My personal theories are 1 his bankai could be reality warping considering the fact that his shikai is an illusionary power i think it's on brand that his bankai is a reverse 2. Could also be a complete mind control power but can only affect one person 3. Could be spatial ability where he creates a dimension and traps u in it and where he can make anything real inside it within a certain time frame
I heard of a idea once: What if his Bankai is not illusions - but revealing the truth? The exact opposite of illusion powers. It counters all other illusions, possibly even reality manipulation in it's area of effect. And reveals truth to the wielder. Learning the truth made him want to replace the soul king. What if his Bankai is what made him realize the truth? This would also explain why he never used it - he simply never fought someone that used illusions on any grade he had to worry about. And never got a chance against Ywach. He sounded a bit disapointed that he "only" needed Kyoka Suigetsu or basic speed to counter Shinjis Sakanade.
My personal head-canon is that, with his Zanpakuto being themed around hypnosis, Aizen's Bankai could be self-hypnosis. It's really weird to begin with how we have this guy, this Shinigami who for all intents and purposes is able to quite literally surpass *everyone* when it comes to the core tenets of a Shinigami's fighting style, and seemingly is doing so effortlessly. My thought is, his Bankai might very well be responsible for that, and it's because of this that we never see it used during the series, because we're already seeing the outcome his Bankai has led to, it's already been used beforehand. Aizen's Bankai could be what's bumping all his abilities to their utmost limits (he's hypnotized himself into a version of him capable of achieving the highmost points of Shinigami skills), and so the Aizen we see today is the result of him formerly unlocking his Bankai and using it. This would also explain his obsession with reaching the next stage for a Shinigami, because as long as he remains as he is, there'd no longer be any room to grow for him.
I like this idea. I was thinking something along the lines of eternal youth or something that would allow him the abilities to have all these abilities.
I think that part of the appeal of Aizen is that there is always mystery with him. A Bankai reveal with him would be very special and a top 5 Bleach moment for sure.
My head cannon is that his bankai has the ability to alter and heighten HIS OWN senses and that he has always had it active. Altering his own senses allows him to cast an illusion that tricks his own body and mind to adapt and reflect those illusions. This would explain why he is so much stronger than everyone else and how he mastered all 4 basic combats skills in the soul society long ago.
Ha. That sounds pretty feasible actually. Shikai: Alter perception of others. Bankai: Alter perception of user. It would definitely make sense how such a brilliant researcher also managed to be the second strongest in the Gotei 13 (and was probably somewhere near that level of strength before he was even a lieutenant). How funny would it be if that's how he got out of Shinji's shikai effect so quickly, lol... They wouldn't even know he had said "bankai" because he's already controlling their senses.
This kinda makes sense. It's never explained why he's so much more powerful then everybody else accept Yamamoto. Ichigo, on his way to save rukia, beat 5 lieutenants and 2 captains only for aizen to stop Ichigo's bankai and theme music with one finger. I think you're in the right track.
And maybe it was a one time activation. This is why he can predict, know and sense everything except Ichigo since he was way over Aizens level after Dangai training. Cool
Considering this eventually he'll arc would have previous captains fighting current captains, they will most likely need his help, so that's a strong possibility
I like it when a storyteller doesn’t tie up every loose end. Aizen’s bankai not being revealed for example, gives Bleach an air of mystery and makes the reader feel like there is still a big world out there to explore. Another example is when we never saw or learned more about the shinigami king of Death Note. It just adds mystery and a coolness factor when we never get to see this seemingly fundamental character of that universe.
Its too important to leave it as a loose end. The series usually end when characters are at their strongest, it makes no sense for them not to use an ability that would help them in a last stand type of situations. Either we would need an explanation why Aizen hasnt been using it, a reveal that he doesnt actually have a bankai or leave it for hell arc, if that ever comes.
Nah reason why doesn't use it goes against his fighting style shikai is observation ritual. Where bankai would have get aizen moving ABIT to work. I think it relates to reflection of moon upon water surface. Doesn't matter how much puddles you make the reflection still clear in water My theory: bankai cleansing the power of his enemies
I have always thought that if we were to have an aizen bankai this would be the reason he hadn't used it, perhaps its a domain that can only effect a small area or one person.
I imagine Aizen having a single-target only, but one-hit K.O. Bankai similar to Itachi’s Tsukuyomi Mangekyo Sharingan, that scene where he trapped Kakashi in a world where he controls the laws of time and space and tortured him. A world where 1 second is almost eternity there, and kills opponent through mental torture first, before the physical body gives up and dies right after too.
I always had a schizo theory that Aizen's bankai makes it so that, instead of Aizen dictating what his opponents see, his opponents fool themselves into seeing what they want to see. Kinda similar to your second idea, but a little more nuanced. When he fools Yhwach at the very end, he says something like "so you think you're seeing Ichigo.. Curious." This makes no sense when you think about how his Shikai works, of course he would know that he was fooling Yhwach with an illusion of Ichigo if he was using his Shikai. This can explain why Aizen never uses his Bankai: it simply just isn't that useful compared to his Shikai and there is precedent for Bankais being too situational versus their Shikai, like Shinji's. It would only really works when he's fighting alongside other people and playing support for them, and of course Aizen never does this until he backs up Ichigo against Yhwach. This perhaps feeds into Aizen's contradictory nature; like how he wants to be a God while being normal at the same time, at the same time he has a broken Shikai but a borderline useless Bankai. As for why he uses this theoretical bankai versus Yhwach? Who knows, maybe it produces illusions that are truly foolproof, and he couldn't afford to have Yhwach seeing through his Shikai's illusion as such a critical moment.
I dig this theory. Never really understood why he would taunt yhwach like that saying it was interesting he was seeing Ichigo. Like it’s your illusion man, you should know what he’s seeing
And that’s why he doesn’t normally use it. He’s a control freak who prefers to micromanage his opponent’s illusion, not let them make their own. Perhaps he can use this Bankai on himself, allowing himself to self actualize (and therefore plan out his schemes) before making them.
