Visored! The Power of the Awakened

 is the one hundred and twenty-second episode of the Bleach anime.

Ichigo Kurosaki seeks out the Visored after realizing that he must learn to control his inner Hollow.

Summary
With Sōsuke Aizen welcoming him back after he and Kaname Tōsen return to Aizen's throne room in Las Noches, Grimmjow remains unresponsive, prompting Tōsen to wonder if he is going to apologize and become angered when Grimmjow refuses to do so. Despite this, Aizen assures Tōsen that he is not angry and is interpreting Grimmjow's actions as an overzealous display of loyalty, which Grimmjow confirms when asked about it by Aizen.

In response, Tōsen furiously grabs Grimmjow's collar, to the latter's confusion, and requests that Aizen allow him to execute Grimmjow, which Aizen is exasperated by. Grimmjow asserts that this is personal and that Tōsen simply does not like him, something he considers unbecoming for a commander, and Tōsen counters that he believes anyone who disrupts the peace should be. When Grimmjow mocks him for hiding behind his cause, Tōsen affirms that the cause is most important and states that Grimmjow's raid lacked purpose.

Explaining that killing without purpose is simply murder and that killing with purpose is justice, Tōsen draws his Zanpakutō and severs a stunned Grimmjow's left arm at the shoulder, leaving Grimmjow screaming in pain while Tōsen incinerates the severed arm with '''Hadō #54. Haien'''. Though an enraged Grimmjow promises to make Tōsen pay for this and partially unsheathes his own Zanpakutō while running toward Tōsen, Aizen warns Grimmjow that he will be forced to reprimand the latter should he attack Tōsen, prompting Grimmjow to reluctantly sheathe his Zanpakutō and leave in snarling contempt as Tōsen bows.

Soon afterward, Aizen enters another chamber, where Gin Ichimaru teases him for manipulating his subordinates again since he knew what Tōsen would do after what he said, which Aizen coyly does not confirm. When Gin brings up how they lost five Arrancar, Aizen dismisses this as irrelevant because they were only Gillians and will not affect their plan in the slightest, since assembling enough Vasto Lordes and completing the Espada will make them unstoppable. Meanwhile, in the Karakura Hospital Study Chamber, a fatigued Uryū Ishida slams his hand into and leans against one of the windows.

After mentally noting that the vibrating Reiatsu has stopped emanating from outside, Uryū dodges 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 he is only concerned about whether or not this game Ryūken is playing can really restore his Quincy powers. Upon being asked by Ryūken if he does not trust his father, Uryū bluntly states it is hard to and points out that it is extremely unclear how dodging Ryūken's Heilig Pfeil 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 Kurosaki's bedroom to wake him up, only to discover that he is not in his bed or anywhere else in the room, though she does almost find a terrified Kon under the sheets before informing Isshin Kurosaki that Ichigo is not in the house, which leads him to question if Rukia Kuchiki is. In response, Rukia comes out and inquires if something is wrong, prompting a concerned Yuzu to ask her if she knows where Ichigo is since he is missing.

In the past, after Orihime Inoue finishes healing Rukia the previous night, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai is shocked by her swift recovery, which causes Rukia to observe how incredibly fast it was while Chappy tearfully hugs her and thank Orihime. When told by Rukia that she is getting stronger all the time, Orihime begins to deny this, but Ichigo interrupts by asking Orihime if she finished healing Rukia. 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. In the present, a concerned Rukia runs through the streets of Karakura Town and frantically questions where Ichigo is.

Elsewhere, Ichigo returns to the park where he confronted Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo. Upon remembering his confrontation with Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Ichigo's left sclera begins to turn black as he realizes it cannot go on like this. During this, Mizuho Asano finishes applying bandages to 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame's head wounds and proclaims that this is wifely assistance, though Keigo Asano questions if she even understands what this means. When an irritated Mizuho confronts him over this, Keigo nervously claims that he is instead grateful to her for tending to his friend's injuries.

Mizuho immediately assures Keigo that it was no problem at all and cheerfully tells Ikkaku that he is welcome to stay here forever if he would like to as she sits on the couch next to him. Upon hearing Ikkaku mutter about his strength not being sufficient, Mizuho interprets this as him speaking about being in love instead and adoringly promises that she is the kind of woman to shower a man who has never known affection in unconditional love while rubbing his head. With an exasperated Keigo noting that she should dedicate her life to it, Mizuho demands to know what he said, leading Keigo to frantically run out the door to school despite her protests.

Soon afterward, 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 observes that they are unlikely to get into any trouble and thus should not be punished for this, causing Keigo and the other students to react with disbelief, as she prepares to begin class regardless and Orihime looks at a silent Tatsuki Arisawa in concern. On the rooftop of the school, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya silently writes up his report on his Denreishinki by slowly typing on the small keys.

Suddenly, his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, pushes the back of his head between her breasts and covers 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. Upon learning Hitsugaya is writing his report, Rangiku assumes he mentioned how easy Gentei Kaijo made their battles, but is mortified to learn the Arrancar they fought were just Gillians and captains needing Gentei Kaijo to defeat foot soldiers means the Arrancar are strong.

