Recaps

Aizen revealed his Hōgyoku-powered transformation and escaped Seireitei through a Garganta with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen. Afterward, Retsu Unohana explained her covert investigation to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, while Shiraishi warned that Aizen’s early departure had made the timing of his next attack uncertain.

• Shiraishi recognized the Hōgyoku’s power as Aizen regenerated, and Aizen explained that it could break the limits of Hollows and Shinigami.
• Aizen opened a Garganta with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen, while Shiraishi exposed Aizen’s crimes and Sajin Komamura confronted Tōsen.
• Aizen declared his intention to stand in the heavens and escaped through the Garganta, which then closed.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto demanded an explanation, and Retsu Unohana described Shiraishi’s investigation into Aizen, Las Noches, and the gathered Espada.
• Shiraishi revealed that he had wiped out over a thousand Adjuchas and warned that Aizen’s early escape left his next attack unpredictable.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto worried that a battle against such powerful enemies could destroy Seireitei.

After Yamamoto’s suspicion of Shiraishi was cleared, Retsu Unohana persuaded him to forgive her and help the Soul Society. Shiraishi returned to the Tenth Division, where he confronted Momo Hinamori over her belief in Aizen and then went upstairs to meet someone waiting for him.

• Shiraishi rejected Yamamoto’s request for help and left, but Retsu Unohana followed him and apologized for doubting him.
• Retsu Unohana seduced Shiraishi into forgiving her, and he stayed with her until nightfall instead of meeting Kūkaku on time.
• Shiraishi arrived at the Tenth Division barracks and found Momo Hinamori trying to attack him, while Tōshirō Hitsugaya blocked her.
• Shiraishi told Momo that her image of Aizen was an illusion and that Aizen’s crimes and decision to abandon her were real, causing her to drop her sword and weep.
• Shiraishi left Tōshirō with Momo and went upstairs, where someone was waiting in a room.

Shiraishi returned home to Nemu Kurotsuchi and learned who had visited after his absence, while worrying about facing Soi Fon. Meanwhile, the Central 46 Chambers agreed to a temporary alliance with Kisuke Urahara’s group and tasked Yamamoto with preparing for an all-out war.

• Shiraishi came home to Nemu Kurotsuchi, who served him dinner and asked whether he was hurt.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi told Shiraishi that Kūkaku had reclaimed the black cat, Rangiku had left disappointed, Isane had apologized, and Soi Fon had threatened him for leaving the Seireitei without notice.
• Shiraishi realized the black cat was Yoruichi Shihōin and worried about how to explain his actions to Soi Fon.
• The Central 46 Chambers debated whether to ally with Kisuke Urahara’s group and whether Aizen might have accomplices in the Seireitei.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto secured agreement to a temporary alliance and ordered Soi Fon to investigate possible accomplices.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto left to prepare for an all-out war, and Soi Fon followed him.

Soi Fon delivered Yamamoto’s offer to Yoruichi Shihōin, asking her to consult Urahara about joining forces against Aizen. Haunted by her reunion with Yoruichi, Soi Fon confronted Shiraishi over his unexplained departure, then left after their quarrel turned affectionate, still denying that they were dating.

• Soi Fon visited Yoruichi Shihōin at the Gold Seal Unit commander-in-chief’s residence and relayed Yamamoto’s offer to cooperate against Aizen and lift Urahara’s entry restrictions.
• Soi Fon rejected Yoruichi’s familiar greeting and left before Yoruichi could explain their past, while Kūkaku Shiba joined Yoruichi for drinks.
• Soi Fon rushed to the Tenth Division District and attacked Shiraishi in his bed, angrily accusing him of leaving Seireitei without telling her.
• Shiraishi apologized, and Soi Fon’s anger eased as the two reconciled intimately beneath the quilt.
• Soi Fon dressed and left, insisting that she and Shiraishi were only having fun, while Shiraishi maintained that they were dating.

Nelliel told the Espada that Ainz Ooal Gown was dead, while Aizen arrived transformed and named Loly the ninth Espada. Aizen announced a war against the Shinigami for the end of December and assigned preparations to the Espada before taking Loly with him.

• Nelliel returned to Las Noches and told Harribel that Ainz Ooal Gown was dead.
• Aizen entered the throne room in a changed, Hollow-like form and appointed Loly to the vacant ninth Espada seat.
• Aizen explained that Loly’s Negación Threads could gather information and copy an enemy’s moves, and ordered Szayelaporro to help strengthen her ability.
• Aizen announced an all-out war with the Shinigami at the end of December and ordered the Espada to find Fullbringers and obtain Soul King Fragments for new Hōgyoku.
• Aizen told Nelliel and Harribel to gather Adjuchas again after learning that Ainz had killed the ones they had collected.
• Aizen dismissed the meeting and ordered Loly to come with him.

