Summary
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Among the ranks of the Gotei 13 inBleach, two captains have stood the test of time as pillars of the organization. Two of the students of Head Captain Yamamoto who stand above most other Shinigami; Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake. The captains of Squad 1 and 13 respectively, Kyoraku and Ukitake have been best friends and two halves of a powerful duo for centuries.
They’re not just two of the oldest members of the force, but two of the strongest as well. Only they were Shinigami with dual Zanpakutou for the entire history of the Soul Society until Ichigo Kurosaki obtained his true Zangetsu. Shunsui and Juushirou represent the best of the Gotei 13 inBleach. Let’s dive into the strong, centuries-long bond between these powerful Shinigami.
Shunsui and Juushirou, Two Young Students
The First Captain Graduates
Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake were students in the early stages of the 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 spar came to a draw, Juushirou asked Shunsui to show him the sweets shop he was a regular at. He brought the sweets to his five younger siblings. Since then, they have become close friends. One day, Juushirou revealed to Shunsui the secret behind his sickness, he’s the vessel of the deity Mimihagi,a detached limb of Soul King Adnyeus. There, Shunsui told his friend he would not let him die young.
I was proud of you as if you were my own sons. I believed that, even if the character is different, it is fine if they took the same paths.
Eventually, the two graduated with honors and soon became 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 the oldest members of the organization by a large margin. The two were particularly powerful, and their peers noted this due to the fact 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 power. The only other dual-wield Zanpakutou is Ichigo’s Zangetsu, each blade representing his Hollow and Quincy sides.
Kyoraku and Ukitake, Two Unrelenting Captains
Pillars of the Gotei 13
Once the conflict of the Soul Society arc started,Kyoraku and Ukitake were some of the captains who noticed something wasn’t right.They both disagreed with the execution sentence for Rukia Kuchiki. She was not only considered innocent by them, but she was also a member of Ukitake’s squad. So he felt personally responsible for her. Beyond that, 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, convincing him of aiding Rukia. He was backed up by Kyoraku, who also believed the execution was unjust.
The two face off against their mentor and father figure, Head Captain Yamamoto. They battled him, trying to convince him to stop the execution. Yamamoto states that he considers them his sons. This has made the fandom often call the two captains “brothers,“as their bond is one of the strongest in the series. The two later battle Primera Espada Coyote Starrk during the Fake Karakura Town arc.
Kyoraku and Ukitake would often drink together, conversing about their thoughts of every conflict they faced together, and often the topic of their new ally, Ichigo. It was Ukitake who gave the boy an official Substitute Shinigami Badge. Both captainsalways believed and cared for Ichigo and his friends,seeing them as true allies and friends of the Soul Society.
Shunsui Kyoraku and Juushirou Ukitake share a deep bond that makes them a powerful duo as well as wise pillars of the Gotei 13. They’re also major characters in the events of the series. It’s thanks to Ukitake that Ichigo is officially acknowledged by the Soul Society. And it’s 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 side of the Soul Society’s history, and as in the latest episode, only Kyoraku remains.
Bleach
Cast
Based on Tite Kubo’s battle shonen manga, Bleach centers around Ichigo, a high school student who is dragged into the world of Soul Reapers. The original anime ended in 2012, but it was revived in 2022.