I used to think the same way, but then I think I understood what actually happened and why Aizen didn't know what Yhwach was seeing. Actually what Yhwach thought he was seeing was not what the illusion Aizen was showing him, but what Yhwach's Almighty showed him through omniscience. There are basically three versions of reality at play at that point. The illusion that Aizen was showing him which was different (but at that point we don't see it from the reader's point of view, since we're going by Yhwach's perception at the time, it's something someone like Renji would have seen, someone under Aizen's illusion completely), something Yhwach's sees through the Almighty, which he thinks is the truth (like cutting not Renji's hand but Ichigo's, it's the point where Yhwach switches from the direct view to the Almighty view), but it's not the actual reality since Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu messes with the Almighty, but it seems like it does it in a way that Aizen cannot control, and then there's actual reality that Ichigo, the one not under Kyoka Suigetsu's influence in any way, sees. While it still can be the effect similar to what you've described that does the trick to mess with Yhwach's Almighty, it might be just an extra effect of KS as it is in shikai.
I think that taunt was supposed to imply that Aizen was not certain his illusion could truly affect Yhwach. It was a "So you really did fall for that? Curious." type of thing. At least I always interpreted it that way.
I think it would be cool to have Aizen’s bankai be a domain control type like Tosen’s and Urahara. Whereas Urahara’s is one where he reconstructs anything in his domain and warps the concepts of the things around him, Aizens could quite literally bring his perfect hypnosis illusions to life.(eg. making the fly turning into a dragon a physical a real threat that has to be dealt with) It’d just be a cool contrast where while Urahara controls reality, Aizen would bring to life fantasy.
I feel like his Bankai would be similar to a reality marble or his own small world, illusion surpassing reality all within his control. A sphere of influence that marks you as under his spell another set piece to move within his grand theatre. It cannot create anything stronger than himself.
That's exactly the first thing I thought. Since his shikai requires you to see it being released, his bankai may not require that stipulation but instead is limited to an area as a cost/balance effect for the story, otherwise there would be no need for a story because he would already have control of everything.
@Broghai but to me, that's so silly. Literally the only person that could be useful against to me would be Kaname Tosen. Because there's just no way Ichigo could fight Aizen without looking at his zanpakuto. Yamamoto, Gin, and Yhwach are already under his illusion for life as long as they're not touching his zanpakuto so they're already in his reality marble.
I think the TYBW arc gives us two possible hints at Aizen's Bankai. When Ywach goes to the underground prison, Aizen seems to alter his perception of time. That could be his Bankai ability (or at least part of it). He can make an hour feel like a second or a second feel like an hour. The other is in the final battle when he seems to imply that he couldn't trick Ywach as easily if Ichigo were under the effect of Kyoka Suigetsu. He makes it sound like everyone under his complete hypnosis sees the same thing. Maybe his Bankai could remove that limitation.
he tells Yuha "so you see me as ichigo huh" could mean 2 things 1. he wasn't sure whether it should affect Yhwach 2. his bankai generates random illusions on the target or on everyone in the area
Anytime Aizen’s name is in a video= immediately watch And before I watch imma say what I think it is. So Azashiro’s Bankai stated that for Aizen’s Bankai to work there had to be someone under Kyoka Suigetsu (which wouldn’t be a problem since basically everyone is under it)….so I think his Bankai actually makes his illusions come to life for the people under the Bankai. So an example would be how his Shikai can make you think a meteor is coming at you, his Bankai would actually form a meteor that you’d have to avoid..so I guess reality warping technically
Yes and the problem with Azashiro is that he couldn't handle blending himself Kenny's reiatsu. Just imagine the sheer devastation of Aizen's power. I feel like he was playing his hand too much with Aizen. The dude is on a whole other level 😂 even without his enhancements
@@lordlightning2339 Fr tho…I like what Tommo said though about the one where you’re abilities are basically illusions to Aizen, so they can’t hurt Aizen if his Bankai is on. That’d be op asf
I think that's a little too similar to Rose's bankai. The only main difference is the sense that it originally targets. I mean I love the idea, Rose's bankai is one of my favorites in concept, but having two captains with similar bankais doesn't seem to be Kubo's style
I personally believe that we have already seen or in some part seen a variantion of what he's bankai was going to be. It may have been intended to be added or maybe he had the idea in back of his mind and decided not to "give" Aizen a Bankai but still liked the idea behind, and that person is... Tsukishima and his Book :P
Plot twist: What if Total Hypnosis IS Aizan's Bankai? What if the Shikai power that he displayed to everyone originally really was his actual Shikai, causing confusion in the enemies around him, and his Bankai takes that a step further with Total Hypnosis giving him not only improved control over their sense, but affecting everyone who has ever seen the first stage? I feel like it makes sense in terms of power up. As for how he could get away with it: It's been established that a Shinigami who has attained Bankai can activate their Shikai without speaking the release command, so that establishes that everyone who has a Bankai basically uses their Shikai release commands for dramatic effect...which actually suits Aizen pretty well, in my opinion. But what if Aizen has mastered his abilities to such an extent that he can even activated Bankai without using the release command? I feel like that would not only contribute to Aizen's ego by confirming his superiority over other Shinigami (since as far as everyone knows, it's not even possible to do that), but would also be an appropriate twist for his abilities. "You've already seen my Bankai...I've been using it all along."
Funny this vid just came as I was thinking about his Bankai. I always thought Bankais feeded off Shinigami inner hidden personality desires, like for Soi Fon being loud and brash or Shuhei not wanting to actually kill anyone. We don't get much of Aizen inner world, but in Deicide arc Ichigo mentions that Aizen wanted someone to view the world in the same way he does, someone he can relate to (similiar to Starrk but not neccesarily friend). Based on this I theorized his Bankai would need another person to activate, someone that would be an equal in Aizen eyes and someone he could trust - while his Shikai was about controlling others, his Bankai would make him give up control to another being entirely, either just to activate it or just straight up make someone else stronger.
I had the same idea which is why I think his Bankai is Body swapping, as it would fit both his overall plans in the story, and his outward image of the master manipulator and his inner loneliness As well as why he never used it
Your 3rd idea actually makes the most sense and would explain how he has been able to tank sooo much damage. Funny, how Harragan's axe shattered just as it got close to Aizen...
My theory was always something similar to izanagi from Naruto. Casting illusion on reality and choosing what is real and what not. That way he can survive anything by making the damage an illusion but since he is immortal now his bankai is useless and that’s why we never saw it.
If I remember correctly, I think it was mentioned in CFYOW that Aizen's Bankai only works on those whom has seen his shikai. Yes, it still doesn't explain what it can do, but at least we got a hint of his bankai's capabilities.
