Chapter Summaries

Yamabuki Chidori arranged for Kaname Tōsen to enroll at Shino Academy, where Tōsen’s exceptional Spiritual Power surprised the students and reunited him with Kyouka. The chapter left Komamura Sajin awaiting a decision on his admission after revealing his wolf-like appearance and his wish to protect the world.

• Yamabuki Chidori remembered Tōsen’s tragic original fate, found him in Rukongai, and encouraged him to become a Soul Reaper for Kyouka’s sake.
• Yamabuki Chidori secretly added Kaname Tōsen to Shino Academy’s admissions roster, and Tōsen received a Zanpakuto and an invitation to enroll.
• At the entrance ceremony, Kyouka tested at grade fifteen Spiritual Power, while Tōsen’s result reached grade nine and astonished the teacher and onlookers.
• The teacher called Komamura Sajin to take the assessment and demanded that he remove the jar covering his head.
• Komamura Sajin revealed his wolf-like face and explained that the Werewolf Clan deserved the chance to become Soul Reapers; Kyouka touched his ears without fear.
• The teacher went to Yamabuki Chidori to ask whether Komamura Sajin could enroll, and Yamabuki Chidori recognized who he was.

Yamabuki Chidori admitted Sajin Komamura to Shino Academy and secretly recruited Tōsen for an undercover mission against a threat to Soul Society. After defending Sajin Komamura from bullying and encouraging him to follow his own path, Yamabuki Chidori wondered what Aizen would do next, while Aizen noticed Sajin Komamura in the enrollment register.

• Yamabuki Chidori recognized Sajin Komamura from their meeting in the mountains and admitted him after his test revealed Eighth-Level Spiritual Power.
• Yamabuki Chidori placed Tōsen and Sajin Komamura in the same class, while separating Tōsen from Kyouka.
• Yamabuki Chidori secretly recruited Tōsen as an undercover ally, saying his blindness could counter an enemy whose ability worked through sight and offering to heal his eyes afterward.
• When classmates bullied Sajin Komamura, Yamabuki Chidori stopped them and assigned them to clean the cafeteria after Sajin Komamura chose not to retaliate.
• Yamabuki Chidori told Sajin Komamura that prejudice separated Soul Reapers and the Werewolf Clan, and urged him to ignore others' opinions and pursue a place in the Gotei 13.
• Aizen studied the enrollment register, noticed Sajin Komamura's name and Eighth-Level Spiritual Power, and recalled the Werewolf Clan's past dealings with his teacher.

Aizen targeted Kaname Tōsen for recruitment while Tōsen befriended Sajin Komamura and was assigned with him and Kyouka to hunt Hollows in the Human World. Their first mission began strangely, with no Hollows in the area and a human battle unfolding nearby.

• Aizen selected blind Kaname Tōsen as a potential subordinate, ordered a Shinigami spy to monitor him, and later sent Menos Grande to the Human World.
• After intensive training, Tōsen awakened a Mind's Eye ability and met Sajin Komamura by the lake; the two lonely students became friends.
• Yamabuki Chidori announced a graded Hollow hunt in the Human World, and Kaname Tōsen, Kyouka, and Sajin Komamura were assigned to the same group.
• Aizen ordered his spy to track Tōsen during the mission, while Menos Grande traveled to the Human World through Gargantas.
• Tōsen's group found the area unnaturally quiet because Aizen had eliminated or controlled its Hollows, then encountered soldiers whose souls became visible after a battle.
• Kyouka suggested that the group send the newly freed human souls to Soul Society.

During a training exercise, Kyouka, Tōsen, Komamura, and their teacher were overwhelmed by Menos Grande until Aizen arrived and defeated them. Aizen treated the survivors and quietly won Komamura and Tōsen’s favor, while encouraging Tōsen to pursue Kyouka.

• Kyouka, Tōsen, and Komamura encountered a Menos Grande, and Kyouka ran to find their teacher while the two men held it off.
• Kyouka found their teacher badly injured and three Menos Grande nearby, while Tōsen and Komamura were thrown down and a further Menos Grande appeared through a tear in space.
• Yamabuki Chidori ordered Aizen to rescue the students, and Aizen stopped a Cero before destroying the Menos Grande with Kido.
• Aizen treated the wounded and returned the students to Soul Society after declaring the exercise over.
• Aizen told Komamura that Yamabuki Chidori thought highly of him, then asked Tōsen whether he liked Kyouka and encouraged him to pursue her.

