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NO SHAKING THRONE is the twenty-fifth volume of the Bleach manga series.

Publisher's summary[]

Ichigo Kurosaki's recent battles with the Arrancar have proven that if he wants to protect his friends he must get stronger, and the only way to do that is to control his inner Hollow. Ichigo turns to the Visored, ex-Shinigami who have been Hollowfied, to teach him. But before his training begins, Ichigo must do battle against his Hollow self--winner takes his soul!

Bleach All Stars[]

All-Stars
井上 織姫
Orihime Inoue
Ep206YamamotoCharaPic 猿柿 ひよ里
Hiyori Sarugaki
Ep215OrihimeCharaPic 山本元柳斎 重國<
Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Ep285HiyoriCharaPic

Ep125ShinjiCharaPic 虚(ホロウ) 一護
Hollow Ichigo
Ep216IchigoCharaPic2
平子 真子
Shinji Hirako
Ep123ZangetsuCharaPic 黒崎 一護
Ichigo Kurosaki



Chapters[]

215. Tug Your God Out[]

Ichigo Kurosaki attempts to force the Visored to help him control his inner Hollow without joining them.

Summary:

215Cover

The cover page of 215. Tug Your God Out.

With Ichigo Kurosaki having entered the warehouse hideout of the Visored, Shinji Hirako stands before him alongside his comrades and admits that he is surprised at Ichigo being able to find this place since he is so bad at detecting Reiatsu, though Shinji clarifies that the Visored knew he would be coming and thus focused their Reiatsu on him so he could find it. However, when Shinji presumes that Ichigo being here means that he is ready to join them, Ichigo bluntly denies this, to Shinji's astonishment, and asserts that he would have to be crazy to join the Visored before claiming that he is here to use them instead. With Shinji questioning what he just said, Ichigo explains that he will never join the Visored and that they are going to tell him how to control the Hollow inside him, and when Shinji counters that they do not intend to tell him anything, Ichigo proclaims that he will get it out of them by force, to Shinji's bemusement, prior to using his Substitute Shinigami Badge to leap out of his body in his Shinigami form.

Seeing Ichigo hurtling toward him and drawing his Shikai, Zangetsu, Shinji flip his Zanpakutō off the ground and into the air with his foot to grab it in midair while noting that Ichigo is going to be a handful and unsheathing his Zanpakutō with a vicious glare. Ichigo begins clashing fiercely and repeatedly with Shinji across the warehouse, but Shinji manages to repel him with a single slash of his Zanpakutō, sending Ichigo crashing into a pile of boxes with enough force to shatter them and causing him to curse as he emerges with blood on his face. Nearby, Hiyori Sarugaki, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, Kensei Muguruma, Mashiro Kuna, Lisa Yadōmaru, and Hachigen Ushōda watch the two of them continue to battle with passive interest, and as Rose observes that Ichigo is not bad if he is holding his own against Shinji, Lisa scathingly points out that Shinji is not even trying, though Hachigen muses that Ichigo does not seem to be trying hard either. When Love asserts that Ichigo is obviously scared, Mashiro wonders what he is scared of, prompting Kensei to clarify that he is afraid of his inner Hollow and express frustration at the idea of actually letting him join their ranks.

Despite this, Hiyori merely sighs and begins walking forward, leaving Mashiro to ask her where she is going while Hiyori tells Hachigen to set up five more barriers, which he agrees to. With Ichigo and Shinji staring each other down in midair and Shinji preparing to tell Ichigo something, Hiyori hits him in the face with Super Harisen Slipper, sending him crashing through the existing barrier and flying outside. Upon seeing this, Hiyori reminds Hachigen that she told him to put up five more barriers, though a startled Hachigen points out that she did not give him any time to do so, and turns to Ichigo, whom she informs that the decision to join the Visored is not up to him, since they will be deciding whether or not he can join after seeing what he can do while exerting her Reiatsu, to Ichigo's intimidation. Hiyori elaborates that the Visored will readily teach him how to control his inner Hollow if he has got what it takes, but that he will be out of luck and likely killed by his inner Hollow consuming him if he is not, and turns away while ordering Ichigo to Hollowfy so she can see what he has got, only for Ichigo to refuse to do so. In response, Hiyori reiterates that he has no choice and dons her own Hollow mask, taking the form of a skull with a large horn and a diamond pattern across its brow, as she promises to drag a shocked Ichigo's inner Hollow out of him by force if he is too cowardly to do so himself.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


216. The Suppression of Darkness[]

Hiyori Sarugaki takes on Ichigo Kurosaki herself to force him to Hollowfy and demonstrate his power.

