Ichibê Hyôsube (兵主部 一兵衛, Hyōsube Ichibē) is one of the 5 Shinigamis charged with protecting the Spiritual King united in the famous Royal Guard he leads. He bears the title of "Monk who calls by the true name" (真名呼和尚, Manako Oshō). He owes his title and position to the fact that he named everything that exists in Soul Society.
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Appearance
Ichibê is a tall, broad man with the appearance of a Shinto priest. He seems to have an extremely imposing stature behind his friendly exterior. He is bald and has bushy eyebrows and a long black beard. He wears a shihakushō under the long-sleeved white haori decorated with the Royal Guard emblem. The top of his uniform is open enough to expose his hairy chest. He also wears a prayer bead made up of a large number of red beads around his neck.
Personality
Ichibê is an authoritative man who remains focused on the task in hand. He speaks loudly and frankly, and his face is expressive. What's more, he hits Tenjirô without him flinching, proving his hierarchical superiority. In spite of this, he's still a friendly, smiling person, with an occasional slow air. Despite his excessive power, Ichibē remains very wise and explains things with great clarity. However, as soon as he is confronted with a powerful opponent, he shows a completely different side of his personality. He becomes obsessed with the idea of killing him, in the most radical way possible.
Skills and competencies
As the oldest known Shinigami, Ichibē is an extremely powerful figure, able to lead the Royal Guard, reputed to be more powerful than the Gotei 13 despite having only 5 individuals in its ranks. His position alone is an admission of his power. In addition to mastering all the Shinigami fighting styles, Ichibē has access to exclusive techniques, which in part earned him designation as one of the 5 Special War Potentials, due to his wisdom. In addition, Ichibē possesses Ichimonji, the most ancient of the Zanpakutō that can divide or suppress his opponents' power, making him a virtually invincible fighter.
Reiatsu and physical prowess
Being the head of the Royal Guard, Ichibē possesses a colossal amount of spiritual power. Ichibē's power is of such a degree that he was able to fight on equal terms with Yhwach, who himself possesses immense spiritual power, using only his sealed Zanpakutō and, later, his Shikai. With his Bankai, Shirafude Ichimonji, Ichibē could have permanently neutralized King Quincy had the latter not activated The Almighty. What's more, Ichibē possesses incredibly powerful physical strength. After pushing Yhwach a long way with Senri Tsūsenshō, he sends him back a long way in the process. He'll break up a Yhwach attack with his hands and reverse the effects of Blut Vene Anhaben just by contracting his muscles and bursting Quincy's blood vessels in the process. He also has a high tolerance for pain; when Yhwach slashes him with his sword and bleeds profusely from the abdomen, he'll keep fighting.
In addition, Ichibē possesses vast knowledge, common sense, experience and exceptional leadership instincts. He acts with optimal judgment of the situation based on his abilities and observation of his opponents. Ichibē is a gifted strategist, adapting to any situation. His wisdom and common sense have made him one of the 5 War Potentials designated by the Vandenreich. Ichibē can also, to a certain extent, observe what's going on outside the Royal Palace. His vision extends as far as the Valley of Cree, a dimension outside Soul Society.
Shinigami abilities
Zanjutsu
Ichibē is an excellent swordsman. In his battle with Yhwach, he was able to rival Yhwach and even attack him.
Kidō
Ichibē has also mastered Kidō, using level 60 spells with devastating effect without having to recite their incantation or even designate the type of spell. In addition, Ichibē has access to Ura Hadō: Sannodō - Teppūsatsu (裏破道: 三の道 - 鉄風殺, Hadō Secret: Third Way - Assassin of the Steel Wind), a spell that only he seems to have mastered and which possesses a power capable of destroying the dome by Yhwach's Blut Vene Anhaben.
Hohō
Ichibē is a master of Shunpō, able to throw Yhwach a long way and then surprise him from behind before throwing him again. He was effortlessly able to dodge a multitude of arrows thrown by Yhwach.
Unique Techniques
Ōken
As a member of the Royal Guard, Ichibē has the Ōken in his bones. According to him, he can feel the Spiritual King's will in his body. He can use it to move outside the Reiōkyū, which is closed to anyone without the King's Key.
