Chapter Summaries

Arima Shizuya completed the Academy procedures after his injury and learned that Aizen Sōsuke was leaving his teaching post after becoming a Vice-Captain. Before departing, Aizen apologized for his part in the encounter with Guiganjo and invited Shizuya to join him and his allies.

• Ise Nanao gave Arima Shizuya the forms to appeal his absence deductions and reflected on how much he had improved.
• Arima Shizuya learned that Kotetsu Isane had begun her internship in the Fourth Division.
• Tōsen Kaname warned Arima Shizuya that Guiganjo would likely resent being defeated by an Academy student and told him that Aizen was waiting for him.
• Arima Shizuya found Aizen Sōsuke packing his belongings and learned that Aizen had been promoted to Vice-Captain and would leave the Academy.
• Aizen Sōsuke apologized for his role in the Guiganjo incident and invited Arima Shizuya to walk alongside him and his allies.

Aizen explained that he had deliberately tested Arima Shizuya to assess his potential, apologized for putting him in danger, and asked him to become a true companion. He showed Shizuya a translucent sphere and began revealing his plan, claiming that their world was governed by a conscious being and that they were prisoners bound by iron chains.

• Aizen invited Arima Shizuya for a private walk and praised his extraordinary progress over the past month.
• Arima Shizuya asked whether Aizen had arranged his encounter with Guiganjo, and Aizen admitted he had knowingly allowed the confrontation to test him.
• Aizen described the dangers and casualties Shinigami faced, then apologized for putting Arima Shizuya in life-threatening situations.
• Aizen said he wanted to learn Arima Shizuya's potential and hoped he would become his true companion in a plan for equality and freedom.
• Aizen showed Arima Shizuya a small translucent sphere and began explaining that a conscious being controlled their world, leaving them prisoners bound by iron chains.

Aizen explained his desire to overthrow the Soul Society’s old order and asked Arima Shizuya to join him. Arima accepted, becoming Aizen Co., Ltd.’s Employee No. 002.

• Aizen told Arima Shizuya that he saw them both as geniuses alienated from ordinary people and revealed his plan to establish a new order with like-minded allies.
• Aizen compared the noble system to people benefiting from slaughter without witnessing it, then described how the old order’s defenders protected their chains.
• Aizen asked Arima Shizuya to lend him his strength, and Arima asked whether Aizen had been sure he would agree.
• Arima Shizuya accepted Aizen’s invitation, and they sealed the agreement with a handshake.

After Aizen returned to the Fifth Division, Arima Shizuya continued attending the Academy and sparring with Tōsen Kaname while wondering how to find new support for his training. One night, Tōsen told him that Aizen was waiting for him.

• Arima Shizuya told Kotetsu Isane he did not feel sad about Aizen leaving the Academy.
• Kotetsu Isane said she wanted to join the Fourth Division and train under Captain Retsu Unohana, and Arima encouraged her.
• Arima reflected that Academy lessons no longer helped him improve and that Aizen’s private tutoring had provided most of his recent resources.
• Arima continued nightly sparring with Tōsen Kaname, whose varied matches helped him improve and occasionally gain attribute points.
• Tōsen told Arima that Aizen was waiting for him and asked him to come along.

Arima Shizuya and Tōsen Kaname left the Seireitei with Aizen, who explained his plan to raise their strength and secure influence within the Gotei 13. After putting them through brutal training, Aizen led them toward the Slum Street to prepare for the future.

• Arima Shizuya followed Tōsen Kaname out of the True Spiritual Arts Academy and met Aizen near the East Gate.
• Aizen used Kyōka Suigetsu to guide the three of them past the guards and out of the Seireitei.
• Aizen said Shizuya and Tōsen needed to reach captain-level strength so they could gain positions in the Gotei 13 and influence the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.
• Aizen put Shizuya and Tōsen through intense training in Kendo, Hakuda, Shunpo, and Kido, leaving Tōsen unable to continue and Shizuya battered.
• Aizen praised Shizuya for enduring the training, then told him and Tōsen to help clean up the Slum Street and make preparations for the future.

