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THE LAST 9DAYS is the sixty-first volume of the Bleach manga series.

Publisher's Summary[]

After finally learning the truth about his mother and his own connection to the Quincy, Ichigo now faces off against his true Zanpakutō. Meanwhile, the Wandenreich prepares its final plans as Uryū’s role becomes clearer. The world’s last nine days now begin...

Bleach All Stars[]

All-Stars
京楽 春水
Shunsui Kyōraku
Ep233ZangetsuCharaPic 黒崎 一護
Ichigo Kurosaki
Ep375ShunsuiCharaPic 斬月
Zangetsu (Quincy Powers)
Ep366IchigoCharaPic

Ch537Pg16UryuCharaPic ユーハバッハ
Yhwach
Ch547Pg13JugramCharaPic
石田 雨竜
Uryū Ishida
Ch508Pg5YhwachCharaPic ユーグラム・ハッシュヴァルト
Jugram Haschwalth



Chapters[]

541. THE BLADE AND ME 2[]

Ichigo Kurosaki confronts Zangetsu over Ōetsu Nimaiya's claim that he is tied to Yhwach and not Ichigo's true Zanpakutō Spirit.

Summary:

541Cover

The cover page of 541. THE BLADE AND ME 2.

Internally, Ichigo Kurosaki recalls his first confrontation with Yhwach and ruminates that he tried not to think about why he felt drawn to that location, why he went straight to Yhwach without knowing anything about the situation, why he immediately believed Yhwach was the most important enemy, and why Yhwach's face almost reminded him of someone.

Standing before Zangetsu in his inner world and aghast at this revelation, Ichigo calls out to Zangetsu as it begins raining and asks him if this is true, prompting Zangetsu to state that it is just as he has heard and that he is not named Zangetsu. With the building they are standing on cracking and splitting in two, submerging them in deep water, Ichigo questions if he is really Yhwach and not Zangetsu, and when Zangetsu confirms that he is the source of Ichigo's Quincy powers and both is and is not Yhwach, a furious Ichigo demands to know if everything he has said up until now is a lie and if he is an enemy or an ally, only for Zangetsu to assert that he is not an enemy or an ally after a pause.

Zangetsu clarifies that there were no lies in his words other than the name he told Ichigo and reminds the latter that he always had help from the inner Hollow whenever he taught Ichigo about his Zanpakutō prior to pointing out how the one to save Ichigo whenever he was in mortal danger was always the Hollow rather than himself. When Zangetsu explains that he did not want Ichigo to become a Shinigami and so suppressed his burgeoning Zanpakutō Spirit to become the center of his abilities instead, Ichigo wonders why, prompting Zangetsu to state that he wanted to keep Ichigo far from danger and conflict because it would be inevitable as a Shinigami. After musing that this would lead to Ichigo suffering and eventually force him to kill Ichigo himself, Zangetsu generates a large, flaming Reishi broadsword in his right hand and reiterates his belief that he would have to kill Ichigo if he became a Shinigami, but recounts Ichigo choosing the path of the Shinigami, gaining strength from it, and persevering on it despite being hurt, which caused Zangetsu's heart to waver as he observed it and eventually made him lean to support Ichigo's decision rather than keep him away from the Shinigami.

With his body beginning to disintegrate, Zangetsu observes that he now feels the joy of stepping away from Ichigo. While Zangetsu concludes he is satisfied from watching Ichigo grow strong right by his side because there can be no greater joy than that, Ichigo rushes toward him and frantically begs Zangetsu to wait, only for Zangetsu to shed a single tear and disappear completely, leaving behind only the sword. Once Ichigo reaches the sword, Zangetsu informs him that he has been using a mere fragment of his power that could not be suppressed and that he can now fight with his full power by using his true Zanpakutō and the real Zangetsu, causing the sword to explode into light around Ichigo.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


542. THE BLADE IS ME[]

Ichigo Kurosaki comes to terms with his two Zanpakutō Spirits and gains his true Zanpakutō.

Summary:

542Cover

The cover pages of 542. THE BLADE IS ME.

Internally, Ichigo Kurosaki admits that there were no lies in the words of either Zangetsu. Recalling how Zangetsu used a Quincy's Shadow to help him, Blut to stop his bleeding, and power to help him win when he was weak, Ichigo leaps between the crumbling buildings in his inner world and asserts that both his Quincy powers and his inner Hollow are Zangetsu to him, which he hopes they can agree to.

Back in the real world, in Ōetsu Nimaiya's forge in the Soul King Palace, Ichigo grabs the blade of the Asauchi while it is still in the furnace, and despite Hasuka Hashihara's protests, Nimaiya affirms that he was just thinking this would be completed by Ichigo pouring his Soul into the blade. At Nimaiya's urging, Ichigo pulls the blade out of the furnace in an explosion that evaporates all the water in the bay.

