Chapter Summaries

Arima Shizuya tested his controlled Hollowfication while Aizen and Tōsen Kaname examined its effects and implications. He learned that the transformation boosted his physical abilities but could not yet reveal a path to further advancement, and the investigation ended with his findings recorded.

• Aizen explained Hollowfication’s effects and concluded that Arima Shizuya’s transformed clone avoided the inner conflict seen in other Shinigami because it remained an extension of his consciousness.
• Arima Shizuya confirmed that he could control his body and that Hollowfication improved his strength, speed, and reactions.
• Aizen proposed that Hollowfication was not an endpoint, while Arima Shizuya considered possible routes to greater power and recognized that he lacked a separate self to accept.
• Arima Shizuya removed his mask and reported that his Hollowfication lasted about ten minutes before his consciousness and control began to deteriorate.
• Tōsen Kaname recorded Arima Shizuya’s findings, bringing the Hollowfication investigation to a temporary close.

Hinamori Momo helped the Tenth Division with handover preparations and caught up with her childhood friend Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Matsumoto Rangiku. Their teasing conversation ended with Rangiku revealing that the Tenth Division captain had gone to the World of the Living after a squad member was attacked by a formidable enemy.

• Hinamori Momo gave Tenth Division members organized handover materials and credited Captain Arima for the methods she used.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō arrived, sent his squad members to rest, and argued with Hinamori about her worn uniform and their childhood nicknames.
• Matsumoto Rangiku teased Hinamori about her appearance and asked whether she liked Captain Arima; Hinamori said she admired him.
• Rangiku told Hinamori that the Tenth Division captain had left for the World of the Living after a squad member was attacked by someone who might be formidable.

Ichimaru Gin rejected a promotion and revealed that he had a serious matter to discuss with Matsumoto Rangiku, while Hinamori Momo returned to the Fifth Division and found Arima Shizuya away on a three-to-five-day trip. In the World of the Living, Arima Shizuya, Aizen Sōsuke, and Tōsen Kaname tracked artificial Hollows and worried that Shiba Isshin’s intervention could disrupt Arima’s plan involving Masaki Kurosaki and the Yaksha Clone.

• Ichimaru Gin told Matsumoto Rangiku that he had turned down the chance to become the Tenth Division’s vice-captain and needed to discuss something important with her.
• Hinamori Momo returned to the Fifth Division, found Arima Shizuya’s note saying he would be gone for three to five days, and decided to return his borrowed book when he came back.
• Arima Shizuya, Aizen Sōsuke, and Tōsen Kaname rested after traveling through the Dangai, then followed Hell Butterflies tracking spiritual-pressure traces in the World of the Living.
• Arima Shizuya explained that artificial Hollows had caused casualties among the stationed Shinigami, prompting Shiba Isshin to act personally.
• Aizen Sōsuke said the greater concern was Arima Shizuya’s Yaksha Clone, and Arima worried that his plan to transfer Hollow energy into Masaki Kurosaki could fail and prevent Kurosaki Ichigo’s existence.

Shiba Isshin inspected the Tenth Division’s World of the Living patrols but found no sign of the attacks he had heard about. A Hollow ambushed him, and after Arima Shizuya wounded him from behind, Isshin faced a barrage of Hollow Flashes while Aizen and Arima watched.

• Shiba Isshin visited a Tenth Division member, learned the patrol had seen no trouble, and left after dismissing a cellphone as inconvenient to obtain and use.
• After completing his inspections, Shiba Isshin was struck by a Hollow Flash from an unfamiliar serpentine Hollow and recognized it as a Hollow.
• Shiba Isshin drew his Zanpakuto and prepared to use Bankai, but Arima Shizuya slashed his back while concealed from view.
• Aizen watched with Arima Shizuya and noted that Shiba Isshin’s injury would limit his ability to fight at full strength.
• The Hollow launched more than ten Hollow Flashes at Shiba Isshin, who realized the creature itself was an overwhelming threat.

