User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 580 - THE LIGHT/@comment-26420452-20140514161233/@comment-26420452-20140514204247

We were told on multiple reprises that Byakuya died, and then he turned out to be alive. He could do the same with Unohana. I'd love to know what her Bankai does, though I'd be disappointed by Kubo's "fickleness". Hard to please, aren't I?

As for Ichigo, he might not be the absolute gallant, but his choices on whom to pick as an adversary are limited by the fact he's a shōnen's protagonist.