Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

Ichigo prepares to leave the Royal Palace to return to the Seireitei but is stopped by Hyosube, who claims that Ichigo cannot defeat Yhwach as he is now. Meanwhile, in the Wandenreich, Yhwach gathers the Stern Ritter to announce that he is naming Uryu, the last surviving Quincy in this world, as his successor. This sudden development causes tension among the Stern Ritter, including Bazz-B, who lashes out in frustration at Haschwalth. Even Uryu himself questions Yhwach's decision and asks for an explanation.

Yhwach sets his plan to end the world in nine days in motion by pulling the Seireitei into the Schatten Bereich for the Stern Ritter to invade. Haschwalth appears before Kyoraku and tells him that they have been ordered to exterminate the Soul Reapers forthwith. Haschwalth's words quickly become a reality as the Soul Reapers find themselves getting crushed by the opposition. Meanwhile, Bazz-B leads the Soldat into battle, but Hitsugaya and Rangiku stand in their way. Hitsugaya still doesn't have his Bankai, so how will he fight against Bazz-B's flames?

Cang Du arrives to tell Bazz-B that he will take over the job of finishing Hitsugaya using the stolen Bankai, Daiguren Hyorinmaru. Across the battlefield, the Soul Reapers continue to fight an uphill battle against the enemy invasion. Meanwhile, at the Department of Research and Development, Mayuri receives a call from Urahara, who had stayed behind in Hueco Mundo to search for a way to reclaim everyone's stolen Bankai. Urahara claims that he was able to come up with a solution based on the data gained from his earlier battle with Quilge. The Department of Research and Development uses Tenteikura to relay Urahara's message to all captains and lieutenants, including Soi Fon and Omaeda, who are facing BG9.

The tides of battle seemed to have turned after the captains reclaimed their stolen Bankai. However, the Stern Ritters release their Quincy Voll Stern Dich to drive the Soul Reapers deeper into a corner. Even Shinji Hirako, who had the upper hand using the power of his Sakanade, is struck down by Bambietta's bomb attacks. Fortunately, he is saved by Sajin Komamura, who has returned to the battlefield suited in armor. Meanwhile, Haschwalth makes his move against Kyoraku to further tip the scale of battle in favor of the Quincies, but his attack is prevented by Nanao's barrier. Praising Nanao's skills, Haschwalt proceeds to conquer her barrier first before getting to Kyoraku.

More and more reports of deaths and injuries come in as the Soul Reapers continue to get obliterated by their enemies. With the Thirteen Court Guard Squads' total military strength now down to less than 30 percent, Head Captain Kyoraku orders every remaining squad member on the battlefield to regroup at the nearest squad barracks. Meanwhile, Kensei Muguruma joins the battle against Masculine, who has already defeated Shuhei Hisagi, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa. However, Kensei is taken aback by how weak his opponent is. Rojuro Ohtoribashi, who had also come to help, observes the fight and determines he can sit this one out. Just then, a battered Hisagi wakes up and tries desperately to warn the two captains about Masculine's true powers.

Ichigo completes his training at the Royal Palace and sets out immediately upon learning that the invasion by the Quincies has already begun. En route to the Seireitei, Ichigo contacts Urahara and asks everyone to hold out until he arrives, promising that he will take care of the rest. Meanwhile, Haschwalth takes Uryu to the execution grounds in Silbern, where he mercilessly executes Cang Du and BG9 for losing to the Soul Reapers. Haschwalth then reveals to Uryu the secret behind Yhwach's existence. Elsewhere, a fearless Rukia swings her Sodenoshirayuki in battle as she takes on Äs Nödt.

Isane and Yachiru are treating the wounded Kensei and Rojuro when they are attacked by Gwenael, a Quincy who not only possesses the ability to disappear physically but can also erase his existence from his opponents' memories. Fortunately, Yachiru is able to rely on her natural instinct and reflexes in each of her "first battles" with the enemy. Getting the upper hand, Yachiru goes on the offensive by releasing her Zanpakuto, much to the surprise of Isane, who has never seen Yachiru's Shikai and its abilities. But just as Yachiru is backing Gwenael into a corner, a new enemy enters the scene.

