Thank you all very much for the many kind birthday wishes and congrats yesterday! It really meant a lot ⭐ Today, we're not only doing another Bankai theory video, but we're also spotlighting Yumichika for the first time! What do you think of my ideas for his Bankai? Which is your favourite? And of course, what ideas do YOU have? Let me know!

Honestly, I think that at least Ikaku probably knows and just respects Yumichika's dedication to the squad enough to not say anything. Especially because Yumichika keeps the secret of his bankai for him.

I have a sneaking suspicion that yumichika already has bankai, it's a small detail but in the battle against Giselle there's a moment where he tries to bring out Ruierokujaku without calling it's release command which only those that have achieved bankai can do

Always really liked how different Yumichika is the the rest of Squad 11, yet how devoted he is to both Ikakku and Kenny. Man is dedicated to the ideals of his Squad, but also to his friends, as shown when he was going to use his real Shikai to save Ikakku. Also, he has no damm chill. The fact he did not even want to look at a opponent that could have straight up killed him because he thought he was ugly, is some next level savage shit, haha! XD

I feel like he's an allegory for people who are afraid of 'coming out' for fear of losing friends/family etc. Idk about Kenny but Baldy would surely still love and respect Yumichika...maybe even more for being able to rise so high in the ranks with a stunted zanpakto

I would love the fire peacock one, coupled with a scenario of Yumichika trying and failing to defeat an enemy with his fake Bankai, and then being pulled aside by Ikkaku who reveals that everyone in the 11th Division already knows the true nature of his Zanpakuto and nobody cares or thinks less of him for it. Emboldened by his best friend's acceptance of who he really is, Yumichika starts fighting for real and defeats the enemy with his true bankai

you know it’s very ironic that for a squad dedicated to battle, their 3 most powerful men have operated with considerable self restraint for the better part of the story and for ikkaku and yumichika, continue to do so

I feel like his potential Bankai is something like an area affect like Tosen. His own garden of Eden. It attacks in all directions while also draining their energy. It fits well with his zanpakuto theme and his status as 11th division member

Enemies: “Permission to die beautifully?” Yumichika: “Permission Granted.”

He's a 3rd seat bit he is definitely the level of a vice Captain . Yumichika's zanpakto is pretty badass , I'm sure his bankai could rank him captain rank someday .

One of my favorite characters in the series, just love his design and how he views the world

The thing that makes yumichika and Ikakku so beautiful as characters, both together and separate, and within the story is that they're best friends who are both actively sacrificing who they are for what they believe in most strongly. Especially in Yumichika's case considering that his character is supposed to be narcissistic on the surface and that's shown in his true shikai except he sacrifices beauty, in essence making his narcissistic tendency is actually meaningless to him, so that he can be where he feels he belongs with the people that matter most to him. Ironically the true version of him is shown most by his sacrifice of himself. Even more ironic considering that his shikai is life stealing, which makes me think that his bankai would actually end up being a life giving AOE effectively making him a buffing agent.

It's beauty aligns with his narcissism while it's lethality fits with his division. Yumichika is no slouch in combat and definitely someone to call an ally in battle especially when things get serious. Only be sure to be far away when he goes Bankai.

What I found interesting about what you had pointed out about Yumichika’s power and ultimately identity is that he is Kubo’s way of commenting on masculinity. For the 11th division, it’s all about the hyper-masculinity where they need to put on the guise that they are stoic and that nothing phases them and that they can brute force themselves out of any kind of situation. With Kenpachi fighting Unohana and confronting his own emotions, he was able to become stronger and be restored to his true self. Yumichika is no different. It seems like the issue that Kubo might be addressing with the 11th division is that pursuing the ideal form of masculinity hinders the growth of a person, but by embracing who they really are and coming to terms with oneself can they achieve greater feats than they could ever imagine. It seems like true masculinity is reached when one can feel truly comfortable in their own skin, not seeing their emotions as a weakness, and embrace who they are without prejudice will a person be at their peak. This would highly resemble the character journey that Ichigo went through. For Yumichika, by embracing these true qualities of masculinity and realizing that by being himself does not go against the code and credence of the 11th division’s philosophies, he will garner more respect and can lead a renaissance within the 11th division and they will be TRULY the strongest division in the Gotei 13.

