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Bleach · Story arc

The Substitute

Rukia gives her powers to Ichigo to save his family from a Hollow. From that night on the Karakura high-schooler hunts Hollows in her place, discovers the Urahara Shop, clashes with the town's last Quincy and is defeated when the Soul Society comes to take Rukia back.

It is the series' 'episodic' arc: every Hollow has a human story, from Sora, Orihime's brother, to Shrieker, dragged into Hell, up to Grand Fisher, the killer of Ichigo's mother. Uryū's bait challenge summons a Menos Grande and awakens Chad's and Orihime's powers. Then Renji and Byakuya arrive: Ichigo loses, Rukia is taken away, and Urahara trains him to win back his powers.

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TS
Position
Arc 1 of 17
Saga
Substitute Soul Reaper Saga
Canon status
Canon
Manga
1-70
Anime
ep. 1-20

Arc events(11)

  1. Sōken Ishida's deathIchigo's childhoodUryū's grandfather is killed by Hollows while the Soul Reapers arrive too late; his body ends up in Mayuri's laboratory. Uryū swears hatred against Soul Reapers.
  2. Masaki's deathIchigo's childhoodSix years before the story, on the riverbank, Masaki dies shielding Ichigo from the Hollow Grand Fisher. Ichigo, nine years old, believes it was his fault.
  3. Rukia gives her powers to IchigoSubstitute Soul ReaperThe Hollow Fishbone D attacks the Kurosaki Clinic. The wounded Rukia runs Ichigo through with her sword to transfer part of her powers: he takes them all and fells the Hollow in one stroke.
  4. Ichigo vs Acidwire (Sora Inoue)Substitute Soul ReaperOrihime's brother, turned Hollow, returns to take her with him. Orihime recognises him; Sora wounds himself so as not to kill her and is purified by Ichigo.
  5. Ichigo vs Shrieker: the gates of HellSubstitute Soul ReaperTo save little Yūichi's soul, Ichigo faces Shrieker, a Hollow who was a murderer in life. Defeated, Shrieker is not purified: the gates of Hell open and drag it inside.
  6. Ichigo vs Grand FisherSubstitute Soul ReaperOn the anniversary of his mother's death, at the cemetery, Ichigo meets the Hollow that killed her. Rukia lets him fight alone; Ichigo wounds it, but Grand Fisher flees.
  7. Don Kanonji and the abandoned hospitalSubstitute Soul ReaperDuring a live broadcast of the show 'Bra-ra', Don Kanonji nearly turns a soul chained to the hospital into a Hollow. Ichigo steps in on camera and purifies it.
  8. Uryū's challenge and the Menos GrandeSubstitute Soul ReaperUryū challenges Ichigo to a Hollow-hunting contest by scattering bait all over Karakura. Dozens of Hollows and a Menos Grande show up; Ichigo and Uryū drive it back together, while Chad and Orihime awaken their powers.
  9. Rukia's arrestSubstitute Soul ReaperOn a rainy night Renji and Byakuya come to Karakura to take Rukia back to the Soul Society. Uryū is knocked out; Ichigo takes on Renji, but Byakuya cuts him down in an instant and strips him of his powers.
  10. The Shattered ShaftSubstitute Soul ReaperIn the shop's basement, Urahara severs Ichigo's Chain of Fate and throws him into a shaft: if he doesn't become a Soul Reaper before the chain wears away entirely, he will become a Hollow. Ichigo finds Zangetsu in his inner world and climbs out with the cleaver.
  11. Yoruichi trains Chad and OrihimeSubstitute Soul ReaperWhile Ichigo trains beneath the shop, the talking cat Yoruichi teaches Chad and Orihime to control their newly awakened powers, in preparation for the invasion of the Soul Society.

Related locations(11)

Related characters(26)

Divisions & Factions(4)