Recaps

Renji Abarai planned to confess to Rukia at Orihime Inoue's birthday party and asked Shiraishi, Orihime, and Retsu Unohana for help making it special. He committed to carrying out their plan, while the women around Shiraishi reproached him for never giving them flowers.

• Renji Abarai asked Shiraishi for advice and learned to arrange a blindfold game so he could confess to Rukia in private.
• Renji Abarai asked Orihime Inoue to help with the confession, and she suggested fireworks from Kūkaku and flowers from Retsu Unohana.
• Renji Abarai visited Retsu Unohana and told her about Rukia and the planned confession.
• Retsu Unohana suggested adding a candlelit dinner to the fireworks and flowers, then pressured Renji Abarai not to back out.
• Renji Abarai overcame his doubts and left determined to confess, while Retsu Unohana and other women reproached Shiraishi for never giving them flowers.

Rukia joined the preparations for Inoue's birthday party, unaware that her friends had gathered to support Renji's planned confession to her. After Rukia changed into casual clothes, Renji grew nervous, and the group waited for the party to begin.

• Rukia told Byakuya she was going to Inoue's birthday party and headed to the Fourth Division's Senkaimon.
• Retsu Unohana pointed out that Rukia was still wearing her uniform and took her to change.
• Shiraishi and Soi Fon looked after Hakuhō while Renji arrived dressed up and asked whether Rukia had arrived.
• Retsu brought Rukia back in casual clothes, and Renji nervously complimented her appearance.
• Rangiku, Shūhei, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Momo, and Izuru arrived to watch Renji confess to Rukia.

Orihime Inoue's birthday party brought Shiraishi and the other guests together, and Orihime arranged a mountain walk to help Renji Abarai confess to Rukia. Rukia asked for time to sort out her feelings and fled, while Renji decided his next step was to fight Byakuya Kuchiki.

• Shiraishi and the others arrived through the Senkaimon, gave Orihime Inoue birthday gifts, and joined her outdoor party.
• Ichigo Kurosaki reunited with Yuzu and the others, while Shiraishi enjoyed the gathering before joining Rangiku Matsumoto's drinking circle.
• Orihime Inoue proposed a paired test of courage, and Renji Abarai guided Rukia up the mountain by the hand.
• At the mountain's end, Renji Abarai confessed his love to Rukia and asked her to marry him.
• Rukia, overwhelmed, asked Renji Abarai for time to think and fled with Shunpo; Renji decided to fight Byakuya Kuchiki.

Renji Abarai confessed to Rukia and asked Shiraishi for permission to duel Byakuya Kuchiki, who learned of the confession from Yoruichi Shihōin. Byakuya rejected Renji as a suitor and resolved to investigate Rukia’s future himself.

• Renji Abarai asked Shiraishi to approve a duel with Byakuya Kuchiki, and Shiraishi allowed it as a fight between brothers-in-law.
• Ikkaku Madarame supported Renji, and the group celebrated with drinks and fireworks.
• Rukia returned to the Kuchiki estate, too flustered by Renji’s confession to answer Byakuya.
• Yoruichi Shihōin visited Byakuya and told him that Renji had confessed to Rukia.
• Byakuya declared that he would not allow Renji to pursue Rukia and said he would personally ensure her future was in order.

Renji Abarai finished his work and challenged Byakuya Kuchiki to prove he could protect Rukia. Their fight began in the New Muken, where Renji’s Bankai surprised Byakuya, who then launched another attack.

• Renji Abarai recovered from the previous night’s drinking, finished his Thirteenth Division paperwork, and prepared to challenge Byakuya Kuchiki.
• Renji Abarai met Byakuya Kuchiki at the Kuchiki Clan Estate, and Byakuya led him to the New Muken for their fight.
• Shinji Hirako ran a betting pool as several captains and others placed bets, mostly on Byakuya Kuchiki, while Shiraishi, Momo Hinamori, and Izuru Kira backed Renji Abarai.
• Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki both immediately released Bankai, and Byakuya’s Senbonzakura Kageyoshi engulfed Renji in blades.
• Renji Abarai’s Reiatsu blasted the blades away, and his furry baboon-like arm left Byakuya Kuchiki with a nick on his cheek.
• Byakuya Kuchiki resumed his attack with greater seriousness.

