Having reforged his Zanpakuto under Squad Zero's training, Ichigo Kurosaki returns to Soul Society as Yhwach launches a second Wandenreich invasion, this time with Uryu Ishida standing among the Sternritter in an apparent betrayal. Rukia and Renji come back from their own training with new power as the Gotei 13 braces for the assault. The Separation is the second cour of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc.