Tite Kubo might have been hiding Aizen’s Bankai right in front of us this whole time and these hints in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War prove that.
SUMMARY
Sosuke Aizen’s return in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is filled with more mysteries.
Fans theorize the man has had Bankai all along that is his Zanpakuto’s full potential without visual limitations.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has brought on a new age of fan theories and the return of one of the most fascinating villains in the anime industry is at the centre of it all. Sosuke Aizen’s intellect and charisma are unparalleled in the Bleach series and shrouded in mystery. We never know if the man is hiding more terrifying powers up his sleeve. After his supposed defeat, Aizen returns in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. Many of the theories surrounding him are about the possibility of him having a Bankai.
Sosuke Aizen in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]
While Aizen’s illusion-type Zanpakuto spirit, Kyōka Suigetsu, has enough screen time to prove its power of perfect hypnosis, some intriguing details in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War hint that his Bankai might not only exist but has been cleverly hidden in plain sight. It would definitely be in character for the mysterious man to do so. It might be the real reason behind the hypnosis he causes, evolving from Zanpakuto to Bankai.
Aizen’s Bankai Is Hidden In Plain Sight in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War
Sosuke Aizen in Bleach. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]
In the traditional standards for the Bleach series, Bankai is the unlocked potential of a Zanpakuto. It makes the user much more powerful than before and Aizen is the perfect candidate to have such an escalation, especially in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. So what would be his Bankai if it’s been hidden so well up to Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War? If Aizen’s Shikai or spirit creates illusions for those who see Kyōka Suigetsu’s release, an evolved version that’s his Bankai could remove this limitation entirely. Aizen’s potential Bankai might enable him to place anyone, regardless of proximity, awareness, or preparedness, under perfect hypnosis.
In the events of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War and his confrontation with Yhwach, there was no visual release of Kyōka Suigetsu but we saw the Quincy King succumb to an illusion anyway. This hints at a potential escalation in his powers. Even Ichigo Kurosaki and Renji Abarai, who canonically state they are aware of Kyōka Suigetsu’s mechanics, could not avoid its effects. So perhaps what we were led to believe were side effects of Kyōka Suigetsu is actually Aizen’s Bankai. This would explain his omnipresent illusionary abilities in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.
Since Aizen’s character revolves around deception, it would be a genius move from Tite Kubo to reveal his Bankai has been hidden this whole time. It would be well within his character. However, some fans have expressed they would also be disappointed if his long-awaited Bankai was just his Zanpakuto but on steroids. This move can also be lazy from Kubo’s side when Aizen deserves a better Bankai.
The Mystery of Sosuke Aizen
Sosuke Aizen in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. [Credit: Studio Pierrot]The possibility of Aizen’s Bankai being revealed inconspicuously this entire time would certainly be a cool twist of events and add to Aizen’s character. Now that the main antagonist of Bleach’s first part is helping the Soul Society in defeating Yhwach, it already adds more to the mystery man.
Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War has been thrilling so far and Aizen’s appearance only heightens it. If the former captain can bend reality itself, who knows what he’s been up to in this particular arc of Bleach?