Kenpachi defeats Gremmy, but his moment of victory is cut short when he is suddenly struck by Candice's thunderbolt attack. Meninas, Giselle, and Liltotto also join Candice to take down Kenpachi, who is considered to be a Special Threat. The Soul Reapers of Squad 11 try to fight back to protect their captain but are quickly wiped out by the four girls' awesome powers. Rukia and Byakuya sense the drop in Kenpachi's Spiritual Pressure and are racing to his aid when they detect another familiar Spiritual Pressure approaching from the skies above. Meanwhile, as if he was awaiting the owner of that Spiritual Pressure to descend upon the Soul Society, Yhwach also begins to set his next plan in motion.

Ichigo and the Soul Reapers try to stop Yhwach upon learning that his real target lies within the Royal Palace. However, their efforts are thwarted by Uryu, who stands in Ichigo's way in order to allow Yhwach safe passage to the Royal Palace. Although he knew their positions as Soul Reaper and Quincy would someday put them at odds with each other, Ichigo is still shocked by Uryu's unexpected betrayal. Still processing the situation with Orihime and Chad, who have just arrived from Hueco Mundo, Ichigo begins to remember the days he and Uryu fought side by side. Realizing what matters most, Ichigo makes the decision to take action. Meanwhile, Rukia and Renji face Bazz-B while Ikkaku and Yumichika take on Giselle. Cornered by the Soul Reapers, Giselle calls out for help.

Ikkaku, Yumichika, and the Arrancars work together to fight off Giselle's zombies. But the group is shocked when Giselle reveals her next pawn, who is none other than Captain Hitsugaya of Squad 10. The zombified Hitsugaya mercilessly cuts down Ikkaku, Yumichika, and Charlotte, then goes after Mayuri. However, Mayuri appears unfazed by Hitsugaya's attacks and even goes so far as to say that he'd like to test a new drug on the zombified captain. Meanwhile, Byakuya is taking on Robert and the other Stern Ritters when Hisagi arrives to assist in the battle. However, Hisagi goes after an unexpected target...

Yhwach finally steps through the main entrance of the Royal Palace. Accompanied by Haschwalth and Uryu, the Quincy King is preparing to advance toward the Greater Palace when they are stopped by Senjumaru Shutara of Squad Zero. Shutara orders the Soul King's Blades to take out the uninvited guests, but they cannot reach Yhwach because of Nianzol, who has appeared from the shadows to protect his king. However, Shutara does not seem fazed by this turn of events. Meanwhile, Ichigo and his friends are preparing to leave for the Royal Palace using the cannon built under the former Squad 12 barracks when Ganju suddenly appears.

Yhwach escapes from the cage surrounding Squad Zero's fake Royal Palace to confront Hyosube, who is protecting the real Royal Palace. Yhwach demands Hyosube let him enter. Instead, Hyosube draws his giant brushlike Zanpakuto and warns the Quincy King to watch his tone before kicking him out of the main entrance to the palace. Meanwhile, back at the fake Royal Palace, the remaining Squad Zero members continue to engage Yhwach's Royal Guards. Kirinji aggressively attacks Haschwlath while Oh-Etsu struggles before Nakk Le Vaar's deadly powers. Finally, Shutara is left to take on Uryu.

Yhwach performs Auswählen to bestow power to his fallen Royal Guards and activate their Voll Stern Dich forms. What follows is a fierce battle between the Royal Guards and Squad Zero: Shutara vs. Gerard, Hikifune vs. Pernida, Kirinji vs. Nakk Le Vaar, and Oh-Etsu vs. Lille. As the battle escalates, Squad Zero decides to use their ace in the hole, which is so powerful that its massive Spiritual Pressure can even be felt below at the Soul Society and the World of the Living. Meanwhile, the deadly battle between Yhwach and Hyosbue reaches its climax.