@@marcuslyles7625 I found this out afterwards but it doesn’t really matter for 2 reasons. 1 bc that’s an assumption of a character, no one knows how his Bankai works. And 2 even if this is true it doesn’t ruin my theory on what his Bankai is. I think it’s the power to manipulate the present. He would still be able to influence himself and the world even if you yourself aren’t influenced by it and he could make it so you now are influenced by it. You could go a step further and say bc it’s the Bankai the weakness of the Shikai no longer applies. Of all the theories I think this power is the most fitting and something that wouldn’t be underwhelming. As for how powerful the ability is I wouldn’t say it’s total god mode but would be pretty hax. You thought you were intangible? You thought you had a power called the miracle? Are your flames as hot as the sun or are they only half that? Etc. If it’s not this then idk wtf it could be because the idea of it just being more potent illusions is too predictable and we kinda already got that with Rose. That would still be pretty strong, I’ve always thought his ability could be way more broken if it was taken literal like making you feel as if you’re chained in hell etc
I literally screamed when I saw the fan art panel of Aizen going Bankai and Ichigo realising that Aizen was using the illusions to guide him. Tommo explaining the circumstances leading up to Ichigo locking eyes with the Bankai release gave me goosebumps
I think it's not that we never knew his Ban Kai, it's just we never knew his Shikai. There was something about him showing his Ban Kai to the all divisions and from there he kept it always active. The most scary part about Aizen was his reiatsu and in first place his ability wasn't oriented towards pure fighting abilities, so it's possible it didn't consume that much reiatsu and he just kept it on for years.
Actually in Ryōgo Narita's novel Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You, it is established that Aizen's Bankai only works on those who are already hypnotized by his Shikai.
I'm gonna copy and paste a reddit post i made a few months ago with my theory on Kyoka Suigetsu's nature and Bankai theory: I think i have a fairly plausible theory on the nature of Aizen's Zanpakuto and his possible Bankai. Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu (Mirror flower, Water Moon) spirit manifests itself as a beautiful moonlit pond in a flowery glade. Looking into the pond, Aizen shows him his reflection. I think in this case the reflection never talks to Aizen, even though Aizen very much wishes it would, further solidifying his loneliness and his being different from other Shinigami. Every other Shinigami more or less can comunicate with their Zanpakuto, while all his sword does is echo Aizen's words back to him, Aizen is alone. Kyoka Suigetsu's ability: Kanzen Saimin (perfect hypnosis). The illusions are created on the pond's surface. When the Zanpakuto is released, Aizen's blade becomes the surface of the pond and seeing it transports a small part of you into the glade. Illusions can only show up when the water is still, that's why touching the blade dispels them - it creates ripples. Everyone who ever saw the release shows up as a phantom form on the other side of the glade, staring into the pond so. They are all out of Aizen's reach, he can't comunicate or understand them, all he can do is show them illusory images. Everyone is far away and weak, Aizen rules over their reality but he is always alone. This brings us to the Bankai. I don't think it's necessary to make it any stronger or reality bending. It's plenty powerful and versatile as it is. Seeing as every Zanpakuto has one ability, the Bankai needs to be an illusion. I think my theory fits Aizen's personality and explains why he never uses it, so here we go: Bankai: Kanzen Yume (perfect dream) - Aizen enters the pond himself until the surface over his head, he will never leave the water again. In the pond he is shown a perfect illusion of a perfectly happy life, from birth to death, where everything goes the exact way Aizen would be happiest. He is not alone, he is not far above everyone else, he is finally normal. On the outside Aizen passes away peacefully shortly after using the Bankai. I think this is the perfect Bankai for Aizen, at all times he has the ability to live out a normal, happy life, a life he always wanted. Yet Aizen would never use that ability no matter how tempting it is. He would prefer to suffer as he does in reality than to have an easy out. The only thing his Zanpakuto ever said to him was explaining this ability and tempting him to use it. I love the idea of Aizen actually having the ability to have everything he wants at all times, even wishing he had the mindset to use it. But his ego and his personality will never allow him to achieve it so easily. Aizen is always alone, even inside his own soul.
My headcanon is Aizen doesn't truly understand himself given his subconscious lost in Day Aside. So his relationship with his sword is similar to that of Zaraki's: while he has a Bankai, it's not to his liking and he doesn't like using it - much like how Soi Fon is hesitant to use hers. - This is a great way for Kubo to retroactively explain why Aizen seemingly willingly let himself stay in Muken and why he refused to join Ywhach. - It was to understand himself more.
My thoughts exactly plus it makes sense that he doesn’t know himself for who he is which makes him only to desire power compared to ulqs who thinks everything is pointless. Further his shikhai being his only power further strengthens this idea of a lack of self introspection of who he is since he himself is powerful yes but no clue as to who he is and fills this void by becoming powerful a bankai is the true identity of the reaper and if you don’t have an understanding it makes perfect sense why a your power levels like shikhai and bankai aren’t applicable on you so your only power is the ability to trick others about you and everything else around them . Kind of in a way his shikhai is derived from believing his own lie as he himself doesn’t know the truth .
I think he probably likes using the shikai's power but he doesn't exactly strike me as a swordsman in the true, sportsman sense. It's a means to an end for him. But like you said, he has some issues with himself and that lead to him never achieving bankai. It's a subtle line about Aizen that I really like.
