Recaps

Shiraishi fled the Stealth Force, found refuge in Rukongai, and became entangled in Kūkaku’s investigation into Kaien’s death and the Hollowfication Experiment. After killing Takehiko Tsunayashiro and defeating Nnoitra, he left Kūkaku to search beneath the barracks and went to help Soi Fon.

• Shiraishi fought off Soi Fon after the Central 46 ordered his execution, then escaped and found shelter with the Shiba Clan, where he witnessed Kaien’s funeral and the loss of his body.
• Shiraishi left Kūkaku’s home and traveled to West District Ten, where he killed Kenji and his companions before accepting Kawakami Saburō’s offer to hunt Hollows for pay.
• Shiraishi met Retsu Unohana and Isane while hunting a Gillian, then agreed to gather herbs with them as Aizen sent Nnoitra and Tesla to Soul Society.
• Shiraishi reunited with Kūkaku in the forest, learned her suspicions about Takehiko Tsunayashiro and Kaien’s body, and agreed to investigate the compound in exchange for help finding Dragon Lantern Fungus.
• Shiraishi infiltrated Takehiko’s compound, overheard his conversation with Soi Fon, and killed Takehiko before escaping as a Menos Grande interrupted Soi Fon’s pursuit.
• Nnoitra attacked Soi Fon and nearly killed her, but Shiraishi rescued her before confronting Nnoitra and defeating him with Steel Tempest.
• Kūkaku arrived and asked whether Nnoitra had been Takehiko’s test subject, and Shiraishi told her to search beneath the barracks before leaving to attend to Soi Fon.

Shiraishi shared a date with Soi Fon in Karakura Town, then returned to West District Ten as Soul Society sent a force to capture him. After fighting Mayuri Kurotsuchi and joining Oda Nobunaga’s planned raid, Shiraishi fled the underground hideout as the Shinigami closed in, leaving Oda Nobunaga and Kichō to face pursuit.

• Retsu Unohana healed Soi Fon, who agreed to a date with Shiraishi but refused to end the Stealth Force’s pursuit.
• Aizen reviewed footage of Shiraishi defeating Nnoitra, gave Nelliel the unfinished Hōgyoku for Tier Harribel, and returned to Soul Society.
• Kūkaku Shiba learned that Takehiko Tsunayashiro had plotted her brother’s murder, thanked Shiraishi for avenging him, and kissed him.
• Yamamoto ordered Shunsui Kyōraku, Kenpachi Zaraki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Soi Fon to form a subjugation team, while Soi Fon arranged Gigai and secretly met Shiraishi for their date.
• Shiraishi and Soi Fon visited Karakura Town, where Shiraishi robbed a bank and burned the money so they could watch fireworks together from a Ferris wheel.
• After returning to West District Ten, Shiraishi was ambushed by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, defeated him, and took Nemu Kurotsuchi with him before accepting Oda Nobunaga’s job to retrieve a snow lotus.
• Kenpachi Zaraki led Shinigami into West District Ten, and Shiraishi killed Mura Takahito and other 11th Division Shinigami after they threatened Rice Village’s residents.
• As Shiraishi escaped the underground hideout with Nemu Kurotsuchi, Oda Nobunaga carried Kichō through the passage, where a mysterious figure intervened against the pursuing Shinigami.

Shiraishi freed Nemu from Mayuri’s control and became determined to rescue Kūkaku Shiba, while Oda Nobunaga gathered allies for an attack on Seireitei. The arc ended with Nobunaga confronting Yamamoto as Okita Sōji and Nemu faced off near the Central 46 Chambers.

• Shiraishi helped Nemu Kurotsuchi leave Mayuri, then joined Oda Nobunaga and Miyamoto Musashi as they prepared to confront the Shinigami.
• Oda Nobunaga attacked Ryūgetsu Castle for the snow lotus, while Shiraishi intervened against Soi Fon and escaped with the safe after she unleashed her Bankai.
• Kenpachi Zaraki killed Miyamoto Musashi, and Yamamoto ordered the captains to defend Seireitei as he investigated the threat posed by Oda Nobunaga’s allies.
• Isshin Shiba went to the World of the Living, where Masaki Kurosaki saved him from White and an unseen attacker.
• Shiraishi learned Kūkaku Shiba had been imprisoned, resolved to rescue her, and gained Nemu Kurotsuchi’s help despite the risks to her future with Mayuri.
• Shiraishi and Nemu entered Seireitei in an ore convoy and sought help from Jūshirō Ukitake, but an intruder alarm prompted Shiraishi to head toward the First Division.
• Oda Nobunaga met Aizen, took a map of Seireitei’s Reishi traps, and sent Okita Sōji and Minamoto no Yoshitsune to attack while he headed for Sōkyoku Hill.
• Okita Sōji fought his way toward the Central 46 Chambers as Oda Nobunaga used his Bankai against Yamamoto, and Nemu confronted Okita while Shiraishi approached.

Shiraishi rescued Kūkaku Shiba from prison and helped her face Munemasa Tsunayashiro, while the Shinigami dealt with the escaped prisoners and the threat to Ganju. After Kūkaku escaped again and reunited with Shiraishi, she told him she loved him but planned to leave to pursue her dream.

• Sajin Komamura killed Minamoto no Yoshitsune on his way to the Shin'ō District, while Shiraishi freed Kūkaku Shiba and defeated Okita Sōji before escaping with her.
• Mayuri left Nemu Kurotsuchi in the Fourth Division’s care, and Oda Nobunaga used his Bankai to free six prisoners in Muken before dying as Yamamoto sealed the passage.
• Shiraishi and Kūkaku met Sōya Azashiro, who helped them escape through Hakutōmon, while Yamamoto briefed the captains on the escaped prisoners and the danger to Ganju Shiba.
• Retsu Unohana sent Nemu to warn Shiraishi and Kūkaku, and they returned to the Shiba Clan headquarters to protect Ganju from Munemasa Tsunayashiro.
• Munemasa attacked Kūkaku and Shiraishi, using Fox Nightmare to control other Zanpakuto, and Shiraishi sent Kūkaku to safety as blades overwhelmed him.
• Kūkaku fired the Kūkaku Cannon to break Munemasa’s barrier, but he captured her, and Shiraishi, Byakuya Kuchiki, and Kenpachi Zaraki fought Munemasa until Shiraishi stabbed him through the heart.
• Sōya Azashiro freed Kūkaku from Seireitei, and she reunited with Ganju and the retainers before leaving to find Shiraishi in his cave.
• Kūkaku reunited with Shiraishi and told him she loved him, but she planned to leave because she would not give up her fireworks-making dream.