Chapter Summaries

The Captains' Meeting appointed Shiraishi as the Tenth Division's acting captain, and Rangiku Matsumoto went to West District Ten to deliver the decision. Shiraishi accepted the post and prepared to join the division.

• Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto rejected Jūshirō Ukitake's offer to find a successor and told Rangiku Matsumoto to inform Shiraishi of the Captains' Meeting's decision.
• Rangiku Matsumoto told Tōshirō Hitsugaya that Shiraishi would serve as the Tenth Division's acting captain.
• The next morning, Tōshirō Hitsugaya woke Rangiku Matsumoto and urged her to collect Shiraishi.
• Rangiku Matsumoto reached West District Ten, released her Reiatsu to draw Shiraishi out, and conveyed the appointment.
• Shiraishi accepted the acting captain post and wondered why he had not been assigned to the Thirteenth Division.

Shiraishi visited the injured Soi Fon at the Fourth Division infirmary instead of reporting to the Tenth Division, where he admitted to Isane Kotetsu that he liked both Soi Fon and Nemu. He left as Rangiku Matsumoto came after him, while Soi Fon woke and smiled at the badly peeled apple he had left behind.

• Shiraishi slipped away from Rangiku Matsumoto to visit Soi Fon at the Fourth Division infirmary.
• Soi Fon hurt herself while reaching toward the clouds, and Shiraishi sat with her and peeled her an apple as she fell asleep.
• Isane Kotetsu brought Soi Fon breakfast and asked Shiraishi whether he liked her; he said he liked her and Nemu but could not tell whether he was in love with either.
• Shiraishi left with a Steel Tempest after warning Isane Kotetsu that Rangiku Matsumoto was approaching in a rage.
• Soi Fon woke, looked at the ugly apple Shiraishi had left standing on the table, and smiled.

Shiraishi took up his post as the Tenth Division’s acting captain but left Tōshirō Hitsugaya to handle the paperwork while he and Rangiku Matsumoto celebrated with sake. After Shiraishi got drunk and vanished to buy more, Hitsugaya and Rangiku worried about the damage he might cause.

• Shiraishi introduced himself to the Tenth Division members and headed to the captain’s office, where Tōshirō Hitsugaya presented him with paperwork.
• Shiraishi tried to order female squad members to wear miniskirts, but Rangiku Matsumoto explained that only lieutenants and captains could modify their uniforms.
• Shiraishi assigned the paperwork to Hitsugaya and explained that he had wanted to serve as acting captain of the Thirteenth Division, but Ukitake had recruited him to the Tenth.
• Shiraishi and Rangiku started drinking while Hitsugaya handled the division’s work and scolded them for neglecting their duties.
• After throwing up, Shiraishi used Steel Tempest to vanish and buy more sake, leaving Rangiku and Hitsugaya worried about the consequences of his drunken behavior.

Drunk Shiraishi searched for a place to buy sake and visited Soi Fon in the Fourth Division hospital, where she secretly wanted him to stay. He then asked Retsu Unohana for a recommendation and left for Hirota Izakaya after insulting her braid and hearing her threat.

• Shiraishi, drunk and unable to find a sake shop, used Steel Tempest to reach Soi Fon's hospital room and woke her.
• Soi Fon explained that she only wanted to rest, then called out when Shiraishi tried to leave; he stayed until she fell asleep.
• Shiraishi quietly left Soi Fon and went to Retsu Unohana's office to ask where he could buy sake.
• Retsu Unohana recommended Hirota Izakaya in District 12, and Shiraishi insulted her braid.
• Retsu Unohana threatened Shiraishi with 831 ways to make someone mute, so he left to buy sake.

Shiraishi visited the Research and Development Institute to see Nemu Kurotsuchi, who welcomed him and offered to cook and care for him. He rested there, fought off a swarm of hornets, and ended up eating with Nemu while Mayuri Kurotsuchi angrily objected.

• Shiraishi reached the Research and Development Institute while dizzy from drinking, and Nemu Kurotsuchi invited him inside for a meal.
• Shiraishi told Nemu he wanted to relax in Seireitei, and she offered to cook for him and clean his room.
• A swarm of hornets questioned Shiraishi about his relationship with Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, so he destroyed them with Steel Tempest.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi appeared and ordered Shiraishi to leave, but Nemu returned and defended him as a person, not trash.
• Shiraishi rested his head on Nemu's lap as she fed him roast beef, prompting Mayuri to fly into a rage.

