Bleach: 10 Times Actions Spoke Louder Than Words | CBR

Bleach is a beloved shonen series famous for following the rule of cool. Some fans may not think everything makes perfect sense, but author Tite Kubo ensures that Bleach will always be a stylish sight to behold.

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When it comes to style, there are few things cooler than moments where no words need to be spoken to convey an impactful revelation. Rather than letting characters monologue and explain why they're about to win, Bleach oftentimes lets the actions of its characters do all the talking, and it creates some of the most exciting fights in all of anime.

10 Renji Abarai Gives Ichigo Kurosaki A Haunting Reality Check

Early on in the Bleach anime, Ichigo has established a rhythm of dealing with minor Hollows and understanding his own capabilities as a substitute Soul Reaper. It's at this point that he gets a brutal reality check when he refuses to let Rukia Kuchiki be taken back to Soul Society for the punishment of giving him powers.

Renji Abarai uses his Soul Slayer to deliver a brutal blow into Ichigo's shoulder in a chilling scene that demonstrated just how out of his depth Ichigo was.

9 Ichigo Takes Down Three Lieutenants Without Using His Sword

Right after Ichigo's initial Bankai training but before his fight with Byakuya Kuchiki, there was another moment for him to shine. On top of Sokyoku Hill where Rukia was scheduled to receive her sentence, only a handful of Soul Society's lieutenants stood between Ichigo and his goal.

Yet, rather than unsheathe Zangetsu, Ichigo manages to take down all three lieutenants with his bare hands in one fell swoop. In terms of letting the audience know how much Ichigo had grown, it couldn't have been done better with words.

8 Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez Makes A Terrifying First Impression

Rukia and Ichigo were familiar with the new Arrancar threat, but gravely underestimated it. After a short introduction where Rukia remarks about how much stronger Grimmjow's Spiritual Pressure is, the Espada wastes no time in punching a hole through her stomach before the pair even had time to react.

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The following battle, including moments such as Grimmjow catching Ichigo's sword in Bankai form bare-handed, was full of further attacks that proved beyond a doubt how hopeless the situation was for the protagonist.

7 Kenpachi Zaraki Reveals His True Strength

The concept of Spiritual Pressure was something that Ichigo and the viewers were already familiar with, but not quite like this. Captain of the 11th squad, Kenpachi Zaraki, made one of Bleach's most intimidating character entrances ever by piling on oppressive Spiritual Pressure.

After revealing that his eyepatch was a device created to drain his strength, fans were left in awe as he then removed it and to cut a nearby building in two with one swipe of his haggard blade.

6 Isshin Kurosaki Raises Questions About Ichigo's True Heritage

Isshin Kurosaki was, for all intents and purposes, a comic relief character. That's why when Ichigo is about to be killed by an Arrancar, this moment stands out.

Yet it isn't the act of Isshin effortlessly killing the foe that makes this special, but rather his clothing itself. Appearing before Ichigo in Soul Reaper attire, let alone with the signature white captain robe draped over one shoulder, was a shocking moment that raised countless questions about the origins of Ichigo's father and their family heritage.

5 Sosuke Aizen Stops Ichigo's Bankai With One Finger

After the legendary battle with Byakuya, Ichigo had proven his newfound strength. His Bankai was fast enough to keep pace with Soul Society's strongest, and just when nothing could seemingly go wrong, captain Sosuke Aizen turned traitor. Having just bested Byakuya, Ichigo and the audience both assumed that Aizen would pose little threat.

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The "Number One" track flares up and Ichigo attacks, only for his Soul Slayer to be stopped in its tracks by Aizen's single index finger and the music comes crashing to a halt. With one action, Aizen proved how big of a threat he was.

4 Gin Ichimaru's Betrayal Revealed His True Intentions

Some viewers had their suspicions about the true intentions of Gin Ichimaru, but few could have predicted this scene. In the midst of Aizen and Gin triumphantly heading towards their final goal, Gin extends his Soul Slayer directly through Aizen's chest.

This is the ultimate betrayal in Bleach, and the shocking speed at which it happens completely changes the viewer's perspective of where Gin's real allegiance has been without a word being spoken.

3 Ichigo's Inner Hollow Is Unleashed Against Ulquiorra Cifer

Many of the Espada had been dangerous adversaries, but Ulquiorra Cifer was on a different level entirely. Fans knew this would be a tough final battle and Ichigo did indeed struggle until he was on the brink of death.

But from that brink rose a completely Hollow form of Ichigo that had an answer for every one of Ulquiorra's attacks. In the process of overpowering him and ripping his arm off, Ichigo stayed silent, while the guttural screams of his Hollow form informed viewers of how serious the situation was.

2 Ichigo Facepalms Aizen Into Another Continent

Characters and viewers alike were desperate to see Aizen fall, and the situation was dire. However, after another one of Ichigo's trademark off-screen training sessions, he made a grand entrance with a chain-clad new outfit to boot. His mannerisms exuded confidence and fans were given a spark of hope.

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When Ichigo forcibly moved Aizen to a new location face-first before the villain could understand what happened, the cheers could practically be heard around the world. Ichigo displayed his newfound strength in the most cathartic moment in the series.

1 The First Time Ichigo Achieves Bankai Form Is Unforgettable

By the climax of the Soul Society arc, Ichigo had been through numerous fights and just barely made it through each of them. He learned that he simply wasn't fast enough to compete with many of Soul Society's fighters.

However, after a secretive training session with Yoruichi Shihoin, Ichigo is ready to face Byakuya, covered in mysterious bandages. What follows is Ichigo's unforgettable first transformation into Bankai form, and a fight where Ichigo lets his speed and attacks say more to Byakuya than his voice ever could.

NEXT: Bleach: The 10 Best Decisions Ichigo Made, Ranked


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