Aizen took Arima Shizuya and Tōsen to Rukongai to collect souls for the Hōgyoku, then arranged another meeting three days later. During the next outing, Aizen offered Shizuya special guidance and told him to release his Zanpakuto.

• Aizen explained that the Hōgyoku absorbed souls as he collected the souls of three Slum Street residents killed for their valuables.
• Aizen, Shizuya, and Tōsen watched a Hollow devour a wounded resident but left without intervening to avoid attracting attention.
• Aizen ended the outing and told Shizuya and Tōsen to meet him again in three days, noting that Hirako Shinji was watching him closely.
• Three days later, Aizen added extra training and offered Shizuya guidance about his Zanpakuto.
• Aizen told Shizuya to release his Zanpakuto.

Arima Shizuya showed Aizen his released Zanpakuto, and Aizen judged its form to be rare and seemingly fragile. During their spar, Arima used his ability to land a cut on Aizen, who identified its obvious weakness.

• Aizen explained how a Shinigami's Shikai could reflect its wielder's nature and described Arima Shizuya's Zanpakuto as restrained yet unusually intricate.
• Arima told Aizen that his Zanpakuto had withstood a powerful strike, and Aizen said its nature was complicated but not a problem for now.
• Aizen asked Arima to attack him and concealed his Zanpakuto ability, while Arima entered the black-and-white space of his Mobius Ring to explore possible outcomes.
• Arima anticipated Aizen's sidestep and evaded his concealed Raikōhō before appearing behind him and cutting his back.
• Aizen examined his wound, praised Arima's ability, and said its weakness was obvious.

Arima Shizuya resumed fighting Aizen, using his Zanpakuto’s predictions to seek small advantages. Aizen exposed the ability’s weakness by having Tōsen intervene, leaving Shizuya battered and Aizen explaining how he had deduced the power.

• Arima Shizuya reviewed his improved skills and prepared to fight Aizen again, aiming to injure or suppress him rather than win outright.
• Shizuya used his Zanpakuto’s predictions to choose an approach and charged at Aizen with Shunpo.
• Aizen ordered Tōsen Kaname to attack, and the unexpected intervention disrupted Shizuya’s predictions.
• Aizen struck Shizuya with Shakkahō and a kick, leaving him wounded and disheveled.
• Aizen inferred that Shizuya could predict events a few seconds ahead and explained that his ability failed to account for a third party’s sudden intervention.

Arima Shizuya learned how his Zanpakuto’s ability could fail when outside forces disrupted its predictions, and Aizen advised him to reserve it for controlled one-on-one fights. A month later, while working with Aizen in a Slum Street, Arima saw a familiar face.

• Aizen analyzed Arima Shizuya’s Zanpakuto and identified its vulnerability to outside interference and its extreme Spiritual Power consumption.
• Aizen advised Arima to use his ability in controlled one-on-one fights and praised its potential when its conditions were met.
• Three days later, Aizen told Arima that the Hōgyoku had shown no signs of progress despite consuming 379 Soul Bodies.
• A month later, Arima saw a familiar face in a Slum Street while acting alongside Aizen.

Aizen, Arima Shizuya, and Tōsen extracted part of Matsumoto Rangiku’s soul with the Hōgyoku, while Ichimaru Gin watched from nearby. Shizuya stopped Tōsen from attacking Gin, left Rangiku a pouch of rings, and Gin resolved to seek power after finding her alive.

• Aizen celebrated the Hōgyoku’s strong reaction after extracting part of Matsumoto Rangiku’s soul, while Shizuya watched Rangiku lying weakly on the ground.
• Shizuya noticed Ichimaru Gin watching them from a distance, and Tōsen reached for his sword in response to Gin’s hostile intent.
• Shizuya stopped Tōsen from drawing his blade, and Aizen led the group away without addressing Gin.
• Shizuya left a pouch of rings beside Rangiku before catching up with Aizen and Tōsen.
• Gin rushed to Rangiku, confirmed she was alive, and resolved to gain power; at Rangiku’s request, he opened the pouch and found rings inside.