Shiraishi relaxed while Nemu Kurotsuchi fed and cared for him, leaving Mayuri Kurotsuchi furious and plotting against him. After the onlookers abandoned their plans to interfere, Shiraishi fell asleep on Nemu Kurotsuchi’s lap.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi left after threatening Shiraishi, determined to study his fight with Genjirō and find a way to defeat him.
• Shiraishi reassured Nemu Kurotsuchi that Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s anger was not her fault, then asked her about wearing stockings and different clothes while she fed him.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi said she would consider new outfits and continued feeding Shiraishi soup as he enjoyed being cared for.
• Akon and the others watched Shiraishi and Nemu Kurotsuchi, then gave up on interfering and left to return to their experiments.
• The balding man decided to make an automatic gourmet food machine, while Shiraishi grew sleepy and fell asleep on Nemu Kurotsuchi’s lap.

Shiraishi woke in the Tenth Division captain’s quarters and reunited with Nemu Kurotsuchi, who brought him breakfast in a cat outfit and offered to comfort him. He promised to consider being with her in three years, and she left to return at noon.

• Shiraishi woke in an unfamiliar room, realized it was the Tenth Division captain’s quarters, and changed into his captain’s uniform after releasing Shikai.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi arrived dressed as a cat, explained Rangiku had brought him back, and served him a lavish breakfast.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi offered to help Shiraishi relax, but he refused and told her he could not be with her because he had already united with Kūkaku.
• Shiraishi promised to unite with Nemu Kurotsuchi if she still felt the same way in three years, and she accepted the answer without comment.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi cleaned up and left, saying she would return at noon, while an unseen voice teased Shiraishi about being popular with women.

Rangiku Matsumoto told Shiraishi about crime in the Seireitei and urged him to patrol as the Tenth Division's new captain. After Tōshirō Hitsugaya forced Shiraishi and Rangiku to get to work, Shiraishi volunteered to solve the division's old cases, leaving Rangiku suspicious of his sudden enthusiasm.

• Rangiku Matsumoto teased Shiraishi about Nemu and told him that Sōya Azashiro remained missing while thefts plagued the Seireitei.
• Rangiku explained that Silver Flash Tsukikage Yagyū was blamed for copycat thefts and was likely wandering in South Rukongai.
• Shiraishi went to the Tenth Division cafeteria to ask Tōshirō Hitsugaya about major cases, and Rangiku ordered him to patrol.
• Rangiku admitted she planned to visit a new kimono shop, prompting Tōshirō Hitsugaya to erupt in anger and order both of them to work.
• Shiraishi offered Tōshirō Hitsugaya three days off and promised Rangiku he would help clear the division's old cases in one day.
• Rangiku questioned Shiraishi's sudden interest in solving cases.

Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya searched the Tenth Division archives, where they uncovered an old case involving a murderer who had killed courtesans for a century. Shiraishi decided to investigate the pleasure quarters, leaving with Hitsugaya to ask around.

• Shiraishi assigned Rangiku to handle administrative work and told Hitsugaya to take time off, but Hitsugaya insisted on helping with the cold cases.
• Hitsugaya and Shiraishi went to the archives, where Hitsugaya learned that the usual cleaner had disappeared while on duty.
• Shiraishi recognized Kichō in a case file and identified her as Oda Nobunaga's old flame, whose death had been recorded as a lover's suicide.
• Shiraishi found a century-old case in which a murderer had killed courtesans who performed the arts, while proprietors concealed the deaths and the Tenth Division failed to catch the killer.
• Shiraishi asked whether investigation expenses could be reimbursed, then told Hitsugaya to bring his wallet so they could visit the pleasure quarters one by one.

Soi Fon left the hospital to investigate a murder at the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter, where she found Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya already on the case. The victim was a great noble, and Soi Fon warned that his death would cause serious trouble.

• Soi Fon berated Marechiyo Ōmaeda for losing track of Shiraishi and fined him a year's salary.
• Soi Fon left the hospital despite her injuries, and Marechiyo Ōmaeda and Punishment Force members followed her to the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter.
• Soi Fon's force sealed off the pleasure quarter while its workers and customers gathered inside.
• Soi Fon recognized Shiraishi at the scene, and he explained that he and Tōshirō Hitsugaya had come to investigate a serial killer case.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi and Tōshirō Hitsugaya that a great noble had been murdered and warned that the death would cause trouble.