Renji recovered from his defeat and hesitated to hear Rukia’s answer, while Shiraishi and Soi Fon later investigated an extremist group seeking to restore Aizen. The chapter ended with Ōmaeda spotting two unexpectedly dangerous figures near the group’s base and preparing to alert Soi Fon.

• Renji woke in the hospital, remembered losing to Byakuya, and told Rukia he would grow stronger before facing her answer.
• Rukia called Renji an idiot after he interrupted her, while Shiraishi and Hakuhō listened outside the room.
• In winter, Soi Fon told Shiraishi that the Restore Aizen Group operated in Abarai District and had a Shinigami supplying its members with combat skills.
• Soi Fon declined Shiraishi’s offer to involve the Research and Development Institute and said Ōmaeda was watching the group’s base.
• Ōmaeda overheard the group’s supporters and spotted two formidable figures, then decided to notify Soi Fon.

Kenpachi Zaraki and Gin Ichimaru discovered the Restore Aizen Group in Abarai District, where Zaraki killed its leader and members. As they left, Soi Fon confronted Zaraki over what he had done.

• Gin Ichimaru sensed powerful Reiatsu in a building in Abarai District and directed Kenpachi Zaraki there to keep him from demanding a fight.
• Kenpachi Zaraki stormed into the Restore Aizen Group's hideout and killed more than a dozen members.
• Jim Parsons attacked Zaraki with all his Reiatsu, but his strike barely scratched Zaraki, who then split Jim in two.
• Zaraki and Gin Ichimaru discussed finding a fight with Byakuya Kuchiki or Renji Abarai, and Zaraki admitted he was not interested in Rukia.
• Soi Fon blocked their path and angrily demanded to know what Zaraki had done.

Soi Fon's operation against the Restore Aizen Group was disrupted when Kenpachi Zaraki killed the suspects, prompting Gin Ichimaru to restrain him and take him away. Soi Fon reported the trail had gone cold to Shiraishi, then wondered who was behind the group.

• Kenpachi Zaraki provoked Soi Fon after killing the suspects, and Gin Ichimaru intervened to prevent them from fighting.
• Gin Ichimaru bound Kenpachi Zaraki with Bakudō and left with him, while Soi Fon sent Marechiyo Ōmaeda off to rest.
• Soi Fon returned to the Captain-Commander's office and told Shiraishi that Zaraki had destroyed the Stealth Force's lead on the Restore Aizen Group.
• Soi Fon noticed Hakuhō had been taken outside into the cold, and Shiraishi tried to soothe her with affection.
• Soi Fon's anger eased, but she wondered who was secretly directing the Restore Aizen Group.

Momo Hinamori confronted Alexander over his ties to the Restore Aizen Group, but a shadow carried him away before she and Shinji Hirako could arrest him. Shiraishi suspected the Wandenreich and ordered Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kisuke Urahara to stay alert as Yhwach's awakening drew nearer.

• Alexander received a coded message about the Restore Aizen Group's destruction and met Momo Hinamori in the cafeteria.
• Momo urged Alexander to abandon his admiration for Aizen and come with her, but he refused and challenged her.
• Momo's attack missed when a mass of shadow swept Alexander away, and Shinji Hirako admitted they had failed to arrest him.
• Shinji reported Alexander's escape to Shiraishi, who suspected the Wandenreich and said he would contact Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kisuke Urahara.
• Shiraishi messaged Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Kisuke Urahara to stay alert as Yhwach's awakening approached.

Mayuri investigated how Alexander had been taken without triggering the Shinigami’s surveillance, while Haschwalth learned that the operation involving Alexander had been exposed. Haschwalth decided to suspend contact with potential defectors and consider what to sacrifice to divert the Shinigami’s attention.

• Mayuri questioned whether the Wandenreich could bypass the Perception Network and ordered Nemu to screen Quincy conversations.
• Mayuri noticed three Sternritter gathered together, then left to investigate ways to evade surveillance.
• Haschwalth reflected on Uryū Ishida’s role in governing the Wandenreich and his belief that Quincy should give everything to Yhwach.
• Gremmy told Haschwalth that Kin, Alexander’s code name, had been discovered after using the Sun Gate.
• Haschwalth concluded that the Wandenreich needed to suspend its operations and avoid contacting potential defectors that night.
• Gremmy left, and Haschwalth considered which pieces to sacrifice to draw the Shinigami’s attention.

As Soul Society’s anti-corruption campaign paused for the New Year, Shiraishi returned home to celebrate with his family and worried about how Hakuhō would grow up. After Hakuhō chose both a toy sword and a book before falling asleep, Shiraishi resolved to plan her education carefully.

