[Predictions] Final Arc Length: and they say it doesn't matter...

[Chicken Soop]

I'd rather not bore you with my words. Lets get down to it.

Shinigami Captains wtfpwn'd Fullbringers.

I'm assuming this last arc is going to be 200+ chapters. I also see a lot of people hoping and praying that Aizen will not be a part of it.
Hello smart one, why do you think incorporating a whole new enemy is a good idea?
Bountou arc showed us that creating an enemy out of thin air is retarded, and even though it is filler, it draws a painful parallel to Fullbringer arc.
Useless villains.
No relevance to the story.
It was filler manga; the only reason Ginjou was considered a threat was for plot sake to get Ichigo his power back. The whole "badge" business was to implant the idea that the Shinigami were bad. Which would be an awesome idea to roll with. It brings me back to what Ishida's father said to him (maybe I'll edit later with manga links.)

"I will help you regain your powers, you just can't associate with their kind."
Haha but Ichigo is half human, I am URYUU ISHIDA of the LOOPHOLE, Father!

Perfect background already set in place for evil Shinigami.

Except "I'm glad!!" Ichigo is safe... so the Shinigami are good souls. Danger averted, Kurosaki has defeated the nemesis of the balance.
I'm going straight to the leader of the Shinigami and demand my enemies corpse.
But not one member of the Gotei 13 wanted Aizen dead for his crime? Big fox guy didn't break the law and smash him for how he had corrupted Tousen?

All this is set in place, and people are asking for a brand new villain.
Urahara is not back in Soul Society, while Vizards are captains.
Isshin is depicted as OP (20 years of no reiatsu and he comes back fighting like a champ)
Who in the Bleachverse was powerful enough to force Isshin into FGT?
Leader of the Quincy?

I'm just saying Fullbringers were quite useless, as Kubo made it clear he wants nothing to do with Orihime as a fighter. If you are not fighting then what are you doing with your life..? This final arc means the end of human fighters. The end of Fullbring arc means Ichigo is necessary and it is crucial that he remain loyal to Sereitei. Even though they didn't do a damn thing for all those mothers attacked by Hollows...

Topic of Discussion:

1) How long will this final arc span?

2) Among the characters and races already introduced, who is the next villain? Keeping this question in mind:

3) Who remains strong enough to challenge Ichigo?

I say Aizen. Nearing the 500th chapter, it would be silly to start it off with "Ichigo! Soul King has been bad all along!"

 

[Mugiwara]

200 chapter long arc o_______o

 

[Totsuka No Tsurugi]

200 chapter!! WTH

 

[Chicken Soop]

If Kubo wants to please his fans, he will use 200+ chapters to showcase all Bankai and each character to their fullest.

If he wants to be called a troll for the rest of his life, he'll wrap up Bleach in less than 80 chapters causing public rage, of which everyone will go online to scream "WHY DIDN'T YOU USE AT LEAST 200 CHAPTERS?"

Watch. Also thanks for your pointless input guys. My thread is not to boost your post count.

 

[Nakuuzu]

I don't watch the manga, but I at least know that the mangaka-the bleach mangka- had an interview and said that he has the plot of his manga for the 10 years coming. When I heard this I was like wuhooo! Please justify this information or rather did any one of you hear about this. Thank yooooou\!

 

[Chicken Soop]

Info we have:

1) Bleach is on its final arc
2) 10 Years of plot

Conclusion: 200+ chapter arc, at LEAST.
Mugiwara you are a Moderator. You should act appropriately. That had better be a place holder for a more elaborate edit, or else you need to leave.

 

[Necron]

200 chapter long arc o_______o

hope so... I don't want bleach to end so soon...

 

[Kazamori]

1) How long will this final arc span?

~150 chapters would be nice.

2) Among the characters and races already introduced, who is the next villain? Keeping this question in mind:

Someone from Soul Kings side maybe.

3) Who remains strong enough to challenge Ichigo?

Heck, I would love if Aizen came back. Show his damn Bankai !

 

[Zanji]

1) How long will this final arc span?

200+ Chapters would be crazy but great that would mean we still would have roughly 6 more years of Bleach but even for me that would be a bit much and even the author would get tired of it.......So I would have to go on the limb and say that there will only be about 90-120 left in the manga so roughly 3-4 years.​

2) Among the characters and races already introduced, who is the next villain? Keeping this question in mind:

Despite everything that has happened I think that either the Zero Division will get involved and quite possibly be the bad guys seeing as they may think that Ichigo has affected Soul Society too much or has some how corrupted it and thus must be purged. But I also think that we have yet to see the last of the Espada. Only a select few of them were shown to be completely killed off while others have not such as Grimmjow, Nel, Starrk (yes we saw him fall but didn't see him die), Nel's followers, and everyone else that was left in Hueco Mundo.​

3) Who remains strong enough to challenge Ichigo?

