Chapter Summaries

Yoriichi rushed to Karakura Town after Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and Yammy arrived and attacked its residents. He saved Orihime from being taken by severing Ulquiorra’s arm, leaving him facing the three Arrancar.

• Yoriichi sensed several hostile Reiatsu in Karakura Town and left to investigate.
• Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and Yammy emerged in the shopping district, where Yammy drained the souls of nearby pedestrians.
• Orihime used Sōten Kisshun to protect Tatsuki and restore her soul, but Yammy’s punch weakened the shield.
• Ulquiorra shattered Orihime’s shield and ordered her to come with him.
• Yoriichi appeared between Ulquiorra and Orihime and cut off Ulquiorra’s arm with Hekyō.

Yoriichi fought Grimmjow, Ulquiorra, and Yammy after they attacked the people in the shopping street, forcing the Arrancar to retreat. He then checked on Orihime and Tatsuki and helped Orihime begin treating the unconscious victims.

• Yoriichi demanded that Yammy return the souls he had consumed, then challenged the Arrancar for attacking ordinary people.
• Yoriichi wounded Ulquiorra with Hekyō and fought Grimmjow, overpowering him and nearly cutting off his head.
• Ulquiorra pulled Grimmjow away and ordered a retreat, but Yoriichi severed Yammy's arm when he attacked from behind.
• Ulquiorra used Negación to extract the three Arrancar, and Yoriichi let them escape rather than risk harming the unconscious people nearby.
• Yoriichi confirmed that Tatsuki was alive, and Orihime began healing the unconscious victims with Sōten Kisshun.

Yoriichi explained that the attackers were powerful Arrancars testing Karakura Town’s defenses, and he warned that they would likely return in greater numbers. He asked Urahara to warn Soul Society and request several captains as reinforcements, while Orihime kept secret that the Arrancars had come for her.

• Yoriichi explained to Orihime that the attackers were Arrancars and said they had been testing Karakura Town’s defenses.
• Orihime healed Tatsuki with Sōten Kisshun, while Urahara confirmed that the unconscious people would recover.
• Yoriichi told Urahara and Yoruichi that the Arrancars were at least captain-level and could devastate the town if they attacked in separate groups.
• Yoriichi asked Urahara to warn Soul Society and request several captains, insisting that Aizen’s actions made it a warning rather than a request.
• Orihime worried that the Arrancars had targeted her but kept that secret as Yoriichi, Urahara, and Yoruichi discussed defenses.

Soul Society reinforcements arrived in Karakura Town and settled into temporary lodgings while patrolling for signs of Hueco Mundo. After several quiet days, dozens of Arrancar appeared through Garganta and scattered across the city as Yoriichi rushed to confront the strongest enemy, unaware that another attacker was approaching Orihime Inoue’s home.

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya arrived with Soul Society reinforcements, including Retsu Unohana and several lieutenants and seated officers, and took temporary command.
• Yoriichi arranged lodging for the reinforcements, with Kira, Unohana, and Isane staying at his home, Rukia and Renji at the Kurosaki home, Hitsugaya, Rangiku, and Hinamori in a rented house, and Ikkaku and Yumichika with Keigo.
• The Soul Reapers patrolled Karakura Town for several days, but no threats appeared.
• Yoriichi sensed a massive surge of reiatsu as numerous Garganta opened above Karakura Town and Arrancar spread across the city.
• Hitsugaya ordered everyone to engage in their assigned areas as Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, and Yumichika prepared to fight.
• Yoriichi headed toward the strongest reiatsu, not noticing a concealed figure approaching Orihime Inoue’s home.

Yoriichi confronted Nnoitra in Karakura Town’s ruined shopping district and killed him after defeating his Resurrección. He then sensed more Arrancars in the town and rushed toward the nearest battlefield.

• Yoriichi arrived at the ruins and stopped Nnoitra from striking another building, then ordered him to leave.
• Yoriichi cut through Nnoitra’s Hierro and scythe while countering his attacks, prompting Nnoitra to release Santa Teresa.
• Nnoitra fired a Cero, but Yoriichi blocked it with Dankū and then used Lightning Sunrise to sever Nnoitra’s weapons, arms, and Reiatsu nodes.
• Nnoitra refused to accept Yoriichi’s pity, stood with his remaining strength, and died as Sun Reiatsu ignited his soul.
• Yoriichi sensed other Arrancars in Karakura Town and headed toward the nearest battlefield.

Yoriichi rescued Ichigo from Grimmjow, who was forcibly taken back through a Garganta by Ulquiorra. After the Soul Reapers gathered at Yoriichi’s home for treatment, Tatsuki called to report that Orihime was missing.

