Visored Training

Visored Training is an event comprising the bulk of the Arrancar Invasion that takes place over the course of a month and a half: having come to terms with the fact that he can no longer suppress his inner Hollow and must instead learn how to control it, Ichigo Kurosaki seeks out the mysterious Visored for assistance while his friends, who have discovered that they are not strong enough to face the new Arrancar threat yet, begin their own training with different individuals as the coming war looms over them.

Prelude[]

After Orihime Inoue finishes healing Rukia Kuchiki on the night of Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez's invasion, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai is shocked by her swift recovery, which causes Rukia to observe how incredibly fast it was and thank Orihime while Chappy tearfully hugs her. When told by Rukia that she is getting stronger all the time, Orihime begins to deny this, but Ichigo Kurosaki interrupts by asking Orihime if she finished healing Rukia.^[2]

Upon seeing the solemn look on Ichigo's face, Rukia wonders if he feels responsible for her injuries and demands that he stop sulking since her injuries were her own fault and she does not need him to protect her. With Ichigo accepting this, Rukia suggests he talk to Kisuke Urahara about his inner Hollow because he might know something about it after training Ichigo, only for Ichigo to explain that Urahara already knows about it and would have said something before they went to Soul Society if he knew how to fix it, which means that he probably does not know how to suppress it either, before concluding that he is grateful for Urahara training him and does not want to bother him with any more problems.^[3]

During this, in the Karakura Hospital Study Chamber, a fatigued Uryū Ishida leans against one of the windows and mentally notes that the vibrating Reiatsu has stopped emanating from outside before dodging a powerful Heilig Pfeil from Ryūken Ishida when it slams into the ground where he was standing. When Ryūken questions if he is worried about the Shinigami, Uryū claims to not know what he is talking about and asserts that he is only concerned about whether or not this game Ryūken is playing can really restore his Quincy powers.^[4]

Upon being asked by Ryūken if he does not trust his father, Uryū bluntly states that it is hard to and points out that it is extremely unclear how dodging Ryūken's Heilig Pfeil in a room made of hardened silver and glass is going to make him a Quincy again. However, Ryūken simply moves to a startled Uryū with Hirenkyaku and promises that it will work if Uryū survives before firing another Heilig Pfeil. The next morning, Yuzu Kurosaki goes to Ichigo's bedroom to wake him up, only to discover that he is not in his bed or anywhere else in the room.^[5]

After almost finding a terrified Kon under the sheets, Yuzu informs Isshin Kurosaki that Ichigo is not in the house, which leads him to question if Rukia is. In response, Rukia comes out and inquires if something is wrong, prompting Isshin to note that she is alright and a concerned Yuzu to ask her if she knows where Ichigo is since he is missing. Shortly afterward, Rukia runs through Karakura Town and questions where Ichigo is as Ichigo returns to the park where he confronted Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo. Upon remembering his confrontation with Grimmjow, Ichigo's left sclera begins to turn black while he realizes that it cannot go on like this.^[6]

Meanwhile, at Karakura High School, Misato Ochi expresses shock at Ichigo being outright absent instead of skipping class in addition to Uryū, Yasutora Sado, and Rukia sharing the same status, though she begins class regardless. On the rooftop of the school, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya writes up his report on his Denreishinki prior to his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, pushing the back of his head between her breasts and covering his eyes as she challenges him to guess who she is. In response, an annoyed Hitsugaya demands to know what she is doing by name, which leads her to praise his deductive skills in surprise and wonder why he is not in class despite wearing the school uniform.^[7]

Upon learning that Hitsugaya is writing his report, Rangiku assumes that he mentioned how easy Gentei Kaijo made their battles, but is mortified to learn that the Arrancar they fought were just Gillians and that them needing Gentei Kaijo to defeat foot soldiers means that they cannot take the Arrancar lightly. Simultaneously, at the Urahara Shop, Jinta Hanakari raises a healed Ururu Tsumugiya's fist into the air and cheers her on, but is annoyed when she does not join him in being happy since he is doing this for her. While Ururu points out that she should be resting since she only just recovered, Jinta continues forcing her to celebrate, which prompts Urahara to warn them to not play roughly. Suddenly, Sado appears before Urahara, and when the latter cheerfully inquires about what he can do for him, Sado kneels on the ground and requests that Urahara train him, to Urahara's surprise.^[8]

Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Ichigo enters a warehouse in an empty area, where Shinji Hirako admits that he is surprised Ichigo found the Visored so easily and observes that Ichigo has finally decided to join them as he stands with Hiyori Sarugaki, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma, Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadōmaru, and Hachigen Ushōda on multiple broken floors before him.^[9]

Training: The Visored[]

However, when Shinji clarifies that the Visored knew he would be coming and thus focused their Reiatsu on him so he could find it before presuming that Ichigo being here means that he is ready to join them, Ichigo bluntly denies this, to Shinji's astonishment, and asserts that he would have to be crazy to join the Visored before claiming that he is here to use them instead. With Shinji questioning what he just said, Ichigo explains that he will never join the Visored and that they are going to tell him how to control the Hollow inside him, and when Shinji counters that they do not intend to tell him anything, Ichigo proclaims that he will get it out of them by force, to Shinji's bemusement, prior to using his Substitute Shinigami Badge to leap out of his body in his Shinigami form.^[10]

Seeing Ichigo hurtling toward him and drawing his Shikai, Zangetsu, Shinji flip his Zanpakutō off the ground and into the air with his foot to grab it in midair while noting that Ichigo is going to be a handful and unsheathing his Zanpakutō with a vicious glare. Ichigo begins clashing fiercely and repeatedly with Shinji across the warehouse, but Shinji manages to repel him with a single slash of his Zanpakutō, sending Ichigo crashing into a pile of boxes with enough force to shatter them and causing him to curse as he emerges with blood on his face.^[11]

Nearby, Hiyori, Love, Rose, Kensei, Mashiro, Lisa, and Hachigen watch the two of them continue to battle with passive interest, and as Rose observes that Ichigo is not bad if he is holding his own against Shinji, Lisa scathingly points out that Shinji is not even trying, though Hachigen muses that Ichigo does not seem to be trying hard either. When Love asserts that Ichigo is obviously scared, Mashiro wonders what he is scared of, prompting Kensei to clarify that he is afraid of his inner Hollow and express frustration at the idea of actually letting him join their ranks.^[12]

Despite this, Hiyori merely sighs and begins walking forward, leaving Mashiro to ask her where she is going while Hiyori tells Hachigen to set up five more barriers, which he agrees to. With Ichigo and Shinji staring each other down in midair and Shinji preparing to tell Ichigo something, Hiyori hits him in the face with Super Harisen Slipper, sending him crashing through the existing barrier and flying outside. Upon seeing this, Hiyori reminds Hachigen that she told him to put up five more barriers, though a startled Hachigen points out that she did not give him any time to do so, and turns to Ichigo, whom she informs that the decision to join the Visored is not up to him, since they will be deciding whether or not he can join after seeing what he can do while exerting her Reiatsu, to Ichigo's intimidation. Hiyori elaborates that the Visored will readily teach him how to control his inner Hollow if he has got what it takes, but that he will be out of luck and likely killed by his inner Hollow consuming him if he is not.^[13]

When Hiyori turns away while ordering Ichigo to Hollowfy so she can see what he has got, Ichigo bluntly refuse to do so. In response, Hiyori reiterates that he has no choice and dons her own Hollow mask, taking the form of a skull with a large horn and a diamond pattern across its brow, as she promises to drag a shocked Ichigo's inner Hollow out of him by force if he is too cowardly to do so himself.^[14] Love, Rose, and Mashiro frantically protest her going this far, but Hiyori questions what Ichigo is afraid of since the name of the Visored stems from them having Hollow masks and gives her every reason to Hollowfy.^[15]

Warning Ichigo that she is is not as nice as Shinji is, Hiyori promises that he will die if he does not Hollowfy as well and rushes forward to attack him before Ichigo can react, resulting in a powerful explosion of force. Outside of the layered barrier being maintained by Hachigen, the other Visored watch apprehensively or with disinterest as Hiyori continues to assault Ichigo, and after a strained Hachigen responds to her questioning if he is okay by revealing that he is not, Mashiro looks up to see a bloodied and injured Ichigo panting in midair with his shihakushō left ragged and the sclera of his left eye beginning to turn black. As she pulls up her Hollow mask, Hiyori wonders if Ichigo still does not get it and tells him to not be afraid, though Ichigo denies that he is, before suggesting that he perform Bankai.^[16]

