Chapter Summaries

Yoru Machi overwhelmed Tousen Kaname in battle, but Komamura Sajin intervened to have him imprisoned for trial. Tousen died in Komamura’s arms after Aizen’s mechanism activated, and Komamura vowed to kill Aizen.

• Yoru Machi used Infinite Shunko and a powerful spiritual pressure blast to devastate Tousen Kaname, leaving him badly injured but alive through Super Regeneration.
• Tousen attacked with Nine-Phase Wheel Kill, but Yoru Machi released his final spiritual pressure seal and dispersed the sound waves before beating Tousen down again.
• As Yoru Machi prepared to finish Tousen, Komamura Sajin asked him to spare Tousen for judgment by the Central 46 Chambers.
• Tousen began suffering in agony and apologized to Komamura and Shūhei before dying in Komamura’s arms.
• Yoru Machi blamed Aizen Sōsuke for placing a mechanism in Tousen, and Komamura vowed to kill Aizen.

After Tousen Kaname died, Yoru Machi returned to Aizen’s battlefield, where Urahara Kisuke warned that Aizen needed souls to complete his fusion with the Hogyoku. Yoru Machi’s hidden plan turned the captured Rukongai souls into ink clones, but Aizen sought to use Arrancar souls instead.

• Ichimaru Gin fled after Tousen Kaname’s death, and Captain Komamura chased after him while Yoru Machi returned to the main battlefield.
• Yoru Machi found Urahara Kisuke, Shihoin Yoruichi, and the Visored fighting alongside the others after they had infiltrated Hueco Mundo and rescued their companions.
• Urahara Kisuke warned that Aizen was still fusing with the Hogyoku and intended to use captured Rukongai souls to accelerate the process.
• Aizen used Wonderweiss to suppress the Captain-Commander’s Ryujin Jakka, then discovered that the captured souls turned into black ink instead of feeding the Hogyoku.
• Soi Fon revealed that Yoru Machi had arranged the substitution using Szayelaporro Granz’s ink, and Urahara Kisuke taunted Aizen over being outmaneuvered.
• Aizen reached for a nearby Arrancar and declared that their souls could replace the unavailable Rukongai souls.

Aizen sacrificed the Arrancar who failed Tier Harribel’s mission to accelerate his fusion with the Hogyoku, then evolved through two stages while battling the Shinigami and Visored. As Aizen prepared to attack the Captain-Commander, Yoru Machi suddenly returned and drew his attention.

• Aizen slaughtered the failed Arrancar and absorbed their souls into the Hogyoku, sparing Tier Harribel and her three Fracción.
• Tier Harribel and her Fracción realized Aizen had treated them as expendable tools and compared him unfavorably with Yoru Machi.
• The Hogyoku entered its awakening phase, and Aizen fought the Visored, Yoruichi, Kurosaki Isshin, and several captains while regenerating and growing stronger.
• Aizen overwhelmed the combatants and reached the Hogyoku’s second stage, leaving only Yoruichi, Kurosaki Isshin, Urahara Kisuke, Nigirimiya Tessai, and Shinji standing before he defeated them.
• Aizen used Sonido to appear behind the Captain-Commander, but Yoru Machi suddenly returned and caught his attention.

Yoru Machi returned to the battlefield and found Soi Fon struggling against Barragan, whose decay ability had overwhelmed her Bankai. Barragan attacked Aizen after ranting about losing Hueco Mundo, but his Respira failed to harm Aizen, who revealed that he had fused with the Hogyoku.

• Yoru Machi arrived as Soi Fon fought Barragan, and he teased her about her Bankai.
• Soi Fon explained that Barragan’s decay had forced her to cut off her left arm and had rotted away Suzumebachi Raihōben.
• Yoru Machi challenged Barragan’s claim to rule Hueco Mundo, provoking him to complain about Aizen taking his throne.
• Aizen appeared behind Barragan, who abruptly attacked him with his battle axe.
• Aizen caught Barragan’s axe between two fingers, and Barragan activated Respira, expecting it to kill him.
• Aizen remained unharmed and told Barragan that his decay could not affect someone already fused with the Hogyoku.

