Chapter Summaries

Yoru Machi encountered Hirako Shinji and the other Visoreds, who mistook his hidden strength and cautious nature for Aizen Sōsuke’s scheming. The fight began when Hiyori attacked him, and the chapter ended with the group unsure whether he had survived her Hollowfied Shikai strike.

• Yoru Machi identified Hachigen Ushōda and Love Aikawa among the figures who had emerged from hiding with Hirako Shinji.
• Hirako Shinji accused Yoru Machi of resembling Aizen Sōsuke and said the Visoreds would not let him return to Soul Society and report their presence.
• Yoru Machi denied being like Aizen, but Hiyori ignored the conversation and charged at him.
• Yoru Machi blocked Hiyori’s Zanpakuto strike and punched her in the abdomen, sending her crashing into a wall.
• Hirako Shinji attacked Yoru Machi, while Hiyori released Kakujō Ōrochi and Hollowfied before unleashing a powerful slash that shattered the street.

Yoru Machi fought Hirako Shinji, Love Aikawa, and Hiyori, revealing his Shikai and overwhelming swordsmanship despite their Shikai releases and Hollowfication. Love Aikawa’s fiery strike devastated the street, and Shinji worried whether Hachigen Ushōda’s barrier could contain the battle.

• Hirako Shinji warned Hiyori that Yoru Machi’s spiritual pressure was growing, but Yoru Machi wounded her with White Lightning.
• Yoru Machi blocked Hirako Shinji and Love Aikawa’s attacks with his dual Zanpakuto and used a sword technique to turn their momentum against each other.
• Hirako Shinji and Love Aikawa released their Zanpakuto and Hollowfied, while the injured Hiyori joined their attack on Yoru Machi.
• Yoru Machi’s refined swordsmanship let him withstand and gradually suppress all three opponents despite their combined power.
• Love Aikawa struck Yoru Machi with his flaming Tengumaru, wrecking the street, as Hirako Shinji asked whether Hachigen Ushōda’s barrier was holding.

Yoru Machi explained how his Zanpakuto turned injuries into healing, then fought Shinji and the others as they tried to find a way past his ability. The chapter left Yoru Machi wounded by Shinji’s Sakanade, recovering with his dagger while struggling against its reversal effect.

• Hachigen maintained a barrier around the battle, and Yoru Machi survived Love Aikawa’s full-force strike by using his Zanpakuto to turn his injuries into healing.
• Shinji realized Yoru Machi had revealed his ability to mislead them and concluded they would have to exhaust his spiritual pressure.
• Shinji, Hiyori, and Love Aikawa attacked Yoru Machi with their Shikai abilities, and Shinji’s Sakanade reversed his sense of direction.
• Yoru Machi leaped back after Sakanade struck his chest, cut himself with his dagger, and rapidly healed his wounds.
• Shinji warned that Sakanade would be especially troublesome for Yoru Machi because his swordsmanship instincts made him react before he could adjust to the reversed directions.

Hirako Shinji and the Visoreds tried to wear Yoru Machi down by forcing him to use his Zanpakuto, but Yoru Machi revealed that their own spiritual pressure had also been steadily draining. He left them realizing they had overlooked another ability of his Zanpakuto, Bian.

• Hirako Shinji, Love Aikawa, and Hiyori fought Yoru Machi, repeatedly injuring him and making him spend spiritual pressure on Bian’s ability.
• Yoru Machi adapted to Sakanade, while his use of Kaidō helped him endure the Visoreds’ attacks.
• Hiyori’s Hollow mask shattered, and she discovered she no longer had enough spiritual pressure to form another one.
• Love Aikawa noticed that the Visoreds’ spiritual pressure was weakening along with Yoru Machi’s, and Hirako Shinji realized their apparent advantage was shrinking.
• Yoru Machi revealed that he had been draining their spiritual pressure too and asked when he had ever said Bian had only one ability.

