Chapter Summaries

Retsu Unohana prepared to face Kenpachi Zaraki in Muken, while Zaraki’s division gathered to see him off. Shiraishi intercepted Zaraki on his way and asked to talk, leaving the fight’s start uncertain.

• Retsu Unohana kissed Isane goodbye and went down to Muken to await her opponent.
• The members of the 11th Division asked to watch Zaraki’s fight, but he refused and left after Yachiru Kusajishi wished him luck.
• Yumichika Ayasegawa revealed that Retsu Unohana was the First Kenpachi, Yachiru Unohana, and Zaraki confirmed it.
• Zaraki took a wrong route toward Senzaikyū, smashed through a wall, and ran into Shiraishi, who stopped him to talk.

Shiraishi entered Muken to take Kenpachi Zaraki’s place in Retsu Unohana’s planned battle, carrying a genuine order from Yamamoto. After Unohana attacked him, Shiraishi released his Bankai, revealing a Hollow-like form and demonstrating his rapid reactions and ability to recover from fatal wounds.

• Retsu Unohana recalled her past as the Dead Sword, her battles with Yamamoto, and how she joined the Gotei 13.
• Shiraishi told Unohana that Zaraki had returned to the 11th Division and showed her Yamamoto’s order authorizing him to fight in Zaraki’s place.
• Unohana attacked Shiraishi with her sword and concealed sleeve blade, while he used Steel Tempest to evade her strikes.
• Shiraishi released Bankai, Crimson Moon, and Unohana recognized the Reiatsu and appearance as Hollow-like.
• Unohana stabbed and slashed Shiraishi, but his wounds healed and forced her sleeve blades out of his body.

Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana fought fiercely in Muken, with her Bankai pushing their duel into an exhausting battle of blades and techniques. As they paused to trade taunts, Unohana agreed that Shiraishi could do whatever he wanted if he defeated her.

• Retsu Unohana tried to retreat and activate Bankai, but Shiraishi pressed her with Steel Tempest and a Cero, forcing her to dodge.
• Shiraishi fired repeated Ceros at Unohana, interrupting her attempt to use Bankai until she released Minazuki.
• Shiraishi unleashed Last Breath, but Unohana used the tornado's force to evade it and counterattack.
• Unohana fought Shiraishi with varied sword styles while his Hollowfied body and High-Speed Regeneration helped him endure her repeated fatal blows.
• Shiraishi asked whether Unohana was satisfied, and she said she was not before challenging him about being worn out.
• Shiraishi boasted that he could defeat her, and Unohana promised he could do whatever he wanted if he won.

Shiraishi used Hiyosu’s perfume and his exposed body to disrupt Retsu Unohana during their fight, then defeated her with Steel Tempest. The chapter ended with Unohana turning the tables and pinning Shiraishi down.

• Shiraishi released Blood Moon's Bankai, removed his Captain's Haori and Shihakushō top, and showed off his muscles to trigger the perfume’s effects on Retsu Unohana.
• Retsu Unohana realized the perfume was affecting her, but refused to surrender and attacked Shiraishi with her sword.
• Shiraishi used Steel Tempest to pass through Retsu Unohana, then grabbed her sword hand and caused her to drop her weapon.
• Retsu Unohana agreed that she had lost, but suddenly erupted and shoved Shiraishi to the ground.

Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana fought passionately in Muken, and she insisted on continuing even after healing their injuries. At the Tsunayashiro Clan gathering, Tokinada secretly replaced a report before sending it to the Gold Seal Unit.

• Retsu Unohana healed her and Shiraishi’s bite wounds after their battle, then refused to let him leave while the perfume remained effective.
• Shiraishi argued that they should return before Isane waited too long, but Retsu Unohana said she would punish him for acting against her wishes.
• Shiraishi decided to fight back, and a fourth round began in Muken.
• Yushiro Shihōin arrived at the Tsunayashiro Clan gathering and signed a document Tokinada presented as the report on Ginjiro.
• Tokinada revealed that the document’s surface had concealed its true contents, then gave it to Kiyama to deliver to Fifth Seat Uchida of the Gold Seal Unit.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada used Enrakyōten to place the nobles under Kyōka Suigetsu while Yushiro discovered the Tsunayashiro Clan’s ceremonial hall full of corpses and fought the assassins waiting for him. When Yushiro returned to the courtyard, the illusion made the nobles believe he had slaughtered the clan, and Tokinada denounced him as the Gold Seal Unit and 6th Division began fighting.

