THE LAST 9DAYS (episode)

For the chapter of the same name, see THE LAST 9DAYS.

THE LAST 9DAYS is the fourteenth episode of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and the three hundred and eightieth episode of the Bleach anime overall.

Summary
In the distant past, innumerable portions of Souls come together to form an infant, which is held aloft by thousands of hands. As the hands glow with blue light, become tethered to the infant by red threads, and start to wither and desiccate, their owners chant the name of the infant: "Yhwach", who begins rapidly maturing into a young man. In the present, Ichigo Kurosaki walks up the long steps to Ichibē Hyōsube's temple atop one of dozens of mountains with Ichibē himself, who addresses him.

Ichibē brings up the extensive damage that Soul Society has suffered, and as they come to stand before the large doors within the temple, Ichibē slams his Zanpakutō on the ground and calls this pathetic because a thousand years of peace have clearly made the Shinigami weak, though Ichigo points out that the Royal Guard merely watched as this happened. In response, Ichibē asserts that part of their duty is to watch in addition to training Ichigo, whom he informs that the Wandenreich are sure to come again in the near future. Affirming this, Ichigo bows, thanks Ichibē for his help, and begins to walk out of the temple.

However, when Ichigo tells an inquisitive Ichibē that he is returning to Soul Society to help the Gotei 13 before the next attack, Ichibē merely questions if he is that eager to die and declares that Ichigo has no chance of winning against Yhwach right now, to Ichigo's shock. Meanwhile, in the cathedral of Silbern, the Sternritter and Soldat gather before a stage that Jugram Haschwalth and the Schutzstaffel stand on. As Yhwach walks onto the stage from the side and stands in the center, Haschwalth commands those present to raise their Quincy Crosses and salute him while Yhwach expresses gratitude at all the Sternritter being here.

Recounting how the Quincy were savagely attacked by the Shinigami a thousand years ago, leading them to lose many comrades and have their very existence threatened, Yhwach proclaims that they survived by hiding in the Schatten Bereich and enduring humiliation for the next thousand years before asserting that the final battle will soon begin for them to annihilate the Shinigami and reinstate the honor of the Quincy. After a moment of silence, Yhwach informs the Wandenreich that he has an announcement to make and bids Uryū Ishida to come onto the stage. With Giselle Gewelle wondering why he is here, Yhwach reveals that Uryū, the Last Quincy and survivor, is his successor.

All of the Sternritter are shocked by this, with PePe Waccabrada chuckling at the decision and Bazz-B mentally wondering what is going on as he stares at Haschwalth. In turn, Yhwach asserts that there is no need for objection or concern because the Wandenreich will learn of Uryū's power in the battles to come prior to departing with him. Watching this alongside her fellow Sternritter, an exasperated Bambietta Basterbine expresses consternation at how baffling this is and walks over to a Soldat, whom she orders to come to her bedroom since she is in a bad mood. Shortly after agreeing to do so, the flustered and shirtless Soldat is cut in half by Bambietta.

With Bambietta zipping up her top, Candice Catnipp chastises her for making such a mess as she, Meninas McAllon, Liltotto Lamperd, and Giselle Gewelle enter the room. Though Bambietta brushes this off since she did it in her own room, Candice insists that this does not matter and that Bambietta needs to do something about her urge to kill attractive men every time she is angry, prompting Bambietta to question what the girls want from her. When Liltotto notes that Bazz-B is still causing a commotion and Candice suggests that she join him since she is also angry, Bambietta denies this and calls the situation stupid.

Moments later, in a meeting hall, Bazz-B punches the wall hard enough to dent it and declares that he does not understand this at all before inviting those around him to explain what is happening, but Mask De Masculine counters that none of them know either and BG9 muses that only Yhwach himself could explain this. Sitting on a table nearby, Liltotto reminds Bazz-B that this is the first time any of them are hearing about a successor, and with Meninas questioning if Yhwach does not have long to live, Giselle suggests that Candice try to seduce Uryū and reacts to Candice indignantly refuting the image that she is a whore by mocking her denial.

Suddenly, when Bazz-B refuses to accept this and attempts to walk out, Haschwalth enters the hall in front of him and wonders where Bazz-B is going. In response, Bazz-B demands to know why Haschwalth is not going anywhere and brings up how he assumed the latter would be Yhwach's successor, something that nearly all of the Sternritter would have accepted without complaint, only for Haschwalth to respond to Bazz-B inquiring about his lack of protest by stating that Yhwach's word is everything, which leaves him no room to complain. Calling him cowardly for this and expressing disappointment in him, Bazz-B demands that Haschwalth give up his position to him.

