Recaps

After fourteen days of fighting, Shiraishi gorged himself in Zuellni and was caught between Soi Fon’s jealousy and Kūkaku’s provocations. Kūkaku returned to Soul Society for a tea party to discuss Shiraishi, while he agreed to help the Human Alliance Nation with its founding.

• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba devoured food in the Zuellni city hall cafeteria after their long battle.
• Orihime Inoue called Shiraishi on a video call with Soi Fon, and Kūkaku taunted Soi Fon before ending the call.
• Retsu Unohana invited Kūkaku to a tea party in Soul Society to discuss Shiraishi, and Kūkaku left to attend.
• Orihime told Shiraishi that the Human Alliance Nation planned to name its calendar and asked him to give a founding speech; he chose the Stone Calendar and agreed to speak.
• Orihime added that Shiraishi would receive a portrait, a statue, and an honorary permanent speaker position, and he accepted.

Kūkaku Shiba returned to Soul Society for Retsu Unohana’s tea party after recovering from a lengthy encounter with Shiraishi. The gathering began with Soi Fon and Isane Kotetsu arriving, while Retsu firmly tried to send Mayuri Kurotsuchi away when he showed up in Nemu’s place.

• Kūkaku Shiba bathed, dressed, and told Ganju she was returning to Soul Society for a while.
• Retsu Unohana prepared a seven-seat tea party to address tensions among the women connected to Shiraishi and the postwar situation.
• Kūkaku arrived, ate spicy food prepared by Retsu, and helped arrange the tea-party refreshments.
• Soi Fon arrived in punk-style clothing, and Kūkaku teased her about Yoruichi before Retsu invited her to sit.
• Isane Kotetsu arrived nervously, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi followed, claiming he had come in Nemu’s place.
• Retsu repeatedly told Mayuri to leave, but he hesitated to explain why he had come and remained seated.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi left Retsu Unohana’s tea party after she caught him trying to eavesdrop, while Nemu Kurotsuchi helped Senjumaru Shutara replace statues in the Soul King Palace. Nemu learned she had been assigned Friday with Shiraishi and began planning how to spend the day with him.

• Retsu Unohana escorted Mayuri Kurotsuchi out at swordpoint and warned him not to attend future tea parties in Nemu’s place.
• In the White Tiger Palace, Nemu Kurotsuchi reshaped two statues of Shiraishi and Mayuri Kurotsuchi into statues of Senjumaru Shutara.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi carried away the stone fragments and then read Retsu Unohana’s messages about the tea party’s arrangement with Shiraishi.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi accepted that her day with Shiraishi would be Friday and decided to borrow Sai'e’s Elastic Fist and a liquid for their time together.

Shiraishi posed for a portrait and statue plans before Kūkaku Shiba helped him set up a phone and Heart Window account. The chapter ended with Kūkaku reminding him of Retsu’s schedule for spending a day with each of them and taking him home for their day together.

• Shiraishi posed while artists painted his portrait and drafted plans for a statue to be displayed in Steel Shell City.
• Kūkaku Shiba arrived after Orihime Inoue accepted her friend request and told her where Shiraishi was.
• Shiraishi struggled with the phone’s facial-recognition prompt, then registered on Heart Window using the unchangeable name “You Are the Wind, I Am the Sand.”
• Kūkaku Shiba explained that Retsu had arranged a schedule assigning Shiraishi a day with each of them.
• Kūkaku Shiba took Shiraishi home, saying Ganju was away and they could spend the day together.

Shiraishi visited Kūkaku Shiba and Ganju before meeting Soi Fon at Second Division headquarters. Soi Fon told him that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto wanted to discuss the future government of the three realms, leaving Shiraishi to consider a difficult choice.

• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba woke up and greeted Ganju, who received a beating after teasing his sister and complaining about her strictness.
• Kūkaku Shiba said she would send Ganju to Shin'ō Academy for further training when it was rebuilt.
• Soi Fon worked at the former church of Aizen, which the Second Division had turned into its headquarters.
• Shiraishi visited Soi Fon, who told him that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto wanted to discuss the future system of government.
• Soi Fon outlined three proposals for governing the three realms, and Shiraishi decided to go meet Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Shiraishi visited Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto at First Division headquarters and discovered that the aging Captain-Commander was suffering from lingering weakness and doubts about his ability to continue. Yamamoto refused to step down, while Shiraishi left considering what career to pursue.

