The History and Mystery of the Final Battle between Kenpachi and Unohana

Unohana Retsu vs Zaraki Kenpachi

If you are a fan of Bleach, a manga and anime series written and illustrated by Tite Kubo, you must be familiar with Kenpachi and Unohana, two of the most powerful and respected captains of the Gotei 13. However, do you know the secret behind their relationship and their final battle that changed the fate of Soul Society? In this article, we will reveal the history and mystery of the epic fight between the two Kenpachis.

Who are Kenpachi and Unohana?

Kenpachi and Unohana are two captains of the Gotei 13, a military organization consisting of shinigami or death gods who are responsible for protecting the human world and Soul Society from hollows and other threats. Both of them have extraordinary strength and fighting abilities, and are considered as the two strongest shinigami in the history of Gotei 13.

Kenpachi Zaraki is the captain of the eleventh division, which is known for its focus on combat and violence. He is a tall and muscular man with spiky black hair and an eyepatch that covers his right eye. He wears a tattered white haori over his black shihakusho, and carries a large sword with a jagged edge. He loves fighting and seeks strong opponents to test his strength. He is also very loyal to his friends and subordinates, especially Yachiru Kusajishi, his lieutenant and adoptive daughter.

Unohana Retsu is the captain of the fourth division, which is known for its focus on healing and support. She is a slender and beautiful woman with long black hair that she ties into a braid. She wears a standard white haori over her black shihakusho, and carries a sword with a gentle curve. She is calm and gentle, and cares for her patients and comrades. She is also very respected and feared by other shinigami, as she is the oldest captain in Gotei 13.

How did they meet and fight for the first time?

Kenpachi and Unohana have a complicated and mysterious relationship. They met and fought for the first time hundreds of years ago, when they were still nameless mercenaries. Their fight at that time was very fierce and bloody, until they acknowledged each other's strength. Kenpachi even took Unohana's name, Zaraki, as his surname. Unohana also gave a name to Kenpachi's sword, Nozarashi.

The reason why they fought was because they were both looking for excitement and thrill in their lives. They were both bored with their mundane existence as killers who had no purpose or challenge. They were both drawn to each other's bloodlust and power, and felt a connection that they never felt before. They fought with all their might, without holding back or fearing death. They enjoyed every moment of their fight, as they felt alive for the first time.

However, their fight was interrupted by the arrival of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, the founder and leader of Gotei 13. He invited them to join his organization as shinigami, along with other powerful individuals who later became captains. Kenpachi agreed to join Gotei 13, as he hoped to find more strong opponents to fight. Unohana also agreed to join Gotei 13, but for a different reason.

Why did Unohana change herself into a healer?

Unohana Retsu Bankai

After their first fight, Unohana decided to change herself into a gentle and calm healer, and joined Gotei 13 as the captain of the fourth division. The reason was because she was afraid that if she continued to fight with Kenpachi, she would kill him and lose the only opponent who was equal to her. She also felt guilty for making Kenpachi lower his strength unconsciously in order to enjoy the fight longer with Unohana.

Unohana realized that she had fallen in love with Kenpachi during their fight, but not in a romantic way. She loved him as a fighter who could match her in every aspect. She loved him as a rival who could make her feel alive. She loved him as a friend who could understand her. She did not want to lose him because of her own selfishness.

Therefore, she decided to suppress her true self, which was a ruthless killer who enjoyed killing and fighting. She decided to become a healer who could save lives instead of taking them. She decided to hide her feelings for Kenpachi from him and everyone else. She decided to watch over him from afar, while hoping that he would find happiness in his own way.

Why did Kenpachi not realize his true power?

Meanwhile, Kenpachi continued to look for strong opponents to test his strength, but he never felt the same sensation as when he fought with Unohana. He also did not realize that he had suppressed his own strength, and could not hear the voice of his sword. He even could not use bankai, which is the highest level of power of a shinigami.

The reason why Kenpachi did not realize his true power was because he was influenced by Unohana's subconscious desire to keep him alive. Unohana had unknowingly planted a seed of doubt in Kenpachi's mind, which made him lower his strength whenever he faced a potential threat. Unohana had also unknowingly blocked Kenpachi's connection with his sword, which prevented him from using his full potential.

Kenpachi was unaware of this, and thought that he was just unlucky or unlucky. He thought that he had not met anyone who could challenge him or make him excited. He thought that he had not reached the limit of his power or the peak of his skill. He thought that he had not found his true self or his true purpose.

What happened in their final battle?

Zaraki Kenpachi Bankai

In the Thousand Year Blood War arc, which is the final arc of the Bleach manga, Gotei 13 faced a threat from Quincy, a race of humans who have spiritual power and are hostile to shinigami. Quincy was led by Yhwach, a being who claimed to be the king of Quincy and the son of Soul King, the supreme ruler of Soul Society. Yhwach had the power to steal spiritual power from others, and intended to destroy Soul Society and create a new world according to his will.

In the battle against Quincy, many shinigami were killed or severely injured, including Kenpachi. He was defeated by Royd Lloyd, one of Yhwach's subordinates who could imitate the appearance and power of others. Royd Lloyd imitated Yhwach's appearance and fought with Kenpachi, until he passed out from exhaustion.

To save Kenpachi and increase his strength, Unohana decided to treat and train him personally in the basement of the fourth division. She also revealed her identity as the original Kenpachi, which is the strongest shinigami who ever existed before Kenpachi Zaraki. She also said that she would kill Kenpachi repeatedly with her healing ability, until he could awaken his true power.

Unohana then fought with Kenpachi seriously and mercilessly, while teaching him how to use his sword properly. She also pushed Kenpachi to release all the limitations that he made for himself, and unleash his full potential. In that fight, Kenpachi finally heard the voice of his sword, and used bankai for the first time.

However, in the process, Unohana also sacrificed her own life, because she knew that she could not survive from the wounds that she received from Kenpachi. She also felt relieved because she had completed her duty as a teacher and final opponent for Kenpachi. She also thanked Kenpachi for giving her the best fight in her life.

After Unohana died, Kenpachi felt deep sadness and regret, but also high respect and appreciation. He then rose up and rejoined his comrades to fight Quincy. He also showed his new amazing power, and managed to defeat some powerful enemies, such as Gremmy Thoumeaux, Sternritter V who could make his imagination come true, and Gerard Valkyrie, Sternritter M who could become bigger and stronger every time he was injured.

Conclusion

The final battle between Kenpachi and Unohana was one of the most memorable and emotional moments in Bleach series. It revealed the history and mystery of their relationship, and how they influenced each other's lives. It also showed their growth and development as characters, and how they achieved their true potential. It was a battle that ended with tragedy and triumph, but also with love and respect.

If you are interested in reading more about Bleach series or watching its anime adaptation, you can visit its official website or its Wikipedia page. You can also check out its fan community on Reddit or Facebook. Thank you for reading this article. 😊