Summary:

216Cover

The cover page of 216. The Suppression of Darkness.

With Hiyori Sarugaki having summoned her Hollow mask and Ichigo Kurosaki startled by this, Love Aikawa, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi, and Mashiro Kuna frantically protest her going this far, but Hiyori questions what Ichigo is afraid of since the name of the Visored stems from them having Hollow masks and gives her every reason to Hollowfy. Warning Ichigo that she is is not as nice as Shinji Hirako is, Hiyori promises that he will die if he does not Hollowfy as well and rushes forward to attack him before Ichigo can react, resulting in a powerful explosion of force.

Outside of the layered barrier being maintained by Hachigen Ushōda, the other Visored watch apprehensively or with disinterest as Hiyori continues to assault Ichigo, and after a strained Hachigen responds to her questioning if he is okay by revealing that he is not, Mashiro looks up to see a bloodied and injured Ichigo panting in midair with his shihakushō left ragged and the sclera of his left eye beginning to turn black. As she pulls up her Hollow mask, Hiyori wonders if Ichigo still does not get it and tells him to not be afraid, though Ichigo denies that he is, before suggesting that he perform Bankai. When Ichigo tells her to shut up in turn, Hiyori theorizes that he fears being unable to contain his inner Hollow if he performs Bankai against someone as strong as she is, but with Ichigo continuing to refuse to do so, Hiyori draws her Zanpakutō and pulls her Hollow mask down again while berating Ichigo as a miserable coward whom she cannot even stand to look at.

After Hiyori declares that she will cut him down and end this if he still will not Hollowfy or perform Bankai, she attacks in a surge of Reiatsu, leaving Ichigo to block her slash with his Shikai, Zangetsu, which begins to crack under the strain, as he tries to deduce how Hiyori stays in control with her mask on and how she makes her Hollow obey her. With Hiyori slashing away from their clash, taking out a chunk of Zangetsu and drawing more blood from him, Ichigo mentally asserts that he should be able to figure out how Hiyori is doing this since she is right in front of him and he can see everything. However, though Ichigo concludes that he will not Hollowfy or perform Bankai and risk opening up his Soul to his inner Hollow, Hiyori slashes him down the chest while he is distracted and comes back for another attack, causing Ichigo's consciousness to fade out and allowing Hollow Ichigo to take control of his body by manifesting part of his mask on Ichigo's face and screaming in rage, to the astonishment of Hiyori and the other Visored.

Grabbing Hiyori by the throat and shattering part of her mask, Hollow Ichigo hurtles across the warehouse and slams her into one of the exposed pillars as he begins to choke her, leaving a terrified Hiyori to gasp for air while her Hollowfication begins to fade. Suddenly, Shinji, Love, Rose, Kensei Muguruma, Mashiro, Lisa, and Hachigen free Hiyori and pin Hollow Ichigo against the ground below with their Zanpakutō in one swift movement, leaving him immobilized. After shattering Hollow Ichigo's half-formed mask and freeing Ichigo from his control, Shinji asserts that this is enough and asks Hiyori if she is satisfied, though a tearful Hiyori merely flinches in response, before informing Ichigo that he should know now that he cannot control his inner Hollow with his body or mind and that the Visored will hammer the control method into him because he passed.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


217. Hole In My Heart[]

Annoyed by the preliminary testing for his Hollowfication training, Ichigo Kurosaki convinces the Visored to begin his real training early.

Summary:

217Cover

The cover page of 217. Hole In My Heart.

In the Kurosaki Clinic, Yuzu Kurosaki tearfully proclaims that Ichigo Kurosaki is never coming home, prompting Karin Kurosaki to assure her that Ichigo will return in a few days. However, Yuzu demands to know if Karin is not worried about him and assumes that Ichigo must have been kidnapped, to Karin's irritation, as Isshin Kurosaki walks in and wonders why she is crying. When Isshin attaches several clothespins to his beard and claims to be a bearded daruma in an attempt to cheer Yuzu up, Karin unceremoniously yanks several of them off his chin while claiming that he always looks like this, leaving Isshin to collapse in pain as Yuzu sees Rukia Kuchiki walk in and frantically asks her if she found Ichigo, only for Rukia to sadly confirm that she did not, to Yuzu's distress. Later that night, Rukia stands on the roof of the house and looks over Karakura Town while noting that there is no trace of Ichigo's Reiatsu anywhere and wondering where he is. Inside the house, Kon lays with a tearful Yuzu in her bed and calls Ichigo a terrible brother for making his little sister cry.

