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The Rise & Fall of Masaki Kurosaki is an event taking place roughly two decades prior to Ichigo Kurosaki meeting Rukia Kuchiki, revolving around 10th Division Captain Isshin Shiba going to the Human World to investigate a number of Shinigami disappearances, where he meets Masaki Kurosaki for the first time.

Prelude[]

529Isshin is exposed

Isshin Shiba is knocked down from his hiding place by Rangiku Matsumoto.

Outside the Tenth Division barracks, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto searches for her captain. Isshin Shiba, while two of her subordinates watch from a nearby walkway, with one of them expressing sympathy for her and the other noting that she has to do this every day. Upon noticing a rustling tree, Rangiku grabs a tray out of the hands of one of the Shinigami and hurls it into the tree as she proclaims that she has got Isshin, who cries out in pain and falls to the ground. Though Isshin holds the tray in front of his face and claims that she did not hit him because he caught it in time, Rangiku simply stomps the tray into his face, causing Isshin to shriek about having to take the day off because she broke his nose.[1]

529Isshin taunts

Isshin taunts Rangiku over her transparent efforts to give him more work.

Bluntly observing that this was a hit, Rangiku asserts that they will be getting back to the office now. While Isshin hands the tray back to his subordinate and apologizes for her cracking it, Rangiku refuses to be blamed because Isshin is always running around and trying to avoid work. When Rangiku asserts that he will disgrace the main family of the Shiba Clan by acting like this even if he is just from a branch of it and tells him to improve himself as she begins walking away, a bemused Isshin points out how unusual it is for Rangiku to be talking about family honor and deduces that she actually just wants him to do more work so she has more free time for herself.[2]

529Isshin observes

Isshin comments on Rangiku's glistening breasts.

As Rangiku begins sweating at this, Isshin brings up how she has slowly been increasing his workload and calls her a devil. Suddenly, with Rangiku whirling around and telling him to shut up, Isshin grabs her arm and sternly addresses her, but after a startled Rangiku straightens up, Isshin solemnly reveals that her breasts are glistening with sweat because of how she has been chasing him around and praises this, which results in an aggravated Rangiku smacking him several times despite his apologies.[3]

Ep377RangikuCriticizesPraise

Rangiku is annoyed by Isshin praising Tōshirō Hitsugaya as the future captain of their division.

Shortly afterward, at the Tenth Division barracks, 10th Division 3rd Seat Tōshirō Hitsugaya reveals he has finished all the paperwork, prompting Isshin to lift him into the air and praise him as the future captain of the division. When Rangiku protests that she should be next in line for the captaincy due to her rank, an unimpressed Isshin counters that the division would be ruined if she took that office and Hitsugaya states he should do fine in the position since he is making progress on his Bankai training. With Hitsugaya and Rangiku pulling on each other's lips in irritation, a chuckling Isshin tells them to take it easy and opens a nearby cabinet.[4]

Ep377IsshinDiscoversMissing

Isshin discovers that the manjū he set aside has gone missing as Hitsugaya draws his attention to a casualty report.

Upon discovering the manjū he left inside is missing, Isshin inquires about what happened to it. Alarmed by this, Hitsugaya quickly brings up a report about an incident in Naruki City that caught his attention, though Isshin insists they discuss his manjū first, and claims it does not matter even though it was delicious, leaving Isshin to express disbelief at him trying to brush the topic aside in addition to being the culprit and angrily call him a dirty thief while a resigned Rangiku watches. Despite this, Hitsugaya asks Isshin if he remembers the report from two months ago and details how one of the Shinigami stationed in Naruki City died, which prompts Isshin to confirm he does remember and muse on the cause of death still being under investigation.[5]

Ep377IsshinDeparts

Isshin departs to investigate the strange deaths in Naruki City, leaving Rangiku to come up with an excuse for Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Suddenly, Hitsugaya holds up the report from last month and reveals that two more Shinigami died in Naruki City during this time, leading a startled Isshin to rush outside and inform a bewildered Rangiku that he is leaving to investigate. As Isshin tells her to cover for him until he returns in two days and disappears with Shunpo, Rangiku protests this. Bringing up how they should at least inform Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto first, Rangiku tells Hitsugaya that they should go after Isshin, but Hitsugaya declines and elaborates that Isshin chose to leave alone because he believes this investigation will be dangerous, which Rangiku claims she knows, prior to concluding that they should wait here because they will only get in his way at their current level.[6]

Ep377AizenJoinsGinTosen

Sōsuke Aizen joins Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen in their hidden laboratory while continuing their experiments.

Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory, 5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen enters a room filled with gestating masses floating in capsules and asks about their progress, only for 3rd Division Captain Gin Ichimaru to deny any being made. In turn, 9th Division Captain Kaname Tōsen details how the Souls of Gotei 13 members have been unable to withstand Hollowfication induced by the Hollows they have altered just like common Souls, but Aizen asserts that they are close to narrowing down the location of Shinji Hirako and the others while conducting Hollowfication experiments in the meantime and concludes that they do not need to worry because everything is in the palm of their hand.[7]

Ep377IsshinJoinsShinigami

Isshin joins the Shinigami patrolling Naruki City and orders them to stand by for their own safety.

Some time later, at nighttime in Naruki City, two Shinigami move through the air as one comments on the sky growing cloudy and the other ruminates on the previous two Shinigami stationed here both dying on a rainy day. However, with the first Shinigami complaining that they should not talk about this, Isshin notes it is good to know rainy days are dangerous and that he got here at the right time as he appears behind the two Shinigami, who express shock at his arrival. Claiming to have gotten lost while looking for the bathroom, which the Shinigami realize is a lie, Isshin assures them they can go home if it starts raining because he prefers to pee alone. Elsewhere, White stands on a rooftop while the clouds gather above.[8]

Ep377IzumiBeratesMasaki

Izumi Ishida berates Masaki Kurosaki for not understanding her situation as the last of her clan and neglecting her schoolwork and training.

Simultaneously, at the Ishida residence, Izumi Ishida eats dinner with Masaki Kurosaki and inquires about the latter's progress at school. When Masaki cheerily claims that she goes there every day, Izumi clarifies that she is asking about the school rather than about Masaki herself, and with Masaki recalling how she recently discovered that cabbage and pickles are free in the cafeteria, Izumi wonders how her Seiren is progressing, only for Masaki to nervously assert that it is going okay. In response, an angered Izumi slams her hand down on the table and demands to know what Masaki means by this, prompting the latter to apologize. Izumi berates Masaki for not understanding the situation and reminds her that she is the last of the Kurosaki clan before claiming they only took her in because she is a fellow Quincy.[9]

Ep377MasakiTeasesRyuken

Masaki pretends to not mind Izumi's remarks and teases Ryūken Ishida about the dinner being served tonight.

Suddenly, Ryūken Ishida opens the door to the dining hall and asks Izumi to calm down since he can hear her from outside. Annoyed by this, Izumi decides to return to her room while Kanae Katagiri cleans up after them and informs a curious Ryūken that Sōken Ishida is training at Fünft Feld, though she does not know when he will return. With Izumi departing, Ryūken requests forgiveness on her behalf from Masaki and explains that she is taking her loneliness out on the latter, but Masaki claims that there is nothing to forgive since she is not mad and declares that she will retire as well, though she stops to teasingly tell Ryūken that tonight's dinner was excellent before running off.[10]

Ep377KatagiriPraisesKindness

Kanae Katagiri praises Ryūken's kindness as being enough to make Masaki happy in their arranged marriage.

Shortly afterward, Katagiri sets up Ryūken's dinner for him in the dining hall with his permission while he stands next to the window. Drawing Katagiri's attention, Ryūken brings up Masaki knowing that she was only brought into the family because Izumi wants to protect the Echt blood of the Ishida clan, and when Katagiri inquires about whether this is what Izumi told her, Ryūken counters that Masaki is smart enough to know this without being told outright and questions if she would be happy marrying him. In response, a smiling Katagiri muses that Ryūken believes happiness is crucial for a marriage between Quincy and asserts that his kindness would be enough to make Masaki happy.[11]

530Ryuken explains

Ryūken admits that he is only concerned about keeping Masaki happy so they can focus on the future of the Quincy.

