The Royal Guard Arrive is an event taking place during the Quincy Blood War, revolving around the Royal Guard visiting the Seireitei for the first time in centuries after its near-total destruction at the hands of the Wandenreich.
Prelude[]
Ichigo Kurosaki has the blade of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, broken by Jugram Haschwalth.
After laying waste to the Seireitei, Yhwach notes that the Royal Guard will likely show up now as he begins his retreat.[2] Ichigo Kurosaki tries to stop him, but is overpowered and has the blade of his Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, broken by Sternritter "B" Jugram Haschwalth.[3] That night, as the medical units treat the injured, the remaining captains of the Gotei 13 discuss their situation while Ichigo is called to 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi's office over his Zanpakutō.[4]
Mayuri Kurotsuchi informs Ichigo that it is impossible to repair Bankai once they are broken.
In the Soul King Palace above, Ichibē Hyōsube gathers at the Vestibule Road with the rest of the Royal Guard, whom he greets. Simultaneously, in the Twelfth Division barracks, Ichigo is told that Tensa Zangetsu cannot be repaired and expresses disbelief at this since Mayuri repairs his whenever it is broken, only for Mayuri to arrogantly clarify that he just modifies his and explain that a Zanpakutō can only be repaired by its owner's mind, Reiatsu, and time to infuse both. However, when Ichigo assumes that he is being told to take his sword back and fix it himself, Mayuri states that he is not done explaining and notes that this method only works for Shikai because the destruction of Shikai and Bankai have very different meanings before asserting that a destroyed Bankai can never be repaired, to Ichigo's shock.[5]
Mayuri reveals the permanent damage incurred by other Bankai with the exception of Sajin Komamura's.
Mayuri admits that there is one exception in the form of 7th Division Captain Sajin Komamura's Bankai, Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō, whose physical statuses are reflected onto each other when one is injured or healed, thus allowing Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō to be fully restored. However, Mayuri explains that 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame's Bankai possesses a fraction of its former power after being restored from its destruction by Edrad Liones and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai's Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, is still missing the bone segments destroyed by Renji's captain, Byakuya Kuchiki.[6]
A large and muscular Kon suddenly runs into Ichigo after being experimented on by the Twelfth Division.
With Ichigo aghast at this and questioning what he is supposed to do, several researchers shout at each other to catch a large and muscular Kon, who slams into Ichigo while running. With Ichigo bleeding from the nose and not recognizing him, a shocked Kon encourages Ichigo to remember him as the King of New York, only for Ichigo to claim he simply did not realize it was Kon because the latter has grown so much since they last met. Accusing Ichigo of trying to praise the horrid development of his body, Kon attempts to recount his recent suffering, but Mayuri deflates his body and returns it to its normal state with the press of a button, allowing the researchers to continue chasing Kon while Mayuri moves on despite Ichigo's protests. Suddenly, Mayuri is contacted on his headpiece, confirms he is on his way, and tells Ichigo to come with him before revealing that though he does not want to meet them at all, Ichigo should meet the Royal Guard that is coming to the Seireitei.[7]
The captains gather outside the Seireitei in anticipation of the Royal Guard's arrival.
Some time later, with dawn breaking, Ichigo joins the captains outside the Seireitei and calls out to 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako, who advises him against being here. With Ichigo questioning where the Royal Guard is coming from, why they are only showing up after the Seireitei's devastation, and where they usually stay, 8th Division Captain Shunsui Kyōraku informs him that they are stationed at the Soul King Palace, and when Ichigo wonders if this is not in the Seireitei, Shunsui asks him if he recalls how the large walls currently encircling the Seireitei fell around it when he first entered Soul Society two years prior.[8]
The Tenchūren carrying the Royal Guard falls from the sky and slams into the ground in front of the captains.
Musing that the walls have been down ever since because the Seireitei has experienced a chaotic period, Shunsui clarifies that it was only meant to protect the Seireitei during emergencies and asks Ichigo what it usually surrounds when the Seireitei is not in the middle of an emergency. Suddenly, with Shunsui observing that they have arrived, the Tenchūren parts the clouds above as it falls from the sky and slams into the ground before the captains, where Shunsui explains that it is the method of transportation for the Royal Guard because the latter is comprised of only five members, leaving Ichigo astonished since he initially believed that it contained a standard division's worth of Shinigami. After revealing that the Royal Guard are all captains with no division members, Shunsui concludes that their combined strength is greater than that of the entire Gotei 13 while Ichibē, Ōetsu Nimaiya, Tenjirō Kirinji, Senjumaru Shutara, and Kirio Hikifune walk out of the opening doors.[9]
The Arrival[]
Kirio Hikifune reunites with Shinji Hirako, who initially does not recognize her.