Masaki Kurosaki and Ryūken Ishida witnessed a powerful spiritual clash, and Masaki rushed toward the weakening presence despite Ryūken’s warning. Shiba Isshin was left gravely injured and cornered by the monster, until two Quincy appeared and fired a barrage of arrows.

• Masaki Kurosaki returned to the Ishida residence soaked from the rain and endured the family’s lectures about her conduct at dinner.
• Ryūken Ishida considered whether Masaki Kurosaki could be happy in their expected marriage, then tried to speak honestly with her before a flash of spiritual pressure interrupted them.
• Masaki Kurosaki rushed toward the clash because she sensed someone’s spiritual pressure rapidly weakening, while Ryūken Ishida followed after her.
• Shiba Isshin struggled to escape the pursuing monster, realized Kido was ineffective against it, and forced himself to stand and provoke it despite his injuries.
• Aizen Sōsuke, Arima Shizuya, and Tōsen Kaname watched as two figures on a rooftop gathered Reishi into bows.
• Prison Master recognized the figures as Quincy, and they unleashed a barrage of arrows.

Masaki Kurosaki and Ryūken Ishida fought the regenerating Yaksha Clone while Shiba Isshin was gravely wounded protecting Masaki from its Hollow Flash. Masaki launched a point-blank attack, but Arima Shizuya intervened with a blade just as she was about to fire.

• Masaki Kurosaki struck the Yaksha Clone with spirit particle arrows and urged the wounded Shiba Isshin to escape, but Ryūken Ishida warned that the Hollow was barely hurt.
• The Yaksha Clone fired a Hollow Flash at Masaki, and Shiba Isshin used Dankū to shield her, suffering devastating burns and collapsing.
• Arima Shizuya observed that he had adapted to Quincy attacks, while Masaki and Ryūken struggled to evade the Clone’s increasingly intense assault.
• Ryūken Ishida fired a condensed Heilig Pfeil into the Clone’s neck, but its wound began regenerating and he considered retreating.
• Masaki Kurosaki exploited the Clone’s attack rhythm, closed to point-blank range, and prepared to fire at maximum power before Arima Shizuya’s blade flashed through the air.

Masaki Kurosaki and Ryūken Ishida were rescued from Aizen Sōsuke and Tōsen Kaname by Shiba Isshin’s desperate stand, but Isshin was nearly overwhelmed. Kisuke Urahara and the Visored arrived as reinforcements, confronting Aizen and changing the battle’s odds.

• Masaki Kurosaki blasted the Yaksha Clone but was struck into the roadway, and Aizen Sōsuke intervened to protect the clone.
• Aizen and Tōsen revealed themselves to Shiba Isshin, and Tōsen prepared to kill the witnesses.
• Shiba Isshin privately urged Ryūken Ishida to escape with the injured Masaki, then chose to hold off the enemies himself.
• Tōsen blocked Isshin as Aizen stood ready to join the fight, but a powerful Hadō blast forced them to defend themselves.
• Kisuke Urahara and several Visored appeared, announced they were allies, and challenged Aizen Sōsuke.

Aizen Sōsuke confronted the Visored and Kisuke Urahara, who launched a coordinated attack that he survived without injury. Urahara revealed that Soul Society reinforcements were already on their way, leaving Aizen to choose between fighting and risking exposure or withdrawing.

• Aizen Sōsuke taunted the Visored, and Hirako Shinji restrained Hiyori Sarugaki before confronting him.
• Hachigen Ushōda and Tessai Tsukabishi bound Aizen with their strongest Kidō, while Kensei Muguruma struck him with Bakudan Totsugeki.
• Aizen emerged unharmed and accused the Visored of holding back their Bankai to protect the World of the Living.
• Kisuke Urahara explained that the disturbance had triggered reports and that reinforcements from the Seventh Division, Eighth Division, and First Division were traveling through the Dangai.
• Urahara challenged Aizen to choose between fighting them and risking exposure or withdrawing, warning that Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni might also be on his way.

