Chapter Summaries

Unohana Retsu confronted Minazuki after her Zanpakuto accused her of suppressing her battle instincts and nearly revealing the identity of someone she cared about. Unohana defeated Minazuki in an instant, leaving Yoruichi Shihoin newly aware of how dangerous she was and still discussing Unohana’s earlier suggestion.

• Minazuki unfolded a blood-red space around Unohana Retsu and Yoruichi Shihoin, accusing Unohana of suppressing her battle instincts for a thousand years.
• Minazuki claimed Unohana had held back from killing Yoruichi because she feared upsetting someone, leaving Yoruichi shocked and curious about who that person was.
• Minazuki threatened to force Unohana to face her true self and began to name the man in the Seireitei who worried her.
• Unohana used her secret art, One-Blade Minazuki, to cut Minazuki apart and collapse its blood-red space.
• Yoruichi realized how often Unohana had spared her and expressed gratitude, then asked Unohana to be gentler about her suggestion.
• Unohana stomped Minazuki’s broken Zanpakuto and dismissed the earlier suggestion as a joke.

Unohana Retsu healed Yoruichi Shihoin and recruited her to respond to the chaos consuming the Seireitei, while Kurosaki Ichigo defeated Kuchiki Byakuya at Sōkyoku Hill and reassured Kuchiki Rukia. As Hollow swarms advanced toward Sōkyoku Hill, Yoruichi and Unohana headed into a city on the brink of collapse.

• Unohana Retsu treated Yoruichi Shihoin's wounds and asked her to help address the upheaval in the Seireitei.
• Unohana Retsu and Yoruichi Shihoin saw the ruined Noble District and widespread chaos, while Unohana wondered whether the crisis served Chiba Makoto's plans.
• Yoruichi Shihoin noticed the Hollow swarms moving toward Sōkyoku Hill and questioned why they had chosen it as their next target.
• Kurosaki Ichigo defeated Kuchiki Byakuya and told Kuchiki Rukia that he had avoided his vital points.
• Kurosaki Ichigo held Kuchiki Rukia back from her injured brother, and Rukia thanked Ichigo after realizing he had won.

Kuchiki Byakuya reclaimed Kuchiki Rukia and promised to challenge her execution sentence, but Ulquiorra arrived and pierced Byakuya through the chest. The chapter ended with Ulquiorra declaring that Byakuya’s sacrifice would not stop him from taking Rukia.

• An invisible force ended Kurosaki Ichigo’s Bankai and released Hitsugaya Tōshirō’s Hyōrinmaru, leaving Ichigo and Hitsugaya fighting their manifested Zanpakuto and Ishida Uryū.
• Kuchiki Byakuya seized Kuchiki Rukia while Kurosaki Ichigo was occupied, then told her the Kuchiki Clan would challenge the Central 46 Chambers’ ruling and protect her if she stayed in Soul Society.
• Ulquiorra appeared before Kuchiki Byakuya and demanded that he hand over Kuchiki Rukia.
• Kuchiki Byakuya attacked Ulquiorra with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, but Ulquiorra tore through the petals and pierced Byakuya’s chest.

Ulquiorra pierced Kuchiki Byakuya through the chest, but the wooden Star-Binding Restraint gifted by Chiba Makoto released vines that sealed his wound and let him fight again. Byakuya sent Kuchiki Rukia running to safety and stood in Ulquiorra’s way, determined to hold him back.

• Ulquiorra struck Kuchiki Byakuya through the chest, and Byakuya remembered Chiba Makoto’s gift and advice about seeing his heart clearly.
• The wooden Star-Binding Restraint released glowing vines that sealed Byakuya’s wound and restored enough strength for him to grab Ulquiorra and slash at him.
• Byakuya told Kuchiki Rukia that Makoto’s lingering power was keeping him alive and urged her to flee while he held Ulquiorra back.
• Byakuya smiled gently at Rukia and told her to live, and she fled in the opposite direction.
• Ulquiorra tried to pursue Rukia, but Byakuya blocked his path and prepared to keep fighting.

