Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Finally Hints At The Hell Arc

It’s unknown when the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc will properly begin, but it’s finally being referenced again thanks to Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode #29. Episode #29 was focused primarily on fleshing out Ukitake’s character as he sacrificed himself to summon Mimihagi, and in doing so, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War included a new scene that served as the first tease of the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc in three years. That tease does a lot to set up the arc finally being on the horizon, and more importantly, it works to finally give Ukitake time in the spotlight.

How Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Teases The Manga’s New Arc

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War included an extended flashback that chronicled Ukitake’s life, including a conversation he had with Unohana before her fight with Kenpachi. Both of them made it clear that they intended to die, and Ukitake said that they would see each other again soon; while Ukitake could have been speaking metaphorically or poetically, the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc revealed that captain-class souls are sent to Hell because they’re too powerful to be absorbed into Soul Society, so Ukitake’s conversation can be read as foreshadowing Bleach’s big twist about Hell in the manga.

While no one properly knew that captain-class souls went to Hell, there was an old story about it that Kyoraku never thought about until the prologue to the new arc. That’s important because Ukitake and Unohana share Kyoraku’s status as some of the oldest captains in Soul Society, so Ukitake and Unohana could be old enough to also know the stories about captain-class souls going to Hell. Unohana was one of the founders of the Court Guard, so she, especially, should know the truth, thus making it even less likely for their conversation to be metaphorical.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’s Hell Arc Tease Helps Make Ukitake’s Sacrifice Even Better

Bleach's Anime Improves The Manga Yet Again

Something else that made Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War’s Echoing Jaws of Hell arc tease work is how it tied into Ukitake’s sacrifice. Ukitake’s sacrifice in the manga was incredibly quick and only highlighted how little focus he had gotten up until then, but as previously mentioned, the anime included an extended flashback chronicling Ukitake’s life that fleshed out his personality far more than what was done in the manga. In short, Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War episode #29 was great for finally giving Ukitake a moment in the spotlight, even if it only happened because he was dying.

As for what that has to do with the Hell arc, while all the deceased captains are bound to be involved in the story, Ukitake was implied to be one of the bigger players in the arc, as he was the only captain from Hell to appear in the prologue while characters like Yamamoto and Unohana were only referenced. Because of that, Ukitake being used to tease Bleach’s Echoing Jaws of Hell arc further emphasizes the implication that he’ll be one of the biggest players in the arc, and whatever comes from that will surely be great to see.

What Role Does Ukitake Play in The Hell Arc?

Ukitake's New Title Makes Him Terrifying

When Ukitake is revealed in the No Breathes From Hell one-shot, he is given a new title: Kamikake, or "God Sworn" as it was translated. It suggests that Ukitake's connection with Mimihagi didn't necessarily end when he died, or when Mimihagi was absorbed by Yhwach. If Ukitake still contains godly power even in a twisted hell form, he'd be one formidable opponent, to be sure. While it's not yet clear if the captains cast into Hell have become "evil" versions of themselves or not, even the possibility of seeing a dark, divinely empowered Ukitake is enough to make one shudder.

The idea of everyone of Captain-class or above being doomed to Hell is certainly a dark twist, since that includes the majority of significant characters in the series, like Rukia and Ichigo. It's a moment that almost demands further explanation, especially since Hell has gone largely unexplored in the original series. Hell is said to be a place where those who did evil in their lives are punished, so why would Soul Reaper captains end up there? Perhaps a better question is, just who is it that decides where a soul goes when it dies? That might lead more directly into the true villain.

Many fans expect to see the original line-up of the 13 Court Guard Squad Captains play a role here as well, which would include Unohana and Yamamoto, among other less familiar characters. By Yamamoto's own admission, most of the original captains weren't particularly good people, so that might explain their presence in Hell beyond just reaching a certain level of power. Ukitake really is the one who stands out the most, as he was a genuinely kind person.

When Will Bleach’s Echoing Jaws Of Hell Arc Start?

The Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime has done a great job of teasing the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc, and that begs the question of when it will start. There’s still no word on its schedule from Tite Kubo or anyone else involved with Shonen Jump about the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc, and not only is Kubo busy working on the anime, he’s also presumably busy with the Burn the Witch manga, as well. All of that means it’s unlikely that Bleach’s Echoing Jaws of Hell arc will start anytime soon, even with the recent tease.

That being said, the fact that the anime is teasing the Echoing Jaws of Hell arc implies that Tite Kubo and anyone else working on it want people to keep thinking about it. With that in mind, Bleach’s Echoing Jaws of Hell arc will likely start sometime after Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is over, so probably sometime in 2025 at the earliest. All of that is purely hypothetical, of course, but there’s still plenty of reason to be excited about the arc thanks to the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime, and that, in and of itself, is plenty great.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War releases new episodes Saturdays on Hulu.