Chapter 390 – Beyond the Death Understanding

Aizen lives up to all our expectations once again in this chapter, easily bettering multiple Captain-level opponents at once. The chapter begins where the last one left off, with Hitsugaya going bankai yet again. It has really lost its impact like Ichigo’s, since they use them so much it is more like their default battle plan now :/ . Remember how cool they were the first times we saw them? and now everyone just expects it. Ichigo always has some new hollow power as an ace in the hole, but Hitsugaya is just losing his luster the more he fights. I hope that changes soon. But I digress, in   response to his previous statement, Hitsugaya acknowledges how he no longer sees himself fit be be a captain, seeing as how he too carries hatred within his sword. Supposedly in order to be a captain one must only swing their blade out of a sense of duty, not hatred. But according to Aizen, somebody fighting him without hatred is powerless. Therefore a true Captain can not defeat him, leaving just one candidate – Ichigo.

Yes, I know this is from the last chapter.

After Hitsu’s charge on Aizen fails, Aizen is targeted by perhaps two of the largest zanpakutos we have seen yet: Tenken and Tengumaru. It was actually a pretty cool tag team, but of course something like that won’t work on Aizen. He rips through Komamura’s Tenken like a twig, just before slicing off his left hand, and finally delivering a near fatal wound to the mid-section. I think it is safe to say Komamura is finally out of commission for this battle. How many people have lost arms now? Soifon, Hachi, Komamura, and even Ishida. But I’m sure Unohana is skilled enough to reattach limbs.

pwned

Again, Love and Rose try to surprise attack Aizen. You’d think they’d get it now that simple physical attacks won’t work. They know what he is capable of, why wouldn’t a few of them go bankai? Most of the remaining fighters are capable of it, what are they waiting for? And what the hell Vaizards, use your fricken masks, you’ve been training a hundred years to master them, now is the time to use that advantage. Anyhow, Aizen easily catches Rose’s whip-like zanpakuto, and appears to pull him in. This is followed by a panel of blood flying through the air, so it is assumed that Aizen slashed (but probably didn’t kill) Rose that easily.

Gin’s whereabouts are finally revealed, as he has just been standing atop of a damaged building this whole time. I wonder what the purpose of having him removed from the battle will serve. Don’t get me wrong, I love that Tite is finally straying away from the cliche’ hierarchy of battle formula where you have to fight the strongest bad guy last, but where will Gin come in? Gin seems to have no lack in confidence in his seemingly invincible leader, while he provides some insight throughout the chapter as to why Aizen is so fearsome, and respected by his Arrancar. Kyoka Suigetsu is a fearsome ability, and no doubt it has been the main concern of the Gotei, but it is only one small ingredient to Aizen’s can of whoop-ass.

Führer Aizen

I think Tite is using a combination of the badass that Aizen really is, and downplaying everyone else’s abilities to try and live up to the hype he created for Aizen. In the current situation, things could be happening that would clearly give Aizen more trouble, like all the Vaizard actually using their masks, or all the captain-level opponents using their bankais, or Yamamoto could fight. Even if Aizen would still come out victorious, he would at least have some trouble, hell even Shinji’s shikai managed to wound the “God.” But I’ll let Tite have his moment with Aizen, because all good things will eventually come to an end.

-ssj

Bleach Chapter 384 – Can’t Fear Your Sword

J, buddy, where you at bro? Well I guess I’ll do a brief synopsis in your absence. Chapter 384: Can’t Fear Your Sword; clearly talking about Hisagi, and how he deals with the new ideals of the mentor he once loved. The chapter picks up exactly where the last left off, with Tousen raising his hand to his face, about to reveal the powers bestowed to him by his “God.” The process surprisingly emits a large amount of spiritual energy, then revealing that the new power was of course hollowfication. What is interesting about his mask is that it is more like a helmet, wrapping completely around his head, and is plain white, with no mouth, nose, or eyes, just one stripe down the middle. This is very reflective of Tousen himself, seeing as how he is blind, and a self-proclaimed “pure being,” hence a pure white mask.