Aizen told Arima Shizuya that the Hōgyoku’s evolution had stalled and gave him books to study, while discussing new research directions. After seeing Shizuya’s strong performance during his Fifth Division internship, Hirako Shinji invited him to graduate early and join the division, potentially as a seated officer or even vice-captain.

• Aizen explained that the Hōgyoku had stopped responding to his experiments and said he planned to explore other research approaches.
• Aizen gave Arima Shizuya two books and said they might help him improve.
• Hirako Shinji arrived, asked Shizuya about his impressions of the Fifth Division, and praised his understanding of its rescue duties.
• Hirako Shinji learned that Shizuya had passed the division’s temporary tests with full marks and invited him to graduate early and join the Fifth Division.

Arima Shizuya declined Hirako Shinji’s invitation to join his squad and planned to rotate through internships before choosing a destination. Aizen told him to keep developing at the Academy, then hinted that he had arranged something for Shizuya, leaving him wary of another dangerous challenge.

• Hirako Shinji invited Arima Shizuya to join his squad, but Shizuya respectfully declined and explained that he planned to try internships in different units.
• Aizen reminded Hirako Shinji about the internship reforms, and Hirako realized he had missed the meeting and fled in embarrassment.
• Aizen told Arima Shizuya to take his time at the Academy and explore more squads, while explaining that he had separate plans for Tōsen Kaname.
• Aizen said future activities would happen once a month and promised to contact Arima Shizuya personally, then reassured him that his next arrangement would not be too dangerous.

Arima Shizuya celebrated Kotetsu Isane’s perfect score on the Fourth Division recruitment exam with teasing and a gift. He then told her he would spend about half a month interning with the Second Division, where Aizen expected him to learn advanced Shunpo and encounter new experiences.

• Arima Shizuya teased Kotetsu Isane about her clothes and called her Isane-chan, making her blush.
• Kotetsu Isane told Arima Shizuya she had earned full marks on the Fourth Division recruitment exam and been praised by the examiner.
• Arima Shizuya congratulated Kotetsu Isane and gave her a small gift, which she planned to open in her dorm.
• Arima Shizuya told Kotetsu Isane that Aizen had arranged for him to intern with the Second Division for about half a month.
• Aizen’s letter directed Arima Shizuya to make contact with the Second Division and learn advanced Shunpo techniques.

Arima Shizuya arrived at the Second Division for a half-month internship and received a tour from Ōmaeda Marechiyo. He met Captain Yoruichi Shihouin and her younger brother Yushiro Shihōin, whose appearance startled him.

• Arima Shizuya reached the Second Division barracks and met Ōmaeda Marechiyo, who welcomed him and offered to cover his food, lodging, and expenses.
• Ōmaeda Marechiyo explained the different divisions’ duties and described the Second Division as the Stealth Force.
• Arima Shizuya followed Ōmaeda Marechiyo through the barracks to greet Captain Yoruichi Shihouin.
• Yoruichi Shihouin stopped training with Yushiro Shihōin and reminded him to keep practicing.
• Arima Shizuya saw Yushiro Shihōin and was startled by his feminine appearance.

Arima Shizuya arrived at the Shihōin estate to study under Yoruichi and met her devoted subordinate Tomomi and younger brother Yushiro. Yoruichi teased him about marrying into the family, then confronted him about having already figured out a Stealth Step technique.

• Tomomi demanded that Arima Shizuya kneel before Yoruichi, but Yoruichi told her not to judge him by her personal feelings.
• Yoruichi welcomed Arima Shizuya, drew him into an embrace, and sent Ōmaeda Marechiyo to prepare the reception room.
• Yoruichi introduced her younger brother Yushiro Shihōin and joked that he would become the next head of the Shihōin Clan.
• Yoruichi asked Arima Shizuya what he thought of Yushiro's looks and teased him about marrying into the family, but he declined.
• Yoruichi pulled Arima Shizuya aside and asked if he had already figured out Stealth Step: Four Maple's third technique, Empty Cicada.

