Complete listed story — includes the ending
Bleach, Volume 51
442. Battlefield Shallows, Otherfield Abyss [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki trains with Jackie Tristan while Shūkurō Tsukishima comes up with a new plan.
Having sent Ichigo into her tank, Riruka Dokugamine begins to walk away. Kūgo insists that she stay, as she will be needed to deactivate her Fullbring. She refuses, saying that she is not interested today's training and tells Kūgo to come get her in when it is finished. After she leaves, Yukio Hans Vorarlberna asks Kūgo if he can speak his mind, but the latter tells him he does not have to. Yukio says that he hates it when Riruka is like this. Yukio then asks where Giriko Kutsuzawa is, claiming not to care.
In the tank, Jackie Tristan asks if Ichigo is going to attack her. Ichigo replies that he is waiting for Jackie to activate her Fullbring. She scolds him and tells him to think of this as a real battle and to treat her as an enemy. Jackie asks if he would act the same on a battlefield, to which he replies he would. Jackie sarcastically says that it is unbelievable and tells him that she is going to start. She activates her Fullbring: Dirty Boots and attacks.
Jackie compliments his ability to dodge, though Ichigo says that he did not think he would be able to dodge it. Ichigo asks about Jackie's outfit and if there are Fullbrings that she wears. He asks her what her Fullbring's power is. Jackie replies by asking if he thinks she will tell him that. Ichigo smirks, saying he will just figure it out as he fights. He then fires a blast from his Fullbring at Jackie.
Meanwhile, Orihime Inoue walks into a pole while talking with Yasutora Sado on her phone. Sado, hearing the noise, asks if she is okay. She tells him that she is and apologizes. She tells him that she is certain she was cut, but by the time she came to, he and Moe Shishigawara were gone and there was no wound. Orihime reveals that when Sado and Ichigo arrived on the scene she thought for a second that Tsukishima was her friend. She says that she does not understand it and rather than mistaking him for a friend, it felt like an old memory, shocking Sado. Orihime tells him to be careful, as she believes that Tsukishima's power is scary. Sado agrees and then asks for the two attackers' names and he tells him their names, though she mistakenly says Shishigawara's name as Sushigawara.
Elsewhere, Moe sneezes on Tsukishima while he is eating a meal. Tsukishima pins Moe to the table with his fork and asks if he may continue speaking. He goes on to say that Moe no longer needs to do anything regarding Orihime and insists that he stop calling himself a henchman. Though Moe protests, Tsukishima says they already have her and there is no need of further contact. He then wonders whether to attack Sado or Ichigo next, asking what Kūgo would say if he were to meddle with Ichigo directly.
443. Dirty Boots Dangers [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki continues his training with Jackie Tristan and Yasutora Sado asks Kūgo Ginjō what Shūkurō Tsukishima 's true ability is.
Ichigo fires his Fullbring at Jackie, who deftly dodges the attack, jumping high into the air above Ichigo. He fires off another one, which she kicks away with her feet, much to his surprise. Meanwhile, Kūgo is confronted by Sado, who tells him that Ichigo is currently training with Jackie. Then, Sado asks him what Tsukishima's powers are.
Jackie pushes Ichigo backwards, as he states he cannot continue dodging her attacks, as it provides openings for other attacks. She commends his fighting ability, but says that he is too laid back during a fight. She points to her foot, which absorbed the mud from the ground, and she lashes out at Ichigo with a kick. Ichigo blocks this with his Substitute badge, and realizes how much stronger her kicks have become. She goes on to explain her Fullbring's true power, that she will become as strong as her boots are dirty.
She says she was only increasing her strength very gradually before, but she'll now increase it exponentially. She then charges back, berating him upon thinking he is still a Shinigami. She goes on to explain that, if he continues taking direct hits with his body, he will die. Ichigo charges up another attack, as Jackie explains that it is full of holes, and not something practical he can use whilst in the heat of battle. He fires it off regardless, as Jackie dodges it easily, stating that the number of blades decreases every time he fires off an attack.
She explains further, stating that four or less blades can be shattered by her kick. He fires three shots at Jackie, who is uninjured, as she charges at a defenseless Ichigo. She believes that he cannot fire any more after the three, but realizes that he did that on purpose, slamming her into the ground. As she gets up, she sees Bringer Light surrounding Ichigo's feet, seeing it as evidence that Ichigo is starting to master his Fullbring powers.
She asks him who was the one that taught him to fight. Ichigo explains that it was Kisuke at first, but later, he learned from his own battles, and claims to have more experience than Xcution, due to his various fights. Jackie smirks at Ichigo, before Ichigo is immersed in unusual Reiatsu, as she calls out his name.
444. The Rising [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki 's Fullbring transforms as Shūkurō Tsukishima confronts Xcution.
Jackie thinks to herself that Ichigo's mind has been trained from all the battles he has experienced, as Ichigo stares at her, Fullbring in hand. Suddenly, Ichigo is immersed in unusual Reiatsu, as Jackie calls out to him, looking equally surprised. The black Reiatsu flows forth from his Substitute Badge, enveloping Ichigo.
Sado is still talking with Kūgo, who comments upon Orihime's strange nature when confronted by Tsukishima, while Sado wonders whether his Fullbring has something to do with it. Sado asks him whether Tsukishima's abilities revolve around memory planting, as Sado asks him what Tsukishima's ability does. Meanwhile, at the training ground, Ichigo is seen struggling, with the black Reiatsu encapsulating his right arm, when Jackie tells him they are stopping the training.
However, Ichigo refuses, to which Jackie explains that his Fullbring is about to go out of control; that she's never seen a Fullbring behave in that manner. She tries to explain to him, but he refuses to listen. She calls out to Kūgo and Giriko to get Riruka to negate the Doll House, but she is stopped mid-sentence. Ichigo's energy pins her to the ground, as he continues to convince her he is in control of his powers.
Kūgo levels with Sado, telling him that he is worried. He continues, explaining that if Tsukishima's abilities were as such, then he would have already told him. He explains that Tsukishima's Fullbring, " Book of the End " is called so because it can literally slice through any object, and that is the only thing it is capable of doing. Sado asks him whether his abilities have evolved during their time apart, to which he says that Fullbrings do not evolve.
Sado denies this, using his own Fullbring as an example, when Kūgo tells him that his case was because he wasn't able to use his Fullbring's maximum power at that time, until he progressed to a level when such a thing was possible. He goes on to say that Tsukishima's ability is unrelated to Orihime's confusion, and asks him if Uryū experienced the same memory problems after being cut down by Tsukishima, when Sado says he isn't sure. Kūgo then says that if Uryū has the same symptoms as Orihime, then it is a cause for concern, but if not, then the person who attacked her was not Tsukishima.
However, Tsukishima interrupts them, breaking the door off its hinges with his Fullbring, as the others look on in surprise. He goes on to greet Kūgo and the other Xcution members, when he asks Tsukishima just what he is doing here. Tsukishima ignores Kūgo's question, wondering where Jackie and Riruka are. He turns his attention to the fish bowl, stating that that is where they are hiding. He brings his sword down upon it, as Kūgo tells him to stop.
From the opened fish bowl, black Reiatsu emerges from it, surprising Kūgo and Sado, whereas Tsukishima comments that it is interesting. Ichigo then emerges from it, wispy black Reiatsu forming around his body, in the shape of a Shinigami's shihakushō.
445. The Dark Beat [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki battles Shūkurō Tsukishima with his Fullbring 's new form.
An exhausted Jackie lies on the ground of Xcution's headquarters, murmuring Ichigo's name as he stands before her, enveloped in a cloak of black Reiatsu. Ginjō and Sado look on in shock, with the latter silently identifying the true form of Ichigo's Fullbring as a clad-type. He compares the Reiatsu shroud to Ichigo's Bankai, recalling that his overcoat was a part of it. He comes to the conclusion that Ichigo's true self is to be cloaked in power. Tsukishima explains to Ichigo that Riruka's Dollhouse forcibly ejects its contents if the container is destroyed. He expresses his surprise that Ichigo has mastered Fullbring to such a degree, telling him that he should have told him sooner.
Ichigo swings the blade of black Reiatsu on his right arm at Tsukishima, which he deflects with his Book of the End. Ichigo asks who Tsukishima is, to which he expresses his disappointment over not already being mentioned to Ichigo. Sado suddenly recalls that Ichigo does not know about Tsukishima. Tsukishima introduces himself, but before he can continue speaking, Chad activates his Brazo Derecha de Gigante and leaps towards him. Ginjō shouts at him to wait, but Sado blasts a hole through the wall. Yukio remarks that Sado is an idiot for doing so, while Riruka runs into the room, asking about what is going on. Giriko informs them that he will take care of the neighbors, police, and fire department. Yukio wonders about who is going to pay for the damage, ignoring Riruka as she shouts at them to explain once again.
As Sado and Ginjō land on a rooftop, the latter calls the former an idiot, saying that now that Ichigo's Fullbring activated, they can afford to tell him about Tsukishima. Sado says no, expressing his concerns that they have no idea how powerful Ichigo's Fullbring is, or if he can even handle using it. He remarks that telling him that Tsukishima attacked Orihime would only detriment his performance in battle. However, Ichigo overhears them, walking up behind Sado, realizing that his friends were only looking out for him, and that he did not even realize it. Tsukishima lands a few feet behind Ichigo, who asks if he attacked Uryū Ishida as well. Tsukishima simply asks what he thinks, prompting Ichigo to charge at him with his blade of Reiatsu in hand. Tsukishima blocks his blow, leaping away from him off the building, while remarking that Ichigo is good.
Ichigo proceeds to propel himself off the roof, leaping towards Tsukishima. Sado contemplates on what Ichigo just did, realizing that he used Fullbring on the concrete to increase his jumping height, as well as on the air to propel himself forward. He silently questions the extent to which Ichigo has mastered Fullbring. Landing on a railing, Tsukishima remarks that Ichigo has already gotten the grasp of his Fullbring powers. However, he then launches himself towards Ichigo and swings at his sword, stating that his Fullbring is incomplete. His Book of the End breaks right through Ichigo's sword and dissipates the Reiatsu shroud on his left arm. He then kicks Ichigo's exposed shoulder, knocking towards the ground. Tsukishima explains that by concentrating his attacks on Ichigo's right arm, he can make it lose its Fullbring shroud, and comments that Ichigo could not even break his fall. As Ichigo recovers from the fall, Tsukishima charges toward him with his sword raised over his head. However, Ginjō appears before him with his Fullbring active and apologizes to Tsukishima, saying that he cannot let Ichigo fight him yet.
446. The Dark Beat 2 [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō intervenes and fights Shūkurō Tsukishima.
Moe returns from shopping for groceries to find that Tsukishima is not around.
Tsukishima asks Kūgo if he is going to interfere, but Kūgo says that it is Tsukishima who is interfering. Ichigo tells Kūgo to step aside, but Kūgo elbows him in the back and refuses, saying he cannot have Ichigo dying on him. As Kūgo and Tsukishima clash, Sado attempts to stop Ichigo form interfering. However, Ichigo refuses to just watch the person who attacked Orihime and Uryū and goes after them.
Kūgo destroys a building with his Fullbring, prompting Tsukishima to criticize him for endangering other people. Kūgo claims that he has only been targeting empty buildings. Ichigo appears above Tsukishima and attacks him, but is unable to hurt him. Tsukishima states that Ichigo does not get it and that his Fullbring is incomplete, but he is cut off as Ichigo becomes further engulfed in black Reiatsu from his Fullbring, and Tsukishima comments that his Fullbring changes quickly and his power is much closer to his previous peak as a Shinigami.
Yukio then uses his Fullbring, Invaders Must Die, to remove Ichigo from the battle. Tsukishima comments that Yukio would not want him to have any contact with Ichigo as he nears maturity.
447. Load [ ]
Ichigo appears in the middle of Yukio's Fullbring, demanding that he be released. The Save bar reaches to the end, as it states that the process is now complete. Tsukishima interjects, stating that Yukio made it so that he could not interfere with Ichigo's training. But he asks whether it would have been smarter to instead lock him away, to which Yukio explains that his battery power is insufficient to save the former Xcution leader.
He explains that someone has called the police and fire department, stating that it would be inconvenient for him to be caught at this stage. Riruka appears behind Tsukishima, pointing her Love Gun at him, telling him to leave immediately. Yukio explains that they will be taking Ichigo with them, and that it would be better for him to stay, in order for him to be exposed.
At Karakura General Hospital, Uryū Ishida is approached by Orihime Inoue. Uryū apologizes for calling upon such short notice, to which Orihime asks whether he is well enough to stand. She tells him that she could heal him now, in order for him to leave, to which he agrees, stating that he had to seclude himself from the others if he was the true target. He tells her to heal his injuries, stating that Ichigo has come into contact with his attacker, due to his fluctuating Reiatsu.
He asks Orihime whether she sensed it too, to which she states that they had the same attacker, much to his surprise. Ichigo is released from Yukio's Fullbring, emerging onto the floor. Ginjō explains that this area is their backup Headquarters, but that it is less comfortable than the other location. Yukio buts in, saying that he won't make it comfortable if he talks like that. Ichigo inquires about Tsukishima, to which Ginjō states that he has temporarily retreated.
He continues, stating that he could've killed Yukio and the others if he desired, but this fact proves that he is especially interested in Ichigo. However, Yukio tells him that he is over thinking things, and that Tsukishima would never dare to attack him whilst holding his console. He attempts to leave and help Giriko at the other base, but Ginjō stops him, telling him to help with Ichigo' training. Yukio protests at this, claiming that his batteries are low, to which Ginjō tells him to plug it into the wall.
Yukio refuses outright, as Ginjō states that he isn't sure of how Tsukishima found them out, stating that it is a possibility that he traced their Reiatsu. He states that Yukio's Fullbring is most suited to this, considering that it emits zero Reiatsu. Yukio agrees, as Ginjō explains that a live battle seems to work best for him. Ichigo asks who he is going to fight next, to which Ginjō states that he will be his opponent.
As Orihime walks at night, she recalls back to her meeting with Uryū. She remembers how Uryū explains that, since their injuries were completely different, it is unlikely that they were the same person. She informs Uryū that the attacker's ability was known as Fullbring, to which she asks him whether his attacker revealed such a thing. He explains that he thought it was a Zanpakutō 's ability until she informed him otherwise.
As she walks along, she is approached by Yasutora Sado, who explains that she was just at the hospital healing Uryū. She states that he will recover fine, so long as he rests, to which Sado states that he is glad to hear he is alright. He tells her to fill him in on the details as they walk, to which Orihime asks where are they going. Sado explains that they will be going to Ichigo's side, in which her powers will play a crucial role in the next stage of Ichigo's Fullbring training.
448. LOADING TO LIE [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō begins the next phase of Ichigo Kurosaki 's training.
Ichigo emerges from Yukio's Fullbring, realizing at once how he was sealed inside. Ginjō reveals the name of Yukio's Fullbring, stating its ability to control people within the interface of his console. He reassures Ichigo, stating that Yukio will not interfere, and asks whether he has ever thought of being inside a video game. Ichigo states that he hasn't thought about it, to which Ginjō says he is the same way.
Ichigo wonders why he bothered to ask him such a pointless question, to which Ginjō states that he doesn't care either way. As they are enveloped within the game world, he states that the game's surroundings will not get any more scenic. Ichigo is surprised at this, as Ginjō summons his Fullbring, Cross of Scaffold. He asks Yukio to give them 6 HP. Ichigo realizes how it works and Kūgo asks if he needs a crash course. Yukio tells Ichigo when he loses he will make it say you are dead, but Ichigo tells him he doesn't care. Ichigo activates his Fullbring and they charge at each other. Outside, Sado brings Orihime, much to Riruka's dismay.
Riruka ask what she is doing there and if Ichigo is training. Riruka says that Ichigo will continue to get hurt as long as Orihime heals him and Orihime realizes that Riruka is worried about him too, making her blush. She says she understands, but left her worries behind long ago. Riruka asks what she will do if Ichigo is hurt so badly that he cannot be healed. Orihime responds that she will never allow that to occur. Yukio then lets Orihime into the game as Riruka thinks about something. Elsewhere, Kisuke Urahara questions Isshin Kurosaki if he is sure about something. Isshin repeats that he is and Urahara says that it is a matter of taking his son's future away from him. Isshin says he is sure and a mysterious Shinigami steps forth, telling them to do it.
449. Not be a Drug [ ]
As Ichigo Kurosaki continues his training with Kūgo Ginjō, Orihime Inoue utilizes a new power.
Urahara asks the Shinigami to place some of their Reiatsu into a bright light.
Orihime introduces herself to Kūgo, who tells her enough with the introductions and instructs her to heal a badly wounded Ichigo, as he has finished his job. As she is healing him, Sado enters the game world and confirms to Ichigo that he brought her, and that her power is necessary from here on out. Sado tells Kūgo that he did not come to help Ichigo, but to train using a separate room with increased environmental settings which he asked Yukio to create. Remembering that Tsukishima had attacked him, cutting through his shoulder and into his abdomen, without anyone noticing and without leaving any evidence of the attack, Sado notes that he needs to grow stronger to combat his unknown power.
Kūgo complains that Orihime is slow and attacks in spite of her warnings not to. Orihime uses her Shiten Kōshun to block the attack, which Kūgo mistakes for Santen Kesshun. Kūgo is repelled and injured by Orihime's technique, which she explains to him. She tells him not to attack until she says to, and reveals to Ichigo that both Sado and herself believed that, at some point, he would regain his powers and they swore to be strong enough to not be a burden to him. She tells him to focus on regaining his powers.
Yukio notices that it is two minutes to midnight and activates the fast-forward on the console.
450. Blind Solitude [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki continues his training with Kūgo Ginjō.
Ichigo continues his training with Kūgo, who assesses him as they fight. He notes that Ichigo is staying close to him to avoid being hit. As Ichigo approaches, he grabs the inner handle of his Fullbring to allow him to attack Ichigo more effectively, injuring Ichigo's leg. He reveals that the sword has a handle inside its blade so that he can deal with opponents at close range. Kūgo notes that he was right to have Orihime brought there and that his power is brought out when he is near the person he has to protect.
Riruka enters Yukio's Fullbring with a box of doughnuts and yells at Yukio to make some chairs and a table for her and Orihime. As Orihime eats, Riruka says she would like to meet Orihime's parents. Orihime tells her that that her brother took her away from their parents when she was a baby because he thought they would kill her. Riruka presumes that he is now her guardian, but she informs her that he is dead and that a distantly related aunt supports her financially. She sends Orihime less money if her grades drop, so she started taking school more seriously. Riruka asks how she can speak so openly about this and Orihime tells her that she can do so because Ichigo saved her. As Riruka says that she is leaving, Orihime thanks her and says that she is nice.
Ichigo notes that he cannot feel anything from Kūgo's sword, comparing it with his battle with Gin Ichimaru. He notes that while Tsukishima did not look at him, he felt his killing intent. He wonders if he cannot feel anything because he does not fully trust Kūgo. Kūgo states that Ichigo has too many random thoughts in his head even though it is a battle. He slashes Ichigo's eyes. He then stops Orihime from helping him. He tells her to watch and notes that when Ichigo lost his powers, he also lost his resolve. He tells Ichigo that he will drag him back to the battle.
Bleach, Volume 52
451. Welcome to Our EXECUTION 4 [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki continues his training with Kūgo Ginjō.
Having blinded Ichigo, Kūgo kicks him away and tells him that his whining is getting on his nerves. Ichigo asks Kūgo what is intentions are, as he promised to help Ichigo. Kūgo reminds him that they did promise to help him get his Shinigami powers back, and that teaching him Fullbring was the first step to that goal. Ichigo retorts that he cannot bring himself to trust Kūgo after blinding him. Kūgo then asks him why he agreed to training with the Xcution if he could not bring himself to trust him and tells him that he would not be able to fight his way out if things went wrong because of his powerless state. Kūgo then discards his sword and begins to attack Ichigo barehanded.
Orihime Inoue tries to intervene in their fight, but Kūgo has Yukio Hans Vorarlberna lock Orihime in a cage using his Forbidden Zone ability. Orihime tries to use an ability, but Yukio tells her that it is useless as her voice cannot be heard from outside the cage. Not even he can hear her. Ichigo calls out to Orihime, but Kūgo merely taunts him to see what's wrong with her. Ichigo moves to attack Kūgo and manages to dodge his attacks, believing that he can do so by Kūgo's presence and sound. However, Kūgo cuts Ichigo's shoulder, telling him that he is allowing Ichigo to dodge his attacks. As he knocks Ichigo down, Kūgo impales Ichigo with his sword and tells him that he is done fighting him. Kūgo then tells Ichigo that he'll kill Yasutora Sado and Orihime. Ichigo is surprised by Kūgo's words, but Kūgo tells him that he should have expected it since he is not a comrade. Enraged, Ichigo yells at Kūgo.
Kūgo notices Ichigo's Fullbring changing and grabs Ichigo's materialized blade as it explodes with energy. Seeing that Ichigo's Fullbring is now complete, Kūgo tells Ichigo that he is proud of him and explains that someone has to stay close and control the outburst of energy while putting their own life on the line, and that torrent of energy released from the object of the Fullbring could ruin the user's body, which is why Kūgo wanted to be present when Ichigo's own Fullbring was complete. He then apologizes to Ichigo, saying that he made too much of a clichéd villain, and welcomes him to Xcution.
452. erosion/implosion [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki finishes his training with Kūgo Ginjō and leaves for home only to be confronted by Shūkurō Tsukishima.
Orihime wakes up inside a house in Yukio's Fullbring, she gets up, brushes her teeth and then looks out the window at Ichigo's training. Outside the house, Kūgo puts Ichigo through a new training regiment of sets of 100 push-ups. When Kūgo asks if Ichigo is already tired, Ichigo become angry and yells that of course he is tired and asks how many sets of one hundred push-ups Kūgo is going to make him do. Kūgo says they are only at 14 and Ichigo says Kūgo is insane.
Back at the house, Riruka Dokugamine bursts in and Orihime says she did not tell Riruka it was alright. Riruka tells her to shut up and hands her her breakfast. Orihime excitedly asks Riruka to join her, but Riruka says she just had doughnuts. Orihime then notes that Riruka eats a lot of doughnuts. Outside, Kūgo says that since Ichigo's name has a 1 and a 5, he should do one more set. Ichigo says he hates when people do that with his name and Kūgo calls him a liar as he always wears 15 pattern shirts. Ichigo calls Kūgo a stalker for knowing that. Completely wiped out now, Kūgo tells Ichigo to do one more set, which he cannot. Kūgo then tells him to relax as he was just joking. Kūgo reveals that using Fullbring takes a massive amount of stamina and Ichigo realizes that is why he is doing all those push-ups. Kūgo then asks if Ichigo saw something when he completed his Fullbring and Ichigo is shocked he knows this.
Kūgo says that Ichigo's mangled eyes saw him bathed in Reiatsu and that is why he cut Ichigo's eyes as that is proof that Ichigo is beginning to regain his Shinigami powers. Kūgo explains that when Ichigo lost his Reiatsu, a tiny portion accumulated in a single location inside of him over time and that is why they used the Reiatsu flowing from his badge to jolt that awake. He says all that is left to do is to beef up his new body and powers and then his Fullbring and Shinigami powers will fuse, giving Ichigo a power transcending that of a Shinigami. Kūgo throws Ichigo his badge and Ichigo tests out his new Fullbring. Kūgo says that it is sure something to look at and that he almost mistook Ichigo for someone else. Kūgo then tells him that his Fullbring needs a name.
Ichigo, Orihime, and Sado then leaves the game and Yukio welcomes them back before telling Ichigo that he took forever and he thought his batteries may die. He tells Ichigo to go home and see his sisters as they are likely worried since he did not call. Ichigo then panics and wonders how long he was in there. Yukio points to a clock and says it has only been 90 minutes thanks to him using the fast forward option. He then tells Ichigo to go home and his sisters are likely still awake, worried sick. Ichigo heads home and Yuzu Kurosaki confronts him at the door. She says they have a surprise guest and that it is a cousin. She takes him to the guest who turns out to be Shūkurō Tsukishima. Yuzu says it is Shū, who they have not seen since Grandpa Rin's funeral. Tsukishima then greets Ichigo and says that it has been a while.
453. Mute Your Breathe Friendship [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki discovers that Shūkurō Tsukishima has his friends and acquaintances under his ability.
Shūkurō Tsukishima greets Ichigo, saying it has been a while. Yuzu Kurosaki says that Tsukishima just showed up and they had dinner together. Karin Kurosaki then adds that he showed up out of the blue and asks why he always does that. Tsukishima asks if he is being a bother and Karin says she would not go that far. Yuzu begins telling Ichigo to ask Tsukishima about something, but is interrupted by Ichigo grabbing Tsukishima asking what he is doing doing. Karin and Yuzu call to him to get him to stop and saying he is hurting Tsukishima. Ichigo angrily asks what Tsukishima did to Karin and Yuzu. Tsukishima tells Karin and Yuzu that it is fine and that Ichigo is probably just upset that he is imposing on them at this late hour. Ichigo yells again and tells Tsukishima to answer him, but they are interrupted by the doorbell ringing. Tsukishima asks Yuzu to get it as it is Keigo Asano and the others.
Mizuiro Kojima, Keigo, and Tatsuki Arisawa walk in. Mizuiro says hello to everyone and Yuzu gives them some slippers. Keigo and Mizuiro are surprised to see Ichigo there and Tatsuki asks Ichigo about his running off at night and says he should come home at a reasonable hour as he is making Karin and Yuzu lonely. Karin says that they are fine, but Yuzu disagrees. Keigo and Mizuiro greet Tsukishima and Tsukishima apologizes to Ichigo for having them over so late, but he has not seen them in so long and tomorrow is Sunday so it does not really matter. Tsukishima then says that he should call Orihime and Sado. He grabs the phone and calls Orihime who initially does not recognize him, but he reminds her and begins to invite her to Ichigo's house. Suddenly, Ichigo throws Tsukishima against the wall and everyone is shocked and run to his aide. Ichigo demands to know what Tsukishima did to everyone. Tatsuki asks if Tsukishima is fine and he says he is, but Keigo says he is bleeding. Ichigo once more demands answers, but Tatsuki asks what he is doing and demands Ichigo apologize. Ichigo tries to explain, but once more Tatsuki demands he apologize. Everyone begins to question Ichigo and say he is acting weird.
Not able to take it any longer, Ichigo flees his house and runs. He begins to wonder what Tsukishima's ability is when he runs into Ikumi Unagiya. Ikumi sees Ichigo and asks him what is wrong. Ichigo gets in her car and they go back to her store. She makes him a drink and says he can stay there until he calms down. She says if he wants to talk about what is going on he should feel free to. Ichigo thanks her and she shoves his face up against her breast. Ichigo begins to talk, but she tells him to be quiet. The doorbell rings and Ikumi wonders who it could be. Ichigo begins to question if he should tell her what is going on, but comes to the conclusion she would not understand. Ikumi comes back and tells Ichigo that Tsukishima is there to cheer him up. Ichigo then runs once more. He begins to think he is the only sane one left before Kūgo shows up, out of breath. He tells Ichigo that Tsukishima has taken out the rest of Xcution.
454. Sheathebreaker [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō reveals his thoughts on Shūkurō Tsukishima 's true ability to Ichigo Kurosaki before Yukio Hans Vorarlberna takes them to a mansion in the woods.
As Kisuke Urahara and Isshin Kurosaki, who is carrying glowing, sword-like object, walk through the moonlight streets, Ichigo and Kūgo arrive at a dilapidated building. Kūgo tells Ichigo that they should be safe there, as it is a place that he prepared in case Tsukishima found Xcution's hideout. He reveals that he did so without Riruka and Giriko Kutsuzawa knowing. Ichigo lashes out at Kūgo, blaming the Fullbringer for involving him. Kūgo apologizes and Ichigo admits that it was not his fault. Kūgo tells him not to blame himself.
Kūgo reveals his thoughts on Tsukishima's ability, saying that based on Sado's account of events, he had thought Tsukishima could confuse people's memories. But after listening to Yukio and the other members of Xcution as they attacked him, he surmises that his ability is to insert himself into the memories of people that he cuts with his Book of the End, just as one places a bookmark into a book. When Ichigo questions if that is possible, Kūgo replies that he is unsure, but those affected by his Fullbring clearly thought he was someone from their past, deeply engrained in their personal lives. Kūgo claims that they would appear to those affected to be insane.
When Ichigo asks if his friends will return to normal if Tsukishima is killed, Kūgo replies that he cannot be sure and that they could end up being viewed as murderers by their friends. But he claims that they have to kill him nonetheless and asks Ichigo if he can kill him. Yukio reveals his presence by remarking on the nature of the discussion. When Kūgo demands to know how he found them, Yukio reveals that he used his Fullbring to track Kūgo. He invites them to return with him, saying that nobody is angry with them and they will be restored to normal soon.
As Uryū Ishida stands fully dressed in his room in Karakura Hospital, Ichigo, Kūgo, and Yukio arrive at a large house in a wooded area.
455. End of the Bond 1 [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki and Kūgo Ginjō arrive at Shūkurō Tsukishima 's mansion and begin their confrontation with him.
Tsukishima greets Ichigo, Kūgo, and Yukio at the door of the mansion. Upon seeing him, Ichigo charges at him, reaching for his badge. He is stopped by Kūgo, who warns that they cannot rush in without a plan. He tells Ichigo that if he is right about Tsukishima's ability, then they cannot afford to be cut by his sword even once. Tsukishima tells them that he is not armed and invites them inside to discuss things, saying that he has no intention of fighting them. When Ichigo refuses to comply due to the possibility of traps inside the mansion, Tsukishima points out that if he was going to lay any traps, he would have placed them in the forest they had just been through.
Inside, Ichigo is greeted by his friends and family. Yuzu tells him that Tsukishima is not mad at him and Keigo urges Ichigo to apologize to him. As the others join Keigo in calling for an apology, Kūgo urges Ichigo to remain calm, saying that while they think Tsukishima is a friend, they still think of Ichigo as one too and will not attack him. However, Ichigo runs out of the room thinking to himself that while he wishes to slice Tsukishima to pieces, he cannot fight him there as the others will be dragged into the fight.
Ichigo runs upstairs, where he finds the other members of Xcution. Tsukishima appears behind him and comments on how willingly Ichigo allowed himself to be surrounded. Kūgo destroys the stairs so that only Yukio would be able to reach the first floor and tells Ichigo that there is no reason to hold back. Ichigo activates his Fullbring and cuts off Tsukishima's left arm. Tsukishima compliments Ichigo's rate of growth, but Ichigo retorts that he should keep acting high and mighty while he still can as he is there to kill Tsukishima.
Sado appears outside the window and smashes his way in. He and Orihime stand in front of Ichigo, with Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka flying around her.
456. End of the Bond 2 [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki fights against Shūkurō Tsukishima while Kūgo Ginjō takes on Moe Shishigawara and the other Fullbringers.
Orihime ignores Ichigo's pleas to stop healing Tsukishima and restores his arm. Tsukishima compliments her healing ability. Ichigo asks Sado if he is "the same" as the others. Sado replies that he is unsure what Ichigo means, saying that they are uncertain how to respond to his actions. He asks Ichigo why he is doing this and Orihime asks if he has forgotten how much Tsukishima has helped them. Sado tells him that they would not have been able to rescue Rukia Kuchiki or defeat Sousuke Aizen without Tsukishima.
Tsukishima asks Ichigo if he understands now. Ichigo attacks him, launching through a wall. Kūgo tries to follow, but is stopped by a falling chandelier. Moe Shishigawara tells him that he and the Xcution members are his opponents. Kūgo wonders who he is and how he made the chandelier fall despite not having any tools or weapons, questioning what his Fullbring is.
Tsukishima explains that his Fullbring creates new pasts, simply inserting his presence into the past of the victim as he sees fit. Ichigo remarks that Kūgo was correct, surprising Tsukishima, who admits that he underestimated him. He then says that the past that Ichigo has experienced and that experienced by his friends and family are two different things. Ichigo tries to grasp the meaning of Tsukishima's words before attacking him. However, Orihime shields Tsukishima and Sado attacks Ichigo. Sado asks him why he is doing this, saying that he did not gain his strength for this purpose. He attacks Ichigo again. Ichigo says that he did not gain his powers so that he would have to hurt his friends. Tsukishima then appears before him again.
457. End of Bond 3 [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō and Ichigo Kurosaki continue their struggle against Xcution and Shūkurō Tsukishima.
Kūgo evades the attacks of his fellow Xcution members and blocks an attack by Moe. As he dismisses Moe's strength, part of his sword's handle breaks off. Moe tells Kūgo that he is fortunate that his body was not hit by that attack as there would have been little left of it. He explains about his Fullbring, Jackpot Knuckle, which manipulates probability so that everything he does works out in his favor. He says that his punch "just happened" to connect at the perfect angle to snap his sword's handle where it "just happened" growing weak. He then explains that the chandelier fell because he flipped a coin which "just happened" to hit the chandelier, which "just happened" to be hanging so loosely that the impact of the coin could cause it to fall. He then threatens Kūgo.
Meanwhile, Ichigo and Tsukishima continue their battle. Ichigo fires a Getsuga Tenshō at him. Tsukishima ponders this, noting that his speed is exceeding his expectations and that he is successfully fusing his Fullbring and Shinigami powers. He then notes that, as planned, the overwhelming despair is helping his development rate.
As Kūgo admits that he is not cut out to fight all four of his opponents simultaneously, particularly with Moe's ability being so difficult to deal with, he checks on Ichigo's progress. Sado and Orihime come to Tsukishima's aid and Ichigo tells them to stop, saying that he does not want to fight them. Tsukishima attacks Ichigo from behind, but Kūgo shields Ichigo from the attack with his own body, taking the hit and falling to the ground.
