Chapter Summaries

Shiraishi continued struggling to sense Infinity’s blade while Rangiku Matsumoto visited him to report on the Oniyasha operation and ask him to ease her workload. Their conversation was interrupted when violent Reishi signaled that something was approaching.

• Shiraishi failed another inner-world training session with Infinity, then learned that Rangiku Matsumoto had arrived after Kūkaku Shiba answered his Denreishinki.
• Shiraishi teased Kūkaku, who left to check on Ganju, and then joked with Rangiku about his relationships with Nemu and Soi Fon.
• Rangiku told Shiraishi that Mayuri Kurotsuchi had made Turtle Gas and a forbidden technique to counter Oniyasha, and that Aizen and Tōsen were escorting them to East Rukongai District 31.
• Shiraishi suspected Aizen had a hidden motive for volunteering, while Rangiku urged him to return to the Tenth Division and put Hitsugaya in charge so she could escape her workload.
• Rangiku pleaded with Shiraishi to take responsibility for her exhausting work schedule, but violent Reishi gathered around them as something approached.

Shiraishi met Kenpachi Zaraki in a remote basin and accepted his challenge to fight. After Zaraki overwhelmed him in their first clash, Shiraishi activated Infinity and prepared to continue the battle.

• Shiraishi sensed Kenpachi Zaraki approaching and went to meet him, while Kūkaku Shiba ordered Ganju to guard the entrance.
• Shiraishi and Rangiku Matsumoto encountered Zaraki, who declared he wanted a fight to the death with Shiraishi.
• Shiraishi sent Rangiku and Yachiru Kusajishi away from the basin before facing Zaraki without using Shikai.
• Zaraki struck Shiraishi with enough force to overpower his defense, so Shiraishi used Steel Tempest to escape and create distance.
• Shiraishi activated Infinity, transforming his blade, hair, and clothes, and Zaraki welcomed the fight's escalation.

Shiraishi fought Kenpachi Zaraki head-on, pushing himself into a brutal contest that ended with Kenpachi being hurled through a mountain but still standing. As Kenpachi’s Reiatsu rose again, Shiraishi warned Rangiku to get away and prepared to use Bankai.

• Shiraishi attacked Kenpachi with Steel Tempest, and the two exchanged bloody blows before colliding headfirst and flying apart.
• Shiraishi decided to end the fight his own way and used Last Breath to send Kenpachi crashing through a hill and into a distant mountain.
• Kenpachi rose from the wreckage, delighted by the fierce blade-to-blade fight, and clashed with Shiraishi again in an explosion of golden Reiatsu.
• Shiraishi emerged from the dust and reassured Rangiku, but Yachiru warned that Kenpachi had not fallen.
• Kenpachi’s golden Reiatsu surged again, and Shiraishi told Rangiku to move out of sight because he was about to use Bankai.

Shiraishi and Kenpachi Zaraki fought fiercely until Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto intervened. Yamamoto stopped the duel and confronted Kenpachi for abandoning his mission, leaving both captains facing punishment.

• Rangiku Matsumoto fled with Yachiru Kusajishi as Shiraishi released his Bankai and fought Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Shiraishi and Kenpachi exchanged powerful attacks, each exhilarated by the battle and preparing to settle it with one final strike.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto interrupted them with Hadō #88: Hiryū Gekizoku Shinten Raihō and condemned the captains for fighting.
• Shiraishi released his Bankai and explained that Kenpachi had challenged him to spar.
• Yamamoto demanded to know why Kenpachi had abandoned his mission in East Rukongai District 31, and Kenpachi admitted the mission was boring.
• Yamamoto ordered Kenpachi to accept punishment, and Kenpachi reluctantly agreed.

After his battle with Kenpachi Zaraki, Shiraishi was ordered to pay part of the repair costs and returned to the Shiba Clan with Kūkaku. He hid his pain from Ganju and bragged that even losing a hand would not make him cry.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto assigned the 11th Division three quarters and the Tenth Division one quarter of the battle damage costs, then ordered Kenpachi Zaraki and Shiraishi to receive treatment.
• Yamamoto knocked Kenpachi Zaraki unconscious and sent Yachiru Kusajishi to carry him to the Fourth Division.
• Shiraishi told Rangiku Matsumoto about the Tenth Division's bill, and she hurried back to the Seireitei.
• Kūkaku Shiba went to find Shiraishi, then carried him back to the Shiba Clan after he pretended his injured hand and exhausted Reiatsu left him helpless.
• Shiraishi acted tough in front of Ganju Shiba and declared that even losing his left hand would not make him cry.

