Second move of Hueco Mundo! Hitsugaya vs Yammy

 is the one hundred and thirty-eighth episode of the Bleach anime.

Several Espada-level Arrancar invade Karakura Town.

Summary
In Las Noches in Hueco Mundo, Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo walk down a long hall and reach a large door, where Ulquiorra announces his arrival. As the doors open automatically, Sōsuke Aizen welcomes them both and promises that this will not take much longer as he stands before a mummified individual with Coyote Starrk, Tier Harribel, Nnoitra Gilga, Luppi Antenor, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, and Aaroniero Arruruerie observing.

With Aizen dropping the Hōgyoku into a glass container in front of the individual, Ulquiorra asks him about its awakening status, which leads Aizen to confirm that it is only half-awake and will completely awaken exactly when Soul Society expects it to. However, Aizen reveals that there is a secret which only those who have actually touched the Hōgyoku know, something he does not expect even Kisuke Urahara to know since the latter sealed it away so quickly after developing it and never removed the seal.

Aizen elaborates that a dormant Hōgyoku with its seal removed can briefly unleash its full power when it is joined with someone who possesses twice the Reiryoku of an average captain while using his power and the Hōgyoku to shatter the bindings on the individual in front of him, completing their transformation into an Arrancar. Upon being asked for his name by Aizen, the individual identifies himself as Wonderweiss Margela. In turn, a smiling Aizen asks Ulquiorra if the latter remembers the order he was given a month ago, which Ulquiorra confirms, and instructs him to carry it out with whomever he likes joining him on the mission.

After Ulquiorra affirms this, Aizen turns to a one-armed Grimmjow and wonders if he would like to go as well. Following this, on October 29th in the Visored Study Chamber, Hiyori Sarugaki sends Ichigo Kurosaki flying and tumbling for several dozen meters across the ground with a dropkick while Love Aikawa sits with Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi and ruminates on the deep meaning of the line "You are already dead", as it indicates that the people being informed of this by the speaker have not yet realized that they have been killed, though an exasperated Rose wonders if this is meant to sound like the rhetoric of Egon Schiele.

As Rose requests that Love stop reading his comics before he does since the latter keeps spoiling them for him, Hiyori stands in the air before Ichigo, who has crashed into another rock formation, and questions if Ichigo knows how many times he could have been killed during their skirmish prior to sarcastically assuming that Ichigo believes Shinigami are supposed to get killed a lot, to Ichigo's annoyance. Suddenly, Kensei Muguruma announces that it is time for lunch and that whoever is last in line will be cleaning the dishes. Soon afterward, Ichigo grudgingly cleans the dishes while Shinji Hirako inquires about how his training is progressing.

In response, Hiyori disparages Ichigo for only being able to keep his mask summoned for a little over ten seconds. When Lisa Yadōmaru suggests that he might not have what it takes and that he should just give up, Ichigo demands that she shut up since she is not even involved in the training, but Lisa counters that she is since she lent him an erotic magazine the other day, which leads a flustered Ichigo to deny having borrowed anything from her and accuse Lisa of telling lies that sound somewhat plausible. Nearby, Love assures Ichigo that it is fine since he borrows the same magazine every couple of days and Lisa asserts that she looks at it twice a day.

With Ichigo declaring that he is not a pervert like they are, Lisa proclaims that she is simply really curious instead of a pervert, though Kensei observes that most perverts are curious prior to Lisa claiming that he is also interested, which Kensei denies. Watching this, Shinji ruminates on Ichigo only being at ten seconds after a month, which indicates that it will take time for him, and concludes that the Hōgyoku awakening at the end of December means they have just two more months, which they will have to hurry during. Meanwhile, at the training grounds behind the Thirteenth Division barracks in the Seireitei, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake sits on a small cliff.

While Ukitake drinks from a cup of tea, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi walks up behind him and wonders what he is doing. In turn, Ukitake states that he was taking a break to enjoy the show and points to the ground below the cliff, where Rukia Kuchiki and Orihime Inoue are fiercely training with each other. When Ukitake explains that they have been training for the coming war for the past month, Hisagi recognizes Rukia and Orihime, and upon being asked by Ukitake if he knows the latter, Hisagi reveals that he met her in the Human World as Rukia fires '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui''' at Orihime, who leaps forward to evade it.

