The most recent edition of "Bleach" put forth an intriguing scenario in which it would appear that Nanao Ise is now expected to take up arms against a powerful opponent; but is the inexperienced heroine truly up to the task?
At first glance, the answer to that question would seem to be no, especially considering the fact that Nanao has to this point in "Bleach" largely stood on the sidelines of any major fight. However, there is a reason to believe that she may have a trump card that could lead her to victory.
Nanao now has in her possession the Hakkyouken, a mysterious sword that originally belonged to her family but was handed over to her uncle, Captain Commander Kyouraku before ending up with her now.
According to Kaleo, what makes the Hakkyouken so special is that even though it is incapable of harming mere mortals, it is said to be very damaging to those who ascend to a higher plane of being, an example of which is none other than Nanao's current opponent, Lille Barro.
Chapter 652 of "Bleach" is expected to feature a heavy dose of fight scenes including Barro, Nanao and the mysterious sword. The next chapter of "Bleach" is also expected to give fans a clearer idea of what the Hakkyouken can actually do, since despite being described briefly, readers don't really have a full grasp of its true potential.
According to rumored spoilers posted on Daily Anime Art, chapter 652 of "Bleach" is also expected to feature an appearance from Shunsui, an ally who will be helping her Nanao in her fight against Barro.
The veracity of the spoiler images cannot be determined, although they do show Nanao landing some good strikes against Barro during their fight.
More details about Nanao's past are also believed to be shown in chapter 652 of "Bleach."