As Bazz-B reasons that Haschwalth must have no problem with Bazz-B taking his position if he is willing to let Uryū be Yhwach's successor, Haschwalth places a hand on his sword and orders Bazz-B to calm down, though a grinning Bazz-B insists that he is far calmer than Haschwalth and leaps toward him. Suddenly, before Haschwalth can draw his sword, a Gift Ball forms between him and Bazz-B, shocking them both and prompting Bazz-B to quickly leap back as Askin Nakk Le Vaar sarcastically praises Bazz-B's calm in not immediately leaping in to attack. When Bazz-B questions what he is doing, Askin asserts that he was saving them because fighting is not good.

Walking over and dispersing the Gift Ball, Askin tells Haschwalth and Bazz-B to let this go because they cannot gain anything from fighting like this and asserts that it could be poisonous for someone like Haschwalth, whom he addresses as their next emperor. Simultaneously, in his throne room, Yhwach lets blood drip from his hand into a small cup emblazoned with the Wandenreich emblem before handing it to a kneeling Uryū, who refrains from performing the ritual in order to inquire about why he has been appointed as Yhwach's successor. Surprised by Uryū questioning this, Yhwach asserts that it should be obvious if he thinks about it for a moment.

To illustrate this, Yhwach asks Uryū why he is still alive, and after Uryū recalls standing in a field of crosses before the grave for his mother, Kanae Katagiri, Yhwach reminds him that he is the only Quincy in history to ever survive the Auswählen and states that there is a reason he survived. In turn, Uryū admits that he has been wondering why he alone survived and what his purpose was ever since his mother passed away, with the answer lying in Sōken Ishida's diary, before claiming Yhwach's words have let him determine that Shinigami and Quincy can never coexist in addition to the truth of who he really is.

With Uryū concluding that he has severed ties with everything in order to be here and bury the Shinigami, Yhwach smiles and holds out his hand to invite Uryū to come with him and see his own future, which Uryū accepts prior to drinking the blood from the cup. Watching this, Yhwach informs Uryū that his powers will awaken soon and bestows upon him the same letter that he holds - "A". Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, Kisuke Urahara conducts further research on Quilge Opie's Medallion and is surprised by the reaction he gets prior to receiving a transmission from Pero of Orihime Inoue safely reaching the Negal Ruins.

While Urahara expresses relief at this and muses that he seems to be the one who needs more time, Orihime tells Yasutora Sado that Pero did not help her even she she was in real danger, and as Pesche Guatiche and Dondochakka Birstanne chase Nel Tu around the sands in front of them, Sado encourages Orihime to begin their training since they do not have much time, which Orihime affirms before wondering how Ichigo is doing. Simultaneously, Ichigo shrugs off his robe and walks to a cloth-covered table in the temple, where he sets down the longer blade of his Shikai, Zangetsu, before Ichibē walks in.

Ichibē reiterates that Ichigo cannot defeat Yhwach in his current state and declares that he must surpass the existence of a Shinigami, and though Ichigo promises to surpass whatever he needs to while holding up the shorter blade of Zangetsu, Ichibē claims that he will only ever be a Shinigami if he merely hones his Zanpakutō skills. Once Ichigo sets down the shorter blade, he finds himself holding a wooden sword in his other hand before Ichibē decides that they will begin, causing the walls and floor to begin peeling away around them. Shortly afterward, Ichigo finds himself standing in a long, dark, raining hallway filled with green light and a stone path.

From afar, Ichibē explains that this is a sacred place which not even the Royal Guard can enter without the permission of the Soul King and that he will be testing Ichigo to see if he is worthy of surpassing the existence of Shinigami, prompting Ichigo to begin walking. Down in the Seireitei, Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku admits to his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, that he hopes Ichigo is doing okay since he has no idea if Ichibē is acting in the best interest of the Seireitei. With Nanao startled by this, Shunsui realizes what he has said and asks her to forget about it prior to declaring that they will do what they can down here and leaving with her.

Simultaneously, in the Fifth Division barracks, Captain Shinji Hirako yells into a Denreishinki that he is begging with his head down rather than giving an order, only for Hiyori Sarugaki to assert that she can tell his head is not bowed even over the phone as she stands in the Visored warehouse in Karakura Town. With Shinji claiming Hiyori is the only one who can do this, making her the chosen one, and hanging up, Hachigen Ushōda walks up to Hiyori with a package addressed to her from both Shinji and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, leading her to decide that the Visored will be fixing the distortions in the Human World.

