Was Unohana Wasted In Thousand-Year Blood War?

Bleach Thousand Year Blood War is full of epic revelations and developments. The debut of many Bankai from the captains of the Gotei 13, the amazing abilities of the Sternritter, and so many plot twists reveal more of the Bleach world and its characters. One of the more famous and beloved of these reveals is the motherly and kind Captain Retsu Unohana, revealed to be the first-ever Kenpachi, the criminal and violent Yachiru Unohana.

However, many fans feel that Unohana’s role wasn’t properly utilized in the arc. She had her biggest moment ever only to die immediately afterward. Let’s explore whether Retsu Unohana had wasted potential in Bleach Thousand Year Blood War.

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Unohana’s Epic Reveal

The First Kenpachi

The captain of Squad 4, Retsu Unohana, was always shown to be a rather kind, warm, and motherly captain. Someone unlike most of her peers, who were stoic and sometimes even malicious warriors. Unohana was always level-headed, calm, and supportive. Choosing to stay behind lines to fulfill her duties as a healer. And it seemed healing was her entire purpose. Retsu fills the stereotype with the kind healer who limits themselves to their noble role and nothing else.

However, many moments throughout the series hinted at hidden darkness in her, other captains were visibly afraid of her, including her vice-captain, Isane Kotetsu, and even Ichigo Kurosaki was intimidated by her. Retsu somehow had a certain sinister aura that other powerful fighters acknowledged. A very famous scene is when Unohana confronted Rudbornn Chelute, the leader of the Exequias, the intelligence and execution division of the Arrancar. Rudbornn, upon meeting Unohana, chooses to retreat instead of fighting her to fulfill his mission. This is likely because his boss, Sosuke Aizen, told him to avoid conflict with Retsu Unohana, as he most likely knew the truth behind her.

“The act of saving a comrade in need should require no thanks.“

During the Thousand Year Blood War arc, Retsu is revealed to be the First Kenpachi and first captain of squad 11. Retsu, who by then went by Yachiru, was the most heinous and vicious criminal in Soul Society history. After she met a young boy who proved to be her equal in battle, she started the Kenpachi tradition. The strongest Shinigami of each generation would gain the title of Kenpachi after slaying the previous holder. Yachiru eventually became a healer and left her violent ways behind.

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Unohana’s Role in Thousand Year Blood War

Was She Wasted?

Retsu returned to her past glory to train and nurture Zaraki Kenpachi, who had set a psychological restriction upon himself to make sure he could enjoy the thrill of battle and not decimate his foes in one strike. Retsu battled Zaraki for days in the depths of Muken, killing him over and over until his true might awakens. Eventually, she succeeded, as Zaraki not only achieved his full potential but also communed with his Zanpakutou, Nozarashi.

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On paper, Retsu’s role was to simply enable Zaraki’s awakening, to make sure the Kenpachi was at the level needed for him to take on the Wandenreich and Yhwach. Her entire purpose was to nurture the next Kenpachi for the sake of the Soul Society. But was death truly necessary for her? The Soul Society could have been much stronger with two extremely powerful Kenpachi in their ranks. Retsu proved to be beyond the level of most other captains, and with Zaraki finally awakening, the two together could have been a force of nature on the battlefield.

“There is only one Kenpachi every era. That is a rule, and also an unavoidable destiny. Because when a strong person finds another strong one, they stop using the sword just for themselves. Suddenly, their sword is used to either kill or raise the other strong person.“

Not only that, but Retsu was by far the most skilled healer in the Gotei 13, only surpassed by Orihime Inoue, but she’s a third party, Team Karakura. Retsu could have been a great asset with her unmatched power and healing skills. But alas, such is the Kenpachi tradition she set in place. The next Kenpachi must defeat and slay the previous in a duel to officially be granted the title. Zaraki had killed the previous captain of Squad 11, however, Retsu aka Yachiru, still lived, holding the title of First Kenpachi. Not only that, without this deadly battle, Zaraki wouldn’t have awakened his true self and power, as no other Shinigami was in the same position as Retsu. She was the one who inspired Zaraki in the first place, and each time she defeated him she instantly healed him, continuing the fight. It had to be her to enable Zaraki’s awakening, and it was the Kenpachi tradition to die at the hands of the next holder, nurturing them into the vicious warrior they’re meant to be.

Retsu could’ve done more in the arc, she could’ve been a great asset in the war. But just like Captain Yamamoto and Captain Ukitake, she had fulfilled her role. She had a duty to fulfill by sacrificing herself to ensure victory against the Wandenreich. Each of these older captains paved the way for the next generation to defeat Yhwach and save the world from the merger of the Three Realms. Retsu did her part in the war, just like Yamamoto and Ukitake.

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War

Release Date

October 10, 2022

Network

TV Tokyo

Showrunner

Tite Kubo

Directors

Tomohisa Taguchi, Mitsutoshi Satô, Hikaru Murata, Hodaka Kuramoto

Writers

Tite Kubo