Volume 14 WHITE TOWER ROCKS

It creaks and creaks, the tower of penitence
Like light, pass through the world
It wavers and wavers, the tower of bone
Are we the ones falling or is it the sky?

116. White Tower Rocks
117. Remnant 2 [Deny the Shadow]
118. The Supernal Tag
119. Secret of the Moon
120. Shake Hands With Grenades
121. In Sane We Trust
122. Don't Lose Your Grip On
123. Pledge My Pride To

Author's Comments

Mom, Dad, are you watching? I've finally done it. I've made a TV Tokyo anime. That scene and this line will move and move and have sound. I'm so happy I'm crying. Anyway, I'm from Hiroshima, and in Hiroshima there aren't any TV Tokyo stations.

General Overview

Ichigo finds himself in a cave all bandaged up. Here he learns that he was saved yet again by his hollow mask, despite leaving it in the sewers, and is forced to hand it over to Yoruichi. After that Yoruichi reveals that her true form is a dark-skinned, dark-haired woman. When they sense the spirit pressure of Byakuya approaching the Shrine of Penitence. Despite his wounds and Yoruichi's protests, Ichigo uses a one-of-a-kind flying artifact that belongs to Yoruichi to go help Ganjuu, Hanatarou, and Rukia.

Meanwhile, Ganjuu ends up trying to fight Byakuya, but gets sliced to ribbons before he can even attack once. Luckily, Byakuya is stopped from killing anyone by the arrival of Juushirou Ukitake, captain of the 13th division and Rukia's superior. At that moment Ichigo arrives and starts to fight Byakuya begin fighting. It quickly becomes clear how much Ichigo has improved since their last meeting because he is not only able to follow Byakuya's instant step, but also blocks the ensuing attack. However, their fight is interrupted when Yoruichi appears and injects drugs into Ichigo and knocks him out. She then plays instant step tag with Byakuya and manages to escape with Ichigo, saying in three days she will have trained him enough so that he can beat Byakuya. Once they're gone, Ukitake reluctantly has Rukia put back into the Shrine of Penitence and calls for medical care for Ganjuu since he's both an important source of information in the investigation of Aizen's death, and someone who tried to help Rukia.

When Ichigo regains consciousness Yoruichi explains to him that there is a second release state for all soul cutters called bankai, which has a 5 to 10 times increase in power. Being able to do it is a requirement for becoming a captain. Normally it takes 10 years to learn, but they're going to use a more dangerous method that should only take 3 days. After the training Ichigo should be able to defeat Byakuya and rescue Rukia.

Meanwhile, Uryuu and Orihime are walking around disguised in shinigami uniforms. Unfortunately, their cover is blown when they run into Makizou "Makimaki" Aramaki. Then some human bombs are detonated by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, which would have killed the three of them if it weren't for the Shun Shun Rikka shield. Because it's a technique Mayuri has never seen before, he decides he wants to study Orihime. To prevent that Uryuu convinces Makimaki to drag Orihime off by force and gives them an opening to escape.

Mayuri is annoyed at Orihime getting away, so he decides to end the battle as quickly as possible so he can find her. To do this he releases his soul cutter Ashisogi Jizou. Uryuu is horrified when Mayuri's lieutenant, Nemu grabs him and Mayuri stabs them both. He's even more stunned when instead of giving her medicine, Mayuri complains that she let go and stomps on her. When Uryuu tries to stop him, he discovers he can't move because Ashisogi Jizou secretes a drug that immobilizes its victim, but does not block out sensations like pain. While Uryuu is helpless, Mayuri taunts him by describing the mutilation he did to quincies while studying them. In particular he dwells on his last test subject, who turns out to be Uryuu's teacher and grandfather, Souken Ishida. Enraged by this, Uryuu somehow manages to stand up and says he swears by his pride of the quincy that he will kill Mayuri.

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In Depth Summaries

116. (+) White Tower Rocks
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Toushirou Hitsugaya, Gin Ichimaru, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Shunsui Kyoraku, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Kaname Tousen, Juushirou Ukitake, Hanatarou Yamada
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society, Ubandou
     Released Soul Cutters - Senbonzakura
     Relevant Terminology - 13th division, Sousuke Aizen, captain, hollow, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, released, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, sealed soul cutter

     This chapter begins at the office of the 13th division, Ubandou. The captain is so shocked when he hears the news about Aizen that the messenger gets tossed out the door.

