- Before the War -
- We are introduced to two rookie Shinigami, Yuki Ryuunosuke and his companion Madarame Shino, who are sent to Karakura Town to take over guardian duties there. Shortly after arriving, they are attacked by a large group of hollows and nearly killed. However, Kurosaki Ichigo and his friends arrive in the nick of time to save them.
- Days later, Ryuunosuke regains consciousness in Ichigo's room, where he is reunited with Shino. Ichigo and his friends brief the pair on an unusual number of hollow appearances occurring in the area, and offer to lend a hand while the rookies find their bearings. Only Ishida Uryu opts out.
- While Ichigo is helping the rookie Shinigami, Ishida conducts an investigation. He found evidence that someone made use of hollow bait at the scene where Yuki Ryuunosuke and Shino were attacked. He deduces that someone is leaving him a trail to follow, and, with the possibility of a trap in mind, he follows the trail.
^ Ishida comes across a man in a white uniform. From behind, Ishida sees the man crushing hollow bait before running off into the night. Once the mystery man stops, he turns to face Ishida. He introduces himself as Quilge Opie, a Quincy.
^ Ishida is stunned by the arrival of a Quincy, all of which he thought dead and gone besides himself and his father. He confronts the self-proclaimed Quincy, threatening him for information. Quilge demonstrates his abilities, drawing in Reishi from the surroundings and firing off bolts of energy. A quick flash of a Quincy charm wraps up the demonstration. Ishida is convinced, and Quilge offers to guide him to the Quincy base, the Wandenreich.
- Meanwhile, in the Soul Society, a battle suddenly breaks out. The scale is small, only involving a handful of powerful attackers ambushing a group of Shinigami, however the ramifications of this fight are enormous.
^ Shortly after receiving a report of the incident, Yamamoto Genryuusai is confronted by a small group wearing white uniforms. He is at first annoyed by their appearance, recognizing them as Quincy, but this soon turns to fury as a large man (Driscoll Berci) steps forward to drop the broken sword of 1st Squad Vice-Captain Sasakibe Choujiro. The Quincy immediately retreat, their threat delivered. Yamamoto calls for the Squad Captains to gather.
^ The Quincy insurgents return to their leader, Yhwach, flanked by his number two Jugram Haschwalth. They deliver a report, and Yhwach comments that things are just about ready.
- Back in Karakura Town, Ryuunosuke receives a call. He and Shino have been called back to the Soul Society to attend Sasakibe Choujiro's funeral. Ichigo and company are left in a somber mood, wondering where Ishida might be.
- Ishida's eyes are wide as Quilge Opie guides him through the grounds of the Wandenreich. Everywhere he looks there are Quincies. Hundreds, if not thousands of them. He ponders why he was never told about this place, and why he was led to believe that the Quincies were no more.
^ Quilge takes Ishida to Jugram Haschwalth, then departs to prepare for his next assignment. Haschwalth takes Ishida's questions, telling him about the injustice perpetrated against the Quincy by the Shinigami and their leaders. He tells Ishida that the Quincies' ultimate goal is to remake the world to fit reflect their values.
^ Although he was skeptical of Haschwalth's words at first, Ishida finds himself agreeing with his words, accompanied by a strange sensation in the back of his mind. Haschwalth informs Ishida that he has the ability to grant power to Quincies that join in their cause. Ishida accepts the invitation to work towards a new world, unaware that he has been manipulated. Haschwalth hands Ishida off to another Quincy, then returns to Yhwach's side.
^ Haschwalth tells Yhwach that he has recruited Ishida Uryu. We then learn about Haschwalth's ability. He is able to pull power from one source and distribute it to any number of vessels (i.e. the Quincy). At the same time, those that receive this power are influenced, resulting in a kind of soft brainwashing. Yhwach notes that the time has come to gather the Sternritter.
