Chapter Summaries

Asano Kiyoshi watched an Ordinary Hollow kill Bannai Daigo, then attacked it with Shakkahō. Ikkaku and Yumichika joined the fight, but the Hollow overwhelmed them and continued its rampage as Aizen observed from above.

• Asano Kiyoshi assessed the Ordinary Hollow and believed Bannai Daigo could defeat it.
• Bannai Daigo severed the Hollow’s arm, but its counterattack smashed half his body and killed him.
• Asano Kiyoshi cast Hado #31—Shakkahō, but the Hollow shattered the fireball and charged through the smoke with a badly burned arm.
• Ikkaku attacked the Hollow while Yumichika used Bakudo #9—Geki to slow it.
• The Hollow cut Ikkaku’s mask attack short with a blow that sent him flying, then overpowered Yumichika’s Kido and left him unconscious.
• Aizen watched the fight from high in the air with a faint smile.

Asano Kiyoshi unleashed his unusual Zanpakuto and used several Kido spells to restrain and injure the Pig-faced Hollow while Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen watched. Though the Hollow broke free and badly injured him, Asano concealed a Shakkahō and aimed it at the wound he had opened.

• Kaname Tōsen questioned Aizen's decision to focus on Asano Kiyoshi, and Aizen explained that he wanted to study the boy's strange Zanpakuto and unusual Reishi control.
• Asano Kiyoshi released his Zanpakuto, filling the area with black spiritual pressure and transforming his clothes as Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen watched.
• Asano Kiyoshi used Sekienton, Shitotsu Sansen, Hōrin, and Byakurai to obscure, bind, and injure the Pig-faced Hollow.
• The Pig-faced Hollow broke free and struck Asano Kiyoshi, shattering his Seki and leaving him badly injured.
• Asano Kiyoshi concealed Shakkahō beneath Kyokkō and fired it toward the wound created by Byakurai.

Asano Kiyoshi defeated the Pig-faced Hollow with his powerful Kido, then collapsed and was taken for treatment. As he recovered, his desire to change the fates of people in Soul Society grew, and the Scroll unlocked beyond the Gate of the Underworld.

• Asano Kiyoshi strengthened his Shakkahō with Post-Chanting and killed the Pig-faced Hollow by tearing open its abdomen and mouth.
• Miyako Shiba ordered the Gotei 13 to treat the wounded, inspect the damage, report the incident, and search for accomplices before Asano Kiyoshi collapsed into her arms.
• Aizen had Kaname Tōsen record Asano Kiyoshi's abilities, then entered the Dangai and remarked on his Zanpakuto.
• Jushiro Ukitake made the recovering Asano Kiyoshi eat tonics and snacks, despite his protests.
• Asano Kiyoshi reflected on the people he wanted to protect and saw the Scroll unlock a new area beyond the Gate of the Underworld.

After defeating the Pig-faced Hollow, Asano Kiyoshi unlocked the Road to the Underworld, gained powerful growth and healing abilities, and reached Fourth-Seat Reiatsu. As he recovered in the hospital, Tsunayashiro Kojiro watched him with sorrow and hatred before leaving.

• Asano Kiyoshi unlocked the Road to the Underworld, which let Lycoris Radiata absorb abilities from valuable enemies and strengthened his recovery abilities.
• Asano Kiyoshi saw that his Reiatsu had advanced to Fourth-Seat Reiatsu after his battle with the Pig-faced Hollow and reviewed his updated abilities.
• Asano Kiyoshi reflected on the limits of his strength and resolved not to become complacent.
• Asano Kiyoshi sensed the Road to the Underworld's healing effect as his injuries began to recover.
• Tsunayashiro Kojiro watched Asano Kiyoshi from the hospital corridor, hid bruises beneath his sleeves, and left the hospital.

Tsunayashiro Kojiro was ordered to secure a position tied to the unstable Great Spirit Book Gallery, while Tsunayashiro Sosuke and an elder discussed using him only as long as he remained useful. Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni learned that Asano Kiyoshi had recovered and honored Bannai Daigo’s family, then reflected on the nobles’ growing influence and the Gotei 13’s dwindling funds.

• Tsunayashiro Sosuke told Tsunayashiro Kojiro that the Great Spirit Book Gallery would produce something within a year and a half and ordered him to secure the position for the family.
• Tsunayashiro Kojiro left the courtyard with his fingernails drawing blood in his palms, while Tsunayashiro Sosuke assured an elder that he remembered his advice about leasing valuable assets.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe told Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni that Asano Kiyoshi had fully recovered and gained spiritual pressure, and Yamamoto resolved to train him more strictly.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported that Bannai Daigo’s death appeared suspicious despite investigators finding no signs of another power, and Yamamoto ordered the case archived as an A-Rank File and increased the family’s condolence payment from his own salary.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe revealed that Asano Kiyoshi had donated his scholarship and personally delivered it to Bannai Daigo’s family, prompting Yamamoto to praise Kiyoshi’s kindness.
• Yamamoto reflected that nobles had raised taxes on commoners and cut Gotei 13 funding after most common-born Central 46 members sided with them.

