THE BATTLE

THE BATTLE is the fifty-ninth volume of the Bleach manga series.

521. A Piggy Party
Kon, Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai dine in Kirio Hikifune's palace.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Renji Abarai
 * 3) Kon
 * 4) Kirio Hikifune
 * 5) Senjumaru Shutara (flashback)
 * 6) Oshō (flashback)
 * 7) Tenjirō Kirinji (flashback)
 * 8) Ōetsu Nimaiya

522. Love it
Ichigo, Renji, and Kon are greeted by Ōetsu, who soon pits them against the Zanpakutō.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Mera
 * 2) Ōetsu Nimaiya
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Renji Abarai
 * 5) Kon
 * 6) Various Zanpakutō

523. Swords of Origin
While Ichigo and Renji face the nameless Zanpakutō, Kenpachi Zaraki begins his training with Retsu Unohana.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Various Zanpakutō
 * 2) Renji Abarai
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Ōetsu Nimaiya
 * 5) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 6) Retsu Unohana
 * 7) Shunsui Kyōraku

524. The Drop
Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana face off against each other.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Isane Kotetsu
 * 2) Yachiru Kusajishi
 * 3) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 4) Retsu Unohana

525. Edges
Kenpachi Zaraki and Retsu Unohana continue to fight. Meanwhile, Unohana recounts their first battle.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 2) Retsu Unohana
 * 3) Unohana's unnamed subordinate

526. The Battle
The battle of the two Kenpachi continues, with Unohana using her Bankai.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Retsu Unohana
 * 2) Kenpachi Zaraki

527. Eliminate From Heaven
As Unohana lies dying, Kenpachi Zaraki hears the voice of his Zanpakutō. Meanwhile, Ichigo fails Ōetsu Nimaiya's training.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 2) Retsu Unohana
 * 3) Yhwach (flashback)
 * 4) Byakuya Kuchiki (flashback)
 * 5) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 6) Renji Abarai
 * 7) Kenpachi Kiganjō (flashback)
 * 8) Ōetsu Nimaiya
 * 9) Mela

528. Everything But the Rain
Ichigo returns home and Isshin tells him how he met Masaki.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 2) Kisuke Urahara (flashback)
 * 3) Yasutora Sado (flashback)
 * 4) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck (flashback)
 * 5) Pesche Guatiche (flashback)
 * 6) Orihime Inoue (flashback)
 * 7) Isshin Kurosaki
 * 8) Ikumi Unagiya
 * 9) Masaki Kurosaki (flashback)

529. Everything but the Rain Op.2
Ōetsu Nimaiya explains more about Asauchi and tells Renji about the reason for Ichigo's failure, while Isshin's past is revealed.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Ōetsu Nimaiya
 * 2) Renji Abarai
 * 3) Rikū Togakushi (flashback)
 * 4) Taketsuna Gori (flashback)
 * 5) Ikkaku Madarame (flashback)
 * 6) Shunsui Kyōraku (flashback)
 * 7) Tenjirō Kirinji (flashback)
 * 8) Kirio Hikifune (flashback)
 * 9) Senjumaru Shutara (flashback)
 * 10) Kenpachi Zaraki (flashback)
 * 11) Isshin Kurosaki
 * 12) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 13) Rangiku Matsumoto (flashback)
 * 14) Tōshirō Hitsugaya (flashback)
 * 15) Sōsuke Aizen (flashback)
 * 16) Gin Ichimaru (flashback)
 * 17) Kaname Tōsen (flashback)

530. Everything But the Rain op.3 "Dark of the Moon"
While Isshin investigates the disappearances, Masaki has dinner with the Ishida family.

Summary:

Characters in order of appearance:
 * 1) Two unknown Shinigami (flashback)
 * 2) Isshin Kurosaki (flashback)
 * 3) Masaki Kurosaki (flashback)
 * 4) Ryūken Ishida´s mother (flashback)
 * 5) Ryūken Ishida (flashback)
 * 6) Kanae Katagiri (flashback)
 * 7) White (flashback)