Kisuke Urahara and the Visored forced Aizen Sōsuke’s group to retreat, while Yoruichi Shihouin seized the wounded Yaksha Clone. Urahara recognized the clone as Arima Shizuya, and Hirako Shinji confronted Aizen over what had happened to him.

• Kisuke Urahara challenged Prison Master to risk waiting for reinforcements, and Aizen Sōsuke agreed to stall while his group prepared to withdraw.
• Arima Shizuya realized Aizen intended to retreat and worried he would lose his chance to bring Masaki Kurosaki and Isshin together.
• Yoruichi Shihouin rushed in, struck Tōsen Kaname aside, and carried the Yaksha Clone back to Urahara’s group.
• Kisuke Urahara identified the clone as the transformed Arima Shizuya, leaving Hiyori and Hirako Shinji stunned.
• Hirako Shinji angrily blamed Aizen for Arima’s fate, and Aizen replied, “So what?”

Hirako Shinji and the Visored confronted Aizen Sōsuke over what he had done to Arima Shizuya, but Aizen overwhelmed them with his spiritual pressure before reinforcements arrived and forced him to withdraw. As the group tried to escape with the Yaksha Clone, it went berserk and gravely wounded Masaki Kurosaki, while Shiba Isshin chose to accompany them; Kyōraku Shunsui arrived too late to track anyone.

• Hirako Shinji condemned Aizen Sōsuke for using Arima Shizuya and vowed to take Shizuya back, while Kisuke Urahara promised to try to restore his sanity.
• Aizen Sōsuke unleashed crushing spiritual pressure on the group, but dispersed his attack when he sensed Soul Society's reinforcements approaching and fled with Tōsen Kaname.
• Hirako Shinji ordered the others to retreat, and Kisuke Urahara arranged to take the weakened Shiba Isshin and the injured Masaki Kurosaki with them.
• The Yaksha Clone suddenly went berserk and fired a Hollow Flash that destroyed half of Masaki Kurosaki's waist; Kisuke Urahara said he could try to save her.
• Shiba Isshin decided to go with Kisuke Urahara's group, while Kyōraku Shunsui arrived at the ruins and found he could not track the departing spiritual pressures.

At the Captain Meeting, Soi Fon proposed replacing the missing Shiba Isshin as Tenth Division Captain, and the captains approved the change. The meeting ended with Yamamoto naming Ichimaru Gin as the next captain, while Arima Shizuya’s unexplained illness drew concern and suspicion.

• Soi Fon reported that searches had found no sign of Shiba Isshin and proposed replacing him as captain.
• Kyōraku Shunsui privately told Jūshirō Ukitake that the traces at the scene suggested Shinigami, Hollows, and Quincy had all been involved.
• Arima Shizuya suffered a coughing fit, and he explained that his weakness and illness had begun around the time Shiba Isshin disappeared.
• Retsu Unohana asked Arima Shizuya to visit the Fourth Division for an examination after the meeting.
• The captains voted on Soi Fon’s proposal; Komamura Sajin and Jūshirō Ukitake opposed it, but it passed.
• Yamamoto approved the change and named Ichimaru Gin the next Tenth Division Captain.

After Retsu Unohana exposed Arima Shizuya’s attempt to hide his weakened condition, he revealed that the transfer of his Yaksha Clone had left his soul incomplete and reduced his spiritual pressure to Fourth Level. Unohana estimated that recovery would take at least ten years, and Arima found the prospect less alarming than expected.

• After the meeting ended, Arima Shizuya’s friends and fellow Captains gathered around him, and Retsu Unohana asked to inspect his bloodstained handkerchief.
• Arima explained that Isane had examined him already, while recalling that transferring power and part of his soul into Masaki Kurosaki had caused him excruciating pain.
• Arima realized that his Yaksha Clone and more than half of his soul had gone into Masaki Kurosaki, leaving him severely weakened despite his efforts to conceal it with reishi.
• Retsu Unohana struck Arima’s chest and shattered the illusion hiding his weakness, prompting the gathered Captains and Vice-Captains to demand an explanation.
• Arima admitted that his spiritual pressure had fallen to Fourth Level, and Retsu Unohana said his soul would take at least ten years to recover.