• Shiraishi halted the corruption campaign for the New Year, wary that constant crackdowns would become exploitation and lose their effect.
• Ichigo Kurosaki delivered his reviewed documents to Shiraishi and went home to spend New Year’s Eve with his family.
• Shiraishi returned home and joined Retsu Unohana, Isane Kotetsu, Soi Fon, Nelliel, Tier Harribel, Kūkaku Shiba, and Nemu Kurotsuchi for a New Year’s meal with Hakuhō.
• Retsu Unohana let Hakuhō taste her spicy baby meal, and Hakuhō drank it happily, prompting Shiraishi to worry she might inherit a love of fighting.
• Shiraishi began planning a kindergarten and an education for Hakuhō, who later picked up a toy sword and a miniature book before falling asleep.

Haschwalth rejected Elena’s proposal for a New Year’s celebration in Silbern, while Uryū Ishida unexpectedly found himself at the center of a party organized by Bambietta. Seeing how much the Quincy trusted and respected him, Uryū resolved to change the Wandenreich and save them from Yhwach’s ambitions.

• Elena reported that residents in Silbern’s western district had achieved food self-sufficiency and urged Haschwalth to hold a New Year’s party, but he refused.
• Uryū discovered that a New Year’s party had been arranged in the cafeteria, where a broadcast showed Yuzu and Ichigo performing in Zuellni’s gala.
• Bambietta admitted that she had organized the party for Uryū, and Candice explained that the Quincy attended because they respected his kindness.
• Uryū realized that his influence in the Wandenreich had grown, with even Gremmy attending the celebration.
• Uryū resolved to change the Wandenreich and save the Quincy from Yhwach’s selfish plans.

Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana took Hakuhō on a spring outing, where she said “Daddy” for the first time. Shiraishi shared the moment with their friends, while Retsu hoped Hakuhō would learn to say “Mommy” too.

• Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana spread out a picnic cloth in the mountains and watched Hakuhō chase butterflies.
• Shiraishi and Retsu flirted while keeping an eye on Hakuhō, who wandered away and began to cry when she could no longer see them.
• Shiraishi came to Hakuhō and heard her say “Daddy” for the first time, then asked Retsu to record it.
• Shiraishi sent the video to their friends, who congratulated him and hoped Hakuhō would call them Mommy.
• Shiraishi showed off to his friends and rejected Kenpachi Zaraki’s suggestion that Hakuhō learn to fight with a sword.

Yhwach awakened and ordered the Quincy to launch a full-scale attack on Soul Society, scattering them into the Shinigami world. Uryū Ishida arrived in the living world and, with the network working after all, began contacting his allies and sending the Shinigami a friend request as he prepared to betray the Quincy.

• Yhwach awoke, summoned the Quincy, and declared that they would attack Soul Society to create a world without death.
• Uryū Ishida met Bambietta, Candice, Liltotto, and Giselle on their way to the Sun Gate, while Haschwalth watched him warily.
• Yhwach addressed the assembled Quincy and ordered them to enter Soul Society separately and attack any Shinigami they encountered.
• The Sun Gate’s shadows transported Uryū Ishida and the others to different locations, and Uryū told his companions to regroup with him.
• Uryū Ishida found that the network still worked, contacted his allies, and sent the Shinigami a friend request as he prepared to betray the Quincy.

Yhwach launched a surprise attack on Soul Society after disabling the Shinigami’s Perception Network, and Shiraishi issued orders for the divisions to defend themselves and locate the Quincy. Kenpachi Zaraki prepared to hunt the Sternritter, while Ichimaru was reported to have gone to the Tenth Division with Matsumoto.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi learned that the Perception Network had failed and ordered the Riteitai to notify the captains and lieutenants that war had begun.
• Shiraishi instructed captains to search for Sternritter, told lieutenants to handle Soldat and ordinary Quincy, and ordered Shinigami to avoid fighting Sternritter when possible.
• Shiraishi chose to stay at the First Division headquarters, where the remaining passage to the Soul King Palace was located, rather than pursue the hidden Quincy.
• A Riteitai member delivered Shiraishi’s orders and information about the Sternritter to Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Kenpachi Zaraki set out to find the strongest opponent, while Ikkaku Madarame and the others prepared to hunt the remaining enemies.
• Yumichika Ayasegawa told Kenpachi Zaraki that Ichimaru had gone to the Tenth Division with Matsumoto.

