15 Bleach Deaths That Will Leave You Heartbroken!

The passing away is always a melancholic event; it may not be tragic per se, but it is undeniably sorrowful. It is just as prevalent in fictional narratives as it is in reality, and the departures of beloved characters from our favorite series can leave us equally heartbroken. This is especially true for the popular anime and manga, Bleach, which has seen its fair share of deaths among both main protagonists and antagonists. Despite these numerous losses, fans have found it particularly difficult to come to terms with the demise of some of their most cherished characters. In this piece, we will delve into a compilation of the 15 most impactful deaths in Bleach, detailing each one as they occurred within the series’ narrative.

15. Kūgo Ginjō

Kūgo Ginjō is the head of Xcution and a key antagonist in the Fullbringer storyline. He’s not just a shinigami but also wields the power of Fullbring. Before Ichigo, he was the first Substitute Shinigami, but at some point, he gave up this role and disappeared. Later, he joined Xcution under Tsukishima’s leadership, eventually taking over as the group’s commander when Tsukishima stepped down.

Seventeen months following his battle with Aizen, he makes his reappearance and invites Ichigo to join him at Xcution headquarters. It’s there that he shares insights about Fullbringers and proposes a way for Ichigo to restore his lost powers. However, once this is accomplished, he unexpectedly betrays Ichigo, revealing the organization’s true intentions: they didn’t aim to deprive him of his powers through him, but instead sought to acquire his powers in order to amplify their own strength.

Following the appearance of a Shinigami from Gotei 13, he’s whisked away to another realm by Yukio’s Fullbring. In this alternate space, he engaged in combat with Ichigo and Ishida. Despite a fierce battle, he ultimately succumbed to the Shinigami’s might. His resurrection occurred during the Quincy War arc; however, his original demise left a significant mark on Ichigo and his narrative as the Stand-in Shinigami, which is why it’s featured on this list.

14. Kaname Tōsen

Kaname Tōsen served as the leader of the 9th Shinigami division. Sajin Komamura, who would later become the captain of the 7th division, had been friends with him even before they both joined the Shinigami Academy. Despite his stern demeanor, there was no animosity between them. A century before the current storyline, Tōsen was already collaborating with Aizen on Hollowfication research, as he believed that the ideals of the 5th division’s captain were the key to achieving peace in the future.

In the storyline known as the Deceptive Karakura Town arc, he encounters his old comrade and discloses that the motive behind his treachery towards Shinigami was a need for retribution against the slayer of his friend, driven by his strong sense of justice. With the power gained from the Hōgyoku, he transformed into a Hollow, but in the thrill of seeing him again after so long, he was fatally struck by Hisagi, his former subordinate. After reverting to human form and requesting forgiveness for his misdeeds, he is annihilated by an Aizen spell while his two ex-accomplices watch on.

13. Baraggan Louisenbairn

King Baraggan, though captivating in many aspects, lacked emotional complexity. He was a self-absorbed monarch, primarily concerned with upholding his dignity as a ruler. Compared to Starrk, Ulquiorra, and even Harribel, his narrative wasn’t as compelling. However, his encounter against Soi Fon proved intriguing, pushing the 2nd Division’s Captain to her utmost limits. In fact, he made her utilize her Bankai on multiple occasions within the same battle.

With Hachigen’s assistance, Soi Fon and the Vizards successfully deceived Baraggan, ultimately exploiting his own method to eliminate him. It turned out that not even Baraggan himself could withstand the lethal force of his own technique.

Thanks to Hachigen’s help, Soi Fon and the Vizards tricked Baraggan and killed him by using his very own powerful technique against him. Even Baraggan couldn’t resist the destructive power of his own method.

12. Coyote Starrk

The demises of the Espada, with the exception of Ulquiorra’s, served a significant role in the plot, yet they didn’t provoke much emotional response, despite being intriguing, particularly Starrk’s. This was largely due to Starrk’s tale being captivating and profound, which wasn’t applicable to Baraggan. Notably, Starrk engaged in a fierce battle with Kyoraku until the end, arguably one of the most compelling fights in Fake Karakura.

