The Visoreds are a quirky band of warriors bearing Hollow-like masks and the enigmatic ability to “Hollowfy.” Ichigo would rather not associate with these ethically-ambiguous fellows, but his lack of control in battle leaves him with little choice in the matter. He must train with the Visoreds or become consumed by his inner Hollow.

Shinji—who may or may not command respect as the leader of the Visoreds—puts Ichigo through an "eye of the tiger" training regimen to get him into tiptop Hollow form. If we’ve learned anything from Bleach, it’s “No Train No Gain.” Ichigo’s got to swing that Zanpakuto like he means it.

These training scenes are accompanied by a lot of physical comedy, especially when Hiyori and Shinji are involved. However, it’s not all motivational music montages. Amidst training, Ichigo learns the startling fact that the Visoreds are more involved with Aizen and the Hogyoku than he initially thought. They definitely have their fair share of secrets, and whether Ichigo is a potential pawn or ally in their game has yet to be revealed…

During his training, there is the very real threat that Ichigo will become possessed by the inner Hollow he is trying to master. He puts a lot of trust into the Visoreds’ support.

Ichigo’s not the only one training it up. Fellow Karakura natives Chad, Uryu, and Orihime are put through the wringer in order to stand a chance against the Arrancar threat. They’ve pushed themselves to the limit, refining their unique abilities and are ready to face the front line with Ichigo.

Sweaty training! Swimsuits! Girl-napping! Limbs! This 3-in-1 has it all. It’s terrifying to see the full might of the Arrancars, especially under the command of a twisted mister like Aizen. While Team Ichigo has been training their booties off, Hueco Mundo may freeze over before they can hope to defeat Aizen’s army. See how deep Ichigo delves into his Hollowfication in this exciting installment of Bleach!

Bleach 3-in-1 volume 9 is available at your local bookstore and on viz.com.

by Cat Rechsteiner