• Tsunayashiro Tokinada sent Yushiro toward the ceremonial hall and showed Enrakyōten to the nobles, secretly using Kyōka Suigetsu on them.
• Yushiro found the Tsunayashiro clansmen dead inside the ceremonial hall and was attacked by nine assassins secretly hired by Tokinada.
• Yushiro killed six assassins and captured three, then headed back to the courtyard to report the massacre.
• Yushiro told Tokinada and the nobles what he had found, but Kyōka Suigetsu made them hear him claim responsibility for the killings.
• The Gold Seal Unit and the 6th Division began fighting as Tokinada confronted Yushiro with Enrakyōten.

Tsunayashiro Tokinada revealed that he had framed Yushiro and used Enrakyōten’s copied Shikai to attack him. As Yamamoto responded to the invasion above the Seireitei, Oniyasha broke through the barrier with Five Dragon Destruction.

• Tsunayashiro Tokinada admitted to killing Shin'ichirō and Ginjiro and manipulating the Gold Seal Unit and 6th Division into fighting each other.
• Tokinada used Enrakyōten to burn Yushiro’s guards, pierce Yushiro’s shoulder with Shinsō, and increase the wound’s weight with Wabisuke.
• Yushiro tried to escape and alert others, but Tokinada taunted him that Yamamoto was occupied by the invasion in the sky.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto identified Demon Fist Kaoru Tendō and Oniyasha as the invaders and ordered the captains to defend their areas while Byakuya Kuchiki returned to District 6.
• Oniyasha rode one of five purple dragons formed by Kidō number ninety-nine, Five Dragon Destruction, and broke through the Shakonmaku above the Seireitei.

Byakuya Kuchiki escaped his cell as chaos spread through the Seireitei, while Oniyasha attacked the captains in numerical order and defeated Sajin Komamura. Kenpachi Zaraki confronted Oniyasha, and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto prepared to fight Kaoru Tendō.

• Byakuya Kuchiki used Byakurai to break out of his cell and hurried toward District 6 after sensing the chaos.
• Oniyasha attacked Sajin Komamura with Black Coffin, defeating him and dismissing the Seventh Division members.
• Tetsuzaemon Iba charged Oniyasha, but Oniyasha restrained him with Rikujōkōrō and struck at him with Byakurai.
• Kenpachi Zaraki arrived, blocked the Byakurai, and challenged Oniyasha after hearing he intended to destroy the Seireitei.
• Kaoru Tendō taunted Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto about their past, and Yamamoto released Ryūjin Jakka.

Kenpachi Zaraki fought Oniyasha, whose time and space techniques repeatedly kept him from landing a decisive blow. Oniyasha trapped Kenpachi in Infinity Reincarnation and then turned toward the Twelfth Division.

• Kenpachi shattered Oniyasha’s Kurohitsugi and damaged his Spatial Transfer cube, but Oniyasha used Time Stop to evade his attacks.
• Kenpachi’s Reiatsu surged, letting him move briefly during stopped time and cut Oniyasha’s forehead.
• Oniyasha used Time Stop to avoid Kenpachi’s next strike, while Kenpachi’s blow split the ground and opened a vast chasm.
• Iba rescued Komamura from falling into the chasm as Kenpachi charged Oniyasha again.
• Oniyasha cast Infinity Reincarnation, and the black sphere swallowed Kenpachi before disappearing.
• Oniyasha recovered from the exhausting technique and looked toward the Twelfth Division.

Byakuya Kuchiki halted the battle between the Gold Seal Unit and the 6th Division, then found Yushiro dying beside Tsunayashiro Tokinada and accused Tokinada of framing him. Tokinada revealed his treachery, and Byakuya unleashed his Bankai as their fight began.

• Byakuya Kuchiki stopped the fighting and ordered both sides to gather their wounded while he went to investigate Yushiro's faint Reiatsu.
• Byakuya found Yushiro dying beside three corpses and saw Tsunayashiro Tokinada standing over him with a bloodied sword.
• Byakuya attacked Tokinada and accused him of killing the Tsunayashiro Clan members, framing Yushiro, and seeking the clan headship and command of the Gold Seal Unit.
• The nobles recalled signs that Enrakyōten had affected them, and Tokinada admitted he would kill them all to protect his scheme.
• Tokinada released Enrakyōten while Byakuya summoned Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, protected the nobles, and trapped Tokinada with Senkei.