When Ichigo tells her to shut up in turn, Hiyori theorizes that he fears being unable to contain his inner Hollow if he performs Bankai against someone as strong as she is, but with Ichigo continuing to refuse to do so, Hiyori draws her Zanpakutō and pulls her Hollow mask down again while berating Ichigo as a miserable coward whom she cannot even stand to look at. After Hiyori declares that she will cut him down and end this if he still will not Hollowfy or perform Bankai, she attacks in a surge of Reiatsu, leaving Ichigo to block her slash with Zangetsu, which begins to crack under the strain, as he tries to deduce how Hiyori stays in control with her mask on and how she makes her Hollow obey her. With Hiyori slashing away from their clash, taking out a chunk of Zangetsu and drawing more blood from him, Ichigo mentally asserts that he should be able to figure out how Hiyori is doing this since she is right in front of him and he can see everything.^[17]

However, though Ichigo concludes that he will not Hollowfy or perform Bankai and risk opening up his Soul to his inner Hollow, Hiyori slashes him down the chest while he is distracted, causing Ichigo's consciousness to fade out and allowing Zangetsu to take control of his body by manifesting part of his mask on Ichigo's face and screaming in rage, to the astonishment of Hiyori and the other Visored. Grabbing Hiyori by the throat and shattering part of her mask, Zangetsu hurtles across the warehouse and slams her into one of the exposed pillars as he begins to choke her, leaving a terrified Hiyori to gasp for air while her Hollowfication begins to fade.^[18]

Suddenly, Shinji, Love, Rose, Kensei, Mashiro, Lisa, and Hachigen free Hiyori and pin Zangetsu against the ground below with their Zanpakutō in one swift movement, leaving him immobilized. After shattering Zangetsu's half-formed mask and freeing Ichigo from his control, Shinji asserts this is enough and asks Hiyori if she is satisfied, though a tearful Hiyori merely flinches in response, before informing Ichigo that he should know now that he cannot control his inner Hollow with his body or mind and that the Visored will hammer the control method into him because he passed.^[19] Some time later, in the Kurosaki Clinic, Yuzu tearfully proclaims Ichigo is never coming home, prompting Karin Kurosaki to assure her Ichigo will return in a few days.^[20]

However, Yuzu demands to know if Karin is not worried about him and assumes that Ichigo must have been kidnapped, to Karin's irritation, as Isshin walks in and wonders why she is crying. When Isshin attaches several clothespins to his beard and claims to be a bearded daruma in an attempt to cheer Yuzu up, Karin unceremoniously yanks several of them off his chin while claiming that he always looks like this, leaving Isshin to collapse in pain as Yuzu sees Rukia walk in and frantically asks her if she found Ichigo, only for Rukia to sadly confirm that she did not, to Yuzu's distress. Later that night, Rukia stands on the roof of the house and looks over Karakura Town while noting that there is no trace of Ichigo's Reiatsu anywhere and wondering where he is. Inside the house, Kon lays with a tearful Yuzu in her bed and calls Ichigo a terrible brother for making his little sister cry.^[21]

The next day, at the Visored warehouse, an unimpressed and sweating Ichigo simulates running on the Super Trainer, an exercise machine with handles attached to the platforms he is standing on, as the Visored lay around, with Shinji wondering what they will be having for lunch and telling Hiyori to make something for them, Hiyori refusing since she is not his mother, Rose asking Love if he has listened to the new Prince of Darkness CD yet, Love laughing in tears over how hilarious he finds the contents of the latest issue of Shonen Jump to be and ignoring Rose pointing out that Love never lets him read it, and Kensei wrapping his hand in athletic tape and telling Lisa to keep her eyes on Ichigo since she is on duty today.^[22]

When Lisa claims she is despite reading an erotic magazine and pretends to be counting Ichigo's repetitions when Kensei points this out, a frustrated Ichigo kicks the Super Trainer at Hiyori, who pulls Shinji into its path to block it with his face, and demands to know what he is doing. Despite Hiyori threatening to beat him up for this, Ichigo counters that he should do this to her since the Visored promised to teach him how to control his inner Hollow, but have instead left him running like a hamster on a makeshift exercise machine all day. Nearby, Mashiro and Hachigen enter through one of the shutters with bags of groceries as Ichigo declares the Visored are crazy and he is just as bad for agreeing to do this, though Hiyori simply confirms he is an idiot who should stop complaining since the Visored are going out of their way to train him.^[23]

While Ichigo refuses to be insulted by someone with a protruding tooth and denies this being training, Hiyori clarifies that his face is the bald part and claims that her unique teeth happen to be charming assets while Mashiro offers lunch to an appreciative Love. When Mashiro wonders why Ichigo and Hiyori are fighting, with Hiyori having escalated the argument to kicking Ichigo in the face, Love explains that he got tired of Hiyori's Super Trainer, and when Mashiro expresses shock at it taking him this long, Love asserts that it is Hiyori's fault for not explaining it properly, which Mashiro concurs with.^[24]

After Hiyori throws the Super Trainer at Ichigo's head and orders him to keep going until he drops from exhaustion, Shinji stops an aggravated Ichigo from attacking her and explains that the Super Trainer is meant to prepare Ichigo for his upcoming training, though Hiyori is irritated by him referring to it derogatorily. Shinji details how Ichigo will get more out of his real training the longer he can last on the Super Trainer and states that the Visored will teach him how to control his inner Hollow if he can use the Super Trainer for three consecutive days, but Ichigo stubbornly counters that he could use the Super Trainer for a week.^[25]

Revealing that he has already figured out how it is designed to drain Reiryoku, with the Visored having intended to measure his maximum Reiryoku output by seeing how many days he can keep running until he collapses, Ichigo proclaims that he could go for at least five consecutive days with the Reiryoku he currently has and does not want to waste that time, which is why he wants the Visored to just tell him how to control his inner Hollow since he does not have time to play around with them. In response, an unfazed Shinji yells at Ichigo to shut up, startling both him and the other Visored, and questions how he can claim that he does not have time when he does not even know how long it will take for the Hōgyoku to awaken, leaving Ichigo astonished by him knowing of the Hōgyoku.^[26]

With Shinji concluding that he should stop whining since he does not understand the Hōgyoku or Hollowfication, Ichigo inquires about how he knows about the Hōgyoku, which leads Shinji to reveal that he has known about the Hōgyoku, the Arrancar, and even Sōsuke Aizen for years. After leaping down to the floor where Ichigo is standing, Shinji holds his right hand splayed open up to Ichigo's face and promises to tell him all about it some other time before musing that even though the Visored wanted to get his Soul accustomed to their ways, Ichigo having attained Shikai and Bankai after becoming a Shinigami in a very short period of time means that he might be correct in wanting them to get right to teaching him how to Hollowfy.^[27]

While a bewildered Ichigo wonders how he knows this as well, Shinji dares him to get ready and uses Tanma Otoshi to render Ichigo unconscious before closing his unfocused eyes as Love hoists Ichigo over his shoulder. After telling Hachigen to set up a two-layered fault barrier, which he proceeds to do by erecting Hachigyō Sōgai around the exterior of the warehouse, Shinji enters the Study Chamber underneath the warehouse alongside the other Visored while warning Ichigo that he is going to completely Hollowfy soon and must consume his inner Hollow instead of letting it consume him, since he will die if he does not.^[28]

Simultaneously, on the side of a skyscraper within his inner world, Ichigo confronts Zangetsu, who sarcastically calls him a king and notes that it has been a while since they last met.^[29] The Visored congregate among the rocky spires and lay down Ichigo's unconscious body alongside Zangetsu. After ordering Hachigen to erect a barrier here as well and admonishing him for pouting despite his age, Shinji instructs him to bind Ichigo's body in addition, prompting Hachigen to drop five thick pillars onto Ichigo with Bakudō #75. Gochūtekkan.^[30]

Meanwhile, within his inner world, Ichigo faces Zangetsu, who questions why he looks so melancholy as Ichigo looks around the area and inquires about where Zangetsu is. When Zangetsu merely smirks in response, an angered Ichigo grasps the handle of Zangetsu, which leads Zangetsu to ask him if Zangetsu is the sword in Ichigo's hand or the one in his own while drawing a color-inverted Zangetsu from his back. After bringing up Ichigo wanting to know where Zangetsu is, Zangetsu leaps into the air and proclaims that he is Zangetsu before coming down on Ichigo with a slash that the latter blocks with Zangetsu. Back in the real world, this clash produces a surge of Reiatsu emanating from Ichigo that alarms the Visored sitting around the barrier containing him. With Shinji warning the others that it is coming, Mashiro suggests that they hide Zangetsu, but Love asserts that it would only make matters worse.^[31]