Kūkaku Shiba bandaged Shiraishi’s wounded hand after his fight with Kenpachi Zaraki, and Shiraishi explained that the battle had helped him understand the madness needed for his Bankai training. He entered his inner world to train with Infinity, who wounded him as he tried to deepen that state of mind.

• Kūkaku Shiba took Shiraishi to the Shiba Clan’s herb room and treated his bleeding left hand.
• Shiraishi told Kūkaku Shiba that he had fought Kenpachi Zaraki and gained insight into his Bankai training.
• Shiraishi entered his inner world and told Infinity he had begun to understand the madness she had described.
• Infinity attacked Shiraishi, who tried to recreate the exhilaration he had felt fighting Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Infinity cut Shiraishi across the chest, but he refused to stop training.

Kenpachi Zaraki woke in the General Infirmary and resolved to get stronger after his defeat by Shiraishi, even if it meant learning kendo. Retsu Unohana overheard him and considered teaching him, while reflecting that her past duel had led him to suppress his strength.

• Kenpachi Zaraki woke with Yachiru Kusajishi beside him and admitted that he had lost to Shiraishi.
• Yachiru Kusajishi argued that Shiraishi's Bankai made the fight two against one, but Kenpachi Zaraki remained determined to acknowledge his defeat.
• Kenpachi Zaraki tried to make his Zanpakuto reveal its name, then vowed to get stronger and learn kendo.
• Kenpachi Zaraki removed his IV and sneaked out of the ward with Yachiru Kusajishi.
• Retsu Unohana overheard them and reflected that her past fight had caused Kenpachi Zaraki to seal away his power.
• Retsu Unohana considered teaching Kenpachi Zaraki kendo before Isane Kotetsu interrupted her.

Isane visited Soi Fon to seek advice about Unohana’s strange behavior, while Soi Fon continued testing a dangerous Kidō technique. Isane decided to ask Unohana directly, and Soi Fon’s repeated attempts still ended in explosions.

• Isane worried about Unohana’s unfinished remark and went to the Second Division after her shift.
• Soi Fon’s attempt to compress Kidō power into her arm exploded, and Isane healed the injury.
• Isane told Soi Fon that Unohana had seemed troubled after treating Zaraki, who had been seriously injured fighting Shiraishi.
• Soi Fon reacted angrily to Zaraki’s fight with Shiraishi and insisted that her concern was about enforcing Seireitei’s rules.
• Soi Fon advised Isane to ask Unohana directly, and Isane decided to do so when she returned.
• Soi Fon tried compressing Kidō power again, but it exploded once more.

Isane Kotetsu confronted Retsu Unohana about the unfinished conversation from that morning, and Unohana urged her to become lieutenant and keep Shiraishi from straying. After Isane passed out from drinking, Unohana admitted she had lied and left her future uncertain while awaiting the First Division’s decision on her request to teach Kenpachi Zaraki.

• Soi Fon struggled to control the Kidō explosion in her new technique and returned to the Fourth Division’s General Infirmary with sake to give herself courage.
• Isane Kotetsu found Retsu Unohana watching the night sky and asked why she had left their earlier conversation unfinished.
• Retsu Unohana apologized, asked Isane to become lieutenant, and told her to stay close to Shiraishi so he would not get involved with other women.
• Isane Kotetsu questioned whether Unohana was lying, then fainted from the sake, and Unohana caught her and confessed that she had lied.
• Retsu Unohana carried Isane to her bed and reflected that the First Division would reply to her request to teach Kenpachi Zaraki within a month.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda overheard the Noble Revival Society plotting to seize control of the Gotei 13 after Yamamoto’s expected death, then encountered Sōya Azashiro outside his family home. Azashiro subdued Ōmaeda, but Byakuya Kuchiki arrived after Azashiro vanished.

• Marechiyo Ōmaeda spied on the Noble Revival Society and heard its members boast that Yamamoto would die on September ninth, after which they would take control of the Gotei 13.
• Marechiyo waited until the nobles fell asleep and decided to report their remarks to Soi Fon, since he lacked enough evidence to arrest them.
• Sōya Azashiro appeared at the Ōmaeda Clan residence and told Marechiyo to come quietly and wait until after September ninth.
• Marechiyo asked whether Azashiro was behind the Noble Revival Society, then tried to fire a signal flare when Azashiro refused to answer.
• Azashiro bound Marechiyo with his Shihakushō and disappeared after Marechiyo released his Reiatsu; Byakuya Kuchiki arrived and found Marechiyo fallen.