Yoru Machi revealed that Bian’s long blade reversed beneficial effects, draining the Visoreds’ spiritual pressure and undermining their Hollowfication. After removing a seal that had suppressed his power, he turned the battle in his favor, then split an incoming Cero with his bare hand.

• Yoru Machi explained that Bian’s short blade turned misfortune into fortune while its long blade reversed beneficial effects, causing the Visoreds’ Hollowfication to rapidly drain their spiritual pressure.
• Hirako Shinji sent Hiyori to the side and asked Love Aikawa whether he could still use Bankai; Love said he likely could not, while Shinji’s own Bankai was unsuitable for fighting alongside allies.
• Yoru Machi said he had prepared for Shinji’s Bankai and removed his hair tie, releasing the spiritual pressure he had been suppressing.
• Yoru Machi sensed a crimson Cero fired from a distance by one of the four other members of the investigation team and split it down the middle with his bare hand.

Tōsen Kaname and the other Visoreds arrived to help Shinji and his companions, only to find Yoru Machi splitting Cero with his bare hands. Yoru Machi quickly overwhelmed Hiyori in hand-to-hand combat, then faced Lisa’s spear attack and recognized her as a former friend.

• Tōsen Kaname, Kensei Muguruma, Lisa Yadōmaru, and Hiyori Sarugaki arrived after Hachigen Ushōda contacted them, and they saw Yoru Machi split Tōsen’s Cero.
• Hiyori entered Hollowfication and attacked Yoru Machi with a flying kick, but he caught her ankle and threw her to the ground.
• Hiyori tried to counter with a Thomas spin kick, but Yoru Machi blocked her and struck her waist, sending her flying into Kensei’s arms.
• Lisa thrust her spear-type Zanpakuto, Iron Dragonfly, at Yoru Machi, who drew Higan and blocked the attack with his crossed swords.
• Yoru Machi recognized Lisa Yadōmaru and remarked that her greeting was unfriendly, recalling their former acquaintance.

Lisa Yadōmaru, Kensei Muguruma, and Tōsen Kaname fought Yoru Machi, whose strength and Zanpakuto abilities left the Visoreds struggling. After Shinji Hirako explained the danger of Yoru Machi’s blades, Kensei and Tōsen prepared to use Bankai, while the group checked whether Hachibē’s barrier could withstand the coming battle.

• Lisa Yadōmaru clashed with Yoru Machi, then Kensei Muguruma and Tōsen Kaname joined the fight with their Shikai.
• Kensei knocked Yoru Machi into the air, and Tōsen caught him with Kinshara, but Yoru Machi sent his spiritual pressure back through the whip.
• Hirako Shinji and Love Aikawa used Hollowfication and fired Ceross at Yoru Machi, who blocked them with Bakudō #81: Dankū.
• Shinji warned the others that Yoru Machi’s blades could drain their spiritual pressure and make him impossible to kill, while Lisa revealed his mastery of all four Soul Reaper arts and his former rank as Fifth Seat.
• Kensei and Tōsen prepared to use Bankai, and the group asked Hachibē whether his barrier could hold against the coming battle.

Yoru Machi removed another spiritual-pressure seal and overwhelmed the Visoreds until Shihoin Yoruichi intervened. Yoruichi sought to stop the fight and warned Yoru Machi that someone inside the Thirteen Court Guard Squads was the real enemy.

• Yoru Machi removed a wristband seal, releasing spiritual pressure that crushed Hiyori and forced the other Visoreds to struggle to stand.
• Shinji realized Yoru Machi had been holding back, while Kensei Muguruma and Tōsen Kaname prepared to fight him with Bankai.
• Shihoin Yoruichi appeared between the fighters and urged Yoru Machi to stop, pointing out that the Rukongai incident had suspicious details.
• Yoru Machi challenged Yoruichi for asking him to stop when the Visoreds had attacked him first.
• Yoruichi apologized for failing to explain Yoru Machi's circumstances and warned him that his greatest enemy was someone within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

After Yoru Machi defeated the Visoreds, he left with Rangiku and made clear that he would treat them as enemies if they met again. The Visoreds discussed whether he might aid them against Aizen, and Yoruichi and Urahara Kisuke concluded he was probably not a threat.