Lisa steels herself as Zangetsu takes control of Ichigo's body by forming half of his mask over the latter's face and casually destroying the five pillars keeping him down, which allows him to stand up with a feral grin. While Lisa has Hachigen open a small portion of the barrier so she can enter first since she is on duty today, Shinji asks her to not kill Ichigo, but she simply claims that this will only happen if he does not kill her first, and as Zangetsu grabs Zangetsu and rushes toward her, Lisa introduces herself and discards her Zanpakutō's sheathe to begin their battle. Simultaneously, in Ichigo's inner world, he blocks another attack from Zangetsu by bracing his left forearm against the back of Zangetsu and demands to know what Zangetsu did with Zangetsu.^[32]

In response, Zangetsu reiterates that he is Zangetsu and send Ichigo crashing into the building below by slashing his Zangetsu downward. After landing on the building as well, Zangetsu informs Ichigo that he and Zangetsu have always been one since they are both Ichigo's power, though he was simply a part of Zangetsu before, and reveals their changing relationship altered the appearance of the body they shared, comparing it to flesh covering bones during life and bones becoming exposed during death. Zangetsu details how his powers increasing caused him to become the dominant one and Zangetsu to become a part of him instead, which made it easier for him to dominate Ichigo's Soul every time the latter tried to draw on Zangetsu's powers.^[33]

In turn, Ichigo concludes that Zangetsu will become the center of his spiritual powers again if he defeats Zangetsu here. Though Zangetsu claims that this is impossible, Ichigo holds Zangetsu out in front of him and suggests that Zangetsu look at this before he makes this claim. However, Zangetsu simply holds out his own Zangetsu in the same stance and declares once more that it is impossible prior to performing Bankai alongside a stunned Ichigo,^[34] causing Ichigo's real-world body to stop in its tracks during the fight against Lisa as its Reiatsu begins surging, to her surprise. Upon seeing a white substance pouring out of a newly-formed hole in Ichigo's chest, Shinji observes that it is beginning.^[35]

Back in the inner world, the surging Reiatsu accompanying Ichigo and Zangetsu's Bankai releases tears though and obliterates the portions of the skyscraper they were standing on the side of, breaking it into three large chunks that fall away while Ichigo and Zangetsu stand in their opposite-colored Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, before springing forward to cross blades. After Ichigo questions when he learned Bankai, Zangetsu declares that he did so at the same time that Ichigo did and separates from him in a burst of oppositely-colored energy, only for Ichigo to move back to him with Shunpo and continue his assault as Zangetsu blocks and wonders why Ichigo is angry instead of having fun with this.^[36]

Telling Zangetsu to shut up, Ichigo repels him with another slash, sending Zangetsu smashing through two more skyscrapers, and fires a black Getsuga Tenshō at Zangetsu. However, Zangetsu simply dispels the Getsuga Tenshō by swiping his left hand through it, to Ichigo's astonishment, and moves up to clash with Ichigo once more prior to firing his own bright red Getsuga Tenshō, which engulfs Ichigo and obliterates the skyscraper behind him. Meanwhile, in the real world, Lisa performs Panty-Flash Tornado against Zangetsu, who has activated Tensa Zangetsu there as well, as Kensei notices that Lisa has been fighting for ten minutes.^[37]

Kensei has Hachigen open up the barrier once more so he can intercept Zangetsu with a powerful elbow to the chest before he can continue attacking Lisa, whom Kensei tells that her time is up. With Lisa leaving and Zangetsu springing up from the ground he was was sent crashing into to rush forward, Kensei spins his Shikai, Tachikaze, around by the ring on its hilt and introduces himself as the one who will kill Zangetsu. Outside the barrier, Shinji urges Ichigo to stop messing around and hurry before they are forced to kill him. At the same time, in Ichigo's inner world, Zangetsu stands apart from him with blood dripping from the tip of his blade as Ichigo pants with a large wound covering his chest. Reiterating that Ichigo is not good enough, Zangetsu points out how he was the first to use Getsuga Tenshō after they obtained Bankai, meaning that Ichigo is a stupid child trying to imitate the master.^[38]

Zangetsu suddenly moves to Ichigo before grabbing his sword by the blade, causing it to begin turning white from the point of contact with his hand. While Zangetsu concludes that he should give up because he is not good enough at Bankai, a stunned Ichigo sees his sword crumble and disappear.^[39] Outside the barrier in the underground Study Chamber, an injured Lisa pants heavily and asks Shinji how long she has to rest. After Shinji states that the eight of them fighting for ten minutes each gives her eighty minutes, Hiyori reminds him that Lisa cannot fight while she is resting and Hachigen wonders why he is being counted when he is maintaining the barrier, leaving Shinji irritated as Lisa internally admits that Zangetsu was much stronger than she expected and warns Kensei to be very careful.^[40]

Within the barrier, Kensei stabs Tachikaze into Zangetsu's left shoulder and rips it out in a spray of blood, only to be alarmed when the wound is instantly covered with white material through High-Speed Regeneration, prompting him to use Bakudantsuki to blow Zangetsu's left arm completely off his torso at the shoulder. Suddenly, a large mouth with a studded tongue emerges during the High-Speed Regeneration that begins on the stump of Zangetsu's left arm and surges toward Kensei in the form of a large worm, forcing him to use Bakudantsuki once more to destroy it as Zangetsu stands with a new, white left arm with shoulder spikes and talons on its fingers, which leads Kensei to note that he Hollowfies pretty fast.^[41]

Watching this, Lisa recalls how the internal battle fought to become able to Hollowfy at will usually lasts no more than an hour and concludes that the six of them getting ten minute-long turns means that this will be over the next time she enters the barrier. Meanwhile, within his inner world, Zangetsu breaks the tip of a stunned Ichigo's crumbling and whitened Tensa Zangetsu sword in his hand prior to reiterating that he is Zangetsu. After Ichigo simply glares at him, an unimpressed Zangetsu moves to him, grabs Ichigo by the face, and throws him through multiple skyscrapers as he wonders why Ichigo is standing there without a weapon.^[42]

While Ichigo regains his footing within the falling rubble, Zangetsu begins spinning his own sword around his finger by the chain attached to its hilt and asks Ichigo what the difference between a king and the horse he rides is. Ichigo is bewildered by this, but Zangetsu assures him that it is an important truth rather than a riddle or guessing game and elaborates that he is questioning what two beings identical in shape, ability, and strength use to decide which of them will be the king to lead the charge into battle and which will lend its strength to the other like a horse, thus determining the order of domination. When Ichigo does not respond, Zangetsu claims that instinct is what allows one being to dominate another and become king, as it fuels an insatiable hunger for battle and power and the will to mercilessly crush, tear apart, and cut up enemies in the form of a ravenous bloodlust.^[43]

Concluding that it manifests as the will to rip off skin, gouge flesh, crush bone, and mangle sinew, Zangetsu asserts that one must want to kill somewhere deep in their primordial unconscious and accuses a shocked Ichigo of lacking this indomitable drive, since he tries to fight with his head and defeat enemies with reason. After wondering how Ichigo can fight with a sheathed sword, Zangetsu proclaims that this is why Ichigo will never defeat him and throws his sword, which embeds itself in Ichigo's chest and pierces through his back to impale him. As he states that he refuses to lose to Ichigo, Zangetsu explains that, while he cannot speak for Zangetsu, he will never play horse to a king that is weaker than he is and be slain alongside him, which means that he will crush Ichigo and become the king himself if the latter is weaker than he is while moving to Ichigo and grabbing the hilt of the sword in Ichigo's abdomen with his right hand.^[44]

However, a dazed Ichigo ruminates on Zangetsu's mention of instinct and associates it with swords, seeking battle, and refusing to give control to Zangetsu, the former of which prompts him to grab Zangetsu's sword by the blade while the latter is pulling it out, causing it to begin turning black from the point of contact with his hand.^[45] Upon seeing the right sleeve of his coat turning black when the blackness coating the sword reaches it, a startled Zangetsu frantically lets go and leaps back, where he sees Ichigo staring at him with focused eyes once more as the latter remembers 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki. Suddenly, Ichigo wakes up unharmed, wielding Zangetsu, and lying on a platform surrounded by floating versions of the buildings from the Senzaikyū pavilion, causing him to wonder where he is.^[46]