I always like this idea that Yumichika is able to actually tap into different sword shapes and even powers simply by naming different colors for his Kujaku. Like Mizuiro Kujaku, cyan being a color maybe that Kujaku finds calming. Or maybe Sakurairo Kujaku, that makes the sword happy. or Chairo Kujaki, brown making the sword enraged. And each colors makes something on the sword. The idea is that the Zanpakuto is pretty much moody and capricious. A peacock is also an extremely colorful creature, so that could be an alternative that Yumichika found to access many abilities / shapes that wouldn't contradict the 11th division philosophy.

Yumichika would need to undergo a truly seismic amount of character development in order to ever get to the point of Bankai. He really needs to embrace his true self, especially because I think Ikkaku and Zaraki would ultimately accept him.

I like the idea that by the time they reach bankai they will have come to understand each other enough that they don't need 2 different forms. Something that hides the field of combat from view, but in a way that Yumichika could write off as being purely cosmetic, "creating a stage fabulous enough to be deserving of his true beauty" while actually using cover and possibly illusions to keep those outside of the combat from sensing what is going on inside

I think that Yumichika's bankai would be more true to the 11th division while playing on the draining ability. It would be a have a vampiric effect, while actually moving more into a melee centric build that Yumichika actually believes in. The sword reforms, but the vines sprout back from the guard and the handle embedding themselves into Yumichika and bursting from his back in a fan like pattern, and as he fights draining the energy from his foe, the vines sprouting from his back expand like a peacock's feathers.

I'm realizing now, and I suppose I should've realized it before when this originally came up during the reforging of Zangetsu, that each Zanpakuto seems to act like a mirror of their wielder and is more a trial for each wielder to come to terms with aspects of themselves to fully wield. Zangetsu is Ichigo's instinct given form, Ruri'iro Kujaku is Yumichika's vanity, Hozukimaru seems to embody Ikkaku's lack of desire to fight at full strength in fear of showing up Zaraki and not being able to serve under him (which is madness given who he's talking about, but whatever), etc. Given how closely related the Zanpakuto is to it's wielder, can the royal family Zanpakuto, like Enrakyōten and Shinken Hakkyoken, even achieve a bankai or grow as Zanpakuto for that matter?

He's a side character that gets a lot of screen time. Severely underrated character. His bankai would be fascinating to see. I personally think that he adds a totally different aspect to squad 11 and how they operate as a whole and how he stands out like a sore thumb but at the same time cherishes the challenge of a battle. I actually love the character and how he keeps his true powers hidden

I hope his and ikaku's fight is expanded in the anime, I wanted yumichika to use his shikai to try to save ikaku before mayuri arrives and steals his fight.

Please do Kira’s bankai he’s my all time favorite bleach character

Video title: What is it? Me: ART.

I think a mix of the first and second potential Bankai's makes sense. A multi-stage Bankai like Toshiro's with a count-up timer. In the first stage Yumichika is at the center of a vast vine network, as the vines consume more reitsu first flowers begin to bloom... but after that they begin growing fruit, similar to Szayelaporro's Gabriel these fruit feed on reitsu until they can give birth to manifestations of Yumichika's Zanpakuto spirit (as you described in the second Bankai). In this second phase of the Bankai, the vine network browns itself out and takes the role of a nest, the hatched fruits of Ruri'iro Kujaku take the form of chicklets feeding on the vines and leftover fruit "shells" until one of them gains enough reistu to become a fullgrown embodiment of Ruri'iro Kujaku. During this second stage Yumichika is free to move about the nest and in stealing reitsu from his opponent can produce more fruit to feed the chicklets with the nest itself acting as a caged arena. In the third/final phase the nest has been consumed by a sole remaining bird, and it acts entirely as you described in the second potential bankai... rampaging until it runs out of reitsu

My guess about his bankai is that the peacock becomes a Phoenix. The idea that he "cant" use his bankai till near death (a way of sacrificing his own reiatsu for the transformation)

Most Nobles, like Byakuya have those ancestral flower Bankai...also the Way Yumichika is, he has to be a Noble

I always really liked that he’s a high-ranking officer in the 11th and even Yamamoto acknowledged his capabilities. Normally a character like this is just a gag character in most other shonen, but it was cool of Kubo to make him a genuine, fleshed-out character.