Aizen transformed Loly with the Hōgyoku and sent her to find Fullbringers while staying in contact with Kaname Tōsen, who would choose which humans could enter Aizen’s new world. Aizen revealed that he intended to create a world governed by his own will and planned to use the Hōgyoku and Arrancar as steps toward reaching the Soul King’s realm.

• Aizen activated the Hōgyoku in Loly’s hollow hole, causing her agonizing transformation and changing her bone mask.
• Aizen ordered Loly to spread her Negación Threads through the World of the Living, find the Fullbringers, and remain in contact with Kaname Tōsen.
• Aizen told Kaname Tōsen to select the humans who would enter his new world, and Gin Ichimaru asked whether Aizen truly planned to create one.
• Aizen explained that he wanted a world free of the Soul King’s will, while Gin considered whether he might get an opportunity to kill Aizen.
• Aizen told Gin he would show him what creating a world looked like and reflected that he would use the Hōgyoku only as a tool while pursuing further evolution.

Nemu Kurotsuchi brought breakfast to Shiraishi while helping Mayuri Kurotsuchi deploy Modified Souls against the Hollow invasion. After Nemu left, Kūkaku Shiba joined Shiraishi for breakfast and said she planned to meet Yoruichi and Isshin in the World of the Living to discuss an alliance.

• Nemu Kurotsuchi recalled that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had ordered Modified Souls deployed to fight the Hollows invading the World of the Living.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi brought Shiraishi a four-tiered food box, but left it outside after hearing him claim he was exercising.
• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba shared an intimate moment after Nemu departed, and Kūkaku brought Nemu's breakfast inside.
• Kūkaku Shiba told Shiraishi she planned to meet Yoruichi and Isshin in the World of the Living to discuss an alliance on Yamamoto's behalf.
• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba discussed having children before eating Nemu's meal together.

Shiraishi resumed training his Bankai, then agreed to help Tōshirō Hitsugaya learn how to fight with his own Bankai. Their practice began in a ruined district, where Shiraishi quickly exposed flaws in Hitsugaya’s tactics.

• After Kūkaku Shiba left, Shiraishi trained his Bankai in his spirit world but stopped when he grew mentally exhausted.
• Shiraishi found Tōshirō Hitsugaya bringing lunch and told him he was stepping down as captain of the Tenth Division now that Hitsugaya had learned Bankai.
• Hitsugaya asked Shiraishi to train him, and Shiraishi agreed to spar with him after their meal.
• They went to an abandoned district in the Tenth Division, where Hitsugaya activated Daiguren Hyōrinmaru and attacked with Hyōrō Sen'nen.
• Shiraishi dodged Hitsugaya’s attacks and criticized his habit of opening with powerful moves, then countered with a strike Hitsugaya could barely evade.

Shiraishi trained Tōshirō Hitsugaya, then visited Jūshirō Ukitake to ask him to recommend Hitsugaya as captain of the Tenth Division. Ukitake asked Shiraishi to serve as the Thirteenth Division’s acting captain, and Shiraishi agreed.

• Shiraishi coached Tōshirō Hitsugaya through an hour of combat until Hitsugaya exhausted the Reiatsu sustaining his Bankai.
• Hitsugaya asked whether he could surpass Aizen, and Shiraishi encouraged him to set smaller goals and explained the difficulty of defeating Aizen.
• Shiraishi told Hitsugaya to inform Rangiku that he had something to do, then went to visit Jūshirō Ukitake at Ugendo.
• Shiraishi asked Ukitake to recommend Hitsugaya as the next captain of the Tenth Division, explaining that he intended to resign.
• Ukitake asked Shiraishi to become the Thirteenth Division’s acting captain because Ukitake’s worsening health made it difficult to carry out his duties.
• Shiraishi accepted Ukitake’s request, and Ukitake thanked him before coughing.

Jūshirō Ukitake resigned as captain of the Thirteenth Division and arranged for Shiraishi to serve as acting captain so the division could respond to Aizen’s threat in the World of the Living. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto approved the changes and put Shiraishi in charge of investigating the unidentified threads and leading the opening battle.

