User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 611 - The Soul King Dies (edgy as ever, Kubo)/@comment-11446176-20141227015507/@comment-6073876-20141227081549

maybe…i think Unohana still more powerful than Tenjiro because while he still in Gotei 13 (Unohana is to be said the strongest combatant in first generation of Gotei 13 hence her title “The First Kenpachi”), while I believe that Kyoraku and Ukitake are more stronger than Hikifune at least same level ( b’cuz three of them are the captains in 113 years before yet Yamamoto said there is no senior/junior that could pass Kyoraku/Ukitake’s strength, but Hikifune got promoted b’cuz her artificial soul)…i don’t know about Senjumaru…but i don’t think all captains in Royal Guard are more powerful than captains in Gotei 13 b’cuz the qualifications for you to be promoted in Royal Guard not your power/strength but your creation/contribution like healing, zanpakuto, barier, names, and soul…if they only seek strength/power, Yamamoto/Unohana should be promoted too instead of Hikifune…that's why they let Oetsu handled 4 elite sternritters b'cuz i believe Ichibei>Oetsu>>>>>Kirinji>Senjumaru>>Hikifune