Chapter Summaries

After Kaido defeated Nnoitra Gilga and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, the screen showed Uchiha Mu encountering Byakuya Kuchiki in Hueco Mundo. Mu killed an attacking Hollow with strange techniques, and the chapter ended as he launched a kick at Byakuya, who raised his Zanpakuto to block it.

• Nnoitra Gilga collapsed unconscious after Kaido defeated him, while Soul Reapers and Arrancars watched in disbelief.
• Byakuya Kuchiki met Uchiha Mu in Hueco Mundo and questioned how a human had survived there, but Mu ignored him and walked away.
• A Centipede Hollow attacked Mu, who immobilized and strangled it before throwing its corpse aside.
• Byakuya recognized Mu's techniques as resembling Quincy abilities and stepped in front of him to ask if he was a Quincy.
• Mu attacked Byakuya with a flying kick, and Byakuya drew his Zanpakuto to block the blow.

Mu endured Byakuya’s attacks with his Tengu Armor and provoked him into releasing Senbonzakura. The chapter ended as Byakuya sent its deadly blades toward Mu while holding back, and Mu promised to hold back in return.

• Byakuya crossed the distance with Shunpo and struck Mu, but Mu’s Tengu Armor blocked the attack.
• Byakuya switched to the blade’s edge and slashed at Mu’s neck, but Mu remained unharmed and pushed him back with a surge of energy.
• Byakuya launched another assault, then decided to stop holding back and release Senbonzakura.
• Byakuya transformed Senbonzakura into a swarm of tiny blades and sent them toward Mu, reducing the attack’s force by thirty percent.
• Mu noticed Byakuya was holding back and said he would do the same.

Byakuya unleashed his Bankai and escalated his attacks against Mu, but Mu remained untouched and walked through each technique. Byakuya then prepared his final strike, the White Emperor Sword, while Mu recognized his resolve.

• Byakuya watched Senbonzakura’s petals pass through Mu and saw Mu stroll out of their encirclement unharmed.
• Byakuya released his Bankai, Scatter, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, and launched a vastly greater storm of blades at Mu.
• Byakuya gathered the blades into a massive sphere around Mu, but Mu casually walked out and watched the attack as though admiring flowers.
• Byakuya unleashed his strongest technique, the White Emperor Sword, and declared it his final strike.
• Mu sensed Byakuya’s killing intent and determination, reined in his smile, and felt approval for his courage.

Uchiha Mu defeated Byakuya Kuchiki in a sword clash, sparing him but breaking Senbonzakura. Afterward, Mu identified himself as a member of the Uchiha Empire and asked Byakuya where he could find powerful opponents, but Byakuya said he was unfamiliar with Hueco Mundo.

• Mu recognized Byakuya's courage, introduced himself, and dispelled his Hollowfication before covering himself in Tengu Armor.
• Mu and Byakuya charged at each other with their strongest sword techniques, and Mu broke Senbonzakura while leaving Byakuya's body unharmed.
• Byakuya admitted defeat, while Soul Reapers and Arrancars watching in Karakura Town lost their will to fight.
• Mu advised Byakuya that Senbonzakura's techniques were too flashy and asked him to find powerful opponents.
• Byakuya told Mu that he had recently arrived in Hueco Mundo and knew little about the area, since his concern was protecting the Soul Society.

Shisui arrived at Las Noches and began fighting Ulquiorra Cifer, the Fourth Espada. Their clash was interrupted when a woman called out for Ichigo and appeared nearby.

• Byakuya resolved to grow stronger and surpass Mu after Mu left him behind.
• Luffy challenged Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto in Karakura Town as the Uchiha Empire members prepared to fight their chosen opponents.
• Shisui reached Las Noches before the Soul Society group and encountered Ulquiorra Cifer.
• Ulquiorra fired a Cero at Shisui, who blocked the attack and countered with his blade.
• Shisui and Ulquiorra exchanged attacks until a woman called for Ichigo and ran out of the nearby buildings.