• Shiraishi told Kiyone Kotetsu that Jūshirō Ukitake had coughed up blood, and she rushed to Ugendo to treat him.
• Jūshirō Ukitake told Kiyone Kotetsu that Shiraishi would take over as acting captain of the Thirteenth Division, and she left to hide her tears.
• Jūshirō Ukitake wrote his resignation and recommendations for Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Shiraishi, then went to the First Division barracks to speak with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
• Jūshirō Ukitake asked to resign and explained that Shiraishi’s strength was needed to protect people from the Hollows Aizen had sent.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto approved Ukitake’s resignation, arranged Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s assessment, and appointed Shiraishi to lead the Thirteenth Division.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto assigned Shiraishi to investigate unidentified threads found near a captured Hollow and told him to lead the opening battle.

Shiraishi took command of the Thirteenth Division and prepared it to confront Aizen’s plans in the World of the Living. He announced that the division would enter battle the next day and that Renji Abarai would soon become its lieutenant.

• Jūshirō Ukitake agreed to care for Shiraishi’s cat and discussed the Thirteenth Division’s duties and Rukia’s role with him.
• Shiraishi asked Ukitake to recruit Renji Abarai as the Thirteenth Division’s lieutenant, and Ukitake agreed to speak with Yamamoto.
• Sentarō Kotsubaki rejected Shiraishi as captain, but Shiraishi announced that the division would oppose Aizen and begin fighting the next day.
• Rukia asked to join the front line, and Shiraishi told her that everyone in the division would take part.
• Shiraishi announced Renji’s expected transfer, asked Kiyone to pack Ukitake’s herbs, and watched the division members prepare for battle.

Jūshirō Ukitake appointed Renji Abarai as the Thirteenth Division’s lieutenant ahead of its urgent mission to the World of the Living. Renji joined the division and reunited with Rukia, who mocked his new rank as they went to meet Captain Shiraishi.

• Jūshirō Ukitake brought Renji Abarai his appointment letter and explained that the Thirteenth Division needed a lieutenant before its mission the next day.
• Renji accepted the appointment and left the 11th Division without packing, eager to see Rukia.
• Jūshirō Ukitake and Renji passed grieving Thirteenth Division members on their way to the lake, where Rukia was feeding koi.
• Renji announced to Rukia that he was now a lieutenant, but she mocked him and his distinctive eyebrows until he angrily challenged her to draw her sword.
• Jūshirō Ukitake smoothed over their quarrel and led Renji and Rukia toward Captain Shiraishi.

Shiraishi welcomed Renji Abarai as the Thirteenth Division’s new lieutenant while Jūshirō Ukitake prepared to step down and take an advisory position at the General Infirmary. Ukitake left the division in Shiraishi’s hands, and the chapter ended with Renji energetically training.

• Shiraishi greeted Renji Abarai, encouraged him to prove himself, and asked Rukia to show him around the Thirteenth Division.
• Jūshirō Ukitake gave Shiraishi his Captain’s Haori and said he would take up an adviser position at the General Infirmary.
• Jūshirō Ukitake told Sentarō Kotsubaki that Shiraishi was his chosen successor and asked the division to get along with him before leaving by Shunpo.
• Kiyone Kotetsu quietly kept the division members from seeing Sentarō Kotsubaki grieve over Ukitake’s departure.
• A fang-like blade burst through the training-ground roof as Renji Abarai trained, prompting Kiyone Kotetsu to remark on the new lieutenant’s energy.

Kisuke Urahara secured Kūkaku Shiba’s cooperation and returned to Soul Society to retrieve the Hōgyoku from Rukia. After Shiraishi let him leave, Kisuke asked how Shiraishi had avoided Kyōka Suigetsu, and Shiraishi reflected on the freedom he had gained before returning to training.

• Kisuke Urahara agreed to cooperate with Kūkaku Shiba and secured her approval of his conditions, including permission to retrieve something hidden in Soul Society.
• Kūkaku opened a Senkaimon, and Kisuke traveled through the Dangai into the Seireitei.
• Kisuke found Rukia and extracted the Hōgyoku from her soul before escaping to a rooftop.
• Kisuke spoke with Captain Shiraishi, thanked him for not intervening, and asked how he had avoided Kyōka Suigetsu.
• Shiraishi considered whether he had achieved the freedom he wanted, then returned to Ugendo to train.

Kisuke Urahara warned Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that Aizen might target Kūgo Ginjō to obtain the Soul King Fragment within him. Yamamoto authorized Urahara to work with Mayuri Kurotsuchi on the Hōgyoku, leaving Mayuri furious at his former colleague's return.

• Kūkaku Shiba reported on her trip to the World of the Living and left out her meeting with her uncle.
• Kisuke Urahara told Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that Aizen might be hunting Kūgo Ginjō for the Soul King Fragment inside him.
• Yamamoto refused to seek Squad Zero's help and agreed that Urahara could study the Hōgyoku with Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
• Urahara arrived at the Research and Development Institute, where Mayuri showed him the Artificial Soul King plan.
• Urahara presented Yamamoto's order requiring Mayuri to cooperate, and Mayuri added Urahara to his list of most hated people.