458. End of All Bonds [ ]
Having cut Kūgo Ginjō, Shūkurō Tsukishima continues his battle with Ichigo Kurosaki until Uryū Ishida arrives.
Ichigo rushes to the injured Kūgo's side, wondering how he will be affected. Kūgo tells him not to be distracted by his injury and Ichigo parries an attack from Tsukishima. Kūgo tells Ichigo that he is alright for now, stating that Tsukishima is an enemy and Ichigo an ally. He tells a relieved Ichigo that he is uncertain why he has not been affected by Book of the End' s ability yet, surmising that he is suppressing it or that it takes longer to affect some people.
As he says that they must finish the battle before the ability takes hold, Uryū arrives. Ichigo wonders whose side he is on, concluding that he is an enemy when he activates his bow. Uryū tells him that Kūgo is the one who attacked him. Uryū attacks Kūgo, both he and Ichigo are cut down by Kūgo and Tsukishima. When Ichigo asks if Kūgo is affected by Tsukishima after all, he replies that it was the second time he had been cut by him, which changed him back to normal. He stabs Ichigo in the chest, saying that he will remove Ichigo's Fullbring.
459. Death & Strawberry 2 [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō takes Ichigo Kurosaki 's power, but 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki arrives and restores Ichigo's Shinigami abilities.
Uryū remembers that when he was chasing Tsukishima, Kūgo appeared behind him and cut him with his sword. Tsukishima then stated that his Fullbring should have been used, Kūgo says he will be left and that Ichigo's fate depends on whether he can differentiate him from the others and states that "a battle [they] can't possibly lose is too boring" and then proceeds to tell Tsukishima to cut him and make them enemies that betrayed each other.
Tsukishima then explains to Ichigo that the first strike of his Fullbring allows him to "slip" his existence into the target's memories, however, he chooses and the second strike removes that influence, Kūgo states that he would operate closest to Ichigo without Ichigo suspecting him, Tsukishima then states that Kūgo is just a terrible actor as he started calling Ichigo "Kurosaki" as soon as his Fullbring was removed. Kūgo then absorbs Ichigo's Fullbring, leaving the latter in despair, Ichigo then demands his power back in which Kūgo says that since he gave him the powers is his and Ichigo should be thankful he is alive.
As they leave, Ichigo is stabbed from behind and when Ichigo looks back sees Isshin and Urahara, which prompts Ichigo to ask if his father was also a part of the scheme, his father then calls him an idiot and says Ichigo should be able to see who is holding the sword, which is revealed to be Rukia. As Tsukishima and Kūgo leave an explosion occurs behind them and reveal Ichigo in his shihakushō holding Zangetsu.
Bleach, Volume 53
460. Deathberry Returns 2 [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki 's Shinigami powers have returned, the Shinigami arrive, and Ichigo fights Kūgo Ginjō.
Ichigo emerges with his Shinigami powers and Rukia berates him for being a "crybaby". She then explains that the sword she used restored Ichigo's Shinigami powers. Ginjō exclaims that that is impossible, as he took Ichigo's power and thus one person cannot return it.
Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, and Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya then arrive and Renji explains that they all gave their Reiatsu to restore Ichigo's power. Rukia further explains that all Ginjō took was the power that had merged with Ichigo's Fullbring, and that it was impossible for him to steal Ichigo's Shinigami powers. Ichigo then begins to fight Ginjō, swinging his blade to release a powerful shock wave. Kūgo calls the swing a Getsuga Tenshō and says that it'll take more than that to kill him. Ichigo explains that it was not a Getsuga Tenshō, merely a "practice swing", and proceeds to charge up his actual Getsuga Tenshō. Ichigo fires the blast while Kūgo stares on in shock of his massive Reiatsu.
461. Come Around Our Turn [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki tests out his new powers as the Shinigami reveal why they helped him and Kūgo Ginjō 's identity is revealed.
Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō misses Kūgo, who attempts to flee. He thinks to himself that they need to retreat and regroup, but Ichigo prevents him from escaping. He throws Kūgo to the ground, leaving him wondering if his Fullbring had enhanced his innate abilities. Ichigo fires another Getsuga directly at him.
Ichigo notes that his new power come from not just the Shinigami that are present, but also Shinji Hirako, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, Captain Retsu Unohana, 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada, Isshin Kurosaki, Kisuke Urahara, Yoruichi Shihōin, and Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Ichigo asks them if it was a crime to transfer Shinigami powers to a Human. Renji replies that it was an order from the Captain-Commander and recounts how Urahara had gone to the 1st Division barracks to request the assistance of the Gotei 13 in restoring Ichigo's powers. Yamamoto agrees to help, saying that they should do what they can to help the person who had helped them so much. Even though it is against the customs of Soul Society, he orders the captains and lieutenants to place their Reiatsu into the specially prepared sword Urahara had brought.
Hitsugaya tells Ichigo that it is because of him that Yamamoto would do such a thing. He states that the power he has been given is the result of his changing Soul Society by helping them. He then reveals that there is another reason they helped him regain his powers. He identifies Kūgo as the original Substitute Shinigami, saying that he abandoned his position and vanished.
462. Why me sad. [ ]
Orihime Inoue deals with conflicting emotions and Kūgo Ginjō gives Xcution Ichigo Kurosaki 's power.
Ichigo finds out that Ginjō was the first Substitute Shinigami. Hitsugaya then asks Ichigo if he remembers what Captain Jūshirō Ukitake said when he gave Ichigo his Substitute Badge. Ichigo remembers Ukitake saying "The Soul Society has laws concerning substitute Shinigami. When they appear, if they are judged useful to this world...they are given the pass". Hitsugaya then tells Ichigo that they were created because of Ginjō. Byakuya states that the details should be left for later and that they need to focus on Ginjō. Ginjō then exclaims that if he hadn't taken Ichigo's powers, he'd be a dead man already.
Orihime Inoue is crying because Ichigo´s crying upset her. Orihime and Yasutora Sado charge towards Ichigo and see him with his powers back and alongside the Gotei 13. They thought that the Gotei 13 would be fighting against Ichigo. She then becomes confused and start to doubt their memories of Shūkurō Tsukishima, because they see the Gotei 13 fighting on Ichigo's side. Tsukishima then appears behind Orihime and Sado and starts feeding them new memories which makes them even more confused. Isshin and Urahara knock out both Orihime and Sado. The other Fullbringers then arrive and start complaining to Ginjō that he took all of Ichigo´s powers and they demand a share (with the exception of Riruka Dokugamine ). Ginjō then slashes the other Fullbringers to share Ichigo's power among them and as the smoke clears, the other Fullbringers emerge with their powers enhanced.
463. Extreme Divider [ ]
The Shinigami and Fullbringers divide into their matches before 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki kills Giriko Kutsuzawa in one hit.
Having received Ichigo's power, Giriko notes how amazing it feels, saying it is as if youth is welling up from within his body. Yukio Hans Vorarlberna mocks Giriko Kutsuzawa, saying he spoke like a real has been.
Tsukishima approaches Kūgo and notes that he is not giving Moe Shishigawara any of Ichigo's power and comments that it's not nice to leave people out. Kūgo tells him that he does not even want to think about what a powered up version of Shishigawara's ability could do and tells Tsukishima to kill him when the battle is over. Tsukishima comments then that he thought it was an interesting ability.
Giriko yells out to Ichigo, saying they will demonstrate the wonder of the power they gave him, saying Ichigo should experience it first hand. Ikkaku tries to comment, but Ichigo says he will handle it himself. Giriko retorts that Ichigo surely could not mean that he plans to take them all on by himself, but he is interrupted by Ichigo cutting through all of them. Giriko is stunned by this and Ichigo comments that he did not go all out so they should still be alive. Yukio then laughs at Ichigo, asking if he thought that was a critical hit. He says Ichigo did not even notice that he missed. Ichigo begins to notice as Yukio tells Ichigo that his Fullbring has allowed them to wear their Fullbrings around them. He says that thanks to Ichigo, his Fullbring can now affect the outside world and what he just cut were clones.
As he says this though, Ikkaku appears and stabs Yukio in the back. He tells Ichigo he is too soft, asking him if he really thinks he is going to win the fight without taking any lives. He tells Ichigo to kill them properly. Another Yukio clone tries to attack Ikkaku then, but Hitsugaya steps in and slices through it. Hitsugaya tells Ikkaku not to let his guard down. Yukio tells Hitsugaya that his attack was not half bad and asks if he wants a chance at bonus points, but Hitsugaya says he will pass.
Moe Shishigawara appears and tries to attack Ikkaku from behind, but Ikkaku catches him. Yukio notes that everyone seems to have paired up so he places them all in different rooms with his Fullbring. As they enter the rooms, Kenpachi looks asks Byakuya to switch opponents with him as he thinks Tsukishima looks stronger than Giriko. As the rooms are fully formed, Giriko takes Kenpachi's wish to switch opponents as an insult and says he cannot have that. Kenpachi tells him to shut up and that defeating a small fry like him will just make him bored. Giriko begins to rant as he says his Fullbring can pull off many feats. He states that when he makes a contract with the God of Time, the simpler the contract, the more absolute his power becomes. He says that the contract he just made is the simplest of all, physical strength. He grows to a massive size then as he says he possesses more strength than anyone, but before he can finish his sentence, Kenpachi bifurcates him, saying it was as he said, boring.
464. Quiet Chamber, Noisy Heart [ ]
The battles between the Shinigami and the Fullbringers commence.
As Kenpachi defeated and bifurcated Giriko, he is returned to the Human World. He looks around to see if anyone else is done with their battles. Getting bored, he was about to leave, but then Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi pops out onto his shoulder and smashes him on the head. She says that they all arrived together and they promised to go home together and that if they leave, Yamamoto will have their heads. Yachiru continues to pull on his ears as he walks.
Meanwhile, Ichigo is about to battle against Kūgo in the chat room, and he notices that the environment looks like Karakura Town. Kūgo says he picked that environment so that it will be easy for them to fight one-on-one. Before Kūgo could finish, Uryū steps into the fight. Ichigo asks if he is hurt, but Uryū says that Rukia healed him. Uryū Ishida then says there is something he needs to apologize to Ichigo for and says that when they left Soul Society and Ichigo was given his substitute badge, he had thought there were others before him. He thought that if the previous one was alive, they would have told Ichigo and if he was dead, they should have said why, leading Uryū to believe Soul Society did not know.
Ichigo responds by kicking Uryū. He says it does not matter as they could not have done anything anyhow and that he would have forgotten in a few days anyway and tells Uryū to stop worrying all the time. The two friends insult each other before Ichigo tells Uryū to clean his glasses as they prepare to face Kūgo. As Hitsugaya and Rukia deal with their opponents, Byakuya confronts Tsukishima, saying that he despises his Fullbring's ability to manipulate relationships, and their battle begins.
465. Bad Blood Exhaust [ ]
11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame squares off against Moe Shishigawara as 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai shows his strength against Jackie Tristan.
Ikkaku dodges a tree felled by Moe, wondering how his attacks are strong enough to knock over a tree. Moe strikes him in the shoulder, dislocating it. Ikkaku uses his muscles to reset the joint, startling Moe.
Meanwhile, Renji refuses to attack Jackie first and asks about the engine on her arm. When Jackie asks how he knows about such things, he tells her that Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi brought one to Seireitei and was scolded for it. Jackie tells him that her Dirty Boots ability grants her more strength the dirtier she is and urges him to draw his sword. Renji dodges her initial attack and shrugs off the second, stunning Jackie.
Renji invites her to make her strongest attack, which he blocks with the back of his hand. He strikes her in the abdomen with the hilt of Zabimaru and tells her that for the last seventeen months, he has been training to be able to fight Sousuke Aizen.
466. Screaming Invader [ ]
Jackie Tristan sacrifices herself to save 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai while 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya defeats Yukio Hans Vorarlberna.
Renji carries Jackie as he searches for a way out of Yukio's dimension, stating that he had expected an exit to appear after defeating her. Jackie tells him it is likely because she is still alive. Surprised that she is conscious so soon, Renji praises her toughness. He declines her offer to kill her, before noticing that the sky is folding. Jackie states that Yukio had been watching them and is now erasing the dimension they are in. She urges him to kill her so that an exit can appear, but Renji again refuses, insisting that they will leave by force. Jackie comments that he is a good man before there is an explosion.
Yukio compliments her for sacrificing herself to save an enemy, but wonders if he survived. He is interrupted by the arrival of Hitsugaya, who tersely responds to the talkative Yukio as he creates monsters to attack the captain with. As he evades the attacks of the monsters, Hitsugaya surmises from listening to Yukio that the boy was abandoned. Yukio denies this, claiming to have abandoned his parents after ruining his father's business and taking his money for himself.
Hitsugaya sneaks up on Yukio as he talks and freezes him in place. He then reminds him that the monsters are still chasing after him as they bare down on the pair.
467. Luck Men [ ]
10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya bargains with Yukio Hans Vorarlberna to end the game while 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame toughs it out against Moe Shishigawara.
Hitsugaya surprises Yukio by sparing him from the monsters, but quickly encases him in ice, leaving just his head and arm free. Reasoning that the dimension they are in may not disappear if Yukio dies, Hitsugaya tells him he will let him live if he disables his Fullbring in the next five minutes.
Meanwhile, Moe becomes exasperated with Ikkaku, who is standing in mid air. The two come to blows again, with Moe breaking Hōzukimaru. Ikkaku switches to hand to hand combat. As the pair exchange blows, Moe wonders how Ikkaku is able to continue attacking despite the damage he has taken. After one of his attacks connects, but fails to hit the jackpot, Moe realizes that the probability of his Fullbring hitting the jackpot decreases the more he uses it in rapid succession.
He attacks Ikkaku once again, successfully getting a jackpot, but Ikkaku grabs him and head-butts him, leaving him slumped on the ground. Ikkaku then claims that he is the luckiest man in the Gotei 13.
468. Raid as a Blade [ ]
6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki fights Shūkurō Tsukishima while 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame talks with Moe Shishigawara about loyalty.
As they exchange words, Byakuya remarks that Tsukishima is a cautious man. Tsukishima states that he is thinking of a plan and begins cutting at his surroundings before the pair resume their battle.
Meanwhile, Moe grabs Ikkaku's leg as he tries to walk away, insisting that he will continue to fight the Shinigami. Ikkaku tells him there is no reason for him to die in this fight, prompting Moe to state that he has given his life to Tsukishima. Ikkaku asks if Tsukishima would give his for him as easily as he would, shouting at him that he should only die for those that would do the same for him. He calls Moe an attention seeker and offers to kill him if he persists.
Byakuya triggers a trap set by Tsukishima, who reveals that his Book of the End can insert his presence into the past of inanimate objects, allowing him to set the trap. He grabs Byakuya's wrist as he prepares to strike the captain.
469. Rag Lag Rumble [ ]
While Shūkurō Tsukishima exposes 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki 's weakness, Riruka Dokugamine uses her Love Gun on 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki before taking more drastic action.
After Tsukishima cuts him with Book of the End, Byakuya seals his sword and attempts to strike back. Tsukishima evades the strike, commenting that the captain's hesitation upon realizing that he knew of Senbonzakura 's abilities and weakness has seal his fate. Tsukishima reveals his knowledge of Senbonzakura' s " Hurtless Area ", an 85 cm zone that neither the Shikai nor Bankai will cut anyone. He states that he needs to attack rather than retreat in order to exploit this.
Meanwhile, Riruka uses her Love Gun to launch dolls and a cabinet at Rukia. Having finally revealed her location to Rukia, Riruka asks the lieutenant if she thinks that she can kill her. Rukia replies that she will not kill a normal Human as it is a Shinigami's duty to protect Humanity. As they fight, Rukia works out that the Love Gun can fire whatever objects are inside of it, but tells the Fullbringer that she cannot fight her as an equal regardless of how powerful it is. Riruka states that Fullbringers are more than just Human and uses her Addiction Shot to place Rukia inside a small plushie, asking if she can hold a Zanpakutō in that state.
Bleach, Volume 54
470. Pray for Predators [ ]
While 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki struggles against Riruka Dokugamine in her doll form, Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryū Ishida discover more about Kūgo Ginjō 's newly enhanced powers.
As they argue over what type of animal the plushie is, Rukia flees from Riruka Dokugamine. After a close call with the Fullbringer, Rukia tries to fire a Kidō spell at her, but it explodes inside the plushie, leaving Riruka somewhat surprised at what had just transpired.
Meanwhile, Uryū Ishida notes to himself that Kūgo has not only absorbed Ichigo's Fullbring, but all of his attacks are fused with Ichigo's own Reiatsu. Ichigo asks him if he has come up with a plan yet, commenting that he assumed he was trying to conceive one since he had told Ichigo to observe Kūgo. Uryū denies having a strategy and tries to warn Ichigo about what he has learned, but Ichigo heads out to fight the Fullbringer.
Ichigo begins to fire a Getsuga Tenshō at Kūgo, who encourages him. Uryū protests, but Ichigo fires it. Kūgo cuts through the attack and fires a Getsuga Tenshō back at him. Uryū fires a quick volley of arrows at Kūgo from a new, smaller bow, diverting attention away from Ichigo. Uryū warns Ichigo that Kūgo can likely use all of his own techniques against him, but Ichigo is dismissive of his warning.
Riruka asks Rukia if she now understands that Fullbringers are more than just normal Humans. Rukia notes that she is caught up in this idea and Riruka tells her that it is important as it allowed them to meet Shūkurō Tsukishima and be saved by Kūgo. Riruka begins to explain her "survival of the fittest".
471. Pray for Predators 2 [ ]
The past of several Xcution members is revealed and 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki fights back against Riruka Dokugamine.
Riruka tells Rukia about all of the histories of the members of Xcution and how they followed Kūgo. As she is doing so, Rukia manages to use her Zanpakutō 's Some no mai, Tsukishiro ability to freeze Riruka's left leg. Riruka then sneezes, releasing Rukia from the plushie and stabs her in the chest with the horns on her arm, which launches another ability on Rukia.
472. Razoredge Requiem [ ]
Riruka Dokugamine disappears, leaving 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki alone while 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki manages to defeat Shūkurō Tsukishima.
Rukia collapses after being stabbed by Riruka, who disappears out of sight.
Meanwhile, the fight between Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Tsukishima continues. Tsukishima taunts Byakuya by saying that even though Byakuya has quickly reverted to his Shikai's state after he has exploited his "Hurtless Area" and his skill has gone up with his broken sword, Tsukishima says that his seventeen months of training is useless and he has to keep using his Shikai. Tsukishima also states that even though Byakuya's skills has gotten better, he has also improved on the same amount.
Byakuya, after staring the blade of his broken sword, proceeds to initiate his Bankai. Tsukishima then says that he knows Byakuya will initiate Bankai, saying that he's seen it so many times until it's "downright boring". Tsukishima then proceeds to attack Byakuya inside his "Hurtless Zone", but was surprised when Byakuya launches his blades inside the zone, stating that he spoke too soon. Byakuya then states that since Tsukishima has discovered his "zero damage" zone he knew where he'll attack from. He also then says that if he lets his blades inside the zone he can still kill Tsukishima. Tsukishima then says that he doesn't remember 'training' this with Byakuya and claims it's a desperate move by him. Tsukishima then proceeds to continue attacking Byakuya, while saying that despite the fact that he can control his blades twice as fast with his hands, it is utter suicide controlling them in his "Hurtless Area".
Tsukishima then blocks Byakuya's hand, which makes him lose control of his blades and injuring himself. He then states that with a little adjustment of timing the blades become impossible to dodge. Byakuya then raises his bloodied left arm, which makes Tsukishima think that he's going to launch a Kidō move, who then says that he knows how to counter every one of his Kidō moves, and taunts him to try to prove it to him.
But then, Byakuya launches his arm straight into Tsukishima's chest, shocking him. He then realizes that Byakuya has discreetly grabbed some of his blades into his hand to stab him. Byakuya then states that battle is something to be prepared for and wage at peak condition, but then says for the first time, he has experienced the joy of being knee-deep in the fleeting moments of insanity during battle. He then thanks Tsukishima for the enjoyable battle.
473. Enemies In The Dark [ ]
As the others are freed from Yukio Hans Vorarlberna 's Fullbring, Invaders Must Die, Ichigo Kurosaki continues his battle with Kūgo Ginjō.
After Tsukishima is defeated by Byakuya, he says that Byakuya is pitiless and owes him everything. He also states that whether Byakuya feels any pain doing it to him. Byakuya replies by saying that he cannot begin to repay the debts he owes to Tsukishima, but then says whether it is debt or not, he is an enemy of Ichigo and feels no remorse in cutting him down.
Meanwhile, the 'chat room' that 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame was in dissipates and Captain Kenpachi Zaraki shows up, asking whether is finally out or not. Ikkaku then replies that his captain was early, only for Kenpachi to say that he is late. Lieutenant Renji Abarai then suddenly shows up, which surprises Ikkaku and makes him say that he's in a mess. Renji says that he managed to exit the 'chat room' after the explosion caused by Jackie Tristan 's sacrifice, but he couldn't move for a while. Ikkaku then asks whether the explosion was his doing and whether he has beaten his enemy or not. Renji replies that she's probably dead by now. Kenpachi then asks Ikkaku how did he manage, to which Ikkaku claims that he lectured his enemy and he went off somewhere. This made Kenpachi displeased, who then says that Ikkaku's a slacker.
Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya then shows up, with Yukio Hans Vorarlberna held captive behind him and exclaims that the first thing Kenpachi and Ikkaku did after getting out was getting into a fight. Kenpachi then retaliates by saying that Hitsugaya has nothing to do with it. Yukio then shouts to Hitsugaya on whether he'll release him or not as part of the deal, to which Hitsugaya replies that he'll only release him when everyone else has been freed. Hitsugaya then says that he doesn't see the two Kuchikis anywhere, which makes Ikkaku say that he should mention their given names to differentiate them.
Byakuya then appears, holding Rukia with him. Renji immediately rushes to his side, with Byakuya asking him to take care of her. Hitsugaya then asks whether Rukia's alright, with Byakuya replying that she's still alive, suffered only minor injuries and her Reiatsu is stable, but the only thing is that he can't find any presence of whoever Rukia's fighting. Hitsugaya then stares at Yukio while saying that he knows something. Yukio then replies by saying that he doesn't know much about Riruka's abilities and that they did not reveal their strengths to each other, so they only barely know about their skills. Yukio then pleads Hitsugaya to release him, only for Hitsugaya to say not just yet while pointing to the 'chat room' where Ichigo and Uryū were battling Ginjō. Yukio says that he can't undo that one, which makes Hitsugaya point his sword at him. Yukio then claims he isn't lying, while explaining that Fullbringers and Substitute Shinigami can trade their powers. He continues by saying that when they first joined Ginjō, they made a pact to share each other's powers and a small promise not meant to be broken. Yukio then says that his promise with Ginjō is that as long as he is within his ability's range, "dispelling" it is impossible without Ginjō's explicit order.
Ginjō is then shown launching a Getsuga Tenshō towards Ichigo. Ichigo then counters it by releasing his own Getsuga Tenshō and dashing towards Ginjō. Ginjō then swings his sword down onto Ichigo, but he manages to step aside. As they then clash swords, Ginjō exclaims that Ichigo's fighting well and it's like he doesn't care what happens to himself. Ichigo then says he's wrong, which makes Ginjō continue saying that he's just fighting to the best of his ability and asks what he's fighting for. Ichigo then asks him what he means, but Ginjō then cuts it short by stating that Tsukishima is dead. This surprises Ichigo, who then backs off. Ginjō then says that Tsukishima isn't really dead yet, but his Reiatsu is almost gone and that he only can last around 10 minutes at best, while also saying that when a Fullbringer dies, all traces of their ability will disappear. Ginjō continues that if Tsukishima were to die all the edited pasts that he "slipped" his presence into will all revert back to how it originally was and everyone going back to normal, to which Ginjō asks again what Ichigo is really fighting for. Ichigo was unable to answer it, which makes Ginjō begin telling him about "the enemy he should be really fighting".
474. beLIEve [ ]
Kūgo Ginjō reveals the truth of the Substitute Shinigami Badge to Ichigo Kurosaki.
After Tsukishima's defeat, the condition of Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado stabilizes. Kisuke Urahara leaves them in the care of Tessai Tsukabishi and heads off to the battle. He tells Isshin Kurosaki that most of the fighting is over and that he should remain behind. Isshin asks if the should join Ichigo's battle to end it swiftly, but Urahara interrupts him, saying that Ichigo will learn the truth from Kūgo. He says this is fine as he would have learned it regardless.
Ichigo dismisses Kūgo's words as an attempt to shake his resolve and Uryū agrees that he is mentally pressuring them, asking if Kūgo hopes that Ichigo will join him. Kūgo dismisses this, daring Uryū to fire an arrow at him. He then asks Ichigo about his Substitute Shinigami Badge, telling him that it was not given solely to those that prove to be of benefit to Soul Society. After asking if Ichigo has ever experienced the badge's authority, he claims that it is instead awarded regardless of whether the person is beneficial or not as a means of observing them and suppressing their Reiatsu.
Kūgo notes that while Ichigo was powerful in his Shinigami form, his Reiatsu was not a problem in his Human body and that when he first activated his Fullbring, his Reiatsu came pouring out of the badge. Insisting that Soul Society was controlling him, he states that Captain Jūshirō Ukitake is responsible for this scheme. He claims that they were both conned by him. Uryū thinks to himself that the worst case scenario is that neither of those things are true. Believing this information to be too much for Ichigo to bear right now, Uryū tries to intervene, but Ichigo then takes his stance and proceeds to reveal his Bankai.
475. Shades of the Bond [ ]
Yukio Hans Vorarlberna is shocked to see his chat room burst open as Ichigo Kurosaki releases his Bankai, prompting Kūgo Ginjō to do the same.
Rukia awakens to see the other Shinigami just standing around while Ichigo is still inside one of the pocket dimensions. Yukio tells her that even he cannot deactivate it and that they cannot break it. Rukia refuses to believe that and wonders if there is some other reason they do not act. To Yukio's shock, the dimension is broken apart by Ichigo activating his Bankai.
Ichigo tells Kūgo to be quiet and complains about Uryū worrying about him too much. He reveals that he knew there was something odd about what Ukitake had said, but one day he realized that if Ukitake was so much smarter than him, he could have easily avoided making Ichigo suspicious of the badge. Instead, Ichigo thinks that he did so intentionally and that he chose the path that would allow him to protect people. He swears to protect his friends and allies.
Kūgo responds by saying that he had not wanted to kill Ichigo and activates his Bankai.
476. THE LOST [ ]
Having fulfilled their objective, the Shinigami begin to leave as Ichigo Kurosaki and Kūgo Ginjō fight.
As Kūgo reminds Ichigo that Xcution's members all had parents who were attacked by a Hollow and that he has some Hollow in him, the pair clash.
To Rukia's surprise, Byakuya, Ikkaku, Kenpachi, and Hitsugaya turn to leave. Byakuya reminds her that they were only tasked with observing Ichigo and his decision. Kenpachi interjects that he only came because he was bored. Hitsugaya states that they knew that if a new Substitute Shinigami ever appeared, Kūgo would take an interest in them. The captains had agreed to use that Substitute to lure out Kūgo and get rid of them both.
But when they encountered Ichigo, Soul Society changed and they shared their power with Ichigo to restore his powers and went to watch over him instead of killing him. He reminds Rukia of her reaction to being told to observe Ichigo and acknowledges that she was correct. Hitsugaya states that he is glad Ichigo is the one that followed Kūgo.
As he fights Ichigo, Kūgo ponders Ichigo's actions and remarks that he intends to crush the Shinigami that betrayed him. He attacks Ichigo, who blocks the attack and slashes Kūgo across the chest.
477. THE LOST 2 [ ]
As Ichigo Kurosaki overwhelms Kūgo Ginjō, Shūkurō Tsukishima tries to intervene, but Riruka Dokugamine exits 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki 's body to stop him.
As Riruka listens to Rukia's thoughts about Ichigo changing Soul Society, Ichigo and Kūgo land nearby. They clash again, resulting in Kūgo's sword breaking and him being mortally wounded. Kūgo slumps to the ground, wondering what would have happened if Ichigo had become a Substitute Shinigami before him.
As Tsukishima tries to attack Ichigo, Rukia steps between them and Riruka bursts forth from her chest, taking the attack instead. She chastises Tsukishima for using an attack that would kill rather than alter memories. As Tsukishima screams at Kūgo not to die, Riruka tells him that Ichigo saved Kūgo while they could not.
Kūgo meeting Tsukishima for the first time is recalled.
478. THE LOST 3 [ ]
Shūkurō Tsukishima is upset at Kūgo Ginjō 's death, Yukio Hans Vorarlberna departs, and Riruka Dokugamine is still alive. Tsukishima has a realization.
Tsukishima cries out at the loss of Ginjō, yelling why did he have to die. He says that Ginjō taught him how to fight, but never taught him what to do if he died. Moe Shishigawara shows up and Tsukishima calms down and says the he sees, that's how things should be. Yukio and Jackie Tristan are then shown and Yukio is relieved that she survived. Jackie says that she might as well be dead since she lost her ability. Yukio says that good for her since she is the only one who hated her ability. Jackie tells Yukio that she found Giriko Kutsuzawa 's body on her way and buried it. Jackie says she is a bit jealous of Giriko who died with his Fullbring and that the only thing linking them together might have been their Fullbrings. Yukio says that he wasn't linked to anybody and that he'll come back in three years and the company will be three times as large. Jackie says they'll be waiting.
Riruka wakes up surrounded by Ichigo, Rukia, and Orihime. She is surprised to be alive and Ichigo states that Urahara came to get them, but they couldn't find any of the others. Orihime is shown lying next to her and is happy that she is alright. Riruka asks, what about Tsukishima, but Orihime asks who that is.
Shishigawara is walking holding Tsukishima on his back, who is not dead. Tsukishima says, now I see it Ginjō, and that it's only after he (Ginjō) died that he was able to see it, but that maybe Ginjō knew all along. Tsukishima thanks Shishigawara and says he was never alone.
479. Goodbye to Our Xcution [ ]
As Riruka Dokugamine leaves, Ichigo Kurosaki arrives in Seireitei and meets the new captains of the Gotei 13.
Urahara brings Riruka breakfast, but finds that she is gone, so instead offers the meal to Jinta Hanakari. Meanwhile in Soul Society, Co-3rd Seat Sentarō Kotsubaki informs Ukitake that Ichigo has defeated Kūgo, who is glad to hear the news.
A messenger reports to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that Ichigo has arrived in Soul Society. Ichigo is greeted at the First Division meeting room by many of the captains, including Captain Kensei Muguruma, who instructs him to go inside. Ichigo tells Yamamoto that he came to bring Kūgo's body back to the Human World to bury it. The captains are surprised by this. Captain Suì-Fēng protests that he is a criminal and murderer, while Captain Shinji Hirako asks if Ichigo can forgive Kūgo for what he did to his family. Ichigo replies that it is not about forgiving him, saying that everything is back to normal and he is just a Substitute Shinigami. Yamamoto states that he believes Ichigo has thought carefully about what he said.
Later, Captain Shunsui Kyōraku visits Ukitake, telling him that Ichigo is back and that he took his Badge with him. He states that he ask Ichigo, but that he apparently trusts them, commenting that he has grown up. Ukitake states that they had failed to realize this.
In the Human World, Riruka thanks Kūgo for inviting her to join Xcution, Chad for trusting them, Orihime for crying for her. As she silently leaves she expresses her hope that Ichigo would forget about her, but knows he will always remember Xcution.
Bleach, Volume 55
480. The Blood Warfare [ ]
While the Shinigami Research and Development Institute is alarmed by a rapid spate of Hollow disappearances, two new Shinigami are assigned to patrol Karakura Town.
In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi inquires about the status of the Shutara Scale, prompting his 3rd Seat, Akon, to relay that it is at category 4 and quite serious as the two of them ride an elevator down through the building. When Mayuri admonishes him for taking so long to report this, Akon apologizes and explains that they have been able to handle minor instances of this in past years with only slight adjustments, which led him to not take this to Mayuri until it became serious. While Mayuri and Akon reach the central monitoring room below, several technicians express alarm over the readings they are getting from various sectors and rush to correct them before a researcher approaches Akon and informs him that Hollows are continuing to disappear. With Akon asserting that he already knows the boundary between the Human World and Soul Society will be at risk of collapse if this continues to occur for a few more days and dismissing the researcher since he has nothing else to report, Mayuri affirms Akon's inference that only they could be capable of completely erasing Hollows like this.
Meanwhile, Ryūnosuke Yuki is woken up by an irritated Zennosuke Kurumadani, who responds to Yuki admitting that he was not listening by admonishing him for falling asleep while his superior is briefing him on the first day of his assignment, and when Yuki explains that he had to do this since he was too nervous to sleep well last night, Zennosuke counters this by asserting that sleeping during the day was not the only choice that Yuki had and points out how Yuki used this same excuse when he arrived late on a previous day before concluding that he has paid attention to what Yuki has said. Though Yuki praises him for this, an aggravated Zennosuke merely tells him to open his eyes. Shortly afterward, while walking along one of the streets, Yuki is observed to have been criticized harshly again by Shino Madarame, who slaps the side of his head when he looks back to see her and claims that this is the only way to get his attention when he complains about this.
Shino tells Yuki to display some confidence since they are heading out to their new post this afternoon, only for Yuki to explain that he is just nervous. When Shino claims that there is no reason for this when he is with her, Yuki elaborates that the rate of Hollow appearances in Karakura Town is high, which makes him question whether he is the right person to be sent in here in addition to the area already having a strong Substitute Shinigami protecting it that leaves him wondering why he is even here. In response, Shino angrily grabs Yuki by the collar and demands that he stop being so pathetic while clarifying that the Gotei 13 increased the number of Shinigami stationed here to two precisely so that they would not need to rely on the Substitute Shinigami as much, drawing the attention of other Shinigami nearby in the process. Though Shino concludes this proves his abilities were acknowledged when he was selected for this and that he should puff out his chest more, a chuckling Yuki merely notes that she does not have much of a chest to puff out herself, causing Shino to punch the left side of his face.
