Chapter Summaries

Bersi stole Chiba Makoto’s Bankai with a Star Mark while Nnajakupp moved to seize the King’s Seal. Unohana Retsu killed Nnajakupp, and Bersi declared that the Wandenreich would destroy the Seireitei in five days.

• Bersi’s Star Mark absorbed the spirit particles of Chiba Makoto’s Wooden Giant Buddha, stealing his Bankai but leaving his Shikai untouched.
• Nnajakupp rushed at the immobilized Chiba Makoto to seize the King’s Seal, but Unohana Retsu arrived and killed him instantly.
• Unohana Retsu asked Chiba Makoto if he was all right, while Aizen Sōsuke appeared behind Bersi with Kyōka Suigetsu raised.
• Chiba Makoto stopped Aizen Sōsuke from killing Bersi and questioned him about the Wandenreich’s goals.
• Bersi declared war on the Thirteen Divisions and claimed the Wandenreich would destroy the Seireitei in five days.

After Driscoll Berci escaped the First Division Barracks, Makoto told the captains that the Wandenreich had declared war and explained how the Sternritter’s Schrift powers came from Yhwach. The captains prepared to respond, while Makoto warned that the enemy’s hidden position and unknown strength made them dangerous.

• Driscoll Berci announced the Wandenreich’s threat and vanished into shadow after declaring he would return for the King's Seal.
• Unohana Retsu recognized the Wandenreich and became furious, and Makoto called for a captains’ meeting.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri recovered from his injuries and hid his humiliation as the captains arrived.
• Makoto recounted the attack and revealed the Wandenreich’s declaration of war, prompting the captains to demand a counterattack.
• Makoto explained that Yhwach bestowed the Sternritter’s Schrift powers and could reclaim them, suggesting that defeating Sternritter could weaken Yhwach.

Chiba Makoto revealed that the Sternritter could steal Bankai with their Star Marks, prompting the captains to prepare for the Wandenreich’s coming invasion. Unohana Retsu set the Thirteen Divisions’ wartime preparations in motion.

• Chiba Makoto told the captains that the Star Mark had stolen his Bankai and left him able to use only Shikai.
• Chiba Makoto explained that the Star Mark likely belonged to every Sternritter, could control a stolen Bankai, and had been developed by Yhwach to counter Soul Reapers.
• Kensei Muguruma warned that the enemy could use Chiba Makoto’s Bankai to destroy the Seireitei, and Chiba Makoto eased the captains’ fears by explaining its power depended on its wielder and the King’s Seal.
• Chiba Makoto presented a Star Mark recovered from Nnajakupp and suggested the Technological Development Department could use it to find a countermeasure.
• Unohana Retsu ordered the Soul Reapers recalled, assigned divisions defensive zones and duties, and began preparing contingency plans.

Chiba Makoto worked with Kurotsuchi Mayuri and Aizen Sōsuke to analyze the Star Mark, then revealed Spirit Body Layering as a new technique that could strengthen Soul Reapers and give ordinary Rukongai residents Reiryoku. After five days of surgeries to prepare the Thirteen Divisions for war, the Seireitei went on its highest alert as the Wandenreich’s deadline arrived.

• Kurotsuchi Mayuri led Chiba Makoto and the disguised Aizen Sōsuke into his secret laboratory and warned Amagai Shūsuke not to touch anything.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri analyzed the Star Mark while Chiba Makoto explained the spiritual-particle changes caused by a stolen Bankai.
• Chiba Makoto announced Spirit Body Layering as a joint development with the Technological Development Department and explained its potential to awaken Reiryoku in ordinary Rukongai residents.
• Chiba Makoto performed Spirit Body Layering on the captains and Vice-Captains, while the Fourth and Twelfth Division members operated on the rest of the Thirteen Divisions.
• The Wandenreich’s five-day deadline arrived, and the Seireitei entered its highest state of alert against an attack from the shadows.

The Wandenreich began its invasion of the Seireitei as Chiba Makoto and Unohana Retsu shared a brief moment of reassurance. In Karakura Town, Hirako Shinji and the others waited for Kurosaki Ichigo, wondering whether he would help the Soul Reapers or had joined the Wandenreich.