With the bodyguards astonished by this, Nimaiya puts his glasses back on and asks Ichigo if he can handle those Zangetsus as Ichigo stands with two distinct blades in his hands, one long with a hollow section in the middle and the other short with a complete blade. While the bodyguards look on in awe at him wielding two blades and Nimaiya confirms that they are both real, Ichigo promises Zangetsu that he will not ask him for power anymore, Zangetsu that he will not push him away anymore, and both of them that they will not have to fight alongside him because he will fight on his own before declaring that they are him.

Meanwhile, in the cathedral of Silbern, the Sternritter and Soldat gather before a stage and salute with their Quincy Crosses as Yhwach walks onstage.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


543. Letters[]

Yhwach introduces Uryū Ishida as his successor, to the shock and confusion of the Sternritter.

Summary:

543Cover

The cover page of 543. Letters.

Onstage in the cathedral of Silbern, Yhwach informs the Wandenreich that he has an announcement to make and bids Uryū Ishida to come onto the stage. With the Soldat wondering why he is here, Yhwach reveals that Uryū, the Last Quincy and survivor, is his successor. The entirety of the Wandenreich is shocked by this, with Sternritter "H" Bazz-B stomping his foot and demanding that Yhwach wait before Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth holds an arm out to stop him. In turn, Yhwach asserts that there is no need for objection or concern because the Wandenreich will learn of Uryū's power in the battles to come prior to departing with him.

Moments later, in a hallway, Bazz-B throws a bottle to the ground hard enough to shatter it and declares that he does not understand this at all before inviting those around him to explain what is happening, but Sternritter "S" Mask De Masculine counters that none of them know either and Sternritter "K" BG9 muses that only Yhwach himself could explain this. Further frustrated by this, Bazz-B refuses to accept the situation, pushes away the attendant offering drinks to them, and leaps between the pillars on one side of the hallway to fall to the floor below, where he responds to Mask questioning where he is going by claiming that he intends to enter Yhwach's throne room and talk to him, though Mask is bewildered at Bazz-B believing Yhwach will tolerate this.

Suddenly, Bazz-B finds Haschwalth standing in his path, and when the latter wonders where Bazz-B is going, Bazz-B asserts that Haschwalth should be going somewhere to and brings up how he assumed the latter would be Yhwach's successor, something that nearly all of the Sternritter would have accepted without complaint, only for Haschwalth to respond to Bazz-B inquiring about his lack of protest by stating that Yhwach's word is everything, which leaves him no room to complain. Calling him cowardly for this and expressing disappointment in him, Bazz-B demands that Haschwalth give up his position to him. As Bazz-B reasons that Haschwalth must have no problem with Bazz-B taking his position if he is willing to let Uryū be Yhwach's successor, Haschwalth places a hand on his sword and orders Bazz-B to calm down, though a grinning Bazz-B insists that he is far calmer than Haschwalth.

However, before either of them can move, a Gift Ball forms between him and Bazz-B, shocking them both while Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar sarcastically praises Bazz-B's calm in not immediately charging in to attack. When Bazz-B questions what he is doing, Askin asserts that he was saving them because fighting is not good and they are being watched, prompting Sternritter "L" PePe Waccabrada to chuckle from an alcove above them. Walking over and dispersing the Gift Ball, Askin tells Haschwalth and Bazz-B to let this go because they cannot gain anything from fighting like this and asserts that it could be poisonous for someone like Haschwalth, whom he addresses as their next emperor.

Simultaneously, in his throne room, Yhwach sits before a kneeling Uryū, who drinks his blood from a cup emblazoned with the Wandenreich emblem, and reveals that this has completed the ritual before promising that Uryū's power will awaken soon and that he will have the Schrift of "A", just like Yhwach himself.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


544. Walking With Watchers[]

The Sternritter react to Uryū Ishida's appointment as Yhwach's successor while Kisuke Urahara makes arrangements for Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado in Hueco Mundo.

Summary:

544Cover

The cover page of 544. Walking With Watchers.

In Yhwach's throne room in Silbern, Uryū Ishida inquires about why he has been appointed as Yhwach's successor. Surprised by Uryū questioning this, Yhwach responds to Uryū pointing out how the manner in which Yhwach did this will only create friction among the Sternritter by admitting that he is relieved Uryū is not a fool who accepts things blindly, but asserts that it should be obvious if Uryū thinks about it for a moment. With Uryū remaining silent, Yhwach assumes he still cannot figure it out and asks Uryū why he is still alive, to Uryū's shock, before elaborating that every Gemischt Quincy perished under the Auswählen he conducted nine years ago except for Uryū, making him the only one to ever survive the consecration and leading Yhwach to call him the last survivor. Concluding that Uryū has some kind of power that exceeds his own and has been named his successor for this reason, Yhwach tells him to accept this because there is no need for doubt and invites Uryū to come with him, which Uryū accepts.

