Who is Renji's love interest in Bleach? Explained

Modified Sep 05, 2024 09:00 GMT

Bleach: Who is Renji's love interest? (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Bleach's Renji Abarai has been one of the series' most recurring characters, rivaling the screen time and character development of Ichigo Kurosaki himself. While Renji first made his appearance alongside Byakuya Kuchiki during the earlier episodes of the series, his character soon underwent an evolution that transformed him into someone akin to a second protagonist.

The manga has already concluded his story, but the recent developments surrounding his true Bankai in the anime, along with the anime's overall popularity, has led many fans to ask: Who is Renji's love interest?

Renji's love interest is Rukia Kuchiki, whom he married after the events of the Thousand-Year Blood War arc. Rukia and Renji are now parents to Ichika Abarai, who is rumored to play a pivotal role in the anticipated Hell arc of the Bleach series.

Disclaimer- This article contains spoilers for the Bleach series.

Renji's love interest is Rukia

Rukia using her bankai as shown in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Renji Abarai's love interest has always primarily been Rukia Kuchiki with the overall story of theirs being complicated by the involvement of the Kuchiki clan and Rukia's own spiritual powers.

While many fans of the original Bleach anime might claim that Rukia's potential romance with Ichigo was being developed in the earlier episodes, it should be noted that the romantic tone to their relationship was an anime-only addition. Ichigo and Rukia's relationship thoruhgout he manga was that of close friends.

Renji Abarai’s relationship with Rukia was much more developed throughout the series via their background stories, revealing how they were essentially very close during their childhood but were separated due to Rukia being adopted into the Kuchiki family.

Renji is later appointed as one of the two shinigami that are sent to arrest Rukia and return her to the Soul Society which serves as the main setting of the story during its beginnings.

Rukia and Renji's relationship in Bleach, explained

Renji Abarai as shown in the Bleach TYBW anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Rukia and Renji's relationship began in the district of Inuzuri within the Soul Society. Renji led a group of orphaned children, and they helped each other in finding their lost families.

Rukia met and saved Renji's group from an adult's wrath after Renji and his group had stolen a jug of water from him.

Years later, only Rukia and Renji survived, and Rukia suggested that they both join the Shinigami Academy. While Renji excelled and became popular at the academy, Rukia remained reserved and withdrawn.

Rukia Kuchiki as shown in the Bleach anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Rukia and Renji were later separated when the former was adopted by the Kuchiki Clan, led by Byakuya. Although the initial reason for the adoption was unclear, it was eventually revealed that Byakuya was acting on the dying words of his wife, Hisana Kuchiki, who was Rukia's elder sister.

Renji climbed through the ranks to defeat Byakuya and reunite with Rukia, but he was soon assigned to arrest her while accompanying Byakuya.

Despite his conflicting feelings about Rukia's impending execution, Renji initially acted as one of the main opposing forces against Ichigo and his party, who intended to rescue Rukia.

However, Renji later came to terms with his feelings and aided in Rukia's escape. Their stories are eventually explored separately before converging on their marriage.