Ruri'iro Kujaku is possibly my favourite zanpaku-tō. The ability it has to steal opponents' reiatsu is one of the most beautifully depicted in the entire series

I like the second one the most, since when it comes to the rest of the squad Yumichika always seemed to have skill while the others just did the Goku method, aka hit it really hard/ hit it harder. Him having to be mindful and skillful with his bankai seems really in character for him.

Would Kenpachi really care that much if he were to find out about ruuriro kujaku?

Finally some yumichika content 🤧

While these videos are really in depth and provides loads of needed discussions for lower grade characters such as Yumichika, the art from you and your ideas is what I want to see most. Its absolutely awesome writing bleach zanpakuto ideas and even writing stories, so seeing art from anothers perspective will always be a treat to watch.

Love the drawings. They really help convey the theory and they’re just really cool to look at 🙏🏻

I really like the first bankai idea, I think it could be OP if fully matured. I can imagine pairing it with Shinji's bankai where enemies fight among themselves while slowly dying of exhaustion. Then enters Rukia's bankai (of course she has to hide somewhere to be safe from any attacks). High ranking shinigamis have soooo many AoE abilities using their zanpakutos where they can be very creative while fighting together. Maybe that's kind of hard to write or plot.. but that's just me and my imagination :p

I figured his bankai would represent an even more beautiful but no longer ‘narcissistic’ bird. The phoenix. It would allow him to resurrect anyone whom his shikai had drained of life in the past to fight alongside him. It would make his scarf burst into flame and allow him to re-emerge from a pile of ash if he is ever defeated.

he's obviously more adept than his superiors.He just happened to be fond of his seat number because of aesthetic reasons. That doesnt make him weaker than ikkaku. He sees 3 as the perfect number but its reserved for his bs so hes sitting in the second best number which is 5.

My favorite is definitely the 2nd idea. While Yumichika's zanpakuto is meant to stand out from the other 11th division members, it also has to do the job of depicting who Yumichika is, a hardened warrior just like the rest of them. I also think it'd be poetic for his zanpakuto to only actually be more offensive and less about stealing reiatsu when he decides to work together with it. Personally, I always wanted to see Ikkaku and Yumichika use their bankais together at some point in the TYBW, leaving behind their fears in order to fulfill their duty

I really like these Bankai theory discussions. And its geat to see Yumichika get some attention xD maybe there is a chance to see bankai theories on Love, Izuru or Rangiku....

As you've mentioned, Yumichika does have some selfish personality traits, but has shown to be a kind person when it mattered. Because of this, off the top of my head, his bankai would be a supportive ability, alternative to his shikai being a selfih draining ability. If he uses his shikai as a last resort already, then his bankai would be his true last resort, in a sense that it'd only unlock/activate when he dies. I imagine that he would take on an attack to save an ally, allowing him to achieve his bankai in that very moment, which would cause a tree to grow in his place, spreading reiatsu through the air, thus refreshing and boosting the power of those whom he wished to protect in his last moments. This would most likely be during a large battle, so his death bankai could change the tide by boosting his allies as a final parting gift.

The second bankai could have a very neat ability implied by it's activation requirement: It sound like it doesn't actually use yumichika's reiatsu, but rather the opponent's. This brings some very neat combat patterns, since if he maintains a shikai-bankai-shikai loop yumichika could effectively fight for as long as he has enemies to face, as his shikai can also heal him while charging his bankai.

so glad there are drawn visuals, it really helps get the point across, great art!!

Yumichika’s relationship with the 11th division and his shikai are definitely an analogy for a gay man that can’t come out around his straight friends, as a gay man myself I’d recognize that metaphor asap anywhere lol. Besides that though, I love his character just for the fact that he’s one of the few characters that use kido as a primary component of his combat prowess which is refreshing from such a huge cast of mostly brute force sword fighters. Also I love flamboyant characters, he actually kinda reminds me of James from Pokémon for some reason 😭

I wonder what would happen if he absorbed Aizen levels of spiritual pressure? Would it bloom trees or a forest!?