Shortly afterward, an exasperated Sternritter "E" Bambietta Basterbine invites Marcel Halpmann, a Soldat, to her room since she needs relief. Shortly after agreeing to do so, a flustered and shirtless Marcel is cut in half by Bambietta. With Bambietta zipping up her top, Sternritter "T" Candice Catnipp chastises her for making such a mess as she, Sternritter "P" Meninas McAllon, Sternritter "G" Liltotto Lamperd, and Sternritter "Z" Giselle Gewelle enter the room. Though Bambietta brushes this off since they make messes too, Liltotto counters that cookie crumbs and blood splatters are not the same thing, Meninas asserts that Bambietta could at least do it outside, Candice insists that this does not matter and that Bambietta needs to do something about her urge to kill attractive men every time she is angry, and Giselle assumes that Candice wants to be fraternizing with the men instead. With Candice confronting Giselle over this and accusing the latter of trying to pick a fight with her, the two of them are interrupted by Bambietta blowing a square-shaped hole through the wall nearby that punches through two walls behind it as well, and when a worried Candice responds to her telling them to keep it down because she has a lot on her mind by asking about what is bothering her, Bambietta stats that she is worried about the future of the Wandenreich.

Simultaneously, in the tower behind Silbern, Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth returns to his quarters, where his female attendant welcomes him back. Though Haschwalth instructs her to rest since it is late, the attendant brings up Yhwach's announcement and suggests that Haschwalth should provide his counsel on the matter to Yhwach. When Haschwalth inquires about her lack of approval for Uryū's appointment, the attendant questions if Haschwalth does approve, leading Haschwalth to inform her that this was Yhwach's wish and point out how naming his successor in this manner was guaranteed to breed unrest among the Sternritter, which means that Yhwach fully intended to cause this reaction because it will create great scrutiny that will be focused on Uryū. After elaborating that this will prevent Uryū from making the slightest move against Yhwach regardless of who he is, what power he possesses, or plans to do, Haschwalth concludes that Uryū's only path now is to dedicate himself to Yhwach's will, even if he has realized Yhwach's true intentions.

Meanwhile, in Hueco Mundo, a cloaked Orihime Inoue reaches the Negal Ruins and laments how long it took her to do so even if traveling is supposed to be part of their training. As she takes out and begins eating a potato-like food, Orihime recalls Yasutora Sado refusing to do the same since he found it disgusting and wonders if he made it here before turning to Pero, a small black winged creature flying next to her, and assumes he is tired, only for Pero to deny this. Remembering how Kisuke Urahara sent Pero with her so he could keep an eye on Orihime through a camera installed in Pero and catch up to her if anything happened, Orihime muses that Urahara did not come when she was being chased by a large Hollow despite saying this. Suddenly, Sado approaches Orihime from the stairs behind her and asserts that she took her time, and though Orihime is relieved to see him, she is left shocked upon seeing two figures behind Sado, who declares that everyone is here.

Simultaneously, Urahara expresses relief at Orihime reaching the Negal Ruins safely and looks at Quilge Opie's Medallion, which crackles with black electricity within a device, while noting that his research will take some more time.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


545. Blue Stripes[]

Ichigo Kurosaki remains missed by his friends and family as 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai continue training with Ichibē Hyōsube and the Visored remaining in Karakura Town are tasked with cleanup by 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako.

Summary:

545Cover

The cover page of 545. Blue Stripes.

In the Kurosaki Clinic in Karakura Town, Yuzu Kurosaki prepares lunch for her family and yells to Isshin Kurosaki and Karin Kurosaki that it is time to eat, prompting Isshin to promise that he will be right there once he gets rid of his current patient, who is aghast at being referred to this way, and Karin asserts that she will join them once she defeats the boss she is currently battling in a video game. After reminding Karin that she should not play any more today after this, which Karin grudgingly affirms, Yuzu looks up and wishes that Ichigo Kurosaki was back from training camp.

Simultaneously, in Ichibē Hyōsube's temple in the Soul King Palace, 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai stand across from each other with sweat beading on their faces and wooden swords pointed at each other until a large set of bells next to them rings, causing them to gasp in relief and drop their stances. Collapsing to the ground, Renji complains about how tough this is, and when Rukia wonders what is difficult about standing still, Renji counters that he is not suited to doing that or pointing a weapon at his friend. After Rukia frantically asserts that it does not suit her either, Renji takes this as evidence that she is exhausted too and points out how they are not used to the air in the temple either, with Rukia affirming that the Reishi density of the atmosphere here is unbelievable and admitting that while it does not feel completely overwhelming anymore, it still feels as though they are underwater, which leads her to question what this could be doing to their bodies.

