Chapter Summaries

Hyuga Matsuba and Yoruichi secured permission to graduate early by taking an examination in Hueco Mundo that required killing Hollows. They arrived at the desolate examination site with Kasugano Sora, Unohana Retsu, and Kusaka Yachiru, while Unohana agreed to supervise them but warned she would intervene only in especially dangerous situations.

• Hyuga Matsuba demonstrated his abilities and received permission to take an early graduation examination in Hueco Mundo, where he had to kill enough Hollows.
• Yoruichi also requested early graduation, and she and Hyuga Matsuba agreed to take the examination despite Urahara Kisuke declining to join them.
• Hyuga Matsuba and Kasugano Sora left the academy, and Yoruichi followed them to meet Unohana Retsu and Kusaka Yachiru.
• Unohana Retsu joined the group as the examination supervisor, and the five arrived at the desolate examination site.
• Unohana Retsu told the expeditionary force Shinigami to return to their work and said she would only intervene if the situation became especially dangerous.

Hyuga Matsuba tested his Zanpakuto’s Shikai when a horde of creatures, including Adjuchas, attacked, and he eliminated them with overwhelming ease. After the fight, Kasugano Sora revealed that she was the manifested form of Hyuga Matsuba’s blade, explaining why their weapons shared the same techniques.

• Yoruichi and Unohana Retsu accompanied Hyuga Matsuba and the others through the cleared territory, where they encountered a large group of creatures, including Adjuchas.
• Hyuga Matsuba handed Yachiru to Unohana Retsu and drew his Zanpakuto to test its Shikai, which he named Spear of Annihilation.
• Hyuga Matsuba’s attack erased nearly all the monsters at once, leaving one fast Adjuchas alive.
• The surviving Adjuchas attacked Hyuga Matsuba, but his weapon struck it twice and destroyed it before it could recover.
• Yoruichi recognized that Hyuga Matsuba’s weapon resembled Kasugano Sora’s rabbit doll, and Kasugano Sora explained that she was the manifested form of his blade.

Hyuga Matsuba brought Yoruichi to the Forest of Menos so she could test her strength against Adjuchas. There, Yoruichi met Tier Harribel and Nel, learning that Matsuba had powerful Hollows among his subordinates.

• Unohana Retsu passed Yoruichi and the others after the exam, but Yoruichi insisted she still needed a real opponent to gauge her strength.
• Hyuga Matsuba took the group to the Forest of Menos, where they encountered around twenty Adjuchas.
• Tier Harribel greeted Hyuga Matsuba and explained that she had stayed in the forest to grow stronger.
• Hyuga Matsuba identified Tier Harribel as his subordinate, and Yoruichi warned the others to keep his secret.
• Tier Harribel explained that she had spared Nel, a Vasto Lorde who reminded her of her former self, and Nel obediently stayed quiet.

Yoruichi defeated an Adjuchas in Hueco Mundo, where Nel became an Arrancar and was encouraged to follow her own wishes. Chen and the others returned to Soul Society, leaving an exhausted Yoruichi in Kasugano Sora’s care.

• Yoruichi used Instant Flood to defeat the Adjuchas after dodging its Hollow Bullets.
• Nel celebrated becoming an Arrancar, and Tier Harribel explained why she had pushed Nel to grow stronger; Chen told Harribel not to force Nel to do things she disliked.
• Chen decided to leave Hueco Mundo with Yoruichi, Kasugano Sora, Yachiru, and Unohana Retsu, while promising to visit Nel again.
• Chen opened a black hole, and the group returned to Soul Society, where Yoruichi collapsed from exhaustion.
• Kasugano Sora pulled Yoruichi away from Chen and accused her of having improper thoughts, prompting Yoruichi to protest.

Matsuba joined the Fourth Division despite Yoruichi and Qiong urging him to choose elsewhere, and settled into a carefree routine with Unohana Retsu. When Sixth Division members accused Yachiru of giving them medicine that caused diarrhea, Matsuba defended her and Unohana Retsu allowed the matter to pass with a mild reprimand.

• Yoruichi and Qiong tried to persuade Matsuba to join a different division, but he chose the Fourth Division for its relaxed atmosphere and his own plans.
• Unohana Retsu offered to recommend Matsuba for a leadership position, but he refused and contentedly ate in her office.
• Yoruichi visited the Fourth Division again, and Unohana Retsu threw her out after she claimed she had come for treatment of a wound that was about to heal.
• Sixth Division members confronted Unohana Retsu, accusing Yachiru of giving them medicine that caused diarrhea.
• Matsuba dismissed the accusations as ignorance and warned the Sixth Division members not to mistreat the Fourth Division.
• Unohana Retsu patted Yachiru on the head in mild reprimand, and Yachiru showed some shame.