• Yoriichi helped Hitsugaya defeat Shawlong Koufang, then went to find Ichigo as Hitsugaya checked on the others.
• Unohana and Isane treated the wounded Soul Reapers while Ikkaku concealed the extent of his hidden power.
• Grimmjow overpowered Ichigo and taunted him about his weakness and Yoriichi’s strength.
• Yoriichi interrupted Grimmjow’s attack, and Ulquiorra pulled Grimmjow through a Garganta after Yoriichi burned him with a sword strike.
• Yoriichi helped Ichigo up and explained that his own combat abilities came from unusual circumstances, prompting Ichigo to vow not to lose next time.
• At Yoriichi’s home, Tatsuki called and told Yoriichi that Orihime had been missing since the previous night.

Orihime agreed to leave with Ulquiorra to stop the attacks on Karakura Town, leaving a letter for her friends before entering the Garganta. After learning she was gone, Yoriichi concluded that Aizen had targeted her ability, and he and Ichigo set out to rescue her in Hueco Mundo.

• Ulquiorra told Orihime that Aizen wanted her and threatened continued attacks on Karakura Town if she refused to go.
• Seeing her friends fighting across the city, Orihime agreed to leave and wrote a letter asking them not to pursue her.
• Orihime turned off the stove, asked Ulquiorra to spare her friends, and followed him into the Garganta.
• Tatsuki told Yoriichi and Ichigo that Orihime was missing and had left a letter saying she went willingly.
• Yoriichi reasoned that the Arrancar invasion had been a diversion to abduct Orihime for her power, and Ichigo decided to rescue her.
• Yoriichi and Ichigo left for the Urahara Shop to use Kisuke Urahara's Senkaimon to reach Hueco Mundo.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni learned that Aizen might have abducted Orihime Inoue to lure him away from Karakura Town, where the Gotei 13 planned to confront Aizen. Yoriichi stayed behind while Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, and Yasutora Sado entered Hueco Mundo to rescue Orihime.

• Ichigo Kurosaki demanded that Kisuke Urahara open a passage to Hueco Mundo, but Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered Yoriichi Tsugikuni to stay in Karakura Town.
• Yamamoto explained that Aizen might be using Orihime Inoue's abduction as bait and that Yoriichi was the only captain who could resist Kyōka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis.
• Ichigo decided to go to Hueco Mundo, and Uryū Ishida and Yasutora Sado joined him to help rescue Orihime.
• Yamamoto said the Gotei 13 would face Aizen in Karakura Town in two days, after its residents were evacuated and the town was replaced with a replica.
• Yoriichi stayed behind to stop Aizen while Ichigo, Ishida, and Chad entered the passage to Hueco Mundo.

As Karakura Town was evacuated ahead of the coming battle, Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro confronted Yoriichi about Ichigo and Orihime’s disappearance. After the three friends encouraged him, Yoriichi promised to win and bring everyone back safely.

• Yoriichi handed the last sleeping child to a Fourth Division member and confirmed that his area of Karakura Town was empty.
• Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro found Yoriichi and asked where Ichigo and Orihime had gone.
• Yoriichi said Ichigo and Orihime had an important task but could not explain more, and Tatsuki realized they were in danger.
• Keigo asked Yoriichi to stop Ichigo if he rushed into danger, while Mizuiro asked whether Karakura Town would remain unchanged.
• Tatsuki, Keigo, and Mizuiro encouraged Yoriichi before leaving for the safe zone.
• Yoriichi called after them, promising that they would win and that he would bring everyone back safely.

The Gotei 13 and the Visored gathered in a replica of Karakura Town to face Aizen and the Arrancar, while Ichigo and other Soul Reapers headed to Hueco Mundo. As Yamamoto unleashed Ryūjin Jakka and trapped Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen in a sea of fire, the final battle began.

• Soul Society replaced Karakura Town with a replica and assembled the Gotei 13 and Visored to prepare for Aizen’s arrival.
• Aizen, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen emerged from a Garganta, followed by the Espada and their Arrancar forces.
• Isshin remembered telling Ichigo about his past, while Ichigo and a group of Soul Reapers set out for Hueco Mundo.
• Yoriichi told Aizen he would stop him from hurting the people in Karakura Town.
• Yamamoto released Ryūjin Jakka, surrounded Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen with flames, and declared that Aizen would meet his end.

The Soul Reapers and Espada split into battles while Shinji Hirako attacked Aizen with Sakanade, but Aizen adapted and defeated him. Yoriichi stopped Tōshirō Hitsugaya from stabbing Momo Hinamori, revealing that the group had been deceived by Kyōka Suigetsu, and Aizen challenged them to explain why they thought he had not been using it.