Suddenly, Rukia receives a call on her Denreishinki and is excited by what she is told, prompting her to inform Renji that this was Tenjirō Kirinji, which leads Renji to wonder when they exchanged numbers, and that his captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, has recovered. At his hot springs, Kirinji notes that Byakuya has spent more time under his care than anyone else and asks him if the heat has gone to his head, only for Byakuya to muse that his lack of power prevents anything from going to his head and resolve to become strong enough to change that, to Kirinji's amusement. Back in the temple, Renji is excited to learn of Byakuya's recovery, only to realize that this means Byakuya will consume Kirio Hikifune's food, hone his sword with Ōetsu Nimaiya, and then go to Senjumaru Shutara's palace, which he is still traumatized from having his measurements taken in. Though Rukia is similarly regretful of her time stripped naked in there and warns him to not think about it, Renji begins remembering his encounter with Senjumaru.

In the past, Renji reacts with confusion to Senjumaru, who insists that he heard what she said and reiterates that he needs to remove his fundoshi as well. When Renji questions why she cannot take measurements for a shihakushō with his fundoshi on, a contemplative Senjumaru decides that she will just take the measurements after removing Renji's testicles, prompting Renji to frantically begin removing his fundoshi instead.

In the present, a sweating and panting Renji snaps back to reality, where Rukia expresses relief at him not reaching the part where he took it off and expresses remorse at Byakuya having to go through the same ordeal, which she considers far graver than Renji's situation, to his chagrin. Throwing open the nearby doors, a laughing Ichibē comments on how chatty Rukia and Renji have become since they first got here, when they were too weak to even stand under the pressure of the area and were reduced to cowering on the floor, before inviting them to train with him in the back room, which they readily accept.

Simultaneously, in the Fifth Division barracks, Captain Shinji Hirako yells into a Denreishinki that he is begging with his head down rather than giving an order, only for Hiyori Sarugaki to assert that she can tell his head is not bowed even over the phone as she stands in the Visored warehouse in Karakura Town. With Shinji claiming Hiyori is the only one who can do this, making her the chosen one, and hanging up, Hachigen Ushōda walks up to Hiyori with a package addressed to her from both Shinji and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, leading her to decide that the Visored will be fixing the distortions in the Human World after marveling at the speedy delivery and realizing that Soul Society actually does have a package delivery service. Though Lisa Yadōmaru and Love Aikawa are not enthused about being forced to join this, Hiyori insists that they must help her.

Elsewhere, in Karakura Town, Tatsuki Arisawa walks down a set of stairs with Mizuiro Kojima and Keigo Asano, the latter of whom asks her about Ichigo's whereabouts. With Tatsuki questioning how she would know this, Keigo admits that he is out of options now and explains that Karin and Yuzu told him Ichigo was training with the soccer team even though the tournament ended last month. As Tatsuki grimaces at this, Mizuiro muses that Orihime, Sado, and Uryū Ishida are not around either, which means this must have something to do with Soul Society, prior to assuring Keigo and Tatsuki that they will be back some day. However, they are interrupted when Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku approaches them from behind, which prompts Tatsuki to remind a startled Keigo that Shunsui obviously has something to do with Ichigo. When Mizuiro identifies him as the captain of the Eighth Division from a conversation he overheard after the battle against Sōsuke Aizen, Shunsui admits he is flattered to be remembered even though he would be more so if Mizuiro was a girl and responds to Mizuiro noting a captain would only come out here for a serious matter by revealing he has come to discuss them saying goodbye to Ichigo.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


546. THE LAST 9DAYS[]

Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku informs Ichigo Kurosaki's friends that he may not be able to return to the Human World while the Wandenreich's second invasion of the Seireitei begins.

Summary:

546Cover

The cover page of 546. THE LAST 9DAYS.

Unnerved by Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku's assertion that he and his friends may have to say goodbye to Ichigo Kurosaki, Keigo Asano assumes he is joking and compliments his flowery kimono, but Shunsui apologetically states that he did not come here to joke around, leading a stunned Keigo to express disbelief at Shunsui making this statement so casually like it has nothing to do with him and accuse Shunsui of getting Ichigo mixed up in something again, which Shunsui readily confirms alongside Ichigo currently being in Soul Society to help the Gotei 13. In turn, Mizuiro Kojima assures Shunsui that this is fine because it is who Ichigo is and is the reason they are friends with him, and when he questions why this would mean saying goodbye to Ichigo, Shunsui details how Ichigo is currently in a special location within Soul Society. Though he is sure Ichigo will come back safely, Shunsui clarifies that he is worried about what kind of power he will return with and responds to Mizuiro wondering why this is a problem by revealing that Ichigo's power could become immense enough to adversely affect the Human World, in which case he would not be allowed to return there.