Kuchiki Byakuya used the power of a gift from Kuchiki Byakuya to unleash his Final Release against Ulquiorra, while Kurosaki Ichigo rescued Kuchiki Rukia from Grimmjow. As Hollows confronted the Captains, Chōjirō Sasakibe announced a truce and alliance between the Thirteen Divisions and the Ryoka to repel the Hollow horde.

• Kuchiki Byakuya released Final Release: White Emperor Sword and charged at Ulquiorra.
• Kuchiki Rukia fled toward Senzaikyū but ran into Grimmjow, who grabbed her; Kurosaki Ichigo struck Grimmjow and rescued her.
• Kyōraku Shunsui, Ukitake Jūshirō, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and Zaraki Kenpachi confronted Grimmjow as Barragan, Tier Harribel, Yammy, and their Fracción advanced.
• Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō discussed the Captains’ weakened state and the need to ally with the Ryoka.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe relayed Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s order announcing a truce and alliance with Kurosaki Makoto’s Ryoka to fight the Hollows.

Aizen Sōsuke confronted Kurosaki Ichigo on Sōkyoku Hill and revealed that he had orchestrated the chaos in Seireitei to take Kuchiki Rukia. Ichigo learned that the Soul Reapers and his allies were being defeated, while Aizen demanded that he surrender Rukia.

• Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō welcomed the news that the intruders might ally with the Soul Reapers, while Zaraki Kenpachi attacked a Yammy and the battle began.
• Kurosaki Ichigo fled across Sōkyoku Hill with Kuchiki Rukia as Las Noches Fracción pursued him, until they surrounded his final escape route.
• Aizen Sōsuke arrived as the Fracción knelt before him, and he explained that Rukia's execution and the intruders' actions had been part of his plan to weaken the Thirteen Divisions and seize Rukia.
• Kurosaki Ichigo refused to hand Rukia over, but Aizen showed him that Kuchiki Byakuya had fallen, Zaraki Kenpachi and Kurotsuchi Mayuri had been defeated, Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō were near defeat, and Ichimaru Gin had skewered Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Ishida Uryū.
• Aizen Sōsuke told Kurosaki Ichigo that Kurosaki Makoto could not reach them in time and again asked him to surrender Kuchiki Rukia.

Ulquiorra seized Kuchiki Rukia from the badly wounded Kurosaki Ichigo, triggering Ichigo’s Hollow side to take over and attack. Aizen Sōsuke stopped Ichigo’s strike and took Rukia, while Ichigo’s mask continued transforming as he watched Aizen touch her face.

• Ulquiorra appeared beside Aizen Sōsuke and received permission to retrieve Kuchiki Rukia.
• Ulquiorra stabbed Kurosaki Ichigo in the chest, lifted Rukia from his arms, and carried her toward Aizen.
• Ichigo’s Hollow spiritual pressure erupted, and a half-formed mask appeared as he attacked Ulquiorra with Zangetsu.
• Ichigo restrained Ulquiorra with Zangetsu’s cloth and nearly struck his neck, but Aizen stopped the blade between two fingers.
• Aizen took Rukia from Ulquiorra and touched her face while Ichigo watched, causing Ichigo’s mask to form into a minotaur-like outline.

Kurosaki Ichigo transformed into a Hollow but was defeated by Aizen Sōsuke, who extracted another Hogyoku from Kuchiki Rukia. After Ichigo cried for help, Chiba Makoto appeared and confronted the Hollows threatening his student.

• Kurosaki Ichigo Hollowified, but Aizen Sōsuke broke Zangetsu and critically wounded him.
• Aizen Sōsuke extracted another Hogyoku from Kuchiki Rukia while Ichigo lay helpless.
• Kurosaki Ichigo called out to Uncle Kurosaki, prompting the subordinate officers to mock him.
• Chiba Makoto killed a mocking Arrancar with a Reishi Arrow and appeared above Sōkyoku Hill.
• Chiba Makoto summoned countless Spirit Bows and demanded to know what the Hollows had done to his student, halting Barragan and Tier Harribel's attacks on Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō.