Great video. Hope you do something like this for Izuru in the future. Especially since Kubo has actually commented on it

Thank you for showing love to Yumichika. Only if Kubo did too

I actually love all of these ideas a lot! The first two bankai ideas I could imagine so clearly as if they really were canon

I must say Tommo, u got the most beauty out of all Bleach tuber on youtube. :) Your voice is polite, calm and friendly just like Aizen was before his treachery. Also like Komamura coz u both for the blond nice fur and facial hair. :)

I think a fun one would be a reluctant companion bonkai. He loses his sword but it turns into someone or something and it fights but gives him grief the whole time. Turns out he half released his is bonkai to and the true form is both personalities and bodies fusing into one.

You really come up with the best bankai ideas. Best Bleach KZfaqr !

Awesome video, thanks for making these! Such a great series, really appreciate all the care and attention you put into your videos. Regarding Yumichikas false bankai, I imagine it could look like him having peacock feathers flourishing his back while he perhaps wields 2 long-bladed fans. Similar in style to the bladed fan sword of his false shikai in appearance and possessing no special ability of note, this false shikai would simply be one where he battles straight up with his opponent. (Imitating the fighting style of the squad he's trying to fit into)

Omg Yumichika is one my favorite characters since I really identify with him lol. So glad you made a video of him! I definitely like the first Bankai idea for him.

I think that Yumichika's bankai is the embodiment of his squad's whole "power is everything" philosophy, and that's why the spirit gets so upset that Yumichika deliberately calls the wrong name for it. Imagine this: a beautiful flower garden that saps the reiatsu from the world and siphons it directly into Yumichika's body, granting him passive regeneration, deadly strength, and inexhaustible stamina at the cost of everything around him. Its very use would have the kind of fear-inspiring effect Zanka no Tachi had, where it being active for too long would turn the soul society into a Wasteland with a flower garden in the center as the only beautiful thing left to see.

I always thought he didn't belong in kenpachi squad. His zanpakuto was kedo based and I've felt he should have been in Byakugya sqaud. He was always holding back deliberate due to his Captain.

This was a GLORIOUS bankai joint my man. You explained and CAPTURED the essence of the Kujaku's and Yumichika perfectly in your art. Always luv to see you rock it OUT with your pencils

I think the partial shikai and bankai concept is so cool. Could be a viable way to fight strategically. I wonder if any captain can do this, in theory?

My thought is that the Bankai should be a result of the sword and user finding a common ground. It splits into two azure sickles with several blades to represent wings while a cape of azure peacock plumes forms on the back his uniform. During Bankai, when Yumichika slashes his enemies he will deal no damage and drain a portion of their reiatsu based on the damage that would be done that will make each feather of his cape glow individually. He can then spend feathers to gain bonus effects. The basic one is that he can spend feathers to strike his enemies with the blow they would have taken - which allows him to instantly deal the blow as he hits or to save up to deal them all at once. He also has the option to give himself some of the stolen reiatsu or to provide himself physical damage/speed buffs. With a fully filled cape, he can spend it to deal an ultimate attack that will detonate each slash in an azure explosion.

Yumichika i initially overlooked myself, i dint mind admitting. But the manga portaid yumichika in the face in si many good ways. The sinister look matches that of squad 11's principles even though his zanpakuto doesnt necessarily match the typical values. Despite his 'beautiful' appearence, like his 'slang'zanpakuto name, he's as battle loving and condemning to fight as any squad 11 member, as his mentality is a lot darker than surface level

Decent theories on his Bankai. But I think it would be much more interesting if the flowers that bloom do have an effect Yumichika can activate. Like, maybe, he can choose to absorb all the reiatsu the flowers and vines have absorbed for a finisher move. Kinda like Mugetsu. Just a very powerful one-shot technique. Maybe the Peacock could be this final stroke? He could even use the power his bankai has leeched from the enemy to use Kido without exhausting his own personal stores. And even use this ability to aid his allies by healing them or giving them more energy when they begin to feel exhausted. Making him a lethal support combatant.

His Banki is one of the most dangerous, in my option, Draining the power is pretty impressive.

I wonder what the other captains banki looks like if they called it by the wrong name

I had no idea you could draw so well dude, those renditions are so good.