As they step out of the Tenchūren, Ichibē and Hikifune stand before the captains while Nimaiya dances, Senjumaru stoically plays several instruments with her robotic arms, and Kirinji energetically waves a flag with the Zero Division symbol before announcing that they are finally here. With Kirinji questioning if the captains have been eating right and getting enough sleep, Shinji admits that this is different from what he expected. Suddenly, Hikifune slaps the back of Shinji's head, to his aggravation, and boisterously declares that it has been a long time since they last met as she notices that Hiyori Sarugaki is not with him.[10]
Tenjirō Kirinji confronts Retsu Unohana over the casualties sustained in the invasion.
Though he initially does not recognize her, Shinji realizes from her question about Hiyori that she is the former captain of the Twelfth Division and notes that she has changed since they last met, but Hikifune denies having changed that much and proclaims that she is hungry when her stomach growls. Meanwhile, Kirinji confronts 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana over whether she is using the healing techniques he taught her effectively, which Unohana confirms. However, Kirinji brings up the recent loss of many Shinigami for the Gotei 13 and wonders how Unohana's statement reconciles with that, to her annoyance.[11]
Kirinji moves behind Suì-Fēng and restrains her faster than she can react when she protests the Royal Guard's inaction during the Wandenreich's invasion.
However, Ichibē throws his arm around Kirinji's neck and observes that they should save the catching up they have to do for later, leaving Kirinji irritated. Shunsui tells Ichibē that the Royal Guard are the same as always and questions what they have come here for this time, prompting Ichibē to look past him, identify Ichigo, and explain that the Royal Guard have come to help rebuild the Gotei 13 at the behest of the Soul King, starting with taking Ichigo back up with them. In response, 2nd Division Captain Suì-Fēng decries this and admonishes the Royal Guard for relaxing in the sky during the siege on the Seireitei until they decided to come down and rebuild the Gotei 13 later. When Ichibē attempts to continue speaking after a pause, Suì-Fēng attempts to strike him, only for Kirinji to move behind her with Shunpo and grab her fist while telling her to shut up.[12]
Ichibē Hyōsube incapacitates Kirinji when he begins lambasting the Gotei 13.
With Suì-Fēng astonished by his speed, Kirinji asserts that Suì-Fēng's complaints should be the Royal Guard's own and reminds her that the Gotei 13 are the ones tasked with protecting the Seireitei while the Royal Guard protect the Soul King Palace. As Kirinji concludes that no proper Gotei 13 would cry for help after failing to do their job and asserting that they do not deserve the name, Ichibē brings his hand down onto the top of Kirinji's head in a powerful chop, causing the latter to collapse in pain, and reminds Kirinji that he was told to save this for later prior to declaring that they should finish what they came here for.[13]
Senjumaru Shutara collects Rukia Kuchiki, Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki, and the broken sword of Tensa Zangetsu.
Suddenly, Senjumaru informs him that there is no need since she has already collected what they need as the others see her holding large capsules that contain 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, Renji, Byakuya, and the broken sword of Tensa Zangetsu, to their shock. Once Senjumaru extends a mechanical arm toward Ichigo and asserts that he is the only thing left, Unohana declares it unacceptable for Rukia, Renji, and Byakuya to be taken since they are in no condition to leave the Seireitei, but Kirinji counters that this is exactly why they are being taken since Unohana is not strong enough to fully heal them, asserts that he will be healing them himself, and reminds Unohana that medical care is not what she should be focusing on right now, which she closes her eyes solemnly in response to while Mayuri chastises Senjumaru for breaking into his lab for Tensa Zangetsu.[14]
Kisuke Urahara address the Gotei 13 and Royal Guard from a screen projected into the air.
In turn, Senjumaru claims that this is an exaggeration because the door simply slid open when she placed her hand on it and muses that security is a lot weaker than it was when she was last here. However, Ichigo demands to know why he is being taken as well when he can recover from his injuries without issue in the Seireitei and has something else he needs to do, and as Ichibē confirms that he is being taken for a different reason, Kisuke Urahara startles a confused Ichigo and the other Shinigami by greeting them[15] from a screen projected into the air and observes that it has been a long time since they last saw each other, only to be disappointed by the lack of reaction.[16]
Upon hearing Ichigo's voice through Urahara's side of the transmission, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez enters the tent and demands to see him.
