Chapter Summaries

Ailin let Ginjo Kugo escape so he could draw out Ouhana Auhra, then forged a Zanpakuto from the sword of his altered past. Later, Byakuya brought Hisana to the Kuchiki estate, where Ailin welcomed her and teased Byakuya.

• Ailin told Jūshirō Ukitake that Ginjo Kugo had escaped and asked the Twelfth Division to investigate, while secretly tracking Ginjo to lure out Ouhana Auhra.
• Ailin used Unlimited Blade Works to recreate the ordinary sword from his altered past and make it a Zanpakuto with Ittou Shura and Ittou Rasetsu as its releases.
• Ailin continued his peaceful life, occasionally fighting Zaraki as Zaraki's spiritual pressure grew stronger.
• Ailin sensed Byakuya at the Kuchiki estate during the day and was surprised when Byakuya arrived with Hisana, whom he introduced as a friend from the Rukon District.
• Ailin greeted Hisana and teased Byakuya for leaving her alone while he went to fetch a chair.

Ailin explained that Hisana’s lack of spiritual pressure meant living in the Seireitei beside Byakuya would gradually weaken her soul and kill her, while Byakuya learned Ailin could not save her as he had saved Haruko. The chapter left Hisana frightened by the danger but still determined to overcome every hardship to stay with Byakuya.

• Ailin questioned whether Byakuya and Hisana understood the challenges of marriage, and Hisana described their difference in status and the opposition Byakuya might face.
• Ailin revealed that Byakuya’s position as head of one of the Four Great Noble Houses and captain of the Sixth Division made clan opposition insignificant, shocking Hisana.
• Byakuya declared that he wanted to be with Hisana, but Ailin pointed out that she had no spiritual pressure and would be harmed by the Seireitei’s spiritual pressure.
• Ailin said he had used a uniquely powerful Zanpakuto to stabilize Haruko and had no second weapon capable of saving someone in the same way, leaving Byakuya uncertain about Hisana’s future.
• Hisana pledged to overcome the hardships of being with Byakuya, and Ailin warned her that her soul would weaken until she died within a few years.

Hisana chose to live with Byakuya despite having only a few years left, and Ailin reluctantly accepted their relationship while privately hoping to arrange a future between Byakuya and Rukia. At an izakaya, Ailin reunited with Shunsui Kyōraku and learned that Ise Nanao had neglected her training while searching for information about her father’s killer.

• Hisana told Ailin she would live with Byakuya even if she had only a few years left, and Byakuya held her as she reaffirmed her choice.
• Ailin accepted Hisana and Byakuya’s decision, then left the Kuchiki estate to drink with Captain Kyōraku.
• Ailin reflected on Hisana’s past abandonment of Rukia and resolved to oppose Byakuya adopting Rukia as his younger sister if Hisana died.
• Ailin met Shunsui Kyōraku and Ise Nanao at the izakaya, teased Kyōraku about bringing Nanao there, and asked whether he treated her well.
• Ailin criticized Nanao’s weak spiritual pressure, and Kyōraku explained that she devoted her time to intelligence work and searching for the person who killed her father.

Ailin urged Ise Nanao to stop investigating her father's assassination and focus on becoming stronger, offering to train her and hinting that he knew Shunsui Kyōraku had the Ise Family’s Eight Mirror Sword. After discussing Byakuya and Hisana with Haruko, Ailin explored the Rukon District and found the Shiba Clan’s estate.

• Ailin confronted Ise Nanao about her investigation, and she agreed to delegate it and devote herself to training.
• Ailin offered to teach Nanao at the Kuchiki Clan estate, then asked Shunsui Kyōraku whether she should also learn swordsmanship because the Eight Mirror Sword might return to her one day.
• Shunsui Kyōraku realized Ailin suspected he possessed the Eight Mirror Sword and indirectly confirmed it; Ailin told him that possessing a threat mattered even if it went unused.
• Ailin told Haruko he would not oppose Byakuya and Hisana’s marriage, and he decided to make Kuchiki Rukia his disciple when she entered True Zero Spirit Arts Academy.
• Ailin began searching the Rukon District for promising children and discovered the Shiba Clan’s residence, approaching its enormous cannon structures.

Ailin encountered Kaien Shiba and his siblings practicing Kido and urged Kaien to study at the True Zero Spirit Arts Academy and become a Shinigami. After Ailin left, Kukaku tried to dissuade Kaien, fearing she would lose her only remaining family.

