Bleach Portal

Episode 24 - Assemble! The 13 Divisions!

Kuukaku instructs Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko to “raise it up”, and they start turning a pulley system vigorously. The platform on which Kuukaku, Ganju and the rest are standing is slowly raised up until it is on ground level, the outer layer of the chimney, including the seal at the top, breaking off and the ceiling opening. Kuukaku proudly tells them that this is Shiba Kuukaku’s own personal giant fireworks platform, and Ganju appears in front of her with his fist raised in the air and a large grin on his face, adding that it is called the Kakaku Cannon. Kuukaku had meant to say that herself and so kicks Ganju down and scolds him. Ishida says that it is insane to try and shoot them into the Seireitei with that, but he is interrupted by Kuukaku, who throws a blue ball at him that smashes his face and lands in Ichigo’s hands. She tells him that it is a spirit orb, and instructs him to put a hand on it and put in some spirit power. Ichigo tries, but fails, and asks Kuukaku how to put spirit power in. Kuukaku is surprised he doesn’t know, and shows him how by creating a large orb in her hand with spirit power, saying that as a Shinigami, he should know demon magic.

Yoruichi reminds Kuukaku that Ichigo had “suddenly” become a Shinigami, and hence, knows no demon magic. Kuukaku is slightly annoyed, and asks Ganju to show him how. Ganju does so, but not before Ichigo refuses to give him the orb and taunts him, resulting in Kuukaku having to beat them up. Ishida, Chad, Orihime and Ichigo watch as an orb forms around Ganju, which Kuukaku says is the cannon ball. From her knocking on it, we can tell it is very hard. She explains that contrary to common belief that the gates are the Seireitei’s only protection; the walls are actually made of a very rare mineral called Bloodthirst Stone. She shows them a piece and puts it on the floor, then hits it. When she lifts her hand, however, a “moat” has been formed around where the stone lies – the mineral totally blocks out spirit power. Therefore, opening a hole in the wall with spirit power is impossible. Picking up the stone and seeing the platform it was on crumble, she adds that it also puts out waves that dissolve spirit power from its edges. In other words, the Seireitei has a spherical barrier around it from up in the sky to deep in the ground. Ganju is getting tired, but she tells him to deal with it as she continues, saying that the spirit orb is the special hardening spirit-barrier generating device she developed, so if all of them put their spirit power into the orb, they could create a cannon ball that can momentarily punch through the barrier. So, taking that orb and firing it up with her Kakaku cannon and dropping it inside the barrier will be easy.

Ignoring Ichigo’s questions, she tells them to go to the underground practice hall and practice how to concentrate their spirit power. Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko start muttering repeatedly about practicing as they pick up Ishida, Orihime, Chad and Ichigo and carry them back to the house. Kuukaku warns them that if at any time one loses their concentration, they’ll go boom. She praises Ganju, asking him to go down and practice with them too. Ganju hesitates, asking if they are really going to help those people, one of whom is a Shinigami. Ganju says that he wouldn’t know what to say to their brother, and starts to say more, but is cut off sharply by Kuukaku, who reminds him that she told him not to talk about that again. He has no choice but to go down and train with them, after Kuukaku tells him never to show them that pitiful expression.

Renji pulls on his adjutant armband, commenting that it’s his first time wearing it. The Shinigami who is walking with him, the 7th Division Lieutenant, Iba, says that it is his first time too since it was made mandatory. They (all lieutenants) have been ordered to standby in Deputy Official Chamber 2. They reach the room and open the door. Someone is already there waiting, the 5th Division Lieutenant, Hinamori, who greets them. The 10th Division Lieutenant, Rangiku, walks up behind them and says that the reason why Hinamori and themselves are the only ones here, is because all the lieutenants are always scattered all over Soul Society like busy little bees, and it’ll probably take half a day for them to gather. She complains about not being able to contact her captain either, and Renji asks Iba who the 10th Division Captain is. Iba replies that it is the “Hitsugaya-kid”, Renji giving a bored look as he comments that she has it rough with the boy-genius as her captain. Hinamori asks him if he has seen Aizen, but he lies that he hasn’t. Hinamori hangs her head as she says that he has been acting weirdly lately, but will not tell her anything, and she does not know what to do. Renji stands beside her and tells her not to worry as nothing’s wrong and the summons will probably be rescinded soon.

In Kuukaku’s practice room, Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko are going mad trying to show Ichigo how it should be done, failing miserably each time. Kuukaku is sitting on the fireworks platform, and pours out two cups of tea. She apologizes to her brother, saying that she is helping the Shinigami and his friends, just like the Shinigamis that killed him. She says that if he were alive and saw her not helping them, he would have been livid – he who loved Shinigami and died as one.

Orihime tries out the spirit orb, succeeding in creating a nice orb around herself and earning the praises of Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko. Ishida tries it out too, creating a pod-shape barrier around himself, Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko saying that it’s a little narrow, but has shape. Shiroganehiko adds that the narrowness might be due to some personality disorder. Chad also succeeds in creating an orb around himself, but as Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko say, it’s unstable but powerful. Ichigo tries again, failing once more and earning instead the taunts of Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko, who say that he has no talent. They, in turn, get beat up by Ichigo as Ganju sits in a corner digging his nose.

