Things are about to get interesting

Kenpachi and Kyōraku are such cool captains, it was fun to finally meet them. To be honest, they were probably the only part of this volume that I was really interested in. Despite the glimpses of him I'd seen before starting Bleach, Kenpachi is actually a lot more powerful than I expected. I'm eager to see him fight Ichigo next!

*4.5

Zaraki

Another good volume. Being introduced to more of the captains was nice because I wondered how powerful they were and they’re definitely not a joke. Curious to see how the whole rescue mission goes because right now it’s not looking good for my people

"Bleach, Volume 12" is an exhilarating addition to Tite Kubo's iconic series, delivering the perfect blend of action, emotion, and character development that I love. This volume focuses heavily on Chad (a favourite of mine), whose quiet strength and unwavering loyalty finally get a well-deserved spotlight.

Chad's development in this volume is particularly compelling. Chad reveals a deeper emotional layer, showing us the lengths he is willing to go to protect his friends. Watching him tap into his own spiritual powers to fight with everything he's got is thrilling and adds a new dimension to his character that I absolutely loved.

Beyond Chad's arc, Volume 12 continues to expand on the richly diverse cast of characters that make Bleach so engaging. Each character, whether protagonist or antagonist, adds a unique flavor to the story. Ichigo's relentless pursuit to save Rukia grows more intense with every turn of the page, while Orihime, Uryu, and the rest of the crew get their moments to shine as well.

"You are Ichigo Kurosaki, are you not?"
"How do you know my name? Who are you?"
"Oh. Didn't Ikkaku tell you? I am Kenpachi Zaraki, Captain of Eleventh Company. I am here to kill you or die."


I did not expect to see Zaraki so soon! I knew that it was coming, but I thought that this volume will focus on the Aizen case more than the fights. I am pleasantly surprised that it has the same great balance that the anime has: the going back and forth between the case of the intruders and the murder mystery case. We have time for everything and we love to see it! ;)

Because Zaraki is (finally) here, Ichigo, Ganju and Hanataro (especially Ichigo) find themselves in a great danger. Zaraki is known for his tremendous spiritual energy and, as Hanataro says, no matter how many times he is cut, he'll never fall. How can you fight someone who is impossible to hurt? It seems like Ichigo's fate is already decided and there is no escape. Despite that, he bravely stands against the powerful Captain and orders his friends to run away.

The Ichigo and Ganju relationship.

"Ichigo came to the Soul Society to save this girl Rukia! If he could, he'd save her himself! But he's handed it over to us and stayed behind. Ichigo's risking his life to buy us the time we need to rescue Rukia. You understand, Hanataro?! He's untrusted us with the most important job of all! That's why we have to save the girl - whatever it takes! If we don't keep going, we'll be throwing away everything Ichigo's been fighting for!" - INSTANT TEARS

Do you believe that all of these words come from a guy that a couple of chapters ago was Ichigo's opponent? I love the Ichigo/Ganju/Hanataro dynamic (it's a shame that it's only seen in the Soul Society arc), but the Ichigo and Ganju relationship is even more special to me. These two started out as opponents, who were ready to beat each other down and disagreed with everything, but ended up being not only companions, but best of friends who deeply cared about one another. It was so sweet to see Ganju being worried about Ichigo and being ready to do no matter what to save the girl Ichigo cared for.

Ichigo, Chad and their promise.

"Why did you come here?"
"My purpose is to save Rukia Kuchiki."
"Rukia? She went missing in your world only in Spring. You couldn't have known her for very long. A thin friendship. Hard to believe it's worth risking your life for."
"You're right. I hardly know her. Maybe I wouldn't risk my life for her. But Ichigo wants to save her. He's putting his life on the line. That's a reason enough for me to do the same. That's all the reason I need."

DO YOU HEAR ME CRYING? BECAUSE YOU SHOULD. I'M BAWLING MY EYES OUT.

Can you sincerely say that you have a friend who would do something like this for you? Or would you do something like this for your friend? This is something so incredibly precious that I can barely stand it. How much Chad has to care for Ichigo to put his life on the line without a second thought just because he knew that Ichigo will need help? It's something truly beyond words. I wish everyone to find themselves around people like Chad.

"Okay... How about this, Chad? You won't have to hit people on your own account anymore. But in return you have to hit people to help me. I'll fight for you, and you'll fight for me. If there's something you want to protect with your life, I'll protect it with mine."

That Ichigo/Chad flashback broke me. It didn't have the same impact on me when I watched the anime, but here... I don't know, it really hit me hard how big of a bond Ichigo and Chad have. Ichigo's words are so incredibly beautiful - I wish to say something like this to someone (and truly mean it, of course). I wish to care for someone so much like these two care for one another. So, so precious!

