Yasutora Sado

Yasutora Sado
Bleach character
Chad as seen in the opening of Bleach.
Created by	Tite Kubo
Voiced by	Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese) Marc Worden (English)
Profile
Nicknames	Chad
Gender	Male
Species	Human
Date of birth	April 7[1]
Occupation	High school student
Weapon	Brazo Derecha de Gigante Brazo Izquierda del Diablo

Yasutora Sado (茶渡 泰虎, Sado Yasutora^?) is a fictional character and major figure in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. He is a teenager who studies in the same class as Ichigo Kurosaki. Because Ichigo first read Yasutora's name off a nametag, he pronounced his family name as Chad (チャド, Chado^?) due to the variable pronunciations of kanji, and Ichigo continues to call him this throughout the story. He ranked 30th in the most recent Shonen Jump poll.^{[citation needed]}

Character outline

Chad is a teenager of Mexican descent. He is extremely tall and appears to be much older than he is. Chad has a tattoo on his left shoulder which reads Amore e Morte ("love and death" in Italian) and consists of a heart, a snake and angel wings around the heart. In the series, he is usually seen wearing either his school uniform or a tee shirt. At one point in the series, he is seen wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt with a rose emblazoned on the left sleeve. The rose may be in honor of his grandfather seeing as how his grandfather's name was Oscar Joaquin de la Rosa, de la Rosa being Spanish for "of the Rose."

Chad is a quiet person and is sometimes the subject of jokes or bullies because he never fights back, against ordinary humans at least, since he often engages hollows and shinigami only when necessary. Nonetheless, he is treated equally within his group of friends in Karakura (Ichigo, Keigo and Mizuiro). Chad also has a weakness for cute things, like small animals and Kon, he is one of the few characters that actually treats Kon with any dignity but for the most part ignores him. To match his extraordinary size, Chad possesses extraordinary superhuman toughness, even before activating his spiritual powers, being able to survive the impact of a falling steel girder on his back and a head-on motorcycle collision, and is strong enough to break telephone poles. Besides his physical strength, Chad has also shown to be very intelligent; he ranked 11th out of 322 when Ichigo ranked 23rd.^[2]

Chad likes music, but rarely watches TV. The only program he likes is Carnivore Kingdom, which starts at 8 a.m. on Sundays. He likes it so much that he bought the DVDs for it.^[3] Not surprisingly, since Kon is a cheap knock-off plushie of the main character of Carnivore Kingdom, Chad finds Kon especially cute. Chad also has a bass guitar, but has never been shown playing it. It has been shown in Chad's room in episode 69 and in the 8th anime ending sequence. It's also shown in episode 9 after a "band practice." He is also seen carrying it immediately preceding the appearance of the incomplete arrancar.^[4] Chad's favorite food is tomatoes.^[1]

History

Chad was born in Okinawa, Japan, but was taken to Mexico by his parents at a young age. After their deaths, Chad was adopted by Oscar Joaquin de la Rosa, a man believed to be his grandfather since Chad calls him Abuelo ("Grandfather" in Spanish).

Ichigo risking his life to protect Chad and his coin.

During his early years, Chad was extremely violent; exploiting his advantage in size, he intimidated and hit any other children who annoyed him. Oscar Joaquin tried to teach Chad to be gentle, but was initially unsuccessful. One day, the fathers of the children Chad fought, seeking to punish him, attacked Chad. Oscar Joaquin stepped in between them, taking Chad's punishment without retaliation. Chad was inspired by this example to become a decent person. Afterwards, Oscar Joaquin gave Chad a Mexican coin. The coin was minted sometime between 1823 and 1909, and has the words "Republica Mexicana" engraved on it, as well as the Mexican National Emblem. The monetary reform of 1905 minted Mexican coins with the words, "Estados Unidos Mexicanos’," are seen on the Mexican peso today.

Years later, when Oscar Joaquin had died, Chad made a vow that he would never fight unless it was to protect others, as instructed — even if his own life was in danger. The coin would come to symbolize this vow, which Chad now claims to hold more value than his own life. Many years later, this was used against him when some thugs captured him and threatened to destroy the coin. Ichigo saved him from them, and made a pact with Chad that they would fight for each other, because Chad wouldn't fight to protect himself.

