396 is out! Discuss

New chapter is out!

http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/396-76/1

Byakuya colour spread for chapter:

Spoiler:

Thanks to ch1 over @ FLOL.

In regards to the chapter, its amazing how Aizen has tabs on Ichigo even before the manifestation of his powers. I wonder if his interest in him has anything to do with Isshin?

I love that spread. Byakuya as a hipster. It's funny.

I'm wondering what Urahara's play in all this is: I mean, it seems to be a chess match between Urahara and Aizen through out most of the back plot. We know Urahara seems to have had tabs on Ichi for a long time, If Aizen is this keen on his whereabouts at all times, how long will Ichi be either one of their pawns?

I think that Ichigo has been a pawn for both sides. No matter how you look at he has been caught up middle no matter what he does.

And I like the spread as well. Damned Starbucks they are officially every were now

Hmm, I think he's more of a pawn for Aizen rather than for SS. I mean, if Aizen's speech is anything to go by, then it means that everything leading from his power manifestation til now was all from Aizen's doing, and I can't really consider him as a part of SS or anything, he's more of a lone entity.

I'm more interested to see how his interest in Ichigo came about, or whether Ichigo is but a means to get to Urahara.

That's what I mean. Maybe Ichi is more of Urahara's pawn. He was the one that put Ichi through Shattered Shaft and severed his chain of fate. He seemed to make a point to give Ichi more time when he was turning hollow then. So, maybe he created Ich as a means to defend against Aizen. I mean, I think he still being used and lead around by Aizen, but I'm not sure he had anything to do with Ichi's initial manifestation.

Yeah, he could be Urahara's pawn, I mean, we've seen that Urahara isn't above using "friends", as expressed through his use of Rukia and storing the hougyoku in her gigai. It seems to be a game between Urahara and Aizen with everyone acting as the chess pieces. I'm just wondering how Isshin and Ishida's father factor into the whole equation.