Chapter Summaries

After Ulquiorra defeated Gin and revealed his overwhelming third Hollowfication form, Gin resolved to pursue his own breakthrough. Back in Las Noches, Tamako and Barragan injected Aizen’s serum; Barragan endured a violent transformation and reclaimed his Senescencia.

• Ulquiorra defeated Gin, leaving Gin grimly determined to develop the Hollow power within himself.
• After the battle, the serum recipients returned to their palaces in Las Noches.
• Tamako injected her serum while thinking of Aizen and wishing only to remain by his side.
• Barragan injected his serum, insisting that he would not be inferior to Ulquiorra.
• Barragan’s body erupted with veins, blood, and bone-like substance before his Senescencia spread through the palace.
• Barragan declared that he had returned as Emperor Barragan.

Barragan regained his strength through the serum and emerged in his Resurrección form, declaring himself the true king of Hueco Mundo. At a neighboring palace, Minato injected the serum and pledged the Hyuga branch to Aizen’s vision, but his body suddenly began reacting violently.

• Barragan emerged from the Senescencia in his skeletal Resurrección form, surrounded by armor that aged anything it touched into dust.
• Barragan boasted that his renewed power surpassed his former strength and that he remained the true king of Hueco Mundo.
• Hyuga Sotsugu and other Branch Family members questioned whether Minato should risk using the serum and surrender his humanity.
• Minato injected the serum, telling Zongji and the others that they existed to fulfill Aizen’s ideal and would become the Hyuga branch of the Great Hollow Era.
• Minato’s expression changed, and veins bulged across his neck as his body reacted to the serum.

Minato underwent a violent transformation as chakra poured into his eyes, leaving him with fossil-like eyes and a new sense of what it meant to be a Hollow. In another palace, Tokino warned Fugaku and Sakuya about Aizen’s history and the danger of underestimating him, while leaving Aizen’s current strength uncertain.

• Minato’s body convulsed as chakra erupted from his acupoints, filling the palace with a destructive current of air.
• Bone-like fluid vanished from around Minato’s eyes as the overflowing chakra surged into his pupils.
• Minato recovered and revealed pale, fossil-like eyes, murmuring that becoming a Hollow might give the Hyuga Clan the ability it needed.
• Fugaku urged Tokino to let Sakuya use the serum, while Sakuya watched Tokino coldly.
• Tokino described Aizen’s manipulation of the shinobi wars and his role in the deaths and downfall of powerful figures, then asked how strong Aizen might have become after years away.

Tokino rejected Sakuya’s objections and injected the vial meant to transform him into a Hollow. After a violent chakra eruption and strange changes to his body, he survived and recognized the power he had gained as the same kind wielded by Ulquiorra and the others.

• Sakuya argued that Tokino should stop defying Aizen, but Tokino insisted that Aizen’s actions always had a purpose.
• Tokino injected the entire vial into himself, saying he and Fugaku would test whether the transformation was safe before Sakuya underwent it.
• Tokino endured intense pain and ordered Sakuya and Fugaku to retreat as chakra erupted from his body and wrecked the hall.
• Black lightning and bony fluid appeared around Tokino, and the fluid entered a growing hollow at the back of his neck.
• When the changes stopped, Sakuya rushed to check on Tokino, who opened his eyes and wondered if he now possessed the power of Ulquiorra and the others.

Tokino tested his Hollow-enhanced physical strength and found that his Mangekyō Sharingan remained, though his chakra had nearly vanished. Wary of Aizen’s plan, he went with Sakuya and Fugaku to see the other newly Hollowfied Espada, while Las Noches’ gathered ninjas watched in awe.

• Tokino’s palm strike devastated the palace floor, and he realized his physical strength had surged while his chakra had almost disappeared.
• Tokino confirmed that he retained his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities and remained suspicious that Aizen’s transformation had hidden weaknesses.
• Tokino reassured Sakuya, then sensed that the other Espada had completed Hollowfication and headed outside with her and Fugaku.
• Las Noches’ Fracción gathered before the palace and stared at the transformed Espada, whose Hollow Holes and powerful auras filled them with awe.
• Tokino emerged from the palace, and the subordinate ninjas fell silent and made way as they recognized his Hollow Hole and believed Hollows were stronger.

