This list covers every Soul Reaper character who has died in theThousand-Year Blood Warseries to date, regardless of their actual cause of death. Deaths are in chronological order, as they appear in the anime. As a result of dealing with character deaths, this should be considered to beMAJOR SPOILERSfor those who aren’t caught up on the series or haven’t read the manga. In some cases, there are other sources which may indicate a seemingly dead character’s fate wasn’t quite as grim as it appeared, and those cases will be noted below.
10Chojiro Sasakibe
Dies in: episode #1, “The Blood Warfare”
Chojiro Sasakibe was the Lieutenant of Squad 1, serving under Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.Chojiro wielded the Lightning-type Zanpakuto Gonryomaru, which had a rapier-like appearance. He was an extremely skilled and experienced Soul Reaper, having served with Yamamoto since the inception of the 13 Court Guard Squads.
InThousand-Year Blood War, Chojiro is ambushed by a group of Quincy, led by Driscoll Berci, who manage to wipe out over 100 footsoldiers as well as Chojiro himself.Chojiro attempted to use his Bankaiagainst the attackers, only to have it stolen. Chojiro survived his injuries long enough to warn Yamamoto about the Quincy’s ability to steal Bankai, but perished soon afterward, infuriating Yamamoto at the death of his long-time friend. Chojiro’s death proved that the Quincy posed a serious threat, and gave the remaining Soul Reapers time to get ready.
9Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto
Dies in: episode #6, “The Fire”
Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto was the Head Captain of the 13 Court Guard Squads, as well as the captain of Squad 1.His Zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, is a Fire-type Zanpakuto which has tremendously dangerous abilities. It’s said that Yamamoto’s Bankai is so powerful it can reach temperatures in excess of 15 million degrees Celsius, rendering it capable of incinerating anything—even the entire Soul Society, should it remain active for too long.
Ichigo arrives mere moments too late to help Yamamoto, and the Soul Reapers are suddenly without their leader for the first time in a thousand years.
Yamamoto was battling the Quincy Royd Lloyd, in disguise as Yhwach, and seemingly emerged victorious, only for the real Yhwach to arrive at that moment.Yamamoto attempts to use his Bankai, but has it stolen by Yhwach, and is then cut in half by Yhwach’s reishi broadsword, killing him instantly. Ichigo arrives mere moments too late to help Yamamoto, and the Soul Reapers are suddenly without their leader for the first time in a thousand years.
8Retsu Unohana
Dies in: episode #10, “The Battle”
Retsu Unohana was the Captain of Squad 4, the squad in charge of healing and medical support.However, her true name is Yachiru Unohana, and she was one of the original founding members of the 13 Court Guard Squads. Unohana was the first to hold the title of Kenpachi, and was feared for her bloodthirsty behavior in the old days.
To help Kenpachi Zaraki learn to commune with his Zanpakuto and unlock its Shikai (and later Bankai) abilities, she and Zaraki entered an abandoned area below the Soul Society, wherethey fought viciously in training which would eventually result in Unohana’s death at Zaraki’s hands. While the training was successful, Captain Kyoraku seemed to know it was likely to end in Unohana’s death, and authorized the training anyway. The training was essential to Zaraki’s success in later fights, so Unohana’s death was not in vain.
7Yachiru Kusajishi
Disappears in: Episode #20, “I Am the Edge”
Yachiru Kusajishi was the Lieutenant of Squad 11, serving under Kenpachi Zaraki. Yachiru rarely fought, but often accompanied Zaraki, riding around on his shoulders and giving bad directions all the way. Yachiru possessed incredibly fast reflexes, automatically responding to threats even without her conscious awareness.
While Zaraki was battling against Gremmy Thoumeaux, Sternritter “V” the Visionary, Yachiru was nearby watching the battle, having encountered Gremmy first.
As she watched Zaraki use his Zanpakuto Nozarashi’s Shikai for the first time, she was reminded of their first meeting.When the fight is over, however, Yachiru is missing, and despite a massive search, she’s never found. It’s heavily implied that Yachiru was actually a manifestation of the spirit ofKenpachi Zaraki’s Zanpakuto, and that now that he knows its name, her presence was no longer necessary. Regardless, Yachiru is gone forever, making her effectively dead.
6Oetsu Nimaiya
Dies in: episode #26, “Black”
Oetsu Nimaiya is a member of Squad Zero, also known as the Soul King’s Royal Guard.He’s credited with the creation of the Zanpakuto, which secured him a place in Squad Zero among the legends of Soul Society. Nimaiya helped Ichigo to forge a new Zanpakuto after his was destroyed by Yhwach, and also repaired Renji’s broken Zanpakuto.
In a shocking twist, Oetsu Nimaiya suddenly killed himself in the midst of the battle with Yhwach’s Schutzstaffel, alongside his fellow members of Squad Zero, Tenjiro Kirinji and Kirio Hikifune. This was done in order to remove the blood seal on Senjumaru Shutara’s Bankai, giving her the strength needed to defeat the Yhwach’s elite. According to the non-canonical novels set afterward,Can’t Fear Your Own World, Nimaiya and the other members of Squad Zero who died can be revived, like Ichibe, by speaking their name, so Nimaiya may or may not actually be dead.
