Chapter Summaries

Chiba Makoto arrived with Kurosaki Ichigo and Uryu Ishida, then led them toward Floating Ice City to check on Sōjirō Kusaka rather than support Kuchiki Byakuya’s battle. The other Soul Reapers remained locked in difficult fights against modified Arrancar as Hisagi Shūhei wondered what awaited inside the city.

• Kurosaki Ichigo cut down one Arrancar with Getsuga Tenshō, while Uryu Ishida crushed another with his Muscle Dragon Form.
• Chiba Makoto advised Soi Fon to trust her companions, but she shook off his hand and hurried toward Floating Ice City.
• Chiba Makoto declined Kurosaki Ichigo’s suggestion to help Kuchiki Byakuya’s group, choosing instead to follow Soi Fon and assess Sōjirō Kusaka’s condition.
• Chiba Makoto noticed Hisagi Shūhei fighting without using Bankai, while Hisagi sensed a familiar gaze and continued battling a long-range Arrancar.
• Kuchiki Byakuya and Hitsugaya Tōshirō struggled against modified Arrancar with countering abilities and High-Speed Regeneration, while Abarai Renji was badly pressured.

Chiba Makoto, Soi Fon, Kurosaki Ichigo, and Ishida Uryū fought their way through the Floating Ice City and confronted Sōjirō Kusaka, who had merged with the King's Seal as a giant Ice Dragon. As Sōjirō attacked, Chiba Makoto suspected Kusaka was allied with a Tsunayashiro Clan member whose whereabouts and motives remained unknown.

• Chiba Makoto used Reishi Absorption to shield Soi Fon from Yin and Yang's barrage as Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū advanced on the two Arrancar turrets.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Ishida Uryū destroyed Yin and Yang, but the turrets regenerated, so Chiba Makoto left them to hold the pair back while he and Soi Fon went to the Floating Ice City's summit.
• Chiba Makoto and Soi Fon found Sōjirō Kusaka fused with the King's Seal as a giant Ice Dragon, and Kusaka asked whether a man's plan had failed.
• Soi Fon demanded to know who was using All Things in Nature, angering Sōjirō Kusaka and prompting him to unleash a storm of freezing ice spikes.
• Soi Fon used Shunkō to evade the ice and charge at Sōjirō Kusaka, while Chiba Makoto considered Kusaka's possible alliance with a Tsunayashiro Clan member and wondered where that person was.

Chiba Makoto sent Yoruichi to the World of the Living to protect Ginjō Kūgo’s corpse, suspecting that Sōjirō Kusaka’s hidden ally was targeting the Fullbringers. Urahara Kisuke rushed to Kurosaki Flower Shop after realizing the danger, where he confronted a cloaked attacker wielding Benihime and carrying Ginjō’s corpse.

• Chiba Makoto told Yoruichi to contact Urahara Kisuke and protect Ginjō Kūgo’s corpse in the World of the Living.
• Yoruichi agreed to Chiba Makoto’s request and sped toward the Senkaimon in the Shihoin Courtyard.
• Urahara Kisuke saw Yoruichi heading for the Senkaimon, inferred that danger had arisen in the World of the Living, and hurried to Kurosaki Flower Shop.
• Urahara Kisuke found Chad Yasutora severely wounded underground, while a cloaked attacker held Ginjō Kūgo’s corpse and wielded Benihime.
• Urahara Kisuke accused the cloaked figure of hiding in Sōjirō Kusaka’s shadow and framing Mr. Kurosaki, then drew his Zanpakuto to confront them.

Urahara Kisuke confronted Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who revealed his role in Tōsen Kaname’s tragedy and hinted at a plan involving substitutes. Tokinada tried to escape with Ginjō Kūgo’s corpse, but Yoruichi Shihoin knocked him away from the Senkaimon.

