Ichigo. Meanwhile, Kyōraku Shunsui exposed Inoue Orihime as a Ryoka, leaving her to face him alone.

• Ishida Uryū took Chiba Makoto hostage and learned that Hitsugaya Tōshirō had been screaming during treatment for injuries from Kurosaki Ichigo.
• Ishida Uryū questioned Chiba Makoto about Kurosaki Ichigo, then disguised himself as his assistant and followed him toward Ichigo's room.
• Chiba Makoto secretly helped Ishida Uryū avoid suspicion from other Fourth Division members.
• Kyōraku Shunsui recognized Inoue Orihime as a Ryoka and stopped her in the Fourth Division Barracks.
• Inoue Orihime considered calling Ishida Uryū for help, but decided not to endanger him against Kyōraku Shunsui.

Kyōraku Shunsui tried to use Inoue Orihime to lure her companion into the Fourth Division Barracks, but she ran to keep him from locating her companion. Unohana Retsu stopped Kyōraku and warned him after he damaged barracks buildings connected to Chiba Makoto.

• Kyōraku Shunsui read Inoue Orihime's intentions and urged her to lure her companion to him, but she refused.
• Kyōraku Shunsui damaged a wall to provoke a response, and Inoue Orihime ran deeper into the Fourth Division Barracks to change her position.
• Kyōraku Shunsui chased Inoue Orihime, creating more noise and damaging buildings along the way.
• Unohana Retsu blocked Inoue Orihime and demanded that Kyōraku explain why he had damaged the barracks Makoto had repaired.
• Kyōraku Shunsui called the damage accidental and promised repairs, and Unohana Retsu warned him not to make the Fourth Division a battlefield again.

Unohana Retsu took Inoue Orihime into custody while Ishida Uryū chose to continue toward Kurosaki Ichigo. Ukitake Jūshirō and Ise Nanao revealed they had anticipated Ishida’s move and demanded his surrender.

• Kyōraku Shunsui left after Unohana Retsu’s arrival, and Unohana escorted Inoue Orihime away to arrange a place for her to stay.
• Inoue Orihime told Unohana that Kurosaki Makoto had described her as upright and gentle.
• Ishida Uryū struggled over whether to help Inoue Orihime or continue toward Kurosaki Ichigo, then chose to proceed with the disguised Chiba Makoto.
• Ishida found Kurosaki Ichigo unconscious and heavily restrained in a hospital room.
• Ukitake Jūshirō and Ise Nanao emerged from concealment, and Ukitake explained that he had anticipated Ishida’s choices and asked him to surrender.

Ukitake Jūshirō confronted Ishida Uryū in the Fourth Division Barracks and questioned him about Kurosaki Ichigo and Kurosaki Makoto. Ishida escaped after using Chiba Makoto as a hostage, only to find Kyōraku Shunsui waiting outside.

• Ukitake Jūshirō asked Ishida Uryū about Kurosaki Ichigo’s family and Kurosaki Makoto’s whereabouts.
• Ishida realized he and Inoue Orihime were bait to draw out Kurosaki Makoto, then threatened Chiba Makoto with a Zanpakuto.
• Ukitake Jūshirō pressured Ishida to release Chiba Makoto, while Ishida refused to answer his questions.
• Ishida shoved Chiba Makoto toward Ukitake Jūshirō and escaped by smashing through the ward wall.
• Ukitake caught Chiba Makoto, apologized, and encouraged him before leaving the ward.
• Kyōraku Shunsui stood in Ishida Uryū’s path outside the ward.

Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō cornered Ishida Uryū in the Fourth Division Barracks and overwhelmed him after he transformed and fought back. As Kyōraku’s blade threatened to sever Ishida’s arm, a sudden Reishi Arrow appeared in front of him.

• Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō blocked Ishida Uryū’s escape and demanded that he surrender.
• Ishida Uryū transformed with Muscle Dragon Form, but Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō released their Shikai and quickly wounded him.
• Chiba Makoto knocked Ise Nanao unconscious, while Sōya Azashiro brought the real Yamada Hanataro into the concealed hospital room.
• Kyōraku Shunsui prepared to cut Ishida Uryū’s shoulder, but a Reishi Arrow suddenly arrived in front of him.

Chiba Makoto rescued the wounded Uryu Ishida from Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, then evaded Kyōraku’s pursuit. The chapter ended with Kyōraku realizing that Chiba Makoto knew his Zanpakuto’s abilities and had avoided both Zan Oni and Kage Oni.

• Chiba Makoto appeared at the Fourth Division Barracks and fired a vast rain of Reishi Arrows at Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō.
• Ukitake Jūshirō released Sōgyo no Kotowari and absorbed the arrows, then discharged their energy skyward after Chiba Makoto and Uryu Ishida escaped.
• Chiba Makoto carried the badly wounded Uryu Ishida away while Kyōraku Shunsui pursued them, and he told Uryu to leave everything to him.
• Kyōraku Shunsui attacked Chiba Makoto’s shadow with Kage Oni, but the strike missed.
• Kyōraku Shunsui concluded that Chiba Makoto had also avoided Zan Oni and knew the abilities of Katen Kyōkotsu.

