Chapter Summaries

Aizen Sōsuke and his allies entered the Forty-Six Chambers after Tōsen Kaname had massacred its members, then used Kyōka Suigetsu to create a convincing illusion that the sages were still alive. Aizen explained that they would use the false council to condemn Kuchiki Rukia to death because he sensed the other half of the Hōgyoku inside her.

• Aizen Sōsuke criticized the Forty-Six Chambers as a corrupt council while Arima Shizuya, Tōsen Kaname, and Ichimaru Gin followed him through its underground corridors.
• The group found the Forty-Six sages dead, and Tōsen Kaname admitted that he had killed them to act on his hatred of privilege and power.
• Aizen Sōsuke released Kyōka Suigetsu and created an illusion of the living sages, warning the others to preserve it until their objectives were achieved.
• Aizen Sōsuke outlined his plan to manipulate the false council into sentencing Kuchiki Rukia to death for giving her powers to a human.
• Aizen Sōsuke revealed that he had located the other half of the Hōgyoku inside Kuchiki Rukia by sensing its resonance with the half he possessed.

Aizen explained that his group would seize the Hōgyoku, leave Soul Society, and later return to remake its power structure. To distract the Gotei 13 while the plan unfolded, he chose Arima Shizuya to stage a false death.

• Aizen said the group would use the Sōkyoku as a farewell ritual before escaping Soul Society and returning as victors.
• Arima Shizuya summarized the plan to alter Kuchiki Rukia’s sentence, extract the Hōgyoku, and flee under the Sōkyoku’s witness.
• Aizen warned that Kurosaki Ichigo and his allies might invade Soul Society to rescue Rukia, and Shizuya agreed that Ichigo would likely do so.
• Aizen proposed creating a crisis inside Seireitei by staging a captain’s false death to distract the Gotei 13.
• Aizen selected Arima Shizuya as the ideal victim because his apparent decline in strength and popularity would make his death believable and disruptive.

Arima Shizuya reflected on the plan that would put him in the place of the Prison Master and realized how much his death would affect those close to him. Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo awakened his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, while Arima Shizuya and the Quincy power debated their roles in Ichigo’s inner world.

• Hinamori Momo noticed Arima Shizuya was troubled, and he asked her to imagine how others would react if he died at his post.
• Hinamori named the people who would grieve for Arima, helping him understand the impact of his relationships and set aside his doubts about the plan.
• Hinamori made Arima apologize for joking about his health and urged him to recover and live well.
• Kisuke Urahara pressed Kurosaki Ichigo to seek his Zanpakuto within his inner world, and Ichigo encountered two familiar figures who told him to call their name.
• Kurosaki Ichigo shouted “Zangetsu,” released immense spiritual pressure, and struck Kisuke Urahara with a Getsuga Tenshō.
• In Ichigo’s inner world, Arima Shizuya told the Quincy power that he had avoided fighting over Ichigo’s power and believed they would eventually understand each other.

Kuchiki Rukia accepted the Forty-Six Chambers’ death sentence, while Abarai Renji confronted Kuchiki Byakuya over his failure to act. Byakuya sought comfort from Arima Shizuya, who told him that many captains opposed the ruling and urged him to fight for Rukia.

• Kuchiki Rukia pleaded guilty after the Forty-Six Chambers sentenced her to death in twenty-five days.
• Abarai Renji argued that Rukia’s sentence was unjust and challenged Kuchiki Byakuya for letting her die, but Byakuya warned him not to repeat his disrespect.
• Kuchiki Byakuya, troubled by his feelings and responsibilities, found himself at the Fifth Division and accepted Arima Shizuya’s invitation inside.
• Arima Shizuya told Kuchiki Byakuya that several captains were opposing the sentence and supporting petitions for review.
• Arima Shizuya urged Kuchiki Byakuya to stop hiding his feelings and fight for Rukia, and Byakuya thanked him.

