Chapter Summaries

Yoru Machi met Tier Harribel in Hueco Mundo with Soi Fon, who was shocked to discover his Arrancar contact. Harribel stopped her subordinates from fighting and demanded to know why Yoru Machi had come without warning.

• Apache, Mira, and Sun Sun worried that Harribel’s visits to Inoue Orihime were drawing her away from them.
• Harribel left the white desert, allowing her three subordinate officers to follow her so she could reveal part of the truth about her cooperation.
• Yoru Machi asked Soi Fon to keep his actions confidential and promised not to endanger the Soul Society.
• Tier Harribel arrived with Apache, Mira, and Sun Sun, and Soi Fon recognized her as Aizen’s Third Espada and Yoru Machi’s inside contact.
• Apache, Mira, and Sun Sun prepared to attack the Soul Reapers, but Yoru Machi and Harribel stopped them.
• Harribel questioned Yoru Machi about coming to Hueco Mundo without warning, noting that Inoue Orihime was not in danger.

Yoru Machi brought Soi Fon to meet Harribel, explained that he trusted them both, and used Harribel’s intelligence to plan an attack on a nearby Espada palace. Harribel grew jealous of Soi Fon’s closeness to Yoru Machi, but his later explanation reassured her and stopped her from plotting against Soi Fon.

• Harribel asked whether Soi Fon should be killed, and Yoru Machi vouched for both women until Soi Fon lowered her blade.
• Yoru Machi explained that he needed Soi Fon as a witness to help prove Harribel had been an ally after Aizen’s defeat.
• Harribel gave Yoru Machi and Soi Fon a map showing the Espada palaces in Las Noches.
• Yoru Machi and Soi Fon took Hinamori Momo and Oomae God toward the nearby palace of Ninth Espada Aaroniel Arueruerie.
• Harribel worried that Soi Fon might take away her only close friend, Yoru Machi, and considered attacking her.
• Yoru Machi explained that he had brought Soi Fon to help clear Harribel’s name, reassuring Harribel and making her decide to leave Soi Fon alone.

Yoru Machi and the Soul Reapers reached Aaroniel's palace and found Rukia badly wounded in battle. After Aaroniel transformed into Shiba Miyako, Yoru Machi took over the fight and overwhelmed him, leaving Aaroniel's released Zanpakuto trapped in his hand.

• Yoru Machi, Soi Fon, Hinamori Momo, and Oomae God sensed Soul Reaper spiritual pressure at Aaroniel's palace and discovered that Rukia had already engaged him.
• Aaroniel entered Resurrección and transformed into Shiba Miyako, whose soul and abilities he had gained by consuming the Hollow Metastacia.
• Yoru Machi recognized Shiba Miyako as an old acquaintance and told Rukia to withdraw so he could fight Aaroniel himself.
• Aaroniel boasted that his Resurrección gave him the power of 33,650 Hollows, but Yoru Machi struck him with a powerful kick and sent him crashing through the palace ceiling.
• Aaroniel released Shiba Miyako's Zanpakuto and swung it at Yoru Machi, who caught the blade in one hand.

Yoru Machi effortlessly overwhelmed Aaroniero, who had devoured Shiba Miyako and thousands of Hollows, but Aaroniero tried to use Miyako’s fate to stop Yoru Machi from killing him. Soi Fon released Suzumebachi to handle Aaroniero herself and spare Yoru Machi the conflict.

• Aaroniero poured out his spiritual pressure and struggled to free his Zanpakuto, but Yoru Machi held it motionless while Soi Fon’s group watched.
• Yoru Machi mocked Aaroniero’s boast about possessing the power of thirty thousand Hollows, then pierced his chest with White Lightning and smashed him into the ground.
• Aaroniero survived and threatened that killing him would destroy Shiba Miyako’s soul and Spirit Body, invoking Yoru Machi’s friendship with Miyako and Kaien.
• Soi Fon released Suzumebachi, intending to take responsibility for fighting Aaroniero herself.

Yoru Machi recovered the fragments of Shiba Miyako’s soul from Aaroniero, then learned that Aizen had attacked the Urahara Shop and forced Ichigo and the others into Hueco Mundo. The chapter left Yoru Machi anxious about whether Urahara, Yoruichi, and their allies had survived the battle.

