Bleach -104 Discussions

[Tsukisama]

The latest chapter of Bleach has been released. You may view it here.

Use this thread to discuss.

[Hockeychaoz]

I assume everyone else noticed the first page and how similiar that normal soul looked to Ichigo when he first became a hollow.

Spitting up the mask and whatnot.
So, I'd say its safe to assume that Urahara is the one experimenting, or he's going to take over this research from someone else.

We know that Urahara gets banished too, so I figure this is gonna be the reason why. Experimenting on souls, and the untraceable gigai.

Cool to see Hisagi there as a kid. Hisagi was something of a prodigy or something if I remember right, he got early acceptance or something.

[edit] as for the poll, I don't think it could be Mayuri, Urahara and Hiyori. If Mayori was involved in something that gets Urahara and possibly Hiyori banished, why is he a captain in the future?

[Tsukisama]

as for the poll, I don't think it could be Mayuri, Urahara and Hiyori. If Mayori was involved in something that gets Urahara and possibly Hiyori banished, why is he a captain in the future?

We don't know that the Hougyoku research or whatever this is (if it is Urahara's doing) was related to him being exiled. All we know is that the untraceable gigai is the reason given for his banishment.

Mayuri could have hidden his part in this or perhaps something else to explain this. I have seen Urahara, Mayuri, and Hiyori suggested before, so I decided to include them in the poll.

[Hockeychaoz]

We don't know that the Hougyoku research or whatever this is (if it is Urahara's doing) was related to him being exiled. All we know is that the untraceable gigai is the reason given for his banishment.

Mayuri could have hidden his part in this or perhaps something else to explain this. I have seen Urahara, Mayuri, and Hiyori suggested before, so I decided to include them in the poll.

Oh, absolutely. I agree.
I just wanted to put my 2 cents in with the little point on Mayuri.

I like this 100 year ago time warp, its fun knowing the future and guessing what's going to happen.

[Tsukisama]

I am really happy with the chapter. As I and several others predicted, there was a significant time skip and the introduction of Mashiro and/or Hachi (turns out just Mashiro) in this chapter.

It was very nice to see more of Kensei and especially a new dynamic to his relationships with his interactions with Mashiro to add to his character. (We have seen a somewhat similar combative relationship between Shinji and Hiyori, but unlike that one, we have not seen this relationship between Kensei and Mashiro in the present.)

As for the shadowy figures, I really don't know. Looking at their silhouettes, I don't think it is Urahara, Mayuri, and Hiyori, because Hiyori's way too short. I am not sure if it is Aizen, Gin, and Tousen. I hope these aren't new characters, but anything is possible.

I like this 100 year ago time warp, its fun knowing the future and guessing what's going to happen.

That definitely makes the gaiden far more enjoyable.

Also, I am changing the poll from "Urahara, Mayuri, & Hiyori" to "Urahara, Mayuri, & someone else," since I think that it is clearly not Hiyori. (For those who still think it might be, you can conjecture that she is the "someone else.")

[someguy0830]

Of all the people who Mashiro could serve under, it would be Kensei. No wonder he can't tolerate her.

I agree that the hollow mask spitting is awfully familiar. This does make it a bit more likely that Urahara and co are responsible, though I doubt Hiyori would go along with it. The shadows also seem closer in height than they should be. It might be Aizen doing it.

[Silhouette]

Anybody thought of the possibility that the one of the silhouettes could belong Shinji? Wasn't he and the vizards kicked out of SS for using "forbidden techniques" to acquire hollow powers?

Anyway, I will go along with the poll and talk about Aizen and Urahara, although I haven't made up my mind because either one can be behind the disappearance of Raukongai citizens.
Reason why It could be Urahara
1-The experiment we saw looked like a hollow transformation and there is a talk about a prototype which most likely means its Urahara and the Hougyoku.
2-Urahara didn't mind releasing shinigamis deemed to be "dangerous to other shinigammis" like Mayuri. This experiment made Rukongai citizens disappear which exactly the type of experiment that Mayuri is needed for
3-Experimenting at citizens who are not deemed as enemies of SS at the cost of their life is probably why Urahara was kicked out of SS. After all, Mayuri was just following orders from his captain not the real the culprit.

Reasons why it could be Aizen
1- No captain coat was seen in the shot of the legs on page 2
2-The silhouette belonging to a smaller shinigami is most likely Gins because although it's possible, it hard to see Urahara trusting Hiyori who doesn't trust him not to mention her immature, fiery character.
3-Aizen did conduct many experiments when he was in SS

[KyanWan]

My guesses are:

Mayuri is somehow responsible in part.

Urahura gives him the idea. Urahura couldn't bring himself to start killing comrades & innocent bystanders.

