The Commencement of War, Visored and Arrancar

 is the one hundred and twelfth episode of the Bleach anime.

Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies learn more about the Visored and Arrancar.

Summary
Having just been cut down by Isshin Kurosaki with Agitowari, a mortally wounded Grand Fisher lies on his side and expresses disbelief at the situation as his body dissipates from the head down, leaving Kon in Ichigo Kurosaki staring at Isshin in shock over him accomplishing this in a single strike. Behind Kon, Ririn wonders what is going on and Kurōdo questions if they were just saved while Noba assures the two of them that it is alright now.

With Isshin walking away, Kon is left amazed by his incredible strength and wonders if he is really Ichigo's goofy, bumbling father. Suddenly, Kisuke Urahara approaches them and inquires if Isshin carried out his revenge. After Isshin comments on his arrival, Urahara notes that it has been a while and praises Isshin for not having lost his skill, only for Isshin to observe in turn that Urahara's relief at this is unusual for him, prompting Urahara to clarify that he was worried Isshin would blame him for any Reiatsu loss.

As Isshin assures Urahara that he would not blame the latter for the fading of his power or his skill, Urahara asks him how it feels to be a Shinigami again for the first time in twenty years, and when Isshin simply states that it is not bad, Urahara questions if he feels better now. In response, Isshin admits that he never hated Grand Fisher to begin with and that the only thing he has regretted for the past twenty years was his inability to save Masaki Kurosaki on the night of her death. When Urahara muses that this part of Isshin never changes and that he is just like Ichigo, Isshin angrily denies this and reiterates his denial after Urahara insists upon this.

However, with Urahara wondering if he noticed what has happened with Ichigo, Isshin confirms that he has and that Urahara's prediction of the Visored making contact with him has come true. Upon hearing Ririn and Kurōdo wonder what the Visored are, Noba brings out a sketchbook and writes out the group's name in both kanji and katakana as Isshin describes the Visored as an outlaw group of Shinigami who tried to gain Hollow powers through forbidden methods, with their whereabouts and aims being unknown, though he does know that they and the Arrancar are not allied with each other despite how troublesome their mysterious nature is.

Despite this, Urahara points out that the Visored are not their allies either since they hate the Shinigami, and after affirming this, Isshin notes that them contacting Ichigo means they are preparing for some kind of battle due to noticing the recent change in the Arrancar. Hearing this, Urahara ruminates on Grand Fisher having had his mask removed while Noba writes out the kanji and kana for Arrancar on his sketchbook, which leads Ririn to express surprise at them reading "Ripped Mask" as "Arrancar". Isshin elaborates that Soul Society has detected naturally-occurring Arrancar from time to time, but warns that Grand Fisher was far more powerful than they were.

After bringing up how Arrancar are only just now experiencing this jump in power after remaining stagnant for decades, Isshin concludes that this can only mean Sōsuke Aizen made contact with the naturally-occurring Arrancar in order to make a proper Arrancar with the Hōgyoku. When Urahara muses that his calculations determined the Hōgyoku would take another year to fully mature, Isshin clarifies that its power is still not complete because Grand Fisher was an incomplete Arrancar whose Reiatsu was still impure despite being strengthened and was likely a test subject sent out to gather data on how well he could fight at this level of power.

Isshin asserts that the immense power of the Hōgyoku means that Aizen will be pushing his research so the Arrancar can be used reliably in battle and will eventually lead an Arrancar and Menos Grande army to crush the Human World. With Isshin asking him what they should do, Urahara states that they should do what they can since this is the situation they are dealing with and reminds Isshin that everyone is going to be making a move regardless of their relationship to Urahara and Isshin, including the Visored and Soul Society. Suddenly, Urahara realizes that someone is coming their way, and as Isshin recognizes their Reiatsu, Urahara observes that it is Ichigo.

Determining that it would be problematic for Ichigo to meet them right now, Urahara invites Kon, Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba to go home, which they agree to with stunned expressions. Meanwhile, in the Seireitei, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya informs a Riteitai that he will move out immediately while 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi, 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng, and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki approach the First Division barracks.

Within the barracks' meeting hall following the captains assembling, Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto presses his cane against the ground and thanks the captains for coming on such short notice before commencing the captains meeting. The next day, Ichigo sits in his classroom at Karakura High School and wonders what the Reiatsu he sensed last night was, having found the area deserted by the time he reached it, as he curses Shinji Hirako for causing the situation to begin with and recalls the latter inviting him to join the Visored since he does not belong with the Shinigami. Nearby, Uryū Ishida remembers Ryūken Ishida offering to restore his Quincy powers.