The next day, at the Visored warehouse, an unimpressed and sweating Ichigo simulates running on the Super Trainer, an exercise machine with handles attached to the platforms he is standing on, as the Visored lay around, with Shinji Hirako wondering what they will be having for lunch and telling Hiyori Sarugaki to make something for them, Hiyori refusing since she is not his mother, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi asking Love Aikawa if he has listened to the new Prince of Darkness CD yet, Love laughing in tears over how hilarious he finds the contents of the latest issue of Shonen Jump to be and ignoring Rose pointing out that Love never lets him read it, Kensei Muguruma wrapping his hand in athletic tape and telling Lisa Yadōmaru to keep her eyes on Ichigo since she is on duty today, and Lisa claiming that she is despite reading an erotic magazine, prompting her to pretend to be counting Ichigo's repetitions when Kensei points this out.

In frustration, Ichigo kicks the Super Trainer at Hiyori, who pulls Shinji into its path to block it with his face, and demands to know what he is doing. Despite Hiyori threatening to beat him up for this, Ichigo counters that he should do this to her since the Visored promised to teach him how to control his inner Hollow, but have instead left him running like a hamster on a makeshift exercise machine all day. Nearby, Mashiro Kuna and Hachigen Ushōda enter through one of the shutters with bags of groceries as Ichigo declares that the Visored are crazy and he is just as bad for agreeing to do this, though Hiyori simply confirms that he is a bald and crazy idiot who should stop complaining since the Visored are going out of their way to train him. While Ichigo refuses to be insulted by someone with a protruding tooth and denies this being training, Hiyori clarifies that his face is the bald part and claims that her unique teeth happen to be charming assets while Mashiro offers lunch to an appreciative Love.

When Mashiro wonders why Ichigo and Hiyori are fighting, with Hiyori having escalated the argument to kicking Ichigo in the face, Love explains that he got tired of Hiyori's Super Trainer, and when Mashiro expresses shock at it taking him this long, Love asserts that it is Hiyori's fault for not explaining it properly, which Mashiro concurs with. After Hiyori throws the Super Trainer at Ichigo's head and orders him to keep going until he drops, Shinji stops an aggravated Ichigo from attacking her and explains that the Super Trainer is meant to prepare Ichigo for his upcoming training, though Hiyori is irritated by him referring to it derogatorily. Shinji details how Ichigo will get more out of his real training the longer he can last on the Super Trainer and states that the Visored will teach him how to control his inner Hollow, but only if he can use the Super Trainer for three consecutive days.

However, Ichigo counters that he could use the Super Trainer for a week and reveals that he has already figured out how it is designed to drain Reiryoku, with the Visored having intended to measure his maximum Reiryoku output by seeing how many days he can keep running until he collapses, before proclaiming that he could go for at least five consecutive days with the Reiryoku he currently has and does not want to waste that time, which is why he wants the Visored to just tell him how to control his inner Hollow since he does not have time to play around with them. In response, an unfazed Shinji yells at Ichigo to shut up, startling both him and the other Visored, and questions how he can claim that he does not have time when he does not even know how long it will take for the Hōgyoku to awaken, leaving Ichigo astonished by him knowing of the Hōgyoku. With Shinji concluding that he should stop whining since he does not understand the Hōgyoku or Hollowfication, Ichigo inquires about how he knows about the Hōgyoku, which leads Shinji to reveal that he has known about the Hōgyoku, the Arrancar, and even Sōsuke Aizen for years.

Leaping down to the floor where Ichigo is standing, Shinji holds his right hand splayed open up to Ichigo's face and promises to tell him all about it some other time before musing that even though the Visored wanted to get his Soul accustomed to their ways, Ichigo having attained Shikai and Bankai after becoming a Shinigami in a very short period of time means that he might be correct in wanting them to get right to teaching him how to Hollowfy. With a bewildered Ichigo wondering how he knows this as well, Shinji uses Tanma Otoshi to render Ichigo unconscious and closes his unfocused eyes as Love hoists Ichigo over his shoulder. After telling Hachigen to set up a two-layered fault barrier, which he proceeds to do by erecting Hachigyō Sōgai around the warehouse, Shinji enters the Study Chamber underneath the warehouse alongside the other Visored while warning Ichigo that he is going to completely Hollowfy soon and must consume his inner Hollow instead of letting it consume him, since he will die if he does not.

Simultaneously, within his inner world, Ichigo confronts Hollow Ichigo, who sarcastically calls him a king and notes that it has been a while since they last met.