However, Ryūken merely wonders what is so kind about him when he only wants Masaki happy so they can look to the future. With Masaki curled up in a ball on her bed, Ryūken concludes that he is referring to the future of the Quincy rather than their own, leaving Katagiri to look down solemnly. Meanwhile, near the south gate of Naruki City, Isshin stands on a rooftop, with the two Shinigami observing him from below and musing that the rain is coming down hard. When one of them questions what they should do and brings up Isshin telling them to leave, the other reminds him it would be crazy to go back to Soul Society since they would just be punished for it and asserts they should stay here for now since they will be safe with Isshin.[12]

530White arrives

White appears after Isshin exerts his Reiatsu.

Simultaneously, Isshin internally theorizes that the enemy is either targeting Shinigami or just reacting to high Reiatsu, leading him to decide to lure them out by exerting his own powerful Reiatsu. Upon seeing this on the ground below, the two Shinigami are awed by Isshin's Reiatsu, but one of them has his head cut horizontally in half from behind. Alarmed by the cries of pain from below, Isshin stops exerting his Reiatsu, realizes that the size of the Reiatsu is not what the enemy is attracted to, and sees two bloodstains on the ground just before White crashes into the rooftop behind him. When the dust clears, Isshin is astonished to see a black Hollow standing before him while White looks back at him.[13]

Early Stages[]

Main article: Isshin Shiba & Masaki Kurosaki vs. White

Ep377RyukenStopsMasaki

Ryūken stops Masaki when she begins running out of the house to intervene in the ongoing battle between Isshin and White.

In his hidden laboratory, Aizen sees Isshin on a surveillance feed and wonders what he is doing in the Human World, prompting Tōsen to note that there is no report of a deployment order for him as Gin observes that Isshin must be on an unauthorized trip, which could be trouble. However, Aizen assures him that it is alright because this could be a great opportunity for them and requests a way to watch the fight up-close. Back in Karakura Town, upon sensing two massive Reiatsu on the move and identifying one of them as a Hollow's, a shocked Masaki runs out of her room in the Ishida Residence and down the hall, only to be stopped by Ryūken, who muses that he does not even need to ask where she is going.[14]

Ep377CeroExplosion

White incinerates a Shinigami with a Cero as the fight enters Karakura Town.

After reminding Masaki that they are supposed to head out after the Shinigami are dead and let the Gemischt Quincy like Katagiri handle the situation, Ryūken asserts that Masaki should think of her situation and concludes that she needs to take care of herself because Echt Quincy like them should not shed their blood so easily, which Masaki begins to protest. Meanwhile, Isshin clashes with White and realizes he is fighting more like a Shinigami than a Hollow before being approached by a Shinigami from the Thirteenth Division because he has crossed over into Karakura Town, whom White promptly incinerates with a Cero.[15]

531Masaki explains

Masaki refuses to stand by because she could never forgive herself if she let someone die.

As she senses this alongside Ryūken at the Ishida residence, Masaki begins to run off, but stops and admits that while she admires Ryūken's tendency to consider factors like his mother, Quincy, and the future before he acts, taking care of herself means doing what she can as soon as she can do it. After concluding she would never be able to forgive herself if she let someone die today while she had the chance to act, Masaki runs off, leaving Ryūken to inform Katagiri through a communication device that they are heading out. Back in the air, Isshin realizes someone must be covering up White's rampages and releases his Shikai, Engetsu, to better combat him, only to suddenly be slashed across the back by a cloaked Aizen.[16]

532Isshin demands

Isshin realizes that he was attacked by a Shinigami, meaning there is a traitor in the Gotei 13.

Aizen muses on how the cloaks that he, Gin, and Tōsen are wearing completely suppress their Reiatsu and allow them to become nearly invisible by kneading a small amount of Kidō into the fabric, which he thanks Kisuke Urahara for leaving them eighty years prior. Meanwhile, Isshin falls to a rooftop below, where he realizes that he was cut by a Zanpakutō rather than a Hollow and that there is a traitor planning this within the Gotei 13, prompting him to demand that his attacker show himself. Above Isshin, Gin deduces that he realized it was not a Hollow, which Aizen affirms, and when Gin questions him wanting to leave already as he begins walking away, Aizen explains that Isshin's Bankai takes a heavy toll on his body, meaning that his current injury will prevent him from activating it, and that White is another failure prototype if he cannot defeat a captain using only their Shikai.[17]

Ep377IsshinFirePillar

Isshin creates a powerful pillar of fire around Engetsu with blood from his injury.