     We then see the title page: Ichigo running with face shots of Mayuri, Hitsugaya, Tousen, Shunsui, Byakuya and Gin in the background.

     We then get to see the captain of the 13th division, Juushirou Ukitake, as he comments that it was unforgivable for this to happen while he was asleep.

     Back at the Shrine of Penitence, Hanatarou is freaking out when he sees Byakuya coming toward them. Ganjuu recognizes the name when Hanatarou says it because he's the head of the Kuchiki family, one of the four noble families of Soul Society. Ganjuu considers him the most famous captain. Ganjuu suggests they beg for mercy, but Hanatarou wants to take Rukia and flee. When Ganjuu points out Byakuya's on the only bridge leading to the Shrine of Penitence and asks why he should sacrifice his life to try to save Rukia, Hanatarou volunteers to fight Byakuya and buy Ganjuu enough time to escape. All that Hanatarou asks is that Ganjuu take Rukia with him. This shocks both Ganjuu and Rukia, but Hanatarou explains he came to rescue Rukia, so he can't just do nothing. He then thanks Ganjuu and walks towards Byakuya. Rukia shouts at him to stop, while Ganjuu notices that Hanatarou doesn't have his soul cutter and he's shaking like crazy. He then shoves Rukia back, yells, runs out, and shoves Hanatarou back towards the Shrine of Penitence. As Byakuya continues to approach, Ganjuu mentally apologizes to his older brother, but thinks he wasn't brought up to be a coward who abandons his friends. Then Ganjuu shouts at Byakuya that he'll be the opponent.

     Meanwhile in a cave in a cliff-face, you see Ichigo lying on the ground bandaged up with Yoruichi nearby. When Ichigo wakes up, he thanks Yoruichi for rescuing him, but Yoruichi replies that it's really thanks to his stubbornness to survive with such wounds. At this point Ichigo remembers what had been happening before he collapsed, and sits up suddenly, reopening his wounds. He says he needs to save Chad, but Yoruichi forces him to lie down again and tells him that Chad is ok, as are Inoue and Ishida. Chad was lucky in who his opponent was, so he's still alive despite being defeated, while Uryuu and Orihime have managed to escape with very few conflicts so far. Yoruichi then tells Ichigo to rest, and adds that Ichigo was saved by his hollow mask. Ichigo is shocked to hear he had it on him, as Hanatarou had thrown it into the water in the sewers before they left the second time. After that Ichigo adds that Hanatarou is a nice guy even if he is an enemy, and decides to keep it as a good-luck charm. However, Yoruichi forces him to hand it over and thinks it's probably not the case, but to watch out for it anyway. The conversation then turns to how Yoruichi manage to avoid fighting so far and carry Ichigo to the cave. It turns out Yoruichi has an original form and used that to do both. Ichigo is shocked, so Yoruichi decides to demonstrate... and turns into a naked dark-skinned woman! She gloats that everyone is always shocked she's a woman because she talks like a guy and then launches into an explanation of how she got Ichigo there. But, Ichigo interrupts her to tell her to put on some clothes.

     Once Yoruichi is properly clothed, she restarts her explanation. She used an odd bone-like one-of-a-kind artifact to fly by putting her spiritual energy in it. Ichigo then wonders who she is. She can transform into a cat, cure wounds, and possesses extremely rare artifacts. But before she can explain, they feel the enormous spiritual pressure of Byakuya Kuchiki. Worried about Ganjuu and Hanatarou, Ichigo immediately rushes off by using the artifact. Yoruichi, who was left behind, gets very angry at him for leaving when he's still wounded.

     Back at the Shrine of Penitence, Byakuya is disappointed because he thought someone strong holding back on their spiritual pressure, when it really was someone weak. Rukia tries to rush and stop things before Ganjuu gets killed, only to collapse because she can't take Byakuya's spiritual pressure. Hanatarou thinks that Ganjuu must have a plan since he walked straight into battle. However, he's proven wrong when Ganjuu draws his stubby sword and rushes forward to attack. However, then he draws out some balls to toss at Byakuya, only to have his arm cut and Byakuya behind him before he could even throw them. But Ganjuu is not down and out and shouts that there's no coward in the Shiba family. It's a bad move, since Byakuya feels it would be dishonorable to let a member of the Shiba family escape alive. He then releases his soul cutter, Senbonzakura, which makes the blade disintegrate into petal-like things, leaving Byakuya only holding the hilt. Rukia screams for Ganjuu to run, but it's two late - cuts explode all over his body and Ganjuu collapses. Hanatarou is stunned, and Rukia screams for Byakuya to stop. Luckily for them, Ukitake choses that moment to appear and grab the hand Byakuya is using to hold the hilt. He tells Byakuya that's enough and Byakuya asks what he's doing. Ukitake retorts that he doesn't know what Byakuya is doing since releasing a soul cutter here is a class 1 offense. Byakuya retorts that it's a war time situation so the ban has been lifted, which shocks Ukitake since he feels the situation doesn't warrant it. During this Senbonzakura reverts to its sealed state.

