Chapter Summaries

Ichiro trapped Oetsu Nimaiya in a recurring mental illusion while using the apparent battle to refine a sword technique and stall for reinforcements. Oetsu repeatedly tried to break free, but the chapter ended with him opening his eyes in the Seireitei and realizing the illusion was still controlling what he saw.

• Urahara told Ichibei that Ichiro could revive himself and warned that the injured Ichiro would become a dangerous enemy.
• Oetsu realized that the supposed three-day battle with Ichiro was an illusion, but Ichiro snapped him back into it and resumed testing sword techniques against him.
• Ichiro used the illusion to develop Vein-Binding Belt, a technique designed to suppress Sayafushi, while he waited for the Head Captain and other captains to arrive.
• Oetsu escaped the illusion briefly and attacked Ichiro, but Ichiro revealed that Oetsu was still trapped and that all his senses and thoughts could be deceived.
• Oetsu closed his eyes and struck again, only to find himself in the Seireitei when he opened them.

Ichiro defeated Oetsu Nimaiya with an illusion, then joined the fight against Kuchiki Koga and Muramasa. After Tokinada Tsunayashiro attacked him with Ryūjin Jakka, Ichiro absorbed the flames and began torturing Tokinada with Nerve Blade, leaving Soi Fon warning the others that he might be losing control.

• Ichiro trapped Oetsu Nimaiya in Nightmare Demon and left him unconscious before charging toward Kuchiki Koga’s battlefield.
• Ichiro struck Kuchiki Koga and Muramasa with Flame Blossom, then faced them alone while Soi Fon and the others withdrew.
• Muramasa helped Kuchiki Koga break free of Ichiro’s illusion, and Ichiro taunted Koga about his treatment of Muramasa.
• Tokinada Tsunayashiro attacked Ichiro with Ryūjin Jakka, but Ichiro’s Spirit Ward Garment absorbed the flames.
• Ichiro cut off Tokinada Tsunayashiro’s right and left arms and pierced his chest while using Nerve Blade to control his pain.
• Soi Fon identified Nerve Blade as Ichiro’s cruel Kaido technique and told the others to flee because he might be losing control.

Ichiro unleashed his full Reiatsu and golden flames across the Soul King Palace, destroying several of Oetsu Nimaiya’s anthropomorphized Asauchi while fighting Kuchiki Koga and Muramasa. After Oetsu broke free from Ichiro’s illusion and Ichibei Hyosube extinguished the flames, the Head Captain arrived to confront Ichibei.

• Ichiro stopped torturing Tokinada Tsunayashiro and turned to face Kuchiki Koga and Muramasa, whose guards rose as they sensed his immense Reiatsu.
• Ichiro released Southern Li Sacred Venerable, spreading golden flames across the Soul King Palace and burning several of Oetsu Nimaiya’s Asauchi girls to ash.
• Oetsu Nimaiya broke Sayafushi to escape Ichiro’s illusion, then hurled its broken blade at Ichiro and pierced his heart, which Ichiro quickly healed.
• Ichibei Hyosube used Ichimonji to extinguish the flames and apologized to Oetsu Nimaiya for the damage and their earlier decision.
• Kirinji reported that the wounded had been treated and that Tokinada Tsunayashiro might be crippled, as Ichibei prepared to act.
• The Head Captain arrived wielding Ryūjin Jakka and challenged Ichibei Hyosube, asking whom he intended to keep there.

Ichiro and his allies escaped the Soul King Palace after the Head Captain confronted Ichibei over Central 46’s orders. Back in the Seireitei, Ichiro reported that he had marked Oetsu and planted a suggestion in Ichibei, leaving the Head Captain stunned.

• Yamamoto presented Ichibei with an old transfer order, then led Ichiro and the others away after Ichibei decided not to risk a battle.
• Ichiro looked back at Ichibei with a chilling stare before a wall of fire blocked the Zero Division’s view and the group returned to the Seireitei.
• Ichiro used Alchemy to regrow his left arm and moved the Hand of the Soul King onto it while joking with Yoruichi, Urahara, and Soi Fon about their squad armbands.
• Yoruichi reported the mission to Yamamoto, who then heard Ichiro’s individual account of the Soul King Palace confrontation.
• Ichiro explained that he had marked Oetsu to influence him and planted a suggestion in Ichibei, shocking Yamamoto.