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 as Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba watch, 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.

With Orihime looking out the window and ignoring Misato reminding the students that the information they are focusing on will be on the test while she wonders what happened to Ichigo, the latter walks through an empty area elsewhere in Karakura Town and eventually enters a warehouse, 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.

Shinji clarifies that the Visored knew he would be coming and that he was bad at detecting Reiatsu, which led them to focus their Reiatsu on him so he could find it. However, when Shinji presumes 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 confidently explains that he will never join the Visored and that they are instead simply going to tell him how to control the Hollow inside him.

When an annoyed 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 taking out and using his Substitute Shinigami Badge to leap out of his body in his Shinigami form. Seeing Ichigo hurtling toward him through the air 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 before the two of them begin clashing fiercely and repeatedly across the warehouse.

After Shinji manages to repel him with a single slash of his Zanpakutō, Ichigo is sent crashing into a pile of boxes with enough force to shatter the and curses as he emerges from the resulting dust cloud. Nearby, Hiyori Sarugaki, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Kensei Muguruma, Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadōmaru, and Hachigen Ushōda 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 Ichigo is obviously scared, Mashiro wonders what he is scared of, prompting Kensei to clarify he is afraid of his inner Hollow and express frustration at the idea of actually letting him join their ranks. 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 enough power for it, but that he will be out of luck and likely killed by his inner Hollow consuming him in an ignominious death if he is not.

Though Hiyori turns away while ordering Ichigo to Hollowfy so she can see what he has got, Ichigo refuses to do so. In response, Hiyori reiterates that he has no choice and glows with pink Reiatsu as she dons her own Hollow mask, taking the form of a skull with a large horn and a diamond pattern across its brow, before promising to drag a shocked Ichigo's inner Hollow out of him by force if he is too cowardly to do so himself. On the ground below, 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.

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.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
Having accidentally released 4th Division 7th Seat Hanatarō Yamada's Shikai, Akeiro Hisagomaru, an overjoyed Kon revels in his newfound chance to win and attacks one of the intimidated Eleventh Division Shinigami with the scalpel-like blade, only to be confused alongside him when no injury is inflicted by it. With Hanatarō noting that Akeiro Hisagomaru is very weak when its gauge is not filled up, Kon finds himself grabbed by the head and picked up by 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, who admits to being impressed by what he saw Kon do and tells the latter to play with him before exerting his yellow Reiatsu in an explosion that takes the form of a crying Kon's plushie head.

Events

 * Visored Training

Powers and Techniques Used
Hakuda Techniques:

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques:

Quincy Techniques:

Other Powers:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Spirit Weapons:

Anime Notes
Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes=
 * Kaname Tōsen bowing to Sōsuke Aizen after Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez leaves the chamber.
 * Kon mentally stressing out over Yuzu Kurosaki almost discovering him.
 * A large stone monument is present in the park where Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo arrived when Ichigo Kurosaki returns to it.
 * Expanded flashbacks of Yammy and Grimmjow ruthlessly brutalizing Ichigo during their battles with him.
 * Misato Ochi deciding that it is fine for Ichigo and his friends to be absent from class since they are unlikely to be getting into trouble, to the confusion of her students.
 * Mizuho Asano tending to Ikkaku Madarame's injuries and bickering with Keigo Asano over her behavior while Ikkaku ruminates on last night's battles.
 * Tōshirō Hitsugaya responding to Rangiku Matsumoto being impressed at him immediately guessing her identity by claiming that anyone could do this.
 * Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba standing by as Jinta Hanakari celebrates Ururu Tsumugiya's recovery.
 * Orihime wondering where Ichigo is while Misato has the class begin a new section of their textbook.
 * Ichigo walking through the empty part of Karakura Town that the Visored warehouse is located in.
 * Ichigo and Shinji Hirako moving through the air and repeatedly clashing prior to the latter forcing Ichigo back.
 * Grimmjow has much less blood on his face, with most of his injury being a light burn instead.
 * Tōsen severing Grimmjow's arm is grayscaled.
 * The stump of Grimmjow's left arm does not bleed while on-screen, and the blood on the floor is in shadow.
 * In the manga, when moving to attack Tōsen in retribution for cutting off his arm, Grimmjow only manages to reach toward his abdomen before Aizen stops him; here, he instead manages to partially draw his Zanpakutō and run toward Tōsen before being stopped by Aizen.
 * In the manga, when Rukia Kuchiki comes out and expresses confusion over the commotion in the Kurosaki Clinic, Isshin Kurosaki remains standing where he is with a concerned expression; here, he instead walks over to Rukia alongside Yuzu with a smile.
 * In the manga, Tatsuki Arisawa is sitting next to the window during class; here, she is instead sitting in the middle of the room.
 * In the manga, the portion of Karakura High School's roof that Hitsugaya is sitting on is open to the air; here, it is instead enclosed by tall railings behind Hitsugaya.