Aizen killed Barragan and confronted Yoru Machi, whom he considered the Hogyoku’s true choice and his rival. Their first clash leveled the surrounding area, and Aizen recognized Yoru Machi as a fighter on his own level.

• Aizen killed Barragan with a beam of spiritual pressure, then asked Yoru Machi whether he had defeated Tosen and Gin.
• Aizen explained that he had merged with the Hogyoku and wanted to crush Yoru Machi because it had chosen him over Aizen.
• Yoru Machi questioned why Aizen was targeting him instead of the Captain-Commander or Kurosaki Ichigo, while Aizen dismissed his remarks and attacked.
• Aizen moved too quickly for Soi Fon to follow, but Yoru Machi blocked his sword strike, and their clash shattered nearby buildings and ground.
• Aizen concluded that Yoru Machi had concealed immense strength and stood at least on his level, while Yoru Machi privately rejected the idea that he had any grand ambitions.

Yoru Machi revealed a transcendent level of power and fought Aizen, suppressing him despite Aizen’s Hogyoku evolution. The battle left Urahara Kisuke hopeful that Yoru Machi could weaken Aizen enough to seal him, while Kurosaki Ichigo held his own against Ulquiorra.

• Yoru Machi released Higan, and Aizen recognized that he had reached a level beyond ordinary Soul Reapers without the Hogyoku.
• Yoru Machi and Aizen clashed, but Yoru Machi’s swordsmanship and dual blades pushed Aizen onto the defensive.
• Aizen tried to hypnotize Yoru Machi with Kyōka Suigetsu, but Yoru Machi resisted and kicked him through a skyscraper and across the ground.
• Yoru Machi fired a pair of Getsuga Tensho slashes that carved an enormous X-shaped canyon into Karakura Town.
• Urahara Kisuke and the others realized Yoru Machi might be able to weaken Aizen enough for them to seal him.
• Kurosaki Ichigo fought Ulquiorra in his second Resurrección and matched him using Bankai and Hollowfication without resorting to Final Getsuga Tensho.

Aizen completed another Hogyoku transformation and returned with overwhelming power, striking Yoru Machi down after declaring that he had surpassed him. The other battles across Karakura Town continued as the Soul Reapers faced the transformed Aizen's threat.

• Toshiro Hitsugaya switched from fighting Ulquiorra to challenging Tier Harribel after Ichigo took over the battle.
• Sun Sun and Mira taunted Rangiku, and Harribel's three subordinates fused their arms into Yaong, forcing Rangiku to flee.
• Kyoraku Shunsui and Starrk continued their restrained fight while discussing the strength of Yoru Machi and Ichigo.
• Aizen emerged in his third-stage completed Hogyoku form with vastly increased spiritual pressure and declared that Yoru Machi had helped his evolution.
• Aizen attacked Yoru Machi with a powerful sword strike, sending him through buildings and carving a huge trench across the Karakura Town replica.

Aizen overpowered Yoru Machi and dismissed the Soul Reapers, while Ichimaru Gin secretly waited for a chance to strike. Gin poisoned Aizen, seized the Hogyoku, and Yoru Machi teleported him away.

• Aizen sent Yoru Machi flying, and Ichimaru Gin stopped Soi Fon from attacking Aizen by striking her with Kamishini.
• Ichimaru Gin told Aizen that Tousen Kaname had died, then watched the Hogyoku in Aizen's chest while concealing his true intentions.
• As Aizen turned toward Kurosaki Ichigo, Ichimaru Gin activated Bankai and pierced Aizen, using his blade's poison to dissolve Aizen's body.
• Ichimaru Gin grabbed the Hogyoku after it separated from Aizen, and Yoru Machi appeared beside him and used High-Tier Teleportation.

