Recaps

Shiraishi relaxed while Nemu Kurotsuchi fed and cared for him, leaving Mayuri Kurotsuchi furious and plotting against him. After the onlookers abandoned their plans to interfere, Shiraishi fell asleep on Nemu Kurotsuchi’s lap.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi left after threatening Shiraishi, determined to study his fight with Genjirō and find a way to defeat him.
• Shiraishi reassured Nemu Kurotsuchi that Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s anger was not her fault, then asked her about wearing stockings and different clothes while she fed him.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi said she would consider new outfits and continued feeding Shiraishi soup as he enjoyed being cared for.
• Akon and the others watched Shiraishi and Nemu Kurotsuchi, then gave up on interfering and left to return to their experiments.
• The balding man decided to make an automatic gourmet food machine, while Shiraishi grew sleepy and fell asleep on Nemu Kurotsuchi’s lap.

Shiraishi woke in the Tenth Division captain’s quarters and reunited with Nemu Kurotsuchi, who brought him breakfast in a cat outfit and offered to comfort him. He promised to consider being with her in three years, and she left to return at noon.

• Shiraishi woke in an unfamiliar room, realized it was the Tenth Division captain’s quarters, and changed into his captain’s uniform after releasing Shikai.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi arrived dressed as a cat, explained Rangiku had brought him back, and served him a lavish breakfast.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi offered to help Shiraishi relax, but he refused and told her he could not be with her because he had already united with Kūkaku.
• Shiraishi promised to unite with Nemu Kurotsuchi if she still felt the same way in three years, and she accepted the answer without comment.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi cleaned up and left, saying she would return at noon, while an unseen voice teased Shiraishi about being popular with women.

Rangiku Matsumoto told Shiraishi about crime in the Seireitei and urged him to patrol as the Tenth Division's new captain. After Tōshirō Hitsugaya forced Shiraishi and Rangiku to get to work, Shiraishi volunteered to solve the division's old cases, leaving Rangiku suspicious of his sudden enthusiasm.

• Rangiku Matsumoto teased Shiraishi about Nemu and told him that Sōya Azashiro remained missing while thefts plagued the Seireitei.
• Rangiku explained that Silver Flash Tsukikage Yagyū was blamed for copycat thefts and was likely wandering in South Rukongai.
• Shiraishi went to the Tenth Division cafeteria to ask Tōshirō Hitsugaya about major cases, and Rangiku ordered him to patrol.
• Rangiku admitted she planned to visit a new kimono shop, prompting Tōshirō Hitsugaya to erupt in anger and order both of them to work.
• Shiraishi offered Tōshirō Hitsugaya three days off and promised Rangiku he would help clear the division's old cases in one day.
• Rangiku questioned Shiraishi's sudden interest in solving cases.

Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya searched the Tenth Division archives, where they uncovered an old case involving a murderer who had killed courtesans for a century. Shiraishi decided to investigate the pleasure quarters, leaving with Hitsugaya to ask around.

• Shiraishi assigned Rangiku to handle administrative work and told Hitsugaya to take time off, but Hitsugaya insisted on helping with the cold cases.
• Hitsugaya and Shiraishi went to the archives, where Hitsugaya learned that the usual cleaner had disappeared while on duty.
• Shiraishi recognized Kichō in a case file and identified her as Oda Nobunaga's old flame, whose death had been recorded as a lover's suicide.
• Shiraishi found a century-old case in which a murderer had killed courtesans who performed the arts, while proprietors concealed the deaths and the Tenth Division failed to catch the killer.
• Shiraishi asked whether investigation expenses could be reimbursed, then told Hitsugaya to bring his wallet so they could visit the pleasure quarters one by one.

Soi Fon left the hospital to investigate a murder at the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter, where she found Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya already on the case. The victim was a great noble, and Soi Fon warned that his death would cause serious trouble.

• Soi Fon berated Marechiyo Ōmaeda for losing track of Shiraishi and fined him a year's salary.
• Soi Fon left the hospital despite her injuries, and Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Punishment Force members followed her to the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter.
• Soi Fon's force sealed off the pleasure quarter while its workers and customers gathered inside.
• Soi Fon recognized Shiraishi at the scene, and he explained that he and Tōshirō Hitsugaya had come to investigate a serial killer case.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya that a great noble had been murdered and warned that the death would cause trouble.

Soi Fon investigated the murder of Shin'ichirō Shihoin, whose death had strengthened support for a noble-controlled Gold Seal Unit. She ordered Shiraishi to learn Bakudō No. 58, Kakushitsuijaku, within three days, and he performed the tracking Kidō on his first attempt.

