Bleach Speculation (Chapters 300+)

[Mave]

Haih.....yeah, you're right about Asuma being relatively minor. I'm still sore over that.

But back to Bleach, UC, I do know what you mean. Hehehe. It would be nice to have a good explanation from Kubotite about the lack of deaths. I mean, at least, have them die and somehow resurrect. Or would you deem that as a worst alternative to the current plot?

[uc pseudonym]

It would depend on how it was handled. If they seem to be dead it makes sense for the villains to leave. And as for dying, theoretically Ichigo could really die, he'd just go to Soul Society. Actually, things wouldn't have to change that much: he'd keep his shinigami powers and he could get a gigai for when he needed to go back to earth.

Actually, I'd love that plot arc. It would be a great twist to have Ichigo truly, honestly die, become a Hollow, temporarily be an antagonist, get sent to Soul Society by someone else, and then come back a few chapters later with nifty new powers from the experience.

[uc pseudonym]

The activity in these threads seems to disappear at times. No matter...

In the recent chapters we finally have what I've been wanting for a while: a two on one battle (arguably two on nine). You'd think more characters would, given the immense power of their opponents. This may be one of the better technical battles in Bleach - it hopefully won't be just about who has more power. There are multiple fighters, underlings, severe limitations on the good guys, etc. If they win via strategy over the next few chapters I will be pleased.

[ich1990]

I still haven't found a place that has the most recent chapters scanlated, so I haven't really been able to comment. (still on chapter 271) Otherwise I would love to discuss sometime.

[Mave]

Erm, I don't really quite understand Renji's and Uryuu's strategy. Renji's was a bit suicidal while Uryuu's was one that scientist dude just didn't get the chance to study?

It's a little ironic that some characters are forced to use their weaker abilities (Renji's kido?) because their most powerful eh..powers aren't good enough.

Pardon me if I don't really know what everyone's powers are. I may have mentioned this before; I am still missing a good amount of information from the Soul Society Arc.

[uc pseudonym]

It isn't anything that elaborate, plus they probably have new powers from the most recently training arc. Renji has his Bankai with some sort of special attack we haven't seen much (not that he can use it, here). Ishida's new powers were seen in his fight with one of the Ex-Espada... though apparently he has another power yet. At least that was how I interpreted the chapter: this Espada hasn't had time to analyze Ishida's new ability, so he couldn't configure his palace to cancel it.

Their strategy, as far as I can tell: Renji provides a distraction while Ishida sets up his star-type attack. After the Espada gets hit by Renji's kidou, he dodges backward, which is exactly where Ishida targeted this new technique, if that's what it really is.

[MasterDias]

Yeah, although this does seem a bit too easy given how much trouble he was giving Renji earlier. But we will see what happens next chapter.

I'm really more curious as to what's going to happen once this battle is over actually.

[MasterDias]

Well, so the guy's still alive although he got a lot of his clothes burned off, and regenerated himself by eating his henchman...

Although, I'm more curious as to what Grimjaww intends to do to Ichigo.

[uc pseudonym]

I'm glad to see this, actually. It's cheap for an Espada to get one-hit killed. Though I expected him to transform instead of heal and retreat. My hopes for real strategy in this battle continue.

Grimmjow has been acting odd lately. I don't have any immediate theories, but this ties into my hopes for something atypical to happen in this arc.

[MasterDias]

So, Grimjaww wants Orihime to heal Ichigo so that he can "settle things" with his uninjured self.

However, Ulquiorra has now appeared and he doesn't look happy...
Are we going to wind up having a Ulquiorra vs. Grimjaww battle?

[tokiklok]

where can i find naruto and bleach chapters to read so i wont have to download them?

[uc pseudonym]

That can't be answered on the forums.

New chapter: I'm glad that Ulquiorra showed up. Otherwise it would feel like a cheap way to bring Ichigo back. It looks as though the protagonists are getting a break like in Soul Society, however, given that their major opponents (Espada/Captains) are working against each other.

I wonder if the hole in Ichigo's chest has major significance. One would imagine...

[uc pseudonym]

This may be the last comment in a while, because it looks like the next set of chapters will be relatively straightforward. I'm a bit disappointed by how this is going. A few hours is enough time for Ichigo to beat Grimmjow (I think it's possible, with some sort of power breakthrough) and escape or be healed. At least we still have possible repercussions of Grimmjow's actions, though not if he dies.

On the other hand, one could hope the next chapter will begin with Orihime saying, "No, that's stupid."

[Mave]

You know, sometimes the way to win is to plot your enemies against each other as you watch them fight and eat popcorn. That was how I was half-expecting for Ichigo and Co. to survive/win.

