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Episode 97: Hitsugaya moves out! Cut down the enemy in the forest

Impressions:

Yay! New ED starting next episode, but that won’t air for another two weeks…

Anyways, the quality this episode was so unbelievably better than the last few. It was quite pleasant to watch something this good after many, many horrible episodes. Although, it would be better if the quality stayed consistent at a level between this episode’s and the other crap ones. The only problem I had with the animation this ep was Kariya’s look when he gave that speech to his goons. He seemed utterly freakish and possessed – not a sight I’d want to see again.

I am also quite surprised at the pace of this episode (or maybe I’ve gotten used to the snail’s pace the fillers have been progressing at for the past few months). It looks like all-out war from next episode on as the Bounto are now able to move freely within Seireitei. I still don’t get why Kariya had to recruit all those men though. I’m pretty sure that with his strength, he’d be able to defeat a few weak gate guards to gain access to Seireitei. Maybe the reason was what he said it was – to help out the oppressed people at Kusajishi as he knows how they feel and can relate to them. I don’t think Kariya’s an exceptionally bad person at heart, so that could be the case (he just wants revenge for all that’s happened to him, and I were him, I’d probably too).

Next episode is Zaraki’s fight with Ichinose, which has been long-awaited by many Bleach viewers. Ichinose did seem very confident when he told Kariya he would do away with ’several’ Shinigami at ‘captain’ levels. He sounds a lot like Zaraki, who is always confident in his skills (or maybe he’s just excited about the prospect of the challenge). Anyway, it will be interesting to see how Ichinose fairs against Zaraki. I wonder if he has a Bankai. We’ve seen that he is easily as strong as Ichigo when neither have their Bankais released, so it’s possible he might win. Or, they might get interrupted before they finish, like Kariya’s bout with Ichigo and Byakuya.

Summary:

The men recruited by Kariya are preparing for the upcoming invasion of Seireitei by felling trees and using the wood to create battering rams and other such weapons. However, these activities do not escape the notice of the Shinigami – Toushiro’s Squad has discovered this. Toushiro decides to investigate this personally, with Matsumoto and Renji.

Ganju, Kusajishi’s Bulls and the others discuss the situation regarding the gathering of the majority of Kusajishi’s scoundrels. Ganju decides to assist the Shinigami by eliminating the men. It is revealed that the true reason for him doing this is because it is a favour to Ichigo.

As Seireitei is undergoing reconstruction, Mayuri realises something important after a chat with Shunsui and Juushiro. With this on his mind, he hurries back to his office.

At Ran’Tao’s home, Ichigo wakes up after an unsettling nightmare, just as soup has been brewed for lunch. Ichigo and Ririn are already waiting beside the cooking pot. Ran’Tao comes soon after and the three (and Ririn?) consume the meal. Afterwards, Ishida explains to Ran’Tao about Yoshino, who looks exactly the same as her. Ran’Tao concludes that she must have been a copy of her. This is because the experiments, which led to the eventual creation of the Bounto, were not able to be conducted on human souls, and so Shinigami souls were used. This explains quite a few things, including why the Bounto are so strong (they use Dolls like Shinigami use their Zanpakuto), and why Ririn is able to sense the Bounto (as modified souls was a study conducted resulting from the Bounto’s modified souls, she is a descendant of the Bounto).

Meanwhile, Zaraki decides to face Ichinose and the Bounto as their location has been discovered. Yachiru wants to tag along, as usual.

At Kusajishi, Kariya makes an encouraging speech to his new recruits as they are working. It is quite apparent that his men have already become loyal to him.

At the 12th Squad base, Mayuri has concluded that his hunch earlier is correct. The one who planted the bombs in Seireitei was none other than – Ichinose! He was able to do use because of his Zanpakuto’s ability to manipulate light waves, allowing him to become invisible. He was also the one who altered the information in the vast databanks that are in Mayuri’s possession. This leads him to realise something more. Ichinose had planted the data about the Quincy battle accessory so that Mayuri would get the idea to give it to Ishida. He becomes extremely pissed at the fact that the Bounto had used him, and it seems like he’s going to do something about it.

Renji, Matsumoto and Toushiro gather on the outskirts of Kusajishi, readying for their assault on the town. Matsumoto asks about Renji’s Zanpakuto, as she suspects it hasn’t healed after releasing his Zanpakuto in the real world. This is true, but Renji reassures her that he’ll be fine as he doesn’t need to release his Shikai when dealing with mere rogues from Rukongai. Toushiro then asks him what he’ll do if he encounters the Bounto. When Renji isn’t sure of his answer, Toushiro tells him to act as a messenger and flee to Seireitei as soon as possible. With all that settled, the three move out and begin their raid.

Elsewhere, Ichigo and Ishida part ways with Ran’Tao to return to the search for the Bounto. Ichigo asks her about when Ishida’s battle accessory will give out. She says she doesn’t know and also reminds them that when it does, the wearer will most definitely be caught in the blast.

When the preparations at Kusajishi are nearing their finish, Ichinose reports the approach of several Shinigami, and requests to deal with them himself. Kariya agrees to this and Ichinose dashes off to meet the enemy.

After making short work of the nearby men from Kusajishi, Toushiro’s trio start wondering about the unexpected lack of enemies. When they split up again to search, Toushiro finds Ichinose, who had been waiting for them. The two are quite quick in starting their fight, and as they lock themselves in a standstill, Toushiro questions Ichinose’s reasons for allying with the Bounto. He replies saying that he saw the righteousness in Kariya’s endeavours and the absence of justice in Soul Society.

When Ichinose notices the presence of more Shinigami, he quickly breaks away from Toushiro and watches from afar as Ichigo, Ishida, Matsumoto, Renji and Ganju’s group meet up with Toushiro. For a while, Ichinose’s presence isn’t noticed (which is quite strange as even Toushiro, who obviously knows that Ichinose is there, turns his back on him as he engages in conversing with the others). Then, Ichinose makes his presence known when he informs everyone that they are already too late in stopping the invasion of Soul Society. Using Baura’s dimension warping ability, Kariya’s men were able to surprise the Seireitei gate guards and overcome them all. Thus, the passage to Seireitei is now clear.

Preview:

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