Chapter Summaries

Chen Fan used a Thought Body to interrupt Toshiro’s search for the intruders who had come to rescue Rukia. He ordered the 10th Division to let them pass, leaving Ichigo and the others free to continue their plan.

• Yoruichi told Chen Fan that Kisuke had asked her to look after the intruders, and Chen Fan said Kisuke had counted on his help.
• Chen Fan learned that Toshiro was searching for Ichigo and the others, then used his Thought Body to appear before the 10th Division.
• Toshiro and Rangiku asked Chen Fan how he had appeared, and he explained that he was using an advanced technique involving spiritual pressure and the soul.
• Chen Fan ordered the 10th Division to turn a blind eye to the intruders because they were trying to rescue Rukia.
• Toshiro and the other squad members obeyed Chen Fan’s order.

Chen Fan returned to the First Division barracks after using a costly spiritual-pressure technique, while Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Ikkaku Madarame and learned where Rukia was being held. Ichigo set off for the Shrine of Penitence, warned that Kenpachi Zaraki would seek him out.

• Chen Fan returned to the First Division barracks after his spying technique consumed much of his spiritual pressure.
• Yumi-chika chased Ganju Shiba, who insisted that Captain Chen Fan was his brother-in-law and that Kaien Shiba was his older brother.
• Ichigo Kurosaki defeated Ikkaku Madarame, who woke to find his wounds treated and asked why Ichigo had spared him.
• Ikkaku told Ichigo that Rukia was imprisoned in the Shrine of Penitence and praised Chen Fan's strength.
• Ikkaku warned Ichigo that 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki would come looking for him, and Ichigo ran toward the shrine.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Renji Abarai on the steps to the Shrine of Penitence, and both were badly injured. After hearing of Renji’s defeat, Chen Fan learned the intruders had vanished and said he would attend the Captain-General’s meeting, but stayed in bed.

• Renji Abarai confronted Ichigo Kurosaki and attacked him, blaming him for Rukia’s condition.
• Renji released Zabimaru and drove Ichigo through a wall, but Ichigo continued fighting to save Rukia.
• Renji and Ichigo collapsed from their injuries, and Ganju Shiba and Hanatarou Yamada carried Ichigo away for treatment.
• Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori found Renji, while Byakuya Kuchiki later had him imprisoned and declared he would lose his vice-captain position.
• Chen Fan’s guard reported Renji’s injury and the intruders’ disappearance, and Chen Fan said he would attend the Captain-General’s meeting before lying back down.

Chen Fan appeared as a Thought Body during a captains' meeting, where Yamamoto ordered Soul Reapers to carry their Zanpakuto as a full-scale war threatened. The next morning, Momo Hinamori found Aizen dead, and Gin Ichimaru arrived as the gathered officers reacted to the murder.

• Chen Fan appeared before the captains as a Thought Body, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi asked him to teach the technique.
• Yamamoto ordered vice-captains and high-ranking Seat Officers to carry their Zanpakuto and permitted them to fully release them in battle.
• Aizen wrote Chen Fan's name on a piece of paper while Momo Hinamori slept in his room.
• Momo Hinamori found Aizen pinned to a wall with his own Zanpakuto and screamed, drawing the other vice-captains to the scene.
• Izuru Kira tried to comfort Momo Hinamori as Gin Ichimaru arrived and asked what had happened.

Momo Hinamori accused Gin Ichimaru of killing Captain Aizen and attacked him, but Izuru Kira intervened to protect his captain. Toshiro stopped Hinamori and Kira from fighting and ordered them arrested while Captain Aizen still needed to be taken down.

• Momo Hinamori accused Gin Ichimaru of killing Captain Aizen and charged at him with her Zanpakuto.
• Izuru Kira blocked Hinamori's attack and refused to let her strike Gin Ichimaru.
• Hinamori released Tobiume and attacked Gin Ichimaru, but her fireball changed direction and hit a nearby building.
• Izuru Kira released Wabisuke and fought Hinamori, while Toshiro stepped between them and stopped both attacks.
• Toshiro ordered the other vice-captains to restrain Hinamori and Kira, saying Captain Aizen had to be taken down and that he would report the incident to the Captain-General.

After Aizen was apparently killed, Toshiro investigated the scene while Chen Fan monitored events from confinement and learned that the Soul Society’s battle was continuing. In the Fourth Division, Unohana confirmed Aizen’s body was real and dead, though Shunsui remained suspicious.

