For the episode of the same name, see The Blood Warfare.
THE BLOOD WARFARE is the fifty-fifth volume of the Bleach manga series.
Publisher's summary[]
The peace is suddenly broken when warning sirens blare through the Soul Society. Residents there are disappearing without a trace, and nobody knows who’s behind it. Meanwhile, a dark shadow is also extending itself toward Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends in Karakura Town...
Bleach All Stars[]
| All-Stars | ||
| 石田 雨竜 Uryū Ishida |
|
黒崎 一護 Ichigo Kurosaki |
|
井上 織姫 Orihime Inoue |
|
|
アズギアロ Asguiaro Ebern |
|
| (no caption) Yhwach |
|
茶渡 泰虎 Yasutora Sado |
Chapters[]
480. The Blood Warfare[]
While the Shinigami Research and Development Institute is alarmed by a rapid spate of Hollow disappearances, two new Shinigami are assigned to patrol Karakura Town.
Summary:
The cover pages of 480. The Blood Warfare with its JUMP title The Thousand-Year Blood War.
In the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi inquires about the status of the Shutara Scale, prompting his 3rd Seat, Akon, to relay that it is at category 4 and quite serious as the two of them ride an elevator down through the building. When Mayuri admonishes him for taking so long to report this, Akon apologizes and explains that they have been able to handle minor instances of this in past years with only slight adjustments, which led him to not take this to Mayuri until it became serious. While Mayuri and Akon reach the central monitoring room below, several technicians express alarm over the readings they are getting from various sectors and rush to correct them before a researcher approaches Akon and informs him that Hollows are continuing to disappear. With Akon asserting that he already knows the boundary between the Human World and Soul Society will be at risk of collapse if this continues to occur for a few more days and dismissing the researcher since he has nothing else to report, Mayuri affirms Akon's inference that only they could be capable of completely erasing Hollows like this.
Meanwhile, Ryūnosuke Yuki is woken up by an irritated Zennosuke Kurumadani, who responds to Yuki admitting that he was not listening by admonishing him for falling asleep while his superior is briefing him on the first day of his assignment, and when Yuki explains that he had to do this since he was too nervous to sleep well last night, Zennosuke counters this by asserting that sleeping during the day was not the only choice that Yuki had and points out how Yuki used this same excuse when he arrived late on a previous day before concluding that he has paid attention to what Yuki has said. Though Yuki praises him for this, an aggravated Zennosuke merely tells him to open his eyes. Shortly afterward, while walking along one of the streets, Yuki is observed to have been criticized harshly again by Shino Madarame, who slaps the side of his head when he looks back to see her and claims that this is the only way to get his attention when he complains about this.
Shino tells Yuki to display some confidence since they are heading out to their new post this afternoon, only for Yuki to explain that he is just nervous. When Shino claims that there is no reason for this when he is with her, Yuki elaborates that the rate of Hollow appearances in Karakura Town is high, which makes him question whether he is the right person to be sent in here in addition to the area already having a strong Substitute Shinigami protecting it that leaves him wondering why he is even here. In response, Shino angrily grabs Yuki by the collar and demands that he stop being so pathetic while clarifying that the Gotei 13 increased the number of Shinigami stationed here to two precisely so that they would not need to rely on the Substitute Shinigami as much, drawing the attention of other Shinigami nearby in the process. Though Shino concludes this proves his abilities were acknowledged when he was selected for this and that he should puff out his chest more, a chuckling Yuki merely notes that she does not have much of a chest to puff out herself, causing Shino to punch the left side of his face.
That night, a mysterious figure crushes and disperses a piece of Hollow bait on a rooftop in Karakura Town before moving back upon seeing Yuki and Shino exit a Senkaimon in the air nearby with Zennosuke, who asks a bruised Yuki about what happened to his swollen face. With Yuki claiming that he was born this way, Zennosuke rubs his chin and accepts this, to Yuki's disbelief, prior to stepping back inside the closing Senkaimon and encouraging Yuki and Shino to devote themselves to exterminating Hollows without fighting each other, which he assures them he is sincere about. Once the Senkaimon closes, Shino declares that they should split up and that she will be patrolling the north side while Yuki takes the south. When Yuki expresses shock at her not wanting to stay together for this, Shino questions why two of them would be sent if this were not the optimal solution and asks Yuki if he is scared, only for Yuki to respond to her demanding that he say so by bluntly confirming he is, causing an annoyed Shino to leap away and tell Yuki to find his resolve, to Yuki's chagrin.
Suddenly, Yuki hears a loud crashing noise and looks behind him to see a large, mono-eyed Hollow with four legs grinning at him from behind the corner of a nearby building, which prompts him to begin frantically running away as it gives chase and narrowly dodge strikes from its legs while calling out to Shino, whom he expects to reprimand him for announcing the Hollow's appearance like a new product is going on sale. However, Yuki is stunned to find a bloodied and motionless Shino being held in the grasp of an ape-like Huge Hollow while three others stand around them on a rooftop. Terrified by the sight of this, a trembling Yuki draws his Zanpakutō and mentally asserts that he has to be the one to save Shino since it is just the two of them, but the Hollow who was pursuing him slams one of its legs into Yuki, who is badly wounded and sent flying across the rooftop.
