Recaps

Shuichi, Saito, and Qianri confronted the Soul King Fragment after it appeared in human form and declared itself a god. Their attacks and the Sixth Division’s Kidō bombardment damaged it only slightly, and the battle remained unresolved as Shuichi launched a powerful sword strike.

• The Soul King Fragment walked through the air and accused the defenders of defying God’s will while the remaining beasts kept the Soul Reapers occupied on the ground.
• Shuichi, Saito, and Qianri rose to meet it, and Qianri recognized the figure as the Soul King Fragment, driven mad by its long solitude.
• The Soul King Fragment attacked with three Torrents, which Saito and Shuichi split with their Zanpakutō while Qianri burned his Torrent and sent fireballs at it.
• The Soul King Fragment caught Saito’s blade barehanded and shattered Shuichi’s Kurohitsugi before Qianri and the Sixth Division struck it with fire and Kidō.
• Saito cut across the Soul King Fragment’s chest but failed to pierce its tough body, and Shuichi followed with a powerful red sword arc as the defenders prepared for the next exchange.

Qianri, Saito, and Shuichi coordinated their Bankai and attacks to weaken the humanoid and disrupt its madness with memories of its past. After it broke free of Shuichi’s Kurohitsugi, it caught Saito’s blade, blasted her away with Torrent, and snapped her Zanpakutō.

• Qianri and Saito attacked the humanoid in turns while Shuichi restrained it with Higan Heaven’s chains, Kurohitsugi, and red sword energy.
• Shuichi’s blue butterflies awakened buried memories in the humanoid, causing it to waver between madness and lucidity and leaving openings for Qianri and Saito.
• The humanoid’s defenses weakened, and Shuichi trapped it in a Kurohitsugi that held longer than before before finally breaking apart.
• Qianri, Saito, and Shuichi launched attacks from three directions, but the humanoid caught Saito’s blade and blasted her away with Torrent.
• The humanoid snapped Saito’s Zanpakutō.

Saito’s unstable Reiatsu unleashed a devastating Torrent that threatened Shuichi, Qianri, and the noble guards. Qian Lida drew the Eight-Mirror Sword and erased the Torrent, leaving the self-proclaimed god falling from the sky as she collapsed beside the sword.

• Saito’s Reiatsu surged out of control, and Shuichi used his Bankai’s golden chains to restrain it as it gathered a violent Torrent.
• Shuichi and Qianri raised successive Danku barriers against the Torrent, then dodged aside as the barriers broke and the guards fled its path.
• Ise Chiyo emerged from her palanquin and faced the Torrent with the Eight-Mirror Sword, which she had been waiting to use after hearing Saito declare, “I am a god.”
• The Eight-Mirror Sword emitted a blinding light that drove back and dissipated the Torrent.
• After the light faded, Qian Lida collapsed beside the Eight-Mirror Sword while Saito fell from the sky, its Reiatsu fading.

Qian Lida returned to Seireitei after losing all her spiritual power in the third ritual, while Saito recovered from her injuries at the Shin'ō Medical Institute. Back at the Ise Clan residence, Qian Lida reunited with Yi Liang, who grieved in her arms, and assured her daughter that she was home.

• The Sixth Division squad members took the injured Saito to the Shin'ō Medical Institute, where she recovered in a private room and lamented her humiliation.
• Shuichi guarded Qian Lida on the journey back as her spiritual power dwindled, though her soul remained intact.
• Shuichi and Qianri reported to Yamamoto, and Qianri remarked that Shuichi's Kurohitsugi was good but his Danku needed more practice.
• Qian Lida returned the Eight-Mirror Sword to the Ise Clan shrine chamber and reflected on the permanent loss of her spiritual power.
• Yi Liang ran to Qian Lida and cried in her arms, and Qian Lida comforted her by confirming that she had come home.

Qian Lida entrusted the Eight-Mirror Sword to Shuichi and asked him to look after Yi Liang, then Shuichi visited the injured Saito. He learned that Saito’s Zanpakutō had survived her Bankai and left thinking he should train his Danku more seriously.