• Urahara Kisuke and Tsunayashiro Tokinada clashed with their identical Benihime techniques, revealing Tokinada’s face.
• Tokinada taunted Urahara by recounting how he had killed Kyouka and deceived Tōsen Kaname during the destruction of the Noble District.
• Tokinada revealed that Urahara had secretly created two substitutes at Hyōsube Ichibē’s request and claimed he had gathered everything needed to reshape the world.
• Tokinada opened a Senkaimon and began retreating through it with Ginjō Kūgo’s corpse.
• Yoruichi Shihoin ambushed Tokinada and kicked him away from the Senkaimon, leaving him to emerge from the smoke and complain about her heavy-handed attack.

Yoruichi Shihoin and Urahara Kisuke confronted Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who revealed that Enrakyōten let him imitate Zanpakuto abilities, including Kyōka Suigetsu. As illusions overwhelmed them, Tokinada escaped through a Senkaimon with Ginjo Kūgo's corpse, saying the real show was about to begin.

• Yoruichi Shihoin attacked Tsunayashiro Tokinada with Shunkō over the destruction of her flower-shop cat nest, but his apparent defeat proved to be an illusion.
• Tokinada wounded Yoruichi Shihoin with an imitation of Kyōka Suigetsu, and she identified the Tsunayashiro Clan's Divine Artifact, Enrakyōten, as the source of his copied abilities.
• Tokinada explained that Enrakyōten could imitate Zanpakuto abilities and claimed he had discovered that Aizen Sōsuke had concealed Kyōka Suigetsu's true ability.
• Tokinada said he had tried to draw out Chiba Makoto by imitating his ability, but concluded that Makoto was dead after seeing no reaction from Yoruichi Shihoin or Urahara Kisuke.
• Yoruichi Shihoin and Urahara Kisuke attacked Tokinada, but countless copies appeared under Kyōka Suigetsu's influence.
• Tokinada entered a newly opened Senkaimon with Ginjo Kūgo's corpse and declared that the real show was about to begin.

As Seireitei struggled to contain the expanding King's Seal and its Hollow forces, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni sent Chōjirō Sasakibe to support the other captains and Kurosaki Makoto. Unohana Retsu stayed behind to guard Yamamoto and urged him to consider a successor, leaving him recalling a figure from his distant past.

• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported that the King's Seal had covered about a third of Seireitei, the captains were tied up by Arrancar, and Kurosaki Makoto, Kurosaki Ichigo, Ishida Uryū, and Soi Fon were the only ones to reach the Floating Ice City.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni ordered Chōjirō Sasakibe to help the other captains escape the Arrancar and assist Kurosaki Makoto against Sōjirō Kusaka.
• Unohana Retsu appeared and offered to protect Yamamoto, allowing Chōjirō Sasakibe to leave for the battlefield.
• Unohana Retsu told Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni that age and his burdens had weakened his resolve and that he needed to consider a successor.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni considered Kyōraku Shunsui and Hitsugaya Tōshirō, then remembered another figure from his distant past.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni rejected Unohana Retsu’s suggestion that he choose a successor, while Chiba Makoto rescued Soi Fon from Sōjirō Kusaka’s Ice Dragon. After warning Soi Fon that her Bankai could irreversibly release the King's Seal, Chiba Makoto began to mention something related to himself, and Soi Fon urgently demanded that he hand it over.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni insisted that only someone who defeated him and took the title of 'Strongest Shinigami' could become Captain-Commander.
• Sōjirō Kusaka trapped Soi Fon inside the Thousand Year Ice Prison and struck at her with his Ice Dragon's tail.
• Chiba Makoto stopped the dragon tail, hurled Sōjirō Kusaka into the ice, and freed Soi Fon from the prison.
• Chiba Makoto warned Soi Fon that using her Bankai could destroy the King's Seal and cause its irreversible release.
• Soi Fon grabbed Chiba Makoto's wrist and demanded that he hand over the things related to Chiba Makoto.

Chiba Makoto defeated Sōjirō Kusaka’s Ice Dragon by exploiting flaws in its spirit-particle structure, but Kusaka Hollowfied and fused the King’s Seal into his chest. The battle continued as Kusaka’s mixed Soul Reaper and Hollow power rapidly grew.

