Chapter Summaries

Matsuba defeated Aizen in a sparring match after Aizen failed to hypnotize him with Kyōka Suigetsu and attacked him with powerful techniques. Aizen was left badly injured, while Matsuba departed with Unohana Retsu and warned Aizen not to challenge him again.

• Aizen challenged Matsuba to spar, hoping to hypnotize him, but Matsuba overwhelmed him with speed and Spiritual Pressure.
• Matsuba closed his eyes to fight, disrupting Aizen’s plan, then revealed a blade resembling Aizen’s and used the command “Shatter, Illusion.”
• Aizen tried to hypnotize Matsuba after he opened his eyes, but the ability failed to take full effect.
• Aizen attacked Matsuba with Hadō #90: Kurohitsugi, but Matsuba emerged unharmed and struck Aizen unconscious.
• Unohana Retsu arrived, and Matsuba reassured her before leaving with her and warning Aizen not to provoke him again.
• Hirako Shinji and other captains arrived to check on Aizen, who downplayed his injuries and refused their offers to confront Matsuba.

Hyuga Matsuba learned that Aizen had tried to hypnotize him with his Zanpakuto, then was assigned to teach an elite class at the academy. Matsumoto Rangiku followed him after class to thank him for rescuing her in the past, promising to repay his kindness.

• Hirako Shinji confronted Hyuga Matsuba about injuring Aizen, and Matsuba told Unohana Retsu that Aizen had tried to hypnotize him with his Zanpakuto, Illusion.
• Hyuga Matsuba attended the academy's enrollment ceremony, where he noticed Matsumoto Rangiku, Ichimaru Gin, and Kuchiki Byakuya among the new students.
• Old Man Yamamoto informed Hyuga Matsuba that he would teach an elite class, while Yoruichi said she had also been assigned to teach Hakuda.
• After class, Matsumoto Rangiku followed Hyuga Matsuba to his office and explained that he had rescued her before.
• Matsumoto Rangiku thanked Hyuga Matsuba and promised she would find a way to repay his kindness.

Hyuga Matsuba led the students to the Human World for combat training and told them to fight the Hollows. After Ichimaru Gin secretly used Aizen’s enhanced bait, numerous Gillan and Adjuchas appeared.

• Matsumoto Rangiku asked Hyuga Matsuba about the next day’s combat training, and he confirmed the students would go to the Human World.
• Hyuga Matsuba led the students, including Matsumoto Rangiku and Kuchiki Byakuya, to the Human World without Yoruichi.
• Hyuga Matsuba told the students to fight the Hollows and said he would call them over.
• Ichimaru Gin secretly used enhanced Hollow bait that Aizen had given him.
• Many Gillan and Adjuchas appeared after Ichimaru Gin used the bait.

Hyuga Matsuba and the students fought off the summoned creatures, with Kuchiki Byakuya and Matsumoto Rangiku displaying their strength. Afterward, Matsuba confronted Aizen and warned him to stop provoking him, leaving the tension between them unresolved.

• Hyuga Matsuba restrained the summoned creatures while the students struggled under their aura, and he killed the Adjuchas and several Gillans with a powerful attack.
• Matsumoto Rangiku tried to stop a Gillan, but Kuchiki Byakuya used Senbonzakura to overwhelm it with countless blades.
• The remaining creature attacked, but Matsuba struck it down before it could harm the students.
• Hyuga Matsuba told Matsumoto Rangiku, Kuchiki Byakuya, and Ichimaru Gin that they could graduate.
• Hirako Shinji and Aizen arrived with the Fifth Squad, and Matsuba accused Aizen of knowing more about the incident.
• Hyuga Matsuba grabbed Aizen by the collar and warned him that he would kill him if he provoked him again.

Matsuba overwhelmed Aizen and the others, humiliating Aizen while urging him to grow stronger. After Matsuba left, Aizen vowed revenge and revealed that he had been secretly creating a Hogyoku.

• Matsuba restrained Aizen, blasted Hirako Shinji away, and forced Kuchiki Byakuya to kneel when they challenged him.
• Matsuba told Aizen to remember the humiliation and become strong enough to trample others, then left through a temporal rift with his students.
• After the restraint lifted, Aizen checked on Hirako Shinji but concealed what had provoked Matsuba.
• Aizen went alone to his secret base, vowed to kill Matsuba, and met Gin, who had been hiding there.
• Aizen blamed their failed plan on underestimating Matsuba and revealed a Hogyoku he had secretly created using many souls.

