Why Izuru Kira's return to Bleach TYBW isn't surprising, explored

Modified Jan 02, 2025 19:00 GMT

Why Izuru Kira's return to Bleach TYBW isn't surprising, explored (Image via Pierrot Films)

Bleach TYBW part 3 finale was released on December 28, 2024, and the episode featured the return of Izuru Kira, the lieutenant of Soul Society's 3rd Division. As expected, his return shocked the fans primarily because it wasn't described in the source material either. However, his return was explained in one of the source's novels.

However, an even bigger question the fans wanted answered was why the author didn't kill an already dead character, reemerging the allegation about the return of Byukuya. Just like in Byakuya's case, Izuru's return might also be a personal decision from the author. Moreover, Izuru's personality was the prime reason for his return as it was possible only because of his fellows' souls.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article solely belong to the author.

Bleach TYBW: Why Izuru Kira's return was expected

Izuru Kira as seen in the anime (Image via Pierrot Films)

Bleach TYBW part 3 episode 14 focused on the main battlefield where the Soul Society members were fighting Yhwach's army of Quincies before it was too late. However, the episode shifted to the Seireitei for a brief moment where Lille Barro's flamingo clones were wreaking havoc (these clones were the remains of Quincy as Nanao and Shinsui killed him).

As these clones continued wreaking havoc, a mysterious slash killed one of them. As these clones shifted their attention to the one that released the clash, it was Izuru Kira. The Soul Reaper had a big hole on his right side with numerous iron rods hiding his body together. After threatening the flamingo clones, Izuru announced that he was a dead man.

Izuru Kira was the lieutenant of the 3rd Division of the Gotei 13, formerly serving under Gin Ichimaru. After Gin betrayed Soul Society, Roujuurou Outoribashi took over the 3rd Division. Since his introduction, Izuru Kira has been adamant about helping others and sharing their burden. This made him a reputation that Mayuri Kurotsuchi wasn't very fond of.

Izuru Kira's death as seen in the anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

In the starting chapters of Bleach TYBW, when the Quincies infiltrated the Soul Society for the first time, Izuru met his end at the hands of Bazz-B, who used his Burning Finger 1 to pulverize the right side of the Soul Reaper's body. As expected, Izuru died immediately after receiving this blow.

However, he returned against Lille Barro's clones, as explained in the Beginning of Tomorrow short novel. After his death, Mayuri Kurotsuchi acquired Izuru's body and experimented to create an undead Soul Reaper with the souls of some other dead Soul Reapers. However, Izuru's return was still questionable among the fans.

In the past, when As Nodt 'presumably' killed Byakuya in the Bleach TYBW, fans had the same reaction because the Soul Reaper returned. The sole reason behind this might be the author's personal decision to go back.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi as seen in the anime (Image via Pierrot Films)

While the author is known for not killing his characters, there is always a valid reason behind Tite Kubo returning his characters to the front. Moreover, Izuru's return might be considered 'for the plot' given his compassion for his fellow Soul Reaper.

While experimenting on the Soul Reaper, Mayuri was amused by the fact that Izuru would share the burden of his fellow Soul Reapers (in its actual meaning). So, Izuru's return might be a redemption for the character to bring his dead Soul Reapers whose souls were used to make him stand up again.

Final thoughts

Izuru's intimidating return might see him receiving a 'Bankai' in Bleach TYBW part 4. As revealed by the author in a TikTok stream, the final part of Thousand Year Blood War will have content that has never been revealed to the fans (not even in the manga or novels). So, fans could expect good things from the undead Soul Reaper.

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Edited by Tiasha