Though Lisa Yadōmaru and Love Aikawa are not enthused about being forced to join this, Hiyori insists that they must help her. Back in Ichibē's temple, 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai stand across from each other with sweat beading on their faces and wooden swords pointed at each other until a large set of bells next to them rings, causing them to gasp in relief and drop their stances. Collapsing to the ground, Renji complains about how tough this is, and when Rukia wonders what is difficult about standing still, Renji counters that he is not suited to doing that or pointing a weapon at his friend.

After frantically asserting that it does not suit her either, Rukia receives a call on her Denreishinki and is excited by what she is told, prompting her to inform Renji that his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, has recovered under Tenjirō Kirinji's supervision. At his hot springs, Kirinji notes that Byakuya has spent more time under his care than anyone else and asks him if the heat has gone to his head, only for Byakuya to muse that his lack of power prevents anything from going to his head and resolve to become strong enough to change that, to Kirinji's amusement. Back in the temple, a relieved Renji questions when Rukia and Kirinji exchanged numbers.

Throwing open the nearby doors, a laughing Ichibē comments on how chatty Rukia and Renji have become since they first got here, when they were too weak to even stand under the pressure of the area and were reduced to cowering on the floor, before inviting them to train with him in the back room, which they accept. Elsewhere, in Karakura Town, Tatsuki Arisawa walks down a set of stairs with Mizuiro Kojima and Keigo Asano, the latter of whom asks her about Ichigo's whereabouts. With Tatsuki questioning how she would know this, Mizuiro muses that Orihime, Sado, and Uryū are not around either, which means this must have something to do with Soul Society.

However, they are interrupted when Shunsui approaches them from behind. When Mizuiro identifies him as the captain of the Eighth Division, Shunsui admits he is flattered to be remembered even though he does not recall introducing himself to them and responds to Mizuiro noting a captain would only come out here for a serious matter by revealing he has come to discuss them saying goodbye to Ichigo. Alarmed by this alongside Tatsuki and Mizuiro, Keigo demands to know what this means and accuses Shunsui of getting Ichigo mixed up in something again, which Shunsui readily confirms alongside Ichigo currently being in Soul Society to help the Gotei 13.

After detailing how Ichigo is currently in a special location and is sure to come back safely, Shunsui clarifies that he is worried about what kind of power he will return with, and when Mizuiro wonders why this is a problem, Shunsui reveals that Ichigo's power could become immense enough to adversely affect the Human World, in which case he would not be allowed to return there. In turn, Keigo throws away his bag, grabs Shunsui by the collar, and lambasts him for threatening to lock up Ichigo in Soul Society after bringing him there to help them under the pretense of it being better for the Human World, but Shunsui merely affirms this.

Before an angered Keigo can punch Shunsui, Mizuiro points out that the scenario Shunsui is describing is only hypothetical right now and inquires about how likely it is, which leads Shunsui to admit that it is a 1 in 10,000 chance or less and that they are only considering it as one of many possible outcomes. Though Tatsuki is confused about him coming all this way just to tell them about something so unlikely, Shunsui counters that it would not be fair to Ichigo to keep his friends uninformed of something like that prior to holding up and handing out three Soul Tickets, which he explains will let them enter Soul Society to see Ichigo should this occur.

Seeing Tatsuki's concerned expression, Shunsui assures her that this will not be happening today or tomorrow and is instead a far-off occurrence. Simultaneously, in Hueco Mundo, Orihime sits against a pillar in the Negal Ruins and drinks from a flash of water as Sado asks her if she is tired enough to want to conclude their training for the day. However, Orihime notes that she was just thinking about how peaceful it is and responds to Sado reminding her that the Wandenreich could attack at any moment by explaining that it just feels nice for Humans like them to spend time in Hueco Mundo training with the Arrancar and helping the Shinigami.

With Yukio Hans Vorarlberna and Riruka Dokugamine approaching Urahara's tent while Isshin Kurosaki, Karin Kurosaki, and Yuzu Kurosaki eat together, Orihime wishes that they could continue working together and respecting each other's worlds so they could all say there was no battle to begin with. Suddenly, in the Seireitei, the pinwheels at a vendor station stop spinning just before the Schatten Bereich engulfs the buildings and encircling wall, replacing the entire city with the Wandenreich's city while Yhwach, Uryū, and Haschwalth stand atop Silbern. In the SRDI, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon and Hiyosu struggle to understand what is happening.

