Chapter Summaries

Duan Mu attended Unohana Retsu’s Flower Arrangement Gathering with Xia Yan Yuu and Ginmiha, where he helped newcomers and gained affection points. As his usual sources of experience dwindled, he wondered how to reach more people in Soul Society.

• Duan Mu reassured Ginmiha that he considered her his best friend, while Gin Ginjiro watched jealously and struggled to decide whether Duan Mu was acceptable for his daughter.
• Duan Mu visited Xia Yan Yuu and learned she would attend Unohana Retsu’s Flower Arrangement Gathering alongside Hinamori Momo now that the Fifth Division’s standby order had ended.
• Duan Mu accompanied Xia Yan Yuu and Ginmiha to the Fourth Division, where he greeted Hinamori Momo and gave Yachiru konpeitō before Unohana Retsu opened the gathering.
• Duan Mu and Kotetsu Isane taught newcomers flower arranging as Unohana Retsu led the veteran members, and Duan Mu gained affection points from several attendees.
• Duan Mu worried that his experience gains were falling because many friends had reached affection limits, and he considered how to increase his exposure across Soul Society.

Duan Mu learned that the Supervision Team helped manage Mukken, then recognized a supposedly false Hollow alert as evidence that Grand Fisher had appeared in Karakura Town. He set out for the Human World while the team prepared to notify the Golden Seal Society.

• Duan Mu discussed the Supervision Team's commissions and refused Kiyohara Tsumugu's offer to investigate the Soul Reaper who had fought Iwao.
• Kiyohara Tsumugu explained that the Supervision Team oversaw Mukken's routine inspections and seal maintenance.
• Nagano Kahide's monitoring device sounded an alert, and Duan Mu asked her to rewind and enlarge the footage.
• Duan Mu identified the girl on the screen as a Hollow and told Yanagawa that dealing with it could earn enough for a house down payment.
• Duan Mu picked up his Zanpakuto and announced that Grand Fisher had appeared in Karakura Town.

Duan Mu rushed to Karakura Town to hunt Grand Fisher, while Kusugawa Kyō pursued the Hollow after once again arriving too late. Duan Mu rescued young Ichigo and his mother from Grand Fisher, then urged them to leave as he prepared to face the Hollow.

• President Suigawa hurried Duan Mu through the Senkaimon without a limit so he could reach the Human World and hunt Grand Fisher.
• Duan Mu arrived at Karakura First High, sensed Spiritual Power across Karakura Town and nearby Kagero City, and located the Hollow.
• Kusugawa Kyō complained that an unknown Shinigami kept killing Hollows in his district before he could claim credit, then followed a Hollow signal to the river.
• Kusugawa Kyō saw young Ichigo run toward Grand Fisher’s lure, and Ichigo’s mother shielded him when the Hollow struck.
• Duan Mu appeared, shattered Grand Fisher’s attacking hand, and protected Ichigo and his mother before telling them to flee.

Duan Mu realized Auswählen had drained Kurosaki Masaki’s spiritual power and left her soul collapsing, then killed Grand Fisher after Kusugawa Kyō struggled against it. Back in Seireitei, Duan Mu spent most of his experience raising Urahada to its maximum level, while Ichigo recognized him as the man who had saved him and his mother.

• Grand Fisher tried to escape through a Garganta, but the opening closed before it could flee.
• Duan Mu realized Auswählen had taken Kurosaki Masaki’s spiritual power and that her soul was collapsing, while she focused on carrying Ichigo to safety.
• Kusugawa Kyō fought Grand Fisher in the river until Duan Mu answered a call and killed the Hollow with Hado #4: Byakurai.
• Duan Mu returned to the Golden Seal Society, spoke with Kōrogi Aoi, and worried that Seireitei had failed to notice the power gathered by Auswählen.
• Duan Mu spent 100,000 experience points to raise Urahada to Max Level and kept 58,680 experience points.
• At a clinic in Nankawase, Ichigo excitedly identified Duan Mu as the strange man who had saved him and Kurosaki Masaki.