• Qian Lida gave Shuichi the Eight-Mirror Sword, explaining that it was both the High Priests’ Zanpakutō and their chain.
• Qian Lida asked Shuichi to look after Yi Liang before leaving the Thirteenth Division barracks.
• Shuichi had a second sword stand prepared so he could keep the Eight-Mirror Sword beside his Zanpakutō.
• Shuichi visited Saito in the Sixth Division and saw how badly Torrent had injured her.
• Saito explained that she had deactivated her Bankai before her Zanpakutō broke, so it could still repair itself.
• Saito snapped at Shuichi for worrying about her, and he left resolved to practice Danku.

Shunsui Kyōraku, Jūshirō Ukitake, and Takeda Suzuko passed their graduation combat assessment by defeating a Hollow through coordinated Kidō and swordsmanship. On the road back to Seireitei, Suzuko and Ukitake said they would join the Thirteenth Division, while Shunsui revealed he planned to join the Eighth Division.

• Takeda Suzuko struck the freed Hollow with Byakurai, and Jūshirō Ukitake restrained it with Fushibi.
• Shunsui Kyōraku exploited the Hollow’s opening and cut it in two, killing it.
• The instructor praised the trio’s teamwork and declared that they had passed their graduation test.
• Takeda Suzuko told Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku that she would join the Thirteenth Division, where her brother had promised her a place.
• Jūshirō Ukitake said he had also received approval to join the Thirteenth Division.
• Shunsui Kyōraku revealed that he planned to join the Eighth Division instead.

Suzuko and Ukitake reported to the Thirteenth Division after graduating and received their first assignment from Captain Shuichi. They were sent to replace the Soul Reaper stationed in Kagamino City for three months, where they were to guide lost souls and handle any Hollows they encountered.

• Suzuko and Ukitake arrived at the Thirteenth Division and greeted Shuichi, who praised their academy results.
• Shuichi officially welcomed them as members of the Thirteenth Division and gave them an assignment to replace Kagamino City's stationed Soul Reaper for three months.
• Shuichi warned Suzuko that Hollows in the World of the Living could ambush and trap them, and told Ukitake to watch over her.
• Ukitake promised to protect Suzuko and complete the assignment, while Suzuko vowed to perform well.
• Shuichi reminded them that guiding lost souls through Soul Burial was their primary duty, then sent them to prepare for passage through the Senkaimon.

Jūshirō Ukitake and Suzuko arrived in the World of the Living for their posting and found the abandoned Hachiman Shrine where they were to stay. Their first night there began unexpectedly when a shrine maiden saw them and called them ghosts.

• Jūshirō Ukitake explained to Suzuko that ordinary people in the World of the Living could not see souls.
• Jūshirō Ukitake and Suzuko followed their posting documents to Hachiman Shrine on the outskirts of Kagamino City.
• Suzuko explored the small, aged shrine while Jūshirō Ukitake prepared to settle beneath its covered corridor.
• A young shrine maiden opened a window, saw Jūshirō Ukitake and Suzuko, and called them “Mr. Ghost.”

Takeda Suzuko and Jūshirō Ukitake arrived at Hachiman Shrine to replace Honda for three months, and Kagura welcomed them as guests. Over dinner, Kagura told them that the shrine priest had died protecting people during a disaster, leaving her alone to guard the shrine.

• Kagura recognized Suzuko and Ukitake as Honda’s colleagues and introduced herself as Kagura.
• Kagura offered Suzuko a place in her room and Ukitake Honda’s old room for their three-month stay.
• Kagura prepared dinner, and Ukitake asked whether she had always guarded Hachiman Shrine alone.
• Kagura explained that the shrine priest had never returned after fighting monsters during a disaster at the foot of the mountain.
• Ukitake promised that he and Suzuko would deal with the monsters, and Kagura accepted their help.

Shuichi learned Red Fire Star Bullet at the Kidō Corps Base and later asked the man in red robes about how Blue Butterflies could drive targets berserk. The man explained that repeated fear could provoke madness and left Shuichi considering when not to use the ability.