Tokino and Fugaku joined the newly Hollowfied Espada at Las Noches, where Tokino assessed their formidable power and recognized Barragan. Minato then prepared to explain Aizen’s orders, while Barragan dismissed the humans gathered below and Minato argued they should be allowed to choose willingly.

• Tokino sensed Minato and the other Espada after completing his Hollowfication, and he recognized Barragan atop the mountain.
• Tokino and Fugaku reached the mountaintop, where Tamako, Minato, and Barragan stood among the newly transformed Hollows.
• Minato said he would explain Aizen’s orders to the humans gathered below.
• Barragan called the humans weak and said Hollow power was a gift, but Minato insisted they should be allowed to choose willingly.

Minato announced that Las Noches’s subordinate officers would need to become Hollows, and Barragan used his overwhelming power to win their agreement. Minato said their transformations would be arranged after Aizen returned, while three figures appeared atop a structure in the Land of Rivers.

• Minato told the subordinate officers that Aizen’s gift had changed the Espada and that Las Noches would lead a new era of Hollows.
• The officers argued over whether they should give up their human identities and become Hollows.
• Barragan silenced the crowd and demonstrated how his Senescencia reduced plants and rocks to dust.
• A subordinate officer pledged to become a Hollow, and the crowd followed as the officers accepted Barragan’s demand.
• Minato said their transformations would be arranged after Aizen returned.
• Three figures suddenly appeared atop a towering black structure in the Land of Rivers.

Aizen arrived at Akatsuki’s hideout with Gin and Ulquiorra and gave Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan three vials from his completed Hollowfication experiments. With the Great Hollow Plan ready to begin, Aizen ordered Akatsuki to suspend its capture of Jinchuriki.

• Aizen, Gin, and Ulquiorra entered Akatsuki’s dark hideout, where Nagato detected their arrival and appeared before them.
• Aizen praised Nagato’s improved strength and told him to summon Yahiko and Konan for the results of his experiments.
• Yahiko and Konan joined Nagato, and Ulquiorra handed them three vials of gray liquid from Aizen’s first batch of experiments.
• Nagato told Aizen that Akatsuki had captured the Two-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails, drawing the attention of the major ninja villages.
• Aizen declared that the Tailed Beasts were no longer essential and ordered Akatsuki to put the Jinchuriki capture plan on hold.

Aizen instructed Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan to begin their Hollow transformation, while Nagato showed unwavering faith in Aizen and distrust toward Gin. Aizen left with Gin and Ulquiorra to inspect the Akatsuki members, and Gin admitted that Nagato’s strength had made him feel uneasy.

• Aizen told Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan that completing their Hollow transformation was their top priority.
• Gin watched Nagato, who noticed his scrutiny and returned a cold, indifferent stare; Yahiko and Konan worried that Nagato might provoke him.
• Nagato accepted Aizen’s instructions and prepared to leave with Yahiko and Konan, each carrying a vial for the transformation.
• Aizen said he, Gin, and Ulquiorra would inspect the Akatsuki members recruited by Nagato, then walked into the building with them.
• In the dark corridor, Gin told Aizen that Nagato seemed strong enough to make him feel uneasy, and Aizen questioned whether Gin truly cared about the danger.

Aizen explained that the human-made Hollows in this world had different origins and greater potential than Soul Society Hollows, while Gin grew suspicious that Aizen was hiding from an unknown threat. Aizen planned to use the captured Tailed Beasts to awaken three Espada and revealed that the transformed Hollows’ powers remained hidden within their Hollow Holes.

