Bleach is beloved as one of the Shonen Jump big three, and while Bleach is known for having a fairly linear and straightforward plot, the narrative still included more than a few wild twists and turns that kept the story fresh. Ichigo Kurosaki was in for more than a few surprises, and so were his fans.
The premise was simple enough: the Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki lent Ichigo her powers and began training him as a substitute Soul Reaper. Then Ichigo journeyed to other worlds and met many new allies and villains. He faced many shocking revelations and twists that changed his life forever along the way. Which twists in Bleach had the biggest impact on the story?
10 When Rukia Was Arrested For Her Crimes
Rukia had broken Soul Society law by lending her powers to a seemingly ordinary human such as Ichigo. Still, in the first season of Bleach, she largely got away with it. Rukia was a rogue, using nothing but her own expertise and knowledge to train Ichigo as her substitute.
One Soul Reaper did confront Rukia about this, but that scene was treated more like a gag than a plot twist, and Rukia resumed her life with Ichigo. Then Renji Abarai came along, and he and Byakuya Kuchiki escorted Rukia back home. She was gone, just like that.
9 When Yoruichi Showed Her True Form
When Ichigo was getting ready to invade the Soul Society to rescue Rukia, a tour guide came along: a talking black cat named Yoruichi, who had a deep, manly voice. Later, Ichigo fainted from battle, and he was taken to shelter with no one but Yoruichi around. How did he get there?
Surprise: Yoruichi is actually a Soul Reaper, an ex-Captain with a tough body and expert martial arts training. She unveiled her true form to Ichigo, and once she put on some clothes, it was time to resume training Ichigo where Kisuke Urahara had left off.
8 When Central 46 Was Slaughtered
Central 46 is the Soul Society's governing body, made up of 46 councilors and politicians who reside in a vast, underground chamber. Few people ever meet Central 46, so no one was any the wiser when all 46 members were slain at once.
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya sensed a plot, and he rushed off to meet Central 46, only to find a lack of guards and a locked door. Once he broke in, he and his Lieutenant witnessed the massacre, and what was more, everyone thought that they had received orders from Central 46, despite all its members being dead. What was going on?
7 When Captain Sosuke Aizen Outed Himself As A Traitor
The mystery of Central 46's demise was tied to Captain Sosuke Aizen of squad 5. All along, Aizen had been plotting to betray the Soul Society to obtain ultimate power, and he intended to use the Hogyoku's properties to make an Arrancar army and rule the universe from the heavenly throne.
Aizen outed himself when the time was right, and Ichigo, Renji, Rukia, and the others could only stare in awe as Aizen elaborated on his past deeds and future intentions. The entire Soul Society was turned on its head that day.
6 When Isshin Kurosaki Revealed His Soul Reaper Powers
For months, Ichigo had been living a double life, fighting as a Soul Reaper while acting normal around his family and classmates. But Isshin Kurosaki, his father, was already in the know, having been a Soul Reaper once himself.
One fateful night, Grand Fisher returned as a primitive Arrancar. He nearly devoured Kon (in Ichigo's body) until Isshin arrived in his original Soul Reaper outfit, complete with his zanpakuto. He slew Grand Fisher with one stroke.
5 When Nelliel Was Outed As An Ex-Espada
During the Hueco Mundo arc, Ichigo befriended a toddler Arrancar named Nel, who adored him and supported him however she could. But there's more to her than that. When Ichigo was facing the 5th Espada, Nnoitora Gilga, Ichigo learned that Nelliel had once been Aizen's minion.
Nelliel had held the rank of #3 until the day came when a spiteful Nnoitora conspired with Szayelaporro Grantz to injure her and toss her into the Hueco Mundo desert. Nelliel shrank into a child, and she lost her memories. Thus, she couldn't have given herself away when she met Ichigo.
4 When Ulquiorra Cornered Orihime
Ichigo and his Soul Reaper allies were clashing with the Arrancars more than once in Karakura Town. Everyone knew that the final fight against Aizen and the Espadas was coming soon. Orihime Inoue did her part to prepare, and she trained with Rukia in the Soul Society.
Orihime went through the danger of returning home, and Ulquiorra Schiffer intercepted her. He demanded that Orihime come with him to Las Noches, Aizen's palace, and set some strict terms. Orihime had no choice but to obey, which prompted Ichigo to launch his rescue mission.
3 When Gin Ichimaru Turned On Aizen
Captain Gin Ichimaru also betrayed the Soul Society, following Aizen's lead and Captain Kaname Tosen. For a long time, Gin was totally inscrutable and wily, and he had a reputation for being unreadable. He seemed totally loyal to Aizen, but that illusion was shattered at the last minute.
Gin turned on Aizen, taking advantage of his Bankai's true nature and Aizen's apparent ignorance of it. Gin struck a mortal blow on Aizen's heart, but ultimately, Aizen turned the tables and left Gin for dead. At least Gin died happy when Rangiku and Ichigo showed up.
2 When The Quincies Returned In Force
The concept of Quincy archers was established early, with Uryu Ishida and his grandfather Soken being two examples. Everyone thought that the Quincy were otherwise extinct, but late in the Bleach manga, this tribe of Hollow hunters returnedーwith an army.
All along, the Quincy had hidden in a parallel dimension, creating the invisible empire, the Wandenreich. Now the time had come for revenge, and the Quincy king, Yhwach, was ready to create a deathless world, and he'd crush the Soul Society to achieve that dream.
1 When Ichigo Learned Of His Quincy Heritage
Bleach's early episodes clearly depicted Ichigo's mother Masaki as a doting mother in flashbacks, but she lost her life to Grand Fisher when Ichigo was young. For a long time, that was all that fans knew about Masakiーuntil the manga's final arc fleshed her out some more. Like her future husband Isshin, Masaki was a spiritually aware personーa Quincy, in fact. She could make spirit bows like Uryu and Ryuken Ishida, and she nearly died when the Hollow called White attacked her. Through Masaki, Ichigo is part Quincy, and for that reason, Yhwach calls Ichigo "my son lost in the darkness." Ichigo's war against the Wandenreich just became a whole lot more personal.
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