• Yoru Machi stopped Soi Fon from striking Aaroniero, then stabbed him and reclaimed the fragments of Shiba Miyako’s soul.
• Yoru Machi treated Rukia and learned that Urahara Kisuke had sent Ichigo and the others to Hueco Mundo as a last resort.
• Rukia explained that Aizen, Ichimaru Gin, and Tousen Kaname had attacked the Urahara Shop after Urahara refused to join them.
• Aizen overwhelmed Urahara Kisuke, Yoruichi, Kurosaki Isshin, and Ishida Ryuken, while the Visored fought Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname.
• Kurosaki Isshin and Urahara Kisuke sent Ichigo and the others to Hueco Mundo while holding off Aizen.
• Yoru Machi asked what had happened to Urahara and Yoruichi and worried that Aizen’s Hogyoku could make him nearly impossible to defeat.

Yoru Machi planned to search Hueco Mundo for Ichigo and the others while considering how to seal the Hogyoku. Ichigo rescued Inoue Orihime and encountered Nnoitra, whose attack on Nirgel and her Fracción was interrupted by Tier Harribel.

• Yoru Machi decided to search for the other Espada and use the spiritual pressure of battles to track Ichigo and his companions.
• Ichigo woke near Las Noches, rescued Inoue Orihime, and befriended the Desert Three Siblings while searching for their companions.
• Ichigo narrowly defeated Grimmjow, but Nnoitra arrived and attacked the weakened Espada.
• Pesche and Dondochakka revealed that Nirgel had once been the Third Espada and had been ambushed by Nnoitra and Apollo.
• Pesche and Dondochakka's combined Resurrección failed to defeat Nnoitra, who prepared to kill them and Nirgel.
• Tier Harribel intervened, knocked Nnoitra away, and faced his accusation that she was betraying Aizen.

Tier Harribel intervened when Nnoitra attacked Inoue Orihime, Nirgel, and two unfamiliar Arrancar, then fought him in the desert. Nnoitra’s Steel Skin and Super Regeneration stopped her blade, but Harribel began coating her sword in water as the battle continued.

• Tier Harribel confronted Nnoitra, arguing that he was betraying Aizen by trying to kill Inoue Orihime and that she needed no permission to save Nirgel and the two Arrancar.
• Nnoitra flew into a rage and charged Tier Harribel, knocking her back with a blow from his giant scythe.
• Tier Harribel fired an Azure Sword Cannon at Nnoitra, and their attacks collided in an explosion that filled the desert with sand.
• Using the sandstorm as cover, Tier Harribel appeared behind Nnoitra and struck at his kidney, but her sword could not pierce his Steel Skin.
• Nnoitra turned and struck back, sending Tier Harribel sliding across the desert; he boasted that his Steel Skin and Super Regeneration made him nearly unbeatable in close combat.
• Tier Harribel released water from her arm and wrapped it around her sword.

Tier Harribel stepped in to protect Ichigo and the others, then fought Nnoitra after he released his Resurrección. Yoru Machi arrived as Harribel released Tiburón and warned that her greater spiritual pressure did not mean she was favored to win.

• Ichigo and the others learned from Orihime that Tier Harribel had befriended her while she was held in Hueco Mundo.
• Tier Harribel’s Water Blade cut Nnoitra’s face, and he released his Resurrección, gaining four arms and four additional scythes.
• Tier Harribel released Tiburón, transforming into a more powerful form while Ichigo stared and Nirgel grew jealous.
• Yoru Machi appeared behind Ichigo and the others, saying Harribel would likely lose in a fight to the death despite her stronger spiritual pressure.
• Yoru Machi began explaining that Harribel’s Resurrección, La Sirena, could gather moisture from the atmosphere.

Yoru Machi watched Tier Harribel lose ground to Nnoitra in the dry desert, then stabbed Nirgel to provoke Ichigo’s Hollowfication. He forced Hollow White back inside Ichigo, but Ichigo remained furious and confronted him.

• Yoru Machi explained that the desert weakened Tier Harribel’s water-based attacks, and Nnoitra’s Resurrección let him overpower her at close range.
• Orihime pleaded with Yoru Machi to help Tier Harribel, but he said he and Soi Fon could not intervene directly and hinted that someone else could act.
• Yoru Machi released his Shikai and stabbed Nirgel, leaving Ichigo, Pesche, and Dondochakka stunned and enraged.
• Ichigo began to Hollowfy after seeing Nirgel fall, but Yoru Machi threatened Hollow White, who retreated back into Ichigo.
• Ichigo grabbed Yoru Machi by the collar and demanded to know why he had killed Nirgel.

Yoru Machi used Higan to restore Nirgel and strengthen her, allowing her to join Tier Harribel against Nnoitra. As the two former Espada No. 3 fought together, Ichigo realized his mistake while Yoru Machi blackmailed him over his hidden reading materials.

