Chapter Summaries

Kurosaki Ichigo visited Yoru Machi to ask for training so he could protect Rukia, but Yoru Machi pointed out that Rukia might be relieved he was away. As Ichigo rushed home, Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji arrived to arrest Rukia, who insisted on taking all the blame herself.

• Kurosaki Ichigo asked Yoru Machi to teach him how to become stronger and save Rukia from being taken back to Soul Society.
• Kukaku praised Ichigo's sense of responsibility and offered to teach him if Yoru Machi refused.
• Yoru Machi warned Ichigo that Rukia might be relieved he was not with her, so Ichigo swallowed a Gikon and hurried home.
• Rukia met Kuchiki Byakuya and Abarai Renji as they arrived through a Senkaimon to arrest her for giving Soul Reaper power to a human.
• Kuchiki Byakuya ordered Rukia to return to Soul Society for punishment, while Abarai Renji tried to argue for a lighter sentence.
• Rukia cut Renji off and insisted that she alone was responsible, hoping to keep Ichigo from being punished.

Kuchiki Byakuya had arranged to arrest Rukia himself so he could give her a chance to explain, but she refused to defend herself. Ichigo returned to protect her and fought Abarai Renji, who accused him of stealing Rukia’s Soul Reaper powers.

• Kuchiki Byakuya recalled that Hisana had pressured him to save Rukia, so he had maneuvered the Sixth Division into handling her arrest instead of the Second Division.
• Rukia refused to offer an explanation or shift blame onto Ichigo, frustrating Byakuya and Renji.
• Ichigo returned and stood between Rukia and the Soul Reapers, refusing to let them take her without defeating him.
• Rukia urged Ichigo to leave, but he declared that he would not abandon an important companion.
• Renji, jealous of Ichigo’s closeness with Rukia, attacked him while Byakuya watched without intervening.
• Ichigo met Renji’s Zanpakuto with his butcher knife, and Renji accused him of using underhanded means to take Rukia’s powers.

Kurosaki Ichigo refused to let Abarai Renji take Rukia back to the Soul Society, despite Renji warning that the law and stronger Soul Reapers would stand in their way. Renji released his Shikai, and Ichigo showed spiritual pressure matching it before Renji vanished and attacked.

• Kurosaki Ichigo questioned why Abarai Renji and Kuchiki Byakuya were taking Rukia back to face punishment, and Renji knocked Ichigo away with a slash.
• Abarai Renji explained that the Soul Society would send others after Rukia and insisted Ichigo was too weak to challenge the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
• Kurosaki Ichigo vowed to fight anyone who came for Rukia, so Abarai Renji released his Shikai, Zabimaru, despite Rukia urging him to stop.
• Rukia warned Ichigo to run because Renji had developed killing intent, but Ichigo raised his own spiritual pressure, impressing even Kuchiki Byakuya.
• Abarai Renji disappeared from his position, and Kurosaki Ichigo spun around and swung his sword into the incoming attack.

Kurosaki Ichigo fought Abarai Renji but was badly wounded when Zabimaru’s Shikai pierced his back. As Renji moved to kill him and Kuchiki Byakuya restrained Rukia, a mysterious man stopped Zabimaru with two fingers and saved Ichigo.

• Ichigo blocked Renji’s first attacks, but Renji explained Shunpo and used Zabimaru’s extended blade to stab Ichigo in the back, chipping his Zanpakuto.
• Renji declared that he would kill Ichigo and swung Zabimaru toward his neck as Ichigo knelt, injured.
• Rukia rushed to protect Ichigo, but Byakuya immobilized her with Bakudō #61: Six Rods of Light Restraint.
• A mysterious man appeared and caught Zabimaru between two fingers, then told Ichigo he had saved him twice and asked to be introduced to his younger sisters.

Yoru Machi intervened to protect Kurosaki Ichigo, persuading Kuchiki Byakuya to let him go and take Rukia back to Soul Society. Byakuya revealed that Ichigo belonged to the Shiba Clan and warned Renji that Yoru Machi’s strength rivaled the best in Soul Society.

• Yoru Machi stopped Renji from attacking Ichigo and asked Byakuya to spare the human boy.
• Byakuya agreed to Yoru Machi’s request, and he and Renji took Rukia through the Senkaimon toward Soul Society.
• Byakuya told Yoru Machi to return to Soul Society as ordered by the Captain-Commander and said he bore some responsibility for the incident.
• Renji questioned Byakuya about sparing Ichigo, and Byakuya explained that Ichigo was a member of the Shiba Clan, close to Yoru Machi.
• Byakuya told Renji that Yoru Machi excelled in Zanpakuto, Kidō, Hoho, and Hakuda, and that his Zanpakuto ability was terrifying.