Asano Kiyoshi mourned Bannai Daigo and received quiet support from Shunsui before returning to the hospital. After hearing how Asano had defeated a Hollow alone, Ikkaku challenged him to a spar, and the two began their fight under the moon.

• Asano Kiyoshi visited Bannai Daigo's grave and struggled with guilt over his death.
• Shunsui sheltered Asano Kiyoshi with an umbrella and walked with him through the rain, helping him feel less burdened.
• Asano Kiyoshi returned to the hospital and told Yumichika and Ikkaku what had happened.
• Ikkaku challenged Asano Kiyoshi to a fight, and the pair slipped out of the Fourth Division barracks while Yumichika followed as referee.
• Asano Kiyoshi checked Ikkaku's stats and noted that Ikkaku had learned Shikai before they drew their Zanpakuto and charged at each other.

Asano Kiyoshi and Madarame Ikkaku fought a friendly duel, with Asano using Kido to keep Ikkaku at range until they both released their Zanpakuto. Their clash played live for the gathered captains, who watched as the meeting fell silent at the releases.

• Asano Kiyoshi used Byakurai and Hōrin to hinder Ikkaku and keep him from closing in, but Ikkaku dodged the first spell and slashed the second apart.
• Asano Kiyoshi recognized Ikkaku's skill and moved away to create distance before the two met each other's gaze.
• Asano Kiyoshi and Madarame Ikkaku released their Zanpakuto, calling out Yellow Springs and Hozukimaru.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi watched the fight on his surveillance device during the Captain's Meeting, and the Captain-Commander focused on the footage.
• Jushiro Ukitake asked Mayuri to stop the duel, but Mayuri ignored him and the captains continued watching until the releases silenced the meeting.

Asano Kiyoshi released his domain-type Zanpakuto, Yellow Springs, against Ikkaku, stunning the captains watching the recording. As their battle continued, Asano used Shikai-enhanced Kido to conceal and track himself while Ikkaku charged through the fog.

• Ikkaku’s blood-red Reiatsu surged as the captains watched his battle with Asano Kiyoshi in a recording.
• Asano called out “Turn to Heavenly Light and Wither—Yellow Springs,” revealing a vast flower sea that overwhelmed the surrounding area with ink-black Reiatsu.
• Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered Mayuri Kurotsuchi to restrict the recording to captains and keep it from Central 46.
• Asano cast an enlarged Sekienton that hid his position and let him track Ikkaku through the red mist.
• Ikkaku cut a path through the fog, and Asano sent a Fushibi net at him; Ikkaku twisted through the air and thrust Hozukimaru toward his lower left.

Asano Kiyoshi fought Ikkaku in a friendly match, but Ikkaku used the red tassels from Red Hozukimaru to detect him and countered his Kido ambush. Asano then demonstrated astonishing Post-Chanting and began a second incantation, leaving the captains stunned.

• Ikkaku scattered Red Hozukimaru’s red tassels to track Asano Kiyoshi through Sekienton, Kyokkō, and Fushibi, then struck him at close range.
• Asano Kiyoshi used Shunpo to injure himself and widen the distance after Ikkaku exposed his plan.
• Ikkaku pursued Asano through the air and smashed through his Shakkahō, taking burns as he pressed forward.
• Asano Kiyoshi used Post-Chanting during the fight, shocking the captains watching the surveillance feed.
• Asano continued chanting, and yellow Reishi chains appeared as the captains realized he was performing Double Chanting.

Asano Kiyoshi overwhelmed Ikkaku by combining advanced Kido techniques with swordsmanship, revealing a level of skill that stunned the captains. Ikkaku was paralyzed by Tsuzuri Raiden as Asano’s attack continued.

• The Captain-Commander realized Asano Kiyoshi had used Post-Chanting and Double Chanting at the same time, then ordered Mayuri Kurotsuchi to seal Asano’s records.
• The Captain-Commander silently marked Asano Kiyoshi as a leading candidate, while Aizen grew curious about his abilities.
• Ikkaku cut through Asano’s Bakudo with Hozukimaru’s three-section staff and launched one section at him to counter his sword thrust.
• Asano dodged Hozukimaru and threw his Ink-black Longsword, then used Tsuzuri Raiden to paralyze Ikkaku as he tried to evade.

