Chapter Summaries

Kaname Tōsen used his Bankai to overwhelm Kyoraku Jushiro, but Sajin Komamura broke the darkness and Hirako Shinji wounded Tōsen with his Shikai. When Komamura confronted his friend about justice and Kyouka, Tōsen defended his loyalty to Aizen and revealed his Hollowfication, then raised his Zanpakuto against Komamura.

• Kaname Tōsen trapped Kyoraku Jushiro in Enma Korogi, stripping away his senses until Komamura shattered the Bankai with Tenken and Jushiro fell from the sky.
• Hachigen Ushōda caught the injured Liza Yadomaru and Kyunnanbyaku with Tsuriboshi, and Izuuru Kira began treating Liza.
• Yamamoto confined Aizen Sosuke inside a fiery barrier, while Hirako Shinji attacked Tōsen with Sakashimo and wounded him by reversing his movements.
• Komamura asked Tōsen why he had betrayed their shared justice and Kyouka, but Tōsen insisted that Aizen alone represented justice.
• Tōsen revealed that he had willingly undergone Hollowfication for greater power, then pointed his Zanpakuto at Komamura.

Sajin Komamura confronted Kaname Tōsen over his turn to Aizen, learned that Tōsen sought revenge for his friend Kyouka, and released Bankai as Tōsen prepared his strongest power. Meanwhile, Hirako Shinji went after Gin Ichimaru as Ailin revealed that Urahara Kisuke and the others had gathered to watch him, and Ailin admitted he preferred Aizen’s victory.

• Kaname Tōsen rejected Komamura’s accusations, then admitted that his former sense of justice had come from Kyouka and that he had sworn loyalty to Aizen to avenge her.
• Komamura released Bankai to stop Tōsen, who recalled Kyouka’s pleas and prepared to unleash his strongest power.
• Hirako Shinji saw that the Visored had been defeated but were still alive, then flew toward Gin Ichimaru to prove their strength.
• Ailin surveyed the other battles and spotted Urahara Kisuke, Shihoin Yoruichi, Tsukabishi, Shiba, and Ryuken Ishida surrounding him.
• Urahara Kisuke explained that they were monitoring Ailin because they feared he favored Aizen, and Ailin admitted that he did.

Ailin confronted Urahara Kisuke over the choices he was willing to make for the Seireitei, then fought Urahara and his companions as Yamamoto and Aizen stalled against each other. In Hueco Mundo, Zaraki continued battling the growing Yammy, while Unohana and Yūne Kotetsu arrived at Las Noches after receiving an invitation from its master.

• Ailin questioned Urahara Kisuke about the Hogyoku, the Spirit King, and the fate of Ururu and Jinta, then attacked Urahara, Shihoin Yoruichi, Tetsusai Gantetsusai, Isshin Kurosaki, and Ryuken Ishida with summoned Zanpakuto.
• The Seireitei Shinigami noticed Ailin fighting Urahara’s group, while Yamamoto and Aizen traded accusations and Aizen revealed that Ailin had imprisoned him for decades and used Kyoka Suigetsu.
• Zaraki fought the enormous Yammy in Hueco Mundo, cutting him repeatedly and urging him to grow stronger.
• Unohana and Yūne Kotetsu reached Las Noches, where Unohana said its master had invited them inside.

Retsu Unohana faced Szayelaporro in a chamber designed to nullify her spiritual pressure, while Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Grimmjow and continued alone toward Las Noches. In Hueco Mundo, Zaraki released Nozarashi and split Yammy’s Cero and giant body with a single slash.

• Szayelaporro told Retsu Unohana and Yūne Kotetsu that he had built a chamber where her spiritual pressure could not harm him, then released his Resurrección.
• Ichigo Kurosaki shattered Grimmjow’s Panther King's Claw with Crescent Moon—Cross Slash and blasted him far into Hueco Mundo.
• Ichigo Kurosaki sensed that Chad and Uryu Ishida were safe, then headed alone into Las Noches to rescue Inoue.
• Zaraki fought Yammy until Yammy’s growth appeared to reach its limit, then wounded him with a two-handed slash.
• Yammy fired a massive Cero at Zaraki, who released Nozarashi and cut through the Cero and Yammy’s body.