• Sōjirō Kusaka recovered with the King’s Seal and attacked Chiba Makoto and Soi Fon as an Ice Dragon.
• Chiba Makoto charged into Kusaka’s extreme cold and cut through the Ice Dragon with a giant Spirit Particle Greatsword.
• Chiba Makoto moved to remove the King’s Seal, but Sōjirō Kusaka began Hollowfying and broke through the Ice Dragon’s forehead.
• Sōjirō Kusaka regenerated his shattered arm and pressed the King’s Seal into his chest.

Sōjirō Kusaka used the King's Seal to evolve, but his body collapsed under its power and he vanished, leaving the Seal behind. As Hitsugaya Tōshirō moved to take up the duty of guarding it, an unknown attacker severed his arm and seized the King's Seal through a Senkaimon.

• Chiba Makoto and Soi Fon attacked Sōjirō Kusaka, but the King's Seal nullified Soi Fon's Two-Hit Kill and helped him break free.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō and the other Soul Reapers arrived, but Sōjirō Kusaka lost control of his evolution and collapsed completely around the King's Seal.
• The black curtain and Hollow attacks ceased, and the Floating Ice City fell onto the Seireitei, destroying the Senzaikyū.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō stepped forward to guard the King's Seal, but a sudden attacker severed his arm.
• A hand reached through a newly opened Senkaimon and seized the King's Seal.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada stole the King's Seal and escaped with Ginjo Kūgo's corpse, then used Enrakyōten to unleash a forest modeled on Chiba Makoto's Zanpakuto ability. The Soul Reapers gathered to pursue Tokinada, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni apologized to Chiba Makoto and his companions for the Thirteen Divisions' earlier conduct.

• Kuchiki Byakuya attacked the arm holding the King's Seal, but Tsunayashiro Tokinada emerged from the Senkaimon behind a Blood Haze Shield and claimed he was a king, not a traitor.
• Tokinada used Thousand-Coil White Snake to teleport away with the King's Seal and Ginjo Kūgo's corpse, and the Soul Reapers tracked his spatial fluctuation.
• Tokinada activated All Things in Nature: Birth of the Tree Realm, creating a vast forest that enraged Kuchiki Byakuya, Soi Fon, and Hisagi Shūhei because it imitated Chiba Makoto's Zanpakuto ability.
• Kuchiki Byakuya explained Tokinada's theft and Enrakyōten to Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the other captains, who realized Tokinada had likely copied the Zanpakuto abilities used in earlier attacks.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni apologized to Chiba Makoto, Kurosaki Ichigo, and Ishida Uryū on behalf of the Thirteen Divisions, while warning that enemies remained in the Seireitei.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni apologized to Chiba Makoto and led the Soul Reapers into the forest to confront Tsunayashiro Tokinada. At the forest’s center, Tokinada began a ritual using the King's Seal, Ginjo Kūgo, and hundreds of Soul Reaper corpses, then unleashed Enrakyōten’s power to make the forest grow violently.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni thanked Chiba Makoto for his help, apologized for the Thirteen Divisions’ actions, and asked him to wait while he dealt with Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
• Ishida Uryū mocked the Thirteen Divisions, but Chiba Makoto rebuked him and said they had come to prevent disaster.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni led the remaining captains and Bankai-capable Soul Reapers into the forest, pushing toward its center.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada placed the King's Seal in Ginjo Kūgo’s chest and laid him atop hundreds of Soul Reaper corpses inside a ritual formation.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada drove Enrakyōten into the ground, causing the forest to expand wildly and tear through the surrounding ruins.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s flames failed to stop Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s copied All Things in Nature from regrowing the forest, leaving the Soul Reapers struggling to break through. Komamura Sajin unleashed his Bankai, and the Captains launched a coordinated assault on the wooden giants.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni burned the giant trees, but they grew into flaming wooden giants despite Ryūjin Jakka’s flames.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni used Blazing Inferno to reduce the forest and wooden giants to scorched earth.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada remarked that scorched earth would not end the fight, and trees erupted again to surround the Soul Reapers with wooden giants.
• Kuchiki Byakuya warned that delays would increase the danger while the King’s Seal remained in Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s hands.
• Komamura Sajin activated Bankai—Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō—and cut through the wooden giants as other Soul Reapers joined the assault.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s replicated All Things in Nature overwhelmed the Soul Reapers with regenerating wooden humanoids and a colossal Wood Dragon, forcing Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni to intervene. As the battle continued, Unohana Retsu explained that Yamamoto was tiring from restraining the King's Seal, while Chiba Makoto suggested the crisis might reveal Zanka no Tachi.

