Chapter Summaries

Shiraishi and Gin Ichimaru killed Aizen with a surprise attack, though Shiraishi worried Aizen might return from Hell. Shiraishi then brought Retsu Unohana to heal Nelliel and was reminded that the surviving Arrancar army still needed attention.

• Shiraishi used the PROJECT skin’s hypnosis to help Gin Ichimaru land a poisoned Bankai strike on Aizen, then burned Aizen’s body and soul until his reiatsu vanished.
• Gin Ichimaru confirmed Aizen was dead, while Shiraishi worried that Aizen might return from Hell and left that question to Kisuke Urahara and the others.
• Shiraishi found Retsu Unohana and took her to a ruined hall where Nelliel lay gravely wounded beside Pesche and Dondochakka.
• Pesche and Dondochakka begged Retsu Unohana to save Nelliel, and she began treating her with Kaidō.
• Retsu Unohana told Shiraishi to handle the million Arrancar below so the Quincy would neither kill nor recruit them.

Shiraishi told Harribel that Aizen was dead and persuaded her to help end the war by leading the Arrancar into surrender. Harribel stopped the fighting at Steel Shell City, and Shiraishi and the others headed for Silbern to seek a peaceful settlement.

• Shiraishi woke Harribel, told her he had killed Aizen, and urged her to work with him to secure peace and prosperity for Hueco Mundo.
• Shiraishi proposed to Harribel while asking her to help the Arrancar surrender, and Harribel confused the request with a marriage proposal before agreeing.
• Harribel summoned Emilou, Rose, and Sun-Sun, then opened a Garganta to Steel Shell City with Shiraishi.
• Soi Fon and Sajin Komamura fought off Arrancar at Steel Shell City until Harribel arrived with Emilou, Rose, and Sun-Sun.
• Harribel ordered the Arrancar and Shinigami to stop fighting, concealed Aizen's death, and left with Shiraishi for Silbern to seek a peaceful resolution.

Yhwach absorbed Jehovah and stopped the fighting after Shiraishi confronted him, then ordered the Sternritter to cease pursuit. At the Ice Palace, Yhwach announced he would enter a deep sleep and entrusted the Wandenreich to Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida, while Uryū began considering how to kill him.

• Shiraishi suppressed the Quincy and Arrancar armies and asked Yhwach to end the battle, and Yhwach ordered the Sternritter to stop pursuing the Arrancar.
• Tier Harribel told the Arrancar to withdraw, and both armies began leaving the battlefield as Bambietta and Uryū Ishida dealt with the unconscious Candice.
• Haschwalth took Uryū Ishida to Yhwach, where he reported 2,391 Quincy deaths, 985 injuries, and six fallen Sternritter.
• Yhwach said the war had strengthened him and that Kisuke Urahara's Reiatsu controller was close to failing, then announced he would enter a deep sleep and leave affairs to Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida.
• Uryū Ishida considered killing Yhwach while he slept, but Yhwach ordered Lille, Pernida, and Gerard to guard him before falling asleep.

After the war, Shiraishi rested before joining Kūkaku Shiba for the Shinigami Festival, where they celebrated the peaceful city and its plans to honor the Shinigami. Their date ended with Kūkaku pulling Shiraishi into a grove before the fireworks began.

• Shiraishi woke when Kūkaku Shiba came to his room, and she invited him to the fireworks festival while giving him a yukata.
• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba headed downtown together, where she explained that the city was holding the Shinigami Festival to honor those who had protected the world.
• Kūkaku Shiba told Shiraishi that the new calendar would be named after him, and the two joined the crowded festival to eat and play games.
• Shiraishi spotted Ichigo Kurosaki singing at a stall, and Kūkaku Shiba begged him not to approach Ichigo and his sisters.
• Ichigo Kurosaki sensed Kūkaku's Reiatsu but left with Karin and Yuzu to enjoy the festival, while Kūkaku pulled Shiraishi into a grove before the fireworks started.

After the Shinigami Festival, Shiraishi and Kūkaku disappeared together, leaving the leaders unable to get his input on a new calendar honoring him. Sora Inoue was weighing plans for the Human Alliance Nation when he learned Shiraishi had returned to Zuellni.