A heavily bleeding Yuki realizes that he cannot move his hands or body after a single strike and expresses shock at how much blood he is losing before realizing that he might die at this rate without even saving Shino, to his horror. Suddenly, a Getsuga Tenshō cuts through both the Huge Hollow holding Shino and the Hollow standing over Yuki while Ichigo Kurosaki steps forward and deduces that Yuki is filling Zennosuke's position, though he bluntly states that Yuki will not be of any use if he proves to be as useless as Zennosuke was. When Yuki questions who he is, a smirking Ichigo introduces himself as the Substitute Shinigami while the mysterious figure watches him from a nearby alleyway.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 367: THE BLOOD WARFARE
481. The Tearing[]
The Visored and Shinigami notice strange occurrences in the Human World and Soul Society as Ryūnosuke Yuki is filled in on what has happened over the past two days.
Summary:
The cover page of 481. The Tearing.
On a street in Karakura Town, Hiyori Sarugaki walks along with a towel wrapped around her head and a basket of conditioners and shampoos balanced on top as she praises how nice it feels to take a bath early in the day. When she is met with silence in response to this, Hiyori demands to know why none of her fellow Visored are answering her, and when Lisa Yadōmaru explains that Love Aikawa left to buy a copy of Jump and coffee-flavored milk, Hiyori points out that Lisa could have answered her and demands that Lisa give her the key to open the door to their warehouse, but Lisa reveals that Hachigen Ushōda is carrying the key and went to a café to cool off, leading Hiyori to note with irritation that Hachigen should have known he would get hot if he wore a suit to a public bathhouse. Suddenly, Hiyori smells a Shinigami and looks to her left to see a distortion forming in the air nearby, to her confusion.
Some time later, Ryūnosuke Yuki regains consciousness on Ichigo Kurosaki's bed at the Kurosaki Clinic and bolts upright while admitting that he was not listening, only for Ichigo to bluntly assert that no one said anything and tell Yuki that he is free to leave if he is awake. Suddenly, Orihime Inoue bursts into the room with a tray of bread from the bakery she works at and expresses relief at Yuki being awake, though Ichigo wonders if the bread she brought is really good to eat since it being leftover from the bakery sales means that it did not sell well. In response, Orihime teasingly asserts that people who say this will not get any bread, prompting Uryū Ishida to walk in and observe that Orihime is correct since Ichigo always enjoys the bread she brings the most.
When Yasutora Sado joins them and affirms this, Ichigo tells them to shut up and demands to know why they are coming in without ringing the doorbell, which leads Uryū to explain that they met Yuzu Kurosaki outside prior to suggesting that Ichigo stop talking and get them some plates, though Ichigo is left irate at the idea of taking orders from him. While Uryū states that he is merely giving advice rather than orders and Ichigo tells him to shut up once more, an initially dazed Yuki screams in astonishment once he recognizes Ichigo as the Substitute Shinigami he met last night, with Ichigo deducing that this delayed realization is why he was so unresponsive until now. However, Ichigo clarifies that their first meeting took place two days ago and that Yuki has been asleep for over a day.
In the past, Ichigo cuts vertically through the skull of a Huge Hollow with his Shikai, Zangetsu, and when several more Huge Hollows rear up to attack him, Uryū blasts through them with several Heilig Pfeil and claims that this was a close one. However, Ichigo counters that the Heilig Pfeil were more dangerous and wonders if Uryū came here to get in his way, to Uryū's annoyance. Watching this, Yuki sees Shino partially healed by Sōten Kisshun and is told by Orihime that she will come back to heal them fully once this is over prior to Ichigo declaring that they should finish this and standing with Orihime, Sado, and Uryū in battle stances.
In the present, Yuki ruminates on how surprisingly strong Ichigo and his friends proved to be against the Huge Hollows before Ichigo hands him a plate of breads to sample. Ichigo notes that Yuki will not be able to eat like this and suggests that he get into the Gigai next to him, and when Yuki screams in fright upon seeing a blank-eyed Gigai with his appearance lying in bed next to him, Ichigo wonders if he has to scream at everything, though Yuki explains that he does not have time for this and frantically inquires about Shino's condition just before the latter walks into the room. Carrying two shopping bags with cola that she announces to the group, Shino stops in surprise and drops them upon seeing Yuki, whom she tearfully addresses before calling him pathetic and delivering a flying clothesline to a relieved Yuki. As Shino continues to berate and wrestle with Yuki in the background, Orihime laments Shino dropping the cola and Uryū suggests that they set aside the yakisoba bread since he believes Yuki would like it, but Ichigo immediately discerns that Uryū is really saying this because he does not want it.
Simultaneously, in the Rukongai in Soul Society, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame runs through the forest alongside 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, where he confirms to the latter that he is running because he heard the report and refuses to believe that residents of the Rukongai simply disappeared as he proclaims that someone messed with the wrong division's jurisdiction. Back at the Kurosaki Clinic, when Ichigo asks for Yuki's name, Asguiaro Ebern lands on Ichigo's bed and introduces himself, but in response, Ichigo states that he does not know who Ebern is and demands that the latter get off his bed.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 367: THE BLOOD WARFARE
482. Bad Recognition[]
Ichigo Kurosaki is attacked by Asguiaro Ebern as Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto finds himself confronted by a mysterious group.
Summary:
The cover page of 482. Bad Recognition.
At Asguiaro Ebern's request, Ichigo Kurosaki reiterates that he does not know who the former is and wants him to get off of his bed, only for Ebern to refuse. Upon hearing this, Ichigo kicks Ebern hard in the face, sending him flying out of the window that Orihime Inoue quickly opens behind him, which causes Yuzu Kurosaki to assume that he is fooling around with his friends upstairs as Yasutora Sado questions who he was and Uryū Ishida infers that he is probably an Arrancar due to the mask fragment on his face. Grabbing his Substitute Shinigami Badge, Ichigo promises to drive Ebern away since it will be a pain if he comes back and enters his Shinigami form, where Sado promises to join him alongside Uryū once they finish eating despite Ichigo promising him that it will be over by then, leaving Ryūnosuke Yuki to wonder who Ebern was while he and Shino Madarame clutch each other as Orihime chews on more bread and admits that she does not know.