• Chiba Makoto told Unohana Retsu he would never let her fall into Hell alone, and she leaned against him as they prepared for war.
• Blue Reishi pillars appeared across the Seireitei, announcing the Wandenreich's invasion.
• In Karakura Town, Hirako Shinji and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō concluded that the Wandenreich had targeted the Seireitei rather than Karakura Town.
• Sarugaki Hiyori urged Hirako Shinji and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō to reinforce the Seireitei, but they stayed to await Kurosaki Ichigo on Chiba Makoto's orders.
• Hirako Shinji said Kurosaki Ichigo had agreed to meet them, but his continued absence made Hirako suspect he might have defected to the Wandenreich.

Kurosaki Ichigo joined Hirako Shinji and the others as they rushed through the Dangai to reinforce Soul Society during the Wandenreich invasion. At the Seireitei exit, Mask de Masculine ambushed them, crushing Sarugaki Hiyori and badly injuring Hirako Shinji.

• Kurosaki Ichigo told Hirako Shinji that Ishida Uryū had disappeared after Ichigo searched Karakura Town for him.
• Hirako Shinji opened a Senkaimon and explained that twenty Wandenreich forces led by Sternritter members had invaded the Seireitei.
• Kurosaki Ichigo resolved to fight the Quincy despite their connection to his mother's lineage.
• Mask de Masculine ambushed the group in the Dangai and crushed Sarugaki Hiyori beneath him.
• Hirako Shinji attacked Mask de Masculine, who caught his Zanpakuto and struck him in the chest.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō drove Mask de Masculine back and guarded the fallen Hirako Shinji.

Hirako Shinji held Masklin back with Sakanade so Kurosaki Ichigo and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō could reach the Seireitei. There, Ise Nanao sent Ichigo to reinforce Kensei Muguruma, who appeared to be under Pepe Wachanabe’s control.

• Hirako Shinji told Kurosaki Ichigo and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō to continue to the Seireitei while he fought Masklin alone.
• Masklin tried to pursue them, but Hirako Shinji released Sakanade and inverted Masklin’s perception.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō entered the devastated Seireitei and received separate orders from Ise Nanao.
• Ise Nanao warned Ichigo that Pepe Wachanabe’s Schrift, “L”—Love, let him control anyone struck by his heart-shaped substance.
• Ichigo reached the Seventh Division barracks and found Kensei Muguruma acting as if he were under Pepe Wachanabe’s control.

Kurosaki Ichigo fought Pepe, killed him, and learned that Makoto was battling four Sternritter while sustaining wounded Soul Reapers across the battlefield. Ise Nanao stopped Ichigo from rushing to help, reminding him that the Thirteen Divisions were fighting a war.

• Kurosaki Ichigo attacked Pepe but first had to disable Kensei Muguruma, whom Pepe controlled, by severing all four of his limbs.
• Pepe fired a Holy Bow attack at Kurosaki Ichigo, but Ichigo blocked it with Blut Vene and revealed his identity as one of the Five Special War Powers.
• Kurosaki Ichigo used Blut Drive to outpace Pepe and kill him with a blade through the heart.
• Kurosaki Ichigo saw Makoto's ability stabilizing Kensei Muguruma's wounds and learned that Makoto was providing emergency care across the battlefield.
• Ise Nanao told Kurosaki Ichigo that Makoto was fighting four Sternritter and rebuked him for trying to leave his post to help.

Kurosaki Ichigo learned that seven Bankai had been stolen and hurried to aid Hitsugaya Tōshirō, while Ise Nanao directed the battle from a hidden Wartime Command Center. The center’s intelligence network was keeping the Seireitei from collapsing, but Chiba Makoto was still holding off four Sternritter while sustaining healing support across the city.

• Ise Nanao sent Kurosaki Ichigo to support Hitsugaya Tōshirō, whose Bankai had been stolen and whose opponent countered Hyōrinmaru.
• Ise Nanao told Kurosaki Ichigo that seven Bankai had been stolen, but assured him the Thirteen Divisions still had the situation under control.
• Beneath the First Division, Soul Reapers used Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s communication network and Sōya Azashiro’s battlefield replica to coordinate support across the Seireitei.
• Yadomaru Lisa’s team assessed Kensei Muguruma’s injuries and activated emergency forces to support Kuchiki before he was overwhelmed.
• Ise Nanao worried that Chiba Makoto was sustaining citywide healing while fending off four Sternritter, whose strength threatened to overwhelm the Seireitei.

Chiba Makoto fought Minina McAllon, Liltotto, and Gadis outside the First Division Barracks while wondering why Yhwach and Haschwalth had not joined the invasion. Gadis unleashed her Schrift and struck Chiba Makoto with a massive lightning attack, leaving his fate unclear.

