Chapter Summaries

While Shutara Senjumaru measured Yoru Machi for a Captain’s Haori, she asked about the Soul King and explained why the Soul King had to be protected. She left Yoru Machi with a warning about Aizen and judged him powerful but unlikely to overturn the established order.

• Yoru Machi undressed for Shutara Senjumaru’s measurements, while Hinamori Momo fainted from embarrassment.
• Shutara Senjumaru asked Yoru Machi what he knew about the Soul King, and he gave the accepted public account.
• Yoru Machi recalled the Soul King’s history: the noble clans had sealed and mutilated him after he helped separate the Three Realms.
• Shutara Senjumaru warned Yoru Machi that the Three Realms would collapse if anything happened to the Soul King.
• Shutara Senjumaru explained that she had come because Aizen sought to rebel against the Soul King, then called Yoru Machi more unfathomable than Aizen but unlikely to destroy the established order.

Shutara Senjumaru tested Yoru Machi because the Zero Division feared he might threaten the Soul Society, then left after he reassured her and revealed that Aizen had taken the Soul King's Fingertip from Rangiku. After Hinamori Momo woke, she told Yoru Machi that Rangiku and Lady Kuchiki were interested in holding a celebration for his promotion.

• Shutara Senjumaru assessed Yoru Machi and concluded that he had passed her scrutiny, while he told her he cared most about his loved ones and would preserve the current order.
• Yoru Machi warned Shutara Senjumaru about the unrest in the Soul Society and revealed that Aizen had taken the Soul King's Fingertip from Rangiku.
• Shutara Senjumaru took the news seriously and planned to report it to Ichibei before leaving to make Yoru Machi a Captain's Haori.
• Hinamori Momo awoke and told Yoru Machi that Rangiku had complained he had not celebrated his promotion to captain.
• Yoru Machi told Hinamori Momo to refuse Rangiku's request, then learned that Lady Kuchiki had also become interested in the celebration.

Rangiku persuaded Kuchiki Hisana to organize a secret beach celebration for Yoru Machi’s promotion to captain, presenting herself as the person who knew his preferences best. As preparations took shape, she recruited Hinamori Momo to help keep the surprise.

• Kuchiki Hisana met Rangiku outside the Fifth Division and asked how she could thank Yoru Machi for his help.
• Rangiku convinced Hisana to throw Yoru Machi a surprise promotion party instead of asking him or giving him money.
• Rangiku recommended plenty of quality alcohol, a lively atmosphere, and a summer beach setting while Hisana’s maid took notes.
• Hisana and Rangiku left together to discuss the party arrangements, while Hinamori Momo watched in surprise.
• Rangiku asked Hinamori Momo to keep the party secret and join the beach celebration in a swimsuit.

Rangiku tricked Hinamori Momo into helping organize a swimsuit beach banquet funded by the Kuchiki Clan, then placated Yoru Machi when he confronted her. At the gathering, Yoru Machi watched the competitions with Kyoraku Shunsui and perked up when Yoruichi and Soi Fon faced Rangiku and Hinamori in beach volleyball.

• Rangiku persuaded Hinamori Momo to help arrange a swimsuit celebration banquet by appealing to her wish to be seen by Yoru Machi.
• The Kuchiki Clan booked a private Human World beach, supplied food and drinks, and invited Soul Reapers and Kurosaki Ichigo's group to celebrate Yoru Machi.
• Yoru Machi went to confront Rangiku, but she calmed him by pointing out the swimsuit-clad female Soul Reapers he could see at the gathering.
• Yoru Machi grew irritated when Kyoraku Shunsui also enjoyed the beach and its swimsuit-clad guests, despite the celebration being arranged in Yoru Machi's honor.
• Yoru Machi and Kyoraku Shunsui watched a beach volleyball match between Yoruichi and Soi Fon and Rangiku and Hinamori Momo, with rules forbidding Reiryoku and Zanpakuto powers.

Yoru Machi nearly got hit by Soi Fon’s Reiryoku-powered volleyball serve, then complained to referee Unohana, who ruled it out of bounds. Soi Fon tricked him into making an indecent remark about Unohana, and Yoru Machi ended the scene buried headfirst in the sand.

• Kyoraku Shunsui and Yoru Machi discussed the players’ figures while watching the beach volleyball match, and Soi Fon overheard them.
• Soi Fon struck a volleyball with Reiryoku, nearly hitting Yoru Machi and smashing his beach chair and a crater into the sand.
• Yoru Machi protested to Unohana, but she ruled the serve out of bounds and warned him to leave the court.
• Soi Fon claimed she had hit wide, then baited Yoru Machi into commenting on Unohana’s figure.
• Yoru Machi sensed danger too late and wound up headfirst in the sand, unable to see the match.