In an intersection below, Ebern clutches his face and questions why Ichigo kicked him before the latter calls out to him from the air above and promises to hear Ebern out if the latter follows him since he assumes Ebern is here for him. Though Ebern calls him arrogant for this assumption and claims that Ichigo must be curious about who he is, Ichigo denies this and leaps away, resulting in Ebern frantically following him and demanding that Ichigo stop while the latter notes with annoyance that Ebern is acting just as expected. When Ichigo asks Ebern if Uryū was right about him being an Arrancar, to Ebern's annoyance. With Ichigo wondering if Ebern desires revenge for Sōsuke Aizen, inquiring about whether he came with anyone, and questioning why he is here, Ebern expresses irritation at being called an Arrancar and moves into the air in front of Ichigo, who wonders what is wrong. In response, Ebern firmly states that he is not an Arrancar and flicks out his hand, revealing a Quincy Cross, before creating a set of Reishi Cannons from the air, leaving a startled Ichigo to recognize the Quincy Cross as Ebern asks him if he sees something familiar.
Simultaneously, in the west 64th district of the Rukongai, Sabitsura, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa comes to a halt in a village and muses that there really is no one here while 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame observes that this means the situation is getting worse, which prompts Yumichika to point out that the villagers may have gotten scared and left because of the disappearances, though Ikkaku counters that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute would be tracking them and keeping the rest of the Gotei 13 up to date if this were the case. Two of their subordinates approach and reveal that they could not find even a single child after searching the entire area. When Yumichika comments on the entire village disappearing like this being almost supernatural, Ikkaku refuses to accept such an explanation prior to one of the subordinates bringing them to a set of footprints in the dirt that converge and suddenly cease. After confirming Ikkaku's observation that there are only marks of bare feet and sandals, Yumichika deduces that the residents of this village abducted each other. In response, Ikkaku proclaims that they will determine what this means by continuing to investigate, which his subordinates affirm.
Simultaneously, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto stands in his office and finishes receiving reports from the Ninth Division and Eleventh Division prior to the Shinigami reporting to him suddenly being attacked while beginning to deliver the Tenth Division's report. Upon turning around, Yamamoto finds seven masked individuals standing across from him at the other end of the room, where Luders Friegen greets Yamamoto and states that they have come to declare war.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 367: THE BLOOD WARFARE
483. KriegsErklärung[]
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto learns the intentions of the Wandenreich as Asguiaro Ebern attempts to do something to Ichigo Kurosaki's Bankai.
Summary:
The cover page of 483. KriegsErklärung.[3]
In Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's office, Luders Friegen points out how easy it was to infiltrate the office of the Captain-Commander and questions if Yamamoto's security is lax, but Yamamoto simply proclaims that there is no greater security than his own presence, which Luders acknowledges before declaring that this is Yamamoto's last moment of arrogance.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Asguiaro Ebern fires several blasts of Reishi from his Reishi Cannons at Ichigo Kurosaki, who evades and cuts through them with his Shikai, Zangetsu as he mentally struggles to reconcile Ebern using a Quincy Cross like Uryū Ishida's despite looking like an Arrancar with his mask fragment. Ichigo continues evading blasts from Ebern as the latter reorients his Reishi Cannons and questions if this is really the extent of Ichigo's power. Noticing that Ebern has been taunting him like this and encouraging him to use his Bankai, Ichigo decides that he has no choice but to play along since he does not know who Ebern is or what he wants here before readying Zangetsu.
Manically delighted by Ichigo preparing to activate his Bankai, Ebern pulls out a Medallion and activates it, releasing a surge of energy around him that forms a massive X in the air, which he declares will be the end of Ichigo's Bankai. After activating Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo is startled by the activated Medallion, which releases several beams of light to envelop him while Ebern begins reciting a chant in German. However, despite the left arm of his longcoat beginning to crack and break off into the air from the effects of the Medallion, a yelling Ichigo manages to destroy the beams of light with a slash from his sword, to Ebern's disbelief, and fires a Getsuga Tenshō directly at Ebern.
Back in Yamamoto's office, 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe is impaled and pinned to the wall by a massive Heilig Pfeil. With Yamamoto expressing shock at this, Luders assures him that he does not need to mourn for Chōjirō, who has demonstrated the fate of a hopeless death following a desperate struggle that is destined for all of the Shinigami, before proclaiming that the Wandenreich will annihilate Soul Society in five days.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Luders Friegen
- 6 Unidentified Strangers
- Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
- Ichigo Kurosaki
- Asguiaro Ebern
- Chōjirō Sasakibe
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 367: THE BLOOD WARFARE
484. The Buckbeard[]
1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe reveals a terrifying capability of the Wandenreich as Asguiaro Ebern escapes from Ichigo Kurosaki.
Summary:
The cover page of 484. The Buckbeard.
Having been told by Luders Friegen that the Wandenreich will annihilate Soul Society in five days, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto moves to his lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe, with Shunpo, shatters the Heilig Pfeil impaling him, and holds Chōjirō with his left arm while glaring at Luders, who infers that Yamamoto wants to know who they are and refuses to tell him since he should already know prior to Shadows enveloping him and the other six individuals. In response to this, Yamamoto furiously tells them to wait and unleashes a torrent of flame with his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, that envelops the room and bursts out from the balcony. In the aftermath, Yamamoto sees that the messengers have disappeared and deduces that they can move through the Shakonmaku undetected because there are no traces of their Reiatsu within the Seireitei. Suddenly, a badly wounded Chōjirō reveals that there is something he must tell Yamamoto and reveals that the enemy can do something to their Bankai, to Yamamoto's alarm.
Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, a badly burned Asguiaro Ebern emerges from the smoke he was left in by the Getsuga Tenshō that slammed into him and demands to know why Ichigo Kurosaki's Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu did not disappear, only for Ichigo to hold his sword to Ebern's throat and pick up on this while musing that he now has many questions to ask Ebern due to the events of the last five minutes. Suddenly, when Ichigo asserts that Ebern is coming with him, a cursing Ebern creates a Shadow in front of himself, causing Ichigo to move back in alarm, and assures Ichigo that it only covers the chosen before vanishing once the Shadow moves back to envelop him and disintegrates into the wind, leaving Ichigo to wonder what this was since it was not a Garganta.
Shortly afterward, at Silbern, Luders walks into the main hall alongside his six companions and notices Ebern kneeling nearby, which he mockingly commends as he considers forgiving Ebern for getting overzealous on his mission and being left injured, though Ebern quickly clarifies that he would never bow before Luders. Suddenly, an aggravated Luders is interrupted when Yhwach cuts off his right arm, causing him to collapse and scream in agony while Yhwach reminds him that they are not to argue in his presence since he dislikes conflict before requesting that they relay their report for peace.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Luders Friegen
- Jugram Haschwalth
- 5 Unidentified Messengers
- Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
- Chōjirō Sasakibe
- Asguiaro Ebern
- Ichigo Kurosaki
- Yhwach
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 367: THE BLOOD WARFARE
485. Foundation Stones[]
After learning of 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe's death, Ichigo Kurosaki is met with the unexpected arrival of Nel Tu while Luders Friegen reports to Yhwach.
Summary:
The cover page of 485. Foundation Stones.
In Silbern, with Luders Friegen gasping in pain in a pool of blood on the floor in front of him after having had his right arm severed, Yhwach observes that he does not need to strain himself by attempting to sit up since he must be in incredible pain and permits him to give his report while lying down, which Luders thanks him for. However, when Yhwach notes that Luders does not need his legs either if he is not going to sit up, a mortified Luders forces himself up and claims that he would never disrespect Yhwach by talking to him by lying down. As a petrified Asguiaro Ebern watches this, a smirking Yhwach invites Luders to begin his report.
Meanwhile, at the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town, Ryūnosuke Yuki sits around the box of bread with Shino Madarame, Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida, where he takes a bite of bread and laments that "he" is late. Upon being asked by Uryū about who he is referring to, Yuki clarifies that he means Ichigo Kurosaki and questions if they should not go help him, but Uryū asserts that there is no need to do so since the enemy's Reiatsu has already vanished and Ichigo would never lose to such an opponent anyway. After Uryū declares that he would never help Ichigo anyway and Sado counters that he would, Orihime chuckles and explains to a confused Uryū that she appreciates how he and Ichigo have become such good friends, which is what she likes about him, leaving a flustered Uryū to demand that she not tease him like this.
Suddenly, Ichigo announces his return and confirms to a pleased Orihime that he is not injured before Yuki's Denreishinki begins ringing with a recording of Shino humming, which he apologizes for and which Shino is alarmed by. After being punched in the face by Shino once again for pointing out how horrible the recording sounds at a certain point, Yuki answers the call, but quickly grows shocked and serious when informed of a funeral for 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe that he relays to Ichigo and his stunned friends.
In the past, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon stands in front of a transmitter in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute and requests that Yuki listen closely and not ask any questions while he summarizes the situation so he does not have to repeat himself prior to detailing how seven unidentified individuals infiltrated Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's office, killing one Shinigami but leaving Yamamoto himself unharmed, while another unidentified individual appeared near Black Ridge Gate where the First Division was standing guard and killed 116 people in just over 3 minutes, with Chōjirō being mortally wounded and dying in Yamamoto's office shortly after. Following his observation that the total number of intruders is unknown due to all witnesses being killed, though Reiatsu measurements indicate that only one intruder was present, Akon concludes that the entry and exit methods of the intruders are unknown and did not disturb the Shakonmaku surrounding the Seireitei, indicating that they can safely travel through the Seireitei's spiritual barriers.
In the present, as the sun sets, Ichigo somberly looks out the window, admits that he does not like this, and decides to patrol the area prior to departing in his Shinigami form and leaping through the air, where he recalls Uryū theorizing that Yuki was given such a detailed report because the Gotei 13 knew he was with Ichigo and wanted him to know the situation before cautioning Ichigo to stay on alert since there is nothing else he can do besides waiting to be called on now that he has given Yuki details about Ebern. However, Ichigo is interrupted when Nel Tu screams his name and falls toward him from a Garganta high above, leaving Ichigo shocked just before she slams into him with Chōkasoku, resulting in the two of them crashing into a playground below with enough force to crater the ground upon impact. In the aftermath, an aggravated Ichigo sits up and berates Nel for doing this as soon as she sees him again after almost two years of being apart. Despite this, a weeping Nel begs Ichigo to help her because something terrible has happened in Hueco Mundo, to his astonishment.
