Ichigo Kurosaki is the star of Bleach, and as the protagonist, he has a lot on his plate. Not only is he a high school student, he is also a substitute Soul Reaper with many powerful enemies. Fortunately, Ichigo has a good head on his shoulders, and he usually knows just what to do.
Ichigo is a punk kid with a good heart, and while he does have his bad moments, he always comes through in the end, and everyone can count on him to make the right call when times get tough. After all, Ichigo prides himself on being a smart, practical hero, and many times in Bleach, Ichigo made great decisions that helped him save the day.
10 When Ichigo Decided To Go All Out Against Dordoni
During the Hueco Mundo arc, Ichigo's first major opponent was a stylish Arrancar named Dordoni, who had a powerful kick-based fighting style. Ichigo held back at first, since he wanted to save his bankai and his Hollow mask for stronger opponents, such as the ten Espadas. This was a bad idea.
Dordoni had a clear advantage, and he even tried to harm Nelliel to force Ichigo to fight him for real. Ichigo got the message, and he wisely activated his bankai and turned the tables on Dordoni. Upon request, Ichigo even briefly used his Hollow mask to strike the final blow. In this case, Ichigo can't afford to hold back.
9 When Ichigo Helped Chad Fight Off Some Bullies
In a flashback, Bleach revealed exactly how Ichigo met his good friend, Yasutora Sado, or Chad. At the time, Chad was a strict pacifist, having learned from his grandfather to never harm others, and he was getting beaten up on the riverbank. Ichigo saw this and rushed in to help.
Unlike Chad, Ichigo was perfectly willing to throw a punch, and he clobbered the punks and chased them off. This not only saved Chad, but inspired a wonderful friendship between him and Ichigo. Chad would later become Ichigo's ally during the Soul Society arc, the Hueco Mundo story arc and beyond.
8 When Ichigo Accepted Uryu's Challenge To Hunt Hollows
In the first season of Bleach, Ichigo realized that his classmate, the bookish Uryu Ishida, was a spiritual fighter, too. Uryu was a Quincy, and he saw Ichigo as a bitter rival. To prove himself, Uryu challenged Ichigo to a Hollow hunting contest, and Ichigo accepted.
Not only did this give Ichigo a chance to keep practicing fighting Hollows, but it also laid the foundation for his and Uryu's eventual friendship and alliance against their many common enemies. If Ichigo had refused, that would have cost him a vital ally in later story arcs.
7 When Ichigo Resisted His Inner Hollow While Fighting Byakuya
During the climax of the Soul Society arc, Ichigo faced his nemesis, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, in their final duel to decide Rukia Kuchiki's fate. Ichigo had his bankai on his side, but he also had a horrible unexpected ally: his inner Hollow, which tried to take over his body.
Ichigo was powerless to resist at first, until he found the resolve to confront his Hollow and drive it away. After all, Ichigo might have killed Byakuya in that state, and he would need Byakuya as an ally later. And if Ichigo didn't intervene, he might have been lost for good, even if he won the fight.
6 When Ichigo Agreed To Fight Grimmjow For The Third Time
During the Hueco Mundo story arc, Ichigo practically died at the hands of the cold Ulquiorra Schiffer, and not even his enemies were happy with that. Grimmjow Jeagerjaques wanted to fight Ichigo again, and he tried to force Orihime Inoue into healing Ichigo to make this showdown possible.
Orihime refused at first, unwilling to see her friend get hurt in yet another fight. Ichigo awoke and assured Orihime that he must fight, and that he will win. Ichigo accepted Grimmjow's challenge, and in so doing, he settled this grudge match and also realized that he really is determined to fight any and all foes to protect his friends. This fight helped galvanize Ichigo's resolve.
5 When Ichigo Accepted Kisuke's Offer To Train
In Season 1, Ichigo lost to Byakuya and Renji, and he was powerless to stop them from taking Rukia back to the Soul Society to answer for her crimes. Kisuke Urahara helped Ichigo recover, then offered to train Ichigo to make him strong enough to save Rukia. This was not a decision to make lightly.
Ichigo took the offer and underwent grueling training in Kisuke's underground training zone, where he very nearly become a Hollow in the process. But it paid off: Ichigo acquired Zangetsu, his true zanpakuto, and his skills were much sharper. Now he was ready to storm the Soul Society and save Rukia.
4 When Ichigo Agreed To Undergo Bankai Training With Yoruichi
Most of Ichigo's best decisions in Bleach involve combat or training, since he is a classic shonen action star, and that includes his second major training sequence in the story. This time, Ichigo was training with Yoruichi Shihoin, a good friend of Kisuke's. She knew how to unlock Ichigo's bankai.
This was very risky, however. If Ichigo failed to achieve bankai within a mere three days, the training would kill him, and Yoruichi gravely warned Ichigo of the danger. By no means was Ichigo required to undergo this training, but he knew that it was essential to get bankai. So he accepted the challenge, and got bankai after all.
3 When Ichigo Sought Out The Visoreds For Help
Early in the Arrancar arc, Ichigo was still struggling to control his inner Hollow, and this cost him in the fight against Yammy Llargo and Ulquiorra. That was when two of the eight Visoreds, Shinji Hirako and Hiyori Sarugaki, urged him to join them and undergo training. At first, Ichigo refused.
Eventually, Ichigo realized that he was running out of options, and he wisely sought out the Visoreds after all and demanded that they help him. As Ichigo hoped, he found a way to control his inner Hollow and don his skull mask at will. This would prove vital for later battles.
2 When Ichigo Married Orihime Inoue
On a personal level, this was one of Ichigo's best decisions, and he made it at some point between the final defeat of king Yhwach and the epilogue chapter of Bleach. Ichigo and Rukia were good friends, but they had very different lifestyles. Orihime, though, was a perfect match for Ichigo the hero.
Ichigo found true happiness when he married Orihime, and after all they've been through, they deserve a little peace and quiet in domestic bliss. Also, this marriage resulted in a spiritually talented son, Kazui, who may one day carry on his father's legacy.
1 When Ichigo Decided To Fight Fishbone-D To Protect Karin
This was the first major decision that Ichigo ever made in Bleach, and this decision is what thrust him into the world of Soul Reapers and Hollows. Thus, it could be considered Ichigo's most consequential decision, and it kickstarted the entire series.
Karin and Yuzu were in dire peril when the Hollow Fishbone-D arrived, and despite Rukia's warnings and her kido spell, Ichigo rushed to the scene of the crime and confronted the Hollow that threatened his family. Once Rukia lent him her powers, which was an excellent decision of hers, Ichigo became a true shonen hero and defeated Fishbone-D. His supernatural career had begun.