Duan Mu observed Supervision Subject 432 to learn about Quincy powers, then met Omaeda, who warned him about the Tsunayashiro Family. Duan Mu revealed his suspicions that someone in the family had lured him to Hueco Mundo, leaving Omaeda aware that he would likely report the matter to Soi Fon.

• Duan Mu visited the Surveillance Section and learned that Supervision Subject 432 was training with his grandson while the Technical Development Bureau had ordered the team not to relay Quincy Hollow encounters.
• Duan Mu explained that he was studying Quincy fighting methods after witnessing Auswählen, but had no intention of adopting Quincy power.
• Duan Mu went to Omaeda's office, where Omaeda invited him to lunch and said someone wanted to meet him.
• Omaeda warned Duan Mu not to investigate or mention the Tsunayashiro Family outside the Onmitsukidō, citing its control of the Video Hall and its power among the noble clans.
• Duan Mu told Omaeda about his trip to Hueco Mundo and his suspicion that someone within the Tsunayashiro Family had arranged to lure and observe him.

Duan Mu met Ukitake Jushiro at the Omaeda residence, where Ukitake thanked him for helping Rukia, Kaien, and others. After Duan Mu left, Ukitake spoke with Amanen Nayula, the Chief Librarian of the Great Spirit Book Corridor, who revealed that she had been observing Duan Mu on her own behalf.

• Omaeda brought Duan Mu to the dining room, where Xidai greeted him and introduced him to the little girl called Sister Nayula.
• Ukitake Jushiro thanked Duan Mu for helping his family and squad, especially Rukia and Kaien, and explained how Duan Mu had helped Rukia become more cheerful.
• Duan Mu and Ukitake spoke comfortably until lunch ended, then Duan Mu left with Ukitake and Omaeda.
• Amanen Nayula met Ukitake after Duan Mu left and thanked him for agreeing to her personal request.
• Ukitake asked whether Nayula had observed Duan Mu on behalf of Central 46, and she assured him it had been her own action.

Duan Mu struggled to communicate with his Zanpakuto and considered using experience points to force it to submit, but he still hoped to find a way to speak with it. As his Yorozuya network and influence grew across Rukongai, he learned that Shino and the others were waiting for him upstairs.

• Duan Mu’s blade meditation increased his Zanpakuto proficiency, but every attempt to enter its inner world ended in an escalating game with an unreasonable child.
• Duan Mu considered using the Turn Back the Pendulum Body or system experience to force his Zanpakuto to materialize and submit, but neither approach offered an easy solution.
• Iwao told Duan Mu that he and his lackeys were handling more physical-labor commissions, while Duan Mu continued managing the Yorozuya’s higher-end work and branches.
• Duan Mu reflected that Nishijin-ori and Habutae were expanding their influence in Rukongai’s eastern district, where powerful opponents had emerged, while Nishijin-ori’s strength continued to grow.
• Duan Mu finished his noodle soup, learned that Shino and the others had arrived upstairs, and prepared to meet them.

Duan Mu visited Urahara Shop, where Urahara Kisuke gave him a Shiba Clan branch-family token and explained the clan's history and the loss of its status among the Five Great Noble Clans. After trading samples with Urahara, Duan Mu left to search for the noble young masters who had come to the Human World.

• Duan Mu visited Urahara Shop and learned that Yoruichi was away and might not return for years or decades.
• Urahara Kisuke said his blood supply from Duan Mu had run out and passed him a token from a friend who wanted to thank him.
• Duan Mu recognized the token as bearing the Shiba Clan crest and learned it opened the branch family's secret archive.
• Urahara Kisuke explained that the Shiba main family had left Seireitei long ago, while the branch family retained the clan's noble status until its patriarch disappeared twelve years earlier.
• Duan Mu kept the token, considered investigating the Shiba Clan's history and spirit crests, and decided not to risk entering the residence yet.
• Duan Mu traded blood and spirit particle samples with Urahara Kisuke, left the shop, and began searching for the noble young masters in the Human World.