That night, a mysterious figure crushes and disperses a piece of Hollow bait on a rooftop in Karakura Town before moving back upon seeing Yuki and Shino exit a Senkaimon in the air nearby with Zennosuke, who asks a bruised Yuki about what happened to his swollen face. With Yuki claiming that he was born this way, Zennosuke rubs his chin and accepts this, to Yuki's disbelief, prior to stepping back inside the closing Senkaimon and encouraging Yuki and Shino to devote themselves to exterminating Hollows without fighting each other, which he assures them he is sincere about. Once the Senkaimon closes, Shino declares that they should split up and that she will be patrolling the north side while Yuki takes the south. When Yuki expresses shock at her not wanting to stay together for this, Shino questions why two of them would be sent if this were not the optimal solution and asks Yuki if he is scared, only for Yuki to respond to her demanding that he say so by bluntly confirming he is, causing an annoyed Shino to leap away and tell Yuki to find his resolve, to Yuki's chagrin.
Suddenly, Yuki hears a loud crashing noise and looks behind him to see a large, mono-eyed Hollow with four legs grinning at him from behind the corner of a nearby building, which prompts him to begin frantically running away as it gives chase and narrowly dodge strikes from its legs while calling out to Shino, whom he expects to reprimand him for announcing the Hollow's appearance like a new product is going on sale. However, Yuki is stunned to find a bloodied and motionless Shino being held in the grasp of an ape-like Huge Hollow while three others stand around them on a rooftop. Terrified by the sight of this, a trembling Yuki draws his Zanpakutō and mentally asserts that he has to be the one to save Shino since it is just the two of them, but the Hollow who was pursuing him slams one of its legs into Yuki, who is badly wounded and sent flying across the rooftop.
A heavily bleeding Yuki realizes that he cannot move his hands or body after a single strike and expresses shock at how much blood he is losing before realizing that he might die at this rate without even saving Shino, to his horror. Suddenly, a Getsuga Tenshō cuts through both the Huge Hollow holding Shino and the Hollow standing over Yuki while Ichigo Kurosaki steps forward and deduces that Yuki is filling Zennosuke's position, though he bluntly states that Yuki will not be of any use if he proves to be as useless as Zennosuke was. When Yuki questions who he is, a smirking Ichigo introduces himself as the Substitute Shinigami while the mysterious figure watches him from a nearby alleyway.
481. The Tearing [ ]
The Visored and Shinigami notice strange occurrences in the Human World and Soul Society as Ryūnosuke Yuki is filled in on what has happened over the past two days.
On a street in Karakura Town, Hiyori Sarugaki walks along with a towel wrapped around her head and a basket of conditioners and shampoos balanced on top as she praises how nice it feels to take a bath early in the day. When she is met with silence in response to this, Hiyori demands to know why none of her fellow Visored are answering her, and when Lisa Yadōmaru explains that Love Aikawa left to buy a copy of Jump and coffee-flavored milk, Hiyori points out that Lisa could have answered her and demands that Lisa give her the key to open the door to their warehouse, but Lisa reveals that Hachigen Ushōda is carrying the key and went to a café to cool off, leading Hiyori to note with irritation that Hachigen should have known he would get hot if he wore a suit to a public bathhouse. Suddenly, Hiyori smells a Shinigami and looks to her left to see a distortion forming in the air nearby, to her confusion.
Some time later, Ryūnosuke Yuki regains consciousness on Ichigo Kurosaki 's bed at the Kurosaki Clinic and bolts upright while admitting that he was not listening, only for Ichigo to bluntly assert that no one said anything and tell Yuki that he is free to leave if he is awake. Suddenly, Orihime Inoue bursts into the room with a tray of bread from the bakery she works at and expresses relief at Yuki being awake, though Ichigo wonders if the bread she brought is really good to eat since it being leftover from the bakery sales means that it did not sell well. In response, Orihime teasingly asserts that people who say this will not get any bread, prompting Uryū Ishida to walk in and observe that Orihime is correct since Ichigo always enjoys the bread she brings the most.
When Yasutora Sado joins them and affirms this, Ichigo tells them to shut up and demands to know why they are coming in without ringing the doorbell, which leads Uryū to explain that they met Yuzu Kurosaki outside prior to suggesting that Ichigo stop talking and get them some plates, though Ichigo is left irate at the idea of taking orders from him. While Uryū states that he is merely giving advice rather than orders and Ichigo tells him to shut up once more, an initially dazed Yuki screams in astonishment once he recognizes Ichigo as the Substitute Shinigami he met last night, with Ichigo deducing that this delayed realization is why he was so unresponsive until now. However, Ichigo clarifies that their first meeting took place two days ago and that Yuki has been asleep for over a day.
In the past, Ichigo cuts vertically through the skull of a Huge Hollow with his Shikai, Zangetsu, and when several more Huge Hollows rear up to attack him, Uryū blasts through them with several Heilig Pfeil and claims that this was a close one. However, Ichigo counters that the Heilig Pfeil were more dangerous and wonders if Uryū came here to get in his way, to Uryū's annoyance. Watching this, Yuki sees Shino partially healed by Sōten Kisshun and is told by Orihime that she will come back to heal them fully once this is over prior to Ichigo declaring that they should finish this and standing with Orihime, Sado, and Uryū in battle stances.
In the present, Yuki ruminates on how surprisingly strong Ichigo and his friends proved to be against the Huge Hollows before Ichigo hands him a plate of breads to sample. Ichigo notes that Yuki will not be able to eat like this and suggests that he get into the Gigai next to him, and when Yuki screams in fright upon seeing a blank-eyed Gigai with his appearance lying in bed next to him, Ichigo wonders if he has to scream at everything, though Yuki explains that he does not have time for this and frantically inquires about Shino's condition just before the latter walks into the room. Carrying two shopping bags with cola that she announces to the group, Shino stops in surprise and drops them upon seeing Yuki, whom she tearfully addresses before calling him pathetic and delivering a flying clothesline to a relieved Yuki. As Shino continues to berate and wrestle with Yuki in the background, Orihime laments Shino dropping the cola and Uryū suggests that they set aside the yakisoba bread since he believes Yuki would like it, but Ichigo immediately discerns that Uryū is really saying this because he does not want it.
Simultaneously, in the Rukongai in Soul Society, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame runs through the forest alongside 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, where he confirms to the latter that he is running because he heard the report and refuses to believe that residents of the Rukongai simply disappeared as he proclaims that someone messed with the wrong division's jurisdiction. Back at the Kurosaki Clinic, when Ichigo asks for Yuki's name, Asguiaro Ebern lands on Ichigo's bed and introduces himself, but in response, Ichigo states that he does not know who Ebern is and demands that the latter get off his bed.
482. Bad Recognition [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki is attacked by Asguiaro Ebern as Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto finds himself confronted by a mysterious group.
At Asguiaro Ebern 's request, Ichigo Kurosaki reiterates that he does not know who the former is and wants him to get off of his bed, only for Ebern to refuse. Upon hearing this, Ichigo kicks Ebern hard in the face, sending him flying out of the window that Orihime Inoue quickly opens behind him, which causes Yuzu Kurosaki to assume that he is fooling around with his friends upstairs as Yasutora Sado questions who he was and Uryū Ishida infers that he is probably an Arrancar due to the mask fragment on his face. Grabbing his Substitute Shinigami Badge, Ichigo promises to drive Ebern away since it will be a pain if he comes back and enters his Shinigami form, where Sado promises to join him alongside Uryū once they finish eating despite Ichigo promising him that it will be over by then, leaving Ryūnosuke Yuki to wonder who Ebern was while he and Shino Madarame clutch each other as Orihime chews on more bread and admits that she does not know.
In an intersection below, Ebern clutches his face and questions why Ichigo kicked him before the latter calls out to him from the air above and promises to hear Ebern out if the latter follows him since he assumes Ebern is here for him. Though Ebern calls him arrogant for this assumption and claims that Ichigo must be curious about who he is, Ichigo denies this and leaps away, resulting in Ebern frantically following him and demanding that Ichigo stop while the latter notes with annoyance that Ebern is acting just as expected. When Ichigo asks Ebern if Uryū was right about him being an Arrancar, to Ebern's annoyance. With Ichigo wondering if Ebern desires revenge for Sousuke Aizen, inquiring about whether he came with anyone, and questioning why he is here, Ebern expresses irritation at being called an Arrancar and moves into the air in front of Ichigo, who wonders what is wrong. In response, Ebern firmly states that he is not an Arrancar and flicks out his hand, revealing a Quincy Cross, before creating a set of Reishi Cannons from the air, leaving a startled Ichigo to recognize the Quincy Cross as Ebern asks him if he sees something familiar.
Simultaneously, in the west 64th district of the Rukongai, Sabitsura, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa comes to a halt in a village and muses that there really is no one here while 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame observes that this means the situation is getting worse, which prompts Yumichika to point out that the villagers may have gotten scared and left because of the disappearances, though Ikkaku counters that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute would be tracking them and keeping the rest of the Gotei 13 up to date if this were the case. Two of their subordinates approach and reveal that they could not find even a single child after searching the entire area. When Yumichika comments on the entire village disappearing like this being almost supernatural, Ikkaku refuses to accept such an explanation prior to one of the subordinates bringing them to a set of footprints in the dirt that converge and suddenly cease. After confirming Ikkaku's observation that there are only marks of bare feet and sandals, Yumichika deduces that the residents of this village abducted each other. In response, Ikkaku proclaims that they will determine what this means by continuing to investigate, which his subordinates affirm.
Simultaneously, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stands in his office and finishes receiving reports from the Ninth Division and Eleventh Division prior to the Shinigami reporting to him suddenly being attacked while beginning to deliver the Tenth Division 's report. Upon turning around, Yamamoto finds seven masked individuals standing across from him at the other end of the room, where Luders Friegen greets Yamamoto and states that they have come to declare war.
483. KriegsErklärung [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto learns the intentions of the Wandenreich as Asguiaro Ebern attempts to do something to Ichigo Kurosaki 's Bankai.
In Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto 's office, Luders Friegen points out how easy it was to infiltrate the office of the Captain-Commander and questions if Yamamoto's security is lax, but Yamamoto simply proclaims that there is no greater security than his own presence, which Luders acknowledges before declaring that this is Yamamoto's last moment of arrogance.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Asguiaro Ebern fires several blasts of Reishi from his Reishi Cannons at Ichigo Kurosaki, who evades and cuts through them with his Shikai, Zangetsu as he mentally struggles to reconcile Ebern using a Quincy Cross like Uryū Ishida 's despite looking like an Arrancar with his mask fragment. Ichigo continues evading blasts from Ebern as the latter reorients his Reishi Cannons and questions if this is really the extent of Ichigo's power. Noticing that Ebern has been taunting him like this and encouraging him to use his Bankai, Ichigo decides that he has no choice but to play along since he does not know who Ebern is or what he wants here before readying Zangetsu.
Manically delighted by Ichigo preparing to activate his Bankai, Ebern pulls out a Medallion and activates it, releasing a surge of energy around him that forms a massive X in the air, which he declares will be the end of Ichigo's Bankai. After activating Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo is startled by the activated Medallion, which releases several beams of light to envelop him while Ebern begins reciting a chant in German. However, despite the left arm of his longcoat beginning to crack and break off into the air from the effects of the Medallion, a yelling Ichigo manages to destroy the beams of light with a slash from his sword, to Ebern's disbelief, and fires a Getsuga Tenshō directly at Ebern.
Back in Yamamoto's office, 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe is impaled and pinned to the wall by a massive Heilig Pfeil. With Yamamoto expressing shock at this, Luders assures him that he does not need to mourn for Chōjirō, who has demonstrated the fate of a hopeless death following a desperate struggle that is destined for all of the Shinigami, before proclaiming that the Wandenreich will annihilate Soul Society in five days.
484. The Buckbeard [ ]
1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe reveals a terrifying capability of the Wandenreich as Asguiaro Ebern escapes from Ichigo Kurosaki.
Having been told by Luders Friegen that the Wandenreich will annihilate Soul Society in five days, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto moves to his lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe, with Shunpo, shatters the Heilig Pfeil impaling him, and holds Chōjirō with his left arm while glaring at Luders, who infers that Yamamoto wants to know who they are and refuses to tell him since he should already know prior to Shadows enveloping him and the other six individuals. In response to this, Yamamoto furiously tells them to wait and unleashes a torrent of flame with his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, that envelops the room and bursts out from the balcony. In the aftermath, Yamamoto sees that the messengers have disappeared and deduces that they can move through the Shakonmaku undetected because there are no traces of their Reiatsu within the Seireitei. Suddenly, a badly wounded Chōjirō reveals that there is something he must tell Yamamoto and reveals that the enemy can do something to their Bankai, to Yamamoto's alarm.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, a badly burned Asguiaro Ebern emerges from the smoke he was left in by the Getsuga Tenshō that slammed into him and demands to know why Ichigo Kurosaki 's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu did not disappear, only for Ichigo to hold his sword to Ebern's throat and pick up on this while musing that he now has many questions to ask Ebern due to the events of the last five minutes. Suddenly, when Ichigo asserts that Ebern is coming with him, a cursing Ebern creates a Shadow in front of himself, causing Ichigo to move back in alarm, and assures Ichigo that it only covers the chosen before vanishing once the Shadow moves back to envelop him and disintegrates into the wind, leaving Ichigo to wonder what this was since it was not a Garganta.
Shortly afterward, at Silbern, Luders walks into the main hall alongside his six companions and notices Ebern kneeling nearby, which he mockingly commends as he considers forgiving Ebern for getting overzealous on his mission and being left injured, though Ebern quickly clarifies that he would never bow before Luders. Suddenly, an aggravated Luders is interrupted when Yhwach cuts off his right arm, causing him to collapse and scream in agony while Yhwach reminds him that they are not to argue in his presence since he dislikes conflict before requesting that they relay their report for peace.
485. Foundation Stones [ ]
After learning of 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe 's death, Ichigo Kurosaki is met with the unexpected arrival of Nel Tu while Luders Friegen reports to Yhwach.
In Silbern, with Luders Friegen gasping in pain in a pool of blood on the floor in front of him after having had his right arm severed, Yhwach observes that he does not need to strain himself by attempting to sit up since he must be in incredible pain and permits him to give his report while lying down, which Luders thanks him for. However, when Yhwach notes that Luders does not need his legs either if he is not going to sit up, a mortified Luders forces himself up and claims that he would never disrespect Yhwach by talking to him by lying down. As a petrified Asguiaro Ebern watches this, a smirking Yhwach invites Luders to begin his report.
Meanwhile, at the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town, Ryūnosuke Yuki sits around the box of bread with Shino Madarame, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida, where he takes a bite of bread and laments that "he" is late. Upon being asked by Uryū about who he is referring to, Yuki clarifies that he means Ichigo Kurosaki and questions if they should not go help him, but Uryū asserts that there is no need to do so since the enemy's Reiatsu has already vanished and Ichigo would never lose to such an opponent anyway. After Uryū declares that he would never help Ichigo anyway and Sado counters that he would, Orihime chuckles and explains to a confused Uryū that she appreciates how he and Ichigo have become such good friends, which is what she likes about him, leaving a flustered Uryū to demand that she not tease him like this.
Suddenly, Ichigo announces his return and confirms to a pleased Orihime that he is not injured before Yuki's Denreishinki begins ringing with a recording of Shino humming, which he apologizes for and which Shino is alarmed by. After being punched in the face by Shino once again for pointing out how horrible the recording sounds at a certain point, Yuki answers the call, but quickly grows shocked and serious when informed of a funeral for 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe that he relays to Ichigo and his stunned friends.
In the past, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon stands in front of a transmitter in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and requests that Yuki listen closely and not ask any questions while he summarizes the situation so he does not have to repeat himself prior to detailing how seven unidentified individuals infiltrated Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto 's office, killing one Shinigami but leaving Yamamoto himself unharmed, while another unidentified individual appeared near Black Ridge Gate where the First Division was standing guard and killed 116 people in just over 3 minutes, with Chōjirō being mortally wounded and dying in Yamamoto's office shortly after. Following his observation that the total number of intruders is unknown due to all witnesses being killed, though Reiatsu measurements indicate that only one intruder was present, Akon concludes that the entry and exit methods of the intruders are unknown and did not disturb the Shakonmaku surrounding the Seireitei, indicating that they can safely travel through the Seireitei's spiritual barriers.
In the present, as the sun sets, Ichigo somberly looks out the window, admits that he does not like this, and decides to patrol the area prior to departing in his Shinigami form and leaping through the air, where he recalls Uryū theorizing that Yuki was given such a detailed report because the Gotei 13 knew he was with Ichigo and wanted him to know the situation before cautioning Ichigo to stay on alert since there is nothing else he can do besides waiting to be called on now that he has given Yuki details about Ebern. However, Ichigo is interrupted when Nel Tu screams his name and falls toward him from a Garganta high above, leaving Ichigo shocked just before she slams into him with Chōkasoku, resulting in the two of them crashing into a playground below with enough force to crater the ground upon impact. In the aftermath, an aggravated Ichigo sits up and berates Nel for doing this as soon as she sees him again after almost two years of being apart. Despite this, a weeping Nel begs Ichigo to help her because something terrible has happened in Hueco Mundo, to his astonishment.
Back in Silbern, Yhwach picks up on Luders proclaiming that Soul Society would be destroyed in five days, and when Luders explains that this would be enough time for both the Gotei 13 and the Wandenreich to prepare for battle, Yhwach reminds him that this is in the future, which unnerves Luders, and brings up the latter's assessment of Soul Society and the Human World collapsing in the near future if the Hollow population were left unchecked after being sent out to observe the border intensity level. When Yhwach inquires about whether he is a prophet, a trembling Luders is initially unable to answer him, but eventually confirms that he is not once Yhwach presses him on it, only for Yhwach to assert that he wishes to hear of the present instead of the distant future if Luders cannot accurately predict it prior to blowing the latter's head off in a fountain of blood. With Luders's limp body collapsing, Yhwach turns his attention to Ebern and notes that there is nothing worthy of praise or punishment about him since he kept Ichigo at bay. However, after Ebern thanks him for this, Yhwach tells him to become a foundation for peace and blows his head off as well.
Following this, one of the other messengers questions if a departing Yhwach is okay with disposing of Arrancar soldiers since he previously called them valuable for not requiring combat training, though Yhwach simply shapes the throne he was standing on into a set of stairs that he ascends toward a curtain above him as he proclaims that they can always get more Arrancar because Hueco Mundo is under his control and is simply another foundation stone toward invading Soul Society, which he emphasizes by pulling the curtain aside to reveal a bloodied and defeated Tier Harribel strung up in chains while in her Resurrección, Tiburón.
486. The Crimson Cremation [ ]
1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe 's funeral is held as Ichigo Kurosaki learns of Hueco Mundo being conquered and decides to aid the Arrancar.
In Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki is left alarmed by Nel claiming that someone has attacked Hueco Mundo and tries to get her to elaborate, but is forced to pull her aside when Pesche Guatiche crashes down next to him as well. Though an upside-down Pesche commends Ichigo for being able to dodge this even though his presence was concealed until the last second and attempts to introduce himself since his torso is stuck in the ground, Ichigo merely stomps on his crotch and identifies Pesche, who groans in pain. An annoyed Ichigo questions what Pesche was trying to do while he was trying to hear out Nel on Hueco Mundo's predicament, and when Pesche pulls himself out of the ground and reiterates that Hueco Mundo has been captured, Ichigo tells Pesche to stop positioning his rear end in the air and asserts that he already knows this.
Simultaneously, in the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants stand assembled before the crematorium containing 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe 's body, where 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki informs his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, that Chōjirō was a Shinigami who should have been a captain because he achieved Bankai before 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku or 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake were even born, but never displayed this ability in public even once since the Gotei 13 was founded. After noting that captains are not always men of integrity, which led some of them to disparage Chōjirō and treat him like a seated officer due to him not taking part in battles even after learning of his capabilities, Byakuya details how Chōjirō never once resented his position as a lieutenant despite this and always turned down offers to become an interim captain or hold the responsibilities of a captain as 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira and 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi did until recently whenever there was a vacancy from captains being replaced due to his fierce loyalty. With Renji startled by this, Byakuya observes that Chōjirō swore to remain a lieutenant to Yamamoto for as long as the latter was alive and concludes that Yamamoto's grief must be beyond imagining for the younger captains since Chōjirō died upon using his Bankai in battle for the first time. Standing mournfully in front of Chōjirō's pyre, Yamamoto orders that the fires be lit.
Meanwhile, at nighttime in the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo stands before Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida, whom he has brought to meet with Nel and Pesche in his bedroom, and apologizes for calling them over so late in the day, though Sado assures him that it is fine. With Sado questioning whether Hueco Mundo has truly been attacked by an outside force and reacting with confusion when Nel calls him a man from the giant tribe while wondering if he does not believe her, Pesche confirms that it has and explains that Tier Harribel has ruled Hueco Mundo since the deaths of Coyote Starrk and Baraggan Louisenbairn until the day that the Wandenreich arrived, where they defeated and captured Harribel herself. As Pesche concludes that the Wandenreich have taken several Arrancar to use as their own soldiers, Ichigo realizes that Asguiaro Ebern must have been one of them prior to Pesche revealing that they abducted Dondochakka as well.
After Orihime expresses concern over this, Sado observes that he does not even need to ask if they will since he knows Ichigo will want to help, which prompts Ichigo to confirm that he cannot just ignore the plight of the Arrancar after what he has heard. Suddenly, Uryū interjects to inform his friends that he cannot accompany them this time, but Ichigo accepts this since Quincy exist to destroy Hollows. Once Ichigo explains that he figured Uryū would respond this way and simply did not want the latter to sulk over not being consulted first, Uryū is left irritated while Ichigo promises him that they will manage even without him present, only to be interrupted when Kisuke Urahara comments on the interesting conversation they are having and offers to arrange a trip to Hueco Mundo while sitting on Ichigo's windowsill.
Simultaneously, in Silbern, three attendants clean up the blood on the floor as Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth picks up Ebern's Medallion and brings Yhwach 's attention to it. Haschwalth notes that it seems to have been used, but did not end up functioning properly, which Yhwach is perturbed by. With Yhwach determining that they will have to use a special method for Ichigo after all, Haschwalth asserts that being able to verify this is quite significant even though they expected it, and after musing that impatient fools are necessary at times, Yhwach instructs Haschwalth to have the Jagdarmee in Hueco Mundo capture a few more Arrancar, which Haschwalth affirms. Shortly afterward, several members of the Jagdarmee escort a line of chained and cloaked Arrancar through the sands while energy gathers unnoticed above them.
487. BREATHE BUT BLIND [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends return to Hueco Mundo as the Jagdarmee encounter powerful Arrancar.
In the Garganta, Ichigo Kurosaki runs along a golden Reishi pathway with Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, Nel Tu, and Pesche Guatiche, where he questions how Kisuke Urahara showed up when he did, leading Urahara to claim that he was hiding outside of Ichigo's window the whole time to wait for the perfect opportunity, though he asserts that this was a joke and that he was simply alerted by two Arrancar dropping into Karakura Town alongside Ichigo's earlier battle and the unusual activity in Soul Society before concluding that this is all connected and no longer a joking matter. With Urahara observing that it is time to exit, the Garganta opens in the air above Hueco Mundo to release Ichigo and his friends. Despite Nel expressing shock at emerging so high in the air, Ichigo calmly states that it is usually like this with Urahara, who is delighted by Ichigo knowing him so well, and the group is prevented from falling to the desert below by Orihime catching them with Santen Kesshun.
When one member of the Jagdarmee below notes that he heard voices, another points out that the only living things from this location are with them and that they killed everyone else. As the Jagdarmee members dismiss this and move on, Ichigo hides in the wreckage of a building with his left hand over Nel's mouth, his right hand gripping the bottom of Pesche's mask, and his other friends around him, where Sado observes that the Jagdarmee did not notice them, leaving Ichigo surprised since they made so much noise. In turn, Pesche claims that the Jagdarmee are fools, and when a startled Ichigo wonders how he can talk with his mouth covered, an unimpressed Pesche clarifies that Ichigo is simply grabbing a protuberance and berates him for doing so when Pesche is not even causing a commotion. Looking out onto the nearby rocks and sands filled with bodies, Urahara infers that the Jagdarmee did not return because all of the Hollows and Arrancar here are dead, which Orihime affirms after sending out the Shun Shun Rikka to inspect the mutilated corpses.
Pesche asserts that he did not expect anything different from the Wandenreich and points out a large blue flame burning on the sands, which he explains is highly condensed Reishi used by the Wandenreich to burn away even the rocks and buildings of Hueco Mundo that are otherwise inflammable and muses was one of the many unknown powers of the Wandenreich that sent the Arrancar into disarray and left them no choice but to run away. When Ichigo brings up the Arrancar that were taken captive, Pesche theorizes that they will be used in the Wandenreich's advanced guard and have a good chance of ending up like the dead Arrancar before them, which causes Ichigo to decide that they will go rescue the taken Arrancar as well. Though Pesche points out that Dondochakka is not in this group, Ichigo counters that they will be saving him anyway and that it does not make a difference if they save other Arrancar first, which Pesche admits is true, before leaping away. With Urahara wondering if Ichigo remembers that these Arrancar were his enemies not too long ago, Sado infers that Pesche knew Ichigo would react this way and do something about the plight of the Arrancar prior to Orihime insisting that they do something as well, which Sado agrees with. Watching Orihime and Sado run off after Ichigo, a stunned Pesche declares that they will act as well, to Urahara's concurrence.
Elsewhere, the captive Arrancar are lined up against a wall by the Jagdarmee before their captain, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, who sits on a throne with his head resting on his hand prior to getting up once his subordinate informs him of something. Among the Arrancar, Loly Aivirrne deduces that Quilge is the one they must take down, and when Menoly Mallia questions if they should really be doing this, Loly counters that they will end up dead anyway if they do nothing. Clicking his heels together, Quilge demands the attention of the captives and announces that they will be hosting a selection competition for the Hollows and Arrancar to determine which of them will live or die today. Quilge details how he will be stabbing each of the Arrancar in the side, starting from the right end of the line, and instructs them to get down on their knees and beg like they are licking the shoes of the Jagdarmee if they desperately wish to live.
With Quilge claiming that the captive Arrancar are those who had the luck, wits, and strength to survive the earlier assault of the Jagdarmee and must not waste this opportunity, a male Arrancar steps forward and begins to ask if he will be spared should he vow to serve the Wandenreich, but Quilge immediately impales him with a spear and proclaims that this is not how it works. After clarifying that joining the Wandenreich requires an entrance exam and that this selection competition simply determines who will get that chance, Quilge pulls his spear out of the dead Arrancar and begins impaling several others one at a time to illustrate what will happen to those who fail while his subordinates discuss his lack of interest in actually bringing back any Arrancar or even in Hueco Mundo itself. Suddenly, when Quilge stabs his spear at them, Loly evades to the side and grabs the shaft of the spear, to Quilge's surprise, before Menoly cuts through the spear with her Zanpakutō and holds it to Quilge's chin.
When two of his subordinates approach him in alarm, Quilge merely notes that they took too long to react and is left puzzled by Loly and Menoly still having their Zanpakutō since those were supposed to have all been confiscated, which one of his subordinates affirms in confusion. Once Loly and Menoly introduce themselves and claim that they would never be defeated by an underling like him, Quilge manifests his Reishi Sword and cuts through the blade of Menoly's Zanpakutō, throwing two Reishi daggers into Menoly's right shoulder at the same time, before punching Loly with the hilt of his Reishi Sword when she attacks him, incapacitating her. Walking away, Quilge orders his subordinates to punish Loly and Menoly without killing them, since Yhwach ordered him to bring back any foolish Arrancar with courage and they have passed this test, and ruminates on Sousuke Aizen not being as great as everyone considers him to be if he had such weak Arrancar as aides, though he admits that this is to be expected since even Harribel was powerless before Yhwach.
However, upon hearing the noises of pain behind him growing louder and turning around to reprimand his subordinates for overdoing it, Quilge sees Pulsera Cuerno decapitating dozens of his subordinates and hurtling toward him. With Quilge catching the Zanpakutō mid-flight without injury and wondering who they are, Emilou Apacci stands on a rocky outcropping alongside Franceska Mila Rose and Cyan Sung-Sun, where she expresses disbelief at Quilge speaking poorly of Harribel without even knowing who they are. As Apacci disparages Quilge for being clueless and demands that they tell him who they are, Sung-Sun questions who she is talking to and Mila Rose promises to kill Apacci if she gets too carried away.
488. Bond Behind Blast [ ]
The Tres Bestias battle the Jagdarmee as the captains of the Gotei 13 prepare for war against the Wandenreich.
Aggravated by Franceska Mila Rose promising to kill her if she gets too carried away, Emilou Apacci begins butting heads with the former atop a broken wall, and as the two of them scream death threats at each other, Cyan Sung-Sun confronts Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie on the sand below and notes that she will be dealing with him alone since the apes are busy fighting each other, to Apacci and Mila Rose's further ire.
Miles away, Ichigo Kurosaki moves along the sands and muses that he can sense a conflict in the distance before Nel Tu suddenly pops up on his shoulder and identifies this as the Reiatsu of the Tres Bestias. When an alarmed Ichigo wonders how long she has been there, Nel claims that she will be watching his back, which an exasperated Ichigo accepts, and explains that the Tres Bestias are three Fracción under Tier Harribel 's direct command who are strong, fearsome, and constantly trying to kill each other, which means that the Jagdarmee has no hope of winning. With a terrified Nel clutching Ichigo's eyes and wailing about the Tres Bestias, Ichigo protests that he cannot see where he is going while a perturbed Orihime Inoue warns him that the enemy might notice them if he makes all this noise.
Simultaneously, Apacci sneezes as she punches one of the Jagdarmee and wonders if Mila Rose is talking about her behind her back, prompting Mila Rose to casually cut through another soldier with her Zanpakutō and assert that she did not say anything before theorizing that Apacci's ears are rotten. With the two of them butting heads again, Sung-Sun shoves her Zanpakutō through a third soldier's head and suggests that Apacci and Mila Rose leave if they plan on squabbling so much, which leaves the remaining Jagdarmee bewildered and intimidated by their strength. However, when one of them runs to Quilge and requests that he give them a temporary withdrawal order, Quilge fires a Heilig Pfeil through his chest, drawing the attention of the Tres Bestias, and suggests that the Tres Bestias surrender rather than continue to fight. As Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun express confusion at this, Quilge elaborates that surrendering to join the Wandenreich will allow the Tres Bestias to serve Yhwach alongside their beloved Harribel, which he believes is a level of happiness that they will never be able to attain otherwise. However, after breaking a wall with her fist, Apacci rejects this and demands that Quilge stop underestimating them alongside Mila Rose and Sung-Sun. In turn, Quilge realizes that his negotiations have fallen through and expresses disappointment at this.
Meanwhile, in a captains meeting in the First Division barracks, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon finishes delivering his report on the incursion to the assembled captains and is dismissed by his captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who steps in to explain that the Ryoka identifying themselves as the Wandenreich are connected to the recent mass disappearance of Hollows in the Human World, which has caused a great imbalance of Souls and could possible mean the destruction of both the Human World and Soul Society itself. After assuming that the captains are astute enough to have already figured out that the only ones able to erase Souls from the cycle of rebirth are Quincy, which they silently look at him in response to, Mayuri admits that they do not know how the Quincy survived and expanded their forces, but asserts that they must be cautious about the Wandenreich 's ability to pass undetected through the Shakonmaku and Chōjirō Sasakibe 's dying words about their apparent capability to seal and neutralize Bankai.
Suddenly, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto interrupts to claim that Mayuri has shared enough information and request to know where the Wandenreich's base of operation is. With a hesitant Mayuri admitting that they have not determined this yet, Yamamoto concludes that they have no way to attack the Wandenreich yet and orders the captains to prepare for battle, as they have no reason to trust the declaration that the battle will begin in five days when the same faction dared to mount a surprise attack and must prepare for battle immediately so as to not let the Wandenreich get the upper hand again.
Back in Hueco Mundo, Ichigo sees another explosion in the distance and realizes that it was even bigger than the last one was, prompting Nel to reiterate that the Tres Bestias are strong like the devil and insist that Ichigo will not be of any help to them, which is why they should turn back. However, upon leaping up to the top of a rock formation overlooking the site of the battle, Ichigo is shocked to see Quilge standing over Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, who lie defeated with bloody wounds across the wreckage of the building behind him, and Quilge recognizes Ichigo as a Shinigami while musing that they are receiving a lot of guests today.
489. March of the StarCross [ ]
The lieutenants of the Gotei 13 discuss the strange situation in the Rukongai as Ichigo Kurosaki begins battling Quilge Opie.
With 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki nervously pacing back and forth in the room that she and the other lieutenants are gathered in for the duration of the current captains meeting, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai tells her to relax since her nervousness will not make the meeting end any sooner, and when Rukia protests this, Renji questions if he is wrong, prompting Rukia to counter that he cannot expect her to relax when they are in a crisis. Suddenly, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira requests the attention of his fellow lieutenants for a matter he wanted to discuss while they are all gathered here and asserts that their invasion by a rebel army, the mass disappearances of Hollows, and the sudden disappearances of Rukongai villagers are all connected to one thing, only to reveal that the Twelfth Division 's report claims that the Rukongai disappearances are unconnected to the first two incidents and attributes it to a quarrel among the villagers, which led to the investigation quickly being called off despite the disappearances continuing to this day.
