Recaps

Orihime Inoue left Zuellni with Shiraishi and the others, while Tatsuki Arisawa stayed behind to protect the city. As their mobile house traveled, Shiraishi trained Ichigo Kurosaki, and Orihime struggled to learn Rukia's map before making dinner.

• Orihime Inoue said goodbye to Tatsuki Arisawa, then joined Shiraishi's group as they departed Zuellni in the mobile house.
• Shiraishi began intensive training with Ichigo Kurosaki, matching his speed and Reiatsu while teaching him to attack more effectively.
• Rukia tried to teach Orihime Inoue how to read her Chappy map, but Orihime gave up after failing to understand it.
• Orihime Inoue cooked dinner, and Shiraishi ended Ichigo Kurosaki's training session so everyone could eat.
• Shiraishi reflected that Ichigo Kurosaki had advanced rapidly toward captain-level strength, though learning Bankai in three days seemed impossible without a Tenshintai.

Orihime Inoue’s unusual cooking tested everyone’s stomachs while Ichigo Kurosaki continued training to achieve Bankai. On May 6, Rukia’s map led the group to a village, where Shiraishi and Ichigo discovered a cave full of slaughtered people and sent Ichigo to search the forest for the killer.

• Orihime Inoue served a strange, strongly flavored noodle dish, which Shiraishi and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto enjoyed while Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia struggled to eat it.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto advised Ichigo Kurosaki to be patient and deepen his connection with Zangetsu as he trained for Bankai.
• Rukia used her Chappy map to locate a village and suggested hunting nearby before the group crossed into harsher terrain.
• Shiraishi and Ichigo Kurosaki found a cave filled with human remains and confronted the lone surviving man inside.
• The man denied killing the villagers, and Shiraishi directed Ichigo to search the forest for the nearby culprit.

Shiraishi sent Ichigo Kurosaki after the killer who had slaughtered a village, while he organized the others at the cave. Ichigo defeated the killer, who had used explosive bubbles, and killed him after forcing him to face fear.

• Shiraishi introduced himself to Yasutora Sado and recognized that Sado had awakened his Fullbringer powers as a child.
• Rukia and Orihime Inoue arrived at the cave, where Shiraishi tasked Orihime with burying the villagers and Rukia with gathering food and water.
• Ichigo Kurosaki encountered the killer in the forest and learned that he had murdered villagers for amusement and abused a mother and her child.
• The killer detonated his bubbles, but Ichigo spun Zangetsu to push through the explosions and hurled it at the killer, cutting off his right hand.
• Ichigo caught the fleeing killer, beat him, pulled out his tongue, and beheaded him.

After killing a bandit who had tortured and murdered villagers, Ichigo returned to Shiraishi’s group, recovered, and resumed training while Orihime helped bury the victims. Yamamoto recruited Yasutora Sado to travel with them and fight the supergiant Hollows, leaving the group with another powerful ally.

• Ichigo returned to the house after killing the man who had tortured villagers and asked Shiraishi whether defeating Aizen would restore the world.
• Yamamoto said he would rebuild the world’s order, and Ichigo resolved to defeat Aizen after reclaiming his mother’s Quincy power.
• Orihime healed Ichigo, and he asked Shiraishi to continue their training after feeling Zangetsu’s power in battle.
• Orihime and Yasutora Sado helped bury the villagers, and Sado played a mournful song as they mourned the dead.
• Yamamoto invited Sado to join his group, pressured him with his Reiatsu, and persuaded him to travel with them and fight Hollows.

Shiraishi and his companions reached a sky island, where a recording from Kisuke Urahara revealed that Aizen had sealed several captains and that Urahara had gone to Silbern to seek help from Yhwach. Shiraishi and Yamamoto decided to split up, with Yamamoto rescuing the sealed captains while Shiraishi took Ichigo and the others to Silbern.

• Rukia led Shiraishi, Ichigo Kurosaki, Orihime Inoue, and Kon up a fierce wind to a small island above the clouds.
• Shiraishi landed the house safely and approached the island's central rock, which opened to reveal a recording from Kisuke Urahara.
• Kisuke Urahara showed Yamamoto a spiritual motorcycle that would locate sealed captains and explained that Aizen had sealed Ichibē Hyōsube and other captains fifteen years earlier.
• Kisuke Urahara said he had waited for the new generation and Yhwach to awaken, then asked Yamamoto to go to Silbern if he was not there in person.
• Yamamoto recognized that Urahara had designed the motorcycle to require his Reiatsu, and Shiraishi chose to take Ichigo and the others to Silbern while Yamamoto rescued the sealed captains.