     Just then, they feel a captain-level spiritual pressure. Ukitake doesn't recognize it, but Rukia does, and as she looks up, sees Ichigo flying down towards her using the artifact. Ichigo lands right before her, but walks past her to ask Hanatarou if he's ok and apologize for putting Ganjuu and him through so much grief. He asks where Ganjuu is and then you see Hanatarou talking with tear-brimmed eyes. Finally, he addresses Rukia and says he's come to rescue her, but he doesn't look her in the eyes. When she looks a bit stunned or sad, he finally does look her in the eyes and says she should be happy they're there to rescue her. Her eyes well up as she reminds Ichigo she had forbade him from coming. She's upset because he's wounded, and Ichigo tells her she can yell at him all she wants after he's defeated Byakuya.

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117. (+) Remnant 2 [Deny the Shadow]
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Juushirou Ukitake, Hanatarou Yamada
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - released, Senbonzakura, shinigami, soul cutter

     This chapter begins with Byakuya and Ichigo facing each other. Rukia tries to get Ichigo's attention, but before she says more than his name, he tells her not to tell him to run away and that he's going to rescue her no matter what she thinks about it. This irks her and they start bickering until Ichigo says she worries too much about him and should worry more about herself.

     Meanwhile, Ukitake asks if Byakuya knows who Ichigo is and Byakuya answers that he's a drifter and no one important in comparison to Ganjuu. Regardless, Byakuya plans on destroying Ichigo. They then approach each other. The title page is looking up at the walkway from far below as Byakuya says that this is the end of the meaningless skirmish. Ichigo then taunts Byakuya for not attacking while he was talking with Rukia, but Byakuya says it wouldn't be necessary against someone like Ichigo. He then releases a huge amount of spirit pressure, causing both Rukia and Hanatarou to tremble and fall to their knees. Ichigo, however, is not phased and merely draws Zangetsu. Byakuya notes that Ichigo has gained strength, but should have just stayed in the human world after regaining his shinigami powers (which Byakuya doesn't know how he reacquired) because now he's just throwing away his life. Ichigo retorts that he's going to defeat Byakuya, which irks Byakuya. He then disappears, using a technique called instant step. However, unlike last time Ichigo was able to see Byakuya and blocked by holding Zangetsu over his shoulder. They separate, and Byakuya comments that Ichigo has improved more than he thought. Rukia shouts at Ichigo to run as Byakuya begins to release Senbonzakura, but gets interrupts when Yoruichi appears and wraps a cloth around Byakuya's soul cutter. Everyone is stunned, including Byakuya and Ukitake, who recognize her.

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118. (+) The Supernal Tag
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yoruichi Shihouin, Juushirou Ukitake, Hanatarou Yamada, Zabimaru
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, holding cell, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - instant step

     The chapter begins with Renji lying in his jail cell. A paw touches his bed and you see Zabimaru, a baboon with a snake for a tail (ending in the snake's head). Both the baboon and the snake can talk, and they tell him that they're ready to fight again. He wants Renji to hurry up and heal so he can fight Zangetsu again. Renji tells him he's an idiot because Ichigo and Zangetsu are no longer the enemy. Zabimaru then asks who his enemy is now then, and who they will fight next. Renji doesn't answer. Next we see him for the title page.