White Despair

After seeing this, it made me think about the other hollow masks we have seen so far, and how they reflect their shinigami’s personality, much like a zanpakuto would:

• Hachi’s looks much like a shaman mask; reflective of his seemingly magic kido abilities, and preference to stay away from hand-to-hand combat.
• Shinji’s looks like a pharaoh mask, the leader of his civilization. Shinji himself is the unofficial leader of the Vizards.
• Love’s looks like an ogre, and after seeing Love fight with his giant club, it is apparent that he is an ogre-like brute.
• Mashiro’s is a heart-shaped, very perky looking mask, which is obviously reflective of her personality.
• Kensei’s looks like a hockey mask, a very physical sport. Also, it is pretty basic, and blunt, much like his fighting style. It is very strait forward, with no decorative bull shit.
• Rose’s on the other hand is very elegant, shaped almost like the face of a bird. His flamboyant personality and fighting style is very reflective of this.
• Hiyori’s looks like a little devil, so is she.
• Lisa’s is somewhat reflective of herself in that she is kind of Plain-Jane, and so is her mask.
• Ichigo would take a little longer to analyze, but what else is new.

Anyways back to the chapter, sorry for getting off track. After donning his mask, apparently named “white despair,” he almost immediatle attacks a curious and petrified Hisagi. Komamura tries attacking Tousen with Tenken, only to be outclassed by the newly enhanced arrancar general. He questions Komamura as to why they can accept Ichigo for having the very same powers, yet shun him, Aizen, and Gin for it. Komamura replies that it is simply because Ichigo didn’t have a choice in the matter, where as Tousen and co. were strong enough to peacefully exist before, and still sought this forbiddent power. For someone like Tousen who claims to ultimately seek peace, why would he walk the only path that causes so much combat.

Pwnage

The preoccupied Tousen is actually caught off guard and close-lined from behind by Kazeshini and slammed into the very building Hisagi was. Hisagi reveals that he actually side stepped the blow Tousen dealt before. He then reminds Tousen of the past, and how he taught Hisagi to respect the fear he had for his sword, and that it was an irreplacable quality in all great warriors. Naively trying to communicate with Tousen, Hisagi gets stabbed through the stomach and falls off the building. Another one down. Just then Tousen admits that his only fear has ever been to die a shinigami. This makes me wonder if that advice about fearing your sword was just bull shit that Tousen fed his subordinates, possibly as a safety measure for his future defection; even with the great potential in Hisagi, by always fearing his sword he still stands no chance against him. The chapter ends with Komamura releasing his bankai, ready to f*ck Tousen up.

Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō

On a side note, it is unfortunate that everytime Hisagi talks to Tousen he still calls him captain, suffering from the same nostalgic weakness that Momo does. I wonder how Kira will act towards Gin.

Isshin Kurosaki

Isshin Kurosaki

Former Captain

H: 186 cm W: 80 kg Blood type: AB Birthday: December 10 Zanpakuto: Unnamed Bankai: ?

First Appearance: Manga Chapter 1 / Anime Episode 1

Isshin Kurosaki is the father of the main protagonist of the series, Ichigo Kurosaki. He single father to three children: Ichigo, Karin, and Yuzu. He is a tall scruffy looking man with short dark brown hair. Isshin’s occupation is a doctor. He was previously married to Ichigo’s mother, Masaki. After she died he took on the responsibilities of a father all by himself, and loves his children very much.

Ishhin has been seen using shinigami powers, and on his robe remains a captains symbol. This could be why Ichigo was born with such immense spiritual power. Ishhin ceased to be a shinigami about 20 years before the current storyline, but the reasons remain unknown. He has been seen conversing with Urahara and Ishida’s father Ryuken.

Little is known about Isshin’s zanpakuto at this time, but in its sealed form when he fought Grand Fisher had the appearance of a normal sword.

Nemu Kurotsuchi

Nemu Kurotsuchi

H: 165.1 cm W: 52 kg Bloodtype:  - Birthday: March 30  Zanpakuto: Not yet revealed Bankai: Not yet achieved

First Appearance: Manga Chapter 93 / Anime Episode 28

Nemu is the lieutenant of the 12th division of the Gotei 13, under her father/creator Mayuri Kurotsuchi. She is an artificially created shinigami. Because of this, she is very resistant to poisons, and has enhanced strength and speed. Nemu has the appearance of a young lady, with dark hair. She shows little to no emotion, partly because of her existance, partly because of the abuse she has received from Mayuri throughout her life. Though she is revealed to own a zanpakuto, its shikai has yet to be revealed.