Byakuya Kuchiki battled Tsunayashiro Tokinada, who used stolen Zanpakutō abilities and Kyōka Suigetsu to disguise himself. Byakuya’s final attack left Tokinada gravely wounded, but poison killed him before he could escape; Aura Michibane agreed to return with Byakuya and explain what happened.

• The nobles fled as Byakuya Kuchiki and Tsunayashiro Tokinada fought inside Senkei, where Byakuya learned Tokinada had killed Ginjiro.
• Byakuya used Kidō and Senkei’s blades to fight Tokinada’s stolen abilities and white spheres, but Kyōka Suigetsu trapped him in an illusion.
• Byakuya filled Senkei with Sekienton, used the smoke to locate Tokinada, and unleashed Final Scene: White Emperor Sword after Senkei was released.
• Tokinada countered with Enrakyōten and Ryūjin Jakka, but Byakuya’s attack burned his hand and left Tokinada with a massive wound.
• Aura Michibane appeared and offered to hold Byakuya off so Tokinada could escape, but Tokinada collapsed and died from poison as his Reiatsu waned.
• Aura identified herself as a third seat of the Gold Seal Unit and agreed to return with Byakuya to explain Tokinada’s crimes.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi trapped Oniyasha with devices around the Research and Development Institute and defeated him with an explosion and poison gas. As Sai'e and the researchers prepared to take Oniyasha away, Kenpachi Zaraki cut through the space prison and arrived at the courtyard.

• Oniyasha approached the Research and Development Institute, where Mayuri Kurotsuchi appeared as a hologram and taunted him.
• Mayuri's devices increased the Reishi concentration, solidified Reishi, and froze space, preventing Oniyasha from escaping or attacking freely.
• Oniyasha struck a hidden cylinder with Byakurai, triggering an explosion and poison gas that left him unconscious.
• Sai'e and the Institute's researchers began carrying Oniyasha away, arguing over who would study his body parts.
• Kenpachi Zaraki shattered the surrounding space, arrived in the courtyard, and sent Oniyasha tumbling from the researchers' arms.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto fought Kaoru Tendō, who demanded he use his Bankai, and defeated her with Zanka no Tachi, North: Tenchi Kaijin. Afterward, he reunited with Retsu Unohana and Shiraishi and sent them to attend to the wounded.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto urged Kaoru Tendō to stop her plan, but she attacked him when he refused to use his Bankai.
• Kaoru Tendō overwhelmed Yamamoto with her Hakuda techniques and prepared to use the Yin-Yang Limit-Breaking Hand.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto released Bankai and defeated Kaoru Tendō with Zanka no Tachi, North: Tenchi Kaijin.
• Kaoru Tendō acknowledged the gap between them and apologized, while Yamamoto admitted he had been just as foolish.
• Retsu Unohana arrived with Shiraishi, and Yamamoto asked her to oversee the General Infirmary and treat Shiraishi.

After the battle, Isane collapsed from exhaustion, and Retsu Unohana took charge of the General Infirmary while Shiraishi recovered in a private ward. Shiraishi left the infirmary refreshed but learned from Aizen that Seireitei had been attacked by Oniyasha using an illusion, a battle he barely remembered.

• Isane collapsed while coordinating care for the wounded, and Retsu Unohana caught her and took over directing the medical teams.
• Shiraishi fell asleep in a private ward after his encounter with Retsu Unohana.
• Retsu Unohana brought Shiraishi a bowl of spicy medicinal noodles, which restored his depleted Reiatsu.
• Retsu Unohana dismissed the idea that their intimacy settled anything, and Shiraishi left the infirmary after challenging her to another contest.
• Aizen told Shiraishi that Oniyasha had attacked Seireitei using an illusion, and Shiraishi realized he could barely remember the events.

Aizen visited the injured Momo Hinamori and reaffirmed his resolve to carry out his plans despite a moment of doubt. He then sent Tōshirō Hitsugaya to keep her company and tasked Gin Ichimaru with contacting Aura Michibane.

• Aizen visited Momo Hinamori in the General Infirmary, apologized for failing to protect her, and comforted her while hiding his plans.
• Aizen felt a brief confusion that he associated with the Hōgyoku, but his resolve to proceed returned.
• Aizen left Hinamori and urged Tōshirō Hitsugaya, who had brought her fruit and flowers, to visit her.
• Gin Ichimaru teased Aizen about his mood and asked whether Hinamori should be included in their plans.
• Aizen said Hinamori would not take part, revealed he had found a new partner, and ordered Gin to contact Aura Michibane.