Yamabuki Chidori told Tōsen that Aizen had staged the Menos Grande attack to win his trust and advised him to join Aizen while pretending reluctance. After Tōsen and Komamura entered the Fifth Division, Aizen tried to sway Tōsen over drinks, but Tōsen’s views left him struggling to find an approach.

• Yamabuki Chidori revealed to Tōsen that Aizen had arranged the Menos Grande attack and rescued the students to recruit him.
• Tōsen agreed to act reluctant when Aizen approached, then feign loyalty after joining him; Yamabuki Chidori promised to protect Tōsen’s loved ones.
• Two months later, Tōsen and Komamura received special admission to the Gotei 13 and chose the Fifth Division, while Kyouka joined the Fourth Division.
• Aizen welcomed Tōsen and Komamura with medicinal wine, but Komamura got drunk before Aizen could begin persuading Tōsen.
• Tōsen said he joined for stable work and believed Soul Society was improving, leaving Aizen unsure how to win him over.

Aizen tried to recruit Tōsen by exposing him to injustice, while Yamabuki Chidori’s plans kept Tōsen wary and shielded his friends. Tōsen voiced his anger at unequal justice over drinks, then gave Aizen a cautious answer about changing the world.

• Aizen failed to sway Tōsen, who followed Yamabuki Chidori’s advice to improve his strength while keeping Aizen at a distance.
• Two months later, Aizen transferred Komamura to the Seventh Division as its Ninth Seat, just as Yamabuki Chidori had predicted.
• Tōsen invited Aizen out, but Huo Ying arrived and took Kyouka away before she could join them.
• Over drinks, Tōsen criticized how power and noble connections let people escape equal punishment, while Aizen listened and saw his plan working.
• Tōsen forgot the rest of Yamabuki Chidori’s prepared speech, stayed silent, and then told Aizen that changing the world was too risky to attempt rashly.

Yamabuki Chidori told the Visored Army that Aizen was far more powerful and dangerous than they believed, then explained his plan to stage their Hollowfication and keep Aizen alive. He recruited Yoruichi to search for Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto, while Soi Fon grew alarmed that her father might have senile dementia.

• Yamabuki Chidori revealed to the Visored Army that Aizen had secretly ruled Hueco Mundo and was conducting Hollowfication experiments.
• Yamabuki Chidori explained that Aizen would likely target Shinji Hirako and that a spy would help stage the Visored Army's Hollowfication.
• Yamabuki Chidori kept the rest of his plan secret and joked with Shinji Hirako about his double paycheck.
• Soi Fon overheard Yamabuki Chidori say he had not seen Yoruichi in a long time and feared that he had developed senile dementia.
• Yamabuki Chidori asked Yoruichi to find the future orphans Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto, and Yoruichi agreed after questioning his foresight.

Yamabuki Chidori and Unohana convinced Soi Fon she had a sleepwalking problem and treated her with needles, while Yoruichi arranged a search and Aizen faced mounting hostility from Shinji Hirako. After dinner, Yamabuki Chidori helped Soi Fon summon Suzumebachi with a Tenshintai so she could begin dangerous Bankai training, and Suzumebachi quickly overwhelmed her.

• Yamabuki Chidori tried to treat Soi Fon’s supposed sleepwalking with acupuncture, but she fled and Unohana brought her back so both parents could pin her down and administer over a hundred needles.
• Yoruichi comforted Soi Fon at work, sent two Onmitsukidō members to search for someone, and received documents delivered by Tōsen.
• Shinji Hirako berated Aizen over unfinished documents, while Aizen endured the scolding and privately threatened to make Hirako his first Hollowfication test subject.
• Yamabuki Chidori reassured Soi Fon that her sleepwalking was cured and agreed to help her train for Bankai, despite her imagining a poison-based One-Hit Kill.
• Yamabuki Chidori used a Tenshintai to summon Soi Fon’s Zanpakuto spirit, Suzumebachi, and set a three-day limit for Soi Fon to defeat her.
• Soi Fon fought Suzumebachi, but the smaller spirit’s speed and Two-Hit Kill ability quickly forced her onto the defensive.