As Akon realizes that the Seireitei is gone, Yhwach asks Uryū if he knows the Kaiser Gesang, which Uryū recites as the confined Quincy king regaining his heartbeat in 900 years, his mind after 90 years, and his strength after 9 years. However, Yhwach reveals that there is a fourth verse stating that the king will regain the world in 9 days. While the Sternritter walk down the street toward the Shinigami, Yhwach invites Uryū and Haschwalth to join him in the last nine days.

Fights & Events

 * Royal Training
 * Rise of Uryū Ishida (completed)

Powers and Techniques Used
Quincy Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Schrifts:

Items:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Changes=
 * Askin Nakk Le Vaar noting that Jugram Haschwalth and Bazz-B are being watched as PePe Waccabrada watches from an alcove above them.
 * Uryū Ishida noting that Yhwach appointing him as his successor in this way will only create discord among the Sternritter, prompting Yhwach to praise him for not blindly accepting his situation.
 * Yhwach musing that Uryū picks up on things quickly and reminding him that every Gemischt Quincy perished under the Auswählen he conducted nine years ago.
 * Yhwach revealing why he called Uryū the Last Quincy and that the latter has a power which surpasses his own.
 * Bambietta Basterbine claiming that her friends make messes too, prompting Liltotto Lamperd to assert that cookie crumbs and blood splatters are not the same, Meninas McAllon to muse that Bambietta could at least do it outside, Giselle Gewelle to claim that Candice Catnipp likes seducing attractive subordinates, and Candice angrily accusing Giselle of trying to pick a fight with her before Bambietta blows a hole in the wall to silence them and tells a concerned Candice that she is worried about the future of the Wandenreich.
 * Haschwalth returning to his chambers and explaining Yhwach's intentions in publicly appointing Uryū to his subordinate.
 * Orihime Inoue complaining about how far away the Negal Ruins were and eating the potato-like food given to her while recalling Sado's distaste for it and asking Pero if he is tired.
 * Yuzu Kurosaki calling her family down for dinner, prompting Isshin Kurosaki to promise to get rid of his patient quickly and Karin Kurosaki to declare that she will come once she defeats the boss she is currently facing in her video game, before wishing that Ichigo was back from camp.
 * Renji Abarai noting that Rukia Kuchiki is exhausted just like he is and musing that they still are not used to Ichibē's palace, with Rukia noting that the Reishi density is incredible and that it feels like she is underwater even if it is no longer overwhelming her before admitting that she has no idea what effect it will have on them.
 * Renji identifying Tenjirō Kirinji as the delinquent from the hot springs.
 * Renji recalling his and Rukia's traumatic experience in Senjumaru Shutara's palace, where the latter threatened to castrate him if he did not remove his loincloth during her measurements.
 * Keigo Asano musing that he is out of options if Tatsuki Arisawa does not know where Ichigo is and revealing that Karin and Yuzu told him Ichigo was practicing with the soccer team even though he knows the tournament ended last month.
 * Mizuiro Kojima assuming that his friends will return soon enough.
 * Keigo failing to recognize Shunsui and Tatsuki pointing out that he must have something to do with Ichigo.
 * Keigo assuming that Shunsui is joking about Ichigo's friends having to say goodbye to him, only for Shunsui to solemnly state that he did not come here to joke around, to Keigo's disbelief.
 * Mizuiro asserting that he and his friends do not mind Ichigo being in Soul Society to help the Gotei 13 because that willingness to help is why they are friends with him before questioning why this means they must say goodbye to him.
 * Shunsui assuring Tatsuki that he already sent more Soul Tickets to Ichigo's family.
 * Shunsui promising to tell Ichigo to return to Karakura Town and spend some time with his friends before the battle starts.
 * Yhwach being born and linking his Soul with thousands of people as they chant his name.
 * Ichibē Hyōsube telling Ichigo Kurosaki that he cannot defeat Yhwach in his current state and that he will have to surpass the existence of Shinigami to do so.
 * Yhwach reminding the Wandenreich of the Quincy being routed by the Shinigami and forced to hide in the Schatten Bereich for a thousand years before promising that they will soon eradicate the Shinigami and restore their honor.
 * Liltotto revealing that Bazz-B is still causing a commotion and Candice suggesting that Bambietta join him, to the latter's annoyance.
 * Bambietta and her friends sitting by while Bazz-B demands answers, with Giselle suggesting that Candice seduce Uryū and Candice taking offense to the implication.