Aizen Sōsuke revealed that Makoto Kurosaki had helped destroy most of Soul Society's nobility, but Makoto turned against him and attacked the Hollows gathered at Sōkyoku Hill. The ensuing clash gave the Soul Reapers and Visored Army a chance to surround Aizen's forces, while Inoue Orihime rushed to check on Makoto.

• Aizen Sōsuke praised Makoto Kurosaki for drawing away Soul Society's forces and wiping out more than seventy percent of its nobility, then Makoto vowed to bury Aizen on Sōkyoku Hill.
• Barragan charged at Makoto, but a rain of Reishi Arrows engulfed him before the other Hollows countered with Ceros.
• The collision between the Reishi Arrows and Ceros caused an enormous explosion that swept across the Seireitei.
• Yoruichi Shihoin rescued Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia as Urahara Kisuke, Tsukabishi Tessai, the Visored Army, and elite Soul Reapers arrived and surrounded Aizen's group.
• Makoto descended in front of Unohana Retsu, and Inoue Orihime hurried over to check whether he was hurt.

Chiba Makoto concealed the severity of his injuries and redirected Inoue Orihime to heal the fallen fighters while he prepared to face Aizen Sōsuke. With reinforcements gathered and Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō at his side, Kyōraku declared that the situation had reversed, but Aizen laughed at his confidence.

• Unohana Retsu reacted tensely when Chiba Makoto addressed her formally, and Inoue Orihime began healing his deliberately faked burn injuries.
• Chiba Makoto stopped Inoue Orihime from treating him and entrusted her with healing Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū so they could return to battle.
• Yoruichi Shihoin and Onmitsukidō members rescued the fallen fighters, while rescue squads treated unconscious captains under the protection of the Visored Army and the gathered Soul Reapers.
• Chiba Makoto walked toward Aizen Sōsuke as Kyōraku Shunsui and Ukitake Jūshirō arrived beside him and thanked him for the timely reinforcements.
• Kyōraku Shunsui told Aizen Sōsuke that the situation had reversed, and Aizen laughed at Kyōraku’s apparent confidence.

Aizen Sōsuke dismissed Kyōraku Shunsui’s warnings and revealed that he had long watched Kurosaki Makoto, whom he believed the Hōgyoku had empowered through his connection with Kuchiki Rukia. He invited Makoto to join him and promised him greater power, leaving the Soul Reapers tense over whether Makoto would accept.

• Kyōraku Shunsui warned Aizen Sōsuke that the Soul Reapers could hold him off until Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni dealt with the materialized Ryūjin Jakka, and argued that Muramasa’s ability would not work well against Captains who had already experienced it.
• Aizen Sōsuke mocked Kyōraku Shunsui as an insignificant piece and said he was more interested in Kurosaki Makoto’s power.
• Aizen Sōsuke revealed that he had monitored Makoto since Makoto saved Kurosaki Masaki and had arranged for Tier Harribel and Yammy to try to kill him in Karakura Town.
• Aizen Sōsuke claimed that the Hōgyoku materialized a person’s deepest desires and that Makoto’s power had grown through his repeated interactions with Kuchiki Rukia, who carried the Hōgyoku in her soul.
• Aizen Sōsuke invited Makoto to join his camp and offered to use the Hōgyoku to give him greater power, while Kyōraku Shunsui and the other Soul Reapers watched Makoto anxiously.

Chiba Makoto rejected Aizen Sōsuke’s offer, claiming that he sought power only to protect those he cared about, while Aizen interpreted the words as kinship. Urahara Kisuke tried to trap Aizen at Sōkyoku Hill, but Sōya Azashiro exposed and destroyed the barrier nodes, allowing Aizen’s group to escape toward Hueco Mundo as Aizen declared his ambition to stand in the heavens.

• Chiba Makoto refused Aizen Sōsuke’s offer and said he wanted power to protect his students and loved ones.
• Urahara Kisuke challenged Aizen over his crimes and raised a Kidō barrier to block his escape.
• Aizen dismissed Urahara’s accusations and revealed that Sōya Azashiro had exposed the barrier nodes, causing the barrier to collapse.
• Aizen introduced Sōya Azashiro as the former Eleventh Division captain and Eighth Kenpachi, then escaped with his group through a Garganta.
• Aizen crushed his glasses and declared that he and Sōya Azashiro would stand in the heavens.

