User blog comment:Xilinoc/Ch. 616 - Mimihagi-sama/@comment-29183117-20150219132801

What if that was Aizen's plan all along--take the power from people who could replace the Soul King so he could just replace the King himself? I'm sure this all has something to do with why Shunsui is going to speak with him. And does the Hogyoku have something to do with this also?

And looks like it's the end of the line for Ukitake. A heroic sacrifice if nothing else.