I have two suggestions for Aizen's Bankai. I propose Kyouka Suigetsu’s bankai ability to have similar effects of sleep paralysis. And, for another level, more severe bankai ability (maybe, an ultimate ability, or the “final episode”), it has similar effects of anesthesia awareness. In sleep paralysis, a person experiences a vivid dream, and he knows that he is dreaming. He is aware that he is dreaming, but he can’t control it, he can’t control his dream self. Everything looks like a fantasy world, or it can also look like a normal world. It may contains monsters and fairies, or it may also contains normal people. It may also contains normal people who could transform into monsters. In anesthesia awareness, not only a person experiences his dream as if it’s a reality, he also feels everything that happens to him, but unable to move. He can see the doctor cut through his chest, and feel the scalpel slice through his skin. Thus, in the case of Kyouka Suigetsu’s bankai’s case, victims will be aware of his dream-like world that he can’t control, and feel everything that happens to him, including the slash and stabs from Aizen. Not only that, victims will “heal” instantly, that is, return to his normal, previous state, only to experience another catastrophic, hurtful events. For example, after a victim suffers injury from slashes and stabs, he will be brought to a state before it happens, only to experience it once more, should Aizen wishes it to happen that way. Aizen also can conjure up a completely different dream-like reality to inflict different types of damage and injury to the victim. Its only weakness, or perhaps, a way for a victim to escape the illusion, is to master lucid dreaming, where the victim is able to control his dream according to his wish. He can become an ultra super hero who possess all superheroes’ powers and abilities and defeat his enemies, or he could just simply give himself the ability of sustained flight. And, it’s not easy to master lucid dreaming. Only a few people, with certain practices and trainings, can master lucid dreaming. The other suggestion is reality warping. Aizen's bankai is the power to turn illusions into reality and reality into illusions, by dissolving the barrier between them. By releasing his bankai. Aizen and his opponent are trapped inside a Dimension that takes the form of a featureless void that goes on seemingly forever. Save for an endless row of towers that are transparent and a massive flower that lies in the center of the void itself. Within this void. Aizen has full control of space, time, matter and energy. Allowing him to create doubles of himself, alter the area of the Dimension into anything he pleases, such as a desert or an ocean. Can teleport himself anywhere he wants to be, conjure objects, attacks or even creatures out of then air. On top of turning them into illusions as well. In fact due to the properties of this bankai. Aizen doesn't even have a real physical form while it is activated. Since its just an illusory construct just like everything else created within it. Thus making the void, the area itself. Aizen's true form. However like many bankai has its own share of weakness. With them being four. One: the person must first be under the effect of Kyoka Suigetsu . Otherwise they are not effected by its abilities. Two: since the bankai is a spiritual dimension. it can be broken by equal or superior spiritual power. which can causes massive damage to aizen's on soul if not flat out destroy it. Three: the target must have their senses active in order for the bankai to effect them. For example if one loses their eyesight to the physical forms of the bankai's illusion will just past through them or if they lose their sense of touch and taste. Fire created by the bankai can no longer burn them. And Four. Aizen can only affect his opponent directly with his illusions or indirectly through its environment. Meaning he cannot turn themselves into an illusion, make them instantly die or teleport objects inside them. I found a fanfic on what his Bankai could've been. Aizen smiled, as if in wonder at a child’s naivete. “Has it not occurred to you, my friend, that I might also have Bankai?” Isshin blinked, but recovered his resolve. “Your Kyoka Suigetsu is far too outrageous to be anything but a Bankai! You may have deceived others into being cowed, Aizen, but I wasn’t born yesterday.” Aizen shook his head. “Isshin Shiba. It is true that our moon in the water is merely light reflected from the heavenly moon. But, have you forgotten? Even that heavenly moon of which you are so fond... is merely light reflected from the sun.” Isshin’s eyes opened, and he lunged, a precise and decapitating stroke, but Aizen’s voice was faster still, accelerated by weeks of training. “Bankai. Kyokkou Shingetsu.” Dawning Sun, the Truth of the Moon. Just like Isshin’s, it was a Bankai that sounded similar to the Shikai, even when the meaning totally differed. Aizen made no move to intercept Isshin’s strike. It passed cleanly and effortlessly through his neck, to no effect. “You... phased through it?” Isshin murmured, jumping back. Aizen smiled, raising the seemingly unchanged Kyoka Suigetsu. “A common first reaction. As my initial release causes others to treat illusions as reality, so my final release permits me to treat reality as no more than an illusion. For beneath every illusion, is an unassailable foundation of truth. Do you understand? What you have witnessed so far is merely the reflection. It is time you saw the source.” Aizen began to advance, sword held casually. Isshin attempted to fend him off with rapier thrusts, high-level Kidou, and even a sand-scorching, world-engulfing blast of Getsuga. Nothing touched him. Upon reaching Isshin, Aizen made a single diagonal slash, slicing through his opponent as if his reiatsu were nothing more than paper. Isshin choked, blood welling out of the massive, perfectly clean wound. Muscle and skin had yielded as easily as organ and bone. “No, Isshin Shiba. It is not that I am passing through you. It is that you, are passing through me. Let me make myself perfectly clear. Relative to this world, I am not any less substantial than before. It is the world that has become insubstantial, relative to me. You can no more harm me, than our lonely moon could touch the sun. And even if it could...” Aizen raised his sword with the air of a man helping his dearest friend commit seppukku. “...It would not survive doing so. Sayonara, Isshin Shiba. You have my fondest farewells.”
I like to think of the Shikai as a reflection of the users surface-level personality. Aizen presents himself as someone that makes you question eveything, so his Shikai has the power of a near perfect illusion. So, if the Bankai is meant to reflect your true, inner nature, what would that mean for Aizen? The two main things we know about his true feelings are his hatred for those he considers unworthy of ruling over him and him wanting to find someone he could consider an equal. Therefore, I think a neat idea for his Bankai, would be that it is something that requires him to have someone who can fight alongside him and it is something that drags whoever is affect by it, down to Aizen's and his ally's level. Whith that kind of ability, and Aizen's personality, it would explain why he would never want to use it. It would be something he would only use if he were to truly open up to someone, which he has never been fully able to do. I think that would be kind of cool and something that would showcase a real sense of character development for Aizen.
Aizen acts in TYBW like he is surprised what illusion Yhwach was under, I think his bankai simply automatically creates an illusion that fits the target best. This is a slight upgrade as it could create illusions based off knowledge Aizen doesn’t have, but he can’t plan based off it because he has no knowledge of the illusion hence why he favors his shikai because he can be in control
The 6th Anniversary form of aizen in Bleach Brave Souls is, like the version of byakuya, considered a "beyond bankai" form, and in short, he is able to completely alter reality. Based on this, the bankai could make "illusions" that are tangible, so he would not even need things like body doubles like when he made toshiro attack momo, making his illusions even more believeable and no longer needing any set-up.
I mean, he was already capable of that to a degree. He made Hallibel fight literally nothing. He doesn't HAVE to paste himself over someone else. He's just a dick. It's probably a little easier in situations like when he had a squad member tailing Shinji at times he's not present.
actually, 6th anniversary aizen is based on the idea of aizen continuously evolving past his final form from the FKT arc, not beyond bankai like the rest of the captains
If his Shikai makes people perceive reality differently, maybe his Bankai could be the opposite and be something along the lines of reality perceiving people differently. Like a temporary reality that changes characteristics or aspects about the enemy's abilities.