Aura Michibane passed several interrogations after Tsunayashiro Tokinada’s attack, then faced Shiraishi, who dismissed her after a bizarre exchange. She met Gin Ichimaru in a courtyard and agreed to work with him.

• Aura Michibane told the Golden Seal Noble Conference, the Stealth Force, and the 6th Division that Tsunayashiro Tokinada had attacked her and that she had later tried to stop him.
• Shiraishi questioned Aura Michibane for the Tenth Division, but fell asleep during the interrogation.
• Aura Michibane tried to bribe Shiraishi with a flirtatious advance, and he rebuked her for believing what she read in books.
• Shiraishi unlocked Aura Michibane’s cuffs and used Steel Tempest to escape when she turned into mist and slipped into his Shihakushō.
• Aura Michibane met Gin Ichimaru, who introduced himself as the Third Division Captain, and she agreed to work with him.

Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto held a tea gathering to assess candidates for the new Central 46 Chambers and discuss rebuilding Soul Society. The nobles agreed to restore the Shiba Clan’s great-noble status and Yamamoto sent Shiraishi to ask Kūkaku Shiba whether she would lead the Gold Seal Unit.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto invited noble-family candidates to a tea gathering and proposed reestablishing the Central 46 Chambers.
• The nobles argued over the Gold Seal Unit’s future and attacked one another’s candidates with rumors.
• Nayura Amakado proposed restoring the Shiba Clan’s status and appointing Kūkaku Shiba as commander, and the nobles rallied behind the idea.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto told the gathering to ask Kūkaku Shiba what she wanted and quietly eliminated two critics from his Central 46 candidate list.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto ordered someone to tell Shiraishi to inform Kūkaku Shiba that the Shiba Clan would remain a great noble family and invite her to discuss command of the Gold Seal Unit.

Shiraishi was ordered to find Kūkaku Shiba after the Central 46 Chambers decided to restore the Shiba Clan’s status and invite her to lead the Gold Seal Unit. He left Soi Fon’s office to carry out the order after insisting that she was jealous of him.

• Ōki searched the Tenth and Fourth Divisions for Shiraishi, but Rangiku Matsumoto and Retsu Unohana told him Shiraishi was elsewhere.
• Ōki found Shiraishi tied up in Soi Fon’s office and freed him so he could receive the Captain-Commander’s order.
• Shiraishi complained that everyone was overworking and refused to give up his day off, but Ōki delivered Yamamoto’s order to find Kūkaku Shiba.
• Shiraishi teased Soi Fon about being jealous, kissed her cheek, and left to carry out the order.

Kūkaku reunited with Shiraishi after working on fireworks, and he told her about the recent events in Seireitei and Yushiro’s death. She decided to attend Yushiro’s funeral and take command of the Gold Seal Unit so she could investigate her missing uncle, Isshin Shiba.

• Kūkaku finished cleaning up after making fireworks and met Shiraishi at the foot of the mountain.
• Shiraishi told Kūkaku about the unrest involving Tsunayashiro Tokinada, Kaoru Tendō, and Oniyasha, and explained that he had fought Unohana in Muken.
• Shiraishi told Kūkaku that Central 46 wanted to restore the Shiba Clan’s status and appoint her commander-in-chief of the Gold Seal Unit.
• Kūkaku learned that Tokinada had killed Yushiro, whom she had known through his sister, Yoruichi Shihōin.
• Kūkaku decided to attend Yushiro’s funeral and accept command of the Gold Seal Unit so she could investigate what happened to Isshin Shiba.

Kūkaku Shiba accepted the commander-in-chief position in the Gold Seal Unit after confirming she would answer only to the Golden Seal Noble Council. She arrived at the unit’s headquarters and confronted its demoralized members, demanding they accept her authority.

• Kūkaku Shiba left for Seireitei after explaining the situation to Ganju and the others, and Jidanbō opened Hakutōmon for her.
• Kūkaku Shiba met Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and confirmed that she would serve as commander-in-chief on equal footing, obeying only the Golden Seal Noble Council.
• Kūkaku Shiba met Aura Michibane at the noble quarter’s gate and learned that Aura had once tried to seduce Shiraishi and was trying to regain her emotions.
• Aura Michibane led Kūkaku Shiba to the Gold Seal Unit’s headquarters in a former Tsunayashiro Clan mansion, where the members were demoralized after Yushiro’s death and Tokinada’s downfall.
• Kūkaku Shiba introduced herself as the unit’s new commander and challenged anyone who objected to test her skills, threatening the rest with a humiliating punishment if no one stepped forward.