Visored Training

With the Arrancar threat over for the moment, Ichigo sets out to find the Vizard, aware that his inner Hollow has become too powerful to control. Meanwhile, Uryū trains with his father under Karakura Hospital and Chad requests that Urahara train him as well. Back at the Vizard warehouse, Ichigo fights Shinji so he can force him into telling him how to control the inner Hollow. Hiyori interferes and uses her Hollow mask to fight Ichigo as a test to see if he's strong enough to join the Vizard. With her Hollow mask, Hiyori is more than a match for Ichigo. She continues to goad him into using his Hollow mask or Bankai, neither of which Ichigo is willing to do. Ichigo eventually loses control to his Hollow side once more, and nearly kills her. After being forced back into his Shinigami state, Ichigo is informed that he cannot simply keep his Hollow in check with his body or mind, but must force it into the very core of his soul. After a brief period of unappreciated training, Ichigo is told to confront his Hollow side within his inner world.

There, Ichigo squares off against his Hollow self. Even after several exchanges, Ichigo is unable to damage the Hollow, while badly injured himself. Ichigo and his inner Hollow both use their Bankai and commence fighting, but Ichigo is continually assaulted by inner manifestations of previous foes - Byakuya Kuchiki and Jin Kariya - and force him to re-fight their battles (Ichigo is defeated by both of them). Ichigo's inner Hollow overpowers him and breaks his sword, then explains to him that he has no desire to serve someone with no instinct for battle. After another discourse with an inner manifestation of Kenpachi Zaraki, Ichigo realizes his trouble is that he lacks pure fighting spirit, instead needing reasons to fight his opponents. His spirit rekindled by this revelation, Ichigo is able to make a comeback, seizing the Hollow's sword and impaling him on it. His Hollow subdued for the moment, Ichigo fades back to reality. When he comes to, he learns that while he was fighting internally, his outer body had transformed into that of a powerful and berserk Hollow and that the Vizard had taken turns battling this monster to keep it in check.

Elsewhere, General Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryūsai speaks with Hitsugaya about Aizen's objective: he plans to obtain the royal key and overthrow the king of the Soul Society. However, as Yamamoto is the only person who knows where the key is, Aizen will have to manufacture a duplicate using 100,000 human souls gathered in Karakura Town, and in doing so vaporize a large portion of the city. At Urahara's shop, Chad is fighting against Renji's Bankai as training, while Ishida is still dodging arrows from his father under Karakura Hospital. Momo Hinamori wakes from her coma that was inflicted by Aizen, and is wishes to speak with Tōshirō. Hinamori appears to still be in a trance, believing that Aizen is innocent and urges Hitsugaya to save him, which angers him. Throughout the town, various training sessions are taking place: Ichigo is training with Hiyori to lengthen the time he can use his Hollow mask, Chad is training with Renji to make his arm stronger, and Uryū is training with Ryūken to regain his powers. Meanwhile, Orihime tracks down Ichigo to inform him of Aizen's plans. This comes as a surprise to the other Vizard, as she passes through the barrier with no effort. In his battle with Ryūken, Uryū finally loses his patience and goes on the attack, only to be shot through the chest. A pentacle-shaped scar forms at the point of contact, and Ryūken informs Uryū that his powers have been restored.

With Orihime's attack spirit, Tsubaki, out of commission, Urahara tells Orihime that he doesn't want her to participate in the upcoming battle, as anyone who cannot fight would simply be a burden. Orihime is saddened by the decision, but understands it. After being taken back to the Vizard by Hiyori, however, Hachigen Ushōda is able to restore Tsubaki for her, which she could not accomplish on her own. Meanwhile, Yammy has his arm reattached, while Ulquiorra explains that Grimmjow lost his rank when he lost his arm.