Soi Fon trained to master Bankai by fighting Suzumebachi, while Unohana demonstrated the terrifying power of her own Bankai. After reflecting on her weaknesses overnight, Soi Fon found a way to disrupt Suzumebachi’s timing and began keeping pace with her.

• Yamabuki Chidori used his spatial ability to send Suzumebachi back to her starting point until she stopped fighting and rested.
• Unohana sparred with Soi Fon, then used Kajōtenketsu and Kidō to defeat her while sparing her life.
• Yamabuki Chidori advised Soi Fon to consider her strengths and weaknesses, and she slept beside Suzumebachi after another exhausting fight.
• The next day, Soi Fon kept up with Suzumebachi and explained that she planned to disrupt the timing of her attacks.

Soi Fon defeated Suzumebachi by relying on strength, mastered Bankai, and discovered that her new missile weapon could devastate a training ground. Meanwhile, Yamabuki Chidori guided Tōsen into Aizen’s confidence, and Tōsen heard Aizen’s final offer to help change the world.

• Soi Fon endured Suzumebachi’s faster attacks and, on the third day, let Suzumebachi pierce her palm so she could seize and overpower her.
• Suzumebachi surrendered and entered Soi Fon, who mastered Bankai and revealed Suzumebachi Raikōben, a huge missile that blasted a crater into the underground training ground.
• Yamabuki Chidori restored the ruined training ground, persuaded Soi Fon that her destructive Bankai suited assassination, and later heard that Tōsen had awakened his Zanpakuto and become the 5th Seat.
• Yamabuki Chidori told Tōsen to accept Aizen’s invitation after one more refusal and instructed him to defend Aizen during a confrontation with Shinji Hirako.
• Tōsen interrupted Shinji Hirako berating Aizen, challenged the Captain, and later accepted Aizen’s invitation to discuss changing the world after condemning those who controlled it.

Tōsen accepted Aizen’s invitation after making clear that he would not sacrifice Kyouka, and Aizen welcomed him as an ally in overthrowing the regime. In winter, Shihōin Yoruichi’s Onmitsukidō found the orphaned Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto, then took Rangiku away while promising Gin would not be harmed.

• Tōsen agreed to join Aizen as long as his plans did not require sacrificing Kyouka.
• Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto huddled together in an abandoned cabin, struggling to survive the winter cold.
• An Onmitsukidō Shinigami entered the cabin, started a fire, and gave the children food while they waited for help.
• Gin tried to flee the next morning, but the Shinigami stopped him and told him to wait for someone to take them away.
• Shihōin Yoruichi arrived, subdued Gin, and revealed that Rangiku was the intended target.
• Yoruichi carried Rangiku away and had Gin covered with a sack, promising Rangiku that she would not hurt him if she behaved.

Yamabuki Chidori brought Gin Ichimaru and Rangiku Matsumoto to Seireitei after revealing that Rangiku carried the Soul King's fingertip and was in danger. A year later, the two arrived at Shino Academy to register, with Yamabuki’s plans for Gin and Aizen still unfolding.

• Yoruichi brought Gin and Rangiku to Seireitei, where Kisuke Urahara noticed something extraordinary in Rangiku’s soul.
• Yamabuki Chidori told Gin that Rangiku carried the Soul King’s fingertip and recruited him to become a Soul Reaper so he could protect her.
• Gin concealed the truth from Rangiku, and she agreed to stay with him and become a Soul Reaper.
• Yamabuki took the children to Obana Danjirou’s orphanage, where Rangiku received new clothes, shoes, and a safe home.
• Yamabuki revealed that he intended to place Gin near Aizen and arranged for the children to enter Shino Academy the following year.
• One year later, Gin and Rangiku arrived to register at Shino Academy, and the female teacher nervously compared her figure with Rangiku’s.

Aizen recruited Gin Ichimaru after discovering his exceptional Spiritual Power, while Yamabuki Chidori warned Aizen not to interfere with Rangiku Matsumoto's Soul King Fragment. Aizen then brought Gin into his confidence and prepared to test him by teaching him swordsmanship for a mission to kill a fugitive Soul Reaper.