Back in Silbern, Yhwach picks up on Luders proclaiming that Soul Society would be destroyed in five days, and when Luders explains that this would be enough time for both the Gotei 13 and the Wandenreich to prepare for battle, Yhwach reminds him that this is in the future, which unnerves Luders, and brings up the latter's assessment of Soul Society and the Human World collapsing in the near future if the Hollow population were left unchecked after being sent out to observe the border intensity level. When Yhwach inquires about whether he is a prophet, a trembling Luders is initially unable to answer him, but eventually confirms that he is not once Yhwach presses him on it, only for Yhwach to assert that he wishes to hear of the present instead of the distant future if Luders cannot accurately predict it prior to blowing the latter's head off in a fountain of blood. With Luders's limp body collapsing, Yhwach turns his attention to Ebern and notes that there is nothing worthy of praise or punishment about him since he kept Ichigo at bay. However, after Ebern thanks him for this, Yhwach tells him to become a foundation for peace and blows his head off as well.
Following this, one of the other messengers questions if a departing Yhwach is okay with disposing of Arrancar soldiers since he previously called them valuable for not requiring combat training, though Yhwach simply shapes the throne he was standing on into a set of stairs that he ascends toward a curtain above him as he proclaims that they can always get more Arrancar because Hueco Mundo is under his control and is simply another foundation stone toward invading Soul Society, which he emphasizes by pulling the curtain aside to reveal a bloodied and defeated Tier Harribel strung up in chains while in her Resurrección, Tiburón.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 368: Foundation Stones
486. The Crimson Cremation[]
1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe's funeral is held as Ichigo Kurosaki learns of Hueco Mundo being conquered and decides to aid the Arrancar.
Summary:
The cover page of 486. The Crimson Cremation.
In Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki is left alarmed by Nel claiming that someone has attacked Hueco Mundo and tries to get her to elaborate, but is forced to pull her aside when Pesche Guatiche crashes down next to him as well. Though an upside-down Pesche commends Ichigo for being able to dodge this even though his presence was concealed until the last second and attempts to introduce himself since his torso is stuck in the ground, Ichigo merely stomps on his crotch and identifies Pesche, who groans in pain. An annoyed Ichigo questions what Pesche was trying to do while he was trying to hear out Nel on Hueco Mundo's predicament, and when Pesche pulls himself out of the ground and reiterates that Hueco Mundo has been captured, Ichigo tells Pesche to stop positioning his rear end in the air and asserts that he already knows this.
Simultaneously, in the Seireitei, the Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants stand assembled before the crematorium containing 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe's body, where 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki informs his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, that Chōjirō was a Shinigami who should have been a captain because he achieved Bankai before 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku or 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake were even born, but never displayed this ability in public even once since the Gotei 13 was founded. After noting that captains are not always men of integrity, which led some of them to disparage Chōjirō and treat him like a seated officer due to him not taking part in battles even after learning of his capabilities, Byakuya details how Chōjirō never once resented his position as a lieutenant despite this and always turned down offers to become an interim captain or hold the responsibilities of a captain as 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira and 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi did until recently whenever there was a vacancy from captains being replaced due to his fierce loyalty. With Renji startled by this, Byakuya observes that Chōjirō swore to remain a lieutenant to Yamamoto for as long as the latter was alive and concludes that Yamamoto's grief must be beyond imagining for the younger captains since Chōjirō died upon using his Bankai in battle for the first time. Standing mournfully in front of Chōjirō's pyre, Yamamoto orders that the fires be lit.
Meanwhile, at nighttime in the Kurosaki Clinic, Ichigo stands before Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, and Uryū Ishida, whom he has brought to meet with Nel and Pesche in his bedroom, and apologizes for calling them over so late in the day, though Sado assures him that it is fine. With Sado questioning whether Hueco Mundo has truly been attacked by an outside force and reacting with confusion when Nel calls him a man from the giant tribe while wondering if he does not believe her, Pesche confirms that it has and explains that Tier Harribel has ruled Hueco Mundo since the deaths of Coyote Starrk and Baraggan Louisenbairn until the day that the Wandenreich arrived, where they defeated and captured Harribel herself. As Pesche concludes that the Wandenreich have taken several Arrancar to use as their own soldiers, Ichigo realizes that Asguiaro Ebern must have been one of them prior to Pesche revealing that they abducted Dondochakka as well.
After Orihime expresses concern over this, Sado observes that he does not even need to ask if they will since he knows Ichigo will want to help, which prompts Ichigo to confirm that he cannot just ignore the plight of the Arrancar after what he has heard. Suddenly, Uryū interjects to inform his friends that he cannot accompany them this time, but Ichigo accepts this since Quincy exist to destroy Hollows. Once Ichigo explains that he figured Uryū would respond this way and simply did not want the latter to sulk over not being consulted first, Uryū is left irritated while Ichigo promises him that they will manage even without him present, only to be interrupted when Kisuke Urahara comments on the interesting conversation they are having and offers to arrange a trip to Hueco Mundo while sitting on Ichigo's windowsill.
Simultaneously, in Silbern, three attendants clean up the blood on the floor as Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth picks up Ebern's Medallion and brings Yhwach's attention to it. Haschwalth notes that it seems to have been used, but did not end up functioning properly, which Yhwach is perturbed by. With Yhwach determining that they will have to use a special method for Ichigo after all, Haschwalth asserts that being able to verify this is quite significant even though they expected it, and after musing that impatient fools are necessary at times, Yhwach instructs Haschwalth to have the Jagdarmee in Hueco Mundo capture a few more Arrancar, which Haschwalth affirms. Shortly afterward, several members of the Jagdarmee escort a line of chained and cloaked Arrancar through the sands while energy gathers unnoticed above them.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 368: Foundation Stones
487. BREATHE BUT BLIND[]
Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends return to Hueco Mundo as the Jagdarmee encounter powerful Arrancar.
Summary:
The cover spread of 487. BREATHE BUT BLIND.