Uryū Ishida collapsed from a poisonous bite outside Silbern and woke in Retsu Unohana’s care. After learning how to enter the Quincy city, he prepared to pursue his mission, while Unohana teased him about the man she loved.

• Uryū Ishida reached the surface near Silbern, but a poisonous bite made him collapse beside Kisuke Urahara’s motorcycle.
• Uryū dreamed of his mother’s death and woke in a Japanese-style room, where Retsu Unohana introduced herself as the woman who had found him.
• Retsu Unohana explained that the bite of a black butterfly was not fatal and that Pure-Blood Quincy lived inside Silbern while Mixed-Blood Quincy outside had been killed by Yhwach’s Auswählen.
• Uryū realized he might pass as a Pure-Blood Quincy and asked Retsu Unohana how to enter Silbern; she told him to use Heilig Pfeil at the west gate.
• Uryū thanked Retsu Unohana and asked why she wore her hair loose, then learned she loved a man who was involved with several other women.

Shiraishi found Isane Kotetsu in the Dark Forest and embraced her so suddenly that she fainted, then took her to her room and tended to her. While he washed her feet and massaged her legs, Isane described the settlement and its residents, and Shiraishi asked whether she had missed him.

• Rin Kunieda told Shiraishi and Rukia that Shinigami had settled in the Dark Forest and that Unohana had left.
• Shiraishi sensed Isane Kotetsu nearby, rushed to her, and hugged her until she fainted.
• Renji Abarai found Shiraishi holding Isane, and Shiraishi said she had overworked herself and needed rest.
• Shiraishi carried Isane to her room, revived her when her stockings tore, and told her he was washing her feet and massaging her legs.
• Isane told Shiraishi about settling in the Dark Forest with Unohana and other Shinigami.
• Shiraishi apologized for failing to stop Aizen, asked whether Isane had missed him, and told her that he had missed her.

Retsu Unohana revealed how Kisuke Urahara had orchestrated events around Ichigo Kurosaki and explained the origins of Ichigo’s Hollow powers. Ichigo and Rukia chose to continue training, while Shiraishi reunited with Soi Fon and went with her to a room.

• Retsu Unohana told Ichigo Kurosaki that his mother, Masaki, had been infected by an Aizen-created Hollow and that its power had passed to him.
• Retsu Unohana explained that Kisuke Urahara had sealed Ichigo’s powers and arranged events to bring him there, prompting Ichigo to angrily object to being treated like a puppet.
• Rukia decided to train with Retsu Unohana, and Ichigo chose to join her after realizing they had made their own decisions.
• Shiraishi bathed and washed his soiled clothes, then met Soi Fon in the corridor.
• Soi Fon suspected Shiraishi had been with Retsu Unohana, challenged him to stop arguing, and led him toward a room.

Shiraishi confessed his feelings to Isane Kotetsu, and they shared a bed beneath a quilt. At Mount Taiping, Renji Abarai recognized Rukia and challenged Ichigo Kurosaki, leaving a fight about to begin.

• Shiraishi told Isane Kotetsu he liked her and persuaded her to sleep beside him, promising not to make a move.
• Renji Abarai guarded the entrance to Mount Taiping and blocked Ichigo Kurosaki as he tried to go up the steps.
• Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki clashed blades, and Renji forced Ichigo back with his Reiatsu.
• Renji Abarai spotted Rukia and happily greeted her, while she introduced him to Ichigo Kurosaki.
• Jealous that Rukia was close to Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai challenged him to fight in an open space, and Ichigo accepted.

Ichigo Kurosaki fought Renji Abarai and awakened Getsuga Tenshō, impressing Shiraishi. After the fight, Shiraishi returned to Isane Kotetsu and resumed their intimate encounter.

• Rin Kunieda dismissed the fight and left while Orihime Inoue watched anxiously.
• Renji Abarai released Zabimaru and wounded Ichigo Kurosaki, then criticized his fear and turned away.
• Ichigo Kurosaki overcame his hesitation, unleashed Getsuga Tenshō, and damaged Zabimaru before Shiraishi intercepted the attack.
• Shiraishi praised Ichigo Kurosaki's progress and scolded Renji Abarai for failing to use Bankai.
• Shiraishi returned to Isane Kotetsu and pounced on her after promising to prove his stamina.

