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Does Byakuya Kuchiki die in Bleach? Discover why fans thought he would die as well as his final fate in the series.
Byakuya Kuchiki is the head of the Kuchiki Clan and the captain of the 6th Division of the Gotei 13. During his introduction, he was believed to be an antagonist who was apathetic and unforgiving towards his own sister. However, we soon find that his actions came from a place of love and caring.
In the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc of Bleach, where the Quincies faced the Soul Reapers, many fans feared that Byakuya would meet his end. So, does Byakuya die in Bleach?
Fans of Byakuya Kuchiki can rejoice, as the Soul Reaper does not die in Bleach. Let us look into why viewers were expecting his death.
Why Many Believed That Byakuya Kuchiki Would Die in Bleach
In the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, Yhwach and his Wandenreich faced off against Captain Yamamoto and the Shinigamis in Soul Society. Due to tensions dating back to ancient history, this was a battle where fans expected heavy losses.
During the invasion of the Quincies, Byakuya ended up facing the Sternritter “F” – As Nodt. The enemy’s ability involved manifesting the fear of his opponents and mentally manipulating them. To make matters worse, the Quincies also found a way to steal Bankais using their medallion.
Byakuya discovered this the hard way when he used his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi and got it stolen. He was mentally strong, but Nodt’s ability was able to catch him off-guard. The Quincy pierced through Byakuya and used his own Bankai against the Soul Reaper.
While Renji was right there with Byakuya, the latter had forbidden him from using his Bankai and getting it stolen. Despite attempting to fight with their Shikai, it was not enough. Senbenzakura Kageyoshi’s blades hit Byakuya and crashed him fiercely into a wall.
As his Zanpakuto broke, Byakuya asked forgiveness from Rukia and Renji. Additionally, right when Ichigo arrived, Byakuya begged him to save the Soul Society before passing out.
This incident convinced fans that Rukia’s older brother had died, especially since the mood was sombre and Captain Yamamoto himself ended up dying later in the arc.
How Does Byakuya Kuchiki Survive?
Right after Yhwach and his allies left after causing mayhem, we discover that Byakuya had barely survived his altercation. He was left in a comatose state, with injuries too grave for Unohana to heal.
As a solution, the Royal Guards agreed to take him to the Soul King Palace and heal his wounds at the Blood Hell Pond. After spending time here among Squad Zero to get back to optimal condition, Byakuya prepares to regain his Bankai and get his revenge against the Quincies.
Byakuya Kuchiki’s Final Fate in Bleach
After the end of the Thousand-Year Blood War, Byakuya is shown to be a supportive brother 10 years in the future. He is present for Rukia’s promotion as the Captain of the 13th Division and also agrees to assist her.
Byakuya had already displayed signs of this after his defeat to Nodt, as he tightened his bond with Rukia upon returning to Soul Society. He helped her perfect her Bankai, and his more humane side was shown as well.
Hence, Byakuya Kuchiki’s final fate in Bleach is a wholesome one where he supports those close to him and carries out his duties as a veteran. Having survived Yhwach’s attack, he is quick to take action when Yhwach’s spirit energy appears in the future as well.
Since he has been given the chance to retain his life from the jaws of death, Byakuya lives it in a more honest manner rather than closing off his feelings.
Should Byakuya Have Died in Bleach?
A huge cause of debate in the Bleach fandom is whether or not Byakuya should have died. As we have already seen, Byakuya’s survival meant he could spend more time with Renji and Rukia while also training those under him. He was instrumental in the battle against Gerard despite not being able to completely take him down.
Nevertheless, a good portion of fans still believe that Byakuya’s revival was unnecessary. His death would have proven to be the necessary emotional motivation for Rukia, Ichigo, and Renji to get stronger. Additionally, the touching moment where he opened his heart to Ichigo to save Soul Society also diminished since Byakuya didn’t die.
Byakuya dying for the sake of others would have been an appropriate ending to his character arc, given that he was introduced as a cold and aloof person. Hence, fans felt betrayed when the character’s apparent conclusion was just another fake out, which is common in shonen anime.
Resultantly, there are theories that mention that Tite Kubo had originally wished to kill Byakuya but rescinded the decision due to external pressures and the character’s popularity. While there is no convincing proof for this, viewers who wanted to see Byakuya die see a lot of weight behind this theory.
Conclusion
The decision to let Byakuya Kuchiki survive remains a heated topic, and both sides of the debate are equally valid in their opinions. At the same time, it helped to highlight Byakuya’s development as a brother and a character.
Since the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime is adding a lot of anime-original scenes, it is likely that we get to see the Captain of the 6th Division steal the spotlight again in his future battles.
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