When Abuelo died, Chad decided to return to Japan, where he entered Mashiba Junior High School. Because of his constant involvement with gangsters, Chad gained a reputation as a ruthless gangster himself. Others were scared of him when he first entered Karakura High, though this later changed. He met Ichigo slightly before the school year started when he saved Ichigo from being injured by local thugs. Eventually, he and Ichigo graduated from Mashiba and entered Karakura High School.

Synopsis

Karakura Arc

Chad first awakens his armored arm.

Chad first appears as a student in Ichigo's class with good grades (ranked 11th in the entire level). Days after Ichigo becomes a shinigami, Chad is offered a cursed cockatiel (a parakeet in the manga) whose previous owners have all died horrible deaths. He takes possession of the bird and is hit by a steel girder, hit head-on by a motorcycle, and is involved in a large traffic accident all within a day's time. He is treated at Kurosaki Clinic, where Rukia Kuchiki and Ichigo notice a mark of a hollow's hand burned on to his back. The hollow confronts Rukia and Chad, who find innovative ways to do battle with it as Chad cannot see ghosts and Rukia had lost her powers, until Ichigo arrives. The bird reveals himself as Yūichi Shibata, a boy who accidentally killed a serial killer who had murdered Shibata's mother. As a hollow, the serial killer got his revenge on the boy by imprisoning him in the cockatiel's body, claiming he could bring Shibata's mother back from the dead. Ichigo defeats the hollow, who is sent to Hell for his sins. Ichigo performs a soul burial on Shibata with the hope he can meet his mother in Soul Society. Chad promises that if he ever meets Shibata again, he will carry him around as he did over the last few days.

When Uryū Ishida uses hollow bait to release a multitude of hollows in Karakura Town, Chad leads a hollow that he can barely see away from a small town and towards an empty lot to avoid any casualties. He meets Karin Kurosaki in the lot, who can fully see the hollow chasing Chad. She helps Chad fight the hollow, but Chad is thrown aside. During the battle, Chad's awareness evolves to the point that he can clearly see the hollow. He realizes his strength is to be used to protect people and punches off the hollow's arm. Chad's arm is now armored and uses it to defeat the hollow. Chad falls to the ground from exhaustion and is taken by Kisuke Urahara to his shop, where he finds that Orihime has also been taken there after her hollow encounter. They are taken to a bridge to see Ichigo fighting the Menos Grande and choose whether they will use their newfound powers to help Ichigo.

Soul Society Arc

After Rukia is taken back to Soul Society, Chad and Orihime Inoue are trained by Yoruichi Shihouin to consciously call upon their powers when needed. After a week, Chad leaves for Soul Society with Orihime, Uryū, Yoruichi, and Ichigo. In Rukongai, Chad is reunited with Shibata, who has not yet found his mother but is living with a "family" of non-related people. At this point, Chad fulfilled his promise, carrying the boy on his shoulder for most of the day.

When the group is separated once entering Seireitei, Chad ends up alone. Chad narrowly misses reuniting with Ichigo when he blasts a wall, giving Ichigo a chance to escape from the 11th Division. He defeats the remaining 11th Division members with a single blast from his arm. Chad finds his way into 8th Division headquarters and defeats the 3rd Seat, Tatsufusa Enjōji, with another single blast. He continues on his way but is confronted by Shunsui Kyōraku, captain of the 8th Division in the Gotei 13. After both try to convince each other to yield, Chad fires several blasts at Kyōraku but all either miss or are deflected. Chad reaffirms his promise to Ichigo to each fight for what the other protects and puts all his strength into a final blast at Kyōraku, who easily dodges and slashes Chad's chest, severely wounding him but (intentionally) leaving him alive.