The Gotei 13 responded to the Ryoka invasion as Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions broke into the Seireitei to rescue Rukia. Arima Shizuya followed Ichigo out of curiosity, but ended the chapter captured as a hostage by Shiba Ganju.

• Chōjirō Sasakibe relayed Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni's order for the Captains to deal with the Ryoka, and Kenpachi Zaraki confronted Ichimaru Gin about letting them pass.
• Shiba Kukaku launched Kurosaki Ichigo and his companions into the Seireitei, where their arrival alerted the Gotei 13.
• Arima Shizuya left the Fifth Division barracks and used his connection to Ichigo to find him fighting Ikkaku Madarame.
• Shiba Ganju fled into the area, then seized Arima Shizuya as a hostage when the groups converged.
• The Eleventh Division members recognized Arima Shizuya as the Fifth Division Captain, while he apologized and asked them to keep his capture quiet.

Arima Shizuya helped Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju escape through Seireitei’s sewers, then vanished after encouraging Ichigo to keep fighting for Rukia. He later met with Aizen and the others, agreeing to stage his death at Tribunal Rock the next day to divert attention from Rukia’s trial.

• Shiba Ganju accidentally released Arima Shizuya, and Kurosaki Ichigo restrained him before Arima guided them toward the sewers.
• Kurosaki Ichigo and Shiba Ganju escaped the Eleventh Division with tear gas, and Arima directed them toward the tower where Rukia was imprisoned.
• Arima reassured Kurosaki Ichigo about his fear and urged him to keep moving forward, then disappeared before Ichigo and Ganju continued toward Rukia.
• Hinamori Momo organized a search for Arima and went to the Tenth Division to seek help from Gin, Senior.
• Ichimaru Gin told Arima that Hinamori had been comforted and settled in the Tenth Division, while Aizen said Arima’s disappearance had distracted Soul Society from Kuchiki Rukia’s trial.
• Arima agreed to stage his death atop Tribunal Rock the next day, declining to use Kyōka Suigetsu.

Hinamori Momo recovered at the Tenth Division Barracks while Hitsugaya Tōshirō told her about the crisis caused by the Ryoka and Arima Shizuya’s disappearance. They went to Tribunal Rock to seek news, where they found Arima impaled on the high wall, apparently dead.

• Hitsugaya Tōshirō brought Hinamori Momo food and reassured her after she apologized for her outburst at the Tenth Division Barracks.
• Hinamori decided to report Arima Shizuya’s disappearance to the Captain-Commander and request help finding him.
• Hitsugaya told Hinamori that Abarai Renji had been badly injured fighting the Ryoka, that the disappearance had spread through the Gotei 13, and that wartime restrictions had been lifted.
• Hitsugaya took Hinamori to Tribunal Rock to look for new information.
• Hitsugaya and Hinamori saw Arima Shizuya’s motionless body pinned to the wall with his Zanpakuto, the Sagara Dragon, as crows gathered around him.

After Arima Shizuya was found dead, Hinamori Momo collapsed in grief while Hitsugaya Tōshirō organized the response. Retsu Unohana confirmed Arima’s death and found no signs of a struggle, leading her to suspect an insider in the Gotei 13.

• Hinamori Momo saw Arima Shizuya’s body and broke down, pleading with Hitsugaya Tōshirō to save him.
• Hitsugaya Tōshirō calmed the crowd, summoned the captains and Fourth Division, and reported the tragedy to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Kuchiki Byakuya entered the room, viewed Arima’s body, and vowed to find and punish the murderer.
• Retsu Unohana confirmed that Arima was dead and reported that he had no injuries or signs of a struggle besides the fatal wound to his chest.
• Retsu Unohana said she suspected the killing was an act of rebellion from within the Gotei 13.

After Arima Shizuya’s death, Kuchiki Byakuya demanded that the captains cooperate with his investigation, triggering a fight among them. Meanwhile, Kurosaki Ichigo faced Kenpachi Zaraki and was left on the brink of defeat as two familiar figures appeared before him.

