bleach 119,120,121

Bleach Episode 119 Summary

Many years ago, Ikkaku had wandered around the Soul Society fighting thugs and feeling that he didn’t have a place where he belonged. Fighting and pain were the only truths for him. On one particular day, he had been looking for someone strong to fight when he had encountered a young girl who told him that he should go home because “Ken-chan” was in a good mood. Ikkaku had then been faced with Zaraki’s imposing figure, and neither man was willing to back down from the fight. Zaraki started the battle with a charge followed by a series of strong attacks that keep Ikkaku on the defensive. Both of them had found great fun in the fight, but Ikkaku was the one who was thoroughly beaten by the end. As he struggled on the ground and as Zaraki walked away, Ikkaku had questioned by Zaraki didn’t finish him off and demanded that he himself be killed. Hearing this, Zaraki had grabbed Ikkaku and made it clear that he shouldn’t be begging to be killed. Zaraki felt that Ikkaku shouldn’t want to die because he admitted defeat, but rather he should admit defeat only after he dies. He should live, think about killing the person who didn’t kill him, and then go after Zaraki again. As Zaraki started to walk off again, Ikkaku asked for his name, and Zaraki had said that he was Zaraki’s Kenpachi (Zaraki’s strongest person).

Ready to go to hell if Zaraki is there, Ikkaku joined the shinigami and was present when Zaraki explained to his new 11th division that he wanted strength out of his men - people who could fight. Now on the same side, the two were involved in one particular battle against a tough Hollow. Zaraki had cut it to pieces, but several more rose up where the first had fallen. Yachiru then suggested a competition to see who could cut the most Hollow tails, and all of them had happily participated. It was sometime later that Ikkaku was approached by Renji who asked to be taught how to fight. Renji got beat left and right in the training that followed, but he wanted to keep going. When Ikkaku asked Renji why he wanted to become strong, Renji had replied that there was someone he wanted to surpass. The two eventually got to the point where Ikkaku had taught Renji everything he knew and their training ended. Renji had known that Ikkaku had achieved ban kai and had wanted to see it. Because Renji had questioned why he didn’t use it, Ikkaku had claimed that it was his style. He then went on to reveal to Renji his full name and explained how it’s a courtesy to give your name to the person you are going to defeat. Yet despite achieving ban kai, Ikkaku turned down a captain promotion after Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tousen left. He explained that didn’t want other people to know he had ban kai so that no one else would ask him to be a captain. The reason was because if he became a captain, then he couldn’t fight under Zaraki anymore. Ikkaku’s only wish was to fight and die under Zaraki.

Back in the present, Ikkaku’s blade falls to the ground and he tumbles down soon after. The Arrancar Edorad, who had a huge chunk of his body taken out by Ikkaku’s attack, expresses how glad he is to have heard Ikkaku’s name, but then he falls from the sky and crashed into the ground. Still alive, Ikkaku struggles back up and finds Yumichika standing over him. Yumichika says that he had thought that Ikkaku would live, and Ikkaku replies that he was really lucky today.



Bleach Episode 120 Summary

Although Ikkaku’s fight has ended in victory, there are still several other battles going on across the city, and things don’t look so good for Hitsugaya, Renji, or Matsumoto. Hitsugaya and Renji in particular have both already initiated ban kai, but both still struggle with their Arrancar opponents. While these battles are going on, Ururu is having a hard time sleeping in Urahara’s shop and wakes up to see Renji fighting outside her window. Already watching the battle, Ririn and the other mod-souls decide to help and start by making Renji disappear from the Arrancar’s vision. Claude then disguises himself as Renji and starts attacking with Nova’s help. Unfortunately, the Arrancar powers up a bit and is able to disable all of them. Ururu meanwhile gets on top of Urahara’s rooftop where Jinta already is standing and then launches into the sky before he can stop her. She appears suddenly behind the Arrancar and kicks him in the face right as he turns around to face her. Ururu then starts choking him and utters some words about him being danger, danger being an enemy, and enemies being eliminated. After being repeatedly punched, the bloodied and extremely angry Arrancar gives himself some room by slashing at Ururu. He then releases his zanpaktou and transforms into a large bull-like creature, stabbing Ururu soon after the smoke clears. When he flings her now body away, Jinta comes to save her and tries to smack the Arrancar with his bat. It doesn’t hurt the Arrancar at all, and he rushes towards Jinta to skewer him too, but fortunately Renji comes to the rescue by allowing one of the skeletal links of his Hihiou Zabimaru to take the hit instead. Although this gives Jinta enough time to get away with Ururu, the Arrancar is able to break through the skeletal link and hit Renji. He then introduces himself as Arrancar No. 15, Ilfort Grantz.