After five years, Aizen and his classmates faced graduation assessments with Chen as their chief examiner. Chen forced the students to choose between fighting him and hunting Hollows, while Urahara Kisuke’s attempt to avoid choosing left him facing both tests.

• Chen reassured Yachiru after the Sixth Division left, then rejected Yoruichi’s offer to help with Kuchiki Ginrei because she demanded unrestricted access to the Fourth Division.
• Five years passed, and Chen became chief examiner for Aizen and the others’ graduation assessment.
• Chen told the students to choose between fighting him and hunting Hollows, and Kuchiki Sōjun chose to fight Chen.
• Urahara Kisuke stood in the middle, so Chen ordered him to take both assessments unless he failed and repeated the year.
• Urahara Kisuke chose to accompany Chen for the first test, and Chen warned with a strange smile that he would take the assessment seriously.

At the Training Ground, Hyuga Matsuba examined the talented students while Old Man Yamamoto defended his choice to make him an examiner and considered him for a squad captain position. Matsuba knocked down most challengers with one punch, then fought Aizen, who held out against his attacks and caught Yamamoto’s interest.

• Kuchiki Ginrei questioned Hyuga Matsuba’s appointment, but Old Man Yamamoto said Matsuba had proved his strength and might become a squad captain.
• Hyuga Matsuba challenged the students, and Kuchiki Sōjun stepped forward to fight him.
• Hyuga Matsuba defeated Kuchiki Sōjun with one punch, leaving him unconscious but unharmed, and argued with the furious Kuchiki Ginrei.
• Hyuga Matsuba let Urahara Kisuke pass without a fight, then began testing Aizen with a punch that Aizen dodged.
• Hyuga Matsuba continued attacking Aizen as they fought to a stalemate, and Old Man Yamamoto watched Aizen with interest.

Hyuga Matsuba passed Aizen and Urahara Kisuke in their evaluations, then fought and defeated Kuchiki Ginrei. Yamamoto promoted Matsuba to lead the Third Division, though Matsuba objected to becoming a vice-captain.

• Hyuga Matsuba passed Aizen after knocking him down, leaving Aizen wary of Matsuba’s strength.
• Urahara Kisuke gave Matsuba his private savings, and Matsuba declared that Urahara had passed.
• Kuchiki Ginrei challenged Matsuba over accepting money, and Matsuba attacked and beat him.
• Matsuba shattered Kuchiki Ginrei’s Zanpakuto and sent him flying with a punch.
• Yamamoto assigned Matsuba to the Third Division, and Matsuba objected to being made a vice-captain.

After the graduation exams, Yoruichi challenged Sora to a match limited to Flash Step and Hakuda. Sora’s overwhelming strength put Yoruichi on the defensive, and the fight remained underway.

• The graduation exams ended, and Aizen joined the Fifth Division, Urahara Kisuke joined the Second Division, and Kuchiki Sōjun joined the Sixth Division.
• Yoruichi challenged Sora to a one-on-one fight using only Flash Step and Hakuda, and Sora accepted.
• Unohana Retsu warned Yoruichi not to bully Sora, while Chen predicted that Yoruichi would lose.
• At the Fourth Division’s Training Ground, Sora dodged Yoruichi’s opening attack and shattered her haori with a powerful punch.
• Sora struck Yoruichi’s palm hard enough to numb her arm and send her flying, then continued pressing her with attacks that Yoruichi could only evade.

Yoruichi challenged Qiong and lost, then asked Chen to help her improve her fighting skills. Chen gave Yoruichi a book to study but directly taught its techniques to Qiong, while Yachiru left to find someone to play with.

• Qiong overwhelmed Yoruichi in a fight, and Yoruichi admitted defeat after being badly hurt.
• Yachiru encouraged Yoruichi to ask Chen for guidance, and Chen gave her a book of techniques to study.
• Qiong asked Chen for instruction, and he transmitted the book’s techniques and principles to her, leaving Yoruichi surprised and frustrated.
• Yoruichi resolved to train hard so she could catch up with Qiong, then stayed in Squad Four instead of returning to Squad Two.
• Yachiru asked Chen and Yoruichi to play, but both refused, so she left to find Qiong while Chen called after her to avoid causing trouble.

Hyuga Matsuba and the others were summoned to an urgent captains’ meeting after a Soul Reaper expedition to Hueco Mundo ended in disaster. The meeting revealed that someone was manipulating events there, while Hollows were also appearing in greater numbers.