• Yoru Machi carried the protected, drunken Rangiku away after warning the Visoreds that they stood on opposing sides.
• Lisa explained that Yoru Machi was a cautious slacker with little ambition and was not allied with Aizen.
• Yoruichi asked Lisa to contact Yoru Machi and try to recruit his help, or at least avoid making him an enemy.
• The battered Visoreds repaired the street, left, and resolved to train harder after their defeat.
• At the Urahara Shop, Urahara Kisuke heard about Yoru Machi and said he probably was not a problem.

After waking at Yoru Machi's residence, Rangiku tried to pass off their bathroom encounter as his hallucination, and Yoru Machi played along to spare her embarrassment. Rangiku then revealed that she had watched his battle the previous night and realized how powerful he was.

• Rangiku woke at Yoru Machi's residence after getting drunk at the Kurosaki couple's wedding and went into the bathroom without noticing he was inside.
• Yoru Machi saw Rangiku undressed, then she kicked him unconscious.
• When Yoru Machi woke, Rangiku claimed she had found him passed out and blamed it on his supposedly failing kidneys.
• Yoru Machi recognized that Rangiku was trying to cover up the bathroom encounter, so he went along with calling it a hallucination while rejecting the kidney excuse.
• Rangiku revealed that she had watched Yoru Machi fight the former captains and vice-captains from inside his Tōzanshō, and praised him for defeating them all.

Yoru Machi returned to Soul Society with Rangiku after their Human World mission and reported that Shiba Isshin had resigned and stayed behind. After the Captain-Commander questioned him about the Menos Grande, he asked whether Yoru Machi would consider becoming captain of the Tenth Division.

• Yoru Machi asked Rangiku to keep the Visoreds and his hidden strength confidential, warning that a conspiracy within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads could put them in danger.
• Yoru Machi and Rangiku were recalled to Soul Society, where Shiba Kukaku and Shiba Ganju welcomed them and Kukaku invited Yoru Machi to visit the Shiba Clan.
• Toshiro Hitsugaya took Rangiku away to deal with the Tenth Division's piled-up duties, while Yoru Machi went to report to the Captain-Commander and Captain Fujitora.
• Yoru Machi told the Captain-Commander that Shiba Isshin had lost his Soul Reaper powers and chosen to remain in the Human World, and said he could not determine how the Tohshirou-class Menos Grande had appeared.
• The Captain-Commander asked Yoru Machi whether he would consider taking the vacant captain's position in the Tenth Division.

Yoru Machi refused the Captain-Commander's offer to make him captain of the Tenth Division and reported Shiba Isshin's Human World ordeal to Captain Fujitora. After warning him that someone inside the Thirteen Court Guard Squads might be conspiring against Shiba Isshin, Yoru Machi left for the Shiba Clan's territory.

• The Captain-Commander urged Yoru Machi to take the Tenth Division captaincy, but Yoru Machi declined and recommended Toshiro Hitsugaya instead.
• Yoru Machi returned to the Thirteenth Division and told Captain Fujitora that Shiba Isshin had been saved by a Quincy, lost his Shinigami powers, and stayed in the Human World.
• Yoru Machi warned Captain Fujitora that Shiba Isshin's attack and the precise location of his Senkaimon suggested someone within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads had malicious intentions.
• Captain Fujitora, troubled by Yoru Machi's account, planned to discuss it with Kyoraku Shunsui.
• Yoru Machi left the Thirteenth Division and headed for the Shiba Clan's territory.