Ilfort’s zanpaktou release is noticed by Shawlong, but the other Arrancar is busy fighting Hitsugaya. The captain attempts an attack that he follows up with his ice tail, but it only freezes Shawlong’s hand and zanpaktou, and Shawlong quickly breaks the ice off. He sees that Hitsugaya is steadily losing the ice flowers that are floating behind him and theorizes that Hitsugaya’s ban kai is still incomplete, so it will disappear when all the ice petals disappear. Hitsugaya only has three petals left, but Shawlong decides to respect him by destroying the captain with his full power. Shawlong’s released form grants him long claw fingers and a tail, and he immediately gets to work slicing Hitsugaya up. Having dealt some damage, Shawlong formally introduces himself as Arrancar No. 11. The two then charge each other again and Shawlong slices up Hitsugaya’s wings. The young captain is able to avoid any major damage and grows the wing back, but he then pauses to ask Shawlong a question. Hitsugaya wants to know if the No. 11 designation means that Shawlong is the 11th strongest Arrancar, but Shawlong reveals that the numbers are assigned according to order of birth. However, this does not apply to the Arrancar numbered 1 through 10 because those are ranked according to their slaughtering ability. These Espada as they are called have their numbers written on their bodies, and Shawlong reveals that there is actually an Espada here with them: the 6th Espada Grimmjow. At that moment, Grimmjow is engaged in a fight with Ichigo, but Grimmjow isn’t really trying very hard. He urges Ichigo to initiate ban kai, so Ichigo does.

It is around this time that Matsumoto finally gets a message from Soul Society telling her that she has permission to lift the limit. Because of this, she is able to stop her opponent from stepping on her and informs Hitsugaya and Renji of the good news. All three of them reveal black symbols on their chests that light up as they lift their power limitations and proceed to power up.

To be continued...


Bleach Episode 121 Summary

Since the Arrancar are confused as to what the Limit Release is, Hitsugaya, Renji, and Matsumoto explain that captains and vice-captains have seals on their bodies to restrict their spiritual pressures so that they minimize impact on souls in this world. Their power is thus normally reduced by 80%, meaning that they are now 5 times stronger without the limit. Faced with the massive power boost, Shawlong tries to get the others to retreat, but it’s too late and each of the Arrancar meets their end. Despite the victory though, Hitsugaya is gravely wounded and Renji is exhausted. Renji thinks to himself that he was lucky his opponent was caught off guard because of how strong the Arrancar was. In particular, he thinks this bodes poorly for Ichigo. While Matsumoto gets Inoue’s help to heal her captain, across town, Keigo brings Ikkaku and Yumichika back home to his sister. To Keigo’s surprise, his sister takes a liking to Ikkaku and lets them stay.

Meanwhile, Ichigo is already in his ban kai form, but he’s barely able to do anything to Grimmjow. Using only his fists, Grimmjow is able to beat Ichigo to a pulp and is quite disappointed with Ichigo’s ban kai. Ichigo responds by using the black version of his Getsuga Tenshou attack, and this actually causes a little damage to Grimmjow, but nothing significant. Frustrated, Ichigo knows that the black version of the attack is his Hollow side’s, and using it allows that side to come out faster. He estimates that he can probably use it two or three more times without completely losing control. Unbeknownst to Ichigo, Tatsuki is actually watching his fight from around the street corner. In addition, a certain someone is also arriving in this world via a dimensional rift from Hueco Mundo.

Grimmjow has become quite excited by the prospect of an actual fight. However, as he starts to draw his zanpaktou, Tousen suddenly appears behind him and stops him. Tousen isn’t happy at all with how Grimmjow attacked this world on his own accord with five other Arrancar, all of whom are dead now. He says that Grimmjow completely disobeyed his orders and claims that Aizen is furious. With Tousen around, Grimmjow has no choice but to return to Hueco Mundo where his punishment is waiting. Ichigo can’t believe that the Arrancar is just leaving and tries to get him back so that they can finish this. Grimmjow responds by saying that Ichigo is the one who’s getting his life spared. He can tell that Ichigo’s black Getsuga Tenshou damages Ichigo too and that Ichigo can only use it a few times. But he also feels that even if Ichigo could do it an infinite number of times, he still wouldn’t be able to defeat Grimmjow’s released form.

Grimmjow then tells Ichigo his full name and predicts that the next time Ichigo hears that name will be when he dies. After Grimmjow disappears, Renji arrives on the scene and grimly declares that they’ve won since the Arrancar have gone back to Hueco Mundo. Ichigo, however, feels that he had lost, especially since he couldn’t protect anyone. Both of them head to Rukia’s side where Inoue is healing the wounded girl. Inoue notices the look on Ichigo’s face as he stares at Rukia and sighs quietly to herself. Around the same time, Ururu is also getting healed at Urahara’s shop. Back in Hueco Mundo, a smiling Aizen welcomes Grimmjow home.

To be continued...