In turn, Tōsen requests that Aizen refer to White by his name instead of as a "prototype" because he is in another dimension compared to the other Hollows they have created due to being the first Hollow ever created from a Shinigami Soul. Acknowledging this and apologizing to Tōsen, Aizen muses on White gaining his name from the whiteness within him contrasting with his black armor and expresses appreciation for the irony. Down on the rooftop, Isshin refuses to give in and spits blood from his back onto his blade to create a horizontal pillar of energy that detonates in a large explosion upon making contact with White.[18]

Ep377MasakiKillsWhite

Masaki fires a point-blank Heilig Pfeil through White's head after letting him bite her.

With Masaki reaching the site of the battle below, White continues clashing with Isshin despite having his left arm blown off by the fire pillar, which Isshin is impressed by, before pinning down Isshin and charging a point-blank Cero aimed at his head. Suddenly, Masaki fires a Heilig Pfeil at White, who rushes down toward her while dodging her subsequent shots. While Aizen prevents Tōsen from attacking her as well, Masaki changes tactics by dispersing her Heilig Bogen and holding at her hand, and after White bites down on her left shoulder, Masaki calmly forms a smaller Heilig Bogen in her right hand and fires a powerful shot through his head.[19]

Middle Stages[]

533White prepares

The mass in White's chest swells up in preparation for detonation.

With Isshin, Aizen, Gin, and Tōsen watching in shock, White's shattered corpse begins falling away from Masaki, only for the mass in his chest to suddenly swell up behind him, prompting Isshin to rush down and pull the corpse away from Masaki just before it detonates in a massive, one-sided explosion, which Tōsen is alarmed by. In the aftermath, Masaki runs over to a prone Isshin and frantically asks him if he is okay, which he confirms. When Isshin thanks her for saving him and mocks himself for needing to be helped by a young girl despite being a captain, Masaki counters that he would not have been so badly injured if he had not protected her from the explosion, which prompts a laughing Isshin to observe that they are even now as Masaki promises to heal him. However, with Isshin wondering who she is since she was able to defeat White, Masaki internally debates what she should do since she does not know how a Shinigami will react to learning she is a Quincy.[20]

Ep377IsshinDelighted

Isshin reveals that he is delighted to meet a Quincy like Masaki for the first time.

Despite this, Masaki introduces herself as a Quincy to Isshin, and though initially stunned by this, a smiling Isshin admits that he has never seen a Quincy in person before and claims that he feels lucky to meet one like this. Surprised by Isshin's reaction, Masaki wonders if this is what all Shinigami are like and laughs as well while expressing hope that this is the case for the sake of Izumi, Ryūken, and the other Quincy. In the air above Isshin and Masaki, Ryūken stands with Katagiri while holding solid Spirit Weapons with her and asserts that they can leave since Masaki is safe without any problems, which Katagiri acknowledges.[21]

Ep377AizenInterested

Aizen expresses interest in seeing what develops from White choosing Masaki.

Some time later, in the hidden laboratory, an aggravated Tōsen slams his hand onto a console and calls White an utter failure for passing on to a Quincy instead of a Shinigami, which they created him to Hollowfy, after surpassing the Hollowfication stage and reaching the metastasize stage. However, Aizen enters the room and denies this since White strayed from his original goal due to aspects they could not predict or expect prior to detailing how he is fascinated by a Hollow created from a dead Shinigami choosing a Quincy despite that being the opposite of himself and wondering if Tōsen and Gin do not want to see what happens next.[22]

Ep378IsshinConcludesReport

Isshin concludes his report on the incident to the other captains the next day.

On June 5th, in the meeting hall of the First Division barracks, Isshin concludes his report to the other captains and Yamamoto, who affirms his understanding of the situation and notes that while an unauthorized excursion is a violation of their laws, Isshin's quick and decisive action helped minimize Shinigami casualties and prevented excessive damage to the Human World, which is why Yamamoto will overlook this violation. Initially celebrating this, Isshin regains his composure and thanks Yamamoto as 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi mockingly asserts that failing to retrieve the remains of this mysterious Hollow is a serious crime on its own.[23]

Ep378MasakiThinksSchool

Masaki thinks about her encounter with Isshin while in class at Seito High School.

