Recaps

The captains gathered to welcome Shūsuke Amagai as the new Third Division captain, and his late, awkward arrival drew attention to his two Zanpakuto. After the meeting, Shunsui Kyōraku warned him over drinks never to offend the absent Sōgo Shihoin, whom he described as invincible.

• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai convened the captains to announce Shūsuke Amagai’s appointment as Third Division captain.
• Shūsuke Amagai arrived late in disheveled clothing, then returned properly dressed and was welcomed by the gathered captains.
• Shunsui Kyōraku noticed that Shūsuke Amagai carried two Zanpakuto and privately worried that the unusual detail foretold trouble.
• Shūsuke Amagai asked why only ten captains were present, and the others explained that Sōgo Shihoin was unwell.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai kept Shunsui Kyōraku and Shūsuke Amagai behind for a three-hour lecture after they discussed going out for drinks.
• At an izakaya, Shunsui Kyōraku warned Shūsuke Amagai never to offend Sōgo Shihoin and called him invincible.

Shūsuke Amagai pretended to be drunk while plotting to defeat Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, and Rurichiyo Kasumioji traveled to the World of the Living to meet Ichigo Kurosaki. She arrived at the Kurosaki residence with gifts and announced that she was Ichigo’s fiancée, leaving his family to react with shock and suspicion.

• Shūsuke Amagai privately revealed that his drunkenness was an act and vowed to avenge his father by defeating Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
• Rurichiyo Kasumioji and her guards entered the World of the Living, while a watcher secretly tracked them and the Kasumioji Clan grand elder welcomed the chance to act against her.
• At the Kurosaki residence, Yuzu Kurosaki opened the door expecting Ichigo and instead met Rurichiyo, who introduced herself as Ichigo’s fiancée.
• Rurichiyo entered with Kenryū and Enryū and presented the Kurosaki family with dozens of gifts.
• Isshin Kurosaki and the others worried that Ichigo might be in trouble because of the engagement, while Isshin privately hoped the Kasumioji Clan’s wealth would ease the family’s financial problems.
• Masaki Kurosaki welcomed Rurichiyo and offered her Ichigo’s room for the night.

Kenryū secretly moved Rurichiyo Kasumioji away from the Kurosaki family while assassins attacked, but Isshin Kurosaki defeated them and confronted Kenryū. After learning that the Kasumioji Clan wanted Ichigo Kurosaki to marry into their family to secure Rurichiyo’s position, Isshin agreed in principle—provided they paid more.

• Kenryū revealed that the Kasumioji Clan had bought the neighboring houses at three times their market price, then left Rurichiyo in the Kurosaki home.
• Five masked attackers entered the Kurosaki home, while Kenryū rescued Rurichiyo and admitted he had left the Kurosaki family as bait.
• Isshin revealed his identity as former Tenth Division captain Isshin Shiba, comforted Rurichiyo, and defeated the attackers.
• Isshin punished Kenryū for endangering the Kurosaki family, then demanded an explanation after healing him.
• Kenryū explained the Kasumioji Clan’s internal power struggle and proposed an engagement between Rurichiyo and Ichigo to strengthen her position.
• Isshin said Ichigo could marry into the Kasumioji Clan if they paid more, and Kenryū readily accepted.

The Kasumioji Clan's grand elder ordered his covert assassin to make another attempt on Rurichiyo, while Shūsuke Amagai gained the Third Division's admiration and drew suspicion from Hōshō Ryo. After training with the Visored, Ichigo Kurosaki returned home and was startled by a blonde girl calling him darling; two men in black carried him back inside.

• The Kasumioji Clan's grand elder berated the black-clad assassin after his five subordinates disappeared and gave him one final chance to kill Rurichiyo Kasumioji.
• Shūsuke Amagai accepted the Third Division members' praise after rescuing them, privately judging that his Bakkōtō gave him strength to challenge Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
• Hōshō Ryo told Sōgo Shihoin that Shūsuke Amagai had been asking about him, and she decided to have someone watch the new captain.
• Ichigo Kurosaki improved his Hollowfication endurance under Kensei Muguruma's training, then left the Visored's base to return home.
• Ichigo Kurosaki found a blonde girl at his door calling him darling, shut the door, and tried to leave before two men in black carried him back into the Kurosaki Family home.

Ichigo Kurosaki learned that his father had accepted a deposit for him to marry Rurichiyo Kasumioji, heir to a wealthy clan, and confronted Isshin Kurosaki about the arrangement. After defeating Ichigo in a spar, Isshin had Kenryū carry the unconscious Ichigo out of the World of the Living so he could be sent to the Soul Society.

