Slip Into My Barrier

Orihime works out that the animals skirting an unseen boundary around the Visored warehouse mark Hachigen's Hachigyo Sogai, a barrier that keeps the building out of ordinary minds entirely. Testing it with her hand, she finds it rippling much like her own Santen Kesshun, and her fingers pass straight through, convincing her she can slip inside. Underground, Ichigo forces his mask back on to block Hiyori's kick, only to be reminded how sluggish he is in the seconds right after transforming as she stomps him through the rock formations.

Kensei clocks the mask lasting a mere four seconds, and Shinji explains that stretching that window is the whole point of the drill, noting wryly that Mashiro alone skipped it, having held her mask for fifteen hours from the very beginning. The lesson halts when Hachigen senses an intruder passing through a barrier no Shinigami's Kido could breach. The Visored turn to find Orihime, a mere Human, nervously descending the stairs and defusing their alarm with a fumbled joke about looking for the bathroom.

Recognizing Ichigo among his trainers, Orihime passes on Yamamoto's warning that Aizen means to destroy Karakura Town for the Oken. Ichigo takes it calmly, admitting the scale is hard to grasp but promising to bring Aizen down, since he can feel his own strength climbing. Reading his single-minded focus, Orihime resolves to grow stronger herself and leaves, unaware that Yoruichi is already watching her. This chapter was adapted into episode 126.