After Hisagi observes that they seem to be having too much fun, Ukitake affirms this. In the past, Rukia kneels before a startled Ukitake in his Ugendō Quarters and requests that he open up the training grounds behind the barracks so that she and a friend can train in preparation for the upcoming battle in the winter, with 13th Division 3rd Seats Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu peering in through the doorway behind her alongside Orihime. Upon being noticed by Ukitake, Sentarō pulls Orihime into the doorway and proclaims that he has brought her to Ukitake, only for Kiyone to counter that she is the one who brought Orihime.

When Sentarō berates her for this and offers to get Ukitake some more tea, an aghast Kiyone reminds him that they agreed to decide who would pour tea for Ukitake with janken. With Sentarō countering that the one who makes the first move wins and continues bickering with Kiyone, Orihime joins Rukia in kneeling before Ukitake and apologizes for beingso selfish after coming here so suddenly. However, Rukia admonishes Orihime for being so modest because their ultimate goal is a showdown with Aizen and it does not matter whether Humans or Shinigami are allying with them so long as those individuals have powers of their own.

Rukia pulls out Chappy's Gikongan dispenser and elaborates that she would even want the latter's help in this situation, prompting an embarrassed Orihime to assure Rukia that she does not need to explain things like this prior to Rukia pushing her head up against Orihime's and declaring that they are going to train, to Orihime's surprise. Watching as Rukia encourages Orihime to do her best, Ukitake closes his eyes and smiles. In the present, Ukitake admits to Hisagi that he was surprised when Rukia showed up to him in desperation and requested that he open up the training grounds behind the barracks.

Despite this, Ukitake asserts that he is happy for her since she has found a friend, though Hisagi wonders if this is logical when her friend is a Human. Though Hisagi requests forgiveness when Ukitake asks him to not say this, Ukitake concludes their friendship is a fine thing even though they live in different worlds and points out how Orihime is unusual enough to potentially become a Shinigami herself when she comes to Soul Society. Down in the training grounds, Rukia fires another '''Hadō #33. Sōkatsui at Orihime, but the latter successfully blocks it with a sustained Santen Kesshun''', causing the energy to disperse outward.

When a running Rukia draws her Zanpakutō and leaps into the air above her, Orihime fires Koten Zanshun at her, only for Rukia to easily evade it in midair and land next to a shocked Orihime before instructing her to not hold back because her hesitation is her enemy. With Orihime affirming this, Rukia jumps into the air behind her and fires '''Hadō #4. Byakurai down at Orihime, who uses Santen Kesshun''' again to block it as well. However, Orihime is forced to leap back after several seconds of withstanding the intense blast immediately prior to Santen Kesshun exploding with enough force to obscure the training grounds in a dust cloud.

Above them, upon being questioned by Ukitake about why he came here and if he wants something, Hisagi hands Ukitake this month's copy of the Seireitei Communication with the mail-order catalogue inside, prompting a surprised Ukitake to inquire about what Hisagi is doing with the publication. Hisagi laments the chaos that has ensued in the Gotei 13 with 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto in the Human World, 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki constantly sleeping, and Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi being currently unaccounted for.

After bringing up how 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi never leave the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Hisagi admits that he never thought a captain's duties were so difficult due to Kaname Tōsen never asking his subordinates to do anything. Once Hisagi leaves and apologizes for being too busy to continue watching Rukia and Orihime train, Ukitake muses that four months is not much time to mend the heart or build strength, which makes him wish that this fleeting peace could last a little longer. Meanwhile, in Karakura Town, an aggravated 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa screams in frustration.

Yumichika repeatedly whacks his Zanpakutō against a nearby rock while telling it to break, and when Rangiku throws a sandal at his head and questions what is wrong, Yumichika explains that Fuji Kujaku is angering him by being snobby, bossy, and narcissistic, to the point that Yumichika does not believe he can ever externalize his spirit and would not bother even if asked. In turn, Rangiku asserts that Fuji Kujaku is just like Yumichika and claims that Haineko is the total opposite of her as a stupid, needy, and moody slob, but Yumichika counters that this is just like Rangiku, whom he considers to be incredibly vain.

