Chapter Summaries

Ross and Kūkaku Shiba used a Spirit Concealing Orb to enter the Great Spirit Library Corridor and search its records. Kūkaku uncovered troubling information about prominent figures in Seireitei, while Ross wondered what her privileged access had revealed.

• Kūkaku Shiba gave Ross a Spirit Concealing Orb, and he learned to use its law-level concealment.
• Ross and Kūkaku walked openly into the Great Spirit Library Corridor and passed Shunsui Kyoraku without being detected.
• Kūkaku used the Shiba Clan’s backdoor access to activate the Corridor’s control console and browse its records.
• Kūkaku found records involving the Fon Clan, Shunsui Kyoraku, Jushiro Ukitake, Sosuke Aizen, and Tosen Kaname, and condemned Seireitei as corrupt.
• Ross considered how the Corridor recorded Spirit Particle fluctuations and reflected that his precautions should have kept his own actions off its records.

After discovering the truth about the Shiba Clan’s destruction in the Great Spirit Library Corridor, Kūkaku Shiba broke down in Ross’s arms and revealed that five Captains had been involved. Ross then tested her trust by asking whether she feared he would expose what she had learned.

• Kūkaku Shiba finished searching the Great Spirit Library Corridor and accepted Ross’s comfort as her grief and anger overwhelmed her.
• Kūkaku Shiba learned that her clan elders had joined Kaien Shiba’s investigation of the Fon Clan, while she and Ganju had been kept in the dark.
• Kūkaku Shiba discovered that Sosuke Aizen, Tosen Kaname, Soi Fon, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Jushiro Ukitake had all been involved in the incident that killed Kaien Shiba and many clan elders.
• Kūkaku Shiba searched Ross’s records, learned they had been deliberately edited by Ross, and concluded that he had not caused her family’s deaths.
• Ross reasoned that Kūkaku Shiba had not uncovered his connection to Aizen, then asked whether she feared he would reveal the information about the five Captains.

Ross revealed to Kūkaku Shiba that he had come from Hueco Mundo, and she trusted him enough to conceal his records using the Shiba Clan’s access privileges. When they returned to the Shiba Clan grounds, Ross detected an intruder and called out Captain Soi Fon, who had come after overhearing important information.

• Ross told Kūkaku Shiba that he had no connection to Aizen’s Hollow Experiment and revealed that he had come from Hueco Mundo.
• Kūkaku Shiba said she trusted Ross more than Soul Society’s Shinigami and kissed him.
• Kūkaku Shiba used the clan head’s access privileges to conceal Ross’s information in the Great Spirit Library Corridor.
• Ross and Kūkaku Shiba returned to the Shiba Clan grounds, where Ross sensed an intruder targeting Kūkaku.
• Ross called Captain Soi Fon out of hiding, and Kūkaku Shiba recognized her as the intruder.

Soi Fon confronted Kūkaku Shiba and Ross at the Shiba Clan estate, demanding Yoruichi Shihoin’s whereabouts and threatening to take Kūkaku in. Ross easily overwhelmed Soi Fon, and Kūkaku asked him to kill the trespasser.

• Soi Fon demanded that Kūkaku reveal where Yoruichi Shihoin was and threatened to arrest her for harboring a criminal.
• Kūkaku and Ross refused to let Soi Fon take her, citing her status as head of the Shiba Clan and the rules protecting the noble clans.
• Soi Fon attacked Kūkaku, but Ross shielded her and struck Soi Fon with a single sword swing, sending her flying.
• Ross mocked Soi Fon’s speed and strength, then asked Kūkaku whether she would authorize him to kill her.
• Kūkaku declared Soi Fon a trespasser on Shiba Clan land and asked Captain Ross to kill her.

Ross protected Kūkaku Shiba from Soi Fon, who unleashed her Bankai and devastated the Shiba Clan’s front courtyard. Soi Fon continued attacking after Ross blocked her, and Kūkaku warned him that Suzumebachi could kill with two strikes to the same spot.

• Ross released his Spiritual Pressure at the Shiba Clan estate, drawing several Captains’ attention as Soi Fon prepared to fight him.
• Soi Fon activated Bankai: Suzumebachi and fired a devastating attack at Ross, who protected Kūkaku Shiba with Bakudo #81: Danku.
• The blast destroyed the Shiba Clan’s front courtyard, while Ross’s barrier kept the main residence unharmed.
• Byakuya Kuchiki arrived near the estate, retreated from the scorching shockwave, and watched the destruction in alarm.
• Soi Fon rushed Ross again and marked his arm with her stinger before he forced her back.
• Kūkaku Shiba warned Ross that Soi Fon’s Shikai could kill with two strikes to the same spot.