• Retsu Unohana confirmed that no clear suspect had been found, and the captains considered whether Arima Shizuya’s killer belonged to the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or an unknown organization.
• Soi Fon tried to leave to pursue the Ryoka, but Kuchiki Byakuya questioned her whereabouts and demanded she explain why she had acted alone.
• Soi Fon challenged Kuchiki Byakuya, who drew his sword and demanded everyone cooperate with his investigation; Kyōraku Shunsui was wounded while trying to calm them, and the captains began fighting.
• The hidden mastermind watched the conflict spread, pleased that Arima Shizuya’s death had provoked consequences beyond expectations.
• Kurosaki Ichigo confronted Kenpachi Zaraki, who pierced him through the heart and lungs before turning away; as Ichigo struggled to remain conscious, two familiar figures appeared beside Kenpachi.

Kurosaki Ichigo chose to trust Arima Shizuya and borrow his power instead of relying on Yhwach. He awakened a violent side of his soul, and Kenpachi Zaraki faced him as his black spiritual pressure flooded the ruins.

• Yhwach asked Kurosaki Ichigo whether he wanted to win or merely survive, and Ichigo cried out for power to win.
• Arima Shizuya interrupted and told Ichigo to choose one of them as his helper because he could not yet accommodate both powers.
• Ichigo chose to trust Arima Shizuya, and Yhwach silently withdrew as Arima began to awaken his power.
• Arima warned Ichigo that his power was violent and difficult to control, then urged him to accept the instinctive side of himself.
• Kenpachi Zaraki told Yachiru to get down and grinned as Ichigo rose, releasing a torrent of black spiritual pressure.

Kurosaki Ichigo Hollowfied during his duel with Kenpachi Zaraki, overpowering him with brutal attacks and a Hollow Flash before leaving the battlefield. Ichigo collapsed soon after, and Yoruichi Shihouin found him and wondered about the Hollowfication and Arima Shizuya’s presence within him.

• Yachiru warned Kenpachi Zaraki that Ichigo’s Spiritual Pressure was abnormal, but Kenpachi charged at him anyway.
• Ichigo’s Hollow mask and white armor appeared, and he battered Kenpachi with repeated Getsuga Tenshō attacks while Shiba Ganju continued toward the target tower.
• Kenpachi released the Spiritual Pressure-sealing effect of his eyepatch and traded savage, regenerating blows with Ichigo.
• Ichigo seized Kenpachi and fired a Hollow Flash through his chest, leaving the captain gravely wounded.
• Yachiru found Kenpachi in the ruins, and he resolved to keep fighting despite his defeat.
• Ichigo collapsed two blocks away after his Hollow shell dispersed, and Yoruichi arrived in cat form to take him somewhere safe.

Chōjirō Sasakibe reported the Gotei 13’s casualties and the confirmed death of Arima Shizuya at an emergency Captain Meeting. Aizen Sōsuke proposed that Arima’s death might have resulted from his own failed actions and urged the Captains to investigate hidden changes in the Seireitei, including the Forty-Six Chambers and people close to Arima.

• Chōjirō Sasakibe reported that Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kenpachi Zaraki were severely injured and confirmed Arima Shizuya’s death.
• Chōjirō said Arima’s body and soul were missing, while Soi Fon challenged the secrecy surrounding the investigation and was reminded that she was a suspect.
• Soi Fon denied harming Arima, and Kuchiki Byakuya apologized for his earlier agitation as Kyōraku Shunsui and Ichimaru Gin eased the tense discussion.
• Retsu Unohana said there was nothing more to learn from Arima’s body and asked the Captains to respect the dead, leaving the investigation at a deadlock.
• Aizen Sōsuke suggested Arima might have been attempting something himself and that his death could have concealed another incident.
• Aizen urged the Captains to investigate unknown changes in the Seireitei, the Forty-Six Chambers, and the people close to Arima.

