Night of Sledgehammer

At the clinic, Rukia is baffled to find her bed set up beside Karin and Yuzu's rather than in Ichigo's closet, where she had planned to sleep with furniture she brought to spruce it up, and Ichigo bristles at her calling the closet filthy. Elsewhere, Renji keeps a silent vigil against a pole across from the Urahara Shop while Jinta reports his presence to a puzzled Kisuke, who cannot guess what a Soul Society lieutenant wants with him. On another rooftop, Ikkaku and Yumichika trade a paranoid theory about how the neatly wrapped rice balls sold all over town could possibly be restocked dozens of times a day. Over at Orihime's place, Rangiku heaps praise on the dinner, moving a tearful Orihime who is used to no one touching her cooking, and the two enjoy ice cream while a hungry Hitsugaya broods on the roof above.

High over Karakura, a grinning Grimmjow commands his five Fracción to begin and spare no one, and they plunge into the streets, tripping the senses of every stationed Shinigami. Rukia counts six marks on her Denreishinki and warns Ichigo the enemy is compiling a kill list of anyone with spiritual pressure. Grabbing his Substitute Badge, Ichigo frets over Uryu, Orihime, and Sado; Rukia assures him Hitsugaya and Rangiku will guard Orihime but flags one Arrancar bound for Sado. Shawlong and Nakeem flash in on Hitsugaya and Rangiku with Sonido, and after a traded introduction Shawlong calls himself fortunate to have found a captain, only for Hitsugaya to correct him that his luck has turned lethal. Meanwhile Sado, his arm freshly restored, runs out to help and is nearly stabbed by Di Roy before Ichigo appears in Shinigami form and seizes the Arrancar's hand, scolding him for grading a strike he has not yet landed.

Part of Volume 23, MALA SUERTE!, during the Arrancar arc. The chapter was drawn on for Episode 116, The Evil Eye, Aizen Again, and Episode 117, Rukia's Battle Commences! The Freezing White Blade. It splits the cast into simultaneous duels, pairing Renji against Yylfordt and Ikkaku and Yumichika against Edrad as the night's fighting begins.