Previous: Rukia Kuchiki vs. Di Roy Rinker Concurrent: Ikkaku Madarame vs. Edrad Liones Renji Abarai vs. Yylfordt Granz Rangiku Matsumoto vs. Nakeem Grindina Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez Next: Visored Training Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Shawlong Koufang Conflict: Arrancar Invasion Date: September 7 Place: Human World, Karakura Town Outcome: Tōshirō Hitsugaya is victorious. Combatants Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya Shawlong Kūfang † Powers & Abilities Zanjutsu Zanpakutō (shikai, bankai) Shunpo Swordsmanship Zanpakutō (Resurrección) Sonído Damage Sustained/Casualties Hitsugaya grievously injured. Shawlong is killed.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya vs. Shawlong Koufang is a battle during The Cold War, which takes place in Karakura Town, between Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya of the 10th Division and Shawlong Koufang.

Prelude

After Ulquiorra Cifer and Yammy Llargo attack Karakura Town, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and a couple of other Shinigami are assigned to defend the town from the Arrancar.^[1] Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez decides to go to Karakura Town with his Fracción because of Ulquiorra's failure to kill Ichigo Kurosaki. When they get there, Shawlong Kūfang tells Grimmjow there are more opponents now who were not mentioned by Ulquiorra. Grimmjow tells his Fraccion to use Pesquisa to find an opponent to battle.^[2] Once they all find an opponent to battle, they all head out to their destination.^[3] Shawlong and Nakeem Grindina decide to head over to where Hitsugaya and Rangiku Matsumoto are. When they reach their destination, Shawlong asks Hitsugaya how he is.^[4]

Battle

As Shawlong swings his sword at Hitsugaya, he blocks the blow with his Zanpakutō. Shawlong introduces himself as Arrancar 11, and Hitsugaya introduces himself as the Tenth Division Captain of the Gotei 13. As the two of them form a distance between each other, Shawlong tells him he has hit the jackpot to be fighting a captain, and Hitsugaya counters by telling him he is incredibly unlucky to fight him.^[5]

In the middle of battling, Shawlong notes Di Roy Rinker was killed by someone.^[6] Shawlong easily fends Hitsugaya off, even while he is using his Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru.^[7] Shawlong tells him he is disappointed this is all there is to a Captain's Bankai, and he was completely wrong about him.^[8] When he is distracted by Yylfordt Granz going into his Resurrección, Hitsugaya uses this opportunity to attack him. As Shawlong easily blocks his attack, Hitsugaya uses Hyōrinmaru's tail to sneak attack him from behind. Shawlong, easily blocking this as well, tells him it is disappointing for him to have risked his life by using his tail, yet still accomplished nothing. Shawlong, taking note of the disappearing ice petals behind Hitsugaya's Bankai, speculates it is a time limit for how long he can stay in Bankai, mocking Hitsugaya by claiming his Bankai being incomplete is painfully obvious and it is going to be disappointing when it disappears, and decides that while Hitsugaya is still in his Bankai, he will defeat him with his greatest fighting ability.^[9]

Shawlong goes into his Resurrección, Tijereta, and immediately uses his newly formed claws to inflict a devastating blow across Hitsugaya's entire body. Deciding to fully introduce himself, he states it was a pleasure to meet him.^[10] Shawlong, turning around, claws into the back of Hitsugaya's Bankai, damaging him further. As Hitsugaya stands up to fight, Shawlong congratulates him on being brave enough not to run away, despite the huge difference in power. Hitsugaya, deciding to change the subject, asks Shawlong if, because he is Arrancar 11, he is the eleventh strongest Arrancar in existence. Shawlong, correcting him, states the numbers simply indicate the order of their birth, but this only applies to any Arrancar with a number higher than 10. He reveals that, with the Hōgyoku, they were changed from Hollow to Arrancar, and any who were strong enough would be given a number 1-10, with 1 being the strongest. Shawlong states any Arrancar who is in that number group is called an Espada, and they have their number tattooed into their very flesh. They rule over any Arrancar with the number 11 or above, and Shawlong tells Hitsugaya the Espada are far stronger than a Números, like him. Ending his explanation, he states an Espada came with them to Karakura Town, and his name is Grimmjow, the 6th Espada.^[11]

Rangiku, yelling at Hitsugaya, tells him the limiter has been removed. As Shawlong is confused by this, Hitsugaya yells out "limit release".^[12] As Shawlong asks Hitsugaya what a limit release is, his right arm becomes frozen. Hitsugaya explains a limit release is a process applied to captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13 to prevent unnecessary ripples in the balance of the Human World. The symbols of their respective divisions are placed on them to seal 80% of their reiatsu, and after removing them, their power becomes 5 times greater.^[13] Hitsugaya, telling Shawlong it is over, uses Ryūsenka. As Shawlong attempts to retreat, Hitsugaya, catching up to him, stabs him, causing Shawlong to turn into a huge petal of ice. The ice shatters, killing Shawlong.^[14]

Aftermath

Hitsugaya falls onto the rooftop below, heavily injured, and Rangiku calls for Orihime Inoue to come and heal him^[15] which she does immediately.^[16]

References

1. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 195, pages 14-15
2. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 199, pages 14-19
3. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 200, pages 5-7
4. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 200, page 13
5. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 200, pages 14-15
6. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 202, page 9
7. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 206, page 25
8. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 207, pages 3-4
9. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 208, pages 7-15
10. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 208, pages 16-19
11. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 209, pages 1-6
12. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 209, pages 13-17
13. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 210, pages 2-10
14. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 210, pages 14-20
15. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 211, pages 1-2
16. ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 212, page 18

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