In the heat of battle, Kyoraku refrained from unleashing his powerful Bankai, as Starrk’s exceptional skills almost forced him into that decision. Yet, with the aid of the Vizoreds, he skillfully dodged Starrk’s Cero attacks and ultimately utilized his Zanpakuto’s unique abilities to outmaneuver Starrk, leading to a dignified victory where he struck Starrk down, concluding an incredibly grand fight, and eliminating the First Espada.

11. Gin Ichimaru

Character like Gin Ichimaru can leave you with a complex mix of admiration and disdain from the get-go. His enigmatic and suspicious nature didn’t make his eventual betrayal alongside Aizen seem out of place, considering their close bond even before Gin ascended to the rank of Captain in the 3rd Division. However, what was unexpected was that Gin had a hidden motive – revenge. It turned out that he had been secretly working as a double agent all along, a fact known only to him.

To clarify, it was discovered that while he was just a boy and hanging out with Rangiku, Gin had seen some Shinigami, who he recognized as the ones who departed from where he found an unconscious Rangiku, alongside Aizen. Recognizing Aizen as their leader, Gin made a vow to eliminate him at some point in the future. Later, he would become a Shinigami and formed an alliance with Aizen, eventually learning how to break free from his Zanpakuto’s hypnosis power.

In the authentic Karakura Town within Soul Society, Gin ultimately chose to deceive Aizen, planning to eliminate him and seize the Hogyoku from him. However, Aizen confessed that he had anticipated this betrayal. The challenge was that Aizen’s transformation was now complete, as the Hogoyku no longer physically resided within him. Catching Gin off guard, Aizen retaliated for the treachery but found happiness when he saw Ichigo returning to confront and vanquish him.

10. Sōken Ishida

Sōken Ishida’s passing left a deep impression on his grandson, despite it being a straightforward event – he was slain by a group of unruly Hollows in the mortal realm due to the Soul Society failing to dispatch Shinigami for his protection. However, its consequences were far-reaching. For instance, during Ishida’s battle against Mayuri Kurotsuchi, whose division is responsible for tracking Hollow activity in the Human World, the Captain disclosed a startling truth to the young Quincy.

Specifically, Mayuri admitted that he was the one who caused Ishida’s grandfather’s demise. He knew there were too many Hollows, yet he postponed sending additional Shinigami. It wasn’t until Sōken had perished that he assigned the necessary Shinigami to transport Ishida’s ancestor’s body to Soul Society for Mayuri’s examination and experiments. Upon learning this, Ishida’s resentment toward the Shinigami has transformed from a general dislike of them to a specific hatred towards Mayuri.

9. Nemu Kurotsuchi

From early on, it was a challenging role for Nemu, being the daughter of Mayuri, a burden that took on greater weight when she gave her life for her father and mentor. Despite Mayuri’s affection for her, their bond was warped and repugnant, which fueled Ishida’s intense dislike towards Mayuri when they first came into conflict. Nevertheless, Nemu displayed remarkable devotion, so much so that she willingly gave up her life to protect Mayuri during their battle against Pernida Parkgjas.

During the battle, Nemu skillfully dodges Pernida’s potent attack and courageously advances towards him. There, she eliminates one of Pernida’s Quincy duplicates and protects Mayuri. She assaults Pernida with Konpaku, hitting him in his eye and hand, causing him to disintegrate. However, after leaving Mayuri on a towering structure, Pernida manages to shatter Nemu into numerous fragments and reconstruct himself. Yet, as he persists in absorbing Nemu, he finds himself surrounded by several eyes.

Following a trance, Mayuri successfully prevents Pernida from manipulating Nemu’s thoughts. This action prompts Pernida to undergo the consequences of absorbing Nemu, a pituitary gland-derived substance, causing rapid cell decay that ultimately leads to its self-destruction. The ensuing explosion results in the demise of both Nemu and Pernida on the battlefield. Upon Nemu’s death, Mayuri openly shows her emotions and is deeply saddened.

