The Icecold Discord

Back in Las Noches, Ulquiorra shares his reconnaissance by crushing his own removed eye to cast Solita Vista, letting Aizen and the gathered Arrancar witness Ichigo's defeat firsthand. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez sneers that sparing the boy was soft and boasts he would have killed him with the first blow, needling the battered Yammy over the failure. Ulquiorra explains that Aizen prizes Ichigo's rate of growth rather than his present strength, judging his unstable power a possible future asset, and pledges to deal with Ichigo himself should the boy ever stabilize. Aizen formally places Ichigo in Ulquiorra's hands.

In Karakura, the strike team sorts out where to sleep. Rangiku attaches herself to Orihime after a shirt-unbuttoning gag exposes Ichigo's shaky self-control, Ikkaku and Yumichika head off to find their own beds, and Renji makes for the Urahara Shop, eager to finally meet the man who once readied Ichigo for battle. Rukia schemes to move back into the clinic and needs a cover story for the family. As Tatsuki broods over what she saw and Orihime, mending Sado's arm, admits a quiet envy of Rukia's forceful nature, Keigo spots a winged Hollow overhead. Above the town, a Garganta yawns open to reveal a smirking Grimmjow.

Ulquiorra replays the battle for Aizen through Solita Vista. Grimmjow openly resents the choice to let Ichigo live. Aizen assigns responsibility for Ichigo to Ulquiorra. The Shinigami team arranges lodging around Karakura. Grimmjow arrives in the Human World.

The chapter opens the twenty-third collected volume, MALA SUERTE! It is adapted in Episode 116, The Evil Eye, Aizen Again, and stages Grimmjow's entrance alongside the wider circle of Arrancar surrounding Aizen.