Episode 395 of the Bleach anime, the twenty-ninth of Thousand-Year Blood War, follows Jūshirō Ukitake as he invokes Kamikake to become the Soul King's replacement, weaving his lifelong bond with the deity Mimihagi and his friendship with Shunsui through the desperate effort to keep the Three Worlds from collapsing.
Summary
Inside Urahara's laboratory, Jūshirō Ukitake declares he will take the dead Soul King's place. Casting off his haori, he bares an eye-shaped shadow across his back and chants to Mimihagi, asking the deity to release the power stored within his organs. The moment recalls his origin: as a dying three-year-old, his parents prayed at Mimihagi's shrine, and the moved deity drew him to the Primordial Sea, where drinking its tears stilled his illness and let him grow into a Shinigami.
A sweeping recollection traces Ukitake's path through the Shin'ō Academy, his first spar and lasting friendship with Shunsui Kyōraku, and the day he brought Shunsui to Mimihagi's shrine. There Shunsui recognized the deity as a severed right hand and wrist of the Soul King, the aspect governing stagnation. Later memories cover Ukitake refusing to replace the fallen Kaien Shiba as lieutenant and the trio of Shunsui, Ukitake, and Unohana grieving Yamamoto after Yhwach's first invasion.
Key Events
Completing Kamikake, Ukitake spreads Mimihagi's stilling power from his lungs to all his organs, transforming himself into the Soul King's right arm as a tattoo blooms across his torso. A grieving Rukia protests, and Ukitake reminds her of his teaching about the two kinds of battles one can fight. In the Greater Soul King Palace above, Ichigo keeps striking at Yhwach while Yoruichi, Sado, and Ganju cover Orihime's failed attempt to restore the King with Sōten Kisshun. Darkness erupts from Ukitake and the shadowy Mimihagi reaches skyward, encasing the two halves of the Soul King and halting the tremors, its future hidden even from Yhwach's Almighty.
Deep in Muken, Shunsui unlocks part of Sōsuke Aizen's restraints with three permitted keys, revealing the key to Muken has been embedded in his own heart. He invites Aizen to leave with him, and after an attendant is vaporized by Aizen's condensed Reiatsu, Aizen concedes only that their interests may align.
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Notes
The episode adapts material from Chapter 615 through Chapter 618 of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, greatly expanding Ukitake's history through added flashbacks of Mimihagi, Oyone, the Shin'ō Academy, and his farewells with Unohana. Suì-Fēng bluntly warns that the restored stability will hold only as long as Ukitake lives, a limit even Urahara cannot measure, since he has never before encountered Kamikake.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dark arm in Bleach?
In the episode The Dark Arm, the title refers to Jūshirō Ukitake invoking Kamikake to become the dead Soul King's replacement right arm. He channels the deity Mimihagi, whose stilling power spreads through his organs and erupts as darkness that reaches skyward to encase the Soul King.
Why is Jushiro Ukitake sick in Bleach?
The Dark Arm reveals that as a dying three-year-old, Ukitake's parents prayed at Mimihagi's shrine. The moved deity drew him to the Primordial Sea, where drinking its tears stilled his illness and let him grow into a Shinigami, tying his life to Mimihagi ever after.
What is Kamikake in Bleach?
In The Dark Arm, Kamikake is the ritual Ukitake completes to spread Mimihagi's stilling power from his lungs to all his organs, transforming himself into the Soul King's right arm. It halts the tremors threatening the Three Worlds, though Suì-Fēng warns the stability holds only as long as Ukitake lives.
What is Mimihagi in Bleach?
In The Dark Arm, Mimihagi is revealed to be a severed right hand and wrist of the Soul King, the aspect governing stagnation. Shunsui recognizes it as such when Ukitake brings him to the deity's shrine, and its future is hidden even from Yhwach's Almighty.
What happens with Aizen in The Dark Arm?
In The Dark Arm, Shunsui descends into Muken and unlocks part of Sōsuke Aizen's restraints with three permitted keys, revealing the key to Muken has been embedded in his own heart. He invites Aizen to leave with him, and Aizen concedes only that their interests may align.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Bleach anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byTite Kubo
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and the production committee.
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- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Tite Kubo.
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