• Toshiro threatened Gin after accusing him of trying to kill Hinamori, then ordered patrol Shinigami to take Aizen’s body down.
• Chen Fan learned that Aizen had been declared dead, Hinamori and Kira had fought, and Ichigo and Kenpachi had battled until both were badly injured.
• Chen Fan ordered the captured Kaien Shiba imprisoned if necessary but told the Shinigami not to kill him.
• Toshiro found a letter addressed to Hinamori in Aizen’s room and gave it to Rangiku, who delivered it to Hinamori in her cell.
• Unohana told Shunsui and Ukitake that Aizen’s Soul Chain, Chain of Fate, and heart were destroyed, but Shunsui still doubted that Aizen was truly dead.

Momo Hinamori believed Aizen’s letter accusing Chen Fan and escaped custody to avenge him, but she witnessed Chen Fan apparently kill Gin Ichimaru. At an emergency assembly, Yamamoto ordered a Level One alert, and Momo told the captains that Aizen’s letter had named the killer.

• Momo Hinamori read Aizen’s letter, which claimed Chen Fan planned to seize the Sōkyoku and destroy the Soul Society.
• Momo used Kido to escape her guard and headed toward the place where Aizen had died.
• Momo saw Chen Fan pin Gin Ichimaru to a wall with Gin’s Zanpakuto before Chen vanished in blue light.
• The First Division summoned the captains and vice-captains after Gin’s death, and Yamamoto ordered every division to begin a Level One alert.
• Yamamoto questioned Momo, who said Aizen’s letter had named the killer and that she had witnessed Gin’s murder.

Momo Hinamori accused Chen Fan of killing Aizen and Gin Ichimaru, but Chen Fan denied the charges and challenged the Soul Reapers to produce evidence. As Kaname Tosen questioned whether Chen Fan could swear to his innocence, the meeting remained unresolved.

• Momo Hinamori named Chen Fan as the killer of Aizen and Gin Ichimaru, while Soifon challenged her accusation and Jushiro Ukitake warned that her testimony and Aizen's letter could be unreliable.
• Captain-General Yamamoto ordered Chen Fan brought to the conference room, and Chen Fan arrived expecting to be released from confinement.
• Hinamori confronted Chen Fan, who was surprised to hear that he had supposedly killed Gin Ichimaru and denied escaping from prison.
• Chen Fan called the accusation a frame-up and argued that the Soul Reapers had no evidence against him.
• Kaname Tosen asked Chen Fan to swear that he had spoken truthfully.

Chen Fan clashed with Kensei Muguruma during a captains’ meeting, where Toshiro defended him and Yamamoto confiscated his Zanpakuto. At dawn, Kaname Tosen was found dead on the same wall as Aizen and Gin Ichimaru.

• Chen Fan insulted Kensei Muguruma, and Kensei drew his Zanpakuto as his spiritual pressure overwhelmed some vice-captains.
• Toshiro drew his sword to protect Chen Fan, but Yamamoto ordered them to stop and adjourned the meeting.
• Yamamoto confiscated Chen Fan’s Zanpakuto and struggled to hold its immense weight as Chen handed it over.
• Chen Fan was locked up again while the others considered Aizen’s motives.
• A Fourth Division member found Kaname Tosen nailed to the wall where Aizen and Gin Ichimaru had been killed.

After Kaname Tosen died and left Chen Fan’s name in his blood, suspicion focused on the imprisoned captain. Kensei Muguruma broke into Chen Fan’s cell to avenge Kaname and attacked him, leaving their fight underway.

• Shinigami found Kaname Tosen dead with “Chen Fan” written in his blood, and the accusations against Chen Fan intensified.
• Kensei Muguruma vowed to avenge Kaname and went to Chen Fan’s prison while the Captain-General was away at a meeting.
• Kensei confronted Chen Fan, who said Kaname deserved to die, and took this as proof that Chen Fan was guilty.
• Kensei smashed through the Spirit-Suppressing Stone prison and attacked Chen Fan with Tenken.
• Chen Fan emerged from the dust after Kensei’s slash, and Kensei continued pursuing him.

Chen Fan defeated Kensei Muguruma after overpowering his Bankai and striking him with a high-level Kido spell. Captain-General Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto and the other Soul Reapers arrived as Kensei fell.

