Chapter Summaries

Ailin brought Ise Nanao to the Kuchiki Clan after the nobles failed to find the Eight Mirror Sword, while rumors spread that he had taken it. Shunsui Kyōraku came to visit, and Ailin welcomed him to meet Nanao, leaving their purpose for the visit to be discussed.

• Tokinada Tsunayashiro backed away from Ailin, while Byakuya Kuchiki restrained himself from seeking revenge for his grandfather without evidence.
• Ailin took Ise Nanao home, and the nobles left the Ise residence empty-handed before spreading rumors that Ailin had the Eight Mirror Sword.
• Haruko Kuchiki cared for Nanao, whose arrival had given her a chance to show her maternal affection.
• Ailin learned that Shunsui Kyōraku had arrived and asked Haruko to bring Nanao to meet him.
• Ailin greeted Shunsui at the Kuchiki Clan gates and walked with him toward the living room, joking about his favors owed to Yoruichi.

Ailin and Shunsui Kyōraku reunited at the Kuchiki Clan, where Ailin offered Ise Nanao the choice to return with her uncle or be adopted by Ailin and Haruko. Nanao chose to remain an Ise and pursue her parents’ killer, while Ailin offered to train her after she became a Shinigami.

• Ailin told Shunsui how he had admired him while serving in the Second Division and used to visit an Izakaya hoping to meet him.
• Haruko jokingly pretended to suspect Ailin of replacing her, and Ailin played along until she smiled and forgave him.
• Ailin offered Nanao the choice of returning with Shunsui or becoming his and Haruko’s adopted daughter.
• Nanao chose to return with Shunsui, explaining that she wanted to remain an Ise and uncover who had killed her parents.
• Ailin promised to help Nanao seek revenge and offered to train her for three months after she graduated from the True Zero Spirit Arts Academy.

After comforting Haruko Kuchiki, Ailin overheard Shinigami praising Aizen Sosuke’s training lectures and realized Aizen had begun exposing his Zanpakuto to Seireitei residents. Ailin visited the Eleventh Division, where he found Zaraki away and many members attending Aizen’s lectures, and reflected on how the upper class had weakened Shinigami training.

• Ailin stayed with Haruko Kuchiki until she recovered from Ise Nanao’s departure, then went out to clear his mind.
• At an izakaya, Ailin overheard Kyōsa and Ryōsuke discuss Aizen Sosuke’s guidance, his Zanpakuto demonstrations, and plans to attend his lectures at the True Zero Spirit Arts Academy.
• Ailin recognized that Aizen was using his Zanpakuto’s release to hypnotize Shinigami throughout Seireitei while concealing Kyoka Suigetsu’s true ability.
• Ailin visited the Eleventh Division and learned that Zaraki had gone to the Rukon District to seek strong opponents.
• Ailin discovered that many Eleventh Division members had gone to Aizen’s lectures and considered how restricted access to Kido, Sword Arts, Shunpo, and Hakuda had weakened later generations of Shinigami.

Ailin gave the eleven Eleventh Division members left behind practical combat guidance, then reflected on how effort and understanding were essential to mastering a Zanpakuto. He suspected Aizen Sosuke had completed the Hogyoku and was using hypnosis to gather Shinigami souls to make it more complete.

• Ailin gathered the eleven Eleventh Division members who had stayed behind and invited them to attack so he could assess their skills.
• Ailin dodged their attacks while teaching them to fight creatively, use Shunpo more flexibly, and rely on speed.
• Ailin ended the lesson by blasting the group back with his reiatsu and told them to practice before seeking further instruction.
• The members marveled at Ailin's guidance and recalled how he had helped strengthen Byakuya Kuchiki, Gin Ichimaru, and Zaraki.
• Ailin reasoned that Aizen Sosuke had likely completed the Hogyoku and was hypnotizing Shinigami to obtain more souls and improve it.

Ailin visited Zaraki in the Rukon District, warned him to watch for danger, and invited Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa to join the Eleventh Division. Meanwhile, Tokinada Tsunayashiro experimented with creating a controllable Spirit King and placed spiritual particles into an unborn child.

• Ailin found Zaraki fighting Ikkaku Madarame and watched as Zaraki defeated him, leaving him alive after a severe wound.
• Ailin warned Zaraki that enemies might target the Eleventh Division and told him to call for help if he sensed anything unusual.
• Ailin invited Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa to join the Eleventh Division, and they decided to become Shinigami.
• Tokinada Tsunayashiro examined an incomplete body fused from Fullbringer, Shinigami, and Hollow corpses and decided it needed Quincy power to be completed.
• Tokinada Tsunayashiro entered the Human World and secretly placed spiritual particles into a fetus carried by a pregnant woman.

