Recaps

Yoriichi Tsugikuni witnessed a Hollow attack the Kurosaki Clinic, and a dormant power awakened within him. As Ichigo Kurosaki gained Soul Reaper powers, Yoriichi manifested a crimson katana but was overwhelmed by a flood of memories before he could intervene.

• Yoriichi Tsugikuni left kendo club after demonstrating an instinctive ability to defeat every sparring partner.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni sensed a surge of unstable energy at the Kurosaki Clinic and saw a Hollow attack the house.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni awakened a scorching power and briefly formed crimson Reiatsu in his palm.
• A wounded Soul Reaper offered Ichigo Kurosaki her powers, and Ichigo thrust her sword into his chest as the Hollow attacked.
• Ichigo Kurosaki transformed into a Soul Reaper with an enormous Zanpakuto while Yoriichi formed a crimson katana.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni moved to help, but a flood of memories poured into his mind.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni remembered his past life and discovered that he was in the world of Bleach, while Ichigo Kurosaki defeated the Fishbone Hollow with his newly acquired Soul Reaper powers. Yoriichi stayed hidden and left the Kurosaki Clinic, knowing his peaceful life was about to change.

• Yoriichi Tsugikuni's memories of his previous life awakened, revealing that he had transmigrated into Bleach and possessed the Transparent World.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni recognized Hekyō as his Zanpakuto and remembered his adoptive parents and friends, including Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Ichigo Kurosaki used his overwhelming spiritual pressure and enormous Zanpakuto to sever the Fishbone Hollow's arm and cut it in half.
• Rukia Kuchiki told Ichigo Kurosaki that Yuzu and Karin had only lost consciousness from spiritual pressure.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni sensed that Ichigo had handled the Hollow, sheathed Hekyō, and walked away from the Kurosaki Clinic.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni examined Hekyō and discovered that it carried his awakened swordsmanship and solar spiritual pressure, though he remained unsure how strong he was. He planned to conceal his past-life memories while preparing for the coming conflict over Rukia, then went to sleep.

• Yoriichi Tsugikuni tested Hekyō at home and found that the Zanpakuto absorbed Reishi, answered to its name, and gave him instinctive access to twelve sword forms.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni realized that a full Zanpakuto had manifested directly from his soul without an Asauchi and decided not to dwell on how it happened.
• While heating dinner, Yoriichi Tsugikuni considered the coming events, including Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai taking Rukia back to the Soul Society.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni decided to tell Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia only that spiritual pressure had awakened his Zanpakuto, keeping his transmigration and past-life memories secret.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni absorbed Hekyō into his body, finished his evening routine, and fell asleep.

Rukia Kuchiki transferred into Ichigo Kurosaki's class, where Yoriichi Tsugikuni recognized her as a Soul Reaper in a Gigai and sensed that her soul was being suppressed. Rukia suspected Yoriichi was not an ordinary human, but set her concern aside to focus on Ichigo's new role as a Substitute Soul Reaper.

• Ichigo Kurosaki arrived at school exhausted, and Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima teased him about it.
• Rukia Kuchiki joined the class as a transfer student and was seated behind Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni used the Transparent World to see Rukia's Gigai, her weakened soul, and runes suppressing her Reiatsu.
• Rukia dragged Ichigo Kurosaki into the stairwell and asked whether Yoriichi Tsugikuni was an ordinary human.
• Ichigo Kurosaki told Rukia that Yoriichi had once defeated several thugs without looking as if he had fought, and Rukia warned Ichigo to be careful around him.
• Rukia exchanged a brief look with Yoriichi Tsugikuni, sensed his overwhelming presence, and turned her attention back to Ichigo's duties as a Substitute Soul Reaper.

Ichigo Kurosaki grew increasingly exhausted while hiding his Hollow troubles, until Yoriichi Tsugikuni spotted a Hollow mark on Orihime Inoue's ankle. Ichigo and Rukia waited near Orihime's home to confront the Hollow, but it attacked her in her room as Tatsuki Arisawa watched.

• Ichigo Kurosaki slept through classes as his spiritual pressure grew chaotic, while Yoriichi Tsugikuni sensed his exhaustion.
• During lunch, Yoriichi noticed a black mark on Orihime Inoue's ankle, and Ichigo and Rukia recognized it as a Hollow's mark.
• Rukia told Ichigo that the Hollow would likely return to feed, so they went to wait near Orihime's home that night.
• At Orihime's home, Tatsuki spoke with her about the injury before a hole opened in the wall and an acid-coated tail lunged toward Orihime's back.