Soi Fon investigated the murder of Shin'ichirō Shihoin, whose death had strengthened support for a noble-controlled Gold Seal Unit. She ordered Shiraishi to learn Bakudō No. 58, Kakushitsuijaku, within three days, and he performed the tracking Kidō on his first attempt.

• Soi Fon explained that Shin'ichirō's murder would lead most nobles to demand the Gold Seal Unit, despite Yamamoto's refusal to establish it.
• Soi Fon, Shiraishi, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya examined Shin'ichirō's gruesome murder scene, and Shiraishi detected faint lingering Reiatsu on his neck.
• Soi Fon told Shiraishi he had three days to master Kakushitsuijaku before the killer's Reiatsu dissipated, then taught him the Kidō's method and incantation.
• Shiraishi asked Soi Fon for a kiss as his reward for learning the spell, and she agreed if he succeeded.
• Shiraishi drew the circle, recited the incantation, and activated Kakushitsuijaku, leaving Soi Fon stunned by his success.

Shiraishi and Soi Fon traced the murder investigation to the Shihoin Clan’s residence and entered Noble Street to pursue it. They reached the clan’s gate, where Soi Fon prepared to ask for entry despite her strained ties to the family.

• Shiraishi learned Bakudō No. 58 in one try, impressing Marechiyo Ōmaeda and unsettling Soi Fon.
• Soi Fon identified the killer’s location as the Shihoin Clan’s main residence in District Six and decided to investigate with Shiraishi.
• Shiraishi and Soi Fon traveled toward Noble Street, where Soi Fon unexpectedly kissed him before warning him to let her handle the investigation.
• Soi Fon registered their visit at Noble Street’s gate, and the guards opened it for the two captains.
• Soi Fon warned Shiraishi not to confront anyone if he sensed the killer’s Reiatsu, then knocked on the Shihoin Clan’s gate.

Soi Fon and Shiraishi visited the Shihoin Clan to report Shin'ichirō Shihoin's death, but Tsunayashiro Tokinada's hostility and matching Reiatsu led Shiraishi to identify him as the killer. Soi Fon decided Tokinada needed surveillance, and Shiraishi agreed in exchange for a kiss.

• Soi Fon and Shiraishi entered the Shihoin Clan compound and told Yushiro Shihōin that Shin'ichirō had been killed.
• Yushiro was shocked by the news, while Tsunayashiro Tokinada urged him to stay focused on reviving the clan.
• Tokinada used his powerful Reiatsu to intimidate Soi Fon and insulted the Shinigami before Shiraishi led her away.
• Shiraishi told Soi Fon that Tokinada's Reiatsu matched the trace at the crime scene and identified him as Shin'ichirō's killer.
• Soi Fon considered Tokinada's motives and asked Shiraishi to watch him; Shiraishi agreed if she gave him a real kiss.

After Shin'ichirō's murder, Yushiro Shihōin agreed with Tsunayashiro Tokinada to pursue the Gold Seal Unit and investigate the killing. Tokinada secured Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's approval to establish the unit under Yushiro's command.

• Yushiro mourned Shin'ichirō and vowed to avenge him, while Tokinada suggested the murder might be an attempt to stop the Gold Seal Unit.
• Yushiro suspected Byakuya Kuchiki but agreed not to accuse anyone without evidence and signed the proposal for the unit.
• Tokinada carried the nobles' jointly signed letter to the First Division and asked Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to approve the Gold Seal Unit.
• Yamamoto approved the unit under Yushiro's command and told Tokinada to submit its roster, training grounds, and funding requirements.

Shiraishi secretly followed Tsunayashiro Tokinada and overheard him discussing the Gold Seal Unit with Yushiro. Tokinada then told Aura Michibane to win the unit’s Third Seat at its selection the next day, while Aura noticed an unusual flow of Reishi that quickly vanished.

• Shiraishi watched Tokinada leave the First Division barracks and secretly followed him to the Shihoin Clan residence.
• Shiraishi overheard Tokinada and Yushiro agree to establish the Gold Seal Unit and use the Shihoin treasury to equip its members.
• Yushiro said Aura could compete for the Third Seat, and Tokinada accepted that she would have to prove her strength through the proper selection.
• Tokinada returned to the Tsunayashiro residence and told Aura Michibane to fight with all her strength and take the Third Seat, even if she killed the other candidates.
• Aura noticed that Reishi seemed to flow strangely beyond the wall, but the disturbance disappeared before she explained it.