Chiba Makoto confronted Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, who disagreed over whether to trust him but ultimately barred him from leaving. As Chiba fought the two captains, Kyōraku used Kage Oni to stab him through his shadow.

• Ukitake told Chiba he suspected someone was exploiting him to create chaos in the Seireitei and offered to investigate with him, but Chiba said he would uncover the truth himself.
• Kyōraku refused to let Chiba leave, so Chiba sent the wounded Ishida Uryū away before preparing to fight Kyōraku and Ukitake, both with their Shikai released.
• Kyōraku attacked from above using Zan Oni, but Chiba used his speed to get above him and aimed a Spirit Bow at his head.
• Ukitake fired Hadō #63: Raikōhō to interrupt Chiba, and Chiba's Reishi Arrow tore through the spell.
• Kyōraku stepped on Chiba's shadow and stabbed it with Katen Kyōkotsu, causing a shadow blade to pierce Chiba's body.

Chiba Makoto fought Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, resisting their coordinated attacks and countering their attempts to dictate his tactics. He revealed a Quincy technique that created thousands of Spirit Bows and prepared to unleash an overwhelming rain of Reishi Arrows.

• Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō coordinated their Zanpakuto abilities to wound Chiba Makoto, but Chiba Makoto’s defenses kept him from being seriously hurt.
• Kyōraku Shunsui urged Chiba Makoto to surrender, while Ukitake Jūshirō absorbed Chiba Makoto’s Reishi Arrows with Sōgyo no Kotowari and returned them in a devastating blast.
• Chiba Makoto evaded Ukitake Jūshirō’s counterattack and accused Kyōraku Shunsui of using psychological tactics to steer him away from ranged combat.
• Chiba Makoto drew in reishi and formed thousands of Spirit Bows behind himself, challenging Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō to face his immense Reishi Arrow rain.

Chiba Makoto unleashed a seemingly endless barrage of Reishi Arrows against Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō, pushing Ukitake to his limit. Kyōraku charged into the torrent and activated his long-hidden Bankai, whose altered rules left Chiba wary as Sōya Azashiro warned him about its erased records.

• Chiba Makoto summoned countless Spirit Bows and fired an Endless Reishi Arrow Rain at Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō.
• Ukitake used Sōgyo no Kotowari to absorb the Reishi Arrows, but the strain left him near his limit.
• Kyōraku discarded his hat and haori, then leaped into the arrow torrent to protect Ukitake and prepare to act.
• As arrows pierced him, Kyōraku drove both Zanpakuto into the ground and activated Bankai, Katen Kyōkotsu: Kuroi Matsu no Kokoro.
• The area darkened under Kyōraku’s spiritual pressure, and Sōya Azashiro warned Chiba that records of Kyōraku’s Bankai had been deliberately erased.

Chiba Makoto’s apparent wounds were revealed as a ploy after Ukitake Jūshirō broke through the Soul-Covering Membrane and Kyōraku Shunsui’s Bankai shared his injuries with him. Chiba escaped, while Kyōraku and Ukitake realized he had been controlling the battle; his larger plan remained unaffected.

• Chiba Makoto’s wounds suddenly appeared, interrupting his Reishi Arrow Rain, and Ukitake Jūshirō used Sōgyo no Kotowari to fire a blue pillar into the sky and pierce the Soul-Covering Membrane.
• Sōya Azashiro used the breach to break free of his restriction and asked Chiba Makoto whether the opportunity had arrived.
• Kyōraku Shunsui revealed that his Bankai’s first stage shared previous wounds with the person who inflicted them, but Chiba remained mobile and vanished.
• Kyōraku tried to pursue Chiba but collapsed from his own injuries, and Ukitake warned him that he could bleed to death.
• Kyōraku and Ukitake realized the wounds on Chiba had been fake because Kyōraku’s Kage Oni wounds had not transferred to himself.
• Sōya relayed their conversation to Chiba, who concluded that their discovery would not disrupt his plan.

Chiba Makoto brought Ishida Uryū and the unconscious Kurosaki Ichigo to his underground hideout, where he confined Soi Fon and secretly treated their injuries in a healing hot spring. Meanwhile, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni summoned an emergency captains' meeting and angrily condemned the Thirteen Divisions for their losses and damage.

• Chiba Makoto took Ishida Uryū to the underground space and revealed that Kurosaki Ichigo was unconscious there, while Orihime remained in the Fourth Division.
• Chiba Makoto carried the weakened Soi Fon into a wooden cabin and locked her inside, prompting Ishida Uryū to misunderstand his intentions.
• Chiba Makoto put Ishida Uryū and Kurosaki Ichigo into the healing hot spring and secretly treated their injuries while recovering himself.
• After the Thirteen Divisions lost track of Chiba Makoto and Ishida Uryū, they discovered Ise Nanao and Yamada Hanataro unconscious and Kurosaki Ichigo missing.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni convened an emergency captains' meeting and rebuked the captains over Aizen Sōsuke's death, Soi Fon's disappearance, their injuries, and the damage to Seireitei.