When a manifestation of Kenpachi embeds his Zanpakutō into the ground next to Ichigo's head, Ichigo bolts up in fright as Kenpachi comments on him finally being awake, and when Ichigo addresses him as Kenpachi and questions what this place is, Kenpachi slashes at his head, which a startled Ichigo narrowly evades, and inquires about who Kenpachi is since he is just here to kill Ichigo before bringing his Zanpakutō down in a powerful slash. Managing to block this with Zangetsu, a bewildered Ichigo leaps back, leaving Kenpachi to slam his Zanpakutō into the ground, and asserts that this does not make sense because his battle with Kenpachi is over, only for Kenpachi to counter that nothing is over since a battle with swords is not a fistfight and does not end until one of the combatants is dead.^[47]

Though Ichigo declares that he has no reason to fight Kenpachi, the latter questions if Ichigo really needs a reason to fight, leaving Ichigo stunned while Kenpachi tells him that he seeks battle and elaborates that all who seek power also seek battle, though he does not know whether they seek battle to gain power or power to aid in battle. Proclaiming that they were born with the desire to fight, Kenpachi states that he and Ichigo were born to seek battle forever because it is the only way to gain power. With Kenpachi concluding that the only way for him to conquer is for him to take his sword and slay his enemy with no other path available to him, Ichigo's consciousness returns to his inner world.^[48]

Ichigo pulls the sword of Zangetsu's Tensa Zangetsu out of his abdomen and glares at a shocked Zangetsu with focused eyes once more. After twirling the sword around in his hand to grasp it by the handle instead of the blade, Ichigo leaps forward and impales Zangetsu with it. After a brief pause, blackness begins surging out of the stab wound on Zangetsu's back and spreading across his coat, leading the latter to curse and admit that Ichigo had some instinct to kill after all. With his body beginning to disintegrate from the legs up, Zangetsu decides to accept Ichigo as his king for now.^[49]

However, Zangetsu warns him to never forget that either of them can become the king or the horse and that he will throw Ichigo off and crush the latter's skull the moment he senses the slightest weakness in Ichigo. Zangetsu smiles at a silent Ichigo and advises him to not get killed until the next time they meet if Ichigo really wants to control his powers prior to the remainder of his body swelling up and exploding in an enormous surge of energy.^[50] Back in the real world, after narrowly evading a horizontal slash from Zangetsu by leaning backward and moving back with a handspring, Love is shocked to see blood spurt from a wound on his shoulder and looks at Zangetsu, who has gained completely white skin with markings, elongated hair and fur covering his wrists and ankles, taloned feet with an additional back toe on each ankle, a near-complete Hollow mask covering all but his right eye, and a long, thick tail protruding from his lower back, which leads Love to observe he looks completely Hollowfied.^[51]

Outside the barrier boxing them in, Lisa muses that Ichigo had been Hollowfied for sixty minutes when Love went in and that it is almost her turn before turning to Kensei and inquiring about how long the longest internal battle of any of the Visored was, which Kensei reveals was sixty-nine minutes and two seconds with Hiyori prior to clarifying that Ichigo's battle has lasted sixty-eight minutes and forty-four seconds. Back inside the barrier, Zangetsu points two fingers on his left hand at Love, who is startled alongside Lisa, and begins charging a Cero, causing Lisa to call out to Love in concern as the latter prepares to summon his own Hollow mask.^[52]

Though Mashiro is astonished at him being willing to Hollowfy as well, Rose reminds her that even Love would have to Hollowfy to repel such a powerful attack. Suddenly, Zangetsu's left shoulder begins cracking, with his right shoulder quickly following suit, and a startled Hiyori has Hachigen move to get Love out of the barrier as Zangetsu screams at his entire body cracking and explodes in a powerful surge of Reiatsu that fills the entire barrier. In the aftermath, the Visored gather around the barrier while the dust clears to reveal the husk of the Hollow form falling off of Ichigo, who stands with a smaller version of the Hollow mask covering his face. With the remnants of the Hollow form crumbling on the ground, Shinji has Hachigen dispel the barrier and approaches Ichigo apprehensively, only for the latter to collapse, causing his mask to slide off his face and fall face-up on the ground.^[53]

Despite Mashiro's uncertainty about him being alright, when Shinji asks Ichigo how he is feeling, a smiling Ichigo looks up and asserts that he is not bad, to Shinji's amusement, as he recalls Zangetsu's warning about taking over his body if he shows the slightest weakness and apologizes because he does not intend to let Zangetsu do this.^[54]

Aizen's Plans, Hinamori's Pain[]

Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Orihime walks down the street and notes that Ichigo was not at Karakura High School again today before taking a moment to search for his Reiatsu, which she is able to sense and uses to confirm that he is alright. Assuming that Ichigo is in the middle of secret training and that she should not go looking for him, Orihime recalls that Rukia is worried about him as well and wonders if Ichigo left without telling her anything. Upon remembering Ichigo's distraught face after the battle against Grimmjow, Orihime realizes she is gloomy due to being lonely since Sado and Uryū were not at school today either. As she decides to get Tatsuki Arisawa and go out to eat something interesting this weekend, Orihime recalls Tatsuki acting strangely as well and pauses somberly for a moment.^[55]

After she resolves to head over to Tatsuki's house tomorrow and find out what has been going on with her, Orihime is interrupted when Shinmura calls out to her, prompting Orihime to greet her, and inquires about the trustworthiness of the people staying with her, to Orihime's confusion. Upon learning that they carried something odd into her apartment earlier, Orihime runs inside the living room to find Hitsugaya and Rangiku standing before a gigantic monitor filled with static that is attached to the walls and floor by fleshy, tendril-like growths. Initially considering this to be awesome, Orihime quickly changes her mind and demands to know what it is.^[56]

An exasperated Hitsugaya notes that her timing could not be worse and identify himself to the monitor, which a technician in Soul Society switches to a feed of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. As Orihime stares in surprise at this, Yamamoto commends Hitsugaya for his swift work in setting up this link and reveals that they have discovered Aizen's true objective.^[57] In response, Orihime nervously observes that this sounds pretty serious and attempts to leave, but Yamamoto requests that she stay and listen because this concerns Humans as well, prompting a perturbed Orihime to stop and agree to do so.^[58]

Yamamoto notes it has been one month since Aizen escaped and that the Fifth Division captain's room, the Central Underground Assembly Hall, the Seijōtōkyorin, and the Daireishokairō are still being examined, with the latter three generally being off-limits to the point that few captains have any idea of what is within them. When Hitsugaya questions what is going on and what Yamamoto wants to tell them, Yamamoto recounts how 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake made an unusual discovery while investigating the Daireishokairō the other day, where he found that not only had certain documents relating to the Hōgyoku been accessed, but a body of literature unrelated to the Hōgyoku was accessed two days prior to Aizen's departure.^[59]

Upon inquiring about what this body of literature referred to, Hitsugaya is astonished to learn that it was about the Ōken, and when Orihime questions what this is, Rangiku explains how Soul Society has its own royal family that lets Central 46 oversee the realm and never interfere with the Gotei 13, to the point of none of the Shinigami having ever seen them. Affirming this, Yamamoto states that the monarch is called the Soul King, a symbolic yet revered figure in Soul Society, and that the Soul King Palace exists in a different dimension from the rest of Soul Society while being guarded by the Royal Guard, with the Ōken opening the gate to that dimension.^[60]

With Orihime realizing what this means, Yamamoto theorizes that he indeed wishes to murder the Soul King, but dismisses this as not being the immediate threat, prompting Hitsugaya to inquire about whether the body of literature that Aizen accessed pertains to the location of the Ōken. However, Yamamoto denies this since that secret has been passed down orally by the Captain-Commanders of the Gotei 13 for generations and cannot be found in any book prior to clarifying that Aizen accessed the literature documenting the creation of the Ōken and now knows how it was made, which leads Rangiku to assume that he could have already made his own Ōken.^[61]

Yamamoto explains that it is not so simple and that the immediate problem is the raw materials and conditions that Aizen needs: 100,000 Souls and a Jūreichi that is two ri in diameter are needed in order to create an Ōken. While Orihime picks up on the sheer number of Souls required for this, Yamamoto observes that they are not the only concern because a Jūreichi is an unusual phenomenon in the Human World, due to its location changing over time and its nature as a spiritually-charged area that Souls are drawn to, before concluding that the Jūreichi which Aizen is targeting is Karakura Town. With Orihime stunned by this, Yamamoto admits that 100,000 Souls and a Jūreichi are too abstract as terms and bluntly asserts that Aizen creating the Ōken as indicated in the literature will carve Karakura Town and its residents out of existence.^[62]

