Summary
Considering how absurdly powerful a lot of the characters are in the world ofBleach, it only makes sense that a few rivalries would start to emerge throughout the story. Sometimes, these can be nothing more than casual feuds between two characters who simply want to see who’s stronger, but in other cases, a villain will intentionally choose for the hero to be their rival as a way to keep themselves motivated so that they can look forward to each new encounter.
With such a staggering number of characters, it’s fair to say thatthere have been more than a few heated rivalriesthat have gradually been formed inBleach, but which of them has managed to stand the test of time as being the most iconic and memorable?
7Aizen & Barragan
Barragan Is Constantly Trying To Prove His Power And Authority Over Aizen After He’s Stripped Of His Crown
Although Barragan isa member of the Espada, Aizen’s very own personal Arrancar hit squad, he doesn’t exactly share the same loyalty that all the other members have for their master. To force Barragan into submission, Aizen ripped away his status as the King of Hueco Mundo, making him little more than a servant who from then on would be made to follow Aizen’s every wish and command.
However, it becomes clear during the Fake Karakura Town arc that Barragan still holds a huge grudge against Aizen, seeing him as more of a powerful rival rather than his leader. When exposing his devastating Bankai attack against Soi Fon, Barragan makes it clear that he wants to show off to Aizen just how tremendously strong he is, and even when Barragan is about to die, he even goes as far as to hurl his axe at Aizen in one final move of defiance. Although they don’t interact too much, the piping-hot tension between Barragan and Aizen proves that the former sees his “Master” in a much different light to his Espada comrades.
6Mayuri & Kisuke
Mayuri And Kisuke’s Battle Of The Brains Results In A Fun And Comedic Rivalry Between The Two
Ever since Kisuke first brought Mayuri on board to help with his work in the Research and Development department, the two have had a distant, but very intense rivalry that boils down to one thing - proving who is truly the smartest of the two. While Kisuke would eventually be banished from the Soul Society and would further his research in the world of the living, Mayuri promptly took the position of being the 12th Division Captain, which would allow him to conduct all kinds of sick and twisted experiments.
There have been a handful of scenes that have showcased this long-running feud in action, such as when Kisuke informs Mayuri aboutthe Sternritter’s ability to steal Bankai, only for Mayuri to be more concerned about the communications chip that Kisuke somehow installed in his clothing. In another instance, Ichigo makes the grave mistake of comparing Mayuri to Kisuke, only for him to become infuriated at the proposition that they are in any way comparable, especially concerning overall intelligence.
5Nelliel & Nnoitra
Nnoitra Purposefully Took Everything From Nell Just So He Would Have A Chance Of Besting Her In Their Next Battle
Although Nnoitra initiallyshows up to challenge Ichigo during his rescue of Orihime, it’s quickly revealed that his real target is someone much different; the former Espada member known as Nelliel. After years of being bested by his comrades in battle, Nnoitra would come to despise anyone who looked down on him, an attitude which eventually made him very misogynistic against Nel, who he believed shouldn’t be able to beat or outrank him, purely because she’s a female.
As a result, Nnoitra decided to perform a sneak attack on Nel before then throwing her unconscious body off the side of Las Noches, making her a shell of her former self who would struggle to acquire enough power to beat Nnoitra in a one-on-one battle ever again. Although Nel does eventually manage to stand up to Nnoitra thanks to Ichigo’s help, her hatred for the man who took everything from her results in one of the most fearsome and personal rivalries in the entire series.
4Ichigo & Uryu
With One Being A Quincy And The Other A Soul Reaper, Ichigo And Uryu Are Always Trying To Out-Do One Another
After the events of the Soul Society Arc, Ichigo and Uryu learn to become close allies who can depend on one another, but this certainly wasn’t the case for the first few episodes of the show. Considering thatone is a Soul Reaper and the other a Quincy, it makes total sense why the two wouldn’t exactly see eye to eye on most things, with them both trying to outdo one another when it comes to fighting Hollows and proving who’s stronger.
Although they care for one another, Uryu’s sophisticated and patient attitude is the perfect contrast to Ichigo’s more outgoing and brash nature, which can often get him into trouble. Their rivalry does become much more personal during the events of the Thousand Year Blood War which does an excellent job of showcasing just how far the two have come, and how their petty squabbles have turned into something much more serious.
3Yhwach & Yamamoto
Yhwach and Yamamoto have an incredibly long history together, having been well acquainted for over 1,000 years by the time theBleachstory kicks off. They first clashed swords when Yamamoto was still recruiting members to becomethe Gotei 13, before he eventually ran into Yhwach and several of his Quincy subordinates. Although Yamamoto was able to take him down on this occasion, he still failed to kill him for good, with this single battle cementing the two as long-lasting rivals who would go on to pick up where they left off once Yhwach invades the Soul Society.
In a way, Yhwach and Yamamoto’s rivalry perfectly personifies the ancient feud between the Soul Reapers and the Quincy, which has led to a plethora of wars and disasters over the years. As leaders of their respective factions, the two are always at each other’s throats, and as seen in their epic final bout, they aren’t afraid to go all-out with their immense abilities and powers if it means destroying the other one.
2Ichigo & Renji
Ichigo And Renji Are Always Competing With One Another, Both Inside And Outside Of Combat
Although Renji initially started as nothing more than a hurdle in Ichigo’s way, things started to become a little more personal once the two came face to face during Ichigo’s mission to save Rukia. While Renji initially fights Ichigo to stop him in his tracks, Ichigo comes to convince him that the real enemy is the unfair system and traditions of the Soul Society itself, something that Renji knows is true but is simply too afraid to express.
After this personal awakening, Renji comes to respect Ichigo but also sees him as a worthy rival to test his strength. As a result, the two are constantly training together and always throwing little verbal jabs to get in the other’s head, resulting in a friendly, but still highly competitive relationship that’s so much fun to watch. Even by the time Ichigo and Renji reunite to train together inthe Soul Palacenear the end of the series, they still manage to clash heads over one thing or another, proving that this is one rivalry that will live on for eternity.
1Ichigo & Grimmjow
The reason so manyBleachfans love Grimmjow, aside from his incredible design and ferocious fighting style, is how carefree he is as an antagonist, despite being a loyal member of the Espada. Unlike Ulquiorra who only confronts Ichigo when ordered to, or to stop him from reaching Orihime, Grimmjow simply wants to fight Ichigo because of his strength, with the two having some ofthe most explosive battles in the history of the series.
Despite Grimmjow having a clear edge over his rival when they first meet, thanks to the power of his inner Hollow, Ichigo eventually manages to overcome Grimmjow in their final duel, proving once and for all who is the strongest among them. Rather than killing Grimmjow though, Ichigo gently rests him down, showing respect to the man who managed to push him to his absolute limits. While they are set up to be opposed to one another given their affiliations, Ichigo and Grimmjow gradually start to simply care more about besting the other in combat, forging an incredibly intense, competitive, but respectful rivalry as a result.
