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Discover 8 times when Ichigo Kurosaki shocked the Bleach fanbase. Explore the significance behind each moment as well.
The protagonist of Bleach, Ichigo Kurosaki, is a man who goes from a substitute Soul Reaper to the most important figure in the entire series. In his path to saving the realms from various antagonists, he has experienced more than a few standout moments.
Hence, here are 8 times Ichigo Kurosaki shocked the entire Bleach fanbase. These instances are not necessarily all positive but rather refer to scenes that dropped the jaws of fans due to their build-up and consequences.
1) Ichigo Kills the Soul King
The Soul King is an enigmatic yet crucial part of Bleach, irreplaceable in his role of stabilizing the world. When Yhwach defeated Squad Zero and was on his way to killing Adnyeus, Ichigo was the only one who could intervene and stop him.
When facing the Quincy King, however, fans were stunned to see Blut Vene on Ichigo’s body. Carrying Quincy’s blood himself, Ichigo’s body had been manipulated not to tolerate the existence of the Soul King. Hence, rather than protect the ruler from the antagonist, Ichigo himself ended up slashing the Soul King in half.
This began the collapse of the world, and Ichigo Kurosaki shocked the Bleach fanbase in a manner no one ever expected.
2) Ichigo Defeats Zaraki
Soon after Ichigo began his attack on Soul Society to save Rukia, he was faced by a Captain of the Gotei 13 – Kenpachi Zaraki. As one of the strongest figures in the series, fans believed there was no way for the protagonist to get past this obstacle.
However, Ichigo proved everyone wrong. Despite being overwhelmed initially by Zaraki, Ichigo was able to resist with the help of Zangetsu. He pushed his opponent into removing his eyepatch and using his full power, which sent tremors across the entire surrounding.
In a final clash between their spiritual pressures and swords, Ichigo fell unconscious, but not before taking Zaraki down with him. This proved his resolve as well as the unbelievable power he wielded.
3) Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde Transformation
During his battle against Ulquiorra in the Fake Karakura Town Arc, Ichigo was burdened by heavy purpose. He had to save Orihime and also put a dent in Aizen’s forces. While he used his Hollow Mask and Soul Reaper abilities, he was outmatched against his opponent.
Ulquiorra left Ichigo without an answer, making him feel despair and even coming close to killing him. To not lose, the protagonist lost his sense of self and revealed his Vasto Lorde form. This new appearance, created from his Hollow abilities, possessed enough power to completely destroy Ulquiorra.
Once Ichigo was restored to normal, he himself was shocked by what he had done. This was a feeling shared by the characters around him as well as the fans watching.
4) Ichigo Reveals His Bankai
The Bankai is the finishing move of all Soul Reapers, known for its difficulty as well as effectiveness. In his battle against Byakuya in the Soul Society Arc, Ichigo had to fight against the Captain’s powerful Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
As a counter, however, he surprisingly revealed his own Bankai – Tensa Zangetsu. Fans were shocked by the simplicity of this ability, simply turning his blade black. At the same time, Ichigo quickly put doubts to rest by showing a drastic increase in his physical capabilities. By enhancing his speed, spirit energy, and prowess with the blade, Ichigo could stand on par with his powerful opponent.
5) Ichigo Loses His Powers
In the concluding battle of the Fake Karakura Town Arc, Ichigo was faced against Aizen, whose grand plan had nearly come to fruition. While he had already faced humiliation at the hands of the antagonist before, he came prepared with this time.
To ensure the victory of the Soul Reapers, Ichigo unleashed the Final Getsuga Tensho. This was a move powerful enough to greatly wound Aizen at the cost of Ichigo’s Shinigami powers. It allowed Urahara to seal the villain and finally end the battle.
Therefore, this battle marked the end of an era, where fans believed Ichigo to retire from his substitute Soul Reaper duties. His bittersweet goodbye with Rukia made this a moment no fan would ever forget.
6) Ichigo Learns the Truth About His Parents
When Ichigo was looking to remake his Zanpakuto in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, he was forced to confront his true lineage. This finally revealed to fans the details regarding Ichigo’s parents and their relationship.
Masaki Kurosaki, a Quincy, had met and saved the Soul Reaper Isshin from a Hollow. They gradually fell in love with each other and went on to have Ichigo. However, Masaki ended up dying at Grand Fisher, left powerless due to Yhwach’s Auswahlen.
This was a moment of shock since fans had always believed her to die from an accident. It also added a layer of depth to Ichigo’s bloodline as well as his reason for defeating the Quincy King.
7) Ichigo’s Final Battle Against Yhwach
Ichigo’s final battle against Yhwach was a highly foreshadowed confrontation in Bleach that undoubtedly lived up to expectations. Faced against the fearsome Quincy King, the protagonist had several ups and downs while leaving fans at the edge of their seats.
Initially, Ichigo revealed the new form of his Tensa Zangetsu, engaging in an exhilarating fight with Yhwach. However, with the help of The Almighty, the antagonist severely wounded Ichigo and even absorbed his powers. Right when all seemed lost, Tsukishima used Book of the End to restore Ichigo’s abilities.
With the helping hand of the Fullbringer as well as assistance from allies, Ichigo could take Yhwach by surprise and deal a decisive slash. This marked the end of a great war filled with loss and tragedy.
8) Ichigo Rescues Rukia from Execution
The entire Soul Society Arc followed Ichigo’s relentless pursuit to save Rukia from execution. For its sake, he rapidly evolved and defeated the likes of Renji and Zaraki. Soon after his Bankai training, he reached the end of his journey, freeing Rukia from the Sokyoku.
This was a moment of jubilation for all fans, where the protagonist stunned the other Captains with his powers. It was also a full-circle moment from the first episode, where Rukia transferred her powers to help Ichigo become a Soul Reaper.
Watching Ichigo’s determination pay off and Rukia finally express her true emotions after several episodes of being depressed left an indelible mark on viewers.
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