Emergence of the Tōjū

Prologue
At the Kuchiki Manor, Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki are relaxing amongst the 6th Division members, when Captain Byakuya Kuchiki arrives to greet them. The other division members eagerly welcome his arrival, as Rukia asks Renji whether he should be greeting him as well. Renji says it is okay, as he states that the others should use this opportunity to spend time with their Captain. As the division members crowd around Byakuya, Rukia comments that they look overly nervous. Renji comments that he is surprised Byakuya allowed the use of his manor for the flower viewing.

Rukia comments that everyone was exhausted after the Zanpakutō Rebellion, so it was the least he could do for tricking them. Renji then realizes that the manor was destroyed previously, accusing Rukia's Zanpakutō of doing the damage. He states that the repair work has yet to begin, as Rukia explains that the Kuchiki family's near-infinite wealth and secret connections fixed it up in no time. However, Renji is called by another Division member, moving away from Rukia. As she notices that he left her presence, she sighs.

The Arrival of the Tōjū
As Rukia wanders the pathways of the manor by herself, she comments upon the neglecting nature of Renji. However, she hears a piercing scream, causing her to turn in the direction of the noise. In one of the serving rooms, two unusual figures run rampant, destroying trays of food and ornaments, as the vassals flee in fear. Rukia rushes towards the doorway, and observes their actions for several moments. She tells them to stop defiling their house, which ultimately alerts the two beings to her presence.

She asks who they are, telling them to control themselves. Rukia reaches for her katana, but is surprised to find it missing from her side. She then realizes that she left it behind, as one of the figures charge at her with a cleaver. He brings the weapon smashing down upon the ground, but Rukia dodges his strike, skidding to the ground behind him. However, she falls off the wooden platform, crashing as the two figures tower over her, raising their weapons. Rukia curses her uselessness, as Sode no Shirayuki releases her Shikai command.

The Zanpakutō spirit releases Tsugi no mai, Hakuren, as Rukia jumps out of the way of her attack. The wave of ice proceeds to envelop the two beings. As they struggle to overcome the attack, Rukia moves out to safety. The figures seem undaunted by Sode no Shirayuki's onslaught, proceeding to charge once more towards Rukia. However, Sode no Shirayuki appears in their path, stating that there is no escape for them. Rukia is surprised to see her, as she previously believed she had returned back to her katana.

One of the figures charges at Sode no Shirayuki, his triple-pronged claw clashing with her katana. She manages to push him to the ground, as he stumbles away in an attempt to flee. Sode no Shirayuki reiterates that she would not allow them to leave, attempting to release her Some no mai attack upon him. However, the other figure ambushes her, preparing to bring his cleaver down upon her. He is cut down by a tirade of pink petals, falling down to the ground forthwith.

Senbonzakura then reveals himself, asking whether Sode no Shirayuki was injured. She replies that she is alright, asking the same of her Shinigami master. Rukia points an accusatory finger at the pair, wondering how they can stand before her. They reveal to her that that was never what they agreed to, and states that it was the Shinigami's misunderstanding that led to them believing they had returned back to their katana. Byakuya appears on the scene, glaring at Senbonzakura.

Mayuri's Discovery
However, before he can ask what transpired, the figure is immersed in a cloud of smoke, as he reverts back into an ordinary katana. At the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Byakuya and the others approach Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who proclaims it to be a rare occurrence of their meeting. Rukia explains the reason for their visit, in which their Zanpakutō are still maintaining their materialized forms. Mayuri asks what the problem is in that, to which﻿ Rukia is surprised at his indifference over the issue.

He explains further, stating that his job was to free them of their brainwashing, but not to revert them back to their sword states. Mayuri shows her an example, in which his katana transforms into Ashisogi Jizō's materialized form, proceeding to circle them, before returning back to his sword. He states that he hasn't the time to confer with them over trivial matters, but Rukia brings up the issue of the Zanpakutō found at the scene. Mayuri explains that that is a so-called "rampant Zanpakutō", which Muramasa materialized with his powers.

He explains further, stating that Muramasa not only released the Zanpakutō of seated members and Captains, but of unseated members as well. He states that, since some Shinigami were unable to force their swords to submit to them, when they were released by Muramasa, they inadvertently killed their masters. Nemu expalins that Zanpakutō die once their Shinigami dies, but states that there must be an abnormality present within them. Mayuri states that they are an entirely new species, dubbing them "Tōjū".