"Anyway, you don't have a choice. A Vizard can't go back once the symptoms appear. Whether you like it or not, you're already on our side, Ichigo. Orihime, that big guy, the one with the glasses, the Soul Reapers... you think they're your friends? Sorry. Their friendship is temporary. If you continue to be a Soul Reaper, you'll eventually be swallowed by your inner Hollow and go insane. If that happens, you're finished. Your power will destroy everything." [Shinji]
With Volume 22 (and Ulquiorra on the cover) we officially start the Arrancar Saga. We are informed that a new kind of hollows are appearing - with a level of development far beyond any Arrancar that have been seen before. With three of the captains gone from the Soul Society, the Soul Reapers seem to already be in a huge disadvantage, and the existence of new, powerful Hollows makes the situation even worse.
Meanwhile, Ichigo is struggling with his own problem. His inner Hollow is calling for him louder and louder, and Ichigo doesn't know how to control him. Shinji's words about the Vizards group comes back to him over and over again, and it seems like the teenager can't focus on anything else. One of his friends, Uryuu Ishida, has a problem on his own. After his father's proposition (and ultimatum), he needs to make a choice. Either he will choose to remain the way he is (without his Quincy powers) or he will start training with his father, but not without a price. Ryouken demanded of him to stop keeping contacts with the Soul Reapers, which means, with Ichigo as well.
Both Ichigo and Ishida are making their choices. Ichigo refuses to join the Vizards, while Ishida agrees to train with his father.
And this is the moment when two of Arrancars decided to show up and bring some chaos to the Karakura Town. They leave eventually, but not without any casualties. It's bad, and Ichigo falls into the deep hole of the self-blame.
There is only one person that could help in this kind of situation. Rukia Kuchiki.
After kicking Ichigo back into shape, the team (yes, the team!) is trying to get the facts straight and formulate a plan. Who knows when another attack is gonna take place, everyone needs to be prepared. But how to fight an enemy as powerful as a Soul Reaper captain? Can anyone have a chance? And what about Ichigo's inner Hollow, will he still bring trouble to Ichigo? We will see in the next volume! ;)
Some of my thoughts while reading:
~ "Hollows do what Hollows do." - it seems like Isshin never blamed Grand Fisher for Masaki's death. Does it mean that he blames a certain someone or...? 🤨
~ HIYORI'S FIRST INTRODUCTION! 🥰
~ AKON ALSO SHOWED UP!
~ Both Chad's and Orihime's injuries looked way more serious in the manga than in the anime. It looked horrible. If I didn't know better, I would assume that Chad died 😨
~ Why the hell did Orihime sacrifice Tsubaki? She already did it once and it ended up badly, and she did it again! And now he's gone! Good job, girl! 😐
~ When I'm in the Orihime topic, WHY WAS SHE JUST STANDING THERE WHILE ICHIGO WAS PREPARING FOR A FIGHT, GIRL, DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?! She only stood back when Ichigo told her to! 🙄 (it's not the first time and it's not gonna be the last time, sadly)
~ Ichigo was so powerful and so cool for a couple of seconds and it was so amazing to see (until White tried to get control)! 🤩
~ Yoruichi threw Yammy away like he weighted nothing, how strong is this woman 😳
~ Orihime admitted that she got injured because she didn't listen to Ichigo, but Ichigo still felt guilty and had to apologize, because of course 😩
~ Ichigo, you're not Oliver Queen, stop blaming yourself for everything, I beg you, love! 🥺
~ THE SOUL SOCIETY DELEGATION IN ICHIGO'S ROOM 😂
~ Hitsugaya's 'I'm so done with all of you/ why am I here' face is priceless 😂
~ How didn't Hiysugaya see Isshin and go 'WAIT A MINUTE'? JUST HOW?? 🤨
~ The fact that it was Rukia, who had to step in for Ichigo to go back to his old self, tells everything you need to know about these two characters. I LOVE the way she handled the difficult situation. It was the only thing that could get Ichigo out of his slump and I'm happy that she succeeded. It was so hard to watch Ichigo being lost and depressed 😔
~ Rukia getting irritated every time Ichigo doesn't appreciate her drawings - priceless 😂
~ The fact that the SS delegation came to Ichigo's room through the attic, except for Hitsugaya who just sat by the window 😆
~ "Were you waiting outside all this time for somebody to open a window?" - Renji to Hitsugaya, help 🤣
~ Ikkaku saying to Renji to just chill and ignore the students' comments, but then getting irritated himself when hearing a word "baldy" 😂