Farewell Swords

The Central 46 condemns Aizen to eighteen thousand eight hundred years in Muken, the deepest pit of the underground prison, and when he mocks their judgment despite his bound eyes and mouth, they lengthen the term to twenty thousand years. In the First Division, Yamamoto rebukes Kenpachi, Byakuya, and Shunsui for shrugging off the loss of their captain's haori, insisting the garment carries far more weight than they claim.

Ukitake remarks that ten days after the battle the Captain-Commander has recovered his strength even without an arm, and that no one could ever take his place. At the Twelfth Division, Rangiku slips away before Akon can explain that Mayuri is absent, while Hitsugaya drills his Bankai alone in a cave, frustrated that he still cannot protect Hinamori.

Watching from the shadows, Rangiku reflects that Gin never left her anything to remember him by, and understands he did so deliberately so she could move on, a trait she says she loved. A month after collapsing, Ichigo wakes in the Kurosaki Clinic and calmly accepts that his fading powers spell the end of his time as a Substitute Shinigami. Outside, spirits grow faint to him and Rukia herself begins to vanish from his sight as they part. The installment ran in Weekly Shonen Jump as Farewell Swords before being retitled Bleach My Soul for the collected volume. Episodes 310 and 342 adapt the chapter.