Choosing faith over suspicion, Ichigo Kurosaki tears open the dimension caging him with a surge of Bankai and answers Kugo Ginjo's accusations by pledging himself to the friends and allies he means to protect.
Summary
Rukia Kuchiki stirs to find the other Shinigami idle while Ichigo remains sealed inside one of Yukio's spaces. Yukio insists that not even he can dismiss the prison and that breaking it is out of the question, but Rukia rejects the claim and senses another reason for their stillness. Her doubt is answered when Ichigo rips the dimension open by unleashing his Bankai, stunning Yukio.
Silencing Ginjo and grumbling about Uryu's fretting, Ichigo admits that Ukitake's earlier remarks had struck him as strange. In time he reasoned that a man as clever as the captain could easily have kept him from ever doubting the badge; that Ukitake did not, Ichigo decided, was deliberate, a choice meant to leave him free to defend others. He swears to guard the people at his side.
Ginjo replies that killing Ichigo was never his wish, and answers the vow by calling forth his own Bankai.
Key Events
Ichigo escapes Yukio's pocket dimension through sheer force of Bankai. He reframes Ukitake's cryptic behavior as an act of trust rather than betrayal and renews his resolve to protect those close to him. Ginjo, unwilling but committed, activates his own Bankai to meet the challenge.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the Bleach chapter Shades of the Bond?
Shades of the Bond is the 475th chapter of Bleach, in which Ichigo Kurosaki chooses faith over suspicion, tears open the dimension caging him with a surge of Bankai, and answers Kugo Ginjo's accusations by pledging to protect his friends and allies.
How does Ichigo escape Yukio's pocket dimension?
Ichigo breaks out of Yukio Hans Vorarlberna's sealed space through sheer force of his Bankai, ripping the dimension open and stunning Yukio, who had insisted that not even he could dismiss the prison. Rukia Kuchiki had sensed there was another reason the Shinigami were standing idle.
How does Ichigo reinterpret Ukitake's behavior about the badge?
In Shades of the Bond, Ichigo reasons that a captain as clever as Ukitake could easily have kept him from ever doubting the badge. That Ukitake chose not to, Ichigo decides, was deliberate, an act of trust meant to leave him free to defend others.
What does Ginjo do at the end of Shades of the Bond?
Ginjo tells Ichigo that killing him was never his wish, then answers Ichigo's vow to protect his friends by calling forth his own Bankai. The confrontation is set to escalate.
Which volume and episode does Shades of the Bond belong to?
Shades of the Bond is part of Volume 54 of Bleach, titled Goodbye to Our Xcution, and was adapted as part of Episode 365 of the anime, Ichigo vs. Ginjo! The Secret of the Substitute Badge.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Bleach anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Rights holders
- Created byTite Kubo
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
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