Bleach Fantasy Round 5: Yoruichi Shihoin vs. Tifa Lockhart (Big BEEWBED Cat Fight!)

VS.

One kicks and one punches. These two feisty badass women you don't wanna F with because they can kick your @$$ with their experienced hand-to-hand combat. I'd sh!t my pants if I saw these two - I'd be in awe of their beauty and fearful that could just as well pummel me to the ground. Without further ado, let's end Friday right with Bleach's Yoruichi Shihoin and Final Fantasy VII's Tifa Lockhart. The following will be compared: Backstory/Role in Story, Powers/Abilities, & The Final Verdict (by yours truly today). Final Fantasy & Bleach are currently tied 2-2 (as of April 21st) . Stillmattic's Portions are noted in Blue and MechG2994's in Purple. Headings will be Yellow.

Backstory/Role in Story (Yoruichi Shihoin)

Yoruichi was born as a princess of the Shihoin Noble family and is childhood friends with Kisuke Urahara & Tessai, where they played at the Sokyoku Hill Training Space (which was built by Kisuke Urahara). It would be later where took up the responsibility as Captain of the 2nd Division (Stealth Force) and took on her role as the 22nd Princess - becoming the first Princess of the Shihoin Household. When Kisuke was promoted to be 12th Division Captain & was solely responsible for the Visored's birth. Yoruichi alone was the one who helped aid Kisuke & Tessai from receiving punishment. Together, the three were banished to the Living world where they hid in secrecy as to escape persecution while trying to conceal the whereabouts of the Hogyoku. During her tenor as Captain of the 2nd division, she often joked about with a much younger and childish Byakuya Kuchiki, offering to play wit him for her amusement much to Byakuya's annoyance. From her tenor as Captain & Princess to present day, she has a playful, rebellious, & witty side to her. 

Yoruichi first appeared in her cat form to Kisuke Urahara. She assists Team Ichigo in rescuing Rukia, where she informs Ichigo's group on the dangers of the Gotei 13 as well as train them to the best of their abilities. She eventually reveals herself to Ichigo as to who he is and who Kisuke Urahara is and steps in, later, to save Ichigo from acting irrationally against Byakuya Kuchiki. She is seen later fighting against the new 2nd Division Captain and her former bodyguard, Sui-Feng Yoruichi won and showcased her usage and imperfect form of Shunko. Convincing Sui-Feng otherwise, the two 2nd Division Stealth Force Captains of the New & Old tried to thwart Aizen's defection plan only later to see that it was too late to save Aizen. Later on, Yoruichi & Kisuke aid in stopping Yammy's rampage and way later is seen alongside Kisuke & Isshin in stopping Aizen, only later to lose to him with Ichigo being the key to victory. During the Fullbringer Arc, Ichigo notices that part of Yoruichi's Reiatsu in imbedded within him in reassurance of Ichigo's retrieval of Shinigami powers.

Powers/Abilities (Yoruichi Shihoin)

Yoruichi, being the former 2nd Division Captain, is highly proficient in Shunpo, Infiltration, & Hand-to-Hand combat. In the earlier part of the series, she is also seen transforming from her cat-like form to her usual self. As a Shinigami, she is also capable of using Kido, but it's unaware of her Zanpaktou's abilities. Not much about her is clear, but we do know is that she is a master at Hand-to-Hand & Shunpo - two quality traits needed for the 2nd Division Captain. The source of her power comes from Shunko, exerting and amplifying everything - Hand-to-Hand Combating & Kido. 

Backstory/Role in Story (Tifa Lockhart)
Tifa was born in the small town of Nibelheim and was a childhood friend and next door neighbor to Cloud. Although they were not “friends” “friends” early on in their lives, the first time they actually start becoming close was when Tifa’s mother died, leading her to believe that her mom went to venture onto Mt. Nibel. So Tifa went to Mt. Nibel while Cloud followed suit, but the two fell off a bridge, leaving Tifa injured and causing her father to somewhat isolate her from Cloud. In a part to represent Tifa’s “knight and shining armor”, Cloud had aspirations to join the ranks of SOLDIER and he told her that exact plan on top of the water tower in the town and promised he’d be there for her to protect her. Fast forward to the setting of Crisis Core, Tifa becomes a tour guide for Nibelheim as well as being a martial artist, having learned a whole variety of fighting styles. When Cloud returned to Nibelheim along with Zack and Sephiroth, he wasn’t a SOLDIER member, but just a lowly Shinra infantryman, causing him to hide his face in shame so Tifa won’t recognize him. While on the tour to a Mako Reactor in Mt. Nibel, Tifa was attacked by a monster and Cloud, still disguising himself, came up to save her. While inside the reactor, during the time Sephiroth went mad, Tifa found her father dead on Sephy’s hands, giving her intense hate for Shinra and SOLDIER. Tifa attempted to challenge Sephy, but she was handled easily and sustained major injuries and her martial arts master, Zangan took her to Midgar for treatment.