• Shiraishi took Kūkaku to the woods to watch the fireworks, and the two spent the night together.
• Ichigo Kurosaki brought Yuzu and Karin home, where Isshin guessed Kūkaku had gone on a date with Shiraishi.
• Shiraishi and Kūkaku disappeared in early August and had not returned by August fifteenth.
• Sora Inoue struggled to name the new calendar and organize plans for the Human Alliance Nation while Steel Shell City repairs neared completion.
• A messenger told Sora Inoue that Shiraishi had returned to Zuellni.

After fourteen days of fighting, Shiraishi gorged himself in Zuellni and was caught between Soi Fon’s jealousy and Kūkaku’s provocations. Kūkaku returned to Soul Society for a tea party to discuss Shiraishi, while he agreed to help the Human Alliance Nation with its founding.

• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba devoured food in the Zuellni city hall cafeteria after their long battle.
• Orihime Inoue called Shiraishi on a video call with Soi Fon, and Kūkaku taunted Soi Fon before ending the call.
• Retsu Unohana invited Kūkaku to a tea party in Soul Society to discuss Shiraishi, and Kūkaku left to attend.
• Orihime told Shiraishi that the Human Alliance Nation planned to name its calendar and asked him to give a founding speech; he chose the Stone Calendar and agreed to speak.
• Orihime added that Shiraishi would receive a portrait, a statue, and an honorary permanent speaker position, and he accepted.

Kūkaku Shiba returned to Soul Society for Retsu Unohana’s tea party after recovering from a lengthy encounter with Shiraishi. The gathering began with Soi Fon and Isane Kotetsu arriving, while Retsu firmly tried to send Mayuri Kurotsuchi away when he showed up in Nemu’s place.

• Kūkaku Shiba bathed, dressed, and told Ganju she was returning to Soul Society for a while.
• Retsu Unohana prepared a seven-seat tea party to address tensions among the women connected to Shiraishi and the postwar situation.
• Kūkaku arrived, ate spicy food prepared by Retsu, and helped arrange the tea-party refreshments.
• Soi Fon arrived in punk-style clothing, and Kūkaku teased her about Yoruichi before Retsu invited her to sit.
• Isane Kotetsu arrived nervously, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi followed, claiming he had come in Nemu’s place.
• Retsu repeatedly told Mayuri to leave, but he hesitated to explain why he had come and remained seated.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi left Retsu Unohana’s tea party after she caught him trying to eavesdrop, while Nemu Kurotsuchi helped Senjumaru Shutara replace statues in the Soul King Palace. Nemu learned she had been assigned Friday with Shiraishi and began planning how to spend the day with him.

• Retsu Unohana escorted Mayuri Kurotsuchi out at swordpoint and warned him not to attend future tea parties in Nemu’s place.
• In the White Tiger Palace, Nemu Kurotsuchi reshaped two statues of Shiraishi and Mayuri Kurotsuchi into statues of Senjumaru Shutara.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi carried away the stone fragments and then read Retsu Unohana’s messages about the tea party’s arrangement with Shiraishi.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi accepted that her day with Shiraishi would be Friday and decided to borrow Sai'e’s Elastic Fist and a liquid for their time together.

Shiraishi posed for a portrait and statue plans before Kūkaku Shiba helped him set up a phone and Heart Window account. The chapter ended with Kūkaku reminding him of Retsu’s schedule for spending a day with each of them and taking him home for their day together.

• Shiraishi posed while artists painted his portrait and drafted plans for a statue to be displayed in Steel Shell City.
• Kūkaku Shiba arrived after Orihime Inoue accepted her friend request and told her where Shiraishi was.
• Shiraishi struggled with the phone’s facial-recognition prompt, then registered on Heart Window using the unchangeable name “You Are the Wind, I Am the Sand.”
• Kūkaku Shiba explained that Retsu had arranged a schedule assigning Shiraishi a day with each of them.
• Kūkaku Shiba took Shiraishi home, saying Ganju was away and they could spend the day together.

Shiraishi visited Kūkaku Shiba and Ganju before meeting Soi Fon at Second Division headquarters. Soi Fon told him that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto wanted to discuss the future government of the three realms, leaving Shiraishi to consider a difficult choice.

• Shiraishi and Kūkaku Shiba woke up and greeted Ganju, who received a beating after teasing his sister and complaining about her strictness.
• Kūkaku Shiba said she would send Ganju to Shin'ō Academy for further training when it was rebuilt.
• Soi Fon worked at the former church of Aizen, which the Second Division had turned into its headquarters.
• Shiraishi visited Soi Fon, who told him that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto wanted to discuss the future system of government.
• Soi Fon outlined three proposals for governing the three realms, and Shiraishi decided to go meet Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Shiraishi visited Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto at First Division headquarters and discovered that the aging Captain-Commander was suffering from lingering weakness and doubts about his ability to continue. Yamamoto refused to step down, while Shiraishi left considering what career to pursue.

