Tedious Everyday Tales Colorful Bleach

The, or Colorful Bleach for short, is a series of full-color, two-page chapters that were published in Shueisha's V Jump monthly magazine for a period of two years starting circa summer 2005 and ending sometime in 2007. The series was discontinued by Tite Kubo due to time pressure, with promises of continued production should circumstances change. Colorful Bleach has been collected in a tankōbon volume titled Bleach Official Bootleg KaraBuri+. The advertising for the tankōbon, specifically the inclusion of the Colorful Bleach chapters, appeared in Bleach manga chapter 285.

The Colorful Bleach chapters generally concerned the daily lives of the Gotei 13 Shinigami, but a few did feature non-Gotei 13 characters such as Ganju Shiba and the Kurosaki family. The stories were unrelated to the main plot of the manga, but in terms of the main manga timeline, the events depicted in the Colorful Bleach take place after Aizen's betrayal was revealed. The chapters often incorporated such things as the Jump Fiesta and Bleach video games. The Shinigami Women's Association and its members are featured heavily in the chapters. Many of the Colorful Bleach stories have been animated as part of the Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book Omake Segments.

Story Arcs
While many of the Colorful Bleach chapters were self contained, some featured stories that spanned multiple chapters to become story arcs in themselves. There were four such arcs.

The first concerned the creation of a game about the Gotei 13. It spanned two chapters and featured ideas for a video game as put forward by each of the squads. The second arc involved attempts by the Shinigami Women's Association to raise funds by creating trading cards based on the captains and vice-captains of the Gotei 13. This arc went for seven chapters.

The third arc also went for seven chapters and involved the Shinigami Women's Association-led drive to have Gotei 13 stalls at the Jump Fiesta, because Nanao Ise wanted to make the living world youngsters spiritual slaves of the Gotei 13. The last arc spanned for two chapters, which were also the last chapters in the series, and involved the Shinigami Men's Association's attempts to design a manly cellphone for the benefit of the modern male Shinigami. Chronologically, this was also the first time the Shinigami Men's Association was introduced.

Part 1
Yamamoto decides to have each captain of the Gotei 13 to think of an idea for a video game.

11th Division: Zaraki decides on a game where the goal is to slice up everything. When Ikkaku asks how one beats the game, Zaraki responds that once there is nothing left to cut, the game is over. Ikkaku states that the proper term is actually "game clear", then yells at Yachiru to stop running around, which she was doing the entire time.

12th Division: Mayuri decides on a game where the player performs experiments and dissections on everything, from people to bugs. When there is nothing left to dissect, the game is over. Nemu agrees to this. Ikkaku and Kenpachi, who are listening in from the window, state that the 12th Division's idea is no different from that of the 11th Division.

8th Division: Shunsui thinks of a game where all the women of Soul Society confess their love to him. Nanao asks what happens after that. He replies that it is something he cannot say aloud, causing Nanao to reply that the game will not work if it is something that cannot be said in Public.

6th Division: Byakuya decides on a game where the player has infinite wealth and goes around buying everything. Renji asks if that is supposed to be fun. Byakuya replies the concept is realistic, and the game lacks fun as a result.

After going over the ideas. Yamamoto throws them away as none of them were any good.

Part 2
Yamamoto decides to get the captains to brainstorm for the game once more, and asks that they not embarrass him again.

4th Division: Unohana thinks of a game where the player treats patients. Isane replies that if there are people who thrash or refuse treatment, the game will be harder. Unohana remarks that she will not cure such people.

7th Division: Komamura decides on a game where the player raises a cat. This shocks Iba a little, stating that it was a little unexpected.

2nd Division: Soifon is about to suggest a game with her and Yoruichi. Marechiyo Ōmaeda replies that he asks for her to think of something unrelated to Yoruichi. She gets mad at him. He replies that she is the only one who would play the game she suggested.

10th Division: Hitsugaya states that thinking of game ideas is childish, and lets Matsumoto decide on a game. She conceives of a game where the player makes a girl more erotic and big busted. She tries to submit it under Hitsugaya's name, only for him to panic and remark that he will come up with an idea.

Yamamoto, again not pleased with the submissions, burns them with Ryūjin Jakka.

Part 1
The Shinigami Women's Association is in a money crisis due to the splurging of their President. As such Vice-president Nanao Ise decides to make Trading Cards to sell and raise funds. She instructs members of the Women's Association to take pictures of objects or people that can be used on a card. The more successful the person, the better. She sets a time limit of one week for them to take photos. Rangiku Matsumoto protests but Nanao silences her. As she sees the women off, she hopes they will do a good job. She turns to seek Yachiru's opinion, only to find that Yachiru has disappeared. Nanao panics and tries to find Yachiru, claiming that no good can come of Yachiru's involvement.