Uryū Ishida secretly gathered his followers and rendered them unconscious with Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s help, then set out to confront Yhwach. Mayuri prepared to capture Gerard Valkyrie and Pernida Parnkgjas as research specimens.

• Bambietta avoided fighting the Shinigami and worried that Uryū Ishida might oppose Yhwach despite her feelings for him.
• Uryū gathered about 135 Quincy, including Candice and Bambietta, inside a clock tower.
• Uryū activated a Reishi immobilization device and hypnotic gas, incapacitating the Quincy while revealing that he had always hated Yhwach.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi met Uryū outside and gave him a tracking device; Uryū said he would confront Yhwach.
• Mayuri prepared to capture Gerard Valkyrie and Pernida Parnkgjas with Nemu Kurotsuchi’s help.

Gremmy Thoumeaux confronted Ichigo Kurosaki on a towering stone platform, determined to defeat him before challenging Shiraishi. As their battle escalated, Gremmy created copies of himself to imagine a gigantic fireball that could set all twenty-six districts ablaze.

• Gremmy Thoumeaux evaded searching Shinigami and headed toward the First Division barracks to find Shiraishi.
• Ichigo Kurosaki intercepted Gremmy, and the two exchanged challenges before Gremmy raised a huge stone platform beneath them.
• Ichigo Kurosaki activated Bankai and attacked Gremmy, who used his imagination to survive, split into two, and trap Ichigo in water.
• Askin watched the fight from a nearby spire, chose not to intervene, and waited for an opportunity to act.
• Gremmy created four copies of himself and began imagining a gigantic fireball to kill everyone across the twenty-six districts except himself.

Ichigo Kurosaki destroyed Gremmy's falling fireball, but Gremmy trapped him in a black hole until Shunsui Kyōraku stabbed Gremmy and ended the threat. After Gremmy faded away, Ichigo agreed to guard the Captain-Commander while Shunsui went to support the others, but a giant appeared in the northwest.

• Gerard feared that Gremmy's giant fireball would kill him and devastate Seireitei.
• Ichigo Kurosaki split the fireball apart with Getsuga Tenshō, then Gremmy created a black hole that began pulling Ichigo and the surrounding buildings inside.
• Shunsui Kyōraku stabbed Gremmy's real body, causing his clones and the black hole to disappear.
• Gremmy claimed that he had beaten Ichigo, and Ichigo acknowledged that Shunsui's intervention had saved him.
• Shunsui asked Ichigo to guard the Captain-Commander and left to help the others as a giant appeared in the northwest.

Kenpachi Zaraki fought Gerard Valkyrie, whose Schrift M turned injuries into godlike growth and made damage to his Sword of Hope inflict wounds on his opponents. Byakuya Kuchiki intervened after Gerard overwhelmed Kenpachi, and Gerard prepared to face them all as the Soul King's heart.

• Kenpachi Zaraki cut Gerard down, but Gerard rose again, explaining that his Schrift M exchanged wounds for greater size and power.
• Gerard’s Sword of Hope caused every chip in its blade to appear as wounds on Kenpachi, while Gerard regenerated his severed arm and drove Kenpachi toward defeat.
• Byakuya Kuchiki attacked Gerard with Senbonzakura, forcing him to ease the pressure on Kenpachi and warning that fighting Gerard only made him stronger.
• Gerard dismissed the threat of multiple Shinigami and declared that he would wipe them out, identifying himself as the Soul King's heart.

Askin watched Gerard battle Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Kenpachi Zaraki, while wondering why Yhwach had sent the Quincies into battle without a plan. After the captains appeared to kill Gerard, he returned in a stronger form and threatened the exhausted Kenpachi, until Yachiru Kusajishi reminded him that he could use Bankai.

• Askin observed Gerard fighting the captains and reflected that the Schutzstaffel included the Soul King's Heart and Left Hand.
• Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Kenpachi Zaraki worked together to restrain Gerard and tear him apart.
• Gerard reappeared in an armored, winged form with a holy sword and shield, his Reiatsu stronger than before.
• Gerard prepared to fire at the exhausted Kenpachi Zaraki, who believed he was about to die.
• Yachiru Kusajishi appeared beside Kenpachi and reminded him that he still had Bankai.