 * Bazz-B rushing toward Haschwalth as the latter begins to draw his sword, only to leap back when Askin's Gift Ball appears in front of him.
 * Uryū musing that he had been wondering why he survived and what his purpose was ever since his mother died, with the answers being written in Sōken Ishida's diary and confirmed by Yhwach's words, before declaring that he has cut ties with everything to see the Shinigami buried.
 * Uryū drinking Yhwach's blood from the cup, leaving a smear on his lower lip.
 * Kisuke Urahara being surprised by the reaction his tests on the Medallion elicited.
 * Nel Tu and Dondochakka Birstanne balancing on top of Pesche Guatiche while Grimmjow sits nearby.
 * Ichigo setting aside Zangetsu and beginning his training with Ichibē, which transports him into an ethereal hall filled with green light while he wields only a wooden sword.
 * Shunsui admitting to Nanao Ise that he does not know if Ichibē has good intentions for Ichigo or the Seireitei.
 * Yukio Hans Vorarlberna and Riruka Dokugamine approaching Kisuke Urahara's tent.
 * Isshin eating dinner with his daughters.
 * Spinning pinwheels at a vendor station in the Seireitei slowly coming to a halt before the Schatten Bereich engulfs the city.
 * In the manga, Yhwach stood alone on the stage before the Sternritter and Soldat; here, he is instead joined by Jugram Haschwalth, Lille Barro, Gerard Valkyrie, and Pernida Parnkgjas.
 * In the manga, Bazz-B verbally protests Yhwach's appointment of Uryū as his successor and is stopped from rushing onto the stage by Haschwalth; here, he instead mentally expresses confusion at the decision and looks at Haschwalth, who stares back at him.
 * In the manga, Bazz-B and his fellow Sternritter discuss Uryū's appointment while walking down a hallway, where he knocks offered drinks out of an attendant's hands and leaps to a lower level while telling Mask De Masculine that he is going to the throne room to protest directly to Yhwach, only to find Haschwalth standing in his path; here, they instead discuss the situation in a meeting hall without any attendants, with Bazz-B silently walking toward the exit until Haschwalth enters to confront him.
 * In the manga, Uryū questions why he is Yhwach's successor after consuming the latter's blood and completing the Schrift ritual; here, he instead pauses before drinking the blood to ask his question.
 * In the manga, Uryū is shocked when Yhwach questions why he is still alive; here, he remains stoic.
 * In the manga, Yhwach tells Uryū that there is no need for doubt and to come with him; here, he instead promises to show Uryū his future if the latter comes with him.
 * In the manga, Bazz-B, Haschwalth, Bambietta, Liltotto, Candice, Meninas, Giselle, BG9, Mask De Masculine, and Cang Du have their Schrift partially or fully revealed; here, they instead do not.
 * In the manga, Bambietta orders the Soldat to come to her room after finding him in the hallway following Uryū completing the ritual; here, she instead finds him in the crowd after Yhwach's announcement.
 * In the manga, Urahara performing further experiments on the Medallion occurs after Sado prepares to begin his training with Orihime; here, it instead occurs before Orihime reaches the Negal Ruins.
 * In the manga, Orihime is alone at the Negal Ruins for a moment and thinks out loud about Sado's safety, as well as Urahara's promise to come help her if she is in trouble by monitoring her through Pero, before Sado greets her from within the structure; here, she instead meets up with Sado immediately and explains the situation directly to him.
 * In the manga, there is a second silhouette behind Sado as he tells Orihime that everyone is here, which she is startled by; here, only Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez stands behind Sado, and Orihime does not react with surprise.
 * In the manga, Renji questions when Rukia and Kirinji exchanged numbers before she informs him that Byakuya Kuchiki has fully recovered; here, he instead does so after expressing his relief.
 * In the manga, Momo Hinamori is visible while Shinji Hirako is talking to Hiyori Sarugaki; here, she is instead absent.
 * In the manga, when Hiyori declares that the Visored will clean up the distortions, Love Aikawa and Lisa Yadōmaru are sitting on rubble nearby; here, they are instead sitting on an upper floor.
 * In the manga, Shunsui meets Ichigo's friends on the street; here, he instead meets them on a stairway.
 * In the manga, when Mizuiro identifies Shunsui as the Eighth Division captain, he mentions hearing a Shinigami refer to him as such in the aftermath of the final battle against Sōsuke Aizen and Shunsui muses that he would be even more happy to be remembered like this if Mizuiro were a girl; here, Mizuiro instead does not mention this and Shunsui admits that he does not remember introducing himself.
 * In the manga, Keigo grabs Shunsui by the collar with both hands; here, he instead does so with only his right hand.