Bleach ch396

Now we know where Kubo gets his coffee from

「 396 – The Bite 」Ichigo finally decided to get off his high horse and participate in the battle, as he takes the opportunity created by Yamamoto’s hadou to unleash a surprise attack on Aizen. Does he actually connect with his attack or is this going to be another one of Aizen’s infamous mind illusion tricks?

Bleach「 ブリーチ 」

What is this, Death Note?

Chapter 396 – The Bite
Read Online @ MANGASTREAM

Summary: The chapter starts of with Aizen realizing what Yamamoto had done prior to the release of his final hadou. In order to activate the hadou, one has to sacrifice their own charred body in order to release the forbidden art; Ittou Kasou. Aizen realizes this before the attack engulfs him and manages to escape from the hadou’s blast radius, only to be met with Ichigo in Vizard form, priming for a strike. Being fully surprised at the sudden attack, Ichigo manages to land his Getsuga Tenshou and succeeds in damaging his right shoulder. As Aizen is still reeling from the first attack, Ichigo takes the opportunity to land a couple more hits in, only for Aizen to recover and defend against his final slash.

Aizen lets out a little laugh as he reveals that Ichigo had just let slip his only chance of defeating him. Ichigo responds by saying that he has done enough to wound him to that degree but to his surprise, the wound was rapidly healing itself through high speed regeneration. Aizen reveals that it is not high speed regeneration however, as he would not stoop low enough as to change his own body into a hollow. Instead, it is an act of protective instinct for one’s master, as he reveals the Hougyoku embedded into his own torso. Sensing Ichigo’s reiatsu across his gaping wound, he remarks that Ichigo had grown very strong, just as he had planned.

He goes on to explain that everything Ichigo had went through up to this point had all been part of the divine plan he had created. From meeting Rukia, awakening his shinigami powers facing Ishida, learning of his Zanpaktou against Renji, releasing his bankai against Zenpachi, taking his first steps into hollowdom against Byakuya, mastered his hollow side against Grimmjow, and surpassing his expectations against Ulquiorra; it had all been accounted for and planned by Aizen.

Bass’ Thoughts: Talk about a get-out-of-jail free card, that is exactly what Aizen has now with the revelation of the Hougokyou on his chest. Ichigo had done everything perfectly up to this point to capitalize on Yamamoto’s self-sacrifice and Aizen completely disregards it thanks to a button on his chest. Being the final villain in a shounen-battle manga, I expect nothing less but it still feels like a major sucker punch to know that everything the hero does means nothing because (a) he is invincible thanks to the Hougokyou and (b) he is invincible thanks to his illusions and mindfucks.

The only way I can see Ichigo bypassing this little plot-device is by having Urahara making a timely return to the manga scene. If there is anyone capable of surpassing and destroying that crystal, it would have to be the creator himself. And it’s been a very long time (a few years) since we last saw him so his reappearance is long overdue (along with Yoruichi, and maybe Isshin so we can finally get an explanation of his shinigami powers). I hope we get to see the fully hollowed Ichigo appear once again before this though, since I want to see how he would fare against Aizen, although it would probably be for nought given his regenerative powers.

I’m also raring to hear Aizen’s explanations about the whole thing, since his “Light-Death-Note-Just-As-Planned” moment was still a stretch although it’s not out of Kubo’s realm to pull off something like that. My guess is that Ichigo has something to do with the whole shinigami-king thing. Maybe part of opening the realm or attaining the key is to have a mere mortal (I don’t really know bout this since Isshin is also a shinigami) become the strongest shinigami or something, so Aizen watching over Ichigo’s development and planning his battles like a chess-match might mean something there.

Either way, be prepared for a very jarring explanation soon enough.

2Shea’s Thoughts: I would have to say that this chapter was of no surprise to me. Yamamoto made a great attempt, and seemingly hurt Aizen, but sadly it was all in vain. Ichigo waiting at the ready was nice. Plus him getting in a hit on Aizen, and having it not be an illusion, was nothing short of amazing considering the past few chapters. Even this was apparently not enough though, as Aizen pulled out yet another hack in the form of having the Hougokyou imbedded in his chest, like he’s some kind of Ironman.

As Bass said, this would be a great opportunity for Urahara to make a return(please Kubo?!? PLEASE!!), though it most likely won’t happen. It is just about the only way I can see anything being done about Aizen at this time.

I can’t say this was a bad chapter, but it also wasn’t anything amazing. Having Ichigo finally make his move was definitely good, but it didn’t really get us anywhere. I really hope we get this resolved soon, as I said in the post about last chapter as well.

/ 6 Commentsleave a comment /

• XTJ says:

  March 21, 2010

  Kubo continues to tease us about Aizen being vulnerable before resetting Aizen back go god-mode. Urahara might show up soon, but Aizen will probably say that it's still just as planned. Taking the detour to fake Karakura Town was just as planned, and so was the arrancars sucking lol.

  Even though Ichigo is fighting Aizen, I think the series is still far from over given Aizen still hasn't gotten to where he wants to go.
  My recent post To Aru Kagaku no Railgun 24 (Finale)

  Reply
  • Kabitzin says:

    March 24, 2010

    Yeah, Kubo keeps trying to end the manga, but Aizen says Just As Planned and forces Kubo to keep drawing more chapters depicting Aizen as invincible.
    My recent post Durarara: The Best Laid Plans of Mikado and Men

    Reply
• Bass says:

  March 22, 2010

  So you think that there is another arc after this? D: I always thought that this was the final one lol.

  Hopefully Urahara makes an appearance soon, it's been far too long since his last
  My recent post Bleach ch396

  Reply
• Leon says:

  March 22, 2010

  Lol Bleach isn't ending any time soon. Kubo isn't that gracious enough to spare us pain and suffering.

  Reply
• Gene says:

  March 25, 2010

  I know you secretly enjoy Bleach, Leon.

  Reply
  • morri says:

    March 25, 2010

    Yes, but like a shy school girl, Leon is playing hard to get.

    Reply