Noting that he wanted to discuss this with the lieutenants because it does not make sense, Izuru asks them if any of them have investigated areas of the Rukongai past the fiftieth district, prompting 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi to confirm that 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa went to Sabitsura despite 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise wondering why this matters. In response to Izuru inquiring about what Ikkaku and Yumichika found, Yachiru admits that there were only footprints concentrated in one spot and suddenly disappearing as everyone else found, which led them to believe the villagers fought each other since there were no Hollow tracks, but Izuru clarifies that he wants to know what type of footprints they found, leading Yachiru to inform him that it was bare feet and sandals.
With Nanao startled by this, Izuru observes that this lines up with his suspicions and explains to 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi that a study of the Rukongai found that the standard of living drops drastically just outside of the fiftieth district because of an increasing number of residents who wear rags and walk barefoot, with the last 550 years of statistics indicating that not a single villager has been found wearing sandals outside of the fifty-ninth district, causing Izuru to conclude that any sandal prints found in Sabitsura should belong to Shinigami. While the other lieutenants stare at him in concern over this, Izuru muses that he thought it was strange of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute 's Reishi Investigation Unit to not be accompanying this kind of investigation as they normally would and turns to 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi, whom he asks about what her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, is hiding, though Nemu simply states that Mayuri has not given her any information on this matter. When Izuru promises to report this to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Nemu asserts that he may do as he pleases since there is no way Mayuri would do anything wrong.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, with Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie having effortlessly defeated Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun, Nel Tu peers over Ichigo Kurosaki 's shoulder and expresses shock at the Tres Bestias being incapacitated as Quilge comments on the unusual sight of a Shinigami with an Arrancar on his back. Suddenly, Quilge reveals that he knows all about Ichigo, who recalls Asguiaro Ebern coming for him as well and admits that it is not surprising for them to know about him, and attributes this to the Daten provided by Yhwach listing Ichigo as a Special War Power whose defeat must be prioritized before his subordinates leap up from behind him. Jumping back into the air, Ichigo notices the Jagdarmee soldiers moving through the air around him with Hirenkyaku and aiming Heilig Bogen that they fire Heilig Pfeil at him from just like Uryū Ishida does, creating a powerful explosion once they all slam into Ichigo. When Ichigo emerges unscathed from this with Nel and begins to realize what the Wandenreich are, Quilge is left incredulous at Ichigo engaging them without knowing what they are, though he surmises that Ichigo had a suspicion without any certainty to it, and confirms that they are Quincy while manifesting his Reishi Sword, creating a Heilig Bogen on the hilt, and firing his own Heilig Pfeil at an astonished Ichigo.
Simultaneously, in Silbern, Yhwach is informed of Ichigo entering Hueco Mundo and battling Quilge, prompting him to decide to move out and explain to his unnerved subordinate that they will be invading Soul Society, since Quilge keeping Ichigo occupied for some time means there is no better opportunity to begin the invasion than now even if he does not know why the latter entered Hueco Mundo, before ordering that the Sternritter be alerted to the invasion's commencement.
During this, in his damaged office in the First Division barracks in the Seireitei, Yamamoto stands before Mayuri, who confirms that he made the decision to mobilize the Twelfth Division to expunge 28,000 Souls living in the Rukongai in order to correct the balance of Souls. In turn, Yamamoto inquires about why Mayuri did not request permission since he would have received it in such a dire situation, which prompts Mayuri to assert that an escalation of the situation that could have occurred while he was waiting for permission being something he could not take responsibility for. Though Yamamoto counters that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute could have prevented this entire situation by reporting the matter and promptly dealing with it much earlier than they did, Mayuri declares that Yamamoto is wrong and reminds the latter of how he warned Yamamoto of this possibility when Uryū infiltrated the Seireitei as a Ryoka, though Yamamoto disregarded this, prior to angrily concluding that everything which has transpired falls on Yamamoto for his failure to kill Yhwach 1,000 years ago.
Bleach, Volume 56
490. March Of The StarCross 2 [ ]
The Sternritter prepare to invade the Seireitei as Ichigo Kurosaki 's battle against Quilge Opie continues.
In Silbern, the Sternritter are relayed an order from Yhwach to equip themselves and assemble at the Gate of the Sun immediately to commence their invasion of Soul Society due to Ichigo Kurosaki, one of the Special War Powers, engaging their forces in Hueco Mundo, where Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stands at the forefront.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie observes that all the Heilig Pfeil he fired hit their mark and tells Ichigo that he can do better, only for Ichigo to drop his Shikai, Zangetsu, out of the plume of smoke engulfing him and muse on how he was told Quincy only use bows as the smoke clears to reveal him holding Quilge's Heilig Pfeil with his bare hand. Throwing the Heilig Pfeil back at a stunned Quilge, who is engulfed in a strong explosion upon impact, Ichigo drops to the sands below, and when Orihime Inoue runs toward him with Yasutora Sado, Ichigo throws a motionless Nel Tu to her so Orihime can look after her prior to turning around and firing a Getsuga Tenshō into the cloud of sand surrounding Quilge when six more Heilig Pfeil are fired at him from within it, with the Getsuga Tenshō intercepting all of them and disappearing into the cloud.
From within the sand cloud, Quilge commends Ichigo's performance and emerges while admitting shame at his own lack of skill. However, Ichigo assures Quilge that his Heilig Pfeil are much stronger than Uryū's are, though he clarifies that it has been a while since he has been hit by one of the latter's, prompting a surprised Quilge to assert that Uryū's Heilig Pfeil being weaker than his own is impossible, to Ichigo's confusion. When Ichigo questions what he means, Quilge realizes that he has said too much and apologizes while sheathing his Reishi Sword and musing that he will have much to report to Yhwach after the battle. Though Ichigo questions who Yhwach is, Quilge declines to answer this and explains it will not do Ichigo any good to know because he has just been ordered by Yhwach to kill Ichigo right here, which makes it pointless for the latter to gain information on the Wandenreich.
Quilge invites a startled Ichigo to take a good look at the power he must have heard about, the Quincy: Letzt Stil, and pulls off his right glove to reveal a Leiden Hant with the emblem of the Wandenreich emblazoned on the back, which creates a massive Reishi cross around him as Ichigo recognizes the technique that Uryū once used. Upon shattering, the Reishi cross falls apart to reveal Quilge, who has gained two large wings, gloves with large wristguards, large boots, and a large Heiligenschein all composed of Reishi, which he identifies as being properly called a Quincy: Vollständig.
Upon seeing the resulting explosion of force from this in the distance from several hundred meters away, Pesche Guatiche tells Kisuke Urahara to hurry, though the latter reminds Pesche that he is the one who suggested they save Dondochakka Birstanne while Ichigo is distracting the enemy as he carries an upside-down Dondochakka on his back. With Dondochakka musing on how close this was, Pesche explains that he did not think it would be so difficult and kicks Dondochakka in the back for choosing to hide in the sand on top of being heavy. Suddenly, Urahara looks behind them in alarm as Yhwach stands calmly in the air above the Seireitei.
491. Toden Engel [ ]
Quilge Opie demonstrates the power of the Quincy: Vollständig against Ichigo Kurosaki.
In Hueco Mundo, Orihime Inoue crouches next to Loly Aivirrne, Menoly Mallia, Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun, whom she heals with Sōten Kisshun as she remains inside the barrier with Nel Tu and Yasutora Sado. Watching Ichigo Kurosaki stand across from Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, who has activated his Quincy: Vollständig, Orihime notes that something is not right since there was no Reishi shockwave from this activation and she does not feel any Reiatsu from Quilge either. After wondering if Ichigo can feel the pulsation of his power, Quilge appears behind Ichigo faster than the latter can react, manifests his Reishi Sword, and declares that he will punish Ichigo before bringing his sword down, creating an explosion of force upon impact.
In the past, in his Study Chamber beneath the Urahara Shop, Kisuke Urahara pulls Ichigo aside to tell him about the Quincy: Letzt Stil while obfuscating where he learned the information from since he believes the latter should know of it. Urahara informs Ichigo that the Quincy: Letzt Stil is the reason Uryū Ishida lost his Quincy powers and details how using the Sanrei Glove aids a Quincy by heightening their Reishi absorption abilities before letting them gain a Quincy's greatest power upon removal, which is the Quincy: Letzt Stil. However, Urahara clarifies that it is also the final power that can be obtained by a Quincy because activation of it uses up a Quincy's power and eventually causes them to lose their abilities altogether.
In the present, Ichigo leaps out of the resulting sand cloud and mentally questions if this is the same power that Urahara told him about due to how strong Quilge seems and turns around to defend himself from Quilge, who soars out of the cloud as well and crosses swords with Ichigo. Having noticed, Quilge realizes what he is thinking and clarifies that this is a wholly different power from Quincy: Letzt Stil. With his sword managing to graze Ichigo's cheek once they separate, Quilge begins repeatedly clashing with Ichigo and explains that the Quincy: Letzt Stil is a relic of the past which died out 200 years ago due to its fragile nature, with Sōken Ishida being the only one to cling to it due to his rejection of the Wandenreich's research and evolution. While Ichigo blocks an overhead strike with both hands on Zangetsu and is pushed to the desert below, Quilge concludes that the difference between this and the Quincy: Letzt Stil is like that of heaven and earth, but Ichigo merely notes he is glad this is not the power Uryū used because it would make him look creepy.
Upon seeing an upset Quilge recoil slightly at this, Ichigo notes that he has eased the pressure on his blade, moves back, and fires a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō that rips through the landscape before him, only for the clearing sand to reveal Quilge unharmed despite having Ichigo's Shikai, Zangetsu, pressed against his neck. Advising Ichigo to aim his strikes as the former leaps back, Quilge claims that Ichigo would not find any weaknesses even if he did before proclaiming that Ichigo finding his form creepy is the correct response since the atrocious Shinigami should find their executioners horrifying and eerie. Quilge holds his sword aloft and begins forming a cross-shaped mass of Reishi at the tip by absorbing Reishi from his surroundings with Sklaverei, causing Sōten Kisshun to be torn apart before a stunned Orihime's eyes, and while Sado observes that everything made of Reishi in Hueco Mundo is converging on Quilge through this technique and Orihime realizes that she did not feel a shockwave earlier because Quincy absorb Reishi rather than emit it, Quilge names his Quincy: Vollständig as Piskiel and tells Ichigo to receive its power.
Suddenly, before Quilge can attack, he is punched several dozen meters away by Ayon, to Orihime's shock. With Quilge wondering what this monster is, Mila Rose infers that Quilge let down his guard once he believed they could no longer fight, Sung-Sun reminds him that he should not have underestimated them, and Apacci tells Ayon to show Quilge his power.
492. Balancer's Justice [ ]
Ayon pulverizes Quilge Opie as 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru explains the history between the Shinigami and the Quincy.
When Ayon turns to look at the Tres Bestias, Franceska Mila Rose wonders what he is looking at and Cyan Sung-Sun refuses to believe he is worried about them, but Emilou Apacci assures Ayon that he does not need to mind them and can cut loose, prompting Ayon to open his eyes and roar loudly, generating waves of force that radiate across the desert. Apacci explains to Ichigo that Ayon is a being born from the fusion of the severed left arms of the Tres Bestias who possesses great power and an unpredictable nature prior to warning him that he and his friends should get out of here if they do not want to die since they are not the enemy of the Tres Bestias this time. With Ayon lunging toward him, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie asserts that the former cannot overcome his Quincy: Vollständig, only for Ayon to punch Quilge hard enough to make him bleed.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Ryūnosuke Yuki and Shino Madarame are angrily ordered to find their post with 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru by another Shinigami, leading them to frantically run off as Shino chastises Yuki for taking so long in the bathroom. As they run, Yuki brings up the question of why they have to fight the Quincy, and when an incredulous Shino reminds him that the Wandenreich declared war on them, Shino clarifies that he is asking about the reason that Shinigami and Quincy are at odds with each other to begin with when they share the goal of destroying Hollows. With the two of them coming to a halt, Kajōmaru approaches them and muses that the rumor about the Shin'ō Academy leaving such things out of their classes was true after all. Though an awestruck Shino bows to him and apologizes for being late to deploy, Kajōmaru assures her that it is alright and notes that they have time to talk since the alarms have not rung yet before noting that the biggest difference between Shinigami and Quincy lies in the way they dispose of Hollows, with Shinigami cleansing their Souls and sending them to Soul Society while Quincy kill Hollows and completely extinguish their Souls.
Once Yuki confirms that he is aware of the Shinigami previously being called Balancers, Kajōmaru explains that this indicates the essence of a Shinigami's job because the Souls that exist in the Human World and Soul Society are evenly distributed at all times while remaining separated by the Dangai so they do not come into contact with each other and potentially cause the collapse of the two worlds by disrupting the balance between them. Kajōmaru details how they both send Souls to the Human World from Soul Society as living organisms and guide dead Souls to Soul Society without discrimination, which allows them to keep an eye on the total number of Souls and adjust the balance with the Human World accordingly, but observes that Quincy disrupted the balance by destroying Souls that became Hollows so they cannot return to Soul Society, leading to the number of Souls increasing only in the Human World until the equilibrium eventually falls apart and Soul Society flows into the Human World to destroy both realms completely.
With Yuki and Shino alarmed by this concept, Kajōmaru recounts how the Shinigami had approached the Quincy for a dialogue in order to prevent this destruction, only to be rejected each time, which eventually led to the Quincy extermination being carried out 200 years ago to prevent the encroaching destruction of the world after endless debate within Soul Society and continued conflicts with the Quincy themselves. After observing that their goals do not mesh and the grudge born of that genocide will never fade, Kajōmaru concludes that the Shinigami and Quincy have no choice other than fighting and asks Yuki if he understands, though Yuki insists that he has a single question to ask. When Yuki questions if the Shinigami are fighting for the sake of justice, Kajōmaru observes that self-defense or conquest take place when one side is justice, but muses that this war is occurring because both sides are just.
Back in Hueco Mundo, Ayon repeatedly punches Quilge, who coughs up blood, and brutally pounds him into the desert sand over and over with his fists, leaving Orihime Inoue horrified within her rebuilt Sōten Kisshun and Yasutora Sado unnerved at how out-of-control Ayon is. Eventually, Quilge is left embedded upside-down in the sand with only his legs and parts of his wings remaining visible, to the delight of the Tres Bestias. Despite this, when Apacci admits her surprise at Quilge remaining intact even after this beating and approaches him, she is stabbed through the chest by his Reishi Sword, to her, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun's shock. As Apacci collapses, Quilge stands up and notes that this level of power was not reported to him as he pushes his broken neck back into place and muses that he must ask Yhwach to adjust the strength of their Blut before promising that they will all die here first.
493. Light of Happiness [ ]
Quilge Opie empowers himself by absorbing Ayon with Sklaverei as the invasion of the Seireitei commences.
Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie begins repairing his Quincy: Vollständig, Piskiel, with Sklaverei and tells Ayon that he will be the first to die, only to correct himself and clarify that Ayon will live instead. As a roaring Ayon rushes toward him despite Franceska Mila Rose 's warning, Quilge tears the flesh off Ayon's bones with Sklaverei as well, causing him to collapse while elements of his appearance are integrated into Quilge's body and Piskiel, which results in two large eyes appearing on Quilge's wings, his teeth growing large and lipless, and his left arm gaining a huge amount of muscle mass. During this process, Quilge details how Sklaverei is the basic Quincy ability of Reishi absorption taken to its limit to become Reishi subjugation and admits that he did not want to use it since it makes him unsightly.
In response, Rose picks up Emilou Apacci and leaps away alongside Cyan Sung-Sun, who lands before Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado to use Muda, shedding her skin and creating a large dome that camouflages the area around them. Upon sensing the disappearance of their Reiatsu, Quilge notes that this decision to go into hiding and keen sense for danger is very beastlike. Within Muda, Mila Rose clarifies that rather than saving Orihime and Sado, she and Sung-Sun can see that the two of them have enough Reiryoku to cause even more problems if Quilge absorbed them. Though she initially does not know who they are, Mila Rose recognizes Orihime as the princess brought to Las Noches by Sousuke Aizen and expresses disbelief at her returning to Hueco Mundo, but Sung-Sun insists that they ask about this later and outlines how everything in Hueco Mundo and Soul Society being comprised of Reishi means Quilge's Sklaverei will quickly rip their bodies apart and prevent them from even attempting to battle him.
However, after Sung-Sun explains that Muda completely conceals their presence with optical camouflage and Reiatsu partition, which will allow them to remain inside it while moving to Ichigo Kurosaki 's location, Quilge absorbs the section of Muda behind her and praises this as a smart move, only to claim that she failed to take their difference in power into account and initiate Sklaverei once more, resulting in Mila Rose and Sung-Sun having parts of their skin bloodily ripped off. Seeing the same phenomenon occur on her arms and face, Orihime desperately shields Nel Tu as Sado experiences the same phenomenon on his chest and neck. While passively watching this, Quilge observes that such struggles always reaffirm his beliefs, laments how unsightly the deaths of the weak are, and coldly tells those before him to die. Suddenly, a black Getsuga Tenshō from behind him shatters his Heiligenschein while Ichigo comes down on Quilge with his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and forces him into a blade lock as the Getsuga Tenshō explodes in the distance. Ichigo notes that Quilge cannot use Sklaverei anymore once his Heiligenschein is destroyed, and after admitting that it takes courage to actually act on this beyond just realizing it, Quilge expresses annoyance at how difficult it is to deal with Ichigo.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru notices Ryūnosuke Yuki sweating in a battle stance and assures him that there is no need to be so tense, since most of the damage from the last incursion occurring near the Black Ridge Gate means that the enemy should enter through the gates, which will allow them to receive word from one of the gates when this happens. However, Yhwach merely notes that this makes sense while standing in the air above the assembled Shinigami, and though Kajōmaru assures the startled Shinigami that Yhwach cannot do anything to them while outside the Shakonmaku, a terrified Yuki points out that Yhwach is already inside the Shakonmaku just before several gigantic Reishi pillars erupt behind Kajōmaru, causing Yhwach to muse that conflict is a bitter affair.
494. The Closing Chapter Part One [ ]
The Sternritter begin their assault on the Gotei 13.
With gigantic pillars of Reishi erupting across the Seireitei, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki watches his subordinates rush past in confusion while 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira, and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai look outside in astonishment at the pillars. As 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru realizes that these are pillars of blue fire instead of light, 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu express disbelief at the Reishi density and sheer number of the pillars prior to Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki running past them and declaring that she is headed toward the base of the pillars due to the high likelihood that the enemy leaders should be there, leaving Sentarō and Kiyone to look at each other.
Simultaneously, in the wreckage of his office, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto asserts that he is stepping out and tasks 1st Division 3rd Seat Genshirō Okikiba with guarding the barracks, which the latter affirms. Near the Third Division barracks, Izuru stands before one of the pillars alongside his subordinates and asks the Shinigami Research and Development Institute technician behind him about how much longer his analysis will take, though the technician apologetically explains that the sheer density of the Reishi is making his instruments malfunction. Upon being asked by Izuru if he believes the enemy is in the pillars too, 3rd Division 3rd Seat Rikū Togakushi confirms that he cannot think of anywhere else they would be as 5th Seat Taketsuna Gori claims to be yawning from the boredom of not getting to fight the enemy yet, which prompts 6th Seat Asuka Katakura to express hope that Taketsuna bites his tongue in surprise by yawning when the enemy comes out.
Suddenly, the technician announces that he has detected a Reiatsu within the pillar with a 93% match to the previous sample collected and concludes that it is a Quincy, alerting those present. Once he sees Sternritter "H" Bazz-B 's silhouette within the pillar, Izuru orders his subordinates to attack, but a beam of fire blasts out of the pillar and between the other Shinigami to punch through Izuru, leaving a large hole in the side of his torso and severing his right arm. Alarmed by this, Rikū admonishes Bazz-B for performing such a dishonorable surprise attack and has Taketsuna and Asuka release their respective Shikai, Shunjin, Katakage, and Mogaribue to confront Bazz-B themselves. However, this is interrupted when Bazz-B rushes forward and slams his fists into Asuka and Taketsuna's heads, driving them into and crushing them against the pavement, before quickly killing a stunned Rikū as well.
With the other Shinigami fleeing in terror at the sight of this, Bazz-B lowers his hood and apologetically proclaims that they have been ordered to kill everyone while Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci, Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine, and Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt emerge from their own pillars. Above them, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth tells the mobilizing Gotei 13 to tremble because the Sternritter are about to purge them. Within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, a researcher informs 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon that even though they have detected enemy Reiatsu in sixteen locations across the Seireitei, Reiatsu belonging to Shinigami is disappearing in locations where they have not detected any invaders, with the likely reason being that the technicians accompanying them were killed before they could transmit their findings. Learning that the Reiatsu of Izuru and three of his seated officers have disappeared and that 86 Shinigami have been killed in the western districts, Akon is left speechless at the Gotei 13 sustaining over 1,000 casualties in the first seven minutes of the invasion and expresses disbelief that they could ever win this battle as Ichigo Kurosaki continues battling in Hueco Mundo.
495. Bleeding Guitar Blues [ ]
The captains of the Gotei 13 confront the Sternritter.
In front of the Third Division barracks, a Jigokuchō flies to Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, who stands over several dead Shinigami and acknowledges the information relayed to him about the disappearing Reiatsu of his lieutenant, Izuru Kira, three seated officers, and 27 other Shinigami. Across from Rose, Sternritter "U" NaNaNa Najahkoop notes that this did not seem like good news and inquires about whether someone died. Though Rose questions if there is a reason to answer this, a grinning NaNaNa elaborates that Sternritter "H" Bazz-B landed near Rose's subordinates and messed up if he left any of them alive. However, Rose counters that it is not artful to find faults among one's comrades like this. Looking at his Zanpakutō, Rose muses that he always gets flashes of inspiration from looking at Izuru and recalls that simply holding a guitar near him causes melodies to flow out like tears, meaning that he and his guitar would be devastated if Izuru were gone. In turn, NaNaNa admits that he does not understand art and promises Rose that he and his guitar will not get the chance to cry because he will be dead in five minutes, but Rose merely notes that NaNaNa really does not understand art and explains that he is already crying from the deaths of so many of his subordinates before warning NaNaNa that he should not expect to make it out of here alive.
Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, several Shinigami are impaled on the Reishi Thorns of Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt as others nearby wonder why none of their attacks are working and why the dying Shinigami on the thorns are screaming in terror. Upon seeing his comrades fleeing, one of the Shinigami desperately asks them to come back because they are to protect the Seireitei with their lives rather than save themselves and closes his eyes as he confronts Äs alone. Suddenly, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai embeds his Shikai, Zabimaru, in the ground between them and praises the Shinigami for his proclamation. With the Shinigami relieved to see him, Renji promises to take over from here.
During this, at the Seventh Division barracks, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine cuts several Shinigami in half with her Reishi Sword prior to being stopped when Captain Sajin Komamura grabs her wrist and is left aghast by a young girl fighting for the Wandenreich, though Bambietta counters that Soul Society must be seriously understaffed if they promoted a dog to captain. Across the Seireitei, Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci confronts 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi while 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku approaches Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone. Elsewhere, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng sees Sternritter "K" BG9 around a corner, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake is confronted by a black-haired Sternritter, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya glares at Sternritter "I" Cang Du, who stands on a wall opposite him.
Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji repeatedly attacks Äs with extending strikes of Zabimaru, only for Äs to effortlessly block them without injury using his Blut Vene -enhanced skin. Just as Renji notices Äs' veins glowing blue whenever he blocks a strike and decides to speed up his attacks after questioning if it is a unique ability or one that all Quincy possess, Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine comes down on him from above. When Renji leaps away at the last second, leaving him to punch the ground, Mask follows him into the air, only for 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki to intercept Mask's next strike with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, to Renji and Mask's surprise. Approaching them, Byakuya asserts that there is no reason for Renji to hold back because the Wandenreich wishes to destroy the Seireitei, which means that Renji should cut them down with everything he has got.
496. Kill The Shadow [ ]
The captains of the Gotei 13 decide to bait the Sternritter into using their Medallions in order to figure out how to break the seals on their Bankai.
At the Blue Stream Gate, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth approaches 13th Division 6th Seat Hidetomo Kajōmaru and the other Shinigami stationed nearby. When Kajōmaru promises to stop him, Haschwalth permits him and the other Shinigami to run since none of them are worth the time of the Sternritter, and when Kajōmaru is offended by this mockery, Haschwalth observes that Kajōmaru is so overcome by fear that he has subconsciously shifted the matter from life and death to restraining Haschwalth, only to declare that the war has already begun. With Kajōmaru screaming and rushing toward him, Haschwalth vertically bisects the former with his sword, causing his blood to splatter across the ground.
Meanwhile, at the Sixth Division barracks, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki asserts that the despicable Sternritter are the ones responsible for Chōjirō Sasakibe 's death and for causing bloodshed in the Seireitei, which is why there is no need for his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, to show them pity. With Renji insisting that he was not showing pity, Byakuya responds to Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt attempting to move by surrounding the latter's hand with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, and ordering him not to do so, and when Renji warns Byakuya that their swords cannot cut the skin of the Sternritter, Byakuya denies this being possible and intensifies his assault, causing a startled Äs' hand to be cut in several areas despite his Blut Vene. Once Mask runs over to Äs in confusion and concern, Byakuya suggests that he not make any sudden movements either while destroying the floor beneath Mask with Senbonzakura, causing the latter to fall through the hole into the building below as he screams in alarm.
After asserting that this battle is now two against one, Byakuya reforms his sword before instructing Renji to finish Äs off with his Bankai should the latter seal Byakuya's own, to Renji's shock. Byakuya recounts how Chōjirō's report revealed that the Wandenreich possesses some method of sealing their Bankai and responds to Renji asserting that this is why they cannot use their Bankai by pointing out that the Sternritter are not an enemy that can be defeated without using Bankai. Simultaneously, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura instructs his lieutenant, Tetsuzaemon Iba, to observe how Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine seals his Bankai because discovering a way to break the seal will be the key to winning this battle, with 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya telling his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, that he will be using it close to her so she can fight with him and discover a way to break the seal once it is sealed in another part of the Seireitei, though 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng muses to her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, that there will be no problem if they dispose of their opponents before their Bankai are sealed.
However, when Byakuya, Komamura, Suì-Fēng, and Hitsugaya activate their respective Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, Jakuhō Raikōben, and Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, the individual Medallions of Äs, Bambietta, Sternritter "K" BG9, and Sternritter "I" Cang Du are pulled out and used to absorb those Bankai, causing Byakuya to realize they were stolen rather than sealed.
497. Kill The Shadow2 [ ]
The captains of the Gotei 13 learn that the Sternritter can steal their Bankai.
With Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt, Sternritter "K" BG9, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine, and Sternritter "I" Cang Du having stolen their opponents' Bankai with their Medallions, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng is left aghast and 7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba demands to know what this is while 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto wonders what just happened. As 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda is left speechless, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya stares down in shock, and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai expresses disbelief, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura looks up at the sky and realizes that his Bankai is gone.
Begging Hyōrinmaru to say something to him and receiving no response, Hitsugaya falls to his knees in despair, but when Rangiku expresses concern for him, Hitsugaya questions what she is doing and orders Rangiku toto tell the rest of the captains to not use their Bankai because the Sternritter can steal them, prompting Rangiku to cut open her thumb, draw a sigil along her arm, and initiate Bakudō #77. Tenteikūra to relay this to the other captains across the Seireitei by connecting to their minds. Upon learning of this, 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma is left aghast, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki is startled, 3rd Division Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi is shocked that Bankai can be stolen, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake closes his eyes in sorrow, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako angrily wonders what his fellow captains are doing, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana observes that three other captains have had their Bankai stolen, and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi angrily slams his fist against a wall while berating the captains for not waiting until his analysis was completed as Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto leaps away.
During this, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku observes that they are fortunate because while Mayuri can usually devise a solution to any problem within a day given enough information, he severely lacks information this time and the Gotei 13 had no idea of when they would learn what the abilities of the Wandenreich are, which means that someone would eventually need to become a sacrifice because they cannot win without their Bankai. In turn, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone dashes toward Shunsui with Hirenkyaku, shoots off his hat, and evades Shunsui's counterattack by activating his Quincy: Vollständig, Grimaniel, before reappearing behind Shunsui and shooting out his right eye. With blood dripping from his socket, Shunsui admits that he is more disturbed than he thought despite his attempt to put on a brave face and asserts that this is a problem.
Simultaneously, at the Blue Stream Gate, a horrified Shino Madarame kneels beside the corpse of Hidetomo Kajōmaru and screams his name as Ryūnosuke Yuki and several other Shinigami stand speechless behind her. Above them, when Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth asks him what should be done since this unit seems to have already lost its will to fight, Yhwach decides to leave it up to Haschwalth and explains that he can spare the Shinigami if he believes they will be better off that way, which Haschwalth acknowledges. Back at the Sixth Division barracks, Renji attempts to activate his Bankai as well, but his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, stops him and insists that they must not lose Renji's Bankai as well, only for Renji to frantically demand to know how they are supposed to fight the Sternritter otherwise.
As several dozen more Shinigami are cut down across the Seireitei, Akon presses his trembling fist against the monitor relaying this to him and demands that the other technicians put him in contact with Ichigo Kurosaki. Though a nearby technician brings up how they will need Mayuri's permission for this, Akon counters that Mayuri is on the front lines and vows to take responsibility for this.
498. The Dark Rescuer [ ]
The Shinigami Research and Development Institute learns that Ichigo Kurosaki is battling the Wandenreich in Hueco Mundo and is immune to having his Bankai stolen.
In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, the technicians rush to connect their communication circuit to Ichigo Kurosaki through his Substitute Shinigami Badge at 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon 's request, only for one of them to pause in confusion and explain to Akon that the badge is in the Human World while Ichigo is not, with the latter's Reishi trail pointing to Hueco Mundo. While the other technicians express bewilderment at this, Akon learns that the Substitute Shinigami Badge is at the Urahara Shop and is likely underground due to the spiritual interference they are receiving while locating it, which allows him to deduce that Kisuke Urahara is with Ichigo and leads Akon to request that they connect to Urahara instead.
Shortly afterward, in Hueco Mundo, Urahara is contacted on his Denreishinki and cheerfully greets Akon while questioning how things are going over there, with Akon quickly becoming aggravated by Urahara's casual tone as Hiyosu notes to Rin Tsubokura that only Urahara and their captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, can do this to Akon. However, when Akon urgently requests that Urahara hand the Denreishinki to Ichigo, Urahara states that this is not possible and informs him that Ichigo is currently fighting Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, a Quincy who claims to be the captain of a hunting army, to the surprise of Akon and the other technicians. Internally, Akon expresses disbelief at Ichigo learning that the Quincy were operating out of Hueco Mundo and heading there before the Gotei 13 could before admitting that he did not expect the latter to be this unpredictable despite knowing of his reputation.
When asked by Akon about the situation, Urahara observes that they are about even, but corrects himself and states that Ichigo is actually winning, to Akon's surprise. Nearby, Quilge's Medallion fails to steal Ichigo's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and Quilge screams in frustration at this still not working before Ichigo attacks him, sending Quilge crashing through a structure while Urahara relays to Akon that Quilge's attempts to seal Tensa Zangetsu are not working, to the shock of those listening. Watching Urahara scratch his leg and refuse to simply walk into the fight since it is dangerous alongside Dondochakka Birstanne, Pesche Guatiche calls him stupid for being so relaxed prior to Urahara revealing that he knows Soul Society has been invaded and that Akon contacting him must mean things are dire, which is why he wants to know how things are going over there.
Simultaneously, Quilge flies through the air and ruminates that while he did receive Daten about not letting Ichigo use his Bankai because it cannot be stolen with a Medallion, this is the only factor he was told about, leaving him in disbelief at Ichigo surpassing him so easily despite him using his Quincy: Vollständig and absorbing Ayon. Slammed into the desert below by a Getsuga Tenshō fired at him by Ichigo once the latter drops down onto him, Quilge emerges from the sand cloud with his Reishi Sword raised and fires a barrage of Heilig Pfeil at Ichigo, who casually slashes through them with his sword and brings up Asguiaro Ebern also trying to seal his Bankai. Though he initially declines to answer when Ichigo questions why they are trying to do this and mentally details how he is stuck using Blut Vene to withstand Ichigo's attacks while needing to turn that off so he can effectively counterattack with Blut Arterie, which leads him to wonder if it is time to call for reinforcements, Quilge is enraged by Ichigo suggesting that the Wandenreich are afraid of Bankai and begins yelling about their fearlessness, only to be interrupted when a blast of energy punctures his chest from behind Ichigo, leaving a large hole in it.
With Quilge collapsing, Urahara stands on a rocky outcropping behind Ichigo with his hand emitting smoke and thanks the latter for disrupting Quilge's defensive Reishi long enough for him to deal a fatal blow. Tossing the Denreishinki to Ichigo, Urahara informs him that they have an emergency and that he must head to Soul Society through the nearby Garganta with Akon filling him in, which prompts Ichigo to raise the Denreishinki to his ear as Akon asks him to listen without giving in to despair.
499. Rescuer In The Dark [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki learns of the war in the Seireitei and the combat capabilities of the Sternritter.
While Hiyosu tells the other technicians in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute to relay Ichigo Kurosaki escaping Hueco Mundo and heading toward Soul Society to the Riteitai so they can inform the Gotei 13 of this, Yasutora Sado and Orihime Inoue approach Kisuke Urahara with Nel Tu, leading Urahara to ask them to retrieve the Medallion from Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie 's corpse and respond to Orihime wondering where Ichigo is by telling her that he is headed to Soul Society and promising to explain later. Back in the SRDI, Rin Tsubokura mentally and tearfully asserts that everything will be alright with Ichigo coming.