Aghast at this, Keigo grabs Shunsui by the collar and lambasts him for threatening to lock up Ichigo in Soul Society after bringing him there to help them under the pretense of it being better for the Human World, only for Shunsui to merely affirm that this is how it will be if it comes to pass. Before an angered Keigo can attack Shunsui further, Mizuiro points out that the scenario Shunsui is describing is only hypothetical right now and inquires about how likely it is, which leads Shunsui to admit that it is a 1 in 10,000 chance or less and that they are only considering it as one of many possible outcomes. Though Tatsuki is confused about him coming all this way just to tell them about something so unlikely, Shunsui counters that it would not be fair to Ichigo to keep his friends uninformed of something like that prior to holding up and handing out three Soul Tickets, which he explains will let them enter Soul Society to see Ichigo should this occur, with some having already been sent to his family as well. Seeing Tatsuki's concerned expression, Shunsui assures her that this will not be happening today or tomorrow and is instead a far-off occurrence before promising to tell Ichigo to come back and spend some time here before the battle begins once he returns.

Simultaneously, in Hueco Mundo, Orihime Inoue sits against a pillar in the Negal Ruins and drinks from a flask of water as Sado asks her if she is tired enough to want to conclude their training for the day. However, Orihime notes that she was just thinking about how peaceful it is and responds to Sado reminding her that they are training for a battle by explaining that it just feels nice for Humans like them to spend time in Hueco Mundo training with the Arrancar and helping the Shinigami, which makes her wish that they could continue working together and respecting each other's worlds so the battle would never start.

Suddenly, in the Seireitei, the Schatten Bereich engulfs the buildings, encircling wall, and Shakonmaku, replacing the entire city with the Wandenreich's city while Yhwach, Uryū Ishida, and Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth stand atop Silbern. In the SRDI, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon and Hiyosu struggle to understand what is happening due to their measuring equipment delivering impossible readings. As Akon realizes that the Seireitei is gone, Yhwach asks Uryū if he knows the Kaiser Gesang, which Uryū recites as the confined Quincy king regaining his heartbeat in 900 years, his mind after 90 years, and his strength after 9 years. However, Yhwach reveals that there is a fourth verse stating that the king will regain the world in 9 days and invites Uryū and Haschwalth to join him in the last nine days.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


547. Peace from Shadows[]

The Sternritter launch their second assault on the Gotei 13, who have prepared to engage them.

Summary:

547Cover

The cover spread of 547. Peace from Shadows.

In Ichibē Hyōsube's temple in the Soul King Palace, a shirtless Ichigo Kurosaki grabs the two blades of his Shikai, Zangetsu, from the pedestal he had set them down on.

Meanwhile, in the Seireitei below, the Schatten Bereich engulfs the buildings within the Shakonmaku to replace them with those of the Wandenreich city. Standing in his former office while the other captains, lieutenants, and their subordinates express shock and bewilderment at this, Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku looks out over the frozen city with his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, and admits that he was not expecting them to lose their territorial advantage when he set traps across the Seireitei in anticipation of another unannounced invasion. Watching this from miles away in the Sakahone district of the Rukongai, 13th Division 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu call out to their captain, Jūshirō Ukitake, in panic as he sits shirtless within a strange temple.

Simultaneously, in the former Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Hiyosu frantically fiddles with one of the control terminals and informs the other technicians that nothing is showing up on the screen, and when he refuses to believe that the Seireitei is gone despite this, 12th Division 3rd Seat Akon inquires if Hiyosu is refusing to believe the instruments they developed themselves and asserts that he should know the numbers he is seeing are everything. Though Hiyosu tries to point to the instruments still being here as proof to the contrary, the surrounding equipment is suddenly removed by the Schatten Bereich as well, leaving a frightened Hiyosu to demand to know what is going on.

Atop Silbern, Yhwach declares that the Shinigami could never comprehend this and explains how the Quincy had to flee from the Human World to Soul Society a thousand years ago after they lost the war and were left with nowhere else to go, where they were able to use Reishi to form a hidden city in the shadows of the Seireitei where the Gotei 13 did not expect them to hide and call it the Wandenreich. Back in the former SRDI, Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar calls the invasion successful and point out that, unlike the Human World, Soul Society is brimming with Reishi. With Askin revealing this let the Quincy build up their strength for a thousand years within the shadows, Jugram Haschwalth approaches Shunsui and Nanao to inform them that the Wandenreich simply appeared within the Shakonmaku once more rather than breaking through it, just as they did last time they invaded.