Matsuba challenged Old Man Yamamoto after refusing to regret injuring Aizen and Hirako, and the two began fighting at the Fourth Division. The other captains gathered as Matsuba struck Yamamoto out of the barracks, while Unohana Retsu urged them to clear the area and trust Matsuba.

• Old Man Yamamoto confronted Matsuba about injuring Aizen and Hirako, but Matsuba dismissed the rules and defended his actions.
• Old Man Yamamoto challenged Matsuba to a match, and Tier Harribel and Nel appeared to support Matsuba before Yamamoto discovered their Hollow Spiritual Pressure.
• Kyōraku Shunsui, Jūshirō Ukitake, and the other captains sensed Yamamoto's Spiritual Pressure and hurried to the Fourth Division as Aizen watched, pleased that the confrontation was escalating.
• Matsuba accepted Yamamoto's challenge, dodged his attack, and punched him out of the Fourth Division.
• Matsuba warned the onlookers not to interfere, while Unohana Retsu stopped Tier Harribel and Nel and told Kyōraku Shunsui to evacuate everyone from the battle area.

Hyuga Matsuba overwhelmed Old Man Yamamoto in their fight, even after Yamamoto unleashed Ryujin Jakka. Yamamoto refused to yield and ignited the surrounding area, prompting the Seventh Division and Kyōraku Shunsui to rush in to control the blaze.

• Hyuga Matsuba countered Old Man Yamamoto’s attacks and battered him with Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, leaving him badly wounded.
• Old Man Yamamoto became enraged and brought Ryujin Jakka into the fight in earnest.
• Hyuga Matsuba revealed that he also wielded a blade like Ryujin Jakka and sent Old Man Yamamoto flying with a slash.
• Old Man Yamamoto attacked with flames, but Hyuga Matsuba cut through them and urged him to accept defeat.
• Old Man Yamamoto unleashed another blaze, and the Seventh Division rushed over while Kyōraku Shunsui called for the fire to be put out.

Hyuga Matsuba defeated and sealed Old Man Yamamoto after he unleashed Zanka no Tachi, then agreed to rebuild the divisions’ destroyed houses for payment. The other divisions pooled their money for the work, while Matsuba put off explaining who Nami was.

• Kyōraku Shunsui and Jūshirō Ukitake tried to stop Old Man Yamamoto, but he continued fighting Hyuga Matsuba and unleashed Zanka no Tachi.
• Matsuba passed through Yamamoto’s flames, seized his weapon, and defeated him with Six Paths, Eight Trigrams: Three Hundred Sixty-One Palms, sealing his power.
• Matsuba spared Yamamoto and demanded that he stop interfering in his affairs; Unohana Retsu checked Matsuba, and Yachiru used Ice Age to cool the area.
• Matsuba discovered that the buildings in his division had burned down, then created luxurious replacements and refused to rebuild the other divisions’ houses for free.
• The other divisions pooled their money to hire Matsuba to rebuild their houses, and he told Qiong he would explain who Nami was when the time was right.

Matsumoto Rangiku visited Chen after he forgot to tell his students that school was suspended, then asked to train and join the Fourth Division. Chen later reunited with the women at home and used the system to draw two Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura and Wolves.

• Matsumoto Rangiku visited Chen because he had stopped attending class, and Chen admitted he had forgotten to tell the students about the break.
• Matsumoto Rangiku asked to train at the Training Ground and said she wanted to join the Fourth Division after graduation.
• Chen left and found Kushina and Hancock fighting, then reunited with them and spent the afternoon with the women.
• Chen used the system to draw Senbonzakura and Wolves, and he considered the results disappointing.

Chen returned from the Lottery with four Zanpakuto and learned that Yhwach's Almighty held little value to him. At the Training Ground, Soifon lost another spar against Halibel, and Chen reassured her that she was still growing stronger.

• Chen obtained Yhwach's Almighty but dismissed it as an unappealing auxiliary ability.
• Chen showed Hinata, Tsunade, Qiong, and Unohana Retsu the four Zanpakuto he had drawn: Senbonzakura, Hyōrinmaru, Senbonzakura, and Wolves.
• Kyōraku Shunsui told Chen that two Arrancar had clashed, but Chen said the conflict had calmed down and needed no intervention.
• Chen watched Halibel overpower Soifon in a spar, even after Soifon used her finishing move and Cicada Shell.
• Soifon conceded defeat, and Chen comforted her while Yoruichi teased her about blushing.

Ichimaru Gin asked Hyuga Matsuba to approve his early graduation, and Kuchiki Byakuya later demanded the same. After challenging Byakuya to withstand one of his skills, Hyuga defeated him with a stronger version of Byakuya’s Cherry Blossom technique and left him injured.