• Starrk fought Shunsui Kyōraku, while Lilynette blocked Jūshirō Ukitake and Baraggan's Fracción charged the transfer pillars.
• Soi Fon and Marechiyo Ōmaeda confronted Ggio Vega and Nirgge Parduoc as the other Soul Reapers engaged the Arrancar.
• Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori fought Tier Harribel's Fracción together.
• Shinji Hirako used Sakanade against Aizen, but Aizen adapted to its reversed perceptions, wounded Hirako, and knocked him into the rubble.
• Yoriichi stopped Tōshirō Hitsugaya from striking Momo Hinamori, exposing that Kyōka Suigetsu had made the Soul Reapers mistake her for Aizen.
• Aizen asked the group when they had begun imagining that he was not using Kyōka Suigetsu.

Yoriichi fought Aizen, countering his Kidō and repeatedly pressuring his Reiatsu shield, but could not break through it. Gin Ichimaru drew Yoriichi away, while Aizen revealed Wonderweiss, who absorbed Yamamoto’s flames and was prepared to counter Ryūjin Jakka.

• Yoriichi stopped Hitsugaya from killing Hinamori and faced Aizen alone, using Hekyō and the Sun Reiatsu to attack him.
• Yoriichi analyzed and countered Aizen’s Raikōhō and Black Coffin, but Aizen’s million-Reiatsu shield blocked his attacks.
• Aizen invited Yoriichi to join him and offered to share the throne, but Yoriichi rejected him and continued fighting.
• Yoriichi’s Lightning Sunrise battered Aizen’s shield, and he shattered Aizen’s Dankū, but neither combatant wounded the other.
• Gin Ichimaru attacked Yoriichi with Shinsō and drew him away from the battlefield as Yamamoto confronted Aizen.
• Wonderweiss emerged from a Garganta and absorbed Yamamoto’s flames, prompting Aizen to reveal that he had prepared Wonderweiss specifically to counter Ryūjin Jakka.

Yoriichi Tsugikuni battled Gin Ichimaru, who used his Bankai but repeatedly hesitated to kill him. Gin helped Nulviedo Vacio trap Yoriichi in Void Prison, leaving Yoriichi sealed in darkness and Gin wounded on a rooftop.

• Yoriichi countered Gin Ichimaru’s Shinsō attacks and wounded him with Hekyō.
• Gin Ichimaru released Kamishini no Yari and attacked at greater speed, but Yoriichi overcame his barrage and injured him.
• Yoriichi recognized that Gin did not intend to kill him and asked what he was trying to accomplish.
• Gin seized Yoriichi’s arm as Nulviedo Vacio emerged from a Garganta and opened Void Prison.
• Yoriichi struck Gin away, but Void Prison swallowed him before he could escape, and Nulviedo closed the Garganta.

The author provided a character profile explaining Yoriichi Tsugikuni’s Zanpakuto, Hekyō, and its Shikai, Bankai, and related abilities. The profile stated that Yoriichi had mastered Bankai during the Thousand-Year Blood War and described his combat capabilities.

• The author explained that Yoriichi’s power came mainly from overwhelming physical and spiritual abilities, with Reiatsu comparable in quality to the Soul King’s.
• The author described Hekyō as an innate symbiotic Zanpakuto and detailed its Shikai, Transparent World, passive effects, and twelve techniques.
• The author outlined the requirements, appearance, domain effects, and finishing techniques of Yoriichi’s Bankai, Heavenly Illumination Sun Wheel.
• The author described Bright Red Nichirin Sword, the Demon Slayer Mark, and Yoriichi’s Nisshun movement technique.
• The author explained that Yoriichi could analyze Reishi to use and enhance Kidō, including countering Kidō after learning its structure.

Trapped in the Void Prison, Yoriichi reunited the three parts of his identity and awakened a power rooted in his own soul. He released Bankai and cut open the sealed space, escaping toward the battle with Aizen.

• Yoriichi found himself unable to breathe, use Reiatsu, or reach Hekyō inside the lightless Void Prison.
• Yoriichi calmed himself and entered his inner world, where Hekyō told him he had been dividing himself into three people.
• Yoriichi accepted the ordinary person, the boy who had lived in Karakura Town, and the swordsman as parts of himself, and all three lights merged into him.
• Yoriichi's sun Reiatsu endured the Void Prison's suppression as Hekyō transformed into a crimson, gold-inlaid ōdachi.
• Yoriichi released Bankai, Heavenly Illumination Sun Wheel, and burned through the darkness with a slash that split open the sealed space.

