Bleach Fantasy II Round 20: Renji Abarai vs. Squall Leonhart

Welcome back to another installment of Bleach Fantasy II where MechG & I once again collaborate on pitting the world of Bleach & the various installments of the Final Fantasy franchise. Last Friday, Bleach took a victory against FF (FF still leads 12-7 against Bleach), but many things can happen. Like MechG said, Bleach Fantasy II posts will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. My daily schedule of Affinity, Watch-list, WBCR, & Throwback posts will be the same as always (if delayed, posts will be on weekends). Without further ado, let's get started on Bleach Fantasy II Round 20 ~ Renji Abarai vs. Squall Leonhart. Take into account that Storyline and Powers/Abilities are the deciding factors. MechG & I will switch-off ever 3 rounds in giving the verdict. Let's jam!

Storyline (Renji)

Prior to joining the Gotei 13, Renji, along with his friends, grew up in the 78th District of Rukongai, Inzuri. Ravaging for food and entertainment, Renji & his pals were unable to afford anything and thus resorted to stealing. However, despite their bad reputation, Renji & his friends were like a family since it's unknown on the circumstances surrounding their families. It wouldn't be long before Renji & his pals become acquainted with a young Rukia Kuchiki, who saved them from a storekeeper who saw Renji steal a jug of water. Welcoming another member into their family, the group stood together despite Rukia & Renji being the only ones of the group that had spiritual power. Soon after their friends all died, Renji & Rukia vowed to enlist in the Gotei 13 where they'll soon meet future Shinigami Kira Izuru, Hisagi Shuhei, & Momo Hinamori. Already being gifted, the two studied, trained, and relentlessly night and day improved their spiritual prowess up until Rukia was adopted into the Kuchiki family, leaving Renji alone and without family for the first time. Angered by this, Renji continued onward in hopes to enlist under the 6th division to challenge the one and only Byakuya Kuchiki, the very man who took Rukia away from Renji's life. During his time in the Gotei 13 ~ he served under the 5th and 11th divisions later to finally settle in as Lieutenant of the 6th division. 

Renji is one of the two Shinigami Ichigo met in the Human World, but it wasn't a warm welcome ~ Renji and his Captain, Byakuya, were sent to the Human World to retrieve Rukia Kuchiki; her staying in Karakura town as well as relinquishing her powers to an unknown stranger are forbidden and thus there was a warrant for her arrest. Ichigo tried to thwart their plans to take away Rukia, but Renji and Byakuya easily dealt with Ichigo since he was inexperienced with fighting Shinigami. During the Rescue arc, Team Ichigo's priority was to save Rukia, but Renji couldn't stop idly by and watch as his friend and only family is to be taken away again; he'd rather have Rukia be sentenced to death than allow her to escape with Ichigo. Renji challenged Ichigo in Round 2 and, due to Kisuke's training, Ichigo overcame Renji and he came to the realization ~ Ichigo wasn't the enemy and Renji lost track of his main objective ~ overcoming and beating the very person who took everything from him ~ Byakuya Kuchiki. Renji entrusted Ichigo to save Rukia and, from then on, was now an enemy of the Gotei 13 as he challenged Byakuya with his newly formed Bankai (thanks to his training with Yoruichi), but lost due to not being able to comprehend his own's Captain Bankai. Recuperating in hopes to fight again, Renji shows up in time to save Rukia and run away, but was stopped by Aizen & Tosen who wanted Rukia for the Hogyoku implanted within her. Renji, unable to comprehend Aizen's scheme in this, was unable to save Rukia as he was left powerless before Aizen's superior abilities. Sometime after Aizen's defection, Renji, alongside Rukia, Hitsugaya, Rangiku, Ikkaku, & Yumichika, were sent to the Human World to thwart Aizen's newly formed Arrancar army. It is during this time that Renji fought against one of Grimmjow's fraccion and eventually won, but was forced to return to the Soul Society under orders from Captain Yamamoto in not aiding in Ichigo's attempts to save Orihime from Aizen's grasp. Renji and Rukia would disobey orders and tag alongside Ichigo to save Orihime where he challenged 8th Espada, Szayelaporro, and it came to a draw. In round 2 against the Espada, Renji was unable to comprehend Szayelaporro's abilities and Mayuri, the 12th division Captain, steps in to aid Renji & Uryu in fighting the Espada. Being completely healed after his previous fight with Szayelaporro, Renji fought against the 0 Espada, Yammy Llargo and was defeated easily. After Aizen's imprisonment, Renji shows u briefly to deal with Ginjo's fullbringers and was successful in defeating Jackie thanks to his training after Aizen's imprisonment. Following the end of the Fullbringer Arc, a new threat titled the Wandenreich invade the Soul Society and the Shinigami are left powerless and unable to comprehend why their Bankai(s) are being stolen or why the enemy is stronger. Renji is ambushed by Mask De Masculine and, after this loss, was forced to recuperate and train in the Royal Palace where he learned his True Bankai's form ~ Soo Zabimaru. Returning once more, Renji easily defeats Mask De Masculine and now, alongside everyone, is planning an-all out attack against the Wandrenreich. 

