The Royal Guard Arrive

Prologue
After laying waste to Soul Society, Yhwach retreats, stating that the Royal Guard will likely show up now. . As the medical units treat the injured, Ichigo Kurosaki is called to Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's office to try to repair his broken Zanpakutō. Once there, Mayuri informs Ichigo that he cannot repair the sword as a Bankai cannot be repaired. As he is told this, Ichigo is bombarded by Kon, who has a new buff body. Ichigo does not initially recognize him, causing Kon to try to show off. Meanwhile, Mayuri receives notice that he is needed elsewhere and tells Ichigo to come as the Royal Guard will be arriving. Elsewhere in Seireitei, the other captains have begun to gather outside the walls of Seireitei. Upon arriving, Ichigo calls out to Captain Shinji Hirako. Shinji questions if Ichigo is there to watch the Royal Guard arrive, but says that he does not recommend it. Ichigo begins to ask several questions, asking why they have not shown up already and where they normally live. Captain Shunsui Kyōraku interjects, stating that they live in the Soul King Palace. Ichigo asks where the Soul King Palace is and if it is not in Soul Society. Shunsui tells Ichigo to think back to when he first arrived in Soul Society and how the walls fell from the sky. He states that the walls normally only protect Seireitei in times of emergency but lately have been down all the time due to harsh times. He then asks if the walls are only there during emergencies, what do they normally protect. Before Ichigo can speak, he states to look up, saying that they are here. A large pillar then falls from the sky, landing right before the gathered. Ichigo wonders what it is, to which Shunsui replies that it is their preferred means of travel, the Tenchūren. He says that all the members of the Royal Guard are inside, which makes Ichigo wonder how they can all fit inside as it is so small. As the pillar begins to open, Shunsui states that there are no foot soldiers in the Royal Guard. There are only five members, all of them former captains and their combined power is greater than the combined power of the entire Gotei 13. As he says so, the Royal Guard step out.

The Arrival
As the Royal Guard members step out of the Tenchūren, one member holds a flag bearing the Royal Guard insignia while another plays several instruments with her multiple prosthetic arms. The one holding the flag announces their arrival and asks the members of the Gotei 13 if they are eating and sleeping well, referring to them as kids in the process. Shinji states that this is not what he expected as he is suddenly slapped by a plump female member of the Royal Guard. Shinji asks what that was for, to which the woman responds that it is so good to see Shinji again and comments it is rare to not see Hiyori Sarugaki with him. Shinji asks who she is and she asks if he truly does not remember her, introducing herself as Kirio Hikifune. Shocked, Shinji states she has changed so much, to which she responds that she has not changed much at all.

The flag bearing Royal Guard member then goes over to Captain Retsu Unohana, stating it has been a long time. He asks how she is and if she is using the healing techniques he taught her. She responds, stating that she is. He however, points out that many people have died and asks why. As he asks though, a large, bearded Royal Guard member grabs him and states that it has been such a long time that they must have a lot to talk about, but they need to do so later. Shunsui then approaches them, addressing the bearded man as Oshō and stating that the members of the Royal Guard have not changed. Shunsui then asks him why the Royal Guard have come. Oshō then looks over to Ichigo, asking if he is Ichigo Kurosaki. He then states that under orders from the Soul King, the Royal Guard is to rebuild the Gotei 13, but first, they are taking Ichigo to the Soul King Palace.

Angered over Oshō's announcement that they are going to rebuild the Gotei 13, Captain Suì-Fēng asks how they can talk about rebuilding when they sat by idly as Seireitei was thrown into ruin. Oshō ignores her and continues but Suì-Fēng tries to reach out and stop him. Before she can though, the Royal Guard member who was talking to Unohana appears behind her and tells her to shut up, leaving Suì-Fēng to wonder how he did that. He tells her that if anyone has a right to be upset, its them. He states that her organization is called the Gotei 13 and asks her if she knows what that means. He states that the Royal Guard's duty is to protect the Soul King Palace. The Gotei 13's duty is to protect Seireitei and says that they come crying to the Royal Guard when they can't do their job. Just then, Oshō knocks the man to the ground with a pound to the head, stating that he told him to talk later as they must accomplish their primary goal. As he says so though, Senjumaru Shutara, the woman with the many prosthetic arms, announces that she has already gathered all they came for, holding the unconscious Lieutenants Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki as well as Captain Byakuya Kuchiki and Tensa Zangetsu in spheres which hang from her arms. Unohana stops her, stating that it is too dangerous to take them out of Seireitei at the moment, but the flag bearing man states that that is exactly why they are being taken. He states that Unohana can not heal them and that if they were to stay, Byakuya would die. He tells Unohana that what she must do now is not healing.