I really liked your focus on the "Shatter" aspect with his potential Bankai. You always bring interesting and new perspectives to Bleach, as someone who has been watching/reading Bleach from pretty much the start, I truly appreciate your content my dude! - Love that your channel has been growing significantly as well! I'm reading comments about your channel on different places now, last one I read was someone joking that Urahara retired after everything and is now making analysis videos on youtube as MrTommo lol.
I think the most natural evolution of Aizen's illusions is the ability to make them real. Although he's broken enough without bringing reality warping into his toolkit. Another thought is what we think is his shikari is actually his bankai so he's been using it all along.
i had an idea that was similar to izanagi from naruto where it casts an illusion on themselves and reality, rewriting reality itself. A cool limitation is that the creations of the bankai will immediately dispel once the victim realizes the bankai’s tru ability( if they are aware that the bankai is active and what the bankai is doing)
Loved the content as always! My theory is that Aizen’s shikai is limited by space and time, in a way that he can manipulate anything but can’t change the environment or the perception of time itself. In this case his bankai would make him able to change even the space and time, creating a virtually infinite illusion, something like Tsukuyomi in Naruto, where the person inside the illusion can feel years passing in a matter of seconds in the real world.
Cool theory I just think since his shikai behaves like magician about to do parlour trick Then bankai is like clown removing his makeup. Meaning bankai just do opposite of observation ritual more physical projecting illusion onto himself and others Power to cleanse power of others 🤔 Water is gives clean reflection I think metaphorically like that
If Aizen's Shikai requires someone/something to create the illusion (I.e. How he had to have an actual person to take his place for his "death" in the Soul Society Arc.) Then I always figured his Bankai would drop the requirement of having an object to change reality. It would just make the illusion with no requirements. Or at least something like that. Love your vids!
I think if he has a Bankai it has to do with Reality (Time) Distortion. Because his Shikai has the ability to control and effect all 5 senses this would make the most sense for his Zanpakuto Bankai ability to allude to. The manipulation of the perception of time which would be reality would make the most sense. And when YWACH stated that Aizen threw off his perception of time when he visited him before launching his attack on the Seretei. Making him having to leave and return to the Silbern. This is what really makes me believe that this would be his Bankai.
I was thinking that too. I feel like it should be something similar to Tsukuyomi from Naruto. Aizen would create a space that essentially a dream realm which he has control off. What’s more what he creates with in that space not only seem real but feel real as well
Gud point I think it extension of shikai ability. Of how moon is reflection on water surface. I think something relating to that Water is clean Shikai is reflection/illusion moon on water Bankai is cleansing Bankai cleansing everything it touches. Revert bankai back to its original state by touch. Second example revert slash across aizen chest back to normal if he wishes 🤔
@@animanco6833gud theory but all above is mainly shikai ability reflection of moon upon water surface I think bankai cleansing everything it touches.effect wouldn't jus be on mind of enemy but also his power his zanpakuto spirit.
I've always been partial to the idea of Aizen having reality warping powers. Similar to Book of the End or Almighty. In Aizens case, he could discard the current reality as an illusion and reveal a new world for everyone. With the real power being, that Aizen could rewrite everyones stats/powers essentially, but only to the same level they were previously. I also think this may be how Aizen was able to reach his maximum potential in every Shinigami ability so rapidly, he simply relearned his best each time and then moved the skills elsewhere.
My idea is a bit of your last one: that Aizen's Bankai would have the ability to "shatter" reality by creating any effect of his choosing in a specific situation or on a particular person. So rather than making a fly appear as a dragon or a swamp as a field of flowers he actually makes the fly a dragon and the swamp a field of flowers. This impliments a bit of Rose's Bankai where the effects of the illusions (i.e scorched clothes on masque) are retained after after they've ended, but on a more reality shattering scale. The drawback however would be that the Bankai releases everyone who is under kyoka suigestu's shikai effect when used. Which would be a good reason for Aizen not to use it, as he can honestly accomplish more with the permanent shikai hack.
chatgpt bankai idea: Bankai Name: Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu (鏡花水月 明鏡真実, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Clear Mirror of Truth") Appearance: Aizen's Zanpakuto transforms into a pair of ornate, mirror-like twin blades that reflect only the truth. His attire becomes more simplistic, resembling a traditional samurai's armor but with a polished, mirror-like sheen. Abilities: Shinjitsu no Kaze (真実の風, "Wind of Truth"): Any illusion, disguise, or form of deception used by the enemy is instantly dispelled when they come into contact with this wind, revealing their true form or intentions. Meikyū no Kagami (迷宮の鏡, "Labyrinth of Mirrors"): Aizen can create a maze of mirrors around his enemies. These mirrors reflect only the truth, showing enemies their past actions, true desires, and even potential futures, potentially causing them to doubt or second-guess themselves. Shinjitsu no Tsurugi (真実の剣, "Sword of Truth"): With a swing of his twin blades, Aizen can cut through any falsehood. This means he can not only dispel illusions but also negate abilities that are based on deception or misdirection. Kenshō (顕照, "Revelation"): Aizen can force an opponent to confront their true self, stripping away any facade or persona they might have. This can be mentally and emotionally taxing for the opponent, as they are forced to face their deepest fears, regrets, and truths. Release Command: "Reflect the unyielding truth and shatter all deceptions, Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu!" In this version, Aizen's Bankai is an absolute force against deception, making it a formidable weapon in any battle scenario. Bankai Name: Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu (鏡花水月 明鏡真実, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Clear Mirror of Truth") Appearance: Aizen's Zanpakuto transforms into a pair of ornate, mirror-like twin blades that reflect only the truth. His attire becomes more simplistic, resembling a traditional samurai's armor but with a polished, mirror-like sheen. Abilities: Shinjitsu no Kaze (真実の風, "Wind of Truth"): Any illusion, disguise, or form of deception used by the enemy is instantly dispelled when they come into contact with this wind, revealing their true form or intentions. Meikyū no Kagami (迷宮の鏡, "Labyrinth of Mirrors"): Aizen can create a maze of mirrors around his enemies. These mirrors reflect only the truth, showing enemies their past actions, true desires, and even potential futures, potentially causing them to doubt or second-guess themselves. Shinjitsu no Tsurugi (真実の剣, "Sword of Truth"): With a swing of his twin blades, Aizen can cut through any falsehood. This means he can not only dispel illusions but also negate abilities that are based on deception or misdirection. Kenshō (顕照, "Revelation"): Aizen can force an opponent to confront their true self, stripping away any facade or persona they might have. This can be mentally and emotionally taxing for the opponent, as they are forced to face their deepest fears, regrets, and truths. Release Command: "Reflect the unyielding truth and shatter all deceptions, Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu!" In this version, Aizen's Bankai is an absolute force against deception, making it a formidable weapon in any battle scenario.