Asano Kiyoshi defeated Ikkaku, and the captains recognized his potential to become Captain-Commander. Yamamoto ordered the recording kept secret and tasked Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Byakuya Kuchiki with protecting Asano Kiyoshi from the nobles, while Aizen watched with a dangerous smile.

• Asano Kiyoshi paralyzed Ikkaku with a Blue Lightning Serpent and ended the fight by holding an ink-black longsword to his neck.
• Asano Kiyoshi dissolved the sword into Black Reiatsu, and he and Ikkaku promised to keep striving to surpass each other.
• The captains discussed Asano Kiyoshi's abilities and considered him a likely successor to Head Captain Yamamoto.
• Head Captain Yamamoto ordered the captains not to disclose the recording and warned them to protect Asano Kiyoshi.
• Head Captain Yamamoto told Mayuri Kurotsuchi to conceal Asano Kiyoshi's records in the Great Spirit Book Gallery and urged Byakuya Kuchiki to make the right judgment for his clan.
• Aizen watched beneath the moonlight with a dangerous curve at the corner of his lips.

Aizen explained how he used the recording to intensify the conflict between the Tsunayashiro Family and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni's faction. After Tsunayashiro Sosuke and Yuta decided Kojiro had to claim first place and enter the Great Spirit Book Gallery, Sosuke killed the subordinate who had brought the footage.

• Gin told Aizen that the recording had been delivered to the Tsunayashiro Family.
• Kaname Tōsen questioned the risk of exposing the recording, and Aizen explained that he had arranged the surveillance and intended to inflame tensions between rival factions.
• Aizen said the Tsunayashiro Family wanted something in the Great Spirit Book Gallery and needed Kojiro to place first among the Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy graduates.
• Tsunayashiro Sosuke and Yuta concluded that Kojiro had to take first place and enter the Great Spirit Book Gallery, while avoiding a direct move against Asano Kiyoshi.
• Tsunayashiro Sosuke asked his subordinate to fetch Kojiro, then beheaded the subordinate to prevent any leak.

Asano Kiyoshi reflected on why he had deliberately revealed his Shikai, hoping to spur the Tsunayashiro Family into accelerating its plans and help him grow stronger. Meanwhile, Yamamoto explained to Byakuya that he had never expected to protect Kiyoshi’s battle records and revealed his intent to target the nobles’ influence in the Thirteenth Division.

• Tsunayashiro Sosuke ordered a guard to summon Tsunayashiro Kojiro and the butler to dispose of a headless corpse, while Kojiro entered the room under the butler’s contemptuous gaze.
• Asano Kiyoshi reviewed how he had used his fight with Ikkaku to reveal some of his strength, attract the Tsunayashiro Family’s attention, and encourage Kojiro’s early graduation.
• Asano Kiyoshi considered the strength he had kept hidden and the risks of Kojiro’s possible breakthrough, then fell asleep.
• Byakuya Kuchiki warned Yamamoto that Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s lockdown might not protect Asano Kiyoshi’s battle records.
• Yamamoto told Byakuya that Kiyoshi had deliberately revealed his Shikai to hasten the Tsunayashiro Family’s plans, and that he had issued his orders to signal his resolve to cut off the nobles’ influence in the Thirteenth Division.

Head Captain Yamamoto trained Asano Kiyoshi and explained how his premature display of strength complicated the political plans surrounding the Tsunayashiro Family and the Gotei 13 captains. He then sent Asano to North Rukongai’s final three districts to survive without protection and grow stronger.

• Head Captain Yamamoto criticized Asano Kiyoshi’s swordsmanship and his handling of the previous night’s events, then warned that his actions could hasten the Tsunayashiro Family’s plans.
• Head Captain Yamamoto explained that Asano’s actions forced him to revise his arrangements and made it harder for the captains to decide whether to support Asano.
• Asano recognized that his weakness made support from the nobles a risky investment, while Head Captain Yamamoto reassured him that he would protect him until he became strong.
• Head Captain Yamamoto ordered Asano to survive in North Rukongai’s final three districts, kill his enemies and Hollows, and face the danger without interference or protection.

Asano Kiyoshi entered Rukongai’s 78th District, where he uncovered a woman’s attempt to kill him and the horrifying conditions behind her madness. After granting her request to die and burning her and her child’s remains, he followed the warning’s source and found Kuchiki Rukia.