Great theories for his Bankai, Yumichika one of those characters that would be OP without restraining himself or his shikai on a Captain class character would be OP

Before I was an actual Bleach fan and only saw a couple character designs Yumichika’s was always my favourite so when I actually started watching I always wanted him to do more 😩

14:08 I love this drawing here looks so awesome Tommo

Mega props to you for drawing them

Hear are some ideas i desperately needed to type False bankai: When activated it becomes an wisteria coloured staff with eight black curved blades it's basically an inverse of his true shikai it drains his own reatsu and condenses it into each of his eight curved blades he can use that to increase the sharpness and power of his strikes. True bankai: When activated light is released along with feather like leaves and he is covered in a azure robe and an orange sash on his waist on the back of said robe he has four blue flowers he two green whips with azure feather like blades he can freely stretch and move around his weapon it passively absorbs small amounts of reiryoku once near the enemy's reatsu however if yumichika attacks the enemy he can absorb large amounts or reiryoku from the enemy's body all reiryoku absorbed is stored in the flowers once the flowers are filled the they begin glowing in a light blue after that they open and release a large amount of reiryoku which he can use for a variety of peacock and plant themed kido attacks.

Yumichika: "Behold my bankai in all its resplendent glory!" Rukia: "Ichigo, hold my sake."

So I think his bankai should really like embody him truly accenting him and his true self. In my head I imagine him being promoted to captain of the 4th division and his Bankai turns into a flurry of peacock feathers and seeks out enemy’s piercing them and draining a portion of their rietsu (sp?) so it can be used in heeling allies. Likely awoken after watching so many comrades die during the march of the zombies episode.

The third bankai I think would actually be a great "false bankai" for using the wrong name too much, with the first bankai would be great for the true form. I like the idea that he creates an actual forest of these vines and buds.

Yeah! My boy gets a video! Ayasegawa is probably my favorite Soul Reaper

I really enjoyed the second idea you had for his bankai and tbh I find it difficult finding a different function for his bankai other then storing and releasing reiatsu, my personal idea was that his bankai would be that of an overheal like getting 100 extra health in a video game except taken to the extreme where he's envelopes in a green and blue Aura and regenerates from injuries and replenishes stamina at a rapid rate and maybe his zanpaktou undergoes a physical change to allow him to fight more

I've always really loved his design and found him to be beautiful myself. My idea for his Bankai would be pretty simple though. He could adorn the Peacock himself essentially, gaining a massive speed boost. If he can catch you and attach vines to you, he would then turn into a flower and sap you of energy until he decides to let go of you.

I always imagined him stabbing the sword into the ground and a giant tree sprouting from the ground with vines dangling down and flowers blooming in the tree tops, feathers and leaves would descend from the tree tops. Maybe fruit would come from the flowers. Birds would swoop down from the canopy. Honestly you could do a ton of things with his bankai. I just think it would have to be visually appealing. Especially if he has 2 separate bankai

Fuji kujaku could simply be the physical combat aspect of the zanpakutō. It probably hates getting its hands dirty, and I bet its real form is something like a metal whip for flagellation that transfers or nullifies and redirects all ayasegawa's damage taken from battle by whomever is caught in his aoe.

Love these sorts of videos, can you do more like these

This is the videos I've needed for years now thank you for the upload

two shikai and two bankai that's cool it gives him a lot to work with

What makes the relationship between Yumichika and his blade really funny is the fact that BOTH are so freaking vain despite how reliable Yumichika is

An idea that could follow Yumichika’s inner conflicts would be a large AoE bankai that would be similar you described it, immobilizing him, but the vines form a large and intricately tangled maze in the shape of a dome or even a peacocks tail feather. They would still function to drain the reiatsu of enemies but the vines would gradually grow, the maze along with it, and would entangle any enemies who were trapped allowing yumichika to use his true power and kido-based sword while still being unseen.

I’ve waited so long for this video!!

Omg I’m so happy he’s finally getting so me luv. It’s crazy because an interview a while back kubo said if he was to give a Banki to one of the lieutenants it would most likely be Yumichika. Hopefully the anime will give him one.

