Chapter Summaries

Ren used Heavenly Sin to consume the Head Captain’s blazing sun and began plundering Zanka no Tachi from within him. The Head Captain learned that Ren had taken everything from Chojiro Sasakibe and charged at him in rage.

• The Head Captain unleashed Zanka no Tachi: Center—Blazing Sun, combining the powers of his four techniques into a thousand-meter solar fireball aimed at Ren.
• Ren ignited Heavenly Sin’s black flames and used Plunder to form a black dragon that seized and devoured the blazing sun.
• The Head Captain detonated the fireball, shattering the captains’ barrier and scorching the Soul Society, but Ren remained wrapped in black flames.
• Ren told the Head Captain that Heavenly Sin was plundering Zanka no Tachi and could strip away his soul, life, and body.
• Ren revealed that he had plundered Chojiro Sasakibe’s abilities and Zanpakuto, enraging the Head Captain, who charged at him.

Ren defeated the Captain-Commander by absorbing and shattering Zanka no Tachi, then used its flames against him. The division captains gathered to protect the unconscious Captain-Commander as Ren’s allies guarded him and Orihime.

• Ren taunted the Captain-Commander, explaining that Heavenly Sin absorbed Zanka no Tachi’s flames and gave him the advantage.
• Ren struck Zanka no Tachi until it cracked and shattered, then unleashed its flames at the Captain-Commander.
• Shunsui Kyoraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and the other division captains rushed in, while Retsu Unohana treated the badly injured Captain-Commander.
• Yoruichi brought Orihime to Ren, and Orihime healed his injuries and restored much of his Spiritual Pressure before Kayle supported her.
• Ren challenged the gathered division captains, and the Captain-Commander fainted before finishing his warning.
• Retsu Unohana confronted Ren and said she would fight him if he continued the battle.

Ren left Soul Society after stealing Yamamoto’s Zanka no Tachi, while the captains rushed to save their unconscious commander. In the spatial passage, Ren explained that he had reached Heavenly Sin’s plundering limit and planned to strengthen it before pursuing Ryujin Jakka and the other captains’ Zanpakuto.

• Retsu Unohana revealed her bloody aura as Ren declared that he had taken Zanka no Tachi and opened a spatial passage with the Soul King Broken Blade.
• Shunsui Kyoraku revealed his hidden strength but held back from pursuing Ren, while Retsu Unohana ordered the captains to take Yamamoto back for treatment.
• Jūshirō Ukitake warned Shunsui Kyoraku that the disaster from a thousand years ago could happen again, and Aizen sensed Hollow aura coming from Yamamoto.
• Ren told Yoruichi that he could use the Soul King Broken Blade because he had absorbed some of the Soul King’s Hollowfication energy.
• Ren explained to Morgana and Kayle that Heavenly Sin had reached its plundering limit after taking Zanka no Tachi, so he planned to dispose of Gonryōmaru and strengthen it before seeking Ryujin Jakka.

Ren returned to the World of the Living with Yoruichi, Morgana, and the unconscious Orihime, then began sorting the materials he had taken from Seireitei. In Seireitei, the captains struggled to contain the Captain-Commander's Hollowfication as the Shihōin Clan considered its options.

• Ren warned Yoruichi that Retsu Unohana and Soifon had recognized her, then opened a passage to the World of the Living with the Soul King Broken Blade.
• Soken Ishida welcomed Ren and explained that Uryu had fallen out with his father and was training to defeat him.
• Ren sent Kayle to take Orihime to rest and brought Morgana and Yoruichi to the courtyard's Spirit Particle Space.
• Shunsui Kyoraku crushed nobles attempting to revolt while Seireitei's captains worked to contain the unconscious Captain-Commander's Hollowfication.
• Soifon and a Shihōin Clan elder discussed the danger of the Captain-Commander's transformation, and Yushiro urged them to conceal the crisis and contact the Kuchiki Clan.
• Ren sorted the materials stolen from Seireitei, put the special ones into the Forging Furnace, and assigned Soken Ishida to process them.

