How does Daruma-san ga Koronda work? Shunsui Kyoraku's new technique in Bleach TYBW, explored

Bleach TYBW part 3 episode 9, the 35th installment of the much-awaited anime adaptation, was aired on November 30, 2024. Titled Don't Chase a Shadow, Bleach TYBW episode 35 focuses on the fight between the Gotei 13’s Captain Commander Shunsui Kyoraku and the leader of Yhwach’s fearsome Schutzstaffel, Lille Barro, as the two used their appalling powers in an attempt to one-up each other.

The first Quincy to whom Yhwach bestowed a Schrift ability, Lille Barro proved himself to be a formidable opponent by firing shots that pierce through the target instantly and can’t be blocked in any way. Previously, Lille used this power to bring Royal Guard member Oetsu Nimaiya to the brink of death. That said, Shunsui was still able to dictate the pace of the battle thanks to his deadly Zanpakuto.

Shunsui’s Zanpakuto allows him to use techniques based on children's games, obligating anyone within the range of his immense Spiritual Pressure to fight under the rules of said games. In Bleach TYBW episode 35, Shunsui used Daruma-san ga Koronda, a never-before-seen technique, which he combined with another unpredictable move called Kageokuri to corner Lille, forcing the leader of the Schutzstaffel to use his full power Vollstandig.

Bleach TYBW's latest episode finally showed the true strength of Shunsui's Shikai

Shunsui Kyoraku vs Lille Barro begins in Bleach TYBW episode 35

Shunsui Kyoraku as seen in Bleach TYBW (Image via Pierrot Films)

As the Gotei members entered the Royal Realm, now transformed into the Quincy’s Wahrwelt, many of them fell prey to Lille Barro’s long-range attacks. The leader of the Schutzstaffel used his sniping skills to pinpoint and eliminate the Shinigami, starting with the weakest. As Lille enjoyed his work, he saw Shunsui Kyoraku leaving himself open, and immediately grabbed the opportunity to shot him down.

Lille appeared to shoot Shunsui in the chest. Moments later, however, Shunsui appeared behind Lille and attacked him with a powerful slash. Lille barely managed to dodge the blow, which ended up cutting through his Reishi-made weapon.

As Lille wondered how Shunsui could have located him with such precision, let alone reached him in an instant from such a great distance, the Gotei’s Captain Commander sarcastically asked the Quincy if he has ever played Daruma-san ga Koronda.

Lille Barro as seen in Bleach TYBW (Image via Pierrot Films)

Revealing that Quincy has been gathering information on him and the other Shinigami, Lille noted that Shunsui’s Zanpakuto powers allow him to bring children’s games into reality but this particular technique is beyond their knowledge.

An amused Shunsui explained the rules of the game Daruma-san ga Koronda, prompting Lille to remark that it was extremely similar to a game called Escondite Ingles.

Based on this, Lille theorized that Shunsui moved on the trajectory toward his Spiritual Pressure, traveling across the shortest distance possible while leaving behind an illusion of him standing still. He added that he would have killed him if he had noticed Shunsui moving and seen through his illusion. Finally, Lille claimed that now that he knew the rules of this game, Shunsui wouldn’t be able to use the technique anymore.

Shunsui praised Lille for his smartness but also corrected him, saying that what Lille saw wasn’t an illusion but Shunsui’s Spiritual Pressure, which was so powerful that it forced Quincy to sense with his subconscious perception rather than trusting his eyes. As Lille claimed such a thing was impossible, Shunsui revealed his full name and rank as the Gotei 13’s Captain Commander.

Shunsui corners Lille (Image via Pierrot Films)

As Shunsui moved to Lille’s side, the Schutzstaffel seemingly shot him with his reformed rifle. An instant later, however, Shunsui’s blade emerged from the ground beneath Lille, who jumped away to avoid it.

Lille counterattacked by firing at Shunsui, who in turn dodged the shot. Shunsui praised Lille for being the first one ever to avoid his Kageoni technique on the first try, but Lille reminded him that Quincy had intel on his techniques and noted that the same isn’t true for the Shinigami.

Lille claimed that against his power – the Schrift known as The X-Axis – dodging was meaningless and shot Shunsui in the chest. Much to Lille’s shock, Shunsui appeared behind him once again before calmly explaining that what he fired at was merely an afterimage created through the Kageokuri technique.