However, when a trembling and mortified Orihime wonders if there is anything they can do to stop Aizen, Yamamoto promises her that they will find a way because that is why the Gotei 13 exists. As Orihime stares in amazement at this and Rangiku smiles at her, Yamamoto elaborates that they also have some time to prepare due to the Hōgyoku remaining in a dormant state for approximately four months after being removed from a Soul before it can completely awaken, which means that Aizen cannot assemble his army until then and that this is when he will make his move. After declaring that the battle will come in the winter, Yamamoto orders Hitsugaya and Rangiku to sharpen their skills and prepare themselves for battle until then before turning his attention to Orihime, whom he requests the help of alongside her other Human friends since the area that Aizen will be focusing on is too large for the Gotei 13 to handle by themselves. Once Yamamoto finishes by asking her to inform Ichigo of the situation, Orihime firmly agrees to do so.^[63]

Following this, Rangiku leaves to inform 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and the others of the situation, but when Hitsugaya attempts to join her, Yamamoto requests that he stay and listen since someone has been waiting to speak to him^[64] and moves out of the way to reveal 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori. While Hitsugaya expresses shock at her appearance, Rangiku solemnly exits the apartment and walks away. Back inside the apartment, Hitsugaya observes that Hinamori is awake and questions if she is sure that she should be walking around, and though Hinamori assures him that she is fine now, Hitsugaya internally notes that her tired eyes indicate that she is not fine.^[65]

After a moment's pause, Hinamori apologize for having drawn her Zanpakutō against Hitsugaya, not knowing what she was thinking when she did this, but Hitsugaya interrupts by asserting he has already forgotten about the matter and that Hinamori should focus on going back to sleep. With Hinamori tearfully thanking him for this, Hitsugaya elaborates that she already looks like a child and that children need twice as much sleep as adults do since they will stop growing otherwise, to her astonishment. When Hitsugaya claims that she will need ten years of sleep to catch up to someone like Rangiku, a flustered Hinamori counters that Rangiku is abnormal and that Hitsugaya is in no position to give somebody else advice about growing. However, a smiling Hitsugaya reminds her he is a captain now and no longer just her childhood friend, which she acknowledges as she calms down. Hesitating for several seconds, Hinamori asks Hitsugaya if he is going to fight Aizen, and when Hitsugaya confirms this, Hinamori inquires about the possibility of killing him and begs Hitsugaya to not do so, to the latter's shock, prior to sweating as she claims Aizen must have had a reason for the terrible things he did and could have been forced to do so by Gin Ichimaru.^[66]

Suddenly, Yamamoto holds his hand over Hinamori's face and silently performs Inemuri, causing Hinamori's eyes to go blank as she loses consciousness, with 1st Division Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe catching her body when she subsequently collapses. Yamamoto turns to Hitsugaya and apologizes for granting Hinamori's request to speak with him because it may have been too soon, only for Hitsugaya to tell him that it is alright and bid Yamamoto farewell despite the latter's concern prior to turning off the video feed. As he clenches his fist, Hitsugaya angrily ruminates on what Aizen has done to Hinamori.^[67]

Training on Another Front[]

Meanwhile, in the Study Chamber underneath the Urahara Shop, a bloodied Sado is sent crashing into a rock formation by Renji, who stands with his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, active and questions if Sado has had enough, only for Sado to deny this and resume attacking with his Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, as Renji asserts that he knew this would be the case and Urahara watches intently nearby. Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Orihime runs down the street and focuses on Rukia, Uryū, Sado, and Ichigo.^[68] Back in the Study Chamber underneath the Urahara Shop, Sado fires an energy blast with Brazo Derecha de Gigante at Renji, who leaps into the air and mocks him as seemingly getting weak, prompting Sado to claim that he is not.^[69]

While watching this, Urahara recalls asking Renji to train Sado for him after the latter came to his shop due to Sado needing to face the power of a Bankai to face a suitable challenge, with his own Bankai not being suitable for training or strengthening people, and Renji still wanting to ask him about something, with Renji eventually agreeing to perform three months of chores and odd jobs for Urahara in exchange for the latter answering any question he asks, and notes that Renji is certainly throwing himself into it despite how resistant he was to the idea at first. Turning to Sado, Urahara internally asserts that his powers clearly have the potential to increase through repeated battles against a Bankai, but is left troubled by how Brazo Derecha de Gigante is something different and distinct from the powers of Shinigami and Quincy.^[70]

Simultaneously, at the Study Chamber underneath the Visored warehouse, Ichigo manages to don his Hollow mask for a brief second, only for it to immediately shatter while Hiyori kicks him in the face for failing to stay Hollowfied. Though Ichigo protests that he would be in great danger if he remained Hollowfied, Hiyori counters that this is the point of his training and that he should just refrain from doing it at all if he is not going to do it right, prompting Love and Rose to observe that they are getting along swimmingly. Outside the Visored warehouse, Orihime nervously approaches and realizes that this must be where Ichigo is located.^[71]

Upon seeing a cat, two birds, and several ants conspicuously moving as though they are near an invisible wall surrounding the Visored warehouse, Orihime realizes that this is the result of the Hachigyō Sōgai erected around the warehouse that is blocking the building out of the minds of others, who cannot even think of approaching it. However, upon pressing her hand against the barrier, which ripples around it in response, Orihime notes that it is similar to the Santen Kesshun of her Shun Shun Rikka despite its power, and as her fingers breach the barrier, a determined Orihime concludes that she can pass through and enter it.^[72]

Meanwhile, in the Study Chamber below the warehouse, an annoyed Ichigo responds to being told to do it one more time by summoning and donning his Hollow mask through making a ripping motion with his hand across his face prior to raising his left arm in order to block a kick from Hiyori, who has her own Hollow mask resting on the side of her head. In response to Ichigo expressing pain at this, Hiyori reminds him once again that he is slower immediately after Hollowfying and asserts that he would have been dead had her blow landed as she performs Gatling Mad-Stomping, which sends a defending Ichigo smashing through several rocks across the Study Chamber. Upon seeing this, Hachigen observes that Ichigo's retention time is not increasing very quickly, only for Shinji to state that it is not easy to do so, and when Ichigo's Hollow mask shatters, Kensei announces that it lasted for four seconds.^[73]

When Mashiro wonders why Ichigo is doing this, Kensei clarifies that he is doing it to increase the amount of time he can remain Hollowfied and asserts Mashiro did it too, and when Mashiro denies this, Shinji informs an irritated Kensei that Mashiro has been able to Hollowfy for over fifteen hours from the very start and is the only Visored who has not done this part of the training, prompting a surprised Kensei to conclude he must have forgotten, only to become angered once more when Mashiro mocks him over this. Suddenly, Hachigen looks up in astonishment and warns a quizzical Shinji that someone just slipped through the Hachigyō Sōgai.^[74]

With the other Visored shocked and Love asking him if it is a Shinigami, Hachigen reveals the Hachigyō Sōgai is an original technique which he developed after becoming a Visored and which cannot be broken by a Shinigami's Kidō, leading Kensei to demand to know if it is another Visored. Admitting he does not know, Hachigen notes this individual slipped through the barrier rather than breaking through it, something not even a Visored can do, and an unnerved Kensei questions who or what they could be as the Visored look up at the steps leading up to the warehouse to see Orihime nervously descending them. While the Visored are left stunned at the intruder being a Human, Orihime timidly asks them where the bathroom is.^[75]

Though Orihime immediately clarifies that she was joking, Kensei expresses irritation at this regardless, prompting Lisa to berate him for taking it so seriously and Love to assert that he would not be making jokes in this situation. However, they are interrupted when Orihime's attention is drawn to Ichigo slamming into the ground nearby to Hiyori's derision, causing them to recognize each other with surprise. Some time later, after Orihime relays Yamamoto's warning about Aizen's true intentions, a battered Ichigo ponders this in silence, and when Ichigo wonders why she is staring at him over this, Orihime notes that he does not seem very surprised by what she told him. In response, Ichigo explains that he is simply having a hard time wrapping his head around the idea of Karakura Town being destroyed to create an Ōken, but assures Orihime that he is going to stop Aizen because he can feel how much stronger he is getting. As she watches Ichigo thank her for the warning and return to his training with a belligerent Hiyori, Orihime realizes that he cannot really process what she told him because he is so busy training and getting stronger, which allows him to know exactly what he needs to do without fear regardless of what Aizen is planning.^[76]

