A PERFECT END.

A decade has passed since Yhwach fell, and Soul Society stands nearly rebuilt. Shunsui rests beside the grave of his closest friend, reflecting on how quickly the years slipped by and how the Shinigami restored their home on their own, before Nanao ushers him toward the First Division barracks. In his laboratory, Mayuri finishes a new research wing and readies its underground expansion alongside his freshly made assistant, Nemuri Hachigo, whose loudness he finds unnecessary.

Kenpachi barks at his fawning subordinates and, prodded by the newly promoted Ikkaku, insists the ceremony is at the Thirteenth Division rather than the First, joking that his sense of direction has improved now that Yachiru is gone. Momo moves to correct the wandering Eleventh Division, but Shinji waves her off. At the training grounds, Iba, now captain of the Seventh, leaps down a hillside and runs into Hitsugaya and his lieutenant Matsumoto, drawing a remark that a certain someone could stand to learn from Iba's drive. That someone proves to be Shuhei of the Ninth, who boasts of mastering his Bankai only to be teased that no one has ever seen it, which Hitsugaya calls a welcome sign that peace has held.

Kenpachi finally reaches the First Division and is scolded by Sui-Feng for his tardiness as the new captain Isane smooths things over. Shunsui opens the ceremony elevating a nervous Rukia to command of the Thirteenth Division. Away at the research institute, Akon spots peculiar readings on his instruments, matching the signature Yhwach's spiritual pressure gave off ten years earlier.

Ten years after Yhwach's defeat, a largely rebuilt Soul Society prepares a captaincy ceremony. New appointments have reshaped the Gotei 13, with Iba leading the Seventh, Isane the First, and Ikkaku serving as lieutenant. Shunsui installs Rukia Kuchiki as captain of the Thirteenth Division. Akon detects readings identical to Yhwach's spiritual pressure, hinting the threat is not fully gone.

This is the 685th chapter of Bleach, collected as the eleventh chapter of the final volume, THE DEATH AND THE STRAWBERRY. The Japanese title, rendered here as A PERFECT END., reads as Muketsu no Hate and appears in the Viz release as The End of Flawlessness. The chapter opens the series' time-skip epilogue that concludes in the following chapter.