Yoru Machi helped Ichimaru Gin escape to Hueco Mundo with the Hogyoku, provoking Aizen to pursue them. The Soul Society prepared reinforcements while Urahara Kisuke worried that Yoru Machi’s motives and strength remained unknown.

• Aizen erupted in fury after Yoru Machi and Ichimaru Gin took the Hogyoku, and vowed to kill them both.
• Yoru Machi told Ichimaru Gin he did not want the Hogyoku, warned him that Aizen could keep evolving, and opened a Garganta to Hueco Mundo.
• Yoru Machi kicked Ichimaru Gin through the Garganta, and Aizen followed after sensing the Hogyoku had gone to Hueco Mundo.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and the Soul Society forces struggled to understand the sudden betrayal and escape, while Urahara Kisuke urged them to pursue Aizen.
• The Captain-Commander sent Soi Fon and Toshiro Hitsugaya with their lieutenants to Hueco Mundo and ordered the others to guard the Human World.
• Urahara Kisuke worried that Yoru Machi might be more dangerous and unfathomable than Aizen.

Urahara Kisuke feared Yoru Machi might be secretly plotting to take the Hogyoku, but Yoru Machi denied wanting it and returned it to Aizen. The group was left facing Aizen’s continued evolution, though Urahara felt the situation could still be salvaged.

• Urahara Kisuke worried that Yoru Machi had manipulated everyone so he could eventually claim the Hogyoku, while the others trusted Yoru Machi because he had helped them before.
• Urahara Kisuke and the others followed the spiritual pressure to Hueco Mundo, where they found Yoru Machi facing Aizen, whose chest still bore a hole where the Hogyoku had been.
• Aizen demanded the Hogyoku back and explained that it remained connected to him, but Yoru Machi threatened to swallow it and fuse it with his soul.
• The Hogyoku stopped struggling at Yoru Machi’s threat, alarming Aizen and Urahara Kisuke because it might choose Yoru Machi as its master.
• Yoru Machi said he had been joking and tossed the Hogyoku back to Aizen, where it embedded itself in his chest again.
• Rangiku struck Yoru Machi for returning the dangerous object, and Urahara Kisuke concluded that the situation was still salvageable as long as Yoru Machi did not claim the Hogyoku.

Aizen fully fused with the Hogyoku and evolved beyond Soul Reapers, but Ichigo used Final Getsuga Tensho to confront him. Ichigo’s Mugetsu split Aizen in two, though Aizen’s complete regeneration left the battle unresolved.

• The Hogyoku evolved Aizen again, giving him three pairs of butterfly wings and powers beyond the limits of Soul Reapers.
• Ichigo appeared and unleashed Final Getsuga Tensho, transforming until even Yoru Machi and Aizen could no longer sense his spiritual pressure.
• Aizen dismissed Ichigo as a worthy opponent, but Ichigo struck him before he could finish speaking.
• Ichigo’s Mugetsu split Aizen’s body in two with a single attack.
• Aizen began regenerating because his fusion with the Hogyoku granted him complete regeneration as long as the Hogyoku remained intact.

Aizen reached a fifth, monstrous form and battled Ichigo, while Urahara Kisuke explained that sealing the Hogyoku required extracting it and holding it for ten seconds. Yoruichi suggested Yoru Machi might control the Hogyoku because it considered him an ideal host, but Aizen evolved again before they could act.

• Aizen transformed into a fifth form and attacked Ichigo with powerful Radiant Blast projectiles, though Ichigo still held the advantage.
• Yoru Machi asked Urahara Kisuke why his Hogyoku-sealing formula had not activated, and Urahara explained that Aizen had countered the original formula.
• Urahara Kisuke said sealing the Hogyoku now required extracting it and inscribing a new formula, prompting Yoru Machi and Urahara Kisuke to argue over the missed opportunity to seal it earlier.
• Yoruichi proposed that Yoru Machi might control the Hogyoku for the ten seconds needed because it regarded him as its ideal host.
• Aizen returned to his Shinigami appearance, watched Kyōka Suigetsu disappear, and declared that the Hogyoku had judged he no longer needed a Zanpakuto.