• Shuichi asked Deputy Commander Chōzuka for a suppressive attack method, and Chōzuka taught him Hado No. 71, Red Fire Star Bullet.
• Shuichi practiced Red Fire Star Bullet, gradually managing to fire three Shakkahō in succession, though the third lacked power.
• Shuichi returned to his quarters and entered his Inner World, where he played Go with the man in red robes.
• Shuichi asked why Blue Butterflies made the Soul King Fragment go berserk, and the man in red robes explained that people reacted differently to dark memories.
• Shuichi asked whether he could control someone after making them berserk, and the man in red robes told him to consider when not to use Blue Butterflies.

Suzuko and Ukitake watched Kagamino City's New Year festival before killing a weak Hollow at the outskirts. As they returned through the crowds, Suzuko wondered about human wishes, and a child glimpsed her and called her a samurai.

• Suzuko and Ukitake watched the New Year parade, and Ukitake explained the festival and how people in Rukongai marked the passing of a year.
• Suzuko sensed a weak Hollow near the outskirts, and she struck it with Byakurai before Ukitake cut it down.
• Suzuko and Ukitake returned to the festival crowd, where Suzuko stopped to look at the food stalls and masks.
• Suzuko asked Ukitake whether humans made wishes for the New Year, and he explained how people prayed at shrines.
• A child pointed toward Suzuko and called her a samurai, but his mother saw only the crowd and streetlights.

Shunsui Kyōraku challenged the Eighth Division's Fifth Seat and defeated him in under three minutes, earning the seat. Afterward, he returned to his intelligence work without boasting, while Bakuzan Katori judged his performance not bad.

• Kyōraku spent half a month learning the Eighth Division's intelligence procedures before challenging its Fifth Seat.
• Kyōraku defeated the Fifth Seat with his swordsmanship in less than three minutes.
• Kyōraku bowed to the Fifth Seat, then returned to his desk and resumed reading files.
• Eighth Division members began reassessing Kyōraku after he showed no pride or excitement over winning the seat.
• Bakuzan Katori wrote “not bad” on the report of Kyōraku's victory.

Shunsui Kyōraku delivered a reconnaissance report to Bakuzan Katori and unexpectedly became captivated by her appearance in the sunset, especially when she wore her glasses. He went home replaying the moment and realized that seeing her had changed how he noticed the familiar world around him.

• Shunsui Kyōraku brought Bakuzan Katori the report on the armed group in the East Seventh District.
• Kyōraku’s heart skipped when he saw Katori gazing out the window in her glasses, and he found her striking when she adjusted them.
• Katori removed her glasses to rub her eyes, and Kyōraku’s sudden fascination faded until she put them back on.
• Kyōraku left the office and spent his walk home thinking about Katori and noticing the sunset and lantern light differently.
• At home, Kyōraku lay awake replaying the encounter and anticipated seeing Katori at the barracks the next day.

Kurt Meinel led a group of Holy Soldiers toward the Seireitei without orders from Jugram Haschwalth or His Majesty. Harada spotted the Quincy unit during a patrol and hurried to report them.

• Kurt Meinel dismissed a Holy Soldier’s concern about attacking the Seireitei without the commander’s permission and said they would not be stopped.
• Kurt led the Holy Soldiers south from the fields of the 50th District of West Rukongai toward a town.
• Harada patrolled the border of the 49th and 50th Districts of West Rukongai with three new Soul Reapers.
• Harada recognized the approaching group in white uniforms as Quincy and ordered his companions to return and report the armed unit.
• Harada used Shunpo to take the three newcomers away across the wilderness.

The Uesugi family's nephew traveled to a remote Reishi Iron Ore mine in North District 68, escorted by Sixth Division officers. A band of Rukongai residents prepared to ambush the party in hopes of winning their leader's favor, and Boss ordered them to wait until the group entered the mine.

• The Uesugi family's nephew arrived at the mine to inspect its reported new ore vein, while his attendants and escort searched for the survey team.
• Boss and his underling watched the party from hiding as dozens of ragged residents gathered around the mine ruins.
• Boss told his underling that their leader hated nobles after once cursing them aloud at a riverbank.
• Boss ordered the group to let the party enter the narrow mine, then surround them and seize the noble without fighting the Soul Reapers unless they pursued.

