Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Hiko defeated Shinji Hirako and made the Visoreds join his Special Unit. The next day, they briefed Hiko on the altered Soul Society, leaving his plan to reach Aizen and investigate the Hogyoku facing major obstacles.

• Shinji Hirako exhausted himself against Hiko’s flames, admitted defeat, and watched Hiko end the technique with a slash.
• Hiko reminded Shinji of his promise, and Shinji confirmed that all seven Visoreds would join Hiko’s Special Unit.
• Love Aikawa grieved Kensei Muguruma’s death, while Kukaku Shiba and Liza Yadomaru urged the group to move on.
• The Visoreds arrived at the Kurosaki residence the next day, where Isshin Kurosaki mistook them for Menos Grande before Hiko stopped him.
• Shinji and the Visoreds told Hiko that the Soul Society’s territory and prison defenses had changed, and that entering through District 80 would expose the group to pursuit.

Kisuke Urahara revealed that Uchiha Hiko’s soul contained a substance that could restore or destroy the Visored Army, and offered a way to make Hiko a Spirit Body Shinigami in exchange for two promises. He warned Hiko that his journey to Soul Society would be dangerous because an unimaginably powerful figure was hidden there.

• Kisuke Urahara arrived and confirmed he had not joined Uchiha Hiko’s Special Unit, then delivered the results of his soul research.
• Kisuke Urahara explained that a powerful force had unbalanced Hiko’s body and soul, making his transformation into a Spirit Body Shinigami extremely difficult.
• After the Visored Army left, Kisuke Urahara revealed that Hiko’s soul held a substance that could restore the Visoreds as Shinigami or make them vanish.
• Kisuke Urahara offered to transform Hiko into a Spirit Body Shinigami without weakening him, and asked Hiko not to abandon the Visoreds when they needed help.
• Kisuke Urahara asked Hiko to do something after his death and warned him that an unimaginably powerful figure was hidden in Soul Society.

Uchiha Hiko agreed to Kisuke Urahara's plan to test whether he could become the Spirit King's vessel, then helped Ichigo Kurosaki achieve Shikai before heading to the Soul Society. The chapter ended as Hiko drew his Zanpakuto and slashed at the excited Ichigo.

• Kisuke Urahara gave Uchiha Hiko a Soul-Collecting Bottle for his blood and arranged to begin their experiment the next afternoon.
• Uchiha Hiko learned that Ichigo Kurosaki could not grasp Shikai, and Isshin Kurosaki asked him to protect Ichigo in the Soul Society.
• Uchiha Hiko agreed to have the Visored Army safeguard Ichigo and said he would investigate the coming events in the Soul Society.
• Uchiha Hiko shouted Zangetsu's name, prompting Ichigo Kurosaki to call out to his Zanpakuto and release Shikai.
• Ichigo Kurosaki charged toward Uchiha Hiko in excitement, and Hiko drew his Zanpakuto and slashed at him.

Uchiha Hiko and Kisuke Urahara used the storm and the Hogyoku to convert Hiko into a Spirit Body Shinigami. Hiko reappeared invisible and unable to sense his own power, confronting Urahara over the failed guarantee that he would retain it.

• Ichigo Kurosaki dodged Uchiha Hiko's slash, and Hiko sent him to find Isshin Kurosaki instead of continuing their spar.
• Uchiha Hiko met Kisuke Urahara in the forest the next day, where Urahara prepared the Hogyoku and the equipment for the transformation.
• Urahara summoned lightning with the Bells, and Uchiha Hiko leaped into it as the Hogyoku fused with his body.
• After the lightning disappeared, Urahara could find no trace of Hiko until Hiko's unseen voice confirmed he was still there.
• Uchiha Hiko became visible again and challenged Urahara because he could no longer sense or use his power.

Uchiha Hiko learned that the Hogyoku could not sustain his powerful spirit-body conversion, then agreed to train Ichigo Kurosaki as the Soul Society rescue drew near. In the Seireitei, Yamamoto and the captains received an alarm about intruders in District 80, including Menos Grande and an unlocated Shinigami presence.

• Uchiha Hiko discovered that his strength disappeared in spirit form, ordered Kisuke Urahara to find the cause, and later learned the Hogyoku lacked enough power to convert his unusually strong body.
• Uchiha Hiko kicked Urahara after he admitted there was no solution, then agreed to train Ichigo Kurosaki with six days remaining before their entry into the Soul Society.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Jushiro Ukitake discussed Rukia's case before an urgent alarm interrupted them.
• A guard reported nine intruders in District 80, including Menos Grande and a Shinigami aura, but said only eight targets could be located.