• Shiraishi entered First Division headquarters through a stained-glass window and found Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto working in his stripped-down office.
• Shiraishi noticed Yamamoto's weakened Reiatsu and asked whether he was all right.
• Yamamoto admitted that the cold and battle injuries had left him weary and wondering whether he was too old to overcome his problems.
• Shiraishi suggested that Yamamoto seek Retsu's help or step down in favor of Kyōraku, but Yamamoto refused because Kyōraku lacked the strength to lead everyone.
• Yamamoto scolded Shiraishi for having no career of his own, and Shiraishi said he would think carefully about what to do next.

After Aizen’s defeat, Shiraishi wondered what to do next and decided to seek Soi Fon’s advice. He became the new Captain-Commander as Yamamoto retired to lead Shin'ō Academy, then proposed changes to the Shinigami uniforms.

• Shiraishi visited Soi Fon and asked what he should do with his future, and she told him to find work since Renji Abarai had taken his former captain position.
• An emergency summons brought Soi Fon and the other captains and lieutenants to the First Division barracks.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto announced that he and Chōjirō Sasakibe would retire, naming Shiraishi as his successor.
• Shiraishi arrived as Captain-Commander and proposed new uniforms for Shinigami, prompting objections from Soi Fon and suggestions from Shunsui Kyōraku.
• Yamamoto explained that his lingering condition and desire to teach at Shin'ō Academy led him to retire, then left with Chōjirō as the assembled captains and lieutenants paid their respects.

Shiraishi began reorganizing Soul Society and consulted Sora Inoue about its system of domestic governance, then returned home exhausted. He tried to spare Soi Fon’s feelings by praising her disastrous cooking and ate the entire meal before she could taste it.

• Shiraishi introduced military organization, ideological classes, and new district names in Soul Society before ending the first Captains' Meeting.
• Shiraishi consulted Sora Inoue about domestic governance and decided to share the Human Alliance’s system with the captains and vice-captains.
• Soi Fon cooked a meal with guidance from Orihime Inoue to prove her cooking was better than Kūkaku’s.
• Shiraishi tasted Soi Fon’s terrible dish, praised it, and ate the whole meal to keep her from trying it.
• Soi Fon reached to taste soup from Shiraishi’s lips, but he stopped her and suggested they go to sleep.

Shiraishi and Soi Fon discussed his proposed government reforms and the day’s work before he prepared for the Human Alliance Nation’s founding ceremony and diplomatic visits. The chapter left Shiraishi planning to approach the Wandenreich and Hueco Mundo while implementing stricter standards for noble appointments.

• Soi Fon refused Shiraishi’s suggestion that she have a baby and urged him to check the work group’s messages about his proposed cabinet system.
• Shiraishi agreed with Byakuya Kuchiki that nobles should retain their status, but proposed strict assessments and allowing anyone with merit to be ennobled.
• Shiraishi asked Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Renji Abarai to have three captains jointly set questions for noble interviews and select candidates.
• Shiraishi announced new working hours of nine to five, with no overtime except in exceptional circumstances.
• Shiraishi planned to attend the Human Alliance Nation’s founding ceremony, visit the Wandenreich in Silbern, and meet Nelliel in Hueco Mundo to finalize cooperation.

Shiraishi prepared to interview candidates for the new government while Genshirō Okikiba warned him about a political misstep and laid out a packed schedule. In the World of the Living, Ichigo Kurosaki and his sisters joined the crowds awaiting the Human Alliance’s founding ceremony and saw a colossal statue of Shiraishi that looked more like a war god than the man they knew.

• Genshirō Okikiba criticized Shiraishi for announcing joint supervision after Captain Kuchiki had taken charge, and Shiraishi accepted the advice.
• Genshirō Okikiba told Shiraishi that 1,653 people were willing to cooperate and that the day included interviews, the Human Alliance ceremony, and a meeting with Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida.
• Shiraishi rejected written exams as impractical and went to interview candidates for senior government positions.
• Ichigo Kurosaki carried Yuzu and Karin on his shoulders as they joined the crowds gathered outside Jerusalem for the Human Alliance’s founding ceremony.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Yuzu remarked that the enormous statue of Shiraishi did not resemble his easygoing personality, prompting Ichigo to flee the curious crowd with Shunpo.
• Yuzu spotted Shiraishi on the large screen after Ichigo moved them a kilometer from the statue.