Characters in order of appearance :

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


218. Dark Side of Universe 3[]

Ichigo Kurosaki faces off against his inner Hollow while the Visored prepare to fight the latter, now possessing Ichigo's body once more.

Summary:

218Cover

The cover spread of 218. Dark Side of Universe 3.

Having entered the Study Chamber underneath their warehouse hideout, the Visored congregate among the rocky spires and lay down Ichigo Kurosaki's unconscious body alongside his Shikai, Zangetsu. After ordering Hachigen Ushōda to erect a barrier here as well and admonishing him for pouting despite his age, Shinji Hirako instructs him to bind Ichigo's body in addition, prompting Hachigen to drop five thick pillars onto Ichigo with Bakudō #75. Gochūtekkan.

Meanwhile, within his inner world, Ichigo faces Hollow Ichigo, who questions why he looks so melancholy as Ichigo looks around the area and inquires about where Zangetsu is. When Hollow Ichigo merely smirks in response, an angered Ichigo grasps the handle of Zangetsu, which leads Hollow Ichigo to ask him if Zangetsu is the sword in Ichigo's hand or the one in his own while drawing a color-inverted Zangetsu from his back. After bringing up Ichigo wanting to know where Zangetsu is, Hollow Ichigo leaps into the air and proclaims that he is Zangetsu before coming down on Ichigo with a slash that the latter blocks with Zangetsu.

Back in the real world, this clash produces a surge of Reiatsu emanating from Ichigo that alarms the Visored sitting around the barrier containing him. With Shinji warning the others that it is coming, Mashiro Kuna suggests that they hide Zangetsu, but Love Aikawa asserts that it would only make matters worse and Lisa Yadōmaru steels herself as Hollow Ichigo takes control of Ichigo's body by forming half of his mask over the latter's face and casually destroying the five pillars keeping him down, which allows him to stand up with a feral grin. While Lisa has Hachigen open a small portion of the barrier so she can enter first since she is on duty today, Shinji asks her to not kill Ichigo, but she simply claims that this will only happen if he does not kill her first, and as Hollow Ichigo grabs Zangetsu and rushes toward her, Lisa introduces herself and discards her Zanpakutō's sheathe to begin their battle.

Simultaneously, in Ichigo's inner world, he blocks another attack from Hollow Ichigo by bracing his left forearm against the back of Zangetsu and demands to know what Hollow Ichigo did with Zangetsu, only for the latter to reiterate that he is Zangetsu and send Ichigo crashing into the building below by slashing his Zangetsu downward. After landing on the building as well, Hollow Ichigo informs Ichigo that he and Zangetsu have always been one since they are both Ichigo's power, though he was simply a part of Zangetsu before, and explains that their changing relationship altered the appearance of the body they shared, comparing it to flesh covering bones during life and bones becoming exposed during death. Hollow Ichigo details how his powers increasing caused him to become the dominant one and Zangetsu to become a part of him instead, which made it easier for him to dominate Ichigo's Soul every time the latter tried to draw on Zangetsu's powers.

In turn, Ichigo concludes that Zangetsu will become the center of his spiritual powers again if he defeats Hollow Ichigo here. Though Hollow Ichigo claims that this is impossible, Ichigo holds Zangetsu out in front of him and suggests that Hollow Ichigo look at this before he makes this claim. However, Hollow Ichigo simply holds out his own Zangetsu in the same stance and declares once more that it is impossible prior to performing Bankai alongside a stunned Ichigo.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


219. Black & White 3[]

Both having activated the same Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, Ichigo Kurosaki and Hollow Ichigo continue their battle.

Summary:

219Cover

The cover spread of 219. Black & White 3.

In his inner world, Ichigo Kurosaki and Hollow Ichigo perform Bankai in unison, causing Ichigo's real-world body to stop in its tracks during the fight against Lisa Yadōmaru as its Reiatsu begins surging, to her surprise. Upon seeing a white substance pouring out of a newly-formed hole in Ichigo's chest, Shinji Hirako observes that it is beginning.

Back in the inner world, the surging Reiatsu accompanying Ichigo and Hollow Ichigo's Bankai releases tears though and obliterates the portions of the skyscraper they were standing on the side of, breaking it into three large chunks that fall away while Ichigo and Hollow Ichigo stand in their opposite-colored Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, before springing forward to cross blades. After Ichigo questions when he learned Bankai, Hollow Ichigo declares that he did so at the same time that Ichigo did and separates from him in a burst of oppositely-colored energy, only for Ichigo to move back to him with Shunpo and continue his assault as Hollow Ichigo blocks and wonders why Ichigo is angry instead of having fun with this. Telling Hollow Ichigo to shut up, Ichigo repels him with another slash, sending Hollow Ichigo smashing through two more skyscrapers, and fires a black Getsuga Tenshō at Hollow Ichigo. However, Hollow Ichigo simply dispels the Getsuga Tenshō by swiping his left hand through it, to Ichigo's astonishment, and moves up to clash with Ichigo once more prior to firing his own bright red Getsuga Tenshō, which engulfs Ichigo and obliterates the skyscraper behind him.

