Ichigo faces the Grand Fisher, a Hollow that uses a lure in the shape of a little girl, who Ichigo recalls with shock as the same girl he saw when his mother died. He attacks the Hollow in a rage, making him an easy target.

Rumors spread about Ichigo and Rukia's relationship when they keep dissappearing from school to respond to Hollow alerts. Overworked and frustrated, Ichigo is unaware that one of his classmates, Uryu Ishida, possesses spiritual powers of his own.