Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

The Soul Society's Department of Research & Development is observing a sudden surge in the number of Hollows being destroyed in the World of the Living, raising concerns among staff. Meanwhile, Soul Reapers Ryunosuke Yuki and Shino Madarame arrive in Karakura Town as its newest assigned protectors. But the two quickly find themselves outmatched by the Hollows they encounter. Just when all seems lost, they are saved by Substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends. Two days later, a recovered Ryunosuke gets to know more about Ichigo and his friends as they share a meal together, when a masked man suddenly appears before the group. Meanwhile, strange incidents also begin to take place across the Soul Society.

Ichigo and his friends hear the news from Ryunosuke's Soul Phone that the Soul Society has suffered heavy casualties following an assault by unknown intruders. The next day, a still restless Ichigo is patrolling the town when he is suddenly visited by Nel Tu and Pesche Guatiche—Arrancars who accompanied Ichigo during his brief time in Hueco Mundo. The two Arrancars have come to seek Ichigo's help explaining that their home world, Hueco Mundo, is also under attack by an unknown enemy. Unable to ignore the situation, Ichigo and his friends decide to set out for Hueco Mundo with help from Kisuke Urahara.

With help from Kisuke Urahara, Ichigo and his friends arrive in Hueco Mundo to confront Quilge Opie and learn that their latest enemy are Quincies. Meanwhile, captains of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads are also coming to the same conclusion regarding the identity of the intruders who infiltrated the Soul Society to declare war against Head Captain Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto. After hearing the full report, Yamamoto orders all captains to prepare for the coming war, five days from now. Elsewhere, Yhwach, leader of the Wandenreich, plots his next move.

The Wandenreich mobilizes its elite force, the Stern Ritter, to annihilate the Soul Society. Creating massive flaming pillars of Reishi as a distraction, the Stern Ritter easily enter the Soul Society to bring carnage to the Soul Reapers. Within minutes, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads suffer heavy casualties. The Squad captains rush to join the front lines, but even their attacks are ineffective against the enemies. Left with no other option, Byakuya Kuchiki and several other captains decide to perform Bankai in the hopes of turning the tide of war. But their hope quickly turns into further despair...

The Soul Reapers find temporary solace in learning that Ichigo is on his way to the Soul Society. But Quilge Opie uses his power to imprison Ichigo inside the Garganta. As he tries to break free, Ichigo begins to hear, through his Soul Phone, the screams of the Soul Reapers falling to the enemy's onslaught. Amid screams of terror and despair, a familiar voice reaches Ichigo, telling everyone not to give up. Meanwhile, having lost his Bankai to Äs Nödt, Byakuya Kuchiki orders Renji Abarai to figure out the enemy's ability while he acts as a decoy.

Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto confronts Yhwach for the first time in a thousand years. Stern Ritter members NaNaNa Najahkoop, Äs Nödt, and Bazz-B join the fray but are quickly defeated by Genryusai. Despite losing his subordinates before his eyes, Yhwach condemns them for their foolish actions, further convincing Genryusai that his old nemesis has not changed at all. As Yhwach finally draws his sword against Genryusai, the Soul Reapers notice an abnormal change taking place across the Seireitei.

Shigekuni Genryusai Yamamoto learns that the Yhwach he defeated was an impostor. The real Yhwach then reveals himself and easily kills Genryusai, sending a wave of shock and devastation across the Soul Reapers, especially Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake. Mocking how weak Genryusai and the Thirteen Court Guard Squads have become over the last thousand years, Yhwach orders the Stern Ritter to see through their mission to annihilate the Soul Society, sending the Soul Reapers into further despair. Just when all hope seems lost, a being with tremendous Spiritual Pressure signals his arrival by bursting through the skies above the Seireitei.

Rescue efforts are being made across the Seireitei to find and help those who've survived the Stern Ritter attack. Meanwhile, Ichigo visits the Squad 4 barracks to check up on Renji and Rukia, who are receiving medical treatment for their injuries. He then meets with Mayuri Kurotsuchi about fixing his broken Tensa Zangetsu. However, Mayuri explains that once a Bankai is destroyed, it can never be restored to its original state. Afterward, Mayuri takes a still-shaken Ichigo outside to join the rest of the Thirteen Court Guard Squad captains, where they await the arrival of Squad Zero from the Royal Palace.

Squad Zero brings Ichigo back to the Royal Palace to prepare for the coming battle. Ichigo's first stop is Kirinden, where he and his friends receive Tenjiro Kirinji's unconventional yet very effective style of medical treatment. Fully recovered, Ichigo leaves with Renji to head to Gatonden and see Kirio Hikifune, who gives them a surprisingly warm welcome. Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, Kyoraku is appointed as the new Head Captain and Squad 1 captain to lead the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. As his first act as Head Captain, Kyoryaku decides to share with Central 46 his plan to help strengthen their forces.

Inside the Soul Society's Central Underground Great Prison's lowest level, known as "Muken," Kenpachi Zaraki removes his eye patch to fight Retsu Unohana, a.k.a. Yachiru Unohana, "The First Kenpachi." As the battle escalates, the two begin to reminisce about the day they first met and fought in the Rukon District, which ended with Kenpachi learning to enjoy the thrill of battle. However, Unohana alone realizes how the same incident has also affected Kenpachi's powers in a negative way. Meanwhile, in the Royal Palace, Ichigo and Renji head to Hoohden to meet Oh-Etsu Nimaiya, the man who is said to have created the Zanpakuto.

Ichigo is kicked out of the Royal Palace by Oh-etsu Nimaiya for failing his test. When Ichigo next opens his eyes, he finds himself standing in front of his house in the World of the Living. Too ashamed to face his family and friends, Ichigo runs off to seek shelter at his workplace, Unagiya. But he is soon found by his father, Isshin, who appears before Ichigo dressed as a Soul Reaper to take him back. Returning home, Isshin explains to Ichigo that he cannot expect to fix his broken Bankai because his son doesn't know anything about himself. Deciding that the time has finally come, Isshin reveals his past to Ichigo, including the story of how he first met his mother, Masaki, and the truth surrounding her. It all began on a rainy day...

Squad 10 Captain Isshin Shiba of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads decides to not report his encounter with the Quincy named Masaki Kurosaki in the World of the Living to the Head Captain. Unable to stop thinking about the girl who saved his life, Isshin decides to pay Masaki another visit. Meanwhile, Ryuken Ishida's mother, Izumi, condemns Masaki for disregarding her position as a Quincy to help a Soul Reaper. Ryuken is intervening to defend Masaki from his mother when Masaki suddenly collapses. Ignoring Izumi's orders, Ryuken storms out of the mansion with Masaki in his arms to find a way to save her life. Just then, Isshin appears.

Ichigo learns that he is the child born of a Soul Reaper and a Quincy. Finally understanding the truth behind his heritage, Ichigo decides to return to Hoohden with a renewed resolve to finish what he has started. Meanwhile, the Soul Reapers are seen training or seeking new powers to prepare for the next battle. Back at Hoohden, Ichigo passes the Asauchi test and is brought to the next stop by Oh-Etsu, who tells Ichigo that he must now bid farewell to his Zangetsu.

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.