Meanwhile, in the real world, Lisa performs Panty-Flash Tornado against Hollow Ichigo, who has activated Tensa Zangetsu there as well, as Kensei Muguruma notices that Lisa has been fighting for ten minutes and has Hachigen Ushōda open up the barrier once more so he can intercept Hollow Ichigo with a powerful elbow to the chest before he can continue attacking Lisa, whom Kensei tells that her time is up. With Lisa leaving and Hollow Ichigo springing up from the ground he was was sent crashing into to rush forward, Kensei spins his Shikai, Tachikaze, around by the ring on its hilt and introduces himself as the one who will kill Hollow Ichigo. Outside the barrier, Shinji Hirako urges Ichigo to stop messing around and hurry before they are forced to kill him.

At the same time, in Ichigo's inner world, Hollow Ichigo stands apart from him with blood dripping from the tip of his blade as Ichigo pants with a large wound covering his chest. Reiterating that Ichigo is not good enough, Hollow Ichigo points out how he was the first to use Getsuga Tenshō after they obtained Bankai, meaning that Ichigo is a stupid child trying to imitate the master, and moves to Ichigo before grabbing his sword by the blade, causing it to begin turning white from the point of contact with his hand. While Hollow Ichigo concludes that he should give up because he is not good enough at Bankai, a stunned Ichigo sees his sword crumble and disappear.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


220. King & His Horse[]

While his real body continues to Hollowfy at a rapid pace, Ichigo Kurosaki finds himself disarmed by Hollow Ichigo.

Summary:

220Cover

The cover page of 220. King & His Horse.

Outside the barrier in the underground Study Chamber, an injured Lisa Yadōmaru pants heavily and asks Shinji Hirako how long she has to rest. After Shinji states that the eight of them fighting for ten minutes each gives her eighty minutes, Hiyori Sarugaki reminds him that Lisa cannot fight while she is resting and Hachigen Ushōda wonders why he is being counted when he is maintaining the barrier, leaving Shinji irritated as Lisa internally admits that Hollow Ichigo was much stronger than she expected and warns Kensei Muguruma to be very careful.

Within the barrier, Kensei stabs his Shikai, Tachikaze, into Hollow Ichigo's left shoulder and rips it out in a spray of blood, only to be alarmed when the wound is instantly covered with white material through High-Speed Regeneration, prompting him to use Bakudantsuki to blow Hollow Ichigo's left arm completely off his torso at the shoulder. Suddenly, a large mouth with a studded tongue emerges during the High-Speed Regeneration that begins on the stump of Hollow Ichigo's left arm and surges toward Kensei in the form of a large worm, forcing him to use Bakudantsuki once more to destroy it as Hollow Ichigo stands with a new, white left arm with shoulder spikes and talons on its fingers. With Kensei noting that he Hollowfies pretty fast, Lisa recalls how the internal battle fought to become able to Hollowfy at will usually lasts no more than an hour and concludes that the six of them getting ten minute-long turns means that this will be over the next time she enters the barrier.

Meanwhile, within his inner world, Ichigo Kurosaki is stunned to see the sword of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, turning white and crumbling to pieces while Hollow Ichigo breaks the tip of the sword in his hand and reiterates that he is Zangetsu. After Ichigo simply glares at him, an unimpressed Hollow Ichigo moves to him, grabs Ichigo by the face, and throws him through multiple skyscrapers as he wonders why Ichigo is standing there without a weapon. While Ichigo regains his footing within the falling rubble, Hollow Ichigo begins spinning his own sword around his finger by the chain attached to its hilt and asks Ichigo what the difference between a king and the horse he rides is. Ichigo is bewildered by this, but Hollow Ichigo assures him that it is an important truth rather than a riddle or guessing game and elaborates that he is questioning what two beings identical in shape, ability, and strength use to decide which of them will be the king to lead the charge into battle and which will lend its strength to the other like a horse, thus determining the order of domination.