With the screen being projected out of a panicking Kon's head, Mayuri orders his subordinates to capture Kon and turn off the feed, only for Urahara to simply turn the feed back on once they do so. After Urahara commends Mayuri for realizing the controls are in Kon's eyes while Mayuri presses his fingers into them, Orihime Inoue enters the frame, greets Ichigo, and expresses relief at him being alright. While Yasutora Sado joins Orihime and Urahara to greet Ichigo as well, Ichigo admits that he was worried about them, and as Urahara explains that he could not contact Ichigo sooner because of Kon being restrained, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez opens the flap of the tent they are in upon hearing Ichigo's voice, prompting Urahara to frantically have Orihime and Sado push him back out of the tent.[17]
After ending the transmission, Urahara assures Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado that Ichigo will protect them all.
Though Ichigo is left aghast at Grimmjow being with them, Urahara brings up Ichigo mentioning that he had something to do, infers this was rescuing them from Hueco Mundo, and states this is no longer necessary. After telling Ichigo to decide on his own what he truly wants to do, Urahara asserts that Grimmjow is not a threat to their lives because they have reached a nice agreement and bids Ichigo farewell as the projection closes. In Hueco Mundo, Sado asks Urahara if it was right to tell Ichigo this because he may want to run away from this fight if he only thinks about himself, but Urahara counters that Sado should not say things he does not believe and explains that Ichigo doing what he truly wants to do will lead to him protecting all of them in the end.[18]
Ichibē reveals that Tensa Zangetsu can be reforged in the Soul King Palace.
With Urahara concluding that both Orihime and Sado know this while Ichigo himself knows better than anyone, back in the Seireitei, Ichigo asks Ichibē if they can fix Tensa Zangetsu in the Soul King Palace, only for Ichibē to clarify that while fixing it is impossible, they may be able to reforge Tensa Zangetsu into something resembling his original sword using powerful spiritual techniques available only in the Soul King Palace, which prompts Ichigo to decide that he will go with the Royal Guard. Moments later, Ichigo finds himself at the Shiba Clan residence and wonders why he is here, leading Kūkaku Shiba to chastise him for reacting this way to seeing an old friend and claim she might not launch him after all.[19]
Kūkaku Shiba launches the Tenchūren back up toward the Soul King Palace with Kagizaki and the Kakaku Taihō.
As Ichigo expresses confusion at the mention of launching, Ichibē reveals that the Tenchūren has no way of returning to the Soul King Palace on its own and responds to an aghast Ichigo bringing up their unique spiritual techniques by affirming that those exist, only for Ichigo to chastise him for doing so since he makes it sound untrue. When Ichigo brings up Ganju Shiba's absence, Kūkaku claims that she is using him as a statue to hold up her banner after he turned into a large stone version of himself, which Ichigo immediately calls out as a lie, prior to ordering Ichigo and the Royal Guard into the Tenchūren and launching it out of the Kakaku Taihō high into the air while Ichigo screams about the lack of seatbelts.[20]
Aftermath[]
Ganju Shiba continues training with the dead Fullbringers after being told he will take part in the next battle.
Following this, on the ground below, Ganju approaches wonders if this was a good idea, only for Kūkaku to point out that Soul Society is doomed when the next invasion comes if Ichigo does not go now and they have no choice but to let Ichigo go, even if it makes their uncle sad. Turning to face Ganju, Kūkaku tells his group to return to the training hall and not forget who took them off the streets of the Rukongai, prompting Kūgo Ginjō and Giriko Kutsuzawa to muse that they are getting sick of her attitude as they walk away with Shūkurō Tsukishima. When Kūkaku tells him that he is being thrown into the next battle no matter how much he cries or screams, Ganju readily affirms this. Shortly afterward, the Tenchūren lands on a platform in the sky and its doors open while Ichigo is told that they have arrived and looks out to behold the Soul King Palace.[21]
References[]
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 536, page 16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 511, page 17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapters 512-514
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 515, pages 1-10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 1-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 4-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 6-9
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 12-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 516, pages 13-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 2-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 5-6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 6-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 11-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 12-16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 517, pages 16-18
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, page 1
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 1-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 5-8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 8-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 12-13
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 518, pages 13-17