Fifteen-year-old Ichigo Kurosaki has the uncanny ability to see ghosts, but otherwise lives an ordinary life. However, once a Shinigami named Rukia Kuchiki appears before him, everything changes.
When Yasutora Sado receives a parakeet that contains the Soul of a young boy, it is up to Ichigo Kurosaki and Rukia Kuchiki to protect him from the Hollow that is after them.
At Rukia Kuchiki's behest, Ichigo Kurosaki puts an artificial soul in his body to take care of it and not arouse suspicion while he carries out his Substitute Shinigami duties, but the artificial soul has its own agenda.
While grudgingly attending Don Kanonji's show with the rest of his family, Ichigo Kurosaki is forced to fight a Hollow inadvertently created by Don Kanonji himself.
Two Shinigami, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, arrive in the Human World to take Rukia Kuchiki back to the Soul Society.
As the Gotei 13 reacts to 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai's defeat, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto declares war against the Ryoka.
As the high-ranking members of the Gotei 13 continue to react to 5th Division Captain Sōsuke Aizen's murder, Ichigo Kurosaki continues his battle with 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.
After learning to access the power of Zangetsu in addition to his own, Ichigo Kurosaki concludes his battle with 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.
While 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi reminisces about her history with her captain, Kenpachi Zaraki, Ganju Shiba and 4th Division 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada reach Rukia Kuchiki's cell in Senzaikyū.
As Ichigo Kurosaki continues his Bankai Training, 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori confronts 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya over the contents of the letter left by her captain, Sōsuke Aizen.
Uryū Ishida gets to know Yoshino Sōma while 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and his lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, discover that a former member of their division is in Karakura Town.
12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi informs the Gotei 13 of his missing data on the Bount while Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends break into the Bount Mansion to save Uryū Ishida.
Uryū Ishida tries to understand more about Yoshino Sōma as Ichigo Kurosaki spars with 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Ganju Shiba in order to regain his fighting spirit.
At Kisuke Urahara's request, Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba prepare anti-Bount traps around the Kurosaki Clinic, but are angered when Ichigo Kurosaki brushes them off as pointless and unhelpful.
The Bitto' attack Karakura Town, allowing the Bount to grow stronger, while 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya briefs his strike force on their mission in Soul Society.
6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai fights off the Bitto, who are quickly recalled, while Ichigo Kurosaki battles Gō Koga's Doll, Dalk, in her new form.
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto orchestrates a Menos Grande attack on Soul Society to help him decide on Captain Shūsuke Amagai's proposal to have joint training between the Divisions.
Ichigo Kurosaki is able to save Rurichiyo Kasumiōji, but more problems arise when it is revealed that Captain Shūsuke Amagai was working with Gyōkaku Kumoi.
Following a lengthy recap of the events since Sōsuke Aizen betrayed Soul Society, Ichigo Kurosaki concludes his duel with Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez before being confronted by Nnoitra Gilga.
Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck returns to her child form, leaving Ichigo Kurosaki in the hands of Tesra Lindocruz. Szayelaporro Granz is seemingly impervious to attack, Zommari Rureaux is about to finish off Rukia Kuchiki, whilst the Exequias plan to execute Yasutora Sado.
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto effortlessly finishes Ayon and Harribel's Fracción. Starrk reveals himself to be the Primera Espada. Rukia Kuchiki fights Rudbornn as Ichigo Kurosaki struggles against Ulquiorra Cifer.
Ichigo Kurosaki and Yasutora Sado become classmates with Mizuiro Kojima and Keigo Asano. Rukia Kuchiki is assigned to Karakura Town and Renji Abarai is promoted.
9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi fights his Zanpakutō spirit while Hollow Ichigo fights Muramasa and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai regains the ability to release his Shikai, Zabimaru.
3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira aids 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, who is fighting Kazeshini, while 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Ichigo Kurosaki conclude their battles.
10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto and 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori battle their Zanpakutō Spirits, and 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya tells Hyōrinmaru what his name is while Muramasa limps through the Forest of Menos.
As 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori and 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto conclude their battle, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya tries to convince Hyōrinmaru he is his master, but the Zanpakutō Spirit does not believe it.
Muramasa has 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki perform a test of loyalty. Afterwards, Byakuya invades the 6th Division barracks and is forced to fight his lieutenant, Renji Abarai.
As Ichigo Kurosaki, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, and 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira begin their battles, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame fights and defeats his Zanpakutō Spirit, Hōzukimaru.
As the Shinigami battle the Zanpakutō Spirits, 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira defeats Kazeshini, only to be attacked by Wabisuke. Meanwhile, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki arrives at the battlefield.
As 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and 6th Division Byakuya Kuchiki fight, 11th Division Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi chases Ashisogi Jizō before 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi forces his Zanpakutō Spirit to self-destruct and tells others to not interfere. Muramasa takes Byakuya to see Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who is inside of a barrier guarded by a dark-haired woman, two white-haired boys, and a cloaked figure.
A group of Shinigami attempt to rescue Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, but they are held back by several Zanpakutō Spirits. Meanwhile, Ichigo Kurosaki arrives at the barrier surrounding Yamamoto and prepares to destroy it.
As Yoruichi Shihōin, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, 11th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki continue to fight against the Zanpakutō Spirits, Ichigo Kurosaki frees Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, only to learn this was all part of Muramasa's plan.
6th Division Captain Ginrei Kuchiki and Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto are forced to seal Kōga Kuchiki away. In the present, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki stops Kōga from killing Muramasa.
As Senbonzakura reveals the truth about 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's betrayal, Byakuya fights against Kōga Kuchiki. Meanwhile, Muramasa loses controls and unleashes hundreds of Gillians.
6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki defeats Kōga Kuchiki as Muramasa loses control and transforms into a Hollow version of himself. As Ichigo Kurosaki battles Muramasa, several Shinigami and their Zanpakutō Spirits arrive to help.
Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia take Orihime Inoue up to where Ichigo Kurosaki is fighting. Yammy Llargo shows up and, after disposing of Loly, is ambushed by Uryū Ishida.
As Captains Byakuya Kuchiki and Kenpachi Zaraki prepare to battle with each other, Yammy Llargo's anger makes him even stronger than before. Meanwhile, Kaname Tōsen reveals he has Hollowfication to Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi and Captain Sajin Komamura.
Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto joins the battle against Sōsuke Aizen, only for his Zanpakutō's abilities to be sealed by Wonderweiss Margela.
While visiting the World of the Living, Kuchiki Rukia comes across Kurumadani Zennosuke, the current Soul Reaper stationed in Karakura Town, being attacked by a mysterious masked man.
As the captains and lieutenants fight against the Reigai, Ichigo Kurosaki uses his restored powers to fight the fused form of Kagerōza Inaba and Nozomi Kujō.
Tsuskishima pretends to impale Orihime's chest and leaves her. Although Orihime suffered no cuts, she starts having a vague idea that Tsukishima was her friend. Unwilling to worry Ichigo about what happened, she only tells Chad about Tsukishima. Aware that Orihime is hiding information from, Ichigo goes back to to Xcution headquarters to continue his training to help his friends.
Uryū leaves the hospital to investigate a Reiatsu that is appearing everywhere. Ichigo's friends and family, as well as the members of Xcution except for Ginjō, have been cut by Tsukishima.