• Chiba Makoto dodged Minina McAllon's building throw and stopped Liltotto's enormous bite with trees erupting from the ground.
• Gadis grew furious after Chiba Makoto accidentally shaved off a lock of her hair, while Minina and Liltotto complained that they were hurt and could not hit him.
• Chiba Makoto reflected that the Wandenreich seemed to have the Seireitei on the brink of defeat, yet Yhwach and Haschwalth had still not appeared.
• Gadis activated her Schrift, gained lightning wings, and attacked Chiba Makoto with two lightning swords and a massive pillar of electricity using Denmetsu Kei.

Chiba Makoto survived Gadis’s devastating lightning attack and taunted her until she charged at him recklessly. He defeated her with a wooden longsword, leaving Minina and Liltotto wary as they realized how strong he remained without his Bankai.

• Gadis unleashed a massive lightning attack, but Chiba Makoto emerged unharmed from a wooden defensive shell.
• Chiba Makoto mocked Gadis and the Sternritter, provoking her into a furious charge.
• Gadis rushed toward Chiba Makoto with lightning swords, ignoring Minina and Liltotto as they tried to assist.
• A wooden longsword pierced Gadis’s chest and drained her power, defeating her almost instantly.
• Minina and Liltotto halted and stepped back, wondering whether Chiba Makoto was still this strong without his Bankai.

Chiba Makoto confronted Minina and Liltotto, then struck Giselle down when she tried to attack him. Giselle revealed her zombie Schrift and attempted to control him with her blood, but Makoto shook it off, leaving her plan thwarted.

• Chiba Makoto approached Minina and Liltotto and turned their chase into a threat to hunt them instead.
• Giselle fell toward Makoto, and he knocked her away with two massive trees, badly damaging her body.
• Giselle revealed her zombie Schrift and threatened to turn Makoto into a zombie and make him attack his allies.
• Giselle claimed her blood would zombify Makoto, but he explained that he could neutralize the toxin and shook the blood from his body.

Chiba Makoto defeated Giselle and sealed Minina and Liltotto’s Schrift states, while Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri’s new medicine disabled the Sternritter’s Schrift abilities across Seireitei. The Soul Reapers began their counterattack, but Bazz-B reminded Soi Fon that he could still use stolen Bankai.

• Giselle entered her Schrift state, but Chiba Makoto trapped and crushed her with eight enormous trees, extinguishing her spiritual pressure.
• Chiba Makoto inserted his hands into Minina and Liltotto’s lower abdomens and forcibly ended their Schrift states.
• Ise Nanao announced that Kurotsuchi Mayuri had developed Shadow Invading Medicine, and the Sternritter across Seireitei were forced out of their Schrift states.
• Soi Fon told Bazz-B that the Soul Reapers had sealed every Schrift and declared that victory belonged to the Thirteen Divisions.
• Bazz-B took out his Star Mark and warned Soi Fon that he could still use the Soul Reapers’ stolen Bankai.

The Soul Reapers used Shadow Invading Medicine and specially prepared reishi to reclaim their stolen Bankai and seal the Sternritters’ Schrift, turning the battle in Seireitei around. Chiba Makoto realized Yhwach’s true target might be Shin'ō Academy, just as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni unleashed his Bankai there.

• The Sternritters released stolen Bankai after their Schrift was sealed, but the Soul Reapers used Shadow Invading Medicine to reclaim them.
• Chiba Makoto’s plan and the special reishi spread through Seireitei sealed the Sternritters’ Schrift and reversed the battle’s balance.
• Chiba Makoto noticed that Yhwach and Haschwalth were missing and searched for the real target of the invasion.
• Chiba Makoto suspected Shin'ō Academy and rushed toward it.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni released Zanka no Tachi near Shin'ō Academy, causing the temperature across the surrounding area to rise.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and the former captains gathered at Shin'ō Academy as the Wandenreich attacked the Seireitei, while Kyōraku Shunsui criticized the current Thirteen Divisions. The chapter left the retired group divided over Unohana Retsu and Chiba Makoto's ability to defend Soul Society.