Your third theory reminded me of Hisogi Kumagawa's "All Fiction" from Medaka Box. This power allows Kumagawa to turn anything into nothing, reducing anything he wishes to "fiction". Such as when he turned the concept of color into nothing, therefore making the world be all black and white.
Personally I think that Idea #2 Is very close to the genjutsu in Naruto which has already been a comparison people have been making for year, but Idea #3 I think is a very cool concept for Aizen especially sense it fits with his god complex and his loneliness because of the shattering ability as if he is the only thing that's real
My points for Momo being Aizen’s bankai: 1. He has so much reiatsu, it could easily make another being like Zaraki 2. His whole thing is scheming. Having a person everyone trusts that acts as another pair of eyes/ears throughout the story makes sense. 3. She’s indestructible and he can use her substitution jutsu style. 4. Much like his shikai it’s always active so he never has to activate it again.
Idk how much I agree with that but the thought of Aizen watching Toshiro simping for Momo and purposefully making him stab her is just too funny lmao "you trying to bang my sword bro?"
My idea for his Bankai is basically the one thing missing from his shikai ---- while Kyoka Suigetsu affects the senses, his bankai affects the mind. Like your second idea, but more about telepathy and mind control and manipulation rather than torment. So his Bankai basically makes him Jean Grey. I like your idea of an illusory "domain expansion" though, the optics would be super dope
No matter how strong his bankai could be, I think him never using it points toward one conclusion: His bankai would reset his shikai's hypnosis effect. Basically, he worked hard to get everyone of note in the Soul Society to fall under his illusions and would lose all that if he were to activate bankai. That's just my thoughts at least.
Kubo clearly wrote himself into a corner. Maybe he really should've just left that "mist which blinds and confuses enemies" ability as Aizen's actual Shikai (remember, it's the fake Shikai that Aizen showed the Gotei) while making that OP illusion ability his Bankai. I can totally understand that Kubo can't come up with something superior. Yeah, reality-warping would be the next logical evolution to his powers, but that would be EVEN MORE broken and would also turn Aizen's motivations into a plot hole, since he could do anything he wants anyway and wouldn't have a reason to become more powerful (reality-warping is the most broken ability in fiction next to super speed like Flash's). Anyway, one way that Kubo could fix the "Why did he never use Bankai" issue in the story is by making it so that Aizen's Bankai has a VERY NEGATIVE consequence for himself (others are released from KS's influence, it drains his life force, it puts immense strain on his mind, he can lose himself etc.).
With Kubo working on TYBW anime and not wanting to be pressured to do the Hell Arc I have no idea when we could see Aizen. I’m very curious as to what could possibly draw him out because even in TYBW he wasn’t exactly cooperating out of the shriveled goodness of his heart but rather he had to. Something truly insane would have to happen with Hell especially for him to use a Bankai (possibly Hell trapping him for eternity if he loses a fight? Has to be worse then Muken) It’ll either happen then or never at all and Kubo would leave it as a mystery like his backstory.
Honestly, if I had to guess what his Bankai is, I would say the only way to blow Kyoka Suigetsu up farther is if it was basically like Izanagi from Naruto. Izanagi is an ultimate genjutsu, or rather illusion, that one places apon themselves. And in doing so, the user can rewrite reality essentially making a dream world with those very illusions. A world where anything advantageous to the user is kept, but anything disadvantageous like damage or injuries is written out like a bad dream. It would be perfect for someone like Aizen who has a God complex to be the master of his own dream world.
I just like the idea that his bankai is really his shikai. It just makes sense for aizen a character, and makes sense why he never uses bankai in the series
I came up with a pretty basic idea of his Bankai when I was like 15 that I still remember to this day in that I kinda used Byakuya's Shukei Hakuteiken as an inspiration The idea is that his Bankai grants him 6 separate swords that he can summon and wield at will. Each one matches to a sense. The sixth sense would be the ability to detect reiatsu/spiritual energy. And, if he were to merely touch you with the blade of a given sword - it doesn't have to directly cut you, just a blade clash would work - then that corresponding sense will be cut off entirely. So he could permanently remove your ability to sense anything at all, especially with one of the techniques that resembled Shukei Hakuteiken in that all the blades would combine into one and have the effect of completely disabling an opponent
I’m pretty sure I’ve said this on another one of your videos, but my personal head canon is that the shikai ability he claimed it had (apart from being a water type) with the reflections and whatnot was actually his shikai, and the kanzen saimin (sorry if I misspelled it) was his bankai. That would explain, to me, why his supposed shikai was so overpowered and broken. I also wouldn’t put it past Aizen to trick everyone into believing that.
Here are my ideas. Throne Of Illusions - Aizen can make his illusions completely real but only for as long as he’s on his throne. This means he can even create a copy of perfect copy of someone but only for as long as he’s on his throne. While on the throne, Aizen can’t use any other abilities. The throne is also very energy-consuming so it’s impossible to use this bankai for a long time. If Aizen deactivates his bankai or leaves the throne for whatever reason, all things he created shatter and cease to exist. Illusionary Dimension - Aizen can take his opponent into an illusionary world that he fully controls. This means that everything he imagines can become real in this dimension. He controls all laws of physics and everything that their opponent sees. However, it’s possible to escape this dimension if you touch Aizen. Mind control - Aizen can control anyone who’s seen Kyoka Suigatesu’s release. Eye of Illusions - Aizen can create a big eye in the sky that hypnotises everyone around him. For example, with this he could easily hypnotise everyone in Karakura.
My theory is that his Bankai was always on. The complete hypnosis is the Bankai. The true lie is a trick of intimidation. If Complete Hypnosis is his Shikai. What in the world could the Bankai be. That concern in his enemies’ minds would be another means to control their emotional state. And on top of that. Why would he tell anyone the name of his sword? When there’s a very strong shinigami out there that can erase one’s power simply by knowing it’s name.