Chad is healed by the 4th Division and is put in a holding cell, where he finds himself with Ganju Shiba and Uryū. They are freed by Kenpachi Zaraki and are reunited with Orihime. Zaraki's lieutenant, Yachiru Kusajishi, leads the group to the Sōkyoku where they wait as Ichigo and Byakuya Kuchiki fight. After Byakuya is defeated, the group tends to Ichigo. They then find out that the events at Soul Society were an elaborate plot masterminded by Sōsuke Aizen and confront him, but Aizen departs for Hueco Mundo. Uryū, Chad, Ichigo, and Orihime depart for the living world.

Bount Arc

In the anime, after the Soul Society arc, Chad returns to school and helps Ichigo defeat the modified souls created by Kisuke Urahara. He is taken captive along with Orihime, and the modified soul Kuroud impersonates him in front of Ichigo, who eventually identifies the impostor. Chad is let in on the plan before this point, and thus went along with it until Ichigo figures out what's going on.

When the war against the Bount starts, Chad forms part of the group which aims to defeat them. He is paired with the modified soul Noba to seek out and destroy the Bount. He encounters Sawatari and fights him along with Rangiku Matsumoto, Noba, and Ururu Tsumugiya. The battle ends undecided.

After the Bount invades Soul Society, Chad meets up with Ichigo to fight Jin Kariya. However, the fight doesn't last very long before Kariya absorbs the massive energy stored in the Jōkaishō, using its destructive potential as a threat to keep them at bay.

Arrancar Arc

Chad preparing to execute El Directo with his improved armored arm after training with Renji.

After returning from Soul Society (for a second time in the anime), a new student, Shinji Hirako, arrives at the high school. Chad and Orihime follow Shinji and overhear him talking to Hiyori Sarugaki about convincing Ichigo to join them. Hiyori threatens to kill them but is taken away by Shinji. Orihime begins to chase them, but is stopped by Chad, who realizes that they are no match for the pair.

When the arrancar duo of Ulquiorra Schiffer and Yammy arrive in the real world, Chad and Orihime fend them off while attempting to retrieve any survivors. Completely outclassed, Chad's right arm is extensively damaged by Yammy, and requires many days of healing by Ayame and Shun'ō.

Immediately after his recovery, Chad attempts to join the fight against Grimmjow Jeagerjaques's assault, but is nearly stabbed in the heart by D-Roy. Realizing that he could no longer fulfill his promise to fight alongside Ichigo, Chad requested Urahara to train him. As a result, he engages in continuous single combat against Renji Abarai and his bankai to improve his battle prowess.

Hueco Mundo Arc

When Orihime is captured by Sōsuke Aizen, Chad and Uryū offer their services to help Ichigo rescue her. When Ichigo hesitates, Chad demonstrates the power of his improved arm, quelling any fears he might have had. The trio then departs to Hueco Mundo. Upon their arrival, Uryū and Chad engage two arrancar named Iceringer and Demōra, telling Ichigo to watch them. After initially struggling against Iceringer, Chad switches opponents with Uryū and easily defeats the slower and less intelligent Demōra with his new attack, El Directo.

With the arrancar's defeat, the room they are in begins to collapse and they are forced to escape to outside of Aizen's palace. There they see a barren wasteland with a few small hollows in it. After some wandering, they meet a few "good" hollows and their arrancar companion and head for Aizen's palace. They are joined by Rukia and Renji, and the expanded party breaks through the walls of Las Noches. The group proceeds to Aizen's headquarters and, encountering a room with five exits, split up after vowing that they shall meet again alive after their respective battles.

Chad meets up with Gantenbein Mosqueda, the 107th arrancar, and fights him. He is outmatched at first, but evens the odds when he uncovers the upgraded form of his Right Arm of the Giant, which speeds-up his reaction time to the extent where he can block Gantenbein's attacks. After Gantenbein releases his zanpakutō, Chad reveals that the spirit of his grandfather inhabits his right arm, shielding Chad from harm. The power to attack is actually in his left arm, which also gains armor known as the Brazo Izquierda del Diablo (Left Arm of the Devil).

