Arrival in Karakura Town

Prelude
In the fake Karakura Town, when Ichigo turns to look at Aizen's fight against his father, Urahara, and Yoruichi, Gin appears behind Ichigo and remarks that Ichigo shouldn't turn away with him nearby. He goes on to tell Ichigo that he is no longer a warrior, Shinigami, Hollow or even a Human anymore. He asks Ichigo if he thinks he can beat Aizen when his father, Urahara and Yoruichi cannot. Seeing how weak Ichigo's resolve is, he again offers to allow Ichigo to run away, saying he has lost interest in him and that Aizen will be disappointed to see him as he is. Gin finishes by saying that Ichigo 'knows' about Aizen's power. He then tells him that is all the warning he will have and that if he won't run, Gin will finish him off. As Gin draws his Zanpakutō, he is stopped by Aizen. Ichigo sees that Aizen has completely defeated his opponents. Aizen then asks what Gin was going to do to Ichigo.

Gin replies that he was merely testing Ichigo's strength. Aizen instructs Gin to open a Senkaimon so that they can attack the real Karakura Town in Soul Society, remarking that there is no need to destroy the Tenkai Kecchu since it will be more convenient to create the Ōken in Soul Society if they are attacking the Royal Palace. Ichigo tells him to wait, but falls silent as Aizen's body begins to shed his sleek new form as his "incubation" is complete. Aizen finds it fortuitous that his Chrysalis period has ended as he will be able to watch the demise of Soul Society with his own eyes. Before passing through the Senkaimon, Aizen tells Ichigo that he will leave him in the fake Karakura Town and come back for him after everything else is done. As he watches the Senkaimon close, Ichigo is approached by his father, freshly awake, who orders him to open another Senkaimon so they can go defend Karakura town.

Towards Reason's Horizon
As they travel through the Dangai Precipice World, Gin comments on the nostalgic feel of the place. Aizen agrees before they are confronted with the. Gin urges Aizen to get going but Aizen holds his ground, prompting Gin to comment that as the Kōtotsu is a being of reason and not Reiryoku, as such, nothing can be done to it with Reiatsu. However, Aizen continues to hold his ground and then destroys the Kōtotsu as it gets close. Aizen then asks Gin what he is afraid of, saying that reason is for those who cannot live without clinging to it. Aizen then invites Gin to come with him to reason's horizon.

Seeing as Ichigo continues to stand in awe, Isshin head butts Ichigo to get his attention, asking him if he heard what he said. Ichigo plainly states hopeless. Isshin yells at him that he doesn't know if it is hopeless or not. Ichigo replies that they both know thet win beat a monster with Reiatsu like Aizen's. Isshin then realizes that, unlike himself, Ichigo is able to sense Aizen's Reiatsu. He tells his son to come with him. When Ichigo lingers Isshin asks what Ichigo intends to do instead. He yells at Ichigo, asking if he is just going to stand there crying about how he couldn't protect anything. He asks Ichigo to think carefully about the meaning of Aizen going to Karakura Town; he reminds Ichigo that if he does not go, everyone within Karakura Town will die by Aizen's hands. Ichigo's resolve returns and he asks his father to open the Senkaimon.

Once they arrive in Soul Society, Aizen notes that they are some distance away from where Karakura Town is. Gin asks Aizen not to make it sound as if it was his fault, blaming it squarely on Aizen's behavior in the Dangai. Aizen concedes that that might be the case and apologies. He invites Gin to take walk towards the Human World town. As they run through the Dangai, Isshin orders Ichigo to stop. Ichigo asks why they are stopping while in such a hurry. Isshin explains that he can't sense the Kōtotsu and says Aizen must have done something to it. Ichigo asks if it will be a problem and Isshin replies that it can be if left that way, but for the time being they can use it for their advantage. Since the precipice world is cut off from time and space, making it the perfect place for Isshin to pass his teachings. When Ichigo asks him what he wants to teach him, Isshin replies that he plans on teaching him about the "Final Getsuga Tenshō". As Aizen and Gin make their final steps towards Karakura Town, Keigo Asano is waking up from his sleep.

Arrival
Ichigo asks why his father wants him to learn in the Dangai. Isshin explains that due to the structure of the Dangai, time is 2000 times more compressed inside it; one year spent inside is equal to 2000 years outside. If the Kōryū catches you, the effect is lethal. If you are rammed by the Kōtotsu you are thrown out into a different time than the one you walked in from, which explains the time difference at the beginning of the Ryoka Invasion. It was only thanks to Urahara's skills that the time difference was so marginal; a greater time difference is also deadly. Now, since the Kōtotsu is gone, the Dangai is the perfect place to make up some lost time. Since time flows 2000 times faster inside the Dangai, if Ichigo trained inside for 2000 hours only one hour will have passed outside. Soul Society cannot halt the Kōtotsu, but Isshin can stop the Kōryū, using the Kaikyo Kotei a device which enables Shinigami to stabilize the Kōryū. Isshin will stabilize the Kōryū until his Reiryoku is depleted. He says he'll be able to last about 2000 hours, akin to three months. Ichigo must use this time to get his Zanpakutō to tell him about the Final Getsuga Tenshō. Ichigo assumes a meditative position with his sword laid across his knees. To test his concentration, Isshin tries whacking him over the head, proving he wasn't concentrating hard enough. Ichigo apologizes and says he never used this technique to commune before. As he resumes his previous position, Isshin explains that it is called Jinzen, a technique refined over millennia to enable communication with one's Zanpakutō. The techniques Ichigo has mastered so far have all been taken by force. Now, in order to proceed, Ichigo must experience all those thousands of years he has never touched before.