Ren studied the Soul King's Notes while the Seireitei remained under martial law and ordered Morgana and Kayle to capture Menos Grande for experiments. Meanwhile, Urahara Kisuke learned that Isshin Kurosaki planned to use Aizen as a trial for Ichigo Kurosaki, whose mixed powers and Soul King Fragment made him an unprecedented anomaly.

• Ren told Morgana to remain in the World of the Living, monitor Urahara Kisuke, and stop worrying about the Seireitei while Mayuri Kurotsuchi stayed out of contact.
• Morgana reported that the Seireitei had been sealed off and that Urahara Kisuke had tried contacting Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida.
• Ren ordered Morgana to organize their gains and work with Kayle to capture Menos Grande for experiments on creating the Hōgyoku.
• Urahara Kisuke told Tessai Tsukabishi that Isshin Kurosaki intended for Ichigo Kurosaki to fight Aizen, treating Urahara as a guide rather than a partner.
• Urahara explained that Ichigo Kurosaki inherited Quincy and Hollow powers from his mother, gained Death God power from his father, and had those systems fused with a Soul King Fragment at birth.
• Urahara revealed that Isshin Kurosaki intended Ichigo Kurosaki to awaken his strength and ultimately use Final Getsuga Tenshō to defeat Aizen, though Tessai questioned what would happen to Ichigo's remaining powers.

Ren overheard Urahara Kisuke explain that Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida had turned Aizen and Yhwach into trials for their sons, Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida, driven by revenge. Ren realized Urahara Kisuke had been made to fund and guide their sons’ growth, leaving him responsible for the resources, training, and cleanup.

• Ren listened through Morgana and Kayle as Urahara Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi discussed Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida’s plan to strengthen their sons against Aizen and Yhwach.
• Ren reflected on how Ichigo Kurosaki grew by losing his different powers while Uryu Ishida advanced along the Quincy path.
• Urahara Kisuke told Tessai Tsukabishi that Masaki Kurosaki’s death had left Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida united by hatred of Aizen and Yhwach.
• Urahara Kisuke revealed that Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida had persuaded him to teach, guide, and look after their sons.
• Ren concluded that Urahara Kisuke had supplied Ichigo Kurosaki’s training, equipment, teachers, opponents, and other resources while cleaning up after him.

Ren continued investigating Urahara Kisuke and preparing to create the Hōgyoku while the Seireitei struggled to contain the Hollowfying Captain-Commander. Ichibē Hyōsube and Tenjirō Kirinji joined the captains, but Ichibē’s sealing technique only slightly suppressed the Hollowfication.

• Ren dismissed the need to monitor Isshin Kurosaki and Ryuken Ishida, ordered continued surveillance of Urahara Kisuke, and told Kayle and Morgana to prepare materials for the Hōgyoku.
• Byakuya Kuchiki ran low on Spiritual Pressure, so Retsu Unohana took over maintaining the seal that bound the half-Hollowfied Captain-Commander.
• The captains worried that the Captain-Commander’s Hollowfication would destroy the Seireitei, but they could neither cure him nor bring themselves to kill him.
• Jūshirō Ukitake arrived with Ichibē Hyōsube and Tenjirō Kirinji, and Tenjirō helped reinforce the seal.
• Ichibē Hyōsube wrote a sealing character over the Captain-Commander, slightly reducing his Hollowfication before the effect stalled.

Tenjirō Kirinji concluded that Yamamoto’s Hollowfication worsened because he was unconscious and retreating from grief, while Shunsui Kyoraku recounted Ren’s upheaval of the Seireitei. Meanwhile, Uryu Ishida asked Ren to help him grow strong enough to defeat his father, Ryuken Ishida.