Shiraishi addressed the gathered leaders and assigned them territories for rebuilding the World of the Living. He announced that deceased humans would be transferred to Soul Society over a hundred years, leaving Sora Inoue concerned about the world’s recovery.

• Shiraishi faced a crowd of over a hundred million people, whose cheers stopped when he asked them to quiet down.
• Shiraishi presented a map divided into twenty-five territories and proposed assigning them by drawing lots, which most attendees accepted.
• Sora Inoue drew territory thirteen, and the others drew their own assignments.
• Shiraishi told the leaders not to cross territory boundaries without good reason and had Genshirō Okikiba distribute phones for arranging trade through Soul Society.
• Shiraishi announced that deceased humans would be transferred to Soul Society in batches over a hundred years, despite Sora Inoue’s objection that this could hinder recovery.
• Shiraishi explained that Reishi in the World of the Living would gradually return to Soul Society as the world’s cycle resumed.

Uryū Ishida returned to Silbern after meeting Shiraishi and described him as an unassuming but extraordinary person. Ishida then asked Candice to help him train so he could combine Blut Arterie and Blut Vene and become strong enough to strike the sleeping Yhwach.

• Candice finished fixing her hair and went with Bambietta to meet Uryū Ishida at the training ground.
• Bambietta flirted with Ishida, but he dodged her advances and kept his composure.
• Ishida described Shiraishi as easygoing and said someone like him was qualified to lead the thirteen Court Guard Squads.
• Ishida explained that he wanted to combine Blut Arterie and Blut Vene to attack Yhwach before the Schutzstaffel could react.
• Candice agreed to help Ishida with his special training.

Shiraishi visited Las Noches and learned that Loly Aivirrne and Aura Michibane had been sent to study Hell for Aizen. He left knowing they were likely hiding in the Soul King Palace and still carrying out Aizen’s orders.

• Shiraishi arrived in Las Noches, where the Shinigami were supporting the Arrancar settlement under Nelliel and Harribel.
• Loly persuaded Menoly Mallia to help poison Shiraishi, but Ulquiorra stopped them before they could reach the reception.
• Ulquiorra knocked Loly unconscious and told Menoly to take her back.
• Shiraishi asked Nelliel where Loly and Aura Michibane were, and Nelliel revealed that Aizen had assigned them to study Hell.
• Nelliel suspected Loly and Aura were still hiding in the Soul King Palace and following Aizen’s orders.

Shiraishi visited Ichibē Hyōsube to learn the truth about Hell and the Soul King’s history, while refusing to let Ichigo become the next Soul King. In Hell, Aizen asked Szayelaporro to help him find the founders of the Five Great Noble Clans so they could escape.

• Shiraishi met Ichibē Hyōsube at the Soul King Palace and learned that Jūshirō Ukitake’s Right Arm was maintaining the balance of the worlds, while Ichibē wanted Ichigo as its replacement.
• Ichibē explained that the Five Great Noble Clan founders had ambushed and mutilated the Soul King to create the three worlds, and that Shingen Shiba had later sought a replacement lynchpin.
• Ichibē revealed that Aizen had been sent to Hell because his Reishi was too powerful to return safely to Soul Society, and said Hell was a suffocating place.
• Szayelaporro awoke in Hell, struggled to breathe, and recognized Aizen, who explained that he wanted to find the founders of the Five Great Noble Clans and asked Szayelaporro to join him.

Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana shared a meal and a playful break from their demanding work. Retsu massaged him beneath a tree and teased him as he threatened to get even that night.

• Shiraishi cooked spicy beef stew while Retsu Unohana soaked her feet in a stream, and they joked about his recent lack of time with the women around him.
• Retsu Unohana had Shiraishi wipe her feet and offered him ice cream, then dodged him with Shunpo when he tried to pursue her.
• Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana ate the stew together, and she offered him a lap pillow so he could rest.
• Retsu Unohana massaged Shiraishi and revealed that she had also given massages to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Retsu Unohana startled Shiraishi with a forceful press during the massage, and they traded teasing threats about that night.

After the eight-hour workday began, Shiraishi spent his lunch break chatting and gaming with the women in his life before Genshirō Okikiba brought him a complaint about the 11th Division’s drunken misconduct. Shiraishi went to confront the division and found its headquarters covered in graffiti, with squad members drinking and fighting inside.

