User blog comment:Godisme/Bad Blood Exhaust/@comment-1861226-20110923025708

Am i the only one who doesn't think any of the original characters have grown stronger (except maybe Renji)? Here's my logic. Ichigo simply has had his powers restored, not really increased, since his newly acquired Fullbring was taken away. The lot of us have just forgotten how strong Ichigo is, just in his Shikai state. Remember back to the old days (Soul Society Arc, etc.), when he had just begun to understand his zanpakuto. He was able to defeat Kenpachi. As well as, his Getsuga Tensho in Shikai was so powerful that it created a chasm on Sogyoku Hill.

As for the other characters; the Fullbrings have just severely underestimated the powers of a Shinigami. (not unlike the Bounts) (yes, i know the Bounts were a filler, not created by the same writer). We forget that Kenpachi has always been extremely powerful. Ginjo never stood a chance. Byakuya is another Captain level Shinigami. Toshiro is ofcourse a Captain as well. And Ikkaku could have been a Captain, but even without being on the same level as one, he has always been one of the stronger Shinigami. It's not that any of them have grown stronger from time or training. It's just they have always been this badass.

Renji might have improved, or he could have just always been this strong. But most likely he has improved. After all, he is one of the rising stars of Soul Society. In a short amount of time, he went from being a ranked officer in the 11th Court Guard Squad, to becoming a Lieutenant, to becoming one of the stronger lieutenants, to achieveing Bankai!. His spirit pressure was so strong, that Rukia could not even recognize it during the her rescue (Soul Society Arc).

I think the author is just trying to reinforce how strong the main Shinigami are, and have been. It's just been forgotten by fans, due to the fact that the Shinigami had all faced against an extremely powerful opponent.