• Ichimaru Gin requested early graduation, and Hyuga Matsuba agreed before dismissing him.
• Ichimaru Gin asked Hyuga Matsuba about Aizen and warned him not to hurt Rangiku’s feelings before leaving.
• Kuchiki Byakuya asked to graduate early, but Hyuga Matsuba refused and challenged him to a match.
• At the Training Ground, Hyuga Matsuba attacked with a Cherry Blossom technique that stunned the gathered spectators and Byakuya.
• Hyuga Matsuba’s blades overwhelmed Byakuya’s, leaving him injured; Hyuga repaired his weapon and reminded him of their agreement to clean toilets if he failed.

After decades of waiting for Aizen to act, Hyuga Matsuba attended a captains' meeting about souls disappearing in Rukongai. Aizen demonstrated his weapon and hypnotized most of the captains, but Hyuga Matsuba, Unohana Retsu, and Yoruichi remained unaffected and recognized the danger.

• Hyuga Matsuba wondered why Aizen had not begun carrying out his plans, while Qiong visited her office and teased her with a letter from an admirer.
• A subordinate summoned Hyuga Matsuba and Qiong to a captains' meeting, where Old Man Yamamoto announced that souls were disappearing.
• Old Man Yamamoto assigned the investigation to Kensei Muguruma and urged the captains to look into the matter.
• Hyuga Matsuba warned Kensei Muguruma that someone might be setting him up, making Aizen suspect she knew about his actions.
• Aizen demonstrated his weapon, claiming it could make enemies fight, and hypnotized most of the captains present.
• Hyuga Matsuba, Unohana Retsu, and Yoruichi resisted Aizen's hypnosis, and Soifon suggested getting rid of him.

Hyuga Matsuba confronted Aizen after uncovering his actions and explained that Aizen was pursuing the Hogyoku, but chose to let him go. Aizen then began a coordinated attack with Ichimaru Gin and Tosen Kaname, leaving Kensei Muguruma unconscious as he pursued strength for its own sake.

• Hyuga Matsuba warned Aizen to stay alive and left with Qiong, while Soifon threatened to kill him if he caused trouble again.
• Hyuga Matsuba told Unohana Retsu and Yoruichi that Aizen would research the Hogyoku and that Urahara Kisuke would create another one.
• Kensei Muguruma investigated a suspicious incident with Tosen Kaname, but Ichimaru Gin attacked and Tosen Kaname betrayed him.
• Aizen appeared and struck Kensei Muguruma unconscious, then said he wanted strength rather than a captain's position.
• Ichimaru Gin suggested Aizen wanted revenge, and Aizen became wary without answering.

Aizen openly revealed his betrayal and overwhelmed the Soul Reapers who confronted him. As Hirako Shinji threatened to summon help, Aizen reminded him that they were already in immediate danger.

• Aizen defeated Hirako Shinji with a sudden attack and declared the others no match for him.
• Ichimaru Gin and Tosen questioned Aizen as a group of Soul Reapers headed to Rukongai to investigate and provide support.
• Aizen confronted Hirako Shinji, Aikawa Rawu, and the others, who accused him of betrayal and ambition.
• Aizen ordered Ichimaru Gin to attack Sarugaki, whose neck was pierced, though Gin said he had avoided the vital point and survived.
• Hirako Shinji threatened to call for help, and Aizen asked whether he had time to worry about anyone else.

Matsuba left Matsumoto Rangiku to handle his duties at the Spiritual Arts Academy before investigating the powerful Spiritual Pressure that revealed Hollowfied Hirako Shinji and his companions. As Yamamoto condemned the group to death, Urahara Kisuke pleaded for them, while Matsuba refused to promise them protection.

• Matsumoto Rangiku complained that Matsuba made her do his work, and Matsuba insisted she needed to train harder because she was weak compared with the medical corps.
• A powerful Spiritual Pressure erupted, and Matsuba went to investigate after telling Matsumoto Rangiku to keep the students calm.
• Urahara Kisuke and Tekka Ukitake asked Matsuba to save Hollowfied Hirako Shinji and the others, but Matsuba said their Hollowfication could make them stronger.
• Yamamoto arrived with the other captains, rejected Urahara Kisuke's claim that an enemy had ambushed the group, and declared that the Hollowfied captains deserved to die.
• Aizen challenged Urahara Kisuke to identify the enemy, while Matsuba refused to take responsibility for protecting Hirako Shinji and his companions.
• Yamamoto threatened Urahara Kisuke and the others, and Yoruichi said Urahara Kisuke would protect his teammates to the end.