Ichiro told the Head Captain that his Nightmare Demon could unsettle Ichibei and that he had used Nerve Blade on Tokinada Tsunayashiro. While Ichiro continued his research, he discovered a potentially extraordinary Reishi structure, then was summoned to a department head meeting about Suzuran Yue's proposed department.

• Ichiro explained that the Nightmare Demon's illusions could exploit emotional fluctuations and revealed that he had used Nerve Blade on Tokinada because of his filthy mouth.
• The Captain and World confirmed that Ichiro's grotesque body-altering techniques were real, and the Head Captain learned that Nerve Blade could amplify pain.
• Ichiro chose to go to the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and resume work on his Gundam project.
• Kirinji told Ichibei Hyosube that Tokinada had collapsed from pain caused by Ichiro's nerve-manipulating Kaido, and Ichibei grew wary of Ichiro's abilities.
• Ichiro found a potentially powerful Reishi structure while dismantling the Dream System, assigned World to investigate similar structures, and continued his research for fifteen days.
• Urahara summoned Ichiro to a department head meeting, and World saw that the meeting concerned Suzuran Yue's application to establish a new department.

Urahara and the other directors debated Suzuran Yue’s application to lead a new theoretical Kido research department. Ichiro opposed putting it under the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and Urahara revealed a proposal to establish it separately as the Kido Research Department.

• Urahara asked the directors to review Suzuran Yue’s proposal for a department dedicated to theoretical research on Kido.
• Hikifune, Yamada, and Tiancheng Shiro raised concerns about adding another Squad 4 director, while Mayuri and Senjumaru argued that ability should take priority.
• Ichiro opposed Suzuran’s appointment, explaining that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute was not qualified to manage theoretical research.
• Urahara agreed that the Institute should focus on applying theory and revealed a proposal to establish the Kido Research Department.

Urahara proposed creating the Kido Research Bureau to balance the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and Ichiro reluctantly agreed to lead it. After the meeting, Ichiro learned that Tencheng Shiro wanted to pursue a relationship with Kuchiki Tsukihisa and advised him to achieve Bankai first.

• Urahara proposed establishing the Kido Research Bureau, and the researchers agreed that Ichiro was the best candidate to lead it.
• Ichiro accepted the bureau chief position on the condition that Urahara organize the bureau, lend him the Tenshintai to help Gin advance his Bankai, and assist with GD-3.
• The group approved plans to transfer Suzuran Yue into the bureau as head of the Incantation Department if the proposal passed, or form her department directly if it failed.
• Ichiro visited Suzuran Yue to explain the decision, found her unexpectedly cheerful, and returned toward his laboratory.
• Tencheng Shiro asked Ichiro whether river fish and sea fish could be together, then revealed he hoped to be with Kuchiki Tsukihisa.
• Ichiro told Tencheng Shiro that people could change their circumstances, but advised him to speak again after achieving Bankai.

Ichiro prepared to test the completed Burst Divine Machine—GD-3, hoping a successful trial would help secure the Kido Research Department's establishment. In Hueco Mundo, Little Wisdom transformed into the five-meter-tall Burst Divine Machine—Unit Zero, just as the acceptance test was about to begin.

• Shihoin Seigen secretly delayed Urahara's proposal to leave Soul Society, while Ichiro kept quiet and continued working with Urahara on the Burst Divine Machine.
• Ichiro increased Moon Spirit's homework, and Moon Spirit feared the workload had grown again as World promised to speak with him.
• The Head Captain informed Ichiro that the acceptance test had been arranged, and Ichiro gathered Little Wisdom and joined the observers at the Senkaimon.
• Kirio Hikifune opened a Garganta to a Vasto Lorde's location, but Ichiro took over and formed an intricate Reishi path through the dark space.
• At the Vasto Lorde's location, Little Wisdom released Reishi and transformed into the five-meter-tall Burst Divine Machine—Unit Zero.