• Ailin met Kaien Shiba, Kukaku Shiba, and Ganju Shiba at the Shiba Clan home, where the siblings were practicing Kido.
• Kaien identified himself and his siblings, and Ailin introduced himself as captain of the Eleventh Division and an acquaintance of their uncle, Isshin Shiba.
• Kukaku objected to Ailin’s criticism of the clan’s training, but Ailin explained that the Seireitei’s nobles—not Shinigami as a whole—had persecuted the Shiba Clan.
• Ailin warned Kaien that the clan needed strength to protect itself and urged him to attend the True Zero Spirit Arts Academy and become a Shinigami.
• After Ailin departed, Kukaku pleaded with Kaien not to listen to him, afraid her brother would enter danger and leave her alone.

Kaien Shiba persuaded Kukaku Shiba to let him enter the Seireitei and become a Soul Reaper so he could help restore the Shiba Clan. Ailin began training Ise Nanao in the underground base, while Kaien’s enrollment at the Academy drew attention for his exceptional Reiatsu.

• Kaien Shiba convinced Kukaku Shiba that joining the Seireitei was the best chance to rebuild the Shiba Clan, and Kukaku agreed to let him go.
• After Kaien left, Kukaku Shiba moved again with Ganju Shiba to keep the clan’s new residence hidden.
• Ailin took Ise Nanao to Urahara’s underground base and began planning her Kido-focused training, with Shunpo and swordsmanship as supplements.
• Ailin explained that Nanao’s family had guarded the lost Eight Mirror Sword and encouraged her to learn combat skills in case the artifact returned.
• Soul Reapers at the Academy discussed Kaien Shiba’s enrollment and his Fifth Rank Reiatsu.

Upper nobles plotted to seize the Shiba Clan’s inheritance and its Great Noble authority after Kaien Shiba entered the Seireitei, while Ailin trained Ise Nanao in a new sensory technique called Observation. The chapter ended with Ailin challenging Nanao to push him out of a circle for a chance to learn about her erased family.

• Several nobles discussed Kaien Shiba’s arrival and planned to determine whether he belonged to the Shiba main house so they could pursue its inheritance.
• Ailin considered the Five Noble Clans’ authorities and the Ise Family’s connection to the Eight Mirror Sword and the Spirit King.
• Ailin defeated Ise Nanao in their training match, praised her Kido, and taught her how to develop Observation using tracking Kido.
• Ailin told Nanao she could use any means to force him out of a circle within fifteen minutes, promising to reveal something about the Ise Family if she succeeded.

Ailin demonstrated how his Perception let him neutralize Ise Nanao’s Kidō and evade her Hakuda, encouraging her to keep training. While searching for Toshiro Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori, he sensed a familiar spiritual pressure and flew toward it, where Aizen Sosuke was conducting another failed Hollowfication experiment.

• Ailin used Perception to analyze and neutralize Ise Nanao’s Kidō attacks while remaining inside the circle, then evaded her Hakuda until she admitted defeat.
• Ailin reassured Ise Nanao that Perception was one of his trump cards, and she hoped to learn it so she could avenge her father herself.
• Ailin searched Rukon District for Toshiro Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori, then decided he might have to wait for M Matsumoto Rangiku to find Toshiro.
• Ailin sensed a familiar spiritual pressure and changed course toward it.
• In a forest, Aizen Sosuke, with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen, watched a Shinigami lose his sanity after Hollowfication, and Aizen considered his research stalled despite his success creating Arrancar.

Ailin caught Aizen, Kaname Tōsen, and Gin Ichimaru conducting Hollowfication experiments and intervened to protect the Hollowfied Shinigami. He attacked the three with his weapons, and after Gin countered his Kido, Ailin warned his former student that drawing his blade meant accepting the risk of death.

• Ailin appeared as Kaname Tōsen tried to kill the Hollowfied Shinigami, and he accused Aizen of conducting Hollowfication experiments.
• Ailin struck Kaname Tōsen with Crimson Cannon and bound the Hollowfied Shinigami with Locking Chain Binding.
• Ailin sent thirty-two Zanpakuto after Aizen, Kaname Tōsen, and Gin Ichimaru; Kaname Tōsen was pierced, while Gin evaded and Aizen defended himself.
• Gin attacked Ailin with Shinsō, but Ailin caught the blade between two fingers and sent Tethering Lightning along it.
• Gin used Counter-Spirit Killing to neutralize Ailin's Kido, and Ailin acknowledged his growth before warning him about the danger of pointing a blade at an enemy.

Ailin defeated Gin Ichimaru and confronted Aizen, while Aizen’s letter prompted Yamamoto and several captains to investigate the accusations against Ailin. The captains arrived during the battle, and Ailin began reading the letter as Yamamoto demanded an explanation.

• Ailin struck Gin Ichimaru with Finger Gun, then turned to face Aizen.
• Aizen’s letter accused Ailin of conducting Hollowfication experiments and warned that he, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen might be killed.
• Yamamoto summoned the captains, and they agreed to investigate the location named in the letter.
• Yamamoto, Soifon, Byakuya Kuchiki, Zaraki, and Jūshirō Ukitake reached the Rukon District and heard Aizen accuse Ailin during their battle.
• Ailin defeated Gin Ichimaru and fought Aizen before the arriving captains separated them.
• Yamamoto gave Ailin the letter and threatened to detain him, while Ailin began reading its accusations.