Tifa is a member of the rebellious group, AVALANCHE lead by Barret and is an owner/bartender of the bar, 7^th Heaven, which also happens to contain a secret hideout where AVALANCHE can have their meetings and plan out specific attacks to bring down Shinra at the start of FFVII. Aside from being those as well as being Marlene’s caretaker (Barret’s daughter), she pretty much plays as that voice of reason to Cloud in order to bring back his memories and personality because, Cloud witnessed Zack’s death from a Shinra ambush on the way to Midgar and he was still overdosing from Mako poisoning. After Cloud pretty much did his first mission as like a hybrid member of AVALANCHE he wanted to flake out and take the money, but Tifa, with good memory, brought up Cloud’s promise on the water tower back in Nibelheim and that pretty much gave Cloud another go on AVALANCHE’s next mission. It’s tough to say that Tifa played a limited role storyline-wise as the heroine in FF7 mainly in part due to the arc surrounding Cloud and Aeris, that doesn’t mean she didn’t put up a few important plot highlights such as sneaking into Don Corneo’s mansion to find out Shinra’s plans in vanquishing AVALANCHE by destroying a pillar to let the Sector 7 plate drop on the slums of Midgar and she was involved in busting in Shinra’s main HQ along with Cloud and Barret to rescue Aeris. Later on in the game, she becomes a temporary party leader thanks to Cloud’s disappearance after another encounter with Sephiroth in the Whirlwind Maze, in which Cloud handed Sephy the Black Materia to summon Meteor to potentially destroy the Planet. She eventually helps restore Cloud’s memories and personality by entering his Subconscious state as they both submerged into the Lifestream and Cloud was able to defeat Sephiroth with her help and the help from the rest of the party and they were able to save the Planet from the impending wrath of Meteor using the power of Holy.

Powers/Abilities (Tifa Lockhart)

Aside from being FF’s hottest character and I should say the FF babe with the biggest BEEWBS (OH SH*T! *gets punched by Tifa*, *continuing post with a black eye*), Tifa is definitely that character to lean on when things are not going right  and she’s tough as nails who won’t be taken lightly either (Ow). Because she excels in hand-to-hand combat, having tremendous knowledge on a large variety of martial arts styles, her physical stats are much higher than her other stats. Since she wields knuckles (sometimes claws), most knuckles she would obtain would either increase her accuracy, strength, damage, or magic attributes. Her Limit Break sequence in order of level as follows: 1) Beat Rush/Somersault, runs up to the enemy and performs a punch combo followed by a Somersault Kick (Guile called he wants his move back), 2) Waterkick/Meteodrive, a low sweep accompanied by a flash of water then suplexing the opponent, 3) Dolphin Blow/Meteor Strike shoryuken-like uppercut with a dolphin then grabbing and throwing an opponent back down mid-air with heavy impact, 4) Final Heaven, unleashing a devastating burst of energy and releasing that energy blast with a single punch.

Verdict (By Stillmattic)

And the winner is...

After evaluating both these girls, it was a a tough decision to make. Both excel in hand-to-hand combat and are two women you don't wanna F with. However, in terms of story - Yoruichi lacks in this field. We know very little of her upbringing other than Kisuke being her childhood friend and then suddenly her ascension as the Shihoin Clan Head. Sure she excels in Shunpo & Shunko, but that's pretty much it. I believe Tifa offers more in terms of story and has a more important role in FF than Yoruichi ever does in Bleach. Yoruichi is what I'd call a side character and as much as she is hot and dangerous, Tifa shines truly in the field. Tifa has a hatred for Shinra and SOLDIER and what interests me about this is when someone is motivated by emotion - that become a source and fuel of strength. And to top it off, this hatred stirred from her father's death at the hands of Sephiroth himself (or Sephy for short). With Yoruichi, she was from the get-go a ally and nothing more. She offers help when needed, but other than that - she didn't offer much. I find her abilities impressive, but it's not really showcases. We don't know of her Zanpaktou or even if she'll play an upcoming role in the Wandenreich war. But when it comes to story, having witnessed tragedy befall her parents, a motivation to become strong, impressive hand-to-hand skills & knowledge in various martial arts, and being a central role in one of Final Fantasy's most recognized protagonists, Cloud - Tifa takes the Cake.

So who do you think won? Yoruichi Shihoin from Bleach or Tifa Lockhart from Final Fantasy VII? Comment below and let us know. Look forward to Bleach Fantasy posts every Monday & Friday (unless specified) around 9am-11:59pm. As always, you all stay classy now. FF currently leads 3-2 against Bleach (As of Today ~ April 25).