Uchiha Hiko rushed toward the Central Spirit Arts Institute but was intercepted by Kenpachi Zaraki, who insisted on fighting him. Hiko escaped once, only to find Kenpachi waiting ahead again as he tried to reach Aizen Sosuke before Kuchiki Rukia's execution.

• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto learned that the strongest invader had vanished and ordered Toshiro to assist Soi Fon.
• Uchiha Hiko raced toward the Central Spirit Arts Institute as Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi found him at the edge of District 80.
• Kenpachi Zaraki attacked Hiko, who blocked his strikes and then fled after forcing him back.
• Kenpachi Zaraki pursued Hiko with Yachiru Kusajishi's directions and caught up with him again.
• Hiko warned Kenpachi to move aside, explaining that he had no time to spare before Kuchiki Rukia's execution and Aizen Sosuke's operation.

Uchiha Hiko negotiated with Kenpachi Zaraki for secrecy and a trip to Shino Academy, then fought him while Ichigo Kurosaki and Shinji Hirako headed for the Sokyoku execution platform. The chapter left Uchiha Hiko and Kenpachi Zaraki powering up for a decisive clash.

• Uchiha Hiko agreed to fight Kenpachi Zaraki in exchange for his silence about Uchiha Hiko's appearance and a trip to Shino Academy.
• Love Aikawa and Kukaku Shiba held off Sajin Komamura while Ichigo Kurosaki and Shinji Hirako raced toward the Sokyoku execution platform.
• Uchiha Hiko blocked Kenpachi Zaraki's repeated attacks while fighting with the Fourth Gate of Pain open.
• Uchiha Hiko and Kenpachi Zaraki chose to settle their fight in one move and unleashed their full strength.
• Uchiha Hiko activated the Fifth Gate and Morning Peacock as Kenpachi Zaraki released Nozarashi and removed his eyepatch.

Uchiha Hiko defeated Kenpachi Zaraki and asked him to take him to Shino Academy, while Yamamoto considered the mystery of Hiko’s arrival in Soul Society. On the way, Hiko and Kenpachi learned that Captain Aizen had been killed by Captain Toshiro.

• Uchiha Hiko unleashed Sage Art, Phoenix Fire Devour, but Kenpachi Zaraki charged through the flames with Nozarashi before the clash sent him flying back.
• Kenpachi admitted defeat, and Yachiru Kusajishi attacked Hiko until Kenpachi restrained her.
• Uchiha Hiko reminded Kenpachi to keep his promise and take him to Shino Academy.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto wondered whether Uchiha Hiko was the missing ninth person, then delayed leaving for the execution ground.
• Uchiha Hiko rode on Kenpachi’s back with Yachiru riding on his, and the three heard Shinigami say that Captain Toshiro had killed Captain Aizen in a duel.

Uchiha Hiko headed for the Shino Academy to confront Sosuke Aizen’s plan, while Kenpachi Zaraki agreed to delay Rukia’s execution at Sokyoku Hill in exchange for fights. A mysterious spiritual pressure identified as the Spirit King’s overwhelmed Soul Society and pursued Hiko, before a dark shadow entered the academy’s archive room.

• Kenpachi Zaraki told Uchiha Hiko he had not come solely because of Sosuke Aizen, and Hiko warned that Aizen’s plan had begun.
• Uchiha Hiko persuaded Kenpachi Zaraki to go to Sokyoku Hill and stop Rukia’s execution by promising him fights with Hiko and Kuchiki Byakuya.
• At the outskirts of the Shino Academy, Kenpachi Zaraki headed for Sokyoku Hill while Uchiha Hiko entered the academy.
• A powerful spiritual pressure knocked Uchiha Hiko down and made him suspect that the Spirit King had awakened.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto sensed the spiritual pressure, and Soul Reapers throughout Soul Society struggled beneath it.
• Uchiha Hiko found that the pressure kept tracking him without harming him, then saw a dark shadow enter the archive room.

Uchiha Hiko secretly followed Sosuke Aizen through the Soul Society archives and discovered a hidden underground chamber. Aizen found the prohibited-items records he wanted and stole several pages, while Hiko remained undetected.

• Uchiha Hiko followed a cloaked figure through the dark archive and realized it was Sosuke Aizen.
• Aizen drew his Zanpakuto and released Shikai, while Hiko stayed hidden despite nearly being discovered.
• Aizen opened a concealed passage with a book mechanism and used a badge to pass through its defenses.
• Aizen searched the underground chamber, found the book "Dangerous Prohibited Items," and tore out several pages.
• Aizen hid the stolen pages in his clothes and said Kisuke Urahara had failed to keep them from him.

