The manga-anime series, Bleach presents many insanely powerful characters at different points in the series, ranging from the Shinigami and Arrancars to the Quincys. In the Soul Society Arc, Kuchiki Byakyuya's Senbonzakura Kageyoshi unpacked a mild teaser for what to expect later in the series.
After the Soul Society Arc, the Arrancar Arc revealed a different dimension to the Bleach power scaling by revealing the Arrancars’ striking abilities through characters like Nel, Ulquiorra, and Yami. Aizen’s immense power after fusing his body with the Hogyoku was another notable spectacle in the arc. However, the true extent of the Shinigami's powers were revealed during the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, where the manga unveiled all of Yamamoto Genryuusai’s abilities.
Who is Yamamoto Genryuusai?
Yamamoto Genryuusai is the Captain-Commander of the Gotei-13, which he founded with Unohana, one of the oldest members of the Captains. Captain Yamamato is a highly respected Shinigami within the Soul Society, revered especially by Sajin Komamura, who views him as a lifesaver. Despite his frail looks, Captain Yamamoto is quite powerful, and his abilities are not revealed properly until he clashes with Sosuke Aizen in the Arrancar Arc.
Due to Yamamato's experience as a Shinigami for over a thousand years, rarely anything fazes him. When bad news is delivered to the Gotei 13, he rarely reacts, except by slightly opening his slit-like eyes, conveying his seriousness. Yamamato constantly hunches on his back, but underneath his clothes are taut muscles and scars from his numerous battles that prove his fighting skill as a Shinigami.
Approximately 2,100 years ago, prior to Bleach's current timeline, Yamamoto founded the Genryu and Genji School, where he taught as the head instructor. With Yachiru Unohana, Yamamoto established the Gotei 13 and was an instructor at the academy. He was also responsible for teaching Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake, who became captains within the Gotei 13. During this period, Chojiro Sasakibe occasionally visited Yamamato, constantly referring to the scar on Yamamoto's scar.
However, on a fateful day, Chojiro expressed his wish to become Yamamoto's partner as the Gotei 13 founder to assist him and make up for his incapabilities. To Chojiro's surprise, Yamamoto refused his offer but suggested that Chojiro could become his disciple. Vexed, Chojiro tried to overpower Yamamato by using his Bankai and failed, but despite his unsuccessful attack, he managed to leave a scar on Yamamoto's head, resulting in Yamamoto naming himself. “Genryuusai.”
In the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, Bleach showed the old connection between Yhwach and Yamamato, about one thousand years ago from Bleach’s present timeline. During this time, he failed to defeat Yhwach, but he succeeded in eliminating some of his counterparts, such as Zeidritz, Argola, and Hubert. However, Yhwach resurfaces again in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, forcing Yamamoto to reveal the true extent of his abilities.
Yamamato Genryuusai's Abilities
As depicted earlier, Yamamato's strength has been present since his youth. Bleach further reinforced this when Captain Unohana called him weak, even after Yamamoto revealed his monstrous abilities. The revelation signified how much of a monster Yamamato was in his prime.
Shikai
First off, Yamamoto’s Zanpaktou, Ryuujin Jakka, is ranked as one of the strongest in Bleach. Ryuujin Jakka is a fire-based Zanpaktou with an incomparable attack power in the show. When it's sealed, it has the appearance of a walking staff, but during its release, it changes to a Katana. Yamamoto's Shikai, which is released when he utters “Bansho issai kaijin to nase,” meaning “All Things of This World, Turn To Ashes," is arguably one of the strongest in Bleach.
This Shikai even surpasses most Bankai in the series. In this Shikai mode, fire surrounds Yamamoto, and everything the flames touch disintegrates into ash. As proof, the flames even burn the surrounding air. The intense heat from Yamamoto's Shikai can be felt even miles away from Yamamoto's location. Using just his Shikai, Yamamoto was able to clash with Aizen revealing his immense power, without even using his Bankai.
Yamamoto can perform many techniques using his Shikai. One such technique is Jokaku Enjo, a sealing ability that imprisons the target in an immensely heated spherical wall of flame. The true extent of this Shikai was revealed when he imprisoned Gin, Tosen, and Aizen, three powerful Shinigami. During this saga, one of them tried to touch the flame, but Aizen stopped them, stating they would be reduced to ash if they touched it. Another technique is Ennetsu Jigoku, which Yamamoto uses to create a number of flame pillars that traps him and his opponents.
Bankai
Yamamoto's Bankai was shown in Chapter 506 of Bleach manga. During activation, Ryuujin Jakka resembles a katana with a blackened tip. All Yamamoto’s flames are sealed within the edge of the scorched-looking Ryuujin Jakka, making it very powerful. When it was activated in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc, Yhwach warned his adversaries to be careful because anything the blade touches is permanently erased from existence. Also, miles away, Yamamato’s Bankai caused Shinsui’s lips to crack and Ukitake’s throat to dry up; even Unohana revealed that Yamamoto's Bankai could destroy Soul Society if he didn't eliminate his opponents quickly.
Yama’s Bankai has four forms. The first is Zanka no Tachi, Higashi: Kyokujitsujin, which eliminates anything Ryuujin Jakka touches from existence. The second form is Zanka no Tachi, Nishi: Zanjitsu Gokui, a defensive ability that covers Yamamoto and his blade in flames, which he can choose to be seen or unseen. During activation, the surrounding temperatures exceed 15,000,000 degrees.
The next technique is Zanka no Tachi, Minami: Kaka Jūmanokushi Daisōjin, a dreadful ability. Yamamato activates by inserting his blade into the ground. This resurrects all the dead people that Ryuujin Jakka has killed. However, this ability is meant to destabilize the mental state of Yamamato’s opponents before serving as a prelude for his final ability, Zanka no Tachi, Kita: Tenchi Kaijin.
This ability allows Yamamoto to spread his flames to surrounding areas and to targets he wishes to harm. Anything these flames touches is reduced to ash. Yamamato’s abilities are proof of how he remained the captain of Gotei 13 despite his frail appearance for thousands of years. Undoubtedly, despite his tragic demise, Yamamoto Genryuusai remains part of the strongest characters in Bleach.