Forum:Zanpakuto True Power

I was recently wondering who should be the next character to achieve bankai. I think the next person most deserving of achieving true power is Rukia, she is just as much of a main character as ichigo and renji who is up there already has his. Now i know it hasn't been long since she got her third dance but i think its about time she did so and how long is kaiens former position gonna be open rukia is obviously the best for the position promote her already who cares what byakuya says. Also i was curious for the lieutenants so far who would be the next to get their bankai. Ant thoughts.Salubri 06:20, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

For a personal preference, I'd be thoroughly interested in seeing Yumichika's bankai, since his Shikai is so fascinating, the next step up would be cool to see as well. For Lieutenants specifically, I'd be interested in seeing any form of Yachiru's power, just because the childish nature of her power (as seen from the flower decoration on her Zanpakutō and the angry, cat-shape to her spiritual pressure) would be thoroughly amusing to me. And for Bankai among Lieutenants specifically, I think Kira's could be really interesting to see what a powered-up version of Wabisuke would be, seeing as his Shikai is already very unique. Twocents 06:38, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Rangiku maybe, since among all the Lieutenants she's the only one so far who has been seen trying to communicate with and materialize Haineko.--SalmanH 06:41, 1 August 2009 (UTC)
 * Yumichika was shown attempting to communicate with his Zanpakutō at the same time. Twocents 07:28, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

I'm not sure what criteria the Gotei 13 uses to select its lieutenant but they have had some real losers and lunatics in the position! But overall I agree that Rukia would make excellent 2nd seat material. She certainly has the expected power levels for it. Rukia also has the ambition for it. As shown with Renji she didn't like being left behind in her profession. Its only her aloofness and her brother's desire which pinned her as an unseated shinigami for so long. But thats critical I think...she has to face down her brother in order to advance and so far she seems unwilling to do so.

I don't know if Rukia 'deserves' a bankai though...at least not yet. Storywise I think of Ichigo's little group we will see Orihime advance her powers first. Than perhaps we will see Rukia get a bankai (which I would like to see). At that point it will be very difficult to deny her any sort of lieutenant position.

As for who else should get a bankai...I think Rangiku. Her shikai is pants so she deserves something with a bit more oomph. Than maybe Izuru. Great Cthulhu 06:53, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

With respect to the current arc, I suspect Hisagi's learned it in secret. It would help explain he had no fear when talking to Tousen. Also, he's acting captain of the 9th, so should he want the position permanently, he would do well to have it.

I think Momo also has the potential to get it soon. And as we know so little about Chojiro Sasakibe, as 1st div leiutenant I think he has more power than the others (just as Yama does over the other captains). TomServo101 11:03, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Well considering we are talking about the Gotei 13 Orihime doesnt really fit nor do i believe she will advance as she is pretty weak in general and not fit for battle so it wouldnt matter if she did. Rukia is very deserving and all that stands in her way really is Byakuya who wont let her advance because being in a high position is dangerous, though Rukia is in the middle of more danger then most lt. or Captains anyway. I also cant agree with the lt. being losers or lunatics though i wonder how omaeda has his position. I agree possibly Hisagi reaching bankai cause he is good and it makes sense though gaining a higher position is questionable it takes more then knowing bankai to be a captain. I wont agree with Momo she even states she isn't powerful enough to take Harribel's faccion so we know she has no potential for that anytime soon, also mentally she is pretty weak after what aizen did to her. I would go with Rukia, Hisagi, Izuru, Rangiku, and Yumichika.Salubri 16:13, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

IMO:

1. I only mentioned Orihime in passing because she seems more like a likely candidate for power advancement before Rukia in the storyline. She is the only major character whose power suffers from underdevelopment by the manga author. Otherwise she has nothing to do with my impressions of who will get bankai first.

2. You are right that Byakuya's protectiveness is a major obstacle for Rukia's advancement. But at least half the problem is Rukia's willingness to accede to Byakuya's wishes in this matter. Until she 'mans up' and faces down Byakuya her position in the Gotei 13 will not change.

3. The Lieutenants are a mixed bag of individuals. Some of them certainly do qualify as misfits, lunatics, or losers. Thats to be expected in manga/anime where the characters are WAY larger than life. Just a couple of the more extreme examples are Yachiru or Mashiro. They are both so extreme in their childishness you wonder how they ever qualified for a Lieutenant's position let alone getting picked for it! At least Omaeda has the presumed excuse of political connections to account for him! Only in fiction would characters like Yachiru or Mashiro be allowed into such important positions.

4. I totally agree about Momo's power level without even considering her problems with Aizen. She won't be making bankai or a captaincy anytime soon.

5. Hisagi should be slotted into a bankai and a captaincy soon. He seems like a natural to take over Tosen's old job.

6. Othewise I agree that Rukia (she will eventually...I just don't think right away), Hisagi, Izuru, Rangiku (especially), and Yumichika are all good candidates for bankai.

