Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-10797017-20130624101208/@comment-5657895-20130709180332

I do think the Soul Society will try invading the Vandenreich and their palace at some point, so maybe recruiting Ichigo to be part of an expeditionary force is his reason. And due to the dangers involved Ichigo will have to say a round of goodbyes just in case.

People to be included I would think would be Kenpachi Zaraki, Ichigo, someone from the 12th, Yumichika, either Hisagi or Kuna, Kensei maybe, and possibly a healer like Yamada. Captains who lost their Bankai like Toshiro, Soi Fon, and Sajin wouldn't go, and powerful captains like Ukitake will need to stay on the homefront just in case.