5Tenjiro Kirinji
Another member of Squad Zero, Tenjiro Kirinji is known as the “Hot Spring Demon,” and is the inventor of the healing magic known inBleachas Kaido.Kirinji runs the hot springs in the Soul King’s Palace, White Bone Hell and Blood Pond Hell, which have tremendous healing properties, even able to replace blood.
Like Nimaiya, Kirinji suddenly and unexpectedly killed himself in mid-battle to break the blood seal on Senjumaru’s Bankai.While that’s the last that’s seen of him inThousand-Year Blood Warproper, the non-canonical books set after the arc,Can’t Fear Your Own World, indicate that Kirinji can be brought back to life provided that someone speaks his name, the way Ichigo spoke Ichibe’s name after he was defeated. As a result of this information, Kirinji may not be quite as dead as he appeared in the series.
4Kirio Hikifune
Kirio Hikifune is yetanother member of Squad Zero, hailed as the “Ruler of Grain.” Hikifune earned her spot on Squad Zero for the creation of the Artificial Soul, which are commonly used by Soul Reapers on missions to the World of the Living.She specializes in cooking,and even her Zanpakuto reflects this, with a strange spoon-like attachment on her blade.
According to the non-canonical novels,Can’t Fear Your Own World, Hikifune was brought back to life after this by speaking her name, much like how Ichibe was revived by Ichigo.
As with Nimaiya and Kirinji, Hikifune killed herself without warning in the midst of battling against Yhwach’s elite troops.This was done to unlock the blood seal on Senjumaru Shutara’s Bankai, allowing her to access the incredible power which her Bankai contained. According to the non-canonical novels,Can’t Fear Your Own World, Hikifune was brought back to life after this by speaking her name, much like how Ichibe was revived by Ichigo. However, this doesn’t happen inThousand-Year Blood War, so her status is questionable.
3Senjumaru Shutara
Dies in: episode #27, “A”
Senjumaru Shutara is yet another member of Squad Zero, a fashion designer responsible for the creation of the Shihakusho, the robes worn by Soul Reapers while performing their duties.She’s known for having four robotic arms to assist her in sewing with incredible speed, giving her a unique appearance. Her Zanpakuto is very unusual, as in its Shikai state, it takes the form of a small sewing needle rather than a sword.
Senjumaru used her Bankai to entrap and defeatthe members of the Schutzstaffel, but struggled with Uryu, who managed to continue resisting inside the Bankai’s pocket dimension. Right when it seemed Senjumaru had Uryu captured, Uryu used his Schrift, Antithesis, to switch places with her, causing her to be the one strung up and captured.Uryu then killed her with a Quincy arrow, ending the effects of her Bankai as well as her life. According to the non-canonical novels,Can’t Fear Your Own World, Senjumaru was brought back to life by speaking her name, like how Ichibe was revived by Ichigo.
2Jushiro Ukitake
Dies in: episode #29, “The Dark Arm”
Jushiro Ukitake was the Captain of Squad 13, and one of the oldest members of the 13 Court Guard Squads alongside Shunsui Kyoraku.He was known for his exceptional level of Spiritual Pressure, and used the Zanpakuto Sogyo no Kotawari, which has the ability to absorb enemy energy attacks with one of the paired blades and redirect it with the other.
Ukitake, who had long been a host to the Right Hand of God, Mimihagi, performed a ritual known as the Kamikake, which gave his entire body over to Mimihagi, in the hopes that it might be able totake the place of the Soul Kingand prevent the collapse of reality. Unfortunately, while Mimihagi had plenty of power, it was absorbed by Yhwach just like the rest of the Soul King, meaning that Ukitake’s sacrifice was essentially in vain.
1Nemu Kurotsuchi
Dies in: episode #36, “BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 2 [Never Ending My Dream]”
Nemu Kurotsuchi was the Lieutenant of Squad 12, serving under Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was also her creator.Nemu is an artificial soul, the seventh in a line and by far the most successful. She is constantly experimented upon by Mayuri, giving her abilities that even she’s not fully aware of. Mayuri’s treatment of her definitely constitutes abuse, and has led to her withdrawn personality.
Nemu jumped into battle alongside Mayuri as the latter battled the Quincy Pernida Parnkgjas, which was soon revealed to be the Left Hand of the Soul King.While Nemu fared well initially, dealing some major damage to one of Pernida’s clones, it sprang back to life and hit her with its nerves, causing her to instantaneously die. Pernida then ate her pituitary gland, which was keeping her cell division in check, and caused Pernida’s cells to multiply out of control, killing it.
While there are a few characters, like Hitsugaya, who died and were revived, this is every character whose death is seemingly permanent inBleach: Thousand-Year Blood Warthrough part 3.
Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War
Cast
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a sequel series to the popular anime from creator Tite Kubo. This anime follows Ichigo and his friends as they investigate why people are disappearing while trouble arises in the Soul Society. The first season was released in 2022 and has been critically acclaimed since its beginning.