Shiraishi spent an intimate farewell with Isane Kotetsu before leaving, while she recovered from her illness. After he departed, Rin Kunieda brought Isane soup and urged her to get well, noting she would be important to their fighting force if Renji left with Shiraishi.

• Shiraishi teased Isane Kotetsu, shared a tender moment with her, and promised to continue their unfinished business when he returned.
• Shiraishi bathed in the river, dressed, and left after Isane nervously remembered the danger outside her room.
• Rin Kunieda entered with ginseng soup and found Isane under the quilt, mistaking her flushed appearance for a fever.
• Rin Kunieda fed Isane soup and reminisced about childhood, then said Rukia had always been in Renji's heart.
• Rin Kunieda told Isane she needed to recover because she would be an important part of their fighting force if Renji left with Shiraishi.

Shiraishi and his companions left their traveling house behind at the edge of the Dark Forest and reached a cliff overlooking Silbern, the former Seireitei. After seeing the city beyond the Seireiheki, Shiraishi urged everyone to move on.

• Rukia bid Renji Abarai farewell before joining the others in the rising house, and Renji told her not to die.
• As the house traveled onward, Shiraishi reflected on his reunion with Isane and felt reassured that he had not been left behind by the passage of time.
• In early summer, the group reached the end of the Dark Forest, where a towering cliff blocked their way and Rukia explained that Silbern lay beyond it.
• Shiraishi stopped the house and threw Orihime Inoue, Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia, Yasutora Sado, and Kon over the cliff.
• Shiraishi landed with the group and they saw Silbern and the buildings beyond the Seireiheki; he urged them to continue without wasting time.

Retsu Unohana welcomed Ichigo Kurosaki and his companions to her home, where she intimidated Kon and sent Orihime Inoue out of the kitchen. The group shared a spicy meal, while Retsu quietly teased Shiraishi under the table.

• Retsu Unohana and Shiraishi reunited over lunch, and she asked where Ichigo Kurosaki and the others were.
• Retsu Unohana knocked Kon into the ground when he tried to approach her, then told Ichigo Kurosaki they could talk after eating.
• Orihime Inoue offered to help cook, but Retsu Unohana called her strange and sent her out of the kitchen.
• Shiraishi warned the group that Retsu Unohana had once been the First Kenpachi, and Sado helped Kon out of the ground.
• Retsu Unohana served the group a large meal of mildly spicy dishes, and Rukia realized she would have trouble eating them.
• Retsu Unohana teased Shiraishi with her foot beneath the table as he tried to hide his discomfort.

Retsu Unohana revealed that Kisuke Urahara had arranged much of Ichigo Kurosaki’s life and explained the Hollow power inherited from his mother. Ichigo and Rukia chose to continue training, while Shiraishi reunited with Soi Fon and faced her suspicions about his time with Unohana.

• Retsu Unohana told Ichigo Kurosaki that his mother had been infected by a Hollow and that Kisuke Urahara had sealed his powers and planned events around him.
• Ichigo Kurosaki reacted angrily to learning that Kisuke Urahara had manipulated people’s lives, but Rukia affirmed that her choices had been her own and went to train.
• Retsu Unohana invited Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia to learn Bankai, then told Shiraishi to bathe and clean himself.
• Shiraishi washed and changed before Soi Fon arrived and embraced him.
• Soi Fon noticed the herbal scent of Unohana’s towel, suspected what had happened, and confronted Shiraishi before he agreed to go with her.

Retsu Unohana began training Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia, and Yasutora Sado in the underground training ground. Ichigo fought his materialized Zangetsu, Rukia struggled against an illusion of Kaien, and Chad prepared to test his Fullbring against a wooden dummy.

• Retsu Unohana explained the Tenshintai to Ichigo Kurosaki, who materialized Zangetsu and began fighting him to find the real sword and make him submit.
• Retsu Unohana brought Rukia to another Tenshintai, where Sode no Shirayuki materialized and challenged her to defeat her fear by killing an illusion of Kaien.
• Rukia hesitated to fight the illusion, and Retsu Unohana sensed that her training was going poorly.
• Retsu Unohana sent Orihime Inoue to watch over Ichigo Kurosaki and treat him, then took Yasutora Sado to a wooden dummy that returned the force of his blows.
• Retsu Unohana urged Yasutora Sado to push his limits and extend his Fullbring across his whole body, and he struck the dummy with his Devil's Strike.

