Tite Kubo’s Bleach stands tall as one of the greatest manga and anime series of all time. With a huge fan base, it used to rule the anime industry alongside Naruto and One Piece as part of the renowned trio called The Big Three.
Just like its rivals, Kubo’s magnum opus has continued to rise in popularity and has become a foundation that has inspired a generation of mangakas, using his captivating storyline, character development, and unique power-ups.
At the core of the show, it tells the story of Ichigo Kurosaki, one of the strongest Soul Reapers. However, Byakuya Kuchiki, one of the most recognizable characters in the series, featured one of the most aesthetically pleasing Bankais in the entire show. Moreover, it laid down the idea for one of the strongest cursed techniques in Gege Akutami’s Jujutsu Kaisen.
Bleach’s Most Phenomenal Moment That Inspired Jujutsu Kaisen’s Ultimate Technique
Tite Kubo’s Bleach primarily focuses on the conflict between the three factions, which are the Soul Reapers, Hollows, and Quincy. While each faction has unique traits, the Soul Reapers have a unique ability called Bankai.
For fans who are unaware, every Soul Reaper has a katana called a Zanpakutō, and each one possesses a Shikai release. Zanpakutō’s second release is called Bankai and can be obtained by Captain-level Soul Reapers.
Over the course of the series, several characters have showcased their Bankai, but when Byakuya Kuchiki used this technique, everyone became a fan of it. Upon creation, his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi summons thousands of large blades that would scatter into countless smaller razor-sharp blades, resembling cherry blossoms.
Kuchiki’s ultimate technique is not only visually pleasing to the eyes but also devastating, as he can literally tear his enemy into shreds. However, this attack is multi-tiered, wherein at each level, the lethality of the attack is increased. That’s not all, because he can also use the thousands of small blades to make a shield and cover himself from incoming attacks.
Jujutsu Kaisen: Itadori Yuji Gives Sukuna a Taste of His Own Medicine in the Same Way He Killed Gojo
Hence, some fans believe that this area-based attack that transforms its surroundings has potentially inspired Gege Akutami and their Jujutsu Kaisen’s ultimate cursed technique, which is Domain Expansion. Just like Kubo-Sensei’s show, Akutami-san takes the sorcerer and his foe into an inescapable world that is tailor-made to enhance the power of the sorcerer and launch a powerful attack in a visually alluring world.
Fans React To Byakuya Kuchiki’s Bankai
Byakuya Kuchiki rarely uses his Bankai, mainly because he does not feel his foes are worthy enough to fight him. However, whenever he decides to demonstrate his overwhelming strength with his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi Bankai, fans are captivated by the attack’s beauty and lethality, which complements the music perfectly.
As a result, even in 2024, fans are still in awe of the attack that not only flaunts Kuchiki’s strength, but also adds to the popularity of the character. Hence, when a fan uploaded a video on YouTube of the noble Captain using his Bankai, fans could not help but praise the character.
The video’s comment section was flooded with overwhelmingly positive responses from fans, who all agreed that the Bankai is arguably the most enjoyable attack to watch.
@ioyfyd7704 commented, “that combo is op like, you cant even move and now you deal with A MILLION SWORDS”
@arkasarkar2694 commented, “Came here after hearing Kokushibo’s voice. Best VA they could have chosen for Upper Rank 1.”
@Paleiko0630 commented, “Back when anime wasn’t like Netflix stopping everything after season 1 bleach was the first anime that hit me as hard as fma. God I loved binge watching this shit so much”
@Vladimir97607 commented, “2020s kids will call this domain expansion”
@DanielValdebenitoC commented, “Music + art + quotes = hauntingly beautiful”
@ggwp638BC commented, “Ah yes, the original domain expansion”
Hence, this explains why he is one of the nobles in the series, who can not only bring chaos but also calm in the series. Moreover, his battle knowledge and flawless voice acting add greatly to the character’s popularity.
Bleach can be streamed on Hulu.