Duan Mu went to Seireitei to visit Kotetsu Isane but found that his Pass Token had been replaced, triggering the Killer Stone walls and a citywide alarm. After entering Seireitei by lifting the Black Mausoleum Gate, he learned that Shiba Ganju had taken his token and worried that Iwao had entered Seireitei for a dangerous reason.

• Duan Mu spent experience to raise his Spiritual Power, then headed for Seireitei with his special Pass Token apparently attached to his chain.
• A replacement token triggered Seireitei's Killer Stone walls, and Danzōmaru attacked Duan Mu before Duan Mu sent him flying.
• Duan Mu suspected Iwao had taken the token after overhearing information about Aaroniero, and Man'ya Ori confirmed Iwao had left the Yorozuya that morning.
• Duan Mu lifted the Black Mausoleum Gate and entered Seireitei, where the Patrol Team confirmed he had accidentally triggered the alarm.
• Kiyohara Tsumugu told Duan Mu that Shiba Ganju had passed through the Byakudō Gate using his token and that the token's tracking mark had been erased.

Duan Mu learned that the Golden Seal Society had detained Iwao after he stole Duan Mu’s Pass Token and tried to reach the Human World. After confronting him, Duan Mu decided to take Iwao to Hueco Mundo, but discovered Iwao had acted without any plan and beat him in anger.

• Duan Mu told Omaeda that he needed to handle the stolen Pass Token and asked him to keep the incident quiet.
• Kōrogi Aoi explained that President Suigawa had detained Iwao, recovered the Pass Token, and arranged to conceal the incident.
• Duan Mu found Iwao in the Golden Seal Society’s dungeon and rebuked him for trying to reach Hueco Mundo with fireworks to kill the Hollow impersonating Kaien.
• Duan Mu offered to take Iwao to Hueco Mundo, then learned Iwao had stolen the token impulsively and had made no plan to notify him.
• Duan Mu kicked Iwao to the ground and beat him as his anger returned.

After Soi Fon covered up Duan Mu’s incident with Iwao, Duan Mu looked for a way to confirm whether Aizen was in Soul Society before traveling to Hueco Mundo. He seized on the upcoming Flower Arrangement Gathering as his chance to leave secretly, using special training as an alibi.

• Duan Mu told Soi Fon that Iwao had been sent away, and she agreed to conceal the incident from Central 46 while warning him not to cause trouble again.
• Soi Fon suspended Kiyohara Tsumugu without removing him from his role and confined Marechiyo Ōmaeda for dereliction of duty.
• Duan Mu considered how to determine whether Aizen was in Soul Society and concluded that he could not reliably observe or track him himself.
• At the Comprehensive First Aid Station, Konai told Duan Mu that captains would attend the Flower Arrangement Gathering and that Aizen’s presence was expected to be discussed.
• Duan Mu decided to use the gathering as an opportunity to travel to Hueco Mundo, claim he was undergoing special training at the Great Kūkaku Training Hall, and suspend his work at Yorozuya and the First Aid Station.

Duan Mu took Iwao through a Garganta to Hueco Mundo and concealed Iwao’s presence with a temporary Hollow Pattern. In Duan Mu’s cavern, they found a group of childlike Arrancar who seemed connected to former Espada No. 2, just as Tier’s voice called out.

• Duan Mu made Iwao promise to keep their trip to Hueco Mundo secret and to follow his orders there.
• Duan Mu activated his Hollow Pattern, opened a Garganta, and led Iwao through it into Hueco Mundo.
• Duan Mu covered Iwao in a temporary Hollow Pattern made from a Hollow’s spiritual pressure, then brought him to the cavern where Duan Mu had stayed before.
• Duan Mu and Iwao found the cavern filled with children’s belongings and hundreds of small Arrancar, each bearing the number 102.
• Duan Mu realized the Arrancar might collectively be former Espada No. 2, and a familiar voice told Picaro to stop fooling around.

