Chapter Summaries

Ailin and the Soul Reapers defeated the Bount who had invaded the Seireitei, while Sajin Komamura protected Tetsuzaemon Iba from Mabashi’s control. Afterward, Ailin warned Uryu Ishida about the danger of his Quincy power and told him another Quincy lived in Karakura Town, then turned to speak with Ichigo Kurosaki.

• Mabashi controlled Tetsuzaemon Iba and forced Sajin Komamura to fight defensively while Koga Tsuyoshi and Daruku attacked them.
• Ailin’s attack destroyed Koga Tsuyoshi, Mabashi, and their Dolls, freeing Tetsuzaemon Iba; Komamura comforted him and urged the Seventh Division to grow stronger.
• Ailin sensed that Soifon had killed Yuki and Ushi, and Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida defeated the remaining Bount, Kariya Jin and Utagawa Ryo.
• Ailin met Ichigo and Uryu, explained that he had left the Eleventh Division to become captain of the Fifth Division, and congratulated Uryu on regaining his powers.
• Ailin warned Uryu that using his Quincy bracelet could make his body explode and told him another Quincy lived in Karakura Town who might know how to help.
• Uryu agreed to seek out the other Quincy, and Ailin turned his attention to Ichigo.

Ichigo Kurosaki met Captain Ailin, learned that Ailin had captured Urahara Kisuke and Tetsusai Gantetsusai in the past, and discovered that Byakuya Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru were Ailin’s disciples. At Urahara Shoten, Shihoin Yoruichi described Ailin’s early career in the Second Division, and Tetsusai Gantetsusai began sharing what he knew about him.

• Ailin praised Ichigo Kurosaki’s progress and revealed that he knew Urahara Kisuke, Tetsusai Gantetsusai, and Shihoin Yoruichi, and that he had once captured Urahara and Tetsusai.
• Ailin told Ichigo that Byakuya Kuchiki and Gin Ichimaru were his disciples and had sharply different opinions of Ichigo’s abilities, then left for the Fifth Division’s quarters.
• Ichigo and Uryu Ishida visited Urahara Shoten to ask Urahara Kisuke, Tetsusai Gantetsusai, and Shihoin Yoruichi about Ailin.
• Shihoin Yoruichi recounted that Ailin had trained relentlessly in the Second Division, mastered Healing Arts, challenged the Vice-Captain, and reduced casualties with his ideas after she appointed him to the post.
• Shihoin Yoruichi said Ailin later joined the Kuchiki Clan by marriage, transferred to the Sixth Division, and became its captain, then shared the Seireitei saying about protecting his wife’s happiness.
• Tetsusai Gantetsusai began offering his own account of Ailin.

Tetsusai Gantetsusai and Shihoin Yoruichi could tell Ichigo Kurosaki little about Captain Ailin, so Ichigo explained how Ailin’s presence had frightened the Hollow and Quincy powers within him. Urahara Kisuke began to share what he knew about Ailin, while Momo Hinamori returned to the Fifth Division and was startled by how Ailin’s work reminded her of Aizen Sosuke.

• Tetsusai Gantetsusai said Ailin’s strength had frightened him and might even exceed Captain-Commander Yamamoto’s, but Ichigo Kurosaki thanked him for the information.
• Urahara Kisuke asked Ichigo Kurosaki why he wanted to know about Ailin, and Ichigo revealed that his inner Hollow had appeared during past battles and made him fear using Zangetsu.
• Ichigo told Urahara Kisuke that the Hollow became quiet and afraid around Ailin, while Old Man Zangetsu warned him to kill Ailin or stay away from him.
• Urahara Kisuke said he understood some of Ichigo’s experiences but would not explain matters beyond his understanding, then offered to describe what he knew about Ailin.
• Momo Hinamori returned to the Fifth Division captain’s office and nearly mistook Ailin for Aizen Sosuke before Ailin invited her in to discuss the division’s condition.

Ailin took over the Fifth Division and reassured an exhausted Momo Hinamori, granting her leave to make amends with her friends. He then went to the unsettled Third Division, where Izuuru Kira was still managing affairs while the division awaited an unknown Captain from Hueco Mundo.