Zaraki killed Yammy and destroyed Las Noches’ Sky Canopy, while Retsu Unohana defeated Szayelaporro. Ichigo Kurosaki confronted Ulquiorra above the canopy, where Ulquiorra released his Resurrección; their battle continued after Ichigo wounded him with a second Zanpakuto.

• Zaraki killed Yammy with a single strike, and the explosion of Yammy’s Cero shattered the Sky Canopy above Las Noches.
• Retsu Unohana defeated Szayelaporro in his laboratory, then continued onward with Yūne Kotetsu to help stabilize Hueco Mundo.
• Ichigo Kurosaki sensed Inoue’s spiritual pressure and flew toward Las Noches, where Ulquiorra stopped him with a Cero that Ichigo split in two.
• Ulquiorra led Ichigo beyond the Sky Canopy and explained that he had chosen the battlefield so he could use Resurrección without restriction.
• Ulquiorra released Segregate—Black Winged Demon and attacked Ichigo with his Moonlight Sword, but Ichigo drew a second Zanpakuto and wounded him.
• Ulquiorra healed the wound with Super Regeneration and inferred that Ichigo’s two Zanpakuto explained his sudden increase in strength.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Ulquiorra above the Sky Canopy while Orihime Inoue and her companions watched from a safe distance under Enkidu’s protection. Ailin reflected on the power of Mugetsu and wondered whether Isshin Kurosaki would teach Ichigo the Final Getsuga Tensho.

• Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra exchanged Getsuga Tensho and Lanza del Relámpago, their clash cracking the Sky Canopy.
• Orihime Inoue attacked Pesche and Haddochaka after mistaking their game with Nemu for an attempt to harm her, then apologized when Uryu Ishida and Yasutora Sado explained.
• Enkidu carried Orihime Inoue, Uryu Ishida, Yasutora Sado, Pesche, and Haddochaka above the Sky Canopy to watch Ichigo Kurosaki fight, shielding them from the battle’s shockwaves.
• Ailin kept Urahara Kisuke and four others occupied with golden lightning while considering whether Mugetsu Ichigo surpassed other forms of Ichigo’s power.
• Ailin wondered whether Isshin Kurosaki would teach Ichigo Kurosaki the Final Getsuga Tensho.

Urahara Kisuke inferred that Ailin sought to leave the Bleach world and reach the realm beyond it, then tested whether Ailin still valued lives by surrendering. Ailin confirmed he respected the wills of others and would not kill those who showed no intent to kill him.

• Ailin told Urahara Kisuke that his perspective was confined to the current world, causing Urahara to lose focus as he defended against the Gate of Babylon.
• Urahara connected Ailin's words to the world's origins, the Spirit King's purpose, and the threat posed by Hell, and concluded that Ailin intended to reach beyond the world.
• Urahara asked whether Ailin considered the struggles of himself, Aizen, and others laughable, and Ailin said he respected the wills behind their actions.
• Urahara surrendered and asked whether Ailin would kill him and the others; Ailin said he would not kill them unless they showed killing intent toward him.
• Urahara explained that he had risked his life to test whether Ailin still retained human emotions.

Ailin warned Urahara Kisuke not to attack him again, then watched as Gin Ichimaru fought Hirako Shinji and Baraggan. Hirako used his Bankai and Hollowfication, but Gin remained in control and left Hirako suppressed.

• Ailin told Urahara Kisuke he would kill him instantly if he attacked again, and then turned his attention to the battle above.
• Gin Ichimaru adapted to Hirako Shinji's Sakashimo and explained how his experience with Aizen Sosuke's Kyoka Suigetsu had strengthened his ability to distinguish reality from illusion.
• Hirako activated his Bankai, Gyakushū Hōgōsai, and caused Gin and Baraggan to perceive each other as enemies.
• Baraggan attacked Gin with his deathly aura, but Gin tested its limits with Kido and trapped Baraggan in an iceberg before turning back to Hirako.
• Hirako released his Bankai, Hollowfied, and challenged Gin, but Gin's swordsmanship overwhelmed him.

