Bleach is a member of the "Big Three," the largest manga of the 2000s, alongside One Piece and Naruto, but there's one major difference that Bleach has compared to the other two. That difference has to do with character goals and motivations, and it shows why Bleach is a surprisingly different series.

As series, One Piece and Naruto have one thing in common: their protagonists both seek to accomplish big dreams. Luffy wishes to be King of the Pirates and find the legendary treasure One Piece, while Naruto wants to become Hokage. These goals explain everything you need to know about their characters as a reader: all their training and growing in strength is to achieve their goal, which naturally requires substantial power to accomplish. Ichigo, however, has no such lofty ambitions, and that has led some to claim that his character is aimless or without goals. To say such a thing is to ignore the very real goals that Ichigo does have, however.

Bleach is an Antagonist-Driven Story, and Ichigo's Goals Reflect That

Ichigo Reacts to the Actions of Villains

One advantage to having big goals like those of Luffy and Naruto is that it makes the main character very proactive. There's work that needs to be done to achieve their dreams, and they set about on a path that will ultimately lead them to their goals. However, that's not the only way to tell a story. Bleach is a great example of a story where the protagonist is reactive instead of proactive, as Ichigo is generally pretty happy with the status quo, and only takes action when someone or something threatens that status quo. Ichigo's true goal is the protection of others, so that they can live happy lives free of danger.

While many writing guides will recommend having a proactive protagonist over a reactive one, there's not anything inherently wrong with a reactive protagonist. It's a classic part of the hero's journey: the refusal of the call to adventure is always followed by an incident which forces the hero's hand. For Ichigo, he refuses to believe Rukia's story about Soul Reapers, and won't help her until his sister, Karin, is put into jeopardy. At that point, Ichigo is forced to take action, breaking the bonds Rukia placed on him and ultimately accepting her power, all to help save his family.

Unlike Luffy and Naruto, Ichigo has the role of Soul Reaper thrust upon him; he has no choice but to fight, even though he would much rather not. Everything else that happens in the story spirals out from this moment of having destiny choose him. Rukia's execution is scheduled because she shared power with Ichigo, forcing Ichigo to go to the Soul Society to save her. Orihime is kidnapped by Aizen for the abilities she developed from being around Ichigo, making Ichigo head to Hueco Mundo to save her. Soon, his entire hometown is threatened by Aizen, and Ichigo once more has no choice. Even Thousand-Year Blood War is the same.

Ichigo's Goal in Bleach is on Full Display in the Fullbringer Arc

Bleach's Most Hated Arc Shows Ichigo Does Have Goals

Ichigo's goal of protecting those close to him is irable, of course, but for some people it can seem less compelling than a mission to be the best. However, Ichigo is not purely ive, and no arc of Bleach highlights this fact quite as much as the Fullbringer arc. Ichigo has lost his Soul Reaper powers after defeating Aizen, and cannot fight anymore. While most would see this as a relief, it brings Ichigo some degree of frustration, as he is fully aware there are still dangers out there, such as Hollows. To have lost such power is a tough pill to swallow, and when Ichigo hears of a way to regain powers, he jumps at the chance.

This is Ichigo at his most proactive; he proves that he does want the strength to protect others, and is willing to work hard again if it means attaining that power once more. It's this desire to restore his power which sets him up to be manipulated by Ginjo and Tsukishima. They're able to bring him into Xcution and get him to train his Fullbring powers, all with the goal of stealing them for Ginjo's own use. Ichigo puts in tremendous work to regain his Soul Reaper powers, and is ultimately rewarded for his loyalty and ion by the other Soul Reapers, who use their own spiritual pressure to restore his.

This is also an example of how Ichigo's desire to protect can go too far at times, and cause him problems. He doesn't just want to protect his friends and family, he feels a burning need to do so, no matter the cost to himself. This is perhaps best reflected in Ichigo's most iconic quote, "...If fate is a millstone, then we are the grist. There is nothing we can do. So I wish for strength. If I cannot protect them from the wheel, then give me a strong blade, and enough strength to shatter fate."

Ichigo's Drive to Protect Others Is a Flaw And An Asset

Ichigo Can Go Too Far In Pursuit of His Goal, But It Also Drives Him to Great Heights

In this way, Ichigo is driven to dangerous and sometimes foolish things in his attempts at protecting his loved ones. Much of his internal struggle throughout the series has to do with feeling like he's never done enough to help, something that goes all the way back to the death of his mother, where he felt he should've been able to help her.

Ichigo's goal of protecting others is a goal that's just as valid as becoming Hokage or King of the Pirates. Like those goals, Ichigo's goal can get him into trouble and cause him inner turmoil, but it's also a source of great strength for him. For Ichigo, strength is a means to an end, not an end unto itself, and that's what sets Bleach apart from its Big Three counterparts.