In the Garganta, Ichigo Kurosaki runs along a golden Reishi pathway with Orihime Inoue, Yasutora Sado, Nel Tu, and Pesche Guatiche, where he questions how Kisuke Urahara showed up when he did, leading Urahara to claim that he was hiding outside of Ichigo's window the whole time to wait for the perfect opportunity, though he asserts that this was a joke and that he was simply alerted by two Arrancar dropping into Karakura Town alongside Ichigo's earlier battle and the unusual activity in Soul Society before concluding that this is all connected and no longer a joking matter. With Urahara observing that it is time to exit, the Garganta opens in the air above Hueco Mundo to release Ichigo and his friends. Despite Nel expressing shock at emerging so high in the air, Ichigo calmly states that it is usually like this with Urahara, who is delighted by Ichigo knowing him so well, and the group is prevented from falling to the desert below by Orihime catching them with Santen Kesshun.
When one member of the Jagdarmee below notes that he heard voices, another points out that the only living things from this location are with them and that they killed everyone else. As the Jagdarmee members dismiss this and move on, Ichigo hides in the wreckage of a building with his left hand over Nel's mouth, his right hand gripping the bottom of Pesche's mask, and his other friends around him, where Sado observes that the Jagdarmee did not notice them, leaving Ichigo surprised since they made so much noise. In turn, Pesche claims that the Jagdarmee are fools, and when a startled Ichigo wonders how he can talk with his mouth covered, an unimpressed Pesche clarifies that Ichigo is simply grabbing a protuberance and berates him for doing so when Pesche is not even causing a commotion. Looking out onto the nearby rocks and sands filled with bodies, Urahara infers that the Jagdarmee did not return because all of the Hollows and Arrancar here are dead, which Orihime affirms after sending out the Shun Shun Rikka to inspect the mutilated corpses.
Pesche asserts that he did not expect anything different from the Wandenreich and points out a large blue flame burning on the sands, which he explains is highly condensed Reishi used by the Wandenreich to burn away even the rocks and buildings of Hueco Mundo that are otherwise inflammable and muses was one of the many unknown powers of the Wandenreich that sent the Arrancar into disarray and left them no choice but to run away. When Ichigo brings up the Arrancar that were taken captive, Pesche theorizes that they will be used in the Wandenreich's advanced guard and have a good chance of ending up like the dead Arrancar before them, which causes Ichigo to decide that they will go rescue the taken Arrancar as well. Though Pesche points out that Dondochakka is not in this group, Ichigo counters that they will be saving him anyway and that it does not make a difference if they save other Arrancar first, which Pesche admits is true, before leaping away. With Urahara wondering if Ichigo remembers that these Arrancar were his enemies not too long ago, Sado infers that Pesche knew Ichigo would react this way and do something about the plight of the Arrancar prior to Orihime insisting that they do something as well, which Sado agrees with. Watching Orihime and Sado run off after Ichigo, a stunned Pesche declares that they will act as well, to Urahara's concurrence.
Elsewhere, the captive Arrancar are lined up against a wall by the Jagdarmee before their captain, Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie, who sits on a throne with his head resting on his hand prior to getting up once his subordinate informs him of something. Among the Arrancar, Loly Aivirrne deduces that Quilge is the one they must take down, and when Menoly Mallia questions if they should really be doing this, Loly counters that they will end up dead anyway if they do nothing. Clicking his heels together, Quilge demands the attention of the captives and announces that they will be hosting a selection competition for the Hollows and Arrancar to determine which of them will live or die today. Quilge details how he will be stabbing each of the Arrancar in the side, starting from the right end of the line, and instructs them to get down on their knees and beg like they are licking the shoes of the Jagdarmee if they desperately wish to live.
With Quilge claiming that the captive Arrancar are those who had the luck, wits, and strength to survive the earlier assault of the Jagdarmee and must not waste this opportunity, a male Arrancar steps forward and begins to ask if he will be spared should he vow to serve the Wandenreich, but Quilge immediately impales him with a spear and proclaims that this is not how it works. After clarifying that joining the Wandenreich requires an entrance exam and that this selection competition simply determines who will get that chance, Quilge pulls his spear out of the dead Arrancar and begins impaling several others one at a time to illustrate what will happen to those who fail while his subordinates discuss his lack of interest in actually bringing back any Arrancar or even in Hueco Mundo itself. Suddenly, when Quilge stabs his spear at them, Loly evades to the side and grabs the shaft of the spear, to Quilge's surprise, before Menoly cuts through the spear with her Zanpakutō and holds it to Quilge's chin.
When two of his subordinates approach him in alarm, Quilge merely notes that they took too long to react and is left puzzled by Loly and Menoly still having their Zanpakutō since those were supposed to have all been confiscated, which one of his subordinates affirms in confusion. Once Loly and Menoly introduce themselves and claim that they would never be defeated by an underling like him, Quilge manifests his Reishi Sword and cuts through the blade of Menoly's Zanpakutō, throwing two Reishi daggers into Menoly's right shoulder at the same time, before punching Loly with the hilt of his Reishi Sword when she attacks him, incapacitating her. Walking away, Quilge orders his subordinates to punish Loly and Menoly without killing them, since Yhwach ordered him to bring back any foolish Arrancar with courage and they have passed this test, and ruminates on Sōsuke Aizen not being as great as everyone considers him to be if he had such weak Arrancar as aides, though he admits that this is to be expected since even Harribel was powerless before Yhwach.