• Several wooden humanoids fused into a colossal Wood Dragon that knocked back Komamura Sajin’s Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō and crushed it in its coils.
• Abarai Renji sent King of the Baboons, Snake Tail to help Komamura, but the Wood Dragon smashed it apart with its tail.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni cut the Wood Dragon in half with Ryūjin Jakka, then began breathing heavily.
• Unohana Retsu told Chiba Makoto that Yamamoto was tiring after using Ryūjin Jakka to restrain the King's Seal's expanding spiritual pressure.
• Chiba Makoto said the Thirteen Divisions could not overcome All Things in Nature quickly through sheer numbers, while the battle left open the possibility of seeing Yamamoto’s Zanka no Tachi.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s Wood Dragons overwhelmed the Soul Reapers until Zaraki Kenpachi joined the fight and helped them push through the forest. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the advancing Captains reached its center, where they found Ginjo Kūgo transformed into a Hollow-like being absorbing the spirit particles of the dead.

• Tsunayashiro Tokinada summoned more Wood Dragons, trapping the Soul Reapers as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni fought to clear a path.
• Unohana Retsu teased Chiba Makoto about Divine Artifacts and his connection to Yoruichi.
• Zaraki Kenpachi broke free from Sōjirō Kusaka’s ice, learned from Kusajishi Yachiru that the Soul Reapers were fighting in the forest, and charged into battle.
• Zaraki Kenpachi, Komamura Sajin, Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and Abarai Renji held off the Wood Dragons while Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the other Captains advanced.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the Captains found Ginjo Kūgo atop a heap of Soul Reaper corpses, absorbing their spirit particles in a Hollow-like form.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada revealed that he had engineered Ginjo Kūgo’s transformation by feeding him the Tsunayashiro Clan’s Soul King fragments and using the war to gather corpses. Ginjo emerged as “Soul King Kugo,” and the chapter ended with Tokinada challenging the Soul Reapers to choose between him and the absent true Soul King.

• Tsunayashiro Tokinada explained how he manipulated Ginjo Kūgo, Sōjirō Kusaka, and the war to create a vessel from humans, Soul Reapers, Hollows, the King's Seal, and Soul King fragments.
• Furious at Tokinada’s account of Sōjirō Kusaka, Hitsugaya Tōshirō attacked him with Ryūsenka and cut through the trees in his path.
• Ginjo Kūgo intercepted Hitsugaya and plunged his hand into Hitsugaya’s chest, draining his strength.
• Tokinada named the transformed Ginjo “Soul King Kugo” and asked Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Soi Fon whether they would submit to him.
• Yamamoto rejected the artificial Soul King, while Tokinada questioned whether the Thirteen Divisions would oppose Soul King Kugo despite the true Soul King’s empty throne.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni confronted Soul King Kugo, whose stolen use of Hyōrinmaru matched Ryūjin Jakka. As Soi Fon, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Hisagi Shūhei attacked Tsunayashiro Tokinada, Aizen Sōsuke arrived above the Seireitei.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni attacked Soul King Kugo with Ryūjin Jakka, but Kugo took Hyōrinmaru from the unconscious Hitsugaya Tōshirō and countered with overwhelming ice.
• Soi Fon struck at Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who evaded her Two-Hit Kill and defended himself against attacks from Kuchiki Byakuya and Hisagi Shūhei.
• Soi Fon, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Hisagi Shūhei joined forces against Tsunayashiro Tokinada, while he sent wooden giants and Wood Dragons to fight the Thirteen Divisions.
• The clash between Hyōrinmaru and Ryūjin Jakka divided the forest into freezing and scorching regions as the battle intensified.
• A Garganta opened above the Seireitei, and Ulquiorra emerged before Aizen Sōsuke stepped out and looked down at the forest.