• Ichigo accused Yoru Machi of killing Nirgel, but Nirgel stood up as her mask began to heal.
• Yoru Machi explained that Higan could turn Nirgel’s weakened child form into a beneficial state, restoring and increasing her strength.
• Nirgel matured into her adult form, revealed her former Espada No. 3 rank, and entered Resurrección as Cagna.
• Nirgel joined Tier Harribel’s fight against Nnoitra, leaving the two former Espada No. 3 fighting together.
• Yoru Machi teased Ichigo about his hidden materials and demanded premium sake to keep their secret, while Soi Fon grew suspicious of their conversation.

After Nnoitra died and Mayuri defeated Szayelaporro, Yoru Machi decided to return to the Human World because Aizen had gone there. Mayuri balked at building a Garganta device, but Nirgel opened a Garganta herself.

• Nirgel and Tier Harribel defeated Nnoitra, and Nirgel killed him with her Verdant Spear.
• Yoru Machi decided to leave the remaining top Espada alive and return to the Human World after learning Aizen had gone there.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri defeated Szayelaporro Granz with his Superhuman Drug and began studying the ink from Szayelaporro's Zanpakuto.
• Yoru Machi asked Mayuri to build a Garganta device, but Mayuri said it would take several days and argued with Ichigo over the delay.
• Nirgel opened a Garganta to the Human World with a casual swipe of her hand.

After finding Urahara Shop in ruins, Yoru Machi steadied Ichigo and directed him to train in the Dangai to master the Final Getsuga Tensho. Ichigo and his friends entered the Dangai while Yoru Machi stayed behind in the Human World and moved into the Kurosaki home, leaving Ichigo wary of his sisters’ new houseguest.

• Yoru Machi and the others used Nirgel’s Garganta to reach the Human World, where they found Urahara Shop reduced to ruins and its underground barrier collapsed.
• Yoru Machi kicked Ichigo out of his despair and reminded him that Urahara and the others were missing, then Ichigo resolved to become strong enough to defeat Aizen.
• Yoru Machi explained that Ichigo could train in the Dangai to learn the Final Getsuga Tensho, and Ichigo chose to accept the risks despite its severe side effects.
• Soi Fon returned to Soul Society to report, Nirgel went back to Hueco Mundo to coordinate intelligence with Tier Harribel, and Ichigo, Ishida, Chad, and Orihime prepared to train in the Dangai.
• Yoru Machi stayed in the Human World and moved into Ichigo’s home, where Shari and Yuzu welcomed him; Ichigo warned him not to make a move on his sisters.

Aizen brought Urahara Kisuke to Las Noches and demanded help fusing the two Hogyoku, which he had implanted in his own body. After a week of research, Aizen and Urahara discovered an unexpected reason the Hogyoku were not fusing smoothly.

• Yoru Machi reassured Ichigo that he could leave his sisters in his care.
• Aizen returned to Las Noches with Urahara Kisuke, dismissing the losses among the Espada and the rescue of Inoue Orihime as unimportant.
• Urahara explained that he had surrendered to Aizen to save Yoruichi and the others, agreeing to help fuse the Hogyoku in exchange for their lives.
• Aizen showed Urahara the Hogyoku embedded in his chest and asked why its fusion with Urahara's Hogyoku was progressing differently than expected.
• Aizen and Urahara researched the Hogyoku together for a week, then both froze when they discovered the cause of the failed fusion.

Aizen discovered that the Hogyoku resisted fusing with him because it considered Yoru Machi its ideal host, and he resolved to feed it more souls. As Yoru Machi learned that Aizen planned to attack Karakura Town and Rukongai for souls, he realized Ichimaru Gin had not told him about one of the operations.

• Aizen and Urahara Kisuke learned that the Hogyoku resisted fusion because it wanted Yoru Machi as its host, and Aizen decided to strengthen his own Hogyoku by feeding it tens of thousands of souls.
• Yoruichi, Hiyori Sarugaki, Shinji, and others visited Yoru Machi and discussed rescuing the captured Visored from Hueco Mundo.
• Ichimaru Gin informed Yoru Machi that Aizen planned to use Karakura Town’s souls and spiritual density to create the King Key of Creation.
• Yoru Machi prepared to contact the Soul Society for help, but Tier Harribel then told him that Aizen had ordered her to lead Arrancar in an attack on Rukongai.
• Yoru Machi wondered whether Aizen had hidden the Rukongai operation from Ichimaru Gin or Ichimaru Gin had withheld it from him.

The Thirteen Court Guard Squads confronted Aizen’s forces at the replica Karakura Town, where Aizen planned to defeat them before reaching the real town to create the King Key. After Yoru Machi killed Fleur, Aizen tried once more to recruit him.