Though Nanao is shocked by this, Shunsui thanks Haschwalth and welcomes him to the Captain-Commander's office, musing that Yhwach has capable subordinates given how quickly Haschwalth arrived. Once Haschwalth introduces himself as the Sternritter Grandmaster, Shunsui introduces himself as the Captain-Commander and apologizes for only being recently appointed, something he assumes Haschwalth does not know. After a pause, Shunsui questions if Haschwalth came here because he indeed knew that, leading Haschwalth to confirm this, and when Shunsui calls him impatient for not wanting to enjoy the battle he has waited a thousand years for, Haschwalth asserts Yhwach loves peace and believes shorter battles are better, which is why he ordered the Wandenreich to annihilate the enemy instantly.

Meanwhile, in the former SRDI, Askin responds to the technicians demanding to know how he got here by reminding them that he has always been here and wondering if their department is intelligent in name only. Suddenly, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi confirms this. With a doorway appearing in the air behind Askin, Mayuri's face emerges from the light within as he notes that the Quincy operating from within the shadows meant that there were two worlds existing in the same space without ever interacting, which he finds to be absurd. Stepping out of the doorway with both himself and his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, clad in garments emitting bright light, Mayuri clarifies that he does not mind absurdity and responds to his subordinates' shock over his attire by explaining that the data he collected from the last invasion let him deduce that the Wandenreich were somehow making use of shadows. Declaring that he simply modified his laboratory to not emit any shadows as a result, Mayuri invites Askin to find out whether his department is intelligent in name only before he leaves, to Askin's irritation.

Simultaneously, in front of the former Tenth Division barracks, dozens of Shinigami rush toward Sternritter "H" Bazz-B and are ordered to not let him through before Bazz-B engulfs them in flame and calls them idiots for saying this when the invasion is already complete, which means the Shinigami are way past the point of preventing their enemy from getting in. However, Bazz-B is startled when his flames clear to reveal the Shinigami unharmed behind a wall of ice. Approaching Bazz-B with his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya admits that it is too late to stop the Wandenreich from getting through before pointing out that Bazz-B's flames did not get through.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


548. The Thin Ice[]

2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda is confronted by BG9 as 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya battles Sternritter "H" Bazz-B.

Summary:

548Cover

The cover pages of 548. The Thin Ice.

At the former location of his family mansion, 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda looks up at the Wandenreich city around him while internally questioning what happened and where the mansion went. With nearby Shinigami attempting to rally at the former location of their barracks, a scared Marechiyo laments this happening while his captain, Suì-Fēng, and wonders what he is supposed to do. Suddenly, a tearful and trembling Mareyo Ōmaeda pulls on his shihakushō and begs him to not leave because she is scared, even promising that he does not have to play with her anymore. In turn, Marechiyo kneels, insists he has to go, and assures Mareyo he is not doing so to scare her, but rather to protect her, the rest of his family, their neighbors, and all of Soul Society as a member of the Gotei 13. Suddenly, with Marechiyo telling Mareyo to not cry and promising to come back safely, Sternritter "K" BG9 slams into the ground near them, leading Marechiyo to recognize him as the one who stole Suì-Fēng's Bankai.

Meanwhile, bemused by the arrival of 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya, Bazz-B recognizes him as the ice captain who got his Bankai stolen by Sternritter "I" Cang Du, which prompts Hitsugaya to introduce himself. As he reciprocates this, Bazz-B declares that the two of them are a good match, which Hitsugaya agrees with, before their fire and ice clash in an explosion that engulfs several buildings, sending a shockwave rippling over the city and smashing through the ice protecting the Shinigami, who are ordered by Rangiku to fall back and protect other areas, which they acknowledge as one of them picks up a shard of the ice wall that was protecting them and realizes how thin it is, leaving him to wonder if Hitsugaya will be alright.

Continuing to blast the ice produced by Hitsugaya with his flames, Bazz-B points out how flimsy it is and suggests that Hitsugaya keep throwing it around so he can melt it and raise the humidity. Internally, Hitsugaya muses that he only needs to keep this up for a bit longer before Rangiku informs him that their subordinates have fallen back and offers to help him. When Hitsugaya thanks her since he still has trouble controlling it by himself, a startled Rangiku smiles at him and explains that she believes him losing his Bankai produced something nice when Hitsugaya notices this. With Hitsugaya aggravated by her calling him cute for relying on her like this, Rangiku releases her Shikai, Haineko, and spreads the ash out across the air in front of her while telling Hitsugaya to prepare for "Operation Mille-feuille", though Hitsugaya protests that he did not name it this as his ice spreads over the ash.