Old Man Yamamoto ordered the captains to capture Hirako Shinji and the others after they fled, while Kyōraku Shunsui secretly helped them escape. Chen questioned Aizen's apparent grief and the strange events, and Captain-Commander Yamamoto called an emergency meeting to contain the scandal.

• Old Man Yamamoto defeated the resisting captains, and Hirako Shinji charged in while accusing Aizen of being a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
• Old Man Yamamoto intervened when someone threatened Ranran, and Kyōraku Shunsui urged Hirako Shinji and the others to escape.
• Kyōraku Shunsui held back during his attack, allowing Hirako Shinji to escape while Aizen stayed behind with a larger plan.
• Old Man Yamamoto learned that the fugitives had escaped and ordered a citywide wanted alert and lethal force against them.
• Chen challenged Aizen’s show of grief and suggested the affair was suspicious, while Captain-Commander Yamamoto summoned an emergency meeting and demanded secrecy.

The Gotei 13 reassigned vacant captain positions after the recent upheaval, while Yamamoto suspected Hyuga Matsuba of being involved. Matsuba denied responsibility, and later returned to the academy classroom as his students discussed his reputation.

• Old Man Yamamoto appointed Aizen captain of the Fifth Division, Byakuya captain of the Sixth, Ichimaru Gin captain of the Third, Tōsen Tōjin captain of the Seventh, Tosen Kaname captain of the Ninth, and Kurotsuchi Mayuri captain of the Twelfth.
• Kuchiki Ginrei announced his retirement and recommended Byakuya as his successor, while Kyōraku Shunsui questioned why Ichimaru Gin had not received a captaincy.
• Old Man Yamamoto confronted Hyuga Matsuba about possibly causing the upheaval, but Matsuba denied involvement and said he knew who was responsible.
• Yoruichi and Unohana Retsu suspected Aizen had caused the incident, while Matsuba dismissed Yamamoto’s suspicions and returned to Shunshunriku with Yoruichi.
• Matsumoto Rangiku asked Matsuba about the captain changes and reminded him that his advanced-class students would soon be assessed.
• Hyuga Matsuba returned to class, where Hinamori Momo praised him and Lucia gossiped about his laziness until he called her out.

Hyuga Matsuba took his students to the Human World for their graduation assessment, where they fought Hollows while he defeated Tosen Kaname, who had come with an invitation from Aizen. After the students passed the assessment, Matsuba decided to visit Aizen.

• Hyuga Matsuba brought his class to the Human World and ordered each student to kill a Hollow to pass the graduation assessment.
• Lucia and the other students joined forces to fight the Hollows, including a Gillian.
• Tosen Kaname attacked Matsuba with a barrier that stripped away sensory perception, but Matsuba broke through it and overpowered him.
• Matsuba threatened Tosen Kaname until he revealed that Aizen had sent him with an invitation, then Matsuba read and burned the message.
• The students defeated the Hollows, and Matsuba praised their abilities before Hinamori Momo asked him for private tutoring.
• Matsuba decided to visit Aizen because he was curious about the invitation.

Chen agreed to guide Hinamori Momo and Lucia, then visited Aizen at his secret base in Rukongai and discussed the Soul King. He refused to join Aizen’s rebellion and warned that their purposes would eventually make them enemies.

• Hinamori Momo asked Chen to guide her and said she wanted to join the Fourth Division, while Lucia also requested training.
• Chen joked with Hinamori Momo and Lucia, then took them back to True Man's Magic Academy and left their affairs to Matsumoto Rangiku.
• Chen traveled to District 80 of Rukongai and met Aizen at his secret base.
• Aizen asked Chen what he thought of the Soul King and admitted he wanted to oppose him and attack the Soul Palace.
• Chen told Aizen that the Soul King was a prisoner, declined to join his plans, and warned that they might one day fight.
• After Chen left, Aizen identified him as Hyuga Tatsumi and resolved to grow strong enough to make him pay.

Chen left Hinamori Momo and Lucia in Kikō Kiryū’s care, then rushed to Rukongai when he sensed danger. He found Tier Harribel and Nel fighting Gerard Valkyrie and crushed him beneath his Susanoo.

• Chen entrusted Hinamori Momo and Lucia to Kikō Kiryū to teach them.
• Chen returned home, spent time with Unohana Retsu, and told her to rest while he handled his affairs.
• Chen sensed something alarming and hurried to Rukongai, leaving Unohana Retsu behind.
• Tier Harribel and Nel fought Gerard Valkyrie, whose wounds healed and whose power grew stronger under their attacks.
• Chen arrived and used Susanoo to stomp Gerard beneath its foot.