Mayuri has already PROVEN himself capable of KILLING his comrades. ( Ref: Ishida VS Mayuri. Exploding shinigami. )

He's done the same to Nemu - his own "daughter".

Urahura knows Mayuri's got the balls, and lacks the conscience to do whatever needs to be done. There's a reason why he was locked up. Urahura knows it.

There's also a reason while Mayuri's still out of the maggot's nest - and it most likely has EVERYTHING to do with what's going on with the Hyogokyou & Arrancar. He's probably one of the most knowledgeable people on the whole matter. As weak as he is - he killed Szayel... even with that brutal power that he had. He knows things ....

---

I don't think Aizen's downright "evil" atm. I think he changed somewhere along the way. That's my guess.

I think he's an opportunist. Once he finds out what's going on ... he's going to go all out to take his place at the top. I think He's like a cop who looks at a pile of drugs & cash in the evidence room - and decides to himself: "Ya know, I'm not getting paid enough .... " He also doesn't mind using a person when he sees someone who may come in handy. ( Gin, Hinamori, Tosen, even Orihime [ You get some real insight as to how he works with Orihime. I don't think she really bit much, though. ] )

( My $0.02. )

[Silhouette]

It was very nice to see more of Kensei and especially a new dynamic to his relationships with his interactions with Mashiro to add to his character. (We have seen a somewhat similar combative relationship between Shinji and Hiyori, but unlike that one, we have not seen this relationship between Kensei and Mashiro in the present.)

Your post reminded me of previous chapters when Kensei didn't want to believe that Mashiro was able to hold her mask for 15 hours the first time she pulled it, I guess I can now see why he was pissed when someone confirmed that she did ^^
One more thing, to slice up a hollow that big with one strike when other shinigamis delivered several hits without killing him off is consistent with how Kensei cut hallowfied-Ichigo's arm off (even though he used Kido then).

Kensei is so badass, I really like him more now and hope to see more of him in the future.

[Freeloadersan]

I have a feeling that the shadowy figures are (from left to right) Gin, Aizen and a unrevealed traitor.

First guy has a Gin-like build

Neither of the two people you see have Captain's robe or geta.

Why keep them shadowy unless one is a surprise?

I mean if it was Urahara and Co. no one would be shocked by it since we know he's gonna be doing weird experiments at this time. Likewise, if it was Aizen, Gin, and Tousen no one would be surprised by that either. So at least one guy there has to be a surprise imo.

[Hockeychaoz]

My guesses are:

Mayuri is somehow responsible in part.

Urahura gives him the idea. Urahura couldn't bring himself to start killing comrades & innocent bystanders.

Mayuri has already PROVEN himself capable of KILLING his comrades. ( Ref: Ishida VS Mayuri. Exploding shinigami. )

He's done the same to Nemu - his own "daughter".

Urahura knows Mayuri's got the balls, and lacks the conscience to do whatever needs to be done. There's a reason why he was locked up. Urahura knows it.

There's also a reason while Mayuri's still out of the maggot's nest - and it most likely has EVERYTHING to do with what's going on with the Hyogokyou & Arrancar. He's probably one of the most knowledgeable people on the whole matter. As weak as he is - he killed Szayel... even with that brutal power that he had. He knows things ....

---

I don't think Aizen's downright "evil" atm. I think he changed somewhere along the way. That's my guess.

I think he's an opportunist. Once he finds out what's going on ... he's going to go all out to take his place at the top. I think He's like a cop who looks at a pile of drugs & cash in the evidence room - and decides to himself: "Ya know, I'm not getting paid enough .... " He also doesn't mind using a person when he sees someone who may come in handy. ( Gin, Hinamori, Tosen, even Orihime [ You get some real insight as to how he works with Orihime. I don't think she really bit much, though. ] )

( My $0.02. )

I don't really think Mayuri is weak. He beat 8th Espada without an injury.
It's unfair to say that he's weak based on 2 fights. 1 uber loss, and 1 uber victory.

[someguy0830]

Mayuri won because he cheated, just like Syazel won because he cheated. Both of them studied their opponent's tricks beforehand. Syazel just got the short end of the stick by trying to be a perfectionist.

Likewise, Mayuri lost to Uryu because he didn't study all the tricks. Lack of knowledge got him beat down, and he would have actually won by proxy had Nemu not cured Uryu.

[seth.vicious]

"cannot contain the prototype..."

sounds more like the hougoky to me really...
but i am going to agree that the shadows and figures do not remind Urahara and co.
Can someone tell me what is the round thing in front of them?
Nice to see Kensei being such a badass

[Koen]

I can't say why or who but imo it's too obvious for the three being aizen and co or urahara and co

I think it might be three people of the vaizards

[Freeloadersan]

I think you're right the middle one is Love and that is his afro there jk.