With his powers unlocked, Chad is more than a match for Gantenbein, brushing off one of his attacks with little effort and defeating him with a single attack from his awakened left arm. Chad thanks the greatly injured Gantenbein for helping him awaken his true powers, spares his life, and says that he will pray for his good fortune. Chad notices that instead of another chamber there is a daytime sky, unlike the never-ending night outside the palace. Gantenbein tells Chad to run, who turns around to see Nnoitra standing behind him, holding an enormous zanpakutō shaped like two joined crescents. Chad chooses to decide the battle with one blow and punches Nnoitra. However, Nnoitra brushes off Chad's attack and cuts Chad's arm shield in half. Chad's defeat is felt by the other four party members and Orihime. Chad is spared by Nnoitra, who believes killing weaklings won't help him get recognition. Chad attempts one more attack, but is stopped by Nnoitra's fracción, Tesla.

Powers

"Brazo Derecha de Gigante," Chad's defensive arm.

"Brazo Izquierda del Diablo," Chad's offensive arm.

When first introduced, Chad had no special powers aside from his unusual strength and endurance. Even without his powers, Chad is strong enough to break a telephone pole and swing it like a bat, and likewise is resilient enough to be hit by a falling steel girder and only suffer minor wounds.

After his encounter with the cockatiel containing the soul of Yūichi Shibata, he started to detect the approximate locations of spirits and hollows, but could not fully see them. Only after saving Karin Kurosaki from a hollow, during the hollow-slaying match between Uryū and Ichigo, did Chad begin to fully see spirits.

At the same time that he became able to clearly see spirits, he also awakened his latent spiritual ability, which manifests as armor on his right arm called the Brazo Derecha de Gigante (巨人の右腕, lit. Right Arm of the Giant).^[5] The armor is colored black with a red stripe going down the center and two white stripes surrounding it (the same colors used on Mexican military dress uniforms). Chad's armor increases his strength beyond its already impressive level, and enables him to fire powerful energy blasts from his fist. After receiving training from Yoruichi Shihouin, Chad learns to activate his powers at will and gains enough stamina to fire multiple blasts.

After seeing how helpless he was against the arrancar who invaded Karakura Town, Chad requested that Kisuke Urahara train him. Urahara proceeded to pit him in single combat against Renji Abarai's bankai. He noted Chad's powers still had room to grow, but they did not resemble those of a Quincy or shinigami. After training with Renji, Chad gains an improved version of his armored arm. Compared with its previous form, the pattern on Chad's arm becomes more intricate, and gives him an even greater increase in physical might. Chad also gains a new special attack called El Directo (巨人の一撃, lit. The Strike of the Giant; Spanish, The Direct). To perform it, the flanges on Chad's arm open up and he punches the enemy.^[6]

While in Hueco Mundo, Chad's powers were disturbed by the environment, which hindered his abilities. It was not until being beaten for some time by Gantenbein Mosqueda that Chad's powers settled. With this, Chad realized that his powers were more at home in Hueco Mundo since they resembled hollow powers. When Chad was attacked by Gantenbien, the arm felt it like an attack from its own kind and regained its composure, allowing Chad to finally admit to himself the truth about his power. This allowed him to fully tap his powers, which manifests as armor on both arms, instead of just his right.

Chad's full-powered right arm is still called the Brazo Derecha de Gigante (Right Arm of the Giant) but is now used for defense instead of offense. Chad says that "the soul of [his] Abuelo flows through [his] right arm," which some have taken to mean the literal manifestation of his grandfather's spirit in the arm; however, it seems more likely that Chad was speaking metaphorically of his grandfather's teachings. Brazo Derecha del Gigante becomes a shield that extends from his hand to some distance beyond his forearm with the same intricate pattern as before, surrounding what appears to be hollow-like teeth in the center and a rose like pattern near the end. He also loses the wing-like protrusion which extended from his shoulder.

Chad's armored left arm, used for attack, is known as the Brazo Izquierda del Diablo (悪魔の左腕, lit. Left Arm of the Devil).^[7] It looks similar to his original armored arm, but the color is inverted. A spike protrudes from the shoulder and two more extend over the left side of his chest. Chad's left arm gains a special attack known as "La Muerte" (魔人の一撃, lit. The Strike of the Demon; Spanish, The Death).^[8] To perform it, he merely punches his opponent, releasing a huge skull-shaped energy blast on contact.

Notes and references

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