• Rurichiyo Kasumioji introduced herself as Ichigo Kurosaki’s fiancée and said she had planned their future children’s names.
• Isshin Kurosaki explained that Rurichiyo was the Kasumioji Clan heir and claimed the marriage would solve the Kurosaki family’s financial troubles.
• Ichigo Kurosaki rejected Isshin’s suggestion that he marry into the clan, but Isshin revealed he had already accepted a deposit.
• Isshin Kurosaki transformed into his Soul Reaper form and challenged Ichigo to spar in the sky.
• Ichigo used Bankai, Getsuga Tenshō, and Hollowfication, but Isshin overwhelmed him and knocked him unconscious.
• Isshin handed Ichigo’s unconscious body to Kenryū and arranged for him to be taken from the World of the Living to the Soul Society.

Isshin Kurosaki tricked the Kasumioji Clan into taking Ichigo Kurosaki without actually surrendering him, but Rurichiyo Kasumioji brought Ichigo to Soul Society and used their supposed engagement to challenge the clan elders. When the grand elder demanded that Ichigo speak, Ichigo revealed he was awake and accepted the prince consort title to steady Rurichiyo.

• Isshin Kurosaki signed a contract selling Ichigo Kurosaki while claiming the deal did not bind him as Isshin Shiba, and Masaki Kurosaki approved of his scheme.
• Rurichiyo Kasumioji returned to Soul Society with Ichigo and ordered Kenryū to summon the elders and announce their engagement, emphasizing Ichigo’s identity.
• The grand elder suspected Sōgo Shihoin had helped Rurichiyo and decided to attend her meeting with the clan elders.
• Rurichiyo tried to remove the grand elder, then cried and gained support from the elders, while one elder knocked himself unconscious to avoid choosing sides.
• The grand elder pressured Rurichiyo to have Ichigo address the elders, and Kenryū tried to excuse Ichigo by saying he was exhausted.
• Ichigo opened his eyes, acknowledged himself as Rurichiyo’s prince consort to comfort her, and the elders erupted in cheers.

Ichigo Kurosaki learned that Rurichiyo Kasumioji planned to marry him in name to strengthen her authority over the Kasumioji Clan, with the ceremony scheduled for the next morning. As Sōgo Shihoin prepared to attend the wedding, Shūsuke Amagai readied his revenge plot against Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.

• Rurichiyo Kasumioji showed Ichigo Kurosaki the marriage contract Isshin Kurosaki had signed, and Kenryū explained the Kasumioji Clan’s plan to use their marriage to control its elders.
• The Kasumioji Clan’s grand elder visited the Shiba Clan, where Kaien Shiba rejected the marriage arrangement, threatened the elder, and drove him away.
• The Kasumioji Clan’s grand elder warned an attendant that the Shiba Clan and the other Great Noble Clans were too powerful to challenge, then told Shūsuke Amagai to begin their plan.
• Rurichiyo Kasumioji confirmed that she wanted Ichigo Kurosaki to marry her in name and said the wedding would take place the next morning; Ichigo agreed to play his part but refused to settle in Soul Society.
• Shaoling Fon told Sōgo Shihoin that Ichigo Kurosaki was marrying Rurichiyo Kasumioji, and Sōgo decided to attend the wedding himself.
• Shūsuke Amagai prepared living-looking weapons in the Kasumioji Clan’s basement and vowed to kill Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and defeat his enemies.

Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji’s wedding was interrupted when Shūsuke Amagai killed the Kasumioji Clan’s grand elder and revealed his plan to attack Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai. Amagai reached the First Division Barracks to strike, where Sōgo Shihoin and Yamamoto were waiting for him.

• Lilynette and the Stealth Force prepared security for Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji’s wedding, while Shunsui Kyōraku sensed danger and found several other captains had been assigned to guard the Kasumioji Clan.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Rurichiyo Kasumioji exchanged shy compliments, then walked hand in hand to greet the wedding guests.
• Shūsuke Amagai absorbed the cores of the Bakkōtō and stabbed the Kasumioji Clan’s grand elder, declaring his intention to begin his revenge.
• Amagai dropped the grand elder’s corpse into the wedding celebration, then used a forbidden technique to escape the captains who confronted him.
• Amagai arrived at the First Division Barracks and attacked Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, while Sōgo Shihoin and Yamamoto greeted him.

