March of the StarCross

Gathered during the captains' meeting, the lieutenants trade concerns until Izuru Kira links the invasion, the Hollow disappearances, and the vanishings in the Rukongai. He notes that sandal prints found in the outer district Sabitsura could only belong to Shinigami, and presses Nemu about what her captain is concealing.

In Hueco Mundo, Quilge marvels at a Shinigami carrying an Arrancar and reveals he already knows Ichigo, listed in Yhwach's Daten as a Special War Power to be eliminated. Jagdarmee soldiers ring Ichigo and loose Heilig Pfeil that mirror Uryu's arrows. Emerging unhurt, Ichigo starts to grasp the truth, and Quilge confirms they are Quincy as he forms a Reishi bow on his sword and fires.

In Silbern, Yhwach seizes the moment: with Quilge tying Ichigo down, he orders the Sternritter alerted and the invasion of Soul Society begun.

In his ruined office, Yamamoto confronts Mayuri, who admits ordering the Twelfth Division to erase 28,000 Rukongai Souls to correct the imbalance without seeking permission. Mayuri turns the blame back on Yamamoto, declaring the entire crisis stems from his failure to kill Yhwach a thousand years earlier.

Izuru exposes that the Rukongai disappearances trace back to the Shinigami themselves. Ichigo confirms the Wandenreich are Quincy and that he is marked as a priority target. Yhwach commences the invasion of Soul Society. Mayuri reveals he culled tens of thousands of Rukongai Souls, and blames Yamamoto for sparing Yhwach centuries ago.

This chapter concludes volume 55, THE BLOOD WARFARE, in the Thousand-Year Blood War, and was adapted into Episode 369, titled March of the StarCross. Kubo's author note marks it as the beginning of Bleach's final arc. The exchange between Mayuri and Yamamoto hints at the thousand-year history between Yhwach and the Gotei 13.