List of Bleach chapters
The chapters of the Bleach manga are written and illustrated by Tite Kubo. In Japan, they are published in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since 2001.[1] The plot follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who accidentally steals the powers of the Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki and subsequently assumes her duties while she convalesces. Since then, Ichigo has to fight hollows, evil spirits that attack people. He also encounters former Soul Reaper Sōsuke Aizen who created an army of powerful hollow called arrancar to destroy the Soul Reapers' organization, Soul Society.
Since its premiere, over three hundred chapters have been released in Japan. Most chapter names are in English and have katakana above them to indicate how they are read in Japanese, similar to furigana ruby characters used with advanced kanji characters. In addition to the main series chapters, some chapters are published with a negative chapter number. These "negative" chapters are side stories and consist of prequel events to the start of the series.[1][2] An anime adaptation, produced by Studio Pierrot and TV Tokyo and airing on TV Tokyo, premiered on October 5, 2004.[3] North American licensor Viz Media has been serializing the individual chapters in Shonen Jump since November 2007 in the United States.[4]
The individual chapters are collected by Shueisha in a series of tankōbon volumes, which also include a poem based on the cover character. The first volume was released on January 5, 2002.[5] The latest volume is the thirty-sixth, released on December 4, 2008.[6] Viz Media released the first volume on June 1, 2004, as of December 2008 twenty-five volumes have been released.[7][8] The company released a hardcover "collector's edition" of the first volume with a dust jacket on August 5, 2008, followed by a box set on September 2, 2008, containing the first 21 volumes, a poster, and a booklet about the series.[9][10]
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| 1 | January 5, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873213-8[5] | June 1, 2004 | ISBN 1-59116-441-9[7] |
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| Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who can see ghosts, meets a Soul Reaper named Rukia Kuchiki, who is in charge of protecting spirits. When a hollow, an evil spirit that eats people's souls, begins to attack his house, Ichigo absorbs most of Rukia's powers when she is injured in battle, enabling him to defeat the hollow. The next day, Rukia appears at Ichigo's High School, telling him that he is to become a Substitute Soul Reaper during her recovery period. With his newly found abilities, Ichigo discovers that one of his classmates, Orihime Inoue, is being haunted by her older brother's spirit, and defeats him. Later, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, another of Ichigo's classmates, encounters the soul of a boy in the form of a parakeet. The bird is also being haunted by a hollow, and Chad attempts to protect the boy from the hollow. | ||||
| 2 | March 4, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873237-5[11] | August 3, 2004 | ISBN 1-59116-442-7[12] |
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| Chad is attacked by the hollow—which he cannot see—that previously killed the boy when he was alive. Ichigo arrives and successfully defeats the hollow, allowing the young boy's soul to move to Soul Society, where he can rest in peace. To allow Ichigo turn into a Soul Reaper when she is not around, Rukia gives him a candy that allows another soul to take control of Ichigo's body. However, the new soul is revealed to be a faulty artificial one that aims to do whatever he wants such as playing around the city. Ichigo finds him being attacked by a hollow saves him. Ichigo learns that Soul Society attempted to kill artificial soul, just before the soul is captured by Kisuke Urahara, the shopkeeper that accidentally sold the candy to Rukia. He returns the soul to the candy, which Rukia then takes from him and gives it back to Ichigo. | ||||
| 3 | June 4, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873275-8[13] | October 12, 2004 | ISBN 1-59116-443-5[14] |