I think Aizen’s Bankai should be the polar opposite of his shikai: while Kyokasuigetsu in its first stage shows everybody around him illusions of his own making, fooling all five senses… his Bankai shows *him* the *absolute truth*. The truth about the world. The truth about reality. A truth so powerful it motivates him to topple the spiritual world order as we know it… and the truth about what would actually work. His command “Shatter” is thus quite poetic. While it shatters the illusions he makes for others, it also shattered his worldview and confidence in the structure of the soul society and reality as ruled by the Soul King. We’ll never see the Bankai, because we will never know the absolute truth regarding how the world should be. Only Aizen knows.
It has two weaknesses. If you touch the blade you can avoid it’s hypnosis. And when he and Ichigo fought Yuha Bach Ichigo said he could tell it was activated cause the feeling in the area was different. This maybe just for Ichigo as his ability to sense things has always been exceptional.
Ichigo wasn't under KS tho, so maybe that's why could tell the difference. We haven't seen anyone that is already under the Complete Hypnosis realize that something is wrong except maybe Yamamoto but he was technically touching the blade so is rather dubious
The third theory is very similar to an idea I had in which Aizens Bankai effect was to "shift the reality" of things around him. In the Discworld series the character Death is able to walk through walls, live outside time and be immortal because he is the "final truth of the universe" and is essentially more real than any physical matter. This idea fits as a superpowered opposite to Aizens illusions. It could also work for a rewritten Karakura battle as the explanation for him negating his opponents powers and one shoting so many powerful characters. By becoming more real than them he could do all that. Alternatively and to make it a little less overpowering the switching effect could instead be only applied when his sword pierces or touches other objects so he has to actually cut or stab things to "negate their reality" and shatter them (and mirroring the Shikai weakness Gin discoverd). This could also be used by him to protect himself by stabbing himself allowing attacks to phase through him. That would also make for a good bankai release scene, someone's attack gets through to him only to realise Aizen had pierced his own hand causing him to shatter like a mirror and the attack fail and then Dozen reforms unlike the many opponents he then uses it on.
Ive always thought his bankai must be part of the reason he knows so much like how did he know about the state of the spirit king bankai Ichigo bankai where in huaco Mundo to find the hollow king bankai. He seems to know way more then he should and it would make sense that his shikai effects others perception and his bankai effects his own
In all reality I think his bankai turns his illusions into reality sorta like gremmy, but his bankai undoes the hypnosis he put everyone under that’s y he doesn’t use it.
I feel like Aizen’s bankai should have an ability that is kinda troublesome for him to use, so it makes sense that he hasn’t done it. Personally I like the idea of a bankai that instead of making illusions shatter every illusion and falsehood within an area. It would make any ability affecting the senses useless and even make people unable to lie or hide the truth. A pretty strong ability that fits with Aizen’s desire to expose the Soul King for what he really is, but also one that affects Aizen as well and since he is always using tricky and lies he doesn’t want to use it.
Was looking for this comment! The only answer that makes actual sense. I always thought: if it's more powerful why hasn't he used it before? It must be because like Sui Feng he doesn't like it.
I have the idea that his Bankai is simular to Tsukishima's book of the end, but without limits: his bankai allows to completely modify the memories and perception of the reality for hus enemies, and as well as Kyokasuigetsu it's multitarget
My theory for aizens bankai is that instead of controlling the senses, he has complete control over a persons time perception, like he can slow or speed somebody up either mentally or physically.
Really love the third Idea! Turning his opponents attack from real into illusions! Havent heard one like that suggested for him before and I think the idea of him turning himself into this larger than life figure, the only one on the battlefield that can prove himself to be real, goes along great with his character. I don't speak japanese so I havent been able to confirm, but I've heard that Spirits Are Forever With You claims that his bankai requires one to be under his shikai's influence to work... Which imo works perfectly with this third idea as well. Aizen already sees himself as unbeatable with just his shikai, so a bankai that makes him neigh impossible to damage would seem worthless to him in battle. Why would he need a defensive ability against opponents that dont pose a threat in the first place? Thus we'd never see him use it as there's no need. Really cool twist of his Zanpakuto that makes it almost like he's saying with his shikai "You'll never be able to tell what's real again" only for him to follow up with the bankai saying "except me." Actually perfect for him. I love it.
I don't know if this was mentioned at all in the comments, but I always thought of Aizen's Bankai being an extension of a more powerful hypnosis that literally alter a peron's memory (kind of like Tsukishima's fullbring, but can target multiple people) to a point where he can make them believe they are someone else or take away their memories or create new ones to make them believe something they never believed in. But the reason he doesn't use it is because it possibly is powerful enough to alter their memory of them ever seeing his shikai and it resets them or altering memories doesn't compare to creating illusions in a battle especially if he doesn't have to expand his energy to fight for long periods of time if he needs to.
Before reading the fullbringer arc, i had this exact idea, then i kinda discarded it because it felt like Kubo had used it with Tsukishima, but i still think its the only theory that fits Aizen's power and personality. I always thought that the power to alter someones memory would make for a shocking twist, if important events that happened in the story were later revealed to be false, like how they defeated Yuha or even events from many years ago.
My theory on Aizen's bankai is that it's not combat related at all, and that it's the inverse of what his illusion spell does. Aizen's power isn't just about fooling his opponents in combat with illusion, it's symbolism for how he views Soul Society to be living under a blanket of lies and self imposed deceptions... he wanted to tear through the lies of this world and find deeper truths, but no one he met was strong enough to see through the lies like he did. If the first release blankets the world in illusion, then this is symbolic of how Aizen views the world to be a false reality, but the bankai would reveal the world for what it truly is. I think the first time Aizen unlocked his bankai, the sword revealed to him the deep secrets of the universe and among those secrets was the existence of the Soul King. Aizen soon realized that the only utility his bankai provided was one of meditation, a bankai that only exercised his mind to expand the limits of what he could see. With this bankai Aizen learned the truth behind the Soul Society, and knew the depth of their sin and depravity and knew the system needed to be changed. Upon seeing the "god" of this world, and deeming it an abomination, Aizen took it upon himself to become a proper god for this world and bring about true prosperity. Aizen doesn't use his bankai because he doesn't have one, but because it has no utility for combat. It's a private and personal bankai that enlightened him, but would never be useful in combat. Maybe at best, if Aizen considered someone worthy to be on his level he would show the bankai to them and see what truth it reveals to them. It would be curious to know what truth Aizen's bankai would reveal to Ichigo, or to Urahara (the only two people I think he even respects).