Duan Mu met Tier’s secretly sheltered Pikaro, learned their origins and unusual shared nature, and won their affection by giving them candy and nicknames. He then asked Tier about Aaroniero and began planning how to lure him out of Las Noches without exposing Tier or himself; the chapter ended with Duan Mu eyeing his Zanpakuto as a possible way to hide their battle’s aura.

• Tier explained that she had hidden the Pikaro in the cave after freeing them, and described their shared spiritual-pressure ability and the danger they posed when united.
• Duan Mu handed out candy, earned the Pikaro’s favor, gave them nicknames, and learned how their innocent but unpredictable group had formed from a special Adjuchas and the children it befriended.
• The Pikaro identified Aaroniero as an enemy who tried to devour them, while Tier said he had stayed hidden in Las Noches since she nearly killed him and avoided its artificial daylight dome.
• Duan Mu told Iwao that Tier was the fifth-ranked Ten Blade and that Aaroniero was the ninth, then decided he needed to draw Aaroniero away from Las Noches without alerting Aizen or endangering Tier.
• Duan Mu considered using his Zanpakuto to conceal the aura of the fight, but still needed an opportunity to lure Aaroniero to the outer region.

Aaroniero left Las Noches to hunt powerful Hollows, while Tier watched him go and Duan Mu learned of his departure through their reconstructed Hollow Crest connection. Duan Mu and Iwao tracked Aaroniero down, where Duan Mu trapped him in a strange arena and revealed himself.

• Aaroniero reviewed Hollow reports, brooded over his fear of Duan Mu, and left Las Noches to hunt Hollows.
• Tier watched Aaroniero depart and felt fortunate that giving up her Espada position could help Duan Mu.
• Duan Mu learned through Tier that Aaroniero was speeding southeast and prepared to pursue him with Iwao.
• Duan Mu and Iwao left the Piccaros behind and tracked Aaroniero through the Outer Ring.
• After Aaroniero killed a Hollow, Duan Mu appeared and transported him into a strange arena.

Duan Mu fought Aaroniero in a sealed death-match arena, where Aaroniero tried to convince Ganju that he was Shiba Kaien but was ultimately killed. After Tier warned Duan Mu that Aaroniero’s death would share battle information with every Arrancar, Duan Mu fled with Iwao, only to find their escape blocked by a spatial lockdown.

• Duan Mu created a sealed arena and explained that he and Aaroniero had to fight until one of them died.
• Aaroniero released his Zanpakuto and battled Duan Mu, then pleaded with Ganju to save him by claiming he was Shiba Kaien.
• Ganju rejected Aaroniero as his brother, and Duan Mu struck him down despite Tier’s warning about Aaroniero’s Synchronized Cognition.
• Aaroniero’s death triggered his synchronized ability, and Duan Mu and Iwao returned to Hueco Mundo as Tier offered to hold off their pursuers.
• Duan Mu tried to open a Garganta and flee with Iwao, but spatial lockdown sealed the passage and left them trapped.

In Seireitei, Aizen and Ichimaru Gin discussed Duan Mu’s unexpected arrival in Hueco Mundo and the threat he posed. Hunted after killing Aaroniero, Duan Mu called Urahara Kisuke for help and faced Nnoitra, who recognized the weakness of his Shikai; Duan Mu then began a new release whose purpose remained unclear.

• Aizen told Ichimaru Gin that Duan Mu’s presence in Hueco Mundo interested him, while Gin noted that Duan Mu had angered Aizen.
• Duan Mu fled Hueco Mundo’s outer circle as Espada pursued him, then called Urahara Kisuke using the phone he had brought along.
• Urahara Kisuke analyzed Duan Mu’s location and promised to open a temporary Garganta in five minutes, warning him not to let the phone be disturbed.
• Duan Mu headed toward his pursuers and confronted Nnoitra, who had become NO. 5 and used synchronized recognition to deduce the weakness of Duan Mu’s Shikai.
• Nnoitra prevented Duan Mu from explaining his Shikai’s rules and drove him out of the arena, forcing Duan Mu to release his blade and begin a new ability called “Same and Different Together in Darkness.”