At the captains’ meeting, Yamamoto accepted the Central 46 Chambers’ order to execute Kuchiki Rukia at noon the next day, while suspicion grew that a captain was aiding the Ryoka. Aizen received a covert message in his hidden laboratory, where Sōya Azashiro confronted him after escaping from Muken.

• Kyōraku Shunsui blamed the Thirteen Divisions’ failures on their focus on Kurosaki Makoto and suggested that Makoto had a captain as an accomplice.
• Ichimaru Gin drew attention to Unohana Retsu, Komamura Sajin, and Ukitake Jūshirō because of their ties to Chiba Makoto, but Yamamoto rebuked the captains for baseless suspicion.
• A messenger delivered the Central 46 Chambers’ order to move up Kuchiki Rukia’s execution to noon the next day at Sōkyoku Hill, and Yamamoto ordered the captains to attend and guard against the Ryoka.
• Tōsen Kaname secretly sent a message through the Soul-Crushing Stone to Aizen Sōsuke in an underground laboratory.
• Aizen attacked the laboratory with Hadō #63: Raikōhō, but Sōya Azashiro blocked it with Kidō #81: Dankū and confronted him.
• Aizen identified Azashiro as the former Eleventh Division captain who had escaped Muken and asked why he had come.

Sōya Azashiro told Aizen Sōsuke that he had uncovered evidence that the Zero Division took Chiba Makoto’s soul, seeking Aizen’s help to avenge him. Aizen claimed he had been Makoto’s close friend and agreed to pursue revenge, while Sōya remained suspicious of his motives.

• Sōya Azashiro asked Aizen Sōsuke to cooperate, explaining that Aizen had secretly visited Chiba Makoto many times.
• Sōya said he wanted to avenge Makoto and revealed that he believed the Four Great Noble Clans had sealed Makoto’s soul before the Zero Division took it to the Soul King Palace.
• Aizen crushed the instrument in his hand and suggested Makoto had revealed his true nature during the battle in Hueco Mundo.
• Aizen said he and Makoto had been close friends, that he had investigated Makoto’s death, and that he would carry out Makoto’s final wish and hatred.
• Sōya said he wanted to destroy the Soul Society’s noble class first, and Aizen agreed.

Chiba Makoto prepared Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū for Rukia's accelerated execution, then tried to recruit the captive Soi Fon to teach Ichigo Shunpo. He offered her a recording of Chiba Makoto's voice, leaving Soi Fon to choose between helping an intruder and reclaiming a treasured reminder of Makoto.

• Chiba Makoto considered whether Aizen Sōsuke might genuinely regard him as a friend, then woke Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū and told them Rukia's execution had been moved up to the next day.
• Chiba Makoto visited the exhausted Soi Fon, told her she would be freed after the execution, and asked her to teach Ichigo Shunpo.
• Soi Fon refused until Chiba Makoto played a recording of Chiba Makoto's voice and offered her the recording pen in exchange for teaching Ichigo.
• Soi Fon threatened Chiba Makoto when he said he would destroy the recording if she refused, then struggled to decide whether to accept.

Soi Fon chose to trade Shunpo training for Chiba Makoto’s recorder, then listened to the recording of the man she cherished. Chiba Makoto told Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū that the execution was their last chance to rescue Kuchiki Rukia and that Ichigo needed to master Shunpo and Bankai within a day.

• Soi Fon recalled Chiba Makoto’s sacrifice for the Seireitei and initially seemed unwilling to betray the place he had defended.
• Soi Fon asked Chiba Makoto to leave her the recorder and agreed to teach Kurosaki Ichigo Shunpo in exchange.
• After Chiba Makoto untied her, Soi Fon lunged for the recorder and listened to it, absorbed in its contents.
• Chiba Makoto told Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū that their raid had failed and that Kuchiki Rukia’s execution the next day was their last chance to rescue her.
• Chiba Makoto urged Ichigo to master Shunpo and Bankai within a day to improve his chances against the captains.

Kurosaki Ichigo began training in Shunpo and Bankai, while Chiba Makoto helped Ishida Uryū identify a way to develop his fighting style. The chapter left Ichigo facing Zangetsu for Bankai training and Uryū considering a halberd-like weapon.

• Kurosaki Ichigo demonstrated his Shunpo, and Soi Fon judged that he might master it within a day.
• Chiba Makoto produced a Tenshin Tai and explained the danger of using it to force a Zanpakuto spirit into the real world.
• Kurosaki Ichigo thrust his Zanpakuto into the Tenshin Tai, and Zangetsu materialized as Chiba Makoto left him to train.
• Chiba Makoto told Ishida Uryū that his mixed-blood Quincy abilities had reached their limit and urged him to develop Muscle Dragon Form for close combat.
• Chiba Makoto suggested a weapon combining close-combat use with concealed arrows, and Ishida Uryū proposed a halberd.