Name control
Ichibē can identify, control and manipulate the name of anything existing in Soul Society, the Hueco Mundo and the Real World. In particular, he coined the terms "Zanpakutō", "Shikai" and "Bankai", as well as that of all things present in Soul Society. Thanks to this ability, Ichibē knows the name of every Zanpakutō from the moment they were forged by Ôetsu Nimaiya. In addition, Ichibē is able to use his own name as a weapon. His name is so important that it puts a curse on those who utter it without having been worthy of it. If they do, they become mute. His name can also be used to resurrect him, even if his body is totally destroyed. All that's needed is for someone powerful enough to be near his last location and speak his name. Ichibē will then take on some of the name's power and reconstitute itself.
Spiritual manifestation
Ichibē can create giant materializations of his hands or feet with movements similar to his own, in order to attack his opponent. These materializations possess immense destructive potential.
- Senri Tsūtenshō (千里通天掌, Japanese for "Celestial Palm that Regrows over a Thousand Ri"): Ichibē creates a large hand to strike his target and send it flying over a distance of 1,000 Ri.
Zanpakutō
Ichimonji (一文字, Japanese for "A Straight Line"): Ichibē's Zanpakutō takes the form of a large calligraphy brush with black ink.
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Ink manipulation: Ichibē is an accomplished calligrapher, enabling him to draw scripts with a defined power.
- "Hide" (隠): Ichibē can draw calligraphy that hides an object, or even an entire place, such as the Spiritual King's Palace.
- "Seal" (封): Ichibē can draw a seal that cannot be crossed.
- Name slicing: His brush-like Zanpakutō has a special feature that doesn't allow it to slice flesh, but in exchange allows it to slice the name of whatever it touches. The thing that is sliced loses half its name, and if it has any, loses half its power. For example, if a person's arm is sliced off, it loses half its name and becomes a "br". The severed arm loses half its strength and weakens the affected individual.
Shikai
His release phrase is "Blackened" (黒めよ, Kuromeyo). The release process affects everything covered in black within Soul Society. His Zanpakutō then transforms the bristles of his brush by a wide, small blade. Also, a large black halo appears behind Ichibē.
Shikai's Special Ability: As soon as Ichimonji slices a target, she releases black ink that sprays the landscape. As soon as a target is touched by this ink, it loses its name and at the same time all its power. Her power controls darkness; every time Ichibē releases her Shikai, everything covered in black - living being or simple object, dead or not - belongs to her.
- Immunity to Power Absorption: The power invoked by Ichimonji can be stolen, but not used by the assailant or used against Ichibē because he controls everything black in the universe; instead, he reclaims it, which is proven when Yhwach fails to steal his power with Sankt Altar.
- Futen Taisatsuryō (不転太殺陵, Japanese for "Massacring Mausoleum of Interrupted Reincarnation"): Ichibē summons a large amount of black liquid into a cup, stealing the darkness of several future Soul Society nights, before drinking the cup. He then recites an incantation before summoning a great black mausoleum. This technique robs an opponent of all blackness, including flesh, blood and bone, until nothing remains. So absolute is this technique, it even prevents reincarnation.
Bankai
Shirafude Ichimonji (しら筆 一文字, Japanese for "One White Brush, One Black Stroke"): Being the first Zanpakutō to evolve, Ichimonji possessed the second level of liberation before the term Bankai was created. In fact, Ichibē activates his Bankai by the term Shin'Uchi (真打, Japanese for "True Strike") instead of the commonly used term. Once activated, the bristles of his brush turn white, with a trail of white paint spreading through the air.
Bankai Special Ability: with Shirafude Ichimonji, Ichibē can give and change the names of those touched by Ichimonji ink by drawing a kanji on their body; giving them properties and powers similar to the name granted. For example, by calling a target "Kuroari" (黒蟻, Japanese for "Black Ant"), it will be as weak and defenseless as an ant. Thanks to this power, he was able to defeat Ikomikidomoe, one of the most powerful Hollows ever to exist, by depriving him of his name, greatly weakening his power and enslaving him.
Weaknesses
- Power of the Spiritual King: Although his ability is virtually absolute and impossible to counter, the Spiritual King's power, or that of people who possess a fragment of his power, can easily be countered. Yhwach's divine ability, The Almighty, one of the Spiritual King's powers (Omniscience and Omnipotence), enabled Quincy to escape Ichibē's influence. Ikomikidomoe was also able to escape by consuming several fragments of the Spiritual King's pure power, which was present in Hikone Ubuginu's body.