After Rukia was taken back to Soul Society, Yoru Machi warned Ichigo that he was nowhere near strong enough to rescue her and arranged for Kukaku to find him a trainer. Back in Soul Society, Hisana confronted Yoru Machi over Rukia’s arrest and demanded to know why he had failed to prevent it.

• Ichigo begged Yoru Machi to take him to Soul Society, but Yoru Machi explained the risks and revealed that Renji had fought with only a fraction of his strength.
• Yoru Machi told Ichigo that Kukaku would arrange his training and promised to keep him informed about Rukia’s punishment.
• After returning to Soul Society, Yoru Machi reported the events to Captain Fujitora and was summoned by Hisana.
• Hisana arrived at the Thirteenth Division, spoke with Captain Fujitora about Rukia, then grabbed Yoru Machi’s ear and demanded an explanation.

Kuchiki Hisana confronted Yoru Machi about Rukia’s danger, but he warned her that interfering could make matters worse and urged her to keep his information secret. In the Human World, Kukaku brought Kurosaki Ichigo to Urahara Kisuke’s shop to train, where Ichigo learned that its occupants—and especially the black cat—were far stronger than he expected.

• Kuchiki Hisana accused Yoru Machi of failing to protect Rukia, and he explained that Rukia and Kurosaki Ichigo were being watched by dangerous people and that interfering could worsen the situation.
• Yoru Machi told Hisana that Rukia would ultimately be fine and warned her not to repeat what he had said, even to Kuchiki Byakuya.
• Kuchiki Hisana left the Thirteenth Division barracks planning to visit Rukia in prison and see whether she could bribe Central 46.
• Kukaku brought Kurosaki Ichigo to Urahara Kisuke’s shop so he could train and become stronger.
• Kukaku told Ichigo that the shop’s occupants could defeat Abarai Renji, and that the black cat was its strongest fighter, leaving Ichigo stunned.

Kurosaki Ichigo began training with Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi to prepare to rescue Rukia, while noble pressure over Rukia’s case forced Central 46 to pass the decision to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. The Captain-Commander resolved not to let her off lightly despite her powerful supporters.

• Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi agreed to train Kurosaki Ichigo, and Urahara tried to charge him for the lessons.
• Kukaku paid for Ichigo’s advanced training and said she would bring Orihime and his other friends as well.
• Kurosaki Ichigo began training in Shikai and Shunpo under Urahara Kisuke and Yoruichi.
• Kuchiki Hisana, the Kuchiki Clan, the Shiba Clan, and other nobles pressured Central 46 to protect Rukia.
• Central 46 passed Rukia’s case to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, and the Captain-Commander decided that discipline required a serious punishment.

At the captains’ meeting, the captains argued over how to punish Rukia for giving her Soul Reaper powers to a human. Yoru Machi then revealed that he suspected several past incidents and Rukia’s case had been orchestrated by someone inside Soul Society.

• The Captain-Commander asked the captains to decide what punishment Kuchiki Rukia should receive, but they initially stayed silent.
• Kyoraku Shunsui and Captain Fujitora argued for leniency, while Tousen Kaname and Komamura Sajin demanded that the law be enforced equally; the captains began arguing over the matter.
• Soi Fon called for nobles who committed crimes to receive harsher punishment.
• The Captain-Commander paused the debate and asked Third Seat Yoru Machi to explain what he had learned about the Human World incident.
• Yoru Machi reported that the Hollowfication incident in Rukongai, the attack on Shino Academy students, Shiba Isshin’s disappearance, and Rukia’s case might all have been arranged by a mastermind within Soul Society.

Yoru Machi connected several attacks and Hollowfication incidents to a hidden traitor within the Thirteen Court Guard Squads, prompting the Captain-Commander to order an internal lockdown and continue the investigation. Aizen, Gin, and Tousen avoided exposure for the moment, but Gin worried that Yoru Machi might grow suspicious of Aizen’s visit.

• Aizen, Ichimaru Gin, and Tousen Kaname prepared to act when Yoru Machi announced that Soul Society had a traitor, but relaxed when he admitted he did not know the culprit’s identity.
• Yoru Machi linked the Hollowfication incident, the attack on Shino Academy, and Captain Shiba’s disappearance to modified Hollows and a well-informed insider, arguing that Hirako Shinji’s investigation team had been framed.
• The Captain-Commander ordered the captains to keep Yoru Machi’s findings secret, confined seated officers and above to their barracks except for urgent business, and gave Yoru Machi authority to investigate.
• Seireitei grew chaotic as Soul Reapers feared the hidden traitor, while Ichimaru Gin questioned whether Yoru Machi would suspect Aizen for visiting him during the lockdown.