On the ground, Bazz-B assumes that this is just an ordinary ice wall and launches more fire at it just as Rangiku uses House, leaving the ice completely intact once the flames clear. When a confused Bazz-B demands to know what this is, Hitsugaya reveals that it is a multi-layered wall of vacuum-ice and details how Rangiku separates the ash of Haineko into multiple thin layers for him to cover in thin ice using his Shikai, Hyōrinmaru, before retracting it to leave a vacuum layer behind the ice that prevents the heat from piercing it. Seeing Bazz-B's bewilderment, Hitsugaya notes that Hyōrinmaru has the least difference in powers between its Shikai and Bankai of all the captain-level Zanpakutō and reveals that his Shikai simply lets him produce much less ice than his Bankai does, which is why he trained to fight with less ice, before musing that it was enough to stop flames of Bazz-B's level. Though an angered Bazz-B blasts them with a powerful fireball, Hitsugaya remains unharmed behind the ice, and after separating the ice walls in two to level his Zanpakutō at Bazz-B, whom he reminds that his flame cannot penetrate this vacuum-ice, Hitsugaya attacks him with Shinkū no Kōri no Yaiba, slamming a large hollow blade of ice into Bazz-B's right shoulder.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


549. The StormBringer[]

2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng saves her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, and his sister, Mareyo Ōmaeda, from Sternritter "K" BG9.

Summary:

549Cover

The cover page of 549. The StormBringer.

With Sternritter "H" Bazz-B pinned against a nearby pillar by Shinkū no Kōri no Yaiba, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto celebrate the idea that they can defeat the Wandenreich without Bankai as their smiling captain and lieutenant walk through the crowd. praises Hitsugaya for proving that they can battle the Quincy without their Bankai, which Hitsugaya smiles at.

Simultaneously, 2nd Division Lieutenant Marechiyo Ōmaeda is slammed against a wall by Sternritter "K" BG9, who levels a tendril at him and demands to know where his captain is, noting that it is the third time he is asking and that he is hoping for an answer this time since he could not locate 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng's Reiatsu anywhere inside or beyond the Seireitei using samples from their last battle. In response to BG9 interpreting him claiming to not know as a refusal to answer, Marechiyo calls BG9 an idiot for not understanding that he does not know where his captain is, particularly since he was not told where she would be going and would let it slip out even if he were ordered not to tell anyone because of his personality, and proclaims that there is no reason to hide her because she would not lose to someone like him anyway.

However, BG9 simply decides to ask him in another way and fires his tendril into a nearby building, which crumbles as he raises the tendril into the air. Though a coughing Marechiyo questions what this is supposed to do, he is stunned to see Mareyo Ōmaeda impaled on the end of the tendril while she weakly calls out to him. Having deduced that Mareyo is a member of Marechiyo's family from their Reiatsu similarities despite their differing appearances, BG9 informs Marechiyo that he has detected three other individuals with similarly matching Reiatsu within a 30-meter radius and promises that all of them will die the next time Marechiyo refuses to answer him. In response, a furious Marechiyo slams his Shikai, Gegetsuburi, into the side of BG9's helmet and demands that he let Mareyo go, only for an unfazed BG9 to state that he has two questions, ask if he can interpret this as a refusal to answer, and embed three tendrils into Marechiyo's left shoulder as he warns the latter that letting Mareyo go now will cause her to lose a large volume of bodily fluids and die, which he wonders if Marechiyo is fine with. After deflecting Marechiyo's following attack with Gegetsuburi by pushing it aside with three more tendrils, one of which he stabs into Marechiyo's right shoulder, BG9 assumes that Marechiyo has lost his speech from shock and offers him a 15-second reprieve in order to provide an answer, but Marechiyo merely proclaims that BG9 is dead and will be made to pay for this.

While he observes that the fifteen seconds are up, BG9 reveals his Reishi Minigun and opens fire on a cursing Marechiyo, only to find the barrel broken off seconds later as Suì-Fēng holds the broken part in one hand, drops the bullets he fired from the other, and muses that BG9 is much more advanced than she expected since Quincy are supposed to use bows and arrows. BG9 notes there was no reading on his sensors to indicate her presence, and when Suì-Fēng questions if he did not think the Onmitsukidō could conceal their Reiatsu, BG9 lists off her titles and notices the wind-like Kidō swirling behind her shoulders. With Suì-Fēng revealing that this is Shunkō and pointing out how BG9 should know this from the amount of data he has on her, BG9 describes it as the highest form of Hakuda that has practitioners bear Kidō on their backs and shoulders, but asserts that Suì-Fēng's should be unperfected. However, Suì-Fēng questions if he believed she would let it stay unperfected and reveals that she perfected it after her battle with Yoruichi Shihōin, with her training until today having been focused on improving it even further.

Suì-Fēng fully unleashes the wind-like Kidō around her body and explains that her Shunkō is wind-like, allowing her to wrap her body in a vortex of Reiatsu that she can maintain indefinitely. After thanking BG9 since she may not have been able to improve her Shunkō this much without losing her Bankai, Suì-Fēng moves down next to BG9, identifies this as Mukyū Shunkō, and unleashes a powerful blast from her fist that sends BG9 hurtling back.

