Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

The Department of Research & Development in Soul Society got into a panic after detecting that Hollows in Human World are being destroyed. Rookie Soul Reapers Ryunosuke Yuki and Shino Madarame were attacked by Hollows soon after they arrived at Karakura town. Just when the unexpected attack left them in a desperate situation, the substitute Soul Reaper Ichigo and his friends made a timely rescue.

From Ryunosuke's Soul Pager, Ichigo found out about the invaders' attack on the Soul Society, which caused heavy casualties. Too preoccupied to sleep, he went on a patrol in the town and met his old friends, Nel Tu and Pesche Guatiche. They came to ask for his help because of the attack on Hueco Mundo. Just before they were leaving for the Hueco Mundo, Kisuke Urahara appeared.

After arriving at Hueco Mundo with Urahara's help, Ichigo and his friends confronted Quilge Opie, and found the invaders to be Quincys. Meanwhile, captains of Thirteen Court Guard Squads found out the same after Squad 12's report. During the previous attack, the enemies announced to the Head Captain, Yamamoto, that a war would start in five days. Yamamoto ordered all captains to prepare...

The Vandenreich started the war against Soul Society with giant flames of Reishi. The Sternritter caused heavy casualties in the thirteen squads within minutes. Captains joined the battle but their attacks oddly had no effect on the enemies. Byakuya Kuchiki and a few other captains decided to use Bankai...

The Soul Reapers are relieved knowing that Ichigo has come to the rescue, but Ichigo got locked up in Garganta by Quilge Opie. Just as Ichigo thought he had lost contact with the department of R&D, he heard something amid their roars and screams... Byakuya chose to confront As Nodt, the one who had stolen his Bankai, and ordered Renji to observe the enemy's abilities from the battle...

Yamamoto and Yhwach met again after a thousand years. NaNaNa Najahkoop, As Nodt, and Bazz-B intended to join the battle but were defeated by Yamamoto with one blow. Yhwach was indifferent and even despised them for being stupid. Yamamoto deemed that his attitude was still unchanged. Seeing Yhwach finally draw his sword, Yamamoto... Meanwhile, the Soul Reapers noticed an anomaly in the Seireitei.

The Yhwach standing in front of Yamamoto is fake. The real Yhwach defeated Yamamoto with one blow, which terrified Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake. Yhwach recounts how the 13 squads and Yamamoto have changed. The Sternritter is destroying Soul Society, and Seireitei is on the brink of collapse. Amid desperation, a strong spiritual pressure appeared in the sky above Seireitei.

The Sternritter disappeared from Seireitei, and everyone started to save the wounded. Ichigo visited Renji and Rukia, who were receiving treatment in Squad 4's dormitory. With Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu broken, Mayuri explained to him how Bankai gets destroyed. Ichigo wavered after hearing his words and followed him. The captains lined up and waited for Squad 0 coming from the Soul King Palace.

Squad 0 took Ichigo to Soul King Palace. At Kirinden, he got treated by Tenjirō Kirinji, and the healing effect was excellent. Ichigo and Renji, who had recovered from their physical injuries, went to Gatonden, where Kirio Hikifune is. And an unexpected treatment awaited them too. After taking over as the new head captain and captain of Squad 1, Kyōraku proposed a plan in front of Central 46.

In the base level of Central Underground Prison, Muken, Kenpachi Zaraki fought the first generation of "Kenpachi", Retsu Unohana, also known as Yachiru Unohana. During which the two recalled their first fight in Rukon. Unohana saw a hidden truth from the power of delighted Kenpachi. Ichigo and Renji went to Hooden. The one waiting for them there, Ōetsu Nimaiya, is said to be "God of the Sword".

Ichigo, deemed unqualified by Ōetsu, was expelled from Soul King Palace and sent home to Human World. Feeling ashamed, Ichigo fled the house and asked his boss to take him in. Isshin came to Ichigo as a Soul Reaper and told Ichigo that he couldn't restore his Bankai without knowing about his past. He started to tell Ichigo about his parents' encounter and the truth about his mother Masaki.

Isshin Shiba, the captain of Squad 10, did not report to Head Captain about his encounter with Quincy Masaki Kurosaki in Human World and decided to see her again. Masaki helped a Soul Reaper as a Quincy and was berated by Ryuken Ishida's mother. Ryuken wanted to help Masaki, but her body started to change abnormally. Ryuken disobeyed his mother and left the house with Masaki when Isshin appeared.

Knowing the truth about his parents and himself, Ichigo decided to return to Hooden. The Soul Reapers in Soul Society are all preparing for the next battle. They either start training from the basics or pursue new powers. Everyone strives to become a better version of themselves. Ichigo also progresses with Asauchi, but Oetsu informes him that he will have to say goodbye to Zangetsu here...

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 the memory of his opponents.

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.

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.

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.

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.