The hero of Bleach is Ichigo Kurosaki himself, a somewhat grouchy but brave fighter who will risk his very life for his friends in Karakura Town. He was a serious underdog during the series' first season, but as time went on, Ichigo grew incredibly powerful, achieving his own bankai and even gaining a Hollow mask. This allows him to fight Bleach's strongest foes and win.
Some of Ichigo's most heroic victories are legendary, such as when he narrowly won against Captain Byakuya Kuchiki or when he turned the tables on Ulquiorra Schiffer in spectacular fashion. Not to mention his final victory over Yhwach. However, Ichigo could have fought a wide variety of other foes in exciting and balanced matches, yet he never got the chance. Which fights never got a chance to be?
10 Ichigo Vs. Shunsui Kyoraku Would Have Been A Clash Of Personalities & Strength
Ichigo fought many Lieutenants and Captains during the events of the Soul Society arc, but he never crossed paths with the Captain of squad 8, Shunsui Kyoraku. Instead, it was his friend Chad who fought Shunsui in a brief and one-sided battle. Shunsui Kyoraku is much stronger than his goofy personality would suggest.
At the time, Ichigo didn't stand a chance of victory against this Captain, but then again, it would have been fun to see the stern and no-nonsense Ichigo trading verbal jabs with Shunsui and getting exasperated by the Captain's antics. In fact, Lieutenant Nanao Ise might take Ichigo's side in spirit.
9 Ichigo Vs. Ryuken Ishida Would Have Been Symbolic
In theory, the Quincy and Soul Reapers are bitter enemies, but Ryuken and his talented son, Uryu, simply mind their own business, and Ryuken has an understanding with Isshin Kurosaki. Right before the Hueco Mundo story arc began, Ryuken appeared, and he still wasn't fond of Soul Reapers.
In an alternate version of this story, Ichigo could have confronted Ryuken about this, and insisted that Uryu, as a friend, must fight by his side to rescue Orihime. Then Ichigo could duel Ryuken to prove his strength and resolve to this stern Quincy. How would Ryuken react?
8 Ichigo Vs. Izuru Kira Would Have Challenged Ichigo To Get Resourceful
It's true that Izuru Kira couldn't defeat Ichigo in a regular sword duel, especially not later in the series when Ichigo obtained his bankai and Hollow mask. But before then, it was a fairer fight, and Izuru's shikai, Wabisuke, would have been a unique challenge for Ichigo.
Wabisuke's shikai can double the weight of anything it strikes, and do that any number of times. If Zangetsu becomes too heavy to use, Ichigo would have to ditch it and fight Izuru some other way, with or without his allies. Now that would have tested Ichigo's creativity and mettle.
7 Ichigo Vs. Toshiro Hitsugaya Would Have Been A Clash Of Ice-Cold Resolve
In a broad sense, Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya was on Ichigo's side during the Soul Society arc. Toshiro wasn't prioritizing the mission to hunt and kill Ichigo's friends as he was aware that something concerning Captain Sosuke Aizen's death was fishy.
Instead of fighting Ichigo's team, Toshiro clashed with his fellow Soul Reapers, such as Izura Kira, and later Aizen himself. Still, a battle between him and Ichigo could have been thrilling, as Ichigo doesn't often face elemental foes such as the icy Toshiro, and they have similar personalities, too. Whose stubborn will would prevail?
6 Ichigo Vs. Yumichika Ayasegawa Would Have Been Downright Funny
The 5th seat of squad 11 is the vain Yumichika Ayasegawa, a good friend of Ikkaku Madarame's. Ichigo did fight Ikkaku, but battling Yumichika fell to the prankster Ganju Shiba in a purely comedic clash. Imagine if Ichigo were there instead.
This wouldn't have been the most intense battle, but the clash of personalities would have been deeply amusing, since Ichigo has no time for Yumichika's "beauty over everything" attitude, while Yumichika would tease Ichigo for being uncouth and crude. The verbal match would be more entertaining than the actual clash of swords.
5 Ichigo Vs. Tier Halibel Would Have Been A Cool Challenge
The 3rd Espada is a blonde Arrancar named Tier Halibel, and in the original Bleach story, she fought Toshiro Hitsugaya and a few of the Visoreds until Aizen intervened. It was an exciting battle of ice vs water, but could Ichigo have prevailed in Toshiro's place?
Ichigo struggled against Ulquiorra, who ranked 4th, but Ulquiorra had power that not even Aizen knew about, so he might actually be stronger than Halibel. If so, Ichigo might have stood a chance against Halibel, and it would have be fun to see if that is indeed the case.
4 Ichigo Vs. Captain Soi Fon Would Have Been Tense
Captain Soi Fon of squad 2 is a trained assassin, and she has a fearsome shikai named Suzumebachi that can deliver instant death with just two stings on the opponent's body. In the story of Bleach, Soi Fon fought her old mentor Yoruichi Shihoin, but suppose she had crossed paths with Ichigo first?
Ichigo would be in for the fight of his life, being unprepared to face a true ninja like Soi Fon. This would have been a terrifying battle as Ichigo struggled to avoid that second sting until Yoruchi arrived to take over. It's unlikely that Ichigo could have won this fight on his own.
3 Ichigo Vs. Aaroniero Arurruerie Would Have Been A Real Spectacle
The 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arurruerie, fought his sole battle against Rukia Kuchiki while disguising himself as the late Kaien Shiba to apply psychological pressure on his opponent. It was a cool fight, but Aaroniero never got a chance to show the full extent of his powers.
Aaroniero boasted that he has eaten 33,650 Hollow and obtained their abilities and forms, but he didn't make the most of that. In a fight against Ichigo, though, Aaroniero would have drawn upon his full power against such a strong foe, and that would have been way cool. An interesting bonus: Kaien Shiba is Ichigo's cousin on his father's side. Isshin was once Captain Isshin Shiba.
2 Ichigo Vs. Captain Kaname Tosen Would Have Challenged Him Like Never Before
Captain Kaname Tosen clashed with Uryu during the Soul Society arc and even his fellow Captain, Kenpachi Zaraki. But he never crossed paths with Ichigo Kurosaki. If they had fought, then Ichigo would have been in for a rough time, and he'd need some help.
Tosen's zanpakuto, Suzumushi, is a kido type that can emit a piercing tone to disable the enemy with shikai mode. Bankai will envelop Tosen and his foe in a zone where the opponent's senses aside from touch and pain are lost, and it's anyone's guess how Ichigo would have overcome that.
1 Ichigo Vs. Captain-General Yamamoto Would Be Epic & Terrifying
The Soul Society's boss battles, so to speak, were Captains Kuchiki and Aizen. In an alternate take, though, Ichigo could have faced off against Captain-General Yamamoto himself and witnessed firsthand what this old man's flaming zanpakuto, Ryujin Jakka, is capable of.
Ichigo would need the full extent of bankai just to survive, let alone win, and only Aizen's big betrayal could have called off this fight and spared Ichigo the wrath of Yamamoto's flames. What an intense battle this could have been.