Uchiha Hiko tried to stop Sosuke Aizen from taking documents about the Hogyoku by disguising his voice and threatening him. Aizen realized the speaker was bluffing about the Central Fourteen Chambers, but Hiko stole the documents and escaped unseen, leaving Aizen raging in the wrecked cellar.

• Uchiha Hiko used an altered voice to warn Sosuke Aizen to put down the documents hidden in his robes.
• Sosuke Aizen suspected the voice belonged to the Spirit King and tried to identify its source.
• Uchiha Hiko threatened to overlook Aizen's supposed slaughter of the Central Fourteen Chambers if he surrendered the documents.
• Sosuke Aizen pointed out that he had not killed the Central Fourteen Chambers and challenged the hidden speaker to reveal himself.
• Uchiha Hiko created a distraction, snatched the documents from Aizen's robes, and remained hidden as Aizen slashed apart the cellar.

Uchiha Hiko stole documents from Sosuke Aizen and led him toward Central 46, hoping to expose him and force him to defect. Meanwhile, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto told Kuchiki Rukia that Kuchiki Byakuya had spent nearly two months fighting her execution.

• Uchiha Hiko escaped the passage behind Sosuke Aizen and fled through Soul Society while Aizen pursued him.
• Uchiha Hiko led Sosuke Aizen toward Central 46, intending to expose Aizen by having him kill its members.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Shinji Hirako continued approaching the Seireitei without meeting another captain-level opponent.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto visited Kuchiki Rukia in Senkaimon Prison and urged her not to give up.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto revealed that Kuchiki Byakuya had opposed Rukia's execution in Central 46 for nearly two months.

Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto told Kuchiki Rukia that powerful allies, led by Uchiha Hiko, were coming to save her, but he left her fate unexplained as she was taken toward the Sokyoku. Meanwhile, Uchiha Hiko and Sosuke Aizen entered Central 46, where Hiko began attacking its members.

• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto told Kuchiki Rukia that Uchiha Hiko, Renji Abarai, Shinji Hirako, and others were preparing to rescue her.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto spoke cryptically about upheaval in the Soul Society, then left without taking Rukia to the Sokyoku.
• Four executioners took Kuchiki Rukia from Senkaimon Prison toward the Sokyoku as Ichigo Kurosaki and the Visoreds rushed into the Seireitei.
• Uchiha Hiko and Sosuke Aizen headed for Central 46, where they saw Kuchiki Byakuya leave with fury and killing intent.
• Uchiha Hiko entered the Central Meeting Room and killed a noble with his Netherflame Blade.

Uchiha Hiko killed the remaining members of Central 46 and left Sosuke Aizen to face Kuchiki Byakuya. He reached Sokyoku to rescue Rukia, where he fought Gin Ichimaru and confronted the Blazing Bird as Rukia urged him to flee.

• Uchiha Hiko slaughtered the nobles in the Central Meeting Room and beheaded the last black-robed judge.
• Sosuke Aizen arrived, saw the judge's death, and tried to escape, but Kuchiki Byakuya blocked him while Uchiha Hiko left for Sokyoku.
• Uchiha Hiko passed battlefields where his masked Special Unit members fought captains and startled the captains as he went by.
• Uchiha Hiko reached Sokyoku and attacked Gin Ichimaru, shattering Gin's Zanpakuto with an explosion of golden light.
• Uchiha Hiko turned to face the Blazing Bird as Rukia warned him to flee, and he told her to wait for him to rescue her.

Uchiha Hiko borrowed Ichigo Kurosaki’s Zangetsu and used Moon Fang Heavenward Slash to block Sokyoku’s Blazing Bird, though his spiritual power was rapidly running low. As the captains watched and Yamamoto weighed whether anyone could stop the execution, Kenpachi Zaraki arrived and rushed to attack Sokyoku.

• Uchiha Hiko took Zangetsu from Ichigo Kurosaki and used Moon Fang Heavenward Slash to block the Blazing Bird’s first attack.
• Uchiha Hiko asked Jushiro Ukitake for a way to defeat the Blazing Bird, but Ukitake said he had none and warned him not to provoke it.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto told Shunsui Kyoraku that he could not fight the Blazing Bird and expected Ukitake and the others to have another plan.
• Kenpachi Zaraki arrived with Yachiru Kusajishi, learned the execution had begun, and flashed toward Sokyoku to attack it.

Uchiha Hiko, controlling Ichigo Kurosaki's body, tried to charge Zangetsu with power while Jushiro Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku held back the Blazing Bird. Kenpachi Zaraki shielded him just long enough for him to unleash two slashes at the bird.

