BLEACH

It’s back to high school and Hollow slaying for Ichigo Kurosaki, who is now officially recognized as a Substitute Soul Reaper by the Soul Society. On the day he returns to Karakura First High School, Ichigo meets an unusual new student named Shinji Hirako. That night, while Ichigo is fighting a Hollow, he is attacked by Shinji who is wielding a Zanpakuto.

Uryu is attacked by a Menos Grande and is saved by his father, Ryuken. Ryuken defeats the Menos with a single attack. He tells Uryu that he can help him regain his powers but only under Ryuken’s conditions. Meanwhile, Kon is in Ichigo's body and he is in trouble because he is being chased by Grand Fisher. Kon desperately tries to get away, but he is cornered in an urban area.

Isshin Kurosaki shows up in his Soul Reaper form and defeats Grand Fisher with a single strike. When Kisuke Urahara appears, Isshin and Kisuke discuss the fact that Sosuke Aizen has made contact with Hollows and is attempting to create a form of Hollows with Soul Reaper powers called Arrancars. Meanwhile, Shinji Hirako reveals that he has come to Karakura Town to recruit Ichigo into the Visoreds.

Ichigo senses that the hollow within him is getting stronger and fears that he’ll be swallowed whole in his current state. Meanwhile, the Soul Society's Department of Research and Development detects large amounts of spiritual pressure headed toward Karakura Town. The spiritual pressure is from fully developed Arrancars sent by Sosuke Aizen.

Orihime and Chad are in danger and Ichigo rushes to their aid. He immediately uses his Bankai and clashes with the brutish Arrancar, Yammy. Ichigo overwhelms Yammy with his speed and forces him to draw his Zanpakuto. Just then, Ichigo’s inner Hollow takes control in an attempt to disable him from continuing the fight.

Rukia, Renji, Ikkaku, Yumichika, Captain Hitsugaya and Rangiku have come to the World of the Living and they have found Ichigo still feeling depressed about his poor performance in the fight against the Arrancars. Ichigo learns that he is not going to get away with feeling sorry for himself because Rukia has plans to snap him out of his funk, even if it means she has to beat him into shape.

Ulquiorra and Yammy have returned to the Hollow World, Hueco Mundo. They report to Sosuke Aizen and twenty other Arrancars about their fight with Ichigo and his friends. Ulquiorra has returned to Hueco Mundo without killing Ichigo and is ridiculed by his peers. Meanwhile, in the World of the Living, Captain Hitsugaya and the Advance Troops leave Ichigo's house in search of a place to stay.

The Arrancar, Grimmjow, has entered the World of the Living and he has brought a group of minions from Hueco Mundo with him. The Arrancars’ goal is to kill anyone who possesses the slightest amount of spiritual pressure. Each of the bloodthirsty Arrancars sets out to find someone to destroy but they find a fight with well-trained Soul Reapers instead.

Ikkaku and the Arrancar, Edrad, have a fierce battle in the streets of Karakura Town. Yumichika stands aside and watches because he knows that Ikkaku will be furious if he interferes. Edrad dodges Ikkaku's wild attacks and coldly analyzes his fighting style. He determines that Ikkaku will not admit defeat unless he shows him an overpoweringly greater strength.

Ikkaku releases his Bankai, Ryumon Hozukimaru, which he has kept a secret for some time. He clashes with Edrad, who shows his true power by releasing his zanpakuto. When the two enormous spiritual pressures collide, Ikkaku is thrown to the ground. As his consciousness fades, Ikkaku remembers the time before he joined the Thirteen Court Guard Squads.

The Soul Reapers struggle against the might of the Arrancars. Despite the Arrancar Shawlong’s overwhelming strength, Captain Hitsugaya continues his attacks. Shawlong then reveals to Hitsugaya, the existence of Arrancars far more powerful then they are, the Espada, the strongest of the Arrancars. Hitsugaya shudders when he learns that one of the Espada has come to the World of the Living.