Sōsuke Aizen and his allies escaped through a Garganta after Aizen rejected Hinamori Momo’s pleas, leaving Seireitei devastated and the captains confronting the political fallout. As Chiba Makoto heard Unohana Retsu recount the captain’s meeting, she revealed Kyōraku Shunsui’s theory that Makoto may have influenced Aizen’s betrayal.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni arrived at Sōkyoku Hill but could not attack Aizen’s group, who were protected inside the Inverse Membrane.
• Hinamori Momo called out to Aizen, but he dismissed her as foolish and entered the Garganta; Ichimaru Gin looked back at Matsumoto Rangiku before following him.
• The Hollows and their allies departed, and Seireitei spent five days dealing with casualties, the destruction of the Noble District, and the deaths of Central 46 Chambers.
• The captains focused on Aizen, the Hogyoku, and the meaning of his reference to a “tender thing within one's heart,” while the Second and Eighth Divisions sought clues to his weakness.
• Unohana Retsu told Chiba Makoto that Kyōraku Shunsui suspected Makoto had something to do with Aizen’s betrayal, based on changes in Aizen’s behavior and his unusual pattern of contact with Makoto.

Unohana Retsu told Chiba Makoto about Kyōraku Shunsui’s theory that Aizen Sōsuke planned to revive him, but Makoto dismissed it. Inoue Orihime’s arrival prompted Unohana to tease Makoto about their relationship and press him for an answer, leaving him suspicious of the tea she offered.

• Unohana Retsu explained Kyōraku Shunsui’s theory that Aizen Sōsuke had betrayed Soul Society to revive Chiba Makoto, and Makoto called the idea nonsense.
• Unohana Retsu said Kyōraku Shunsui had proposed using Makoto’s corpse to lure Aizen into using the Hogyoku, but Makoto believed Aizen had merely been wary of him.
• Inoue Orihime rushed into Makoto’s arms, and Makoto stiffened under Unohana Retsu’s watchful gaze.
• Unohana Retsu teased Inoue Orihime and Makoto about being deeply in love, then asked Makoto what he thought of a teacher-student romance.
• Makoto tried to avoid answering, but Unohana Retsu urged him to drink his tea and think; he wondered whether she had put something in it.

Makoto suspected Unohana Retsu had tampered with the tea, but drank both his and Inoue Orihime’s cups and entered a state resembling Sage Mode. He then began training Orihime and speculated that her Shun Shun Rikka might be a power hidden deep within her soul.

• Makoto suspected Unohana Retsu had added something to the tea, then drank both cups himself to protect Inoue Orihime.
• The tea put Makoto into a state he recognized as Sage Mode, and Unohana Retsu left to treat the wounded.
• Makoto proposed a special course to strengthen Orihime’s Shun Shun Rikka, briefly confusing her with his wording.
• Makoto explained that Orihime’s power was based on rejection and seemed far beyond a normal Fullbring.
• Makoto suggested that Orihime’s unusual ability might be a power hidden deep within her soul.

Chiba Makoto used the Tsunayashiro Clan’s research to explain that Inoue Orihime’s Shun Shun Rikka embodied the power of Rejection of All Things and might be limited by its Fullbring form. He began training Orihime to develop that power through conscious intent, leaving her practicing new incantations in the training ground.

• Chiba Makoto recalled that Fullbringers carried fragments of the Soul King and learned that the Tsunayashiro Clan had researched them in hopes of creating a replacement Soul King.
• Chiba Makoto concluded that Orihime’s ability to reject injury and other phenomena seemed far beyond ordinary Fullbring.
• Chiba Makoto told Orihime to develop her true power, which he called Rejection of All Things, rather than relying only on Shun Shun Rikka.
• Orihime misunderstood his use of the word “develop” and blushed, while Chiba Makoto took her response as shyness and dependence.
• Chiba Makoto led Orihime to the training ground and instructed her to focus on rejection itself and practice changing her incantation.