• Asano Kiyoshi tried to give a starving woman flatbread, but she threw down the child she carried and attacked him with a dagger.
• Asano Kiyoshi pinned the woman with his spiritual pressure and discovered that the child was a rotting corpse and that the woman bore many old wounds.
• The woman briefly regained clarity, asked Asano Kiyoshi to kill her, and thanked him after he killed her with a flash of white lightning.
• Asano Kiyoshi saw the district’s residents waiting to eat the bodies, then burned the woman and child’s remains with a fireball.
• Asano Kiyoshi followed the voice that had warned him and found Kuchiki Rukia in an alley.

Asano Kiyoshi met Rukia in Rukongai, gave her food, and learned that a Hollow had been taking people west of her home. Their conversation was interrupted when Renji attacked Asano, who restrained him with Kido.

• Asano Kiyoshi inspected Rukia’s abilities and saw that she was physically frail but had a strong affinity for Reishi.
• Asano Kiyoshi showed Rukia his Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy badge and explained that he had come to eliminate a Hollow.
• Rukia warned Asano Kiyoshi that people had disappeared west of her area and cautioned him about dangerous criminals there.
• Asano Kiyoshi gave Rukia flatbread wrapped in oil paper, and she introduced herself as Rukia while calling him Brother Asano Kiyoshi.
• Renji rushed out of an alley and attacked Asano Kiyoshi, but Asano used Binding Kido Number One - Sai to knock him down.

Asano Kiyoshi forgave Renji for attacking him and agreed to spend the night with Rukia and her companions. They reached the children’s dilapidated home, where the three other children greeted Rukia and Renji but feared Asano Kiyoshi.

• Rukia explained that Renji had attacked Asano Kiyoshi to protect her, and Asano Kiyoshi assured her that Renji was unharmed and he was not angry.
• Renji apologized to Asano Kiyoshi and pleaded with him not to blame Rukia; Asano Kiyoshi released him and checked his abilities using the Scroll.
• Asano Kiyoshi asked to stay at Rukia’s home, and Rukia admitted that it was shabby and they had little food.
• Asano Kiyoshi reassured Rukia that he had brought food, then followed her and Renji to their home.
• Rukia, Renji, and Asano Kiyoshi arrived at the ruined shelter, where three malnourished children welcomed Rukia and Renji but looked afraid of Asano Kiyoshi.

Asano Kiyoshi comforted Rukia and the other children, offered to take those who wished to leave to a home near Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, and taught them basic Reishi control and Kido. Before leaving for the west at dawn, he left supplies and secretly healed the children, while Rukia woke and watched him go with admiration.

• Rukia and Renji reassured the frightened children that Asano Kiyoshi was strong and kind.
• Asano Kiyoshi gave a thirsty boy clean water, and the boy shared it with the other children before returning the flask.
• Asano Kiyoshi promised to return in half a month and take any children who wanted to leave to stay with Granny Hana near Shin'o Spiritual Arts Academy, asking them to help children in farther districts of Rukongai.
• Asano Kiyoshi taught the children basic Reishi control and Kido, and Rukia showed remarkable talent by casting a Bakudo and a Hado.
• At dawn, Asano Kiyoshi left most of his food and water behind and used Kaido to treat the children while they slept.
• Rukia woke during her treatment, silently watched Asano Kiyoshi leave, and treasured the sight as he continued westward.

Asano Kiyoshi hunted fugitives in the outer districts of Rukongai, following the Captain-Commander’s orders to improve security and earn merits. He found Yamano Mirō and declared that he had come to kill him.

• The Captain-Commander had given Asano Kiyoshi a device listing fugitives and ordered him to kill as many as he could for public safety and merits.
• Asano’s device detected Yamano Mirō nearby and showed his name and photograph.
• Yamano Mirō recalled killing an old man and having the man’s daughter taken to his camp.
• Asano tracked Yamano Mirō and confronted him as he prepared to return to camp.
• Yamano released Mukade Maru, but Asano cut his ankles and held a blade to his neck.

Asano Kiyoshi captured Yamano Mirō and interrogated him about the other fugitives and disappearing souls. After Yamano Mirō fabricated a sob story, Asano Kiyoshi offered to let him go if he provided accurate information, then prepared to deal with his injuries.

• Asano Kiyoshi restrained Yamano Mirō, cut off his arms, and asked how many other fugitives could resist.
• Yamano Mirō stayed silent, so Asano Kiyoshi shocked him and asked whether he knew about the souls disappearing in the area.
• Asano Kiyoshi dislocated Yamano Mirō's jaw to stop him from killing himself, then restored it when he tried to answer.
• Yamano Mirō pleaded for his life and claimed he had fled an abusive noble family, but Asano Kiyoshi's information showed he was a violent criminal.
• Asano Kiyoshi promised to let Yamano Mirō go if he gave accurate information, then said he had a solution for his injuries that might hurt.