Warning: Spoilers for Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3, Episode #9Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War tragically saw the Soul Reapers' original Head Captain cut down early on, but their new Head Captain is proving he was the right choice to fill the role. Demonstrating his monstrously powerful and intricate Bankai, Head Captain Shunsui Kyoraku proved just what makes him cut out for leadership, and it's not just about his power.

As the former head of Squad 8, Captain Kyoraku was one of the longest-serving Soul Reaper captains in the 13 Court Guard Squads, which made him a natural choice to replace Yamamoto after he fell in battle. While some may have had doubts about Kyoraku's laid-back attitude, the new Head Captain has proven himself to be a pragmatic, realistic leader who's willing to do whatever it takes to win. Leading his troops on the front lines in Wahr Welt, Captain Kyoraku took the assault on his group personally, and sought to put a stop to it, using his Shikai to instantaneously transport behind the sniper, Lille Barro.

Head Captain Kyoraku Proves He Deserves His Title

The Head Captain's Actions Show He's a Capable Leader

When Kyoraku goes to stop Lille Barro's sniping of his troops, the remaining Soul Reapers briefly debate what they should do. They consider heading back to help him in his battle, but Nanao arrives and urges them to keep moving, at Kyoraku's behest. The group is initially hesitant to keep moving, but Shinji Hirako points out that no one would have a second thought letting Yamamoto handle this by himself, and that they must follow Kyoraku's orders just as they would Yamamoto's. The group agrees, and begins moving on, deeper into the Quincy city.

Kyoraku has earned the trust of his soldiers, which is a critical thing for a leader to achieve. Many of the other captains know just how long Kyoraku has been serving in the 13 Court Guard Squads, and have great respect for his experience. Kyoraku takes action to defend those following him and keep them safe, even at great risk to himself, proving he can be trusted with the lives of his followers. He also trusts them to be able to follow through on their mission without him, proving that he has an excellent understanding of what they're capable of.

Kyoraku's Bankai is One of the Greatest in the Soul Society

A Powerful and High Ranking Soul Reaper Deserves An Equally Powerful Bankai

Bleach is a world where one's authority is proportional to their raw power, and that was certainly true of Yamamoto. As the new Head Captain, it was Kyoraku's turn to prove that he's the new strongest Soul Reaper, and prove that he did by deploying his dangerous Bankai, Katen Kyokotsu: Karamatsu Shinju, which reaches its effect out over a massive area, such that even Ichigo and Askin at the other side of the city can feel it. Kyoraku has never employed his Bankai on screen before, and rarely uses it due to the threat it can pose to his allies.

Kyoraku's Bankai entraps the enemy by forcing them into one of two roles in a tragic play, which Kyoraku and his opponent must act out. The first act sees wounds shared between foes, although these wounds can't kill, designed to reflect the guilt the character feels. The opponent then is covered in black spots, and begins to fall ill and bleed substantially. Act three sees both Kyoraku and his opponent submerged in an inescapable pool of water, which will remain active until one combatant's spiritual pressure is depleted and dies. Act four sees Kyoraku wrapping a thread around his opponent's neck, destroying their head and typically ending the battle.

As a rare Bankai which poses a threat to its as well as their allies, Kyoraku's Bankai is definitely difficult to use, but it's so immensely powerful that it's an ability befitting of the Soul Reapers' Head Captain. Every time he uses it, there's some risk that he might not have more spiritual pressure than his foe, and could drown. It means that Kyoraku is willing to do anything to achieve this victory, even if it comes at great cost to himself.

Captain Kyoraku may have seemed a surprising choice for the new Head Captain, but he's proven that he's more than capable of handling the weight of such a title. By looking out for his troops, earning their trust, and commanding incredible power, Kyoraku's leadership may be just what the Soul Reapers really needed in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.