Bleach: Does Ichigo Kurosaki become a captain in the Gotei 13? Explained

In Bleach, being one of the captains in Gotei 13 is a sign of someone taking responsibility and being committed to the Soul Society. It is not easy to become a leader; only the strongest are given the opportunity. Ichigo Kurosaki, the protagonist of the show, is undoubtedly one of the strongest characters. Looking at his potential fans have been wondering if he will become a captain of the Gotei 13.

No, Ichigo does not become a captain of the Gotei 13 in Bleach. Because he is still a human, he cannot become a captain and directly work for the Soul Society. At the end of the manga, he is shown to be with Orihime, and they have a son, Kazui Kurosaki.

While he is definitely qualified to become a captain, he does not take that position. His status remains that of a substitute Soul Reaper, a unique title granted to him by the Soul Society.

In the world of Bleach, it has been noticed that captains are spirits or soul-born entities. Ichigo, on the other hand, is a human with spiritual powers. That is why he follows different rules.

His contributions to the Soul Society have not gone unnoticed. His role as a substitute Soul Reaper is a title given as he is an exception in comparison to their usual situation. With this title, he has also been granted certain privileges.

And if he ever decides to take the role of a captain, the Soul Society might make another exception for him. But for now, there has been no sign that Ichigo himself wants to take on the responsibility.

Being a captain would mean that he would have to remain in the Soul Society full time. It means that his life on Earth would be over. Now that he has a happy ending, it would be unfair for Ichigo to pay this huge cost to become a leader.

It also makes sense that his character would not be part of Gotei 13. For most of the story, Ichigo is seen as an outsider. Even in the final chapter, he made a joke about it. Furthermore, it would not suit his personality, because being a captain means that he would have to follow orders.

Ichigo is someone who relies more on his instincts. We know that his son has power; therefore, it would make more sense if he stayed on Earth and trained the next generation.

Finally, in Bleach, his character represents unity between humans, hollows, Quincy, and Soul Reapers. If he were assigned to be one of them, it would send the wrong message.

In Bleach, what are the responsibilities of a captain in Gotei 13?

The role of a captain is not just given to someone who is the most powerful. This position is very demanding as they must fulfil their duties and also have spiritual alignment with the Soul Society.

While Ichigo has the power, the structure and politics of the Gotei 13 do not suit his nature. He acts independently and rarely consults others when making decisions. He also lives in the human world, making the logistics of being a full-time captain difficult.

Moreover, his connection with the human world is stronger than with the Soul Society. He was born and brought up on Earth, and he has his family, friends residing there. It is clear that his identity is deeply rooted there, so even if he lives in Soul Society, he might not be able to adapt and be at his peak.

Final thoughts

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Time and again, Ichigo in Bleach has ensured to be part of the mission that is directly working to protect the Soul Society. He has been its protector without asking for anything in return.

Additionally, he has a perfect life on Earth, and it would not make sense to ask him to leave everything he cherishes, as he finally needs to enjoy his peace. And maybe, in the world of Bleach, that makes him something greater than a captain.

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