As Hinamori Momo grieved Arima Shizuya, Hitsugaya Tōshirō reported that Chad Yasutora had been captured and that Soul Society’s crises were escalating. The chapter ended with Kuchiki Rukia’s execution set for the next day and the divisions quietly mourning Arima.

• First Division investigators questioned Hinamori Momo about Arima Shizuya’s murder, but Hitsugaya Tōshirō sent them away and urged her to eat.
• Hitsugaya told Hinamori that Chad Yasutora had been captured but knew nothing about Arima’s murder, while Yoruichi Shihouin had appeared alongside the Ryoka.
• Hitsugaya reported that Kuchiki Rukia’s execution had been moved up to tomorrow, while Hinamori remained consumed by grief for Arima.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and members of several divisions mourned Arima, while Hinamori withdrew further into memories of him.
• Jūshirō Ukitake coughed blood and told his gathered officers that he would be better by tomorrow.

Abarai Renji left the Underground Training Ground to save Rukia while Yhwach pushed Kurosaki Ichigo to confront and accept the brutal side of his power. As Kuchiki Rukia’s execution began, Ichigo arrived atop the Execution Rack, apparently just in time to stop it.

• Abarai Renji thanked Yoruichi Shihouin for her help, left the training ground, and vowed to save Rukia himself.
• Yhwach paused Ichigo’s training and confronted him about avoiding Arima Shizuya and fearing the violent power that had injured Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Yhwach urged Ichigo to accept every part of himself, then vanished as Ichigo reached out to claim a part of his power and its name.
• Kuchiki Rukia walked toward her execution and learned from Kuchiki Byakuya that Abarai Renji had earned his acknowledgment.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni released the execution spear, which transformed into the Destroyed King as Rukia was raised on the Execution Rack.
• Kurosaki Ichigo appeared atop the Execution Rack, bandaged but confident, as Rukia’s execution began.

Kurosaki Ichigo interrupted Rukia's execution, revealed his Bankai, and fought Kuchiki Byakuya as the Captains watched. Just as Ichigo unleashed his Hollow power, Soi Fon learned that the Central Forty-Six had been murdered, and Gin Ichimaru launched a sudden attack.

• Kurosaki Ichigo arrived at the execution scaffold, reunited with Rukia, and defeated the execution officers who tried to stop him.
• Kurosaki Ichigo revealed Tensa Zangetsu and challenged Kuchiki Byakuya, who answered with Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Kuchiki Byakuya's Senkei overwhelmed Ichigo and wounded him, but Ichigo summoned his Hollow power and vowed to win.
• An Onmitsukidō member reported to Soi Fon that the Forty-Six Chambers had been dead for over half a month.
• Gin Ichimaru commanded Shinso to shoot, launching a sudden attack as the balance of power collapsed.

Aizen Sōsuke and his allies were cornered and accused of murdering Arima Shizuya and the Forty-Six Chambers, but Aizen revealed that his power had trapped everyone in an illusion. The chapter ended as he released Kyōka Suigetsu and the false scene shattered.

• Hitsugaya Tōshirō intercepted Ichimaru Gin’s attack on Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, while Yamamoto seized Shinso and Kyōraku Shunsui restrained Gin.
• Komamura Sajin subdued Tōsen Kaname, and Soi Fon, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Retsu Unohana surrounded Aizen Sōsuke.
• Yamamoto accused Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen of murdering Arima Shizuya and the Forty-Six Chambers, citing an anonymous letter and evidence gathered with Kyōraku’s help.
• Yoruichi Shihouin revealed that she had sent the letter and confronted Aizen, but Aizen resisted Soi Fon’s attack and displayed overwhelming spiritual pressure.
• Retsu Unohana stabbed Aizen, but Hitsugaya’s shout exposed that the apparent confrontation was an illusion; Aizen then said, “Shatter. Kyōka Suigetsu.”

