a warning
before it's too late
When a fellow Shinigami named Rukia Kuchiki was ordered to be executed upon her return from the human world, Hitsugaya and Hinamori's life took a 180-degree turn: Soul Society was suddenly "intruded" by Rukia's friends from the human world, who vowed to rescue the girl off Seireitei's injustice. This is where Bleach's main plot started, as well as when Hitsugaya and Hinamori's relationship was about to face its first challenge in decades.
Shortly after an emergency meeting between the captains, Hitsugaya sensed a string of darkness from Gin, whom he suspected to have something uncanny up his sleeves among all the mess going on. In spite of his busy schedule, Hitsugaya paid Hinamori a visit and gave the latter a word of advice so that she could prepare for future danger ahead of time. However, the murder of Aizen took place a bit too soon after Hitsugaya's warning, which completely threw Hinamori off the grounds: because she trusted Hitsugaya's words more than anyone (save Aizen), she pointed her sword at Gin without hesitation when Gin made his appearance at Aizen's deathbed.
Hinamori's friend Kira, who was also Gin's vice-captain, thought of Hinamori's action too reckless and decided to stop her from attacking his captain further. Luckily, Hitsugaya stepped in before the fight got too fierce and left Gin a word of threat:
If you make Hinamori shed any blood, I will kill you.
Later, Hitsugaya decided to confine Hinamori at her own division so he could keep a closer eye. When he found a letter of will at Aizen's room, he trusted it to Hinamori immediately through Rangiku's hands instead of turning it in for official investigation. Little did he know that his kind act was about to stir up an even bigger riot...
Source
- Manga: Conflictable Composition, Volume 10
- Manga: Dead Black War Cloud, Volume 12
- Manga: Like the Flower on A Cliff, Volume 12
- Manga: Split Under the Red Stalk, Volume 12
- Manga: Dominion, Volume 12
- Anime: Episode 25, 34, 35