Recaps

After helping unify Hua and resolving the threat to the moon, Ayato traveled to Soul Society to pursue greater strength. He awakened his Zanpakuto, joined the Fourth Division as vice-captain, and defeated Unohana in a sparring match, leaving her determined to grow stronger.

• Ayato ended the unification war with Konoha’s forces and named the unified nation Hua.
• Ayato sent Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Neji, and Tenten to rescue Hanabi from Toneri, then arrived to restore the moon’s orbit and return the group to Earth.
• Ayato gave Neji an improved sealing technique and sent him to Akatsuki, where Neji joined Orochimaru’s research into the Tenseigan.
• Sasuke traveled to the past with Karasuki and returned with artificial Uchiha infants, while Ayato recognized one infant as a fellow transmigrator.
• Ayato left his connected souls with Sinai and Ino, crossed into another world with Moon Spirit, and entered Soul Society after Shiba Miyako performed a Soul Burial on him.
• Ayato entered the Soul Reaper Academy, befriended Abarai Renji, Rukia, and Kira Izuru, and awakened his Shikai and Bankai, Mirror of Tranquil Water.
• Ayato declined Aizen’s offers to join the Fifth Division, defeated the graduates challenging him, and accepted Unohana’s offer to become the Fourth Division’s Third Seat before becoming its vice-captain.
• Ayato fought Unohana in Muken and won after releasing Bankai: Total Severance, then asked her to keep sparring with him.

Ayato returned to Soul Society, helped Kenpachi Zaraki recover his strength, and traveled to Hueco Mundo to study Hollows and aid Stark. He joined Stark and Ulquiorra in seeking Las Noches, where they found a crowned Great Hollow waiting on a throne.

• Ayato fought Kenpachi Zaraki in Muken for seven days and later fought him again for more than twenty days, helping him regain his strength.
• Ayato entered Hueco Mundo through Moon Spirit’s spatial passage and met Coyote Stark, who introduced him to Lilynette and explained that he had split his soul to find a companion.
• Ayato promised to help Stark control his power and search for companions, then returned to Soul Society and resumed his training and sparring with Kenpachi Zaraki.
• Ayato returned to Hueco Mundo, where he helped Stark meet Ulquiorra Cifer and explained that companionship meant sharing a goal.
• Ulquiorra agreed to accompany Stark, and Ayato stayed to watch as Ulquiorra attempted to become an Arrancar but failed.
• Ayato, Stark, and Ulquiorra traveled to Las Noches, fought Hollows along the way, and entered the fortress past its guards.
• Ayato sensed a powerful Great Hollow inside Las Noches, and the three found a crowned skeleton covered in black flames on a throne.

Ayato helped Ulquiorra become an Arrancar, reclaimed his own strength through training, and founded the Akatsuki in Hueco Mundo before entering seclusion. Ulquiorra traveled to Karakura Town to learn about the heart, witnessed Ichigo and his friends awaken their powers, and saw Rukia taken back to Soul Society.

• Ulquiorra completed his transformation, defeated Barragan, and agreed with Stark to meet Ayato in Karakura Town after mastering his spiritual-pressure control.
• Ayato learned that Aizen's experiments threatened the balance of the Three Realms, then used the Hōgyoku to awaken Mirror of Tranquil Water's Hollow power before returning the depleted gem to Kisuke Urahara.
• Ayato helped Kenpachi Zaraki reclaim his strength in Muken, where Zaraki awakened Bankai but lost control and collapsed as Yachiru returned to his Zanpakuto.
• Ayato investigated the Great Spirit Book Corridor, then traveled to Hueco Mundo and named Stark, Ulquiorra, and Halibel's organization Akatsuki before entering seclusion.
• After years of training, Ulquiorra went to Karakura Town, met Kisuke Urahara, and began attending school in a Gigai to learn about human emotions and the heart.
• Ulquiorra observed Ichigo save others and investigated Hollows, killing one that had tormented a boy and telling the boy that the Hollow had lied about bringing his mother back.
• Ulquiorra witnessed Chad and Orihime awaken their powers, then watched Ichigo fight a Gillian as his spiritual pressure ran wild and Ishida redirected part of it.
• Ulquiorra sensed powerful Shinigami arrive, and Kisuke returned with an injured Ichigo and Ishida after Rukia had been taken back to Soul Society.

Ulquiorra joined Ichigo’s rescue mission to Soul Society, where Ayato revealed Akatsuki and stopped the captains from forcing a conflict. As Aizen’s plans culminated in a battle with Ichigo, Ayato watched and left resolved to pursue the Soul King.

• Kisuke Urahara sent Ulquiorra with Ichigo Kurosaki’s group to Soul Society, where Ulquiorra rescued their companions and fought Komamura Sajin and Kaname Tōsen.
• Ulquiorra confronted Yamamoto Genryūsai Shigekuni, but Ayato intervened as Aizen revealed his betrayal and escaped to Hueco Mundo with the Hōgyoku.
• Ayato left Soul Society with Ulquiorra and Ichigo, then accepted Kenpachi Zaraki into Akatsuki and oversaw its members’ battles and rankings.
• When Aizen captured Rukia, Ayato sent Ulquiorra to guide Ichigo’s group to Las Noches, while Ayato refused Aizen’s invitation to help overthrow Soul Society.
• Ayato watched as Aizen and the Espada confronted the captains, then Ichigo, Ulquiorra, and Unohana arrived after Las Noches nearly fell.
• Aizen evolved with the Hōgyoku and killed Ichimaru Gin, but Ichigo returned from the Dangai and fought him with overwhelming power.
• Ichigo struck Aizen with Mugetsu, and Kisuke Urahara’s Bakudō sealed Aizen after Ichigo began losing his Shinigami powers.
• Ayato told Ichigo and Kisuke that he would not attack Karakura Town or destroy the Three Realms, then left to retrieve Ulquiorra and pursue the Soul King.