• Soi Fon explained that Shin'ichirō's murder would lead most nobles to demand the Gold Seal Unit, despite Yamamoto's refusal to establish it.
• Soi Fon, Shiraishi, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya examined Shin'ichirō's gruesome murder scene, and Shiraishi detected faint lingering Reiatsu on his neck.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi he had three days to master Kakushitsuijaku before the killer's Reiatsu dissipated, then taught him the Kidō's method and incantation.
• Shiraishi asked Soi Fon for a kiss as his reward for learning the spell, and she agreed if he succeeded.
• Shiraishi drew the circle, recited the incantation, and activated Kakushitsuijaku, leaving Soi Fon stunned by his success.

Shiraishi and Soi Fon traced the murder investigation to the Shihoin Clan’s residence and entered Noble Street to pursue it. They reached the clan’s gate, where Soi Fon prepared to ask for entry despite her strained ties to the family.

• Shiraishi learned Bakudō No. 58 in one try, impressing Marechiyo Ōmaeda and unsettling Soi Fon.
• Soi Fon identified the killer’s location as the Shihoin Clan’s main residence in District Six and decided to investigate with Shiraishi.
• Shiraishi and Soi Fon traveled toward Noble Street, where Soi Fon unexpectedly kissed him before warning him to let her handle the investigation.
• Soi Fon registered their visit at Noble Street’s gate, and the guards opened it for the two captains.
• Soi Fon warned Shiraishi not to confront anyone if he sensed the killer’s Reiatsu, then knocked on the Shihoin Clan’s gate.

Soi Fon and Shiraishi visited the Shihoin Clan to report Shin'ichirō Shihoin's death, but Tsunayashiro Tokinada's hostility and matching Reiatsu led Shiraishi to identify him as the killer. Soi Fon decided Tokinada needed surveillance, and Shiraishi agreed in exchange for a kiss.

• Soi Fon and Shiraishi entered the Shihoin Clan compound and told Yushiro Shihōin that Shin'ichirō had been killed.
• Yushiro was shocked by the news, while Tsunayashiro Tokinada urged him to stay focused on reviving the clan.
• Tokinada used his powerful Reiatsu to intimidate Soi Fon and insulted the Shinigami before Shiraishi led her away.
• Shiraishi told Soi Fon that Tokinada's Reiatsu matched the trace at the crime scene and identified him as Shin'ichirō's killer.
• Soi Fon considered Tokinada's motives and asked Shiraishi to watch him; Shiraishi agreed if she gave him a real kiss.

After Shin'ichirō's murder, Yushiro Shihōin agreed with Tsunayashiro Tokinada to pursue the Gold Seal Unit and investigate the killing. Tokinada secured Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's approval to establish the unit under Yushiro's command.

• Yushiro mourned Shin'ichirō and vowed to avenge him, while Tokinada suggested the murder might be an attempt to stop the Gold Seal Unit.
• Yushiro suspected Byakuya Kuchiki but agreed not to accuse anyone without evidence and signed the proposal for the unit.
• Tokinada carried the nobles' jointly signed letter to the First Division and asked Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to approve the Gold Seal Unit.
• Yamamoto approved the unit under Yushiro's command and told Tokinada to submit its roster, training grounds, and funding requirements.

Shiraishi secretly followed Tsunayashiro Tokinada and overheard him discussing the Gold Seal Unit with Yushiro. Tokinada then told Aura Michibane to win the unit’s Third Seat at its selection the next day, while Aura noticed an unusual flow of Reishi that quickly vanished.

• Shiraishi watched Tokinada leave the First Division barracks and secretly followed him to the Shihoin Clan residence.
• Shiraishi overheard Tokinada and Yushiro agree to establish the Gold Seal Unit and use the Shihoin treasury to equip its members.
• Yushiro said Aura could compete for the Third Seat, and Tokinada accepted that she would have to prove her strength through the proper selection.
• Tokinada returned to the Tsunayashiro residence and told Aura Michibane to fight with all her strength and take the Third Seat, even if she killed the other candidates.
• Aura noticed that Reishi seemed to flow strangely beyond the wall, but the disturbance disappeared before she explained it.

Shiraishi asked Sōya Azashiro to spy on Tsunayashiro Tokinada and learned that Azashiro was not ready to return to Hueco Mundo. Meanwhile, Aizen investigated the newly approved Gold Seal Unit and saw a chance to pursue the Soul King Fragments held by the Tsunayashiro Clan.