Shūsuke Amagai challenged Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai for revenge, using his Bankai and Bakkōtō to suppress Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto. Yamamoto battered Amagai despite the seal, and Amagai’s attempted escape ended when Sōgo Shihoin disintegrated his Bakkōtō with a finger.

• Shūsuke Amagai confronted Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai at the First Division Barracks, while Sōgo Shihoin joked with Yamamoto and Chōjirō Sasakibe went to evacuate the members.
• Shūsuke Amagai released Bankai: Raika: Gōen Kaku and fused with Tuning Fork, revealing a Bakkōtō that could seal Yamamoto’s Zanpakuto.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai released Ryūjin Jakka, but Shūsuke Amagai’s Bakkōtō suppressed it, so Yamamoto fought with his physical strength instead.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai struck Shūsuke Amagai’s shield with Ikkotsu, shattering his Bankai and injuring him.
• Shūsuke Amagai tried to escape by destroying the floor beneath Yamamoto, but Sōgo Shihoin blocked his path and disintegrated his Bakkōtō with a finger.

Sōgo Shihoin let Shūsuke Amagai escape from Seireitei, but Lilynette intercepted and killed him before he could flee Soul Society. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai addressed the Kasumioji Clan’s evil blades, while Yhwach identified Sōgo Shihoin as a threat and sent Haschwalth to act against him.

• Shūsuke Amagai used Kidō-marked papers to escape to Rukongai, where Lilynette confronted and killed him with her Ceros.
• Sōgo Shihoin returned to Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, who accepted responsibility for his leniency toward Shūsuke Amagai and ordered the Kasumioji Clan’s evil-blade matter ended while sparing Rurichiyo.
• Yhwach realized he could not see Sōgo Shihoin’s past or future and judged him the greatest obstacle to his rule.
• Yhwach entrusted Haschwalth with conveying his plans, and Haschwalth called Pernida over for a task.
• Pernida silently objected to Haschwalth’s assignment, but Haschwalth ignored him and declared that he trusted Pernida to handle it.

After Ichigo Kurosaki left Soul Society, a cloaked man stole Kōga Kuchiki’s Bankai while Kōga demonstrated it to his daughter and her classmates. Kōga reported the loss to Kuchiki Ginrei, who ordered him to go to the Captain-Commander.

• Rurichiyo Kasumioji took control of her clan and said goodbye to Ichigo Kurosaki as he returned to the World of the Living.
• A cloaked man watched Ichigo leave, then infiltrated the Kuchiki Clan grounds and observed Kōga Kuchiki teaching Aisa and her classmates about Zanpakuto.
• Aisa persuaded Kōga to demonstrate his Bankai, Gokujō Tsumakiyori Muramasa, and he released it before the students.
• The cloaked man used a Quincy Medallion to take Kōga’s Bankai, leaving Kōga confused and Muramasa missing.
• Kōga hurried to Kuchiki Ginrei and reported that he had lost his Bankai, prompting Ginrei to order him to see the Captain-Commander.

After Kōga Kuchiki’s Bankai vanished, a mysterious witness warned Yamamoto that someone had caused the Zanpakuto crisis, and Soul Society went on high alert. Muramasa and a black-cloaked figure launched a revolt that turned Zanpakuto against their wielders, leaving Soul Society in chaos as Muramasa escaped Kōga.

• Kuchiki Ginrei told Kōga Kuchiki and Yamamoto that the missing Bankai might threaten every Soul Reaper, and a young nobleman reported seeing a malicious figure in a black cloak cause the incident.
• Yamamoto ordered the Gotei 13 to maximum alert, while Muramasa used his power to turn a patrol squad’s Zanpakuto into monsters that killed them.
• Muramasa and the black-cloaked figure began an assault on Soul Society, and a red-haired Hōzukimaru attacked Soul Reapers until Byakuya Kuchiki intervened with Bankai.
• Muramasa made Senbonzakura manifest and attack Byakuya, but Kōga Kuchiki arrived and drove Senbonzakura back with a strike.
• Muramasa withdrew as manifested Zanpakuto mocked Soul Society, while Kōga surveyed the fallen Soul Reapers and burning wreckage in fury.

Muramasa led the escaped Zanpakuto spirits in a plan to challenge Soul Society, while Sōgo Shihoin agreed to take charge after several captains’ Zanpakuto defected. In the World of the Living, Muramasa’s attempt to recruit Isshin Kurosaki and Ichigo Kurosaki ended with Ichigo’s Zangetsu materializing as the apparent avatar of Pernida Parnkgjas’s boss.