Ichigo is still trying much later, but still having no luck. The door opens and one of Ganju’s fellow boar-riders (the one with the alarm clock) informs them that dinner is ready. Ganju relays the message to the rest, saying that in Rukongai you wouldn’t get food as spirit-power-less people don’t need food. Ichigo tells them to go ahead and eat, as he will join them later when he succeeds. Chad and Ishida start to walk out, but Orihime says that she’s still okay and not hungry. Her stomach says otherwise, letting out a long and loud growl. Orihime says that she was just kidding, she’s only a little hungry, but Ichigo tells her to go eat and not to be worried about him. She listens to him and goes to eat dinner with Ishida and Chad. Ganju watches nonchalantly as Ichigo tries again, this time making a barrier, but one that isn’t spherical.

Ganju picks up the spirit orb and asks Ichigo if the Shinigami he’s about to go save is that important. Ichigo snatches the orb back, saying that she isn’t that important, puzzling Ganju, who then asks if he had made a promise to save her. When Ichigo says that it is not the case, Ganju concludes that she must have offered him money to save her. Ichigo argues that he couldn’t use money from here in the real world anyways, and says that he owes her for saving his life and that of his family – people she had just met, by giving him her powers. Because of that, she had gotten arrested and is now awaiting execution. He says that he isn’t going to be a worthless guy that sits by and lets her die. Ganju snatches the orb back, saying that he, too, is going to practice, and Ichigo better shut his ears because he’s going to review the trick he thought up himself.

Imagine. Draw a circle in your mind, as dark and heavy a color as possible, then imagine yourself throwing your whole body towards the center. Forming the barrier around himself, he adds that that is the basics for all demon magic. Ichigo watches at Ganju removes the barrier and says that it’s very easy, throwing the orb back at Ichigo. He then walks out, slamming the door behind him, leaving Ichigo to try out the trick by himself. Ichigo comments to himself about Ganju’s cheesy acting, then determinedly tries out Ganju’s tactic. In a room where two scrolls, one saying “the weak are meat” and the other saying “the strong eat”, hang, Ishida and Chad have just finished their meals. Orihime has barely touched her food, if at all, and she says that she’s already full. Her stomach defies her once more, letting out another of its long and loud sirens. To the surprise of Ishida and Chad, she starts punching her stomach, saying that she is full. Chad and Ishida tell her that she didn’t have to do that, they’d just pretend they didn’t hear it. Orihime admits that she was actually thinking of taking some down to Ichigo, and Ishida starts to say something about him just as a loud boom is heard and the house suffers violent tremors, the Great Arms of Kuukaku about to fall, to the disarray of Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko.

Orihime’s soup has spilled over as she says that it is Ichigo. Kuukaku runs over to Ganju, who is sitting on the floor overwhelmed by Ichigo’s power. He apologizes to her for just showing him how to do it once – he hadn’t expected such a result. She opens the door to see Ichigo floating in the air with the spirit orb, and she yells at him to solidify his spirit power. He does so, finally succeeding in creating the spherical barrier. He rejoices at his success, as does Orihime, but the joy is short-lived as he loses concentration and the barrier starts to crack and break. Kuukaku chides him for losing his concentration, asking if she had not warned him against doing so. She also punches Ganju, whom she says is equally at fault. She tells them that neither will have dinner.

Ichimaru Gin arrives at the 1st Division Headquarters and the doors start to swing open slowly, revealing the 11 Division Captains inside. Ichimaru steps inside, asking if all the captains that run Soul Society have gathered from all around just for lil’ ol’ him. Noticing that the 13th Division Captain is missing, he asks after him, receiving a reply from a dark-skinned captain, who says that he is on sick leave. Ichimaru says that he hopes he gets well. Zaraki Kenpachi (11th Division) asks him if he thinks he has been called here for that. He curses Ichimaru for going off and playing with some Ryoka on his own, not to mention the fact that he didn’t finish him off. Someone with his skills shouldn’t break a sweat over 4-5 Ryoka, so what the hell’s up with him? Ichimaru says that he was sure they were dead, and says that he supposes his intuition has gotten dull. Kurotsuchi Mayuri (12th) laughs and tells him to drop the act – there is no way someone of captain-class wouldn’t be able to sense if an opponent’s pulse has disappeared. Hitsugaya Toushirou (10th) looks away and says that it is yet another stupid fight between stupid old men. Ichimaru says that it sounds as though Kurotsuchi is accusing him of doing so on purpose, and the latter replies that that is correct. Zaraki tells him to shut up, saying that he is talking to Ichimaru right now, or does he want him to kill him?

The Commander (1st Division Captain rules over all the other 12 divisions), Yamamoto Genryuusai grits his teeth and says that it is so shameful, and tells the rest that the exchange will explain the reason why they have been called here. Ichimaru’s recent independent actions, and his letting the targets escape need an explanation. Ichimaru replies that he has no explanation – it was just his absent-minded mistake, and he will take any punishment. Aizen steps out saying that he wants to ask Ichimaru something. Just then, there is an emergency alert about intruders in the Seireitei, calling for all divisions to take defensive positions. Ichimaru merely smiles.

Rukia, in the Shrine of Penitence, whispers one word: “Ichigo.”

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