Simultaneously, in the Garganta, Ichigo learns that the Gotei 13 's losses include the Reiatsu disappearances of 2,245 unseated Shinigami, 56 seated officers, and one lieutenant, with these numbers increasing every second and being necessary for Ichigo as a reference point, as well as extensive structural damage. When Ichigo questions if the disappearance of their Reiatsu means that all of these Shinigami are dead, Akon admits that they do not know and assures Ichigo that the lieutenant mentioned is not Rukia Kuchiki or Renji Abarai, though he clarifies that he did not mean anything by it when Ichigo asserts that this is not what he was asking. Akon elaborates that there at least sixteen individuals within the enemy ranks who possess Reiryoku greater than or equal to a Gotei 13 captain called the Sternritter and dressed in distinct white uniforms unique to Quincy, with this faction having sustained zero losses and not lost once to the Gotei 13 so far. With Ichigo wondering what their abilities are, Akon notes that they have not received any information other than that they are Quincy, but reveals that they possess the ability to take possession of a Shinigami's Bankai.
Though Ichigo refuses to believe this, Akon counters that it is not up for debate because they received this information directly from 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, all of whom had their Bankai stolen, leaving Ichigo astonished by this. Suddenly, Urahara joins the call to provide Ichigo with information on the enemy by detailing how he collected data during Ichigo's earlier battle with Quilge and typing on a keyboard projected by a device functioning as a computer, where he explains that the Quincy have three major abilities and starts with their Quincy: Vollständig, which shows the most obvious changes to their form and combat ability but which they have no knowledge of beyond what Ichigo has witnessed firsthand.
Urahara notes that Blut allows the Quincy to pump Reishi into their veins and enhance either their offensive or defensive capabilities without being able to use both systems at once, which prevented Quilge from effectively attacking Ichigo earlier because he had to constantly allocate his Reishi to Blut Vene due to his inability to keep up with the high-speed combat of Tensa Zangetsu and allowed Urahara to deliver the finishing blow when Quilge briefly shifted to Blut Arterie when enraged by Ichigo's words, all of which will make the switching of Blut systems pivotal in the coming battles against the Quincy, before concluding that their third combat attribute is the Bankai-stealing Medallions, which he will be learning the workings of by analyzing Quilge's. After stating that the important thing here is the inability of the Wandenreich to steal Ichigo's Bankai, Urahara admits that he does not know exactly why this is the case, only to theorize that the Wandenreich was waiting to attack until Ichigo was stuck in Hueco Mundo and is being more cautious of him than of anyone else, which is exactly why he should go to Soul Society. With Urahara concluding that this is a dangerous battle and promising to follow Ichigo shortly, Ichigo agrees to be careful.
However, Ichigo and Urahara's conversation is interrupted when a blast of Reishi flies past Ichigo and forcibly closes the exit in front of him, leaving Ichigo bewildered and trying to contact Urahara, who has a Heilig Pfeil embedded in his back and looks down to see Sado and Orihime with large holes punched into their bodies. With Urahara mentally berating himself for believing he was down, Quilge stands up with Ransōtengai and refuses to let Ichigo reach Soul Society since Yhwach ordered him to keep Ichigo at bay even at the cost of his life before firing another blast of Reishi into the Garganta that spreads out around Ichigo and encases him in a circular set of bars, to his alarm. Laughing maniacally at this, Quilge declares that this is unfortunate for Ichigo, who was so close to reaching and defending Soul Society but now lacks the means of escaping his prison, and concludes that he must wait there until Soul Society falls while the other end of the Garganta is forcibly closed by Reishi as well.
Bleach, Volume 57
500. Rescuer In The Deep Dark [ ]
Trapped in the Garganta by Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, Ichigo Kurosaki is forced to listen helplessly to the agony of the Shinigami across the Seireitei.
Several Riteitai move out as one of them informs Rin Tsubokura that they will be placing a Tsūdentō at each battlefield and retreating since conveying a lengthy message to the captains currently in combat is currently impossible before instructing Rin to send the message directly once the Tsūdentō are in place, which Rin affirms. With Tsūdentō being thrown into the ground and walls near the captains, lieutenants, and seated officers of the Gotei 13 across the Seireitei while one of the Riteitai is shot down by Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone, Rin speaks to them from within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and reveals that Ichigo Kurosaki is on his way to Soul Society, with his Bankai unable to be stolen by the Quincy, shocking and elating those listening, though 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi is merely annoyed by his 3rd Seat, Akon, acting without permission as Ryūnosuke Yuki expresses relief at this news.
However, one of the researchers has his attention drawn by Akon, who reveals that Ichigo's Reiatsu has disappeared in the Garganta. Within the Reishi prison enveloping him, Ichigo repeatedly strikes the converging point of the bars with the sword of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, and angrily wonders what it is prior to apologetically explaining to Akon that he has been trapped when the latter asks him if everything is alright through the Denreishinki he is holding. Despite this, Akon continues telling Ichigo to respond, which leads Ichigo to realize that Akon cannot hear him anymore no matter how loud he yells. Simultaneously, in the SRDI, Akon deduces that something has gone wrong within the Garganta and orders the other researchers to determine what it is as well as to send the Riteitai to the Senkaimon that leads directly to Hueco Mundo, but is interrupted by one of the walls being broken through, eliciting cries of pain and startling Ichigo, before Jidanbō Ikkanzaka appears in the gap with blank eyes.
With Jidanbō proceeding to brutally attack the researchers despite their pleas for him to stop, Hiyosu prepares to shut down the facility with Kido after noting that they have backups of all their data and urges Akon to leave since there will be no one to lead the institute if he dies here. Suddenly, Rin stabs a blade into Hiyosu's side, and when a stunned Hiyosu questions what he is doing, Rin can only react with confusion prior to Jidanbō continuing his assault as Sternritter "L" PePe Waccabrada watches from afar and chuckles maliciously. Back in the Garganta, Ichigo curses at what he is hearing from the Denreishinki, only to be further bewildered when 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai 's voices come through while they realize that the enemy has attacked the SRDI. Due to the Tsūdentō placed around the Seireitei transmitting the voices of those nearby even though they are not at the SRDI, Ichigo begins hearing the screams of agony and panic from dozens of Shinigami across the Seireitei, leaving him mortified. With Rukia telling those around her that they just need to hold out until he gets here, an enraged Ichigo attacks the cage with a Getsuga Tenshō.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie observes that Ichigo is on a rampage, but proclaims that it does not matter because Yhwach granted him the letter "J" for The Jail, which means that Ichigo will never escape this prison, and turns to Yasutora Sado, Orihime Inoue, and Nel Tu lying on the sand nearby, whom he decides to finish off before the power he gained from absorbing Ayon disappears. Suddenly, with Kisuke Urahara begging him to wait, Quilge is cut vertically in half on his left side by a slash from behind, and as a stunned Urahara wonders who could have done that, someone holds a Zanpakutō to his neck, leaving Urahara to curse in frustration.
501. Hear.Fear.Here [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki remains trapped in the Garganta as 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki succumbs to the fear induced by Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt.
Within the Garganta, a panting and sweating Ichigo Kurosaki expresses frustration at being unable to break through the Reishi cage enveloping him even with his Getsuga Tenshō before noticing that his Denreishinki has been disconnected from Kisuke Urahara, to his further confusion and frustration.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki is cut on his right shoulder, sending a spray of blood high into the air, and slides back as his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, expresses concern for him, though Byakuya merely asserts that Renji should be watching him fight in order to figure out Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt 's abilities. When Renji suggests that he go first instead, Byakuya counters that Renji lacks the wisdom to expose the entirety of Äs's ability, which Renji begrudgingly concedes to. Promising to draw out Äs' abilities, Byakuya notices his hands trembling as they grip his Zanpakutō and wonders why his limbs feel like they are freezing. With Byakuya theorizing the Reishi Thorns surrounding Äs are coated in some kind of poison, Äs infers this and clarifies that it is not poison, but instead something Byakuya lost long ago, prior to asking Byakuya to retrace his memories and recall how he became strong enough to overpower his enemies as a captain. Concluding that he has not felt this sensation in a long time and that it is most important for survival, Äs informs Byakuya that he is feeling fear.
While Renji expresses disbelief at this, Äs explains that anyone struck by his Reishi Thorns experiences fear over many things leading to something fatal, such as the consideration of drawing and swinging their sword, the enemy casting a terrible spell on them, or simply breathing in and out, which makes it impossible to even think straight since anything and everything is suspicious, though he observes that Byakuya is resisting it by sheer force of will so far. Admitting that Byakuya is a threat, Äs dismisses him because a threat is nothing compared to fear and the core of Byakuya's soul is already consumed by fear of Äs while Byakuya rushes forward to slash him, though Äs's Blut Vene protects him from this.
Internally, Byakuya ridicules the idea that he has been battling without fear since that is impossible and asserts that he has overcome and accepted his fear of battle, but suddenly envisions a smiling 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki rotting into a decaying corpse in front of him, to his alarm, just before Äs shoves his hand through Byakuya's chest. With Byakuya coughing up blood, Äs notes that the preconception of experience allowing one to conquer fear is easier to believe when one is strong and experienced and details how fear with a cause is easy to deal with since removing the cause also removes what one believes to be fear, only to clarify that true fear has no cause. As Äs concludes that true fear is an instinct rather than an emotion with no limits that crawls up one's body like an endless horde of flies, making it something they cannot escape, a screaming Byakuya slashes at him, but Äs easily evades him, leaps back, and uses his Medallion to activate Senbonzakura Kageyoshi before attacking Byakuya with it. After Rukia notices a cherry blossom falling through the air near her face and realizing something has happened to him, Byakuya falls before Äs with a large amount of blood spurting from wounds on his chest.
502. 散桜 [ ]
Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt brutally defeats 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki.
6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki struggles to stay on his hands and knees while Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt approaches him and asserts that Byakuya cannot win with just his Shikai against his own Bankai, only to be interrupted when 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai proclaims that Senbonzakura Kageyoshi does not belong to him and furiously attacks Äs. Upon sensing the explosion of force at Byakuya's location, a concerned 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki begins rushing toward it, but her opponent claims to feel offended by Rukia turning her back on her opponent and rushes after Rukia to attack her, resulting in a fountain of blood spurting into the air.
Back at Byakuya's location, Äs blocks Renji's Shikai, Zabimaru, with Blut Vene. When Renji extends Zabimaru around him, Äs activates Senbonzakura Kageyoshi once more and blasts a stream of blade petals at Renji, who is quickly overwhelmed by them. Upon seeing Byakuya getting to his feet, Äs redirects Senbonzakura Kageyoshi to instead engulf Byakuya in a massive torrent of blade petals, slashing him all across his body and leaving him nearly unconscious, and when Byakuya begins to collapse once the torrent ceases, Äs resumes the torrent, which quickly slams Byakuya into a nearby wall with enough force to crater it.
Enraged by this, Renji runs toward Äs and attempts to activate his Bankai, only to be interrupted when Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine grabs Zabimaru by the blade and dropkicks Renji with enough force to send him flying through several buildings and across the Seireitei. Though Mask is pleased by this result and tosses away the severed segment of Zabimaru in his hand, Äs chastises him for not allowing Renji to use his Bankai so Mask could steal it, prompting a startled Mask to admit that he thought only captains had Bankai while Äs tells him to reread Yhwach's Daten. Nearby, surrounded by his own blood splattered on the crater in the wall, Byakuya asks Rukia and Renji to forgive him while his Zanpakutō shatters.
Meanwhile, at the Blue Stream Gate, Yhwach and Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stand over dozens of slaughtered Shinigami, where Haschwalth observes that Byakuya has died and muses that it took longer than expected, prompting Yhwach to assert that the only flaw of the Sternritter is their lack of ruthlessness. Suddenly, Yhwach and Haschwalth are confronted by 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, who stands before them with Sternritter "Q" Berenice Gabrielli, Sternritter "R" Jerome Guizbatt, and Sternritter "Y" Loyd Lloyd impaled on his Zanpakutō and slung over his shoulder while inquiring if Yhwach is their boss.
503. Wrath as a Lightning [ ]
11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki begins battling Yhwach as Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto enters the battlefield.
While Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth expresses shock at his arrival, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki dumps the corpses of Sternritter "R" Jerome Guizbatt, Sternritter "Q" Berenice Gabrielli, and Sternritter "Y" Loyd Lloyd onto the ground, leaving Haschwalth in disbelief at him killing three Sternritter. In turn, Kenpachi asserts that it was not too hard, as Jerome simply turned into a giant ape who could attack people with his voice and Kenpachi cut him in two. After recounting how he could not hear Berenice explaining his ability to object to the existence of others due to his ears ringing from Jerome's yelling and chose to rip out his throat with his hand, Kenpachi admits that Loyd was not bad since he transformed into Kenpachi and gave him a decent battle, but concludes that he simply had to become stronger than Loyd's impression of him. With Haschwalth stating that he now understands why Kenpachi is considered a monster, Kenpachi flicks the blood off his blade and proclaims that he came here to kill Yhwach rather than talk to Haschwalth before attacking a smiling Yhwach. Despite Haschwalth's concern for him, Yhwach blocks Kenpachi's slash with his forearm, generating a powerful explosion of force around them.
Simultaneously, within the Garganta, Ichigo Kurosaki curses after hearing 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, his lieutenant Renji Abarai, and 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki 's defeats and repeatedly attacks the cage with more Getsuga Tenshōs as he refuses to let any of the Shinigami die.
Back in the Seireitei, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi slams into the side of a building within his division's barracks, causing Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci to laugh and declare that it sucks to be weak like Hisagi is. With Hisagi realizing that he is hopelessly outmatched, Driscoll wonders if the former is afraid of his strength and explains that his Schrift, The Overkill, allows him to grow stronger with each enemy, ally, or wild beast he kills before noting that he has already killed a hundred people today and killed just as many the last time he was in the Seireitei, including a lieutenant just like Hisagi, who gasps upon realizing that he is the one who impaled Chōjirō Sasakibe.
Suddenly, with Driscoll forming a javelin-like Heilig Pfeil between his Reishi Tekkō and throwing it at Hisagi to demonstrate how he killed Chōjirō, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto appears in front of Hisagi and deflects the Heilig Pfeil with his hand, leaving it to crash into another building. Initially startled by this alongside Hisagi, Driscoll laughs maniacally and calls himself lucky since he came here for Yamamoto prior to proclaiming that he will be killing the latter with his own subordinate's Bankai.
504. 雷鳴の彼方へ [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto is forced to contend with Chōjirō Sasakibe 's stolen Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū.
With Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci using his Medallion to activate Chōjirō Sasakibe 's Bankai, Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto recalls seeing Chōjirō himself using it as a younger man and closes his eyes in sorrow. While a large energy disc forms above him and pours down columns of lightning, Driscoll claims that Yamamoto should be thanking him since Chōjirō apparently had not used his Bankai in over 2,000 years. Watching this in astonishment, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi is intimidated by its Reiatsu and mentally admits that he had no idea there was a Zanpakutō other than 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya 's Hyōrinmaru that could control the weather just before Driscoll blasts Yamamoto with a large bolt of lightning, causing Hisagi to call out to Yamamoto in concern.
In the past, a young Chōjirō calls out to a middle-aged Yamamoto, who turns to face him. Having been called "Eijisai" due to the scar on his forehead resembling the "Ei" character, Yamamoto yells at Chōjirō for calling him this and ruminates on how this nickname became more widespread each time he distinguished himself in battle, to his chagrin. However, Chōjirō apologizes and refuses to call Yamamoto by his given name since it would be too audacious, which Yamamoto muses he would always do no matter how many times he apologized, and when Yamamoto questions why he keeps hanging around here despite not even being a student, Chōjirō explains that he wants to be Yamamoto's right-hand man, which prompts Yamamoto to assert that this is only another reason he should become a student so he can rise to the rank of master.
In turn, Chōjirō counters that a student would be forced to imitate Yamamoto and declares that his role as a right-hand man would be to compensate for everything Yamamoto cannot do or handle. Though Yamamoto dismisses this, Chōjirō clarifies that he has not been coming here every day and is here for the first time in a month because he has acquired a Bankai, which leads a bemused Yamamoto to challenge Chōjirō to defeat him with this Bankai. Shortly afterward, having been wounded on his forehead by an attack from Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū, Yamamoto observes that it left a permanent scar intersecting with his existing one despite not being enough to defeat him and describes Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū as being akin to a newborn baby, only for Chōjirō to readily concur with this and promise to spend the rest of his life honing his Bankai so he can be of use to Yamamoto. After recounting how Chōjirō did not lie and came to be known by all of Soul Society through years of grueling training, Yamamoto muses that people began calling him "Jujisai" following this because the new scar shape on his forehead resembled the character "Ju", but Chōjirō continued to call him "Eijisai" since he did not want his actions to change Yamamoto's name, which led Yamamoto to decide to take on the name Genryūsai for Chōjirō's sake.
In the present, Driscoll continues to blast a motionless Yamamoto with lightning, to Hisagi's concern, and questions if he has lost the strength to retaliate after being struck by his subordinate's Bankai prior to intensifying the lightning striking him. With Yamamoto remaining motionless once the lightning ceases, Hisagi assumes that he has lost consciousness and attempts to intervene, only for Yamamoto to demand that he wait, to Hisagi's surprise. Annoyed by Yamamoto continuing to talk instead of shutting up and dying, Driscoll blasts him once more and questions if Yamamoto has had enough yet, but a grinning Driscoll is unnerved by Yamamoto simply asserting that he understands Chōjirō's frustration and walking forward. After angrily proclaiming that Chōjirō's Bankai was not this weak when he used it, Yamamoto releases his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, and unleashes a massive blast of flame that flays the skin and muscle off Driscoll's face and chest.
505. The Fire [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto decides to personally confront Yhwach and end the war himself.
As his flames incinerate Sternritter "O" Driscoll Berci, reducing him to a skeleton that crumbles into ashes, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto notes that he has finally given Chōjirō Sasakibe a proper sendoff and bids him farewell. Approaching a stunned 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, Yamamoto promises that he will kill every last member of the Wandenreich himself and bursts into the air in a scorching trail of flame.
With Yamamoto hurtling across the Seireitei like a comet, the other captains are alarmed and impressed by his rage. Far away, when her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, questions what this sensation is, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng calls him foolish and declares that Yamamoto is furious. As they run down a street, 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori observes that she has never felt Yamamoto get this angry before and her captain, Shinji Hirako, confirms that he has not seen this or Yamamoto fighting on the front lines before telling Hinamori that he will get to have all the fun if they do not hurry. Elsewhere, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya points out how hard Yamamoto is fighting and tells his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, that they cannot let themselves be defeated, which she concurs with as Sternritter "I" Cang Du raises his Reishi Claws in response.
Simultaneously, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura rouses his subordinates by declaring that it would be disgraceful for them to lie down while Yamamoto still stands. With 7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba and the other Shinigami standing up and loudly affirming this, Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine stands opposite Komamura and expresses confusion at how they are doing this when they were almost dead moments ago. During this, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku gets to his feet and observes that Yamamoto's Reiatsu is reverberating across the Seireitei as though he is telling Shunsui that he does not recall raising a coward who would struggle against someone of Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone 's level prior to readying his Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu, and rushing toward the latter while attacking, to Robert's shock.
Shortly afterward, Yhwach holds an unconscious 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki aloft by the throat, identifies him as a Special War Power, and questions if this is the best he can do prior to assuming that he has overestimated the Shinigami and telling Kenpachi to go to sleep. Suddenly, Yamamoto slams into the ground behind Yhwach and notes that it has been a thousand years since they last met before proclaiming that he has come to annihilate Yhwach, who grins at this.
506. The Fire2 [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto begins his battle against Yhwach.
In the Seireitei, Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone skids back after blood spurts from a wound on his chest, having been slashed by a revitalized 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, and notes that it is indeed good to see that his spirits have been lifted before asserting that he is wrong about one thing. With Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto standing before Yhwach, who holds an unconscious 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki up by the throat, and musing that it has been a thousand years since they last met prior to announcing that he has come to end Yhwach's life, Robert declares that Yamamoto will lose because the Shinigami are not the only ones excited by their bosses fighting.
Suddenly, Sternritter "F" Äs Nödt, Sternritter "H" Bazz-B, and Sternritter "U" NaNaNa Najahkoop attack Yamamoto from above, with NaNaNa mocking Yamamoto for facing their leader alone, Äs stating that this is the end, and Bazz-B telling Yamamoto to die, only for them to be engulfed in a massive explosion of fire from Yamamoto's Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, visible from Shunsui and Robert's location, leaving the latter stunned as the former notes that someone did misjudge the situation since conventional wisdom does not apply to Yamamoto. The limp bodies of Äs, Bazz-B, and NaNaNa fall to the ground while Yhwach admonishes them as deserving this for interfering in his battle. In response, Yamamoto simply cracks his neck and right shoulder, and when Yhwach observes that he seems to want to say something, Yamamoto attacks Yhwach with a slash of his sword, cutting through the latter's left forearm and causing Jugram Haschwalth to call out to him in concern.
Noting that Yhwach has not changed at all in the last thousand years, Yamamoto promises that his habit of undervaluing his subordinates will end here, though Yhwach simply counters that despite Yamamoto's age, his enraged state hearkens back to his younger years. When Yamamoto unleashes a powerful burst of flame by slashing at him with Ryūjin Jakka, Yhwach defends himself by grabbing his Quincy Cross and manifesting his Reishi Sword. Upon hearing Yamamoto observe that he has finally drawn it, Yhwach notes that he sounds like he has been waiting for this, which prompts Yamamoto to confirm that he has because he intends to crush every aspect of Yhwach until nothing is left while the flames around him suddenly disappear, leaving Yhwach surprised as Yamamoto activates his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.
507. The Fire3 [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto demonstrates the power of his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.
With Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto having activated his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth is incredulous at Yamamoto's Bankai being such a pitiful and burned-out blade, but Yhwach warns him to not underestimate it because Zanka no Tachi seals all the flames of Ryūjin Jakka within the blade and allows Yamamoto to end battles in a single strike by engulfing whatever he cuts in explosive flames. With Yhwach concluding that it is a blade of hellfire, Yamamoto recalls him seeing this Bankai a thousand years ago, but questions if it is really the same as he remembers and invites Yhwach to find out.
Elsewhere, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake mentally realizes that his throat feels dry and 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku 's lower lip cracks open. In the Fourth Division barracks, Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu asks her captain, Retsu Unohana, if her skin feels dry while the latter looks at a vase filled with flowers and a small amount of water. After teasing Isane about how cute it is for her to be worrying about her skin, to Isane's alarm, Unohana internally urges Yamamoto to finish this battle before his power destroys all of Soul Society. Simultaneously, Sternritter "I" Cang Du realizes that the wings of his stolen Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru, are melting. Seeing this, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya affirms that he cannot use it anymore and reveals that every droplet of water in Soul Society is beginning to evaporate, with Ukitake and Shunsui recognizing this as the effects of Zanka no Tachi being activated.
Back at Yhwach's location, when Yamamoto rushes forward and slashes at him, a startled Yhwach evades backward, allowing the blade to cut through his cloak, and wonders why he is not engulfed in flames from this. Yhwach mentally asserts that Yamamoto's power is fire, even if his Bankai is different from a thousand years ago, and ponders where the flames are now if this is the case prior to Yamamoto slashing downward and inadvertently striking the ground with the tip of Zanka no Tachi, erasing a massive chunk of it and the building behind Yhwach, who realizes with astonishment that the flames are now in the tip of the blade. Confirming this, Yamamoto attacks Yhwach once more, with the latter narrowly evading this, and holds up Zanka no Tachi as he identifies this ability as Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin, which focuses all of his flames into the tip of his blade to erase everything it touches without a trace rather than emit heat or explosive flames.
While moving to attack Yhwach once more, Yamamoto proclaims that not even Blut Vene can withstand this power even though it is the peak of defense for Quincy, but Yhwach counters that he merely needs to cut Yamamoto down without being touched by his blade and slashes at the latter with his Reishi Sword. However, Yhwach is speechless to see Yamamoto unharmed and his own Reishi Sword having had most of its blade erased by this, prompting Yamamoto to call him foolish for not listening and point out that there must also be a West if Zanka no Tachi has an East prior to deciding to make it visible for Yhwach and revealing that his entire body below his head is now clad in raging flames, which he identifies as Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui. After explaining that these flames reach a heat of 15,000,000 degrees Celsius, preventing Yhwach from even touching him now, Yamamoto notes that using his Bankai causes himself and his blade to essentially be enveloped by the sun.
508. 烈火の如 [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto overwhelms Yhwach with the techniques of his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi.
Having seen Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto activate Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui and claim that it emanates a heat of 15,000,000 degrees Celsius, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth muses that such immense heat would not be visible as flames and assumes that the flames around him are an illusion, but quickly realizes that Yamamoto's Reiatsu is instead so powerful that it resembles flames when emitting from him.
Approaching Yhwach, Yamamoto states that he is going to end this battle now before Yhwach, himself, and all of Soul Society are destroyed by this power. Internally, Yhwach observes that it feels like his entire body is burning and that only his Blut Vene is preventing him from turning to ashes at this distance. Upon seeing Yhwach standing still, Yamamoto questions if he is just going to stand there and admits that this question was somewhat spiteful, since Yhwach's Reishi Sword is broken and he cannot attack Yamamoto, before claiming to not blame Yhwach for just standing there and assuring him that he can run away if he likes. However, Yamamoto vows to track Yhwach down and kill him regardless, which prompts Yhwach to form and fire a large Heilig Pfeil at him.
Once he deflects the Heilig Pfeil, which explodes next to him, Yamamoto acknowledges that all Yhwach has left are his arrows now that his Reishi Sword is broken and leaps into the air to attack Yhwach. Suddenly, Yhwach holds out his left hand, and when a bemused Yamamoto questions what this is supposed to be when none of Yhwach's attacks can harm him, Yhwach counters that the Quincy Cross and Heilig Pfeil are not the only weapons of the Quincy before activating Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger, creating several towering columns of Reishi bearing the Quincy Cross in a large area around himself, and declaring that this is the ultimate defensive spell of the Quincy that combines offense and defense to rend asunder any who enter with the light of God.
Despite this, Yamamoto reiterates that Yhwach cannot harm him and embeds his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, into the ground several meters away from Kirchenlied: Sankt Zwinger prior to promising the dead slain by his blade a moment of battle if they will aid him and activating Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūman'okushi Daisōjin, which causes thousands of charred skeletons to crawl out of the ruptured earth around him.
509. 天地灰尽 [ ]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto concludes his battle against Yhwach.
With thousands of charred skeletons crawling out of the ruptured earth around Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and advancing on Yhwach as the Reishi pillars around the latter collapse, an astonished Yhwach demands to know what this is, prompting Yamamoto to detail how Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūman'okushi Daisōjin has heated the ashes of those he has slain so they can serve as his limbs and chase his targets until they turn to dust. In response, a scoffing Yhwach chastises Yamamoto for raising the dead as a Shinigami and claims that he does not deserve to be called one prior to leaping into the air and promising that something like this will not stop him.
However, when Yhwach crashes into a wall formed by dozens of skeletons rising in front of him to intercept his attack, Yamamoto observes that his mouth is working far better than his eyes are and instructs Yhwach to take a closer look at the skeletons around him, causing a shocked Yhwach to recognize the faces of Seydlitz, Huburt, and Algora as Yamamoto wonders if he is seeing the faces of the subordinates he mercilessly killed. Turning and walking away, Yamamoto assures Yhwach that he is not leaving and invites the latter to attack him once he has battled through his dead subordinates, and when Yhwach curses at him, Yamamoto questions if he is regretting not stealing his Bankai earlier, only to clarify that rather than decide not to steal Zanka no Tachi, Yhwach was unable to do so because the Wandenreich steals Bankai by seeing and understanding its power, with them being cautious of Ichigo Kurosaki because he still has room to evolve due to his Bankai acquisition being fairly recent and Yamamoto himself not using his real power even a thousand years ago, which prevents Yhwach from stealing what he cannot comprehend.
In response to Yhwach screaming wildly at this, Yamamoto notes that he had a shred of humanity left after all as Yhwach rushes through the encroaching horde of skeletons and reiterates that he cannot be stopped by something like this, only for Yamamoto to counter that he can see Yhwach's tears. After ruminating on how painful it must be for Yhwach to crush his subordinates just to reach Yamamoto and how Yhwach must hate him for using a strategy as low as bringing his dead subordinates back to the battlefield, Yamamoto proclaims that none of it compares to the pain of the Shinigami that he has slaughtered today and performs Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin, a blazing slash that obliterates Yhwach's left forearm and a large chunk of his torso, leaving him to fall on the ground as Yamamoto deactivates his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi. While heavy rain begins to fall across the Seireitei, Yamamoto turns and begins walking away, but Yhwach merely admits that he was not strong enough and requests forgiveness from Yhwach.
Bleach, Volume 58
510. The Extinction [ ]
The real Yhwach confronts Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and reveals his machinations.
In the past, Royd Lloyd and Loyd Lloyd are born in a hospital, where the doctor and nurse mistake them for each other to the point that they cannot figure out which one is older and thus misinform their parents, who cannot deduce it either, leading to the issue becoming irrelevant for the twins. Having identical appearances because they subconsciously mimicked each other before birth, which they realize upon reaching the age of five, Royd and Loyd realize they can mimic people other than themselves upon turning twelve, with Loyd able to copy their power and skills as well while Royd can copy their memories and mind.
In the present, in the Seireitei, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stops in his tracks upon hearing Yhwach apologizing and looks back in confusion as he internally questions who Yhwach could be apologizing to when he is the one who started this battle and who has ultimately lost it. With Yhwach apologizing to Yhwach for being unable to carry out his orders, Yamamoto frantically demands to know who he is just before the First Division barracks are engulfed and destroyed by a massive pillar of blue Reishi flames. While Yamamoto calls out to his 3rd Seat, Genshirō Okikiba, the real Yhwach appears behind him with Hirenkyaku, and as a startled Yamamoto curses him, Yhwach addresses Sternritter "Y" Royd Lloyd, who lies on the ground before him after ceasing his usage of The Yourself and returning to his normal appearance, and praises his performance in convincing the Gotei 13 that he was Yhwach.
While a stunned Royd tearfully expresses gratitude for this praise, Yhwach raises his hand, points his index finger at Royd, and obliterates the latter with a Heilig Pfeil, instantly killing him. With only Royd's severed legs remaining on the ground next to a smoking hole, Yamamoto questions what the former has been doing this whole time, only for Yhwach to counter by asking Yamamoto about what lies beneath the First Division barracks, which leads Yamamoto to realize that he has been in the Central Great Underground Prison prior to Yhwach revealing that he spoke to Sousuke Aizen, leaving Yamamoto completely aghast. After recounting how he told Aizen to come under his command as a Special War Power and was rejected, though he does not mind this since they have much time to change that, Yhwach assumes that Yamamoto has exhausted his powers while fighting Royd, and when Yamamoto denies this and activates his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi once more, Yhwach immediately steals it with his own Medallion and clarifies that rather than the Wandenreich being unable to steal his Bankai, it is too strong for anyone other than Yhwach himself to wield, which is why he had Royd not attempt to steal it until he returned.
Offering to summon the corpses of Yamamoto's subordinates with Zanka no Tachi, which causes Yamamoto leap toward him in rage, Yhwach summons his massive Sankt Bogen in the air above himself and fires an equally large Heilig Pfeil down into the ground before him, forming a long Reishi Broadsword that Yhwach pulls out of the ground. While Yamamoto stops in stunned silence at the sight of this, Yhwach bids him farewell and slashes diagonally downward at Yamamoto, drawing a large amount of blood as Yamamoto is cut through at the left shoulder by the blade.
511. 立ちて死すべし [ ]
Yhwach slays Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and has the Seireitei razed.
Centuries ago, a young Shunsui Kyōraku stares at a painting of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto using his Bankai, Zanka no Tachi, in the latter's private quarters prior to Yamamoto angrily opening the door, chastising Shunsui for entering his room without permission once again, and chasing him around as Shunsui profusely apologizes. Though Yamamoto refuses to accept this, Shunsui admits that he was surprised to find a painting in Yamamoto's room after he snuck in and questions if it is a depiction of a god of fire, prompting a suddenly solemn Yamamoto to explain that the painting depicts a monster which appeared in Soul Society a long time ago to make a crisis they were facing much worse. As he promises that the monster will never reappear again, Yamamoto notes that he will probably not survive if it does.
In the present, having been cut through diagonally by Yhwach 's Reishi Broadsword, Yamamoto coughs up blood while his top half falls to the ground. Around the Seireitei, the other captains are alarmed upon sensing this, with 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku desperately calling out to Yamamoto before Sternritter "N" Robert Accutrone shoots him four times in the chest with his Reishi Pistol. With the rain continuing to fall heavily across the Seireitei, Yhwach looks down disdainfully at Yamamoto's motionless body and asserts that his demise was pitiful despite his station as the Captain-Commander. However, when Yhwach attempts to leave with Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth, he is stopped by Yamamoto grasping his leg with his remaining arm, prompting Yhwach to sever his hand after a brief pause.
Assuming that this was Yamamoto's attempt to demonstrate that he will not allow Yhwach to get away even in death, Yhwach stomps on Yamamoto's head and reveals that he did not have the latter counted among the Special War Powers because he did not have his left arm restored after sacrificing it to use Hadō #96. Ittō Kasō even though Orihime Inoue could have done so. After attributing this to Yamamoto not wanting the aid of Humans since he did not even want Ichigo Kurosaki getting involved in his battle against Sousuke Aizen, Yhwach observes that Yamamoto tried to carry the burden of the two worlds on his shoulders and has failed. Though he calls Yamamoto weak, Yhwach admits that he was not always this way because the original captains of the Gotei 13 that he used to lead were guards in name only, being more a group of bloodthirsty killers that Yhwach himself respected, with Yamamoto himself being a demon with a sword that would use anything and everything to win and who considered the lives of everyone around him to weigh as much as ashes. Despite this, Yhwach derides Yamamoto and the Gotei 13's progression into peace following their war now that they had people and things to love and protect because it made them hesitate to take action in order to satisfy their sense of justice.