Some other thoughts I need to share:

~ I love Byakuya, but his version from the Soul Society arc is such a douchebag. His behavior towards both Renji and Rukia is unacceptable. You can say that maybe he tried to protect Renji when he agreed to put him on a cell, but c'mon, he nearly killed him later on when they fought against one another. He was an asshole back then and that's that (but he realized it, luckily)

~ THE HOLLOW MASK! IT'S COMING!!

~ it's truly funny to me that Gin is doing a bare minimum and people are still suspicious of him :D

~ I truly hate the fact that Ichigo was bullied (because of his hair). He learned how to defend himself and defended others (like Chad and his sisters), but no one, absolutely no one should going through things like this just because he looks different than others.

~ I KNEW THAT THE SPECIAL NUTRITIONAL FORTIFICATION PILL IS A PRANK, I KNEW IT! Poor baby Hanataro!

~ MATSUMOTO!

This man has been actually introduced in Book 10, though I’m not really paying attention to him since I don’t consider him to be a problem/threat for our Ryoka (that’s the term this Soul Society bunch use to identify Ichigo and team, literally meaning Travelling Evil(s), and use for those not aligned with Soul Society either allies, rebels, intruders, deserters, or invaders. I will use this term hereafter.) Compared to the bloodthirsty and cold-blooded captains that have been introduced so far, he seems to be the most sensible captain, busying himself by considering the possibility of conspiracy behind Rukia’s planned execution, while others busying themselves with trying to kill the Ryoka. His gracing the cover means he might play an important role in this book. So let’s see to what extent he will surprise us, shall we?

n  FLOWER ON THE PRECIPICEn

Soul Society starts to realize the severity of this Ryoka’s invasion. Reports after reports announce the impossible: the whole squad wiped out, 3rd and 4th seat officers defeated, and shockingly, the Lieutenant of 5th Division, Renji Abarai, bested. Worse, a Captain is just found gruesomely killed! Is it the Ryoka too? Or does Soul Society have another foe among them? Whatever the case, it is enough to put Soul Society in turmoil. However, this state of high alert doesn’t make the Ryoka’s mission any easier since now all Captains set their eyes on them, and the gap in power between Lieutenant and Captain is not something to be underestimated…

Well, with the hostility shown by the captains towards each other, I’m not surprised to find one of them dead, and who will be the perfect victim if not the most peaceful-looking one? One thing for sure, it’s definitely not the Ryoka, because they have only had their first encounters with the captains (Finally! Isn’t that what we are waiting for?) and well… their chance of survival is almost none. And the captains are just warming up!

If you pay any attention to what Ishida had told us in that silly battle between the last Quincy and Shinigami, you will remember that people with a keen sense can feel others’ spiritual presence and tell whether the others are safe or not -- which is a much more useful ability than any tracking devices. This book tells us more that spiritual pressure, as the name implies, can actually ‘pressure’ others, giving the impression of someone holding a sword against their necks or someone stabbing them through the heart, so much that those with weaker spiritual pressure may get too stunned and overwhelmed by the pressure.

Do not expect too much of light entertainment because the situation demands all of the characters to be deadly serious, though it seems this rule doesn’t really apply to Hanatarō and his special nutritional fortification pill that doesn’t give any visible effect on him as well as the Captain of 8th Division, who wants to make a good first appearance but fails to ask his lieutenant to play the part. Amidst the chaos, we will also get the glimpse into the past where Ichigo bizarrely befriends Sado, Mizuiro, and Keigo.

n  MEET THE MAIN CHARACTERSn

n  Ichigo Kurosakin

n  

“Alright, let’s do this, Chad. You keep doing your thing and don’t fight for yourself. But fight for me. And I will fight for you. If you put your life on the line to protect something, then I’ll put my life on the line to protect it, too.”

n

I still cannot fathom why those gangster-looking youths who don’t really look like high schoolers at all get angry at Ichigo just because he has orange hair. I mean, Orihime does, too! Having orange hair, I mean. But anyway, I do understand now why Kubo Tite creates Sado as he is, because if he doesn’t, there is only a small chance that Ichigo and Sado will bond with each other so strongly. Ichigo himself, the only Shinigami in the group and the one who admits to be the strongest of the group, puts quite a trust on Sado to be able to survive it all better than the others.

n  Sado Yasutoran

n  

“True. I don’t know much about her. I may not know her enough to give up my life to save her. However, Ichigo wants to save her. Ichigo went all out for her, and that’s enough. That’s all the reason I need to put my life on the line for anything.”

n

Okay. There is too many evidence for me to doubt that he is, after all, a strong ally. Not only he is capable of wiping at least a half of the supposed-to-be strongest division, he can also bend a zanpakutō with his palm! Not to mention his steely body. It is too bad that he should meet one of the captains.

n  Byakuya Kuchikin

n  

“I don’t want an idiot that can’t even understand this. He’s just getting in the way, hurry and move him somewhere else.”

