THE BLOOD WARFARE (volume)

 is the fifty-fifth volume of the Bleach manga series.

Publisher's summary
The peace is suddenly broken when warning sirens blare through the Soul Society. Residents there are disappearing without a trace, and nobody knows who’s behind it. Meanwhile, a dark shadow is also extending itself toward Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends in Karakura Town…

480. The Blood Warfare
As a recent spate of Hollow disappearances is recorded by Seireitei, a new Shinigami is sent to Karakura Town as a replacement for Zennosuke Kurumadani.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Akon
 * 2) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 3) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 4) Zennosuke Kurumadani
 * 5) Shino
 * 6) Mysterious Individual
 * 7) Ichigo Kurosaki

481. The Tearing
Yuki and Shino have recovered from their injuries, but as they are chatting, a stranger suddenly appears.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Hiyori Sarugaki
 * 2) Lisa Yadōmaru
 * 3) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 4) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 5) Orihime Inoue
 * 6) Uryū Ishida
 * 7) Yasutora Sado
 * 8) Shino
 * 9) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 10) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 11) Asguiaro Ebern

482. Bad Recognition
As Asguiaro reveals his identity to Ichigo, Ikkaku and Yumichika investigate disappearances in Rukongai.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Asguiaro Ebern
 * 2) Yasutora Sado
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Uryū Ishida
 * 5) Orihime Inoue
 * 6) Karin Kurosaki
 * 7) Yuzu Kurosaki
 * 8) Shino
 * 9) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 10) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 11) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 12) 2 Unidentified Shinigami
 * 13) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 14) Luders Friegen
 * 15) 6 Unidentified Strangers

483. KriegsErklärung
As Ichigo battles Asguiaro, the group of strangers declare war on Yamamoto and Sasakibe is fatally injured.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Luders Friegen
 * 2) 6 Unidentified Strangers
 * 3) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 4) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 5) Asguiaro Ebern
 * 6) Chōjirō Sasakibe

484. The Buckbeard
As the masked strangers leave Seireitei, Ichigo's battle with Asguiaro comes to an abrupt end. Asguiaro and the masked group arrive at their headquarters.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Luders Friegen
 * 2) 6 unidentified strangers
 * 3) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 4) Chōjirō Sasakibe
 * 5) Asguiaro Ebern
 * 6) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 7) Yhwach

485. Foundation Stones
As Yhwach listens to his subordinate's report, Yuki is recalled to attend the funeral of Lieutenant Sasakibe and Tier Harribel is revealed to be a prisoner.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Luders Friegen
 * 2) Yhwach
 * 3) Asguiaro Ebern
 * 4) Ryūnosuke Yuki
 * 5) Uryū Ishida
 * 6) Yasutora Sado
 * 7) Orihime Inoue
 * 8) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 9) Shino
 * 10) Akon
 * 11) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 12) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 13) Tier Harribel
 * 14) Remaining Wandenreich members

486. The Crimson Cremation
As Ichigo and company are told of the situation in Hueco Mundo by Nel and Pesche, Sasakibe's funeral is held.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 3) Pesche Guatiche
 * 4) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 5) Renji Abarai
 * 6) Chōjirō Sasakibe (flashback)
 * 7) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 8) Uryū Ishida
 * 9) Yasutora Sado
 * 10) Orihime Inoue
 * 11) Asguiaro Ebern (flashback)
 * 12) Kisuke Urahara
 * 13) Jugram Haschwalth
 * 14) Yhwach

487. BREATHE BUT BLIND
Ichigo and company arrive in Hueco Mundo where the Jagdarmee is gathering its captives.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Kisuke Urahara
 * 3) Yasutora Sado
 * 4) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 5) Pesche Guatiche
 * 6) Orihime Inoue
 * 7) Quilge Opie
 * 8) Loly Aivirrne
 * 9) Menoly Mallia
 * 10) Emilou Apacci
 * 11) Cyan Sung-Sun
 * 12) Franceska Mila Rose

488. Bond Behind Blast
Harribel's Fracción defeat a number of the Jagdarmee members before facing off their leader. Meanwhile, the Shinigami hold a captain meeting where they are informed about the new threat.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Emilou Apacci
 * 2) Franceska Mila Rose
 * 3) Cyan Sung-Sun
 * 4) Quilge Opie
 * 5) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 6) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 7) Orihime Inoue
 * 8) Yasutora Sado
 * 9) Akon
 * 10) Sajin Komamura
 * 11) Suì-Fēng
 * 12) Retsu Unohana
 * 13) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 14) Mayuri Kurotsuchi
 * 15) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 16) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 17) Shinji Hirako
 * 18) Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
 * 19) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 20) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 21) Kensei Muguruma
 * 22) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto

489. March of the StarCross
The lieutenants discuss the disappearances in Rukongai. While Ichigo confronts Quilge, Yhwach plans to seize the opportunity to strike Soul Society.

Summary

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 2) Renji Abarai
 * 3) Izuru Kira
 * 4) Nanao Ise
 * 5) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 6) Yachiru Kusajishi
 * 7) Shūhei Hisagi
 * 8) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 9) Momo Hinamori
 * 10) Nemu Kurotsuchi
 * 11) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
 * 12) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 13) Quilge Opie
 * 14) Asguiaro Ebern (flashback)
 * 15) Uryū Ishida (flashback)
 * 16) Yhwach
 * 17) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 18) Mayuri Kurotsuchi