Stepping back from Yamamoto, Yhwach decides to tell him this before he dies and declares that the Gotei 13 died with the Quincy 1,000 years ago even if Soul Society is only going to be destroyed now before raising his index finger and firing a barrage of Heilig Pfeil that obliterate Yamamoto's remains, to the horror of the captains around the Seireitei. With Yhwach commanding that the Sternritter completely crush Soul Society, Robert and the others summon the Soldat with Shadows and tell them to advance, leading them to begin massacring the remaining Shinigami. When one of the wounded Shinigami tries to get help while struggling to stand up, Sternritter "H" Bazz-B steps on and crushes his head underfoot as the Soldat rush past him.
While watching the Seireitei burn and collapse around him, Yhwach declares that it is finished and tells Haschwalth that they will be retreating to wait until the Royal Guard show up. Suddenly, an explosion occurs in the sky behind Yhwach, who looks up at it in shock.
512. THE STAND ABLAZE [ ]
In the Garganta, Ichigo Kurosaki senses the disappearing Reiatsu of the dying Shinigami in Soul Society and begs them to stay prior to breaking through the Reishi cage surrounding him with a furious strike, revealing a bloodied 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon in the side aperture above the Seireitei. After apologizing for not being able to let Ichigo through sooner and musing that they do not seem to ever get what they want, Akon collapses with four Reishi Knives embedded in his back and the other researchers in the aperture lying wounded on the ground as well. From outside a hole in the aperture, Shaz Domino wonders who Ichigo is and begins to introduce himself, but is cut off when Ichigo rushes toward him and attacks him in an explosion of Reiatsu, alerting Yhwach as well as the remaining captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13.
From high in the air, Ichigo confirms that 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki are still alive and disappears with Shunpo, alarming the Sternritter while they question how his Reiatsu suddenly disappeared. Shortly afterward, Ichigo finds a dying 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki embedded in a crater and assures him that Rukia and Renji are alive, to Byakuya's relief. Observing that he does not have much time left, Byakuya admits that he was unable to stop the despicable people who trampled on the Seireitei and that he led many to their deaths, bringing sorrow to their subordinates and families. As he sheds a tear, Byakuya asserts that he is deeply ashamed of this and points out how Ichigo being a Human means he should not even be here to begin with, let alone be involved in the battle, prior to requesting forgiveness for his final audacious request and begging Ichigo to protect Soul Society as Ichigo glares into the distance.
Upon sensing this, Yhwach confirms that it is Ichigo, and when Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth wonders if he should purge the latter, Yhwach denies this and states that they will leave. However, Yhwach is interrupted when the sword of Ichigo's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, is thrown down from the sky and embeds itself in the ground in front of him just before Ichigo follows and picks it up, leaving Yhwach surprised.
513. The Dark Moon Stroke [ ]
In the wall crater he is lying in, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki muses that he did not get a response from Ichigo Kurosaki and decides this is fine, since he knows what kind of man Ichigo is, before concluding he is counting on Ichigo and dropping his broken Zanpakutō, which disintegrates.
Meanwhile, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth offers to deal with Ichigo, but Yhwach stops him with a hand on Haschwalth's chest and admits he is impressed at Ichigo breaking out of The Jail. After Yhwach inquires about whether he intends to fight in such a ragged state, Ichigo asks Yhwach if he is the enemy leader, and when a bemused Yhwach observes that he both is and is not, an angered Ichigo demands to know if he is the one who wrecked Soul Society, which a grinning Yhwach confirms, causing Ichigo's Reiatsu to violently flare up around him. With Yhwach telling Haschwalth this is proof that there is no turning back and that he must crush Ichigo here, Ichigo lunges forward and fires a Getsuga Tenshō at Yhwach, only for the latter to reach out of the resulting cloud of smoke while remaining unharmed, pin Ichigo to the ground by his sword arm, and bat aside Ichigo's other hand before driving his Reishi Sword into Ichigo's neck with enough force to shatter the ground beneath him.
As Haschwalth stares in shock at this, Yhwach notes that Ichigo should still be alive and orders Haschwalth to transport him to Silbern so they can revive him as a member of the Wandenreich, which Haschwalth affirms. Suddenly, Ichigo's limp hand grips his sword once again, and as a stunned Yhwach turns to see Blut Vene flickering on his neck where the tip of the Reishi Sword is piercing it, Ichigo fires another Getsuga Tenshō at Yhwach point-blank.
514. BORN IN THE DARK [ ]
Yhwach is forced to abandon his battle with Ichigo Kurosaki, whom he reveals does not know his own lineage.
While Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth expresses alarm at the sight of him being blasted by a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō, Yhwach emerges from the smoke with only his left arm burnt and his left sleeve destroyed as he mutters that he was careless. Though Ichigo assumes he is referring to thinking that he won because he withstood a few attacks, Yhwach denies this and rushes forward to slash with his Reishi Sword, initially clashing with Ichigo's sword prior to dragging it down and ripping off Ichigo's left sleeve to expose his forearm, which remains unharmed and glows with Blut Vene as well.
After confirming that he was not imagining this, to Ichigo's confusion, Yhwach admits that he made a mistake in using Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, an Echt Quincy, instead of an Arrancar to keep Ichigo at bay because it caused the memories within Ichigo's Reiatsu to awaken too soon. Yhwach explains that while Ichigo was exerting his Reiatsu during his barrage of attacks on the Reishi cage that Quilge imprisoned him in, pieces of this Reiatsu merged with Quilge's and returned to Ichigo's body because it was released explosively, with this Quincy Reiatsu seeping into the depths of Ichigo's Soul and drawing out memories from its core, before concluding that The Jail is meant to contain enemies and thus cannot hold Quincy. With Ichigo stunned and bewildered by this, Yhwach deduces that he does not know the truth about himself or about his own mother, which causes Ichigo to remember Masaki Kurosaki lying dead on top of him after protecting him from Grand Fisher.
While Yhwach decides to take Ichigo back by force since he no longer has the luxury of slowly reeducating him, Ichigo furiously demands to know what Yhwach is talking about, only for Yhwach to promise to tell him at the Wandenreich and rush forward, where he pushes Ichigo's sword aside with a slash and grabs Ichigo by the hair while promising to pierce him with this next strike without Ichigo's Blut Vene being able to save him. Suddenly, shadows begin dripping from Yhwach and pooling around his body, to his shock, as Haschwalth approaches and reveals that it is time for them to return since they have reached their time limit for operating outside of the Schatten Bereich. Though he insists that they should have enough time, Yhwach realizes that Aizen altered his senses during their earlier conversation. With Haschwalth confirming that he did not stop Yhwach despite knowing this because he believed it would be pointless, Yhwach smiles and asserts that they will leave.
However, Ichigo demands that they wait since he refuses to let them leave so easily after what they have done to Soul Society, but Yhwach continues walking. However, when Ichigo angrily rushes toward Yhwach and attempts to stab him, Haschwalth draws his sword and effortlessly cuts through the blade of Ichigo's sword, which flies into the air and embeds itself in the ground nearby as a stunned Ichigo is left holding the broken sword. Bidding Ichigo farewell, Yhwach vows to return for him prior to telling Ichigo to heal his wounds and wait as his son, born in the dark.
515. relics [ ]
In the aftermath of the Wandenreich 's retreat from their invasion, the Gotei 13 struggles to heal and recover.
As rain falls across the rubble of the Seireitei, 4th Division 3rd Seat Yasochika Iemura orders units 11 through 16 to the west 56th district and the rest to accompany him while prioritizing the injured and leaving the dead Shinigami for later. In the crowded Fourth Division barracks' Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho, 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada has a critical patient on a stretcher taken to room 203 as Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu watches the commotion from above, notes that the wounded are finally being brought in, and turns to her captain, Retsu Unohana, while musing that none of them were brought in during the battle. When Isane wonders if it was really the right choice for them to remain in the barracks during the battle earlier when they could have saved more lives on the front lines, Unohana counters that Isane should not let her feelings dictate what she says and asserts that while they could have easily vacated the barracks out of concern, Isane is not so short-sighted that she needs to be told why this would have been wrong, prompting a weeping Isane to apologize and mentally observe that she is foolish for not realizing Unohana wanted to help the wounded even more than she did. However, Unohana tells Isane not to cry because Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto 's final order was for them to not leave their barracks no matter what.
Meanwhile, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku stands solemnly in front of the large crater left by Yhwach 's obliteration of Yamamoto's body. Shortly afterward, Ichigo Kurosaki is handed a communication from Kisuke Urahara assuring Ichigo that he, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado are all safe, though further details are unknown, before a bandaged 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame begins screaming at one of the nurses upon being told that his captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, was grievously wounded and defeated in the earlier battle, which he steadfastly refuses to believe, while the nurses urge him to calm down. Suddenly, Hanatarō tells Ichigo to come over for medical treatment, and when Ichigo states that he has already received first aid, Hanatarō denies this being sufficient since Ichigo is still obviously wounded before 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako approaches Ichigo to inform him that 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai are out of surgery.
After traveling to the room that the heavily bandaged Rukia and Renji are resting in, a nurse tells Ichigo that they are no longer in critical condition, though they needed Reishi suturing in severely injured areas in addition to Reiatsu treatment, and asks him to call her if anything comes up prior to leaving the room. Addressing Ichigo, Rukia responds to him questioning if it is okay for her to talk by reminding him that the nurse just said she was out of critical condition, which he notes with a smile means her mouth is working just fine. After Rukia thanks him for coming to protect Soul Society, Ichigo admits that he was unable to do anything this time, but Shinji counters that he drove the enemy leader away and should be holding his head high for preventing the situation from getting even worse. When a member of the Twelfth Division arrives and informs him that Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi wishes to see him about his Zanpakutō, Ichigo runs off. As he watches this, Shinji muses that Ichigo is always busy and worrying about everyone's wounds while ignoring his own. Upon being asked by Rukia about why Ichigo had such a pained expression, Shinji informs her that he had a rough time by getting his Zanpakutō broken without being able to save anyone and asserts that there is no need to worry since he is likely just exhausted, but Rukia wonders if this is really the case and theorizes that Ichigo is hiding something much more serious that he is grappling with while Ichigo continues running through the rain.
Simultaneously, the captains gather around the remnants of Yamamoto's Zanpakutō. With 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake noting that they were unable to recover Yamamoto's body because the enemy destroyed everything, a Riteitai enters the meeting hall they are gathered in and reveals that both Kenpachi and 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki have survived, though it will be difficult for them to resume their duties as captains and they may never regain consciousness, leading 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng to angrily tell him to get out because they are already mourning the loss of Yamamoto and cannot be expected to deal with other heavy matters like that right now. Though 9th Division Captain Kensei Muguruma advises her to stop this because she is embarrassing herself, Suì-Fēng counters that this is easy for him to say because he and the other Visored held a grudge against Yamamoto, to Kensei's irritation, before 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura demands that she be silent because she is not the only one who wants to scream about this.
In response, Shunsui repeatedly claps his hands and approaches them while insisting that they not fight since Yamamoto would have lined them up and smacked them for doing so in front of the articles he left behind if he were still alive. As Suì-Fēng seethes at this, Shunsui, who has lost his right eye and donned an eyepatch covering it, reminds the stunned captains that the Gotei 13 does not exist to mourn the dead or cry over the destruction of Soul Society, but rather to protect Soul Society, and encourages them to look ahead since they are the Gotei 13 while the rain outside ceases and morning begins to dawn.
516. THE SQUAD ZERO [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki learns that the sword of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, cannot be repaired as the Royal Guard visit the Seireitei.
In the Soul King Palace, Ichibe'e Hyōsube gathers at the Vestibule Road with the rest of the Royal Guard, whom he greets.
Simultaneously, in the Twelfth Division barracks, Ichigo is told that his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, cannot be repaired and expresses disbelief at this since Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi repairs his whenever it is broken, only for Mayuri to arrogantly clarify that he just modifies his and explain that a Zanpakutō can only be repaired by its owner's mind, Reiatsu, and time to infuse both. However, when Ichigo assumes that he is being told to take his sword back and fix it himself, Mayuri states that he is not done explaining and notes that this method only works for Shikai because the destruction of Shikai and Bankai have very different meanings before asserting that a destroyed Bankai can never be repaired, to Ichigo's shock.
Mayuri admits that there are exceptions and details how 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura 's Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, has an extremely strong bond with him, causing the physical status of each to be reflected onto the other when one is injured or healed and thus allowing Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō to be fully restored. However, after revealing that Komamura's Bankai is the only exception among all those of the Shinigami whom he has studied for this research, Mayuri explains that 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame 's Bankai was restored to its former shape after being destroyed by Edrad Liones but now possesses only a fraction of its former power, and when Ichigo expresses surprise at Ikkaku having achieved Bankai, Mayuri recalls Ikkaku asking him to keep it a secret and dismisses this as irrelevant. When Ichigo brings up 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai 's Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, and how it was broken in Renji's battle against his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, Mayuri asks him if he has ever counted the number of bone segments comprising Hihiō Zabimaru and clarifies that those destroyed by Byakuya remain broken.
With Ichigo aghast at this and questioning what he is supposed to do, several researchers shout at each other to catch a large and muscular Kon, who slams into Ichigo while running. With Ichigo bleeding from the nose and not recognizing him, a shocked Kon encourages Ichigo to remember him as the King of New York, only for Ichigo to claim that he simply did not realize it was Kon because the latter has grown so much since they last met. Accusing Ichigo of trying to praise the horrid development of his body, Kon attempts to recount his recent suffering, but Mayuri deflates his body and returns it to its normal state with the press of a button, allowing the researchers to continue chasing Kon while Mayuri moves on despite Ichigo's protests. Suddenly, Mayuri is contacted on his headpiece, confirms that he is on his way, and tells Ichigo to come with him before revealing that though he does not want to meet them at all, Ichigo should meet the Royal Guard that is coming to the Seireitei.
Some time later, with dawn breaking, Ichigo joins the captains outside the Seireitei and calls out to 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako, who advises him against being here. With Ichigo questioning where the Royal Guard is coming from, why they are only showing up after the Seireitei's devastation, and where they usually stay, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku informs him that they are stationed at the Soul King Palace, and when Ichigo wonders if this is not in the Seireitei, Shunsui asks him if he recalls the walls that fell around the Seireitei when he first entered Soul Society. Musing that the walls have been down ever since because the Seireitei has experienced a chaotic period, Shunsui clarifies that it was only meant to protect the Seireitei during emergencies and asks Ichigo what it usually surrounds when the Seireitei is not in the middle of an emergency.
Suddenly, with Shunsui observing that they have arrived, the Tenchūren parts the clouds above as it falls from the sky and slams into the ground before the captains, where Shunsui explains that it is the method of transportation for the Royal Guard because the latter is comprised of only five members, leaving Ichigo astonished since he initially believed that it contained a standard division's worth of Shinigami. After revealing that the Royal Guard are all captains with no division members, Shunsui concludes that their combined strength is greater than that of the entire Gotei 13 while Ichibe'e, Ōetsu Nimaiya, Tenjirō Kirinji, Senjumaru Shutara, and Kirio Hikifune walk out of the opening doors.
517. THE STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN [ ]
The Royal Guard interact with Ichigo Kurosaki and the captains, some for the first time.
As they step out of the Tenchūren, Ichibe'e Hyōsube and Kirio Hikifune stand before the captains while Ōetsu Nimaiya dances, Senjumaru Shutara plays several instruments with her robotic arms, and Tenjirō Kirinji waves a flag with the Zero Division symbol and announces that they are finally here. With Kirinji questioning if the captains have been eating right and getting enough sleep, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako admits that this is different from what he expected. Suddenly, Hikifune slaps the back of Shinji's head, to his aggravation, and declares that it has been a long time since they last met as she notices that Hiyori Sarugaki is not with him. Though he initially does not recognize her, Shinji realizes from her question about Hiyori that she is the former captain of the Twelfth Division and notes that she has changed since they last met, but Hikifune denies having changed that much and proclaims that she is hungry when her stomach growls.
Meanwhile, Kirinji confronts 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana over whether she is using the healing techniques he taught her effectively, which Unohana confirms. However, Kirinji brings up the recent loss of many Shinigami for the Gotei 13 and wonders how Unohana's statement reconciles with that, to her annoyance, prior to Ichibe'e throwing his arm around Kirinji's neck and observing that they should save the catching up they have to do for later, leaving Kirinji irritated. 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku tells Ichibe'e that the Royal Guard are the same as always and questions what they have come here for this time, prompting Ichibe'e to look past him, identify Ichigo Kurosaki, and explain that the Royal Guard have come to help rebuild the Gotei 13 at the behest of the Soul King, starting with taking Ichigo back up with them.
In response, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng decries this and admonishes the Royal Guard for relaxing in the sky during the siege on the Seireitei until they decided to come down and rebuild the Gotei 13 later. When Ichibe'e attempts to continue speaking after a pause, Suì-Fēng attempts to strike him, only for Kirinji to move behind her with Shunpo and grab her fist while telling her to shut up, leaving Suì-Fēng astonished by his speed. Asserting that Suì-Fēng's complaints should be the Royal Guard's own, Kirinji reminds her that the Gotei 13 are the ones tasked with protecting the Seireitei while the Royal Guard protect the Soul King Palace. With Kirinji concluding that no proper Gotei 13 would cry for help after failing to do their job and asserting that they do not deserve the name, Ichibe'e brings his hand down onto the top of Kirinji's head in a powerful chop, causing the latter to collapse in pain, and reminds Kirinji that he was told to save this for later prior to declaring that they should finish what they came here for.
Suddenly, Senjumaru informs him that there is no need since she has already collected what they need as the others see her holding large capsules that contain 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, and the broken sword of Tensa Zangetsu, to their shock. Once Senjumaru extends a mechanical arm toward Ichigo and asserts that he is the only thing left, Unohana declares it unacceptable for Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya to be taken since they are in no condition to leave the Seireitei, but Kirinji counters that this is exactly why they are being taken since Unohana is not strong enough to fully heal them, asserts that he will be healing them himself, and reminds Unohana that medical care is not what she should be focusing on right now, which she closes her eyes solemnly in response to.
When 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi chastises her for breaking into his lab for Tensa Zangetsu, Senjumaru claims that this is an exaggeration because the door simply slid open when she placed her hand on it. After Senjumaru muses that security is a lot weaker than it was when she was last here, Ichigo demands to know why he is being taken as well when he can recover from his injuries without issue in the Seireitei and has something else he needs to do, and as Ichibe'e confirms that he is being taken for a different reason, Kisuke Urahara startles a confused Ichigo and the other Shinigami by greeting them over a broadcast system.
518. The Shooting Star Project (ZERO MIX) [ ]
Assured by Kisuke Urahara that he can decide what he truly wants to do, Ichigo Kurosaki chooses to accompany the Royal Guard back to the Soul King Palace.
Greeting Ichigo Kurosaki and the assembled captains of the Gotei 13 from a screen projected into the air, Kisuke Urahara observes that it has been a long time since they last saw each other, only to be disappointed by the lack of reaction. With the screen being projected out of a panicking Kon 's head and him admitting that he has no idea what is happening, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi orders his subordinates to capture Kon and turn off the feed, only for a seemingly wailing Urahara to simply turn the feed back on and announce that they are fine. After Urahara commends Mayuri for realizing the controls are in Kon's eyes while Mayuri presses his fingers into them, though Urahara clarifies that he has turned those off for now, Orihime Inoue enters the frame, greets Ichigo, and expresses relief at him being alright.
While Yasutora Sado joins Orihime and Urahara to greet Ichigo as well, Ichigo admits that he was worried about them, and as Urahara explains that he could not contact Ichigo sooner because of Kon being restrained, an unseen individual opens the flap of the tent they are in upon hearing Ichigo's voice, prompting Urahara to frantically have Orihime and Sado push him back out of the tent. Though Ichigo is left aghast at him being with them, Urahara brings up Ichigo mentioning that he had something to do, infers that this was rescuing them from Hueco Mundo, and states that this is no longer necessary. After telling Ichigo to decide on his own what he truly wants to do, Urahara asserts that the man is not a threat to their lives because they have reached a nice agreement and bids Ichigo farewell as the projection closes.
In Hueco Mundo, Sado asks Urahara if it was right to tell Ichigo this because he may want to run away from this fight if he only thinks about himself, but Urahara counters that Sado should not say things he does not believe and explains that Ichigo doing what he truly wants to do will surely lead to him protecting all of them in the end, which both Orihime and Sado should know and which Ichigo himself knows better than anyone. Back in the Seireitei, Ichigo asks Ichibe'e Hyōsube if they can fix the sword of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, in the Soul King Palace, only for Ichibe'e to clarify that while fixing it is impossible, they may be able to reforge Tensa Zangetsu into something resembling his original sword using powerful spiritual techniques available only in the Soul King Palace, which prompts Ichigo to decide that he will go with the Royal Guard.
Moments later, Ichigo finds himself at the Shiba Clan residence and wonders why he is here, leading Kūkaku Shiba to chastise him for reacting this way to seeing an old friend and claim she might not launch him after all. With Ichigo confused by the mention of launching, Ichibe'e reveals that the Tenchūren has no way of returning to the Soul King Palace on its own and responds to an aghast Ichigo bringing up their unique spiritual techniques by affirming that those exist, only for Ichigo to chastise him for doing so since he makes it sound untrue. When Ichigo brings up Ganju Shiba 's absence, Kūkaku claims that she is using him as a statue to hold up her banner after he turned into a large stone version of himself, which Ichigo immediately calls out as a lie, prior to ordering Ichigo and the Royal Guard into the Tenchūren and launching it out of the Kakaku Taihō high into the air while Ichigo screams about the lack of seatbelts.
Following this, on the ground below, Ganju approaches wonders if this was a good idea, only for Kūkaku to point out that Soul Society is doomed when the next invasion comes if Ichigo does not go now and they have no choice but to let Ichigo go, even if it makes their uncle sad. Turning to face Ganju, Kūkaku tells his group to return to the training hall and not forget who took them off the streets of the Rukongai, prompting Kūgo Ginjō and Giriko Kutsuzawa to muse that they are getting sick of her attitude as they walk away with Shūkurō Tsukishima. When Kūkaku tells him that he is being thrown into the next battle no matter how much he cries or screams, Ganju readily affirms this.
Shortly afterward, the Tenchūren lands on a platform in the sky and its doors open while Ichigo is told that they have arrived and looks out to behold the Soul King Palace.
519. HOT, HOT, HEAT [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki learns of how the Soul King Palace is laid out and travels to Kirinden first.
Having reached the Soul King Palace, Ichibe'e Hyōsube tells Ichigo Kurosaki that he should feel free to brag about seeing it since ordinary Shinigami are not allowed here, though he admits that he is unsure if Ichigo can be called ordinary. As he muses that this is what Sousuke Aizen wanted so badly to reach, Ichigo recalls that they need an Ōken to enter this place, but Ichibe'e reveals that the Ōken is actually the bones of the Royal Guard members, transformed by the Soul King when each of them joined, and details how the two methods of entering the Soul King Palace are for the Royal Guard to allow someone in or for someone to travel with them. With Ichibe'e concluding that Aizen's attempt to create an Ōken was him trying to make a member of the Royal Guard with his own spiritual powers, Senjumaru Shutara tells Ichigo that Aizen was evil personified for plotting to become a god by killing the Soul King and taking his throne, but warns Ichigo that the Wandenreich is an even greater evil.
Seconds later, Ichigo finds himself standing on a platform as Kirinji prepares to smash a nearby button with a hammer, and when Ichigo demands that Kirinji wait and questions if he is going to meet the Soul King, an unimpressed Kirinji wonders if Ichigo is talking in his sleep. However, when Kirinji declares that there is no way someone like Ichigo would be able to meet the Soul King, Hikifune smacks the back of his head for not explaining it properly and tells Ichigo that while they are currently at the Vestibule Road entrance, the Greater Soul King Palace is floating miles away and is surrounded by five dish-like structures containing palace cities overseen by each of the Royal Guard, with Kirinji clarifying that they are all going to his Kirinden first.
Moments later, Ichigo finds himself in a hot spring alongside the unconscious and bandaged 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, where he is startled by the loud sound of a large rocking fountain and wonders what they are doing, though Kirinji merely tells him to not let the towel fall from his head while resting nearby. With Ichigo demanding to know why he is resting in a hot spring, Kirinji declares that it is therapeutic, and upon seeing Kirinji pushing Byakuya back underneath the water, Ichigo accuses Kirinji of trying to kill Byakuya and questions how the latter got here before Kirinji reveals that he is not the only one by pulling Renji out of the water by his hair, prompting Ichigo to accuse him of treating Renji like a red turnip and turn to see Rukia floating across the water face-down behind him as Kirinji comments on her bare rear end sticking out.
Kirinji tells Ichigo to keep his mouth shut and explains that this White Bone Hell squeezes out the blood and damaged Reiatsu of individuals within it, to Ichigo's confusion. After drawing Ichigo's attention to the red and boiling Blood Pond Hell nearby, Kirinji tosses Byakuya into it, leaving Ichigo aghast, and elaborates that this hot spring replenishes the lost blood, with this process being repeated several times until all the damaged Reiatsu and blood is replaced with his hot spring water. Though Ichigo is left uncertain at this working, Kirinji notes him being Kisuke Urahara 's pupil, which Ichigo denies, and brings up the strange hot spring in the Study Chamber within Sōkyoku Hill that was able to heal Ichigo's injuries when he bathed in it. Revealing that this was Urahara's attempt at recreating his hot springs after studying them, Kirinji proclaims that one night in his hot springs is enough to make someone with injuries like Ichigo's feel twice as good as normal. With Ichigo stunned by this, Kirinji notices that the towel has fallen from his head and reprimands him for doing so because leaving his head uncovered will cause the core of his Reiatsu to be sucked out and kill him, to Ichigo's shock and panic.
Meanwhile, in the Greater Soul King Palace, an attendant observes that the Soul King has awakened as the latter opens his eyes within the crystal encasing him.
520. KILLERS NOT DEAD [ ]
While Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai move onto the next palace, Shunsui Kyōraku is promoted to the office of Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13.
Knocking on the door of the office of her captain, Shunsui Kyōraku, 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise announces she is coming in and apologetically opens the door when she does not receive a response, only to express surprise upon seeing Shunsui reading a letter on the other side of the room. Though Nanao chastises him for not saying anything even though he was in here, Shunsui informs her they might have to say farewell to each other and reveals he has been promoted to Captain-Commander, as well as captain of the First Division.
Meanwhile, in the Kirinden within the Soul King Palace, Kazuo and Kazuhiro hold a bandaged Ichigo Kurosaki under the waters of the White Bone Hell and count to 100, only for Ichigo to kick Kazuo in the face and burst out of the water to breathe when they reach 93. Upon seeing this, Tenjirō Kirinji proclaims that Ichigo has failed because he should have been taught as a kid to not get out of a bath until he counts to 100, and despite Ichigo protesting that he was told to do so with the water only up to his neck because parents do not make their kids do so with their heads underwater, Kirinji has Kazuo and Kazuhiro shove Ichigo's head back under the water to start over while they insist that it is for his own good. With Ichigo continuing to struggle against this, to Kazuo and Kazuhiro's irritation, Kirinji tells them to stop, walks over, and punches Ichigo in the face, sending him flying several meters away.
When Ichigo demands to know what this was for, Kirinji declares that he is healed because this blow would have killed him otherwise and points out how Ichigo's fallen bandages have revealed his wounds have been healed, which Ichigo acknowledges, before stating that Ichigo can go to the next place now that he has done what he came here to do. Suddenly, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai tells Kirinji to wait. As Renji asserts that he is coming along and Ichigo warns Renji that he still has not fully recovered, Kirinji walks over to Renji and punches him squarely in the chest, creating a small explosion of force that kicks up the hot spring water around them. However, Kirinji is surprised to see Renji still standing in place when the mist clears while Renji observes that Kirinji did not send him flying. Though he notices Renji's arm trembling, Kirinji determines that he is alright if he was able to withstand this punch and clears him to go, to Renji's gratitude.
Once Ichigo and Renji get dressed, Kazuo and Kazuhiro launch them to the next palace. With a shocked Ichigo questioning if there is really no other way to get around the Soul King Palace, Kirinji soaks his right hand in the White Bone Hell, thanks Kazuo and Kazuhiro for their hard work, and gives them permission to take off their protective clothing now, prompting them to do so and leave the clothing to burst into flames on the ground as their bodies are revealed to have been scarred despite it. Kazuo notes that the healing process would have made their bodies rupture and explode if they were not wearing the protective clothing, leading Kazuhiro to muse that Ichigo and Renji soaked in the White Bone Hell naked without issue. In response, Kirinji affirms this and admits that the two of them exceeded his expectations before recounting how Ichigo reflexively struck and fractured his fist when Kirinji punched him in the face, to Kazuo and Kazuhiro's shock, and musing that he still has not lost the skill in Hohō that gave him the moniker of "Lightning-Fast", which is why he can understand why the Soul King is interested in Ichigo since the latter is something else.
Back in the Seireitei, in the Central 46 Compound assembly hall, the Central 46 are aggravated at Shunsui requesting that he be granted two lieutenants for the First Division. However, Shunsui merely affirms this and explains that 1st Division Lieutenant Genshirō Okikiba knows how to run the division while Nanao knows how to handle Shunsui himself, which means that they will both assist him in his duties. Though one of the judges declares that this is unacceptable, Shunsui counters that captains are explicitly granted the sole authority to appoint their lieutenants by the Central 46 themselves, leaving the judge speechless. Deciding to proceed with his first task as Captain-Commander, Shunsui announces that he intends to teach Zanjutsu to 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki. With the Central 46 aghast at this, Shunsui notes that there is no guarantee of 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and the others returning from the Soul King Palace, which is why they must hone Kenpachi as an important asset.
Though the judges claim that Kenpachi could become too powerful to stop if he decides to revolt and remind Shunsui that they forced Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto to stop teaching him kendo after a single day, Shunsui wonders what they are supposed to do instead since Soul Society will not survive the next invasion in its current state and asks the Central 46 if any of them can protect themselves. After the Central 46 fall silent, Shunsui observes that he has been given permission and calls in the person he intends to have handle this, prompting 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana to enter the hall while Shunsui identifies her as Yachiru Unohana, the First Kenpachi.
Bleach, Volume 59
521. A Piggy Party [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai feast at the Gatonden.
While falling through the air at high speeds, Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai struggle and argue over which of them should absorb the impact once they land based on their injuries and bravado, only for them to notice a beeping coming from Kon, who has nestled himself inside Ichigo's longcoat, just before the latter bulks up into a muscular form. Lamenting that he could not have been discovered at a worse time, Kon falls below Ichigo and Renji, who proceed to land directly on top of him once they crash into the Gatonden landing platform and walk away from a deflating and protesting Kon as Renji claims that it would not have been good for him to crash from that height just after getting healed, though Ichigo claims that he would have protected himself with a breakfall and assumes that Kon hid himself within Ichigo's shihakushō at some point, then stayed hidden since there were only muscular men in Tenjirō Kirinji 's hot springs.
Suddenly, the two of them are sent flying when Kirio Hikifune boisterously greets them. While Ichigo and Renji struggle to hang onto the edge of the platform after nearly falling off it from this, Hikifune proclaims that she is happy they made it, but Ichigo simply demands to know if only idiots reside here. Some time later, with Hikifune cooking up large amounts of food, a stunned Ichigo and Renji find themselves sitting at the end of a banquet table piled high with food, where Ichigo admits that he thought Hikifune's method of taking care of them would involve more grueling training. Though Kon insists that they start eating because he is hungry, Ichigo grabs him by the head and asserts that Hikifune cannot be doing this for no reason. In response, Hikifune enters the room and muses that Ichigo grew up distrustful due to Kisuke Urahara prior to assuring him that the Gatonden is a palace of food and that her only job is to ensure that their bellies are full, since she is sure that they are hungry.
With their stomachs growling, Ichigo and Renji enthusiastically decide to eat and begin consuming entire plates of food, impressing Hikifune with their appetites while she leaves to make dessert. Though Ichigo claims that he cannot stop eating, Renji admits that he can and holds up what appears to be a fried centipede-like insect as he wonders what exactly it is. Despite this, once he takes a bite, Renji effusively praises the awesome taste belied by its strange appearance as well as its awesome texture before declaring that the way its awesome aroma spreads through his mouth is awesome, only for Ichigo to tell him to stop since his terrible food critique is ruining Ichigo's appetite. As Ichigo stops eating and sets down his chopsticks, Renji wonders if Ichigo is full and claims that he can keep going, though Ichigo insists that he can as well and is just taking a break prior to asking Renji if they should really be doing this when everyone in the Seireitei is training for the next battle.
With Ichigo pointing out that they are instead taking baths, eating food, and fooling around up here as he questions whether it will actually make them strong enough for the next battle, Renji calls him an idiot and recounts how they took the bath to heal their injuries from battle, then began eating because they got hungry, which he concludes makes perfect sense as a method of building up their strength for the tough training ahead. Awed by this, Ichigo admits that Renji makes a good point every now and then, and after expressing annoyance at this, Renji challenges Ichigo to keep eating as they resume feasting on the dishes. Suddenly, Hikifune interrupts Ichigo insisting that he can eat more than Renji by laughing and complimenting Renji as living up to the standard of a lieutenant for fully understanding what she was saying before parting the veil to reveal that she has slimmed down into a much thinner and more curvaceous form, causing Ichigo, Renji, and Kon to spit the food out of their mouths in astonishment.