After noting that children’s games can be scary as no one truly knows when they start, Shunsui cut Lille but sliced the latter’s rifle instead of his body. Lille reformed the rifle, revealing that he had created a weapon with his spiritual energy.

Unfazed, Shunsui appeared behind Lille as if he had teleported himself. Lille managed to dodge Shunsui’s subsequent attack but found himself overwhelmed as several copies of Shunsui suddenly surrounded him.

Lille is forced to open his eye for the third time (Image via Pierrot Films)

The next moment, the real Shunsui’s sword pierced through Lille’s body. However, that was only the beginning of a new battle stage. Shunsui’s attack didn’t hurt Lille as the latter explained that he had unleashed the real power of The X-Axis, which allowed him to not only pierce through anything with his shots but to let anything pass harmlessly through his body as well.

Opening his left eye, which had previously been closed, Lille noted that this was the third time that Shunsui had put him into crisis during the battle and that if he was forced to open his left eye three times, he could keep it open the rest of the confrontation. Considering Shunsui’s actions as unforgivable sins against the god-like creature he considers himself to be, Lille unleashed Jilliel, his full power Vollstanding transformation.

Shunsui cornered the leader of the Schutzstaffel with just Shikai

Shunsui outmaneuvering Lille Barro in the Bleach manga (Image via Shueisha)

As seen in Bleach TYBW episode 35, the techniques of Shunsui’s Shikai are childish and yet incredibly dangerous. When he fought Coyote Starrk, the Primera Espada, Shunsui defeated the enemy without using either Daruma-san ga Koronda or Kageokuri as he can only use the full power of his Zanpakuto’s Shikai when the Zanpakuto itself wants him to do so.

This is because Shunsui’s Zanpakuto spirit, Katen Kyokutsu, is extremely moody. Granted, this only emphasizes Shunsui’s fighting skills, as he was able to defeat the Primera Espada despite only using part of his Shikai abilities. In the battle against Lille Barro, Shunsui finally unleashed the full power of Katen Kyokutsu’s Shikai.

Despite having detailed information on Shunsui’s powers, Lille had never heard of Daruma-san ga Koronda and Kageokuri, as Shunsui hadn’t used them in his previous fight against Starrk. The combination of these moves proved extremely effective, leaving Lille overwhelmed.

Shunsui as seen in Bleach TYBW episode 35 (Image via Pierrot Films)

Daruma-san ga Koronda works like the popular children’s game Statues, also known as Red Light, Green Light, in which one player, known as “it,” calls out to the rest of the players, who must tag him and can only move when the caller is looking away. Bringing this game to reality with the surreal powers of his Zanpakuto, Shunsui marks his enemy as “it”.

When “it” attacks, Shunsui can see the path of Spiritual Pressure created by the enemy’s attack and follow it in order to pinpoint the enemy’s location. This is in accordance with the rules of the game, which require “it” to remain in a place where all the participants can see them.

Shunsui combined Daruma-san ga Koronda with Kageokuri, which is another tricky move that allows him to leave a realistic afterimage of himself in a certain location. Kageokuri is based on a Japanese game where children pretend to see an afterimage of their shadow after staring at it for several seconds before looking away.

Shunsui is one of the strongest characters in Bleach (Image via Shueisha)

As Shunsui himself explained, taking his eyes off him for even a moment is deadly. When his opponent’s eyes happen to see his shadow, then everything they see after that may potentially be an illusion, allowing Shunsui to take them by surprise.

Using his outstanding Spiritual Pressure, Shunsui can confuse his enemy's sensing abilities. He then performs a high-speed movement with Shunpo to move behind said enemy without being noticed.

Combining Daruma-san ga Koronda with Kageokuri, Shunsui forced Lille Barro into a crisis not just once but thrice, by the latter’s own admission. The Sternritter are fighters that most Gotei captains need to use Bankai to keep up with, and Lille Barro is the leader of the Schutzstaffel, the most elite Sternritter in Yhwach's army.

This is an extremely impressive feat for Shunsui to put such pressure on the leader of Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel while using only his Shikai. This display of power confirms Shunsui as a fighter more than worthy of being the Gotei’s Captain Commander after Yamamoto.

As dangerous as Shunsui’s Shikai is, his insane Bankai takes things to a whole different level. As seen in the Bleach manga and the last part of Bleach TYBW episode 35, Shunsui’s Bankai gives the Captain Commander reality-warping powers against which even Lille was helpless despite his god-like Vollstandig.