• Yoruichi visited Hyuga Matsuba with Soifon, and he teased the young girl until Yachiru, Unohana Retsu, and Qiong scolded him.
• A subordinate summoned Hyuga Matsuba and Unohana Retsu to an urgent meeting at the First Division, where all captains and Vice-Captains were required to attend.
• Hyuga Matsuba traded insults with Kuchiki Ginrei and Kuchiki Sōjun before Captain-Commander Yamamoto ordered everyone to discuss serious business.
• Yamamoto reported that everyone sent to Hueco Mundo a few days earlier had died, and that an unseen figure appeared to be manipulating events there.
• Jūshirō Ukitake asked what preparations were needed, while Kikō Kiryū reported that her squad was investigating and that more Hollows were appearing outside.

Yamamoto assigned Hyuga Matsuba, Kyōraku Shunsui, Shihoin Yoruichi, and Kikō Kiryū to wipe out the forces gathered under Byakuya Kuchiki. After the group reached the enemy’s world, Kyōraku warned everyone to stay alert as the opposing forces prepared for battle.

• Yamamoto ordered a mission to eliminate the forces in Byakuya Kuchiki’s territory and assigned Kyōraku Shunsui, Shihoin Yoruichi, Kikō Kiryū, and Hyuga Matsuba to lead it.
• Jōshirō Ukitake warned the group that he would not save them if they died, prompting Hyuga Matsuba and Yoruichi to criticize his remarks.
• Hyuga Matsuba threatened Jōshirō Ukitake, and Kyōraku Shunsui intervened to prevent a fight before the mission began.
• Hyuga Matsuba and Qiong discussed leaving Jōshirō Ukitake to die during the mission, and Ukitake responded with killing intent.
• Kyōraku Shunsui and the others arrived at the enemy’s world, where Byakuya Kuchiki’s forces gathered for battle.
• Kyōraku Shunsui cautioned the group to remain especially careful because they could not easily call for reinforcements.

Soifon secretly followed Yoruichi to Hueco Mundo, where Hyuga Matsuba took responsibility for keeping her safe. As the group began its mission, Hyuga followed Jōshirō Ukitake away from camp, while Aizen stayed behind with Hirako.

• Kyōraku Shunsui ordered the group to clear the surrounding area, establish a camp, and travel in pairs, while Jōshirō Ukitake's remarks angered him.
• Yoruichi discovered that Soifon had secretly followed the group because she wanted to protect her, and Hyuga Matsuba offered to look after the young girl.
• Hyuga told Soifon she was too weak to protect Yoruichi and assigned Qiong to keep her safe, despite Soifon's protests.
• Qiong dragged Soifon along after Hyuga as they followed Jōshirō Ukitake, while Kyōraku Shunsui failed to notice they had left.
• Aizen stayed behind with Hirako, and Jōshirō Ukitake sensed Hyuga following him but did not confront him near the camp.

Matsuba and his Hollow allies cornered Jōshirō Ukitake, who fought back but died after killing five Adjuchas. Soifon chose to conceal what she had witnessed for now, while Kyōraku Shunsui arrived and questioned Matsuba about Ukitake’s vanished Spiritual Pressure.

• Matsuba revealed his group of Hollows to Jōshirō Ukitake and pressured Soifon to join him or die.
• Soifon initially refused to collude with the Hollows, then agreed to go with Matsuba after he threatened Yoruichi.
• Jōshirō Ukitake attacked the Hollows with Kidō, killed five Adjuchas with Ittō Kasō, and was killed by Tier Harribel and Matsuba’s Azure Sword Cannon.
• Matsuba ordered Tier Harribel, Nel, and the surviving Adjuchas to retreat before more Soul Reapers arrived.
• Soifon decided to hide the truth temporarily and wait for a chance to report Matsuba to Yoruichi.
• Kyōraku Shunsui arrived and asked Matsuba why Jōshirō Ukitake’s Spiritual Pressure had disappeared.

Matsuba blamed Kenpachi’s death on Hollows and described a force led by a Vasto Lorde, while Yoruichi violently silenced a Soul Reaper who challenged his account. Yoruichi and Soifon discussed Matsuba’s secret alliance with the Hollows, and the chapter left Kikō Kiryū’s knowledge of the truth unresolved.

• Matsuba claimed that he had seen Hollows kill Kenpachi and said a group of Adjuchas and a Vasto Lorde had prevented him from intervening.
• An Eleventh Division member accused Matsuba of lying, and Yoruichi beheaded him after he demanded to seek the truth.
• Kyōraku Shunsui left more suspicious of Matsuba, while Aizen confronted Matsuba and then returned to Hirako’s Hollow-cleansing operation.
• Yoruichi warned Matsuba that witnesses could expose him, and Matsuba indicated that Kikō Kiryū had seen what happened.
• Yoruichi told Soifon that the Hollows were Matsuba’s followers and ordered her to keep the alliance secret.
• Yoruichi questioned how to handle Kikō Kiryū, but Matsuba insisted she would keep quiet, while Qiong accused him of sparing her because of her looks.