Part 2
Using the secret network of tunnels that the Women's Association has constructed throughout Byakuya Kuchiki's house, Nemu and Isane interrupt Byakuya's calligraphy to take his pictures. Nemu take the pictures as she prompts Byakuya to say "butter", but Isane corrects her by explaining that she is supposed to say "cheese" instead. They try to escape after they are done but Byakuya orders their capture. He states that while he does not know what they are up to, they had guaranteed their defeat the moment they choose him as their opponent. Isane starts to cry as Nemu swallows the incriminating film as Byakuya's guards hold them down. Thus their mission is a failure.

Part 3
Soifon and Kiyone team up. While running on the trees, Soifon asks if Kiyone just wants to take picture of Ukitake. She tells Kiyone that there is no need to pretend; she knew her intentions. Soifon says she has a plan and asks Kiyone to listen to her. Kiyone said she would listen but Soifon has to come back to the ground. They arrive at Ukitake's house to find him trimming his plants. Soifon throws kunai at him, pinning him to a tree. Kiyone shows up with a camera and Soifon start slashing Ukitake's top with Suzumebachi, Kiyone apologizes and starts taking pictures. They then leave Ukitake shirt-less, and on the way back, Kiyone keeps thanking Soifon. Their mission is successful.

Part 4
As a result of being left exposed in the outdoors, Ukitake caught a cold and keeps sneezing. Yoruichi comes to ask Ukitake to make Hot Cakes for her, but when she sees Ukitake in a state of undress, she leaves. She returns, however, and frees him. Ukitake warns her that she may be Soifon and Kiyone's next target. Yoruichi smiles deviously. At the very same moment, Soifon sneezes on Kiyone's face as they are plan their operations to snap pictures of Yoruichi.

Part 5
Soifon and Kiyone discuss the plan to catch Yoruichi at an opportune time. Kiyone worries that she does not know what how Yoruichi looks like. Soifon describes Yoruichi to her, mixing up descriptions of Yoruichi's Human and cat forms. She says that Yoruichi has "long legs and arms with huge muscles, long black hair and eyes the color of the shining sun, a body cover in black fur and long whisker that point to the sky, move at a surprising speed, likes the top of trees and the space between houses". Kiyone begins to imagine a monster that cannot be trapped,but then argues to herself that Yoruichi cannot possibly be a monster and so there must be a way to catch her. Soifon tells Kiyone that if she touch Yoruichi's "tail", Yoruichi will beat her up, so she has to be careful. With that, Kiyone is convinced that Yoruichi is a monster and completely freaks out.

Part 6
Soifon and Kiyone finally find Yoruichi as she bathes at a waterfall. Kiyone is glad that Yoruichi does not look like a monster. Following their plan, Kiyone approaches Yoruichi and asks her for an autograph, claiming to be her fan. While Yoruichi is seemingly caught off-guard, Soifon attempts to take a picture of her. Yoruichi takes Kiyone's pen and flicks the pen cap at Soifon, who is hiding in a tree. Soifon falls, and Yoruichi pretends to apologize, saying she did not know Soifon was there. She then tells Soifon she was born 1000 years too early to trap her and jumps at Soifon, while Kiyone turns blue with fear. Their mission failed this time.

Part 7
Aside from the one successful picture of Ukitake by Kiyone and Soifon, all the other photo-taking attempts fail. Nanao thus has no choice but to use the pictures taken by Yachiru from her vantage point on Kenpachi's shoulder. As a result, all of the photos are partially obscured by Kenpachi's hair. In their final form, the cards feature one picture per squad, and include a caption comprising a statement directed at Yachiru or Kenpachi at the time of the taking of the photo-taking. Only Ukitake's card resembles a game trading card. The captions are as follow:


 * 1st Division: Yamamoto to Yachiru - "Do you want some more sweets?"
 * 2nd Division: Soifon to Yoruichi - "Please, please forgive me Yoruichi-sama."
 * 3rd Division: Kira - "What’s up Captain Zaraki?"
 * 4th Division: Isane - "Good morning Captain Zaraki and Yachiru."
 * 6th Division: Byakuya to Yachiru, who was offering him a drool-covered lollipop - "You are utterly irritating. I repeat I will not lick that."
 * 7th Division: Komamura - "I’m a wolf, not a dog, Yachiru."
 * 8th Division: A drunk Kyōraku sleep-talking - "Hehe… Nanao-chan is so soft. Oh no… no I don’t mean that… ouch ouch it hurts… I’m sorry…"
 * 9th Division: Hisagi, who had brought a copy of the Seireitei Communication - "Nice! Here’s your monthly issue."
 * 10th Division: Hitsugaya - "Have you seen Matsumoto?"
 * 11th Division: Kenpachi - "Don’t pull my ears, it hurts."
 * 12th Division: Mayuri to Kenpachi - "What’s with your expression. Are you asking for a fight huh?"
 * 13th Division: "Energy: infinity, Charm: infinity"

Despite the abysmal quality of the pictures and cards, Yachiru and Kiyone declare the operation a "Success!!!!" leaving Nanao speechless.

Shinigami Prepare For The Festival! Arc
Nanao Ise decides that the Gotei 13 should set up stalls at the JUMP Festival that is taking place in the living world. The Shinigami Women's Association requests each of the 13 divisions think of a food product to sell at the festival.


 * 1st Division

Product: Tea

Yamamoto proposes selling tea. Nanao responds that the concept will not make money; as such the 1st Division will not be allowed to participate.


 * 2nd Division

Product: Cat-shaped Candy

Soifon proposes selling cat-shaped candy, as she is thinking of Yoruichi. Ōmaeda sighs and reminds her that Yoruichi has no relationship with the current 2nd division. Soifon comically stabs him in the face with a kunai knife, proposing instead to put his family's precious stones into the candy.




 * 3rd Division

Product: Bread buns shaped like a fox

Matsumoto informs Izuru of her proposal. He is reluctant to participate since 90% of 3rd Division still likes Gin Ichimaru, while Kira himself is not as popular. He suggests selling buns shaped like a fox's head, which references the idea that Gin's face looks like that of a fox.


 * 4th Division

Product: Nutritious soup

Unohana proposes that the 4th Division will sell soup. Additionally, she notes that soup will become part of the Gotei 13's permanent menu. Nanao, Hanatarō, and Matsumoto agree out of fear. The soup also comes with a free chocolate-flavoured medicinal tablet.


 * 5th Division

Product: Cookies shaped like Aizen's Glasses

Momo makes cookies fresh from the oven. The other female Shinigami try to hide the fact that they look like the glasses Aizen used to wear, and cover Nemu's mouth when she tries to point it out. Yachiru then crushes one of the cookies and says "I will stand in Heaven!", parodying Aizen's departure for Hueco Mundo. This causes Momo to faint. An ad then says the cookies should be crushed before eaten, further parodying that scene.


 * 6th Division

Product: Wakame Ambassador shaped taiyaki

Renji and Rikichi decide to sell taiyaki. However, they think that the ordinary taiyaki is too simple and that they should change the shape of the cake. Byakuya, who was spying on them through the window, comments he does not like the usual taiyaki shape either. He decides to make the taiyaki in the form of the Wakame Ambassador.


 * 7th Division

Product: Pork Ribs

Iba comments that 7th Division decided to use Komamura's face as the trademark on their product's packaging, but due to Iba's drawing skills, Komamura's face ends up looking like a cute cartoony wolf. He goes to Komamura for help, but Komamura only elevates the design's cute factor by recommending that Iba adds "woof" next to the drawing of his face (much to Iba's chagrin).




 * 8th Division

Product: Chirashi Sushi + drinks

Kyōraku comes up with the idea of a two compartment container with the top compartment containing chirashi sushi and the bottom compartment containing a beverage. Nanao is surprised that Kyōraku is for once performing his duty as a captain. Kyōraku replies that if he does not perform his duties seriously, he will not gain popularity. Nanao quickly changes the subject to ask what drink should be included in the container. Yamamoto interrupts and revives the idea of tea, and offers to combine his idea with those of the 8th division. Nanao firmly says no and tells Yamamoto to go away.


 * 9th Division

Product: Onigiri

Hisagi is exceedingly excited about the stalls and boasts to Nanao that cooking is his special skill. Nanao chides him for using such strong terms and wants to see him make some Onigiri first. Hisagi proudly presents some Onigiri in a diamond-shaped box that bears the 9th Division's insignia. However, Nanao is disappointed by the ordinary appearance of the onigiri set and remarks that she expected Hisagi to add the "69" (which is tattooed on his face) to enhance the stylishness of the product. Hisagi is disenchanted by the suggestion.