Yoru Machi struggled through beach-party games while Soi Fon grew jealous of Rangiku and showed signs of having fallen for him. After Soi Fon’s team defeated Rangiku and Hinamori in beach volleyball, everyone buried Yoru Machi in the sand to use him in the watermelon-smashing contest.

• Yoru Machi tried to free himself from Kidō restraints while Soi Fon envied Rangiku’s figure and Yoruichi teased her about wanting a beauty-salon pass to enlarge her chest.
• Yoruichi concluded that Soi Fon had developed romantic feelings for Yoru Machi, and Soi Fon insisted that her team had to win the volleyball tournament.
• Soi Fon and Yoruichi defeated Rangiku and Hinamori in beach volleyball, and Yoru Machi protested because he wanted Rangiku to keep playing.
• Soi Fon suggested burying Yoru Machi with a watermelon on his head for the next contest, and Kurosaki Ichigo, Abarai Renji, and the others eagerly volunteered to smash it.
• Yoru Machi begged Rangiku to rescue him, but she told him to enjoy the view from his new angle, and he ended up appreciating her white bikini.

Yoru Machi agreed to continue the beach party after realizing how much it meant to Kuchiki Hisana, then tried to stop the male Soul Reapers from joining the watermelon-smashing contest. Rangiku teased him about treating Hisana more gently than her but refused to help, still jealous of his concern for Hisana.

• Rangiku persuaded Yoru Machi to keep the beach party going by describing the benefits of the watermelon-smashing contest.
• Kuchiki Hisana arrived and asked whether Yoru Machi was dissatisfied with the party, and he thanked her for arranging it.
• Hisana shared that the outing was her first time enjoying the Human World's seaside, and Yoru Machi encouraged her to join the watermelon-smashing contest.
• Rangiku teased Yoru Machi about Hisana's feelings and challenged him over his different treatment of the two women.
• Yoru Machi asked Rangiku to help exclude the male Soul Reapers from the contest, but she refused and told him to ask Hisana instead.

Rangiku negotiated with Yoru Machi to drive away the male Soul Reapers so the women could play blindfolded watermelon smashing with him buried in the sand. After Hisana’s turn and the other women’s, Soi Fon took the finale in a fury and prepared to use her Bankai for a watermelon-bombardment performance.

• Rangiku accepted Yoru Machi’s offer of drinks, Human World shopping, and a future assistant assignment in exchange for clearing the men away.
• Rangiku persuaded Ichigo and the other male Soul Reapers to withdraw, and Yoru Machi was buried in the sand with a watermelon on his forehead.
• Hisana followed Rukia’s directions and struck the watermelon, then swung again after it rolled away, leaving Yoru Machi in danger.
• Rangiku, Sister Hana, Orihime, and Yoruichi took their turns, while Yoru Machi enjoyed watching them.
• Rangiku revealed that Soi Fon had not taken her turn, and Soi Fon drew her Zanpakuto and activated Bankai: Suzumebachi Raijin Whip.

Soi Fon blasted Yoru Machi during the beach party’s watermelon contest, then won the event as the Soul Reapers celebrated their other competitions. The next morning, Yoru Machi woke with a hangover and discovered Rangiku had left him with an enormous izakaya bill.

• Soi Fon fired her Bankai at Yoru Machi, explaining that she had granted his wish for something big and that he would survive.
• Kenpachi Zaraki and Unohana Retsu tied in the swimming competition, Kuchiki Byakuya won the sand sculpture contest, and Yoruichi and Soi Fon won beach volleyball.
• Soi Fon won the watermelon-smashing contest after the women rejected Yoru Machi’s protest, and Rangiku later dug him out of the sand.
• Rangiku got Yoru Machi drunk at the izakaya and took him back to the Fifth Division after he passed out.
• Hinamori Momo brought Yoru Machi sobering tea and the izakaya bill, which showed that he had signed for a huge debt.

Orihime returned home from the beach party and worried that Yoru Machi’s new captaincy would keep him away from the Human World. Aizen and his Arrancar abducted her to study Shun Shun Rikka, but Aizen left disappointed after failing to show off to Yoru Machi.

• Orihime returned to the Yagami Residence and hoped Yoru Machi and Rangiku would come back to live there.
• Orihime worried that Yoru Machi’s promotion to captain of the Fifth Division would keep him in the Soul Society.
• Aizen arrived at Orihime’s room with his entourage, and Little Ulquiorra restrained her before she could use Shun Shun Rikka.
• Aizen recognized Shun Shun Rikka’s power to reject phenomena and believed Yoru Machi had protected Orihime because he understood her ability.
• Aizen took Orihime by force to study her power and hoped to persuade Yoru Machi to join him.
• Aizen returned disappointed because he had failed to show off to Yoru Machi.