While the battle in the Human World continued, Inaba Kagerōza prepared to seize Seireitei with an army of Reikaku, but discovered Kujo Nozomi had vanished from the Gokuto. His Reikaku forces awakened and began replacing the originals, while Rukia confronted a duplicate of herself.

• Hirako Shinji and the other Visored were defeated, while Baraggan resumed fighting Soifon and the Shinigami side gained the upper hand elsewhere.
• Inaba Kagerōza altered the Senkaimon to delay the returning captains for two weeks, then entered the Gokuto and found Kujo Nozomi missing.
• Inaba Kagerōza concluded Kujo Nozomi might emerge near Mayuri Kurotsuchi or Urahara Kisuke and decided to occupy Seireitei while watching them.
• Inaba Kagerōza awakened his Reikaku army, but Reikaku Ailin overpowered and humiliated him before leaving the laboratory.
• Inaba Kagerōza ordered the Reikaku to replace their originals and kill anyone who discovered them, and they spread through Seireitei.
• Rukia sensed a duplicate with her appearance and spiritual pressure approaching the Ninth Division, then prepared to face her.

Rukia, Renji Abarai, and Byakuya Kuchiki confronted Reikaku impostors who wielded their Zanpakuto and matched their abilities. Byakuya battled his double as the impostors’ wider attack on the Seireitei became apparent.

• Reikaku Rukia accused Rukia of impersonation, then froze her in an ice pillar with Sode no Shirayuki.
• Renji Abarai rushed to the Ninth Division, where Reikaku Renji Abarai ambushed him with Zabimaru and wounded him.
• Byakuya Kuchiki met Reikaku Byakuya Kuchiki and fought him across the Sixth Division.
• Byakuya Kuchiki used Byakurai to interrupt his double’s Shikai and struck him with Senbonzakura, but Reikaku Kuchiki countered with his own cherry-colored blades.
• The Sixth Division’s Third Seat evacuated the division members and sought aid from the Ninth and Twelfth Divisions.
• Byakuya Kuchiki realized the impostors might be attacking across the Seireitei and suspected the Twelfth Division’s experiments were involved.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Ulquiorra in Hueco Mundo as Ulquiorra unveiled Segunda Etapa and Ichigo prepared to answer with Bankai. Elsewhere, Unohana defeated Zommari and waited with Yūne Kotetsu, hoping Ichigo could join the coming battle against Aizen.

• Byakuya Kuchiki and Reikaku Byakuya both used Bankai, filling the Sixth Division with cherry blossom blades.
• Enkidu reassured Orihime Inoue and the others that Ichigo had not yet used Bankai and could still reveal his full strength.
• Ulquiorra released Segunda Etapa, unleashing spiritual pressure that shocked the observers.
• Ichigo brought his two Zanpakuto together and began activating Bankai in response to Ulquiorra.
• Zaraki left Las Noches with Yachiru Kusajishi rather than join the battle, choosing to save the fight for another time.
• Unohana defeated Zommari Rureaux after he nearly killed Yūne Kotetsu, then waited beneath the Sky Canopy for Ichigo.

Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Ulquiorra but spared him, then hurried to return to the Human World after learning that Aizen had taken the top three Espada to Karakura Town. Retsu Unohana met the group in Hueco Mundo and revealed that bringing Ichigo to the battlefield was one of her missions.

• Ichigo Kurosaki overwhelmed Ulquiorra in his second Resurrección, and Ulquiorra realized he wanted Aizen’s wish fulfilled before losing the strength to fight.
• Ichigo Kurosaki spared Ulquiorra and told him they could fight again after he recovered, then decided to return to the Human World because Aizen was attacking Karakura Town.
• Enkidu carried Ichigo Kurosaki and the others down from the Sky Canopy on her chains, where they met Retsu Unohana.
• Retsu Unohana explained that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had sent her and Captain Zaraki to support the group and draw Aizen into attacking the Human World.
• Ichigo Kurosaki asked to return to Karakura Town immediately, and Retsu Unohana said that bringing him to the battlefield was one of her missions.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Retsu Unohana traveled through a Garganta toward the battle, where Unohana explained that Karakura Town had been moved to safety and the fight would take place in a fake town. Meanwhile, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Holi Bell escalated their battle, ending with Hitsugaya trapping her among ice pillars with Thousand Year Ice Prison.