 * 10th Division

Product: Sorbet

Matsumoto proposes selling sorbet, saying that Hitsugaya's only talent is to create ice. Hitsugaya is unenthusiastic but Matsumoto ignores him and proceeds to develop different flavours and colours of sorbet to represent the members of the Gotei 13. Hitsugaya is green and so Honey Dew. She picks purple and decides that Grape sorbet will represent her. She comments that Ichigo is "strawberry" and hence gets the colour red, while Renji gets peach and the colour orange. This leads Hitsugaya to comment that Ichigo and Renji would switch colours. Matsumoto ignores him and declares Soifon to be honey lemon with the colour yellow, Ukitake gets jam flavour and green, while Byakuya is assigned the colour white and the flavour blackberry. At this point Hitsugaya leaves, telling Matsumoto to inform him when she has decided on everything.


 * 11th Division

Product: Barbecued balls

Yachiru suggests selling barbecued balls which will be displayed on the spikes of Kenpachi's hair. This disgusts Yumichika and Ikkaku, and Ikkaku protests that they will not make any sells in that way. Yachiru retorts that the Division should display the food on Ikkaku's shiny bald head, causing Ikkaku to back paddle.




 * 12th Division

Product: Apple flavoured poisonous candy

The two Kurotsuchis come-up with the idea of selling a highly dangerous apple-flavoured poisonous candy. Their aim is to eliminate all squads who join in the festival. However, Akon and Hiyosu scheme to thwart their application because if any customers die, money will be taken from their budget... again.


 * 13th Division

Product: Gotei 13 Group Gathering Cotton candy

Ukitake suggests taking a group photo and putting it on the packaging of the item to be sold. Sentarō and Kiyone are very excited and they go to fetch Rukia but as they are doing this, Ukitake comments that he'll go get the 'others' - confusing Sentarō and Kiyone. It turns out that Ukitake wanted to take a photo of the entire Gotei 13. As Ukitake is taking the picture, he asks the group which product should be sold, and Yachiru suggests cotton candy. Ukitake readily agrees, and asks why Sentarō and Kiyone are not joining in. The two remark that cotton candy has nothing to do with the 13th Division.

Part 1
After calling a meeting in the Men's toilet, Tetsuzaemon Iba - the Association President - tells his Vice-President Yasochika Iemura to introduce the agenda. Iemura explains that the agenda is to design a manly "enchanted communication gadget" for the modern male Shinigami. Iba scolds Iemura for using a weird Hiroshima dialect and for not simply saying "cell phone". The following cell phone designs are then presented.

Shūhei Hisagi proposes a blue cellphone with a twisted towel headband on it. The idea was rejected as being too old-fashioned. Iba reprimands Hisagi for also speaking in a Hiroshima dialect.

Marechiyo Ōmaeda proposes a golden cellphone with jewelled dragon accessories. His idea was rejected as it was too expensive. He was scolded for attempting to promote his family's wealth.

Part 2


Izuru Kira suggests a fox-shaped, silver, slide model phone. The phone is clearly based on Gin Ichimaru and even sports a three on its back, akin to Gin's haori. Iba thus rejects the design and scolds Kira for putting so much of his captain in it.

Harunobu Ogidō's design was unremarkable but he claimed that it had the manly function that counted, the ability to dial your superiors number in anonymous mode so that you can tell them off. Harunobu claims that he already has Iemura's number entered into the phone. Iba claims that Harunobu's idea scares him and rejects the design.

Jūshirō Ukitake designs a green clamshell-type phone with a huge red button on the upper side and a weird thin part on the lower side. Ukitake said he wanted to retreat a little from the word "manly" but his idea is rejected because Tetsuzaemon wants a very manly-themed phone. Iba also claims that Ukitake scares him.

Shūhei Hisagi submits a second phone design after chastising everybody for not understanding the significance of the word "manly". His suggestion this time is a blue cell phone wearing a red fundoshi. This simply angers Iba, who tells Hisagi off.

Frustrated, Iba unveils his own design for a manly phone. Although it is not shown to the reader, the Men's Association members agree that it is the best design so far. At this point, however, Akon walks in and informs the association that the Shinigami Women's Association have cut the budget for their cellphone design.

Trivia

 * While not officially a Colorful Bleach chapter, a two-page Colorful Bleach-like story with similar art style appeared in Bleach manga chapter 337.


 * When the Gotei 13 Trading Cards Arc was animated, the animators added an additional sequence showing Matsumoto Rangiku taking pictures of Kira and Hisagi. She eventually took pictures of them in the nude and as a result her pictures were rendered unusable due to censorship.