After Aizen captured Orihime, Tier Harribel used her alliance with Yoru Machi to help Ichimaru Gin, who confirmed her loyalty through Yoru Machi. Yoru Machi asked Harribel to watch over Orihime and promised to rescue them if they were in danger, leaving Harribel shaken by his concern for her.

• Months earlier, Tier Harribel contacted Ichimaru Gin and said Yoru Machi had sent her, but Ichimaru Gin suspected it was a test and rejected her claims.
• Worried that Ichimaru Gin would expose her, Tier Harribel prepared to flee Las Noches with her three subordinate officers.
• After Yoru Machi personally confirmed Harribel's account, Ichimaru Gin believed her and recognized her as a valuable ally.
• Tier Harribel told Yoru Machi that Aizen had captured Inoue Orihime, and Yoru Machi asked Harribel to keep watch over her.
• Yoru Machi told Tier Harribel that Orihime and Harribel were people he cared about, not tools, and promised to come for her if she faced danger.
• Tier Harribel trembled after hearing Yoru Machi promise to protect her.

Yoru Machi reassured Tier Harribel that he considered her a friend, prompting her to question whether Soul Reapers and Arrancar could become close. While Harribel searched Hueco Mundo for Nirgel and visited Inoue Orihime, Ichigo and his friends learned Orihime had been taken and sought Urahara Kisuke’s help to reach Hueco Mundo.

• Yoru Machi told Tier Harribel not to sacrifice herself and called her a friend, but Harribel ended their video call when his words moved her too deeply.
• Tier Harribel ordered Mira, Sun Sun, and Apache to find Nirgel, an Arrancar child accompanied by two other Arrancar, and bring the trio back unharmed.
• Tier Harribel visited Inoue Orihime’s room, where Ulquiorra, Yammy, and Grimmjow were already present, and left without revealing her reason for coming.
• Ichigo and his companions learned that Aizen had taken Orihime to Hueco Mundo and decided to rescue her.
• Ichigo and his friends went to Urahara Kisuke for help reaching Hueco Mundo.

Yoru Machi arrived at the Urahara Shop and warned Ichigo and his friends against rushing to Hueco Mundo before they grew stronger. When Ichigo refused to back down, Yoru Machi challenged him, Chad, and Uryu to last five minutes against him.

• Yoru Machi told Ichigo and his friends he knew Orihime had been taken and had come to prevent them from recklessly entering Hueco Mundo.
• Yoru Machi said an informant in Hueco Mundo would keep Orihime safe and argued that Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu were too weak to rescue her.
• Rukia and Hinamori Momo stopped Ichigo from arguing, while Hinamori rebuked him for disrespecting Captain Yoru Machi.
• Yoru Machi offered to let the three fight him together and promised to reconsider if they survived five minutes; Urahara agreed to prepare the underground training ground.
• Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu accepted the challenge, and Shinji warned Ichigo that Yoru Machi was far stronger than he realized.

The Visoreds debated whether Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu could survive five minutes against Yoru Machi, then watched the trio begin their fight. Ichigo sent Yoru Machi flying with a powered-up strike, setting Chad up to attack as the battle continued.

• Kensei asked whether Ichigo, Chad, and Uryu could last five minutes against Yoru Machi, and the Visoreds disagreed about their chances.
• The Visoreds started a betting pool, and the Fifth Division lieutenant joined in by betting on Yoru Machi.
• Ichigo activated Bankai and Hollowfication, while Chad and Uryu prepared to support him.
• Ichigo charged Yoru Machi and clashed blades, while Uryu fired arrows that Yoru Machi blocked with a Kidō barrier.
• Ichigo concentrated Getsuga Tensho's power into his blade and sent Yoru Machi flying.
• Chad leaped at Yoru Machi and drove down his charged fist after Ichigo called for him.

Ichigo, Ishida Uryu, and Chado Yasutora coordinated their attacks against Yoru Machi, but he effortlessly countered Chad’s strongest strike and defeated him. With Chad out of the fight, Ichigo refused to give up and prepared to continue battling Yoru Machi.

• Urahara Kisuke praised Ichigo and his companions for using teamwork, while Yoruichi warned that their coordination was not enough against Yoru Machi.
• Chado Yasutora struck at Yoru Machi from behind with Giant Strike, but Yoru Machi turned in midair and met the attack with Shunkō.
• Yoru Machi used Anti-Demon Counterkill to neutralize Chad’s strike, then grabbed him and slammed him into the ground, leaving him unable to fight.
• Yoru Machi asked Ichigo and Ishida Uryu whether they would surrender or continue, while Ichigo struggled with how overwhelming Yoru Machi’s abilities were.
• Ichigo unleashed his spiritual pressure and resolved to keep fighting rather than surrender.