• Shiraishi entered First Division headquarters through a stained-glass window and found Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto working in his stripped-down office.
• Shiraishi noticed Yamamoto's weakened Reiatsu and asked whether he was all right.
• Yamamoto admitted that the cold and battle injuries had left him weary and wondering whether he was too old to overcome his problems.
• Shiraishi suggested that Yamamoto seek Retsu's help or step down in favor of Kyōraku, but Yamamoto refused because Kyōraku lacked the strength to lead everyone.
• Yamamoto scolded Shiraishi for having no career of his own, and Shiraishi said he would think carefully about what to do next.

After Aizen’s defeat, Shiraishi wondered what to do next and decided to seek Soi Fon’s advice. He became the new Captain-Commander as Yamamoto retired to lead Shin'ō Academy, then proposed changes to the Shinigami uniforms.

• Shiraishi visited Soi Fon and asked what he should do with his future, and she told him to find work since Renji Abarai had taken his former captain position.
• An emergency summons brought Soi Fon and the other captains and lieutenants to the First Division barracks.
• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto announced that he and Chōjirō Sasakibe would retire, naming Shiraishi as his successor.
• Shiraishi arrived as Captain-Commander and proposed new uniforms for Shinigami, prompting objections from Soi Fon and suggestions from Shunsui Kyōraku.
• Yamamoto explained that his lingering condition and desire to teach at Shin'ō Academy led him to retire, then left with Chōjirō as the assembled captains and lieutenants paid their respects.

Shiraishi began reorganizing Soul Society and consulted Sora Inoue about its system of domestic governance, then returned home exhausted. He tried to spare Soi Fon’s feelings by praising her disastrous cooking and ate the entire meal before she could taste it.

• Shiraishi introduced military organization, ideological classes, and new district names in Soul Society before ending the first Captains' Meeting.
• Shiraishi consulted Sora Inoue about domestic governance and decided to share the Human Alliance’s system with the captains and vice-captains.
• Soi Fon cooked a meal with guidance from Orihime Inoue to prove her cooking was better than Kūkaku’s.
• Shiraishi tasted Soi Fon’s terrible dish, praised it, and ate the whole meal to keep her from trying it.
• Soi Fon reached to taste soup from Shiraishi’s lips, but he stopped her and suggested they go to sleep.

Shiraishi and Soi Fon discussed his proposed government reforms and the day’s work before he prepared for the Human Alliance Nation’s founding ceremony and diplomatic visits. The chapter left Shiraishi planning to approach the Wandenreich and Hueco Mundo while implementing stricter standards for noble appointments.

• Soi Fon refused Shiraishi’s suggestion that she have a baby and urged him to check the work group’s messages about his proposed cabinet system.
• Shiraishi agreed with Byakuya Kuchiki that nobles should retain their status, but proposed strict assessments and allowing anyone with merit to be ennobled.
• Shiraishi asked Byakuya Kuchiki, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, and Renji Abarai to have three captains jointly set questions for noble interviews and select candidates.
• Shiraishi announced new working hours of nine to five, with no overtime except in exceptional circumstances.
• Shiraishi planned to attend the Human Alliance Nation’s founding ceremony, visit the Wandenreich in Silbern, and meet Nelliel in Hueco Mundo to finalize cooperation.

Shiraishi prepared to interview candidates for the new government while Genshirō Okikiba warned him about a political misstep and laid out a packed schedule. In the World of the Living, Ichigo Kurosaki and his sisters joined the crowds awaiting the Human Alliance’s founding ceremony and saw a colossal statue of Shiraishi that looked more like a war god than the man they knew.

• Genshirō Okikiba criticized Shiraishi for announcing joint supervision after Captain Kuchiki had taken charge, and Shiraishi accepted the advice.
• Genshirō Okikiba told Shiraishi that 1,653 people were willing to cooperate and that the day included interviews, the Human Alliance ceremony, and a meeting with Haschwalth and Uryū Ishida.
• Shiraishi rejected written exams as impractical and went to interview candidates for senior government positions.
• Ichigo Kurosaki carried Yuzu and Karin on his shoulders as they joined the crowds gathered outside Jerusalem for the Human Alliance’s founding ceremony.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Yuzu remarked that the enormous statue of Shiraishi did not resemble his easygoing personality, prompting Ichigo to flee the curious crowd with Shunpo.
• Yuzu spotted Shiraishi on the large screen after Ichigo moved them a kilometer from the statue.

