I've been following this on and off, usually reading at the behest of my friends when something awesome happens (I stopped following this after Ichigo went to Las Noches but before the captains followed him).

But this chapter really makes me want to sit down and read the entire thing in one go, discarding anime filler of course.

 

Go ahead. I'd be curious to hear the thoughts of someone who's been relatively out of the loop for years.

---------- Post automerged at 07:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:15 PM ----------

Zangetsu Explained?

 

Well... well shit this actually does make sense to some extent when you see it all laid out like that.

 

And a TFFers attempt to explain how this works:

 

Haha, it looks really weird when you join together a whole bunch of my responses to different things as one post.

Still, thanks for putting in the effort so I don't have to I guess.

 

Seems like there are several dudes from TFF on DLP without me knowing it. How sneaky.

Says the one jacking theories.

 

As I reread this I'm starting to wonder who's a better schemer Urahara or Aizen. From what I know about this it feels like Urahara pulled a Dumbledore only he sacrificed more than Albus did, plus I would much rather hang out with Kisuke than Albus.

 

Something that came to me when I was reading the link: Ichigo helped Ishida take down a Menos when Ishida used the bait in Karakura town, did anything seem off about that? It's been a long ass time and I'm not sure if Ishida makes a mention of something off when Ichigo helps power up Ishida's bow/arrow.

 

Ishida was just surprised by how much power Ichigo had. Quincy can use both reishi and other people's reiatsu to power their abilities; touching Ichigo's sword caused his bow to swell and when his power went out of control, it did it again just by being close to him. Nothing Quincy-related on Ichigo's part.

 

So if everything he was capable of was only a fraction of his true power, what's Ichigo's power level after getting his real sword?

Eh. It'll be interesting to see this new sword's shape and powers. I'm thinking it'll be the same, only stronger. Maybe an extra ability. Wonder if he has to get Shikai and Bankai again, though. And what about his Hollow abilities?

This shit is so convoluted I'm almost wishing Bleach had a DBZ power levels system.

 

Man I wish "Zangetsu"/that dude never stopped trying to kill him.

 

Bleach new chapter: the various advantages of dual-wielding. I was shocked that I hadn't seen this coming.

 

If you wanted convoluted theories claiming implausible things based upon tenuous evidence from a handful of panels three hundred chapters ago, you only had to ask.

Speaking of which: I fucking called it, Ichigo was never using his real Zanpakuto, Omega can suck it.

 

He kinda was, just a weakened version. The fact that Old Man lent his sword Quincy powers in the Zaraki fight, meaning it wasn't Quincy powers normally. That Hichigo was the only one who we saw use all the techniques and ways of wielding the sword, the Old Man just knew about them. The fact that using Bankai allowed his actual Zan spirit to gain prominance rather than reinforce the Old Man's power, and that the sword didn't alter at all when his actual Zan gained prominence and y'know, that Old Man outright says it was the part of his Shinigami powers he couldn't suppress.

Given that Hichigo was stated as his "real Zangetsu", and the Old Man was merely an inhibiting force on it until now, the one now is a new sword, not some original true sword making the other one fake (well, maybe the big one is that, but it'll probably function just like the previous sword anyway) since it has his Quincy powers integrated as the smaller blade.

 

Shirosaki (Hichigo, Whitey, whatever) using the scarf on Zangetsu to whip Ichigo's ass was always one of my favorite scenes. Ichigo has had a bunch of swords he never even fully learned to use before moving to the next lol.

I think if there ever was a time Ichigo might have had access to his full zanpakutou it was for the FGT, which was the merger of (Tensa?) Bachgetsu and Hichigo before Ichigo even knew their true roles. And that seems to have been when he was by far the most powerful to date.

 

Ishida, Ishida, Ishida. What the fuck are you doing, man? Going full antagonist? I'd actually like to see that happen. It's a complete mystery for now, which actually restores some of my faith for Kubo's writing skills. Ishida's been pathetically sidelined for basically ever, this is a good thing for him, whichever way it goes.

Otherwise, a standard introduce enemy chapter. Not impressed by any of the punks except for Jugo.

 

Wonder if Kubo can make this work. We've seen Ishida work alongside known Shinigami before so I'd given up on ever seeing a Quincy revenge act - and this comes too damn late.

Also, got an instinctive fear that Kubo might make like Kishi and turn this whole thing into a giant Friendship speech... which would suck balls.

 

Has the power of friendship and comrades ever even been a thing in Bleach? It's always about instinct, resolve and individual reliance. All of the moments of "hurp derp rely on your nakama" speeches inevitably results in those nakama getting completely wrecked to very little benefit, such as the Captains in Fake Karakura and his friends before Hueco Mundo. Even the Zanpakuto stuff with "Zangetsu" ended up being complete bullshit and the opposite of what you're supposed to do.

So nah, I don't think it will result in that.

 

Except "individual reliance" (i.e. handle your shit alone) does not a good Aesop make, and I really don't see how this whole thing is going to resolved along those lines if Uryuu has really gotten a face heel turn.

I mean, really, it's a Shounen. What's the chance the manga ends with Ichigo and Uryuu as enemies?

Choices -

1. Uryuu is trying to be a spy and/or looking for a way to get revenge since Yuha Bach was pretty much directly responsible for Katagiri Kanae's death. (Possible and understandable, but not that interesting.)
2. This is going to end in Friendship. (Ouch.)
3. Something else we haven't though of yet. (Oh please, Kubo, please...)

 

I'm just waiting for Kubo's pro troll with the Sternritter.

"Who said the Sternritter alphabet went from A to Z?"