While recovering from his injuries, Arima Shizuya learned that the Fifth Division wanted him to keep his captaincy while giving him time to rest. Elsewhere, Kisuke Urahara told the Visored that the soulless Yaksha Clone was breaking down into spirit particles, leaving its fate—and the missing portion of Arima’s soul—uncertain.

• The Fifth Division members, led by Hinamori Momo, agreed to take over Arima Shizuya’s work and urged him to focus on recovery, insisting the division needed him as captain.
• Hinamori revealed plans to renovate Arima’s office into an emergency medical bay, with approval from the First and Fourth Divisions.
• Tōsen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin, and Aizen Sōsuke visited Arima, and Ichimaru asked whether retrieving the clone could restore him.
• Arima explained that the missing part of his soul had transferred into Masaki Kurosaki, so retrieving the clone would no longer be enough to heal him.
• At Kisuke Urahara’s underground hideout, Hiyori argued with Urahara while the Visored questioned what had happened to the Yaksha Clone.
• Urahara explained to Hirako Shinji and the Visored that the clone no longer contained a soul and had irreversibly begun turning into spirit particles.

Kisuke Urahara and the Visored considered whether Hollow Poison in a Quincy woman had caused Arima Shizuya’s soul to disappear, but chose to wait for more information. Shizuya later told Aizen that his soul had been split, and Aizen privately resolved to grow stronger and avoid letting Shizuya be harmed again.

• Kisuke Urahara suggested the Quincy woman’s Hollow Poison might be connected to Arima Shizuya’s missing soul, and Hiyori proposed capturing her before Kisuke warned that the plan was too uncertain and risky.
• Yoruichi Shihouin brought intelligence confirming that Arima Shizuya remained Fifth Division Captain but had suffered severe soul damage and suspended his duties to recuperate.
• Kisuke asked Yoruichi to monitor the Quincy woman, while Hirako Shinji requested copies of any relevant intelligence.
• Arima Shizuya told Tōsen Kaname, Ichimaru Gin, and Aizen Sōsuke that his power had been taken and his soul forcibly split, and Aizen apologized and promised to find a solution.
• Aizen walked back to his division, privately regretted pushing Shizuya too hard, and resolved to accelerate his research and become strong enough to solve such problems.

Kira Izuru asked Aizen Sōsuke what qualities made a qualified leader, and Aizen answered that leaders should explore beyond their comfort zones, set an example, understand their subordinates, and accept help. Hinamori Momo then told Arima Shizuya that his guidance had taught her the value of trust, and left determined to become someone he could rely on.

• Kira Izuru visited Aizen Sōsuke to ask what qualities a qualified leader needed.
• Aizen told Kira that leaders should be curious about the unknown, keep improving, set an example, tolerate their subordinates' flaws, and accept help from others.
• Hinamori Momo asked Arima Shizuya the same question, and he questioned whether she truly knew his character.
• Hinamori said she trusted Arima because his guidance had helped her learn to earn others' trust and find purpose in her work.
• Hinamori vowed to keep improving until Arima could rely on her, and Arima sent her back to her duties as acting captain.

Arima Shizuya continued recovering while discovering a new Bankai ability that could save and restore his state. As he waited for the story to connect with Kurosaki Ichigo, Prison Master’s preparations in Hueco Mundo continued.

• Kotetsu Isane examined Arima Shizuya, noted his improving condition, and asked Hinamori Momo to make sure he stayed warm and hydrated.
• After Hinamori Momo left, Arima Shizuya sensed that the half of his soul inside Masaki Kurosaki was changing under the influence of Shiba Isshin’s Shinigami power.
• Arima Shizuya deduced that Prison Master’s squad had been exploring Hueco Mundo and gathering intelligence for years.
• Arima Shizuya awakened the Bankai ability Garuda, which could record his current state and later retrieve it to restore his injuries, spiritual pressure, and mind.
• Arima Shizuya accepted the ability’s arrival as a consequence of his ordeal and looked forward to the events ahead.