• Momo Hinamori mistook Ailin’s familiar mannerisms for a moment, then remembered that Aizen had defected and that Ailin was now the Fifth Division Captain.
• Ailin finished the Fifth Division’s accumulated paperwork, covered the sleeping Momo with his Haori, and explained her exhaustion to Miyano Tomomaru.
• Ailin granted Momo three days of paid leave and urged her to reconnect with her friends, prompting her to reflect on how she had hurt Kira and Toshiro.
• Ailin left Momo and headed to the Third Division, where the Captain’s post remained vacant as the replacement from Hueco Mundo had not yet arrived.
• Izuuru Kira continued handling the Third Division’s affairs, while its members remained uneasy about their unknown incoming Captain.

Ailin visited Izuuru Kira and revealed that Gin Ichimaru had been his disciple, urging Kira to protect the Third Division and its members until Gin returned. After testing Kira through a night of training, Ailin recognized Chusuke’s untapped potential and planned to use its gravity ability to create a Gravity Blade.

• Izuuru Kira recalled how he had defended Gin Ichimaru and continued managing the Third Division despite expecting to lose his Vice-Captain position.
• Ailin thanked Kira for looking after Gin and, during a nighttime walk, explained Gin’s past and asked Kira to protect Gin’s subordinates.
• When Kira reacted loudly to Ailin’s suggestion that Gin might return, Ailin struck him to stop him from revealing the secret, then challenged him to draw his blade.
• Ailin trained Kira through the night, and Kira discovered that his skill with Chusuke’s weight-increasing ability had improved greatly.
• Ailin considered Chusuke’s overlooked potential and planned to create a Gravity Blade to train under increased gravity.

Tenkai Shusuke took over as captain of the Third Division and learned how much freedom captains had as long as they fulfilled their duties. He retained Izuuru Kira as vice-captain and announced a combat exercise to assess the division and select its Seat Officers.

• Ailin explained to Tenkai Shusuke that captains could act freely so long as their divisions completed their assigned duties, and Tenkai welcomed the latitude for his own plans.
• Ailin recalled how Kisaragi Taiho had once spared him and how he had repaid that debt by guiding Tenkai in Hueco Mundo, while wondering what Tenkai would do after learning the truth about the past.
• Tenkai met the Third Division Soul Reapers, and Izuuru Kira offered to relinquish his vice-captain position after Gin Ichimaru's departure.
• Tenkai praised Kira's work and asked him to remain vice-captain, disappointing Kifune Ri, who had expected to take the role.
• Tenkai announced a combat exercise to assess the Third Division and choose its Seat Officers, and the Soul Reapers agreed to fight with all their strength.

Tenkai Shusuke took command of the Third Division, where Kifune Ri defeated its members and tried to challenge Izuuru Kira, but Tenkai stopped him. Tenkai won the division’s support by promising to restore its reputation and taking everyone out drinking, while the chapter ended with speculation that he might eventually replace Kira with Kifune Ri.

• Kifune Ri easily defeated Third Division Shinigami and challenged Izuuru Kira to prove his strength.
• Izuuru Kira looked to Tenkai Shusuke for direction, and Tenkai ended the sparring before Kifune could provoke him further.
• Tenkai told the division he would increase its missions and help overcome the stigma left by former Captain Gin Ichimaru.
• Tenkai invited the entire Third Division to an izakaya, winning the members’ enthusiasm and strengthening his position as their captain.
• Izuuru Kira reflected on Gin Ichimaru’s care for the division, while others speculated that Tenkai might eventually make Kifune Ri vice-captain.

After taking over the Fifth Division, Ailin let the Third Division share its rescue duties and entrusted the work to Momo Hinamori and Izuuru Kira. As Momo reflected on how Ailin differed from Aizen and how much she trusted him, she asked Kira what he thought of Ailin.

• Tenkai Shusuke asked Ailin to let the Third Division take on some of the Fifth Division's rescue assignments, and Ailin agreed.
• Ailin had Momo Hinamori and Izuuru Kira coordinate the handover, then left the Fifth Division to rest.
• Momo complained that Ailin had fooled her again by avoiding his duties, while Kira felt glad that she had recovered from Aizen's betrayal.
• Kira told Momo that Ailin's arrival had helped her regain her spirits, and recalled how Ailin's advice had helped him find purpose in the Third Division.
• Momo considered how she admired Aizen but felt comfortable acting spoiled and complaining around Ailin, then asked Kira what he thought of Ailin.