Shiraishi asked Sōya Azashiro to spy on Tsunayashiro Tokinada and learned that Azashiro was not ready to return to Hueco Mundo. Meanwhile, Aizen investigated the newly approved Gold Seal Unit and saw a chance to pursue the Soul King Fragments held by the Tsunayashiro Clan.

• Shiraishi stopped watching Aura Michibane after she sensed something outside, then asked Sōya Azashiro to monitor Tsunayashiro Tokinada.
• Sōya Azashiro agreed to watch Tokinada but postponed another trip to Hueco Mundo, while Urozakuro mocked him over his defeat by Aizen’s Arrancar.
• Shiraishi returned to the noble district, confident Azashiro would expose any wrongdoing by Tokinada, and planned to return to the captain’s bedroom.
• Aizen read the First Division’s notice about the Gold Seal Unit and suspected Tokinada had influenced its approval.
• Aizen recalled the Tsunayashiro Clan’s experiments on Fullbringers and decided to pursue its Soul King Fragments for his Hōgyoku research.
• Aizen told Momo Hinamori to help him finish work before the Gold Seal Unit’s selection, then saw the disastrous meal she had been cooking.

Shiraishi woke to Soi Fon visiting, then spent the morning being cared for by Nemu Kurotsuchi before heading to the noble district. There, he met Aizen and entered with him, wary of the captain’s interest and conversation.

• Soi Fon woke Shiraishi and questioned him about Nemu Kurotsuchi, then left to return to her duties.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi arrived in a bunny-girl outfit, prepared breakfast, cleaned Shiraishi’s home, and left with the food box.
• Shiraishi decided his comfortable life was making him too dependent and used Steel Tempest to reach the noble district.
• Shiraishi met Aizen at the entrance and completed the registration form to enter the noble district.
• Aizen criticized the nobles and tried to discuss their views with Shiraishi, who refused to engage.

At the Gold Seal Unit’s Seated Officer selection, Aura Michibane defeated Shihoin Koichiro to claim the Third Seat. The competition continued with Aura established as the first winner.

• Yushiro welcomed Shiraishi and Aizen to the Shihoin estate and explained that the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat selection would begin.
• Shiraishi and Aizen watched as Aura Michibane and Shihoin Koichiro took the platform for the first match.
• Koichiro struck Aura with his Sonic Wave Fist and explained how its sound waves injured her despite her evasion.
• Aura criticized Koichiro for revealing his technique, then evaded his next attack by turning into smoke and kicked him off the platform.
• Yushiro caught the injured Koichiro, and Shiraishi announced Aura as the winner.

Aura Michibane won the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat, then sparred with Aizen, who tested her while concealing the full extent of his strength. The nobles applauded the match, while Shiraishi recognized that Aizen had barely exerted himself and resolved to accelerate his own training.

• Yushiro announced Aura Michibane as the Gold Seal Unit’s Third Seat after she secured first place.
• Aizen asked Yushiro for permission to test Aura’s strength using only Shikai, and Yushiro agreed.
• Aizen revealed Kyōka Suigetsu and surrounded Aura with an illusion of mist and water, but she tracked him by sensing vibrations in the Reishi.
• Aura fired powerful Reishi arrows and attacked Aizen as smoke, but he evaded her with Shunpo until she admitted defeat.
• Aizen praised Aura’s strength, and the nobles applauded their match.
• Shiraishi realized Aizen had held back and decided to speed up his d-release training to improve his combat ability.

Shiraishi watched the Shihoin Clan’s Gold Seal Unit selections and stayed for their meals, while Nemu Kurotsuchi waited for him at his room with dinner. Soi Fon misunderstood Nemu’s explanation about her bunny-girl outfit and left intending to kill Shiraishi, who returned to find Nemu ready to feed him again.

• Shiraishi considered growing stronger by refining his Bankai forms and planning another trip to Hueco Mundo with Sōya Azashiro.
• Yushiro gave Aura Michibane the Shihoin Clan’s Freely Controlled Cord and Dissolving Balls before continuing the Seated Officer selections.
• Shiraishi watched the selections through the day, stayed for the Shihoin Clan’s lunch and dinner, and ate well.
• Nemu Kurotsuchi found her uneaten lunch at Shiraishi’s room, brought him dinner, and waited for him to return.
• Soi Fon saw Nemu in a bunny-girl outfit and, after hearing Shiraishi had asked her to wear it, left angrily to kill him.
• Shiraishi returned full of food, denied having eaten dinner elsewhere, and Nemu happily offered him the meal she had prepared.