The Quincy King reclaimed his heartbeat and power by absorbing Quincy strength, while a shadowy man awakened in a rain-soaked inner world and comforted young Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo was found asleep in a cemetery and returned to Isshin Kurosaki, who grieved for Masaki and reflected on his lonely life as a father.

• The Quincy King absorbed streams of Quincy power and declared that the remaining Quincy would become part of him.
• A nameless shadowy man wandered through a rainy world and found a crying child who missed his dead mother.
• The man comforted the child, who introduced himself as Kurosaki Ichigo, and the rain and clouds began to clear as they embraced.
• Isshin Kurosaki searched for Ichigo after discovering he was missing, and neighbors found the boy asleep in a cemetery.
• Isshin carried Ichigo home, checked on his daughters, and lamented Masaki's death and the hardships of raising their children alone.

Arima Shizuya visited Jūshirō Ukitake and supported Rukia’s decision to serve in the World of the Living, promising to explain it to Byakuya. On his way out, he encountered Kenpachi Zaraki, whose instincts identified Arima as a worthy opponent, but Arima refused to fight and hinted that someone else would draw Kenpachi’s attention in a few years.

• Arima met Rukia at the Thirteenth Division barracks, where Ukitake praised her performance and mentioned her promotion.
• Arima learned that Rukia would be stationed in the World of the Living and, after hearing her resolve, offered to explain her choice to Byakuya.
• Arima left with Hinamori, who joked with him about drinking and revealed that she had taken his hidden Green Brew.
• Hinamori stepped in front of Arima when they encountered Kenpachi Zaraki and his group, but a pink-haired girl warned her not to reach for her sword.
• Kenpachi admitted that his instincts made him want to fight Arima, who declined and said someone worthy of Kenpachi’s attention would appear within a few years.

Kurosaki Ichigo met Kuchiki Rukia, a Shinigami who came to purify souls, and learned that Hollows were targeting him. When Rukia was gravely wounded protecting him, Ichigo agreed to receive her Shinigami powers and faced her blade.

• Ichigo cared for the ghost of a girl who had died in a car accident and returned home to his family.
• Rukia entered Ichigo’s room, bound him with Kido, and was surprised when he broke free; they exchanged information about Shinigami and souls.
• Rukia performed a Soul Burial, showing Ichigo that the departed could go to Soul Society, then explained she was searching for a nearby Hollow.
• Ichigo and Rukia rushed outside after hearing a crash, where Rukia fought one Hollow before a second attacked and wounded her while protecting Ichigo.
• Ichigo refused to abandon Rukia, and she offered to transfer her Shinigami powers to him; he agreed and let her pierce his chest with her blade.

Arima Shizuya reassured Kuchiki Hisana about Rukia’s arrest and continued to hide his worsening condition from Hinamori Momo. He then traveled with Ichimaru Gin to meet Aizen Sōsuke, where Tōsen Kaname revealed that the Forty-Six Chambers had been cleared out.

• Arima Shizuya told Kuchiki Hisana that Byakuya might allow Rukia to face punishment within the Kuchiki Clan before the Forty-Six Chambers could judge her.
• Hinamori Momo stopped Hisana from pressing Arima further, then worried about Arima’s health as they returned to the Division Barracks.
• Arima Shizuya teased Hinamori about her protectiveness and advised her to consider her own position when defending him.
• Ichimaru Gin escorted Arima Shizuya across the Seireitei using spirit-particle bridges while Aizen Sōsuke concealed their movement with Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Arima Shizuya met Aizen Sōsuke and Tōsen Kaname beneath the First Division, where Tōsen reported that the Forty-Six Chambers had all been cleared out.