Aizen evolved into a permanent fusion with Kyōka Suigetsu and wounded Ichigo, leaving him near death as his Final Getsuga Tensho began to run out. Yoru Machi stepped in to face Aizen and revealed his own full spiritual pressure, though Aizen remained unimpressed.

• Aizen's second Mugetsu dispersed through his illusory body, and he teleported behind Ichigo and slashed his chest.
• Urahara Kisuke and the others panicked as Ichigo's powers neared exhaustion, and Kurosaki Isshin prepared to intervene.
• Yoru Machi blocked Aizen's sword-pressure slash, then threw Ichigo toward Kurosaki Isshin and challenged Aizen.
• Aizen dismissed Yoru Machi as an ordinary Soul Reaper and taunted him for giving up the Hogyoku.
• Yoru Machi said he had not used his full strength before and unleashed solid blue spiritual pressure beyond captain-class, while Aizen stayed calm.

Yoru Machi used successive stages of Kaio-ken to multiply his spiritual pressure beyond the limits of a Soul Reaper, alarming Aizen. Aizen attacked before Yoru Machi could grow stronger, and their clash continued amid the desert sands.

• Yoru Machi activated Twofold Kaio-ken, doubling his spiritual pressure and breaking through the limits of a Soul Reaper.
• Yoru Machi raised his power further with Threefold Kaio-ken, reaching a level comparable to Aizen's earlier final fusion stage.
• Yoru Machi activated Fourfold Kaio-ken, causing Aizen to fear that his strength would continue to rise.
• Aizen struck first and swung Kyōka Suigetsu at Yoru Machi's neck, but Yoru Machi blocked with the Higan.
• Yoru Machi and Aizen exchanged sword blows as their spiritual pressure carved ravines through the desert, and Aizen stayed silent when Yoru Machi asked if he was afraid.

Yoru Machi fought Aizen with escalating power, breaking through the defenses and abilities Aizen had gained from the Hogyoku. The chapter left Yoru Machi shattering Aizen’s Super Reiatsu Wall with a sixfold Kaio-ken-enhanced Shunkō kick.

• Yoru Machi traded sword strikes and energy blasts with Aizen, forcing him back despite Aizen’s six-winged exoskeleton.
• Yoru Machi increased his power with a fivefold Kaio-ken, shattered Aizen’s Million Shield with one punch, and sent him flying.
• Aizen used Light Form Movement to appear behind Yoru Machi and launched a wave of sword pressure, but Yoru Machi escaped with Dimensional Shift.
• Yoru Machi blinded Aizen with Solar Flare, then shattered Aizen’s Super Reiatsu Wall with a sixfold Kaio-ken-enhanced Shunkō kick.

Yoru Machi trapped Aizen with a spatial seal, wounded him, and deduced that Kyōka Suigetsu now let Aizen hypnotize himself to evade harm. Aizen abandoned regeneration and fought defensively, fleeing to buy time for the Hogyoku to evolve.

• Yoru Machi sealed teleportation and spatial abilities, then stabbed Aizen in the kidney with Higan.
• Aizen escaped by using Kyōka Suigetsu’s evolved self-hypnosis, and Yoru Machi inferred how the ability had changed.
• Aizen asked where Yoru Machi had learned his techniques, but Yoru Machi claimed he had mastered them through his own efforts and extensive combat experience.
• Aizen sealed his wound with spiritual pressure instead of using Complete Regeneration, which Higan’s Causality Reversal could turn against him.
• Aizen stopped attacking and fled with Sonido and Shunpo, using self-hypnosis whenever Yoru Machi caught up, while he waited for the Hogyoku to evolve.

