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) Mera

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 "The Rudiments"
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)