Yoru Machi examined Shiba Miyako in the Shiba Clan’s basement laboratory after Kaien reported signs of movement, finding that her body and spiritual pressure had recovered remarkably. The chapter ended with Kaien waiting anxiously to learn whether his wife could be resurrected.

• Yoru Machi visited the Shiba Clan estate after Kaien urgently summoned him, and Ganju revealed that the matter concerned Miyako.
• Kaien told Yoru Machi that Miyako had seemed to react to his words and move her body.
• Yoru Machi examined Miyako in the nutrient tank and checked the instruments tracking her recovery.
• Yoru Machi found that Miyako’s readings were approaching normal and her spiritual pressure had grown stronger.
• Kaien anxiously asked Yoru Machi whether anything was still wrong.

Yoru Machi discovered that Shiba Miyako was responding to Kaien’s voice and predicted she would soon awaken, while Kaien stayed by her side and reflected on Shiba Isshin’s choices. Their celebratory drinks were interrupted by Rangiku, who demanded a share of a nonexistent mission bonus despite having barely helped with the investigation.

• Yoru Machi observed Shiba Miyako’s soul wavelength fluctuate as Kaien spoke to her and said she might awaken within half a month, though her memories were uncertain.
• Kaien decided to remain beside Shiba Miyako and asked Yoru Machi to request leave from his lieutenant.
• Kaien told Yoru Machi he respected Shiba Isshin’s decision to remain in the Human World and give up his family name for the woman he loved.
• Yoru Machi and Kaien discussed the Shiba Clan’s decline and the possibility that Isshin’s future family would expand it.
• Rangiku found Yoru Machi and Kaien at an upscale izakaya, accused them of leaving her out, and demanded a share of a bonus for the investigation mission.
• Yoru Machi thought Rangiku had done little to help with the investigation and was appalled by her claim that she had worked hard.

Yoru Machi and Rangiku drank with Kaien, who tried to learn whether they had romantic feelings for each other. Rangiku later asked if Yoru Machi had been offered the Tenth Division captaincy, and he explained why he had refused it.

• Kaien invited Rangiku to join him and Yoru Machi, and she eagerly shared their food and sake.
• Yoru Machi teased Rangiku for taking advantage of Kaien's generosity, while Kaien asked about her closeness with Yoru Machi.
• Rangiku assured Kaien she would not compete with Kukaku and said Yoru Machi probably did not see her as a woman.
• Rangiku asked whether the Captain-Commander had recommended Yoru Machi to lead the Tenth Division, and Yoru Machi confirmed he had declined because he could not use Bankai.
• Rangiku enthusiastically said she would support Yoru Machi as captain, but he refused, joking that he would become her nanny and be stuck doing her work.

Rangiku tried to persuade Yoru Machi to become the Tenth Division captain so she could avoid handling the division’s work, but he refused and offered to train Tōshirō Hitsugaya in Bankai instead. Rangiku eagerly accepted the plan, leaving Kaien stunned by how quickly her feigned distress disappeared.

• Rangiku urged Yoru Machi to accept the vacant Tenth Division captaincy, but he reminded her he had refused the Captain-Commander and recommended Toshiro Hitsugaya.
• Rangiku explained that she feared having to manage the Tenth Division’s affairs alone while Tōshirō was still developing.
• Yoru Machi refused the captaincy, saying he would not take on a long-term job and did not want the risks of becoming a captain.
• Rangiku complained that Captain Shiba had left her with the division’s work and pretended to sob over Yoru Machi’s refusal.
• Yoru Machi offered to give Tōshirō special Bankai training so he could become captain sooner, and Rangiku immediately asked how long it would take.
• Kaien was shocked when Rangiku stopped crying at once, while Yoru Machi treated her sudden change as familiar behavior.

Yoru Machi estimated that Tōshirō could master Bankai within about half a year, then escorted a drunken Rangiku back to the Tenth Division. Ichimaru Gin confronted him, suspecting his motives and warning him away from Rangiku, while planning to use what he knew to set Yoru Machi against Aizen if necessary.