Yoru Machi stopped chasing Aizen and unleashed tenfold Kaio-ken, raising his spiritual pressure beyond Aizen’s ability to sense. As the power surged, Yoru Machi’s body began to suffer, and the veterans’ grim expressions left Ichigo wondering what price he would pay.

• Ichigo and the others watched Yoru Machi overpower Aizen, but Urahara Kisuke warned that Aizen might evolve again and that Kyōka Suigetsu remained dangerous.
• Yoru Machi abruptly stopped pursuing Aizen, then began raising his spiritual pressure with Kaio-ken.
• Yoru Machi reached tenfold Kaio-ken, creating a storm across Hueco Mundo and surpassing Aizen by an immeasurable margin.
• Aizen realized he could no longer sense Yoru Machi’s spiritual pressure and could not stop him from powering up.
• Yoru Machi felt his bones and cells straining under the tenfold Kaio-ken, while Kurosaki Isshin and the other veterans looked grave.
• Ichigo asked why the veterans were concerned, and Kurosaki Isshin replied that tremendous power came at a cost.

Yoru Machi overwhelmed Aizen with a power that onlookers assumed had cost him his life or soul, while Rangiku doubted he would make such a sacrifice for anyone but a friend. Aizen discovered that Yoru Machi could catch him during Kyōka Suigetsu’s cooldown, and the chapter ended with Yoru Machi blasting him into the ground with a massive Kikōhō.

• Kurosaki Isshin speculated that Yoru Machi had sacrificed his life, soul, or Soul Reaper powers for his immense strength, while Rangiku said he was more likely to risk everything for a friend than for duty.
• Aizen assumed Yoru Machi had paid a terrible price for his power, but Yoru Machi attacked before he could finish speaking and carved a vast chasm with his slash.
• Aizen tried to evade Yoru Machi and stall until his power faded, but Yoru Machi caught up to him before he could escape.
• Yoru Machi realized that Aizen could not use Kyōka Suigetsu repeatedly without a brief recovery period and severed Aizen’s right arm.
• Yoru Machi stabbed Aizen in the chest and unleashed a powerful Kikōhō that flattened the surrounding area and sent a towering mushroom cloud into the sky.

Yoru Machi seized the Hogyoku after defeating Aizen and had Urahara Kisuke seal it, then collapsed from the strain of using tenfold Kaio-ken. Three days later, Unohana confirmed he would recover but warned that repeated use of the technique could permanently damage his body.

• Yoru Machi grabbed the Hogyoku before it could return to Aizen and threatened to destroy it if it resisted.
• Urahara Kisuke sealed the Hogyoku, and Yoru Machi released tenfold Kaio-ken before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Rangiku and the others mistook Yoru Machi's collapse for his death until Unohana determined that he had survived with severe injuries.
• After three days in the Fourth Division Barracks, Unohana examined Yoru Machi and warned him to avoid combat and using his damaging secret technique.

After recovering from his battle injuries, Yoru Machi wandered through Seireitei and learned the details of Aizen and Ichimaru Gin’s sentences. He visited Ichimaru Gin in the underground prison, where Rangiku scolded him for leaving the Fourth Division before fully recuperating.

• Yoru Machi realized that using the Kaio-ken beyond what his body could withstand risked hidden injuries and decided to limit its multiplier.
• Yoru Machi learned that Aizen had been sentenced to 20,000 years in Muken Hell and that Ichimaru Gin had received a 3,000-year prison sentence after Yoru Machi testified for him.
• Yoru Machi resented Central 46 for treating his merits as a favor while giving Ichimaru Gin such a long sentence.
• Yoru Machi went to the underground prison to visit Ichimaru Gin and found Rangiku there with food containers.
• Rangiku punched and scolded Yoru Machi for leaving the Fourth Division too soon, then teased him about the bentos other Soul Reapers had brought him.