Chapter Summaries

Chiba Makoto survived the Adjuchas’s attack and stopped its tail, but Unohana Retsu arrived and began treating his critical injuries. As he urged her to flee and confessed his supposed hatred of her, the battle remained unresolved.

• Ichimaru Gin struck the Adjuchas’s foot with Shinso, saving Chiba Makoto from being crushed.
• Chiba Makoto blocked the Adjuchas’s tail with one finger and cracked its bony armor.
• Unohana Retsu appeared and snapped the Adjuchas’s tail in two.
• Chiba Makoto urged Unohana Retsu to leave and claimed he would hold off the Adjuchas.
• Unohana Retsu rebuked Chiba Makoto and used Kaido to treat his severe injuries.
• Chiba Makoto warned Unohana Retsu that the Adjuchas was dangerous and claimed he hated her, telling her not to worry about him.

Unohana Retsu effortlessly destroyed the Adjuchas while healing Chiba Makoto, who pretended his injuries were worse than they were to secure her promise to keep him by her side. In his inner world, All Things in Nature confronted Makoto for ignoring her and mistaking a maid for his Zanpakuto spirit.

• The Adjuchas fired a Cero at Unohana Retsu and Chiba Makoto, but Unohana Retsu deflected it and obliterated the Hollow with Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō while healing Makoto.
• Makoto reassured Unohana Retsu that he was not afraid, then apologized and said he was grateful to her before coughing up blood.
• Unohana Retsu told Makoto not to speak and vowed that she would not let him die before the hundred years he had promised to remain by her side.
• Makoto secretly used All Things in Nature to make his injuries seem life-threatening, then pretended to faint as Unohana Retsu treated him.
• Makoto entered his inner world, where All Things in Nature accused him of ignoring her and mistaking a maid for her while trying to achieve Bankai.

Chiba Makoto finally heard All Things in Nature’s true voice and learned that his wood-based powers were only one branch of her Reishi Control. He realized that analyzing another Zanpakuto’s structure might let him reproduce its abilities, and considered using copies for covert attacks.

• All Things in Nature explained that Chiba Makoto had only been able to hear her real voice when he was near death or fighting on instinct, and he blamed his lack of interest in combat on her exhausting him during training.
• Chiba Makoto recognized that his healing and wood-based abilities were derivatives of All Things in Nature’s Reishi Control, which could shape Reishi in many ways.
• Chiba Makoto tried to form Madarame Ikkaku’s Shikai, Lantern Round, from Reishi, but the incomplete weapon collapsed.
• All Things in Nature explained that reproducing another Zanpakuto required recording and analyzing its structure and fluctuations.
• Chiba Makoto realized that the Seed of the Forest might be able to analyze Zanpakuto and considered using a copied Shinso to frame Ichimaru Gin for an assassination.

While training with All Things in Nature, Chiba Makoto learned that completing an Ultimate Spirit Body was the way to make her submit and achieve Bankai. He awoke beside Unohana Retsu and realized that after two years, he had transformed only one finger, so he decided to prioritize planting seeds to gather more Reiryoku.

• All Things in Nature battered Chiba Makoto after mistaking his question about other sword spirits for lewd interest, then explained that he had to complete the Ultimate Spirit Body to make her submit.
• Chiba Makoto learned that the Ultimate Spirit Body required using Reishi Control to reshape and evolve his spirit body beyond its natural limits.
• Chiba Makoto woke inside a white tent as Unohana Retsu watched over him.
• Chiba Makoto saw that two years of accumulated Reiryoku had transformed only his index finger, so he resolved to prioritize planting seeds.

Chiba Makoto recovered in a treatment tent after the Adjuchas attack and worried that Aizen Sōsuke might have noticed his hidden ability. Aizen visited him and offered a grief-stricken account of the casualties, leaving Makoto wary of his sincerity.

• Unohana Retsu checked Chiba Makoto’s injuries, reassured him, and left him to rest while she returned to her duties.
• Chiba Makoto realized his spiritual pressure was recovering as the Seed of the Forest absorbed Reiryoku, then considered who might have witnessed his power’s true release.
• Chiba Makoto felt grateful that Ichimaru Gin had risked himself to block the Adjuchas’s attack and decided Aizen Sōsuke was the greater threat.
• Aizen Sōsuke visited Chiba Makoto, described the deaths and injuries caused by the attack, and called Makoto a friend.
• Chiba Makoto remained suspicious of Aizen Sōsuke despite his convincing display of sorrow and concern.

After the Tenth Division suffered heavy losses, Chiba Makoto concealed his suspicions and let Aizen Sōsuke believe they might be kindred spirits. Makoto considered warning Unohana about Aizen but chose to avoid a confrontation and focus on strengthening himself.