• Ichibē Hyōsube explained that Yamamoto needed to wake before he could suppress his Hollowfication, and Tenjirō Kirinji asked the captains to recount recent events in the Seireitei.
• Shunsui Kyoraku described Ren’s actions, and Tenjirō Kirinji concluded that Chojiro Sasakibe’s death and the loss of Yamamoto’s Bankai had driven Yamamoto to escape reality.
• Shunsui Kyoraku left, furious at Ren for Chojiro Sasakibe’s death and Yamamoto’s condition.
• Uryu Ishida knelt before Ren and asked him to teach him how to become much stronger.
• Uryu Ishida told Ren that he wanted to defeat his father, Ryuken Ishida, and make him bow his head.

Uryū asked Ren for stronger training so he could defeat Ryuken, and Yoruichi taught him how to push past his instincts for a burst of power. After Yoruichi and Uryū went to train, Morgana warned Ren that a powerful energy had entered the World of the Living.

• Uryū told Ren he wanted to grow much stronger and defeat Ryuken, and Ren agreed to send him to Kayle for special training despite the danger.
• Yoruichi transformed into human form and explained that her brother had used sheer will to break past his instincts and overcome his limits.
• Uryū asked Yoruichi to teach him the same method, and she took him to the training palace after Ren approved.
• Soken Ishida told Ren that Ryuken's coldness came from his inability to express his grief, while Uryū misunderstood it as indifference.
• Morgana told Ren that she had sensed a powerful energy enter the World of the Living, and Ren wondered if it was a Menos Grande.

Ren learned that Oetsu Nimaiya had entered the World of the Living to seek Isshin Kurosaki, while Mayuri reported that the Captain-Commander had fallen into a self-sealing coma after Hollowfication. The chapter ended as a terrifying Hollow roared in the Seireitei and Ren ordered Mayuri to show him the Captain-Commander.

• Morgana sensed an unfamiliar, powerful Death God heading toward Isshin Kurosaki, and Ren suspected the visitor was from Zero Division.
• Ren declined Morgana's offer to kill the visitor and met with Mayuri Kurotsuchi to learn about the Seireitei.
• Mayuri reported that Shunsui Kyoraku had crushed a noble rebellion and that Zero Division had suppressed the Captain-Commander's Hollowfication.
• Mayuri identified the visitor to the World of the Living as Oetsu Nimaiya, whom Ren recognized as the creator of the Asauchi.
• Ren ordered Morgana to arrange Ichigo Kurosaki's early dismissal so they could listen to Oetsu Nimaiya and Isshin Kurosaki.
• A terrifying Hollow roared in the Seireitei, and Ren told Mayuri to bring the surveillance device outside so he could see the Hollowfied Captain-Commander.

Ren watched the Captain-Commander’s violent Hollowfication unfold in the First Division as Mayuri Kurotsuchi investigated the flames. Ichibē Hyōsube restrained the Captain-Commander, and Shunsui Kyoraku tried to call him back to his senses.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi released surveillance devices over Seireitei as earthquakes and Hollow roars disrupted the city.
• Flames erupted across the First Division, and Mayuri entered the inferno to investigate the Captain-Commander’s condition.
• Mayuri found the Captain-Commander bound in Sealing Chains and raging while Tenjirō said the outburst was clearing his resentment before he awakened.
• The Hollowfied Captain-Commander launched a flaming claw at Shunsui Kyoraku, who blocked with Danku and called out to his teacher.
• Ichibē Hyōsube seized and sealed the Captain-Commander with a massive spiritual palm, while Shunsui urged him to remember that Chojiro was waiting for revenge and burial.

The Captain-Commander awakened after absorbing the flames, gaining Hollowfication and renewed vigor as the Soul Society’s crisis eased. He transferred Seireitei authority to Shunsui Kyoraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, intending to cultivate and grow stronger so he could seek revenge against Ren.

• The Captain-Commander awakened as the flames consumed Chojiro Sasakibe’s remains, and the captains noticed his newfound vitality.
• The Captain-Commander appointed Shunsui Kyoraku captain of the First Division and Vice Captain-Commander, entrusting him with Seireitei’s affairs.
• The Captain-Commander ordered Jūshirō Ukitake’s Thirteenth Division merged into the Eighth Division and gave him command of the Expeditionary Force.
• Jūshirō Ukitake accepted the order, while Shunsui Kyoraku supported him and the other captains reacted with shock.
• Ren told Yoruichi that the Captain-Commander had relinquished authority so he could cultivate and prepare to take revenge on Ren.