n

He can’t be more heartless, can he? His lieutenant is badly injured and his best advice is to throw him into jail?! Not only that, he wants to demote him, too. Thanks to the other captains who argue against it.

n  Ganju Shiban

n  

“How can you be okay if a punch like that can take you down? Lay down like a good boy until your wounds are healed.”

n

I get to like him more and more. He might claim that he joins Ichigo only for his personal gain, but now here he is, caring and making sure that Ichigo is okay. What’s more, when a formidable opponent is in their way, he is willingly continue the mission to save Rukia per Ichigo’s request. He even promises to himself that he will be back for him and silently wishes Ichigo not to die. A beautiful friendship is about to bloom here!

n  Kenpachi Zarakin

n  

“Killing and being killed. They are just way to pass the time.”

n

My first thought when knowing his full name is ‘what a cute name for someone so scary’, though it seems the name is actually a nickname whose meaning is far from cute. It is given to those who have slain the most enemies and won the most battles, meaning that he will never fall no matter how many times he is cut. But it seems Zaraki takes the meaning quite literally since he cannot really be cut by the same blade Ichigo has managed to cut Ikkaku and even Renji. The gap between them is that far?! How can Ichigo win against such a perfect killing machine?

n  Hanatarō Yamadan

n  

“The other Shinigamis can only use their power when they’re fighting. But we, the fourth division, have healing powers. Although this is the only skill we know.”

n

I think he should not be too modest about this particular ability. It’s a great one! He tells us that there is something wrong with Ichigo, or at least, something is not right. Well, nothing can be right coming from a Hollow mask, am I wrong? Even though the said mask is presumably protects Ichigo from a possibly deeper and more severe wound.

n  Shunsui Kyōrakun

n  

"I am Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of the 8th Division. Pleased to meet you."

n

A captain with a flamboyant style and personality, though the latter shows a softer side compared to the other menacing captains. Even so, it is clear that he is a very obedient soldier. So much that he puts aside his unwillingness to fight the Ryoka. He is the first Shinigami revealed to possess not only one but two zanpakutō!

n  Izuru Kiran

n  

“I am the Vice-Captain of the 3rd division! I don’t care what your reason is. I cannot allow you to point your sword at my captain!”

n

Another obedient soldier, in a very good way. The one who knows how to differentiate between personal feelings and official business. It’s too bad that he should be restrained, too, for preventing that stupid Hinamori from attacking his captain. Well, he only defends himself and his captain! But, given how Hitsugaya seems to have a special tie with that stupid girl, it is clear that Kira is a victim of unfair punishment based on personal feelings.

n  Tōshirō Hitsugayan

n  

“I’m here to give you some advice. You have to watch out for the third division.”

n

I’m quite surprised to see this boy among the ranks of the captains. He must have a tremendous power to get that position. BUT! Despite his icy stare, I can’t help thinking that, like his physical body, he is not emotionally mature to hold that position. You do not give an advice, you put suspicion into the head of the emotionally unstable girl. He even threatens to kill a fellow Captain if the said Captain makes Hinamori ‘shed even one drop of blood’. What a bad joke.

n  Momo Hinamorin

n  

“I’m so lucky to serve under you, Captain Aizen…”

n

Another incompetent soldier who loves to mix personal feelings and official business. She is the first female lieutenant to be introduced in this series, but honestly, my first impression of her is… meh. Not only she looks childish, she behaves like a child, too. She almost cries when she admits to her fellow lieutenants her being desperate of not knowing what is wrong with her captain. It is crystal clear she develops an amorous feeling toward her Captain, which I am pretty sure is looked down upon in the whole division, and she lets that feeling blinds her. Are the other members of her division so pathetic that they should have her as the lieutenant?

n  Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoton

n  

“All higher officials, including vice-captains, must have their zanpakutō at all times, and you are allowed to fight with everything you’ve got in the battles!”

n

The leader of the whole Gotei 13. He looks like a frail maybe-a-thousand-year old man. Actually it’s not the first book he makes his appearance, but I haven’t concluded him in this list yet. My bad. I guess because his appearances take a very short time instead compared to his subordinates and as I have said, it’s difficult to really know a character only from those brief moments. But to think that we will get know him better soon seems impossible since I believe someone like him will not directly intervene unless the others are dead.

n  THE MORAL VALUES OF THE STORYn

News hunters will never run out of hot and scandalous news here in Seireitei! All the drama!

As Kira said, never ever let personal feelings cloud your judgment… or, in this case, make you really stupid as to attack someone whose power and authority is clearly above yours, regardless whether that particular someone is right or wrong.

In my humble opinion, if you like one vol. of Bleach, you're gonna like 'em all.

OK, What?!

I didn't expect that. Actually I didn't expect a lot of what happens in this volume. Kubo just kicked things up to 11. I'm at the point where I can't read fast enough. That cliffhanger!

I'm reading the next volume first thing today.

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4.5