Past
Bleach : Can’t Fear Your Own World (Novel Exclusives)
Millions of years before the Millennial Blood War, Ichibē was born into a primal, chaotic world. He himself admits that he was one of the few "exceptional" beings born during this period, alongside the Ancestors of the Five Noble Families and the Spiritual King.
Ichibē was present when the 5 Ancestors sealed the Spiritual King in a crystal without him resisting. At the same time, they used his omnipotent powers to divide their world into 3 new ones: Soul Society, Hueco Mundo and the Real World, as well as the cycle of life and death. Ichibē also witnessed the mutilation of the King by the Ancestors, something he didn't mind. For the millions of years that followed, Ichibē protected the crystal as ordered by the Ancestors.
At one point during Soul Society's golden age, a powerful Hollow attacked the Shinigami world and even defeated Yamamoto before attempting to devour the Spirit King himself. However, the Hollow was defeated by Ichibē, who used the power of Ichimonji to erase his name. Given that the Hollow had devoured too many souls to purify them all at once, Ôetsu Nimaiya decided to seal him in a Zanpakutō and Ichibē used the power of Shirafude Ichimonji to name him Ikomikidomoe.
History
Transition
After the death of Captain General Yamamoto, Ichibē takes the Tenchūren to Soul Society with the other members of Division Zero. There, they are greeted by the surviving Captains of the 13 Divisions and Ichigo Kurosaki. After a few reunion discussions between the members of his unit and some of the Captains, Ichibē interrupts these formalities and reminds his unit that they can talk later. Kyōraku asks him the reason for their coming, to which he replies that they've come to rebuild the Seireitei but must first take Ichigo to the Royal Palace. After ignoring Soi Fon's interruption, he knocks on the head of Tenjirô Kirinji, another member of his unit, after Kirinji decides to silence Soi Fon. He reminds his unit that they can talk later, but Senjumaru Shutara, another member, retorts that they're finished and have everyone they came for, namely Byakuya, Rukia and Renji, all 3 mortally wounded, as well as Ichigo's broken Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu. After Tenjirô and Unohana have debated the seriousness of the subjects' injuries as well as the risk of moving them, Ichigo asks Ichibē why he has to come too when he's not that injured. The monk tells him he has to come for a reason. After Ichigo finishes chatting with Urahara, the replacement Shinigami asks Ichibē if his Zanpakutō can be repaired at the Royal Palace, to which the monk replies that no, but that he can "restore it to something approaching its original form". So the Royal Guard leave the premises and head to Kūkaku Shiba's residence to use his cannon to return to the Palace with the Tenchūren. After he once again explains to Ichigo that the Royal Palace has special features, making the Replacement Shinigami doubt it, they set off towards the Palace.
Once there, Ichigo asks how they managed to enter the Palace without possessing the Ōken. Ichibē hands him his arm and explains that the Ōken is made of his bones and blood, both altered by the Spirit King's power, and it's the same for the other members of Division 0. He explains that Aizen tried to create a replica of the Ōken by copying their bones and blood.
Much later, when Renji and Rukia are training in his palace, he returns, explaining that they are quite talkative. He points out that they've made good progress, since when they first arrived, they found it hard to breathe or stand due to the high concentration of spiritual particles. He then asks them to follow him inside to continue their training.
Battle of the Shadow Seireitei
In it, he explains to Renji that the name of his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru is incomplete and is only part of his true Bankai. He explains that his Zanpakutō didn't fully trust him and hadn't entrusted him with the full extent of his power. He then explains to her his title as well as its meaning and role in Soul Society history, telling her that he knows all the names of the Zanpakutōs from the moment they were forged by Ôetsu Nimaiya. He then reveals to her the true name of his Bankai, Sōō Zabimaru.
After Renji, Rukia and Byakuya leave, he witnesses Ichigo's departure, finally ready to go to the Seireitei. After the Replacement Shinigami decides to leave for Seireitei by flying rather than with the unavailable Tenchūren, Ichibē then challenges him, telling him that there's no reason for him to arrive on time, since the Quincies launched a new offensive 3 hours ago, forcing Ichigo to leave in a hurry. When Kirio Hikifune tells him he's grown strong, Ichibē retorts that first he grew up and then he's strong. When Tenjirō tells him it's the same thing, the Monk replies that Ichigo's soul and body have become much stronger and that he has finally become a true Shinigami.