When Yamamoto brings up Isshin's report only describing how unusual the Hollow was and questions if the latter truly did not leave anything noteworthy out, Isshin recalls Masaki and claims he did not. Meanwhile, at Seito High School in Karakura Town, Masaki sits in her classroom and thinks about Isshin while wondering if he made it back safely. With Masaki hoping he did not get in trouble and realizing she should have at least asked for his name, Isshin lies on a pillow on one of the walkways at the Tenth Division barracks and remembers Masaki battling White as he muses that rumors of Quincy still surviving in the Human World were true.[24]

Ep378IsshinDecidesVisit

Isshin decides to go back and visit Masaki in order to thank her properly.

After ruminating on how Masaki had a lot of courage to both save him and reveal she is a Quincy despite knowing he is a Shinigami, Isshin regrets not talking to her a bit more, sits up, and decides he should go back to the Human World in order to thank her properly this time. Some time later, Masaki walks down a road with her friends, Kanan and Shiho, after school ends for the day, where Kanan asserts every day must be very exciting for Masaki because she lives with the attractive Ryūken, though Masaki denies anything going on between them because Ryūken is her cousin, with Shiho affirming this and reminding Kanan that Masaki is not like that.[25]

533Urahara encounters

Masaki bumps into Kisuke Urahara after experiencing a strange sensation.

In turn, Masaki thanks Shiho for knowing her so well, only to express confusion at her clarifying statement. Suddenly, with Kanan insisting that she would express her affections for Ryūken even if she were related to him, an appalled Masaki experiences a sensation of crawling darkness across her left side, causing her to lose focus and begin stumbling until she bumps into Urahara. Though the latter assures Masaki that he is fine when she profusely apologizes to him and continues walking after asking her if she is okay, he stops in surprise upon sensing something strange from her. While Masaki's friends walk away with her and make sure she is okay, which Masaki promises them that she is, Urahara looks at Masaki in confusion and furrows his brow knowingly.[26]

534Rangiku throws

An angered Rangiku furiously crumples up Isshin's note to her and throws it against the wall after discovering he has left without authorization once again.

Later, at the Tenth Division barracks in Soul Society, Rangiku cheerfully calls out for Isshin and claims she has to go to the dumpling shop on an urgent mission, which is why she would like him to handle her paperwork for her. However, upon discovering Isshin has departed for the Human World and left behind a note telling her to make up an excuse to relay to Yamamoto, an enraged Rangiku tears up the note and berates Isshin for immediately returning to the Human World without authorization simply because he was lucky enough to escape punishment the first time before throwing the crumpled remains of the note against the wall as she demands to know what Isshin thinks this job is, only for Hitsugaya to point out the hypocrisy of her statement.[27]

Ep378IzumiConfrontsMasaki

Izumi confronts Masaki over her involvement in the battle last night.

Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, Masaki returns to the Ishida residence and announces her arrival, but Ryūken's friendly greeting is cut off by Izumi confronting Masaki, who frantically declares she has just returned, over her battle against a Hollow to save a Shinigami the other night, to both her and Ryūken's shock. Despite Masaki denying this, Izumi admonishes her for disgracing herself by lying, and as Ryūken runs up the stairs in search of Katagiri, Izumi demands to know why Masaki did such a thing. With Izumi berating Masaki for being so shameless as to break the rules of the Quincy while in their care, Ryūken confronts Katagiri in the laundry room.[28]

Ep378RyukenConfrontsKatagiri

Ryūken confronts Katagiri over her decision to tell Izumi about what happened despite his orders not to do so.

Ryūken demands to know why Katagiri told Izumi despite his request that they stay silent about Masaki since she had no problems, only for Katagiri to reveal there was a problem because Masaki sustained a wound from White's attack, meaning that the future of Ryūken's bloodline could become tainted if she does not receive proper treatment from Izumi and Sōken. Though Ryūken claims that this does not matter, Katagiri counters that it means everything to them and reminds Ryūken that he said his marriage to Masaki was for the future of the Quincy, prompting Ryūken to curse and run back to the bannister, where he frantically tells Izumi to wait and attempts to claim responsibility for Masaki's actions.[29]

534Masaki's Hollow hole

Masaki collapses and loses consciousness as a Hollow hole begins forming in her chest.