• Muramasa rallied the Zanpakuto spirits to defeat Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai and Sōgo Shihoin, while Yamamoto sealed himself behind a barrier to resist Ryūjin Jakka’s release.
• Shunsui Kyōraku and other Soul Reapers told Sōgo Shihoin that Muramasa had caused Zanpakuto spirits to defect, and Sōgo agreed to serve temporarily as Captain-Commander.
• Muramasa traveled to the World of the Living to recruit Isshin Kurosaki and Ichigo Kurosaki, but Engetsu appeared and slashed Isshin across the chest.
• Ichigo attacked Muramasa with Bankai and Getsuga Tenshō, while Isshin warned him that Muramasa could steal Zanpakuto spirits and then began healing with a Shiba Clan spell.
• Muramasa hypnotized Ichigo and drew out Zangetsu, but the black-robed Pernida Parnkgjas recognized him as his boss’s avatar and panicked.

Pernida retreated with Demon Sword Muramasa after sparing Ichigo Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki, while Mayuri Kurotsuchi discovered that killing a Zanpakuto spirit could break Muramasa’s hypnosis. With the Soul Reapers ready to counterattack, Pernida and Muramasa returned to their base and found Sōgo Shihoin waiting for them.

• Pernida stopped Demon Sword Muramasa from killing Ichigo Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki, then led the group through a Senkaimon toward the Soul Society.
• Ichigo Kurosaki and Isshin Kurosaki decided to consult Kisuke Urahara about why their enemy had spared them.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi killed Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo during an experiment and discovered that the Zanpakuto spirit returned, revealing how to break Muramasa’s hypnosis.
• Sōgo Shihoin received Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s information and left the First Division captain’s office to take the initiative against the Zanpakuto spirits.
• Pernida sensed danger, but Muramasa dismissed his worries as they returned to their secret base and found Sōgo Shihoin waiting there.

Demon Sword Muramasa failed to control either of Sōgo Shihoin’s Zanpakuto spirits, so he summoned the manifested spirits to overwhelm him. As Ikomikidomoe devastated the attackers, Old Man Zangetsu empowered Engetsu to unleash Mugetsu, and Sōgo answered with Final Getsuga Tenshō.

• Sōgo Shihoin arrived in the cavern, and Muramasa invaded his inner world but could not find the Zanpakuto spirit hidden within its vast landscape.
• Muramasa found the enormous Ikomikidomoe, whose resistance drove him from the first inner world; in the second, another Zanpakuto spirit cut him apart before he could speak.
• Muramasa rallied the manifested Zanpakuto spirits against Sōgo, but Ikomikidomoe emerged at colossal size and wiped out many of them, including Captain-level spirits Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō and Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
• Old Man Zangetsu lent Engetsu his power, allowing Engetsu to unleash Mugetsu without a Soul Reaper host.
• Sōgo removed his blindfold and responded to Engetsu’s attack by declaring Final Getsuga Tenshō.

Engetsu used Mugetsu against Sōgo Shihoin, but Yhwach restored him and Sōgo stopped his second strike with two fingers. Yhwach revealed that Ryūjin Jakka had been unleashed; its Bankai devastated Soul Society as the fire spirit advanced on Sōgo.

• Engetsu unleashed Mugetsu and split Ikomikidomoe, but Sōgo Shihoin remained unharmed and applauded him.
• Yhwach restored Engetsu with his own essence, but Sōgo caught Engetsu’s renewed Final Getsuga Tenshō between two fingers, and Engetsu dissolved.
• Yhwach told Jugram Haschwalth that they had won because the others had been acting while Engetsu occupied Sōgo Shihoin.
• Ryūjin Jakka appeared and attacked Sōgo, while Ikomikidomoe rose and challenged the fire spirit.
• Ryūjin Jakka activated Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, setting Ikomikidomoe ablaze and causing widespread destruction across Soul Society.
• Tōshirō Hitsugaya activated Bankai to protect the Soul Reapers from the heat as Ryūjin Jakka advanced toward Sōgo Shihoin.

Sōgo Shihoin fought the spirit of Ryūjin Jakka while Soul Society struggled to endure the battle’s heat. When the fire spirit unleashed a technique that threatened to destroy all of Soul Society, Sōgo used Bankai to end the battle and restore order, then turned to Pernida.