Izuuru Kira encouraged Momo to seek Captain Ailin’s guidance and grow stronger, while concealing his own questions about the Captains’ plans. At an izakaya, Ailin told Shunsui Kyōraku that Captain Tenkai was too impatient, leaving Kyōraku to consider what that revealed about Tenkai.

• Izuuru Kira hid his conversation with Ailin from Momo and wondered why Seireitei had allowed Captain Aizen to defect and why Captain Gin might return in half a year.
• Izuuru Kira urged Momo to train under Ailin, and Momo resolved to ask Ailin for guidance despite the pile of division paperwork.
• Momo and Izuuru Kira worked through the Fifth Division’s paperwork together, with Kira handling more than half of it.
• Shunsui Kyōraku invited Ailin for drinks and told him that Captain Tenkai had been taking support missions to improve the Third Division’s reputation.
• Shunsui Kyōraku asked what Ailin thought of Captain Tenkai, and Ailin answered that Tenkai was far too impatient.

Shunsui Kyōraku realized that Tenkai Shusuke was rushing to accomplish a hidden goal and chose to investigate his identity despite Ailin’s warning. Meanwhile, Kifune Ri’s resentment and ambition led him to lose control of his Zanpakuto and attack Third Division Soul Reapers.

• Shunsui Kyōraku connected Tenkai Shusuke’s haste and assumed name to a dangerous past, then told Ailin he would uncover Tenkai’s identity.
• Ailin warned Shunsui Kyōraku that learning the truth could leave him unable to stop Tenkai, but Shunsui chose to know and make his own decision.
• Ailin said he had repaid a kindness from Tenkai’s father and would stay out of Tenkai’s affairs unless Tenkai harmed the Fifth Division or provoked him.
• Kifune Ri killed a Gillian-class Menos and used the Third Division members’ admiration to imagine taking Izuuru Kira’s vice-captain position.
• Kifune Ri’s Reppū struck a fellow Soul Reaper and then spun out of control, wounding and killing Soul Reapers and Hollows as he continued the attack.

Tenkai Shusuke used Kifune Ri’s misconduct as cover to send him to contact the Kasumiōji Clan, while Shunsui Kyōraku learned Tenkai’s identity and decided not to interfere. Momo Hinamori then asked Ailin to train her, and he agreed.

• Tenkai Shusuke stopped Kifune Ri’s uncontrolled attack, sent the injured Soul Reapers to the Fourth Division, and privately praised Kifune for giving him an excuse to impose confinement.
• Tenkai Shusuke instructed Kifune Ri to escape confinement that night and contact the Kasumiōji Clan; Kifune met the clan’s butler, Yun Jingyao Jue, at the estate.
• Shunsui Kyōraku read intelligence identifying Tenkai Shusuke as Kisaragi Taiho’s child and decided not to stop him from pursuing revenge against the Kasumiōji Clan or Yamamoto.
• Momo Hinamori asked Ailin to teach her how to become stronger because she wanted to avoid feeling helpless again, and Ailin agreed to train her.

Ailin tested Momo Hinamori’s abilities and began training her to improve through Kido and by combining it with Tobiume. Meanwhile, Tenkai Shusuke noticed that the surveillance around him had stopped and wondered whether the Seireitei had uncovered his identity or begun to trust him.

• Ailin brought Momo into his world and tested her Zanpakuto, Kido, Zanjutsu, Shunpo, and other abilities.
• Ailin judged Momo’s Kido talent to be her strongest asset and advised her to combine Kido with Tobiume’s fire and wind abilities.
• Ailin taught Momo intermediate- and advanced-level Kido, and her strength grew as she learned more spells.
• Tenkai Shusuke noticed that no one seemed to be watching him and wondered what the change in surveillance meant.
• Tenkai continued completing missions for the Third Division, hoping to leave its reputation better than he had found it.