However, upon hearing the noises of pain behind him growing louder and turning around to reprimand his subordinates for overdoing it, Quilge sees Pulsera Cuerno decapitating dozens of his subordinates and hurtling toward him. With Quilge catching the Zanpakutō mid-flight without injury and wondering who they are, Emilou Apacci stands on a rocky outcropping alongside Franceska Mila Rose and Cyan Sung-Sun, where she expresses disbelief at Quilge speaking poorly of Harribel without even knowing who they are. As Apacci disparages Quilge for being clueless and demands that they tell him who they are, Sung-Sun questions who she is talking to and Mila Rose promises to kill Apacci if she gets too carried away.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 368: Foundation Stones
488. Bond Behind Blast[]
The Tres Bestias battle the Jagdarmee as the captains of the Gotei 13 prepare for war against the Wandenreich.
Summary:
The cover page of 488. Bond Behind Blast.
Aggravated by Franceska Mila Rose promising to kill her if she gets too carried away, Emilou Apacci begins butting heads with the former atop a broken wall, and as the two of them scream death threats at each other, Cyan Sung-Sun confronts Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie on the sand below and notes that she will be dealing with him alone since the apes are busy fighting each other, to Apacci and Mila Rose's further ire.
Miles away, Ichigo Kurosaki moves along the sands and muses that he can sense a conflict in the distance before Nel Tu suddenly pops up on his shoulder and identifies this as the Reiatsu of the Tres Bestias. When an alarmed Ichigo wonders how long she has been there, Nel claims that she will be watching his back, which an exasperated Ichigo accepts, and explains that the Tres Bestias are three Fracción under Tier Harribel's direct command who are strong, fearsome, and constantly trying to kill each other, which means that the Jagdarmee has no hope of winning. With a terrified Nel clutching Ichigo's eyes and wailing about the Tres Bestias, Ichigo protests that he cannot see where he is going while a perturbed Orihime Inoue warns him that the enemy might notice them if he makes all this noise.
Simultaneously, Apacci sneezes as she punches one of the Jagdarmee and wonders if Mila Rose is talking about her behind her back, prompting Mila Rose to casually cut through another soldier with her Zanpakutō and assert that she did not say anything before theorizing that Apacci's ears are rotten. With the two of them butting heads again, Sung-Sun shoves her Zanpakutō through a third soldier's head and suggests that Apacci and Mila Rose leave if they plan on squabbling so much, which leaves the remaining Jagdarmee bewildered and intimidated by their strength. However, when one of them runs to Quilge and requests that he give them a temporary withdrawal order, Quilge fires a Heilig Pfeil through his chest, drawing the attention of the Tres Bestias, and suggests that the Tres Bestias surrender rather than continue to fight. As Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun express confusion at this, Quilge elaborates that surrendering to join the Wandenreich will allow the Tres Bestias to serve Yhwach alongside their beloved Harribel, which he believes is a level of happiness that they will never be able to attain otherwise. However, after breaking a wall with her fist, Apacci rejects this and demands that Quilge stop underestimating them alongside Mila Rose and Sung-Sun. In turn, Quilge realizes that his negotiations have fallen through and expresses disappointment at this.
Meanwhile, in a captains meeting in the First Division barracks, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon finishes delivering his report on the incursion to the assembled captains and is dismissed by his captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who steps in to explain that the Ryoka identifying themselves as the Wandenreich are connected to the recent mass disappearance of Hollows in the Human World, which has caused a great imbalance of Souls and could possible mean the destruction of both the Human World and Soul Society itself. After assuming that the captains are astute enough to have already figured out that the only ones able to erase Souls from the cycle of rebirth are Quincy, which they silently look at him in response to, Mayuri admits that they do not know how the Quincy survived and expanded their forces, but asserts that they must be cautious about the Wandenreich's ability to pass undetected through the Shakonmaku and Chōjirō Sasakibe's dying words about their apparent capability to seal and neutralize Bankai.
Suddenly, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto interrupts to claim that Mayuri has shared enough information and request to know where the Wandenreich's base of operation is. With a hesitant Mayuri admitting that they have not determined this yet, Yamamoto concludes that they have no way to attack the Wandenreich yet and orders the captains to prepare for battle, as they have no reason to trust the declaration that the battle will begin in five days when the same faction dared to mount a surprise attack and must prepare for battle immediately so as to not let the Wandenreich get the upper hand again.
Back in Hueco Mundo, Ichigo sees another explosion in the distance and realizes that it was even bigger than the last one was, prompting Nel to reiterate that the Tres Bestias are strong like the devil and insist that Ichigo will not be of any help to them, which is why they should turn back. However, upon leaping up to the top of a rock formation overlooking the site of the battle, Ichigo is shocked to see Quilge standing over Apacci, Mila Rose, and Sung-Sun, who lie defeated with bloody wounds across the wreckage of the building behind him, and Quilge recognizes Ichigo as a Shinigami while musing that they are receiving a lot of guests today.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Emilou Apacci
- Franceska Mila Rose
- Cyan Sung-Sun
- Quilge Opie
- Ichigo Kurosaki
- Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
- Orihime Inoue
- Yasutora Sado
- Akon
- Sajin Komamura
- Suì-Fēng
- Retsu Unohana
- Byakuya Kuchiki
- Mayuri Kurotsuchi
- Shunsui Kyōraku
- Tōshirō Hitsugaya
- Shinji Hirako
- Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi
- Jūshirō Ukitake
- Kenpachi Zaraki
- Kensei Muguruma
- Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 368: Foundation Stones
- Episode 369: March of the StarCross
489. March of the StarCross[]
The lieutenants of the Gotei 13 discuss the strange situation in the Rukongai as Ichigo Kurosaki begins battling Quilge Opie.
Summary:
The cover pages of 489. March of the StarCross.