The Uesugi family’s nephew survived a bandit attack in a mine in North District 68, where Sixth Division Soul Reapers drove off the attackers. He asked Central 46 to eliminate the bandits, but the Sages declined to act, leaving him to return home with no assurance of help.

• Bandits led by a dark-skinned man attacked the Uesugi family’s party inside the mine, but four Sixth Division Squad Members stopped their charge with Zanpakutō and Sōkatsui.
• The bandits fled, and Lord Uesugi insisted that the party continue inspecting the mine for reishi iron ore.
• After returning to Seireitei, the Uesugi nephew asked Central 46 to order the Soul Reapers to eliminate the bandits in North District 68.
• An elderly Sage told him to await word, then explained that Central 46 could not eliminate every bandit in Rukongai.
• The elderly Sage told a younger Sage that Rukongai’s conditions meant bandits would continue to appear.

Central 46 learned that an armed Quincy unit had appeared in West Rukongai, reviving the sages’ fury over the war. Yamamoto ordered Bakuzan Katori to verify the report, then adjourned the meeting as the captains departed.

• An Onmitsukidō retainer reported that a Tenth Division patrol had spotted an armed Quincy unit in West Rukongai and that the Onmitsukidō had confirmed its presence.
• The Forty-Six Sages summoned the Gotei 13 captains and angrily recalled the losses caused by the Quincies in the war.
• The sages argued over whether to attack, scout, or seal off West Rukongai while Yamamoto listened without interrupting.
• Yamamoto ordered Bakuzan Katori of the Eighth Division to lead a team and confirm the report.
• Yamamoto adjourned the meeting, and the captains Shunpoed away as the sages remained in the chamber.

Eighth Division officers deployed to investigate a reported Quincy presence in West Rukongai, but found the 50th District empty and traces indicating scattered Quincy units nearby. Katori held position while Wuchuan and Kyōraku led separate teams west to continue the search.

• Bakuzan Katori ordered the Vice-Captain through Fifth Seat to lead five officers each in a renewed search for a Quincy in West Rukongai’s 50th District.
• Katori and Wuchuan found no Quincy Reiatsu in the 50th District, though traces remained there and scattered signals appeared across the 49th, 51st, and 52nd Districts.
• Katori concluded that someone was keeping the Quincy forces dispersed and ordered Wuchuan and Kyōraku to lead their teams west while she stayed in the 49th District.
• Kyōraku assigned roles to his five officers and led his team behind Wuchuan’s as both groups set out toward the 51st District.

Lieutenant Wuchuan and Shunsui Kyōraku confronted the Sternritter Kurt Meinel in a village in West 52nd District. Wuchuan was badly injured, and he ordered Kyōraku to escape while he held Kurt off.

• Kurt Meinel arrived with overwhelming reiatsu, prompting Wuchuan to unleash his Zanpakutō, Scorching Peach, and order his squad to retreat.
• The squad withdrew and sent a Hell Butterfly toward Captain Katori, while Wuchuan's flames exploded around Kurt.
• Kurt burst through the flames and punched Wuchuan into a wall, burying him in rubble.
• Kyōraku attacked Kurt with both blades, but neither could pierce his defenses.
• Wuchuan rose, used a pillar of fire to separate Kurt from Kyōraku, and ordered Kyōraku to escape.

Shunsui Kyōraku released Katen Kyōkotsu and worked with Wuchuan to attack Kurt, but Kurt overwhelmed them once he unleashed his full Reiatsu. Katori arrived in time to stop Kurt from finishing Wuchuan, and Kurt escaped through the shadows.

• Shunsui Kyōraku released Katen Kyōkotsu and used its shadow and wind techniques to ambush and hinder Kurt while Wuchuan attacked with Scorching Peach’s flames.
• Kurt endured their attacks, blasted away Wuchuan’s flames, and threw a Holy Arrow at him, which Wuchuan dodged.
• Shunsui Kyōraku used Bushōgoma to slow Kurt, allowing Wuchuan to surround him with flaming peach blossoms that exploded.
• Kurt unleashed his full Reiatsu, struck Shunsui Kyōraku through several house walls, then hit Wuchuan and pursued him into the air.
• Katori arrived and forced Kurt to abandon his attack on Wuchuan, after which Kurt vanished into a shadow.