• Kensei Muguruma activated Bankai and attacked Chen Fan with Black Rope Heavenly Condemnation King.
• Chen Fan caught the Bankai’s sword between two fingers, lifted and threw the giant warrior, then broke its blade and destroyed it.
• Chen Fan appeared beside Kensei and used Way of Destruction Number Ninety: Black Coffin, leaving him badly wounded.
• Captain-General Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered Chen Fan to stop as numerous figures surrounded him.

Chen Fan denied killing the captains after Kensei Muguruma attacked him in his cell and was defeated, while Yamamoto questioned whether he could trust Chen Fan. Rumors then spread through the 13th Division that Chen Fan was the killer, leaving the Shinigami frightened and suspicious.

• The other captains and vice-captains arrived and saw Kensei Muguruma defeated beside Chen Fan.
• Momo Hinamori attacked Chen Fan, but Toshiro blocked her and defended his captain.
• The Inner Division guards told Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto that Kensei had broken into Chen Fan’s cell and attacked him.
• Chen Fan denied committing the murders, and Yamamoto asked whether he could be believed.
• Shinigami in the 13th Division spread rumors that Chen Fan had killed three captains and feared that the killer remained at large.

As the Soul Society turned against the 10th Division and imprisoned Chen Fan, Aizen visited him and revealed that Kaien Shiba and Miako Shiba were on a mission in East 51st District, where unusual Hollows had appeared. Chen Fan reacted with killing intent, and Aizen’s explanation left the situation unresolved.

• Shinigami from the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and Ninth Divisions accused the 10th Division of being connected to Chen Fan, while Toshiro warned them not to spread rumors and left after demonstrating his fast blade.
• The other Shinigami watched the Soul Society’s divisions turn against one another as the execution of Rukia approached.
• Chen Fan remained in a heavily secured but comfortable cell after severely wounding Kensei Muguruma.
• Sosuke Aizen visited Chen Fan and said he wanted to destroy the Soul Society and establish a new order, while claiming Chen Fan’s continued existence helped his plans.
• Aizen told Chen Fan that unusual Hollows had appeared in East 51st District and that Kaien Shiba and Miako Shiba seemed to be on a mission there, prompting Chen Fan to react with killing intent.

Chen Fan escaped imprisonment after Aizen warned that Kaien and Miako were in danger, then rushed toward the eastern Rukon District. Byakuya Kuchiki stopped him at the Seireitei’s eastern gate, and their fight began with Byakuya acknowledging Chen Fan’s superior strength and awareness.

• Aizen urged Chen Fan to hurry to the eastern Rukon District, warning that Kaien and Miako might face unimaginable consequences.
• Chen Fan broke his restraints and the Sealing Stone wall, then rushed away while suspecting Aizen had arranged events to draw him from the Seireitei and deepen his resentment.
• The Seireitei announced that Chen Fan had escaped and ordered all divisions to pursue him, with lethal force authorized if he resisted.
• Byakuya Kuchiki blocked Chen Fan at the eastern gate and drew his Zanpakuto to enforce the rules against escaped prisoners.
• Chen Fan declared that family and friends came before rules, then appeared behind Byakuya and took one of his hairpins.
• Byakuya recognized that Chen Fan’s strength, speed, and combat awareness surpassed those of the captains.

Chen Fan fought Byakuya Kuchiki after losing access to his Zanpakuto, using his spiritual pressure to withstand Senbonzakura and Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. He broke through Byakuya’s defense and struck him with White Lightning, leaving Byakuya stunned by its power.

• Byakuya Kuchiki unleashed Senbonzakura, but its petals could not penetrate Chen Fan’s dense spiritual-pressure defense.
• Byakuya Kuchiki activated Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, and sent waves of cherry blossoms after Chen Fan.
• Chen Fan evaded the blossoms as they drained his spiritual pressure, then charged directly at Byakuya Kuchiki.
• Chen Fan punched apart the cherry blossoms and reached Byakuya Kuchiki while he was shocked.
• Chen Fan used White Lightning to pierce Byakuya Kuchiki’s shoulder and demolish a nearby building.

Chen Fan defeated Byakuya Kuchiki and escaped the Seireitei by destroying the East Gate. Yamamoto arrived afterward, learned that Chen Fan had spared Byakuya, and ordered Shunsui to investigate the fight.