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| The artificial soul, whom Ichigo names Kon, is inserted into a stuffed lion plushie that Ichigo then keeps in his room. Ichigo and his family visit his mother's grave on the anniversary of her death to pay their respects. When Ichigo tells Rukia about his mother's death, Rukia suspects that she was actually killed by a hollow. While visiting the gravesite, Ichigo's younger sisters are attacked by a hollow named Grand Fisher. As Ichigo saves them, he discovers that Grand Fisher was the hollow who killed their mother. The hollow attempts to use the mother's soul to distract Ichigo, but Ichigo overcomes this and continues to attack, causing him to flee. | ||||
| 4 | September 4, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873310-X[15] | December 7, 2004 | ISBN 1-59116-444-3[16] |
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| The Kurosaki family and some of Ichigo's friends go to watch the live filming of a TV program about a spirit medium named Don Kanonji, who accidentally turns a spirit into a hollow during the show. With help from Don Kanonji, who is revealed to have spiritual powers, Ichigo defeats the hollow. In the following days, many newly discovered hollows are defeated before Rukia and Ichigo can even show up. They see that they are all being slain by teenager named Uryū Ishida, who uses arrows made of spiritual energy to kill them. | ||||
| 5 | November 1, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873335-5[17] | February 1, 2005 | ISBN 1-59116-445-1[18] |
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| In an effort to prove that his clan, the Quincy, are better than the Soul Reapers, Uryū challenges Ichigo to a competition in which the winner is the one who destroys more hollows. Urahara informs Rukia the Quincies also battled against the hollows, but they destroyed the spirit entirely, rather than saving it. This resulted in the Soul Reapers' destruction of the Quincy clan. Both Chad and Orihime are attacked by hollows, making them awaken their own spiritual powers. Chad creates a giant arm, while Orihime creates a trio of fairies; using these powers, they defeat the hollows. As they fall unconscious from exhaustion, they are rescued by Urahara. | ||||
| 6 | December 20, 2002 | ISBN 4-08-873366-5[19] | April 5, 2005 | ISBN 1-59116-728-0[20] |
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| Ichigo reunites with Uryū and as both attack hollows, they learn about their each other's past. A giant hollow named Menos Grande appears in Karakura Town, and Ichigo uses all his powers to defeat it. The next day, Ichigo attempts to form a friendship with Uryū, while Rukia decides to leave Ichigo to return to Soul Society. As she leaves, she is attacked by a Soul Reaper named Renji Abarai and his captain Byakuya Kuchiki, who is also Rukia's older brother. They try to arrest her for giving her powers to Ichigo, but Uryū arrives to stop them. | ||||
| 7 | March 4, 2003 | ISBN 4-08-873392-4[21] | May 31, 2005 | ISBN 1-59116-807-4[22] |
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| Ichigo discovers that Rukia left and tries to find her. Uryū is easily defeated by Renji, but Ichigo defends him and joins the fight. While fighting Ichigo, Renji attacks him with his own zanpakutō sword, which has a unique form as its name was revealed. Ichigo overcomes Renji by using his hidden energy, but before defeating him, he is seriously injured by Byakuya. Rukia tells Ichigo not to move and leaves for Soul Society, where she is to be executed. Urahara heals Ichigo and starts training him to recover his energy. Meanwhile, Yoruichi Shihōin, a talking cat, starts training Orihime and Chad. | ||||
| 8 | June 4, 2003 | ISBN 4-08-873435-1[23] | August 2, 2005 | ISBN 1-59116-872-4[24] |
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| While training Ichigo, Urahara's assistant, Tessai Tsukabishi, cuts off the chain attached to Ichigo's soul. This causes him to begin transforming into a hollow. Ichigo is then assisted by his zanpakutō's spirit to awaken his spiritual power, giving him the ability to turn into a Soul Reaper instead of a hollow when he awakens. In another training exercise, Ichigo fights against Urahara, who uses his own zanpakutō to force Ichigo to flee. Embarrassed by this defeat, Ichigo talks with his zanpakutō's spirit. He reveals that his name is Zangetsu and it changes its form. After finishing his training, Ichigo reunites with Orihime, Uryū, Chad, and Yoruichi. They prepare to go to Soul Society to save Rukia. | ||||