Tenkai Shusuke recovered the Moyao Blade from the Kasumiōji Clan and agreed to target Yamamoto if the clan distracted the other captains. Yun Jingyao Jue secretly kept Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo confined, then arranged for her disappearance to draw Ailin and other captains into a search in the Human World.

• Tenkai Shusuke met Yun Jingyao Jue and Kifune Ri in the Kasumiōji estate’s secret chamber, where they showed him the completed Moyao Blade.
• Yun Jingyao Jue framed Kisaragi Taiho as a Kasumiōji ally murdered by Yamamoto, and Tenkai Shusuke believed him after checking old records.
• Tenkai Shusuke absorbed the Moyao Blade into his Zanpakuto and demanded that the Kasumiōji Clan distract the other captains so he could confront Yamamoto alone.
• Yun Jingyao Jue told Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo she would remain confined until she married and bore heirs, then secretly gave an order to a guard.
• Ailin learned that Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo had disappeared and was believed to have fled to the Human World through a Senkaimon.
• Yamamoto assigned Ailin, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Rukia to search the Human World while Soifon investigated in Seireitei.

Ailin and the others tracked the missing Kasumiōji Clan head to Karakura Town, where they helped Ichigo Kurosaki defeat attackers wielding weapons that drained spiritual pressure. The attackers escaped through a Senkaimon, and Byakuya Kuchiki met Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo, newly resolved to confront the nobles behind the assault.

• Ailin, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia, Renji Abarai, and Momo Hinamori traveled to Karakura Town to investigate the Kasumiōji Clan head's disappearance.
• Rukia found that a noble-controlled Senkaimon had opened to Karakura Town, and Ailin suggested using Grasping Cicada to locate unfamiliar spiritual pressure.
• Momo Hinamori used Grasping Cicada and detected a battle nearby, so Renji Abarai and Momo went to assist Ichigo Kurosaki and the others.
• Renji Abarai and Momo Hinamori helped defeat the attackers, but their weapons drained spiritual pressure, and the surviving captives broke free and fled to Soul Society through a Senkaimon.
• Byakuya Kuchiki recognized the attackers as likely private guards of other nobles and questioned Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo, who confirmed her identity.

Ailin and Byakuya Kuchiki found Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo and brought her back to the Seireitei amid tensions between the nobles and the Gotei 13. Ichigo Kurosaki agreed to accompany them and protect her, while Ailin later heard that the nobles protested and the Tsunayashiro Clan’s head was ignored by Byakuya.

• Ruri Chiyo apologized to Byakuya Kuchiki and agreed to return to the Seireitei after Ailin explained that her disappearance had heightened tensions between the nobles and the Gotei 13.
• Ichigo Kurosaki challenged Byakuya to protect Ruri Chiyo, but Ailin stopped his Bankai by severing his connection with Zangetsu.
• Ruri Chiyo thanked Ichigo and chose to return with Byakuya, and Ailin invited Ichigo to accompany them and guard her.
• Renji Abarai questioned why Ichigo was needed, and Ailin explained that Ichigo was powerful and outside the Gotei 13, making him an acceptable protector to the nobles.
• Ailin later heard that the nobles had protested and that Byakuya had ignored the head of the Tsunayashiro Clan.

Tenkai Shusuke sent Izuuru Kira to investigate Kifune Ri while Ailin refused to attend the Noble Council and warned Momo Hinamori about future threats. At the council, Byakuya Kuchiki killed the assembled nobles with his Bankai, declaring an end to the Noble Order.

• Tenkai Shusuke asked Izuuru Kira to investigate Kifune Ri's dangerous behavior and enforce military law if Kifune had committed a crime.
• Ailin refused Momo Hinamori's request to help Kira and told her that Soul Reapers would face major upheaval in the next two years.
• Ailin reassured Momo by saying Toshiro Hitsugaya would be able to face the future enemies because of Hyōrinmaru.
• Byakuya Kuchiki denounced the nobles at the council for corrupting the Noble Order and declared that the Kuchiki Clan would end it.
• Byakuya Kuchiki unleashed Senbonzakura Kageyoshi and killed every noble gathered in Central 46.
• The Soul Reapers who witnessed the massacre discussed the nobles' abuses and agreed that Byakuya Kuchiki had acted rightly.

