There are so many instances when theories don't make any sense, and I happened to come across those a few times.
But one that stuck with me was about one of my favourite characters, and I could not help but wonder: are there people who really don't give a damn about understanding what they watch or read, despite clearly being invested in the story?
It is about āUkitake might secretly having an evil sideā or becoming a cheap-ass villain in a possible Hell arc manga.
Which would be an extremely weak narrative choice, and not one Kubo has ever shown himself to rely on.
So let's see why, when this comes up in someone's mind (in my opinion), actually says more about the person than it ever does about the Bleach lore, and what could be the reasons behind such theories.
The speculation most likely comes from one or all of the following things:
1. Captains with immense spiritual pressure go to Hell.
Yes, unfortunately, but this in itself means nothing, as their concept of Hell is different from our concept of Hell. Many people who don't understand this project a Christian-style Hell onto Bleach.
The No Breaths From Hell manga clarifies that Hell is not a moral judgment space in the story, but a place for souls that break the system, for any reason. They do not necessarily have to be evil for that. For captains, it happens because of the immense spiritual power they possess, which prevents them from reincarnating naturally.
In Bleach, there was always ābalance above all,ā so the captainsā souls have to go somewhere in order to keep that balance, and the only place they can āsafelyā go in that regard is Hell (at least as long as Hell is able to contain that much power, which it likely isn't after a whileābut that is another story).
2. Mimihagi + "unknown depth"
Some people think that because Mimihagi lived inside Jushiro, maybe it corrupted him or influenced him in some ways. But that speculation is also wrong.
Mimihagi is an impersonal being. It does not whisper, plan, manipulate, or create desire. It doesn't do anything to influence Jushiro, and he never acts for Mimihagi either. He uses Mimihagi once, as a sacrifice, to save others, and that is all. Mimihagi simply holds back the progression of his illness, but their relationship does not seem to be about anything else (if it were, Jushiro would not need the Kamikake to reach him), and it clearly isn't emotional.
The only thing that happens because of Mimihagi's presence (only because Jushiro is aware that he had been saved by him) is:
- He renforces his humility
- He deepenes his sense of obligation
- He makes him less likely to dominate others
- He makes him appreciate his "borrowed time more" which turns him into a gentle, merciful and patient man
A being whose entire life philosophy is "do not let fate rush forwardā does not suddenly become someone who imposes fate violently or influences others to do bad. It would make no sense for him at all.
3. People often conflate "mysterious" with "corruptible," and are suspicious of goodness itself.
For many, it is uncomfortable to accept that someone can be genuinely good, especially in Bleach, where no one is 100% pure. Not even Jushiro, who is aware of this himself and carries his own regrets.
People also tend to forget that captain Ukitake's core trait is not kindness.
Itās reverence for life and restraint of power.
So when people project "secret evil" onto him, it usually says more about their discomfort with unweaponized goodness than about him as a character.
He is a man who:
- Avoids killing even when justified
- Choses interruption over victory
- Sacrifices himself willingly to stop a greater collapse
- Never expresses resentment toward fate, gods, or the Soul Society itself
A person needs at least one of these to become a villian:
- Bitterness
- Entitlement
- Ideology that justifies harm
- Belief that suffering is necessary
- Desire to impose a ābetter orderā
You can clearly find the last three of those in characters who chose to become bad. But Jushiro has none of that. Not hidden, not suppressed, not repressed. He literally doesn't have any of the listed reasons in his soul.
Villains act because they want something.
But Jushiro wanted nothing - except for things to stop breaking.
Thatās why his sacrifice works narratively (however poor the writing of it is!), and this is why turning him into a villain would make no sense at all.
The only thing it would do is:
- Cheapen his death
- Contradict his philosophy
- Flatten him into a trope
- Erase the meaning of Mimihagiās mercy
- Undo the efforts of other characters who also acted to do good (Ichigo is one of those for example)
Kubo is many things, but he is not careless with thematic payoff like that.
What i think could likely happen if Jushiro appears again - if there ever will be a hell arc manga:
He would be someone whose presence highlights how cruel the system is, but still he'd try to do good, to work for Soul Society, not against it. And actually, it was already implied (if you have read No Breaths From Hell), because the minute his soul was sent to Hell, he acted and dragged Szayelaporro back there, preventing him from causing further harm.
So no, I don't think Jushiro could or should be an antagonist in a possible Hell arc. It would make absolutely no sense given his story and how other characters relate to him.
A character whose defining act was to sacrifice himself to stop fate cannot logically return as someone who imposes it. And i do not think that Kubo would whish to do that either.
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It took me a long time to put this together (and was sitting in my notes for quite a while) but im curious: Have you heard of theories that just don't make sense cause they contradict the story and it's foundation? Especially regarding Jushiro. What makes you roll your eyes? Feel free to share! š
