Protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki gets plenty of moments to shine as the hero of Bleach's anime. No shonen fan will ever forget incredible scenes like Ichigo fighting Captain Kuchiki to save Rukia or Ichigo's showdown with his shonen-style rival Grimmjow Jaegerjaques in Las Noches. Moments like those mean a lot for Ichigo's character and Bleach's narrative, but Ichigo's life isn't just a highlight reel. Anime fans are encouraged to check out Ichigo's more underrated scenes as well to get a more complete picture of what he is like.
Ichigo Kurosaki revealed plenty about who he is and what he stands for all throughout Bleach, from the moment he became to a Soul Reaper to his final battle against Yhwach in the Thousand-Year Blood War story arc. Even the more minor or overlooked Ichigo moments count for something and help Bleach fans see what kind of person he really is. Some of Ichigo's most underrated scenes also help the Bleach anime flesh out its themes and emotional core beyond the obvious highlights like saving Rukia at Sokyoku Hill.
10 Ichigo Saves Kon From an Unfair Death
The Substitute Soul Reaper story arc was a whimsical grab bag of "monster of the week" battles, Rukia's reverse-isekai adventures, and one-off ideas that showed off author Tite Kubo's rich imagination. One example was the introduction of mod-souls, designed to fight in other people's bodies. A defective mod-soul ended up in Ichigo's body and went on a rampage, but Ichigo forgave him.
Then, Kisuke Urahara arrived and declared his intent to destroy the mod-soul, but the good-hearted Ichigo Kurosaki wouldn't allow someone to die for the "crime" of merely existing. So, Ichigo nobly pleaded for the mod-soul's case, and Kisuke relented. Then, the mod-soul was named Kon and put in the body of a stuffed animal, giving him another chance ata life.
9 Ichigo Inspires Renji to Fight For Rukia's Sake
Ichigo Kurosaki fought a variety of battles in the fondly-remembered Soul Society arc, and while his final fight with Byakuya Kuchiki ws the most important, Bleach fans shouldn't overlook Ichigo's duel with Renji Abarai earlier in that arc. Renji fought Ichigo out of duty, just like Byakuya, but then Ichigo scored a narrow victory in their brutal duel.
Ichigo's idealism and power of friendship inspired Renji to think back on his childhood memories with his old friend Rukia, and all that convinced Renji to switch sides. Thus, this was an underrated and heartfelt scene for both Ichigo and Renji, giving Ichigo a new ally while Renji re-embraced the power of friendship to become a true shonen hero.
8 Ichigo Tella Ulquiorra That He's Fighting Because He Has to Win
Ichigo's first battle against Ulquiorra Cifer ended badly, and his second fight against the 4th Espada almost ended the same way. Ichigo was strong enough to handle Ulquiorra's sealed form in their second battle, but then Ulquiorra released his zanpakuto, Murcielago, and everything changed. Ulquiorra gained the upper hand, but Ichigo still refused to give in.
Ulquiorra asked what made Ichigo think he could win this fight, and Ichigo bravely answered that he wasn't fightin because he thought he could win. Ichigo was fighting because he had to win, and even if that comment seemed futile, it still impressed Bleach fans with Ichigo's sheer resolve and defiance as a bonafide shonen protagonist. He later backed those words up with his unexpected Vasto Lorde form, an extension of his half-other powers.
7 Ichigo Shows Mercy to Dordoni After Their Fight
Once Ichigo's team arrived in the vast fortress of Las Noches, the three Privaron Espadas arrived to face the intruders, with the flamboyant Dordoni confronting Ichigo Kurosaki. Ichigo held back and thus struggled at first, but then he used bankai to easily win. However, Ichigo refused to finish off Dordoni, despite the latter being a servant of Aizen's.
Ichigo showed gracious mercy to his enemy, which flattered Ichigo's character. After all, Dordoni wasn't the one who abducted Orihime, and Dordoni repaid Ichigo's kindness by holding off the Exequias while Ichigo ventured deeper into Las Noches. As Ichigo departed, Dordoni reflected on how Ichigo needed to stop showing mercy and "become a demon." Funnily enough, Ichigo would actually show mercy again, sparing Grimmjow's life next.