     Back at the Shrine of Penitence, Hanatarou asks Rukia if she knows Yoruichi. Rukia replies that she's never seen her before, but has heard her name. It turns out Yoruichi used to be the Ex-Commander of the Division of Special Operations and the Ex-General of the First Division Keigun Brigade. Byakuya says it's been a long time since he saw her since she disappeared 100 years ago and was presumed dead. Ichigo then thanks Yoruichi for coming to save him, but asks her to step aside so he can defeat Byakuya. Yoruichi retorts that he's an idiot for thinking he could defeat Byakuya by himself and punches her hand right into Ichigo's wound. Everyone else is stunned as Ichigo collapses. She then picks him up and Ukitake realizes she released some sort of drug directly into Ichigo's body in an attempt to save him. However, Byakuya says he won't allow it (and addresses Yoruichi as his senior). Yoruichi then taunts him by asking when he was ever able to beat her in hide and seek and then they both use instant step. When they reappear Yoruichi is behind Byakuya, but by the time he slashes at her, she has already disappeared and reappeared far behind Ukitake. Suddenly Byakuya appears beside her and says she can't lose him with that level of instant step. This time he slashes her, only to be stunned when what he thought was Yoruichi transforms into a piece of cloth cut in two, while the real Yoruichi appears behind him. She taunts that he can't catch her with that level of instant step. Next she's standing on a nearby rooftop and says in three days she'll make Ichigo stronger than Byakuya. So, their battle is postponed until then. Byakuya can try to follow her, but he won't catch her. She then disappears.

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119. (+) Secret of the Moon
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Kiyone Kotetsu, Sentarou Kotsubaki, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Juushirou Ukitake, Toshimori Umesada
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society, underground training area
     Released Soul Cutters - None
     Relevant Terminology - 4th division, 9th division, Sousuke Aizen, Tatsuki Arisawa, captain, instant step, shinigami, Zangetsu

     The chapter begins with Yoruichi jumping from rooftop to rooftop, still carrying Ichigo's inert form.

     The title page shows Chad, Ichigo, Inoue, and Uryuu in the real world leaning against walls and posts in normal clothes.

     Back at the Shrine of Penitence, Ukitake comments that they got away, and Byakuya walks off. When Ukitake asks what about the others that are here, Byakuya responds that he's lost interest in them and Ukitake can do whatever he wants with them. Ukitake complains that Byakuya always does whatever he wants and then Rukia collapses again, because of the lifed pressure due to Byakuya's departure. Ukitake then calls for his 3rd seats, Sentarou and Kiyone. They immediately arrive and Hanatarou wonders if there are more enemies. It turns out they were there from the beginning despite their captain's orders and both suck up to Ukitake. Once that dies down, Ukitake asks them to contact the 4th division to treat Ganjuu. However, Hanatarou blocks their way since he doesn't want Rukia to get locked up again. Sentarou yells that he doesn't want to have to do that and to move aside, totally confusing Hanatarou. Sentarou then carries her back into the Shrine of Penitence, telling her to hang in there a bit longer and Ukitake and he will get her out. Kiyone complains that it makes her seem like she won't care and that she and Ukitake will get Rukia out. At this Hanatarou approaches Ukitake and starts stammering. Ukitake interprets it as wanting to know why they're helping and explains that first of all the intruders are important sources of information on Aizen's death so he can't let Ganjuu die and second he tried to save a member of Ukitake's division, no matter how clumsily, so he can't let Ganjuu die.

     Meanwhile elsewhere Toshimori Umesada, 20th seat of the 9th division, is giving search orders out, and sees Inoue and Ishida in shinigami uniform pretending to be new recruits. He makes a pass at Inoue, only to get interrupted by Ishida moving between Inoue and him. He gets mad, especially when Ishida says a seated shinigami shouldn't be doing such things in war time situations, but gets called away by other shinigami participating in the search. After he leaves, Inoue thanks Ishida for extracting her from that situation. Inoue is happy their disguises are working so well, especially since she's the one that came up with the idea.

     It turns out while Inoue and Ishida were hiding in the bushes, Inoue tells Ishida she wants to "borrow" some shinigami clothes. Ishida is a bit prudish and reluctant about the whole thing, but Inoue points out the only difference in appearance between them and shinigami is the clothes, so if they wear shinigami clothes they can get around much more easily. They then jump two shinigami and Inoue manages to knock them out with one hit, Ishida gets impressed and Inoue says she learned some karate from Tatsuki, who said Inoue is a first level black belt. Anyway, she tells the two tied up shinigami they'll return the clothes later and then starts stripping right in front of Ishida. When Ishida protests Inoue responds that she forgot guys and girls have to change separately since she thought she was with Tatsuki. She then sets up a hanging cloth for Ishida to change behind while Ishida thinks normally it should be the girl changing behind the curtain.