8. Kaien Shiba

Despite occurring earlier in the storyline, Kaien Shiba’s death in Bleach significantly influenced Rukia’s narrative, particularly during the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo arcs. Specifically, when Kaien Shiba served as Lieutenant under Ukitake, he discovered that the Hollow Metastacia had murdered and taken over his wife’s body. Driven by vengeance, he ventured alone to avenge her. Tragically, Metastacia then possessed Kaien.

In my perspective as a movie reviewer, I must say that the climactic moment in this action-packed sequence saw our protagonist brutally assaulted by both Rukia and Ukitake. Though Ukitake ultimately dispatched the Hollow, tragically, he was compelled to eliminate Kaien alongside it due to an inherent inability to slay the Hollow without also taking Kaien’s life. Heart-wrenchingly, this left our protagonist paralyzed by his ailment. This harrowing turn of events forced Rukia to take the unthinkable step of ending her mentor and dearest friend’s life, a decision that Ukitake sought to prevent at any cost.

Rukia stood speechless, frozen in place with her Zanpakuto unsheathed, as Kaien and his Hollow form lunged at her. In essence, Kaien attacked Rukia through her sword, leaving a piece of his heart within it. Gratefully acknowledging Rukia’s actions, Kaien whispered, “He gave his heart to her.” Upon Rukia’s request, Kaien was carried by her to Kūkaku and Ganju, where he breathed his last smile. His physical form dissipated completely. Initially, Kūkaku and Ganju assumed that Rukia had killed him because she hadn’t shared the details of what happened with them, leaving them puzzled as to why Kaien didn’t harbor resentment towards her. It wasn’t until Ukitake clarified everything for Kūkaku that she finally accepted Rukia’s apology.

7. Chōjirō Sasakibe

In the series, Sasakibe’s demise stood out as a unique event. He was not a character who appeared frequently throughout the storyline. Despite being unveiled as one of the strongest Lieutenants later on, we seldom witnessed his prowess in action. His final confrontation took place off-screen, and all we were shown was him pierced by a Heilig Pfeil, which resulted in his untimely death.

Following the theft of his Bankai by Driscoll Berci, the Sternritter “O”, Sasakibe, is depicted hurtling into Yamamoto’s office on a colossal Heilig Pfeil impalement. Despite his critical injuries, he communicates with the Captain-Commander, warning him that outsiders can seize their Bankai. Shortly after, he succumbed to his wounds and perished. Sasakibe was later cremated, and Yamamoto, having lost his dearest friend, was deeply saddened, making Sasakibe’s demise crucial to the storyline.

6. Ulquiorra Cifer

In the realm of Hueco Mundo, Ichigo fatally struck Ulquiorra when he was in his Vasto Lorde form. This transformation occurred after Ulquiorro had initially killed him. The fight between these two was incredibly intense and can easily be considered among the top battles within the entire series. Despite the Espada dominating the battle for most of its duration, they barely had a chance against Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde form.

Following a fierce attack by Vasto Lorde Ichigo’s strongest move, Ulquiorra is left in critical shape, retaining only his upper body, one arm, and a single wing. Miraculously, his midsection and head remain intact. In an attempt to finish off Ulquiorra completely, the Hollow prepares to fling the remnants of him onto the ground, but Ishida intervenes. Despite his dire state, Ulquiorra capitalizes on this opening to conjure a Lanza Del Relampago, a powerful lightning spear, which he intends to use to shatter one of the Hollow’s horns, the source of its Cero, and launch a surprise attack from behind.

After Cero’s loss of concentration, it morphs out of shape dramatically before detonating. As the Hollow’s mask is obliterated by the blast, Ichigo’s visage becomes clear. With the explosion destroying the mask, his body begins to heal, even as he fades into unconsciousness. The gaping wound in his chest miraculously seals shut. Suddenly, Ichigo rises to his feet, giving the impression that he has just awakened from a troubling dream.