Barragan led a massive Hollow force in an attack on Kyōraku Shunsui’s group, while Matsuba effortlessly reflected the incoming Cero. Matsuba escaped with Yoruichi and the others but forgot Kikō Kiryū, then returned to rescue her as Barragan’s forces targeted her.

• Kikō Kiryū reported that Barragan and more than a dozen Adjuchas were nearby, and Kyōraku Shunsui proposed waiting for reinforcements.
• Barragan ignored a subordinate’s warning and attacked Matsuba’s base with Adjuchas and thousands of Gillan.
• Barragan ordered his forces to fire Cero, while Kyōraku Shunsui and the Bakudō users tried to shield and evacuate the group.
• Matsuba reflected every Cero that hit him, then used his spatial ability to escape with Yoruichi and the others, accidentally leaving Kikō Kiryū behind.
• Barragan ordered his forces to focus their attacks on Kikō Kiryū, but Matsuba opened a black hole and pulled her to safety.

Hyuga Matsuba destroyed the Hollows threatening the group, and Yoruichi fought Byakuya Kuchiki after he moved to attack Matsuba. Byakuya Kuchiki was repeatedly defeated and fled, leaving the battle behind.

• Kikō Kiryū thanked Hyuga Matsuba for saving her, and Matsuba said he had only done it because she was pretty.
• Hyuga Matsuba instantly defeated the Hollows and Adjuchas on the other side, impressing Kikō Kiryū, Yoruichi, Soifon, Kyōraku Shunsui, and Aizen.
• Byakuya Kuchiki grew enraged over the deaths of two Adjuchas and prepared to attack Hyuga Matsuba.
• Yoruichi struck Byakuya Kuchiki with Tempest Kick and sent him flying.
• Byakuya Kuchiki attacked with King's Flash, but Yoruichi dodged him and Hyuga Matsuba kicked him into the dirt.
• Yoruichi countered Byakuya Kuchiki again, and he fled after being repeatedly sent flying.

After Yoruichi drove Byakuya Kuchiki away, Kyōraku Shunsui persuaded Jūshirō Ukitake to lead their forces in pursuit. As the group set out, Soifon pressed Hyuga Matsuba to teach her, and he agreed to find time after they returned to Soul Society.

• Yoruichi defeated Byakuya Kuchiki, who fled with his subordinates, and Kyōraku Shunsui warned the others to stay alert.
• Jūshirō Ukitake arrived with reinforcements and learned from Kyōraku Shunsui that Yoruichi had driven Byakuya Kuchiki away.
• Kyōraku Shunsui proposed attacking before Byakuya Kuchiki could recover, and Jūshirō Ukitake agreed to follow his lead.
• Kyōraku Shunsui led the group to search for Byakuya Kuchiki, while Soifon asked Hyuga Matsuba to teach her.
• Hyuga Matsuba agreed to teach Soifon after they returned to Soul Society, while Qiong objected to being asked to teach her.

Barragan prepared an ambush with thousands of Gillan and ordered them to fire Cero at Kyōraku Shunsui's group. Matsuba and Yoruichi faced the attack, but the battle remained unresolved as Yoruichi charged toward Barragan and his Adjuchas.

• Barragan told his subordinates that he had lured Kyōraku Shunsui and the others into an ambush, then ordered Gillan to prepare their Cero.
• Jūshirō Ukitake and Kikō Kiryū sensed a huge gathering of Hollow Spiritual Pressure underground, and Barragan revealed himself.
• Matsuba mocked Barragan, who summoned more than three thousand Gillan and insisted their combined Cero would defeat his enemies.
• Barragan ordered the Gillan to fire and launched a King's Flash at Matsuba, whose Wind Release: Rasenshuriken met it in a blast that killed everyone within a hundred meters.
• Barragan retreated and ordered his Adjuchas to attack Matsuba and Yoruichi, while Yoruichi dodged their attacks and rushed toward him.

The Soul Reapers fought off the Gillans while Matsuba used his Shikai to protect Yoruichi and drive Barragan away. Yoruichi hunted down the remaining Adjuchas, though two escaped.

• Kyōraku Shunsui convinced Jūshirō Ukitake to focus on killing Gillans, and Ukitake released Sōgyo no Kotowari to destroy one.
• Matsuba killed Gillans with Kidō while Kikō Kiryū supported the team with hidden weapons.
• Matsuba ordered Qiong to protect Soifon, then used his Shikai to kill an Adjuchas and help Yoruichi, who was surrounded by Barragan and the Adjuchas.
• Barragan invited Matsuba to join him, but Matsuba refused, and Yoruichi punched Barragan away until he fled.
• Yoruichi pursued the fleeing Adjuchas and killed most of them; two escaped.