Unresolved Mysteries in Bleach (2024)

Bleach is a popular shonen manga that primarily focuses on exciting combat and character emotions, yet there is a lot more that grabs the reader’s attention than just exhilarating fights and facial expressions. Beyond the battlefield lies a deeper layer of mysteries, yet Tite Kubo has only scratched the surface of these secrets. Devoted fans of the series want answers to these questions, whether it’s unexplained historical events or a character’s true motivations.

The original manga run ended in 2016, yet there is always potential for a follow-up, especially given the success of the anime revival. Kubo even wrote a hypothetical manga arc known as Echoing Jaws of Hell in a one-shot commemorating Bleach. He clearly has a longing to build more worlds and explore more characters. These particular desires are shared by many fans around the world, but to remains to be seen if these syteries will be solved.

10 Isshin’s Bankai is Only Vaguely Hinted At

It Must Certainly Be a Powerful One to Begin With

Despite his lack of practice for so many years, Ichigo’s father is still a master swordsman with an intensely powerful Reiatsu. There’s a reason why he was a former captain of the 10th Division in the first place. He’s very skilled at handling Engetsu, an explosive Zanpakuto with a Shikai release that combines fire and blood for ranged attacks. However, Isshin never got the chance to use his Bankai in battle, since Aizen greatly injured him before he could do so during the events of the White Invasion.

Unlike most unrevealed Bankai in the Bleach series, there are some hints on what to expect from Isshin’s most powerful technique. Namely, it’s extremely demanding on the body. Aizen outright states as such when he fights Isshin. Fans can only speculate that his Bankai performs the same functions as his Shikai, but on a far larger and more destructive scale.

9 The Power Behind The ''K'' and The ''N'' Schrifts

Even The Anime Didn't Bother Expanding Their Powers

BG9 and Robert Accutrone are some of Yhwach’s most devout soldiers. Like the rest of their fellow Sternritter, they have designations known as Schrifts that grant them specific abilities. However, the meaning of their respective ''K'' and ''N'' Schrifts remains a mystery. This is a particularly strange conundrum in the case of the revived anime, which is made worse by the fact that both characters are seemingly done for.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is known to expand scenes from the manga, including Bankai reveals that have never been showcased in that medium. BG9 and Robert get no such luck in that regard. It’s commonly speculated, but never outright confirmed, that BG9’s ''K'' stands for ''Knowledge'' due to his ability to extract data. To a lesser extent, Robert’s ''N'' is sometimes theorized as ''Near'' or ''Nimble'' due to his speed.

8 The Full Extent of Tensa Zangetsu’s Power

Ichigo's Bankai Deserves a Better Showcase

It’s no secret that Bleach’s rushed ending in the manga put a stop to many plans that Kubo intended, but was unable to finish due to his declining health. The climactic fight between Ichigo versus Yhwach is hit particularly hard with this. In the final chapters, Ichigo unleashes his latest form of Bankai in the final arc, Tensa Zangetsu. Yhwach abruptly stops him from activating special powers when he uses ''The Almighty'' to break the blade.

It remains to be seen if Kubo’s original vision for this final battle would’ve included a full showcase of Tensa Zangetsu. Ichigo does pull off a more powerful version of Getsuga Tensho against Yhwach and nearly kills him with it, but the Bankai’s true abilities have yet to be revealed. There is hope, since Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War will likely give fans the ending they always wanted to see in the manga proper.

7 Ichibe’s True Intentions For The World

Something Isn't Quite Right With The Soul King's Most Devout Follower

Ichibe Hyosube is a legitimately terrifying leader of the Royal Guard, and not just because of his reality warping techniques in battle. The high priest is religiously devout to the Soul King and can manipulate the names of spiritual beings. However, there is an underlying ominous presence about him due to his bloodlust in battle, which calls into question whether or not he truly has noble intentions for the governing worlds.

Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World is a light novel with direct involvement from Kubo himself. The novel suggests Ichibe’s darker side has not yet been fully shown. Rather pointedly, he’s very callous and uncaring towards the Soul King’s mutilation, whereas even monsters like Yhwach and Sosuke Aizen took issue with it. Furthermore, Ichibe was more than willing to sacrifice Ichigo’s life to become the new Soul King.

6 Sosuke Aizen’s Bankai Remains a Mystery

It's The Most Highly Anticipated Reveal in The Entire Series

With a huge cast of hundreds of characters, it’s only inevitable that Bleach cannot give everybody a proper demonstration of their full powers. However, the most perplexing case involves Aizen, who is arguably the most powerful villain of the series behind Yhwach. He’s able to cast nearly flawless illusions via his Shikai release, Kyoka Suigetsu. With such a devastatingly broken ability, the heroes should be grateful he never bothers with Bankai.