Yoru Machi fought Kurosaki Ichigo while Ishida Uryu secretly prepared a Breaking Light Array to win their wager. With the array ready, Yoru Machi dismissed its threat and refused to surrender.

• Kurosaki Ichigo powered up and attacked Yoru Machi with Tensa Zangetsu’s high-speed afterimages, but Yoru Machi countered with dozens of afterimages of his own.
• Ishida Uryu fired Holy Arrows at Yoru Machi while arranging Soul-Piercing Objects into a Breaking Light Array.
• Ichigo kept Yoru Machi occupied as Ishida completed the array’s setup during the fight.
• Ishida announced that the Breaking Light Array was ready and claimed it could defeat Yoru Machi, citing his victory over Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri.
• Yoru Machi questioned Ishida’s confidence, dismissed the array’s threat, and refused to surrender.

Yoru Machi activated a self-created Kidō to disrupt the Spirit Particles powering Ishida Uryu and Ichigo's Breaking Light Array, leaving their trump card powerless. He then destroyed his spell and let the array reactivate, apparently intending to continue the fight and further crush their confidence.

• Yoru Machi returned Ichigo to Ishida Uryu and challenged the two boys to use their Breaking Light Array against him.
• Ichigo and Ishida Uryu activated the array, but Yoru Machi explained that it relied on surrounding Spirit Particles and began disrupting them.
• Yoru Machi cast “Mana Amplification: Spirit Particle Collapse,” which covered the array and caused the Spirit Particles and its pillar of light to disappear.
• Nigirimiya Tessai assessed Yoru Machi's newly created Kidō as a powerful Bakudō, and the spectators realized Ishida Uryu and Ichigo could no longer rely on their trump card.
• Yoru Machi snapped his fingers to shatter his spell, allowing the Breaking Light Array to activate again as Yoruichi and Shinji criticized his cruel approach.

Yoru Machi defeated Ichigo and Ishida Uryu, demonstrating three ways to overcome the Breaking Light Array and warning them that Hueco Mundo was too dangerous for them. He arranged further training with Kurosaki Isshin and Ishida Ryuken, leaving Ichigo and Uryu stunned by their fathers’ appearance.

• Yoru Machi explained that he could break the Breaking Light Array by shifting its formation points, then cracked the ground beneath one corner with a stomp.
• Yoru Machi released his spiritual-pressure-sealing items and shattered the array with his spiritual pressure.
• Yoru Machi stopped the fight and told Ichigo and Ishida Uryu to continue special training before going to Hueco Mundo, assuring them that Orihime was being watched.
• Yoru Machi introduced Kurosaki Isshin and Ishida Ryuken as Ichigo and Uryu’s trainers until they earned their approval.
• Ishida Ryuken told Uryu that teaching him Quincy combat was part of a transaction with Yoru Machi, not an act of charity.

Yoru Machi killed a Demonic Beast alongside Giyu Tomioka and asked when he could take a vacation. The chapter recounted how Yoru Machi first came to the Demon Slayer Corps seeking a Nichirin Blade, leaving his unusual path to joining the Corps unexplained.

• Yoru Machi split a Demonic Beast in two with his red Nichirin Blade and asked Giyu Tomioka if he could take a vacation after their mission.
• Giyu Tomioka rebuked Yoru Machi for thinking about vacations instead of setting an example as a Pillar.
• The chapter explained that Muzan Kibutsuji created the Maneating Demons and that Yoriichi Tsugikuni left behind Sun Breathing, from which other Breathing Techniques developed.
• Giyu Tomioka recalled that Yoru Machi had once arrived uninvited at Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to ask for a Nichirin Blade.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki stopped the Court Pillars from attacking Yoru Machi and asked why he wanted a Nichirin Blade.
• Yoru Machi explained that he was a wandering swordsman who had protected a village from Maneating Demons and wanted a blade that could kill them more easily.

Yoru Machi revealed that he had protected a village from five demons, including Lower Four, despite lacking a Nichirin Blade. Kagaya Ubuyashiki offered him a Nichirin Blade and invited him to join the Demon Slayer Corps, leaving Yoru Machi to consider the advantages of joining.

• Yoru Machi told Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the Court Pillars that one villager had died while he fought off five demons attacking the village.
• Yoru Machi described killing the demons, including one marked Lower Four, which made Kagaya Ubuyashiki and the Court Pillars realize he had defeated a member of the Twelve Kizuki.
• Yoru Machi explained that Lower Four had survived having its head smashed and burned to ashes in sunlight after he pinned it down.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki offered Yoru Machi a Nichirin Blade and asked him to join the Demon Slayer Corps.
• Yoru Machi asked whether he would still receive a Nichirin Blade if he refused, and Kagaya Ubuyashiki assured him he would while explaining how the Corps could help him save more people.