Yoruichi explained how Retsu Unohana’s account of Guiganjo’s wound and Arima Shizuya’s reaction confirmed that he had learned a Shihōin Clan technique. After joking about punishing him, she asked whether he would work under her and her associates.

• After the banquet, Yoruichi kept Arima Shizuya alone in the reception hall and asked him to explain how he had learned the technique.
• Yoruichi said Retsu Unohana recognized the precise wound on Guiganjo’s back as resembling a Shihōin assassination technique.
• Yoruichi told Arima Shizuya that his erratic heartbeat confirmed her suspicion that he had secretly learned the technique.
• Yoruichi jokingly threatened to sentence Arima Shizuya to execution, then laughed and admitted she had been teasing him.
• Yoruichi asked Arima Shizuya whether he would work under her and her associates.

Yoruichi Shihouin explained her gradual reformist plans for the Soul Society and invited Arima Shizuya to join her alliance. Shizuya accepted, agreeing to stay aligned with her once he became a captain.

• Yoruichi asked Arima Shizuya what he thought of the Soul Society and described its ancient history and entrenched noble privileges.
• Arima Shizuya admitted that he disliked not being a noble, prompting Yoruichi to laugh and accept his honesty.
• Yoruichi said she and Urahara wanted to change outdated parts of the Soul Society through a gradual, bloodless approach.
• Yoruichi invited Shizuya to join their verbal alliance and asked him to support their direction if he became a captain.
• Shizuya accepted, and Yoruichi promised to train him well.

Arima Shizuya wrote to Aizen Sōsuke asking where to go for his next stage of training, and Aizen began composing a reply. After Hirako Shinji warned him that Guiganjo might target Shizuya, Aizen included a warning; Shizuya read the letter and reacted with astonishment.

• Arima Shizuya wrote to Aizen that he had learned what he could in the Second Division and asked for his next destination.
• Aizen reread Shizuya's letter as Hirako Shinji brought him documents and teased him about his close bond with his former student.
• Hirako Shinji warned Aizen that Guiganjo had recovered and might seek revenge against Shizuya, so Aizen decided to tell the young man to be careful.
• A day later, Arima Shizuya received Aizen's reply from Senior Ōmaeda and reacted with astonishment as he read it.

Arima Shizuya left the Second Division and went to the Research and Development Department, where Mayuri Kurotsuchi told him Sleeping Number Six had died. Seeing the vase where she had kept his hair, Arima realized he regretted not sharing his Insect Curry with her.

• Arima Shizuya told Yoruichi Shihouin he was ending his Second Division internship, and she approved his departure while asking him to visit the Twelfth Division.
• Arima Shizuya traveled overnight to the Research and Development Department and followed Akon to Mayuri Kurotsuchi's office.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi told Arima Shizuya that Sleeping Number Six had died after her cells stopped dividing and ordered him to remove the vase holding his hair.
• Akon explained that Sleeping Number Six was one of Mayuri's failed experiments and that Mayuri had been like a father to her.
• Arima Shizuya saw Sleeping Number Six's vase and realized he regretted not giving her a bite of Insect Curry.

After learning of Sleeping Number Six's death, Arima Shizuya struggled with his sympathy until Aizen reassured him and questioned whether his released Zanpakuto had been named correctly. Aizen left him wondering what his Zanpakuto's true name was and whether his reluctance to fight was limiting its strength.

• Arima Shizuya told Aizen about Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Sleeping Project and Sleeping Number Six's death.
• Aizen reassured Arima that feeling sorrow for another life was natural, even for someone who wielded a Masterwork Blade.
• Aizen explained that a Zanpakuto reflected its Shinigami's inner self and pointed out that Arima had released his Zanpakuto without meeting its spirit.
• Aizen suggested that Bow Clothing might not be the Zanpakuto's True Name, leaving Arima to question the Asauchi at his waist.
• Aizen proposed that Arima's reluctance to fight might be preventing him from drawing out his Zanpakuto's full strength.