Aizen decided to accelerate his betrayal after realizing Yoru Machi had uncovered too much, and he sent Tosen Kaname to Hueco Mundo while he and Ichimaru Gin went to Central 46. Meanwhile, Yoru Machi used his investigation authority to extort and harass the divisions, prompting Soi Fon to turn against him.

• Aizen told Ichimaru Gin that Yoru Machi’s investigation forced them to begin their operation early, then ordered Tosen Kaname to send experimental Arrancar into the Seireitei.
• Aizen and Ichimaru Gin headed to Central 46 to give Yoru Machi a return gift, while Tosen Kaname departed for Hueco Mundo.
• The Captain-Commander ordered the Second Division to assist Yoru Machi, who used his search authority to demand bribes and treat friendly divisions more leniently.
• At the Ninth Division, Tosen Kaname refused Yoru Machi’s hinted demand for a bribe and mocked him.
• Yoru Machi ordered Second Division members to remove valuables from Tosen Kaname’s room, and Soi Fon concluded that he was abusing his authority and deserved confinement in the Worm Nest.

Yoru Machi and Soi Fon clashed over his looting and his plan to investigate other captains, until Central 46 suddenly ordered his arrest for ties to Urahara Kisuke and the Soul Society traitors. Soi Fon and Yoru Machi began fighting with Shunkō as Oomae God abandoned his attempted arrest.

• Yoru Machi insisted that Tousen Kaname be taken to the Worm Nest for investigation, angering Soi Fon, who objected to his actions.
• Oomae God defended Yoru Machi, got kicked away by Soi Fon, and then negotiated a thirty-percent share of the confiscated goods.
• Oomae God proposed investigating the Third Division and Fifth Division, and Yoru Machi agreed to go with him.
• Central 46 used Tenteikūra to order Yoru Machi's immediate arrest, alleging that he had close ties to Urahara Kisuke and the Soul Society traitors.
• Oomae God grabbed Yoru Machi but let go when Soi Fon and Yoru Machi both unleashed Shunkō and their fists collided.

Yoru Machi and Soi Fon fought after she was astonished that he could use Shunkō. He countered her Suzumebachi attack and struck her with a powerful blow, leaving her flying as the Ninth Division Barracks collapsed around them.

• Yoru Machi explained that he had figured out Shunkō by combining his knowledge of Hakuda and Kidō, and he and Soi Fon exchanged blows.
• Soi Fon released Suzumebachi and warned Yoru Machi to surrender before she accidentally killed him.
• Yoru Machi taunted Soi Fon and claimed she was no match for him, prompting her to attack head-on.
• Yoru Machi blocked Soi Fon’s stinger with his Zanpakuto’s sheath and punched her in the abdomen.
• Yoru Machi used Shunpo to appear behind the airborne Soi Fon, and she thrust with Suzumebachi Strike as he attacked with Shunkō.
• Yoru Machi’s punch sent Soi Fon flying and caused widespread damage to the Ninth Division Barracks.

Yoru Machi fought off Tousen Kaname after overpowering Soi Fon, revealing a sword technique and a devastating spiritual-pressure attack. He left Tousen shaken and prepared to fire again.

• Yoru Machi punched Soi Fon through two walls and warned her to surrender.
• Yoru Machi tried to leave, but Tousen Kaname attacked with Suzumushi’s sound waves, which Yoru Machi shattered with his spiritual pressure.
• Tousen used Suzumushi Second Form: Crimson Flying Locust to rain blades on Yoru Machi.
• Yoru Machi used Yagami Style Second Form: Guardian to deflect every blade and fired a spiritual-pressure bullet at Tousen.
• Tousen narrowly dodged the bullet, which destroyed a nearby street, as Yoru Machi prepared two more shots.

Yoru Machi overwhelmed Tousen Kaname and was caught by Soi Fon, who tried to use Suzumebachi’s instant-kill ability against him. He broke free of the Sekihōkō mark with his spiritual pressure and warned Soi Fon that Higan could turn her own attack against her.

• Tousen Kaname used Bankai, but Yoru Machi’s spiritual pressure bullet shattered his barrier.
• Soi Fon intercepted Yoru Machi, restrained him, and redirected his spiritual pressure bullet into the ground.
• Soi Fon revealed the Sekihōkō mark on Yoru Machi’s arm and explained Suzumebachi’s two-hit killing ability.
• Yoru Machi removed his hair tie and a wrist guard, releasing enough spiritual pressure to overwhelm Soi Fon’s restraint.
• Yoru Machi’s spiritual pressure erased the Sekihōkō mark before Soi Fon could strike it a second time.
• Yoru Machi warned Soi Fon that Higan could transfer the curse from her attack onto her.

