After Yhwach and Ichigo Kurosaki both attacked the Soul King in his palace, the Thousand-Year Blood War story arc has hit its highest point. The three worlds began to shake without the Soul King’s power at the end of Episode 2 of this season, but hope would eventually return in Episode 3. Captain Jushiro Ukitake is the only one who can save the world.
Most of Episode 3 is about Captain Ukitake’s selflessness as he lets out the power of Mimihagi, which is the Soul King’s cut right arm. Flashbacks in Episode 3 show that Jushiro Ukitake owes Mimihagi his life since he was a child, and he will gladly give it back if it will save the Soul King. At about the same time, Ukitake’s longtime friend Shunsui Kyoraku takes emergency steps of his own while carefully letting the bad guy Sosuke Aizen out of Muken’s deepest layer.
Jushiro Ukitake Releases Mimihagi to Save the Soul King
He Also Thinks Back on the Wonderful Life He’s Led
It’s not working for Ichigo Kurosaki’s team to either beat Yhwach or save the Soul King. Jushiro Ukitake of Squad 13 needs to take over the fight. A group of Soul Reapers watches him as he walks into Kisuke Urahara’s science lab. He then takes off his robes to perform a rite called Kamikake that calls on the power of Mimihagi that has never been seen before. The Mimihagi with only one eye is actually the Soul King’s right hand. She used to be a guardian goddess of the Rukongai area. A flashback reveals that Jushiro Ukitake, a sick child in the Rukongai district, was on the verge of death when his parents’ prayers came true. Ukitake’s life is thanks to the intervention of Mimihagi. Mimihagi took over Ukitake’s body to help him get better from his sickness. From that point on, Ukitake grew up and enjoyed his life, first as a student at Shin’o Academy and then as a full-fledged Soul Reaper.
All of his behavior is meant to reassure Ukitake’s friends and Bleach viewers that he doesn’t regret returning his life to repay the Soul King. He just wants to do the right thing and doesn’t care if people stop him or mourn for him. When Kamikake is used, Ukitake’s organs are given to Mimihagi as an offering so that Ukitake can become the Soul King’s right arm. That gives the Soul King some time, but no one knows what the long-term answer is yet. For now, Ukitake sends out a huge, one-eyed hand of darkness that reaches up into the sky and is aimed at the original Soul King, who is about to be destroyed.
Captain Shunsui Kyoraku Releases Sosuke Aizen From Muken
Aizen is Aleady Too Dangerous to Handle
The other big event in “The Dark Arm” happens much faster but is just as important. Ukitake bets that Mimihagi’s power will save the Soul King, while Captain Shunsui Kyoraku bets with the worst criminal in the Soul Society and goes to Aizen’s deep layer in Muken, the underground jail. There are so many guards around Sosuke Aizen that not even the Head Captain can use all the keys to unlock more than three of Aizen’s body parts. Kyoraku chooses which three to use. They are used by the careful Kyoraku to open Aizen’s legs, left eye, and mouth, letting the traitor to the Soul Society see, speak, and move around. Kyoraku then hopes to carry Aizen to the battlefield on a chair that was made just for her, but it won’t be simple.
As a strong spiritual force, Aizen can hurt anyone who gets too close. He isn’t even sure if he wants to help the sick Gotei 13 fight the Quincy King, Yhwach. It’s up to Kyoraku to find the right way to motivate Aizen to fight. He and Aizen both hate Yhwach, but Aizen might not care because he is frustrated. One more problem that hasn’t been fixed in Episode 3 is whether and how Aizen will help, as well as what might happen as a result.