• Ichigo Kurosaki told Inoue, Ishida, and Chad to go to the Seireitei while he and Retsu Unohana headed for the Human World.
• Retsu Unohana let Ichigo Kurosaki pave the Garganta path and explained that the real Karakura Town had been transferred to Soul Society.
• Holi Bell released Queen Shark and gained the advantage over Toshiro Hitsugaya, who answered with Bankai and froze her attacks.
• Holi Bell chose to fight at full strength rather than wait for the ice flowers above Toshiro Hitsugaya to shatter.
• Holi Bell launched Waterfall Break, but Toshiro Hitsugaya used Thousand Year Ice Prison to surround her with ice pillars that froze and shattered her water tornadoes.

Toshiro Hitsugaya sealed Tia Holi Bell in ice while Ailin rescued Momo Hinamori and M Matsumoto Rangiku, defeated Aaroniero, and unleashed Sōtenyasha. The chapter ended with Coyote Starrk asking Shunsui Kyōraku whether he was the strongest captain besides Yamamoto.

• Toshiro Hitsugaya trapped Tia Holi Bell inside a towering pillar of ice.
• Momo Hinamori realized that Ailin had impersonated Aizen Sosuke for decades, ending her lingering attachment to the false Captain Aizen.
• Lila, Rose, and Sun-Sun released Aaroniero, whose attack badly injured M Matsumoto Rangiku and Momo Hinamori.
• Ailin arrived, healed M Matsumoto Rangiku and Momo Hinamori, and repelled Aaroniero's attacks with his Zanpakuto.
• Ailin used Bankai—Sōtenyasha to destroy Aaroniero with lightning, then struck down Lila, Rose, and Sun-Sun when they charged him.
• Coyote Starrk sensed Holi Bell's defeat and asked Shunsui Kyōraku whether he was the strongest captain apart from Yamamoto.

Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake confronted Coyote Starrk, whose Resurrección unleashed a barrage of Ceros, before Ukitake took over the fight. Shunsui then went to face Baraggan Louisenbarn after Soifon withdrew, while Izuuru Kira left to help defend the remaining barrier pillar under attack.

• Coyote Starrk released his Resurrección and overwhelmed Shunsui Kyōraku with rapid-fire Ceros and Infinite Cero.
• Jūshirō Ukitake intercepted Starrk’s Ceros with Sōgyo no Kotowari and returned them as a powerful blast, then took over the fight after explaining that Captain Ailin had restored his condition.
• Shunsui Kyōraku went to assist Soifon, who warned him that Baraggan Louisenbarn’s black aura decayed whatever it touched, and Soifon withdrew to rest.
• Izuuru Kira treated several injured Visored with Hachigen Ushōda and then hurried to protect the barrier pillars, where one was still under attack.

Izuuru Kira defeated Abirama Redder by using Chusuke to make the air around him unbearably heavy, while Shunsui Kyōraku continued fighting Baraggan with the rules of his Zanpakuto games. The chapter left Shunsui challenging Baraggan to prove whose ability was stronger.

• Izuuru Kira arrived to help Tetsuzaemon Iba defend the barrier pillar, and the two split up to face their Arrancar opponents.
• Abirama Redder released Aerial War Eagle and attacked Kira with Hungry Feather Cannon, but Kira evaded and released Chusuke.
• Kira used Chusuke to increase the weight of the air around Abirama Redder, then crushed him beneath the immense pressure.
• Shunsui Kyōraku fought Baraggan with his twin blades, using Zan-oni to gain greater striking power from his height advantage.
• Shunsui explained Zan-oni's rules, but Baraggan refused to hear about any other games and unleashed his deathly aura in every direction.
• Shunsui challenged Baraggan to compare their abilities, and Baraggan accepted as Shunsui rose into the sky and called out Zan-oni.