At a Captain's Meeting, Ailin argued that the human boy born with Shinigami power should be offered training and recognized as an unaffiliated Shinigami rather than branded a criminal. The captains approved Ailin's proposal, and Yamamoto assigned him to train the boy while restricting what he could teach.

• Jūshirō Ukitake reported that a human boy in the Human World possessed innate Shinigami power, though he kept the boy's other unusual abilities secret.
• Ailin challenged Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's claim that the boy should be treated as a criminal and proposed offering him a choice between Shinigami service and having his power sealed.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and Shihoin Yoruichi supported Ailin, and Shunsui explained that the boy's descendants might also inherit Shinigami power.
• The captains voted, and Ailin's proposal won by four votes; Yamamoto assigned Ailin to teach the boy, while Ukitake was told to prepare a list of Shinigami duties and obligations.
• After the other captains left, Yamamoto told Ailin to focus the boy's training on Zanpakuto abilities, give him only basic Shunpo and Hakuda instruction, and omit Kido.

Ailin traveled through the Dangai toward the Human World to meet a human with Shinigami powers, carrying a Substitute Shinigami Badge from Jūshirō Ukitake. When the Gokuto pursued him, Ailin released his full spiritual pressure, overwhelming the Twelfth Division’s monitoring equipment.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto agreed not to brand the human boy as a criminal but intended to restrict him to learning Blade Zen if he became a Shinigami.
• Jūshirō Ukitake gave Ailin a booklet about Shinigami duties and a Substitute Shinigami Badge for the boy, while secretly considering the boy’s corpse useful for preserving the Three Realms.
• Ailin received the boy’s location and entered a Senkaimon opened by Jūshirō Ukitake, following a Hell Butterfly through the Dangai.
• The Gokuto rushed toward Ailin in the Dangai, and Ailin decided to test his strength against it by releasing his full spiritual pressure.
• Ailin’s spiritual pressure shook the Dangai and drove the Twelfth Division’s monitoring instrument beyond its detection range, shocking Section Chief Bōshū.

Ailin reached the Human World, found Ginjo Kugo, and offered him the choice of becoming a Substitute Shinigami. Ginjo accepted and began training with an Asauchi, while Ailin used the badge and his actions to signal that he knew Jūshirō Ukitake was monitoring them.

• Ailin destroyed the Gokuto with his Zanpakuto and arrived safely in the Human World.
• Hideaki Kashiwagi led Ailin to Ginjo Kugo, whom Ailin secretly followed home.
• Ailin explained Ginjo Kugo's Shinigami powers and offered to seal them or train him as a Substitute Shinigami.
• Ginjo Kugo accepted, used the Substitute Shinigami Badge to leave his body, and followed Ailin to a park.
• Ailin gave Ginjo Kugo an Asauchi and began training him, aware that Jūshirō Ukitake was monitoring them through the badge.

Ailin demonstrated Zanpakuto release to Ginjo Kugo and trained him in Blade Zen until Ginjo could nurture his own Zanpakuto. Back in the Seireitei, Ailin fused Golden Capital with his true Zanpakuto, breaking through the limits of Unlimited Blade Works and gaining power he thought could rival Ichibei Hyosube.

• Ailin explained Zanpakuto release and showed Ginjo Kugo his Shikai, Tetsusaiga, and its Wind Scar attack.
• Ginjo Kugo became eager to learn the powerful slash, practiced Blade Zen, and received instruction in a Getsuga Tensho-like technique.
• After a month, Ginjo Kugo learned to nurture his own Zanpakuto, and Ailin returned to the Seireitei.
• Ailin created Golden Capital, also known as Gate of Babylon, in his Inner World, and his true Zanpakuto began trembling in response.
• Ailin fused Golden Capital into his true Zanpakuto, breaking Unlimited Blade Works' limit and greatly increasing his spiritual pressure.
• Ailin discovered that Unlimited Blade Works could collect and store weapons with the concept of a sword, and wondered whether he could rival Ichibei Hyosube.

After merging Gate of Babylon with Unlimited Blade Works, Ailin’s power over swords and weapon launches grew immensely, and he broke through the Shinigami limit. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto told him that the Royal Guard had invited him to join, leaving Ailin to consider their offer.

• Ailin’s Inner World began gathering swords on its own, while Gate of Babylon enhanced his ability to launch weapons from portals in every direction.
• Ailin mastered his new spiritual pressure and resolved to train his swordsmanship, Shunpo, Hakuda, and Kido beyond their limits.
• Ailin received a summons from Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and went to the First Division, where Chōjirō Sasakibe was startled by Ailin’s speed and strength.
• Yamamoto privately told Ailin that the Royal Guard had invited him to join and would send members to bring him to the Soul King Palace if he accepted.

