Ichigo

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Ichigo is the son of Masaki and Isshin Kurosaki. White’s Hollow power passed into Masaki and subsequently into Ichigo, who carries Soul Reaper, Quincy, and Hollow bloodlines 96.

Rukia lent Ichigo Soul Reaper power. After Byakuya destroyed that borrowed power while taking Rukia back to Soul Society, Urahara offered to help Ichigo regain his abilities by drawing on the Soul Reaper power already within him 81 82.

Appearance

Ichigo has short orange hair and brown eyes. He generally wears a black Shihakusho as a Soul Reaper 86 105.

• His original awakened Zangetsu is an enormous, guardless blade with a black back, silver-white edge, and bandage-wrapped grip 86.
• While using White Ichigo’s power, he wears a black-and-white Shihakusho and carries a white Zangetsu 143.
• In his fully Hollowfied form, he has long orange hair, a white muscular body with black markings, a tail, clawed feet, a Hollow Hole, and a mask 139.

Personality

Ichigo is protective and quick to act when others are in danger. During his Hollow-hunting contest with Uryū, he objected to the danger the contest posed to ordinary people; later, he insisted on going to Soul Society for Rukia even after losing his powers 68 82.

His determination can make him reckless with his own safety, but he hesitates to hurt people important to his friends. He held back against Rukia’s Zanpakuto, Sode no Shirayuki, and initially could not bring himself to strike Zangetsu at full strength during their fight 136 139 143.

Abilities & Skills

Zangetsu and swordsmanship

Ichigo fights with Zangetsu, using its large blade to cut down Hollows and engage Soul Reapers 68 81.

• His Bankai, Tensa Zangetsu, gives him a slender black blade and greatly increases his speed 136 139.
• After reclaiming Zangetsu, he can wield black and white blades together, including in Bankai 143 151.
• He can use Shunpo to move quickly in combat 136 143.

Getsuga Tenshō

Zangetsu’s accompanying skill releases Reiatsu from the blade as a powerful attack 29 86.

• Ichigo’s first use was blocked by Urahara’s Blood-Mist Shield 86.
• He can attack with both swords, combining their powers as Getsuga Cross Blast; the attack shattered Gonryōmaru’s lightning spear 171.
• Jiku'a shattered Ichigo’s Getsuga and criticized its relatively loose energy structure 162.

Hollow power

White Ichigo’s power can manifest violently, and Ichigo initially struggles to control it 139 143.

• While fully Hollowfied, he fights with overwhelming physical force and forms a Cero in his palm 140.
• When using White Ichigo’s power, his white coat has a Hierro-like structure that can resist ordinary slashes. A point-blank Reiatsu attack remains a threat 143.
• His scarlet Reiatsu formed a horned skull that overwhelmed Zangetsu’s Getsuga Tenshō 143.

Spirit sensing

Ichigo can sense Reiatsu and was taught to sense Spirit Veins by Unohana. He used the latter to notice unusual fluctuations during the battle on Sōkyoku Hill 103 122.

Equipment

• Zangetsu — Ichigo’s Zanpakuto; after defeating its manifested spirit, he carries black and white swords 86 143.
• Denreishinki — A communication device that broke during the Soul Society invasion 103.
• Yoruichi’s levitation coat — Worn when he intercepted the Shellbreaker King’s attack on Rukia 112.
• Reiatsu weights — Training weights Yoruichi strapped to his limbs, making each sword swing require more Reiatsu 108.

Relationships

• Rukia Kuchiki — Friend who lent Ichigo Soul Reaper power. He invaded Soul Society to save her from execution 82 112.
• Yexing Hu — Ally who helped stabilize Ichigo’s runaway Reiatsu and supported the rescue of Rukia. Ichigo later recognized Sylvan and Rain as parts of Hu 68 100 147.
• Uryū Ishida — Hollow-hunting rival and companion during the Soul Society invasion; he helped release Ichigo’s excess Reiatsu after the Gillian encounter 68 93.
• Zangetsu — Ichigo’s Zanpakuto spirit, whom he calls “Uncle” or “old man.” After Muramasa extracted Zangetsu, Ichigo defeated him to restore their bond 139 143.
• White Ichigo — A Hollow presence within Ichigo. He lent Ichigo power against Zangetsu after Sylvan’s Integration 141 143.
• Byakuya Kuchiki — Rukia’s brother, who gravely wounded Ichigo while arresting her. Ichigo later defeated him, and Byakuya asked him to save Rukia 81 118.
• Yoruichi Shihōin — Ally who trained Ichigo for Bankai and accompanied him back to Soul Society during the Zanpakuto rebellion 108 133.
• Kisuke Urahara — Helped Ichigo regain his Soul Reaper powers and trained him until he awakened Zangetsu 82 86.
• Jūshirō Ukitake — Ally who intervened against Zangetsu and helped Sylvan restrain Hollowfied Ichigo 138 140.
• Masaki Kurosaki — Ichigo’s mother. Grand Fisher impersonated her to torment him during their fight 71.

Story Role

Rukia’s rescue

Ichigo and Uryū’s Hollow-hunting contest drew numerous Hollows and a Gillian. Ichigo wounded the Gillian but lost control of his Reiatsu, which Uryū and Hu helped stabilize 68. Soon afterward, he fought Grand Fisher during an attack on his family; Hu cut the Hollow in half, though its upper body escaped 71.

When Byakuya and Renji came for Rukia, Ichigo defeated Renji but was gravely wounded by Byakuya. After training with Urahara and awakening Zangetsu, he entered Soul Society with his companions. Gin drove the group back at Hakutōmon, forcing them to find another route into Seireitei 81 86 93.

Yoruichi revealed that Aizen had engineered Rukia’s execution to obtain something hidden inside her. Ichigo trained for Bankai, reached Sōkyoku Hill, blocked the Shellbreaker King’s attack, and freed Rukia. He then defeated Byakuya, who entrusted Rukia’s safety to him 103 108 112 118.

During the confrontation with Aizen, Ichigo carried the wounded Rukia and Renji away for treatment. Unohana later taught him to sense Spirit Veins; returning to the summit, he saw that Aizen’s hypnosis had caused the captains to attack Hu 120 122.

Zanpakuto rebellion

After Muramasa led a Zanpakuto rebellion, Ichigo followed Rukia back to Soul Society. Muramasa extracted Zangetsu, who fought Ichigo until Ichigo fully Hollowfied. Sylvan and Ukitake helped stabilize him, and Ichigo used White Ichigo’s power to defeat and reclaim Zangetsu 133 138 140 143.

Ichigo explained that Muramasa magnified Zanpakuto’s dissatisfaction and that wielders would need to defeat and reclaim their own blades. He fought the rebels at the Twelfth Division and later confronted Jiku'a, who severely wounded him and escaped 147 151 162.

On Peony Mountain, Ichigo drew Gonryōmaru away from injured Pluses. Their battle continued at a deserted riverbank, where Ichigo’s Getsuga Cross Blast shattered Gonryōmaru’s lightning spear 170 171.

Notable Quotes

“If you mean prepared to rescue a friend, I’m more than ready!” 81

“A brother is born to protect his little sister! Today, I’m going to hammer that lesson into your head!” 113

“We’re strongest when we join forces. Isn’t... that enough?” — to Zangetsu 139