Looking at the spheres, Mayuri notices Tensa Zangetsu and one and asks Senjumaru if she broke into his lab. She states she did not break into it, but rather she just placed her hands on the door and it opened, stating that the lock was much easier to open than it was when she was there. Ichigo then asks why he is coming if his injuries are not as serious. Oshō begins to state that they are taking him for a different reason before they are interrupted by a call from Kisuke Urahara. Mayuri then states that he was finally able to connect. Urahara asks if Ichigo was worried but he is disappointed with Ichigo's reaction. Mayuri, noticing that the video is being streamed from Kon's mouth, asks him what he is doing. Kon replies that he is not quite sure. Mayuri orders division members to catch Kon as the mod soul runs away. Urahara then interrupts again, stating that he is fine. Grabbing Kon, Mayuri begins to press on Kon's eyes, hoping to control the video feed, which Urahara admits is where he put the controls, but he states he disabled them. Noticing that Urahara is talking to someone, Orihime Inoue pushes Urahara out of the way and exclaims that she is happy to see Ichigo is okay. Yasutora Sado then comes in and expresses a similar sentiment. Ichigo admits that he was worried about them. Urahara then continues, stating that he could not get the video up sooner, but as he says so, a mysterious person interrupts. Urahara tries to push them away and Ichigo notices their voice, wondering who it could be. The person tries to see if Ichigo is on the video but Urahara has Sado and Orihime push him out of their tent. Ichigo wonders why that person is with Urahara but Urahara interrupts him, stating if he felt that he needed to go to Hueco Mundo to save them, there is no need. Urahara tells him to do what is best for himself and to not worry about the person that was with them, as he made a contract with him.

In Hueco Mundo, Sado questions Urahara if that was the best thing to say to Ichigo. Urahara asks what he means and Sado clarifies that if Ichigo does what he wants, he may run away from all of this. Urahara tells him not to say such things, as if Ichigo acts from the bottom of his heart, he will protect everyone. He says that Sado has known Ichigo longer than himself and so knows this better than him, but the person who knows it the best is Ichigo himself. Back in Seireitei, Ichigo asks Oshō if they can fix Tensa Zangetsu if he goes to the Soul King Palace. Oshō replies that that is impossible, but there is a forge there where it is possible to reforge the sword into one similar to the original. Ichigo then agrees to go.

Ichigo and the Royal Guard members take off, ending up at Kūkaku Shiba's house. Ichigo, less than amused, wonders why they are there. Kūkaku, angry, asks if that is how he greets her after all this time. She then states she will not launch it. Ichigo wonders what this mean and Oshō tells him that the tenchūren does not have a function to return on its own. Ichigo then asks Kūkaku where Ganju is. Looking up at her banner, she claims that he grew too tall and turned into stone so she uses him to hold up the banner. Ichigo proclaims that it is to lame to be true. Kūkaku then states that she is going to launch it and tells them all to get on. She then launches Ichigo and the Royal Guard out of her canon and up into the sky.

Aftermath
As Ichigo and the Royal Guard are launched into the sky, Ganju comes out, asking if Kūkaku is okay with that. She states that he must go, as if he doesn't it will be the end of Soul Society, they must let him go even if it will make their uncle sad. As she finished saying this, Kūgo Ginjō, Shūkurō Tsukishima and Giriko Kutsuzawa arrive and she tells them to get back to training, as she saved them from Rukongai. She tells Ganju to put some effort into it, as they will all have to fight the next time. Meanwhile, Ichigo arrives in the Soul King Palace.