Storyline (Squall)

Squall’s mother, Raine, died shortly after he was born and his biological father, Laguna never knew that Raine was pregnant with Squall as he was saving their adopted daughter, Ellone from Sorceress Adel (talk about a tragic lose-lose situation for Squall’s early life). As soon as Ellone was rescued, Laguna sent her back to Winhill, where the couple was residing when Squall was born, and both her and Squall were sent to Edea’s Orphanage on the Cetra continent. When Squall grew up in the Orphanage, he didn’t make a lot of friends as he only grew close to Ellone and viewed her as an older sister though he wasn’t aware that Ellone is actually his adopted sister. When Ellone developed the ability to send a person’s consciousness back in time, she was moved away to avoid danger, leaving Squall all alone and feeling as if he needs to move on without anybody being a part of his life. When Squall attempted to find Ellone’s whereabouts, a teenage version of him traveled in time to meet with Edea, who would become one of the founders of the anti-sorceress force in SeeD. After that encounter, Edea foresees that Squall would grow up and kill an evil sorceress, thus establishing SeeD along with her husband, Cid. By the time Squall was six, he was admitted into the Balamb Garden to start training as a SeeD and trained with the most difficult weapon, the gunblade. During his training, Squall found a worthy rival named Seifer who mirrors him in terms of skills and knowledge of the gunblade. 

Eleven years since his training, Squall has been regarded among peers as well as his superior, Quistis, as a “lone wolf” because though Squall has a lot of talent, he can be at times, a head case due to his loneliness state of mind. Because Squall mastered the use of the Guardian Force (FF8 term for summon), his memories of being abandoned by Ellone is there, but he can’t remember her face. His rivalry with Seifer was the top-tier rivalry within the Balamb Garden. During Squall’s duel with Seifer during a field exam, the two put permanent scars on each other’s faces. While recovering in infirmary, Squall encounters a blurry figure who remembers him, but she leaves before Squall can get a clear vision. Squall manages to recover and was given a new Guardian Force by Quistis and placed in Seifer’s squad for a field exam in Dollet. During the exam, Seifer defies direct orders and abandons the team, leaving Squall as the temporary leader to ensure that his team evacuates Dollet successfully, which they did and back in the Garden, Squall graduates along with his fellow SeeD comrades, Selphie, Zell, and Nida. In the inauguration ball, Squall meets Rinoa, who forces him to dance with her (one of the most memorable cutscenes in FF8). Squall is sent on a mission to Timber to assist the Forest Owls to free the area from Galbadia control by kidnapping the President, Vinzer Deling. The plan was eventually foiled when a rogue Seifer captures the president, causing a little friction between SeeD and the Forest Owls and the relationship between Squall and Rinoa goes off to a rocky start once Rinoa starts questioning his cold-hearted personality. Squall’s next mission was to assassinate the sorceress revealed by the president as the ambassador for Galbadia. There, during the mission, Squall encounters his former caretaker Edea and his rival after Edea killed the president, but Squall gets knocked unconscious from Edea’s sorceress powers. After a couple events, including the Battle of the Gardens between the Galbadia and Balamb Gardens, Squall manages to defeat Edea and Seifer and Edea reveals she was possessed by another sorceress in Ultimecia and tells all she knows about the evil sorceress. However during Squall’s battle, Rinoa fell into a coma and Squall starts sharing concern that he starts to seek out his adopted sister again to use her ability to see what happened. Squall takes Rinoa to the continent of Esthar to a space station where he finally meets Ellone after a long time and requests her to use her abilities to save Rinoa. Basically in that time frame, Squall tries to free Rinoa from her comatose, but Ultimecia possesses her body to revive sorceress Adel in the Lunar Base and Squall eventually saves Rinoa from drifting into space and eventually rescuing her again after Esthar wanted to put her into cryosleep because they were afraid of her sorceress abilities that she obtained from Edea. After meeting his biological father Laguna and enacting a plan to stop Ultimecia, Squall, along with his friends, travel to the Lunatic Pandora, he frees Ellone, defeats Seifer, defeats Adel, and confronts Ultimecia in the future. Squall manages to defeat Ultimecia and reunites with Rinoa and the rest of his SeeD friends in the Balamb Garden. 