Battle of the Palais Royal
The following day, when Yhwach, accompanied by Jugram Haschwalth and Uryû Ishida, entered the Royal Palace, Ichibē felt it. While Yhwach and his Schutzstaffel were confronting Senjumaru, Ichibē was creating a calligraphy to hide the real Royal Palace and organize the location of the future confrontation. After Nimaiya has been defeated by Lille Barro, Pernida Parnkgjas pierces Hikifune's cage and Yhwach stands in front of Ichibē, asking if he'll let him pass, calling him by his full name. The monk then stands up and tells him to be careful how he pronounces his name, as it could crush his throat.
The monk then draws a line on the ground telling him that he will kill him here, prompting Yhwach to tell him that it is he who will die 3 steps in front of it, calling him by name again. Irritated, Ichibe summons a huge hand that pushes Yhwach back a very long way. Then appearing above him with Shunpō, he tells him that this palm will hurl him over 1000 Ri to make him repent. King Quincy then tries to speak, but finds himself unable to do so. He then crushes his throat with his fingers and restores his speech before summoning a huge bow and returning to Ichibē's height with the momentum of an arrow.
The head of the Royal Guard is surprised at Quincy's ability and decides to kill him. He then draws his brush and challenges Yhwach. The two clash, and Quincy notices that the Monk is happier than he expected. When the Emperor pushes the brush away with his arm, Ichibē then remarks that he has decided to sacrifice his arm. He explains his ability before slicing him off again, sarcastically asking how he feels with half his power. Yhwach gets up and restores himself, explaining to him that he can always bring his power back, no matter how many times Ichibē goes to deprive him of it.
He then explains that "everything in this world is there for him to take" before firing arrows at the Monk, which the latter easily breaks. Saying he was trying to save face by beating him with half his power, he attacks him again, this time with Bakudō #62 - Hyapporankan, which Quincy counters with Blut Vene Anhaben. He then decides to cast the secret spell Ura Hadō: Sannodō - Teppūsatsu which breaks Yhwach's shell and grabs him by the throat. Quincy's technique then begins to consume the Monk's body as he contracts his muscles and is damn pissed that Yhwach tried to penetrate his body and releases his Shikai, Ichimonji.
When Yhwach is surprised by the Shikai's appearance, Ichibē asks him if he can tell a paintbrush from a sword. The two fighters clash again, and Quincy asks his opponent that even if he tries to take away his powers, he'll take them back again before falling into silence when he tries to pronounce the name of his sword. Revealing to Yhwach that his Shikai removes the name from everything its ink touches. Hearing this, Yhwach attempts to steal Ichibē's power with Sankt Altar but fails before being covered in ink to the face.
After Yhwach is covered, Ichibē assumes that he must be aching to have lost his name, but intends to give him a new one. He activates his Bankai, Shirafude Ichimonji before naming him "Black Ant" . He tells him that his life is fragile now and when Yhwach murmurs with difficulty "I never thought...", Ichibē replies that indeed, he couldn't have foreseen such a power differential before summoning a giant foot and crushing it through the floor then crushing it again between his giant palms.
However, Yhwach falls back onto the floor behind Ichibē and attacks him with a huge strike, piercing him. The Monk sees the writing on his Bankai dissipate and is confused. Quincy explains his power, The Almighty, and how he was able to survive. Retorting that he still possesses black on his body and could not escape its influence, Ichibē summons Futen Taisatsuryō to completely destroy Yhwach. However, the latter recites the last of his incantation at the same time as him and tells him that his techniques are now powerless against him before smashing him to pieces, leaving him for dead 3 steps in front of the line he had drawn, as he had predicted. After the fight, Ichigo and his group arrive on the scene and Ichibē's conscience calls on the Replacement Shinigami to speak his name in order to save him. Once spoken, the Monk manages to regenerate and begs Ichigo to stop Yhwach before he kills the Spiritual King, explaining that the latter is the pillar of this world and that his death will bring about the complete and utter destruction of the known world, namely the Real World, Soul Society, Hueco Mundo and even Dangai. Later, he remarks that it's too late, and apologizes to the group that they won't be able to stop Yhwach, but that they needn't worry, because that's what we call "peace".