Hikifune elaborates that what they are doing now is no different than preparing for any other training and is simply being done on a Soul King scale, with her observing that their rituals are infused with the Soul King's power and the million-year history of Soul Society. Once Hikifune concludes that they are on a whole different levels from the healing and diet options available in the Seireitei and encourages Ichigo and Renji to finish preparing their bodies for the next palace by eating the large cake she made for dessert, Ichigo, Renji, and Kon demand to know who she is, leading a bemused Hikifune to realize that she never explained this part to them.
Some time later, with Hikifune detailing how cooking uses up all her Reiatsu and causes her to lose a lot of weight every time, which forces her to remain bulked up most of the time, Ichigo and Renji step out onto the launching platform, where Hikifune warns them to be careful out there and reminds them of her statement about their rituals being packed with the history of Soul Society. Clarifying that each member of the Royal Guard has created something in Soul Society that the Soul King recognized as significantly contributing to its history and which led to them being invited to the Royal Guard to begin with, Hikifune explains that she invented Gikon and the technology to place them into bodies, with Gikongan being created using part of this invention, prior to detailing how the essence of Gikon is to increase one's level of power by infusing them with a foreign Reiatsu and revealing that the food Ichigo and Renji ate was filled with that essence, drastically increasing their Reiatsu, leaving Ichigo and Renji staring at their bodies in shock.
Though she is glad that Ichigo and Renji can feel this, Hikifune still tells them to proceed with caution because the man in the next palace, Hōōden, is Ōetsu Nimaiya, the creator of the Zanpakutō and completely unpredictable.
522. Love it [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai visit the palace of Ōetsu Nimaiya, inventor of the Zanpakutō.
In a dark room, Mera Hiuchigashima informs Ōetsu Nimaiya that Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai have arrived at the landing platform, which Nimaiya acknowledges as he holds a sword.
Meanwhile, in the landing area of the Hōōden, Ichigo and Renji stand before a deflating Kon, where Ichigo observes that no one is here prior to Kon chastising them for using him as a cushion again. When Ichigo asserts that he has no right to complain because he came here of his own free will, Kon counters that he would have happily stayed at the Gatonden because it was paradise just before two spotlights shine down on them and a row of speakers activate on either side of the platform, to their confusion. With a microphone attached to his cheek, Nimaiya tells Ichigo and Renji to lower their heads because they are so high and identifies himself in English as the number one Zanpakutō creator before greeting the two of them with a finger gun.
Shortly afterward, Ichigo, Renji, and an overjoyed Kon find themselves before an assembly of beautiful women that comment on their attractive physical appearances. Though Renji is confused by this while they walk through the Galaxy Hōōden, Ichigo warns him to not let his guard down since the women are likely men and forcefully grabs an overjoyed Kon with both hands to restrain him prior to Nimaiya asking them if they liked his welcome show, introducing himself once more, and initiating a series of hand claps with Ichigo to greet him, resulting in Ichigo asking Renji to trade places with him since he cannot keep up with Nimaiya's energy while Renji admits that he cannot either. Unimpressed by this, Nimaiya criticizes their energy and wonders if they want to leave, which prompts Ichigo and Renji to bow and request to stay after quietly deliberating on whether or not Nimaiya is serious about this. However, Nimaiya wags his finger at this and claims that the formal way to apologize in Hōōden is to balance on one's head and forearms with one's body suspended vertically in the air above, which he demonstrates. Though Ichigo refuses to do this, Renji insists that they must, only for Nimaiya to take a picture of them with a smartphone once they assume the pose and show it to the women as they teasingly comment on it, to Ichigo and Renji's aggravation.
Suddenly, Mera demands to know how long Nimaiya is going to do this for and kicks him in the back of the head from the entrance of the Galaxy Hōōden, sending him skidding across the floor. With Nimaiya protesting this, Mera takes him, Ichigo, Renji, and Kon to the real Hōōden, a dingy wooden shack on the outskirts of the city, where she explains that Nimaiya built the Galaxy Hōōden because he does not want to accept that this is where he lives. As Ichigo expresses disbelief at this, Kon tearfully begs to go back to the other Hōōden because he does not want to be here, which Nimaiya agrees with while clutching Kon and asserting that the latter understands him. Upon walking into the shack, Ichigo and Renji discover that there is no floor past the doorway and shriek as they fall into a deep pit below. With Renji questioning what this is, Nimaiya reveals they have not met a single Shinigami besides him on their way through the city because all the women were Zanpakutō.
Once he sees Ichigo and Renji shocked by this, Nimaiya wonders if they cannot tell the difference between Shinigami and Zanpakutō, causing him to hold up their broken swords and attribute this to them being irresponsible enough to let this happen to their weapons. After shattering most of the remaining blades, to Ichigo and Renji's astonishment, Nimaiya muses that an unloved Zanpakutō is so easily broken prior to informing Ichigo and Renji that they are surrounded by the anger of Zanpakutō. While several pairs of glowing eyes appear in the darkness behind Ichigo and Renji, Nimaiya promises to consider repairing the swords if they make it out of the pit alive. When Renji expresses irritation at this, Nimaiya count down from ten to identify himself once more as the number one Zanpakutō creator and concludes that he does not make swords for losers before greeting an irate Ichigo once again.
523. Swords of Origin [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai fight for survival against the Asauchi as 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana begins her duel with 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.
When 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai notes that there are a lot of figures in the darkness with them and Ichigo Kurosaki wonders what they are, Ōetsu Nimaiya identifies them as Asauchi, the Zanpakutō that can become anything, as several blank humanoid figures with mouths for eyes step forward and lunge toward Ichigo and Renji. Nimaiya explains that the Asauchi are the nameless Zanpakutō temporarily issued to members of the Gotei 13 during their time in the Shin'ō Academy and officially issued once they graduate and join a division. Detailing how every Shinigami eats and sleeps with their Asauchi, Nimaiya proclaims that they eventually imprint the essence of their Soul upon the Asauchi to create their personalized Zanpakutō through continuous training and reveals that he is the one who creates all these Asauchi.
Though Ichigo assumes they are the embodiment of Asauchi and demands to know why he and Renji have to fight them, Nimaiya asserts that he does not need to worry about what they truly are because all that matters is the Asauchi being angry with them for the way Ichigo and Renji treat their Zanpakutō, which Ichigo does not understand. After noting that this does not surprise him, Nimaiya dismisses this being the result of how they fight or swing their swords and rapidly questions if Ichigo and Renji have been treating their Zanpakutō like some sort of acquaintance or lover, and with the Asauchi leaking fluid from their mouths, Nimaiya declares that they are fundamentally different and suggests that they start by examining whether Shinigami or Zanpakutō are superior.
Meanwhile, in the Muken level of the Central Great Underground Prison in the Seireitei, an elevator reaches the bottom floor and opens to reveal 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, who walks forward with a grin and comments on how grandiose the stage is while admitting that he is surprised 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana was able to get permission to use it for their fight, prompting Unohana to note that it was Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku 's orders as she stands with her back turned to him. Unohana observes that Muken is completely closed off and infinitely large, making it the only place suitable for Kenpachi to freely swing his sword, and asserts that this is the only reason why non-criminals like them were allowed to enter it. However, Kenpachi counters that the only thing the two of them would be is criminals were it not for their power, prompting Unohana to turn to face him with her hair down and a depraved grin.
When Unohana states that she suggested this place because she felt Kenpachi would fit in perfectly as someone with no power, Kenpachi admits that he figured as much and declares he is fine with living as a captain or dying as a criminal here. With Kenpachi proclaiming that he will be going to hell from fighting her no matter what, Unohana observes that he is talkative today and muses that she prefers it when he is quiet because the sound of his voice always makes the single scar he gave her between her collarbones begin to ache. In turn, Kenpachi points out that she is not the only one with an aching scar before the two of them rush toward each other with their Zanpakutō drawn.
Meanwhile, in his office far above, Shunsui recalls Yachiru Unohana as part of the original and strongest generation of Gotei 13 captains who created the Eleventh Division and defined what it is known as today. Following his noting that Unohana was the most infamous criminal in Soul Society's history prior to her recruitment by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto and gave herself a name meaning "Eight Thousand Styles" to reflect her mastery of countless swordsmanship styles, Shunsui apologizes for calling this a Zanjutsu lesson and admits either Unohana or Kenpachi will have to die once they cross blades, which he already knew, while Kenpachi and Unohana clash fiercely.
524. THE DROP [ ]
11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki founds himself completely outmatched by 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana.
As 4th Division Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu finds a note left to her by her captain, Retsu Unohana, and 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi finds Captain Kenpachi Zaraki 's eyepatch, Isane weeps over Unohana's note and Yachiru expresses concern for a bloodied Kenpachi, who comes down on Unohana with a powerful slash, only for her to push his sword arm aside and cut through the side of his neck. Momentarily fazed by this, Kenpachi quickly recovers and attacks Unohana once more, and when she steps on the guard of his Zanpakutō to evade this and perform a slash of her own, Kenpachi spins around and kicks her in the side of her sword arm, sending Unohana flying back to land on the side of a pillar before springing off of it to clash with Kenpachi once more, creating a shockwave of force that radiates outward from them.
Though she commends Kenpachi for having his eyepatch removed from the start, Unohana points out that this just exposes the limit of his power, to Kenpachi's surprise, and stabs a dagger into his left shoulder, prompting Kenpachi to send her sliding her several meters back with a swing of his Zanpakutō. Calling Kenpachi weak, Unohana holds up another dagger and expresses disbelief at someone fighting with one arm not making use of the other before observing that Kenpachi cannot be enjoying this fight. However, Kenpachi criticizes Unohana for using such cheap tricks in battle, pulls out the dagger, and claims she has changed from the person he admired. In turn, Unohana berates Kenpachi for admiring his enemy in the middle of battle and rushes forward to disarm Kenpachi, leaving him pinned against a nearby pillar as his Zanpakutō flies into the air and embeds itself in the ground nearby.
Holding the tip of her Zanpakutō to Kenpachi's throat, Unohana reveals she has not changed at all and simply did not have the opportunity to use such cheap tricks during their first battle, leading Kenpachi to realize she is saying he has gotten weaker and recall how he admired her because he had felt so indifferent to cutting anything and everything in his youth that it was like he was swinging a sword alone in the dark. After recounting how he felt fear and the joy of battle for the first time while battling Unohana, whom he wanted to fight like, Kenpachi sheds a tear as he inquires if Unohana is saying he is going to die here without ever defeating her. In response, Unohana shoves her Zanpakutō through Kenpachi's throat, causing him to spit up blood that lands on her face while he mentally curses and loses consciousness.
Suddenly, Kenpachi finds himself alive and crossing blades with Unohana, who questions if he was distracted by something prior to Kenpachi forcing her back, wondering what that was, and dismissing it as irrelevant because he does not have time to think. With a manically grinning Kenpachi resolving to focus on the battle instead, Unohana internally declares that Kenpachi will not die because he grows stronger every time he is near death, which is both an unconscious limiter he placed on himself and her sin.
525. Edges [ ]
4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana details how she inadvertently led 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki to suppress his power as the two continue to battle.
Suddenly regaining consciousness while hurtling upside-down and backwards through the air in Muken, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki realizes that it has happened once again and flips over to slide back across the ground on his feet as he ruminates on having lost consciousness once again. With 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana standing several meters away from him, Kenpachi rushes forward and continues clashing with her while wondering how many times he has done this during their battle. After mentally noting that this brings back memories because he has never enjoyed his battles so much that he lost himself or fell unconscious during them, Kenpachi muses that this only happened on the day that he first fought Unohana.
Several hundred years ago, Unohana stands in the Rukongai as rain falls around her. Approaching Unohana from behind, one of her subordinates apologetically informs her that they are unlikely to find anyone out here strong enough to fight her, which leads Unohana to admit that she is impressed at him figuring out her true intentions. Suddenly, with the subordinate explaining that cutting down the gangs roaming the Rukongai would not have been proposed by Unohana if this had not been her true motive and that it will not do much to preserve the peace in the Seireitei, the subordinate observes that the mountain of bodies next to Unohana represents the size of her dissatisfaction, but an alarmed Unohana questions how long this mountain of bodies has been here, to his confusion, just before a young Kenpachi appears at the top of the pile with his Zanpakutō in hand.
As Kenpachi leaps off the pile toward her, Unohana internally observes that she was searching the Rukongai for opponents that could please her because she was bored with both her sword and with fighting, which she believes is the reason that fate drew her and Kenpachi together as two weary souls. Unohana crosses blades with Kenpachi, who overpowers her and stabs his Zanpakutō into the center of her chest between her clavicles, leaving Unohana astonished and elated at experiencing such unparalleled joy at crossing blades with a child while her blood spurts into the air and mingles with the rain. However, Unohana also admits that she never expected that child to place shackles on himself because of their battle.
In the present, Kenpachi lands across from Unohana and manages to cut her left arm with a slash, prompting him to realize that he can now counterattack rather than just react to each of Unohana's moves because he is feeling reborn every time he regains consciousness. Clashing several more times with Kenpachi and moving back to dodge a powerful downward strike from him that shakes the ground upon impact, Unohana mentally reveals that Kenpachi has been unconsciously restraining his own power ever since their first battle. As she questions why Kenpachi only barely lost his battle against Ichigo Kurosaki and barely won his battle against Espada #5. Nnoitra Gilga, Unohana asserts that while others attributed these outcomes to his opponents being strong, she knew he had suppressed as much of his power as he could during both fights.
Unohana recalls the two of them experiencing unparalleled joy during their first battle prior to musing that her sin was leading Kenpachi to learn the joy of fighting on the edge for the first time, since he must have been ecstatic after spending so much time without any opponents strong enough for him to test his sword against. In the past, Unohana continues clashing with Kenpachi and muses that she was the first foe he encountered who could rival his power, but admits that she was weaker than him despite this, which left him despairing at the idea of never experiencing true battle against by losing his first foe and resulted in Kenpachi slowly and unconsciously sealing his power into a deep part of his soul in order to bring himself down to her level, leaving a shocked Unohana devastated at her weakness driving Kenpachi to suppress his own power.
However, in the present, Unohana recounts how she noticed Kenpachi beginning to break his shackles and returning to his old self a bit more every time every time he came close to death against a powerful opponent and cuts open his chest with her Zanpakutō, leaving Kenpachi staggered. Internally concluding that she is stronger than anyone but him, Unohana resolves to kill and revive Kenpachi hundreds of times until he returns to his true level of power and surpasses her to reach even greater heights. Having been grievously injured once more by Unohana, Kenpachi recovers without being healed and slashes his Zanpakutō down the length of her body with tremendous force.
526. The Battle [ ]
11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki concludes his battle with 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana.
With blood spilling from the slash down her chest, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana manages to cut 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki once more and brings her Zanpakutō down on him, forcing him to block it perpendicularly. Musing that he probably thought she was dead from this, Unohana leaps back, heals her wound with Kaidō, and reminds Kenpachi that this is why she learned the art prior to activating her Bankai, Minazuki, by dragging her clenched hand along the blade of her Zanpakutō and coating it in a deep red fluid while the surrounding area is drenched in the same fluid. After Unohana declares that playtime is over, an initially stunned Kenpachi roars with glee and rushes toward her.
As he proceeds to clash fiercely with Unohana, Kenpachi muses that he is melting while envisioning the right side of his body being reduced to a skeleton. Uncertain of why everything feels so different, Kenpachi sees Unohana's face reduced to a skull with stringy hair just as he realizes what this is and asserts that he has been asleep until now. While regaining his normal perception of the two of them, Zaraki observes that he has been playing out their exchange in his dreams this whole time and did not think there was a word for it until now, with Unohana having taught him what it is called. Attacking Unohana with great ferocity, Kenpachi thanks her for this and proclaims that this is what a real battle feels like.
Kenpachi continues to battle Unohana and declares that he cannot help loving battle as much as he does while they clash once more, with Unohana leaping over him and confirming that she knew this long before he did prior to musing that while Kenpachi learned to suppressed his own power so he could enjoy the battle forever, she learned to heal herself for the same purpose and now knows that she obtained her power for the sake of this single battle. After crossing blades with Kenpachi, Unohana mentally points out that there can only be one Kenpachi in any era, which is both a rule and an inevitable fate pertaining to the strong. With Unohana concluding that the strongest can no longer swing their blade for their own sake once they find the next strongest because they will always be working to kill or nurture that person, she separates from Kenpachi and recalls defeating him during their first battle, where she realized that he was worthy of holding the title of Kenpachi, before bidding farewell to the one man in this world who brought her joy while Kenpachi impales her on his Zanpakutō.
527. Eliminate From Heaven [ ]
11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki hears the voice of his Zanpakutō Spirit for the first time as Ōetsu Nimaiya determines the results of the Asauchi test.
As her Bankai, Minazuki, disappears, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana praises 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki 's performance and asserts that this battle is now over while dropping her Zanpakutō, which causes an alarmed Kenpachi to throw his own away. Holding up a collapsing Unohana as blood spurts from her back, Kenpachi expresses disbelief at the idea of her dying and frantically begs her to stay because he wants to keep fighting her, but a smiling Unohana calls him childish for crying over this because he is not in danger of returning to the old days where he had no one to fight when he has both foes and comrades that he can cross swords with equally, as well as a partner who has just awakened. As Kenpachi's eyes widen in shock, Unohana envisions all of her blood flowing into her Zanpakutō and it flying out of her grasp while she concludes that she has nothing left after passing everything on to him.
After musing that she has even been able to give him the title of Kenpachi that she was unable to pass on when they first fought, Unohana expresses bliss at dying in the act of carrying out her true purposes and passes away. Suddenly, a voice addresses Kenpachi by name, and when he demands to know who is speaking to him, the voice notes that her voice has finally reached him and identifies herself as the one who has watched Kenpachi longer and more closely than anyone else. With Kenpachi recalling his first encounter with Kenpachi Kiganjō, the spirit of his Zanpakutō tells him her name.
Meanwhile, in the Soul King Palace, Ōetsu Nimaiya returns to the pit in Hōōden and admits that he is impressed at Ichigo Kurosaki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai lasting for almost three days. However, though he announces that a bloodied Renji has passed, Nimaiya informs a prone Ichigo that he has failed. Despite Ichigo protesting that he can keep fighting, Nimaiya firmly asserts that he is done, and when Ichigo points out that there is no time limit, Nimaiya clarifies that there is instead an emotional limit and reveals that Ichigo simply was not chosen by an Asauchi before explaining that the last three days have proven that Renji is a Shinigami while Ichigo is not. With Nimaiya promising to open a way out of here so he can go home, a stunned Ichigo begs him not to do this as Mera leaps down into the pit and retrieves him at Nimaiya's behest.
Nimaiya further instructs Ichigo to never enter Soul Society again, since it is the land of the Shinigami and a Human without a Zanpakutō has no right to enter it. Despite Ichigo refusing to give up after coming this far and wondering what will happen to Zangetsu if he does, Nimaiya bluntly states that he will not fix Ichigo's Zanpakutō regardless of whether or not he stays and counts down from ten to introduce himself again as someone who does not make swords for fake Shinigami. With Ichigo rushing toward him in anger, Nimaiya restrains him with two Kidō rings fired from his fingers and activates the Chōkaimon. As Ichigo disappears in the vanishing portal, Nimaiya bids him farewell and solemnly asserts that Ichigo needs to go because he does not understand the significance of not being chosen by an Asauchi and fighting for so long without one before concluding that Ichigo must discover and understand his roots, even if doing so prevents him from coming back.
528. Everything But the Rain [ ]
Isshin Kurosaki finally reveals his past to Ichigo Kurosaki.
In Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki stands before the Kurosaki Clinic in the rain, where he realizes that he is back in his Human body despite leaving it at the Urahara Shop and initially calls out for Kisuke Urahara before realizing the latter is still in Hueco Mundo and questioning who brought his body here, which leads him to think of Isshin Kurosaki. When Isshin comes out to greet Ichigo, he finds the front porch of the house empty and observes that Ichigo has disappeared again while the latter runs through the pouring rain.
Some time later, at her apartment, Ikumi Unagiya dries out Ichigo's coat and expresses disbelief at him coming to her so shaken after not visiting her in months and compares him to a high-school girl who has had a fight with her parents. Standing in the closed shower behind Ikumi, Ichigo simply apologizes, to her concern, and ruminates on getting kicked out of the Soul King Palace without even getting his Zanpakutō repaired, which has left him unable to face his friends or even his father, leaving him grateful that Urahara, Orihime Inoue, and Yasutora Sado are still in Hueco Mundo. However, when Ichigo turns off the shower and exits the bathroom while thanking her, Ikumi throws him a hot dumpling that hits him square in the face, burning it, and tells him to eat it so he can warm up while pointing out the dry clothes Ichigo can put on to get home and lamenting the fit Kaoru Unagiya would have thrown if he learned that she let Ichigo take a shower here.
Once he gets dressed, Ichigo apologizes for not showing up for work and for coming to Ikumi like this, only for the latter to slam her hand into the locker next to Ichigo and headbutt him, causing Ichigo to fall to the ground as Ikumi claims that she would rather he come to work than apologize to her and explains that she has felt like an older sister to Ichigo ever since she hired him, which is why he can come to her at any time since children should be able to rely on adults for help. Despite this, Ichigo merely points out that Ikumi is stretching the idea of older sister when she is ten years older than him, prompting Ikumi to throw a kick that Ichigo barely blocks and berate him for not being moved to tears by her speech, though Ichigo counters that he believed Ikumi was setting him up for a punchline.
Suddenly, after the doorbell rings and a confused Ikumi discovers that no one is outside her front door following her aggravation at Ichigo shouting that she would be right there, a relieved Ichigo is stunned to find Isshin standing before him in his Shinigami form, and with Ikumi assuming that this was a prank, Ichigo tells her that he is going home and assures Ikumi that he is fine while leaving. Requesting that Ichigo take an umbrella, which he does, and frowning at this, Ikumi notices Ichigo's Substitute Shinigami Badge lying underneath the towel he was using and leans out of the door to call after him about it, but sees that he has left and decides to deliver it to him tomorrow after recalling Ichigo's tired expression.
Back at the Kurosaki Clinic, Isshin brings up how it has been a while since Ichigo has been home and muses that him being gone for a few days at a time is nothing new before offering to make something for Ichigo to eat. In turn, Ichigo tells him to stop acting so cheery because he must know what is going on since he appeared in this form, and Isshin confirms that Urahara told him about what happened in Soul Society, including Ichigo's Zanpakutō being broken and the Royal Guard coming down, prior to assuming that the latter kicked Ichigo out and confirming that Ichigo has no chance of fixing his broken Bankai in his current state because he does not know anything about himself. When Ichigo angrily grabs him by the collar, Isshin stares solemnly at him and reminds Ichigo of his promise to wait until Isshin was ready to explain his past to him before concluding that the time has come. Telling Ichigo to listen closely, Isshin clarifies that while he is not a Shinigami, he is also not an ordinary Human and begins to tell Ichigo what his mother was.
In the past, a young Masaki Kurosaki runs over to a younger and wounded Isshin, who is wearing a captain's haori, in the rain, while asking him if he is alright. Confirming this and expressing amusement at a captain being helped out by a young girl as Masaki prepares to heal him, Isshin questions who she is due to her being able to take out that thing on her own, leading Masaki to introduce herself and informs Isshin that she is a Quincy.
529. Everything but the Rain Op.2 "The Rudiments" [ ]
10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba heads to Karakura Town to investigate a series of murders.
Outside the Hōōden in the Soul King Palace, Ōetsu Nimaiya infers that 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai also noticed it would be pointless for Ichigo Kurosaki to continue battling the Asauchi. With Renji looking away, Nimaiya reveals that he knows the location of every Asauchi he has ever forged and details how Shinigami transform them into personalized Zanpakutō through continuous training, which is the foundation of the relationship between the two and an absolute truth. After musing that this is true for the Royal Guard in addition to the Gotei 13 and that even a stray outlaw like Kenpachi Zaraki gained an Asauchi by retrieving it from the corpse of a Shinigami, Nimaiya asserts that not a single Shinigami has awakened their own Zanpakutō without an Asauchi that he forged since the beginning of Soul Society and admits that this method was obviously never going to work for Ichigo, which both he and Renji knew while Ichigo did not, before concluding that this is why Ichigo needs to know the whereabouts of his soul.
In the past, at the Tenth Division barracks, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto searches for her captain while two of her subordinates watch from a nearby walkway, with one of them expressing sympathy for her and the other noting that she has to do this every day. Upon noticing a rustling tree, Rangiku grabs a tray out of the hands of one of the Shinigami and hurls it into the tree as she proclaims that she has got her captain, who cries out in pain and falls to the ground. Though her captain holds the tray in front of his face and claims that she did not hit him because he caught it in time, Rangiku simply stomps the tray into his face, causing him to shriek about having to take the day off because she broke his nose. Bluntly observing that this was a hit, Rangiku asserts that they will be getting back to the office now and addresses her captain, Isshin, as Captain Shiba.
While Isshin hands the tray back to his subordinate and apologizes for her cracking it, Rangiku refuses to be blamed because Isshin is always running around and trying to avoid work. When Rangiku asserts that he will disgrace the main family of the Shiba Clan by acting like this even if he is just from a branch of it and tells him to improve himself, a bemused Isshin points out how unusual it is for Rangiku to be talking about family honor and deduces that she actually just wants him to do more work so she has more free time for herself, which leaves her sweating as Isshin brings up how she has slowly been increasing his workload and calls her a devil. Suddenly, with Rangiku whirling around and telling him to shut up, Isshin grabs her arm and sternly addresses her, but after a startled Rangiku straightens up, Isshin solemnly reveals that her breasts are glistening with sweat because of how she has been chasing him around and praises this, which results in an aggravated Rangiku smacking him several times despite his apologies.
Shortly afterward, at the Tenth Division barracks, a younger 10th Division 3rd Seat Tōshirō Hitsugaya reveals that he has finished all the paperwork, prompting Isshin to lift him into the air and praise him as the future captain of the division. When Rangiku protests that she should be next in line for the captaincy due to her rank, an unimpressed Isshin counters that the division would be ruined if she took that office and Hitsugaya states that he should do just fine in the position since he is making progress on his Bankai training. With Hitsugaya and Rangiku pulling on each other's lips in irritation, a chuckling Isshin tells them to take it easy and opens a nearby cabinet, only to discover that the manjū he left inside is missing and inquire about what happened to it. Alarmed by this, Hitsugaya quickly brings up a report about an incident in Naruki City that caught his attention, though Isshin insists that they discuss his manjū first, and claims that it does not matter even though it was delicious, leaving Isshin to express disbelief at him trying to brush the topic aside in addition to being the culprit and angrily call him a dirty thief while a resigned Rangiku watches.
Despite this, Hitsugaya asks Isshin if he remembers the report from two months ago and details how one of the Shinigami stationed in Naruki City died, which prompts Isshin to confirm that he does remember and muse on the cause of death still being under investigation. Suddenly, Hitsugaya holds up the report from last month and reveals that two more Shinigami died in Naruki City during this time, leading a startled Isshin to rush outside and inform a bewildered Rangiku that he is leaving to investigate. As Isshin tells her to cover for him until he returns in two days and disappears with Shunpo, Rangiku protests this. Bringing up how they should at least inform Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto first, Rangiku tells Hitsugaya that they should go after Isshin, but Hitsugaya declines and elaborates that Isshin chose to leave alone because he believes this investigation will be dangerous, which Rangiku claims she knows, prior to concluding that they should wait here because they will only get in his way at their current level.
Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory, 5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen enters a room filled with gestating masses floating in capsules and asks about their progress, only for 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru to deny any being made. In turn, 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen details how the Souls of Gotei 13 members have been unable to withstand Hollowfication induced by the Hollows they have altered just like common Souls, but Aizen asserts that they are close to narrowing down the location of Shinji Hirako and the others while conducting Hollowfication experiments in the meantime and concludes that they do not need to worry because everything is in the palm of their hand.
530. Everything But the Rain op.3 "Dark of the Moon" [ ]
As Ryūken Ishida ruminates on Masaki Kurosaki 's future within his family, 10th Division Captain Isshin Kurosaki discovers the perpetrator of the murders in Naruki City.
At nighttime in Naruki City, two Shinigami move through the air as one comments on the sky growing cloudy and the other ruminates on the previous two Shinigami stationed here both dying on a rainy day. However, with the first Shinigami complaining that they should not talk about this, 10th Division Captain Isshin Kurosaki notes that it is good to know rainy days are dangerous and that he got here at the right time as he appears behind the two Shinigami, who express shock at his arrival and wonder why he is here. Claiming to have gotten lost while looking for the bathroom, which the Shinigami immediately realize is a lie, Isshin assures them that they can go home if it starts raining because he prefers to pee alone. Elsewhere, White stands on a rooftop while the clouds gather above.
Simultaneously, at the Ishida residence, Izumi Ishida eats dinner with Masaki Kurosaki and inquires about the latter's progress at school. When Masaki cheerily claims that she goes there every day, Izumi clarifies that she is asking about the school rather than about Masaki herself, and with Masaki recalling how she recently discovered that cabbage and pickles are free in the cafeteria, Izumi wonders how her Seiren is progressing, only for Masaki to nervously assert that it is going okay. In response, an angered Izumi slams her hand down on the table and demands to know what Masaki means by this, prompting the latter to apologize. Izumi berates Masaki for not understanding the situation and reminds her that she is the last of the Kurosaki clan with her predecessors dead and with no siblings before claiming they only took her in because she is a fellow Quincy.
Suddenly, Ryūken Ishida opens the door to the dining hall and asks Izumi to calm down since he can hear her from outside. Annoyed by this, Izumi decides to return to her room while Kanae Katagiri cleans up after them and informs a curious Ryūken that Sōken Ishida is training at Fünft Feld, though she does not know when he will return. With Izumi departing, Ryūken requests forgiveness on her behalf from Masaki and explains that she is taking her loneliness out on the latter, but Masaki claims that there is nothing to forgive since she is not mad and declares that she will retire as well, though she stops to mockingly tell Ryūken that tonight's dinner was excellent before running off.
Shortly afterward, Katagiri sets up Ryūken's dinner for him in the dining hall with his permission while he stands next to the window. Drawing Katagiri's attention, Ryūken brings up Masaki knowing that she was only brought into the family because Izumi wants to protect the Echt blood of the Ishida clan, and when Katagiri inquires about whether this is what Izumi told her, Ryūken counters that Masaki is smart enough to know this without being told outright and questions if she would be happy marrying him. In response, Katagiri muses that Ryūken believes happiness is crucial for a marriage between Quincy and asserts that his kindness would be enough to make Masaki happy, only for Ryūken to wonder what is so kind about him when he only wants Masaki happy so they can look to the future. With Masaki curled up in a ball on her bed, Ryūken concludes that he is referring to the future of the Quincy rather than their own, leaving Katagiri to look down solemnly.
Meanwhile, near the south gate of Naruki City, Isshin stands on a rooftop, with the two Shinigami observing him from below and musing that the rain is coming down hard. When one of them questions what they should do and brings up Isshin telling them to leave, the other reminds him that it would be crazy to go back to Soul Society since they would just be punished for it and asserts that they should stay here for now since they will be safe with Isshin present. Simultaneously, Isshin internally theorizes that the enemy is either targeting Shinigami or just reacting to high Reiatsu, leading him to decide to lure them out by exerting his own powerful Reiatsu. Upon seeing this on the ground below, the two Shinigami are awed by Isshin's Reiatsu, but one of them has his head cut horizontally in half from behind. Alarmed by the cries of pain from below, Isshin stops exerting his Reiatsu, realizes that the size of the Reiatsu is not what the enemy is attracted to, and sees two bloodstains on the ground just before White crashes into the rooftop behind him. When the dust clears, Isshin is astonished to see a black Hollow standing before him while White looks back at him.
Bleach, Volume 60
531. Everything But the Rain op.4 Dark of the Bleeding Moon [ ]
10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba begins battling White, whose three creators quickly notice the conflict alongside Masaki Kurosaki.
Twenty years ago, in Naruki City, 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba is astonished to see that White is a black Hollow while White looks back at him and growls prior to roaring loudly. Examining White, Isshin mentally notes that while his body is black and the hole in the center of his chest is filled with a mass, his Reiatsu is unmistakably that of a Hollow, causing Isshin to ready himself for battle while White rushes toward him to attack.
Simultaneously, in his hidden laboratory in Soul Society, 5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen sees Isshin on a surveillance feed and wonders what he is doing in the Human World, prompting 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen to note that there is no report of a deployment order for him as 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru observes that Isshin must be on an unauthorized trip, which could be trouble. However, Aizen assures him that it is alright because this could be a great opportunity for them and requests a way to watch the fight up-close.
Back in Karakura Town, upon sensing two massive Reiatsu on the move and identifying one of them as a Hollow's at the Ishida residence, a shocked Masaki Kurosaki runs out of her room and down the hall, only to be stopped by Ryūken Ishida, who muses that he does not even need to ask where she is going before reminding her that they are supposed to head out after the Shinigami are dead and let the Gemischt Quincy like Kanae Katagiri handle the situation. With Ryūken asserting that Masaki should think of her situation and concluding that she needs to take care of herself because Echt Quincy like them should not shed their blood so easily, Masaki begins to protest this.
Meanwhile, Isshin flips back through the air, where he internally chastises himself for already being on the defensive, and clashes with White, whom he notes fights like a Shinigami despite his appearance. Mentally admitting that this is making it difficult to fight, Isshin is pushed back through the air by White, and when a Shinigami approaches to inform him that Karakura Town is under the Thirteenth Division 's protection, Isshin realizes that he has been pushed out of his jurisdiction and warns the Shinigami to run, only for White to rush toward and obliterate him with a Cero fired from between his horns.