• Kenpachi Zaraki confronted Shunsui Kyoraku, then recognized Ichigo Kurosaki and resisted helping until Shunsui stepped in.
• Uchiha Hiko asked Jushiro Ukitake to use his trump card to hold the Blazing Bird back for three seconds.
• Jushiro Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku combined their attacks, forcing the Blazing Bird to stagger and giving Uchiha Hiko time to gather power in Zangetsu.
• The Blazing Bird surged toward Uchiha Hiko as Jushiro Ukitake collapsed, and Kenpachi Zaraki blocked its flames with his spiritual pressure.
• Uchiha Hiko announced that the three seconds had passed and unleashed two powerful slashes from Zangetsu toward the Blazing Bird.

Uchiha Hiko defeated the Blazing Bird but collapsed from exhaustion after using up his strength. As the rescue party regrouped, he weighed how to make Sosuke Aizen leave Soul Society without letting the available fighters kill him, while Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto confronted Jushiro Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku.

• Uchiha Hiko and Ichigo Kurosaki’s combined slash tore apart the Blazing Bird, and Hiko fell to the ground exhausted.
• The fighting across Soul Society stopped as the Blazing Bird exploded, and Jushiro Ukitake caught Kuchiki Rukia when the Sokyoku Hill execution platform collapsed.
• Kuchiki Rukia ran to check on Uchiha Hiko, who told her he had no strength left and needed to rest.
• Uchiha Hiko considered whether Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto would help drive Sosuke Aizen away, but worried the group might kill Aizen instead.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto reprimanded Jushiro Ukitake and Shunsui Kyoraku, and Shunsui stepped forward to face him warily.

Uchiha Hiko warned that Aizen Sosuke had killed Central 46 and gained a terrifying spiritual pressure, prompting Yamamoto and several captains to rush to the central Meeting Room. Hiko stayed behind on the mountaintop, weighing whether to kill Aizen while Shinji Hirako prepared to take the others back to Karakura Town.

• Uchiha Hiko sensed Aizen Sosuke's immense spiritual pressure and realized he had undergone the first stage of fusion enhancement without knowing how to use the Hogyoku.
• Yamamoto asked Uchiha Hiko what had happened, and Hiko told everyone that Aizen Sosuke had killed Central 46.
• Yamamoto led Shunsui Kyoraku and Kenpachi Zaraki toward the central Meeting Room, while Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen followed.
• Shinji Hirako went to check on Uchiha Hiko, and Hiko told him to take the others to Karakura Town and find the remaining allies.
• Uchiha Hiko stayed behind, considering whether to kill Aizen Sosuke before he mastered the Hogyoku and grew stronger.

Uchiha Hiko learned that his power was recovering from strength sealed within his own body, not from the surrounding air. He decided to let Aizen Sosuke determine his own fate in battle, while watching him face Soul Society’s captains.

• Shinji Hirako took Ichigo Kurosaki and Kuchiki Rukia back to Karakura Town, and Uchiha Hiko assured him the Visored Army would not be sent to their deaths.
• Kuchiki Rukia thanked Uchiha Hiko and told him to be careful before entering the passage.
• Uchiha Hiko realized that Sage Power had sealed his strength inside his cells and that this hidden power had caused Kisuke Urahara’s experiment to go wrong.
• Uchiha Hiko decided not to agonize over whether Aizen Sosuke should live or die, leaving his fate to the outcome of the battle.
• Uchiha Hiko watched Aizen Sosuke endure attacks from Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Kenpachi Zaraki without joining the fight.

Aizen Sosuke faced Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyoraku, and Kenpachi Zaraki among the ruins, arguing that Soul Society was hypocritical and trying to recruit Kenpachi. When Kenpachi chose fighting over power, the three closed ranks against Aizen, who claimed he had spared Toshiro and Byakuya and denied killing Central 46 as Yamamoto prepared to attack.

• Shunsui Kyoraku demanded that Aizen Sosuke surrender for his crimes, but Aizen accused Soul Society of hypocrisy and corruption.
• Aizen Sosuke invited Kenpachi Zaraki to join him in pursuing power, and Kenpachi considered the offer before declaring that he preferred fighting.
• Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto rebuked Aizen for failing to control his desires and said that thoughts and actions were different.
• Aizen Sosuke claimed he had not killed Central 46 and had spared Toshiro and Byakuya, then asked to be allowed to leave Soul Society.
• Shunsui Kyoraku refused to let Aizen leave, and Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto raised Ryujin Jakka as Kenpachi and Shunsui prepared to fight.