Though still cautious about Ichigo's empowerment being strange rather than nice or scary like it was before, Orihime concludes that she needs to get stronger too and exits the warehouse to run out into Karakura Town while someone watches her from behind.^[77] Down in the Study Chamber, Kensei wonders who Orihime was as Lisa notes that she ran away after speaking to Ichigo and Rose observes that they seemed to be friends. When Shinji identifies Orihime by name, Kensei demands to know if he knows her, and when Shinji melodramatically claims that Orihime was his first love, an infuriated Kensei asserts that this is an obvious lie while Lisa reminds him that he says this about every attractive girl, including her, and Rose mentally wonders if she is saying that Orihime is attractive. Behind Shinji, Hiyori is aghast at the idea of Shinji saying this to every attractive girl since he did not say it to her, which Shinji confirms.^[78]

While Hiyori is sent flying by an attack from Ichigo, who warns her to not get distracted, Love assures Hachigen that his barriers are undoubtedly flawless, which Hachigen affirms, but questions how Orihime detected the warehouse and got inside the barrier when this is the case, leading an uncertain Hachigen to theorize that she possesses the same type of barrier ability as he does since he examined her Reiatsu at close range, which is what allowed her to detect the warehouse and slip through the Hachigyō Sōgai, though he admits that it is incredible for a Human to possess such powers. Simultaneously, outside the warehouse, Yoruichi Shihōin lands before Orihime and reveals that Urahara sent her to find Orihime because he wants the latter brought to his Study Chamber right away.^[79]

Quincy Restored[]

Meanwhile, at the Karakura Hospital Study Chamber, a panting and ragged Uryū stands amid dozens of holes in the walls and floor around him before leaping to the side in order to avoid another barrage of attacks. Upon slipping off the edge of the platform he was standing on and falling toward another platform far below, Uryū frantically uses Wolke to cushion his fall. From nearby, Ryūken approaches with his Heilig Bogen in hand and observes that Uryū was cautious to keep some Gintō stored on his person. When Uryū wonders if he is being called a coward, Ryūken confirms this and attacks with Klavier, forcing Uryū to evade the Heilig Pfeil with Hirenkyaku while they create several more explosions of force upon impact with the surrounding area.^[80]

Ryūken admonishes Uryū for being so slow to dodge and assumes he is reaching his limit due to how much Uryū has slowed down, and as he continues to evade the dozens of Heilig Pfeil fired by Ryūken, Uryū mentally admits that he can barely move his arms and legs at this point, only to realize that Ryūken's Reiatsu is weakening too. As he ruminates on Ryūken's promise that his Quincy powers would come back if Uryū kept dodging his Heilig Pfeil, Uryū internally asserts that there is no sign of it working and wonders if Ryūken was lying to him, since he will certainly die if they keep going like this. After concluding that he has reached his limit and must end this exercise, with his chance coming as Ryūken pauses his onslaught, Uryū lands before him and brings out his last Gintō, shocking Ryūken, before using Gritz to encase Ryūken in a large, oval-shaped, stone-like barrier. However, Uryū's triumph is cut short when Gritz dissipates to reveal an unfazed Ryūken wielding a much larger Heilig Bogen with an intricate Heilig Pfeil notched in its string.^[81]

Apologizing to Uryū and declaring that it is over, Ryūken fires the Heilig Pfeil and hits Uryū near the center of his chest, leaving Uryū to curse Ryūken having gotten him while collapsing. With Uryū's glasses flying off and landing on the floor, Ryūken walks over and details how striking a Quincy with a Heilig Pfeil 19 millimeters to the right of their heart's sinoatrial node after pushing their mind and body to their limits is the only way to regain the powers lost from using Quincy: Letzt Stil, with Uryū having gained a Quincy Zeichen on his chest centered over the area where the Heilig Pfeil pierced his body. While kneeling next to Uryū, Ryūken wonders why he did not use Heizen instead of Gritz since it would have let him at least inflict an injury even if he could not win, and though he asserts that Uryū's stupid choice makes him sick, Ryūken decides to let him live this time.^[82]

Orihime Restored to the Fight[]

At an apartment complex in Karakura Town, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa laughs uproariously at Ikkaku, who has been forced to wear a gaudy shirt with hearts and a cute bear on the front. After an annoyed Ikkaku headbutts Yumichika and tells him to shut up, Rangiku appears between them and cackles at Ikkaku's appearance as well, to his and Yumichika's shock. When Ikkaku demands to know how she got in, Rangiku points out how the front door was unlocked and questions what the Human World has done to Ikkaku's fashion sense, leading him to clarify that he got this from the landlady of the complex and respond to Rangiku's disbelief over wearing whatever is given to him by refusing to complain about the clothes he is given when he and Yumichika have free room and board here.^[83]

With a surprised Rangiku noting she complains constantly about her food and clothing, Ikkaku asks Yumichika about who Rangiku is staying with, which prompts Yumichika to reveal it is Orihime Inoue, whom even he is beginning to feel sorry for despite her being a Human. When Keigo Asano opens the front door and tentatively asks Ikkaku and Yumichika how things are going, he sees Rangiku's breasts and lunges toward her in rapturous glee over them coming before him once more. However, upon being nonchalantly struck in the face by Rangiku's leg, Keigo intercepts her strike by holding his arms in front of his face and slides several feet back otherwise unharmed.^[84]

Though Keigo proclaims that he has been underestimated and will never fall for the same technique twice, Rangiku simply kicks him directly in the face with the tip of her foot, knocking him unconscious as Ikkaku chastises Rangiku for being so brutal when Keigo just wanted to jump her. Suddenly, Mizuho Asano enthusiastically opens the door and inquires about Ikkaku's behavior, but briefly mistakes the apartment for someone else's upon seeing Rangiku and angrily demands to know what she is doing here while Ikkaku suggests that a bemused Rangiku do what she came here to do and go since it is going to get messy. Meanwhile, at the Study Chamber underneath the Urahara Shop, Urahara welcomes Orihime, who has been brought here by Yoruichi, and notes that they have not seen each other in quite some time prior to observing that it is nice to have a young woman stop by the office.^[85]

Mentioning how he has been watching two sweaty men fight each other for multiple days now, Urahara sets down a small table next to the sparring between Sado and Renji, which startles Orihime. When Renji seemingly incapacitates Sado with a powerful blow and announces that he is done for the day, Urahara prevents Orihime from rushing to Sado's side and instructs Tessai and Ururu to heal him, but Sado insists that he can keep going and gets to his feet while re-manifesting Brazo Derecha de Gigante, which leads a grinning Renji to jokingly chastise him for pushing himself too hard. Once Orihime turns to him and inquires about what he wishes to discuss, Urahara brings up Rangiku stopping by the Urahara Shop earlier to relay Yamamoto's warning about Aizen seeking to create an Ōken, which he assumes Ikkaku has been informed of as well by now.^[86]

Urahara admits that it caught all of them by surprise as he ruminates on how they and Soul Society must prepare to fight a battle this winter that will shed more blood than ever before and require them to be stronger than ever before. However, when Orihime affirms this and declares that she wants to get stronger too, Urahara acknowledges this before telling Orihime that she will not be fighting with them this time, leaving her, Sado, and Renji stunned while Urahara brings up Tsubaki being destroyed by Yammy the other day. Upon being asked if he has been repaired, Orihime admits that he was so badly broken that she does not even know how to fix him, which prompts Urahara to elaborate that Tsubaki is her only offensive weapon and that it is out of the question for her to even consider participating in the battle without him. In response, Sado interjects and asserts that they cannot leave Orihime behind when she is a friend of theirs who fought hard in Soul Society and wishes to get stronger.^[87]

With Urahara calling this an emotional argument and asking Sado if he wants Orihime to get killed, Sado denies this and claims that her ability to protect and heal people is more valuable than fighting, but Urahara counters that the defensive capabilities of Santen Kesshun are too limited to be useful in the upcoming battle and that the Fourth Division can take care of their casualties with Captain Retsu Unohana and Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu on the front lines. With Urahara concluding that Orihime's powers will not be needed and that a warrior who cannot fight will only hold them back despite Sado's continued protests, Orihime assures Sado that it is okay and thanks both him and Urahara prior to bidding them farewell and running off.^[88]