Ichiro demonstrated Unit Zero, a Reishi-compressed combat machine piloted by the data lifeform Wisdom, to Shunsui and the other Soul Reapers by having it fight the Vasto Lorde Istra. After Istra’s explosive ability prompted Unit Zero to activate its Mimic Vasto Lorde: Wild Ape Mode, Istra and Baraggan recognized the terrifying Reiatsu of Mo Yaxi Noir.

• Ichiro explained Wisdom and Unit Zero’s technology, then Hikifune opened a Garganta so Unit Zero could confront Istra.
• Unit Zero used spatial leap and a spatial stasis field to block Istra’s escape and gain the advantage in combat.
• Istra fired a Cero that damaged Unit Zero, which transformed with a silver coating and used its calculations to target his body’s operational nodes.
• Istra detonated his tail, severely damaging Unit Zero, and Wisdom activated Mimic Vasto Lorde: Wild Ape Mode.
• Unit Zero absorbed the explosion and released powerful red Reiatsu, prompting Istra and Baraggan to identify it as Mo Yaxi Noir.

Baraggan encountered Aizen, who offered to use the Hogyoku to make him an Arrancar, but Baraggan’s attempt to attack was thwarted by Kyoka Suigetsu. Elsewhere, Zero defeated Istra, and Ichiro explained that Zero had mimicked the energy-absorbing Vasto Lorde who had once nearly killed him.

• Baraggan sensed that Moasi had returned and learned that Ichiro was with the Head Captain, while an unseen voice warned him against acting rashly.
• Aizen entered Las Noches with Starrk and Lilynette, offered Baraggan power through the Hogyoku, and demanded his freedom in return.
• Baraggan recognized Aizen and tried to attack after Aizen appeared to dispel Kyoka Suigetsu, but Aizen revealed that Baraggan was still trapped in the illusion.
• Baraggan remembered Ichiro’s warning about Kyoka Suigetsu as Aizen’s victory became clear.
• Zero crushed Istra by using Moasi’s energy-absorbing ability, and Ichiro told Shunsui and the others that Zero’s mode mimicked a Vasto Lorde he had once barely survived fighting.
• Captain Yachiru comforted Ichiro, reminding him that he had survived that past battle.

Ichiro captured Istra with Unit Zero and returned to the Seireitei, prompting renewed pressure to establish the Kido Research Bureau. After improving Unit Zero and securing more funding, Ichiro learned that Urahara had discovered a new path involving Zanpakuto and the evolution of Soul Reapers.

• Unit Zero sealed Istra with its Reishi Restraint Field, and the Head Captain inspected the capture before leading the group back through the Garganta.
• The Seireitei's leaders revived the Kido Research Bureau proposal and put Ichiro forward as its director after learning he had captured a Vasto Lorde alive.
• Ichiro reviewed Unit Zero's battle data, identified flaws in its combat behavior, endurance, and energy circulation, and made preliminary fixes with Zhi's help.
• Ichiro told Urahara that he had used the special funding to build two Burst Divine Machines, dismantling the first to construct Unit Zero, and gave him a financial report to support the request for more funds.
• Urahara revealed that he had found a stronger but more helpless path for Soul Reaper evolution, one connected to the Zanpakuto.

Ichiro learned that Urahara planned to leave Soul Society and asked him to support Mayuri Kurotsuchi as the next director of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Ichiro stopped World from pursuing Zanpakuto fusion, then became the director of the newly established Kido Research Bureau as Zero Division opened recruitment to Soul Society.

• Urahara explained to Ichiro that Zanpakuto fusion could complete a Soul Reaper but would erase the blade spirit, and asked him to support Mayuri Kurotsuchi after Urahara left.
• Ichiro realized World had secretly researched Zanpakuto fusion and pleaded with her to abandon the project; she turned back into a Zanpakuto before they could kiss.
• A week later, Central 46 established the Kido Research Bureau, appointing Ichiro director and Suzuran Yue head of its Incantation Department.
• Central 46 announced that Zero Division would recruit members from outside and planned five divisions, with four currently planned.
• The research institute and Kido Research Bureau department heads met to discuss Zero Division’s announcement, and Ichiro argued that they should follow their original plans.
• The gathered researchers debated whether to share their technology with Zero Division.

Ichiro and Suzuran planned the Kido Research Bureau’s facilities and its first academic journal, settling on a print publication called Kido. The chapter ended as Suzuran said she had a friend she wanted to ask Ichiro about.

• Ichiro agreed that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute would release older technology in stages while the Kido Research Bureau made its theories public.
• Ichiro decided to establish the Kido Research Bureau’s daily facilities near Squad 4 and its experimental site in Rukongai.
• Ichiro reviewed Suzuran’s proposed paper and discussed ways to promote the Kido Research Bureau and draw attention away from Zero Division.
• Ichiro and Suzuran chose Kido as the journal’s name and decided to begin with print distribution.
• Suzuran told Ichiro she had a friend and wanted to ask him something.

Suzuran asked Ichiro for advice about confessing to someone, only to reveal that she liked him; she then challenged World, Ichiro’s partner, to a rivalry. World confronted Ichiro about Suzuran’s feelings and teased him about sharing him, leaving Ichiro nervously watching her peel an apple with a hatchet.

• Ichiro advised Suzuran to pursue love boldly and used Urahara and Yoruichi as an example of childhood sweethearts who might lose to someone new.
• Suzuran revealed that the person she liked was Ichiro, and Ichiro realized he had been advising her on how to win him over.
• Suzuran left Ichiro’s office and told World she would not lose, while World vowed to keep moving forward.
• Ichiro realized World already knew Suzuran had confessed and felt relieved she did not know he had given Suzuran advice.
• World teased Ichiro about being willing to share him, then peeled him an apple with a hatchet as Ichiro nervously protested.

Ichiro and World visited the Omaeda Family to seek support for a newspaper, while Urahara confessed to Yoruichi and she accepted. The chapter left Ichiro negotiating the newspaper venture with Xi Zhijin as Soi Fon blamed him for bringing Yoruichi and Urahara together.

• World told Ichiro that a new recruit had challenged him for Third Seat, and Ichiro suspected the recruit might be Aizen in disguise.
• Ichiro and World went to the Omaeda Family to discuss financing a newspaper, and Xi Zhijin warned Ichiro that the business could be dangerous in Soul Society.
• Urahara overcame his doubts and confessed to Yoruichi, who accepted his feelings and asked what had prompted him to speak up.
• Urahara told Yoruichi how Ichiro's advice had pushed him to confess, while Soi Fon silently blamed Ichiro for changing their relationship.
• Ichiro presented his newspaper proposal to Xi Zhijin, who saw promise in using Ichiro's Kaido research and reputation to attract readers.

Aizen followed his carefully concealed daily routine while researching the Hogyoku and Arrancarification, investigating Ichiro’s growing list of suspected identities, and secretly visiting Hueco Mundo. The chapter ended with Aizen returning home exhausted and falling asleep, still determined to learn more about Ichiro before leaving the Seireitei.

• Aizen reviewed Starrk’s Arrancarification data, kept the original experiment plan, and allowed Szayelaporro to experiment with the Hogyoku.
• Aizen practiced calligraphy, joined the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, and quickly completed a simple spell-formula assignment.
• Aizen studied research on an adaptive Reishi structure related to the Hogyoku, then used illusions to investigate the people Ichiro suspected were his identities.
• Aizen secretly observed Ichiro’s office conversation, maintained his cover at the Institute, and made his usual visits to exchange questions with Ichiro.
• Aizen traveled to Hueco Mundo after work, oversaw Arrancar research, and considered whether the Hogyoku might eventually need human or Soul Reaper souls.
• Aizen returned to the Seireitei after five hours, ate a late-night snack, read, and fell asleep at ten-thirty.