Chiba Makoto sensed Aizen Sōsuke’s arrival in the Seireitei and confronted him in the sky with Ulquiorra. Aizen explained that his attention was fixed on someone connected to the forest below, while Makoto admitted he had once felt the same about someone.

• Chiba Makoto sensed Aizen Sōsuke through the spirit particles he had left in Kyōka Suigetsu and warned Unohana Retsu not to trust anyone who spoke to her in a false voice.
• Chiba Makoto flew up and tore through the Kidō barrier concealing Aizen Sōsuke and Ulquiorra.
• Aizen stopped Ulquiorra from attacking and remarked that he and Chiba Makoto had again become the first person each encountered upon entering the Seireitei.
• Chiba Makoto asked why Aizen had come to the Seireitei instead of attacking Karakura Town, and Aizen said his opponents extended beyond the Thirteen Divisions.
• Aizen looked down at the forest and asked whether anyone had ever occupied all of Chiba Makoto’s attention.
• Chiba Makoto admitted that someone had once held all his attention.

Chiba Makoto mistook Aizen Sōsuke’s intentions for a desire to rescue Hinamori Momo and let him pass. When Aizen headed toward Tsunayashiro Tokinada instead, Chiba rushed to save Hinamori and Hitsugaya Tōshirō from the battle’s deadly spiritual pressure.

• Aizen Sōsuke told Chiba Makoto that they had common ground, and Chiba assumed he meant Hinamori Momo.
• Hinamori Momo struggled through the clashing spiritual pressure to reach the fallen Hitsugaya Tōshirō but collapsed before she could move him.
• Chiba Makoto decided not to stop Aizen Sōsuke, believing he was going to save Hinamori.
• Aizen Sōsuke vanished and headed toward Tsunayashiro Tokinada instead of Hinamori.
• Chiba Makoto realized Hinamori and Hitsugaya were still in danger and rushed toward them.

Hinamori Momo struggled to protect the unconscious Hitsugaya Tōshirō as Soul King Kugo’s freezing mist closed in. Kurosaki Makoto rescued them and brought Hitsugaya to Yamada Hanataro’s Medical Relief Squad for emergency treatment.

• Hinamori Momo tried to move under the crushing spiritual pressure, but she could not stand while carrying the gravely wounded Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
• Soul King Kugo adapted to the battle and gradually gained the upper hand against Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, while freezing mist spread toward Hinamori Momo and Hitsugaya Tōshirō.
• Hinamori Momo called for Hitsugaya Tōshirō to wake up and then cried for someone to save them as the mist drew near.
• Kurosaki Makoto appeared, shielded Hinamori Momo and Hitsugaya Tōshirō with a Reishi Barrier, and carried them out of the forest.
• Yamada Hanataro took Hitsugaya Tōshirō and began emergency treatment with the Medical Relief Squad, while Hinamori Momo thanked Kurosaki Makoto and asked him to put her down.

Chiba Makoto rescued Hinamori Momo and Hitsugaya Tōshirō, then arrived as Sōsuke Aizen confronted Tsunayashiro Tokinada. Aizen appeared to kill Tokinada, but Tokinada revealed that Enrakyōten had copied Kyōka Suigetsu and challenged Aizen’s ability to tell illusion from reality.

• Chiba Makoto set Hinamori Momo down and told her the battlefield was too dangerous for her, then vanished.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada used Enrakyōten to overwhelm Soi Fon, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Hisagi Shūhei with copied Zanpakuto abilities.
• Sōsuke Aizen appeared behind Tsunayashiro Tokinada and pierced his throat with Hadō #4: Byakurai.
• Aizen dismissed Tokinada, struck him with Kyōka Suigetsu, and blasted his apparent corpse with Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi.
• Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s voice came from all directions, revealing that Enrakyōten had copied Kyōka Suigetsu and claiming Aizen could no longer distinguish illusion from reality.