• Yoru Machi told Rangiku that Tōshirō might master Bankai in about half a year, and Rangiku complained about the extra work.
• After drinking, Kaien left for home while Yoru Machi escorted the drunken Rangiku back to the Tenth Division.
• Ichimaru Gin stepped out to confront Yoru Machi and asked who he was and why he had gotten close to Rangiku.
• Ichimaru Gin recalled watching Yoru Machi in the Human World and grew suspicious of his hidden abilities and his failure to report the full truth.
• Ichimaru Gin decided to warn Yoru Machi and considered telling Aizen what he knew if Yoru Machi proved dangerous to Rangiku.

Yoru Machi convinced Ichimaru Gin that he had kept Rangiku’s secrets to protect her, though Gin misunderstood him as a potential love rival and entrusted Rangiku’s safety to him. Gin concealed their Human World activities from Aizen, who became interested after learning that Shiba Isshin had married Kurosaki Masaki and had a son, Kurosaki Ichigo, carrying Hollow, Soul Reaper, and Quincy powers.

• Ichimaru Gin confronted Yoru Machi about his closeness to Rangiku and revealed that he had watched their activities in the Human World.
• Yoru Machi explained that he had hidden his strength and withheld information to avoid trouble and protect Rangiku from Aizen.
• Ichimaru Gin accepted Yoru Machi’s explanation and warned him to protect Rangiku, mistakenly believing Yoru Machi had romantic feelings for her.
• Yoru Machi realized that Ichimaru Gin had misunderstood him and resented being treated as Rangiku’s replacement protector.
• Ichimaru Gin withheld Yoru Machi and Rangiku’s activities from Aizen, who became interested in Shiba Isshin’s marriage to Kurosaki Masaki and the birth of their son, Kurosaki Ichigo.

Yoru Machi’s increasingly crowded routine included training Tōshirō, whose repeated defeats made him resent being called a genius. The chapter left Tōshirō recalling why he wanted to surpass Yoru Machi and become captain of the Tenth Division.

• Aizen regarded Kurosaki Ichigo’s natural birth as the final opportunity for his own transformation.
• Yoru Machi juggled his duties with Kuchiki Hisana, Shiba Miyako, and Rangiku, while rumors about his closeness to married women spread through Soul Society.
• Kuchiki Byakuya and the Shiba Clan suppressed the rumors, and Byakuya publicly defended Yoru Machi as a benevolent healer and friend.
• Tōshirō heard Tenth Division members predict how long he would last against Yoru Machi and resented their praise of him as a genius.
• Tōshirō recalled his past defeat by Yoru Machi, his progress as a Soul Reaper, and his determination to become captain of the Tenth Division.

Tōshirō challenged Yoru Machi to prove he had surpassed him, but Yoru Machi dismantled his ice attacks and stopped his strongest Shikai technique with two fingers. The chapter ended with Hyōrinmaru’s freezing power spreading from Yoru Machi’s hand as Tōshirō struggled to break free.

• Tōshirō challenged Yoru Machi at the Tenth Division training grounds, declaring that he had surpassed Rangiku and was ready to defeat him.
• Yoru Machi mocked Tōshirō’s childhood and warned him that a powerful Zanpakuto did not guarantee victory.
• Tōshirō released Hyōrinmaru’s Shikai, lowered the temperature, and sent ice pillars at Yoru Machi with Flock of Birds Ice Pillars.
• Yoru Machi used Yoru God Style Third Form—Zekūga to slice apart the ice pillars with a fast sword-draw slash.
• Tōshirō followed with Ice Dragon Whirling Tail—Zekū, but Yoru Machi pinched Hyōrinmaru’s blade between two fingers and held it in place.
• Tōshirō struggled to free his sword as Hyōrinmaru’s cold spread from Yoru Machi’s hand.