When the two of them begin fighting each other over this, Hitsugaya threatens to send them back to Soul Society if they do not shut up and concentrate prior to lamenting their inability to communicate with their Zanpakutō spirits more quietly while performing Jinzen with his own Zanpakutō next to 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame, who opens his eyes to notice that the clouds are moving quickly in the sky above them. Though Ikkaku denies having said anything when Hitsugaya notices his reaction, a Garganta suddenly rips open in the air above, alerting the two of them, Rangiku, and Yumichika.

With the Garganta revealing Yammy Llargo, Luppi Antenor, Grimmjow, and Wonderweiss standing within, Yumichika is stunned by the Arrancar showing up earlier than expected, though Hitsugaya observes that there is no time to figure out why they have done so, as Yammy notes that they picked a good spot because there are combatants with strong Reiatsu below them. In response, Luppi notes that these are Shinigami and likely the reinforcements from Soul Society that the sixth Espada told them about, but snidely corrects himself and addresses Grimmjow as the former sixth Espada after turning to him.

However, Grimmjow simply asserts that the man he wants to kill is not down there and leaps away from the Garganta, startling Yammy, who is told by Luppi to let Grimmjow go since the latter is worthless now that he has had his tattoo burned off and is no longer an Espada. When Yammy realizes that the one he wants to kill is not down there either, Luppi inquires about whether he is referring to the one who cut off his arm, the one who beat him up, or the one who deflected his Cero, prompting a grinning Yammy to declare that he is referring to all of them prior to telling Wonderweiss that it is time to go and berating him for just standing there and drooling.

Despite this, Wonderweiss does not respond and instead continues staring into space, leaving Yammy to express disappointment at this before leaping down toward Hitsugaya below with an excited yell. Sumtlaneously, in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Rin Tsubokura frantically alerts his fellow technicians to Arrancar Reiatsu being detected in Karakura Town, and after confirming that Gentei Kaijo has been authorized, Hiyosu demands to know what color the Reiatsu on the monitor is, prompting Rin to reveal that it is vermillion and indicates the presence of Espada, to the technicians' shock.

Back in Karakura Town, Hitsugaya attacks Yammy in a flurry of ice, forcing Yammy to partially draw his Zanpakutō in order to defend himself against the slash, and introduces himself, which leads Yammy to comment on the coincidence since he is Arrancar #10. Upon being identified as an Espada by Hitsugaya, Yammy observes he must have fought someone who likes to talk if he knows about them. Nearby, Luppi confronts Ikkaku and Yumichika, and when the latter inquires if he is an Espada too, Luppi confirms this and reveals a tattoo of the number 6 on his right hip as Rangiku sees Wonderweiss watching two birds and wonders if she can justify harming him.

During this, in the Visored Study Chamber, Love and Kensei restrain Ichigo as the latter attempts to leave and respond to the Arrancar arriving. When Kensei asserts that he is not ready yet and Love suggests that he let his allies from Soul Society handle this since that is what they came here to do, Ichigo counters that he has been training for this too and needs to take the opportunity while he can. Suddenly, Shinji pulls Kensei off of Ichigo by the strap of his shirt and orders him and Love to let Ichigo go, allowing Ichigo to run up the stairs and move into the sky while Kensei continues to protest this decision to Shinji, who walks away.

Meanwhile, in the Thirteenth Division training grounds, Rukia learns of the Arrancar arriving from a Jigokuchō as Ukitake calls out to her. Once Rukia affirms she just received the same report, Ukitake orders her to go to the Senkaimon in front of the division barracks while the Kidō Corps work on opening it. When Orihime offers to go with her, Rukia reminds her she does not have a Jigokuchō and will end up in the Dangai if she tries to pass through the Senkaimon, but Ukitake appears behind Orihime with Shunpo and reveals he just ordered the outer wall stabilized so Orihime can safely pass through the Dangai.