With 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki nervously pacing back and forth in the room that she and the other lieutenants are gathered in for the duration of the current captains meeting, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai tells her to relax since her nervousness will not make the meeting end any sooner, and when Rukia protests this, Renji questions if he is wrong, prompting Rukia to counter that he cannot expect her to relax when they are in a crisis. Suddenly, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira requests the attention of his fellow lieutenants for a matter he wanted to discuss while they are all gathered here and asserts that their invasion by a rebel army, the mass disappearances of Hollows, and the sudden disappearances of Rukongai villagers are all connected to one thing, only to reveal that the Twelfth Division's report claims that the Rukongai disappearances are unconnected to the first two incidents and attributes it to a quarrel among the villagers, which led to the investigation quickly being called off despite the disappearances continuing to this day.
Noting that he wanted to discuss this with the lieutenants because it does not make sense, Izuru asks them if any of them have investigated areas of the Rukongai past the fiftieth district, prompting 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi to confirm that 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa went to Sabitsura despite 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise wondering why this matters. In response to Izuru inquiring about what Ikkaku and Yumichika found, Yachiru admits that there were only footprints concentrated in one spot and suddenly disappearing as everyone else found, which led them to believe the villagers fought each other since there were no Hollow tracks, but Izuru clarifies that he wants to know what type of footprints they found, leading Yachiru to inform him that it was bare feet and sandals.
With Nanao startled by this, Izuru observes that this lines up with his suspicions and explains to 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi that a study of the Rukongai found that the standard of living drops drastically just outside of the fiftieth district because of an increasing number of residents who wear rags and walk barefoot, with the last 550 years of statistics indicating that not a single villager has been found wearing sandals outside of the fifty-ninth district, causing Izuru to conclude that any sandal prints found in Sabitsura should belong to Shinigami. While the other lieutenants stare at him in concern over this, Izuru muses that he thought it was strange of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute's Reishi Investigation Unit to not be accompanying this kind of investigation as they normally would and turns to 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi, whom he asks about what her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, is hiding, though Nemu simply states that Mayuri has not given her any information on this matter. When Izuru promises to report this to Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Nemu asserts that he may do as he pleases since there is no way Mayuri would do anything wrong.
Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, with Sternritter "J" Quilge Opie having effortlessly defeated Emilou Apacci, Franceska Mila Rose, and Cyan Sung-Sun, Nel Tu peers over Ichigo Kurosaki's shoulder and expresses shock at the Tres Bestias being incapacitated as Quilge comments on the unusual sight of a Shinigami with an Arrancar on his back. Suddenly, Quilge reveals that he knows all about Ichigo, who recalls Asguiaro Ebern coming for him as well and admits that it is not surprising for them to know about him, and attributes this to the Daten provided by Yhwach listing Ichigo as a Special War Power whose defeat must be prioritized before his subordinates leap up from behind him. Jumping back into the air, Ichigo notices the Jagdarmee soldiers moving through the air around him with Hirenkyaku and aiming Heilig Bogen that they fire Heilig Pfeil at him from just like Uryū Ishida does, creating a powerful explosion once they all slam into Ichigo. When Ichigo emerges unscathed from this with Nel and begins to realize what the Wandenreich are, Quilge is left incredulous at Ichigo engaging them without knowing what they are, though he surmises that Ichigo had a suspicion without any certainty to it, and confirms that they are Quincy while manifesting his Reishi Sword, creating a Heilig Bogen on the hilt, and firing his own Heilig Pfeil at an astonished Ichigo.
Simultaneously, in Silbern, Yhwach is informed of Ichigo entering Hueco Mundo and battling Quilge, prompting him to decide to move out and explain to his unnerved subordinate that they will be invading Soul Society, since Quilge keeping Ichigo occupied for some time means there is no better opportunity to begin the invasion than now even if he does not know why the latter entered Hueco Mundo, before ordering that the Sternritter be alerted to the invasion's commencement.
During this, in his damaged office in the First Division barracks in the Seireitei, Yamamoto stands before Mayuri, who confirms that he made the decision to mobilize the Twelfth Division to expunge 28,000 Souls living in the Rukongai in order to correct the balance of Souls. In turn, Yamamoto inquires about why Mayuri did not request permission since he would have received it in such a dire situation, which prompts Mayuri to assert that an escalation of the situation that could have occurred while he was waiting for permission being something he could not take responsibility for. Though Yamamoto counters that the Shinigami Research and Development Institute could have prevented this entire situation by reporting the matter and promptly dealing with it much earlier than they did, Mayuri declares that Yamamoto is wrong and reminds the latter of how he warned Yamamoto of this possibility when Uryū infiltrated the Seireitei as a Ryoka, though Yamamoto disregarded this, prior to angrily concluding that everything which has transpired falls on Yamamoto for his failure to kill Yhwach 1,000 years ago.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Rukia Kuchiki
- Renji Abarai
- Izuru Kira
- Nanao Ise
- Tetsuzaemon Iba
- Yachiru Kusajishi
- Shūhei Hisagi
- Rangiku Matsumoto
- Momo Hinamori
- Nemu Kurotsuchi
- Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck
- Ichigo Kurosaki
- Quilge Opie
- Asguiaro Ebern (flashback)
- Uryū Ishida (flashback)
- Yhwach
- Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
- Mayuri Kurotsuchi
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 369: March of the StarCross
Author's Notes[]
 |
-Tite Kubo |
References[]
- ↑ Volume 55 on Shueisha BOOKS
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 This chapter originally appeared as "Final Arc - The Thousand-Year Blood War" in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 German for "Declaration of War"
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| Goodbye to Our Xcution | THE BLOOD WARFARE | MARCH OF THE STARCROSS |