Before Sado can follow her, Renji grabs him by the shoulder and states that Urahara is right since the Fourth Division has had combat training in addition to their Kaidō specialization and Orihime's abilities do not change the fact that she is a Human whose personality precludes her from being a warrior, meaning that this may be a good time for her to drop out of the conflict. Simultaneously, on his throne in Las Noches, Aizen reviews Ulquiorra's memory of Orihime healing Sado with Sōten Kisshun during the encounter with him and Yammy prior to noting with a smile that she has a very interesting ability.^[89]

Back in Karakura Town, after rushing to the Urahara Shop's sliding front door, Orihime is stunned to find a surprised Rukia standing on the other side and hunches over to begin crying in front of her, to Rukia's distress. Later that night, Rukia sits on the rooftop of a building with Orihime and is informed of Urahara's decision on Orihime not joining the upcoming battle, prompting an outraged Rukia to call Urahara a jerk and express sympathy for Orihime. When the latter claims that she feels better after talking to Rukia and that Urahara is correct in saying she is not strong enough for this, Rukia angrily grabs Orihime by the collar and denies this on the grounds of Orihime having done her share of fighting up until now and even traveling to Soul Society to fight, which is why she should be mad at being dismissed like this. However, Orihime insists she is not mad or lying and clarifies that she is just sad because she wants to fight with the rest of them while also not wanting to be a burden to anyone else, which means that she would rather be sad than hinder Ichigo or anyone else.^[90]

In response, a sympathetic Rukia assures a tearful Orihime that those who lack spirit are the ones who cause problems on the battlefield rather than those who lack power and that not one of Ichigo's group was a hindrance in the battle in Soul Society since she would be dead right now had Orihime, Ichigo, Sado, or Uryū not been there. With Rukia concluding that there has to be something Orihime can do to make herself fit for this battle and proposing that they find it together, Hiyori suddenly crashes down next to a startled Rukia and Orihime, the latter of whom she grabs by the collar and informs that she is going to see Hachigen by request.^[91]

With Hiyori leaping back into the air with a confused and screaming Orihime, a flabbergasted Rukia is left to wonder who she was. Shortly afterward, Orihime is dumped in the Study Chamber beneath the Visored warehouse in front of Hachigen, who introduces himself and sits ponderously before a nervous Orihime, who inquires about what he wanted to talk about before having her head twisted to the left by Hachigen, to her distress. Hachigen confirms from looking at Orihime's hairpins that they are the source of her power and almost like Zanpakutō, only to bring up one of them being damaged, which has bothered him ever since she first showed up in the Study Chamber. When Orihime explains that it was broken and that she cannot fix it, Hachigen cheerfully offers to fix it for her in turn.^[92]

As Orihime cheers in excitement at this, an unnerved Kensei tells Hachigen that he can stop holding her head now. Nearby, Mashiro throws a tantrum over Hachigen fixing Orihime's weapon and demands the latter be forced to leave, and as an irritated Kensei admonishes her for this, Rose notes Hachigen probably feels happy because the Visored rarely meet people with abilities similar to their own. While Ichigo continues to train with Hiyori nearby, Hachigen lays Orihime's broken hairpin within a cubical barrier and recounts her explanation of not being allowed to fight since it was broken into too many pieces for her to fix.^[93]

With Orihime noting that this is not correct and is just close enough due to having explained it five times already, Hachigen muses that Orihime possessing powers very much like his own means that she should be able to restore these broken pieces with ease as Tsubaki suddenly pops back into existence and berates an amazed Orihime for her expression. Watching an overjoyed Orihime cuddle an outraged Tsubaki to her face and thank him for enabling this, Hachigen observes that she should be able to join the front line with Tsubaki restored, but advises her against doing so since their abilities being similar means that she is not suited for combat.^[94]

When Orihime responds to being asked if she still wants to fight by confidently declaring that she does, an understanding Hachigen assures her she will and creates a tiny, cubical barrier between his fingers as he notes she does not fully understand her abilities yet and must find a solution that will allow her to fight prior to reminding Orihime that what matters is how she wants to be rather than how she should be. Afterward, Orihime emerges from the Hachigyō Sōgai surrounding the warehouse above, and upon seeing Rukia standing nearby, a startled Orihime begins to explain what is inside the barrier, only for Rukia to deny wanting to know since she came here upon detecting a trace of Ichigo's Reiatsu and knows he must not have told her about it for a good reason, since him being safe is enough for her. With Rukia inviting her to leave, Orihime mentally asserts she will be able to fight without looking at Ichigo's back next time they meet prior to verbally agreeing to go with Rukia.^[95]

Birth of an Arrancar[]

Over a month later, in Las Noches, Ulquiorra walks down a hallway and enters a side room to find Yammy, who is having his right arm reattached by Roka Paramia. When Yammy asks him what he wants as Roka begins pulling out his stitches, Ulquiorra observes he has healed and that it was worth bringing his severed arm back, though Yammy complains about the length of the healing process making him think his arm was going to rot and wishes his body could regenerate like Ulquiorra's eyeballs do. In response, Ulquiorra berates him for whining since his arm has been put back on and not completely destroyed like Grimmjow's, which would have caused him to be demoted from the Espada like the latter was.^[96]

With Yammy conceding to this with his tattoo of the number 10 adorning his left shoulder, Roka informs him that the treatment is complete, and as Yammy stands up and begins curling his fingers to test their responsiveness, Roka inquires about whether there is any loss of mobility or sensitivity compared to before his arm was severed, prompting Yammy to slam his fist down onto her head, crushing it and killing her instantly. While Roka's corpse spurts blood from her neck and collapses, Yammy muses that his arm is not at full strength yet since such a blow would have split her in two if it were, leading an unimpressed Ulquiorra to tell him that they are going since Aizen wants to see them. Following this, Ulquiorra and Yammy walk down a long hall and reach a large door, where Ulquiorra announces his arrival.^[97]

As the doors open automatically, Aizen welcomes them both and promises that this will not take much longer as he stands before a mummified individual with Coyote Starrk, Tier Harribel, Nnoitra Gilga, Luppi Antenor, Grimmjow, and Aaroniero Arruruerie observing. With Aizen dropping the Hōgyoku into a glass container in front of the individual, Ulquiorra asks him about its awakening status, which leads Aizen to confirm that it is only half-awake and will completely awaken exactly when Soul Society expects it to. However, Aizen reveals that there is a secret which only those who have actually touched the Hōgyoku know, something he does not expect even Urahara to know since the latter sealed it away so quickly after developing it.^[98]

Aizen elaborates that a dormant Hōgyoku with its seal removed can briefly unleash its full power when it is joined with someone who possesses the Reiryoku of an average captain while using his power and the Hōgyoku to shatter the bindings on the individual in front of him, completing their transformation into an Arrancar. Upon being asked for his name by Aizen, the individual identifies himself as Wonderweiss Margela. In turn, a smiling Aizen asks Ulquiorra if the latter remembers the order he was given a month ago, which Ulquiorra confirms, and instructs him to carry it out with whomever he likes joining him on the mission. After Ulquiorra affirms this, Aizen turns to a one-armed Grimmjow and wonders if he would like to go as well.^[99]

Aftermath[]

On October 29th, in the Visored Study Chamber, Love sits with Rose and ruminates on the deep meaning of the line "You are already dead", as it indicates that the people being informed of this by the speaker have not yet realized that they have been killed, though an exasperated Rose wonders if this is meant to sound like the rhetoric of Egon Schiele and requests that Love stop reading his comics before he does since the latter keeps spoiling them for him. Meanwhile, having sent Ichigo crashing into another rock formation, Hiyori tells him to get up and questions if Ichigo knows how many times he could have been killed during their skirmish prior to sarcastically assuming that Ichigo believes Shinigami are supposed to get killed a lot, to Ichigo's annoyance.^[100]

Suddenly, Kensei announces that it is time for lunch and that whoever is last in line will be cleaning the dishes. Soon afterward, Ichigo grudgingly cleans the dishes as Shinji inquires about how his training is progressing, prompting Hiyori to disparage Ichigo for only being able to keep his mask summoned for a little over ten seconds. When Lisa suggests that he might not have what it takes and that he should just give up, Ichigo demands that she shut up since she is not even involved in the training, but Lisa counters that she is since she lent him an erotic magazine the other day, which leads a flustered Ichigo to deny having borrowed anything from her and accuse Lisa of telling lies that sound somewhat plausible.^[101]