• Shiraishi stopped watching Aura Michibane after she sensed something outside, then asked Sōya Azashiro to monitor Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
• Sōya Azashiro agreed to watch Tokinada but postponed another trip to Hueco Mundo, while Urozakuro mocked him over his defeat by Aizen’s Arrancar.
• Shiraishi returned to the noble district, confident Azashiro would expose any wrongdoing by Tokinada, and planned to return to the captain’s bedroom.
• Aizen read the First Division’s notice about the Gold Seal Unit and suspected Tokinada had influenced its approval.
• Aizen recalled the Tsunayashiro Clan’s experiments on Fullbringers and decided to pursue its Soul King Fragments for his Hōgyoku research.
• Aizen told Momo Hinamori to help him finish work before the Gold Seal Unit’s selection, then saw the disastrous meal she had been cooking.

Shiraishi woke to Soi Fon visiting, then spent the morning being cared for by Nemu Kurotsuchi before heading to the noble district. There, he met Aizen and entered with him, wary of the captain’s interest and conversation.

• Soi Fon woke Shiraishi and questioned him about Nemu Kurotsuchi, then left to return to her duties.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi arrived in a bunny-girl outfit, prepared breakfast, cleaned Shiraishi’s home, and left with the food box.
• Shiraishi decided his comfortable life was making him too dependent and used Steel Tempest to reach the noble district.
• Shiraishi met Aizen at the entrance and completed the registration form to enter the noble district.
• Aizen criticized the nobles and tried to discuss their views with Shiraishi, who refused to engage.

At the Gold Seal Unit’s Seated Officer selection, Aura Michibane defeated Shihoin Koichiro to claim the Third Seat. The competition continued with Aura established as the first winner.

• Yushiro welcomed Shiraishi and Aizen to the Shihoin estate and explained that the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat selection would begin.
• Shiraishi and Aizen watched as Aura Michibane and Shihoin Koichiro took the platform for the first match.
• Koichiro struck Aura with his Sonic Wave Fist and explained how its sound waves injured her despite her evasion.
• Aura criticized Koichiro for revealing his technique, then evaded his next attack by turning into smoke and kicked him off the platform.
• Yushiro caught the injured Koichiro, and Shiraishi announced Aura as the winner.

Aura Michibane won the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat, then sparred with Aizen, who tested her while concealing the full extent of his strength. The nobles applauded the match, while Shiraishi recognized that Aizen had barely exerted himself and resolved to accelerate his own training.

• Yushiro announced Aura Michibane as the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat after she secured first place.
• Aizen asked Yushiro for permission to test Aura’s strength using only Shikai, and Yushiro agreed.
• Aizen revealed Kyōka Suigetsu and surrounded Aura with an illusion of mist and water, but she tracked him by sensing vibrations in the Reishi.
• Aura fired powerful Reishi arrows and attacked Aizen as smoke, but he evaded her with Shunpo until she admitted defeat.
• Aizen praised Aura’s strength, and the nobles applauded their match.
• Shiraishi realized Aizen had held back and decided to speed up his d-release training to improve his combat ability.

Shiraishi watched the Shihoin Clan’s Gold Seal Unit selections and stayed for their meals, while Nemu Kurotsuchi waited for him at his room with dinner. Soi Fon misunderstood Nemu’s explanation about her bunny-girl outfit and left intending to kill Shiraishi, who returned to find Nemu ready to feed him again.

• Shiraishi considered growing stronger by refining his Bankai forms and planning another trip to Hueco Mundo with Sōya Azashiro.
• Yushiro gave Aura Michibane the Shihoin Clan’s Freely Controlled Cord and Dissolving Balls before continuing the Seated Officer selections.
• Shiraishi watched the selections through the day, stayed for the Shihoin Clan’s lunch and dinner, and ate well.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi found her uneaten lunch at Shiraishi’s room, brought him dinner, and waited for him to return.
• Soi Fon saw Nemu in a bunny-girl outfit and, after hearing Shiraishi had asked her to wear it, left angrily to kill him.
• Shiraishi returned full of food, denied having eaten dinner elsewhere, and Nemu happily offered him the meal she had prepared.

Shiraishi rested with Nemu Kurotsuchi while continuing his Bankai training, and Aura Michibane was ordered by a disguised Aizen to retrieve her father’s body. Aizen stole the Tsunayashiro Clan’s collected Fullbringer corpses, and Aura pursued him.