• Rangiku Matsumoto and Gin Ichimaru enrolled at Shino Academy, where Gin's Spiritual Power ranked sixth class and Rangiku's ranked tenth class.
• Aizen recognized a Soul King Fragment within Rangiku, but Yamabuki Chidori signaled him not to touch it.
• Aizen used his Reiatsu to intimidate Gin, recruited him as a subordinate, and promised Rangiku could become a full-fledged Soul Reaper too.
• Yamabuki Chidori assigned Aizen to hunt a Third Division 5th Seat who had killed a fellow member and fled.
• Aizen released Kyōka Suigetsu on Gin, asked him to join his cause, and said he would prove his loyalty by killing someone.
• When Gin protested that he was only a student, Aizen demonstrated a sword thrust and began teaching him the move.

Aizen and Gin killed Naruki, then encountered the powerful street bully Oni Kijō and sent him off to challenge the Kenpachi. As Aizen and Gin headed back to Seireitei, they met a towering stranger whose dangerous presence suggested he was one of the Gotei 13’s strongest fighters.

• Naruki fled to Rukongai after killing a fellow officer, but Gin Ichimaru stabbed him to death on Aizen’s orders.
• Aizen and Gin ate oden and drank sweet, alcohol-free wine at a Rukongai shop.
• Oni Kijō bullied the shopkeeper and attacked Gin, so Aizen knocked him away twice.
• Gin told Oni Kijō to challenge the Kenpachi if he wanted to become the Strongest Shinigami, and Oni Kijō left to pack.
• Aizen and Gin started back toward Seireitei and sensed a dangerous, towering stranger approaching them.

Oni Kijō challenged Gosuke Kenpachi for the Kenpachi title after smashing through the Seireitei gate, and Yamabuki Chidori arranged a succession battle in Rukongai. As the fight began, Gosuke begged Yamabuki to honor his promise to save him if he could not win, while Kenpachi Zaraki returned to Rukongai intending to confront Yamabuki.

• Aizen reported that the traitor had been killed and received a bonus and three days off, but he hurried to leave when Oni Kijō smashed through the Seireitei gate.
• Oni Kijō demanded to fight the Strongest Shinigami, and Yamabuki Chidori slapped him through a wall before making him register and repair the gate.
• The captains arranged a Kenpachi Succession Battle between Oni Kijō and Gosuke Kenpachi, with the match set for the next day in Rukongai.
• Kenpachi Zaraki saw the battle posters and headed to watch, having returned to Rukongai after a long journey and planning to confront Yamabuki Chidori.
• At the start of the battle, Gosuke Kenpachi pleaded with Yamabuki Chidori to remember his promise to save him if he could not defeat Oni Kijō.

Oni Kijō defeated Gosuke Kenpachi and claimed the title of Strongest Shinigami and Captain of the 11th Division, but Kenpachi Zaraki arrived and killed him with one slash. Kenpachi Zaraki then released Nozarashi and attacked Yamabuki Chidori, leaving the assembled Captains facing his overwhelming power.

• Oni Kijō crushed Gosuke Kenpachi in the succession battle, and Gosuke surrendered before Yamabuki Chidori stopped Oni Kijō from killing him.
• Yamabuki Chidori officially named Oni Kijō Captain of the 11th Division, and Oni Kijō celebrated by taking Gosuke's Captain's Haori.
• Kenpachi Zaraki arrived searching for Yamabuki Chidori, ignored Oni Kijō, and killed him with a single sword strike when Oni Kijō attacked.
• Yamabuki Chidori ordered the Captains to stand down as Kenpachi Zaraki released Nozarashi and unleashed Reiatsu powerful enough to overwhelm them.
• Kenpachi Zaraki swung Nozarashi at Yamabuki Chidori, cutting through everything in its path, while Chizome Souya realized the Reiatsu could negate his Reishi-fusing ability.

Yamabuki Chidori defeated Kenpachi Zaraki in the Kenpachi Succession Battle, then appointed him Captain of the 11th Division with Yachiru as his Lieutenant. Afterward, he reassigned Gosuke to clerical work in the Staff Department while keeping his Captain-level salary.

