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Episode 94: Hitsugaya’s Resolution! The Clash Approaches

Impressions:

Hate to say this but … watching that ep was a big waste of my time (not that I would’ve not watched it if I had known anyway as Bleach is my current favourite series regardless of how the fillers are). The episode was like a filler of the fillers. Nothing happened! I was excited with the Hitsugaya’s Resolution part in the title – I must’ve missed the ‘Clash APPROACHES ‘ part somehow. I was geared up for a major battle this episode, following that explosion from the last, but I guess the wouldn’t be a big fight the episode before the real big fight begins, which is the episode before Ichigo comes in and the REAL big fight starts. Hooray! I must say that the best part of this episode was the preview of the next.

Let’s see – what happened this episode? Kariya goes on his mini-quest to gather those guys from Kusashiji. He can’t be serious about sending them to take over Seireitei. No matter what Kuukaku says about their strength – no matter what the numbers, a Shinigami of captain status would be able to take care of them easily. Think about Byakuya’s Senbonzakura. All those pretty pink blades and all those bloodied, disembowelled corpses … Kariya probably just wants to have some more fun killing souls. Anyway, what else happened? Rukia started recovering, no one had any luck finding the Bounto except Byakuya at the end, and oh – Toushiro’s resolution to redeem himself. I guess that’s pretty important, but when’s he gonna join in the fight?

Well, like I said, nothing happened. All that is just pointless. How about some more planning and scheming from both sides. “Send out more search parties,” is a pretty lame order from Yamamoto. Why can’t he come up with something interesting? And the recruiting men from Kusashiji; I’ve already talked about how stupid that is above. And Kariya having fun is not interesting at all. I’m glad the fighting will begin now. Took long enough for a meaningful fight. I hope Ichigo comes in the fight by saving Byakuya from serious injury or something like that. Just showing up while Byakuya and Kariya are fighting wouldn’t be very exciting … and Ichigo better be stronger now!! (Unrelated note: Rukia’s voice has gotten way deeper! I liked her original voice better, made her sound younger).

Summary:

The explosion from Seireitei has destroyed Senzaikyuu (Palace of Atonement). It was caused by a bomb planted by the Bounto. Captain Yamamoto requests for extra search parties to locate the Bounto. Hitsugaya is pretty pissed and wants to redeem himself. He runs off with Rangiku to find the Bounto (or so I assume).

In Byakuya’s house, Rukia is being treated for her wounds sustained in her fight against Yoshi. When Byakuya is satisfied with Rukia’s condition, he leaves the room and walks past where Ichigo and Inoue are sitting. Seeing the captain, Ichigo asks him how Rukia is doing. Byakuya tells him that although she is in no danger of dying, her injuries are quite serious. He is letting her rest in his house for the time being to let her recover. Ichigo asks him to assist him in defeating the Bounto – especially Kariya. Byakuya refuses as he does not wish to co-operate with Ichigo. Letting this go, he and Inoue leave to search for the Bounto.

Kariya seeks to have a little fun in Kusashiji, one of the most dangerous parts in Rukongai. He intrudes on some gambling, plays with his life as the bet and wins. He throws the loser into the wall. He wants to fight more people, but Gowa steps in and asks him to stop. He even asks Ichinose to help him. Kariya probably would have let them go, but the rest of the people in the gambling house choose to fight the three, underestimating them due to their numbers. Of course, everyone who has a shot at them gets knocked out instantly. When everyone is down, the three approach the man in charge, looking for a favour…

Outside their headquarters, the 11th Squad is searching to area to try and find the Bounto (like they’d actually find one!) while Zaraki and Yachiru are doing their own thing inside. Yachiru asks Zaraki whether he will go after the Bounto as well. He says no as they are too weak. Yachiru is relieved to hear this as if ‘Maki-chan’ was there when Zaraki found the Bounto, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy a fight with him. (Sorry for my incredible ignorance, but Maki-chan is Ichigo, right? … Right?) Zaraki says he doesn’t care about these things, only the way he’s being used.

After a whole day of wandering around aimlessly, Inoue and Ichigo return to Kuukaku’s house, exhausted after yielding no results. Chad returns as well and apologises for not getting to Rukia in time when she fought. Ichigo takes some of the blames as well and tells Chad that it was Byakuya who saved Rukia. With absolutely no warning, those brothers who work for Kuukaku show up, wanting to show everyone something interesting. They manage to open the palms of the two arms outside, which act as gates. While they think this is amazing, Ichigo asks them what it is. This shatters them. Suddenly, two boars are seen in the distance galloping towards Ichigo and the others. Riding on them are Ganju’s brothers, who accidentally crash into the gate and knocks it down.

Inside, the ones who came on the boars describe to everyone Kariya, who made a mess at Kusajishi (although they do not know his name’s Kariya). Kuukaku informs the others about the area’s tough residents. If someone were to recruit them all, he/she would have a pretty strong army. Ichigo believes that the man is Kariya and decides to investigate. Ganju is placed in charge of leading everyone there. Ishida shows up and decides to go as well, as he wants to be the one to kill Kariya. Ganju decides to use boars to get to Kusajishi. Ichigo believes they will be too slow and runs off by himself (technically his not all by himself – Ririn goes as well of course). The others have to stay with Ganju and the boars.

In Byakuya’s house, Rukia wakes up and immediately discerns that she is in her brother’s house. She figures she must’ve been saved by him. Meanwhile, Byakuya is heading for the gates to Rukongai…

In some other place, Kon is wandering around – his memory completely wiped. However, his nature is still the same. Seeing a cute girl with large breasts, Kon becomes delighted, like he always does.

As Inoue, Chad, Ishida, Ganju and his two brothers continue to Kusashiji at what seems to be at a pretty slow pace, the leader of the gambling house (and possibly the chief of the whole town) has agreed to recruit the people in the area. When he leaves after the discussion, Kariya asks Ichinose about his views on the place they are staying. Ichinose doesn’t answer at firs as he has his thoughts elsewhere, which makes Kariya point out the fact that something must be bothering him as he has been acting strange ever since they entered Soul Society. Gowa says the same to Kariya, as it seems like he is actually having fun. And indeed he is. He says that there is an interesting person who is coming and he wants to ‘meet’ him. This is a person who he wishes to personally take care of.

Neither Ganju’s party or Ichigo are having any luck in finding the Bounto (Ganju is lost in the forest and Ichigo simply cannot find the enemy). However, Kon is having a great time, as the girl he saw earlier does not seem to be suspicious about a talking stuffed animal and has even served him a drink (–her voice is so cute! Whose is it?! I’ve definitely heard it before!!) After thinking for a while, Ganju starts rambling on about random things as he has no clue as to where to go. With perfect timing, three guys are seen coming down the road. Ganju is confident that they’d know how to get to Kusashiji and is prepared to fight them for their co-operation.

During nightfall in the woods near Kariya’s new temporary base, he and Kuchiki Byakuya calmy approach each other. Stopping some distance away from each other, Byakuya enquires about Kariya’s identity. He confirms that he is Kariya. He also brings up the incident regarding Rukia and Yoshi and asks whether Byakuya has come for revenge (he knows Byakuya is Rukia’s older brother). The captain, showing no emotion in his expression or voice, tells Kariya that regardless of that incident, anyone who causes trouble in Soul Society will be killed. Amused, Kariya initiates the fight by gathering his power…

Preview:

To be continued…

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