Technically anybody could still be a challenge for Ichigo, seeing as we have yet to see the extent of his powers after his training and when he got his powers back. Hell, for all we know Renji, Byakuya, Kenpachi, Hitsugaya, and Ikkaku could have out powered him in the 18 months they have been away.

And as far as we know Urahara could be back on good terms with Soul Society and be aiding them and helping them train. So all in all we need to see more to be able to tell if there is anyone whom could outshine him.​

 

[Typhon]

If this is the final arc we need to see the Zero Squad, the Soul King, find out about Isshin's past, find out Urahara's real motivations, etc.

200 Chapters doesn't sound bad considering the amount of things we still need to see.

 

[NLee]

Topic of Discussion:

1) How long will this final arc span?

2) Among the characters and races already introduced, who is the next villain? Keeping this question in mind:

3) Who remains strong enough to challenge Ichigo?

I say Aizen. Nearing the 500th chapter, it would be silly to start it off with "Ichigo! Soul King has been bad all along!"

1. At least 200 chapters. A while back Kubo said he had enough material to potential make Bleach last for another 10 years. I think it was at Comic-Con 2008. Anyways, with so many stuff still shrouded in mystery 200 chapters is more than a possibility. Squad Zero, The Soul King, numerous unknown Bankai, Isshin & Ryuken's history, who the original "Yachiru" was, so on and so on.

2. When when you said introducing new enemies is a bad idea, what do you mean by "new enemies"? New enemies could easily be incorporated in the story. For example, there could be Squad Zero defects that oppose the Soul King and the Gotei 13 forcing them to fend them off. Just one of many possibilities. It's confirmed that the new arena will be "a palace of ice". That's all we know at this point along with a partial image of who the antagonist might be.

3. Your question implies that Ichigo is the strongest of the characters. I find this a very large and wrong assumption. You have to remember that Ichigo has been out of the game for ~17 months. That's almost a year and a half. In that time all of the Gotei 13 have been training. Renji, Ikkaku, Hisagi, Hitsugaya, Byakuya, Kenpachi, etc. They all could be stronger than Ichigo right now. The question isn't "Who is strong enough to challenge Ichigo". The question is "Who is strong enough to challenge the Gotei 13". Whatever nemesis the Gotei 13 face Ichigo will take part in the fight.

 

[CasualMisfit]

200 chapters seems ideal.. But I get the feeling Kubo has lost his passion for Bleach.

We speak of chapters but I have a feeling that the reason for this break was due to an editorial decision being made to wrap up the story... If that's the case... then I doubt Bleach will run any longer than 2-3 volumes worth 21-27 chapters (about enough for a single arc).

As for a new villain to push Ihigo... Bleach is a work of fiction that throws the concept of power levels out the window. It could be a new character entirely... it could be Aizen again... They would have executed him but they said he was immortal... I have a feeling this was a plot device to keep him in the game... so I wouldn't be surprised.

I lost alot of respect for Kubo as an author... so I'm not too fussed with what he produces but I am curious to watch his execution of this end to Bleach!

 

[JirayiaRIPforever]

i Think aizen SHOULD come back along with some of the espada HOWEVER they could ally with The soul king, The reason being that aizen has somehow used his kyokasuigetsu on them Long ago (maybe on that captain that got promoted to Squad zero, causing her to somehow allow aizen into the Soul world but he had other plans, therfore not killing them yet). And in the 17 months the espada have gotten a few new comrades and are all unbelievably stronger.

I say introducing new enemies along with old ones would be the best idea.

I also highly doubt ichigo is the strongest UNLESS he gets his final form back (the one before Final getsuga tensho)

 

[mlickko]

Jesus, all of you are so wrong...

First of all, Kubo said, that he hes been planinng this final arc for more than 5 years...since Arrancar arc and even before and when you're planinng this long i dare to say, this arc will be even 300+ chapters long.

This 3 week break was for one thing only...to publish 3 omakes in which we are told, what we can expect from this arc...so i'd say, this break was only to build suspension and anticipation.

And from new interviews one can say that Kubo did not lost his passion for Bleach, on the contrary, he is eager to show us everything we want to see and because this is big finale for Bleach, he can finally show his best storyline.

To OP:
1. I'd say 300+ chapters

2. Quincy, 0 Squad

3. After 17 months almost anybody of mid-class-captain level character.

btw: It was said that Aizen will be shown in this arc, but not as one of main characters and some of Arrancars will aid Ichigo in his fight.

Peace.