Byakuya Kuchiki brought the incapacitated Marechiyo Ōmaeda to Retsu Unohana, who identified his condition as the effect of a Zanpakuto ability. Byakuya and Soi Fon discovered that other investigators tied to Ōmaeda’s mission had suffered the same fate, while their preliminary records had vanished.

• Byakuya Kuchiki carried Marechiyo Ōmaeda to the Fourth Division infirmary after finding him unable to move, speak, or open his eyes.
• Retsu Unohana determined that Ōmaeda’s limbs, vocal cords, and eyelids had been replaced by parts with a different Reiatsu response, and she arranged to put his brain to sleep.
• Byakuya Kuchiki asked Soi Fon what mission Ōmaeda had been investigating and learned that it concerned rumors about the Gold Seal Unit.
• Soi Fon ordered the Punishment Force to gather the investigators and their preliminary records, then punished a subordinate for failing to report that Ōmaeda had not written his own records.
• The Punishment Force returned with investigators suffering symptoms like Ōmaeda’s and reported that their preliminary records had disappeared, prompting Soi Fon to blame Sōya Azashiro.

Shiraishi explained Sōya Azashiro’s Bankai to Soi Fon and Byakuya after Azashiro attacked Ōmaeda. The group was left to investigate suspicious activity involving the Gold Seal Unit while Azashiro could monitor the entire Seireitei.

• Kūkaku woke Shiraishi and helped him get ready to meet Soi Fon and Byakuya Kuchiki.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi that Azashiro had attacked Ōmaeda, leaving him unable to speak, see, or move.
• Shiraishi revealed that Azashiro’s Bankai let him fuse with Reishi, observe people, and appear anywhere within the area he covered.
• Soi Fon explained that Ōmaeda had been investigating unusual activity in the Gold Seal Unit when Azashiro attacked him.
• Shiraishi suggested the activity might involve Tsunayashiro Tokinada or someone using the rumors as a cover, then recommended Mayuri Kurotsuchi for the investigation.

Shiraishi saw Soi Fon and Byakuya Kuchiki off, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi replaced Nemu Kurotsuchi’s failing organs and learned that Soi Fon had come to see him. Mayuri and Nemu went to meet her, leaving Sai'e to wash the bloodstained cloth.

• Shiraishi offered Soi Fon and Byakuya Kuchiki breakfast, but both declined and left for their duties.
• Kūkaku Shiba teased Shiraishi about Soi Fon and invited him to breakfast.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi replaced Nemu Kurotsuchi’s failing stomach and kidneys, and Nemu wondered why she no longer wanted anyone but Shiraishi to see her body.
• Sai'e told Mayuri Kurotsuchi that Soi Fon had come to see him, then demonstrated her self-modified rubber fists to Nemu.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi ordered Sai'e to wash Nemu’s bloodstained cloth and went with Nemu to meet Soi Fon.

Soi Fon asked Mayuri Kurotsuchi to treat Ōmaeda while concealing Sōya Azashiro’s involvement, and agreed to provide biological samples as payment. Mayuri prepared to examine Ōmaeda, leaving Soi Fon hoping he could identify a way to counter Azashiro’s ability.

• Soi Fon’s visit to the Research and Development Institute frightened its officers, who feared she had come to return them to the Maggot's Nest.
• Soi Fon overcame her pride and asked Mayuri Kurotsuchi to treat her lieutenant without saying Ōmaeda’s name.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi agreed to examine Ōmaeda in exchange for samples of Soi Fon’s nails, hair, and blood.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi brought a metal case, and Mayuri announced they would see what had been happening in the Seireitei.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi treated Marechiyo Ōmaeda and discovered that Sōya Azashiro had fused with some of his organs, while Soi Fon learned that the Noble Revival Society planned to attack Captain-Commander Yamamoto. Mayuri and Nemu left the infirmary, then encountered a tall, thin figure blocking their path.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi used Nemu Kurotsuchi's device to examine Marechiyo Ōmaeda and forced Sōya Azashiro to undo his fusion with Ōmaeda's hands, feet, and throat.
• Marechiyo Ōmaeda woke and told Soi Fon that the Noble Revival Society, led by upper noble Ryū Amakado, planned to attack Captain-Commander Yamamoto on September ninth from the Spring Breeze Pleasure Quarter in District 6.
• Soi Fon ordered Marechiyo Ōmaeda to lead a team to seal off the pleasure quarter while she went to arrest Ryū Amakado.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi left with Nemu Kurotsuchi and encountered a tall, thin figure blocking their way as Reishi surged in the street.