• Gin realized Aizen had been concealing his identity and power because he feared something unknown.
• Aizen said Nagato and the others had captured three Tailed Beasts, but he would extract only half their power to awaken three Espada while observing Uchiha Clan Madara’s plan.
• Gin questioned whether Aizen needed to summon more Espada, calling the previous ones useless in the war against the Soul Society.
• Aizen explained that the Hollows created from human bodies with the serum differed from Soul Society Hollows and could develop abilities such as Cero and Resurreccion.
• Aizen revealed that the transformed Hollows’ potential remained hidden in their Hollow Holes, and that even he did not know what might emerge.

Aizen warned Gin and Ulquiorra that a hidden being might exist in the ninja world and urged them to proceed cautiously with their plans. The scene then shifted to a remote underground facility, where a blond young man emerged from an explosion after another failed C4 Garuda experiment.

• Aizen explained that the ninja world's vast population and power might conceal an existence beyond their ability to detect.
• Gin asked whether someone in the world could be hidden from them, and Aizen confirmed that such a being certainly existed.
• Aizen told Gin and Ulquiorra to avoid using their power recklessly while they pursued their plans.
• Gin speculated that they might witness a grand drama and followed Aizen into the darkness.
• An explosion blasted through a concealed underground facility near the Land of Rivers, and a soot-covered blond young man escaped into the forest.
• The young man complained that his C4 Garuda experiment had failed again and resolved not to conduct the next test in the laboratory.

Deidara’s C4 Garuda experiment failed again, and Sasori warned him to keep his experiments out of the laboratory. As Sasori went into the forest to gather rare toxins, he sensed someone nearby and attacked, only for a stranger to laugh from the shadows.

• Sasori confronted Deidara about the damage to his laboratory and threatened to make him a puppet if his own puppets had been harmed.
• Deidara defended his explosive experiment as art, while Sasori told him to conduct future experiments outside.
• Deidara sat down to rethink the formula for C4 Garuda after another failure.
• Sasori entered the forest to collect rare toxins for his next puppet.
• Sasori sensed a presence and fired poisoned needles into the forest, where an unseen intruder laughed that they had been discovered.

Sasori reunited with Aizen, Gin, and Ulquiorra, who had returned to the ninja world and were preparing to assess their members. Aizen decided Gin would test Deidara, while Sasori followed along, worried about the boy.

• Sasori recognized Aizen, Gin, and Ulquiorra when they emerged from the forest.
• Sasori affirmed his loyalty to Aizen’s plans and recalled Aizen’s promise to help him create eternal puppets.
• Aizen asked whether Deidara had the qualifications to join them, and Sasori vouched for the young artist.
• Aizen decided to meet Deidara and ordered Gin to test him while Sasori came along without revealing his identity.
• Sasori followed the group, worried that Deidara would face a formidable opponent.

Deidara tried to escape after Gin found him in the forest, but Gin pursued him and provoked him into a fight. Deidara’s clay bird attack failed to seriously injure Gin, and the two prepared to continue their confrontation.

• Deidara heard a sound in the forest, used Clay Concealment, and fled as Gin entered the clearing.
• Gin set off Deidara’s hidden bomb, while Deidara flew overhead on a huge clay bird and challenged him.
• Deidara sent Clay Birds at Gin and detonated them, engulfing Gin’s position in flames.
• Gin’s blade struck Deidara’s clay bird, and Deidara saw that Gin had escaped the flames with only a scorched corner of his clothes.
• Gin taunted Deidara, who spread his hands and announced that he would show his true art.

Gin fought Deidara, evading his explosive attacks and cutting through the forest while Deidara escalated to his C2 Dragon. The chapter ended with Deidara launching a barrage of missiles at Gin from the dragon’s mouth.

• Gin dodged Deidara’s explosive clone attack, while Aizen and Sasori watched the battle unseen and discussed Deidara’s explosive abilities.
• Gin used Shinso: Ring Moon Slash to cut down the surrounding trees, trying to expose Deidara’s hiding place.
• Deidara sent explosive white spiders after Gin, but Gin escaped the blast and complained about his opponent’s tactics.
• Deidara created and mounted his C2 Dragon, then fired a barrage of Dragon Head Bomb missiles at Gin.

