This episode begins where the last left off with Tōshirō, Rangiku, and Renji getting permission to use full force, or basically remove their real world limits on their power levels. Also, Keigo brings home Ikkaku and Yumichika where his sister Mizuho awaits the juice she sent him out to get. A comic situation then ensues. Finally, the situation for Ichigo seems grim in his battle against the Espada classed Arrancar Grimmjow Jaggerjack, who illustates just how wide the power gap is between The Espada and The Numeros ranks among the Arrancar.

The episode begins in Hueco Mundo with Kaname having brought Grimmjow before Aizen due to his disobedience, and Gin’s first appearance in awhile. Also, after the outcome of the battles with the Numeros classed Arrancar, each character reflects on the grim situation. Chad asks Urahara to train him so he can become more powerful, and Ichigo seeks out the Vizard who give him an ultimatum.

Ichigo and Hiyori face off, but Ichigo has a bit of trouble holding his own. Hiyori urges him to use his Bankai, but he refuses for the fear of the presence of his inner hollow taking over. Hiyori succeeds in drawing it out eventually, however, and Ichigo passes their test of strength to join the Vizard. The Vizard have Ichigo train endurance before teaching him how to subdue his inner hollow, but after acknowledging Ichigo’s already advanced shinigami abilities Shinji takes the training into the next phase. The episode ends with Ichigo in his subconscious world facing off against his inner hollow.

Ichigo continues his inner struggle with his inner Hollow. As the battle continues he sees illusions of past foes defeated who impart him advice to renew his fighting spirit. Also, the Vizard begin taking turns battling against Ichigo’s outer body, which has almost been completely taken over by his Hollow.

Ichigo finally regains his resolve to fight after a little blunt truth from Kenpachi, while Ichigo's outer body has been completely taken over by his Hollow and now battles Love. Before he is able to execute a cero blast, a high-level Hollow ability, Ichigo regains control after having won the fight against his inner Hollow. As the episode ends Aizen's true target is discovered to be the King's Key, a duplicate of which can be made only by extracting 100,000 souls from the spirit-enriched Karakura Town.

Ichigo is training to get control of his hollow mask, Chad is training his powers aganist Renji’s bankai. As the rest of them figure out Aizen’s plans. Hitsugaya gets too see Momo doing well.

Urahara summons Orihime to tell her that he does not want her to battle in the upcoming Winter War. Orihime doesn’t like it, runs off, but before she leaves Urahara’s shop she finds Rukia and Rukia lifts her spirits. Hutch heals Tsubaki, but tells Orihime in a nicer way, but he lets her decide what she wants to do.

Matsumoto looks into the mysterious noise, but finds a kid being attacked by an arrancar strength Hollow. Matsumoto has little trouble because of the kid, but Ikkaku easily beats it. After the Arrancar being beat, they want to do a spiritual burial but he said he wants to do something first, and Matsumoto stops the spiritual burial. As the kids sneaks out and takes Matsumoto’s zanpakut?, Matsumoto follow and finds out that arrancar wasn’t beaten.

Hitsugaya and his gang find out the arrancar can duplicate its self and is related to the mysterious tone. They find Shota has a sister. Now they are on the search for the main arrancar.

Hitsugaya figures out one of the other arrancars abilities, which is shape shifting. Seeing for himself, finds out the Yui is a clone of the arrancar. Puts them on high alert.

The battle over Shota continues, with Matsumoto and Yui (Arrancar). As the arrancar finally makes his first true appearance. Is this enough to beat the Arrancar for good?

Karin and her gang of friends get into a soccer match, with a bunch of middle schoolers, because they took there field. Meanwhile, they look for someone to level off the field. And they find Hitsugaya. They ask for his help, he refuses. Come match day, Karin gets injured an during the match, and Hitsugaya shows up late, and sees that Karin is injured and helps them out. After the match ends, a Menos attacks the field.