The Thirteenth Division began its Hollow-hunting mission in the World of the Living, where Renji Abarai and the other Shinigami encountered escalating danger. After rescuing a fellow Shinigami from a powerful Hollow, Renji worried about the overwhelming number of enemies and Rukia's safety.

• Renji Abarai ate breakfast with the Thirteenth Division and set out with Shiraishi and the other Shinigami after their Limitation Seals were lifted.
• The Shinigami entered the World of the Living, divided up according to their assigned locations, and began hunting Hollows.
• Shiraishi positioned himself atop Tokyo Tower and searched for Hollows powerful enough to be Espada-level or Arrancar.
• Renji Abarai killed a Hollow with Zabimaru and hurried toward another location after his Denreishinki sounded.
• A gigantic jellyfish-shaped Hollow knocked a black-haired Shinigami into a crowded shopping street, where a human woman was left holding her boyfriend's severed wrist.
• Renji Abarai arrived in time to kill the Hollow and rescue the Shinigami, then worried about the growing number of enemies and Rukia's safety.

Rukia fought Grand Fisher, a Hollow that used a human lure and Kaien Shiba’s likeness to exploit her memories, until Renji arrived and killed it. Afterward, Renji offered to wait until Rukia was ready to talk about what she had endured.

• Rukia used Hadō #31: Shakkahō to destroy a Hollow emerging from the Garganta, then discovered its apparent victim was Grand Fisher in disguise.
• Rukia fought Grand Fisher with Sode no Shirayuki but was wounded and dropped her sword when it used Kaien Shiba’s likeness to trap her in an illusion.
• Renji Abarai arrived and blocked Grand Fisher’s attack, then struck its true body with Zabimaru.
• Grand Fisher revealed a second body and tried to flee, but Renji pursued it and cut it in two with Zabimaru.
• Renji declined to press Rukia about her past and told her she could talk when she was ready; Rukia thanked him.

After a night of fighting, Renji Abarai led the exhausted Thirteenth Division back to the Seireitei while Shiraishi stayed behind to guard the World of the Living. In the Forest of Menos, Loly and Szayelaporro planned to create Hollows that could hide their reiatsu and spread Negación Threads through Tokyo.

• Renji Abarai gathered with surviving Shinigami and learned that Mifune had been sent to the Seireitei for treatment.
• Shiraishi praised the Thirteenth Division, reported that no squad members had died, and ordered Renji Abarai to lead everyone back to the Seireitei.
• Shiraishi opened a Senkaimon and sent the squad home, then used his Denreishinki to locate and swiftly eliminate invading Hollows.
• Loly told Szayelaporro that Shiraishi had wiped out the Hollows she sent into the World of the Living, so she planned to wait until night.
• Szayelaporro proposed suppressing Hollows' instincts and using Aizen's experiment data to make Hollows that could hide their reiatsu.
• Szayelaporro sent Loly to ask Aizen for the data while he prepared to make a test subject before nightfall.

After the Garganta’s fluctuations ended, Shiraishi went to Karakura Town, where he encountered Unagiya Kaoru, Ikumi, and Masaki Kurosaki on their way to school. Masaki recognized him as a Shinigami, and Shiraishi stopped Kaoru from trying to kill himself so he could become one too.

• Shiraishi finished killing the Hollows, then Shunpoed into Karakura Town to relax.
• Unagiya Kaoru recognized Shiraishi and asked how he had escaped the amusement park, while Ikumi insisted Kaoru was talking to a ghost.
• Masaki Kurosaki recognized Shiraishi as a Captain-level Shinigami and worried he might discover she was a Quincy.
• Shiraishi startled Masaki by whispering that she was a Quincy, then dodged her retaliatory swing and apologized for teasing her.
• Shiraishi told Kaoru he had the Spiritual Power to become a Shinigami, and Kaoru announced he would kill himself, so Shiraishi grabbed him and stopped him.

Unagiya Kaoru followed Masaki Kurosaki after school, hoping to learn more about her supernatural side, but became distracted by a suspicious man carrying a briefcase. The man drew a gun and fired at Kaoru.

• Shiraishi advised Unagiya Kaoru to value the people close to him, and Kaoru hugged Ikumi before she ran off in embarrassment.
• At school, Kaoru defended Shiraishi against Ikumi’s criticism and decided to follow Masaki Kurosaki because she could see Shiraishi.
• Kaoru and Ikumi trailed Masaki to a dessert shop in Karakura Honcho, where she sat with her friends.
• A trench-coated man entered the shop, and Kaoru suspected the man’s briefcase contained something dangerous.
• The man noticed Kaoru watching him, drew a gun, aimed at him, and pulled the trigger.

