New Surge

Finding Anteiku shuttered, Hide sets off on his bike to track down Kaneki. Inside the ruined torture building, Kaneki dons his mask and heads for the exit while the Owl recognizes Shinohara as the investigator who once severed his arms a decade earlier. Shinohara and Kuroiwa decide to face the Owl themselves and send the rest to finish Aogiri, keeping only Take Hirako, though Amon refuses to leave. The two activate the Arata proto, a kakuja quinque, and engage. Even after Hirako and Amon land a blow, the Owl's wounds seal instantly. As defeat looms, Shinohara triggers a strength-boosting function on the armor that begins devouring its wearers, and the Arata starts consuming Shinohara himself. The Owl delivers a speech condemning those who rationalize killing, then, when falling debris threatens the fallen investigators, destroys the rubble to save them before withdrawing. Marude, told that only about half his people survived, hurls away his earpiece and curses the Owl.

Nearby, Tsukiyama's kagune fails to wound Noro, and Uta's surprise strike through his stomach draws no reaction. Yomo severs Noro's upper body, but he simply reattaches himself, displaying regeneration beyond a normal ghoul before wandering off. The three press on and free Banjou, Jiro, Ichimi, and Sante from their cell.

Touka confronts Ayato, who insists ghouls and humans can never live together. He overpowers her, mocks her weak kagune, and bites it off, only to be enraged when she cries out for their father, Arata. Kaneki intervenes to save Touka, hands her to Nishiki, and battles Ayato, revealing he understands the real reason Ayato joined Aogiri before Noro drags Ayato away. Watching from a distance, Eto notes how much stronger Kaneki has grown.

As the base crumbles and investigators flee, Kaneki carries Touka out with Nishiki, then abruptly departs. Amid the wreckage he sees the slain investigators and Eto smiling at him. Returning to Touka, he tells her he will not go back to Anteiku and intends to join Aogiri instead. She tries to follow but collapses from exhaustion, and Kaneki is welcomed into Aogiri Tree by its executives.

Shinohara and Kuroiwa are gravely wounded fighting the One-Eyed Owl, and roughly half the CCG force is lost. Noro reveals regeneration far beyond an ordinary ghoul, and Tsukiyama's team frees Banjou's group. Ayato defeats Touka before Kaneki rescues her, and Kaneki ultimately chooses to leave Anteiku and join Aogiri Tree.

The episode adapts chapters 67, 69, 70, and 72 through 76, along with chapters 78 and 79. Its ending diverges from the source: here Kaneki joins Aogiri Tree to grow stronger, whereas in the manga he left Anteiku to form his own group with Banjou, Tsukiyama, and Hinami.