When Ichigo does not respond, Hollow Ichigo claims that instinct is what allows one being to dominate another and become king, as it fuels an insatiable hunger for battle and power and the will to mercilessly crush, tear apart, and cut up enemies in the form of a ravenous bloodlust. Concluding that it manifests as the will to rip off skin, gouge flesh, crush bone, and mangle sinew, Hollow Ichigo asserts that one must want to kill somewhere deep in their primordial unconscious and accuses a shocked Ichigo of lacking this indomitable drive, since he tries to fight with his head and defeat enemies with reason. After wondering how Ichigo can fight with a sheathed sword, Hollow Ichigo proclaims that this is why Ichigo will never defeat him and throws his sword, which embeds itself in Ichigo's chest and pierces through his back to impale him.

As he states that he refuses to lose to Ichigo, Hollow Ichigo explains that, while he cannot speak for Zangetsu, he will never play horse to a king that is weaker than he is and be slain alongside him, which means that he will crush Ichigo and become the king himself if the latter is weaker than he is while moving to Ichigo and grabbing the hilt of the sword in Ichigo's abdomen with his right hand. However, a dazed Ichigo ruminates on Hollow Ichigo's mention of instinct and associates it with swords, seeking battle, and refusing to give control to Hollow Ichigo, the former of which prompts him to grab Hollow Ichigo's sword by the blade while the latter is pulling it out, causing it to begin turning black from the point of contact with his hand. Upon seeing the right sleeve of his coat turning black when the blackness coating the sword reaches it, a startled Hollow Ichigo frantically lets go and leaps back, where he sees Ichigo staring at him with focused eyes once more.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


221. Let Eat The World's End[]

Ichigo Kurosaki gains the resolve to tap into his killing instinct and concludes his battle with Hollow Ichigo.

Summary:

221Cover

The cover page of 221. Let Eat The World's End.

Having seen the right sleeve of his coat beginning to turn black from his hand's point of contact with his white sword after Ichigo Kurosaki began blackening it with his own hand, Hollow Ichigo leaps back before it can alter the rest of his body and stares at Ichigo, who thinks about the concept of instinct and remembers 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

Suddenly, Ichigo wakes up unharmed, wielding his Shikai, Zangetsu, and lying on a platform surrounded by floating versions of the buildings from the Senzaikyū pavilion, causing him to wonder where he is prior to a manifestation of Kenpachi embedding his Zanpakutō into the ground next to Ichigo's head. Once Ichigo bolts up in fright, Kenpachi comments on him finally being awake, and when Ichigo addresses him as Kenpachi and questions what this place is, Kenpachi slashes at his head, which a startled Ichigo narrowly evades, and inquires about who Kenpachi is since he is just here to kill Ichigo before bringing his Zanpakutō down in a powerful slash. Managing to block this with Zangetsu, a bewildered Ichigo leaps back, leaving Kenpachi to slam his Zanpakutō into the ground, and asserts that this does not make sense because his battle with Kenpachi is over, only for Kenpachi to counter that nothing is over since a battle with swords is not a fistfight and does not end until one of the combatants is dead. When Ichigo declares that he has no reason to fight Kenpachi, the latter questions if Ichigo really needs a reason to fight.

With Ichigo stunned by this, Kenpachi tells him that he seeks battle and elaborates that all who seek power also seek battle, though he does not know whether they seek battle to gain power or power to aid in battle. Proclaiming that they were born with the desire to fight, Kenpachi states that he and Ichigo were born to seek battle forever because it is the only way to gain power, and with Kenpachi concluding that the only way for him to conquer is for him to take his sword and slay his enemy with no other path available to him, Ichigo's consciousness returns to his inner world as he pulls the sword of Hollow Ichigo's Tensa Zangetsu out of his abdomen and glares at a shocked Hollow Ichigo with focused eyes once more. After twirling the sword around in his hand to grasp it by the handle instead of the blade, Ichigo leaps forward and impales Hollow Ichigo with it.

After a brief pause, blackness begins surging out of the stab wound on Hollow Ichigo's back and spreading across his coat, leading the latter to curse and admit that Ichigo had some instinct to kill after all. With his body beginning to disintegrate from the legs up, Hollow Ichigo decides to accept Ichigo as his king for now, but warns him to never forget that either of them can become the king or the horse and that he will throw Ichigo off and crush the latter's skull the moment he senses the slightest weakness in Ichigo. Hollow Ichigo smiles at a silent Ichigo and advises him to not get killed until the next time they meet if Ichigo really wants to control his powers prior to the remainder of his body swelling up and exploding in an enormous surge of energy.

Back in the real world, Ichigo's Hollowfied body cracks open at the left shoulder and erupts in a powerful explosion of Reiatsu, stunning the watching Visored.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


222. NO SHAKING THRONE[]

Ichigo Kurosaki succeeds in conquering his inner Hollow and regains control of his body.