Tenkai Shusuke abducted Kasumiōji Ruri Chiyo and brought her to Yamamoto, where he revealed his identity as Kisaragi Taiho’s son and attacked to avenge his father. Yamamoto overwhelmed him despite Tenkai’s Moyao Blade nullifying Zanpakuto powers, and Tenkai ended the chapter badly wounded at Yamamoto’s feet.

• Soifon realized that nobles from many major families had secretly attended the council and were prepared to benefit whichever side prevailed.
• Tenkai Shusuke arrived at the council, took Ruri Chiyo away under the pretense of protecting her, and carried her to the First Division office.
• Tenkai told Yamamoto that the Kasumiōji Clan had experimented on Shinigami to forge Moyao Blades, prompting Yamamoto to recall his slain disciple.
• Tenkai attacked Yamamoto with Bankai, but Yamamoto’s Shikai overwhelmed his flames and hurled him through the First Division walls.
• Tenkai used his Moyao Blade to extinguish Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto power and revealed that he was Kisaragi Taiho’s surviving son seeking revenge.
• Yamamoto endured Tenkai’s feint and struck him down, leaving Tenkai coughing blood on his knees.

Yamamoto defeated Tenkai Shusuke and revealed that Tenkai’s father had been his disciple, while Kyōraku admitted he had known Tenkai’s identity and summoned Ailin to help. Ailin subdued Tenkai and took him to prison, then escorted Ichigo Kurosaki back toward the Human World after reflecting on the Seireitei’s recent upheavals.

• Yamamoto defeated Tenkai Shusuke, revealed that Kisaragi Taiho had been his third disciple, and confronted Kyōraku about helping Tenkai.
• Kyōraku said he had known Tenkai’s identity and had summoned Ailin to rescue him, so Yamamoto’s fight would be with Ailin instead.
• Ailin arrived at the First Division, severed Tenkai’s beastified arm, destroyed the Moyao Blade’s core, and took Tenkai to the Ninth Division Prison.
• Ailin later recounted the weakened noble privileges, the Third Division conspiracy, and Tenkai’s failed assassination attempt while escorting Ichigo Kurosaki back to the Human World.
• Ichigo told Ailin that he thought some people in the Seireitei, including Ailin, were good people, and Ailin replied that good and bad depended on one’s standpoint.

Ailin sent Ichigo Kurosaki back to the Human World and reflected on the power Ichigo would need to awaken. At a Captain's Meeting, Yamamoto assigned Ailin and Toshiro Hitsugaya to respond to Aizen's stronger Hollows and outlined a plan to stop Aizen from creating the Oken.

• Ailin had Momo Hinamori open a Senkaimon and sent Ichigo Kurosaki back to the Human World, warning him to judge people by their actions.
• Ailin realized Ichigo had not awakened his Hollow power and hoped Aizen's forces would push him to master it.
• Yamamoto called a Captain's Meeting and revealed that Aizen's subordinates had sent increasingly powerful Hollows to the Human World.
• Yamamoto assigned Ailin and Toshiro Hitsugaya to the Human World and explained that Aizen intended to use human souls to create the Oken.
• Yamamoto ordered the Kidō Corps to prepare spatial transfer barriers and instructed Mayuri Kurotsuchi to build a substitute city in Zaraki District.

Ailin and the other Soul Reapers arrived in the Human World to defend Karakura Town against Aizen’s forces, and Ailin assigned them patrol areas. While waiting for the Arrancar attack, he showed Momo Hinamori around and enjoyed a luxurious stay; the chapter ended when someone called out to him at an amusement park.

• Ailin arrived in the Human World with his group and greeted Urahara Kisuke, Shihoin Yoruichi, and Tetsusai Gantetsusai.
• Urahara Kisuke prepared Gigai for the group, and Ailin noticed that his body and Gigai felt slightly out of sync.
• Ailin divided the group into patrols across Karakura Town, assigning Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa to Minamikawase, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Matsumoto Rangiku to the Academy District, and himself and Momo Hinamori to central areas.
• Ailin took a jade disc from Urahara Kisuke, sold it for money, and treated Momo to a luxurious stay in the Human World.
• While Ailin was taking Momo to an amusement park, a familiar voice called to him.