Another Bleach chapter is out, so let's talk about it.
Fundamental changes and spoilers galore after the cut.
There are any number of events in this manga that piss people off and get them to stop reading it. I'm not quite at that point yet, but I can see it in the distance. It's getting closer too.
Chapter 616 explains a mystery that we've been wondering about for a little while; what exactly was that shadow behind Ukitake the last time we saw him with Kyouraku?
There was a funny term mentioned ("kamikake") which made little sense no matter the translation. Now we have a clearer picture of it.
As everyone knows, Ukitake is not well, nor has he been for the entire series. It turns out that because of his illness, he gave himself to a "fallen god" (the eponymous Mimihagi-sama) in return for the ability to live and eventually replace the Soul King, should anything happen to him.
How convenient then that something did happen to the Soul King and that Ukitake is still alive and well enough to replace him!
It is especially convenient given that, even though Ukitake could easily be regarded as among the elite shinigami in Seireitei, he's just a shinigami and not one of the Royal Guard. One would think that a "regular" shinigami not consecrated by the Soul King to serve him directly wouldn't have enough power to replace the Soul King.
But alas, this is the situation in which we find ourselves.
Last we saw Kyouraku, he was heading to Central 46 to ask for something. Knowing Kyouraku, it was likely something dangerous or foolhardy. Of course, the readers were not privy to what he was asking for specifically, until the end of this chapter.
Kyouraku is down in the darkness below 1st division HQ seeking out the "great evil" Aizen Sousuke.
And it's here that I facepalm my way down the Yellow Brick Road 'til I reach the end of the rainbow.
On the other hand, I guess it's only a couple chapters before Ulquiorra gets revived to be Aizen's new VC, right?
What a bloody mess.
What's next, bankai for Kenpachi?