The Soul Reapers receive permission from the Soul Society to use Gentei Kaijo, a spiritual pressure restriction release. Soul Reaper Captains and Lieutenants have their spiritual pressure limited when they leave the Soul Society so as not to affect the spirits of the World of the Living unnecessarily.

Grimmjow is the only survivor of the Arrancars’ intense battle with the Soul Reapers. He returns with Tosen to Sosuke Aizen's palace, Las Noches in Hueco Mundo. While Aizen shows understanding towards Grimmjow’s disobedience, Tosen decides that he should still be punished for his actions. Meanwhile, having lost terribly to Grimmjow, Ichigo visits the Visored Shinji Hirako.

Ichigo visits Shinji Hirako at the Visoreds’ hideout in order to find out how to control his inner Hollow. He tries to get an answer by force, but Hiyori Sarugaki interrupts his battle with Shinji. Ichigo fights Hiyori while trying to suppress his inner Hollow but she is prepared to do everything she can to force him to release it.

Ichigo has begun training with the Visoreds in order to learn how to suppress his inner hollow. He enters his inner world and is greeted by the mirror image of himself holding a white Zangetsu. The two cross swords and release their Bankai simultaneously. Ichigo is forced to fight a more powewrful version of himself, which could be his most formidable opponent yet.

Ichigo has entered his inner world and is blocking fierce attacks made by another Ichigo who wields a white Zangetsu. Ichigo is cornered as images of Byakuya Kuchiki and Jin Kariya pummel him into the ground. Kenpachi Zaraki appears and tells Ichigo to be candid about his desire to fight and questions his determination.

Sosuke Aizen’s ultimate goal of killing the Soul King has been revealed. The Soul Society has learned that in order to gain access to the Royal Family’s palace, Aizen will need a key known as the Ouken. If Aizen is able to create the key, Karakura Town will be destroyed. Orihime visits Ichigo during his Visored training to inform him of this shocking discovery.

Ichigo and his friends undergo exhaustive training in preparation for the upcoming winter showdown with Sosuke Aizen. Kisuke summons Orihime to his underground training facility where she finds Chad sparring with Renji. Meanwhile, Ulquiorra has returned to Hueco Mundo with information that peaks Aizen’s interest.

Captain Hitsugaya's advance troops remain in Karakura Town to prepare for the showdown with Sosuke Aizen. Rangiku is fascinated by life in the world of the living, and she finds it impossible to devote her time to training. During the shopping spree of a lifetime, Rangiku’s Soul Phone alerts her of a Hollow appearance.

Rangiku saves a young soul named Shota from being attacked by a Mock Arrancar. Believing this to be Aizen’s doing, Captain Hitsugaya decides to hold off on Shota's soul burial to further investigate the situation. Meanwhile, the Mock Arrancar has returned and seems to be multiplying.

Hitsugaya and his advanced troops learn that Shota’s little sister Yui was the Mock Arrancar’s first victim. Shota abandoned Yui out of fear and blames himself for the entire incident. Rangiku finds it suspicious that Yui appears to be fine despite having been attacked by an Arrancar.

It is revealed that the Mock Arrancar gained an explosive amount of strength when it devoured Yui and has reanimated her soul to use her as bait to lure and attack human souls. While the Mock Arrancar attempts to absorb Shota's soul, it is met with a counterstrike from Rangiku. Cornered, the Mock Arrancar continues to multiply to better its odds against the highly skilled advance troops.

When a bullying group of middle school students refuse to give up the soccer field, Karin Kurosaki fearlessly agrees to lead her reluctant friends into a soccer match against the upperclassmen. The team that wins the game will gain the right to use the field while the losing team will have to eat the grass.

Karakura First High School's kendo team is ambushed, and the captain and all of the main members are seriously injured. The injured team members are worried they'll have to pull out of the regional tournament the following month, but the student body president, Kego’s sister Mizuho, suggests that they have a practice match against their attackers.

The Head Captain orders Mayuri Kurotsuchi to simplify the procedures to perform Gentei Kaijo, a restriction release for the Spiritual Pressure of the Advance Troops while in the World of the Living. Rin Tsubokura of the Department of Research and Development is sent to conduct some research in the World of the Living.