| 9 | August 4, 2003 | ISBN 4-08-873495-5[25] | October 10, 2005 | ISBN 1-59116-924-0[26] |
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| Ichigo and his friends arrive at Soul Society, but they have to defeat a gate guardian named Jidanbō in order to enter the Seireitei, the walled city where the Soul Reapers reside. Ichigo easily defeats Jidanbō, who opens the gate, allowing them to enter Seireitei. However, when they attempt to pass through, the 3rd division captain, Gin Ichimaru, attacks them and closes the gate. While searching for another way to enter, Ichigo encounters Ganju Shiba, whose hatred of the Soul Reapers causes him to fight Ichigo. Later, Yoruichi asks an old friend named Kūkaku Shiba, who also happens to be Ganju's sister, to help them with entering Seireitei. | ||||
| 10 | November 4, 2003 | ISBN 4-08-873525-0[27] | December 6, 2005 | ISBN 1-4215-0081-7[28] |
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| To use Kūkaku's cannon to enter Seireitei, Ichigo and his friends first must learn how to focus their spiritual energies. Meanwhile, behind the walls of the city, an emergency meeting is called for all the 13 Soul Reapers captains to interrogate Gin about why he let the invaders survive. After Ichigo's group completes their training, Ganju decides to join them because his older brother was killed by a Soul Reaper. They are able to enter Seireitei through a cannon shot, but while they descend into the city, they are separated. Ichigo and Ganju encounter and fight two 11th division members, Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa. Ichigo successfully uses his zanpakutō to defeat Ikkaku. | ||||
| 11 | December 19, 2003 | ISBN 4-08-873555-2[29] | February 7, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0271-2[30] |
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| Ganju defeats Yumichika and later reunites with Ichigo. Meanwhile, Uryū and Orihime are confronted by Jirōbō Ikkanzaka, the 4th seat of the 7th division whom Uryū easily defeats. Ichigo and Ganju are confronted by a large group of Soul Reapers, and are able to escape by using a clumsy 4th division officer, Hanatarō Yamada, as a distraction. Hanatarō tells them about a shortcut to the place where Rukia is held. Renji, the lieutenant of the 6th division, confronts Ichigo. Using what he learned with Urahara, Ichigo overpowers Renji. Before falling to the ground, Renji recalls his long-time friendship with Rukia and asks Ichigo to save her. | ||||
| 12 | March 4, 2004 | ISBN 4-08-873576-5[31] | April 4, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0403-0[32] |
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| The 10th Division captain, Tōshirō Hitsugaya, suspects that something wrong with Gin and tells his friend Momo Hinamori, 5th division lieutenant, to be careful around him. The following day, the 5th division captain Sōsuke Aizen, is found dead. Hinamori, thinking Gin might be responsible, attempts to attack him, but she ends up being jailed along with Gin's lieutenant, Izuru Kira. Hanatarō heals Ichigo, and they—along with Ganju—continue the rescue mission. They are attacked by the 11th division captain Kenpachi Zaraki. Ichigo stays to fight against him while Hanatarō and Ganju continue on towards Rukia. Meanwhile, Chad is confronted by the 8th division captain, Shunsui Kyōraku, who easily defeats Chad. | ||||
| 13 | June 4, 2004 | ISBN 4-08-873610-9[33] | June 6, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0611-4[34] |
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| In his fight against Kenpachi, Ichigo is initially easily defeated. Zangetsu appears to test him. Ichigo fights against his hollow side to determine whom will be worthy of Zangetsu. As Ichigo realizes that he knows nothing about Zangetsu, the fight is stopped and Ichigo returns to fight Kenpachi again. This time, he is able to use all the power from Zangetsu, and as a result Ichigo is able to successfully battle Kenpachi to a draw. Kenpachi's lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, takes him to another place and Kenpachi confesses that he lost because he has never been able to truly know his zanpakutō. Ganju and Hanatarō find Rukia, but Ganju attempts to kill her as he realizes that she is the Soul Reaper responsible for his brother's death. | ||||
| 14 | September 3, 2004 | ISBN 4-08-873649-4[35] | August 1, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0612-2[36] |