• Chiba Makoto mourned the deaths of the Tenth Division Soul Reapers, including Yoshikami Tsume, and wondered whether the Adjuchas or Aizen Sōsuke had caused their moment of distraction.
• Aizen Sōsuke comforted Makoto, then revealed that he had noticed Makoto's spiritual pressure vanish and his severe injuries heal with Hollow-like regeneration.
• Outside the tent, Aizen Sōsuke became convinced that Makoto was transcending the boundaries of a Soul Reaper and imagined him as a companion on his own level.
• Chiba Makoto reviewed his encounters with Aizen and considered warning Unohana, but feared that doing so might expose his own secrets.
• Chiba Makoto decided to postpone any conflict with Aizen and prioritize spreading more seeds and completing the Limit Spirit Body.

Chiba Makoto noticed that unusual spiritual pressure seemed to color all the Reishi inside Seireitei, leaving him unsure whether it had its own will or was being affected by a Zanpakuto. Unohana Retsu then called him into her bedroom and told him to remove his uniform, revealing that she had already examined him while he was unconscious.

• Seireitei concluded that the Adjuchas was responsible for the soul-loss incidents after the Technological Development Department found matching Reishi in the Adjuchas and affected Rukongai residents.
• Chiba Makoto met Ōtoribashi Rōjūrō, Hirako Shinji, and Shiba Isshin, who wept over the Tenth Division casualties and regretted leaving Rukongai.
• Chiba Makoto sensed faint, unusual spiritual pressure mixed into the Reishi of Seireitei's air, ground, and buildings.
• Unohana Retsu led Chiba Makoto to her bedroom and searched a cabinet while he tried to avert his gaze.
• Unohana Retsu told Chiba Makoto to take off his uniform and said she had examined his body while he was unconscious.

After enduring Unohana Retsu’s punishing treatment, Chiba Makoto encountered a spirit formed from the Seireitei’s reishi. She introduced herself as Amatsuyu Tsurara and revealed that her master, Sōya Azashiro, had merged with the Seireitei and was imprisoned in Muken.

• Chiba Makoto left Unohana Retsu’s room exhausted after she treated his injuries while he struggled to maintain his composure.
• Back in his room, Chiba Makoto saw a noblewoman’s phantom and discovered he could perceive her through the reishi in the air.
• The phantom introduced herself as Amatsuyu Tsurara and said she knew Chiba Makoto because her master had fused with the Seireitei’s reishi.
• Amatsuyu Tsurara identified her master as Sōya Azashiro, the Eighth Kenpachi, and said he was imprisoned in Muken.
• Chiba Makoto recoiled at the thought of being imprisoned in Muken and dismissed the idea of meeting Sōya Azashiro there.

Chiba Makoto learned that Urozakuro and Sōya Azashiro could observe the Seireitei, though his reishi-related ability made him a blind spot. Urozakuro tried to trade information about her power for the secret of his, and Makoto refused until she offered intelligence from inside the Seireitei.

• Chiba Makoto asked whether Urozakuro and Sōya Azashiro could see everything happening in the Seireitei, and Urozakuro said they could.
• Urozakuro explained that Makoto became a blind spot after returning to the Seireitei because reishi touching him lost control.
• Urozakuro offered to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of her Reishi Illusion in exchange for an introduction to Makoto's ability.
• Urozakuro revealed that Muken suppressed Sōya Azashiro's ability, leaving him able to perceive the Seireitei but unable to interfere.
• Chiba Makoto rejected Urozakuro's proposed exchange, and she suggested offering him intelligence from inside the Seireitei instead.

Chiba Makoto learned that All Things in Nature could project a Reishi phantom, and Urozakuro tested the Zanpakuto’s freedom and power through a provocation. Urozakuro then explained her own Reishi Illusion ability and its weaknesses, identifying All Things in Nature as a powerful counter to her.

• Urozakuro teased Chiba Makoto about obtaining a Tenshin Tai, prompting All Things in Nature to appear and argue with her.
• All Things in Nature attacked Urozakuro’s Reishi phantom after Urozakuro provoked her, and Sōya Azashiro reacted from Muken as the phantom was torn apart.
• Urozakuro re-formed her phantom and revealed that she had been testing All Things in Nature’s abilities; Chiba Makoto sent his sword spirit away and questioned Urozakuro’s purpose.
• Urozakuro described Reishi Illusion, which let her merge with reishi to sense, observe, and control what was within it.
• Urozakuro explained that damage to merged reishi, powerful spiritual pressure, barriers, or erased reishi could harm her or Sōya Azashiro, and said All Things in Nature could counter her.