Soi Fon attacked Kūkaku Shiba to learn where Yoruichi Shihoin was, but Ross and Byakuya Kuchiki subdued her. Kūkaku revealed that Yoruichi was in the Human World and defended her right to stay in contact with her, while the captains prepared to hear the details and judge the incident.

• Soi Fon feigned retreat, then lunged at Ross, but he caught her hand and Byakuya Kuchiki bound her with Kidō.
• Byakuya Kuchiki threatened Soi Fon with his sword, and she stopped resisting as Kūkaku Shiba said Yoruichi Shihoin was in the Human World.
• Byakuya Kuchiki promised the Shiba Clan a fair judgment and asked Kūkaku to explain what had happened.
• Unohana and Shunsui Kyoraku arrived, and Kūkaku recounted Soi Fon's attack while staying close to Ross.
• Kūkaku told Shunsui Kyoraku that Yoruichi was in the Human World and insisted that her contact with Yoruichi was not a crime.

After Soi Fon admitted she had tried to kill Ross and a woman in the World of the Living, Shunsui Kyoraku arranged for her to be detained and tried by the Central 46 Chambers rather than executed immediately. Kūkaku Shiba secured Ross’s right to attend the trial as the Shiba Clan’s guest retainer, while Shunsui chose Tosen Kaname to guard Soi Fon.

• Soi Fon admitted she had wanted to kill Ross and then kill a woman in the World of the Living.
• Shunsui Kyoraku ordered Soi Fon’s Spiritual Pressure restricted and said she would be handed over to the Central 46 Chambers for trial.
• Kūkaku Shiba objected to delaying justice, then declared Ross a Shiba Clan guest retainer who could represent the clan at the trial.
• Byakuya Kuchiki questioned Ross’s right to attend, but Shunsui Kyoraku agreed he could observe the proceedings.
• Shunsui Kyoraku said he would escort Soi Fon to the Ninth Division and have Tosen Kaname guard her, while Kūkaku Shiba warned them not to let her escape.

After Shunsui Kyoraku and Unohana took the captured Soi Fon away, Ross spoke with Byakuya Kuchiki and heard Kūkaku Shiba's account of the missing Tsukishiro Kuchiki. Kūkaku stayed with Ross at the Shiba Clan estate and revealed that she intended to be his gift of thanks.

• Shunsui Kyoraku and Unohana departed the Shiba Clan estate with the more securely bound Soi Fon, leaving Byakuya Kuchiki behind.
• Ross thanked Byakuya Kuchiki, who thanked Ross for looking after Rukia Kuchiki before taking his leave.
• Kūkaku Shiba told Ross that Tsukishiro Kuchiki had disappeared after her wedding was announced, amid rumors that the Kuchiki Clan had sealed her away.
• Kūkaku Shiba asked Ross to stay at the estate to protect the Shiba Clan for the night and promised him a gift of thanks.
• Kūkaku Shiba told Ross that she was his gift, then undressed as Ross approached her.

Shunsui Kyoraku sought Captain-General Yamamoto’s help as Central 46 Chambers’ nobles resisted putting Soi Fon on trial for attacking the Shiba Clan. Tenjirō Kirinji reported that Ross appeared innocent while Soi Fon carried a faint Hollow aura, leaving Captain-General Yamamoto convinced she had betrayed Soul Society.

• Shunsui Kyoraku told Captain-General Yamamoto that nobles opposed punishing Soi Fon and claimed she had acted against the Shiba Clan for a justified reason.
• Shunsui Kyoraku suspected the nobles were colluding with True King's Palace, but Captain-General Yamamoto insisted that the rules be upheld and left him to find a solution.
• Tenjirō Kirinji told Captain-General Yamamoto that Ross had behaved normally while staying with the Shiba Clan and had not shown signs of being a spy.
• Tenjirō Kirinji revealed that Soi Fon carried a faint Hollow aura that she likely had not noticed.
• Captain-General Yamamoto concluded that Soi Fon had betrayed Soul Society and resolved to use the matter to teach Shunsui Kyoraku a lesson.

Ross warned Aizen that Tenjirō Kirinji had entered the Seireitei to investigate the traitor working with True King's Palace, and explained that Aizen could avoid detection by carefully influencing Tenjirō’s senses. Aizen realized Ross’s Illusion encompassed the entire Seireitei and left with a deeper sense of the gap between them.