With Uryū ruminating on Ryūken's condition that he never involve himself with the Shinigami again if his powers are restored, Orihime Inoue opens the classroom door at the back of the room and cheerfully greets Ichigo, only for Shinji to do the same, leaving Ichigo startled by him coming to school as though nothing happened. When Orihime greets him by name, Shinji is overjoyed that she remembered his name and hugs her in return, prompting an outraged Keigo Asano to demand he hold on, only for an annoyed Shinji to question who he is. Further incensed by Shinji acting like this when he has been here longer, though Mizuiro Kojima notes he has already been damaged, Keigo orders Shinji to let Orihime go.

However, Shinji counters Keigo's claim of Orihime not liking his hug by asserting that she would have screamed or hit him if she did not like it and that her lack of action means that Orihime does not mind. As a flustered Keigo criticizes Shinji acting so arrogant when he is the one doing something wrong and looks for validation that he is right, an enraged Chizuru Honshō grips his shoulder and assures Keigo that he is correct prior to proclaiming that she will handle Shinji from here, frightening Keigo while she details how Orihime is a nice girl who would not be rude even when someone makes her uncomfortable, which means Shinji has no right to live due to clinging to her like this.

After an intimidated Keigo points out that this logic would mean Chizuru should be the first to die even though he does not like berating his allies, Chizuru attempts to begin her lethal assault on Shinji, but stops in shock alongside everyone else when Ichigo silently gets up from his desk, walks over to them, and drags Shinji out of the classroom by his collar so they can talk elsewhere, leaving Chizuru to question why he is acting so hot-blooded as a concerned Orihime looks to Yasutora Sado nearby and Uryū averts his gaze. In the hallway outside, Shinji finds himself slammed against a railing by Ichigo and protests that the latter does not need to get so mad about this.

When Shinji reminds him that Orihime is not his girlfriend and claims that he could never get anywhere with someone as beautiful as her to begin with, Ichigo angrily demands that he apologize to Orihime after this, and with Shinji stating that Ichigo is in no position to order him around, Ichigo inquires about his reason for continuing to come to school, which leads Shinji to note that he is still a student and is consequently responsible for coming to school. As Ichigo declares that Shinji has no reason to come to school anymore since he only did so in order to invite Ichigo to join the Visored, an unimpressed Shinji wonders if Ichigo believed that he would give up this easily, unnerving Ichigo.

Shinji asserts that he is persistent and will hang around Ichigo until the latter agrees to join him before informing Ichigo that he cannot go back from becoming a Visored, which means he is on their side whether he knows it or not. Seeing Ichigo's stunned expression, Shinji sighs and brings up how he considers Orihime, Sado, and Uryū to be his friends, only to warn him that this is temporary since continuing to be a Shinigami will eventually lead to Ichigo's inner Hollow taking over his body and destroying everything Ichigo holds dear with his power, which he smugly observes Ichigo has already realized because his inner Hollow has grown too large to handle anymore.

With Shinji concluding that he will teach Ichigo to maintain his sanity if the latter comes with him, Tatsuki Arisawa watches them from the plaza nearby with concern. After the school day ends, Keigo cheerfully invites Ichigo to go into town on the way home, but Ichigo declines so he can go home alone and departs, leaving an astonished Keigo to complain to Mizuiro that there is something wrong with Ichigo, though the latter points out that Ichigo acts like this sometimes and Keigo concedes that this is true while Uryū silently leaves as well. As Keigo struggles to describe how Ichigo is different today, Mizuiro begins politely addressing him by his last name with an honorific.

Realizing that Mizuiro is purposely distancing himself, Keigo laments everyone doing this to him and tearfully declares that he hates them all. Simultaneously, Shinji walks down a street in Karakura Town and expresses exhaustion at being forced to do things he is not used to prior to questioning the purpose of the post-break test that he and the other students were given. Suddenly, while Shinji complains about having to be the one who goes to Ichigo's school and recruits him, Hiyori Sarugaki kicks him hard in the rear end from behind, sending Shinji flying several meters forward to slam face-first into a brick wall that he slides down as he comments on how painful that was.

