Forum:Timeline Oddities

Please bear with me while I try to explain this. I checked elsewhere on the forum for a thread of this nature and only came up with one about Ichimaru Gin and Kuchiki Byakuya being young for Shinigami-in-training during the 101 Years Ago arc. I'll try to make this as clear and succinct as possible. I'll preface this with the fact that I only have the anime as a source for this.

101 years ago, Byakuya was a young boy training to become a Shinigami as seen by his short appearance during the 101 Years Ago arc. Considering that Ichigo is fifteen or sixteen right now, that would place Byakuya's appearance around 10 to 12.

Approximately forty years ago, Rukia and Abarai Renji were accepted into Shinigami and Kidō training. This date comes from a comment from Renji about it being 40 years since Rukia and he had truly been close like the friends they used to be, and that comment came the day that Rukia left Seiretei and met Ichigo for the first time.

Shortly after entering into training, Rukia is adopted into the Kuchiki family by Byakuya. By this time, Byakuya is not only a Captain, but a well-known and highly-respected Captain.

So, what does this mean?

It means that in approximately 61 years, Byakuya grew up, passed his Shinigami and Kidō training, learned and mastered his Shikai, learned and mastered his Bankai, ascended to the position of Captain, and has been a Captain long enough to have earned the respect and praise of those around him. In 61 years.

But it gets even more odd.

Renji, who entered into training only 40 years ago, is very close to that same position as well. He has completed his training, learned and mastered his Shikai, learned his Bankai and is slowly working on mastering it, has been a Lieutenant for a short while, and could possibly take the Captain's Exam if he really wanted.

So, what I'm getting at is that... is this normal for a Captain? I thought Byakuya preached that most people take 100 years to learn their Bankai and another 100 to master it. But that's not the case with Lieutenant or himself. Hope that made sense. Yukikosakura 06:59, September 10, 2009 (UTC)

We don't know the extent of Byakuya's capabilities while he was a boy; if Hitsugaya and maybe Ichimaru are anything to go by, he may have already known his shikai back then. In addition, the fact that he displayed that new version of his Bankai (Gokei) during the fight with Zommari leads me to believe he hasn't completely mastered it yet, and may bring in more new forms in the future. As regards to Renji, we don't know how much of a mastery he possesses of Hihio Zabimaru. He could very well be using it at a very basic level; to me he misses completely far to often, so e still ahs a long way to go. TomServo101 08:54, September 10, 2009 (UTC)

Just to clear up a minor detail (though I think it may be a big help to your question Yukikosakura) - Byakuya (& possibly Yourichi too) says it takes at least 10 years of dedicated training to achieve, and at least a further 10 years to master it, not 100 years. Also, Vizard history was in two parts (110yrs ago & 101yrs ago) - we only saw Byakuya 110 years ago, so that's another 9 years he had to develop. Saying that though makes Renji's growth rate look really impressive compared to Byakuya. --Yyp 09:56, September 10, 2009 (UTC)

Yyp is right 110 years ago Byakuya was seen training and he arguably equivalent to a shinigami teenager about that time. 55 years ago he married Hisana, 5 years later she got sick and died. 1 year later after he found Rukia. less then 49 years ago he became a captain alongside gin. So you have to take into account Byakuya is older then Renji and far older then Ichigo who is young compared to everyone in soul society. Also Byakuya was commenting on the capability to use bankai in the noble families stating it take 100 generations to produce someone with the capability to use bankai. Renji while impressive cause he learned bankai, but it is nowhere near mastered yet. He barely is good at Kido and thats being nice. He has only been a lieutenant for some months or a year it takes far more then knowing bankai to be a captain. Rukia herself is almost or so about 150 years old, Renji is a year or two older then her if not the same age. Seeing as Byakuya is older then her it has been some time for his capabilities to mature, while Renji has been striving to be more powerful, Byakuya obviously doesn't have that issue any longer.Salubri 12:19, September 10, 2009 (UTC)