Shiraishi reunited with Soi Fon and learned that Aizen had sealed many Soul Society fighters while Kisuke Urahara was imprisoned. Soi Fon left to investigate, and Shiraishi proposed waiting until Urahara’s execution deadline to rescue him.

• Soi Fon and Shiraishi spent the afternoon together, then cleaned up before discussing events in Hueco Mundo and the Divine Realm.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi that she, Unohana, Urahara, Byakuya, Hitsugaya, and Kūkaku had avoided being sealed, while many captains had not.
• Soi Fon explained that Hitsugaya survived Gin Ichimaru’s attack, Rangiku Matsumoto had died, and Hitsugaya and Byakuya were preparing to act inside Aizen’s Divine Realm.
• Soi Fon said Urahara was being held at one of three unknown locations and would be executed by the Quincy on June fifteenth if he was not rescued.
• Shiraishi suggested waiting until the execution day to rescue Urahara, and Soi Fon left after warning him not to smell of another woman when they met again.

Shiraishi spent the afternoon with Retsu Unohana, then joined her and the trainees for dinner. Ichigo, Rukia, and Chad discussed their training, while Rukia remained troubled by her memories of Kaien Shiba.

• Shiraishi ate watermelon, fell asleep on the veranda, and teased Retsu Unohana when she returned after tending to Rukia.
• Shiraishi told Retsu that Soi Fon had gone to investigate three possible hiding places for Kisuke Urahara.
• Shiraishi tried to help Retsu cook, but she sent him out of the kitchen after he made more work.
• Shiraishi and Retsu served dinner to Ichigo Kurosaki, Rukia, Chad, and the others.
• Shiraishi said he could not be sure he could defeat Aizen, while Ichigo, Rukia, and Chad shared how their Bankai and Fullbring training was going.
• Retsu stopped the training talk and urged everyone to eat and rest, noticing that Rukia was distressed.

Uryū Ishida continued training in the Wandenreich, realizing he needed a way to reach Yhwach and the Ice Palace. Bambietta Basterbine recruited him as her guard and brought him into Silbern, where his calm manner quickly frustrated her.

• Uryū Ishida trained in Blut Arterie and Blut Vene and decided to grow stronger before trying to approach Yhwach.
• Bambietta Basterbine found Uryū Ishida training and ordered him to become her guard.
• Uryū Ishida accepted the position because it gave him a chance to enter Silbern.
• Bambietta tested Uryū Ishida's Hirenkyaku speed, and he kept up with her on the way to Silbern.
• Bambietta became annoyed when Uryū Ishida answered her calmly, then laughed and led him inside.

Uryū Ishida accompanied Bambietta through Silbern to her quarters, where the female Sternritter held a tea party. He overheard them discussing a Shinigami intruder and considered using the information to his advantage.

• Uryū Ishida repeatedly asked Bambietta about Silbern’s corridors as she led him to her quarters.
• Bambietta arrived late to the tea party and argued with Candice, Gigi, and the other Sternritter girls.
• Bambietta ordered Uryū Ishida to stand guard outside, and he left the door slightly open to listen.
• Candice told the others that a Shinigami had infiltrated Silbern and that Accutrone had asked her to keep it quiet.
• Uryū Ishida learned the intruder was the former commander-in-chief of the Stealth Force and thought he might use the information.

Shiraishi rescued Soi Fon from Robert’s ambush and joined her group as she explained their plan to free Kisuke Urahara from Silbern. The group prepared to infiltrate the prison while Shiraishi went alone to draw Yhwach and the Sternritter away.

• Robert waited at Silbern’s west gate and shot at Soi Fon as she arrived, but Shiraishi killed him before he could hit her.
• Shiraishi returned with Soi Fon, who met Ichigo Kurosaki and showed the group her map of Silbern.
• Soi Fon explained that Kisuke Urahara was imprisoned on Silbern’s third floor and that the Lloyd Twins guarded his cell.
• Soi Fon outlined a northeast infiltration route and identified several Sternritter who could respond to the group’s attack.
• Soi Fon assigned Shiraishi to confront Yhwach at the Ice Palace alone while the others broke into the prison, and Shiraishi reassured Ichigo that he would handle the enemies behind them.