Chiba Makoto learned that Urozakuro expected Sōya Azashiro to eventually leave Muken, then received visits from friends and acquaintances while recovering. The chapter ended with Aoki Risa heading to Makoto’s room after Shaolin Fon arrived, as Unohana Retsu watched with amusement.

• Urozakuro told Makoto that Sōya Azashiro would someday emerge from Muken and revealed that Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi Shihoin had already reported her to the Central 46 Chambers.
• Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika visited Makoto with gifts and again invited him to join the Eleventh Division, but he declined.
• Shaolin Fon arrived with carnations, and Ayasegawa Yumichika dragged Madarame Ikkaku away to leave her alone with Makoto.
• Unohana Retsu directed Aoki Risa toward Makoto’s room as she arrived with another bouquet of carnations.

Yoruichi Shihoin read Shaolin Fon’s month-long surveillance report on Chiba Makoto and learned that Fon had become his friend. She reassured Fon, then teased her about marrying Makoto until Fon fainted in her arms.

• Shaolin Fon’s report described Chiba Makoto’s medical work, kindness to patients and Rukongai residents, and her repeated suspicions of Aoki Risa.
• Yoruichi Shihoin asked Shaolin Fon to assess Chiba Makoto, and Fon called him a gentle, kind physician who focused on Kaido and Medical Skills.
• Shaolin Fon admitted that she and Makoto had become friends without Yoruichi Shihoin’s permission.
• Yoruichi Shihoin said she was glad Fon had made a friend and asked whether she would still be most important if Fon married Makoto.
• Shaolin Fon blushed and fainted into Yoruichi Shihoin’s arms.

Chiba Makoto learned that Yoruichi Shihoin had teased Shaolin Fon unconscious and was then confronted by Yoruichi after Unohana Retsu apparently handed him over. Yoruichi whisked him away at incredible speed, leaving his fate in her hands.

• Chiba Makoto asked Urozakuro to check for nearby Soul Reaper surveillance and learned that Shaolin Fon was absent because Yoruichi Shihoin had teased her unconscious.
• Chiba Makoto discussed Shaolin Fon's inexperience with Urozakuro, who withheld details about Yoruichi's teasing for a future exchange.
• Chiba Makoto returned to the courtyard and saw Unohana Retsu speaking with Yoruichi Shihoin, then tried to retreat unnoticed.
• Yoruichi Shihoin appeared behind Chiba Makoto, accused him of causing Shaolin Fon's collapse, and said Unohana Retsu had decided to hand him over.
• Yoruichi Shihoin tightened her arm around Chiba Makoto's shoulder and sped away with him.

Yoruichi Shihoin took Chiba Makoto to a hidden training ground and began a brutal Shunpo lesson, forcing him to fight with his released Zanpakuto. She threatened to strip him and throw him into the Eleventh Division Barracks unless he damaged her captain’s haori, then launched another punishing attack.

• Yoruichi Shihoin brought Chiba Makoto to a secret training ground and challenged him to release his Zanpakuto.
• Chiba Makoto released All Things in Nature, used grass to bind Yoruichi Shihoin, and asked why she was attacking him.
• Yoruichi Shihoin broke free, injured Chiba Makoto, and explained that Unohana Retsu had asked her to train him in Shunpo.
• Yoruichi Shihoin said she would limit her Reiatsu and end the lesson if Chiba Makoto damaged her captain’s haori.
• Yoruichi Shihoin threatened to strip Chiba Makoto and throw him into the Eleventh Division Barracks, then kicked him into a rock wall.

Chiba Makoto used All Things in Nature and his Reishi Control to counter Yoruichi Shihoin’s assault. He managed to destroy her captain’s haori, forcing Yoruichi to concede that he had won.

• Yoruichi Shihoin wondered whether she had hit Chiba Makoto too hard, then grew interested as grass spread through the underground space.
• Chiba Makoto used All Things in Nature and Reishi Control to fill the area with grass and make flower buds bloom.
• Yoruichi Shihoin charged through Chiba Makoto’s first wave of grass tentacles, but he enlarged them into trees that crashed down around her.
• Yoruichi Shihoin unleashed Shunkō to destroy the trees, and Chiba Makoto pointed out that she had used power beyond Vice-Captain level.
• Yoruichi Shihoin stopped with her fist raised as Chiba Makoto revealed that his goal had been to destroy her captain’s haori.

After their battle, Yoruichi Shihoin let Chiba Makoto treat the wounds caused by her Shunkō and explained the technique’s risks. When she asked about his Zanpakuto, his grief over the missing souls in Rukongai moved her to offer him more Shunpo training.

