This arc sees the confrontation between Soul Society and the Quincy Empire, which had remained hidden until then. It is the final battle of a war that began five hundred years earlier. As expected in a conflict of this magnitude, there are many significant losses on both sides, surpassing what was seen in previous arcs.
Chōjirō Sasakibe
As a lieutenant in the First Division, Chōjirō is a character who went unnoticed by many and who not everyone will remember, as his appearances were not as significant as those of others. However, his death is both surprising and significant, as it prompts Yamamoto to take personal action when the Quincy invade Soul Society, almost as a personal challenge.
In a way, his death also marks the beginning of the final battle between the Shinigami and the Quincy.
Genryūsai Yamamoto
We rarely had the opportunity to see Captain Yamamoto fight, who used to play a strategic role as a leader. However, having participated in the war against the Quincy from its beginning, he took this resurgence personally. Thus, he decided to return to action to confront Yhwach, aiming to end a war that threatened to reignite. Loved by many and hated by others, Yamamoto was a figure of great relevance and strength.
He tried to correct the past and protect his people, but he failed in his goal, losing his life after releasing his powerful bankai .
His death is not only shocking given that it concerns the captain of the First Squad, a man of considerable strength, but it is also highly significant. Especially because of how it affects his closest disciples, Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku. After the tragic deaths that had already marked him in the past, the latter must face this loss by assuming the position of Captain General and inheriting the responsibility of protecting Soul Society, as his predecessor wished.
Retsu Unohana
Retsu Unohana always came across as a calm, kind, and even peaceful person, who was hard to imagine in a confrontation. This image fit perfectly with her position as captain of the Fourth Squad, the medical squad.
However, her true identity was very different. Once known as Yachiru Unohana, a Kenpachi , she was a feared assassin who earned her reputation for her insatiable bloodlust. This duality explains why everyone, including other captains, showed respect or even some misgivings toward this "peaceful doctor," something that seemed a prelude to a past yet to be revealed.
Some time ago, his confrontation with a young Kenpachi Zaraki led him to discover his own Bankai , although it also caused Zaraki to suppress some of his power by enjoying life-threatening challenges. When Shunsui Kyōraku becomes Captain-General, he requests that he face Zaraki in order to unlock the latter's hidden potential at the cost of his own life.
Thus, Unohana dies at the hands of Zaraki in a necessary sacrifice for the cause, officially giving him the title of Kenpachi .
Without a doubt, their confrontation was a battle between comrades who, though once rivals, deeply respected each other and recognized each other as equals. Although his death is tragic, it would mark many changes for Zaraki, and Unohana seems satisfied to see that the boy who reminded her of the joy of battle is moving toward his full potential.
Jūshirō Ukitake
From the beginning, Jūshirō stands out for his calm and kind demeanor, although surrounded by an aura of mystery. Many of the questions surrounding him find answers in this arc.
Without going into great detail, we can say that Jūshirō knew his time was limited and lived it as a gift, enjoying it to the fullest. For many, the most shocking thing about his death is that some consider it a sacrifice in vain, as it failed to fulfill its exact purpose.
Still, theories about his fate abound, and having left without ever showing his Bankai , many fans (myself included) remain hopeful that more of his potential will be revealed in the Hell arc.
Jugram Haschwalth
He appears as Yhwach's most loyal follower, and his past explains the devotion that leads him to confront even his best friend or sacrifice his own life. However, his final moments, when he offers to heal Uryū Ishida's wounds and take the blame himself, reveal a more complex side to his nature. This gesture makes him, in my opinion, a character worth remembering.
Gremmy Thoumeaux
Finally, it is worth mentioning Sternritter V, Gremmy Thoumeaux, who was feared even by his own companions thanks to his ability, The Vision , which allowed him to alter reality according to his imagination.
Although he initially fully trusted his power, with which he claimed to have absolute victory just by imagining it, he could not defeat Kenpachi Zaraki, who enjoyed facing seemingly impossible challenges.
This battle was more a clash of will than physical strength. Zaraki demonstrated that his determination and desire to push himself beyond his limits overcame Gremmy's confidence in absolute victory.
The result could be attributed to Gremmy's doubts when he considered that Zaraki's confidence implied his ability to defeat him, which led him, unconsciously, to imagine his own defeat.
This leaves an implicit moral: trust yourself, even when others doubt, because that confidence will be what you transmit to others.
His defeat can also be attributed to Gremmy focusing on Zaraki's strength, coveting it, instead of focusing on his own strength. This is likely due to his envy of his opponent's fondness for challenges, something he himself, due to his strategic advantage, had never had the opportunity to experience.
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