Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26830922-20150813040021/@comment-26830922-20150906022030

There were actually two cover pages were Ryunosuke and Ichigo appeared together. One was this cover page at the beginning of chapter 481, but there was another one at the beginning of chapter 483 (it also appears on the back of volume 55). Here it is:

http://cdn.eatmanga.com/mangas/Manga-Scan/Bleach/Bleach-483/01.jpg

This shows Ichigo standing behind Ryunosuke urging him forward in a way similar to which "old man" Zangetsu encouraged Ichigo himself. This is the photo in particular that has lead me to believe Ichigo will become some form of mentor. The cover page for 481 may also signify this in some manner.