Shisui battled Ulquiorra while protecting Orihime, shrugging off Ulquiorra’s strongest attacks and wounding him. Ulquiorra’s rapid healing stopped the bleeding, and Shisui prepared to take the initiative.

• Shisui vanished just as Ulquiorra attacked, then appeared in midair and told Orihime he would handle the fight.
• Orihime identified Ulquiorra as the fourth-ranked Espada and warned Shisui to be careful.
• Ulquiorra released Murciélago and fired a powerful Black Cero, but Shisui blocked it without being harmed.
• Ulquiorra’s Moonlight Sword shattered against Shisui’s Tengu Armor, and Shisui counterattacked with a deep slash across Ulquiorra’s back.
• Ulquiorra’s wound stopped bleeding and healed within seconds, and Shisui asked whether he had any other tricks before attacking.

Ulquiorra transformed into his Second-Stage Resurrección and unleashed his full power against Shisui. After his first Lanza del Relámpago missed, he attacked at close range, but Shisui crushed a second spear, and Ulquiorra followed by hurling a barrage of spears at him.

• Ulquiorra revealed that he alone could use Second-Stage Resurrección and transformed as his Reiatsu rose to 900,000.
• Orihime Inoue struggled under the pressure of Ulquiorra's terrifying Reiatsu and called for Ichigo.
• Ulquiorra formed and threw a Lanza del Relámpago at Shisui, but it flew past him and exploded in the distance.
• Ulquiorra took advantage of Shisui's momentary distraction, firing a black Cero and rushing in with another Lanza del Relámpago.
• Shisui blocked the Cero with his blade and crushed the spear in his left hand.
• Ulquiorra pursued Shisui from the smoke and hurled a rain of Lanza del Relámpago spears at him.

Shisui defeated Ulquiorra and prepared to take Orihime Inoue away, but Ulquiorra returned to uphold Aizen’s orders. Shisui decided to make Ulquiorra his subordinate and used Kotoamatsukami Engraving on him.

• Shisui deflected and dodged Ulquiorra’s Lanza del Relámpago before crushing one in his hand.
• Shisui overwhelmed Ulquiorra in a close-range clash and kicked him tens of kilometers away.
• Shisui approached Orihime Inoue, who thanked him for saving her, and offered to take her away.
• Ulquiorra returned and declared that he would carry out Lord Sōsuke Aizen’s orders with his life.
• Shisui recognized Ulquiorra’s devotion, decided to make him a subordinate, and activated Kotoamatsukami Engraving.

Shisui used his Three-Tomoe Rinnegan to place Ulquiorra under a permanent Mind Seal, making him a follower, and the two met Ichigo Kurosaki. Shisui introduced himself as a member of the Uchiha Empire, leaving Ichigo curious about the unfamiliar nation and clan.

• Shisui's Three-Tomoe Rinnegan sealed Ulquiorra's mind, and Ulquiorra knelt and pledged his loyalty to Shisui.
• Shisui asked Ulquiorra to return to his human-like form, and Ulquiorra explained that his Resurrección release increased combat power but was hard to maintain.
• Ichigo Kurosaki arrived and initially treated Ulquiorra as a potential enemy.
• Orihime Inoue explained that Shisui had saved her and that Ulquiorra now followed him, easing Ichigo's wariness.
• Ichigo thanked Shisui with a handshake, and Shisui introduced himself as Shisui Uchiha of the Uchiha Empire.

Shisui challenged Ichigo Kurosaki to a fight, then discovered that Ichigo’s Bankai released less than a third of his true power. Ichigo agreed to let Shisui help him unlock it, and Shisui activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Shisui told Ichigo Kurosaki that he wanted to fight him, and Ichigo tried to redirect him toward the Espada.
• Orihime Inoue explained that Shisui had easily defeated Ulquiorra, prompting Ichigo to accept that a fight was unavoidable.
• Ichigo Kurosaki used Bankai, but Shisui’s Power Level Scouter showed a reading of 303,000, and Shisui sensed that Ichigo had released less than a third of his power.
• Ichigo Kurosaki doubted Shisui’s claim but, after Orihime Inoue nodded her support, agreed to let Shisui help him release his full power.
• Shisui told Ichigo Kurosaki to relax and look into his eyes, then activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

Shisui urged Ichigo Kurosaki to release his full power, transforming him into a fearsome Horned Ichigo whose strength reached the peak of Super Kage level. Shisui challenged the transformed Ichigo and quickly overwhelmed him, leaving Orihime Inoue worried as Ichigo was driven into the ground.