Meanwhile, the Shinigami around Hitsugaya and Rangiku recognize Suì-Fēng's Reiatsu and declare that she won too, leading Rangiku to muse that things are looking up and suggest that she and Hitsugaya go help the other captains. Suddenly, before a hesitant Hitsugaya can reply, Bazz-B gets their attention and criticizes the idea of being left here while they are still learning about each other because he has not even begun to fight as he melts the ice encasing him with a single hand. Simultaneously, a shocked Suì-Fēng stops walking away from the dust cloud left by her attack as BG9's eye glows from within.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


550. Blazing Bullets[]

Sternritter "H" Bazz-B and "K" BG9 thoroughly overpower their Shinigami opponents.

Summary:

550Cover

The cover pages of 550. Blazing Bullets.

In the former Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar examines 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi between his fingers and gives up on fighting him. Askin bluntly states to a confused Mayuri that he will take too much time to defeat, and when Mayuri wonders what this means, Askin clarifies that killing Mayuri would require trying too many scenarios, something which he is bad at since he prefers getting fights over with as quickly as possible, and tells the latter to fight someone else. However, when he tries to leave and finds himself unhindered, a surprised Askin turns back to Mayuri and questions if the latter is not going to come out of here, prompting Mayuri to confirm this and tell Askin that he can go wherever he wants since he needs more time to analyze Askin's Reiatsu. Additionally, Mayuri surmises Askin is trying to goad Mayuri into entering his territory, leading Askin to call him scary and express relief at not giving away his abilities. Suddenly, the whole building shakes and Mayuri recognizes 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng's Reiatsu as one of his technicians announces that she is overwhelming the enemy without her Bankai, which prompts Askin to muse this is just as Yhwach predicted and confirm to a shocked Mayuri that the battles still falling under predictions means the Gotei 13 is still in danger.

Simultaneously, with Sternritter "H" Bazz-B having melted the ice encasing him with a single hand and emerging unharmed from the resulting cascade of water, the observing Shinigami express disbelief at Shinkū no Kōri no Yaiba not ripping him to pieces, only for Bazz-B to point out that his cape was indeed shredded and lament the ruining of his best uniform before removing it with a wide grin.

During this, upon seeing a tendril hurtling toward her from the dust cloud left in the wake of her attack, Suì-Fēng grabs it and swings around to slam Sternritter "K" BG9 through multiple buildings. With Suì-Fēng expressing disbelief that he is still breathing, BG9 emerges without his cloak and states that he was never breathing to begin with, leading Suì-Fēng to muse that Mayuri would be intrigued by a mechanical doll like him, prior to dozens of missile pods emerging from his body. As Suì-Fēng expresses alarm at this, BG9 thanks her for providing him with useful data on her Mukyū Shunkō, but expresses disappointment at this being the extent of her power since it means he will have no need of the Bankai he stole from her before firing off all the missiles to engulf the surrounding area in explosions. While her lieutenant, Marechiyo Ōmaeda, calls out to her in concern, Suì-Fēng leaps out of one of the clouds of smoke with light burns. Though she proclaims that it will take more than this, Suì-Fēng is caught off-guard when BG9 impales her wrist with one of his tendrils, catches up to her in midair, and reminds her that he has received useful data on Mukyū Shunkō prior to engulfing her in a massive explosion.

Meanwhile, Bazz-B brings up Hitsugaya's earlier statement of being able to shield his flames and recounts how all of the Sternritter struck by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's blast of flame from his Shikai, Ryūjin Jakka, are still alive, including himself. After asking Hitsugaya why he thinks they are alive even though Yamamoto did not miss and hit all three of them directly, Bazz-B reveals that he offset Yamamoto's flames with his own, shocking Hitsugaya, and places his hand against the remainder of Shinkū no Kōri no Yaiba to instantly melt it in a large gush of water. With Bazz-B expressing disappointment at Hitsugaya not having his Bankai right now since he would have loved to prove that he could melt the ice of Hitsugaya's Bankai with just one finger, Hitsugaya slashes a wave of ice at him, but Bazz-B casually melts the ice with a wall of flames in front of himself and asserts that it will not reach him.

Hitsugaya orders his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, to regroup while he holds off Bazz-B with Ryōjin Hyōheki, and while Hitsugaya forms a wall of finely-woven ice in front of himself as Rangiku departs, Bazz-B admits that he has a lot of tricks up his sleeves, but declares that all he needs is a finger for anything Hitsugaya uses and fires Burner Finger 1 from his index finger at the wall, piercing through it and Hitsugaya's chest with a concentrated beam of fire.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


Author's Notes[]

Volume 61 Intro Image
My previous editor is getting married. I'm as happy as if it were happening to me!

-Tite Kubo

References[]

Navigation[]

EVERYTHING BUT THE RAIN THE LAST 9DAYS HEART OF WOLF

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