Bleach · Story arc
The Lost Substitute Shinigami
Seventeen months after Aizen, Ichigo lives without powers. Kūgo Ginjō's Xcution promises to give them back to him through Fullbring — but it is a trap to steal it.
Tsukishima rewrites the memories of Ichigo's family and friends, Ginjō is revealed as the first Substitute Soul Reaper and steals his Fullbring. Rukia arrives with a sword carrying the spiritual pressure of all the captains and gives Ichigo back his Soul Reaper powers; in the final fight Ichigo defeats Ginjō.
- Position
- Arc 12 of 17
- Saga
- Fullbring Saga
- Canon status
- Canon
- Manga
- 424-479
- Anime
- ep. 343-366
Arc events(6)
- The first Substitute Soul ReaperDecades earlierYears before Ichigo, Kūgo Ginjō receives the Substitute Soul Reaper badge from Ukitake. On discovering it also serves to watch him, he rebels, kills some Soul Reapers and disappears.
- Ichigo and XcutionFullbringSeventeen months after Aizen, Kūgo Ginjō offers Ichigo a way to get his powers back: Fullbring. Inside Riruka's Dollhouse Ichigo trains and turns his substitute badge into a weapon.
- Book of the EndFullbringTsukishima strikes Ichigo's family and friends with his bookmark, inserting himself into their memories: Orihime, Chad, Karin, Yuzu and the others treat him as a lifelong friend, and Ichigo is left alone.
- Ginjō steals the FullbringFullbringOnce Ichigo completes his Fullbring, Ginjō and Tsukishima tear it from him and share it among the Fullbringers. Ginjō reveals he is the first Substitute Soul Reaper.
- Rukia gives Ichigo his powers backFullbringRukia runs Ichigo through with a sword made by Urahara and charged with the spiritual pressure of all the captains. Ichigo becomes a Soul Reaper again, with a new look, right in front of Ginjō.
- Ichigo vs GinjōFullbringThe captains take on the Fullbringers — Byakuya against Tsukishima, Kenpachi against Giriko, Renji against Jackie, Hitsugaya against Yukio — while Ichigo defeats Ginjō, who dies.