User blog comment:Godisme/The Fire/@comment-4431351-20120830194233/@comment-1248963-20120831064156

With this I agree wholeheartedly. Battle is not only about swords clashing, explosive powers and exchanging clever insults. Psychology plays a major role in war and the leader of an army is supposed to incarnate the desires and ideals of its soldiers. That the leader himself shows up in the frontlines and fights with all his might is an obvious morale boost to all his comrades. I think this chapter was beautiful in showing the Commander as the pillar of the Gotei 13. As Ukitake said, the man is still irreplaceable and Soul Society is not ready to lose him