Recaps

Shiraishi tried to keep Retsu Unohana from dying in her planned fight with Zaraki, while a murder and forged evidence pushed the noble clans toward conflict. The stretch ended with Shiraishi and Unohana still fighting in Muken as Tokinada’s scheme advanced at the Tsunayashiro gathering.

• Shiraishi learned Unohana had been the First Kenpachi and devised a date with her to make her reconsider her death wish, enlisting Isane, Rangiku, and Nemu to help.
• Shiraishi took Nayura to visit Ryū in the Maggot’s Nest, then rescued Rangiku after the Stealth Force arrested her for carrying contraband perfume.
• Shiraishi went on a date with Unohana, who saw through his attempt to drug her and later kissed him, triggering a fever from the eight-leaf grass.
• Shiraishi met Unohana again and urged her not to die fighting Zaraki, while Yamamoto described the accusations dividing the Kuchiki, Shihoin, and Tsunayashiro clans.
• After Ginjiro was murdered, Shiraishi detained Byakuya when he attacked Yushiro at the Shihoin residence, while Tokinada prepared to exploit the clan dispute.
• Kaoru Tendō and Oniyasha ambushed Soi Fon, and Kaoru knocked her unconscious after revealing that the Oniyasha seen in East Rukongai had been a clone.
• Shiraishi intercepted Zaraki and showed Unohana Yamamoto’s order authorizing him to take Zaraki’s place, then fought her with his Hollow-like Bankai and regeneration.
• Shiraishi used the perfume to make Unohana lose their fight, but she attacked him again, and their battle continued in Muken as Yushiro signed Tokinada’s concealed document.

Tokinada’s conspiracy was exposed and ended in his death, while Kūkaku Shiba took command of the Gold Seal Unit and began investigating Isshin Shiba. Shiraishi’s team confronted Shinji Hirako’s Anti-Shinigami Alliance, then learned the assault might conceal an infiltration of Seireitei as Yoruichi entered the Tsunayashiro library.

• Tokinada used Enrakyōten and Kyōka Suigetsu to frame Yushiro and spark fighting between the Gold Seal Unit and the 6th Division, while Oniyasha and Kaoru Tendō attacked Seireitei.
• Byakuya confronted Tokinada and defeated him, and Aura Michibane agreed to explain Tokinada’s crimes, and Yamamoto and the captains also subdued the invaders.
• Yamamoto proposed restoring the Central 46 Chambers, and Kūkaku Shiba accepted command of the Gold Seal Unit to investigate Yushiro’s death and what had happened to Isshin Shiba.
• Kūkaku defeated the nobles who challenged her, searched Karakura Town for her uncle, and left a message that Yoruichi found before confronting Urahara about Yushiro’s death.
• Yamamoto sent Shiraishi, Soi Fon, and Komamura to investigate reports of former captains gathering in Rukongai, and Soi Fon revealed her birth name and her history with Yoruichi.
• Soi Fon’s interrogation led the group to the Anti-Shinigami Alliance at Mount Mang, where Komamura and Soi Fon fought the crowd and Shiraishi clashed with Shinji Hirako.
• Shinji warned Shiraishi of a threat from within Soul Society before escaping, and Shiraishi concluded the assault might be a diversion and reported the warning to the Research and Development Institute.
• Yoruichi visited Yushiro’s coffin, then left for the Tsunayashiro Clan’s collection of books.

Shiraishi pursued Kūkaku’s apparent murder into Hueco Mundo, discovered she was still alive in Soul Society, and returned to expose Aizen. With Unohana watching and Yamamoto preparing for war, Shiraishi attacked Aizen and left him severed into four pieces.

• Yoruichi visited the Twelfth Division library with Nemu, while Shiraishi trained Hitsugaya until he awakened his Bankai and collapsed.
• Shiraishi grew closer to Soi Fon, then faced Byakuya’s anger after joking that he might become Rukia’s brother-in-law.
• After Kūkaku’s apparent death, Shiraishi suspected Aizen had used Kyōka Suigetsu to fake her corpse and searched the Fifth Division for her.
• Shiraishi entered Hueco Mundo, fought Harribel’s gathered Hollows, and became the Cuarta Espada before discovering Kūkaku was not there.
• Shiraishi returned to Soul Society through a Garganta, broke through Hakutōmon, and found Kūkaku alive but imprisoned by Unohana.
• Unohana let Shiraishi pursue his plan to expose Aizen, while Yamamoto secured the Central 46 Chambers’ agreement to ally temporarily with Urahara’s group.
• Shiraishi confronted Aizen, accused him of framing Urahara and planning an Espada attack, then struck him with Last Breath and severed his body into four pieces.

After Aizen escaped and declared war, Shiraishi became acting captain of the Thirteenth Division and led its first battle in the World of the Living. As Aizen’s hunt for Fullbringers intensified, Masaki Kurosaki was cast out of the Ishida family and began investigating Shūkurō Tsukishima.

• Aizen escaped through a Garganta with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen, while Shiraishi exposed his crimes and warned Yamamoto that Aizen’s next attack was unpredictable.
• Aizen transformed Loly with the Hōgyoku, ordered her to hunt Fullbringers and Soul King Fragments, and announced an all-out war against the Shinigami.
• Shiraishi trained Tōshirō Hitsugaya, arranged for him to succeed as captain of the Tenth Division, and accepted Jūshirō Ukitake’s request to lead the Thirteenth Division.
• Yamamoto appointed Shiraishi captain and ordered him to lead the opening battle, where Renji Abarai and Rukia helped the Thirteenth Division defeat invading Hollows.
• Kisuke Urahara extracted the Hōgyoku from Rukia and later warned Yamamoto that Aizen might be hunting Kūgo Ginjō for the Soul King Fragment inside him.
• Shūkurō Tsukishima attacked Morishita Hiroshi, altered his memories, and stole documents about a Fullbringer Cloning Project, while a gunman wounded Unagiya Kaoru.
• Shiraishi sought the Ishida family’s help to find Kūgo Ginjō, but Masaki Kurosaki’s aunt rejected his offer and Ryūken Ishida had Masaki expelled from their home.
• Masaki moved in with Isshin Shiba, then investigated the massacre linked to Morishita and met Kimura Keiichi, who asked her to help arrest Shūkurō Tsukishima.