• The fire spirit summoned the dead through Zanka no Tachi, while Ikomikidomoe called forth Xiao Jibas to fight them.
• Sōgo Shihoin empowered Ikomikidomoe’s Cero, but the fire spirit’s flames burned it away; Kaien Shiba, Tier Harribel, and Tōshirō Hitsugaya helped protect Seireitei from the heat.
• Sōgo drew Sayafushi and pursued the fire spirit, cutting through its attacks and forcing it to retreat rather than risk its sword being broken.
• The fire spirit unleashed a final technique that set Soul Society ablaze and threatened to destroy it, even if the fire spirit died.
• Sōgo activated Bankai and made a colossal Zanpakuto slash that extinguished the flames, killed the fire spirit, and returned the rampaging Zanpakuto spirits to their swords.
• Sōgo approached the trembling Pernida and said they could talk, while Pernida noticed that Old Man Zangetsu had slipped away.

Sōgo Shihoin interrogated Pernida, revealed his identity as the Soul King’s left hand, and let Ikomikidomoe devour his power. In Hueco Mundo, Yhwach gave Sōsuke Aizen Quincy power, and Aizen prepared to begin his game against Sōgo.

• Sōgo Shihoin questioned Pernida about how he stole Kōga Kuchiki’s Bankai, but Pernida refused to reveal the Quincy medallion’s secret.
• Sōgo Shihoin cut away Pernida’s cloak, exposed his giant-hand form, and pierced his eye with Ikomikidomoe.
• Sōgo Shihoin identified Pernida as the Soul King’s left hand, while Ikomikidomoe began consuming Pernida’s Soul King power.
• Yhwach visited Sōsuke Aizen in Hueco Mundo, and they agreed that Sōgo Shihoin was their greatest threat.
• Sōsuke Aizen accepted Yhwach’s Quincy power, which fused his Soul Reaper and Hollow powers, then ordered the Hollows sent to the World of the Living.

Muramasa told Kōga Kuchiki how the Quincy Medallion stole Bankai and how Soul Reapers could counter it. The Gotei 13 learned that Yhwach and the Wandenreich were their enemies and prepared to use Hollow power against them, while Retsu Unohana unnerved Sōgo Shihoin with a scalpel.

• Muramasa appeared to Kōga Kuchiki and revealed that he had learned the Quincy Medallion’s principles and how to counter its theft of Bankai.
• Kōga Kuchiki told Kuchiki Ginrei about Muramasa’s information, and they hurried to inform Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai summoned the captains and identified their enemies as Yhwach and the Wandenreich.
• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai said Soul Reapers would need to use Hollow power, and Mayuri Kurotsuchi volunteered to research combining Soul Reaper and Hollow powers.
• Kenpachi Zaraki volunteered as a research subject, but Mayuri Kurotsuchi dismissed him as already thoroughly studied.
• Retsu Unohana offered to examine Sōgo Shihoin with her scalpel, and Sōgo Shihoin hastily declined.

Sōgo Shihoin learned that Yhwach and the Quincies had hidden in shadows beneath all of Seireitei for about a thousand years, while Sōsuke Aizen gathered his forces and began his invasion plans. After Hollows appeared over Karakura Town, Sōgo prepared to confront Aizen in Hueco Mundo with eleven powerful allies, despite Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai’s warning.

• Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai told Sōgo Shihoin that the Quincies’ shadow refuge covered all of Seireitei and had existed for about a thousand years, then asked him to force them out.
• Sōgo proposed destroying Seireitei to expose the Quincies, so Shigekuni rejected the idea and decided to seek Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s scientific help.
• At Las Noches, Sōsuke Aizen assembled his followers and Espada, announced plans to invade the World of the Living, and declared that they had no enemies ahead of them.
• Szayelaporro received intelligence about Aizen’s plans, while Aizen’s forces appeared above Karakura Town and identified Ichigo Kurosaki as their first target.
• Sōgo told Shigekuni that he intended to keep his promise to face Aizen and summoned eleven allies, including Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana, to join him.

Sōgo Shihoin sent a Cero signal to Hueco Mundo, prompting Sōsuke Aizen to summon Orihime Inoue and draw Ichigo Kurosaki into his plans. As Sōgo and his squad entered the Senkaimon to confront Aizen, a mysterious heartbeat sounded in Hueco Mundo.