In this rephrased version, we find that Tensa Zangetsu is taken out from Ishida’s form by Ulquiorra, who subsequently positions him confronting Ichigo, pleading with him to resolve the conflict permanently. However, Ichigo refuses firmly and informs him that to even the fight, he must undergo the same amputation as Ulquiorra did on his limbs and leg. Surprisingly, Ulquiorra loses all of his power at this point, and his body starts deteriorating slowly.

5. Masaki Kurosaki

At age nine, Ichigo’s mother, Masaki, passed away. On a casual walk together, Ichigo suddenly saw a woman in distress. Unfortunately, this was a trick by the potent Hollow Grand Fisher, who aimed to consume Ichigo. To protect him, Masaki was fatally attacked by Grand Fisher. At that moment, Ichigo wasn’t aware of his mother’s background, but later on, everything was clarified for him.

Masaki met with a tragic accident caused by a car. For a long time, Ichigo felt responsible for her death until he discovered that it was actually the Hollow who had been at fault. Approximately two years later, Isshin informed Ichigo that Yhwach was truly the one behind Masaki’s demise. It turned out that Yhwach had used his “Auswählen” ability to regain his lost powers, which also stripped all “tainted” Quincies of their abilities. Under normal circumstances, Masaki would have been able to withstand Grand Fisher’s attack. However, she was ultimately killed when Yhwach intervened and deprived her of her abilities.

4. Retsu Unohana

In the epic battle, Retsu Unohana engaged Kenpachi Zaraki with the aim to unleash his hidden might. This fierce and magnificent showdown pitted two of Soul Society’s greatest warriors against each other. Yet, it was not just a test of combat skills; it represented Unohauna’s selfless act.

During their fierce battle, Zaraki keeps stumbling multiple times, and it appears that his body is slowly detaching from his skeleton. However, when they clash swords again, everything goes back to normal, causing Kenpachi to ponder if the entire encounter was a dream. Even though they’ve both inflicted blows, neither combatant shows any signs of stopping their fight.

Retsu reminisces about her initial encounter with Kenpachi and asserts that there’s room for only one Kenpachi at a particular instance. She then says goodbye to Kenpachi, but their farewell is interrupted when his sword pierces her throat. At that moment, Zaraki emerged victorious from the significant clash, becoming the lone Kenpachi alive at the time. Unohana was also defeated, impaled by Zaraki’s blade.

Zaraki’s triumph, however, holds a mix of joy and sadness because he had pleaded with Unohana not to jeopardize her life fighting him. In the heartfelt moment when Unohana shared that Zaraki was the one who brought happiness amidst conflict, Zaraki found connection with his Zanpakutō’s spiritual essence, ready to disclose its name.

3. Jūshirō Ukitake

Captain Jūshirō Ukitake of the 13th Division in Gotei 13 was known for his wisdom and nobility, yet he was also a deeply sensitive soul. His exceptional strength within the organization was recognized, even though his illness frequently left him bedridden. In his early years, Ukitake contracted a terminal lung disease and was essentially given up for dead by doctors. However, his parents’ fervent prayers to the deity Mimihagi resulted in their son’s miraculous survival.

Consequently, Mimihagi, who was the Soul King’s right-hand man, merged with Ukitake, thereby saving his life. This transformation granted Ukitake immense power as a Shinigami, but it did not eradicate his illness. While Mimihagi resided within Ukitake’s body, he remained immune to the disease, yet he would still experience bouts of coughing up blood and require rest.

In the midst of the Quincy War, when Yhwach was on the verge of killing and consuming his father, the Soul King, Ukitatke chose to give up his life in an attempt to halt this act. By performing a ritual with the Kamikake on his back, he aimed to become the Soul King’s new vice-regent, hoping this would prevent Yhwach from absorbing him. Regrettably, the scheme didn’t work; Ukitake did sacrifice himself, yet it didn’t deter Yhwach, who was eventually defeated by Ichigo at a later point in time.