You know you're reading a shonen manga if the male characters have unbelievable huge fighting egos.

Like UC says, it would be interesting if Orihime refuses to heal any of them. "I refuse to heal two blockheads who would only wind up hurting themselves again. I don't care if you kill me." Hehehe...

[uc pseudonym]

I am bringing this thread back for one reason, and one reason alone: Menos explanation. Really, though, this flashback pleases me. It is always good to know more world mechanics. Also, I must admit part of me is smug to learn that the "Vastrodes are stronger than Aizen" crowd looks to be wrong.

Like UC says, it would be interesting if Orihime refuses to heal any of them. "I refuse to heal two blockheads who would only wind up hurting themselves again. I don't care if you kill me." Hehehe...

Twas not to be, however. You know it's a shonen manga when those unbelievably big egos are never considered unusual...

[MasterDias]

Wasn't a bad flashback, really. But, I'm ready for this battle to be over. It's been dragging on, and I'm not a big fan of Grimmjaw.

[Mave]

Heh, for me, this battle has been going on for too long 2 chapters ago......but yeah the flashback was good. I guess I'll just can wait out the whole I'm-fighting-for-my-friends vs I'm-fighting-to-become-the-most-powerful-king plot for a few more chapters.

The commercial was amusing though. It's refreshing to see Ichigo in his normal student form. But oh my, the raining chibi shinigamis. The cutest divine judgment ever! XD

[uc pseudonym]

I could go for one more chapter of flashbacks, myself (to explain the process of turning into a Vastrode). But I would hope the battle ends relatively soon, and the text concerning the next chapter seems to hint that it might. It should, given that both characters have pulled out their strongest techniques and seem about on par.

[Mave]

Oh noo........I don't like Grimmjaw that much, but I dislike that other dude who beat up Chad even MORE. *groan*

Why does he have to pop up in the wrong place? If Ichigo vs this dude goes on for the next few chapters, I'm skipping...

[uc pseudonym]

It had better not be. Logically he should be injured and drained of energy, and by shonen manga rules having just had a climactic victory he won't get another immediately. If this guy is higher than Ulquiorra (thus quite beyond the protagonists) that would explain how he beat Chad so easily and Ichigo probably doesn't stand a chance either.

Back to everything seeming gloomy, then. I'm still wondering how this will go but starting to get irritated.

[MasterDias]

288: So, Ishida and Renji are still stuck back fighting the scientist guy, while Ichigo isn't doing so hot against Espada No. 5. I'm fine with action and all, but after all of this, I just want this arc to end or at least go somewhere to justify it. At this point, it's feeling like a long string of fights with hardly any plot involved.

[uc pseudonym]

Agreed. I'm starting to feel like the only plot advancement (outside of whatever happens at the end) might be the death of various Espada.

More interestingly to me, we currently know all the Espada except 1-3 and 7. The remaining un-ranked ones are the old guy, the bored-looking one, the female, and the meditating black guy. I must admit I'm mildly curious about who will be in the top three.

[MasterDias]

Comments about 290:
-So Nell is a former espada...and looks to have lost her memory. I didn't really see this one coming.
-Nor did I see a transformation coming...as if this series doesn't have enough well-endowed women.

Also, a Bleach databook was released recently and it has stats for all of the captains. From how I understood it, these aren't meant to be comparative to one another(ex: an 100 in one character's area isn't equal to an 100 in the same area for a different character), but represents the maximum potential a character could reach in each area, so it's still quite interesting for those who like data.

Yamamoto-Genryuusei Shigekuni
Reiatsu: 100
Defense: 100
Mobility: 100
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 100
Strength: 60

Soifon
Reiatsu: 80
Defense: 60
Mobility: 100
Kidou: 60
Intellect: 60
Strength: 100

Ichimaru Gin
Reiatsu: 80
Defense: 80
Mobility: 80
Kidou: 80
Intellect: 80
Strength: 80

Unohana Retsu
Reiatsu: 100
Defense: 80
Mobility: 70
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 100
Strength: 90

Aizen Sousuke
Reiatsu: 100
Defense: 90
Mobility: 90
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 100
Strength: 80

Kuchiki Byakuya
Reiatsu: 90
Defense: 80
Mobility: 90
Kidou: 90
Intellect: 90
Strength: 70

Komamura Sajin
Reiatsu: 100
Defense: 100
Mobility: 40
Kidou: 50
Intellect: 80
Strength: 100

Kyouraku Shunsui
Reiatsu: 90
Defense: 90
Mobility: 90
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 90
Strength: 70

Tousen Kaname
Reiatsu: 70
Defense: 70
Mobility: 80
Kidou: 90
Intellect: 90
Strength: 60