• Sōgo Shihoin stopped Kenpachi Zaraki and Tier Harribel from fighting, then fired Lilynette’s pistol into the sky as a signal to Aizen.
• Ulquiorra reported that Ichigo Kurosaki was around the level of the Fifth Espada, and Aizen affirmed that his followers were gray beings united by a shared cause.
• Sōgo’s Cero struck Las Noches, destroyed the conference room, and left Aizen with a bald patch; Aizen then ordered Ulquiorra to fetch Orihime Inoue.
• Ulquiorra found Orihime Inoue in a park, and she agreed to go with him after Ichigo arrived and begged her not to leave.
• Orihime Inoue entered a Garganta with Ulquiorra, while Aizen watched and revealed that he intended to lure Ichigo to Hueco Mundo.
• Sōgo Shihoin and his squad entered the Senkaimon for Hueco Mundo as an unnoticed heartbeat sounded from its depths.

Sōgo Shihoin returned to Hueco Mundo and confronted its ruler, Sōsuke Aizen, whose Gillian army attacked after the two traded taunts about Aizen’s baldness. Sōgo’s group easily cut through the Gillians, but Aizen revealed thirteen powerful figures behind him and called for a battle between their leaders.

• Sōgo Shihoin arrived in Hueco Mundo with his companions, and Ikomikidomoe demanded that Baraggan come see him.
• Sōgo recognized Sōsuke Aizen among the Gillians and teased him about his baldness, prompting Aizen to order thousands of Gillians to fire Ceros.
• Sōgo and his companions survived the attack unharmed, and Sōgo stopped Aizen from releasing Kyōka Suigetsu before challenging him to reveal his forces.
• Sōgo’s allies fought through the Gillians while Aizen stalled, and Sōgo accused him of buying time.
• Aizen revealed thirteen immensely powerful figures behind him and challenged Sōgo to a battle of king against king and general against general.

Sōgo Shihoin and Sōsuke Aizen arranged a thirteen-on-thirteen tournament, with Orihime Inoue’s release as the prize. After Aura Michibane entered the first match against Nnoitra Gilga, she restrained him with Reishi manipulation and began slapping him.

• Sōgo Shihoin accepted Sōsuke Aizen’s challenge to a thirteen-on-thirteen tournament, and Ichigo Kurosaki, Uryū Ishida, Yasutora Sado, and Ikomikidomoe helped complete Sōgo’s team.
• Ichigo Kurosaki charged at Sōsuke Aizen to demand Orihime Inoue’s release, but Ulquiorra blocked his attack and Sōgo Shihoin explained the tournament’s rules.
• Sōsuke Aizen created an arena and announced the first match as Nnoitra Gilga volunteered to fight.
• Nnoitra Gilga provoked Tier Harribel, Aura Michibane, Lilynette, Sister Hana, and Sōya Azashiro, so the group chose Aura Michibane to face him.
• Aura Michibane used Reishi manipulation to restrain Nnoitra Gilga, then slapped him repeatedly for insulting her.

Aura Michibane overwhelmed Nnoitra in the arena, surviving his attacks through her ability to become mist and regenerate. After Nnoitra discovered that Ceros could hurt her but exhausted himself firing them, he surrendered as Aura summoned a divine dragon.

• Aura Michibane restrained and beat Nnoitra, then released him after he provoked her into agreeing to a direct fight.
• Nnoitra decapitated Aura Michibane, but she reattached her head and revealed that physical attacks could not harm her.
• Nnoitra released his Resurrección and repeatedly sliced Aura Michibane apart, but she continued to return unharmed.
• Nnoitra struck Aura Michibane with a Cero and realized that Reishi attacks could reach her, then fired Ceros until his Spiritual Pressure ran out.
• Aura Michibane said that only an attack as powerful as Five Dragon Destruction could defeat her, summoned a blue dragon, and Nnoitra surrendered.

Sōgo Shihoin’s side won the first round, while Nelliel and Tier Harribel fought to a simultaneous knockout and drew the second. Ulquiorra then confronted Ichigo Kurosaki, who revealed his masked power, but Ulquiorra judged it no stronger than the level of the Fifth Espada.

• Sōgo Shihoin defeated Nnoitra in the first round, and Nelliel volunteered to fight next.
• Tier Harribel entered the arena to face Nelliel, and the two exchanged close-combat attacks before becoming locked in a chokehold stalemate.
• Nelliel and Tier Harribel both passed out from lack of oxygen, giving the second round a draw.
• Ulquiorra volunteered for the third match, and Ichigo Kurosaki entered the arena to face him.
• Ulquiorra easily dodged and crushed Ichigo’s attacks, prompting Ichigo to reveal his bone mask and increased Spiritual Pressure.
• Ulquiorra acknowledged Ichigo’s power but said it only reached the level of the Fifth Espada.