• Shiraishi arranged a day off with Nemu Kurotsuchi and exchanged messages with Soi Fon, Nelliel, Tier Harribel, and others during lunch.
• Shiraishi read messages from Kūkaku and thought about how carefully he limited his chats with Isane and Retsu.
• Genshirō Okikiba told Shiraishi that 11th Division members in Zaraki District were drinking, causing trouble, buying on credit, and fighting in the streets.
• Shiraishi considered the Gotei 13’s depleted ranks and decided to address the 11th Division’s behavior by changing their hearts rather than using force.
• Shiraishi arrived at the 11th Division headquarters and found its entrance defaced with graffiti and its members drinking and fighting inside.

Shiraishi confronted the 11th Division about its debts and property damage, then assigned the unruly squad a sixteen-hour workday making action movies. He arranged for Rangiku Matsumoto to produce the films by using Gin Ichimaru’s imprisonment as leverage, then prepared for his date with Nemu.

• Shiraishi visited the 11th Division and caught Ikkaku Madarame’s wooden sword with one finger before ordering the squad to gather.
• Shiraishi confronted the squad about residents’ complaints, and Yumichika Ayasegawa explained that the squad had no funds left to cover its debts.
• Shiraishi assigned the 11th Division sixteen-hour workdays and action-movie production to keep them busy and use the proceeds to pay for damages.
• Shiraishi appointed Don Kanonji as director, Rangiku Matsumoto as producer, and Hanatarō Yamada as the on-set medic.
• Rangiku Matsumoto initially refused the assignment, but Shiraishi reminded her that Gin Ichimaru was still imprisoned and promised to release him if she did the job well.
• Shiraishi finished his other work so he could take the next day off for his date with Nemu.

Shiraishi took Nemu Kurotsuchi on a morning walk in Kuchiki District after finding her camping at their meeting spot in a Dalmatian costume. Their date ended with Shiraishi abruptly fleeing when they encountered Rukia Kuchiki.

• Shiraishi arrived early at the park and discovered that Nemu had slept in a tent so she could be at the date location first.
• Nemu emerged dressed as a Dalmatian, explaining that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had recommended the costume and demonstrating that she could eat and digest materials such as steel and wood.
• Nemu asked Shiraishi to walk her on a leash, and he agreed after assuring her that he liked the idea.
• Shiraishi and Nemu walked through the park as they talked about her work and her happiness at helping him and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.
• Shiraishi turned a corner, saw Rukia Kuchiki, and vanished, leaving her confused about why he seemed to hate her.

Shiraishi took Nemu Kurotsuchi on a date through the Kuchiki District, then returned home with her for dinner. Nemu transformed her body to give him an unusual intimate experience, and they spent the evening together.

• Shiraishi carried Nemu Kurotsuchi away from Rukia and stopped her from removing her Dalmatian costume in a secluded alley.
• Shiraishi and Nemu Kurotsuchi strolled through the Kuchiki District, browsing food shops and enjoying the scenery until evening.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi invited Shiraishi to return to his house, where she prepared dinner.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi transformed into a liquid-bodied form and used it to embrace Shiraishi and feed him dinner in an unusual way.

Shiraishi confronted widespread corruption and lawlessness in Soul Society and sought advice on how to respond. Meanwhile, the newly awakened Sōya Azashiro learned about the changed world and secured Uryū Ishida’s support to travel to Hueco Mundo and destroy Hollows.

• Shiraishi found that corruption and criminal activity had spread through Soul Society, revised his response to a protest, and asked Retsu Unohana, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Shunsui Kyōraku, and Byakuya Kuchiki for advice.
• Shiraishi favored Retsu Unohana’s advice to punish some officials, win others over, issue warnings, and target illegal forces, then learned that she had noticed his hemorrhoids.
• Sōya Azashiro woke in Silbern and learned from Jugram Haschwalth that Seireitei had become the Wandenreich’s stronghold and that much had changed while he slept.
• Sōya Azashiro told Haschwalth that he intended to destroy Hollows and asked to use the Sun Gate to reach Hueco Mundo, but Haschwalth refused.
• Uryū Ishida agreed to lend Sōya Azashiro the Sun Gate, while Haschwalth objected that this could provoke war between the Shinigami and the Wandenreich.
• Uryū Ishida proposed a vote among the Sternritter, and Sōya Azashiro agreed to proceed with the vote.