Ailin declined the Royal Guard’s invitation, then faced Zaraki in their once-every-decade duel and unveiled his evolved Zanpakuto ability, Gate of Babylon. The battle continued as Ailin’s flying swords slowed Zaraki’s charge toward him.

• Ailin told Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to refuse the Royal Guard’s invitation on his behalf.
• Yamaguchi led Eleventh Division newcomers to Zaraki District to watch Zaraki challenge Ailin.
• Zaraki removed his eyepatch and attacked Ailin, but Ailin evaded his blows.
• Ailin opened golden spatial gates and used Gate of Babylon to fire Zanpakuto at Zaraki.
• Zaraki deflected the flying swords, took a cut across the waist, and charged through Ailin’s growing barrage.

Ailin defeated Zaraki with a barrage of projected Zanpakuto and a powerful released spear, then urged him to improve his Sword Arts. As Zaraki resolved to grow stronger, Retsu Unohana quietly regretted that Ailin had taken part in his latest battle instead of her.

• Ailin overwhelmed Zaraki with more than a hundred projected Zanpakuto, then struck him with a released spear that drove him into the ground.
• Ailin healed Zaraki and told him to train his Sword Arts for their next battle ten years later.
• After waking in the Fourth Division hospital, Zaraki decided to become stronger and went looking for Captain Unohana.
• Retsu Unohana stopped Zaraki from wandering while he recovered, and he returned to his bed disappointed that she had not shown her former killing intent.
• Back in her office, Retsu Unohana recalled Zaraki's defeat and regretted that she had not been the one to fight him.

Ailin explored Gate of Babylon’s expanded power in his Inner World, growing stronger as he collected and created Zanpakuto. After healing, Zaraki sought out Unohana and asked her to teach him swordsmanship so he could become stronger.

• Retsu Unohana wondered whether she should challenge Zaraki before his spiritual pressure fully recovered and awaken her former self.
• Ailin inspected the golden Zanpakuto in Unlimited Blade Works, searched them for powerful weapons, and created new swords to increase his strength.
• Zaraki tore off his healed bandages and had a Fourth Division Shinigami lead him to Unohana’s office.
• Unohana dismissed Yūne Kotetsu and revealed her cold, emotionless demeanor to Zaraki.
• Zaraki suppressed his urge to fight Unohana and seriously asked her to teach him swordsmanship.

After losing to Ailin, Zaraki asked Unohana Yachiru to teach him Sword Arts so he could grow stronger and challenge her again. At Kiryuo Hikifune’s Royal Guard promotion ceremony, Tenshiro Kirinji arrived and revealed that Ailin had refused an invitation to join the Royal Guard.

• Zaraki asked Unohana Yachiru to teach him Sword Arts, and she agreed to teach him every school she knew.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto announced that Kiryuo Hikifune had passed the Royal Guard’s selection, and the captains gathered to await her escort.
• Tenshiro Kirinji arrived from the Soul King Palace aboard the Heavenly Pillar Palanquin and greeted Retsu Unohana as an old friend.
• Tenshiro Kirinji tried to seize Ailin’s arm, but Ailin remained unmoved, prompting Tenshiro Kirinji to recognize his strength.
• Tenshiro Kirinji revealed that Ailin had received and rejected an invitation to join the Royal Guard, surprising the assembled captains.

Ailin rejected the Royal Guard’s invitation because serving at the Soul King Palace would cost him his freedom, while Kiryuo Hikifune accepted the promotion. After she departed, the captains considered candidates for the vacant Twelfth Division captaincy, and Shihoin Yoruichi nominated Urahara Kisuke.

• Ailin called the Royal Guard’s duty imprisonment, and Tenshiro Kirinji realized that freedom mattered more to some Soul Reapers than the honor of serving the Spirit King.
• Kiryuo Hikifune chose to join the Royal Guard for the chance to continue her research, and Tenshiro Kirinji escorted her to the Soul King Palace.
• The captains returned to the First Division, where Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked them to recommend a successor for the vacant Twelfth Division captaincy.
• Shihoin Yoruichi nominated Urahara Kisuke, explaining that he led the Supervision Squad, had completed Bankai training, and had invented useful devices.
• Ailin supported Urahara Kisuke’s candidacy and credited him with helping his wife Haruko recover from difficult medical problems.

Ailin, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Shihoin Yoruichi recommended Urahara Kisuke for captain of the Twelfth Division, and he began his captain assessment by choosing to challenge Byakuya. As the group entered Muken Jigoku for the battle, an unknown prisoner approached, raising Byakuya’s concern about how anyone could move freely there.