Shiraishi persuaded Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to ally with the Wandenreich against Aizen, then led the group into Silbern disguised as a supply convoy. After separating from the others, he sensed Yhwach watching him and introduced himself from a distance.

• Shiraishi explained that an alliance with the Wandenreich was safer than fighting them before facing Aizen, and Ichigo Kurosaki accepted the plan.
• Soi Fon proposed replacing Rukia with Ōmaeda for the operation, but Shiraishi argued that Rukia should be given a chance, and Soi Fon agreed.
• Retsu Unohana prepared to help Rukia sleep, while Ichigo Kurosaki, Soi Fon, and Yasutora Sado went to bed before the operation.
• The group entered Silbern inside a supply convoy, and Shiraishi slipped away to a spire while the others continued onward.
• Shiraishi sensed Yhwach watching him from the Ice Palace and introduced himself, saying he looked forward to working with him.

Shiraishi confronted Yhwach in the Ice Palace, rejected his vision of a deathless world, and learned that the Sternritter would meet the advancing Shinigami. Ichigo Kurosaki and the others entered Silbern, where Yasutora Sado was separated from the group as they continued toward the palace.

• Yhwach woke partially in the Ice Palace and ordered Haschwalth to send S, F, I, P, and Y to face the Shinigami.
• Shiraishi met Yhwach, and they discussed Aizen’s Divine Realm and Yhwach’s desire to create a world without death.
• Shiraishi rejected Yhwach’s justification for Aizen’s actions, and Yhwach declared that the Sternritter would defeat the Shinigami.
• Ichigo Kurosaki, Yasutora Sado, Soi Fon, and their companions reached Silbern’s towering wall, which Yasutora Sado broke through with a punch.
• A Sternritter attacked the group, and Yasutora Sado fought him while Soi Fon urged Ichigo Kurosaki and the others to keep climbing the stairs.

Yasutora Sado defeated Mask de Masculine with his newly developed Armor of the War God, while Rukia stayed behind in Silbern to fight Äs Nodt. Rukia resisted his Fear with her deathlike Shikai, but his Vollständig trapped her in visions of losing everyone she loved.

• Yasutora Sado survived Mask de Masculine's attacks with Armor of the War God and defeated him with an enhanced Strike of the Devil.
• Mask de Masculine's death let Yhwach absorb his soul, and Shiraishi criticized Yhwach for calling that bond between comrades.
• Rukia stayed behind as Ichigo Kurosaki and the others continued up Silbern, then confronted Äs Nodt on the stairs.
• Rukia's deathlike Shikai rendered The Fear ineffective, and she froze Äs Nodt with absolute zero before he broke free using Tatarforas.
• Äs Nodt used Tatarforas to trap Rukia in visions of her loved ones dying, leaving her overwhelmed by fear.

Rukia overcame Äs's fear and defeated him with Bankai, but the effort left her near death. Yasutora Sado protected her and Orihime Inoue by defeating Meninas, then collapsed after his final attack.

• Ichigo Kurosaki confronted Cang Du on the lowest floor and fought him with Bankai and Getsuga Tenshō.
• Rukia recalled Captain Shiraishi and her companions, resisted Äs's fear, and defeated him with Hakka no Togame.
• Rukia's Bankai left her critically injured, and Yasutora Sado laid her down and charged through the walls to reach Orihime Inoue.
• Orihime Inoue went to heal Rukia while Yasutora Sado fought Meninas in the Armor of the War God.
• Meninas overwhelmed Yasutora Sado, but he endured her assault and destroyed half her body with a powerful punch before his strength faded.

Orihime tried to save Rukia while Shiraishi confronted Yhwach over Chad’s death. Ichigo was fatally wounded by Cang Du but refused to give up, and a mysterious middle-aged man asked him what he wanted most.

• Orihime found Rukia near death and used Sōten Kisshun to try to save her.
• Yhwach revealed that Chad had died and returned as part of his Reishi, then predicted Ichigo would lose to Cang Du.
• Ichigo struggled to fight Cang Du while believing Chad and Rukia were still alive.
• Cang Du activated Vollständig, overwhelmed Ichigo, and stabbed through his back and chest.
• Ichigo forced himself to keep fighting, and a middle-aged man asked him whether he wanted to fight, win, or survive.
• Ichigo declared that he wanted to defeat Cang Du.