After a gunman wounded Unagiya Kaoru and a waitress in a dessert shop, Isshin Shiba treated Kaoru while Masaki Kurosaki pursued the attacker. The gunman, Morishita, drove to a department store with stolen research files, but a powerful force dragged him from the car.

• A trench-coated gunman shot Unagiya Kaoru and a waitress before fleeing the dessert shop, and Ikumi called for an ambulance.
• Isshin Shiba arrived with a first aid kit and began treating Kaoru, who suspected Masaki Kurosaki had sent him.
• Masaki Kurosaki tracked the gunman through Karakuri Town using Hirenkyaku.
• Morishita called Superintendent General Tanimoto Takayuki and asked him to send his man to the Karakura Town First Department Store.
• Morishita recalled that a research institute had captured and studied a Fullbringer, then been destroyed, leaving him as the sole survivor with the research findings.
• At the department store, Morishita got out of the car and was suddenly yanked away by a powerful force.

Masaki subdued the Kasaki Dessert Shop gunman, Morishita, and anonymously alerted the police. Shūkurō Tsukishima then trapped the officers and bystanders, altered Morishita’s memories, and took research documents before disappearing.

• Masaki used Blut Arterie to knock Morishita unconscious, then called the police under a false name.
• Police officers arrived, identified Morishita, and began securing him as a man carrying a sword approached.
• Shūkurō Tsukishima raised walls around the parking lot and used inserted traps to impale the people inside.
• Shūkurō inserted a false past into Morishita’s memories, making him believe he had been betrayed and abused by Tsukishima.
• Shūkurō took the Fullbringer Cloning Project documents, undid the walls and traps, and fled at high speed.

Shiraishi asked Masaki Kurosaki and the Ishida family to help find the Fullbringers, especially Kūgo Ginjō, but Masaki’s aunt refused. Ryūken Ishida arranged for Masaki to leave the family, and she departed with her luggage.

• Shiraishi received Yamamoto’s order to find the Fullbringers and prevent Aizen from getting to them, then decided to seek help rather than search alone.
• Shiraishi visited the Ishida residence and asked Masaki Kurosaki and her aunt to find Kūgo Ginjō in exchange for acting as a bridge between the Quincy and Shinigami.
• Masaki’s aunt rejected Shiraishi’s offer and warned Masaki not to help the Shinigami.
• Ryūken Ishida told his mother to expel Masaki from the Ishida family, and his mother agreed to have Katagiri pack her belongings.
• Masaki collected her luggage, thanked Katagiri, and left the Ishida residence.

Masaki Kurosaki left the Ishida Family and moved into Isshin Shiba’s home, where she began helping with the housework while worrying about the strange Hollow activity and Aizen’s plot. The next morning, she saw a newspaper report of a mass murder in Karakura Town and learned that eighteen people had died.

• Masaki Kurosaki decided to seek Isshin Shiba after leaving the Ishida Family and arrived at the Shiba Clinic asking to stay with him.
• Masaki Kurosaki told Isshin Shiba that her aunt had thrown her out after Shiraishi visited and explained Shiraishi’s mission to find Kūgo Ginjō.
• Isshin Shiba let Masaki Kurosaki stay in an empty room, and she offered to handle the housework in exchange.
• Masaki Kurosaki cleaned the clinic and house, then studied while sensing the Reiatsu of Hollows and Shinigami in the night.
• Isshin Shiba woke Masaki Kurosaki at seven thirty, and she hurried downstairs for breakfast before noticing a report of eighteen deaths at the First Department Store building.

Masaki Kurosaki investigated the murders at Karakura Town Psychiatric Hospital and discovered that Kimura Keiichi was already there. After defeating Honma Munehisa, she agreed to work with Kimura to arrest Shūkurō Tsukishima.

• Masaki Kurosaki read about the massacre and decided to skip class to investigate Morishita Hiroshi at the psychiatric hospital.
• Isshin Shiba gave Masaki thirty thousand yen, and she disguised herself before traveling to the hospital.
• Masaki sneaked into the hospital and recognized Honma Munehisa, who challenged her to a fight before she could question Morishita.
• Masaki defeated Honma in under three seconds and entered room 301, where Kimura Keiichi revealed that he had deduced her identity.
• Kimura Keiichi asked Masaki to work with him to arrest Shūkurō Tsukishima.