Can’t Fear Your Own World
Shortly after Yhwach's defeat, Ichibē stares silently at the Spiritual King's crystal when approached by Kyōraku. The two Shinigamis discuss the King's current status, when Kyōraku issues Ichibē with the possibility of sacrificing Ichigo so that he becomes the new Spiritual King. When the Captain General reveals that this decision is likely to weigh on his conscience as well as that of Ichigo's companions, Ichibē simply retorts that he should have discussed it with the principal concerned first. Shunsui then expresses his relief at not killing the young Shinigami, to which Ichibē replies that he was just lucky. He hadn't even considered Ichigo surviving in his fight against King Quincy, but Yhwach absorbing the Spirit King was incredibly lucky. Just as Shunsui is about to discuss this with the Five Noble Families, the two are interrupted by the arrival of Grimmjow Jaggerjack, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and Tia Halibel. Ichibē assures that the 3 Arrancars are free to return to Hueco Mundo, even to be escorted if necessary. Seeing that Grimmjow is still in doubt, the Monk certifies that killing 3 Arrancars who were very powerful Menos risks upsetting the balance of souls. Halibel then asks if the thing behind it is indeed the Spiritual King, to which the Monk replies that it is and asks if it is able to tolerate his existence. Halibel refuses to answer, telling him that she finally understands Aizen's motives before leaving.
Ichibē also prepares to leave, saying that he must resurrect the other members of Division 0. He explains that, since the Ōken is present in their bones, he can revive them by calling them by name. As he explains that he won't let his associates die so easily, he is suddenly interrupted by someone entering the Royal Palace without permission.
Six months later, Ichibē goes to see Ôetsu Nimaiya in the Hōōden to discuss current events. After a few shared jokes, Ichibē asks Ōetsu if Ikomikidomoe is indeed in Cree Valley. Nimaiya replies that the Monk has already seen everything, as usual, followed by Ichibē reflecting on how strange it is that a monster among the Menos, is now evolving on a different path. As Nimaiya tries to mention Tokinada Tsunayashiro and Aura Michibane's unauthorized entry into the palace, Ichibē interrupts and retorts that their goal is simply to maintain the status quo, for it doesn't matter who rules the world as long as the world itself remains the same.
Seeing that Nimaiya disagrees, Ichibē simply tells him that he won't interfere in Soul Society affairs because Kyōraku is doing an admirable job and there's no reason for them to favor one individual from the Noble Families over another. Taking a seat, Ichibē notes that whatever the King's Will, or lack thereof, as long as he maintains the worlds, "ordinary peace" will remain. Laughing and turning his gaze to the larger palace, he wonders what the Spiritual King, Yhwach, thinks.
Some time later, Ichibē gathers the rest of the Royal Guard as well as the Divine Soldiers in front of Yhwach's sealed remains. Because of the events in Cree Valley, as well as the attack on the Hōōden, Ichibē has decided to reveal their true story to everyone, recounting his experience of the Spiritual King's "birth" and sealing as well as his simulation by the Five Ancestors.
While everyone present is appalled by these revelations, Ichibē continues to describe the Spiritual King's degrading mutilation. Senjumaru Shutara explains how convenient it was for the Ancestors that the King should protect the world without having to express his will. To which Ichibē replies that he disagrees and expresses his belief that the King always had his own will, even guiding Ichigo to his destiny in the palace, while he claims that he can feel the King's will inside the Ōken, present in his bones.
Tenjirô Kirinji comes to find the events interesting that led Ichigo, a descendant of a noble of the Shiba family, to almost become the new Spiritual King, leading Ichibē to reveal that the Noble in question originally wanted to rebel against the Tsunayashiro ancestor's plan, even offering himself as a sacrifice, and comments on the irony of the Shiba line only existing because the Tsunayashiro disagreed with him.
While Kirio Hikifune declared that Kaien Shiba had a similar attitude, Ichibē declares that this is why the Tsunayashiro family had dishonored the Shiba family. Lost in thought, Ichibē wondered, when Ichigo appeared, if history was repeating itself and if the world needed someone like Ichigo. As their subordinates struggle to process this shocking revelation, the Royal Guard understands Ichibē's hidden meaning: World History rests on crimes far worse than murder.
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