Powers/Abilities (Renji)

Being a Lieutenant-level Shinigami, Renji possess incredible power that was able to surpass Ichigo in the very beginning and rival him in their 2nd Round (Now Renji doesn't even stand a chance against Ichigo). He is a skilled swordsman, has enhanced strength, very durable, and, like certain characters in Bleach ~ has a Bankai. He is one of the few characters in Bleach that is not good at Kido or even proficient in Shunpo, but is able to attempt it. Renji's true power lies in his Zanpaktou ~ Zabimaru. In its Shikai state, Zabimaru is able to disconnect into broken segments and attack (Higa Zekko). In swordmanship, Zabimaru is able to stretch and expand to attack his foes. (much like a whip). The new form of his Bankai, Soo Zabimaru, is able to transform into a Large skeletal arm that follows Renji's movements that are able to crush bones and, when his Bankai bites down on his opponents, is able to completely close down on the enemy as well as firing a blast of spiritual energy that was enough to disintegrate Mask De Masculine. Prior to learning of Zabimaru's true form, his Zanpaktou had various abilities and formerly went with the name Hihio Zabimaru (still was underdeveloped, but Soo Zabimaru is the fully developed Bankai). 

Powers/Abilities (Squall)

As mentioned, Squall is a proficient user with the gunblade due to his time spent training to use the complicated weapon and he has the ability to use a Guardian Force. His highest stats are in Strength, Vitality, and Magic. Going back to the gunblade, regardless of model has high accuracy, which makes Squall the most proficient melee fighter out of the whole party. His Limit Break, the Renzokuken delivers multiple damage and wrapped up with a finisher and there are four finishers: Rough Divide, slicing an enemy vertically releasing an explosion, Fated Circle, jumping in the air, charging energy into his gunblade, spinning and unleashing a shockwave, Blasting Zone, charging up the gunblade with energy and slamming it to the ground to release it, and Lion Heart, his most devastating finisher that strikes an opponent several times dealing great damage. 

Verdict (By MechG)

And the winner is...

Well I knew this is going to be hard to choose from the get go. These two represent 100% bad@$$ery in their own right in terms of going out there in battle and getting sh*t done. It’s true that Squall has the upper hand in terms of depth within his storyline, but Renji possesses a whole lot more interesting backstory considering the long history between him and Rukia and his motivation to kick it up a notch when he sees Byakuya’s face for taking Rukia away from him. In terms of rivalries behind both characters; storylines, Squall had a damn good one in battling Seifer and Renji with Ichigo and what those two have in common is that both are equal to each other in terms of strength and skills. But once Seifer was revealed to be one of the antagonists serving Ultimecia, it didn’t feel interesting anymore because it was now a good guy vs. bad guy cookie cutter in my opinion. It also doesn't help that Seifer was obviously a second rate antagonist. With Renji vs. Ichigo, it was not a good guy vs. bad guy cookie cutter rivalry. Albeit short, it was about seeing who the better man was and just two grown men pushing each other to be better. In terms of powers/abilities, it is just a mismatch. Renji’s zanpakto excels in both short range and long range combat. Whereas Squall’s sword may be called a gunblade, but in reality, it doesn’t work like a gun, so long range is out of the picture. The gunblade would be perfected and live up to its actual name when FFXIII and Lightning came along, but that’s for another topic. In terms of a slight edge in story because of a more interesting backstory and powers/abilities, Renji racks up a point for Bleach here.

So who do you think won this matchup? Renji Abarai from Bleach or Squall Leonhart from Final Fantasy VIII? Comment below and let us know. Reiterating again, Bleach Fantasy Round II posts will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays w/MechG & I interchanging every 3rd matchups on giving the verdict. Bleach Fantasy Round II standings (12-8):

1) Yoruichi Shihoin vs. Prishe ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
2) Uryu Ishida vs. Hope Estheim ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
3) As Nodt vs. Vincent Valentine ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
4) Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Jecht ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
5) Shunsui Kyoraku vs. Auron ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
6) Sui-Feng vs. Tifa Lockhart ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic) 
7) Mayuri Kurotsuchi vs. Barthandelus ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
8) Sajin Komamura vs. Sin ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)

9) Toshiro Hitsugaya vs. Kuja ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
10) Tia Harribel vs. Tidus ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
11) Bambietta Basterbine vs. Rinoa Heartilly ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
12) Riruka Dokugamine vs. Ultimecia ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
13) Baraggan Louisenbairn vs. Exdeath ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
14) Ginjo Kugo vs. Caius Ballad ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
15) Coyote Starrk vs. Cloud Strife ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)
16) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck vs. Kefka Palazzo ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
17) Shinji Hirako vs. Emperor Mateus ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
18) Orihime Inoue vs. Yuna ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
19) Kisuke Urahara vs. Seymour Guado ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)
20) Renji Abarai vs. Squall Leonhart ~ Bleach  (Verdict by MechG)