• Shisui commanded Ichigo Kurosaki to release all his power while encouraging him to keep his consciousness.
• A surge of dark power transformed Ichigo into Horned Ichigo, raising his combat power to the peak of Super Kage level.
• Ulquiorra recognized Horned Ichigo as a Vasto Lorde surpassing himself.
• Shisui invited Horned Ichigo to fight, and Horned Ichigo vanished before reappearing to punch him.
• Shisui used Shinra Tensei to send Horned Ichigo flying, then pursued him and slammed him into the ground.
• Orihime Inoue cried out in concern for Ichigo.

Shisui and Vasto Lorde Ichigo continued their battle, with Ichigo landing a powerful strike before Shisui countered with Instant Slashes. The chapter ended with Shisui severing Ichigo’s right horn, interrupting his Cero, and kicking him into the ground.

• Vasto Lorde Ichigo retrieved Tensa Zangetsu and attacked Shisui, but his first sword strike hit only an afterimage.
• Ichigo combined a Cero, a sword attack, and Black Flow Fang Thrust to send Shisui flying.
• Ichigo pursued Shisui with waves of Getsuga Tenshō and a charged Cero.
• Shisui used Instant Slashes to break through Ichigo’s attacks and create openings with nine afterimages.
• A tenth Shisui appeared behind Ichigo, severed his right horn, interrupted his Cero, and kicked him into the ground.

Shisui and Horned Ichigo traded increasingly powerful attacks, with Shisui gaining the advantage through his swordsmanship. The battle intensified as Horned Ichigo entered a faster, more powerful state and charged at Shisui with Getsuga Tenshō.

• Horned Ichigo healed his wounds and regrew his horn before charging Shisui, who answered with Extreme: Ninefold Slash.
• Shisui and Horned Ichigo exchanged hundreds or thousands of sword strikes, then separated and resumed their duel with faster attacks.
• Horned Ichigo unleashed Infinite Cero, but Shisui cut the blasts apart with White Fang Instant Cut and a sword-energy net.
• Shisui's attacks wounded Horned Ichigo and pushed him into a disadvantage, so Horned Ichigo abandoned reason and transformed into a black-and-red whirlwind.
• Horned Ichigo charged Shisui at astonishing speed and unleashed Getsuga Tenshō.

Shisui overwhelmed Horned Ichigo, whose Hollow form faded after he collapsed. Orihime rushed to Ichigo as Shisui turned toward her and Ulquiorra.

• Horned Ichigo unleashed sword waves and Ceros, but Shisui blocked or evaded every attack with his Tengu Armor and swordsmanship.
• Shisui sped behind Horned Ichigo and slashed a deep wound across his chest, bringing him down.
• Horned Ichigo reverted to Ichigo Kurosaki's human form as he lost consciousness.
• Orihime ran toward Ichigo, stumbling once but quickly getting back up.
• Shisui calmed himself and turned to face Ulquiorra and the approaching Orihime.

Orihime Inoue used her rejection power to heal Ichigo Kurosaki after Shisui assured her he had spared his life. As Ulquiorra explained the power’s significance, Shisui noticed a possible connection to Uchiha Mikoto’s visual jutsu, just as an unknown figure appeared.

• Shisui told Orihime Inoue that Ichigo Kurosaki’s injuries were severe but not life-threatening because he had held back.
• Orihime Inoue summoned Shun'o and Ayame and used Santen Kesshun to heal Ichigo Kurosaki’s wounds and restore his depleted mental energy.
• Ulquiorra recalled Sōsuke Aizen’s description of Orihime’s power as the rejection of all things and explained its significance to Shisui.
• Shisui compared Orihime’s ability with Uchiha Mikoto’s visual jutsu and sensed a subtle connection between them.
• An unexpected figure appeared before Shisui, Ulquiorra, Orihime Inoue, and the unconscious Ichigo Kurosaki.

Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi arrived while Orihime Inoue healed Ichigo Kurosaki, and Kenpachi challenged Ulquiorra before Orihime explained the situation. Kenpachi then examined Shisui and found no trace of Hollow-like traits, despite being told he was an Arrancar.

• Kenpachi Zaraki and Yachiru Kusajishi reached the group, where Yachiru greeted Orihime Inoue as she healed Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Kenpachi mocked Ulquiorra for defeating Ichigo and pointed his Zanpakuto at Ulquiorra's throat.
• Orihime asked Kenpachi to calm down, explained that Ulquiorra served Shisui, and watched Ichigo's wounds heal.
• Orihime introduced Shisui and Ulquiorra to Kenpachi, who questioned whether Shisui was a perfect Arrancar.
• Kenpachi studied Shisui closely but detected no Hollow-like aura or traits.

Kenpachi Zaraki challenged Shisui’s Perfect Arrancar, but Shisui said his opponent had already arrived. Kaido emerged from the storm clouds as an azure dragon and greeted Shisui with deference, recalling his past defeat by him.

• Kenpachi Zaraki approached Shisui and demanded to see the Perfect Arrancar’s abilities.
• Ulquiorra offered to punish Kenpachi Zaraki, but Shisui stopped him and said Kenpachi’s opponent had appeared.
• Shisui and the others looked toward the sky as lightning flashed through the dark clouds and thunder shook the area.
• An enormous azure dragon emerged from the clouds, startling Ichigo Kurosaki and Orihime Inoue.
• The dragon identified himself as Kaido, greeted Shisui respectfully, and recalled that Shisui had defeated him with the Mind Seal style.

Shisui forced Kaido into human form and introduced him to Kenpachi Zaraki, who welcomed the prospect of fighting him. In Karakura Town, Luffy prepared to face Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto as a mysterious drumbeat sounded.

• Kaido, terrified of Shisui, shrank from his azure dragon form and crashed to the ground in human form.
• Shisui pointed out that Kenpachi Zaraki shared Kaido’s temperament, and Kaido laughed as he sized Kenpachi up.
• Kenpachi Zaraki laughed with Kaido and embraced the chance to fight a dangerous opponent.
• Luffy removed his robe and shirt, then prepared to battle Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
• A mysterious drumbeat sounded as Luffy stood with his eyes closed.

Luffy unleashed a tremendous aura as his body began transforming before the stunned onlookers. His hair and pants turned white, and smoke curled around his arms as he prepared for what seemed to be his awakening as Sun God Nika.

• A mysterious drumbeat sounded from inside Luffy, and the onlookers realized he was its source.
• Luffy opened his eyes, struck his chest, and repeated, "It's here," as his resolve intensified.
• Luffy released a powerful aura that formed a hurricane threaded with black-and-red Conqueror's Haki lightning.
• Kyougetsu Shunsui and the Soul Reapers and Hollows watched in shock as Luffy's power challenged their assumptions about him.
• Luffy's hair and pants turned white, smoke curled around his arms, and he crouched with clenched fists while laughing.

Luffy unleashed his full Conqueror’s Haki, devastating the surrounding area before rushing Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and striking him with a powerful punch. Yamamoto blocked the blow with Ryūjin Jakka but was sent flying dozens of kilometers, leaving Kyougetsu Shunsui crying out in alarm.

• Luffy’s Black-and-Red Inazuma and hurricane-like aura spread across a hundred-kilometer radius, wrecking buildings and overwhelming weaker Soul Reapers, Hollows, and Arrancars.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto emerged from the void and confronted Luffy.
• Luffy crossed the distance to Yamamoto in an instant and stretched his right arm into a powerful punch.
• Yamamoto blocked Luffy’s punch with Ryūjin Jakka, but the force sent him flying dozens of kilometers.
• Kyougetsu Shunsui shouted for the Old man and stepped forward in alarm.