     Back in the present time, Inoue says she was told Rukia is in the Shrine of Penitence. She wonders if Ichigo is already there, and Ishida says in that case they need to move quick because Ichigo is sure to rush in and mess everything up. As they walk off, they wonder what division they should say they're from in case anyone asks. In a nearby stairwell Mayuri Kurotsuchi materializes from a wall.

     Meanwhile Yoruichi has arrived at her destination, the underground training area. She thinks she has gotten a lot weaker for that amount of instant stepping to make her pant so much. She then sits against the wall and tell Ichigo to wake up so she can tell him about Zangetsu's true power and some other secrets.

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120. (+) Shake Hands With Grenades
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Ichigo Kurosaki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nemu Kurotsuchi, Makizou "Makimaki" Aramaki, Yoruichi Shihouin
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society, underground training area
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - 11th division, 12th division, bankai, captain, Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, released, Ganjuu Shiba, shinigami, soul cutter, Juushirou Ukitake, Hanatarou Yamada, Kenpachi Zaraki

     Now that Ichigo is awake, Yoruichi explains that they have no time to wait for him to finish healing before they start the training. The title page shows Ichigo slamming Yoruichi against a wall and asking why he was the only one she took with her. He was the one with the highest chance of survival back there and now Rukia, Ganjuu, and Hanatarou might be dead. Yoruichi tells him not to think so highly of himself and that none of them could have survived fighting Byakuya. She then does some sort of attack that forces Ichigo to the ground and tells him to stop fight or he might reopen his wounds again. Then she explains that she could only carry one person and still be able to flee Byakuya. Ichigo's immediate response is why didn't she take Rukia then. That's when Yoruichi tells him that although he couldn't defeat Byakuya then, he might be able to in three day's time. Ukitake, Rukia's superior and a decent man, won't let Hanatarou and Ganjuu die despite being a traitor and an intruder. So, he should just concentrate on getting stronger so he can rescue all of them in three days.

     Ichigo then draws Zangetsu and Yoruichi explains that Zangetsu is always in released form. Ichigo had been wondering about that since Zangetsu doesn't change when he says its name and it's a lot bigger than other Soul Cutters. Yoruichi then reveals that there's another level of release for Zangetsu: bankai. All soul cutters have two releases, and being able to do bankai, is a requirement for captains (except for Zaraki, who became a captain under special circumstances). The powers and forms of both release and bankai depend on the soul cutter, but generally a bankai is five to ten times more powerful than just release. Normally it takes 10 years of training to achieve even for strong shinigami, but Yoruichi is going to use a riskier method to train Ichigo to do it in three days.

     Meanwhile as Inoue and Ishida run down a street she explains that Tsubaki is still injured, despite her efforts to heal him. She's upset that she can't help out, but Ishida comforts her by saying she can still defend and heal. Ishida then thinks Inoue is unsuited to battle because she doesn't even want to hurt enemies, which would make her a liability to her allies. Just then they get accosted by Makizou "Makimaki" Aramaki, an unranked member of the 11th division. He asks them what division they're in and Ishida tells him the 11th. However, Aramaki retorts that no one in the battle-oriented 11th division would walk around without their Soul Cutters. He then grabs Inoue and notices she has the symbol for the 12th division on her sleeve and asks who they are. Just then he gets knocked out by some other shinigami from the 12th division. Inoue thanks them and they comment that Makimaki was drunk and it's common to forget to bring your soul cutter and those from the 12th division need to stick together, especially against the bullying 11th. Ishida then realizes they ought to be suspicious since they claimed to be from the 11th division but had a 12th division insignia. He barges through the crowd and tells Inoue to get away. The next thing you know, the 12th division shinigami have exploded. You then see the captain of the 12th division, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, holding the detonator with his lieutenant, Nemu standing behind him.

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121. (+) In Sane We Trust
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Makizou "Makimaki" Aramaki, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nemu Kurotsuchi
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - None
     Relevant Terminology - 5th division, 12th division, captain, Central Institute of Spiritual Art, Momo Hinamori, Institute of Technological Research, kojaku, quincy, shinigami, Shun Shun Rikka

     The chapter begins by one of the 12th division shinigami giving a flashback of how he came to be in that situation. He got into the 12th division after graduating from the Central Institute of Spiritual Art and failing the entrance exams 3 times and passing the 4th. He had wanted to be in the 5th division because of Momo Hinamori, but got assigned to the 12th. Soon after the intruders came, something that only happens about once a century. There were rumors that those who captured an intruder would receive big promotions, but he didn't have any hope of that as a rookie until he got called to an assembly by the captain, who issued a special mission - to lure a couple intruders who were disguising themselves as shinigami, to the 12th division's headquarters without drawing anyone's suspicions. They were told it was dangerous, but they would be fine if they were careful. He saw it as a great opportunity and though he wondered why something that important would be given to a rookie, didn't want to question it because he might loose the opportunity.