Uryū Ishida and Haschwalth called a Sternritter vote over whether to lend Sōya Azashiro the Sun Gate so he could travel to Hueco Mundo and exterminate the Arrancar. The vote approved the request, and Sōya asked Uryū to meet him there.

• The surviving Sternritter gathered in the hall after Uryū Ishida and Haschwalth summoned them to vote.
• Gremmy noticed that Sōya Azashiro was not present in a real body and asked who he was.
• Haschwalth explained that Sōya wanted to borrow the Sun Gate, while he opposed lending it and Uryū supported it.
• Uryū argued that lending the gate would not cause a conflict with the Shinigami, and most of the Sternritter voted in favor.
• Haschwalth considered attacking Sōya but abandoned the idea after Gremmy warned that it was not his true body.
• Sōya asked Uryū to meet him at the Sun Gate, and Uryū agreed.

Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida called the surviving Sternritter to vote on whether Sōya Azashiro could borrow the Sun Gate to reach Hueco Mundo. The Sternritter approved the request, and Uryū Ishida agreed to escort Azashiro.

• The surviving Sternritter gathered in the hall after Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida called a vote.
• Gremmy noticed that Sōya Azashiro was not using his real body and asked who he was.
• Haschwalth explained that Azashiro wanted to borrow the Sun Gate to eliminate Arrancar, while he opposed the plan and Uryū Ishida supported it.
• The Sternritter voted eight to two in favor of lending Azashiro the Sun Gate, with one abstention and the Schutzstaffel absent.
• Haschwalth abandoned the idea of attacking Azashiro after Gremmy warned that the body was not real.
• Uryū Ishida agreed to accompany Sōya Azashiro to the Sun Gate.

Sōya Azashiro secretly entered Hueco Mundo and planned to turn the Arrancar against one another before exterminating them. In Soul Society, Shiraishi struggled with a flood of government paperwork, suspected someone was deliberately burying him in it, and ended the evening asking Retsu Unohana to have a child with him.

• Sōya Azashiro traveled through the shadows to Hueco Mundo and hid in a warehouse while listening for an opportunity to stir conflict among the Arrancar.
• Shiraishi reviewed baskets of paperwork caused by the expansion of government departments and ordered unnecessary departments abolished.
• Retsu Unohana encouraged Shiraishi to persist with his work and promised to support his decisions.
• Shiraishi suspected someone was teaching officials to bury him in paperwork and decided to have Soi Fon investigate.
• Shiraishi told Retsu Unohana he wanted a child, and she agreed to have one with him.

Shiraishi tried to reduce his paperwork and visited Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to discuss releasing Gin Ichimaru and placing him at Shin'ō Academy. Yamamoto said Sarugaki Hiyori would likely oppose the plan, so Shiraishi decided to speak with her after her class.

• Retsu Unohana told Shiraishi that the previous day had been a safe day and that the current day was good for a bountiful harvest, and they spent the morning together.
• Shiraishi told Genshirō Okikiba to return most of the documents to the departments while he secretly had Soi Fon investigate the people behind the corruption.
• Shiraishi went to Shin'ō Academy and discussed Gin Ichimaru's possible release and appointment as an instructor with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
• Shiraishi explained that the Visored supported releasing Gin Ichimaru under watch, but Sarugaki Hiyori's objection could prevent him from teaching at the academy.
• Yamamoto told Shiraishi to wait until noon to speak with Hiyori, then said Ganju ranked fifth among the sixth-year students.

Shiraishi visited Shin'ō Academy, observed its classes, and asked Hiyori Sarugaki and Love Aikawa whether Gin Ichimaru could be released and work there. After they rejected him as a colleague and Nel said she hated him, Shiraishi ruled out Hueco Mundo and considered the one remaining place that might accept Gin.

• Shiraishi toured Shin'ō Academy's history, Hakuda, Kidō, and swordsmanship classes after Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto warned him not to cause trouble.
• Shiraishi asked Hiyori Sarugaki and Love Aikawa how they felt about Gin Ichimaru's release, and both agreed to it.
• Shiraishi proposed that Gin work at Shin'ō Academy, but Hiyori and Love both objected.
• Shiraishi asked Nel whether Gin could return to Hueco Mundo, and she said she hated him.
• Shiraishi abandoned the idea of sending Gin to Hueco Mundo and decided to look for another place that would accept him.