• Chen Fan knocked Byakuya Kuchiki unconscious and blocked his final attack with Danku before leaving.
• The Shinigami at the East Gate were too afraid to stop Chen Fan, who destroyed the gate with a single punch and disappeared.
• Yamamoto arrived, saw the injured Byakuya Kuchiki, and unleashed spiritual pressure that forced nearby Shinigami to their knees.
• Unohana Retsu examined Byakuya Kuchiki and said his injuries were treatable, suggesting Chen Fan had shown mercy.
• Shunsui Kyoraku questioned the East Gate guards, who began recounting the fight between Chen Fan and Byakuya Kuchiki.

After Chen Fan escaped, Yamamoto stripped him of his captaincy and ordered the 10th Division imprisoned, while Ichigo continued training to achieve Bankai. Chen Fan headed for East Rukon as Kaien Shiba’s force faced a sudden arrival of powerful Hollows.

• Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake speculated that Chen Fan had left to stop the murderer, but Yamamoto declared him guilty, stripped him of the 10th Division captaincy, and ordered the division imprisoned.
• Shunsui Kyoraku showed no objection to Yamamoto’s order, while Toshiro remained concerned about his investigation into the murderer.
• Shihōin Yoruichi watched Ichigo Kurosaki train against the materialized Zangetsu and told him that another Zanpakuto she had seen was far more violent.
• Chen Fan raced toward East Rukon District, 51st District, furious that Aizen had deceived him and reflecting that Aizen still needed more power before acting against Soul Society.
• Kaien Shiba and Miako Shiba led the 13th Division in a retreat from the Hollow attack, but four Gargantas opened around them and disgorged dozens of Menos and four humanoid Hollows.

Kaien Shiba and his exhausted allies were overwhelmed by Arrancar until Chen Fan arrived and saved Miako Shiba from a Menos. The Hollows turned their attention to Chen Fan, while Kaien’s secret role in obtaining medicine for Kukaku remained undisclosed.

• Kaien Shiba and Miako Shiba recognized the attackers as dangerous Arrancar, who led Menos in an assault on the Shinigami.
• Kaien Shiba fought an Arrancar while a Menos struck Miako Shiba and carried her toward its mouth.
• Chen Fan blasted the Menos with blue-white lightning, caught Miako Shiba, and rescued her.
• Kaien Shiba thanked Chen Fan, who accused him of obtaining the medicine Kukaku had prepared; Kaien denied it and avoided explaining.
• A sharp white spike shot between Chen Fan, Kaien Shiba, and Miako Shiba, drawing their attention.

Chen Fan fought the Arrancar alongside Kaien Shiba, killing two without a Zanpakuto before the remaining pair transformed into captain-class Hollows. The chapter ended with Chen Fan catching one of the Mantis-like Arrancar’s blades as it attacked him.

• A scorpion-tailed Arrancar taunted Kaien Shiba and Chen Fan, and Chen Fan killed another Arrancar with a borrowed Zanpakuto before returning it to its owner.
• Chen Fan explained that his own Zanpakuto had been confiscated, then dodged the scorpion-tailed Arrancar’s strike and destroyed it and nearby Hollows with White Lightning.
• The two remaining Arrancar performed Resurrección, transforming into a lion-like Hollow and a Mantis-like Hollow with captain-class spiritual pressure.
• The Mantis-like Arrancar swung a blade at Chen Fan, who caught it and held it fast as the Arrancar attacked with its other blade.

Chen Fan destroyed the Hollows attacking him and hurried back toward Soul Society as Rukia's execution approached. As Rukia was led to the execution ground, she learned about the upheaval in Seireitei and worried about Byakuya.

• Chen Fan used the mantis-shaped Arrancar to block the lion-shaped Arrancar's Cero, killed the lion, and erased the remaining Hollows with his spiritual pressure.
• Chen Fan headed back to Soul Society, hoping to arrive before Rukia's execution at noon.
• Kenpachi Zaraki rescued Uryu Ishida, Orihime Inoue, and the others and joined their rush toward the True Reaper Punishment Field.
• Rukia asked her escorts about the chaos she had heard from the Shrine of Penitence, and they told her about the deaths and injuries among the captains.
• Rukia learned that Chen Fan had injured Byakuya Kuchiki and escaped, then felt relieved when the escorts said Byakuya had recovered.