• Shiraishi relaxed with his head on Nemu Kurotsuchi’s lap, then entered his Zanpakuto’s world to train for Bankai.
• Aura Michibane spent a quiet day until Tsunayashiro Tokinada appeared and ordered her to find her father’s corpse.
• After Aura left, Aizen revealed that he had impersonated Tsunayashiro Tokinada and planned to steal the Fullbringer corpse containing a Soul King Fragment.
• Aura slipped into the Tsunayashiro Clan’s secret chamber and found the collected Fullbringer corpses hanging there.
• Aizen burst into the chamber and made all the corpses vanish, and Aura took solid form and pursued him.

Shiraishi learned that Aizen and Yiluo had stolen the Tsunayashiro Clan’s Fullbringer corpses, while the Seireitei ordered him to pursue Silver Flash Tsukikage Yagyū. He sent Rangiku Matsumoto to investigate instead, and she confirmed Tsukikage Yagyū had escaped through Shuwamon as Soi Fon arrived to organize a pursuit.

• A Riteitai member delivered the Captain-Commander's order for Shiraishi to pursue Silver Flash Tsukikage Yagyū after the Tsunayashiro Clan was robbed.
• Sōya Azashiro told Shiraishi that Aizen and Yiluo had stolen the clan's Fullbringer corpses and hidden them in another dimension.
• Shiraishi sent Rangiku Matsumoto to find out which gate Tsukikage Yagyū had used, then returned to his training instead of searching.
• Rangiku Matsumoto questioned Higonyūdō at Shuwamon and learned that a silver-haired woman had left through the gate around two forty.
• Soi Fon arrived, and Rangiku Matsumoto told her Tsukikage Yagyū had escaped; Soi Fon ordered Shiraishi to meet her so they could pursue the fugitive in Rukongai.

Shiraishi left Seireitei with Soi Fon to pursue Tsukikage Yagyū, but his lateness and attempts to soothe her sparked an argument that stalled their mission. The chapter ended with Shiraishi searching for a way to reconcile with Soi Fon before they continued the hunt.

• Rangiku Matsumoto urged Shiraishi to take his captain duties seriously and said she and Hitsugaya would watch over the division while he pursued the escapee.
• Shiraishi reached Shuwamon late and found Soi Fon waiting by the side gate, where memories of Yoruichi Shihōin stirred her fears of being abandoned.
• Soi Fon rushed ahead through Rukongai, and Shiraishi grabbed her wrist before she could go farther.
• Soi Fon angrily rejected Shiraishi's apologies and accused him of mocking her chest after he tried to reassure her.
• Shiraishi decided they needed to settle their disagreement before pursuing Tsukikage Yagyū and recalled a song about a kiss easing loneliness.

Shiraishi kissed Soi Fon to snap her out of her troubled thoughts, then promised to investigate Tsunayashiro Tokinada as part of their agreement. They traveled to district four of South Rukongai to find its Eighth Division officer, but found his post empty and began searching the district together.

• Shiraishi kissed Soi Fon, and she punched at him after recovering from her surprise.
• Shiraishi promised to take responsibility for Soi Fon and said he would dig up information on Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
• Soi Fon led Shiraishi to the Eighth Division post in Stone Stele Town, but they found no officer there.
• Shiraishi and Soi Fon decided to search district four together in case Tsukikage Yagyū or another threat was nearby.
• Soi Fon ordered them to search the district from left to right, and Shiraishi agreed.

Shiraishi and Soi Fon searched South Rukongai for the missing Eighth Division member and concluded Tsukikage Yagyū had likely taken him. Tsukikage mutilated Tsuyoshi Tsuruno to add his eyes to her collection, then learned that Shiraishi was causing trouble at the Seven Stones Village outpost.

• Shiraishi and Soi Fon searched the last part of District Four but found no sign of the missing Eighth Division member.
• Soi Fon concluded that Tsukikage Yagyū had probably taken him, and she insisted they keep searching.
• Tsuyoshi Tsuruno woke trapped in darkness and learned that his captor was Tsukikage Yagyū.
• Tsukikage tore out Tsuyoshi's eyes and placed them in a container for her collection.
• Tsukikage ordered Jin to dispose of Tsuyoshi, then received news that Shiraishi was causing trouble at the Seven Stones Village outpost.

Ichirō Yagyū fought off an assassin sent to kill him for a bounty, but Shiraishi and Soi Fon intervened and took control of the encounter. Shiraishi ordered the assassin detained for questioning while Ichirō objected to Soi Fon’s treatment of him.