• Yoruichi Shihoin teased Chiba Makoto about her appearance and tried to record his answer, but he said Unohana was more attractive.
• Yoruichi Shihoin mistook Chiba Makoto’s gaze for an offense before realizing he had been looking at her wounds.
• Chiba Makoto insisted on treating Yoruichi Shihoin with Kaido and warned that Shunkō could damage or destroy her spirit body.
• Yoruichi Shihoin explained how Shunkō combined Kidō and Hakuda, then praised Chiba Makoto’s healing skill.
• When Yoruichi Shihoin asked about his Zanpakuto, Chiba Makoto’s sorrow led her to invite him back for Shunpo training the next day.

After Yoruichi Shihoin offered to teach him Shunpo, Chiba Makoto returned to Unohana Retsu and explained his training, then continued building up his power through the Seed of the Forest. The next day, Yoruichi began his Shunpo instruction by ordering Fon to attack him with Two-Hit Kill.

• Yoruichi Shihoin vanished after offering Chiba Makoto personal Shunpo instruction, and he returned to the Fourth Division captain's residence.
• Chiba Makoto told Unohana Retsu about his training and said he wanted to become strong enough to protect her.
• Chiba Makoto calculated that the Seed of the Forest was gathering Reiryoku faster and planned to pursue Limit Spirit Body Transformation and Bankai.
• The next day, Chiba Makoto met Yoruichi Shihoin in the underground space for Shunpo training.
• Yoruichi Shihoin summoned Fon and ordered her to release her Zanpakuto and kill Chiba Makoto with Two-Hit Kill.

Yoruichi Shihoin forced Chiba Makoto to train in Shunpo against Shaolin Fon, pushing him to awaken his combat instincts and rapidly improve. Urahara Kisuke arrived with the Tenshin Tai and revealed he had created an indestructible dangerous substance before departing to find a solution.

• Yoruichi Shihoin ordered Shaolin Fon to attack Chiba Makoto with Suzumebachi and took away his Zanpakuto, leaving him to train without it.
• Shaolin Fon repeatedly attacked Chiba Makoto, and he gradually began dodging and countering as his Shunpo improved.
• Urahara Kisuke arrived and Yoruichi Shihoin compared Chiba Makoto's tendency to overthink in battle to Kisuke's.
• Urahara Kisuke gave Yoruichi Shihoin the calibrated Tenshin Tai and said he had failed to destroy a dangerous substance despite trying 198 methods.
• Urahara Kisuke left to figure out how to deal with the indestructible substance.

During Shunpo training, Chiba Makoto realized Shaolin Fon believed Yoruichi Shihoin had ordered her to kill him, and her Suzumebachi threatened to make good on that misunderstanding. He stopped her lethal strike with his Zanpakuto’s ability, revealing that All Things in Nature could be used even while it was not in his hand.

• Yoruichi Shihoin had Shaolin Fon relentlessly attack Chiba Makoto, and he rapidly improved his Shunpo while suffering Suzumebachi’s Hornet’s Crest marks.
• Shaolin Fon apologized to Chiba Makoto and said she would obey Yoruichi’s orders even if it meant killing him.
• Shaolin Fon appeared behind Chiba Makoto and aimed Suzumebachi at an existing Hornet’s Crest, while Yoruichi rushed to stop her.
• Chiba Makoto restrained Shaolin Fon’s wrist with blades of grass from All Things in Nature, halting the attack inches from his waist.
• Chiba Makoto explained that his semi-permanently released Zanpakuto let him use some of its abilities without holding it, surprising Yoruichi.

Yoruichi Shihoin stopped Shaolin Fon from carrying out her false order to kill Chiba Makoto, then teased them both during and after Shunpo training. The next day, Shaolin Fon apologized to Chiba Makoto, but Aoki Risa interrupted their moment at his office.

• Yoruichi Shihoin revealed that her order to Shaolin Fon had been false, and Shaolin Fon angrily confronted her before Yoruichi pulled her into a hug.
• Yoruichi Shihoin teased Chiba Makoto and Shaolin Fon about their reactions, then ended Shunpo training and scheduled the next session for seven days later.
• Yoruichi Shihoin asked why Chiba Makoto's spiritual pressure was weaker than Unohana Retsu had described, and he explained that it had temporarily dropped after he maintained large-scale healing against an Adjuchas.
• Shaolin Fon visited Chiba Makoto at his office the next day to apologize for leaving Hornet's Crests on him and nearly killing him, but he reassured her that he held no grudge.
• Aoki Risa interrupted Shaolin Fon and Chiba Makoto, mistaking Shaolin Fon's visit for another request for directions to Pediatrics.