However, as she attempts to assure him that this is not necessary, Masaki collapses, to the shock of both Izumi and Ryūken, who leaps over the bannister and rushes to Masaki's side. Upon turning Masaki over to see if she is hurt, Ryūken is astonished to discover a Hollow hole forming in the center of her chest, and as Izumi realizes what this is, Ryūken picks up Masaki and questions where Sōken is, prompting Izumi to explain that they are trying to get in contact with him right now and order Ryūken to stay here until he returns. Despite Izumi insisting he not be around Masaki and referring to the latter as "it", Ryūken opens the front doors and leaps away with Hirenkyaku while still carrying Masaki, leaving Izumi to beg him to come back.[30]

Ep378IsshinSavesRyuken

Isshin saves Ryūken from a large Hollow that tries to attack him and Masaki.

Wondering what is happening to Masaki and why she is in so much pain, Ryūken admonishes himself for not stopping her by force on that night and for not doing everything in his power to intervene in the battle just before a massive Hollow appears behind him and prepares to bite down, only for Isshin to cut it in two from behind with a slash of his Zanpakutō. With Isshin commenting on how this was a close one since the Hollow almost got him and declining to accept any thanks from a man, Ryūken recognizes Isshin, who is left confused until he sees the hole in Masaki's chest and rushes down to investigate while sheathing his Zanpakutō.[31]

Ep378UraharaConfrontsIsshinRyuken

Urahara confronts Isshin and Ryūken with an offer to save Masaki's life.

However, Ryūken tells Isshin to not come any closer and informs Isshin that Masaki is in this condition because she protected him and broke the rules of the Quincy by saving a Shinigami, which is what caused her to get hurt. After Isshin picks up on the bite wound causing this and Ryūken clarifies that he cannot think of any other explanation while refusing to ever forgive him for this happening to Masaki, Kisuke Urahara appears next to them in the air, asserts that they have no time to argue, and requests that they both come with him so he can explain the choices they have for saving Masaki.[32]

End Stages[]

535Masaki's inner Hollow

Masaki finds herself drifting into the mouth of an inner Hollow.

Soon afterward, in her subconscious, Masaki envisions herself drifting into a peaceful black hole. Though her surroundings are dark and lonely, Masaki muses that she does not feel afraid because she can sense someone down there who needs her and opens her eyes, but finds herself floating into the gaping mouth of a massive Hollow head. Simultaneously, with rain pouring down outside the Urahara Shop, Urahara has Masaki lain on a table inside and informs Isshin and Ryūken that he has been researching the same symptom Masaki is exhibiting for close to one hundred years, to Ryūken's astonishment. When a tentative Isshin questions who he is, Urahara bluntly introduces himself by name and as an exile from Soul Society, leaving Isshin stunned by his identity.[33]

Ep378UraharaRevealsInability

Urahara reveals that Masaki can never return to her previous and normal state.

Despite this, Ryūken asserts he does not care who Urahara is and demands the latter restore Masaki to normal, only for Urahara to point out that he never said anything about returning Masaki to normal because she can never go back to the way she used to be, leaving Isshin and Ryūken horrified. Having Masaki brought to a table, Urahara reveals she is undergoing Hollowfication, the process of a Hollow's Soul being poured into another Soul and destroying the boundary between the two in an attempt to sublimate the latter Soul to a higher level, with it initially being meant to strength a Shinigami's Soul but ultimately proved incapable of controlling.[34]

Ep378UraharaExplainsMethod

Urahara reveals that he has developed a method of stabilizing Hollowfying Souls.

With Urahara concluding that this is the result of using such an uncontrollable technology on a Quincy, which is outside its original purpose, Ryūken assumes that this means there is no way to save Masaki, but Urahara clarifies that he can still save Masaki's life even if he cannot restore her to her former self and elaborates that the advancement of Hollowfication turns the subject into a monster with no sense of reason after the original Soul and the Hollow become mixed, ultimately causing the boundary between itself and the outside world to be destroyed and obliterate the subject with it regardless of its will, which he calls Soul Suicide.[35]

Ep378UraharaDetailsForce

Urahara explains that a stronger counteracting force will be needed to save Masaki, prevent her Hollowfication, and allow her to continue living as a Human.

