User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 569 (You've been hit by / You've been struck by / Senbonzakura~)/@comment-24113610-20140223232155/@comment-1489595-20140224095627

"I just think Rukia gaining a bankai is like going from 0 to 60 in 6 seconds with a mini-van; ridiculous. Sorry Rukia fans."

Why should we think this at all? Despite the apparent abruptness of her getting bankai Rukia has been a shinigami for decades. She has been shown to be a clever woman driven to prove herself to her brother and make her place. If you think about it its simply not reasonable to make the assumption Rukia has been sitting on her butt for the last fifty years gathering dust. I imagine most shinigami capable of it practice the methods for achieving bankai even if they never make it. It means rank, power, an approach to the idealized relationship between soul reaper and their sword. In short Rukia's specialized training probably just short cut a road she was already on.

Secondly I don't see how she is less capable then Momo, Rangiku, Kira, or the rest. She has fought her battles with as much skill and determination as any of the other lieutenants with even more success. Sure luck played a role. But that happens in a fight.