Nearby, Love assures Ichigo that it is fine since he borrows the same magazine every couple of days and Lisa asserts that she looks at it twice a day, and when Ichigo declares that he is not a pervert like they are, Lisa proclaims that she is simply really curious instead of a pervert, though Kensei observes that most perverts are curious. Watching this, Shinji ruminates on Ichigo only being at ten seconds after a month, which indicates that it will take time for him, and concludes that the Hōgyoku awakening at the end of December means they have just two more months, which they will have to hurry during.^[102]

Meanwhile, in a park in the city above, an aggravated Yumichika screams in frustration and repeatedly whacks his Zanpakutō against a nearby rock while telling it to break. When Rangiku throws a sandal at his head and questions what is wrong, Yumichika explains that Fuji Kujaku is angering him by being snobby, bossy, and narcissistic, to the point that Yumichika does not believe he can ever externalize his spirit and would not bother even if asked. In turn, Rangiku asserts that Fuji Kujaku is just like Yumichika and claims that Haineko is the total opposite of her as a stupid, needy, and moody slob, but Yumichika counters that this is just like Rangiku, whom he considers to be incredibly vain. When the two of them begin fighting each other over this, Hitsugaya threatens to send them back to Soul Society if they do not shut up and concentrate.^[103]

Hitsugaya laments their inability to communicate with their Zanpakutō spirits more quietly while performing Jinzen with his own Zanpakutō next to Ikkaku, who opens his eyes to notice that the clouds are moving quickly in the sky above them. Though Ikkaku denies having said anything when Hitsugaya notices his reaction, a Garganta begins opening in the air above.^[104] Meanwhile, at the training grounds behind the Thirteenth Division barracks in the Seireitei, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake sits on a small cliff and drinks from a cup of tea as 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi walks up behind him and wonders what he is doing.^[105]

In response, Ukitake states that he was taking a break to enjoy the show and points to the ground below the cliff, where Rukia and Orihime are fiercely training with each other. When Hisagi recognizes Rukia, Ukitake identifies Orihime and explains that they have been training for the coming war for the past month, and when Hisagi observes that they seem to be having too much fun, Ukitake affirms this and notes that Rukia has never been good at making friends since she rarely opens up, which left him surprised when she showed up to him in desperation and requested that he open up the training grounds behind the barracks.^[106]

With Rukia grinning as she continues to spar with Orihime, Ukitake asserts that he is happy for her since she has found a friend, though Hisagi wonders if this is logical when her friend is a Human. Despite Hisagi requesting forgiveness when Ukitake asks him to not say this, Ukitake concludes that their friendship is a fine thing even though they live in different worlds and points out how Orihime and her friends are unusual enough to potentially become Shinigami themselves when they come to Soul Society, which Hisagi smiles at. Upon being questioned by Ukitake about why he came here and if he wants something, Hisagi hands Ukitake this month's copy of the Seireitei Communication with the mail-order catalogue inside, prompting a surprised Ukitake to inquire about what Hisagi is doing with the publication.^[107]

Hisagi laments the chaos that has ensued in the Gotei 13 with Hitsugaya and Rangiku in the Human World, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki constantly sleeping and Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi being unaccounted for, and 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi never leaving the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, leading him to admit he never thought a captain's duties were so difficult due to Kaname Tōsen never asking his subordinates to do anything. After Hisagi leaves and apologizes for being too busy to continue watching Rukia and Orihime train, Ukitake notes four months is not much time to mend the heart or build strength, which makes him wish this fleeting peace could last a little longer.^[108]

Simultaneously, in Karakura Town, a Garganta rips open in the sky, alerting Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Ikkaku, and Yumichika, to reveal Yammy, Luppi, Grimmjow, and Wonderweiss standing within. On the ground below, Yumichika is stunned by the Arrancar showing up earlier than expected, though Hitsugaya observes that there is no time to figure out why they have done so, as Yammy notes that they picked a good spot because there are combatants with strong Reiatsu below them. In turn, Luppi notes that these are Shinigami and likely the reinforcements from Soul Society that the sixth Espada told them about, but snidely corrects himself and addresses Grimmjow as the former sixth Espada after turning to him.^[109]

However, an annoyed Grimmjow simply asserts through gritted teeth that the man he wants to kill is not down there and leaps away from the Garganta, startling Yammy, who is told by Luppi to let Grimmjow go since the latter is worthless now that he has had his tattoo burned off and is no longer an Espada. When Yammy realizes that the one he wants to kill is not down there either, Luppi slyly inquires about whether he is referring to the one who cut off his arm, the one who beat him up, or the one who deflected his Cero, prompting a grinning Yammy to declare that he is referring to all of them prior to telling Wonderweiss that it is time to go and berating him for just standing there and drooling, only for Wonderweiss to not respond and continue staring into space, to Yammy's disappointment and disapproval.^[110]

Suddenly, Hitsugaya attacks Yammy in a flurry of ice, forcing Yammy to partially draw his Zanpakutō in order to defend himself against the slash, and introduces himself, which leads Yammy to comment on the coincidence since he is Arrancar #10. Upon being identified as an Espada by Hitsugaya, Yammy observes that he must have fought someone who likes to talk if he knows about them. Nearby, Luppi confronts Ikkaku and Yumichika, and when the latter inquires if he is an Espada too, Luppi confirms this and reveals a tattoo of the number 6 on his right hip as Rangiku sees Wonderweiss watching two birds and wonders if she can really justify harming him. During this, in the Visored Study Chamber, Love and Kensei restrain Ichigo as the latter attempts to leave and respond to the Arrancar arriving, with Kensei asserting that he is not ready yet.^[111]

When Love suggests that he let his allies from Soul Society handle this since that is what they came here to do, Ichigo counters that he has been training for this too and needs to take the opportunity while he can. Suddenly, Shinji pulls Kensei off of Ichigo by the strap of his shirt and orders him and Love to let Ichigo go, allowing Ichigo to run up the stairs and move into the sky while Kensei continues to protest this decision. Before Ichigo can get too far, Grimmjow appears in the air before him and declares that he has been looking for Ichigo, who asserts that he has been waiting for Grimmjow in order to show the latter how much stronger he has become while drawing Zangetsu and holding his hand over his face.^[112]

Meanwhile, in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute in Soul Society, Rin Tsubokura frantically alerts his fellow technicians to Arrancar Reiatsu being detected in Karakura Town, and after confirming that Gentei Kaijo has been authorized, Hiyosu demands to know what color the Reiatsu on the monitor is, prompting Rin to reveal that it is vermillion and indicates the presence of Espada prior to relaying the arrival of four Arrancar believed to be Espada in northern Karakura Town and their current engagement with Hitsugaya's Strike Force to Shinigami across the Seireitei through Jigokuchō.^[113]

Upon learning of this, Ukitake calls out to Rukia, who affirms that she just received the same report, and orders her to go to the Senkaimon in front of the division barracks while the Kidō Corps work on opening it. When Orihime offers to go with her, Rukia reminds her that she does not have a Jigokuchō and will end up in the Dangai if she tries to pass through the Senkaimon, but Ukitake appears behind Orihime with Shunpo and reveals that he just ordered the Kidō Corps to stabilize the outer wall so Orihime can safely pass through the Dangai and return to the Human World in a short period of time.^[114]

With Ukitake acknowledging that Orihime is in a hurry and telling her to remain calm regardless, which Orihime agrees to, Rukia promises to be waiting for her on the other side and runs up the cliffside toward the Senkaimon while wondering what is happening since the Espada are showing up long before the Hōgyoku was supposed to awaken.^[115]

References[]

Navigation[]

Arrancar Invasion
Major Participants	Ichigo Kurosaki • Yoruichi Shihōin • Uryū Ishida • Yasutora Sado • Orihime Inoue • Kisuke Urahara • Isshin Kurosaki • Ryūken Ishida • Gotei 13 • Visored • Espada • Grand Fisher • Shawlong Koufang • Edrad Liones • Nakeem Grindina • Yylfordt Granz • Di Roy Rinker • Wonderweiss Margela • Kon • Kaname Tōsen • Sōsuke Aizen • Gin Ichimaru • Jinta Hanakari • Ururu Tsumugiya
Events
Fights & Events	The Cold War • Rukia Kuchiki vs. Di Roy Rinker • Ikkaku Madarame vs. Edrad Liones • Renji Abarai vs. Yylfordt Granz • Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Shawlong Koufang • Rangiku Matsumoto vs. Nakeem Grindina • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez • Visored Training • Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Luppi Antenor • Kisuke Urahara vs. Yammy Llargo • Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez: Rematch • Good Bye Halcyon Days