• Yamabuki Chidori and Kenpachi Zaraki clashed, and Chidori used Space Severance to cut Nozarashi before overpowering Zaraki and rendering him unable to fight.
• Kenpachi Zaraki accepted his defeat and agreed to become the 11th Division Captain after Chidori offered him the position.
• Kuruyashiki, Chizome Souya, and Unohana assessed Zaraki's strength and admitted they had little confidence in defeating him.
• Yamabuki Chidori healed Zaraki, and Zaraki chose Yachiru as his Lieutenant before settling into the 11th Division.
• Gosuke asked to transfer to the Fourth Division, but Yamabuki Chidori reassigned him to the Staff Department with his Captain-level salary intact.

Kisuke Urahara tracked down Kurotsuchi Mayuri, who had abducted villagers to study their souls, and arrested him after thwarting his poison and explosives. The case reached Yamabuki Chidori, who considered what charges Mayuri should face and whether the Gotei 13 could use his abilities.

• Yamabuki Chidori sent Kisuke Urahara to investigate the mass disappearance of villagers after reports revealed toxic particles at the scene.
• Kisuke Urahara traced the paralytic gas to a mountain cave and found the missing villagers imprisoned in cages.
• Kurotsuchi Mayuri revealed that he had abducted the villagers to explore the mysteries of the soul, but Kisuke Urahara had taken an antidote and disarmed the cave's bombs.
• Kisuke Urahara restrained and arrested Kurotsuchi Mayuri, then returned the unharmed villagers to their homes.
• Kisuke Urahara brought the case to Yamabuki Chidori and suggested that the Gotei 13 could use Mayuri's abilities.

After Kirimaru Tsukishima and Shūtara Senjumaru received invitations to join Zero Division, Yamabuki Chidori arranged the 12th Division’s transition and established the Research and Development Bureau. Kisuke Urahara was named the next 12th Division Captain, while Aizen continued his hidden plans and his double agents reported back to Yamabuki Chidori.

• Kisuke Urahara and Yamabuki Chidori decided to imprison Kurotsuchi Mayuri in the Larva Nest, and decades later a letter invited Kirimaru Tsukishima and Shūtara Senjumaru to join Zero Division.
• Yamabuki Chidori and Kenpachi Zaraki fought in the underground training ground, where Yamabuki sent Zaraki through a Wormhole to discuss Kirimaru’s departure with her.
• Yamabuki Chidori arranged for Kisuke Urahara to succeed Kirimaru as 12th Division Captain, Sarugaki Hiyori to become Lieutenant, and the division to focus on research through the new Research and Development Bureau.
• Aizen declined the 12th Division Captaincy so he could continue his Hollowfication plans, while Gin Ichimaru and Tōsen secretly reported his actions to Yamabuki Chidori.
• Yamabuki Chidori publicly named Kisuke Urahara as the next Captain of the 12th Division, surprising Urahara and the Captain Commander.

Kisuke Urahara became Captain of the 12th Division and recruited Kurotsuchi Mayuri to lead its Research and Development Bureau. Yamabuki Chidori prepared a plan to thwart Aizen’s attack on Shinji Hirako, while Tōsen and Gin Ichimaru secretly reported Aizen’s arrangements to her; the confrontation was set for the following night.

• Kisuke Urahara visited Kirimaru Tsukishima, then agreed to become director of the Research and Development Bureau on the condition that he could choose his deputy.
• After becoming Captain of the 12th Division, Kisuke Urahara took Hiyori to the Larva Nest and persuaded Kurotsuchi Mayuri to become his deputy director by promising him a chance to surpass him.
• Yamabuki Chidori gathered the Visored Army, Tōsen, and Gin Ichimaru to plan how to stop Aizen from Hollowfying Shinji Hirako, offering the participants five times their salary to take part.
• Tōsen received a call from Aizen and went to meet him while carrying Yamabuki Chidori’s listening device.
• Aizen told Tōsen to ambush Shinji Hirako with Hollow Power and instructed Gin Ichimaru to claim they had been together all night; Tōsen later destroyed the listening device.