2. Yhwach

In the realm of Soul Society, Yhwach encounters Aizen who boasts that this is “his” domain. As the leader of the Quincy, he assaults the former captain, yet Aizen’s attack fails to harm him and instead frees him from his confining chair. Before a battle can ensue, Ichigo and Renji make their appearance. Yhwach once more annihilates Tensa Zangetsu, which had been mended by Shukuro Tsukishima, utilizing his formidable power. Renji then unleashes his Bankai and launches an attack, but is vanquished without even a glance from his adversary.

Later, the ruler of Quincy declares that all Bankai have been destroyed in the future. Just as Abarai is about to receive the final blow, Aizen steps in to defend him. Yhwach mocks him, implying a weak mindset which the former captain despises, but Aizen retaliates by using the mightiest destruction spell, Hado 99, Goryuutenmetsu, without uttering any incantation.

As Aizen watches the annihilation of Soul Society, he rushes towards Yhwach. However, Yhwach informedly reveals that the Kyōka Suigetsu has already been shattered. Upon this revelation, Aizen is swiftly defeated with a powerful strike to his abdomen. Shortly after, Ichigo’s attempt to strike the Quincy King from behind also fails.

Yhwach takes leave and wounds him severely with a chest injury, then releases his full power against the Soul Society; yet, unexpectedly, the leader of the Quincy recognizes that he’s not battling Ichigo but Aizen, who had deceived him throughout their fight using the power of his Zanpakuto. Subsequently, Tensa Zangetsu slices through him, and Ichigo – in reality – divides Yhwach with Getsuga Tensho.

When all hope appears lost, Yhwach comes back to life thanks to his unique abilities, claiming that if he can alter the future, he can also change the instant of his death. Following the absorption of Aizen, Yhwach not only deflects Ichigo’s assault but also readies to combine the Soul Society with the human world. Just as it seems he has the victory in hand, King of the Quincy, Yhwach is unexpectedly struck by Ishida (the sole individual resistant to his power and hence invisible to predictions). In response, Ishida fires a special arrow designed to neutralize Yhwach’s powers for a brief moment, giving Ichigo the opportunity to seize his now fractured Zanpakuto and attack.

Yhwach extends his hand, believing he can halt the attack, only to find Tensa Zangetsu shattering into pieces instead. In its place emerges the original Zangetsu, causing Yhwach to realize that the vision he experienced was not a mere dream but rather a glimpse of the future revealed to him by Haschwalth.

In his weakened state, on the brink of death, Yhwach informs Ichigo that the path to a fearless world has been shut due to him, as living beings will continue to live under the shadow of mortality and dread of death. Fast-forwarding ten years, Yhwach’s power will reappear momentarily before being utterly destroyed by Kazui Kurosaki, the son of Ichigo and Orihime.

1. Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto

Captain-Commander Yamamoto has been a cornerstone of the Bleach universe since its inception. Despite his advanced age, he was both feared and revered within Soul Society as well as beyond its borders. He was considered the strongest among the Shinigami for thousands of years and played a pivotal role in creating the Gotei 13. He was virtually unbeatable by any foe, except for his sworn adversary, Yhwach, the Quincy leader.

Following the Sternritter’s assault on Soul Society, Yamamoto eventually chose to engage in combat. After avenging Sasakibe’s demise, he confronted Yhwach once more. The ensuing struggle was intense, with Yamamoto ultimately emerging victorious. However, it turned out that the Yhwach he had fought was none other than Royd Lloyd, the Sternritter “Y”, who employed his abilities to assume a false Yhwach form.

In this scenario, it’s clear that Yamamoto demonstrated he could have overcome Yhwach in this encounter; however, following the grueling fight, his powers dwindled noticeably. The genuine Yhwach then emerged and effortlessly defeated the worn-out Yamamoto, who was unable to endure another such battle. This was a sorrowful event, a death that underscored the terrifying might of the Quincy, and it left the Gotei 13 in profound despair.

2025-06-08 22:46