Aizen Sōsuke revealed that he had used Kyōka Suigetsu to make the captains attack their allies, then faced Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s devastating flames. As the fire receded, a crystal sphere cracked open and released a familiar figure whom Aizen welcomed back as Shizuya-kun.

• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni and Retsu Unohana recognized the sudden danger, while several others discovered they had attacked allies under an illusion.
• Aizen Sōsuke appeared above the gathering with Ichimaru Gin and Tōsen Kaname, taunted Tōshirō, and explained Kyōka Suigetsu’s Complete Hypnosis.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni released his Zanpakuto and struck Aizen and his companions with a towering inferno.
• Aizen’s voice emerged from the flames as he revealed that Yamamoto had not struck him and called the attack a fitting welcome-back gift.
• The inferno receded around a glowing crystal sphere, which cracked open and released a figure Aizen greeted as Shizuya-kun.

Arima Shizuya returned from the dead, revealed his Bankai could absorb Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s flames, and declared that he had betrayed Soul Society. He stood against his former teacher and explained that his power let him be reborn through fire, then faced Yamamoto’s close-range attack.

• Arima Shizuya awakened beside Aizen Sōsuke, while the captains questioned whether his return was an illusion or resurrection.
• Division members reported that the Fourth Division warehouse had been broken into and Arima Shizuya’s corpse was missing.
• Arima Shizuya used Bankai: Tianlong Babu: Garuda to absorb Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni’s flames and descended to face the captains.
• Arima Shizuya removed his Fifth Division haori, let it turn to ashes, and apologized, confirming that he had betrayed Soul Society.
• Arima Shizuya explained that Garuda let him absorb energy and be reborn, then released First-Class Spiritual Pressure that forced the other captains to their knees.
• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni attacked Arima Shizuya with a sword thrust and Ikkotsu, but Arima caught the punch with his hand.

Arima Shizuya fought Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni but was outmatched by the Captain-Commander’s close combat and Single Blade Cremation. After the flames left both men battered, Arima ended his Zanpakuto’s release and began his Bankai, escalating the battle.

• Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni overwhelmed Arima Shizuya with Hakuda and Shunpo, then unleashed Single Blade Cremation.
• Jūshirō Ukitake and Kyōraku Shunsui judged that Yamamoto had the upper hand, while Kyōraku stopped Soi Fon from acting because Aizen Sōsuke’s Kyōka Suigetsu made it dangerous to move.
• Aizen Sōsuke sent Tōsen Kaname to retrieve someone, while Ichimaru Gin acknowledged that Arima was strong but no match for Yamamoto.
• Arima Shizuya emerged from the flames with a damaged arm and brow, while Yamamoto also bore injuries but remained composed.
• Arima Shizuya ended his Zanpakuto’s release, declared that the fight would no longer be a simple contest, and activated Bankai · Tianlong Babu · Gandharva.

Arima Shizuya revealed that Gandharva had secretly marked the Seireitei’s inorganic objects, allowing him to dismantle the city into Reishi and absorb its power. He used the transformed Reishi to unleash a powerful Kidō Eight Methods attack on Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, whose fate was left unclear.

• Arima Shizuya activated Gandharva, and violent tremors spread throughout the Seireitei as buildings and streets collapsed.
• Shinigami across the Seireitei scrambled to escape the destruction, while Sajin Komamura carried the Captains and Kurosaki Ichigo on his Bankai’s palm.
• The Captains discovered that the Seireitei had vanished, leaving only ruins beneath them.
• Arima Shizuya explained that Gandharva had marked the Seireitei’s inorganic objects so he could claim them as his domain and convert them into Reishi.
• Arima Shizuya gathered the Seireitei’s Reishi and attacked Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni with three serpent-like constructs formed by Kidō Eight Methods: Foolish Blind Dragon.