As she senses this alongside Ryūken at the Ishida residence, Masaki begins to run off, but stops and admits that while she admires Ryūken's tendency to consider factors like his mother, Quincy, and the future before he acts, taking care of herself means doing what she can as soon as she can do it. After concluding that she would never be able to forgive herself if she let someone die today while she had the chance to act, Masaki runs off, leaving Ryūken to inform Katagiri through a communication device that they are heading out.
Back in the air, Isshin expresses disbelief at White being able to fire a Cero like a Menos before clashing with White once more, where he muses that White could not possibly rampage like this without Soul Society noticing him and questions who is covering up the incidents for him, though White remains silent. Unsurprised by White not answering, Isshin moves back and releases his Shikai, Engetsu, coating his sword in blazing flame-like energy. However, before Isshin can attack White, he is slashed across the back by a cloaked Aizen.
532. Everything But the Rain op.5 "The White Noise" [ ]
5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen and Masaki Kurosaki interfere in 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba 's battle against White.
5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen muses on how the cloaks that he, 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru, and 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen are wearing completely suppress their Reiatsu and allow them to become nearly invisible by kneading a small amount of Kidō into the fabric, which he thanks Kisuke Urahara for leaving them eighty years prior. Meanwhile, having been slashed across the back by Aizen, 10th Division Captain Isshin Kurosaki falls to a rooftop below, where he realizes that he was cut by a Zanpakutō rather than a Hollow and that there is a traitor planning this within the Gotei 13, prompting him to demand that his attacker show himself.
Above Isshin, Gin deduces that he realized it was not a Hollow, which Aizen affirms, and when Gin questions him wanting to leave already as he begins walking away, Aizen explains that Isshin's Bankai takes a heavy toll on his body, meaning that his current injury will prevent him from activating it, and that White is another failure prototype if he cannot defeat a captain using only their Shikai. In turn, Tōsen requests that Aizen refer to White by his name instead of as a "prototype" because he is in another dimension compared to the other Hollows they have created due to being the first Hollow ever created from a Shinigami Soul. Acknowledging this and apologizing to Tōsen, Aizen muses on White gaining his name from the whiteness within him contrasting with his black armor and expresses appreciation for the irony.
Down on the rooftop, Isshin blocks a heavy downward slash from White, causing blood to spurt from the wound on his back, and stomps on White's free arm to prevent him from attacking with it while internally noting that he cannot focus his Reiatsu enough to use Bankai with a wound this deep. Despite this, White manages to fling Isshin into the air with brute strength and leaps after him, prompting Isshin to warn White not to underestimate him, draw blood from his back wound into his mouth with his free hand, and spit the blood wound onto Engetsu, creating a horizontal pillar of energy that detonates in a large explosion upon making contact with White.
With Masaki reaching the site of the battle below and seeing White's severed left arm embedding itself in the ground near her after hurtling out of the resulting cloud of smoke, Isshin is impressed to find White continuing to clash with him using only one arm. Suddenly, White pins down Isshin with another downward slash and begins charging another Cero between his horns that he aims directly at a startled Isshin. Before White can fire the Cero, he narrowly evades a Heilig Pfeil fired by Masaki, who stands on the pavement below with a Heilig Bogen formed.
Though Tōsen promises to eliminate Masaki since a Quincy getting involved was not part of the plan, an excited Aizen stops him and expresses interest in seeing what happens before White rushes down to attack Masaki, with Isshin unable to follow due to his ankle being injured. Masaki fires dozens of Heilig Pfeil at White, and with the latter evading all of them with ease, she decides to change tactics and disperses her Heilig Bogen, leaving Isshin urging her to run and Aizen startled. With Masaki holding her left hand out to him, White reaches her and bites deep into her left shoulder, only for Masaki to calmly note that she has got him, form a handgun-sized Heilig Bogen in her right hand, and fire a powerful Heilig Pfeil at point-blank range through White's head.
533. Everything But the Rain op.6 "The Gravitation" [ ]
In the aftermath of his battle against White, 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba meets Masaki Kurosaki for the first time as 5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen decides to monitor how the situation develops.
With 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba, 5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen, 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru, and 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen watching in shock, White 's shattered corpse begins falling away from Masaki Kurosaki, only for the mass in his chest to suddenly swell up behind him, prompting Isshin to rush down and pull the corpse away from Masaki just before it detonates in a massive, one-sided explosion, which Tōsen is alarmed by.
In the aftermath, Masaki runs over to a prone Isshin and frantically asks him if he is okay, which he confirms. When Isshin thanks her for saving him and mocks himself for needing to be helped by a young girl despite being a captain, Masaki counters that he would not have been so badly injured if he had not protected her from the explosion, which prompts a laughing Isshin to observe that they are even now as Masaki promises to heal him. However, with Isshin wondering who she is since she was able to defeat White, Masaki internally debates what she should do since she does not know how a Shinigami will react to learning she is a Quincy, but introduces herself as a Quincy to Isshin. Though initially stunned by this, a smiling Isshin admits that he has never seen a Quincy in person before and claims that he feels lucky to meet one like this. Surprised by Isshin's reaction, Masaki wonders if this is what all Shinigami are like and laughs as well while expressing hope that this is the case for the sake of Izumi, Ryūken, and the other Quincy. In the air above Isshin and Masaki, Ryūken Ishida stands with Kanae Katagiri while holding solid Spirit Weapons with her and asserts that they can leave since Masaki is safe without any problems, which Katagiri acknowledges.
Some time later, in the hidden laboratory, an aggravated Tōsen slams his hand onto a console and calls White an utter failure for passing on to a Quincy instead of a Shinigami, which they created him to Hollowfy, after surpassing the Hollowfication stage and reaching the metastasize stage. However, Aizen enters the room and denies this since White strayed from his original goal due to aspects they could not predict or expect prior to detailing how he is fascinated by a Hollow created from a dead Shinigami choosing a Quincy despite that being the opposite of himself and wondering if Tōsen and Gin do not want to see what happens next.
Later, in the meeting hall of the First Division barracks, Isshin concludes his report to the other captains and Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who affirms his understanding of the situation and notes that while an unauthorized excursion is a violation of their laws, Isshin's quick and decisive action helped minimize Shinigami casualties and prevented excessive damage to the Human World, which is why Yamamoto will overlook this violation. Initially celebrating this, Isshin regains his composure and thanks Yamamoto as 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi mockingly asserts that failing to retrieve the remains of this mysterious Hollow is a serious crime on its own. When Yamamoto brings up Isshin's report only describing how unusual the Hollow was and questions if the latter truly did not leave anything noteworthy out, Isshin recalls Masaki Kurosaki and claims that he did not.
On June 5th at Seito High School in Karakura Town, Masaki sits in her classroom and thinks about Isshin while wondering if he made it safely back to Soul Society. With Masaki hoping that Isshin did not get in trouble and realizing she should have at least asked for his name, Isshin lies on a pillow on one of the walkways at the Tenth Division barracks and remembers Masaki battling White as he muses that rumors of Quincy still surviving in the Human World were true and that Masaki had a lot of courage to both save him and reveal that she is a Quincy despite knowing he is a Shinigami. After regretting not talking to her a bit more, Isshin sits up and decides that he should go back to the Human World in order to thank her properly this time.
Meanwhile, Masaki walks down a road with her friends, Kanan and Shiho, after school ends for the day, where Kanan asserts that every day must be very exciting for Masaki because she lives with the attractive Ryūken, though Masaki denies anything going on between them because Ryūken is her cousin. With Shiho affirming this and reminding Kanan that Masaki is not like that even if she and Ryūken were not related, Masaki thanks Shiho for knowing her so well, only to express confusion at her clarifying statement. Suddenly, with Kanan insisting that she would express her affections for Ryūken even if she were related to him, an appalled Masaki experiences a sensation of crawling darkness across her left side, causing her to lose focus and begin stumbling until she bumps into Kisuke Urahara. Though the latter assures Masaki that he is fine when she profusely apologizes to him and continues walking after asking her if she is okay, he stops in surprise upon sensing something strange from her. While Masaki's friends walk away with her and make sure she is okay, which Masaki promises them that she is, Urahara looks at Masaki in confusion and furrows his brow.
534. Everything But the Rain Op.7 "Hole of Reproach" [ ]
Masaki Kurosaki begins experiencing strange side-effects from being bitten by White.
At the Tenth Division barracks in Soul Society, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto cheerfully calls out for her captain, Isshin Shiba, and claims that she has to go to the dumpling shop on an urgent mission, which is why she would like him to handle her paperwork for her. However, upon discovering that Isshin has departed for the Human World and left behind a note telling her to make up an excuse to relay to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, an enraged Rangiku tears up the note and berates Isshin for immediately returning to the Human World without authorization simply because he was lucky enough to escape punishment the first time before throwing the crumpled remains of the note against the wall as she demands to know what Isshin thinks this job is, only for 3rd Seat Tōshirō Hitsugaya to point out the hypocrisy of her statement.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Masaki Kurosaki returns to the Ishida residence and announces her arrival, but Ryūken Ishida 's friendly greeting is cut off by Izumi Ishida confronting Masaki, who frantically declares that she has just returned, over her battle against a Hollow to save a Shinigami the other night, to both her and Ryūken's shock. Despite Masaki denying this, Izumi admonishes her for disgracing herself by lying, and as Ryūken runs up the stairs in search of Kanae Katagiri, Izumi demands to know why Masaki did such a thing. With Izumi berating Masaki for being so shameless as to break the rules of the Quincy while in their care, Ryūken confronts Katagiri in the laundry room by pressing her up against the wall and demanding to know why she told Izumi despite his request that they stay silent about Masaki since she had no problems, only for Katagiri to reveal there was a problem because Masaki sustained a wound from White's attack, meaning that the future of Ryūken's bloodline could become tainted if she does not receive proper treatment from Izumi and Sōken Ishida.
Though Ryūken claims that this does not matter, Katagiri counters that it means everything to them and reminds Ryūken that he said his marriage to Masaki was for the future of the Quincy, prompting Ryūken to curse and run back to the bannister, where he tells Izumi to wait and attempts to claim responsibility for Masaki's actions. However, as she attempts to assure him that this is not necessary, Masaki collapses, to the shock of both Izumi and Ryūken, who leaps over the bannister and rushes to Masaki's side. Upon turning Masaki over to see if she is hurt, Ryūken is astonished to discover a Hollow hole forming in the center of her chest, and as Izumi realizes what this is, Ryūken picks up Masaki and questions where Sōken is, prompting Izumi to explain that they are trying to get in contact with him right now and order Ryūken to stay here until he returns. Despite Izumi insisting that he not be around Masaki and referring to the latter as " it ", Ryūken opens the front doors and leaps away with Hirenkyaku while still carrying Masaki, leaving Izumi to beg him to come back with a Hollow wound covering her lower right leg.
Wondering what is happening to Masaki and why she is in so much pain, Ryūken admonishes himself for not stopping her by force on that night and for not doing everything in his power to intervene in the battle just before a massive Hollow appears behind him and prepares to bite down, only for Isshin to cut it in two from behind with a slash of his Zanpakutō. With Isshin commenting on how this was a close one since the Hollow almost got him and declining to accept any thanks from a man, Ryūken recognizes Isshin, who is left confused until he sees the hole in Masaki's chest and rushes down to investigate while sheathing his Zanpakutō. However, Ryūken tells Isshin to not come any closer and informs Isshin that Masaki is in this condition because she protected him and broke the rules of the Quincy by saving a Shinigami, which is what caused her to get hurt. After Isshin picks up on the bite wound causing this and Ryūken clarifies that he cannot think of any other explanation while refusing to ever forgive him for this happening to Masaki, Kisuke Urahara appears next to them in the air, asserts that they have no time to argue, and requests that they both come with him so he can explain the choices they have for saving Masaki.
535. Everything But the Rain op.8 "Defenders" [ ]
Masaki Kurosaki is saved from her encroaching Hollowfication by 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba.
In her subconscious, Masaki Kurosaki envisions herself drifting into a peaceful black hole. Though her surroundings are dark and lonely, Masaki muses that she does not feel afraid because she can sense someone down there who needs her and opens her eyes, but finds herself floating into the gaping mouth of a massive Hollow head.
Simultaneously, with rain pouring down outside the Urahara Shop, Kisuke Urahara has Masaki lain on a table inside and informs 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba and Ryūken Ishida that he has been researching the same symptom Masaki is exhibiting for close to one hundred years, to Ryūken's astonishment. When Isshin questions who he is, Urahara introduces himself by name and as an exile from Soul Society, leaving Isshin stunned by his identity. Despite this, Ryūken asserts that he does not care who Urahara is and demands that the latter restore Masaki to normal, only for Urahara to point out that he never said anything about returning Masaki to normal because she can never go back to the way she used to be, leaving Isshin and Ryūken horrified while Urahara has Masaki brought to a table and explains that she is undergoing Hollowfication, the process of a Hollow's Soul being poured into another Soul and destroying the boundary between the two in an attempt to sublimate the latter Soul to a higher level, with it initially being meant to strength a Shinigami's Soul but ultimately proved incapable of controlling.
With Urahara concluding that this is the result of using such an uncontrollable technology on a Quincy, which is outside its original purpose, Ryūken assumes that this means there is no way to save Masaki, but Urahara clarifies that he can still save Masaki's life even if he cannot restore her to her former self and elaborates that the advancement of Hollowfication turns the subject into a monster with no sense of reason after the original Soul and the Hollow become mixed, ultimately causing the boundary between itself and the outside world to be destroyed and obliterate the subject with it regardless of its will, which he calls Soul Suicide. However, Urahara reveals that his research has led him to discover a way to counteract Hollowfication by injecting the victim's Soul with a certain substance, allowing it to maintain its balance so that its boundaries are not destroyed and preventing Soul Suicide because it only occurs when the Soul becomes unbalanced.
When Isshin expresses confusion at this, Urahara gives an example of a Hollowfied Shinigami being injected with a vaccine created from a Quincy's Heilig Pfeil and a Human Soul, allowing them to remain stably in their current state indefinitely, but notes that such a vaccine is not enough here because it can only prevent Soul Suicide while saving Masaki's life, preventing Hollowfication, and allowing her to continue existing as a Human will require a stronger counteracting force. With Urahara elaborating that this stronger force must remain at Masaki's side for all time until she dies in order to continually suppress her Hollowfication, an aghast Ryūken protests this, leading Urahara to observe that he is sharp to catch on this quickly and tell Ryūken that he has no choice in this matter because the one with a choice is Isshin, to the latter's confusion.
Pulling a sheet off a box containing an inert Gigai, Urahara explains that it is a special one made from a Human Soul that completely envelops the Soul that enters it to make the latter fully Human and tells Isshin that his choice is to become a hybrid of Shinigami and Human, Masaki's opposite, as Shinigami are the opposite of Quincy and Humans are the opposite of Hollows, meaning that Isshin can be the counteracting force to Masaki if he wishes to. However, Urahara admits that this scenario has far too many downsides for Isshin because he will have to bind the latter's Soul to Masaki's and the Hollow within her with a Reishi string for as long as she and her descendants live, which means that Isshin will be unable to use his Shinigami powers or even see Hollows within the Gigai. Once Urahara concludes Isshin will likely never return to his Shinigami form again once he enters the Gigai, Ryūken mentally notes there is no way Isshin will accept this offer when it has only downsides for him, and Urahara explains that Masaki's Soul and the Hollow inside her must be tied together with an incredibly strong Reishi string for the Gigai to function as a vaccine to prevent Hollowfication, which will prevent Isshin from leaving the Gigai so long as the string remains tied.
Despite this, with Urahara beginning to detail the one event that would cause Masaki and the Hollow to be freed from the string, Isshin bluntly agrees to the proposal, to Urahara and Ryūken's shock. After chastising Urahara for talking too much and telling him to hurry up, Isshin confirms he will give up being a Shinigami and protect Masaki for the rest of her life, and when Urahara wonders if he has no lingering doubts, Isshin denies this, only to detail how he will not be able to live with himself if the person who saved him dies because he had doubts. With Ryūken astonished by this, Urahara acknowledges Isshin's resolve and announces that he will begin the procedure immediately. Within Masaki's subconscious, as she frantically shields herself from the encroaching Hollow head with her arms, Isshin appears between them and grabs Masaki under his arm while announcing that he has come to rescue her.
536. Everything But the Rain op.9 "June Truth" [ ]
Isshin Shiba saves Masaki Kurosaki and enters a relationship with her as Ryūken Ishida learns of Kanae Katagiri 's feelings for him.
Promising that the Hollow inside Masaki Kurosaki 's Soul will not be able to touch her now that he is here, 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba notices the Hollow looking at him and assumes that it is confused about this because it does not have any fingers, which he admits to only just realizing as well, before firing a diagonal Getsuga Tenshō that cuts through the Hollow, leaving it to shatter. As she watches this in awe, Masaki recognizes Isshin as the Shinigami she met the other day and declares that she has been wanting to see him again prior to asking him if his wounds are okay and requesting to learn his name as a perturbed Isshin yells at her for being so excited while naked.
Back in the real world, Masaki stops sweating and takes a deep breath, causing a startled Isshin to look at Kisuke Urahara as the latter holds up his hands forming peace signs and confirms that she will be alright now that he has successfully bonded their Souls, to Isshin's relief. Suddenly, a giggling Masaki blushes and reminisces about Isshin getting made at her, which prompts an annoyed Isshin to grind his knuckle into her forehead and reprimand her for not learning her lesson from what just happened while Urahara watches in amusement.
Elsewhere, Ryūken Ishida walks through the rain and finds Kanae Katagiri standing before him with an umbrella, where he initially walks past her prior to Katagiri inquiring about whether Ryūken left Masaki behind with the Shinigami. Affirming this, Ryūken tells Katagiri to return to the Ishida estate and inform his mother that he is unable to protect the Quincy, but Katagiri pointedly refuses to leave him here and reminds Ryūken that it is her duty to devote her entire life to serving him, with her life having belonged to Ryūken from the moment they first met, before tearfully asking him not to be sad because it tears her heart apart when he is. In response, Ryūken decides that they will go home together, to Katagiri's delight.
After Masaki graduates from high school, she leaves the Ishida family due to her Soul being mixed with a Hollow, which Isshin infers was Ryūken's decision as his way of letting go of Masaki and calls the correct decision. Meanwhile, Isshin makes use of the medical skills he learned at the Shin'ō Academy and opens the Kurosaki Clinic, managing to learn what he needed to know to live in the Human World with Urahara's help while Masaki frequently came by from college to make fun of his white coat. Though Isshin tells Masaki that he lost his Shinigami powers after being banished from Soul Society over a mistake he made, he realizes that she probably saw through this lie immediately because he was terrible at lying and her intuition was sharp. Despite this, Isshin muses that lies like that meant little to them, as did whether or not they were even lies, and any lie felt meaningless with Masaki because she would always see through his lies and forgive him for telling them. When the two of them see a movie that Isshin calls sad and boring which features an old man comparing his elderly wife that he spent many years with to the sun, Isshin sees Masaki crying and admits that this line stuck with him even though he does not remember anything else about the movie because Masaki was like the sun, attracting everything, forgiving everything, illuminating everything, and spinning everything around herself, with Isshin himself just happy to be spun by her.
In the present, Isshin stands before Ichigo Kurosaki in their home and notes that he was born after this prior to recounting Ichigo gaining his Shinigami powers from Rukia Kuchiki, who had been sent as part of Sousuke Aizen 's scheme, manifesting his Zanpakutō by training with Urahara, and awakening his inner Hollow during his battles in Soul Society, which meant that Isshin's Reiatsu could no longer suppress the latter and caused him to regain his Shinigami powers for the first time in twenty years by breaking the connection between his Gigai and Ichigo. However, after noting that he does not need to describe everything Ichigo experienced because he has already lived through those events, Isshin clarifies that there are things he has experienced which he still does not understand and reveals that Ichigo does not know the full truth about Masaki's death, nine years ago today.
537. Everything But the Rain op.10 "Prinz von Licht" [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki learns about Yhwach 's connection to the death of his mother, Masaki Kurosaki.
As Ichigo Kurosaki recalls Masaki Kurosaki 's death, Isshin Kurosaki observes that she was not supposed to die that day, and when Ichigo expresses confusion at this, Isshin brings up how she had access to Blut, which Ichigo remembers Kisuke Urahara describing as an enhancement of one's abilities by infusing Reishi in one's veins. Isshin details how Masaki was an Echt Quincy before merging with a Hollow, which let her use Blut from birth without having to train for it like Gemischt Quincy do, and had exceptionally powerful Blut Vene, which was why the wound she sustained from White was such a cause for concern and which prevented her from ever sustaining an injury from a Hollow in the years following the battle.
Pausing for a moment, Isshin explains to Ichigo that rather than being unable to help Masaki on the day of her death, he chose not to help her, and details how he felt their Reiatsu from the Kurosaki Clinic, which meant that he would have gone if Masaki had been in trouble even if his lack of access to his Shinigami powers would have prevented him from providing much assistance. Isshin notes that even though Grand Fisher was the type of Hollow to hide his Reiatsu, the difference between him and Masaki was so obvious and vast that Masaki should have defeated him without sustaining a single scratch, but this did not happen. When asked if he knows about Uryū Ishida 's mother, Ichigo admits that he does not since Uryū does not talk about his family, prompting Isshin to identify her as Kanae Katagiri and reveal that she fell ill nine years ago on June 17th before dying three months later, to Ichigo's utter shock.
At Ichigo's inquiry, Isshin explains that nine years ago, Yhwach initiated Auswählen to filter through the surviving Quincy, to Ichigo's astonishment, and relays a legend about the sealed Quincy king that claims he regains his pulse after 900 years, his mind after 90 years, and his strength after 9 years, which he accomplished by robbing Quincy he deemed impure of their powers and making them his own, resulting in Katagiri falling into a fatal coma while Masaki lost her powers and then her life for the same reason. When Ichigo questions how Yhwach can accomplish this and assumes that this comes from Yhwach being the king of the Quincy, Isshin reveals that he is actually the Father of the Quincy and the progenitor of them all whose blood runs in the veins of every Quincy.
Recalling Yhwach's comments during their battle on his lineage and the inability of The Jail to contain Quincy, Ichigo regains his resolve and thanks Isshin, who smiles at this and says that it was no problem. With the rain clearing up and dawn approaching, Ichigo exits the Kurosaki Clinic with Isshin, where Ikumi Unagiya approaches him to return Ichigo's Substitute Shinigami Badge that he left behind. Taking it and thanking Ikumi, Ichigo tells Isshin that he is leaving.
Meanwhile, in Silbern, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth approaches Yhwach sitting on his throne, and when asked about the subject, Haschwalth steps aside so Uryū can walk forward, now dressed in a Sternritter uniform. Welcoming Uryū as his son, Yhwach invites him to fight together with them.
538. Standing On the Edge [ ]
Ichigo Kurosaki returns to the Soul King Palace as the Gotei 13 readies itself for a second invasion.
With Ichigo Kurosaki standing in Karakura Town and preparing to leave, Isshin Kurosaki questions how he intends to get back to the Soul King Palace, prompting Ichigo to look back at him speechlessly just before Mera Hiuchigashima appears in the air behind him in a puff of smoke, notes that the timing is perfect, and tells Ichigo that they are going.
Moments later, Ichigo finds himself standing in the pit in the Hōōden before Mera, who explains that the Chōkaimon used to send Ichigo to the Human World cannot be opened without setting a strict round-trip time limit, which is why Ōetsu Nimaiya planned to bring him back after one night from the beginning since Ichigo would either change in one night or not at all. After popping out from behind Mera, Nimaiya affirms this and, having been impressed by the resolve in Ichigo's eyes, points at him while declaring that he should be able to do this now as Ichigo looks back at the Asauchi gathered behind him. However, Nimaiya and Mera are left astonished when the Asauchi respond to Ichigo's presence by kneeling down before him and turning black. Upon turning around, Ichigo looks to a specific Asauchi that he asserts is the right one and holds out his open hand, which the Asauchi reaches up to grip with its own, causing its black skin to flake off and reveal white skin underneath before the Asauchi looks up at Ichigo with a Hollow 's face. Grinning at this, Nimaiya tells Ichigo to come up and promises to personally reforge his Zanpakutō for him.
Meanwhile, in the Seireitei below, Shūtetsu Nagakiso paces along the edge of a room filled with Shinigami practicing Zanjutsu and admonishes them for not performing swings capable of cutting down Quincy, which they acknowledge. During this, two unseated Shinigami discuss 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya losing his Bankai, which one of them considers proof that Hitsugaya is finished and that the fate of his division is uncertain, before Nagakiso reprimands them for talking, to their startlement. Suddenly, Hitsugaya opens the door, and when a surprised Nagakiso approaches and inquires about what brings him here, Hitsugaya bows and requests that Nagakiso train him because his Bankai being stolen means he must retrain from the basics to fight with Zanjutsu. With Nagakiso shocked by this and the two Shinigami smiling at each other, Hitsugaya takes his place among the other training Shinigami and begins practicing sword swings while ruminating on how he had perfected his Bankai following Sousuke Aizen 's defeat, only for it to be stolen all the same, before telling himself that there is no time to mourn for what has been lost because he cannot get it back and must look forward.
Simultaneously, on the outskirts of the Rukongai, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi follows his captain, Kensei Muguruma, to a clearing in the forest and questions why they are here, which leads Kensei to declare that he wants Hisagi to use his Bankai. Kensei explains to a startled Hisagi that while his Bankai was not stolen during the last invasion, there is no guarantee that it will not happen during the next one, making it paramount for the Gotei 13 to have as many officers capable of Bankai as possible. When 9th Division Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna leaps down in front of Hisagi with a flip, Kensei has her don her Hollow mask, and as a grinning Kensei warns Hisagi that she is strong with her mask on and that he will only survive if he achieves Bankai, Hisagi frantically tells Mashiro to wait and begins to protest this, only for Mashiro to punch him hard in the stomach, causing him to collapse. Upon seeing this, Kensei berates Hisagi for not heeding his warning and Mashiro asserts that there is no way a lieutenant could defeat a super lieutenant while brandishing her custom lieutenant's badge. With Kensei clarifying that Mashiro will not hold back from killing Hisagi during this because Kensei is not soft like Kaname Tōsen was, Hisagi forces himself up and observes that he has always respected and admired Kensei prior to proclaiming that the latter has no right to disparage Tōsen regardless, leaving Kensei to stare down at him.
During this, a shirtless and sweating 7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba finishes lifting a boulder in repetitions and sets it down while looking back toward a cave entrance flanked by a tall, thin torii gate and wondering when his captain, Sajin Komamura, is going to come out of there. Within the cave, Komamura stands before the Wolfman Clan Elder, who opens his eyes and questions who is there. When Komamura notes that it has been a long time since they last met, the Elder counters that he has a lot of nerve coming back here.
539. Prob-less, Progress [ ]
The Gotei 13 captains continue their trainings and projects in preparation for the war.
At the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon enters the control room, where a surprised Niko Kuna wonders if it is okay for him to walk around yet, prompting Akon to admit he is still in pain, but refuse to lie in bed all day and inquire about the whereabouts of their captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. In response, Kuna reveals that Mayuri has stayed in his office with his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, ever since the Quincy invasion, and after confirming what she said and looking around the room to see the surveillance bugs inactive, a surprised Akon opens a panel on the nearby wall and begins typing into the keypad within while explaining to Kuna that Mayuri has never left the bugs inactive while in his office for more than 24 hours. Concluding that Mayuri either has experienced a crisis or is conducting experiments that he does not want anyone else to see through the bugs, Akon asserts that he is going to take a look either way and presses the large red button on the control panel, creating a medium-sized screen hanging in the air. At Kuna's inquiry, Akon bluntly states that this displays the feed of a hidden camera he installed in Mayuri's office, to Kuna's astonishment, only to be bewildered alongside her when the feed displays Mayuri asking someone on a table in front of him if they can move, leaving Akon aghast at what he is creating.
Meanwhile, at the Ōmaeda Clan estate, Mareyo Ōmaeda looks for her brother, 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda, before finding him lounging on the porch. After apologizing for bothering Marechiyo while he is trying to take a nap, Mareyo requests that he play with her while holding up a ball. However, Marechiyo declines and assures a distraught Mareyo that he is just busy, prompting Marejirōsaburō Ōmaeda to promise to read Mareyo a nice book while Marechiyo rests, due to the latter being tired from work. In turn, Mareyo bluntly refuses this because Marejirōsaburō's books are creepy, and as Marejirōsaburō attempts to laugh this off as her not understanding the complexities of his literature, Mareyo tells Marechiyo that she is going to take a walk to escape from Marejirōsaburō, leaving Marechiyo nonplussed as he looks up at the sky and wonders why his captain, Suì-Fēng, decided not to take him with her, with Suì-Fēng performing one-handed pushups on a rocky spire elsewhere.
Simultaneously, in his cave, the Wolfman Clan Elder asks 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura what he wants, leading Komamura to announce that he has come to learn their clan's secret technique. However, the Elder merely laughs at him and reminds Komamura that he has no right to make demands like this after hiding his face with a cloth and mask in order to pretend to be human because he was ashamed of his appearance. In turn, Komamura points out that he is no longer concealing himself and explains that the world has changed enough in the past few decades that he believes their clan can live out in the open, though this world is now under threat. Despite this, the Elder angrily tells Komamura to be silent, creating a strong wind with his breath, and details how the world will remain intact while its bearers change, with their clan remaining unharmed and continuing to live in the shadows no matter who that is. Though Komamura insists that they have to change the world for the sake of their children and grandchildren, the Elder counters that it will not change and does not need to since it does not matter who controls it. Slowly standing up as Komamura continues to protest this, the Elder vows to crush Komamura if he refuses to avoid disrupting the peace of their clan, only for Komamura to welcome this challenge.
Back in the Soul King Palace, a screeching Ichigo hurtles down a slide alongside Nimaiya and the Asauchi to crash into a pool of water below, where Nimaiya questions if he is okay and commends Ichigo's courage in diving into the chute headfirst even after being warned of the danger, only for Ichigo to angrily counter that Nimaiya is the one who shoved him in headfirst. Dismissing this, Nimaiya directs Ichigo's attention to the surrounding area, where Ichigo is astonished to see several large waterfalls forming a massive body of water around the cliff that the Hōōden resides on. After noting that this is why it was constructed on a cliff since a Bankai cannot be reforged without all this water, Nimaiya reveals that this is where Ichigo and Zangetsu will say goodbye.
540. THE SWORD FIVE [ ]
Ōetsu Nimaiya begins reforging Ichigo Kurosaki 's Zanpakutō with his assistants.
Performing a series of dance maneuvers, Ōetsu Nimaiya announces the beginning of his show before Tsumiko Tsuchimiya, Hasuka Hashihara, Mera Hiuchigashima, Nonomi Nomino, and Tokie Tonokawa crash down onto him from above, injure him in various ways, and proclaim that they are his bodyguards. As Ichigo Kurosaki and the Asauchi stare blankly at this, Nimaiya wonders why the Asauchi is just standing there and beckons it forward, causing the Asauchi to transform into a shining blade that hurtles through the air around Ichigo and embeds itself in the ground next to Nimaiya, to Ichigo's surprise. Behind Nimaiya, Mera breathes fire at the stone furnace, igniting its lower half, and Tokie laments her role in the forging while weeping to spawn water from a bucket that she holds over a trench next to the furnace while Nonomi reminds her that this is important. Following this, Hasuka pulls the blade out of the ground with her prehensile hair and Tsumiko pulls a tooth out of her mouth to sculpt it into a long and large mallet. After tying up his hair and removing his glasses, Nimaiya declares that they will get started and begins hammering the blade in the flames with Tsumiko's mallet.
When asked by Nimaiya what he sees, Ichigo notes that it is much brighter now and question if Nimaiya should have kept his glasses on, but Nimaiya counters that he would not be able to see the color of the flames if he did and deduces that Ichigo's first reaction to seeing the Asauchi turn white upon touching him was to be reminded of his inner Hollow. Quenching the blade in the water-filled trench, Nimaiya confirms that the Asauchi does represent Ichigo's inner Hollow and that it was the catalyst to draw out Ichigo's Zanpakutō Spirit. Though nonplussed by this, Ichigo is visibly shocked when Nimaiya resumes hammering and reveals that Ichigo's inner Hollow is actually his Zanpakutō Spirit, as Sousuke Aizen created White by layering countless Shinigami Souls on top of each other in a method identical to Nimaiya's creation of Asauchi, allowing it to enter Ichigo's Soul, merge with his natural Shinigami powers, and become his Zanpakutō Spirit.
With Ichigo realizing what this means for the Zangetsu he knows, Nimaiya reminds him that he will be saying farewell to Zangetsu here and asserts that Ichigo should already know the truth about the man masquerading as his Zanpakutō Spirit. In his inner world, Ichigo stands before Zangetsu, and when Ichigo claims to already know who he is, Nimaiya urges him to look closer because he has already seen this man up close recently as the enemy who destroyed Soul Society and proclaims that Zangetsu is Ichigo's Quincy powers taking the form of Yhwach from a thousand years ago.
Sources and content license
Source and revision history · Exact listed stories combined in catalog order. Sources retain their stated license; formatting and headings adjusted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, Love me Bitterly Loth me Sweetly. Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, End of Bond. Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, The Deathberry Returns 2. Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, Goodbye to Our Xcution. Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, THE BLOOD WARFARE (volume). Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, MARCH OF THE STARCROSS (volume). Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, OUT OF BLOOM. Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, THE FIRE (volume). Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, THE BATTLE (volume). Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. Adapted from Bleach Wiki contributors, EVERYTHING BUT THE RAIN (volume). Chapter synopses combined; illustrations, author notes, publisher blurbs and reference markers omitted. · Content license