However, Urahara reveals that his research has led him to discover a way to counteract Hollowfication by injecting the victim's Soul with a certain substance, allowing it to maintain its balance so that its boundaries are not destroyed and preventing Soul Suicide because it only occurs when the Soul becomes unbalanced. When Isshin expresses confusion at this, Urahara gives an example of a Hollowfied Shinigami being injected with a vaccine created from a Quincy's Heilig Pfeil and a Human Soul, allowing them to remain stably in their current state indefinitely, but notes that such a vaccine is not enough here because it can only prevent Soul Suicide while saving Masaki's life, preventing Hollowfication, and allowing her to continue existing as a Human will require a stronger counteracting force.[36]

Ep378SpecialGigai

Urahara reveals a special Gigai that would allow Isshin to become a Shinigami-Human hybrid and completely counteract Masaki's Soul.

With Urahara elaborating that this stronger force must remain at Masaki's side for all time until she dies in order to continually suppress her Hollowfication, an aghast Ryūken protests this, leading Urahara to observe that he is sharp to catch on this quickly and tell Ryūken that he has no choice in this matter because the one with a choice is Isshin, to the latter's confusion. Pulling a sheet off a box containing an inert Gigai, Urahara explains that it is a special one made from a Human Soul that completely envelops the Soul that enters it to make the latter fully Human and tells Isshin that his choice is to become a hybrid of Shinigami and Human, Masaki's opposite, as Shinigami are the opposite of Quincy and Humans are the opposite of Hollows, meaning that Isshin can be the counteracting force to Masaki if he wishes to.[37]

535Urahara tells

Urahara warns Isshin of the multiple downsides that will come with binding his Soul to Masaki's.

However, Urahara admits that this scenario has far too many downsides for Isshin because he will have to bind the latter's Soul to Masaki's and the Hollow within her with a Reishi string for as long as she and her descendants live, which means that Isshin will be unable to use his Shinigami powers or even see Hollows within the Gigai. Once Urahara concludes Isshin will likely never return to his Shinigami form again once he enters the Gigai, Ryūken mentally notes there is no way Isshin will accept this offer when it has only downsides for him, and Urahara explains that Isshin will be unable to leave the Gigai so long as the string remains tied.[38]

535Isshin decides

Isshin abruptly agrees to Urahara's method.

Despite this, with Urahara beginning to detail the one event that would cause Masaki and the Hollow to be freed from the string, Isshin bluntly agrees to the proposal, to Urahara and Ryūken's shock. After chastising Urahara for talking too much and telling him to hurry up, Isshin confirms he will give up being a Shinigami and protect Masaki for the rest of her life, and when Urahara wonders if he has no lingering doubts, Isshin denies this, only to detail how he will not be able to live with himself if the person who saved him dies because he had doubts. With Ryūken astonished by this and recalling Masaki's similar statement, a smiling Urahara acknowledges Isshin's resolve and announces that he will begin the procedure immediately.[39]

536Isshin confronts

Isshin enters Masaki's subconscious and saves her from her inner Hollow by tying her Soul to his own.

Within Masaki's subconscious, as she frantically shields herself from the encroaching Hollow head with her arms, Isshin appears between them and grabs Masaki under his arm while announcing that he has come to rescue her.[40] Promising that the Hollow inside Masaki's Soul will not be able to touch her now that he is here, Isshin notices the Hollow looking at him and assumes that it is confused about this because it does not have any fingers, which he admits to only just realizing as well, before firing a diagonal Getsuga Tenshō that cuts through the Hollow, leaving it to shatter. As she watches this in awe, Masaki recognizes Isshin as the Shinigami she met the other day and declares that she has been wanting to see him again prior to asking him if his wounds are okay and requesting to learn his name as a perturbed Isshin yells at her for being so excited while naked.[41]

Ep378UraharaConfirmsSuccess

Urahara confirms their success.

Back in the real world, Masaki stops sweating and takes a deep breath, causing a startled Isshin to look at Urahara as the latter holds up his hands forming peace signs and confirms that she will be alright now that he has successfully bonded their Souls, to Isshin's relief. Suddenly, a giggling Masaki blushes and reminisces about Isshin getting made at her, which prompts an annoyed Isshin to grind his knuckle into her forehead and reprimand her for not learning her lesson from what just happened while Urahara watches in amusement.[42]

Ep378KatagiriConfrontsRyuken

Katagiri confronts Ryūken and refuses to abandon him despite his depression over being unable to help Masaki.