Kenpachi Zaraki and Tōshirō Hitsugaya fought Gerard as his power overwhelmed them, until Hitsugaya revealed the completed form of his Bankai and froze Gerard. Gerard broke free, and Byakuya Kuchiki joined the attack with countless blades.

• Kenpachi Zaraki transformed and blocked Gerard’s Sword of Hope, then broke it with his Bankai and attacked despite the wounds destroying his body.
• Gerard smashed Zaraki into the ground and broke free of Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s ice, forcing Byakuya Kuchiki to pull Hitsugaya and Zaraki back.
• Hitsugaya revealed that his Bankai reached its full power after the ice flowers vanished, transforming into a young man.
• Hitsugaya froze Gerard and his Heilig Pfeil with Shikai Hyōketsu, but Gerard broke free and grabbed him.
• Zaraki tripped Gerard, giving Hitsugaya time to freeze him again, but Gerard escaped once more as Byakuya prepared an attack with countless blades.

Byakuya and Hitsugaya destroyed Gerard’s head, but he regenerated as a colossal giant of light and continued attacking. After receiving a request for help, Shiraishi transformed into Nightbringer and prepared to strike Gerard, while Yhwach watched events unfold.

• Byakuya used Senkei: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi to destroy Gerard’s head after Hitsugaya froze and knocked him down.
• Gerard reformed as an enormous giant of light, and Byakuya and Hitsugaya evaded his attack as Byakuya considered wearing him down.
• Rangiku asked Gin to join the fight, but Gin said the captains were not coming to help and reassured her that Byakuya and Hitsugaya could handle Gerard.
• Shiraishi received a request for help and transformed into Nightbringer with Hakuhō in his arms.
• Yhwach watched the battle and anticipated Gerard’s return to his side.
• Shiraishi reached the barracks roof with Steel Tempest and swung a fierce slash toward Gerard.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya and the other Shinigami watched Captain-Commander Shiraishi destroy Gerard with a distant blast, while the exhausted survivors were taken for treatment. Jugram Haschwalth entered a hidden club to visit Alexander as part of the Quincy attacks.

• Tōshirō Hitsugaya struggled against Gerard until Shiraishi's Crimson Lotus Hellfire swept across the sky and burned Gerard away.
• Rangiku Matsumoto caught the exhausted Tōshirō Hitsugaya and carried him toward the Fourth Division after he collapsed.
• Gin Ichimaru found the wounded Kenpachi Zaraki, told him Shiraishi had killed Gerard, and carried him to the medical squad after he fell asleep.
• Jugram Haschwalth, reflecting on Gerard's defeat, entered a concealed underground club and asked its guard to tell Alexander he had arrived.

Haschwalth got a map to the Fourth Division's General Infirmary from Alexander and launched an attack there. Gin Ichimaru and Shinji Hirako confronted him as Rangiku Matsumoto and Momo Hinamori remained at the infirmary.

• Alexander hid in the Kuchiki District and agreed to give Haschwalth a map to the Fourth Division's quarters in exchange for not being asked to fight.
• At the General Infirmary, Isane Kotetsu left Rangiku Matsumoto in charge while she operated on a critically wounded patient.
• Rangiku Matsumoto reassured Momo Hinamori that Hitsugaya was recovering from overusing his Reiatsu and Bankai.
• When a Quincy appeared near the infirmary, Gin Ichimaru told Rangiku Matsumoto to stand back and went to meet the enemy.
• Shinji Hirako joined Gin Ichimaru as Haschwalth emerged from an alley and challenged them.

Haschwalth fought Shinji Hirako and Gin Ichimaru but withdrew after failing to break through their defenses. Shinji and Gin realized the scattered attacks were meant to draw defenders away from the passage to the Soul King Palace, leaving them to guard it while seeking another way to handle the powerful Sternritter.

• Shiraishi explained Haschwalth’s ability and warned that he was faster than Tenjirō Kirinji.
• Haschwalth deduced that a Sternritter had leaked information and suspected Uryū Ishida.
• Shinji released Sakanade, and Gin used Bakudō #61, but Haschwalth adapted to the inverted senses and evaded their attacks.
• Haschwalth struck Shinji with enhanced speed, and Gin’s Bankai, Kamishini no Yari, intercepted his follow-up blow.
• Haschwalth withdrew, intending to probe Soul Society’s defenses and attack elsewhere, such as the Research and Development Institute.
• Gin explained that the attacks were meant to draw the Captain-Commander away from the passage to the Soul King Palace, and Shinji agreed they had to guard it.