The Commander-General granted the Second and Sixth Divisions independent recruiting rights and allowed the other divisions to train recruits from Rukongai, then urged the Seireitei to prepare for war against Ren. Ren watched the rally and suspected the new policies would eventually weaken the Commander-General’s authority as the divisions grew into factions.

• The Commander-General gave Byakuya Kuchiki and Soifon authority to recruit members independently, then allowed the other divisions to train candidates from Rukongai before they took the Seireitei examination.
• The Commander-General announced he would enter seclusion to grow stronger and urged the Death Gods to avenge the humiliation Ren had inflicted on the Seireitei.
• The Death Gods and division captains embraced the call to reclaim their dignity, and the Commander-General declared the Seireitei would enter a state of war readiness.
• Ren watched the gathering with Morgana and reasoned that the Commander-General’s policies could strengthen the Seireitei while eventually empowering its divisions to undermine his authority.
• The Commander-General withdrew to speak with two members of the Zero Division, while the captains returned to their barracks to hold meetings.

Ren learned that Isshin Kurosaki and Oetsu Nimaiya had begun a plan to use Aizen to temper Ichigo Kurosaki, while he considered using the Hōgyoku to awaken the souls sleeping in Devil Fruits. The chapter ended with a cold-eyed young man walking through a courtyard strewn with cherry blossoms.

• Aizen told Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen to use the Captain-Commander's orders to develop their divisions, and they agreed to build forces loyal to him.
• Ren discussed forming an army from awakened Devil Fruit souls and said he hoped the Hōgyoku could revive figures such as Madara Uchiha.
• Morgana reported that she could not spy on Isshin Kurosaki and Oetsu Nimaiya, but Kayle used electrical waves linked to Ichigo Kurosaki to capture part of their conversation.
• Oetsu Nimaiya told Isshin Kurosaki he had completed what Isshin requested, and Isshin said the plan would use Aizen to temper Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Kayle's electrical waves abruptly fell silent, and Ren said the plan had begun before the scene shifted to a cold-eyed young man walking through a cherry-blossom courtyard.

Uryū Ishida returned from six months of Quincy trials, but Ren sent him to high school and asked him to watch Ichigo Kurosaki. Ren and Soken Ishida discussed the broader silence among their potential opponents, whose motives remained unclear.

• Yoruichi greeted Uryū after his training, and Ren praised his increased strength before ordering him to return to school.
• Uryū learned that Ichigo would be his classmate and that Ren wanted him to investigate whether Ichigo’s Death God power had awakened.
• Soken advised Uryū to use a Quincy’s eyes to see through people’s hearts, and Uryū left for school with his enrollment notice.
• Yoruichi laughed at Uryū’s return to school, while Soken worried that his grandson might struggle to get along with classmates.
• Ren reflected that Urahara Kisuke, Isshin Kurosaki, Ryuken Ishida, and the Seireitei had remained strangely inactive for years.

Ren continued preparing to create a Hōgyoku in his underground Spirit Particle Space, where he and his companions captured Menos Grande for experiments. He dismissed concerns that their activity might attract Aizen, while Kayle and Morgana bickered over their powers.

• Ren asked Soken Ishida about Ryuken and Uryū, and Soken described how Ryuken provoked his son to drive him to grow stronger.
• Kayle reported that the materials were ready for ten more Hōgyoku experiments, and Ren ordered the experiments to continue despite Yoruichi suggesting they ask Urahara Kisuke for the missing step.
• Ren, Yoruichi, and Kayle went to the Spirit Particle Space, where Morgana showed Ren a new batch of captured Menos Grande.
• Morgana warned that their captures had angered the Menos Grande in the Forest of Menos and might have reached Aizen, but Ren said neither threat concerned him.
• Kayle restrained the Menos Grande with sealing chains of Thunder, and she and Morgana argued about their powers before Ren silenced them with a look.

