Close Menu
Does Byakuya die in Bleach TYBW?
Äs Nödt attacking Byakuya Kuchiki using Senbonzakura Kageyoshi in Bleach TYBW (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Bleach: Does Byakuya die in TYBW?

Priya MajumdarBy Updated:5 Mins Read Anime

Bleach: TYBW has been seeing many hiccups in the battle of the Shinigamis against Quincies. The journey of victory is not easy when the opponents are Yhwach and his cohort. While Ichigo trains himself to be the vessel of the Soul King, the Captains, Lieutenants, and other Shinigamis of Soul Society have come together to fight off the Quincies. One among them has been the fierce battle between Byakuya Kuchiki, the Captain of the 6th Division, and Sternritter “F” Äs Nödt.

The Captain was accompanied by his Lieutenant, Renji Abarai, while Mask De Masculine supported Äs Nödt for a while. Here, the victory was passed down to the Quincy, as he not only fatally injured Byakuya but also stole his Bankai. The aftermath of the battle saw Byakuya crying as he requests Ichigo Kurosaki to save Soul Society as he supposedly breathes his last. However, this was not the end for the Captain of the 6th Division. Despite being gravely injured, Byakuya does make it alive to face Äs Nödt again and kill him, getting back his Bankai.

Byakuya’s battle with Äs Nödt in Bleach TYBW had the most drastic aftermath

With Renji coming to save the Shinigamis of 6th Division, Äs also doesn’t hold back and is soon accompanied by Mask. However, the latter’s target on Renji was intercepted when the Captain arrived in flesh and prepared to go against the Sternritters. Initially, it seemed that Byakuya had the upper hand in the fight as he slashed Äs’ hand with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, and made Mask fall through the hole he created. But Äs was the possessor of the unique Quincy technique called Blut Vene, which allowed him to deflect and repel the blade petals released from Senbonzakura.

While Byakuya’s attacks were effective enough to cut through the Reishi Thorns, he had underestimated Äs Nödt. After Renji trapped the Sternritter with his Zabimaru, the Lieutenant informed his Captain of Chōjirō Sasakibe and how Quincies could seal away a Shinigami’s Bankai. However, Byakuya, fuelled by a rage for the fallen Chōjirō that was done by the Quincies, launched an attack on Äs Nödt by activating his Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. At this point, Äs took out his Medallion and stole Byakuya’s Bankai, following which he was cut by Reishi Thorn on his right shoulder, injuring him gravely.

With Renji expressing concern, his Captain asks him to observe the battle so as he could bring Äs abilities. But then Byakuya took notice of his trembling hands and theorized that he had been poisoned when he was struck by Reishi Thorn. However, Äs clarified that it wasn’t poison but rather fear that struck Byakuya. Being a Captain, Byakuya had a stronger will that trained his mind, body, and soul in certain ways to resist attacks of subjective nature. Byakuya still managed to land blows on Äs despite resisting the effects of Reishi Thorn. 

When the idea seemed ridiculous, he imagined the rotting corpse of his sister, Rukia, which gripped in an unimaginable fear. This was the chink in the armor that Äs had needed to shove his hand through Byakuya’s chest. The Sternritter then went on to explain how fear was not an emotion but rather an instinct that needed no cause. 

https://twitter.com/sowhat567/status/1677861885729988609

A helpless Byakuya still continued to slash forward, but Äs used the Medallion to activate the Captain’s stolen Bankai. The effects of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi had been great, and it didn’t even spare its original master. Even with Renji attacking, Byakuya’s Bankai showed no mercy and Äs continued to release torrents of blade petals as Byakuya ended up being stuck to a crater of a wall that was smeared with his own blood.

The aftermath of the battle saw Renji attack Äs but Mask made his return and engaged with him. A sullen and desolate Byakuya reflected on his actions as his Zanpakuto shattered. Soon after, Ichigo arrived at the site with the Shunpo, where Byakuya expressed his hatred for the Sternritters and how he could not protect the Soul Society. He then asked Ichigo to save the community despite it being an arduous task for someone like him. Yet, when Ichigo departed the scene, Byakuya realized how he didn’t need explicit confirmation from the Substitute Shinigami to know his request would be heeded. This was the point where he had been presumed to have breathed his last. 

However, he was later rescued as the 4th Division made note how Byakuya Kuchiki escaped death by a hair’s breadth. But as he remained in coma, it became worrisome for everyone to understand that Byakuya resuming his Captain duties once he wakes up won’t be ideal. Yet, Byakuya did wake up, trained, and returned to the battlefield after the Wandenreich invaded for the second time. As he confronted Äs once again alongside Rukia, the latter killed him using Hakka no Togame, following which Byakuya got his Bankai back.

Share.

Priya is an anime lover and writer at GamesHorizon. A graduate from EFL University, she is deeply interested in anything remotely anime, manga, and fan culture. In her free time, she likes to draw, cook, visit cafes, and read fanfiction on a variety of anime fandoms' ships.