Great Cthulhu 17:04, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Yeah Salubri I would have to agree with you on Rukia, Hisagi, Izuru, Rangiku, and Yumichika. I don't know if thats is your order in which you think to recive it but my order would be Hisagi, Rukia, Izuru, Yumichicka and then Rangiku. I really dont see Iba or Nanao Ise getting anytime soon. Heck we still dont even know where Nanao is.Quadrupus 18:53, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Well, we know about Nanao's organisational skills (having to do Shunsui's paperwork as well as her own). I suspect she's in SS orgainising the defence on the home front, just in case FKT goes wrong.

As we've mentioned Izuru, does anyone else think his powers could be gravity based? It fits how Wabisuke works, and may serve as an indicator of any other powers he may possess/acquire in the future. TomServo101 19:42, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

I agree that Nanao's probably on "homeland security" duty right now, but in that case, Soul Society should eventually get involved in the fighting to make up for her being missing for so long. At any rate, since we haven't even seen her sword let alone shikai yet, I doubt bankai is in the near future for her. I also agree with what people have said about Rukia needing to confront Byakuya before advancing to bankai or a seated position.

Anyways, I think Hisagi is definitely due for an upgrade. I think his fight with Tousen will confirm that he is ready to challenge someone of captain-class in battle, and to step into the role of captain of the Ninth Division. Yumichika is probably powerful enough to try for it, but I don't think he will since he doesn't like his shikai, and keeping two major secrets about his sword is a little much. Matsumoto and Omaeda are too lazy, Momo is too weak, and Izuru lacks the confidence for it. We don't even know if Nemu has a zanpakuto. Sasakibe, Iba, and Isane could all be powerful enough, but we can agree that screen time beats out strength when it comes to leveling up. I predict Hisagi gets bankai soon, and Nanao suddenly gets involved and we finally get to see her shikai. QuoteRadar 21:05, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Hhmmm......... It could be possible that Nanao already achieve bankai. As we all know that she was already a shinigami 100 years ago. And maybe Hisagi already have it, brave enough to challenges his former captain. I also think that Izuru and Momo will be near to achieve their own bankai because Renji already have his own. Frostymoon 24:34, 1 August 2009 (UTC)

Hmm, after posting on the "Replacement captains" thread and reading this one, I started watching some old episodes. Hisagi is indeed as old as Matsumoto and Gin, however, he was only a few years ahead when Kira, Renji and Hinamori were in the Shinigami Academy. And Kira also pointed out that Hisagi had failed twice to join the Academy. Anyways, just listing these facts to show that altough he isn't anywhere as a crying baby like Kira and more like a tormented soul looking for an answer, he didn't have all that extra time as a Shinigami. And I didn't get the sidetracked thing about Byakuya getting in Rukia's way. The thing here is reaching bankai and that, Kuchiki Byakuya has nothing to do with her slow progress. He did hinder her chances of getting a seated position but that wasn't the subject here.. Edit: Frostymoon, you indeed have a point there. Nanao was a kid back then, probably around the same age as Hisagi, Matsumoto and Gin but she was already a Shinigami while we don't know about Matsumoto and Hisagi joined only about 50 years or later. (like I pointed out above) Anyways, I don't know and like somebody said there, screen time and fan base help improving the character way faster.. Deimonos 20:48, 2 July 2009

Yeah I think Hisagi is the most likely to achieve bankai next. I would love to see his and Izuru's bankai, also Yachiru and Nanao's shikai just to FINALLY see them fight and get more info on their Zanpakuto's. Personally I don't think Rukia is anywhere near achieving bankai. And as for her becoming the next LT. I dont think she would be suitable for the position simply for the fact that she does not seem have the character that a LT. should have. That being said, I have no idea for how Omaeda became the LT. for Soifon.(HES SO ANNOYING)One eyed king 05:27, 3 August 2009 (UTC)

Hmm....... just a thought. It could be possilbe that Omaeda became the Lt. for Soifon because of his wealth and maybe his family serves under the clan of Yoruichi. Frostymoon 08:14, 3 August 2009 (UTC)

If Marechiyo became a lieutenant because of connections to Yoruichi's family, Soifon would have turned him down, it wasn't until after Yoruichi's return that she became re-enamored with her former master. As for next Bankai? I'd say no one. At least currently. Shuhei doesn't use his Shikai enough it seems, and Rangiku obviously has a terrible relationship with hers. No other lieutenant seems up to it otherwise. Nanao may be same age as Gin, but as far as we know, she wasn't a prodigy like him. (though obviously really talented for her age) One eye 05:59, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

I agree with One eye; No Lieutenant has the capacity for Bankai. Renji trained incredibly hard because of his vendetta against Byakuya, and Ikkaku has presumably been training and fighting constantly since he arrived in Soul Society. None of the others have the motivation or training to achieve Bankai. An interesting experiment would be to put all the Lieutenants on the three day Bankai training that Urahara and Ichigo used. I'd like to see how many of them could make it, or even survive. NeonCactus 06:58, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

I have to disagree with your no motivation statement. If anything Hisagi, Kira, and Momo are the most motivated. And my statement about Shuhei was simply speculation based on the fact that he thinks he can bring back Tousen.One eyed king 08:05, 7 August 2009 (UTC)