Ailin read Aizen Sosuke’s letter accusing him of secretly restarting Hollowfication experiments and defended himself before Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Yamamoto was inclined to believe Ailin’s account, but the truth remained unresolved.

• Ailin read Aizen Sosuke’s investigation, which tied his past, Haruko’s illness, and Hisana Kuchiki’s condition to alleged Hollowfication experiments.
• Aizen’s letter claimed he, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen had investigated Ailin and warned that Ailin might turn them into experimental subjects.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asked Ailin to defend himself and released his spiritual pressure after mistaking Ailin’s criticism of the letter for an admission.
• Ailin denied the accusations, said he had visited the Rukon District to find a child to adopt with Haruko, and accused Aizen of framing him.
• Ailin recounted finding Aizen conducting a Hollowfication experiment, stopping Kaname Tōsen from killing the subject, and defeating Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru when they attacked him.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto found Ailin’s explanation more convincing than the letter, though the suspicious coincidences left the matter unsettled.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto moved to detain Ailin, Aizen Sosuke, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen after Aizen accused Ailin of conducting the Hollowfication Experiment. Byakuya Kuchiki revealed that Ailin had saved Haruko with a Zanpakuto stronger than Flowing Blade-like Fire, and Yamamoto paused the arrest to investigate her condition; Aizen continued to present himself as having acted on faulty intelligence.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered all four captains detained, but Ailin refused and Yamamoto prepared to force him into custody.
• Ailin proposed proving his innocence by showing that Haruko’s recovery came from a source other than the Hollowfication Experiment, and Byakuya Kuchiki revealed that Ailin had created a Zanpakuto surpassing Flowing Blade-like Fire.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto lowered his spiritual pressure and agreed to investigate Haruko’s condition, while Aizen Sosuke accepted blame if Ailin was proven innocent.
• Ailin treated Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen with Bakudo #73—Inverted Mountain Crystal and Healing Art.
• After Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen regained consciousness, Ailin challenged Aizen Sosuke for implying that Yamamoto had cleared them of blame, and Aizen claimed he had acted on incorrect intelligence.

Ailin exposed Aizen’s staged injuries and helped clear Haruko Kuchiki of suspicions of Hollowfication by revealing that Avalon had been preserving her condition. With Ailin’s innocence established, he challenged Aizen and Kaname Tōsen to explain their involvement in the Hollowfied Soul Reaper’s death.

• Ailin secretly stabbed Aizen twice while disguising his attack from the other captains, then returned with the group to the Seireitei.
• Retsu Unohana examined Haruko and found no trace of Hollowfication, discovering instead that a force periodically restored her weakened body.
• Ailin revealed that he had created Avalon, a time-type Zanpakuto that anchored Haruko’s condition and could restore her even after death.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto cleared Ailin of the Hollowfication Experiment suspicions, and Aizen apologized before Ailin rejected the apology.
• Ailin questioned Aizen and Kaname Tōsen about the Hollowfied Soul Reaper; Aizen claimed the Soul Reaper had attacked them, while Tōsen said he had acted under Central 46’s orders.

Ailin exposed Aizen Sosuke’s attempt to hide a Hollowfied Soul Reaper, then reassured Haruko Kuchiki that she mattered more to him than his weapons. Later, a clash between two Captain-level reiatsu erupted in the Eleventh Division, and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered Ailin to investigate and apprehend whoever had released Bankai.

• Ailin reminded the captains that Aizen Sosuke had not explained why a Soul Reaper Hollowfied in front of him, forcing Aizen to restore the Hollowfied Soul Reaper to their sight.
• Ailin told Aizen that he had added him to his kill list, then took Haruko Kuchiki home and reassured her that she was more important to him than any weapon.
• The captains’ meetings grew tense as Soifon and Byakuya Kuchiki clashed with Gin Ichimaru, while Yamamoto continued demanding progress on the Hollowfication Experiment investigation.
• A powerful reiatsu erupted from the Eleventh Division, followed by a second burst and a clash between two Captain-level reiatsu.
• Yamamoto ordered Ailin to find out what had happened in the Eleventh Division and apprehend whoever had released Bankai first.

Umehari, a former Eleventh Division Vice-Captain, returned after more than two hundred years to challenge the imprisoned Jushiro Genpachi and demanded the division help free him. When Kiyone Shunjō refused, Umehari attacked the division, and Ikkaku Madarame's strike failed to cut him.

