Kisuke Urahara appears and converses with Isshin about the arrancar under the command of former Soul Reaper captain Sōsuke Aizen, the Vizards, and explains that the Hōgyoku will take a year to be fully awaken. At school, Hirako asks Ichigo again to join the Vizards, explaining that Ichigo's inner hollow will overwhelm him if he does not. Later, Hirako is confronted by Hiyori Sarugaki, another Vizard, who berates him concerning his lack of success in recruiting Ichigo. Orihime Inoue and Yasutora "Chad" Sado confront Hirakoi and Hiyori, and Hirako takes Hiyori away before she can kill Orihime and Chad. Elsewhere, Uryū agrees to Ryūken's proposal.