Orihime Inoue’s dead brother, Inoue Soraichi, attacked her as a Hollow, but Yoriichi Tsugikuni stopped him and helped him pass on. After healing Orihime and Tatsuki, Yoriichi left, and Rukia asked Kisuke Urahara to investigate him.

• Inoue Soraichi emerged as a Hollow, pulled Orihime Inoue’s soul from her body, and struck Tatsuki Arisawa.
• Ichigo Kurosaki attacked Inoue Soraichi, but the Hollow’s tail sent him crashing through a window.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni severed Inoue Soraichi’s arm and broke his mask, allowing Orihime to reconcile with her brother before he dissolved into Reishi.
• Rukia treated Tatsuki and Orihime with Kidō, then Yoriichi used healing Kidō to restore them more effectively.
• Yoriichi left after Orihime thanked him, and Rukia went to the Urahara Shop to ask Kisuke Urahara to investigate him.

Yoriichi, Ichigo, and Rukia discovered that a boy's soul was trapped inside Sado's parrot and that a Hollow was targeting him. After the Hollow ambushed Sado, the group treated his injuries, but the next morning Ichigo found that Sado had slipped away alone.

• Sado returned to school injured, carrying a parrot, and claimed that falling steel bars had hurt him.
• Yoriichi saw a boy's soul inside the parrot and warned Ichigo and Rukia that a Hollow was targeting the child.
• Ichigo, Rukia, and Yoriichi followed Sado after school, but an unseen Hollow attacked him and vanished.
• The group took Sado to the Kurosaki Clinic, where Isshin treated his wounds, and agreed to meet the next morning.
• Ichigo told Yoriichi and Rukia that Sado had slipped away early, and urged them to hurry after him.

Ichigo, Rukia, and Yoriichi found Chad protecting Yūichi from the Hollow who had tormented him. After Yoriichi defeated the Hollow, the Gates of Hell appeared and began dragging it away, leaving Yoriichi questioning what awaited inside.

• Ichigo, Rukia, and Yoriichi followed Chad’s Reiatsu to an abandoned factory, where Chad shielded the parakeet holding Yūichi’s soul.
• Yūichi told them that a man had killed his mother, trapped his soul in the parakeet, and promised to revive her while attacking anyone who approached him.
• The Hollow seized Yūichi’s birdcage and repeatedly attacked Chad, who kept protecting the boy without fighting back.
• Yoriichi stopped Ichigo from charging and swiftly bisected the Hollow, then caught the falling birdcage and reassured Yūichi.
• The Gates of Hell emerged and bound the disintegrating Hollow in chains, prompting Yoriichi to ask Rukia whether the Hollow would die inside.

Yoriichi destroyed a Hollow being dragged into Hell and drove the Gates of Hell back into the darkness with his sword, Hekyō. His immense spiritual pressure drew attention across Karakura Town and the Soul Society, while a mysterious man in a white haori watched and identified him.

• Yoriichi summoned Hekyō and burned the Hollow to ash before it could be taken through the Gates of Hell.
• When the Gates of Hell sent chains surging into the factory, Yoriichi cut through them with his First Form: Dance and Eleventh Form: Sun Halo Dragon, Head Dance.
• The Gates of Hell withdrew and vanished, and Ichigo asked Yoriichi how much he had been hiding while Rukia realized his power was far beyond an ordinary human's.
• Isshin Kurosaki, Ryūken Ishida, and Kisuke Urahara sensed Yoriichi's spiritual pressure, while the Twelfth Division detected it before it suddenly disappeared.
• A man in a white haori watched from afar, called Yoriichi by name, and decided it was not yet time for them to meet.

Uryū Ishida challenged Ichigo Kurosaki to prove Quincies superior to Soul Reapers by releasing Hollow Bait across Karakura Town. Yoriichi remembered the danger too late and saw Hollows multiplying across the city as a rift opened in the sky.

• Uryū Ishida told Ichigo he was a Quincy and challenged him to a contest, while Yoriichi identified him for Rukia.
• Ichigo agreed to meet Uryū on the rooftop after school, and Rukia asked Yoriichi to keep an eye on him when cleaning duty stopped her from following.
• Uryū explained that Hollow Bait would attract Hollows and proposed that he and Ichigo compete to destroy the most within twenty-four hours.
• Uryū crushed the Hollow Bait, then Ichigo rushed off to confront the Hollows while Uryū summoned his Spirit Bow and left in another direction.
• Yoriichi remembered the contest and saw dozens of Hollow pressures spreading through Karakura Town as a rift opened in the sky.