Yoru Machi escaped after revealing his power, while Tousen Kaname held back from using Hollowfication. The Seireitei turned chaotic over Yoru Machi’s alleged betrayal and Ichigo’s invasion, and Kukaku refused to believe Yoru Machi had turned against Soul Society.

• Yoru Machi used Higan to turn Suzumebachi’s effect into a boost, broke free of Soi Fon’s restraints, and overwhelmed Tousen Kaname.
• Tousen Kaname considered using Hollowfication, but Yoru Machi resealed his spiritual pressure and left after sensing Unohana Retsu and Kenpachi Zaraki approaching.
• Ukitake and Kyoraku went to question the Captain-Commander about Yoru Machi’s alleged betrayal, but Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions invaded Soul Society.
• The Captain-Commander prioritized stopping the Ryouka, assigning Ukitake and Kyoraku to investigate Yoru Machi while the other divisions confronted the invaders.
• Yoruichi and Shiba Kukaku learned that Yoru Machi was branded a traitor, and Kukaku insisted he would never betray Soul Society.

Yoruichi investigated Yoru Machi’s alleged betrayal and, after confronting Soi Fon, uncovered evidence that his actions might be aimed at exposing Aizen rather than betraying Soul Society. Soi Fon called off the immediate pursuit and ordered an investigation, while Oomae God concealed his ties to Yoru Machi.

• Yoruichi split from Kukaku and Ichigo’s group to investigate whether Yoru Machi had truly betrayed Soul Society.
• Yoruichi found Soi Fon at the Second Division base, and their fight ended with Yoruichi escaping after an intimate encounter in the woods.
• Soi Fon and Yoruichi discussed Yoru Machi’s actions and recognized suspicious details, including his restraint toward Soi Fon and his hostility toward Tousen Kaname.
• Soi Fon ordered the assembled forces to stop pursuing Yoru Machi and investigate the truth behind the alleged betrayal.
• Oomae God worried that Soi Fon knew he had accepted benefits from Yoru Machi, then claimed he had always suspected Yoru Machi was innocent.

Soi Fon grew more suspicious after discovering that Tousen Kaname had vanished, while Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju were cornered in the Seireitei. Ichigo confronted Kenpachi Zaraki, whose strength left him stunned when Zangetsu failed to wound him.

• Soi Fon found that Tousen Kaname had disappeared while Hisagi Shuuhei led the search for the Ryouka, deepening her suspicions about the captain.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju reached a dead end with Shinigami closing in, and Ichigo urged Ganju to escape while he held Hanatarō hostage.
• Ichigo dismissed the pursuing Eleventh Division members as weak, provoking them until Kenpachi Zaraki appeared and challenged him to fight.
• Ichigo charged at Kenpachi with Zangetsu, but his full-strength slash struck Kenpachi's shoulder without causing any injury.

Ichigo fought Kenpachi Zaraki but could not cut him because of their vast spiritual-pressure gap, while Kenpachi demanded a real battle. As Arrancar Menos Grande invaded the Seireitei and overwhelmed its forces, the Captain-Commander learned that only six captains remained available to fight.

• Kenpachi Zaraki threw Ichigo into a wall and explained that their spiritual-pressure difference made Ichigo's blade ineffective.
• Hanatarō warned Ichigo that Kenpachi was a deadly captain, but Ichigo refused to surrender and unleashed his spiritual pressure.
• Kenpachi responded with his own spiritual pressure, eager to fight Ichigo, while the pink-haired loli noticed a Garganta opening overhead.
• Tousen Kaname released nearly a hundred half-Arrancar Menos Grande into the Seireitei, causing widespread chaos and filling the Fourth Division with wounded Shinigami.
• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported at the Captain-Commander's meeting that several captains were missing, injured, or occupied, leaving only six captains free to fight.

The Captain-Commander ordered the Thirteen Court Guard Squads to focus on repelling the Arrancar Menos Grande invading Seireitei. Yoruichi explained the threat to Ichigo, then took him to begin urgent Bankai training, leaving him worried about his separated friends.

• The Captain-Commander criticized the Thirteen Court Guard Squads for their response and ordered them to suspend the search for the Ryouka and Yoru Machi while repelling the Menos Grande and investigating the Garganta.
• Ichigo and Ganju fled through Seireitei and encountered Yoruichi, who explained that the invading Menos Grande were modified Adjuchas from Hueco Mundo.
• Ichigo saw captains destroy Adjuchas and learned from Yoruichi that Kenpachi Zaraki had held back, using less than thirty percent of his strength against him.
• Yoruichi told Ichigo he was still too weak and took him to the Shiba Clan to begin the next stage of his special training.
• Ichigo worried that Rukia, Orihime, and Chad might be in danger after they became separated.