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| Byakuya arrives the prison and almost kills Ganju. As Ichigo awakens, he discovers that Yoruichi was really a woman in the form of a cat. They encounter Byakuya; Ichigo fights him but is knocked out by Yoruichi. She intends to train Ichigo so that he will be able to use his bankai, a state in which the zanpakutō becomes considerably more powerful. Uryū and Orihime continue towards Rukia's location and are attacked by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, the 12th division captain. Mayuri sacrifices his soldiers to attempt to kill Uryū, but fails. Mayuri reveals that he has experimented on many other Quincy, including Uryū's grandfather, Sōken Ishida, and was responsible for his death. | ||||
| 15 | December 3, 2004 | ISBN 4-08-873682-6[37] | October 3, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0613-0[38] |
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| Uryū uses the Quincy's forbidden techniques to overcome the injuries that Mayuri inflicted upon him. In this state Uryū overpowers Mayuri, but Mayuri escapes by transforming into an intangible mass. Uryū goes toward Rukia's location, but in transit he is attacked by 9th division captain, Kaname Tōsen. Meanwhile, Ichigo continues his bankai training by repeatedly battling Zangetsu. Orihime, Uryū, Ganju and Chad are freed by Kenpachi, who wants them to guide him to Ichigo. After reading the last correspondence from Captain Aizen, Hinamori escapes from prison and goes to where Hitsugaya and Gin are preparing to fight. She points her zanpakutō at Hitsugaya and accuses him of killing Aizen. | ||||
| 16 | March 4, 2005 | ISBN 4-08-873777-6[39] | December 5, 2006 | ISBN 1-4215-0614-9[40] |
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| Hinamori desperately attacks Hitsugaya, who knocks her out. Hitsugaya furiously attacks Gin, but Hitsugaya's lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, arrives and tells Gin to leave. The 13th division captain, Jūshirō Ukitake, discovers that Rukia's execution was unexpectedly moved to the following day and prepares to save Rukia. Rukia reminisces about the time she spent in the 13th division with its lieutenant and Ganju's brother, Kaien Shiba. The times were good until a hollow took possession of him and Rukia was forced to kill him in hollow form. Kenpachi and his soldiers confront the 9th and 7th division soldiers because he is helping the intruders. | ||||
| 17 | June 3, 2005 | ISBN 4-08-873817-9[41] | February 6, 2007 | ISBN 1-4215-1041-3[42] |
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| Renji attempts to rescue Rukia, but is confronted by his captain, Byakuya. Renji unleashes his bankai, which transforms his zanpakutō into a giant snake-like segmented sword. With his bankai, Renji manages to surpass Byakuya, until Byakuya releases his own bankai. His generates a 'corridor' of swords, which almost kill Renji. Renji still attempts to fight, but is only able to inflict minor injury on Byakuya. Meanwhile, Kenpachi overpowers Kaname Tōsen and the 7th division captain, Sajin Komamura, forcing Tōsen to unleash his bankai. In this state, Tōsen creates a space in which Kenpachi cannot see his surroundings. In the end, Kenpachi allows Tōsen to attack him so that he can get in close contact with him and ultimately defeat him. | ||||
| 18 | August 4, 2005 | ISBN 4-08-873841-1[43] | April 3, 2007 | ISBN 1-4215-1042-1[44] |
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| Tōsen is saved by Komamura, who starts to fight Kenpachi. Rukia's execution ceremony begins. However, as the execution is proceeding, Ichigo comes to her rescue. The captains Ukitake and Shunsui destroy the Soukyoku, which is the large zanpakutō used for executions, and Ichigo throws Rukia to Renji so that they can escape the scene. Ichigo fights against Byakuya. Ukitake and Shunsui are attacked by their leader, the 1st division captain Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai, for betraying them. The 2nd division captain, Soi Fon, attempts to kill the traitors, but is stopped by Yoruichi, her former teacher. Furious about Yoruichi leaving her long ago, Soi Fon attacks Yoruichi, but fails to defeat her. | ||||
| 19 | October 4, 2005 | ISBN 4-08-873862-4[45] | June 5, 2007 | ISBN 1-4215-1043-X[46] |