With Ukitake concluding it should take about half an hour and acknowledging Orihime is in a hurry prior to telling her to remain calm regardless, which Orihime agrees to, Rukia promises to be waiting for her on the other side and runs up the cliffside toward the Senkaimon while wondering what is happening since the Espada are showing up long before the Hōgyoku was supposed to awaken. Back in Karakura Town, before Ichigo can get too far, Grimmjow appears in the air before him and declares he has been looking for Ichigo, who claims this is his line because he wants to show Grimmjow how much stronger he has become while drawing his Shikai, Zangetsu.

Ichigo activates his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, in a burst of red-black Reiatsu, and when Grimmjow scoffs at this since Tensa Zangetsu could not stop him during their last battle, Ichigo reminds him that Tensa Zangetsu gave Grimmjow the scar across his chest, to Grimmjow's irritation, and inquires about what happened to his left arm. In response, Grimmjow claims that he threw it away because he only needs one arm to kill Ichigo, who concludes from this that he does not need to hold back. With a smirking Grimmjow exerting his Reiatsu and promising that Ichigo will die extremely fast if he does, Ichigo holds his left hand up to his face.

Mentally noting that he has exactly eleven seconds to finish Grimmjow while Hollowfied, Ichigo asserts that he must finish this within that time. Simultaneously, at the Urahara Shop, 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai insists that Yasutora Sado stay in the Study Chamber and recover from using up too much of his energy while Renji responds to the Arrancar in his stead. However, Kisuke Urahara points out that Renji is just as exhausted, meaning that they both need to stay here and recover, and declares that he will be going out instead as he wields his Shikai, Benihime.

Kon-sama's Ultimate Shinigami Illustrated Guide
At the Seireitei Communication editorial department, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi panics over how busy they are and demands to know if 10th Division Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto's article is finished yet, only to be angered upon being told that it is not. When 8th Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise brings him her division's article, Hisagi relaxes and takes it from her while praising the Eighth Division for always meeting its deadline, which Nanao asserts is only natural. Suddenly, Rin Tsubokura informs them that Espada have appeared in Karakura Town, prompting an excited Hisagi to decide that he must cover the event for a special feature, though a perplexed Nanao points out that this is not what he is supposed to do.

Fights

 * Visored Training (concluded)

Powers and Techniques Used
Zanpakutō Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Hohō Techniques:

Kidō Techniques:

Arrancar Techniques:

Other Techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Shikai:

Bankai:

Other Powers:

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes= Trivia=
 * Jūshirō Ukitake musing that Rukia Kuchiki was never good at making friends due to rarely opening up.
 * Rin Tsubokura relaying the arrival of the Arrancar in Karakura Town to the rest of the Gotei 13.
 * Hiyori Sarugaki sending Ichigo Kurosaki flying with a dropkick and the latter tumbling across the ground for several dozen yards.
 * Kensei Muguruma responding to Lisa Yadōmaru claiming that he is also interested in her erotic magazines by denying this.
 * Rukia firing Hadō #33. Sōkatsui at Orihime Inoue, who narrowly leaps out of the way.
 * A recollection showing Rukia's request for Ukitake to open up the training grounds, involving Sentarō Kotsubaki and Kiyone Kotetsu bickering over Ukitake's attention and Orihime pleading with Ukitake as well.
 * Orihime blocking another Hadō #33. Sōkatsui from Rukia with Santen Kesshun and hesitating to attack her with Koten Zanshun, leading Rukia to admonish her for holding back in battle and fire a Hadō #4. Byakurai that shatters Orihime's Santen Kesshun.
 * Flashbacks to Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto at the end of their battles against Shawlong Koufang and Nakeem Grindina.
 * A depiction of Kenpachi Zaraki sleeping on the ground.
 * A depiction of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's laboratory in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute with a warning that he will kill anyone who enters it posted.
 * Orihime dodging a third Hadō #33. Sōkatsui from Rukia while Ukitake is musing on the current temporary peacetime they are experiencing.
 * A flashback to Shawlong as the one who explained the Arrancar hierarchy to Hitsugaya.
 * Rukia staring intently as a Jigokuchō and reacting with astonishment as she is informed of the Arrancar invading Karakura Town.
 * Ichigo verbally activating his Bankai against Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez.
 * Ichigo does not have scuff marks and bruises on his face when being restrained by Love Aikawa and Kensei Muguruma, nor while being confronted by Grimmjow.
 * In the manga, the Espada witnessing the birth of Wonderweiss Margela took place after Ichigo's last training session with the Visored; here, it instead takes place before that.
 * In the manga, Ukitake watching Rukia and Orihime train took place after the Shinigami Strike Force's Jinzen session in the park; here, it instead takes place after the discussion between the Visored about Ichigo's training progress.
 * In the manga, Shūhei Hisagi does not know who Orihime Inoue, prompting Ukitake to identify her to him; here, due to having met her during the events of the Bount Invasion, he instead identifies her by name and reveals to Ukitake that he met her in the Human World.
 * In the manga, while Ukitake is musing on Rukia having made a friend, the latter is smiling during her spar with Orihime; here, she is instead frowning in concentration.
 * In the manga, the Shinigami Strike Force's Jinzen attempt occurs after Sōsuke Aizen gives Ulquiorra Cifer permission to carry out his orders; here, this instead occurs after Ukitake muses on the current temporary peacetime.
 * In the manga, Yumichika Ayasegawa's face is visible when he is screaming in frustration during his Jinzen attempt; here, he is instead left off-screen.
 * In the manga, during her Jinzen attempt in the park, Rangiku is wearing a button-down shirt with chest pockets; here, she is instead wearing a dress.
 * In the manga, the Espada invading Karakura Town occurs after Ukitake muses on the current temporary peacetime; here, this instead occurs immediately after Ikkaku notices the clouds speeding up in the sky.
 * In the manga, when Grimmjow leaves the other Espada to search for Ichigo, Yammy is outside of the Garganta; here, he is instead inside the Garganta alongside Luppi and Wonderweiss.
 * In the manga, Hitsugaya's clash with Yammy begins when he suddenly attacks the latter while Yammy is focusing on Wonderweiss Margela; here, it instead begins after Yammy stops focusing on Wonderweiss and leaps down to intentionally attack Hitsugaya.
 * In the manga, the Shinigami Research and Development Institute technicians detecting the Reiatsu of the four Arrancar in Karakura Town takes place after Grimmjow confronts Ichigo; here, it instead takes place after Yammy leaps down to confront Hitsugaya.
 * In the manga, when reacting to Rin revealing that the Arrancar in Karakura Town are Espada, the rightmost technician has his eyes narrowed and his mouth mostly closed in concern; here, they are instead both wide open in shock.
 * In the manga, the Shinigami Strike Force confronting the invading Arrancar occurs immediately after the Arrancar appear in the Garganta; here, this instead occurs after the Arrancar arrival is detected by the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.
 * In the manga, when Hitsugaya clashes with Yammy, Hitsugaya has ice trailing off most of his Zanpakutō's blade and Yammy has only partially drawn his own Zanpakutō from its sheath to block Hitsugaya's slash; here, Hitsugaya's strike is instead accompanied by shards of ice flying outward and quickly melting into the air, while Yammy has drawn his Zanpakutō much further from its sheath.
 * In the manga, Ukitake sending Rukia to the Human World occurs immediately after the Shinigami Research and Development Institute detects the Arrancar invasion; here, this instead occurs after Ichigo leaves the Study Chamber to respond to the arrival of the Arrancar.
 * In the manga, Ichigo being confronted by Grimmjow occurs immediately after he leaves the Study Chamber; here, this instead occurs after Rukia begins moving to the Central Senkaimon at Ukitake's behest.
 * In the manga, Ichigo activating his Bankai to take on Grimmjow occurs after Rukia begins moving to the Central Senkaimon at Ukitake's behest; here, this instead occurs immediately after he is confronted by Grimmjow.
 * In the manga, Kisuke Urahara deciding to confront the Arrancar in Yasutora Sado and Renji Abarai's place occurs after Luppi Antenor activates his Resurrección; here, this instead occurs after Ichigo prepares to Hollowfy against Grimmjow.
 * In the manga, when promising to show Grimmjow how much he has changed in the past month, Ichigo holds his hand up to his face in the same motion used to summon his Hollow mask; here, he instead does not.
 * When preparing to summon his Hollow mask while using his Bankai, Ichigo's Reiatsu is light-blue instead of black outlined in red.