Reopening of the Substitute Business! The Terrifying Transfer Student

In Hueco Mundo, a bound Grand Fisher swells and breaks free, emerging in a new humanoid Arrancar form and snarling Ichigo's name. At Karakura High, Ichigo settles back into routine with Orihime, Sado and Uryū, and is startled when Tatsuki reveals she can now see his Substitute badge, which is supposed to be hidden from ordinary Humans. When the badge blares a Hollow alert, Ichigo, Orihime and Sado slip out of class to deal with a pig-like Hollow, unaware that Shinji watches them from above, standing upside-down in the sky.

At the Urahara Shop, the Mod-Souls Ririn, Kurōdo and Noba move in, their Bount-tracking role now finished. Back at school, Misato introduces Shinji, who takes the desk beside Ichigo and unsettlingly declares he wants to be friends. That night, after Ichigo leaves Kon in charge of his body, Shinji corners him, revealing that he too carries a Hollow mask and naming himself a Visored, a Shinigami who has crossed into the Hollows' domain, and inviting Ichigo to join his group.

Ichigo's turbulent spiritual pressure draws danger to his friends. A two-bodied Menos Grande attacks Uryū in a park, and Grand Fisher, mistaking Kon for Ichigo, confronts him in the streets. Uryū, still without his Quincy powers, fights back with Gintō and severs the Menos Grande's arm using Heizen, only for it to regenerate and reveal itself as two separate Hollows. As the tongue lashes at him once more, a Heilig Pfeil severs it, and Ryūken Ishida arrives to save his son, coldly noting Uryū's lack of respect has not changed.

Grand Fisher breaks free in a new Arrancar form. Tatsuki is shown to have gained the ability to see Ichigo's Substitute badge. Shinji Hirako transfers into Ichigo's class, then confronts him, reveals his Hollow mask, identifies himself as a Visored, and invites Ichigo to join the group. A dual-bodied Menos Grande and the reborn Grand Fisher appear in Karakura Town, and Ryūken Ishida arrives to rescue Uryū from the Menos Grande.

The episode adapts portions of chapters 183 through 186 and begins the Arrancar storyline. Because the anime-original Bount arc preceded it, several scenes are altered from the manga, including the Mod-Souls already living at the Urahara Shop and Keigo's reaction to the friend group. A comedic closing segment follows a dejected Zennosuke Kurumadani questioning his standing as an elite Shinigami.