6 Ichigo Saves Chad From Bullies in Middle School
Shonen-style flashbacks are common in Bleach's anime, and every member of Ichigo's squad gets at least one of them. For example, while fighting Captain Kyoraku in the Soul Society, Chad reflected on the beginning of his friendship with Ichigo Kurosaki. The resulting flashback showed Chad getting tormented by thugs, only for Ichigo to arrive and beat them all up.
In true tsundere punk fashion, Ichigo saved the day, and Chad was immensely grateful. Ichigo didn't have to intervene in that fight, but he chose to, and that proved what a good-hearted person Ichigo was, no matter his hotheaded delinquent ways. That sparked a friendship that inspired Chad to risk his life in an isekai adventure and save a friend of Ichigo's.
5 Ichigo Defeats Jidanbo to Demonstrate His New Power
Ichigo Kurosaki fought quite a few battles in the Soul Society arc, with his clash against Jidanbo being the first battle of note for Bleach's hero. At that point, anime fans hadn't yet seen the fruit of Ichigo's training with Kisuke Urahara, so it was a delight to watch Ichigo unveil his new zanpakuto and use it in battle.
Ichigo stunned everyone when he used his new sword, Zangetsu, to easily defend himself from the massive Jidanbo's attacks and then defeat that gate guardian. It was a simple fight, to be sure, but it still set the tone for Ichigo's unexpected strength and proved his resolve to fight any and all foes during his mission to save Rukia's life.
4 Ichigo Teams Up With Uryu to Defeat a Menos Grande
Early in the Bleach anime, Ichigo met a new rival, his classmate Uryu Ishida, who had spiritual gifts of his own. As a Quincy, Uryu was determined to prove his worth to Ichigo and best him in a competition, but partway through their Hollow-hunting game, Uryu and Ichigo faced a new foe. For the first time, they faced a Menos Grande, more specifically a Gillian-class.
Neither Ichigo nor Uryu could defeat a Menos Grande on their own, so Ichigo graciously agreed to combine his powers with Uryu's own in a moment of desperation. The results were inconclusive and silly, but it was still gratifying to see Ichigo team up with someone who had been so hostile to him up to that point. It was an early example of how much Ichigo believed in the power of cooperation and friendship.
3 Ichigo Requests to Have Kugo Ginjo Buried in the Soul Society
Ichigo has a habit of showing mercy to his enemies after defeating them in Bleach's main story, and he did the same when fighting Kugo Gunjo in the Xcution arc. Ichigo defeated Kugo, but even with Kugo dead, Ichigo didn't feel like gloating. Instead, Ichigo asked the Captains to bury Kugo respectfully in the Soul Society.
Ichigo wanted to honor Kugo Ginjo's status as the first-ever substitute Soul Reaper, so he made that request, one that Captain Yamamoto granted. That allowed the original Bleach ending, and the Xcution arc, to end on a positive note despite all the fighting. After all, Ichigo could understand Kugo to some extent as a fellow substitute Soul Reaper.
2 Ichigo Saves Ryunosuke From a Pack of Hollows
The Thosand-Year Blood War story arc began on a pleasant note, with Ichigo Kurosaki stepping forth to save a rookie Soul Reaper named Ryunosuke Yuki from certain doom. A pack of huge Hollows arrived, and Ryunosuke was doomed until Ichigo unleashed a devastating Getsuga Tensho to wipe them all out and save the day.
In a way, that scene echoed Bleach's first battle, with Ichigo defeating a Hollow to rescue an imperiled Soul Reaper. Ichigo once did that for Rukia Kuchiki, and then he did the same for Ryunosuke much later. It was a fine way to re-introduce Ichigo not just as a human with a zanpakuto, but as a powerful, famed hero whom everyone looked up to for protection.
1 Ichigo Gets the Upper Hand in His Second Fight Against Grimmjow
Ichigo Kurosaki lost rather badly when he faced Grimmjow Jaegerjaques the first time, since Ichigo was still struggling with his half-other powers at the time. Then, Ichigo trained with the eight Visoreds to get his inner Hollow under control, menaing Ichigo stood a much better chance when he and Grimmjow traded blows a second time in Karakura Town.
True, Ichigo didn't in that fight, but he did impress Bleach fans with his new Hollow mask's power. An alarmed Grimmjow desperately fought back with his sealed zanpakuto, but he was getting bloodied in a hurry, which was gratifying to see. It was Ichigo's first big step toward mastering his half-other powers, an exciting moment that Bleach fans must not underestimate.