• Ailin and Byakuya Kuchiki agreed to recommend Urahara Kisuke, and the First Division scheduled his captain assessment for three days later.
• At the First Division training grounds, Urahara Kisuke met Ailin and learned that his recommenders and Captain-Commander Yamamoto would witness the assessment.
• Captain-Commander Yamamoto explained that Urahara could demonstrate his Bankai or challenge a captain, and Urahara chose to fight a captain to keep his Bankai concealed.
• Urahara Kisuke chose to challenge Byakuya Kuchiki, and Yamamoto led the group to Muken Jigoku for the assessment.
• As the group entered Muken Jigoku, a refined voice and approaching footsteps came from its depths, prompting Byakuya to question who was moving there.

Ailin accepted the 8th Kenpachi Souya Jōshirō’s challenge in Muken and defeated him, earning recognition as the Ninth Kenpachi. The next day, Urahara Kisuke attended the Gotei 13 Captain’s Meeting as captain of the Twelfth Division.

• Souya Jōshirō appeared before Yamamoto, Yoruichi, Byakuya, Ailin, and Urahara, explaining that Ailin’s arrival in Muken had compelled him to challenge the current Kenpachi.
• Ailin accepted Souya Jōshirō’s challenge and went deeper into Muken with him, while Urahara asked to begin his own captain qualification test against Byakuya.
• Souya Jōshirō used his Zanpakuto’s ability to control Ailin’s thrown weapons and attack with reishi, but Ailin crushed the invading reishi with his reiatsu and wounded him.
• Ailin evaded Souya Jōshirō’s powerful Kido and attacks, then overwhelmed him at close range and defeated him.
• Souya Jōshirō acknowledged Ailin as the Ninth Kenpachi and returned to his cell to recover, while Urahara became captain of the Twelfth Division and attended the next day’s Captain’s Meeting.

The captains learned that a hidden Hollow had been devouring souls in Soul Society for decades, and Yamamoto assigned a group to investigate. Aizen watched them depart with a smile, believing his plan had drawn them in.

• Urahara Kisuke reported that residents and Reapers had vanished after their souls were devoured, and that casualties had risen for thirty years despite no Menos above Gillian class appearing.
• Yamamoto assigned Kyoraku Jushiro, Hirako Shinji, Aikawa Love, and Kensei Muguruma to investigate, with Tetsusai Gantetsusai and Hachigen Ushōda as assistants.
• Shunsui Kyōraku added Liza Yadomaru to provide intelligence support for the investigation.
• Hirako Shinji took Kyunnanbyaku and Hiyori Sarugaki along after they insisted on joining the expedition to the Rukon District.
• Aizen Sosuke watched the investigators leave and thought that the fish had taken the bait.

Urahara Kisuke realized someone had manipulated Shinigami casualty figures and was using the investigation as a chance to create Hollows. In the Rukon District, Hirako Shinji fought his Hollowfied companions, exposed Aizen Sosuke and Gin Ichimaru, and was struck down by Kaname Tōsen.

• Urahara Kisuke examined a century of Shinigami casualty records, suspected Aizen Sosuke had created a power that turned Shinigami into Hollows, and learned the investigating captains had gone to the Rukon District.
• Aikawa Love attacked Kensei Muguruma after becoming Hollowfied, and Kensei struck him down before white matter began emerging from Kensei's wound.
• Hiyori Sarugaki and the other members of the group became Hollows and attacked Hirako Shinji, who used his Zanpakuto to subdue them.
• Hirako Shinji tore through Aizen Sosuke's concealment and confronted Aizen and Gin Ichimaru, but the Hollowfied group recovered with Super Regeneration.
• Kaname Tōsen used Bankai to disable Hirako Shinji's senses and stab him, while Aizen revealed Tōsen had been his subordinate from the start.
• Hirako Shinji told Aizen he had always distrusted him and had made him vice-captain to keep him under watch.

Aizen revealed that Kyoka Suigetsu had let him deceive Hirako Shinji for decades and control the senses of every Shinigami who had witnessed its release. As Aizen moved to kill Hirako, Urahara Kisuke and Tetsusai Gantetsusai arrived and discovered the Hollowfication experiments.

• Aizen explained that he had used Complete Hypnosis to impersonate his companion and admitted that Hirako's allies had become test subjects because Aizen had chosen Hirako.
• Aizen provoked Hirako into accelerating his Hollowfication, and Hirako fought Kaname Tōsen with instinctive strength before Aizen defeated him with a single strike.
• Aizen revealed that Kyoka Suigetsu had placed every Shinigami in the Seireitei who had seen its release under his control.
• As Aizen prepared to kill Hirako, Urahara Kisuke and Tetsusai Gantetsusai emerged from the forest and confronted him about the experiments.
• Gin Ichimaru suggested making Urahara and Tetsusai experimental subjects or killing them, while Kaname offered to attack; Aizen declined Kaname's offer.