Sōya Azashiro recruited Mayuri Kurotsuchi to continue the Spearhead Project in exchange for the procedure to create an Artificial Soul King, hoping to use Modified Souls in Hueco Mundo. Rangiku Matsumoto learned that Captain Unohana might die after requesting to teach Captain Zaraki kendo.

• Sōya Azashiro offered Mayuri Kurotsuchi the Artificial Soul King procedure in exchange for creating combat-ready Modified Souls.
• Mayuri agreed to continue the Spearhead Project, then asked Azashiro who had really acted on September ninth; Azashiro confirmed it was not Ryū Amakado.
• Mayuri told Nemu Kurotsuchi they were returning to experiment on Modified Souls.
• Rangiku Matsumoto asked Natsuko Akiyama to reduce the Tenth Division's share of Junrinan's damages, but Natsuko said the bill was fixed at 1.04 billion kan.
• Natsuko told Rangiku that Captain Unohana might die after asking Captain-Commander Yamamoto for permission to teach Captain Zaraki kendo.

Rangiku told Isane that Captain Unohana planned to teach Captain Zaraki kendo and warned that Unohana might be in danger. Isane struggled to believe her, and Rangiku tried to reassure her that they might have misunderstood.

• Rangiku met Natsuko for coffee and learned that Captain Unohana's possible death was tied to an old conflict with Captain Zaraki.
• After Natsuko left for a lunch date, Rangiku went to the Fourth Division to speak with Isane.
• Rangiku and Isane went to an izakaya, where Rangiku revealed that Unohana had applied to teach Zaraki kendo.
• Rangiku said Captain-Commander Yamamoto had been in a terrible mood and speculated that Unohana might be in danger.
• Isane dropped her chopsticks in shock, and Rangiku tried to reassure her that the instruction might be ordinary and their fears mistaken.

Isane and Rangiku decided to ask Acting Captain Shiraishi for help with Captain Unohana, while Soi Fon investigated a rebellion plot and uncovered Kaoru Tendō’s plan against Captain-Commander Yamamoto. The chapter left Soi Fon heading to arrest Yūta Ishiyama and sending word for Shiraishi to return.

• Isane broke down over her fear that Captain Unohana had little time left, and Rangiku suggested asking Acting Captain Shiraishi for help.
• Soi Fon interrogated Ryū Amakado, who confessed that Yūta Ishiyama had recruited him for a rebellion plot backed by Kaoru Tendō.
• Soi Fon ordered Ryū Amakado sent to the Maggot's Nest after his injury was treated.
• Soi Fon sent a guard to the Shiba Clan to tell Acting Captain Shiraishi that Kaoru Tendō was plotting against Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Soi Fon told Ōmaeda to oversee the prison and left to arrest Yūta Ishiyama.

Shiraishi trained against Infinity, then learned that Kaoru Tendō and the Noble Revival Society planned to target Captain-Commander Yamamoto in Seireitei on September ninth. He agreed to return to Seireitei while Kūkaku Shiba asked him to give her space and visit once a month, and he arrived at Hakutōmon.

• Shiraishi and Infinity fought for two hours with swords, and Shiraishi explained how calmness and exhilaration made his swords and Reiatsu stronger.
• Shiraishi interrupted Kūkaku Shiba as she scolded Ganju Shiba, then was told by Koganehiko that a member of the Punishment Force had come to see him.
• The Punishment Force member told Shiraishi that Kaoru Tendō planned to attack Captain-Commander Yamamoto in Seireitei on September ninth, and Captain Soi Fon wanted Shiraishi to return and hold the fort.
• Kūkaku Shiba asked Shiraishi to return once a month so she could have time to herself, and Shiraishi agreed before leaving for Seireitei.
• Shiraishi reached Hakutōmon with Steel Tempest and called for Jidanbō to open the gate.

Shiraishi returned to the Tenth Division and drank with Rangiku Matsumoto while Tōshirō Hitsugaya handled the paperwork. Isane Kotetsu arrived and begged Shiraishi to save Captain Unohana, leaving him bewildered.

• Shiraishi surprised Rangiku Matsumoto and Tōshirō Hitsugaya in the captain's office, then admitted he could not help with the division's paperwork.
• Rangiku Matsumoto offered Shiraishi a drink and tried to get him slightly drunk, while Tōshirō Hitsugaya finished the documents and left.
• Shiraishi and Rangiku Matsumoto continued drinking as they waited for Isane Kotetsu to arrive with snacks.
• Isane Kotetsu entered the office, prostrated herself before Shiraishi, and begged him to save Captain Unohana.