Ichiro arranged a profitable publishing partnership, retained his Third Seat after easily defeating Matsushita Kawa, and brought Gin to the underground base to train for Bankai. Gin began fighting Shinso’s manifested spirit, seeking the strength to protect someone important to him.

• Ichiro left the Omaeda Family estate after agreeing to a thirty-seventy profit split that gave the Kido Research Bureau seventy percent.
• Ichiro defeated Matsushita Kawa in the seated officer challenge, then encouraged him to challenge again while the Captain and Kiyonosuke discussed the squad’s future Vice-Captain.
• Ichiro explained that Gin had no suitable seated position to challenge for and that Gin would soon undergo special training.
• World made Ichiro wash up before eating, and Ichiro then took Gin to the underground base to begin his Bankai training.
• Ichiro activated the Tenshintai, and Gin faced Shinso’s manifested spirit, who challenged him to win Bankai by defeating him.

Gin fought his Zanpakuto spirit Shinso with the Tenshintai, gradually realizing that Bankai had to be discovered within himself and proven through his bond with his blade. He continued battling Shinso while searching for that power, as Ichiro still mistakenly believed victory over the spirit was required for a complete Bankai.

• Gin struggled against Shinso, whose familiarity with his fighting habits let the spirit keep him at a disadvantage.
• After a day of fighting, Gin realized that Bankai was his own power to discover and use to win over Shinso, not something he could obtain by simply defeating the spirit.
• Gin used a psychological feint to draw Shinso into the path of his extended blade, but Shinso blocked the attack and countered.
• Gin and Shinso unleashed rapid, long-range exchanges that swept Ichiro into the fighting and forced him to retreat.
• The pair resumed their duel with their blades changing length, while Gin sensed Shinso's power and searched within himself for the power of Bankai.

Gin learned Bankai after realizing that the Tenshintai’s manifested blade spirit was meant to guide him toward his true Bankai, while Ichiro recognized that his own assumptions had endangered Gin. After returning to Squad 4, Ichiro treated patients and gave Yamada confession advice that failed immediately.

• Gin spent four days fighting Shinso’s blade spirit and improving his Shikai before piercing it with a thirteen-kilometer blade and declaring, “Bankai: Kamishini no Yari!”
• Ichiro treated Gin as he recovered, and Gin explained that the Tenshintai’s blade spirit guided him to uncover his Bankai rather than requiring him to defeat it.
• Gin learned that Ichiro had never trained to acquire Bankai because his Reiatsu had already let him use it, and Ichiro warned Gin to keep his Bankai’s abilities secret.
• Ichiro returned Gin to Squad 4, helped treat injuries from Squad 11’s fights, and decided to rest there after the Kido Research Bureau was established.
• Yamada asked Ichiro for advice about confessing to a woman, and Ichiro suggested asking whether he could pursue her.
• Yamada immediately asked Suzuran if he could pursue her, but she refused and walked away, shocking both him and Ichiro.

Soi Fon blamed Ichiro for prompting Urahara to confess to Yoruichi, whose wedding was set for the day after tomorrow, while World chased Ichiro with a hatchet over his advice to Suzuran. Meanwhile, Kuchiki Koga reflected on how betrayal and disillusionment had driven him to despair before Aizen Sosuke appeared and asked him to help change the world.

• Soi Fon confronted Ichiro and told him that Yoruichi and Urahara were getting married after Ichiro's advice had encouraged Urahara to confess.
• Soi Fon gave Ichiro an invitation to the wedding, and World charged after him with a hatchet when he tried to explain his conversation with Suzuran.
• Kuchiki Koga recalled how rumors about Muramasa and opposition within the Kuchiki clan had changed him from an ambitious Soul Reaper into an angry, isolated man.
• Koga described how Zero Division's treatment of the Soul King and its recruitment of Tokinada Tsunayashiro destroyed his faith in justice.
• Aizen Sosuke appeared before Koga and asked whether he wanted to change the world and the Soul King's fate himself.