Yoriichi, Ichigo Kurosaki, and Uryū Ishida fought Hollows threatening Karakura Town after Ishida’s contest drew them there. Ichigo and Ishida stopped a Gillian together, but the rift reopened to reveal a crowd of Gillians.

• Yoriichi killed Hollows near the school while Ichigo Kurosaki raced home, protecting civilians along the way.
• Uryū Ishida shot Hollows from a rooftop and argued with Ichigo, who blamed him for luring Hollows into town with bait.
• Yoriichi sensed a Menos Grande near the Kurosaki Family's home as a Gillian emerged from a rift outside the Kurosaki Clinic.
• Ichigo blocked the Gillian’s Cero to protect the neighborhood, then lost control of his spiritual pressure as Uryū Ishida joined him.
• Ichigo attacked the Gillian while Ishida gathered Ichigo’s overflowing spiritual pressure into a spirit arrow, forcing the Gillian to retreat into the rift.
• After Ishida admitted defeat and Yoriichi arrived, the rift reopened, revealing many Gillians beyond it.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni stopped a swarm of Gillians from destroying Karakura Town and discovered that the attack had been aimed at him. After the rift closed, Kisuke Urahara investigated Yoriichi’s origins while Sōsuke Aizen revealed that he had arranged the attack.

• Yoriichi saw that the power drawing the Gillians through the rift was targeting him, then rose into the sky as they prepared to fire Ceros at once.
• Yoriichi used Ninth Form: Flowing Clouds Scorch the Heavens to cut through the Ceros and the Gillians in front, then used Twelfth Form: Flame Heaven: Severing Destruction to incinerate more Hollows and drive the survivors back into Hueco Mundo.
• The rift closed, and Ichigo Kurosaki recovered while Uryū Ishida questioned Yoriichi and recognized that his Lure Drug had helped cause the disaster.
• Kisuke Urahara and Yoruichi discussed Yoriichi’s unexplained powers and hurried away to prepare for Soul Society’s response.
• Sōsuke Aizen revealed that he had released the Gillians to test Yoriichi and wondered what other surprises Yoriichi would bring.

Rukia left Ichigo a note and went alone to meet Renji, who had come from Soul Society to arrest her for giving her powers to a human. When Renji threatened to force her accomplice to appear, Uryū Ishida intervened and aimed his Spirit Bow at him.

• Rukia left Ichigo a note and slipped out of the Kurosaki clinic, intending to take responsibility alone.
• Renji Abarai emerged from a Senkaimon and confronted Rukia about transferring her Soul Reaper powers to a human.
• Rukia refused to identify Ichigo and agreed to return to Soul Society, insisting that her decision had been her own.
• Renji drew Zabimaru and charged at Rukia, threatening to force her accomplice to reveal himself.
• Uryū Ishida shot a reishi arrow past Renji and challenged him for attacking someone unable to fight back.

After learning that Soul Reapers had taken Rukia, Ichigo rushed to stop Renji from bringing her back to Soul Society. Ichigo overwhelmed Renji, but Byakuya stopped his final strike while Yoriichi held a sheathed sword to Byakuya’s throat.

• Kon told Ichigo that people from Soul Society had taken Rukia, and Ichigo called Yoriichi before heading south.
• Ichigo and Yoriichi arrived as Renji defeated Uryū; Ichigo stood between Renji and Rukia and refused to let him take her.
• Renji wounded Ichigo and released Zabimaru, but Ichigo broke free and turned the fight around by exploiting the blade’s retraction.
• Ichigo raised his Zanpakuto to strike Renji, but Byakuya caught the blade between two fingers as Yoriichi pressed his sheathed Zanpakuto to Byakuya’s throat.

Yoriichi protected Ichigo and Rukia from Byakuya, but Rukia chose to return to the Soul Society. After Kisuke Urahara agreed to help Ichigo reach her, Yoriichi promised to train him in swordsmanship.

• Yoriichi stopped Byakuya from taking action against Ichigo, then shielded Ichigo and Rukia from Senbonzakura and defeated Byakuya in their clash.
• Rukia pleaded with Yoriichi to stop and chose to return to the Soul Society with Byakuya and Renji.
• As the Senkaimon closed, Ichigo promised Rukia he would come to the Soul Society and save her.
• Kisuke Urahara arrived and told Ichigo he had ten days to regain his Soul Reaper powers or die.
• Ichigo agreed to do anything to save Rukia, and Yoriichi offered to teach him swordsmanship starting the next day.