Summary:

222Cover

The cover page of 222. NO SHAKING THRONE.

Narrowly evading a horizontal slash from Hollow Ichigo by leaning backward and moving back with a handspring, Love Aikawa is shocked to see blood spurt from a wound on his shoulder and looks at Hollow Ichigo, who has gained completely white skin with markings, elongated hair and fur covering his wrists and ankles, taloned feet with an additional back toe on each ankle, a near-complete Hollow mask covering all but his right eye, and a long, thick tail protruding from his lower back, which leads Love to observe that he looks completely Hollowfied. Outside the barrier boxing them in, Lisa Yadōmaru muses that Ichigo Kurosaki had been Hollowfied for sixty minutes when Love went in and that it is almost her turn before turning to Kensei Muguruma and inquiring about how long the longest internal battle of any of the Visored was, which Kensei reveals was sixty-nine minutes and two seconds with Hiyori Sarugaki prior to clarifying that Ichigo's battle has lasted sixty-eight minutes and forty-four seconds.

Back inside the barrier, Hollow Ichigo points two fingers on his left hand at Love, who is startled alongside Lisa, and begins charging a Cero, causing Lisa to call out to Love in concern as the latter prepares to summon his own Hollow mask. Though Mashiro Kuna is astonished at him being willing to Hollowfy as well, Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi reminds her that even Love would have to Hollowfy to repel such a powerful attack. Suddenly, Hollow Ichigo's left shoulder begins cracking, with his right shoulder quickly following suit, and a startled Hiyori has Hachigen Ushōda move to get Love out of the barrier as Hollow Ichigo screams at his entire body cracking and explodes in a powerful surge of Reiatsu that fills the entire barrier.

In the aftermath, the Visored gather around the barrier while the dust clears to reveal the husk of the Hollow form falling off of Ichigo, who stands with a smaller version of the Hollow mask covering his face. With the remnants of the Hollow form crumbling on the ground, Shinji Hirako has Hachigen dispel the barrier and approaches Ichigo apprehensively, only for the latter to collapse, causing his mask to slide off his face and fall face-up on the ground. Despite Mashiro Kuna's uncertainty about him being alright, when Shinji asks Ichigo how he is feeling, a smiling Ichigo looks up and asserts that he is not bad, to Shinji's amusement, as he recalls Hollow Ichigo's warning about taking over his body if he shows the slightest weakness and apologizes because he does not intend to let Hollow Ichigo do this.

Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Orihime Inoue walks down the street and notes that Ichigo was not at Karakura High School again today before taking a moment to search for his Reiatsu, which she is able to sense and uses to confirm that he is alright. Assuming that Ichigo is in the middle of secret training and that she should not go looking for him, Orihime recalls that Rukia Kuchiki is worried about him as well and wonders if Ichigo left without telling her anything. Upon remembering Ichigo's distraught face after the battle against Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Orihime realizes she is gloomy due to being lonely since Uryū Ishida and Yasutora Sado were not at school today either. As she decides to get Tatsuki Arisawa and go out to eat something interesting this weekend, Orihime recalls Tatsuki acting strangely as well and pauses somberly for a moment prior to resolving to head over to Tatsuki's house tomorrow and find out what has been going on with her.

However, Orihime is interrupted when Shinmura calls out to her, prompting Orihime to greet her, and inquires about the trustworthiness of the people staying with her, to Orihime's confusion. Upon learning that they carried something odd into her apartment earlier, Orihime runs inside the living room to find 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, standing before a gigantic monitor filled with static that is attached to the walls and floor by fleshy, tendril-like growths. Initially considering this to be awesome, Orihime quickly changes her mind and demands to know what it is, which leads an exasperated Hitsugaya to note that her timing could not be worse and identify himself to the monitor, which a technician in Soul Society switches to a feed of Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. As Orihime stares in surprise at this, Yamamoto commends Hitsugaya for his swift work in setting up this link and reveals that they have discovered Sōsuke Aizen's true objective.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


223. The Scarlet Creation[]

Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto reveals Sōsuke Aizen's true goal to Orihime Inoue.

Summary:

223Cover

The cover page of 223. The Scarlet Creation.

Having been told alongside 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and his lieutenant, Rangiku Matsumoto, by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto that the Gotei 13 has discovered Sōsuke Aizen's true objective, Orihime Inoue nervously observes that this sounds pretty serious and attempts to leave, but Yamamoto requests that she stay and listen because this concerns Humans as well, prompting Orihime to stop and agree to do so.