Shunsui Kyōraku defeated Baraggan as the battle in Karakura Town turned in the Soul Reapers’ favor, while Rukia and Renji Abarai escaped their Reikaku counterparts in the Seireitei with Byakuya Kuchiki. Unable to open a Senkaimon to the Human World, Byakuya planned to infiltrate the Twelfth Division alone to find a way to warn the others.

• Shunsui Kyōraku struck Baraggan down, surveyed the battles across Karakura Town, and noticed a strange Arrancar appearing through a Garganta.
• Rukia defeated her Reikaku counterpart’s Moon White by lowering her body temperature to minus one degree, then found Renji Abarai facing his own Reikaku.
• Reikaku Renji Abarai released Bankai, but Byakuya Kuchiki covered their escape with cherry-colored petals and led Rukia and Renji to a hidden base.
• Byakuya Kuchiki discovered that the Senkaimon could not connect to the Dangai, which he believed the Twelfth Division had sealed.
• Byakuya Kuchiki decided to go alone to the Twelfth Division while Rukia and Renji watched for returning Captains and prepared to gather them.

Byakuya Kuchiki learned from Mayuri Kurotsuchi that the Gokuto had created a two-week time gap in the Dangai, delaying the Captains’ return to the Seireitei. Rukia sought help from Urahara Kisuke in the Human World, where he began researching a way to restore the Dangai’s time.

• Byakuya Kuchiki infiltrated Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s office, confirmed Mayuri was real, and learned that the Captains would not return from the Human World for two weeks.
• Byakuya Kuchiki saw Reikaku Ailin hovering over the Seireitei and was overwhelmed by his spiritual pressure before returning to Rukia and Renji Abarai.
• Rukia decided to seek help in the Human World and traveled through the Senkaimon to Urahara Shoten.
• Rukia explained the Dangai’s time gap to Urahara Kisuke, who agreed to investigate the Gokuto and asked her to remain in the Human World.
• Urahara Kisuke used his Bankai to create research equipment and began studying the Dangai and the Gokuto.

Rukia searched Karakura Town for clues about the battle, then encountered Ichigo Kurosaki facing a Hollow. In the battle against Aizen, Kaname Tōsen revealed his Resurrección, defeated Sajin Komamura, and was badly wounded by Toshiro Hitsugaya before his injuries began to heal.

• Rukia found no clear signs of the battle in Karakura Town and sensed a Hollow alongside Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Aizen dismissed the defeated Arrancar as toys, while Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen returned to his side.
• Kaname Tōsen revealed his Resurrección and defeated Sajin Komamura with Nine-Wheel Mutual Slaughter.
• Soifon rescued the injured Komamura as Toshiro Hitsugaya stepped in to fight Tōsen.
• Hitsugaya froze and pierced Tōsen with Ryūsenka, but Tōsen's spiritual pressure then began healing his wounds.

Toshiro Hitsugaya battled Kaname Tōsen, who combined Resurrección with Bankai and trapped him inside Enma Korogi. As Yamamoto confronted Aizen Sosuke, Aizen revealed Wonderweiss had absorbed the flames of Flowing Blade-like Fire.

• Toshiro Hitsugaya used Ice Phantom to trick Kaname Tōsen, then froze and grievously wounded him with Ice Dragon Tail Spin: Absolute Void.
• Kaname Tōsen healed himself, combined his Hollow form with Suzumushi's Bankai, and engulfed Toshiro Hitsugaya in Enma Korogi.
• Gin Ichimaru ambushed the captains, but Yamamoto attacked him with Flowing Blade-like Fire and forced him to retreat.
• Yamamoto entrusted Ailin with rescuing the Gotei 13 members, then unleashed Inferno Hell against Aizen Sosuke.
• Aizen called Wonderweiss, who absorbed Yamamoto's flames and released powerful spiritual pressure.