Yoriichi emerged from the fissure in Bankai, and he and Aizen argued over whether changing Soul Society meant helping its people or ruling them. Aizen began another evolution through the Hōgyoku as Yoriichi prepared to fight him.

• Yoriichi emerged from a fissure in Bankai, and the battlefield's fighters realized his power had surpassed theirs.
• Yoriichi thanked Aizen for trapping him, saying the experience had helped him understand Bankai.
• Aizen invited Yoriichi to join him in reshaping Soul Society and ruling from above.
• Yoriichi accused Aizen of seeking power for himself rather than improving the lives of people in Rukongai.
• Aizen lost his composure, declared that the Hōgyoku would let him transcend the world, and began transforming as Yoriichi raised Hekyō for battle.

Yoriichi battled Aizen, whose Hōgyoku repeatedly evolved and healed him from devastating attacks. Yoriichi shattered the Hōgyoku with a precise strike, leaving Aizen bleeding and collapsing as his Reiatsu spiraled out of control.

• Yoriichi broke through Aizen’s Black Coffin and struck him with Hekyō, cutting off his arm and burning him with Sun Reiatsu.
• The Hōgyoku restored Aizen and transformed him into a white chrysalis, but Yoriichi cut through its shell and wounded him repeatedly.
• Aizen emerged with the Hōgyoku fused into his chest and claimed he had transcended Soul Reapers and Hollows; the Hōgyoku continued healing his injuries.
• Yoriichi concentrated his Sun Reiatsu into a precise Illusory Sun Thrust and cracked the Hōgyoku.
• Yoriichi shattered the Hōgyoku, causing Aizen’s Reiatsu to destabilize and his wounds to reopen before he fell.

Aizen completed his fusion with the Hōgyoku and challenged Yoriichi, but Yoriichi overwhelmed him and suppressed his power. Kisuke Urahara then activated a sealing Kidō he had planted in Aizen, leaving Aizen bound and unable to evolve further.

• Aizen absorbed the Hōgyoku fragments, transformed, and offered Yoriichi a place at his side.
• Aizen attacked Yoriichi, who caught his blade with two fingers and then cut off his wings and arm before slashing him into the ground.
• Aizen cast Hadō #90, Black Coffin, but Yoriichi cleaved it apart and struck Aizen with Sun Breathing’s Thirteenth Form.
• Yoriichi’s Sun Reiatsu suppressed the Hōgyoku and forced Aizen back into his original appearance.
• Kisuke Urahara activated his hidden sealing Kidō and bound Aizen with Ninety-Six-Kyo Fire Rack Sealing Destruction.
• Aizen claimed Kisuke’s seal, rather than Yoriichi, had defeated him, then fell silent and allowed himself to be sealed.

After Aizen was sealed, the surviving Arrancar surrendered or stopped fighting, while Kaname Tōsen killed himself rather than return to Soul Society. Ichigo arrived after the battle and learned that Yoriichi had defeated Aizen with his Bankai; Gotei 13 reinforcements secured the prisoners and began treating the wounded.

• Gin Ichimaru surrendered to Yoruichi and offered to persuade the remaining Arrancar to surrender, and Yamamoto allowed him to try under guard.
• After learning Aizen had lost, Starrk stopped fighting and Tier Harribel surrendered to protect her injured subordinates.
• Komamura urged Kaname Tōsen to return with him, but Tōsen cut his own throat, leaving Komamura holding his body.
• Ichigo returned through a Garganta and learned from Yoriichi that Aizen had been sealed and that Yoriichi could now use Bankai.
• Gotei 13 reinforcements arrived, the Fourth Division treated the wounded, the Second Division guarded prisoners, and the Twelfth Division took over Aizen's seal.

After the divisions’ funding was slashed, Yoriichi and several other male Soul Reapers formed the Male Shinigami Association and prepared to protest. Their protest was interrupted when Yachiru and the armed Female Shinigami Association Cadres blocked the Third Division’s exit.

• Kira told Yoriichi that the Third Division’s funding had been cut to nothing, including its toilet paper, for assorted fees and deductions.
• Renji, Ikkaku, Shūhei, and Marechiyo described funding cuts affecting their divisions and asked Yoriichi to support rebuilding the Male Shinigami Association.
• Tetsuzaemon stopped Marechiyo from retreating, and the men held an emergency meeting that set demands including restored funding and an association venue.
• Yoriichi and the others prepared a protest banner, but Yachiru crashed through the barracks doors in a cart as Female Shinigami Association Cadres blocked the entrance.