Ikkaku has to battle in a Kendo tournament because Mizuho sort of makes him do it. And also because the schools team was ambushed before the game. Ikkaku trains the remaining ones, but goes to far. When it comes time Ikkaku gets the help of Renji and Hitsugaya, but runs trouble happens when a Menos attacks. Can the weakest person win for them?

While Hanatar? Yamada is in the Real World, accompanying 12 Division, Rin, they meet a chef’s soul trying to make the perfect cake for his mother. With the help of Yumichika, they begin baking cakes.

Kon saves a little girl from drowning, only because Matsumoto removes his mod soul ball and tosses it into another large stuffed animal. After this he saved the girl. After that happened Matsumoto just left Kon inside of this bear. So he is forced to stay and play with the girl. Who happens to have similar taste as Yuzu. The finds out Kon, and then explains to him why she is lonely and doesn’t want Kon to go. Kon feels sorry for and stays, taking her to an old house. But trouble happens when a two head Hollow dog appears and Kon is the only one who can it. Make him protect her the best way he can.

An Arrancar named Patros doesn't like serving Aizen, because he is a Shinigami. So he plans on taking Hogyoku to become King himself. Ulquiorra catches him, but Patros has friends and Ulquiorra very easily beat. Patros goes to the real world and is in a hurry to find Urahara, the inventor to see how it works. He asks his friends to hold of Hitsugaya's gang, and they do. Meanwhile, Patros gets to Urahara's shop and now battling Renji, because Urahara is away.

We find out that Aizen just wanted to get rid of any one who didn't believe in him and he wanted to have. So he used his zanpakut?. Meanwhile Renji battles an angry Petros well Hitsugaya and the others deal with the other two arrancars. Meanwhile Ulquiorra is looking into something where he first battled.

Pretty much everyone is training to become stronger for the Winter War coming up. Meanwhile back in Hueco Mundo, Aizen sets his plan in to motion. And orders Ulquiorra to take care of it. Yammy, Wonderwice, Luppi and Grimmjow invade the living world right by Hitsugaya, Matsumoto, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. They have a short battle. Well Grimmjow looks for Ichigo. Meanwhile Rukia and Inoue are getting ready to go back to the real world with the help of Ukitake.

Ichigo continues his battle with Grimmjow, with his hollow mask, that is only going to last about 11 seconds. He has the upper hand too, until his mask breaks. Meanwhile, Hitsugaya is fighting Yammy, well Luppi is fighting Yumichika. Luppi gets bored and wants to fight all four and releases, beats Hitsugaya and fights Ikkaku, Matsumoto, and Yumichika at once, as things start to look bad Urahara comes in and saves them. Ulquiorra appears before Orihime and tells him that they she needs to come with him right now or her friends will be killed.

After saving Rangiku from death, Urahara commences his fight with Yammy. Luppi continues his battle with the others and Hitsugaya manages to come and help them up. Meanwhile, Ichigo is struggling to fight Grimmjow after losing his mask. Rukia shows up to help but they are no match. All seems lost when help in the form of Hirako appears to help. The conclusion to the battle with the Espada begins!

Orihime gets 12 hours to say good bye to one person as long as they don't figure out what she is up to. And after a long afternoon she chose Ichigo.

Ichigo and crew learn the fate of Orihime and the orders that don't sit well with them. They are not allowed to go rescue her.

Bleach continues to go from strength to strength, and this episode is of no exception, a closer to the 6th season. In this episode Kurosaki, Ishida and Chad all take leave to Hueco Mundo in order to start the search for Orihime. There are also some interesting parts happening with Tatsuki and co. and we can look forward to their participation? we also see that Kurosaki’s dad makes a reappearance in in his shinigami garb. This is full of entertainment here, its funny in parts and poignant in places too. As the name suggests Grimmjow is back in his full glory in this episode aswell, reasserting himself as 6th, and taking his rightful place alongside Aizen. We also have a brief appearance by Ishida’s dad too. All together a fantastic episode.