• Ichirō left Seven Stones Village after failing to find Tsukikage Yagyū among the Nanaseki Gang.
• While camping for dinner, Ichirō noticed an assassin in a conical hat who had come to claim a three-hundred-thousand-kan bounty on him.
• Ichirō and the assassin fought, with Ichirō using dirt, a tree, and his Reiatsu to counter the assassin’s two-sword attacks.
• Soi Fon pinned Ichirō down and Shiraishi took the assassin’s swords, startling the assassin when he realized they were captains.
• Ichirō and Soi Fon traded insults until Shiraishi ordered the assassin taken into the grove for questioning.

Soi Fon interrogated an assassin and learned that an intermediary had hired him to kill Ichirō Yagyū, who seemed connected to Tsukikage Yagyū. She and Shiraishi captured Ichirō and confronted the intermediary, who named the client but denied knowing Tsukikage’s whereabouts.

• Soi Fon tortured the captured assassin and learned that an underground intermediary had paid him to kill Ichirō Yagyū.
• Soi Fon and Shiraishi suspected Ichirō knew something about Tsukikage Yagyū, so Soi Fon knocked him unconscious and kept him with them.
• Soi Fon identified the intermediary as Mitsutsune Sanjō, the elder of Sanjō Village, and went to question him.
• Mitsutsune Sanjō confessed that Akira Mayama, the Mayama Clan’s steward, had hired the assassin to kill Ichirō.
• Mitsutsune denied knowing where Tsukikage Yagyū was, and Soi Fon accused him of fearing Tsukikage more than her.

Soi Fon tortured two village elders for information about the plot against Ichirō Yagyū, then followed the leads to Mayama Manor, where Akira Mayama had been killed. The search for who arranged Ichirō’s murder continued as Soi Fon and Shiraishi investigated the manor.

• Soi Fon tortured Mitsutsune Sanjō until he revealed more information, then left him barely alive and headed with Shiraishi and Ichirō Yagyū toward Seven Stones Village.
• After Mitsutsune Sanjō died, his son Tarō secretly welcomed the chance to take his father’s place while pretending to mourn.
• Soi Fon broke into Daiki Shichiseki’s home and tortured him for information while Shiraishi kept watch and knocked Ichirō Yagyū unconscious again.
• Soi Fon learned that Akira Mayama had contacted Tsukikage Yagyū and wanted Ichirō Yagyū dead, and she suspected Tsukikage Yagyū had placed the bounty.
• Soi Fon and Shiraishi arrived at Mayama Manor and found Akira Mayama dead; Shiraishi sent the guards and servants away while Soi Fon prepared to investigate.

Soi Fon tracked Akira Mayama’s killer to a mountain temple while Shiraishi and Ichirō Yagyū waited nearby. Tsukikage Yagyū appeared, erased the surrounding landscape with darkness, and used her speed to escape Shiraishi, who secretly followed her to a South District 5 hideout.

• Soi Fon examined Akira Mayama and the woman’s bodies, traced the killer’s Reiatsu with Bakudō No. 58: Kakushitsuijaku, and set off after the moving target.
• Soi Fon and Shiraishi found the killer waiting outside a mountain temple, identified her as Tsukikage Yagyū, and took concealed positions nearby.
• Ichirō Yagyū woke and started toward the temple, but a wave of darkness swallowed the mountain and flattened the surrounding land.
• Shiraishi dodged the darkness, and Tsukikage Yagyū praised his speed before repeatedly using Shunpo to lose him.
• Tsukikage Yagyū circled back to her secret base in South District 5, while Shiraishi quietly followed her.

Shiraishi followed Tsukikage Yagyū to her mountain hideout, where Ichirō confronted his mother and tried to stop her. Tsukikage captured Soi Fon in the prison, prompting Shiraishi to unleash his Bankai outside.

• Shiraishi tracked Tsukikage Yagyū to her hideout and waited until he sensed Soi Fon's Reiatsu.
• Tsukikage Yagyū's servants welcomed her, and she expelled Ichirō Yagyū from the black liquid on her arm.
• Ichirō confronted Tsukikage over her crimes, but she sent Kin to fight him and left the hall.
• Tsukikage released Soi Fon in the prison and restrained her with a cuff that weakened her Reiatsu.
• Shiraishi sensed Soi Fon inside the hideout and activated his Bankai, Ignorance: Crimson Lotus Hellfire.