Yamada Seinosuke returned to the Fourth Division after Urahara Kisuke removed the Hollow within him, expecting to resume his former role. The chapter left him unrecognized at the barracks, where a junior Soul Reaper mistook his claim to be the former Vice-Captain for a joke.

• Chiba Makoto stayed in his hospital room while Inoue Orihime continued training and lived with Unohana Retsu.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni consolidated Soul Society’s resources and delayed reestablishing Central 46, while the Visored Army prepared to face Aizen Sōsuke in the World of the Living.
• Yamada Seinosuke had Urahara Kisuke remove the Hollow within him and returned to the Fourth Division.
• Yamada Seinosuke entered the barracks expecting a welcome and the vacant Lieutenant position, but the busy members ignored him.
• A young Soul Reaper asked Yamada Seinosuke to move from the entrance and dismissed his claim to be the former Vice-Captain as a joke.

Yamada Seinosuke returned to the Fourth Division after leaving the Visored Army, but he got lost in its rebuilt barracks before Chiba Makoto found him. Unohana Retsu welcomed him back and he vowed to resume his duties as vice-captain.

• A young Soul Reaper called Yamada Seinosuke sloppy, and he wandered through the Fourth Division Barracks until he realized he was lost.
• Chiba Makoto encountered Yamada Seinosuke while avoiding Soi Fon, who had been visiting the barracks to question him about supposed relics.
• Yamada Seinosuke told Chiba Makoto that he had left the Visored Army and returned to the Fourth Division, though he concealed his confusion and the cold reception he had received.
• Chiba Makoto explained that the barracks had been rebuilt and expanded, then escorted Yamada Seinosuke to Unohana Retsu.
• Unohana Retsu welcomed Yamada Seinosuke back, and he promised to shoulder the vice-captain's duties and ease her burdens.

Unohana Retsu refused to restore Yamada Seinosuke to the Fourth Division's Vice-Captain position, sending him to work in the Mortuary instead. After reuniting with Yamada Rinka, Seinosuke discovered that the photograph she was honoring showed Chiba Makoto, while Makoto warned Unohana that the intruders would soon be allowed to return to the World of the Living.

• Yamada Seinosuke told Unohana Retsu that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had promised the Visored Army members could regain their former positions, but Unohana refused to appoint him Vice-Captain.
• Unohana sent Yamada Seinosuke to the Mortuary to help Yamada Rinka and learn how the Fourth Division had changed.
• Yamada Seinosuke found Yamada Rinka honoring a photograph and offerings, then saw that the photograph showed Chiba Makoto.
• Chiba Makoto told Unohana Retsu that Yamada Seinosuke had the ability and medical skills to be a qualified Vice-Captain, but Unohana said Lisa and Isane already managed the division well.
• Chiba Makoto warned Unohana Retsu that the intruders would likely be permitted to return to the World of the Living once the Seireitei stabilized, and she snapped a flower as she listened.

Chiba Makoto and Unohana Retsu reaffirmed their promise before Soi Fon interrupted them and chased after him. Two days later, the Seireitei recognized the intruders’ contributions, cleared Kuchiki Rukia, and sent Chiba Makoto and his companions back to the World of the Living, where Urahara Kisuke noticed Makoto looked exhausted.

• Unohana Retsu asked whether her promise with Chiba Makoto still stood, and he assured her it did before asking to visit her hot springs that night.
• Soi Fon arrived, prompting Chiba Makoto to flee with Hirenkyaku as she pursued him, while Unohana Retsu watched with a scheming smile.
• After two days, the Thirteen Divisions recognized the intruders’ role in saving the Seireitei, named Chiba Makoto an important ally, granted Kurosaki Ichigo Substitute Soul Reaper status, and declared Kuchiki Rukia innocent.
• At the Senkaimon, Chiba Makoto promised Ukitake Jūshirō he would oppose Aizen Sōsuke’s plans and said farewell to the captains, privately promising Unohana Retsu that there would be no more partings.
• Chiba Makoto, Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryū, and Inoue Orihime returned to the World of the Living, where Urahara Kisuke remarked that Makoto looked pale and exhausted.