Yamamoto ordered an expedition into West Rukongai and assigned Unohana, Yan Yuan, and Katori to lead it while keeping Unohana in check. In Silbern, Haschwalth punished Kurt Meinel for retreating despite the other Sternritter’s pleas.

• Katori reported the casualties from the battle and described Shunsui Kyōraku’s Shikai abilities to Yamamoto.
• Wuchuan Benchang explained Katen Kyōkotsu’s abilities and said Takaoni required Kyōraku to explain its rules to his opponent.
• Yamamoto ordered Yachiru Unohana to take the Eleventh Division west and eliminate any Quincy she encountered.
• Yamamoto assigned Yan Yuan to provide support and Katori to handle intelligence, with orders to bring Unohana back to Seireitei after six months.
• Haschwalth rejected the Sternritter’s pleas to spare Kurt Meinel and slashed him for his defeat.

Eternal Silence had grown into a thriving town, but its leaders struggled to manage its expanding population and competing interests. When Amakusa Shirō led men to claim an abandoned mine after hearing nobles were prospecting there, Shen Du learned of his move and reacted with anger.

• Eternal Silence expanded into a town with schools, a Hundred-Man Squad, and an administration run by Wuran and Endo.
• The town honored those who entered reincarnation by carving their names on a stone monument beneath the willow tree.
• A man told Amakusa Shirō that nobles and a prospecting team had appeared at an abandoned mine south of town.
• Amakusa Shirō decided the ore could help Eternal Silence and gathered men to go to the mine without consulting Shen Du or Wuran.
• Wuran told Shen Du that Amakusa had left, and Shen Du angrily said he hoped the nobles would kill him.

Amakusa's group reached an abandoned mine in North District 68, but found no ore or tools to begin digging. In Kagamino City, Ukitake and Suzuko welcomed Senior Honda back after his three-month assignment and then returned to Soul Society.

• A scout told Amakusa that the mine held freshly dug pits and painted markings but no visible ore, and that a deep hole bore strange symbols.
• Amakusa ordered his men to obtain tools and begin mining while they built a crude camp around the entrance.
• Suzuko and Ukitake continued their routine patrols and Soul Burial duties in Kagamino City, where they had spent three months with Kagura.
• Honda returned to the shrine through a Senkaimon, and he, Suzuko, Ukitake, and Kagura talked beneath the eaves before sharing dinner.
• Suzuko and Ukitake said goodbye to Honda and Kagura, then used a temporary Senkaimon to return to Soul Society.

The Seventh and Ninth Divisions prepared personnel and supply lines for the expedition, while the Twelfth Division reassigned workers to patrol duty. In the South Third District, Kirinji opened his Hell Hot Spring and accidentally frightened a child, leaving the street to return to its ordinary routine.

• The Seventh Division deployed half its personnel to establish a fortified logistics center in the West Eightieth District and secure the border.
• Entetsu Kumenoi organized the Ninth Division's supply runs and personally checked shipments to keep supplies moving to the front.
• Senjumaru Shutara assigned Twelfth Division personnel to help the Tenth Division patrol Rukongai, delaying Engineering Department deadlines.
• Kirinji opened the Kirinji Hell Hot Spring in the South Third District and celebrated loudly outside the shop.
• A nearby child began crying at Kirinji's appearance, and the child's mother carried him away after glaring at Kirinji.

Kotani discovered Kirinji Hell Hot Spring in South Third District and found that its eight-hundred-coin bath relieved his fatigue. He brought Yamazaki, Watanabe, and Inokuchi the next evening, and all four decided they wanted to return.

• Kotani entered Kirinji Hell Hot Spring after a long patrol, and the shopkeeper recognized him as a tired Soul Reaper and charged eight hundred coins.
• Kotani soaked in the milky-white spring and returned to the barracks feeling lighter and refreshed.
• Kotani told his roommate Yamazaki about the bath, and Yamazaki questioned whether it had been worth the price.
• The next evening, Kotani led Yamazaki, Watanabe, and Inokuchi to the hot spring.
• Yamazaki, Watanabe, and Inokuchi enjoyed the bath and agreed they wanted to come back, while Kotani quietly savored being believed.