After the anime's untimely end, Bleach fans had only the manga to follow the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki and Soul Society. Considering Tite Kubo's brilliance at crafting a story and embedding it within frames of exquisite art, however, this didn't turn out to be such a bad deal.
One of the most radical new developments that occurred in the un-televised Thousand-Year Blood War Arc happened to be the narrative of Shunsui Kyoraku—the playful but powerful Squad 8 Captain with his iconic flowery pink haori. A few miseries, a few triumphs, but this loveable character is given center-stage in a number of situations, not to mention an elaborately designed and poignant backstory.
10 Loses An Eye
In the first invasion of the Wandenreich, Shunsui comes face to face with an unexpectedly powerful opponent — Robert Accutrone, a middle-aged gunfighter. He admits that he would be lost without using his bankai, at which point the Quincy blows the kasa off his head.
Right before Squad 8, Captain realizes what is happening, Accutrone temporarily activates Grimaniel, giving him the boost required to actually pierce Kyoraku's eye, permanently blinding him on the left side.
9 Becomes The New Captain-Commander
Yhwach steals Yamamoto's bankai, which leaves him completely vulnerable: a fact that results in his instant execution. Shunsui, although horrified by the old man's death, helps bring the rest of the Gotei 13 together in order to mourn their lost mentor, and find solace in the lives that remain.
Due to his leadership traits, and his seniority, the Central 46 elects him as the Captain-Commander of the whole organization, much to his annoyance (given his penchant for lethargy.)
8 Releases The Kenpachi
One of the new Captain-Commander's first moves is demanding that Zaraki Kenpachi be trained in the "art of the sword", claiming that he is one of the few ways through which Soul Society would be able to survive a second invasion.
This request is grudgingly permitted, and Retsu Unohana (the first Kenpachi), takes the 11th of her name all the way down to Muken, the deepest prison level. Here, they are expected to battle to the death, because that is apparently the price Shunsui is willing to pay.
7 Sets Aizen Free
Yhwach's Almighty proves too difficult for even the Royal Squad to withstand, with Ichibei being torn to shreds in a single move. Kyoraku decides to pay a visit to Aizen, who remains as scornful as ever.
At this point, he reveals that the only way to escape Muken would be to leave him alive, as the key to the outside world is hidden inside his heart (somehow?) They both travel to Seireitei together, where Shunsui is forced to explain to the other furious Shinigami his reasons for setting free the worst criminal of all time.
6 Takes On Lille Barro
Shunsui Kyoraku's concluding fight is against the Schutzstaffel, Lille Barro, whose sniping techniques are rather overpowered (enough to destroy the likes of Oetsu Nimaiya.)
His shikai, Katen Kyokotsu, is seemingly adequate to fight Lille, especially with his innumerable moves — Daruma-san ga, Takaoni, Kageoni, Kageokuri, to name a few. That is, until the adversary triggers Jilliel, his angelic Vollständig, which almost manages to paralyze Shunsui in place.
5 Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju
Of course, this is when the Captain-Commander has no choice but to release his magnificent bankai, Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju. This technique is incredibly dangerous for allies to be caught in it, which is why Kyoraku only pulls it out once Urahara and the others have left the scene, but unfortunately, Nanao Ise, has not.
Shunsui begs forgiveness from her, but she merely tells him to shut up and focus on his opponent: a completely expected response from his domineering Vice-Captain.
4 A Four-Act Bankai
The activation of Kyoraku's bankai is followed by a massive depressing atmosphere manifesting itself, which supposedly affects everyone, as mentioned earlier. There are four levels, or dans, the first of which is Ichidanme: Tameraikizu no Wakachiai, which basically teleports any injuries received by either combatant to the anatomy of the other (distributing the pain, so to speak.)
The second, Nidanme: Zanki no Shitone, produces an array of dark blotches on Lille's body, while the third, Sandanme: Dangyo no Fuchi, generates a metaphorical ocean that traps him and his enemy until one of them expires from a lack of reiatsu. The final, and most powerful one, however, is the Shime no Dan: Itokiribasami Chizome no Nobudue, which incorporates some violent threadwork on Shunsui's part.
3 Reveals His Relationship To Nanao Ise
Nanao Ise is shocked to learn that not even the Captain-Commander's bankai is capable of defeating an incandescent being like Lille, when he shamefully tells her the story of her past.
She was born to his older brother, and her mother had been the caretaker of an ancient heirloom, the Shinken Hakkyoken, which she had bequeathed to him before passing away. Shunsui had kept this a secret from his Vice-Captain because he never wanted her to be burdened by these stories, but there is little hope of defeating Lille without it.
2 Katen Builds Kyokotsu
Shunsui tells Nanao that his zanpakuto spirit, Katen, actually creates the second spirit, Kyokotsu, for the sole purpose of locking her ceremonial zanpakuto away.
This is the first known instance of an asauchi "giving birth" to another, implying that the relationship between Shinigami and zanpakuto runs far deeper than previously thought. Now with the Shinken out of the bag, it takes the combined efforts of both Kyoraku and Nanao to "reflect" Lille's divine powers against him.
1 Mourns His Best Friend
Ukitake makes the greatest sacrifice in the Thousand Year Blood War Arc — he acknowledges his childhood survival as being due to Mimihagi, the right hand of the Soul King. He initiates the Kamikake process, which begins to strip him of his life force in order to replenish that being stolen by Yhwach in the Royal Realm.
This procedure obviously kills him, but his death is greatly mourned by the Gotei 13. Shunsui is observed hanging around Ukitake's grave, waxing nostalgic about their glory days.