Recaps

Ailin trained Toshiro and Rukia, transformed powerful Hollows into Arrancars, and led a lethal Soul Reaper assessment. After the graduates chose their Divisions, Renji joined the Eleventh Division and witnessed Ailin’s fierce battle with Zaraki.

• Ailin brought Toshiro to the Kuchiki estate, trained Rukia in Data Kendo, and forced Byakuya to confront the weaknesses in his combat training.
• Ailin transformed Yammy into an Arrancar and recruited Holi Bell, who defeated Nnoitra and became the Third Espada.
• Ailin led a month-long Human World assessment that killed trainees, eliminated many others, and left fewer than twenty candidates passing.
• Ailin exposed Kitada Yosuke’s use of civilians as bait and refused to rescue him without a distress flare, and Kitada died after regretting his actions.
• Rukia reunited with Renji at the academy, and the graduates joined their chosen Divisions, with Rukia entering the Thirteenth, Renji the Eleventh, Momo the Fifth, and Izuuru the Fourth.
• After a year of training under Ikkaku, Renji watched Ailin and Zaraki begin their ten-yearly battle, whose powerful clashes sent shockwaves through the Eleventh Division.

Ailin helped Zaraki regain his strength, trained Rukia, and intervened when the Shiba Clan was attacked by noble assassins. As he pursued his own plans against Seireitei’s nobles, Ailin’s Reikaku confronted the Visored, while Urahara uncovered a trail leading to Yushima Oshu’s experiments. The arc ended with Aizen revealing that he and Isshin were imitations.

• Ailin defeated Zaraki and explained that his body had to grow strong enough to withstand his spiritual pressure, while Zaraki’s fight began to crack the seal on his power.
• Rukia proved her strength during the Hollow incident, then trained with Kaien and Miyako as Ailin and Soifon investigated the Hollow’s origins.
• Death Warriors attacked the Shiba Clan estate, killing Miyako, but Ailin captured the attackers and healed the surviving family members.
• Ailin released Aizen and showed him what had happened during the past twenty years, then warned him not to threaten the people around him.
• Rukia asked Ailin not to retaliate against the noble families, promising to confront them herself after she grew stronger, unaware that Ailin had assigned Aizen to purge Seireitei’s sinful nobles.
• Inaba Kagerōza sent Reikaku replicas of Aizen and Isshin after Yoruichi, and Isshin’s replica fought Urahara, who found a pill inside it.
• Ailin’s Reikaku attacked the Visored and overwhelmed Hiyori, Kensei, Love, and Jushiro as Hirako and Hachigen tried to resist.
• Urahara arrived and told Aizen he had killed Isshin’s replica, and Aizen confirmed that he and Isshin were imitations created by someone.

Ailin’s Reikaku fought Aizen’s Soul Soldier while the Seireitei confronted the signs of Yhwach’s return and Ailin strengthened himself for the coming war. As Ichigo began training as a Soul Reaper, Yoruichi told Ailin that Urahara had placed the Hogyoku in Shino’s Gigai to draw Aizen out, and Ailin agreed to remain an observer.

• Ailin’s Reikaku emerged from Inaba Kagerōza’s laboratory, entered the Gokuto, and fought Aizen’s Reikaku while shielding Karakura Town with his Bankai.
• After Ailin’s final Zanpakuto attack dispersed Aizen’s Reikaku, Inaba subdued Ailin and returned him to a nutrient tank, while Ailin learned that Aizen had begun cultivating White Hollow.
• Isshin Shiba followed White Hollow to the Human World, where he was wounded and saved by a student-uniformed girl, while Mayuri later reported him dead and Toshiro became acting Captain of the Tenth Division.
• Ailin rescued Sogen Ishida from Mayuri’s Hollow attack and warned him that he had only a few years to live, prompting Sogen to teach Uryu Ishida before sacrificing his life to protect him from Schrift.
• Mayuri accused Ailin of helping Yhwach regain power, but Ailin explained that he had honored his treaty with Sogen, and Yamamoto announced that Yhwach would attack in nine years.
• Ailin battled Zaraki, who awakened Nozarashi, then trained against his Bankai clone in Unlimited Blade Works and used Reinforce to strengthen his body.
• Ikkaku and Yumichika confronted Ichigo over Shino’s borrowed Shinigami powers, but Urahara stopped their fight and promised to protect them while expecting Shino’s power to return naturally.
• Yoruichi told Ailin that Urahara had placed the Hogyoku in Shino’s Gigai to lure Aizen out, and warned him that Yushima Oshu had developed powerful Soul Soldiers, including one that had matched Ailin.

Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions invaded Seireitei to rescue Shino Madarame, while Ailin watched the conflict deepen and quietly offered support to those opposing Central 46. As Shino’s execution drew near, Momo Hinamori attacked Ailin after reading Aizen Sosuke’s letter, and Gin Ichimaru struck her and Toshiro Hitsugaya.

• Ailin resolved to surpass the Spirit King and promised Shihoin Yoruichi not to interfere in her conflict with Aizen Sosuke as long as Shino Madarame remained safe.
• Uryu Ishida’s Hollow Bait drew hundreds of Hollows into Karakura Town, where Ichigo Kurosaki and their friends fought them before Ichigo drove a Gillian-class Menos back through the Garganta.
• Byakuya Kuchiki severed Ichigo Kurosaki’s Zanpakuto and reclaimed his Soul Reaper power, while Central 46 imprisoned Shino Madarame.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions entered Seireitei as Ryoka, and Ichigo fought Renji Abarai and Ikkaku Madarame while the others battled their way toward the Hall of Penitence.
• Ailin healed Ikkaku Madarame after his battle with Ichigo and promised to support Ikkaku if he opposed Central 46, while Shunsui Kyōraku and Ise Nanao captured Yasutora Sado.
• Uryu Ishida confronted Mayuri Kurotsuchi, while Ganju Shiba and Orihime Inoue reached the Hall of Penitence and faced Byakuya Kuchiki before Jūshirō Ukitake helped them leave.
• Rukia discovered that Central 46 had ordered Shino’s execution by the Sōkyoku, and Shihoin Yoruichi told Ichigo he had two days to complete Bankai training before Shino’s execution in three days.
• Momo Hinamori escaped detention after reading Aizen Sosuke’s letter accusing Ailin of killing him and serving the Quincy, then attacked Ailin’s residence as Toshiro Hitsugaya and Gin Ichimaru confronted her.