Orihime Inoue is one of the major protagonists in Bleach. If any major disaster or a hollow attack occurs, she doesn't hesitate to rush over and help. Orihime doesn't have the most powerful offensive capabilities when compared to those of the other protagonists. However, her supportive abilities have been absolutely game-changing.
Orihime's hairpins can bring forth spirits that can perform multiple techniques. The two major abilities that she uses throughout the series are Santen Kesshun, which creates a powerful shield, and Soten Kisshun. The latter technique rejects an event, allowing her to return almost anyone or anything to a previous state, making her a highly-effective healer. Her skills have saved multiple lives.
Minor spoilers for Bleach's manga ahead.
10 She Saved Ichigo From Acidwire
One of Ichigo's earliest battles is against Orihime's hollowfied brother. While Acidwire attacks Orihime of his own volition in the manga, the anime is a little different. He spat acid onto Ichigo's hands, causing his grip on his sword to falter. Acidwire lunged at him to deliver a lethal bite, but Orihime got between them.
Orihime shielded Ichigo from the attack, and simultaneously reminded Acidwire that she still cared about him. Thankfully, this blow wasn't enough to kill her, and her apology helped her brother pass on.
9 She Used Her Shield Against Kototsu
When Orihime and her friends were traveling through the Dangai to reach the Soul Society, they were being pursued by the Kototsu. The Kototsu is like the street sweeper of the Dangai, and anyone who touches it gets trapped within the Dangai. Yoruichi warned the group not to allow themselves to get caught, but it was quickly catching up to them.
Feeling that the group wasn't going to escape otherwise, Orihime used her shield to save them. However, she took a huge risk in doing so. If the Kototsu had touched her Shun Shun Rikka and not the shield portion, they would have all died anyway.
8 She Protected Uryu Ishida In Soul Society
When the rescue team penetrated the barrier to Soul Society with a combined Kido cannonball, the group was torn apart and falling from a great height. In order to soften the landing, Orihime used Santen Kesshun. She was rendered unconscious, but this kept both her and Uryu Ishida from taking serious damage.
Orihime would later use this shield to protect Ishida from members of the 12th division, who Mayuri Kurotsuchi used as unwilling explosives. If Uryu had taken damage there, his fight against the Captain might not have been winnable.
7 She Protected Chad From Yammy
When Yammy and Ulquiorra came to the human world, Yammy sucked up the souls of all the humans in the surrounding area except Tatsuki. Despite the enormous power difference between Chad and the Arrancar, he told Orihime to run with Tatsuki.
Orihime knew that Chad wouldn't survive on his own, and went back to help him. Her shield was able to withstand a blow from Yammy, and she healed an injured Chad in the meantime. She just barely managed to buy enough time for Ichigo to arrive.
6 She Healed Everyone After Grimmjow's Attack
After Karakura town was attacked by Grimmjow and his followers, everyone was worse for wear. Toshiro Hitsugaya and Rukia Kuchiki had some of the most serious injuries, with Rukia having taken a near-fatal blow from Grimmjow himself. Orihime heals people the fastest and most efficiently, and it is because of her that Rukia is able to walk around soon after.
Orihime couldn't really participate in the battle, and she felt awful when she saw the miserable look on Ichigo's face while she healed Rukia's injuries. However, she was crucial in getting everyone back in top shape, and they really wouldn't have been able to continue without her abilities.
5 Orihime Went To Hueco Mundo To Protect Her Friends
Ulquiorra confronted Orihime, he killed the Shinigami escorting her and demanded that she follow him to Hueco Mundo. If she didn't comply, he promised that he would kill her friends. Orihime had no choice but to do as he said, as none of her friends were strong enough to defeat him.
While this separated many of the Shinigami's forces between the fake Karakura Town and Hueco Mundo, the Arrancar forces were also divided. The outcome of the final battle against Aizen may have ended extremely differently if Orihime had refused to go.
4 She Fixed Grimmjow's Arm
In order to display her powers, Aizen asked Orihime to restore Grimmjow's arm. Doing so set off a crucial chain of events. Grimmjow proceeded to kill Luppi, who would have been a powerful enemy. Grimmjow also saved Orihime from Loly and Menoly, and even forced Orihime to save Ichigo's life after he had been killed by Ulquiorra.
If not for Grimmjow, Ichigo would have remained dead. Granted, Grimmjow only wanted Orihime to revive Ichigo so that he could fight him, but Ichigo was necessary in Aizen's downfall.
3 Orihime's Plea For Help Revived Ichigo
After Ulquiorra defeated Ichigo yet again, it looked like it was the end. Orihime wasn't able to heal him, and since Ulquiorra had her and Uryu outclassed, all she could do was scream for Ichigo's help. Ichigo revived as a hollowfied version of himself, driven by a singular purpose to save her life.
Her pleas saved him, and Ichigo dealt so much damage to Ulquiorra during his transformation that the Espada crumbled to dust soon after their battle had ended. This scene was also crucial in showing just how much Ichigo cared for her, and set up the ending of the series in which they are married.
2 She Supports Ichigo In His Battle Against Yhwach
During Ichigo's battle against his most powerful enemy, he finally trusted Orihime to stand by his side and help him. For the longest time, he tried to do things on his own to ensure that no one would get hurt. He was wise in accepting her assistance.
Orihime would continuously block Yhwach's attacks, and she bought Ichigo time to use his new hollowfied form, which he brought forth with the help of Yhwach's powers. While the two still lost, Ichigo's fight against Yhwach would have ended much sooner.
1 Zangetsu Wouldn't Have Been Repaired Without Orihime
During Ichigo's battle against Yhwach, the villain broke Zangetsu in the blink of an eye. Ichigo was completely crushed by the loss, giving into despair just as Yhwach wanted him to. Although she tried her best, Orihime wasn't able to fix it.
This changed when Shukuro Tsukishima appeared and stabbed Ichigo with the Book of the End. In doing so, Tsukishima altered Ichigo's past, which allowed Orihime to repair the sword. Seeing his sword whole once more revitalized Ichigo, as he finally had the means to fight Yhwach properly again.