• Yadomaru Lisa realized Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Bankai had been released near Shin'ō Academy and ordered captains to rush there if they could.
• Ise Nanao used her authority to locate captain-class Soul Reapers and issue the emergency order, though many were still fighting Sternritter.
• At Shin'ō Academy, Kyōraku Shunsui reviewed reports of the battle while Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Ukitake Jūshirō, Komamura Sajin, and Chōjirō Sasakibe gathered with him.
• Ukitake Jūshirō urged Kyōraku Shunsui to trust the current captains, but Kyōraku blamed Unohana Retsu for weakening the Thirteen Divisions and noble families.
• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni told Kyōraku Shunsui to trust the current Thirteen Divisions, but Kyōraku insisted that Unohana Retsu and Chiba Makoto lacked the ability to lead and defend the Seireitei.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni rejected Kyōraku Shunsui’s bid to return to power, but Yhwach’s invasion interrupted their argument and ended with Yamamoto unleashing his Bankai after Bambietta detonated an area sheltering Shin'ō Academy students.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni told Kyōraku Shunsui that he could not take the position of Captain-Commander, and Kyōraku stormed out of the courtyard.
• A Spirit Spear struck Kyōraku Shunsui through the chest, and Yamamoto caught his dying body before unleashing Ryūjin Jakka.
• Yhwach, Haschwalth, and Bambietta Basterbine appeared at the courtyard entrance, and Yhwach mocked Yamamoto and Kyōraku.
• Yhwach ordered Bambietta to give Yamamoto a gift, and she snapped her fingers to trigger an explosion near the Shin'ō Academy students’ shelter.
• Yamamoto activated Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, as an extreme heat erupted around him.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni unleashed Zanka no Tachi and fought Yhwach while the other Soul Reapers engaged Bambietta and Haschwalth at Shin'ō Academy. Chiba Makoto rushed to the academy, realized Yhwach must have a hidden countermeasure, and released All Things in Nature to announce his arrival and disrupt the plan.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's Zanka no Tachi overwhelmed the area, and Bambietta's Star Mark failed to affect him.
• Komamura Sajin fought Bambietta, while Ukitake Jūshirō and Chōjirō Sasakibe tried to restrain Haschwalth as Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni suppressed Yhwach.
• Chiba Makoto left through South Gate and sensed the battles at Shin'ō Academy using Reishi Control.
• Chiba Makoto saw Komamura Sajin badly wounded and realized Yhwach would not have confronted Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni without a contingency.
• Chiba Makoto released All Things in Nature to provide support and force Yhwach to respond to his arrival.

Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni appeared to kill Yhwach, but the victory was a trap involving the Sternritter Loyd Lloyd and Royd Lloyd. As Yhwach pressed his attack, Chiba Makoto intervened to block his next strike against the badly wounded Yamamoto.

• Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni burned Yhwach to ashes with Zanka no Tachi and went to mourn Kyōraku Shunsui.
• Royd Lloyd revealed himself in disguise and stabbed Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, but Yamamoto killed him with Soukotsu.
• The real Yhwach attacked Yamamoto from behind and struck him after his wound briefly paralyzed him.
• Chiba Makoto's grass and trees helped Yamamoto evade Yhwach's blows and Holy Arrows, though Yhwach continued pursuing him.
• Chiba Makoto appeared before Yhwach and blocked his descending Blut Vene with All Things in Nature.

Chiba Makoto drove Yhwach back and rescued the gravely wounded Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni. After Yhwach destroyed Yamamoto’s severed arm and vowed to return, Chiba Makoto vanished before he could finish addressing him.

• Chiba Makoto knocked aside Yhwach’s Blut Vene, and Yhwach fired a Holy Arrow at Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni.
• Chiba Makoto used Bankai: Tree Realm Birth to shield Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni and carry them above the battlefield.
• Chiba Makoto treated Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s wounds and restrained him when he insisted on continuing the fight.
• Yhwach fired Multiple Holy Arrows to destroy Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni’s severed arm, then vowed to return and claim everything.
• Chiba Makoto vanished as Yhwach began to address him.

Chiba Makoto trapped Yhwach beneath the Wooden Giant Buddha’s relentless attacks, bringing Yhwach’s Outer Shell Blut Vene close to breaking. Just as Yhwach faced defeat, Aizen Sōsuke emerged from a Garganta and struck at Chiba Makoto from behind.

• Chiba Makoto attacked Yhwach with the Wooden Giant Buddha’s many palms, driving him into the ground.
• Yhwach formed Outer Shell Blut Vene to withstand the continuing blows, but cracks spread across the barrier.
• Yhwach tried to signal Haschwalth for help, but Unohana Retsu blocked Haschwalth from intervening.
• Aizen Sōsuke opened a Garganta behind Chiba Makoto and slashed at his neck while Makoto focused on Yhwach.