User blog comment:Lia Schiffer/395: The Burnout Inferno 3/@comment-1248963-20100313082815

Must we point it out AGAIN? We're not talking about the end of Bleach but the end of the Arc! And Ichigo's showing up at the end of this chapter, considering Aizen's situation and how things are looking, it does seem like "a final battle" to me. Aizen's and Gin's Bankai? What better moment to show it than the final battle? I doubt they'll bring it out if it's not as a last resource.

As for the Bankai showdown that's eveyone's excuse. Kyoraku, Ukitake and the Vizards are most likely done for good. Yamamoto's zanpakuto has been effing SEALED! We might not like it, but it's reality. If you read my entry for The Breaking Glaciers, I was beyond pissed to see Shinji defeated in such a ridiculous manner. But Bleach is not all about Bankais. And I already explained why the Zero Squad is unlikely to show up SOON, I never implied they were never going to appear.

Kenpachi, as of now, has given what he had to give. His "big" technique to defeat Nnoitra was just Kendo. He'll need more than just bloody fighting to learn his zanpakuto's name, he needs training and commitment (not saying he hasn't trained, Ulqui knows what he did during the "preparation for the war") but spilling all the surprises for this war is unnecessary, especially since the only opponent left for Ken-chan is Yammy, and the guy isn't worth it.

Isshin Kurosaki's story is going to be told, but not for this arc. Kubo said he wanted to elaborate on that one, that's why there will be ANOTHER arc once the arrancar arc ends. But Isshin's and Urahara's participation is no longer necessary since the final confrontation is here, Ichigo will have to face his responsibility as the protector of Karakura town instead of relying on his mentors. If any of them popped up to save his strawberry ass once again, it would just prove, once again, that he's not competent enough as a Shinigami and that he can't partake the role of a hero that he is supposed to take.

Nel is a child as of now, and Kubo seems to have no intention of doing anything of her. As Salubri once mentioned, it was an epic failure reverting her back, because it breaks any possibility of her coming up for the final showdown. And I'm not elaborating further on Grimmjow, if the man is alive (which I REALLY hope) he has nothing to do in this war. He can't stand against Aizen and he won't aid Ichigo. Maybe he could appear in a future arc, as a recurring character, coming back to get his revenge against Ichigo, but it seems unlikely.

Vasto Lordes were Aizen's project to defeat Soul Society. But he's so Hight and Mighty that he did it ALL by himself. Yes, we all want to know if there were any in the Espada, but that's not a reason to prolongue this arc. Especially since Aizen himself discarded all the Espada as useless and all that stuff. Vasto Lordes are an intriguing matter to us fans, and may be for future arcs (again) but not for the current battle. Unless Aizen's Bankai vomits Vasto Lordes.

This is a Shonen Manga, it's supposed to be predictable to some extent, and this is this point. Yes, Ichigo might get beaten up badly before he pulls out friendship-no-jutsu and kicks the villains EVIL ass. And then, on to the next arc. Let's hope Kubo will give a nice show for a fight at least. And that Ichigo doesn't poke out his eyes, really, it's been a joke, but I'm seriously starting to consider that the kid has no other chance to defeat mister "flashy-smile"