Another chapter of Bleach is out, so let's talk about it.
Spoilers and mass confusion after the cut.
If there's anything we'll remember from this chapter, it's the proliferation of flashbacks that don't add a whole lot story-wise.
I won't call them pointless, per se, because they do explain some of Kyouraku's motivation for taking the Ise family zanpakutou and hiding it away.
Still, I feel like this chapter was tedious as a result of having so many pages devoted to flashbacks. There has to be a better way of imparting that information to the reader.
It was basically a lead-in to the last page, where Kyouraku and Nanao are standing together against Barro. Does this imply that Kyouraku's demise is forthcoming? I believe it is.
His role has been fulfilled. As Captain-Commander, he got the Gotei 13 up to the Soul King Realm (or Wahrwalt, actually) and he handed over the Ise family zanpakutou to Nanao. What else is left for him to do? Obviously, defeating Bach isn't going to be expected of him.
Even with the developments in this arc, I still feel that Kyouraku and Ukitake had more they could have done.
But I guess that's in the past, and there are some tasty battles to look forward to yet. If we ever get there.