• Ross asked Aizen about Kyōraku’s troubles after Central 46 rejected Soi Fon’s review four times and sages tried to persuade the Kyoraku Family.
• Ross noticed Aizen’s low Spiritual Pressure, and Aizen suspected someone had detected something unusual about Illusion.
• Ross identified the hidden visitor as Tenjirō Kirinji, whose nickname was Thunderous Tenjirō.
• Aizen deduced that Tenjirō had come to investigate the traitor collaborating with True King's Palace.
• Aizen recognized that Ross’s Illusion could control everyone in the Seireitei and guide what they perceived.
• Ross told Aizen that he could influence Tenjirō’s five senses if he acted carefully, then said he had only meant to warn him.

Ross let Aizen know his intentions for Soi Fon, while Candice lured Soi Fon out of her prison and defeated her in Hueco Mundo. Candice then revealed she had brought a vial and syringe for an unknown purpose.

• Aizen spoke with Ross and learned that Ross intended to keep Soi Fon in Soul Society while forcing her into contact with True King's Palace.
• Candice Cartnip appeared in Soi Fon's prison and identified herself as the Noveno Espada.
• Candice returned Soi Fon's Zanpakuto and opened a Garganta, and Soi Fon followed her into Hueco Mundo.
• Candice defeated Soi Fon using Hollow Saint Body without activating Resurrección.
• Candice stood over the exhausted Soi Fon and took out a vial and syringe.

Gadis drained Soi Fon’s Shinigami power, infected her with Hollow power, and broke her will by showing her photographs of Yoruichi with Kisuke Urahara. Soi Fon crawled to Gadis to learn Yoruichi’s location, then lost consciousness as Gadis sent her back to her prison cell and prepared for True King’s Palace’s hunt.

• Gadis injected Soi Fon’s blood into herself, absorbed her power, and gained a short blade resembling Soi Fon’s Zanpakuto.
• Gadis injected Hollow power into Soi Fon and declared her to be her property and subordinate.
• Gadis showed Soi Fon photographs of Yoruichi Shihoin with Kisuke Urahara, causing Soi Fon to demand Yoruichi’s whereabouts.
• Gadis promised to reveal Yoruichi’s location if Soi Fon crawled to her, and Soi Fon crawled across the sand to reach her.
• Gadis told Soi Fon that Yoruichi and Kisuke were at a general store in Karakura Town, and Soi Fon collapsed unconscious.
• Gadis threw Soi Fon through a Garganta back to her prison cell and turned her attention to True King’s Palace’s hunt.

Senjumaru Shutara confronted seven Espada in Hueco Mundo, demanding to meet their king and challenging them to entertain her. After she defeated Ulquiorra, Lilynette intervened and attacked, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Senjumaru Shutara revealed herself to Candice and exposed the hidden gathering of six Espada.
• Senjumaru Shutara unleashed her superior Spiritual Pressure and challenged the Espada to fight her.
• Ulquiorra attacked Senjumaru Shutara, but she blocked his blows and wounded him with her threads.
• Senjumaru Shutara defeated Ulquiorra, and Lilynette kicked him out of danger before pouncing on Senjumaru Shutara.
• Senjumaru Shutara's skeletal hands wove a web shield to stop Lilynette's attack.

Senjumaru Shutara continued fighting the Espada, but Ross revealed an overwhelming power that surpassed her understanding and forced her to kneel. When she tried to use Bankai, he simply forbade it, leaving her unsure whether she could survive or return after death.

• Senjumaru Shutara fought Lilynette and the other Espada for another hour and a half, losing four of her six skeletal arms and much of her strength.
• Lilynette declared that the Espada did not need to attack together, while Senjumaru Shutara challenged No. 1 or their king to face her.
• A pair of enormous blue eyes opened in the sky, and Ross's divine pressure overwhelmed Senjumaru Shutara and forced her body to bend.
• Senjumaru Shutara released Bankai to resist Ross's control of the space, but he forbade it and made her Bankai collapse.

Senjumaru Shutara found herself trapped in a world without Spirit Particles, where her powers and connection to the Soul King Palace were cut off. She confronted Ross, who revealed himself as the King of Hueco Mundo and ruler of the World Government, and she tried to kill herself rather than surrender her secrets.

• Senjumaru Shutara awoke among the ruins of a city in a world without Spirit Particles and found her Bankai and Soul King Palace connection sealed.
• Senjumaru Shutara followed a mysterious presence east and reached the ruins of a palace, where Ross awaited her.
• Ross identified the ruins as a kingdom that had refused to submit and revealed his identities as Jaygarcia Ross, the King of Hueco Mundo, and the king of the World Government.
• Ross welcomed Senjumaru Shutara to his world, and she realized it lay beyond the Three Realms.
• Senjumaru Shutara tried to pierce her throat and heart with her silver needles, but they stopped against her skin, and she vowed to reveal nothing.