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| Soi Fon stops fighting and asks Yoruichi why she did not take her with her when she left. In the fight between Ichigo and Byakuya, each releases their bankai, and the former overpowers the latter. However, Ichigo is unable to control his bankai completely and as he is about to be defeated, his inner-hollow temporarily takes control of his body. As Ichigo is back in his normal state, Ichigo and Byakuya use their final attacks and Ichigo is victorious. Byakuya accepts his defeat and tells Ichigo that the reason why he permitted Rukia's execution was because the rules of his family are sacred to him. Meanwhile, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto discover that the entire council who ruled in favor of the execution are dead. | ||||
| 20 | December 2, 2005 | ISBN 4-08-873883-7[47] | August 7, 2007 | ISBN 1-4215-1044-8[48] |
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| Hinamori discovers that Captain Aizen is still alive, and he proceeds to attack her with his zanpakutō. As Hitsugaya and the 4th division captain, Retsu Unohana, arrive, Aizen explains that all of Soul Society has been an illusion created by Aizen himself. Aizen goes to where Rukia is and says that he will be removing an object, called Hogyoku, from her body. This object, created by Urahara, allows an individual to take on the form of both Soul Reaper and hollow. Ichigo, Renji and Komamura try to stop Aizen, but are easily defeated. After taking the Hogyoku, Gin attempts to kill Rukia, but Byakuya intercepts the attack. As reinforcements from Soul Society arrive, Aizen, along with Gin and Tōsen, escape by ascending into a dark rip in the sky. | ||||
| 21 | March 3, 2006 | ISBN 4-08-874027-0[49] | October 2, 2007 | ISBN 1-4215-1165-7[50] |
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| As the Soul Reapers are being healed, Rukia goes to Kūkaku and Ganju to apologize for killing their older brother, Kaien. Before Ichigo, Orihime, Chad, Uryū and Yoruichi return to their world, Rukia tells them that she has decided to remain in Soul Society. As the rest return to school, Ichigo meets a student named Shinji Hirako, who reveals himself to be a visored, a Soul Reaper that obtained hollow powers. With his powers gone, Uryū is attacked by a hollow, but is rescued by his father. Afterwards, his father decides to train him to recover his lost powers. Kon, which is in Ichigo's body, is attacked by the hollow, Grand Fisher, who turned into an arrancar, gaining Soul Reapers power. He attacks Kon, who thinks that he is really attacking Ichigo. Ichigo's father, who is revealed to be a former Soul Reaper, comes to Kon's defense. | ||||
| 22 | May 2, 2006 | ISBN 4-08-874049-1[51] | February 5, 2008 | ISBN 1-4215-1179-7[52] |
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| Shinji tries to recruit Ichigo into the Visoreds, but the offer is rejected. As Chad and Orihime try to ask Shinji what happened to Ichigo, one of his friends, Hiyori Sarugaki attempts to stop them. The following day, two arrancar similar to humans, Yammy and Ulquiorra Schiffer, are dispatched by Aizen to Karakura town, and they start killing people. Chad and Orihime try to fight them, but they are unable to inflict damage, and are saved by Ichigo. Ichigo's fright of his hollow side results in his defeat by Yammy. Urahara and Yoruichi save them all and force the two arrancar to retreat. As they recover from their injuries, Soul Society sends Renji, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Ikkaku, Yumichika and Rukia to aide them. | ||||
| 23 | August 4, 2006 | ISBN 4-08-874140-4[53] | June 3, 2008 | ISBN 1-4215-1541-5[54] |
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| A group of arrancar invade Karakura Town and the Soul Reapers move to stop them. Chad is attacked by the number 16 arrancar and is saved by Ichigo. Rukia defeats the arrancar by using the Soul Reaper power that she was forced to loose long ago. The group is attacked by Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, who is the 6th strongest arrancar. He is able to overcome and defeat Rukia. Meanwhile, one of Ichigo's friends is attacked by the 13th arrancar and is rescued when Ikkaku and Yumichika comes to his defense. Ikkaku begins to fight against him. Using his zanpakutō, the arrancar manages to surpass Ikkaku, but Ikkaku shows his bankai, which he managed to conceal until that point. His bankai creates giant swords, which he uses to defeat the arrancar. | ||||