Ichigo began an intensive ten-day training regimen at the Urahara Shop to regain his Soul Reaper powers and prepare to rescue Rukia. After Yoriichi overwhelmed him in combat practice, Urahara had Tessai sever Ichigo’s Chain of Fate, beginning the next stage of training.

• Ichigo arrived at the Urahara Shop with Yoriichi, and Urahara laid out the ten-day training deadline and the plan to rescue Rukia.
• Urahara assigned Yoriichi to train Ichigo and explained that Ichigo’s Saketsu and Hakusui had to be destroyed to restore his powers.
• Yoriichi cut through Ichigo’s chest to destroy the required points, then stabilized his wounds with healing arts.
• Ichigo repeatedly attacked Yoriichi with a wooden sword, but Yoriichi deflected every strike with his scabbard and knocked him down until he could no longer move.
• Tessai chopped through Ichigo’s Chain of Fate, and its broken end began gnawing inward as Urahara announced that the real training had begun.

Ichigo Kurosaki endured the destruction of his Chain of Fate and awakened his own Soul Reaper power before becoming a Hollow. He emerged from the pit with his Zanpakuto, Zangetsu, and passed the second stage of Urahara’s training.

• Kisuke Urahara explained that Ichigo had seventy-two hours to find his own Soul Reaper powers after Tessai Tsukabishi bound him and dropped him into a pit.
• Ichigo repeatedly tried to climb out as Chain Erosion advanced, while Jinta Hanakari and Ururu Tsumugiya watched from above.
• With about seventy hours gone, Ichigo’s chain was devoured, a hole formed in his chest, and a Hollow mask began to spread across his face.
• Yoriichi Tsugikuni stopped himself from helping after Kisuke Urahara said intervention would prevent Ichigo from awakening his power.
• In a white space, a man in black told Ichigo that his true power had always been within him, and Ichigo called his Zanpakuto Zangetsu and unleashed Getsuga Tenshō.
• Ichigo broke free of his bindings, healed his Hollow hole, emerged from the pit, and Kisuke Urahara confirmed that he had passed the second stage.

Ichigo trained with Yoriichi to control his Reiatsu and learned to release the Crescent Moon Slash consistently. As Orihime, Sado, and Uryū prepared for the journey, Kisuke completed a Senkaimon for their illicit passage to Soul Society.

• Yoriichi fought Ichigo and taught him to concentrate his Reiatsu along Zangetsu's edge, exposing flaws in his stance and attacks.
• Ichigo improved over several days and released a Crescent Moon Slash that Yoriichi split apart with Hekyō.
• Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado arrived at the Urahara Shop, where Yoruichi led them away from Ichigo's training.
• Uryū Ishida asked Kisuke Urahara about the risks of using the Senkaimon, then left to finish his Quincy equipment.
• Ichigo learned to release the Crescent Moon Slash consistently, while Kisuke Urahara completed the Senkaimon fitted with a Reishi Conversion Machine.

Yoriichi and the others traveled through the Dangai to reach the Soul Society, where Yoriichi destroyed the pursuing Kōtotsu. At the Seireitei’s Shirahider Gate, Gin Ichimaru drove them back and closed the entrance, so Yoruichi offered another way inside.

• Yoriichi destroyed the Kōtotsu with Hekyō as it pursued the group through the Dangai.
• The group reached East District 80 in Rukongai and traveled toward the Seireitei.
• Ichigo defeated Jidanbō at the Shirahider Gate, earning the right to enter.
• Gin Ichimaru knocked Ichigo back, wounded Jidanbō, and shut the gate before the group could pass.
• Yoriichi tested the Sekki-seki wall with his Sun Reiatsu, but Yoruichi stopped him and said she knew another way into the Seireitei.

Yoruichi brought Yoriichi and the others to Kūkaku Shiba’s underground residence to ask for help entering the Seireitei. Kūkaku agreed on the condition that Ganju accompany them, and she led the group toward the launch site.

• Yoruichi led the group to Kūkaku Shiba’s unusual home, where Koganehiko and Gin'hiko escorted them underground.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Ganju Shiba recognized each other and fought until Kūkaku Shiba kicked them both into a wall.
• Kūkaku reprimanded Ichigo and Ganju for the damage, then heard Yoruichi explain their plan to enter the Seireitei and rescue Rukia.
• Kūkaku agreed to help, provided Ganju went with the group, and Ganju reluctantly accepted after Kūkaku challenged him.
• Kūkaku led the group deeper into the residence while Ichigo and Ganju glared at each other.