Just wanna say how your timing is crazy. Just got gifted the first 2 bleach box sets and had a random interest in wanting to see Yumichika and that false shikai again. Another banger video as always

Im a firm believer that yumichika has already achieved bankai but it can only be released in the kido form and is too large to hide, which is why he will never use it. We never see anyone else purposefully calling their sword a wrong name and still achieve a released state. That shows he a bond stronger than just shikai

Man I ABSOLUTELY LOVE seeing your fanart and a picture of your ideas 🤌

Yumichika has always been an interesting character to me; nice job

I'm so glad you made this video, I've been waiting to hear your ideas on Yumichika's bankai. Your first idea is what I think matches his zanpakuto the best and is the overall best one IMO. The second one is very impressive visually though. Thank you for making the art to better illustrate your ideas and including it in the video!

all 3 have something on their eyes. Yumichika's Fetters. ikkaku's Red Eyeliner And Zaraki's eyepatch. I think it's funnt to acknowledge

My first thoughts on his bankai. False Bankai: his 4 sickle blades become large rings that float behind him like a peacock tail. He can manipulate these rings in a graceful, fluid manor. True Bankai: the vines of his shikai become roots. Instead of flowers, a massive tree blooms instead. Now Umichika can grant the reiatsu taken by his Bankai to anyone who is under the foliage of this tree.

Great theories and even GREATER illustrations my gahd! Great video❤

Hypnotic vampire. Yumichika becomes undead. An absolutely beautiful creature but having no reflection he can never appreciate his own beauty. This drives him effectively insane in bankai form. His outfit a series of peacock feather, eyes everywhere. Seeing those eyes enraptures the beholder turning them into thralls. Friend and foe alike as an area effect. Being undead he cannot be killed through any normal physical attack. He’s vulnerable only to kido in this form.

I personally think that it would be cool from a story and character development perspective if he achieves bankai where he accepts himself but it also fits in the squads ideals. Like he always thought that his power would not fit in with the ideals but if he truly embraced his powers as a part of him, he would truly belong. With that he would achieve true self love of every part of him without needing to take his identity from others. In line with all that, his bankai could have the vines wrap around himself and instead of taking power from other people, his bankai would heal him continuously and allow him to fight endlessly which would fit in with the squad 11 personality and his own determination. His power coming from himself instead of being about other people.

Your drawings are awesome I'm loving your renditions 🔥🔥🔥

You know, besides Yumichika's 'over he's head' personality, I honestly really like him as a character and his zanpakuto is awesome

The second and third bankai was amazing

I would have loved if Ikkaku had died against the volcano Arrancar then Yumichika had been saved by Hitsugaya. 1. It would have made the arrancar look like a genuine threat rather than this big ‘war’ with Aizen having 0 casualties for Soul Society, and make the deaths in TYBW arc much less jarring. 2. Could have had an actual character arc for Yumichika - he is the one who lets his column be destroyed in fake Karakura and he gets reprimanded for holding back just like Ikkaku. Then in TYBW he again holds back only to see dozens more comrades killed, that’s when he finally starts being honest heals himself by draining the reiatsu of a bunch of fodder Quincy and then uses full power to defeat one of the officers.

love to see your art in the videos, amazing work!

For Yumichika's Bankai, i could see something that leans more into the peacock side rather then the vines part, while also being elegant and hiding the kido aspect simultaneously, as a sort of understanding between him and his sword spirit. The weapon itself transforms into a large and extremely ostentatious feather fan (think the strategist's fans from dynasty warriors) with beautiful peacock feathers. despite the elegant appearance though, these 'feathers' are as hard as steel and razor sharp, allowing him to slash at his opponents with it like a regular sword or blade-fan. The part he doesn't reveal is what it actually can do. In a similar way to his true shikai, being struck by the 'feathers' drains you of your energy, giving it to Yumichika. He could also be able to shoot these feathers out at one or several targets and draining them as long as it is imbedded in them, giving that energy to Yumichika when they return to him. Elegant, deadly and with a hidden, cruelly dangerous power

YOOO you should do a video about what Haschwalth's Vollstanding may be if he had one!!! That would be so cool if you began Vollstanding versions of these videos!!

for the first 'true' bankai (the vines one), i think it should have an unbloomed flower around the user that blooms overtime as they master it. so their movement is restricted initially but once they train themselves and their bankai, their power 'blooms' and lets them move freely during the bankai

Mr Tommo your art is great! I'd love a video to see your work