Gin destroyed Deidara’s tracking Dragon Head Bombs and pierced his C2 Dragon, but Deidara revealed he had planted tiny bombs inside Gin and detonated them. Gin fell to the ground in pieces, and Deidara dismissed him as a disappointing experiment.

• Deidara sent tracking Dragon Head Bombs after Gin, who used Shinso to destroy them while dodging their attacks.
• Gin’s blade pierced Deidara’s C2 Dragon and grazed Deidara’s shoulder, causing the dragon to disperse.
• Deidara said he had planted tiny bombs inside Gin through the Dragon Head Bombs and the C2 Dragon’s remains.
• Deidara detonated the bombs inside Gin, spraying blood and flesh as Gin crashed to the ground.
• Deidara called Gin a letdown and muttered that he had wasted time on the experiment.

Gin survived Deidara’s C2 Body Bomb thanks to High-Speed Regeneration and revealed that their battle had been a test. Aizen and his companions emerged from the forest, and Deidara learned that Sasori served Aizen before Aizen praised his potential.

• Gin recovered from the C2 explosion and told Deidara that he had passed the test.
• Gin revealed that someone in the nearby forest had been observing the battle, and Aizen announced that the test was over.
• Aizen, Ulquiorra, and Sasori came out of the forest, shocking Deidara with their sudden appearance.
• Deidara asked Sasori what was happening, and Sasori introduced Aizen as his lord.
• Deidara recognized Aizen’s name but questioned why he looked young, and Aizen asked whether Deidara thought he should be old.
• Aizen praised Deidara’s potential after watching his battle with Gin.

Aizen accepted Deidara into his group after he passed a test, while Ulquiorra’s presence showed Deidara the power of the people around Aizen. A memory of Ōnoki criticizing Deidara’s art and recalling Aizen’s defeat of him left Deidara asking Aizen to explain who his group really was.

• Deidara challenged Aizen’s authority to judge him, and Ulquiorra’s intimidating aura made him realize how powerful Aizen’s companions were.
• Aizen stopped Ulquiorra and told Deidara he had passed the test and qualified to join them.
• Deidara remembered Ōnoki scolding him for making clay art, then acknowledging his talent while comparing him unfavorably with Aizen.
• Deidara recalled telling Ōnoki that he might be wrong because he had lost to Aizen and made a damaging deal for Iwagakure.
• Aizen asked Deidara to show his art, but Deidara asked who Aizen and his companions were, turning his gaze toward Sasori.

Sasori revealed that he and Nagato’s group had once belonged to Las Noches, and Aizen asked Deidara to demonstrate his art in a spar. Deidara began the fight by taking to the air and sending explosive clay figures at Aizen, whose response left the field filled with blasts.

• Sasori told Deidara that he and Nagato’s group had once been members of Las Noches and that Akatsuki had been formed after Aizen vanished.
• Aizen asked Deidara to spar so he could see his art, and Deidara agreed to give his best.
• Aizen’s followers took positions around the clearing as he and Deidara faced off.
• Deidara summoned a clay crane, flew into the air, and sent several bulky clay figures rushing at Aizen.
• Aizen drew Kyoka Suigetsu and cut down the attacking figures, which then exploded across the field.

Aizen emerged unharmed after Deidara’s explosions, leaving Deidara shaken and questioning whether Aizen had evaded the attacks or used an illusion. Deidara recalled Ōnoki’s warning that Aizen was completely different from him.

• Aizen appeared unharmed after Deidara’s initial bombardment and challenged him to show more of his strength.
• Deidara summoned C3 No. 18, a giant clay figure, and detonated it despite Aizen refusing to dodge.
• Gin, Ulquiorra, and Sasori watched the massive explosion, while Deidara admired its flames before realizing he could not see Aizen.
• Aizen appeared unharmed behind Deidara and asked whether he had more spectacular art to show.
• Deidara froze in shock and remembered Ōnoki’s warning that Aizen was completely different from him.