• Ailin sensed Kiyone Shunjō was struggling and headed toward the Eleventh Division after detecting Ikkaku Madarame release Bankai.
• Umehari broke into the Eleventh Division, wounded a Soul Reaper, and demanded to fight Jushiro Genpachi.
• Kiyone Shunjō explained that Jushiro Genpachi had been imprisoned and that Ailin was the current captain.
• Umehari demanded that the Eleventh Division help rescue Jushiro Genpachi, but Kiyone refused to endanger his members.
• Umehari attacked the Eleventh Division members, and Ikkaku Madarame's Kidōmaru strike sparked harmlessly against Umehari's body.

Umehari devastated the Eleventh Division and broke into Central 46’s underground prison to challenge Souya Jōshirō for the title of Kenpachi. Ailin healed the surviving Shinigami, vowed to avenge the dead, and arrived at Central 46 as prisoners escaped.

• Umehari defeated Ikkaku Madarame and Kiyone Shunjō, leaving the Eleventh Division with thirty-two dead Shinigami.
• Ailin arrived, used Void Bandage to restore the barracks and heal the wounded, then told Kiyone Shunjō and Fifth Seat Madarame to prepare the fallen members’ funerals.
• After learning Umehari’s identity and past, Ailin set off to pursue him and avenge the Eleventh Division.
• Umehari smashed through Central 46 and entered the underground prison, calling out Souya Jōshirō to accept his challenge for the Kenpachi title.
• Ailin reached Central 46 just as prisoners escaped from the underground prison after its guards were knocked down.

Ailin confronted the Shinigami prisoners escaping the underground prison and slaughtered those who refused to return. He entered the prison to hunt down further escapees, leaving the remaining prisoners in terror and recalling an earlier murderous Eleventh Division captain.

• Ailin blocked the escaped prisoners and warned them to return to the underground prison or face death.
• More than a dozen prisoners charged at Ailin, and his golden lightning killed them.
• Nearly a hundred prisoners attacked or tried to flee past Ailin, but he unleashed waves of golden lightning that killed them and drove the survivors back into the prison.
• Ailin entered the underground prison, set up a barrier, and killed prisoners he encountered trying to escape.
• The remaining prisoners hid in their cells and compared Ailin's bloodlust and Eleventh Division haori to a murderous swordsman from a thousand years earlier.

Umehari challenged Souya Jōshirō in Mugen Jigoku, using his ability to absorb spiritual pressure to overcome Jōshirō’s defenses. As their confrontation escalated, Ailin arrived and revealed himself as the person who had taken the title of Kenpachi from Jōshirō.

• Umehari found Souya Jōshirō in Mugen Jigoku and attacked, but Jōshirō initially dispersed his blades and let his punch pass harmlessly through him.
• Umehari absorbed the spiritual pressure Jōshirō had fused into the air, then struck him hard enough to injure him.
• Umehari explained how he had fused with his Zanpakuto to absorb spiritual pressure, then activated Bankai and transformed his body into metal blades.
• Umehari demanded that Jōshirō fight him for the title of Kenpachi, but Jōshirō said someone else had already defeated him and claimed the title.
• Ailin entered Mugen Jigoku, identified Umehari as the attacker who had injured hundreds of Soul Reapers and killed thirty-two, and revealed that he was the one who had taken Jōshirō’s title.

Ailin, the Ninth Kenpachi, fought Umehari after revealing that he had defeated Souya Jōshirō. He pushed Umehari to his Bankai’s absorption limit, then overwhelmed him with Shunpo and Zanjutsu before striking at him with a punch.

• Ailin identified himself as the current Kenpachi, and Umehari challenged him to reclaim the title.
• Ailin used Wind Scar to destroy Umehari’s storm of blades, while Umehari absorbed the spiritual pressure and grew stronger.
• Ailin deliberately pushed Umehari to the limit of his absorption, leaving him in his strongest golden form.
• Umehari attacked with golden blades, but Ailin evaded them with afterimages and blocked his all-direction blade attack with a broken blade.
• Umehari fled from Ailin, who appeared beside him and punched toward him as Umehari tried to block and absorb his spiritual pressure.

Ailin crushed Umehari in battle, then healed him so he could kill him thirty-two times for the Eleventh Division members Umehari had slain. Meanwhile, Shunsui Kyōraku investigated the attack on the Eleventh Division and found hidden traces in the incident.

• Ailin battered Umehari through Mugen Jigoku while Souya Jōshirō watched and recognized the vast gap between their strength.
• Ailin severely injured Umehari, who praised him as worthy of the Kenpachi title before Ailin healed him and vowed to kill him thirty-two times.
• Shunsui Kyōraku reviewed reports of the Eleventh Division attack and prepared to report it to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Ise Nanao asked Shunsui about the Eleventh Division, and he reflected on how its members had been left vulnerable during the Captains' Meeting.
• Shunsui discovered hidden traces connected to the attack.