| 24 | October 4, 2006 | ISBN 4-08-874262-1[55] | September 2, 2008 | ISBN 1-4215-1603-9[56] |
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| Both Ikkaku and the arrancar fall to the ground. As Ikkaku awakens, he considers the reason as to why he keeps his bankai a secret: to keep the respect of his captain, Kenpachi Zaraki. Meanwhile, Hitsugaya, Matsumoto and Renji have problems fighting against the other arrancar and Ururu, an assistant of Urahara, attempts to attack the arrancar. However, she is seriously injured in the process. The Soul Society removes the power restrictions that were previously placed on the Soul Reapers, allowing them to fight at full capacity against the arrancar and kill them. Ichigo continues to fight Grimmjow, but Tōsen shows up and takes Grimmjow to Aizen. Aizen revokes his status as an Espada as punishment for entering the battle without permission. Saddened for not being powerful enough to protect his friends, Ichigo visits the Visoreds. | ||||
| 25 | December 4, 2006 | ISBN 4-08-874289-3[57] | December 2, 2008 | ISBN 1-4215-1796-5[8] |
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| Ichigo tells Shinji that he has only come to them because he wants to learn to control the hollow inside him, and Hiyori attacks him using her hollow powers. Just before being defeated by Hiyori, Ichigo's hollow appears but is suppressed by the Visoreds. Shinji decides to let Ichigo confront his inner hollow and starts the process by rendering Ichigo unconscious. Ichigo's body starts turning into a hollow and the Visoreds attempt to stop a full transformation. Ichigo defeat his hollows and his body returns to human form. Elsewhere, Yamamoto Genryūsai speaks with Hitsugaya about Aizen's objective. He explains that Aizen aims to create a key that would allow him to defeat the king of Soul Society. | ||||
| 26 | February 2, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874315-8[58] | March 3, 2009 | ISBN 978-1-4215-2384-2[59] |
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| Upon Urahara's request, Renji begins training Chad. Due to the nature of Orihime's defensively oriented powers, Urahara requests that she not participate in the war with Aizen's arrancar. Rukia finds Orihime and after hearing what happened to her, she decides to train her on her own. The arrancar once again invade Karakura, but this time the group includes several Espada, which are the ten highest ranked arrancar. Ichigo finds Grimmjow and uses his hollow powers to fight against him. He manages to severely injure him, but is only able to use it for ten seconds before being overpowered. Grimmjow's replacement, Luppi, defeats multiple Soul Reapers, but is ultimately stopped by Urahara. While leaving Soul Society, Orihime is ambushed by the Espada Ulquiorra Schiffer. | ||||
| 27 | April 4, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874339-4[60] | ||
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| Ulquiorra threatens Orihime by saying he will kill her friends if she does not go with him. Meanwhile, Hitsugaya defeats Luppi and Ichigo continues his fight against Grimmjow. Unable to use his hollow powers completely, Ichigo is almost killed by Grimmjow but Rukia manages to save him. Shinji Hirako shows up and overpowers Grimmjow, but Ulquiorra appears, informing the Espada that his mission is over and the Espada leave. The following day, Ichigo and his friends discover that Orihime is gone, but Soul Society has no intention of saving her. However, Ichigo decides to go into Hueco Mundo, the hollows' world, without their help. So he, Chad and Uryū, who have completed their training, leave for Hueco Mundo. With help from Urahara, they enter into a building from Hueco Mundo, where they are immediately attacked by two arrancar. | ||||
| 28 | June 4, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874365-3[61] | ||
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| Using their new fighting skills, Uryū and Chad easily defeat the two arrancar. They, along with Ichigo, see that Hueco Mundo is a giant desert and begin running toward Las Noches, the castle where Aizen is headquartered. While in the desert, they meet four hollows; one of whom is a child named Nel Tu, and the others are her mutually adopted brothers and their pet. As the hollow siblings guide them to Las Noches, they meet with Rukia and Renji, who have come to help them. The group becomes separated shortly after entering Las Noches. Nel decides to follow Ichigo, but when her brothers attempt to follow her they get lost, and end up each following a different member of the group. Ichigo, Uryū, and Chad are then encountered by Privaron Espada, which are Espada that lost their status. | ||||
