Recaps

After reviving Jushiro Ukitake and investigating the Spirit King's power, Nara Dan led a purge of Hueco Mundo while secretly advancing his own plans. Renji Abarai gained control of his Hollow power, Barragan was sealed away, and Kenpachi Zaraki’s battle with Grimmjow continued.

• Kunimitsu Yami and Kunimitsu Utsugi stole the Spirit King's Right Arm from Jushiro Ukitake, but Genryūsai Yamamoto captured the brothers after Nara Dan defeated the Bald Man and returned to Soul Society.
• Nara Dan used the Right Arm to revive Jushiro Ukitake, then agreed to resurrect Hisana Kuchiki and began studying the Hōgyoku and the Spirit King's power.
• Nara Dan taught Swordsmanship at Shin'ō Academy and joined the Hueco Mundo purge with Retsu Unohana, Kenpachi Zaraki, Gin Ichimaru, Renji Abarai, and Kira Izuru.
• Nara Dan deliberately destabilized the Garganta and went to the Wandenreich, where he placed the Hōgyoku inside the sleeping Yhwach before recalling it and leaving.
• Renji Abarai’s Hollow power took over in Hueco Mundo and attacked Kira Izuru, but Nara Dan provoked Renji’s resolve and restrained him until he awakened Bankai and regained control.
• Retsu Unohana killed Zomari, Kenpachi Zaraki fought Grimmjow, and Nara Dan joined the others at Las Noches after Barragan revealed that he had killed Tōsen Kaname.
• Nara Dan pierced Barragan’s throat, halted his death, and secretly sealed him inside a Truth-Seeking Orb as the group waited for Tōsen Kaname to escape a Negación Bandit.
• Grimmjow struck Kenpachi Zaraki with Panther King’s Claw, piercing his ribs and lungs, but was stunned that the attack had not torn him apart.

Nara Dan prepared Aizen and Renji for the coming conflict while Yhwach regained his strength and joined forces with Aizen. As the Quincy invasion began, Yhwach killed Yamamoto, and Nara Dan revealed his own role before following the captains to the Spirit King’s Palace.

• Kenpachi Zaraki defeated Tōsen Kaname, and Nara Dan later stabilized Aizen’s powers and set him on an evolutionary path while Aizen agreed to draw Soul Society’s attention.
• After Yhwach’s Sanction nearly killed Renji Abarai, Nara Dan helped Renji earn Zabimaru’s recognition and master his true Bankai, then guided Kira Izuru through Wabisuke’s deadly Bankai trial.
• Yhwach awakened and identified Nara Dan as an anomaly, while Aizen rebuilt his strength in Hueco Mundo and received three uses of Nara Dan’s genjutsu.
• Nara Dan surrendered to Mayuri Kurotsuchi and used his detention to stay out of the coming war, as Yhwach and Aizen formed a temporary alliance and set their sights on the Spirit King’s Palace.
• Yhwach’s invasion struck Soul Society with a massive Sacred Arrow, and Yamamoto Genryūsai confronted him while Renji Abarai served as acting captain of the Fifth Division.
• Aizen defeated Shinji Hirako and gravely wounded Hiyori Sarugaki, then fought Urahara and Isshin Shiba as Urahara’s Execution Seal disrupted Aizen’s attack.
• Yhwach tricked Yamamoto with Haschwalth’s disguise, stole Zanka no Tachi, killed Yamamoto, and challenged Nara Dan to join him.
• Nara Dan admitted he had hastened Yhwach’s resurrection and Yamamoto’s death, then followed the rescued captains to the Spirit King’s Palace while Aizen continued fighting Urahara and Isshin.