The Hollowfication Incident

Prelude
One hundred and ten years ago, Lieutenant Sōsuke Aizen moves through his division, greeting other members before arriving at his Captain's office. His Captain, Shinji Hirako chastises him for not dressing up and introduces him to Jazz music before they leave for an inauguration ceremony at the First Division.

Shinji almost has a tantrum over not being granted entry into the meeting but when the door opens he is kicked in the face and sent flying by Hiyori Sarugaki, Lieutenant of the Twelfth Division. She insists she will not apologize but Love Aikawa hits her head from behind and tells her to say sorry.

Shinji begins to tease Hiyori by making faces at her behind Captain Love Aikawa's back and she starts to get angry as a result. She insists that Love look his way and see what he is doing but instead Love just pushes her back inside the First Division barracks for the ceremony. Horrified, Aizen requests that his captain behave more maturely in front of other officers from the Gotei 13.

While walking through the barracks, Shinji and Love discuss which captains have arrived for the ceremony with Love confirming that the 10th Kenpachi, Kenpachi Kiganjō is lazy and disobedient and they must blame the previous Kenpachi for losing to him. Shunsui Kyōraku arrives with Jūshirō Ukitake and Lisa Yadōmaru and chastises them for talking about other captains behind their back.

A concerned Ukitake wonders why Kirio Hikifune left so soon for her new post, thinking things should have gone at a more paced rate. Shinji expresses exasperation at the constant changes in captains and Kyōraku states that it is the natural cycle of things and that in the last two hundred years there is only himself, Ukitake and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto still as captains. Ukitake reminds him that he's left out Retsu Unohana and the captain panics slightly at the thought.

Kyōraku carries on and suggests there are many different reasons for the different captains over the years; the Captain of the Tenth Division died on duty; the Third Division Captain retired; and Hikifune was promoted which means others are needed to fill those roles. This news incites Aizen's curiosity as he asks how a captain can be promoted and wonders if Hikifune is now among Central 46 but Kyōraku denies this and asserts that she has been promoted to the Royal Guard, a division that is not among the Gotei 13. The news greatly stuns Aizen as he has never heard of a Zero Division.

Kensei Muguruma, Captain of the Ninth Division, interrupts their conversation and informs everyone that the new captain has arrived for the ceremony and Yamamoto wants them all to stand at in their usual positions. Kisuke Urahara then arrives in the room and Shinji wonders about his odd appearance. Urahara sheepishly apologizes for being late but Yoruichi Shihōin, Captain of the Second Division, stands forward berates him for being so hesitant as he is now a captain. Yamamoto arrives by pushing him into the room before formally announcing that Urahara has completed the Captain Proficiency Test and as such is the new Captain of the Twelfth Division.

When Urahara arrives at his new barracks, he introduces himself awkwardly and in return receives a difficult reception from his new subordinates. His new Lieutenant, Hiyori, expresses her unhappiness with the appointment and insults the secrecy of the Second Division, trying to get a reaction out of him but Urahara merely smiles. He insists that he isnot longer a member of his former division so there is no need to defend it when he is a member of the Twelfth Division now. Rather than placate her, his reply infuriates her and she kicks him before storming out of the meeting.

Later that night, Urahara sits at the railings outside his barracks and is approached by Shinji who accurately predicts that Urahara is having trouble with Hiyori. He explains that Hiyori is having trouble over losing Hikifune as her captain as they were close. When Urahara assumes he will never be good enough for her, Shinji lets him know that captains can never please their subordinates all the time but even then, they should still do what they feel is right for each of their divisions. As Shinji leaves, he uses Noren Mekuri to reveal Aizen who had been spying on the conversation and they both state that the other is intimidating.

Early Stages
Hiyori continues to struggle to accept her new captain, Urahara, although much of her subordinates are welcoming and helpful in his changes. She discovers that he has totally remodeled his new office, installing a lot of different technology. She perceives this as him eliminating all reminders of Hikifune's tenure there and this infuriates her. She demands to know why he is changing Hikifune's things but he reminds her that the office is now his to change as he prefers. She punches him for this but he ignores the transgression and informs her that he is making new changes and wants her to come to the Nest of Maggots with him.

Shocking her subordinates, a forgetful Yoruichi gives permission for Urahara to enter here division grounds. Urahara has to drag a reluctant Hiyori to the Nest of Maggots. While doing so he explains a little bit about the history of the Second Division and how the Onmitsukidō was originally a separate entity but joined the Second Division when the commander became its captain. As a 3rd-Seat he was the the head of the Detention Unit. Thus he had to guard the Nest of Maggots and investigate and detain any Shinigami who was deemed a threat to others or who might impede their duties. He would arrest them and lock them up in the underground facility called the Nest of Maggots.

As they descend into the cave Urahara informs Hiyori that while the detainees cannot leave they can move freely about the facility. He also maintains that while they haven't done anything wrong they have been deemed dangerous by the Goeti 13 regulations. He elaborates that there is no such thing as withdrawing from the Gotei 13 and if she has heard of anyone withdrawing it means they have been forced into the Nest of Maggots by the views of Central 46. He also explains that he's always thought that those considered possibly dangerous they may instead thrive if given suitable employment matching their needs.

Hiyori is then attacked by a large detainee and reaches for her blade only to remember that she did not bring it with her. Urahara intercepts the blow and apologizes for not reminding her that she had left her Zanpakutō back at their barracks as weapons are not allowed within the confines of the Nest of Maggots. He further explains that because of this stipulation, the guards must all be able to handle the prisoners with their bare hands and must be skilled in doing so. He then laments that his face has been forgotten already when he's only been gone several days and defeats the attacker.

They continue through the facility and come upon a single prisoner shackled in a cell who turns out to be Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Urhara informs him he has a business proposition. Urahara introduces Hiyori and Kurotsuchi before he declines Urahara's offer. The new captain manages to interest him by announcing that he is creating a new organization that will require the abilities Kurotsuchi possesses. The new department will be called the Research and Development Institute. and he wants Kurotsuchi to become its vice-president and thus will inherit the organization if Urahara dies. Kurotsuchi smiles and states that Urahara is an unpleasant man.

Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki is training at the Kuchiki Clan residence. His grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki brings a visitor to see him who turns out to be Yoruichi. She bounces her breasts against the side of his head angering him. They insult each other before she grabs the tie for his hair and escapes to the nearby rooftop. She taunts him by declaring that she is worried about the future of the Kuchiki Clan if the heir can have his tie stolen by a girl. The trainee Shinigami then angrily pursues her using Shunpo leaving a quiet Ginrei wondering when Byakuya will learn not to lose his temper so easily.

Elsewhere, Ukitake is visiting Kaien Shiba and asking him to become his new Lieutenant. Kaien declines the position insisting others are more suitable and experienced. Ukitake changes the subject and asks if Kaien has heard about the latest genius since Kaien to come out of the Shin'ō Academy, asserting that the Shinigami graduated in under a year. Kaien rebuffs the label of genius but confirms that he heard so Ukitake continues by stating the Shinigami is the same age as Byakuya Kuchiki and has a seated position reserved for him in the Gotei 13 within the Fifth Division.

At the Fifth Division barracks a fight has just concluded in the meantime. The newest member of the division, the Shinigami who graduated inside a year, has defeated the 3rd-Seat in a battle and killed him while doing so. An observer, Aizen, walks forward and asks the young Shinigami his name and he replies that it is Gin Ichimaru. Aizen compliments his talent and asks how he found the abilities of his opponent. Smiling in a mocking fashion, Gin insists that his opponent was hopeless, not worth mentioning in the future. Aizen calmly replies that the knowledge is good to know.