Ross continued tormenting Senjumaru Shutara in his undersea prison, though he had no need for information from her. In Soul Society, Yamamoto and Tenjirō Kirinji concluded that Senjumaru had likely been killed by a powerful Hollow in Hueco Mundo and struggled to decide how to respond.

• Ross taunted Senjumaru Shutara, who refused to reveal anything about the Soul King Palace despite her injuries and fear.
• Ross revealed that Senjumaru had already confessed and that he was tormenting her for his own amusement, not to obtain information.
• Tenjirō Kirinji told Captain-General Yamamoto that Senjumaru had vanished and her connection to the Soul King had been severed.
• Yamamoto reasoned that Senjumaru had probably been killed by the unnamed Hollow King in Hueco Mundo.
• Tenjirō asked what to do next, while Yamamoto and the Zero Division lacked a clear way to confront the enemy.

Captain-General Yamamoto discussed using the captured spy Soi Fon to learn more about True King's Palace and summoned several trusted Captains to plan a response. Meanwhile, Unohana confirmed that Ross had imprisoned Senjumaru and revealed Yamamoto’s meeting to him, having already found a reason to betray the Soul Society.

• Captain-General Yamamoto told Kirio that Soi Fon had left prison, recovered her Zanpakuto, and was likely to be used to probe True King's Palace.
• Kirio questioned Yamamoto’s passive approach, but Yamamoto argued that the Soul Society still held the initiative and ordered Chōjirō Sasakibe to summon Kyoraku, Unohana, and Jūshirō.
• Unohana met Ross beneath Sokyoku Mountain and asked whether he had imprisoned Senjumaru.
• Ross confirmed Senjumaru’s capture, and Unohana recognized a mark on her waist from having bathed with her long ago.
• Unohana told Ross about Yamamoto’s gathering and admitted that she had found a reason to betray the Soul Society.

Ross told Senjumaru Shutara that Soul Society planned to brand Soi Fon a traitor and lure the people of True King's Palace into a trap, then revealed he could perfectly imitate her. Senjumaru realized he could use her appearance to commit acts that would make Soul Society condemn her as a traitor.

• Senjumaru Shutara remained captive in the ruined palace, unable to use Spiritual Pressure or escape, as Ross returned and tormented her.
• Ross told Senjumaru that Soul Society planned to use Soi Fon's trial as bait and that three members of Zero Division would attend; Senjumaru doubted him and refused to submit to his wishes.
• Ross said Soul Society would soon decide Senjumaru had betrayed them, and she insisted she had done nothing against them.
• Ross transformed himself into an exact likeness of Senjumaru, restoring her dignified appearance and six skeletal arms.
• Senjumaru recognized that Ross could use her face to commit unforgivable acts and make Soul Society view her as a traitor.

Ross held Senjumaru Shutara captive and prepared to use her Zanpakutō, while Soul Society spent three months arranging Soi Fon’s trial. Ross told Kūkaku Shiba that the trial was bait for an ambush on True King's Palace, unaware that she knew Soi Fon was not its agent.

• Ross dismissed Senjumaru Shutara’s defiance, took her Zanpakutō, and planned to make her watch Soul Society’s ambush through a live broadcast.
• Ross used research improved by Sola to suppress Zanpakutō imprints, allowing him to maintain Illusion with Enrakyōten and use Senjumaru Shutara’s Bankai.
• Central 46 Chambers scheduled Soi Fon’s trial for three months later, as the nobles maneuvered to claim benefits from the Fon Clan’s weakening position.
• Kūkaku Shiba told Ross that the Shiba Clan had reclaimed six Central 46 Chambers seats, though the Kuchiki Clan had gained a judge’s seat.
• Ross explained that Soul Society had made Soi Fon’s trial an obvious lure to draw True King's Palace into an ambush, and Kūkaku mocked the plan because she knew the real Soi Fon was with them.

Ross ignored the Central 46 Chambers' attempt to reprimand him and invited Shunsui Kyoraku to drink after the trial. Chief Judge Kuchiki halted Judge Kasumiōji's confrontation and redirected the hearing toward Soi Fon's interrogation.

• Ross entered the council hall and ignored Judge Number Five's accusation that he had arrived late.
• Ross invited Shunsui Kyoraku to share a drink, and Shunsui enthusiastically accepted.
• Judge Kasumiōji angrily challenged Ross, but Shunsui warned him to withdraw if he was unwell.
• Chief Judge Kuchiki ordered Judge Kasumiōji to stop and said the hearing should focus on Soi Fon.
• Ross recognized Chief Judge Kuchiki and privately considered killing him to throw the Kuchiki Clan into turmoil.