Though initially demanding to know who did this, Shinji is visibly frightened upon seeing Hiyori, who kicks her right sandal into the air and grabs it to smack Shinji in the face as she furiously asks him why he is taking so long. With Shinji apologizing, Hiyori grabs him by the hair and inquires about where Ichigo is, and when Shinji reveals that he has not accepted their invitation yet, Hiyori instructs him to convince Ichigo to join the Visored, but Shinji explains that Ichigo did not listen when he did this, prompting Hiyori to order Shinji to bring Ichigo to them by force while Shinji protests that this is not what she told him to do the last time they spoke.

However, the two of them are interrupted when Orihime and Sado approach them from behind Hiyori, who motions Shinji over to her and proceeds to headbutt him while angrily berating him for letting Orihime and Sado follow him. As she steps forward, Orihime brings up how Ichigo would likely tell them it was nothing if they asked him about this before inquiring about who Shinji is and what he wants with Ichigo. In response, a smirking Hiyori wonders if they believed that she and Shinji would just tell them if they asked, leaving Orihime and Sado uneasy. After a moment's pause, Hiyori introduces herself and expresses irritation when Orihime and Sado are confused by this.

Once Orihime and Sado introduce themselves at her behest, Hiyori is bemused by their names containing the respective kanji for "princess" and "tiger" while her name contains the kanji for "monkey" and Shinji's name contains the kanji for "flat", though Shinji is confused by his kanji being the only one that is not a living thing and criticizes Hiyori for making forced comparisons. Irritated by this, Hiyori punches Shinji in the nose and points out Orihime's large breasts and smooth hair, which she considers annoying, only for Shinji to observe that she is simply jealous and holding these things solely against Orihime, prompting Hiyori to hit him again.

Suddenly, with Hiyori declining to tell Orihime and Sado anything and promising that they will die here instead, a startled Shinji grabs her around the torso and runs off while frantically apologizing to Orihime and Sado, the former of whom attempts to pursue them down the street prior to Sado telling her to stop because they both know they cannot catch up to Shinji and Hiyori with their current level of power and would be killed even if they did so. Simultaneously, Shinji runs through the air above Karakura Town with Hiyori over his shoulder as the latter demands that he let her go so she can beat up Orihime and Sado, which Shinji asserts is unnecessary since they are after Ichigo.

When Hiyori pokes a finger into his rear end in an effort to force him to let go of her, a shocked and agonized Shinji does the same to her in turn, and when Hiyori expresses fright at the idea of no one wanting to marry her due to this, Shinji proclaims that this is just a punishment for a child who would not listen before screaming in pain again when Hiyori repeats the process. Soon afterward, once Hiyori calms down, she flatly states that she hates Humans and Shinigami, both of which Shinji acknowledges while instructing Hiyori to wait for just a little bit longer. Meanwhile, with the sun going down, Ryūken reads some papers in his office at Karakura Hospital.

Upon being approached by Uryū, Ryūken tells him to reveal his answer, which leads Uryū to request that Ryūken restore his Quincy powers due to him wanting to use his own powers instead of having to borrow them. As Ryūken presses him to continue, Uryū promises to never again involve himself with Shinigami and their associates.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
In the Seireitei, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi walks down a hallway with 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, who notes that mornings have become harder as Izuru expresses concern for him. When a Shinigami in the hall bows and greets Hisagi, he returns the greeting, and when Renji observes that this was a member of the Seventh Division, Hisagi explains that they became friends during the Bount Invasion, prompting Izuru to bring up how 7th Division Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba is strangely conscious of Hisagi and believes that his subordinates do not respect him as much as they used to. Though Hisagi assures Izuru that Iba does not need to worry about this, Renji claims that he cannot believe anyone used to respect Iba, which leads Izuru to viciously reprimand him for saying this.

Events

 * The Cold War

Powers and Techniques Used
Shinigami Techniques:

Zanpakutō Techniques:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Other Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Zanpakutō released:

Bankai:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes= Trivia=
 * Ichigo Kurosaki rushing across Karakura Town toward the source of the Reiatsu he detected earlier.
 * The flashback to Zangetsu possessing Ichigo's body while he is remembering Shinji Hirako's words.
 * Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba reacting to Isshin Kurosaki's defeat of Grand Fisher.
 * Kisuke Urahara insisting that Isshin is just like Ichigo and Isshin denying that he is once again, which Urahara decides to leave it at.
 * Shinji Hirako sheathing his Zanpakutō after catching the sheath in midair.
 * Noba writing out the kanji and katakana of Visored for Ririn and Kurōdo to read.
 * Several generic Visored being portrayed during Isshin's explanation of the group.
 * Isshin noting that he knows the Visored and the Arrancar are not allied with each other, only for Urahara to point out how they are not allies of the Shinigami either since they hate the latter, which Isshin acknowledges.
 * Noba writing out the kanji and katakana of Arrancar for Ririn and Kurōdo to read, prompting Ririn to comment on the strange reading.
 * Isshin mentioning that Soul Society has detected naturally-occurring Arrancar from time to time.
 * Urahara musing that the Hōgyoku was supposed to take another year to mature, leading Isshin to bring up its power is still incomplete.
 * Urahara realizing that Ichigo is approaching their location and suggesting that he, Isshin, and the Mod-Souls leave since Ichigo seeing them all together right now would be inconvenient.
 * Ichigo wondering what the Reiatsu he sensed last night was and recalling how he reached its location, only to find it deserted, which he blames on Shinji.
 * A flashback to Zangetsu taking control of Ichigo's body during his battle against Byakuya Kuchiki.
 * Keigo Asano trying to explain how Ichigo is acting differently, only for Mizuiro Kojima to begin teasing him by addressing Keigo by his last name with an honorific, leaving Keigo distraught by everyone distancing themselves from him.
 * Hiyori Sarugaki repeating her maneuver of poking Shinji's rear end with her fingers after he does the same to her, causing him to jolt upright in pain once more.
 * Grand Fisher's wound does not release a large torrent of blood as he dies.
 * In the manga, when Grand Fisher dies and his body disintegrates, he is still standing upright; here, he is instead lying on his side.
 * In the manga, when Kon recalls Isshin acting like a goofy father, he specifically envisions Isshin's behavior during the fireworks festival; here, he instead envisions Isshin clapping his hands and making silly noises.
 * In the manga, when envisioned by Isshin as the improved power of the Arrancar is attributed to him, Sōsuke Aizen is wearing a traditional black Shinigami shihakushō; here, he is instead wearing his new black-hemmed white robe outfit that he dons as the leader of the Arrancar.
 * In the manga, Tōshirō Hitsugaya is informed of the captains meeting after the other captains have begun moving out for it; here, he is instead informed beforehand.
 * In the manga, Jun Miyamoto, Tetsuo Momohara, and Conrad Tomohiro Odagiri are present while Ichigo is ruminating on Shinji's offer to join the Visored in his classroom; here, they are instead replaced by generic students.
 * In the manga, while recalling his encounter with Shinji, Ichigo is slouched back at his desk with one leg up on his chair; here, he is instead sitting up straight.
 * In the manga, while contemplating Ryūken Ishida's offer to restore his Quincy powers, Uryū Ishida is sitting on Ichigo's left side next to the windows of the classroom; here, he is instead sitting on Ichigo's right side near the middle of the room.
 * In the manga, Ichigo is sitting right behind Keigo and Chizuru Honshō when they confront Shinji over his treatment of Orihime; here, he is instead sitting on the other side of the classroom.
 * In the manga, while listing Ichigo's allies, Shinji mentions the Shinigami while Ichigo envisions Renji Abarai, Ikkaku Madarame, and Yumichika Ayasegawa; here, he does not mention the Shinigami and Ichigo instead envisions Rukia Kuchiki and Renji.
 * In the manga, while interrogating Shinji, Ichigo does so in an outdoor hallway on the second floor of Karakura High School; here, he instead does so in an outdoor hallway on the first floor of the school.
 * In the manga, Hiyori kicks Keigo face-first into a telephone pole directly in front of him; here, her kick instead sends him flying down the street to crash face-first into a brick wall several meters away.
 * In the manga, Uryū meeting with Ryūken to accept the latter's offer is depicted right after Orihime and Sado confront Shinji and Hiyori; here, it is instead depicted after Shinji flees from Orihime and Sado with Hiyori.
 * In the manga, while warning Orihime against pursuing Shinji and Hiyori, Sado's hair is covering his left eye and he is sweating; here, his hair is instead covering his right eye and he is not sweating.
 * During Isshin's explanation of the Visored, several generic Visored are used to represent the group, none of whom resemble the actual members of the Visored themselves. This episode aired years before the events of The Hollowfication Incident revealed that all of the Visored were created under very unique circumstances and that all the current members are the only ones who have ever existed.