• Yoru Machi reasoned that Aizen had sent Tier Harribel to attack Rukongai while preparing to strike Karakura Town.
• The Thirteen Court Guard Squads gathered at the replica Karakura Town, while Aizen arrived with his Arrancar forces and their Fracción.
• Aizen opened another Garganta, and Fleur emerged and unleashed hundreds of Gillian.
• Yoru Machi fired a modified Hadō #63 that pierced Fleur’s eye and destroyed its body.
• Aizen stopped Wonderweiss from attacking Yoru Machi and offered Yoru Machi a final chance to pledge loyalty to him.

Yoru Machi killed Fleur, prompting the Black Mud it released to become mindless Gillians as the battle against Aizen's forces began. After negotiating three months of leave with the Captain-Commander, Yoru Machi pursued Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname.

• Yoru Machi refused Aizen's offer to join him, and Fleur's death released Black Mud that transformed into hundreds of Gillians.
• The Captain-Commander ordered the Shinigami to fight Aizen's forces and warned Yoru Machi not to act without orders.
• The Captain-Commander released Ryujin Jakka's Shikai and used Enjō, while Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname escaped and Aizen and Wonderweiss remained within the flames.
• The Captain-Commander assigned Yoru Machi to pursue Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname, and Yoru Machi bargained for paid leave.
• The Captain-Commander agreed to three months of leave, and Yoru Machi used Shunpo to chase Ichimaru Gin and the others.

Yoru Machi pursued Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname, expecting an easy fight, but Komamura Sajin arrived and turned it into a two-on-two confrontation. Tousen rejected Komamura’s pleas and released his Zanpakuto as he prepared to fight.

• Aizen stayed inside Ryujin Jakka’s flames while waiting for Tier Harribel to bring souls from Rukongai.
• Tousen stopped fleeing with Ichimaru Gin and insisted that they turn back to confront Yoru Machi.
• Ichimaru Gin secretly prepared to attack Tousen but changed his act when he noticed Komamura Sajin following Yoru Machi.
• Komamura pleaded with Tousen to explain his betrayal and vowed to bring him back to the proper path.
• Yoru Machi realized Komamura’s arrival had spoiled the planned two-against-one fight.
• Tousen rejected Komamura’s appeal, declared him an obstacle, and released Suzumushi.

Tousen Kaname overwhelmed Komamura Sajin with his Hollowfied power, but Yoru Machi intervened before Tousen could finish him. Tousen then prepared to face Yoru Machi again, determined to avenge his past humiliation.

• Tousen Kaname and Komamura Sajin released their Shikai, and Tousen dismissed Komamura as no threat.
• Komamura unleashed Bankai, but Hollowfied Tousen caught Muramasa’s massive sword barehanded and badly wounded Komamura with Suzumushi’s Second Form.
• Tousen gathered a Cero to kill Komamura, but Yoru Machi stepped in and countered it with a Kikōhō, creating a huge explosion.
• Ichimaru Gin explained that he had tried to stop Yoru Machi, while Tousen mocked Gin for refusing Aizen’s modifications.
• Ichimaru offered to cover Tousen as he fought Yoru Machi, and Tousen vowed to avenge his past humiliation.

Tousen Kaname’s Hollowfied power failed to overcome Yoru Machi, who caught his blade and sent him crashing through a building. Driven by rage and unwillingness, Tousen transformed into a monstrous next-stage Hollow form, pleased that he had gained immense power and the ability to see.

• Tousen Kaname attacked Yoru Machi from behind with Sonido, but Yoru Machi turned and caught his slash barehanded.
• Yoru Machi suppressed Suzumushi’s vibrations and kicked Tousen Kaname several kilometers through the ground and into a high-rise building.
• Furious that Yoru Machi could overpower him without using Shikai, Tousen Kaname erupted with spiritual pressure and advanced his Hollowfication.
• Tousen Kaname’s Enma Korogi formed around him like a cocoon before he emerged as a four-armed, four-winged monster.
• Tousen Kaname reveled in his immense power and newfound sight, while Yoru Machi, Ichimaru Gin, and Captain Komamura recognized his transformed form.

Yoru Machi fought Tousen Kaname after Tousen’s Resurrección and Hollowfication restored his sight and greatly increased his strength. Yoru Machi released two spiritual-pressure seals and overwhelmed him with Shunko, catching up to the airborne Tousen for another attack.

• Tousen Kaname mocked Yoru Machi’s appearance and struck him hundreds of meters away with a massive clawed hand.
• Yoru Machi rose unharmed, removed his hair ribbon and wristguards, and released two spiritual-pressure seals.
• Yoru Machi dodged Tousen’s attack and hit him in the abdomen with Shunko, sending him crashing through buildings.
• Yoru Machi caught up to the flying Tousen and declared that others had grown stronger too before unleashing Infinite Shunko.