User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. -547 - The State of Affairs op. 1 - "Expectations"/@comment-11163184-20130724184619/@comment-10554972-20130726041634

I don't think it was a flashback, as flashbacks usually have black edges around the panels, to show that it is in fact a flashback. As in this case (the top panels): [] When Ryuken is looking out the window, it isn't black around the panels, suggesting that it is happening at the same time as Isshin is talking. Here: [] Of course, I think there were times when things happening in the past didn't have the telltale black edges, so I don't think this is definitive proof, but to me, it seems that it happened in the present.

I think that, maybe not Shino, but at least Yuki will have something major to due with the story. After all, why introduce them like that if they later just get scraped? I've especially been thinking that since I saw the title page for chapter 481, where it says "Gentler and much much stronger" with a picture of both Yuki and Ichigo. [] They might be saying that Shino is "gentler", while Ichigo is "much much stronger", but maybe not. I don't think they'll make Shino far stronger than Ichigo (and I really hope they don't), but it might have a different meaning. He might be capable of stopping the war somehow with his gentleness, and that's what they mean by stronger. Ichigo can only stop a war with violence, but Shino might be capable of doing it another way. This would lead to less deaths for both sides, thus making him stronger than Ichigo(?) That's at least my theory for Zennosuke's replacements.

Wasn't it mentioned how Uryu was able the survive the Auswählen? Juhabach said that it was because Uryu has the potential to become even stronger than the Quincy King himself. Thus the reason why Uryu was named his successor.