Shiraishi addressed the gathered leaders and assigned them territories for rebuilding the World of the Living. He announced that deceased humans would be transferred to Soul Society over a hundred years, leaving Sora Inoue concerned about the world’s recovery.

• Shiraishi faced a crowd of over a hundred million people, whose cheers stopped when he asked them to quiet down.
• Shiraishi presented a map divided into twenty-five territories and proposed assigning them by drawing lots, which most attendees accepted.
• Sora Inoue drew territory thirteen, and the others drew their own assignments.
• Shiraishi told the leaders not to cross territory boundaries without good reason and had Genshirō Okikiba distribute phones for arranging trade through Soul Society.
• Shiraishi announced that deceased humans would be transferred to Soul Society in batches over a hundred years, despite Sora Inoue’s objection that this could hinder recovery.
• Shiraishi explained that Reishi in the World of the Living would gradually return to Soul Society as the world’s cycle resumed.

Uryū Ishida returned to Silbern after meeting Shiraishi and described him as an unassuming but extraordinary person. Ishida then asked Candice to help him train so he could combine Blut Arterie and Blut Vene and become strong enough to strike the sleeping Yhwach.

• Candice finished fixing her hair and went with Bambietta to meet Uryū Ishida at the training ground.
• Bambietta flirted with Ishida, but he dodged her advances and kept his composure.
• Ishida described Shiraishi as easygoing and said someone like him was qualified to lead the thirteen Court Guard Squads.
• Ishida explained that he wanted to combine Blut Arterie and Blut Vene to attack Yhwach before the Schutzstaffel could react.
• Candice agreed to help Ishida with his special training.

Shiraishi visited Las Noches and learned that Loly Aivirrne and Aura Michibane had been sent to study Hell for Aizen. He left knowing they were likely hiding in the Soul King Palace and still carrying out Aizen’s orders.

• Shiraishi arrived in Las Noches, where the Shinigami were supporting the Arrancar settlement under Nelliel and Harribel.
• Loly persuaded Menoly Mallia to help poison Shiraishi, but Ulquiorra stopped them before they could reach the reception.
• Ulquiorra knocked Loly unconscious and told Menoly to take her back.
• Shiraishi asked Nelliel where Loly and Aura Michibane were, and Nelliel revealed that Aizen had assigned them to study Hell.
• Nelliel suspected Loly and Aura were still hiding in the Soul King Palace and following Aizen’s orders.

Shiraishi visited Ichibē Hyōsube to learn the truth about Hell and the Soul King’s history, while refusing to let Ichigo become the next Soul King. In Hell, Aizen asked Szayelaporro to help him find the founders of the Five Great Noble Clans so they could escape.

• Shiraishi met Ichibē Hyōsube at the Soul King Palace and learned that Jūshirō Ukitake’s Right Arm was maintaining the balance of the worlds, while Ichibē wanted Ichigo as its replacement.
• Ichibē explained that the Five Great Noble Clan founders had ambushed and mutilated the Soul King to create the three worlds, and that Shingen Shiba had later sought a replacement lynchpin.
• Ichibē revealed that Aizen had been sent to Hell because his Reishi was too powerful to return safely to Soul Society, and said Hell was a suffocating place.
• Szayelaporro awoke in Hell, struggled to breathe, and recognized Aizen, who explained that he wanted to find the founders of the Five Great Noble Clans and asked Szayelaporro to join him.

Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana shared a meal and a playful break from their demanding work. Retsu massaged him beneath a tree and teased him as he threatened to get even that night.

• Shiraishi cooked spicy beef stew while Retsu Unohana soaked her feet in a stream, and they joked about his recent lack of time with the women around him.
• Retsu Unohana had Shiraishi wipe her feet and offered him ice cream, then dodged him with Shunpo when he tried to pursue her.
• Shiraishi and Retsu Unohana ate the stew together, and she offered him a lap pillow so he could rest.
• Retsu Unohana massaged Shiraishi and revealed that she had also given massages to Captain-Commander Yamamoto.
• Retsu Unohana startled Shiraishi with a forceful press during the massage, and they traded teasing threats about that night.