The Evil Eye, Aizen Again

The Evil Eye, Aizen Again is the one-hundred-sixteenth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: February 21, 2007
 * English Airdate: May 16, 2009
 * Opening Song: Rolling Star
 * Ending Song: Sakura Biyori
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 198.
 * Kanji: 悪しき瞳、藍染再び
 * Romaji: "Ashiki hitomi, Aizen futatabi"
 * Arc: The Arrancar arc

Summary
In order to give his report to Sōsuke Aizen, Ulquiorra Cifer removes and crushes his left eye, letting the dust convey the information. When another Arrancar named Grimmjow heckles him for not killing Ichigo Kurosaki, Ulquiorra explains that their problem is not with the current Ichigo. Rather, Aizen is concerned with Ichigo’s growth rate: Ichigo has a considerable amount of dormant power, but it is very unstable. With the possibility that Ichigo could either destroy himself if left alone or fall under their control, Ulquiorra did not kill him yet, but is ready to do so if Ichigo ends up fighting against them. These words and Aizen’s confidence in Ulquiorra quieten Grimmjow, but he is still unhappy about it.

Back in the Human World, Ichigo is finding out that Renji Abarai and company are not planning to leave until the end of the war with the Arrancar. Since Ichigo cannot give them a place to stay, Rangiku Matsumoto leaves for Orihime Inoue’s place, Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa wander off, and Renji heads for the Urahara Shop. The only person left is Rukia Kuchiki, who intended on living with Ichigo all along, so she makes up a sob story for Ichigo’s father and sisters Yuzu and Karin to convince them to let her stay. Meanwhile, Keigo Asano and Mizuiro Kojima are walking through the streets when Keigo notices a large flying Hollow in the sly. Grimmjow then arrives in Human World.

At home, Inoue is telling a photo of her brother what happened with Ichigo, and she feels jealous that Rukia was able to get him back to normal. Rangiku arrives at her apartment a little later and quickly gets Inoue’s permission to stay. She really wants to take a bath, but she first tells Hitsugaya - who secretly followed her here and is sitting on the roof of the building - that he can come in if he has nowhere else to go. While in the bath tub, Rangiku questions why Inoue is so depressed. Inoue eventually starts talking about how Rukia cheered Ichigo up and how she should be happy that Ichigo got better, but instead she is jealous of Rukia. As she starts crying, Inoue admits that she does not feel this way at school - it is only when she is alone at home. After hearing this, Rangiku emerges nude from the bath and hugs Inoue. Rangiku then gets Inoue laughing through some tickling until she finally stops and says that Inoue and Rukia are fine the way they are. She thinks of Ichigo as a kid who cannot stand up on his own yet, so he still needs both of them. And since Inoue is not taking the easy way out by running away, Rangiku thinks highly of her.

Elsewhere in the town, Grimmjow meets up with five other Arrancar who have just arrived: Di Roy Linker, Shawlong Kūfang, Edrad Liones, Yylfordt Granz and Nakeem Greendina. Together, they are able to detect many strong souls, including Ichigo and all of the Shinigami current in the living world. Grimmjow tells them that there is no need to hold back or discriminate because they are to massacre anyone that has any bit of Reiryoku and let no one escape. Under those orders, the five Arrancar scatter towards their targets.