Duan Mu trapped himself and Nnoitra in his complete Shikai’s hopscotch domain, where breaking the rules provoked a devastating punishment. After reaching a safe platform, Duan Mu revealed that Nnoitra’s own reiatsu strengthened the attacks and forced him to keep playing.

• Duan Mu explained that his complete Shikai created a time-limited hopscotch domain in which both men played by its rules and attacks drew on their combined reiatsu.
• Nnoitra grew impatient and charged Duan Mu, breaking the rules; the domain restrained him and struck him with Kurohitsugi while Duan Mu raced across the platforms.
• Duan Mu reached the sky, threw the pebble onto square eight, and landed there as the domain’s white stars dimmed.
• Nnoitra survived by releasing his Zanpakuto, and Duan Mu explained that the completed domain trapped its participants and grew stronger with their reiatsu.
• Duan Mu invited Nnoitra to begin the game, now that he had reached a safe zone and could switch players.

Duan Mu confronted Same and Different Together in Darkness, deciding that the blade belonged to his past self and that he would erase its true name rather than abandon his Zanpakuto. Meanwhile, Nnoitra’s attempt to follow the game’s rules unraveled when he realized both feet on the platform meant he was already out.

• Duan Mu concluded that Same and Different Together in Darkness wanted to change him back into his former self, so he resolved to erase its true name.
• Duan Mu recognized the rule-maker and god overseeing the game as another version of himself and welcomed the chance to fight that stronger, colder self.
• Nnoitra reviewed the game’s rules and endured relentless attacks while worrying that switching players would leave him exposed during Duan Mu’s safer return across the platforms.
• Duan Mu pointed out that Nnoitra had made a mistake, and Nnoitra realized both his feet were on the circular platform, meaning he was already out.
• Duan Mu leaped onto Platform No. 7 as the game’s time limit neared.

Duan Mu fought Szayelaporro after emerging from his Shikai space, then escaped into a Garganta while Tier attacked him. He left Tier with instructions to verify his identity through their internal communication whenever they met.

• Duan Mu emerged from his Shikai space after defeating Nnoitra and found Szayelaporro, Tier, Dordoni Alessandro Del Socaccio, and Gantenbain Mosqueda waiting for him.
• Szayelaporro introduced himself as the Espada ranked 8 and offered to enter Duan Mu's Shikai space, but Duan Mu charged him instead.
• Duan Mu let Szayelaporro's blade pierce the edge of his Sekketzu, used experience points to restore his ability to wield spiritual pressure, and kicked Szayelaporro away.
• Duan Mu used Shunpo to race toward a forming Garganta as Szayelaporro's Broken Wing blades struck his back.
• Tier attacked Duan Mu, who entered the Garganta and told her to confirm his identity through their internal communication whenever they met.

Duan Mu defended himself before Central 46 against footage showing someone who looked like him in Hueco Mundo and was released after Amanen Nayula vouched for his whereabouts. He returned to the Shiba Clan, where he recognized Nayula as an orphan he had once cared for, but Kūkaku stopped him from leaving to investigate.

• Soi Fon took Duan Mu from the Shiba Clan to Central 46, where he denied being the person shown fighting Szayelaporro in Hueco Mundo and warned that Hollows might be imitating Shinigami.
• Duan Mu proposed stricter surveillance, and Amanen persuaded Central 46 to release him after the Shihoin Clan's examination confirmed his Zanpakuto seal.
• Duan Mu learned that his Zanpakuto had been returned and resolved to erase its true name and grant it a new one under his control.
• Duan Mu returned to the Shiba Clan and told Kūkaku that Central 46 had released him, then asked about the sage Amanen and his daughter.
• Kūkaku explained that Amanen Nayula had worked among commoners and orphans, and Duan Mu recognized her as an orphan he had once cared for.
• Duan Mu tried to leave to visit the orphanages, but Kūkaku grabbed him and slammed his face into the training platform.