Yoriichi taught Ichigo and the others to control their spiritual power through breathing, allowing them to form a stable shield around the Spirit Core. The group launched toward Seireitei in Kūkaku’s cannon, where the force of the blast left most of them unable to speak.

• Ichigo repeatedly disrupted the Spirit Core’s shield because he could not control his powerful spiritual energy.
• Yoriichi taught the group to use breathing to steady their bodies and spiritual power, and Ichigo, Uryū, and Chad began to improve.
• Orihime fell asleep during the breathing practice, and Yoriichi reassured her that her relaxed breathing was useful.
• The group successfully formed an unbroken shield around the Spirit Core and decided to rest before setting out at dawn.
• Kūkaku fired Ichigo and the others toward Seireitei in her cannon, and the launch’s force pinned them down inside the shield.

After the spiritual sphere carrying the intruders exploded over the Seireitei, Yoriichi Tsugikuni landed safely with Orihime Inoue and Chad and continued toward the tower where Rukia might be held. He encountered Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the Eighth Division, and prepared to fight rather than pass him.

• The spiritual sphere broke apart as Ichigo Kurosaki and Chad lost control of their spiritual power, scattering the group across the Seireitei.
• Yoriichi caught Orihime and Chad, slowed their fall, and landed with them on a rooftop while the others were separated.
• Yoriichi, Orihime, and Chad headed toward the central tower, but Yoriichi sensed a powerful Soul Reaper ahead and sent Orihime and Chad to hide.
• Yoriichi met Shunsui Kyōraku in a narrow street, while Nanao Ise urged Shunsui to take the intruders seriously.
• Shunsui said he could not let Yoriichi pass, and Yoriichi drew his hand to Hekyō and said he had not intended to walk past.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni fought Shunsui Kyōraku while trying to pass through the Seireitei and save Rukia Kuchiki. Shunsui released Katen Kyōkotsu and changed the rules of their duel, leaving Yoriichi to realize he would need to use more than Hekyō as the fight continued.

• Shunsui Kyōraku confronted Yoriichi Tsugikuni and offered to let him leave, but Yoriichi refused and said he was in a hurry to save Rukia Kuchiki.
• Yoriichi and Shunsui exchanged sword strikes, with Yoriichi forcing Shunsui to defend and knocking him back.
• Shunsui released Katen Kyōkotsu and used Takaoni, but Yoriichi recognized its rule and reversed the advantage by taking the higher position.
• Shunsui used Kageoni, then changed games as Yoriichi identified how the rules worked and countered his attacks.
• Shunsui switched the rules again, and Yoriichi realized he would eventually be injured unless he used more than his unreleased Hekyō.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni fought Shunsui Kyōraku to test his strength, then learned that Sōsuke Aizen had been found dead and realized Aizen had staged his death. Shunsui cleared Yoriichi of suspicion, but Yoriichi still asked to continue on to save Rukia.

• Yoriichi released Hekyō and fought Shunsui Kyōraku, pressing him with fast, precise attacks that left him with minor wounds.
• Yoriichi told Shunsui that he had come to save Rukia and test his newly awakened power, and Shunsui judged that an ordinary captain would struggle to stop him.
• A Tenteikūra message announced that Sōsuke Aizen had been found murdered and ordered the divisions to pursue the Ryoka.
• Shunsui questioned Yoriichi about his movements and the other Ryoka, then concluded that Yoriichi could not have killed Aizen and cleared him of suspicion.
• Yoriichi realized Aizen had faked his death to exploit the Ryoka invasion, then asked Shunsui to let him pass.

After Central 46 moved Rukia Kuchiki’s execution to noon the next day, Shunsui Kyōraku let Yoriichi go so he could investigate Aizen’s death and the execution order. Yoriichi reunited with Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado, then led them toward the Senzaikyū to save Rukia, whether or not Ichigo was already there.

• Nanao Ise told Shunsui Kyōraku that Central 46 had moved Rukia Kuchiki’s execution to noon the next day.
• Shunsui ended his fight with Yoriichi and let him proceed, asking him not to kill Soul Reapers who were following orders.
• Shunsui told Nanao he needed to investigate both Aizen’s death and the repeated changes to Rukia’s execution schedule.
• Yoriichi found Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado hiding behind toppled wooden racks and told them the execution had been moved up.
• Yoriichi led Orihime and Yasutora toward the Senzaikyū, deciding they would join Ichigo if he was there or rescue Rukia themselves if he was not.