Elsewhere, Ryūken walks through the rain and finds Katagiri standing before him with an umbrella, where he initially walks past her prior to Katagiri inquiring about whether Ryūken left Masaki behind with the Shinigami. Affirming this, Ryūken tells Katagiri to return to the Ishida estate and inform his mother that he is unable to protect the Quincy, but Katagiri pointedly refuses to leave him here and reminds Ryūken that it is her duty to devote her entire life to serving him, with her life having belonged to Ryūken from the moment they first met, before tearfully asking him not to be sad because it tears her heart apart when he is. In response, Ryūken decides that they will go home together, to Katagiri's delight.[43]

Aftermath[]

Ep378IsshinCreatesClinic

Isshin sets up the Kurosaki Clinic with Urahara's assistance to make use of the medical skills he learned at the Shin'ō Academy.

After Masaki graduates from high school, she leaves the Ishida family due to her Soul being mixed with a Hollow, which Isshin infers was Ryūken's decision as his way of letting go of Masaki and calls the correct decision. Meanwhile, Isshin makes use of the medical skills he learned at the Shin'ō Academy and opens the Kurosaki Clinic, managing to learn what he needed to know to live in the Human World with Urahara's help while Masaki frequently came by from college to make fun of his white coat. Though Isshin tells Masaki that he lost his Shinigami powers after being banished from Soul Society over a mistake he made, he realizes that she probably saw through this lie immediately because he was terrible at lying and her intuition was sharp.[44]

Ep378MasakiSun

Isshin compares Masaki to the sun for how she attracted, forgave, illuminated, and spun everything around herself.

Despite this, Isshin believes that lies like that meant little to them, as did whether or not they were even lies, and any lie felt meaningless with Masaki because she would always see through his lies and forgive him for telling them. When the two of them see a movie that Isshin calls sad and boring which features an old man comparing his elderly wife that he spent many years with to the sun, Isshin sees Masaki crying and admits that this line stuck with him even though he does not remember anything else about the movie because Masaki was like the sun, attracting everything, forgiving everything, illuminating everything, and spinning everything around herself, with Isshin himself just happy to be spun by her.[45]

537Auswahlen

Yhwach initiates the Auswählen, stripping Masaki and Katagiri of their powers to restore his own.

On June 17th, 1994, after Isshin and Masaki have their three children, Yhwach initiates Auswählen to strip all Gemischt and otherwise impure Quincy of their powers to restore his own, which leads to Masaki losing her powers just as she was about to protect Ichigo Kurosaki from Grand Fisher and allows the latter to kill her when he otherwise would not have been able to harm her at all due to her Blut, with Isshin having not intervened because he believed Masaki would not have any trouble winning. Additionally, Katagiri fell into a coma on the same day and died three months later.[46] Seven years later, Ichigo's own inner Hollow manifests and seizes control of his body for the first time, causing the string around Isshin's Soul to break and restoring access to his Shinigami powers.[47]

References[]

  1. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 6-7
  2. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 7-9
  3. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 9-10
  4. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 11-12
  5. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 12-13
  6. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 13-15
  7. Bleach manga; Chapter 529, pages 16-17
  8. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 1-3
  9. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 5-7
  10. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 7-10
  11. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 10-12
  12. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 12-14
  13. Bleach manga; Chapter 530, pages 14-17
  14. Bleach manga; Chapter 531, pages 5 & 7-8
  15. Bleach manga; Chapter 531, pages 8-12
  16. Bleach manga; Chapter 531, pages 12-17
  17. Bleach manga; Chapter 532, pages 1-4
  18. Bleach manga; Chapter 532, pages 4-10
  19. Bleach manga; Chapter 532, pages 10-17
  20. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 1-5
  21. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 6-8
  22. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 9-10
  23. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 11-12
  24. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 12-15
  25. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 15-16
  26. Bleach manga; Chapter 533, pages 16-17
  27. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 2-3
  28. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 4-6
  29. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 6-9
  30. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 9-12
  31. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 13-16
  32. Bleach manga; Chapter 534, pages 16-18
  33. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 1-4
  34. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 4-6
  35. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 6-7
  36. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 7-9
  37. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 9-12
  38. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 12-13
  39. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 13-16
  40. Bleach manga; Chapter 535, pages 16-17
  41. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, pages 1-3
  42. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, pages 3-5
  43. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, pages 6-10
  44. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, pages 11-12
  45. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, pages 12-13
  46. Bleach manga; Chapter 537, pages 3-9
  47. Bleach manga; Chapter 536, page 15

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