White Tower Rocks

News of Aizen's killing reaches Jushiro Ukitake at his quarters, where a courier admits that neither culprit nor motive is known, leaving the captain determined to uncover the truth. On the bridge to Rukia's prison, Ganju Shiba and Hanataro Yamada find themselves cornered by Byakuya Kuchiki, whom Ganju names as the head of one of the four great noble houses and the most renowned of all the captains. Seeing no escape, Hanataro offers to hold the captain off so Ganju can flee with Rukia, but Ganju refuses to abandon a friend, headbutts a wall to steel himself, and plants himself in Byakuya's path.

Deep beneath Sokyoku Hill, Ichigo wakes in a healing field to find Yoruichi tending him, and learns that his human companions all survived their own fights. She reveals that a cracked Hollow mask in his pocket spared him from being cleaved in two, then keeps it for safekeeping. When Ichigo marvels that her small frame carried him to safety, Yoruichi shows him why, shedding her cat shape for that of a tall woman and delighting in his flustered demand that she put on clothes. The reunion breaks the instant Byakuya's spiritual pressure reaches them; recognizing the man who once stripped his powers and seized Rukia, Ichigo grabs his sword and launches himself toward Senzaikyu on the borrowed flying artifact, ignoring Yoruichi's warning.

Back at the bridge, Ganju charges with smoke bombs but is opened from shoulder to elbow in a single stroke. Only when he names his family does Byakuya take him seriously, releasing Senbonzakura and shredding him with a swarm of blade petals until he drops unconscious. As the captain turns on the terrified Hanataro, Ukitake appears and catches his wrist, reminding him that drawing a Zanpakuto here is forbidden; Byakuya counters that a wartime exemption is in force. Their argument halts as a captain-class energy rushes in, and Ichigo bursts up from beneath the bridge to land before Rukia. He announces he has come to save her, and when she cannot bring herself to smile and scolds him for ignoring her plea to stay away, he simply calls himself an idiot and tells her she can yell all she likes once he has beaten her brother.

Ukitake vows to investigate Aizen's murder. Ganju resolves to protect Hanataro and confronts Byakuya, who cripples him with Senbonzakura. Yoruichi revives Ichigo, hides the Hollow mask, and reveals her true human form. Ichigo flies to Senzaikyu on the Ryukotsujo. Ukitake intervenes to halt Byakuya, and Ichigo arrives to reunite with Rukia and declare his intent to defeat her brother.

The lead chapter of the fourteenth volume, which is named after it and bears Hanataro Yamada on its cover, this installment was adapted into the anime episodes The Shinigami whom Ganju Met and Reunion, Ichigo and Rukia. It introduces Yoruichi Shihoin's human form and Byakuya's released Senbonzakura, driving the Soul Society arc toward the rescue's climax.