Hitsugaya Toushirou
Reiatsu: 80
Defense: 80
Mobility: 90
Kidou: 90
Intellect: 80
Strength: 80

Zaraki Kenpachi
Reiatsu: 100
Defense: 80
Mobility: 60
Kidou: 0
Intellect: 50
Strength: 100

Kurotsuchi Mayuri
Reiatsu: 70
Defense: 70
Mobility: 40
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 100
Strength: 50

Ukitake Juushirou
Reiatsu: 90
Defense: 90
Mobility: 70
Kidou: 100
Intellect: 100
Strength: 40

These look better on the graphs but...eh...whatever...
The one that most surprises me is Unohana. She's like a tank with those stats. Gin and Hitsugaya are the good all-around captains. Ukitake's tuberculosis really does a number on his physical strength...

[uc pseudonym]

Weirdly enough, I did see Nell's transformation coming. The irritating part is that if I ever get to create one of my story ideas, people are going to think it was ripped off this.

In any case, I'm not sure what to think yet. If it's the same lisping toddler in an adult body, I'll be irritated. However, it would be cool if Nell regained her memory and acts like an Espada, albeit a slightly good one. Hopefully she'll have considerable power (perhaps around #5, if Noitora decided to eliminate her?) and be a significant female character instead of one that gets captured in the next arc.

As for stats, I love them. I'll have to analyze those later (though it would be nicer to have stats that could be compared). It's possible that Unohana just has low potential, but I wouldn't discount her being one of the strongest Captains. There are a number (like Ukitake) that have strength we didn't see in the Soul Society arc. I expect them to unleash nearer the end.

[blkmage]

So they quantified the different qualities of the captains but made all the numbers relative? That's an... interesting decision >.>

[uc pseudonym]

It makes a bit of sense in context of Aizen's speech about reaching limits, but I agree objective numbers would be better.

Having examined the list since yesterday, I do have one interesting observation. Yamamoto and Aizen are closest to their limits, both only 40 away from a perfect 600.

[Doubleshadow]

It would depend on how it was handled. If they seem to be dead it makes sense for the villains to leave. And as for dying, theoretically Ichigo could really die, he'd just go to Soul Society. Actually, things wouldn't have to change that much: he'd keep his shinigami powers and he could get a gigai for when he needed to go back to earth.

Actually, I'd love that plot arc. It would be a great twist to have Ichigo truly, honestly die, become a Hollow, temporarily be an antagonist, get sent to Soul Society by someone else, and then come back a few chapters later with nifty new powers from the experience.

It's a bit late but...

That's GENIUS! I LOVE IT!

On the current chapter:

A little, adorable, not particularly dangerous creature (a little girl, in this case), unexpectedly transforms into beautiful woman.
I do believe I have seen this plot twist before.
I agree that Nell transforming with out regaining her memory, or at least ceasing to talk like a toddler, would be bad. I'll wait and see.

[MasterDias]

My gut instinct on this is that she will regain her memories as an adult, but lose them again when/if she turns back into a kid. Although I could be wrong...

As far as the stats go, in my mind I think it would probably be more difficult to do completely objective stats for this series. But...ah, well... I wouldn't mind seeing statistics for the vice-captains, Espada, and Ichigo's crew as well, if they ever make another data book...or is that too many people.
There are also Naruto data book scans and statistics floating around if anyone cares, but those stats are fairly outdated by this point I would think.

[Bap]

...Is it weird that I think the whole Nell going HENSHINAGOGO~! was kinda. ...silly? ...To put. In... nice terms. >_>;;;

Bleach hasn't been very exciting lately. ;o;

[uc pseudonym]

A little, adorable, not particularly dangerous creature (a little girl, in this case), unexpectedly transforms into beautiful woman.
I do believe I have seen this plot twist before.

Yeah. As if we needed another parallel to the Soul Society arc. With luck the two of them will double-team Noitora instead of Nell merely being a plot device to help the protagonist beat everyone.

My gut instinct on this is that she will regain her memories as an adult, but lose them again when/if she turns back into a kid. Although I could be wrong...

That makes good sense, as it would allow Kubo Tite to keep her as a tag-along character. I would be irritated if the next chapter focused on Renji and Ishida, because I want to find out more about this.

There are also Naruto data book scans and statistics floating around if anyone cares, but those stats are fairly outdated by this point I would think.

These are known to me and fairly interesting.

[quote="Bap"]Bleach hasn't been very exciting lately. ]
I began reading after the Soul Society arc, but I wonder if a similar phenomenon happened then. As battle after battle occurs the real development slows.