The Commencement of War, Visored and Arrancar

Having felled Grand Fisher in a single stroke with Agitowari, Isshin Kurosaki reunites with Kisuke Urahara, who confirms Isshin's regained Shinigami powers cost him nothing. Isshin admits he never truly hated Grand Fisher and that his only lingering regret is failing to save his wife, Masaki. The two then discuss the danger stirring in the shadows, with the watching Mod-Souls learning the terminology as Noba writes it out for them.

Isshin describes the Visored as renegade Shinigami who chased Hollow power through forbidden means, and reasons that their sudden contact with Ichigo means a battle is brewing. Studying the strengthening of the Arrancar, he concludes Sōsuke Aizen has begun forging true Arrancar with the Hōgyoku, meaning an army of Arrancar and Menos will eventually threaten the Human World. The next day at school, Shinji acts as if nothing has changed, and Ichigo drags him aside to demand answers.

Shinji warns Ichigo that becoming a Visored cannot be undone and that his inner Hollow will eventually seize control unless he learns to manage it, offering to teach him. Later, Hiyori Sarugaki storms in to berate Shinji for failing to recruit Ichigo, and the pair clash comically before fleeing when Orihime and Sado try to follow. As the day closes, Uryū Ishida approaches his father, Ryūken, and formally asks him to restore his Quincy powers, vowing never to involve himself with Shinigami again.

In the Seireitei, Yamamoto convenes an urgent captains meeting, signaling that Soul Society is also preparing for the coming conflict.

The episode adapts Chapter 188, Chapter 189, and the opening pages of Chapter 190. The anime expands several beats, including the Mod-Souls reacting to Grand Fisher's defeat and Noba spelling out the Visored and Arrancar names. Notably, the generic Visored shown during Isshin's explanation resemble none of the actual members, a detail that later canon about the Hollowfication Incident would contradict. The closing Illustrated Picture Book follows Shūhei Hisagi discussing his friendship with the Seventh Division.