     In the present he thinks it wasn't supposed to be like this, and runs towards Mayuri as the detonator is set off for the last time, leaving behind 3 pillars of flame. The cover picture shows Mayuri grinning maniacally, still holding the detonator with Nemu standing behind him. However, when the smoke clears he's shocked to see Inoue's triangle-shaped shield (which is still holding, though it's cracked). Behind it Uryuu is standing, while Inoue is sitting on the ground. She thanks Uryuu for the warning and says if he hadn't she wouldn't have reacted in time. They're lucky that Inoue practiced so she would be able to use the Shun Shun Rikka without saying their names. Inoue then asks about the three shinigami and Uryuu tells her they're dead, but not to be sad about it. The shield shatters and then Uryuu says the one who should be sad is Mayuri.

     Mayuri practically ignores him and says he's never seen such a technique before. He then asks if Inoue was the one who did it and when Uryuu refuses to answer, makes an offer to Inoue to become his test subject. At this point you realize Makimaki is still alive and is wondering why Inoue is crying. It couldn't because she was scared since she wouldn't have jumped out from behind the shield to save him, so she must be crying for those who died. He then wonders why she saved him when he means nothing to her.

     Because Inoue hasn't answered, Mayuri gives her an offer he has never made any other test subject: he'll give her top class special treatment and only drug her 8 times a day, only do 4 hours of machine operations, let her eat with her mouth, give her clothes when she sleeps, and not perform any life-threatening operations on her. This seriously ticks off Uryuu and suddenly he's standing near Mayuri with kojaku pointed at his head. Mayuri realizes he's a quincy and notes that they're rare, but he has no interest in them since he's finished studying them. At that comment Uryuu asks who Mayuri is and he retorts that it was foolish of the intruders to enter Soul Society without even knowing the names and faces of the 13 captains. He then introduces himself as the captain of the 12th division and 2nd president of the Institute of Technological Research. At that point Uryuu and Inoue are hit by his spiritual pressure, so Uryuu tells Inoue to run. She refuses, saying she wants to fight, so then Uryuu orders Makimaki to carry her away by force or else he'll get caught up in the battle and Uryuu will shoot him. Makimaki obeys against Inoue's wishes and drags her off. At that Mayuri asked who gave them permission to run, and shoots his arm after them (it's still connected to his body by a cable). But before he can catch them, Uryuu shoots the hand and destroys a good section of wall in the process. He then asks who gave Mayuri permission to chase after them, to which Mayuri repeats that he has no interest in Uryuu.

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122. (+) Don't Lose Your Grip On
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Makizou "Makimaki" Aramaki, Orihime Inoue, Uryuu Ishida, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nemu Kurotsuchi
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Ashisogi Jizou
     Relevant Terminology - Hirenkyaku, instant step, released, soul cutter, spiritron, lieutenant

     The chapter starts with Inoue struggling with Makimaki, trying to get him to let her go. Despite the annoyance and her begging him to let her go, he doesn't give in because he can't let a delicate women do that. Then she bites him hard on the neck. After that he karate chops the back of her neck and knocks her out. He then runs off carrying her, but wonders what to do with her. She might be nice but hard to understand, but she's also an intruder. As he runs up a flight of stairs, you see the foot of someone watching him.

     After getting hit by an arrow, Mayuri's extended arm is lying limply on the ground. He comments this has never happened since training and presses his arm where the extension starts. Uryuu jumps back, not sure what is coming, but it turns out Mayuri was cutting his arm just above the broken extension. He then takes out a tiny syringe of some kind of drug and injects his stump with it. Although painful and disgusting, it causes his arm to regrow. The title page shows Uryuu horrified at the sight as Mayuri comments he must think he's lost his mind. His arm is almost regrown, except for one finger.