Yamamoto notes how it has been one month since Aizen escaped and explains that the Fifth Division captain's room, the Central Underground Assembly Hall, the Seijōtōkyorin, and the Daireishokairō are still being examined, with the latter three generally being off-limits to the point that few captains have any idea of what is within them. When Hitsugaya questions what is going on and what Yamamoto wants to tell them, Yamamoto recounts how 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake made an unusual discovery while investigating the Daireishokairō the other day, where he found that not only had certain documents relating to the Hōgyoku been accessed, but a body of literature completely unrelated to the Hōgyoku was accessed two days prior to Aizen's departure. Upon inquiring about what this body of literature referred to, Hitsugaya is astonished to learn that it was about the Ōken, and when Orihime questions what this is, Rangiku explains how Soul Society has its own royal family that lets Central 46 oversee the realm and never interfere with the Gotei 13, to the point of none of the Shinigami having ever seen them.

Affirming this, Yamamoto states that the monarch is called the Soul King, a symbolic yet revered figure in Soul Society, and that the Soul King Palace exists in a different dimension from the rest of Soul Society while being guarded by the Royal Guard, with the Ōken opening the gate to that dimension. With Orihime realizing what this means, Yamamoto theorizes that he indeed wishes to murder the Soul King, but dismisses this as not being the immediate threat, prompting Hitsugaya to inquire about whether the body of literature that Aizen accessed pertains to the location of the Ōken. However, Yamamoto denies this since that secret has been passed down orally by the Captain-Commanders of the Gotei 13 for generations and cannot be found in any book prior to clarifying that Aizen accessed the literature documenting the creation of the Ōken and now knows how it was made. Despite Rangiku assuming that he could have already made his own Ōken, Yamamoto explains that it is not so simple and that the immediate problem is the raw materials and conditions that Aizen needs: 100,000 Souls and a Jūreichi that is two ri in diameter are needed in order to create an Ōken. While Orihime picks up on the sheer number of Souls required for this, Yamamoto observes that they are not the only concern because a Jūreichi is an unusual phenomenon in the Human World, due to its location changing over time and its nature as a spiritually-charged area that Souls are drawn to, before concluding that the Jūreichi which Aizen is targeting is Karakura Town.

With Orihime stunned by this, Yamamoto admits that 100,000 Souls and a Jūreichi are too abstract as terms and bluntly asserts that Aizen creating the Ōken as indicated in the literature will carve Karakura Town and its residents out of this world and from existence, leaving Orihime mortified. However, when a trembling Orihime wonders if there is anything they can do to stop Aizen, Yamamoto promises her that they will find a way because that is why the Gotei 13 exists. As Orihime stares in amazement at this and Rangiku smiles at her, Yamamoto elaborates that they also have some time to prepare due to the Hōgyoku remaining in a dormant state for approximately four months after being removed from a Soul before it can completely awaken, which means that Aizen cannot assemble his army until then and that this is when he will make his move. After declaring that the battle will come in the winter, Yamamoto orders Hitsugaya and Rangiku to sharpen their skills and prepare themselves for battle until then before turning his attention to Orihime, whom he requests the help of alongside her other Human friends since the area that Aizen will be focusing on is too large for the Gotei 13 to handle by themselves. Once Yamamoto finishes by asking her to inform Ichigo Kurosaki of the situation, Orihime firmly agrees to do so.

Following this, Rangiku leaves to inform 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and the others of the situation, but when Hitsugaya attempts to join her, Yamamoto requests that he stay and listen since someone has been waiting to speak to him and moves out of the way to reveal the figure behind him, whom Hitsugaya is startled by the appearance of. Meanwhile, in the Study Chamber underneath the Urahara Shop, a bloodied Yasutora Sado is sent crashing into a rock formation by 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, who stands with his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, active and questions if Sado has had enough, only for Sado to deny this and resume attacking with his Fullbring, Brazo Derecha de Gigante, as Renji asserts that he knew this would be the case and Kisuke Urahara watches intently nearby. Elsewhere in Karakura Town, Orihime runs down the street and focuses on Rukia Kuchiki, Uryū Ishida, Sado, and Ichigo.

Characters in order of appearance:

Episodes adapted from this chapter:


Author's Notes[]

Volume 25 Intro Image
Bleach is now a movie. The filmmakers' attention to detail is evident in everything from the background art to the storyboards. I think it's going to turn out amazing. People who liked the anime will really love it, and those of you who didn't like the anime that much will be pleasantly surprised. I can't wait to see it. Now who wants to do the greetings for me at the premiere?
-Tite Kubo

References[]

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