| 29 | August 3, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874398-1[62] | ||
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| Ichigo begins to battle Dordonii Alessandro Del Socacchio, and as the battle escalates—and Nel gets injured—he chooses to use his hollow powers. After being defeated, Dordonii decides to distract the Exequias arrancar soldiers that were in pursuit of Ichigo. Uryū and Nel's brother, Pesche Guatiche, are attacked by Cirucci Thunderwitch, who blocks their attacks with her zanpakutō. Uryū uses a tube to produce a powerful energy blade, which he uses to easily defeat her. Meanwhile, Chad fights against Gantenbainne Mosqueda. After absorbing several blows, Chad realizes how to access his full power, and transforms his arms into weapons. | ||||
| 30 | October 4, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874423-0[63] | ||
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| With his new power, Chad is able to defeat Gantenbainne. He is then attacked by the Espada Nnoitra Jiruga, who easily defeats him. Rukia encounters the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, who reveals to her that he contains the soul of the former Soul Reaper Kaien Shiba. Meanwhile, Renji Abarai and Nel's oldest brother, Dondochakka Bilstin, are confronted by the 8th Espada Szayel Aporro Granz. Rukia fights against Aaroniero, who uses the abilities of Kaien. She kills him by cutting his head. Rukia is injured to the degree that the others thinks she has died. Ichigo tries to go to her but runs into the Espada Ulquiorra. | ||||
| 31 | December 4, 2007 | ISBN 4-08-874444-5[64] | ||
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| Ichigo uses his bankai in addition to his hollow powers, but is unable to defeat Ulquiorra, who is revealed to be the 4th Espada. Orihime is attacked by two female arrancar, who are furious because Aizen favors Orihime over them. Grimmjow shows up and defeats the two arrancar, taking Orihime with him. In Renji's fight with Szayel, Uryū arrives to aid him. Although they join forces, Szayel still survives. Grimmjow takes Orihime to Ichigo to heal him so that they can finish their fight. Ulquiorra tries to stop him, but Grimmjow isolates him in another dimension. | ||||
| 32 | February 4, 2008 | ISBN 4-08-874473-5[65] | ||
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| The fight between Ichigo and Grimmjow begins and Ichigo dons his hollow mask, which he is now able to use for longer stints. Grimmjow, pleased that Ichigo is fighting with his full power, releases his zanpakutō. The two continue their fight, and Ichigo is slowly worn down by Grimmjow. As Orihime cheers Ichigo, he manages to slash Grimmjow's chest. Unwilling to submit, Grimmjow uses his strongest attack on Ichigo. Ichigo overcomes it and deals a final blow. Ichigo prepares to take Orihime away from Las Noches. Grimmjow comes back to fight, but is struck down by the 5th Espada Nnoitra. | ||||
| 33 | April 4, 2008 | ISBN 4-08-874494-0[66] | ||
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| The fight between Nnoitra and an exhausted Ichigo begins. Renji, Uryū, Dondochakka and Pesche encounter Szayel Aporro again, who uses his zanpakutō to create clones of them all. Nnoitra recognizes the terrified Nel. It is revealed that Nel was formerly the 3rd Espada, Neliel Tu Oderschvank. Her brothers and her pet are arrancar servants known as Fracciones. Ichigo still attempts to protect her, but before he is killed, Nel transforms into her adult form and starts fighting against Nnoitra. Uryū and Renji manage to destroy their clones, but Szayel creates dolls that he uses to injure them. After remembering that Nnoitra was responsible for changing her into the child form and wiping her memory, Nel releases her zanpakutō. | ||||
| 34 | July 4, 2008 | ISBN 4-08-874541-1[67] | ||
Chapter list:
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| Nel is about to defeat Nnoitra, but she returns to her child form and is knocked out. Nnoitra's Fraccion soldier, Tesla, tries to kill Ichigo but is killed by Kenpachi Zaraki, who was sent by Soul Society to help them. Retsu Unohana saves Chad from being killed by Exequias, while Byakuya saves Rukia from being killed by the 7th Espada, Zommari Leroux. Zommari takes control of Rukia's weakened body, but Byakuya saves her by killing him with his bankai. Renji, Uryū and Nel's siblings are saved by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who manages to stop Szayel's techniques. After Mayuri kills him, Szayel reconstitutes himself inside of Mayuri's daughter, Nemu Kurotsuchi, ingesting a large dosage of poison stored in Nemu's body in the process. | ||||
| 35 | October 3, 2008 | ISBN 4-08-874575-6[68] | ||
Chapter list:
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| Mayuri stabs Szayel through his hand and heart and breaks the blade. This leaves Szayel to suffer for what seems like an eternity to him, resulting in his death. Kenpachi and Nnoitra exchange increasingly more devastating blows. Once Kenpachi realizes that death is rapidly becoming a very real possibility for him, the captain uses both hands to deliver a massive killing blow to Nnoitra. Orihime is again kidnapped by the Espada Stark and is taken to Aizen. Aizen explains that he only kidnapped Orihime to reduce the number of Soul Reapers in Karakura. This would allow him to destroy the town to create the royal key, but Soul Society prepares their Soul Reapers to defend it. Ichigo goes to Las Noches again to save Orihime, who—this time— is alone with Ulquiorra. | ||||
| 36 | December 4, 2008 | ISBN 978-4-08-874603-6[6] | ||
Chapter list:
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| One hundred and ten years before the start of the series, the Visoreds are high-ranking Soul Reapers and Kisuke Urahara is made the captain of the 12th division. Since then, Urahara has turned the 12th division into the scientific division of the present. During that time, several Soul Reapers started to mysteriously disappear and the 9th division is sent to investigate. Eventually, Captain Kensei Muguruma and Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna turn into hollows that attack their fellow Soul Reapers. Several Soul Reapers, including Hachigen Ushōda from the division of spells known as Kidō and Shinji Hirako from the 5th division, are sent to stop them. They subdue the hollows, but are suddenly attacked by Shinji's lieutenant, Sōsuke Aizen. | ||||
These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump from June to December 2008.
- -99. Turn Back The Pendulum 10
- -98. Turn Back The Pendulum 11
- -97. Let Stop The Pendulum
- 316. Swang the Edge Down
- 317. Six Hearts Will Beat As One
- 318. Five Towers/Four Pillars
- 319. Ants And Dragons
- 320. Beauty is So Solitary
- 321. Black Briers and Brambles
- 322. Oath Under The Rose
- 323. [n 1]
- 324. The Claws
- 325. Fear For The Fight
- 326. Knockdown Monster
- 327. KnockDown Monsters
- 328. The Knuckle Debate
- 329. Raging Rampage
- 330. Crossing Swords
- 331. Don't Believe The Hide
- 332. Fang&Sting
- 333. Ash & Salamander
- 334. Dregs of Hypnosis
- 335. Chimaera Chord
- 336. El Verdugo
- 337. Hall In Your Inferno
- 338. Fall Into My Inferno
- 339. The Deathbringer Numbers
- 340. The Antagonizer
- ^ Chapter 323 was originally released without a title.
- ^ a b "Bleach (manga)". Anime News Network. Retrieved on January 15, 2008.
- ^ Kubo, Tite (2008). "Chapter -108". Bleach, Volume 35. Shueisha. ISBN 978-4-08-874603-6.
- ^ "Bleach (TV)". Anime News Network. Retrieved on July 6, 2008.
- ^ "Viz to Serialize Bleach, Publish Slam Dunk". Anime News Network (July 27, 2007). Retrieved on October 26, 2008.
- ^ a b "Bleach 1" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.
- ^ a b "Bleach 36" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved on November 30, 2008.
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- ^ "Bleach, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.
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- ^ "Bleach, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.
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- ^ "Bleach 20" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.
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- ^ "Bleach 21" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.
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- ^ "Bleach 25" (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved on January 8, 2008.