     Although Inoue has managed to get away, Mayuri isn't phased. If he finds even one of her hairs he can track her down. What he's more irked at is having to waste time with Uryuu. Uryuu, on the other hand, thinks that although Mayuri's spiritual pressure is great, it comes in waves, so all he has to do is stall for time and then escape during one of the lulls in Mayuri's spiritual pressure. He also thinks he can't just attack one of them as Nemu is also there and is probably Mayuri's lieutenant, but since she hasn't even budged an inch, he thinks perhaps she has no fighting skills so he'll concentrate on Mayuri. He then fires, but Mayuri manages to dodge. However, Uryuu teleported to above him and shot a second volley, which isn't as clear on whether or not it connected. It turns out, Mayuri used instant step to avoid it, however. He then explains the technique Uryuu was using to teleport is called Hirenkyaku, and works by gathering spiritrons on the bottoms of his feet. Uryuu is shocked that he could follow him, and Mayuri explains they have instant step to counter, but Uryuu is not worth prolonged effort when he wants to find Inoue as quick as possible so he'll use the quickest way to defeat Uryuu. He then draws and releases his soul cutter, Ashisogi Jizou, which looks like a disgusting cross between a squid and a baby that breaths out some sort of gas. This really worries Uryuu since the soul cutter's abilities aren't obvious from its shape, so if he can't attack recklessly in case it can block his attacks, but he doesn't have time to think things over. Then suddenly Nemu jumps between them, and pushes him off the wall. Then while the both of them are falling Mayuri attacks, injuring both Uryuu and his lieutenant. Uryuu is shocked by it, but it's not over. After he's done attacking Mayuri punches Nemu in the face as punishment for letting go! He had told her not to let go even if she lost an arm. She apologizes and he leaves her coughing on the ground, saying he didn't expect anything from her. Regardless, from here on he expects things to be dead easy.

     (!)
123. (+) Pledge My Pride To
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Uryuu Ishida, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, Nemu Kurotsuchi
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Ashisogi Jizou
     Relevant Terminology - Institute of Technological Research, Orihime Inoue, Souken Ishida, quincy, shinigami

     The chapter begins with Uryuu being horrified that Mayuri would happily sacrifice an underling like that.

     We then have the title page: Mayuri looking insane.

     Mayuri notes that although Ishida is sweating and looks to be in a lot of pain, he is not wimpering and asks if it's his first time being cut by a blade. Ishida replies that it's his second. Mayuri is about to comment something about Ishida being experience when Nemu's coughing annoys him. She apologizes and asks for some medicine because she thinks one of her lungs is wounded and she might die. Instead, Mayuri stomps on her, claiming that she's playing him for a fool and that she won't die from injuries like this. Even Ishida tells him to stop because she might die. At this Mayuri states that a body he created won't die from this level of injuries. It turns out Nemu is his daughter, or more exact something he created using body and soul adoption techniques. He then says how he choses to treat is daughter is none of Ishida's business and slams her head against a wall. At that Ishida yells at him to stop, only to notice he can't move. Mayuri then explains that Ashisogi Jizou produces a poison that prevents movement in arms and legs. It is not, however, a tranquilizer, since it only blocks movement, and not other sensations, like pain. To demonstrate he stabs Ishida in the arm until he screams in pain. Mayuri complains that a man's scream isn't as good as a woman's and then orders Nemu to finish Ishida off. When she coughs again, he remembers she got cut, too, and stomps on her again for being so useless. Ishida tells him to stop again, and Mayuri asks him if he has a thing for helping women, even if they're enemies. Or perhaps it's the quincy pride quincies always go on about. When Ishida asks what he's talking about, Mayuri repeats that he's finished studying quincy. He's already tried tons of different stimuli on them: opened a skull alive, chopped up bodies, grinded bones, forced one to burn his own son to death... Basically studied them until they were a pile of lifeless limbs. While they were being studied they always swore on the pride of the quincy. He continues by explaining by the time he became president of the Institute of Technological Research quincies were already rare and watched by shinigami so he had to bribe the shinigami to be late rescuing the quincy and then he'd take their souls. The last one he got was an old man who kept screaming the name of his student or grandson. He then drops a picture of that man after he had finished studying him in front of Ishida. Mayuri doesn't remember his name. Suddenly there's a surge in spirit pressure and Ishida is standing, saying he'll tell Mayuri the name of the student: Uryuu Ishida. And the man was Souken Ishida, his teacher and grandfather. Ishida says he's glad Inoue isn't here because he couldn't let her see this fight, because he swears on the pride of the quincy that he will kill Mayuri.

     (!)