Recaps

Arima Shizuya grew stronger through training, a dangerous real-sword lesson, and a public Hakuda exam, while Aizen guided him and drew Tōsen Kaname into a secret bargain. The arc left Shizuya dreaming of an endless intersection as his Zanpakuto neared awakening, and Kotetsu Isane began to answer his question about dating.

• Arima Shizuya met Aizen Sōsuke, began training under his guidance, and befriended Tōsen Kaname after helping him recover from a beating.
• Arima Shizuya learned from Yoruichi Shihouin during a sparring session, impressed her in combat, and refused her offer to leave the Academy early because he wanted to stay with Aizen.
• Arima Shizuya took a Student Council job with Kotetsu Isane, received an Asauchi with Aizen’s help, and unleashed powerful spiritual pressure during their real-sword practice.
• Arima Shizuya recovered from the incident, learned to control his spiritual pressure, and received Kidō guidance from Ise Nanao before his Hakuda examination.
• Yoruichi Shihouin arranged for Arima Shizuya to fight Ōmaeda Marechiyo, who broke his hold and slammed him through the dojo floor before Arima rose to continue.
• Arima Shizuya raised his spiritual pressure to Class Seven, defeated Ōmaeda Marechiyo with a feint followed by Double Bone, and declined Yoruichi’s offer to marry into the Shihouin Clan.
• Tōsen Kaname admitted to Aizen Sōsuke that he wanted power to catch up with Arima Shizuya and protect his ideals, then agreed to cooperate with Aizen.
• Arima Shizuya dreamed for over a week of an endless, dim intersection, and Kotetsu Isane suggested his Zanpakuto was nearing awakening before he asked her again to date him.

Arima Shizuya discovered the power and limits of his Zanpakuto while Aizen drew him into a plan to reshape Soul Society and pursued the Hōgyoku. The arc left Aizen with a successful experiment on Matsumoto Rangiku, while Shizuya secretly left her rings and Ichimaru Gin vowed to gain power.

• Aizen sent Shizuya to intern in the Twelfth Division, where he met Kisuke Urahara, Akon, Hiyori Sarugaki, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
• At an old tavern, Shizuya confronted Guiganjo Kenpachi after he assaulted a server, released his Zanpakuto, and used its simulations to wound Guiganjo before Aizen intervened.
• After Shizuya recovered in the Fourth Division, the captains rebuked Guiganjo, while Aizen was promoted to Fifth Division Vice-Captain and admitted he had allowed the confrontation to test Shizuya.
• Aizen revealed his plan for a new order and asked Shizuya to join him, and Shizuya accepted after hearing his case against the existing system.
• Aizen trained Shizuya and Tōsen Kaname outside the Seireitei and showed them the Hōgyoku’s pursuit of souls, then helped Shizuya test his Zanpakuto’s ability to predict possible outcomes.
• Aizen identified Shizuya’s ability’s weakness to sudden outside interference and its high Spiritual Power cost, while the Hōgyoku showed no progress after consuming 379 Soul Bodies.
• A month later, Aizen extracted part of Matsumoto Rangiku’s soul and celebrated the Hōgyoku’s reaction as Shizuya watched Ichimaru Gin approach.
• Shizuya stopped Tōsen from drawing on Gin, left a pouch of rings beside Rangiku, and followed Aizen away as Gin found the rings and resolved to gain power.

Arima Shizuya’s internships led him from Yoruichi’s offer of an alliance to a deadly battle with Guiganjo, where he discovered Sagara Dragon and its Bankai. After Aizen revealed Kyōka Suigetsu and invited him to join forces, Shizuya began an Eighth Division internship with Kyōraku, who recognized his hidden strength and agreed to leave his secrets alone as long as Seireitei remained safe.

• Hirako Shinji invited Arima Shizuya to join the Fifth Division, but Shizuya declined and chose to explore internships in other units.
• Yoruichi Shihouin welcomed Shizuya to the Second Division, recognized that he had learned Empty Cicada, and invited him to support her and Urahara’s gradual reforms.
• Shizuya visited Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s laboratory and learned that Sleeping Number Six had died, prompting him to question his own Zanpakuto and his reluctance to fight.
• Aizen sent Shizuya to face Guiganjo, who released Yama Hammer and shattered Shizuya’s body, forcing Shizuya to meet his Zanpakuto Spirit and learn its True Name, Sagara Dragon.
• Shizuya returned with Sagara Dragon’s power and defeated Guiganjo’s attacks, while Aikawa Rabu used Kyōka Suigetsu to confuse Guiganjo and the captains detained him after his rampage killed thirty-six people.
• Aizen explained that Sagara Dragon created an isolated labyrinth to analyze opponents, revealed his own Zanpakuto’s Complete Hypnosis, and invited Shizuya to join forces.
• Shizuya began an Eighth Division internship, where Kyōraku Shunsui questioned him about secrets and later took him to watch a play at DuoBao Pavilion.
• Kyōraku told Shizuya he suspected his hidden strength but would not interfere with his secrecy as long as Seireitei was safe, and Shizuya realized Aizen had arranged his meetings with the captains so he could learn from them.

Arima Shizuya trained under Yamamoto, broke through his attribute limit, and resolved to grow strong enough to stand alongside Aizen and face Yamamoto if their plans brought them into conflict. He began an internship in the Twelfth Division, where he met Kisuke Urahara and spent time caring for Sleeping Number Seven.

• Kyōraku Shunsui brought Arima Shizuya to Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s annual gathering, where Yamamoto praised Arima’s strength and Kyōraku asked him to help shoulder future responsibilities.
• Arima Shizuya began an internship in the First Division, where Yamamoto tested him in combat, broke his arm, and then agreed to teach him the Original Flow.
• Arima Shizuya struggled with a 60-point attribute limit until he combined Kendo and Hakuda in a powerful strike, raising both attributes and naming his technique “This is My Style.”
• Kotetsu Isane told Arima Shizuya that Kuchiki Sojun had died from mission injuries, and Arima comforted her as she feared losing him.
• Arima Shizuya told Aizen Sōsuke he wanted to grow strong enough to stand alongside him and face Yamamoto, while Aizen described his plan to seek a breakthrough for Shinigami.
• Arima Shizuya began an internship in the Twelfth Division, where Mayuri Kurotsuchi introduced Sleeping Number Seven and allowed Arima to take her around under set care rules.
• Arima Shizuya met Kisuke Urahara, who explained his Gigai research and offered Arima a custom gigai in exchange for his physical measurements.
• Arima Shizuya visited Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s laboratory, helped the unsteady Sleeping Number Seven onto his shoulders, and began walking with her riding there.