Ren used Gonryōmaru’s Soul Origin to strengthen Kayle and continued experimenting to create a Hōgyoku, while Aizen advanced his Hollowfication research in Seireitei. The chapter ended with Gin Ichimaru confronting Aizen as a Hollowfied Death God struggled against his restraints.

• Ren dissolved Gonryōmaru and gave its thunder-based Soul Origin to Kayle, who gained stronger thunder and Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū’s sealing abilities.
• Kayle captured Menos Grande in a thunder palace, and Morgana Devoured them while Ren used their purified masks to make an Energy Crystal.
• Ren noted that his experiments still lacked a crucial step, while Yoruichi wondered why he needed so many Energy Crystals.
• Aizen used a glowing gemstone to induce Hollowfication in a Death God and restrained the transformed subject with Rikujōkōrō.
• Gin Ichimaru entered and remarked on Aizen’s Hollowfication research, prompting Aizen to say he was using the conveniences provided by the Captain-Commander.

Aizen expanded his Hollowfied ranks by turning a revenge-driven Death God into a controlled subordinate, while Ren learned that Rukia was being sent to the World of the Living earlier than expected. The chapter left Ren suspecting Rukia’s assignment was part of a plan and ready to watch her arrival.

• Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen warned Aizen that Menos Grande were disappearing, but Aizen said he could use recruited Death Gods as Hollowfication materials instead.
• A Death God gained control of his Hollowfication and chose to grow stronger with Aizen’s help so he could avenge his younger brother.
• Aizen gave the Death God a bracelet to conceal his Hollowfied aura and sent him to collect resources, while his illusion kept Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen unnoticed.
• Aizen told Kaname Tosen to bring him talented, resentful Death Gods from his division so he could expand his ranks through Hollowfication.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi told Ren that Shunsui Kyoraku had ordered Rukia to replace the World of the Living’s stationed Death God ahead of the usual rotation.
• Ren suspected Rukia’s early assignment was part of a larger plan and decided he could monitor her once she arrived.

Ren learned that Devil Fruit flesh could absorb and protect souls, and Mayuri had used it to create New-Type Gigai resembling the souls within the fruits. Ren ordered Mayuri to keep making them as the chapter shifted to Renji Abarai receiving orders to return from his World of the Living posting.

• Mayuri reported that the Seireitei's expanding divisions were becoming increasingly independent and that Aizen was secretly recruiting Death Gods for dangerous experiments.
• Mayuri explained that Devil Fruit flesh could absorb, disperse, and seal souls, and that he had used the property to create New-Type Gigai.
• Mayuri showed Ren a Luffy-shaped Gigai whose soul remained scattered and asleep, and Ren ordered him to continue researching and producing Gigai.
• Ren anticipated using awakened Devil Fruit souls to restore his former subordinates as a Devil army, then put away the Magma-Magma Fruit.
• A Death God told Renji Abarai that their World of the Living posting had ended and that his group had been ordered back to the Seireitei.

Rukia arrived in the World of the Living to take over the Death Gods’ station, and Renji Abarai learned she had advanced to Vice-Captain level. Ren discovered that Urahara Kisuke and Shinji Hirako had chosen Rukia as a vessel for the Hōgyoku, leaving him eager to learn what made her suitable.

• Rukia arrived with the rotating Death Gods and told Renji Abarai she was taking over the station in the World of the Living.
• Rukia explained that Captain Ukitake had trained her, helping her reach Vice-Captain strength and earn the assignment before her promotion to the Eighth Division’s Vice-Captain.
• Renji warned Rukia to eliminate Hollows and avoid provoking powerful beings, then began arranging the handover.
• Ren ordered Kayle to watch Urahara Kisuke and asked why Rukia had been chosen, while Morgana detected Urahara and Shinji Hirako heading to the Death Gods’ base.
• Urahara told Shinji that Rukia was the best vessel for the Hōgyoku in their plan against Aizen, though Shinji questioned how a newly promoted Vice-Captain could serve that role.