Kyoraku and Ukitake's Bond, explained

Key things

• Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake are two powerful and wise captains of the Gotei 13 who share a deep bond.
• Disagreeing with Rukia's execution, the pair confronted Chief Captain Yamamoto and aided Ichigo Kurosaki in battles.
• Kyoraku and Ukitake are the last remnants of Soul Society's older history, known for their close friendship and strength.

Among the rows of Gotei 13-in Bleachthe two captains have stood the test of time as pillars of the organization. Two of Chief Captain Yamamoto's students who stand above most other Shinigami; Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake. The captains of Unit 1 and 13, Kyoraku and Ukitake, have been best friends for centuries and two halves of a powerful duo.

They are not only the two oldest members of the unit, but also the two strongest. They were the only Shinigami with dual Zanpakuta throughout Soul Society history until Ichigo Kurosaki obtained his true Zangetsu. Shunsui and Juushirou represent the best of Gotei 13 inches Bleach. Let's delve into the strong, centuries-long bond between these mighty Shinigami.

Shunsui and Juushirou, two young students

First Alumni Captain

Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake were students in the early stages of Shinigami Shin'Ou Reijutsu Academy. There they trained directly under Shigekuni Genryuusai Yamamoto. They first met during a training exercise where Captain Retsu Unohana immediately recognized their potential. After their shooter went to a draw, Juushirou asked Shunsui to show him a candy shop he frequented. He brought candy to his five younger siblings. Since then they have become close friends. One day, Juushirou revealed to Shunsui the secret of his illness, it is the vessel of the deity Mimihagi, the severed limb of the Soul King Adnyeus. There, Shunsui told his friend that he would not let him die young.

I was proud of you as if you were my own sons. I believed that even though the character was different, it was okay if they followed the same paths.

They both eventually graduated with honors and soon became the captains of the Gotei 13. Shunsui was assigned to Squad 8, while Juushirou was the captain of Squad 13. Along with Yamamoto and Unohana, they were by far the oldest members of the organization. . The two were particularly powerful and their peers noticed due to the fact that they had dual Zanpakutou. Shunsui's Katen Kyokotsu and Juushirou's Sogyo no Kotowari are Zanpakutou that manifest as two identical blades. This is believed to be a sign of their extraordinary strength. The only other dual Zanpakutō is Ichigo's Zangetsu, with each blade representing his Hollow and Quincy sides.

Kyoraku and Ukitake, two relentless captains

Pillars of Gotei 13

Once the conflict of the Soul Society arc began, Kyoraku and Ukitake were some of the captains who noticed something was wrong. They both disagreed with the death penalty for Rukia Kuchiki. Not only was she considered innocent, but she was also a member of Ukitake's squad. So he felt personally responsible for her. Furthermore, Ichigo Kurosaki, the human Rukia gave her powers to, reminded Ukitake of someone: Kaien Shiba. The moment Ukitake saw the boy, he noticed an uncanny resemblance to his late vice-captain, which convinced him to help Rukia. He was supported by Kyoraku, who also believed that the execution was unfair.

The two face off against their teacher and father figure, Chief Captain Yamamoto. They fought him and tried to convince him to stop the execution. Yamamoto states that he considers them his sons. This has caused the fandom to often refer to the two captains as “brothers”, as their bond is one of the strongest in the series. The two later battled Primera Espada Coyote Starrk during the Fake Karakura Town arc.

Kyoraku and Ukitake often drank together, talking about their thoughts on each conflict they faced together, and often on the subject of their new ally, Ichigo. It was Ukitake who gave the boy the official replacement shinigami badge. Both captains always believed in and cared for Ichigo and his friends, seeing them as true allies and friends of Soul Society.

Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake share a deep bond that makes them a powerful duo as well as the wise pillars of the Gotei 13. They are also the main characters in the events of the series. It is thanks to Ukitake that Ichigo is officially recognized by Soul Society. And it is thanks to Kyoraku that Ichigo's human friends have access to the Seireitei in case Ichigo is unable to return to the World of the Living. The two are the last remaining members of the older part of Soul Society's history, and just like in the latest episode, only Kyoraku remains.

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  Based on Tite Kubo's shonen battle manga, Bleach centers around Ichigo, a high school student who is drawn into the world of the Soul Reapers. The original anime ended in 2012, but was renewed in 2022.

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  Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War