It’s a very frightening prospect to think about. Aizen’s Shikai is more dangerous than most character’s Bankai. For this reason alone, fans have a morbid curiosity on what could possibly top Kyoka Suigetsu. Bankai is the final-upgraded form of any Zanpakuto, which means Aizen has something even more dangerous up his sleeve. Tellingly, he never feels the need to rely on his Bankai, not even when he’s fighting Yhwach.

5 Undetermined Fates of The Original Gotei 13

Only Two Have Been Accounted For, And They're Both Dead

Over a thousand years ago, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto led the first generation of the Gotei 13. They were nothing more than ruthless murderers, yet their brutal violence gave way to relative peace after the Wandereich’s first defeat. Shunsui Kyoraku believes they were the strongest iteration of the Gotei 13 in history. Regardless of their strength, only Yamamoto and Retsu Unohana made it to the present day.

The fates of the remaining members have yet to be revealed in Bleach. Whether they’ve been killed in action or imprisoned for their crimes in Muken, the outcome of the original Gotei 13 is the subject of many theories. Each of them have very unique character designs, and with the theoretical prospect of the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc, there is potential to bring them back into the fold.

4 Rise And Fall of The Shiba Clan

At Some Point, They Were Among The Most Powerful Families

At some point in Bleach history, the Shiba clan was among the five noble families of Soul Society. However, for reasons that remain unclear, they lost their high status after the untimely death of their head of the clan, Kaien Shiba. The noble families are rarely touched upon in general, but they’re supposed to hold the greatest authoritative power in Soul Society, even more so than the Gotei 13 and Royal Guard.

The Shiba clan was prominent in the early days of the series. Kaien is a very important figure in Rukia’s background history, while Ganju and Kukaku Shiba assisted Ichigo during his daring rescue mission to save Rukia before she was executed. The Shiba clan’s importance faded away as the story progressed, but if the series does explore the royal families more in the future, there’s always a chance they could make a comeback.

3 History of The Four Noble Houses

They Rule The World From The Shadows

The Royal Guard may protect the Soul King, and the Gotei 13 may be a powerful military force, but even they answer to the noble houses. There’s a lot of political intrigue regarding their overall influence, yet only three of the four noble houses are known. The Shihoin and Kuchiki clans are the most famous examples, while the Tsunayashiro clan only shows up in Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World. The fourth house is yet to be revealed in any capacity. Kubo is likely saving it for a big reveal down the line.

According to the light novel, the Tsunayashiro clan is supposed to be the most powerful family, since they record all known history in Soul Society. Head of the clan Tokinada even serves as the main antagonist of said light novel. There is clearly potential for political warfare between various families, which brings to mind Game of Thrones. Alliances, betrayals, and the likelihood of bloody warfare could make for a very compelling future arc.

2 The True Story Behind The Soul King

It's a Source of Conflict For Most of The Story

The Soul King is a very enigmatic figure within the Bleach story. Frequently referred to as a ''lynchpin,'' it balances all three worlds with its divine power. For reasons that remain unclear, it allows itself to be sealed away into multiple parts. Several antagonists in the story intend to replace it for one reason or another. Regardless, the Soul King’s primary motivations are a complete mystery to everybody, inside and outside the universe.

Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World does provide some answers, but it only raises more questions. A million years ago, Hollows evolved into Menos and became the apex predators of the ecosystem. At some point, the original being who became the Soul King rose up to destroy them. What remains unclear is why he put up no resistance when five noble families chose to seal away his powers, given that he can see all possible futures.

1 What is The Original Sin?

It's The Origin Point For The Entire Story

Bleach: Can't Fear Your Own World goes into greater detail about the grisly reality behind the Soul King’s existence. In the words of Tokinada Tsunayashiro, the Soul King became the ''sacrificial lamb'' for the five noble houses, back when death was not a concept in the old world. According to lore, five members of the powerful royal families sealed away the Soul King’s powers and split the world into its current state where death remains present.

The original sin comes from the manner in which the Soul King was sealed in the first place. It’s enough for Aizen to consider it sinful, and for Yhwach to consider it a humiliation, since the Soul King is constantly in a state between life and death. There are several questions in regards to the original sin, including the identities of everybody involved and why the Soul King let it happen.

Bleach

TV-14

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Bleachrevolves around Kurosaki Ichigo, a regular always-grouchy high-schooler who for some strange reason is able to see the souls of the dead around him.

Release Date

October 5, 2004

Cast

Masakazu Morita , Fumiko Orikasa , Hiroki Yasumoto , Yuki Matsuoka , Noriaki Sugiyama , Kentarô Itô , Shinichirô Miki , Hisayoshi Suganuma

Main Genre

Anime

Seasons

17 Seasons

Creator

Tite Kubo

Production Company

TV Tokyo, Dentsu, Pierrot

Number of Episodes

366 Episodes

Streaming Service(s)

Hulu , Prime Video