I like the concept of your second idea. A thought I had, and to go along with your mentioning of opposites, could go something like this. His shikai lets him create perfect illusions and effect those who have seen its activation unless they were touching the blade. For the inverse, his bankai could require contact between the blade and his opponent (slash, stab, brush, what have you). This, in turn, would grant Aizen an altered form of perception in which he, and he alone, could visibly see the intentions of said opponent, giving him highly accurate combative foresight. He would then go from creating projected illusions that affect others to forcing his opponents to unknowingly project their next moves and being affected themselves.
Admittedly I've always considered that Kyouka Suigetsu is just in constant Bankai (I don't think any other Zanpakutou has a multi-word Shikai name) but I do like these ideas. The third one just makes me think of the Reality Infinity Stone.
Two bankai ideas: pne bankai that dispels illusions and reveals truth but only for Aizen. Think he can sense weaknesses, true abilities and more of opponents. This fits with opposite theme and can be OP. Second, his Bankai is same but operates without him thinking or commanding just as servan and he can watch from far away as Bankai tears people apart like distant king.
I believe thematically it may be that Aizen's bankai might be similar to Gremmy's ability, where his illusions also manifest in reality. Why I think this would fit him a lot is because it would tie into the reason he never used it, because it would essentially turn him invincible. He was already very gifted, and perhaps the idea that he wouldn't even be able to lose with his bankai is very frustrating. Thinking about it, Aizen has a very (albeit in a sadistic way) "playful" nature, he likes mindgames, he likes to have arguments, he likes to have the last word. He likes to experiment with things and just see what happens. I also think it appeals to his personality where he's a very curious person, and is a sucker for things that can surprise him, like when he was surprised his shikai worked on the Almighty, or when Masaki appeared in the White incident, he seemed very happy and was genuinely smiling. Activating his bankai in this case might seem like using cheat codes in a game, there's no more excitement when you know you can't loose.
I feel like for Aizen’s bankai it would be similar to how Byakuya drops his into the ground, but instead of flower pedals it would create a field of mist, obscuring the vision of those around it while also causing mirages that would seem so real they could possibly even inflict damage to the people caught in it, and it wouldn’t be limited to one person but rather be an AoE type bankai.
Whereas in a novel, we were told that Aizen can only use his Bankai on those who have seen his Shikai. I believe that his Bankai will allow him to take control of his opponent's mind by plunging his mind into an illusion that would become his reality.
I think the best out of theories you have was the one where his target is trapped in their mind. The problem with that is why didn't Aizen use it against Yhwach. I really hope that in the tybw anime, they make it so that the stakes are much higher than what was shown in the manga and that Aizen had to use bankai. It's such a shame we didn't get to see it because Aizen just muttering the words would probably cause everyone to lose their minds
Aizen's Bankai would certainly be akin to Wonder Woman's lasso of truth;in a sense that each & every thing opposite to illusions in general shall be used to his advantage.Which would then explain why opponents should initially be under Suigetsu's shikai first before being finally subjugated over Kyōka's Bankai!
Tbh, i think Aizen having a bankai that completely erases all memories of those who saw Kyoka Suigetsu, basically completely resetting everyone's memory of the user to the point that they first saw his Shikai would be really cool, and make a lot of sense for Aizen, who would 100% have something like this as a total last resort if everything goes wrong
I always thought that Absolute Hypnosis was Aizen's Bankai, that like Ichibei's Bankai, it was extremely linked to his Shikai. Cutting a name, before anointing a new one. Seeing the start of an illusion, before falling under Complete Hypnosis. Aizen's Bankai is the response to his Shikai's call
i thought about it quite a bit(and it's truly hard to come up with a Bankai for Aizen), but here is my suggestion: Aizen's Bankai Mirror's his own strength in order to amplify the strength of others until they are at his level. this falls into the category of "illusion"(illusion becoming real), of the mirror/reflection, and also of Aizen's desire to stand amongst equals and not ants. and it gives a good reason as to why he never used it- his goals were not aligned with making others exactly as strong as he through his own power, nor would it help Ichigo in his strongest form since he was even stronger than Aizen at that point.
I quite like the idea of the 3rd one you suggested since it would at least partially explain why Aizen's never bothered to use it. Due to his own power and ego he's never really felt that he'd need to nullify attacks that he can likely already neutralized without resorting to Bankai. In that vein I really like the idea of Aizen & Shinji's bank to serve as complimentary inversions of one another to help explain why Aizen never uses his. My best guess is that, go with the themes of water reflecting the image of the moon (and the story of the monkey coveting the moon's reflection that Byakuya cites to Ichigo early on) that his Bankai allows him to amplify the power of those Aizen considers to be an ally through the usage of illusions, (ex. a cut struck from an ally becomes greatly exaggerated and is mentally felt by an opponent) as even though Aizen has had many followers, minions, and subordinates yet part of what defines him, as Ichigo puts it, is that he feels isolated due to the gap in power between himself and his peers; so he has no 'true allies', only pawns. Having the power to briefly and falsely elevate one's peers, while tempting to most, could result in a tumultuous relationship for Aizen and his Zanpakutou. As his Zanpakutou offers an 'easy' solution to a problem Aizen doesn't wish to acknowledge. Aizen is incredibly gifted and feels that the current system is fundamentally flawed and that he is one of the few capable of 'righting' the wrongs of the current world, so he's always sought out that 'next step' to elevate himself.
I feel like a combination of one and two would be cool pretty much his ban kai would trap a person in their own mind in a matrix like fasion with aizen being almost a god controling everything they would be in a dazed almost coma like state while in their mind anything aizen wishes would happen as if they were in the matrix and he controlled everything
I think his Bankai tricks Aizen himself and takes him into his own Illusion, its weird concept cuz his Bankai isnt actually useful for Aizen but for his enemy and its a contrast like u said in the Shinji case. A Shikai so useful and powerful that can trick everyone, a Bankai so powerful but useless that it tricks u
love all the ideas :D the 2 that popped into my head.. 1) black hole sun. being able to trap energy, by making it part of itself. thou gravity control, distortions in time space could also be part of it. and 2) i'll call "the fate engine". being able to overwhelm an enemy with these sorts of illusions, but instead of just one, its like you are stuck in a rerun with different outcomes each time.. the opponent or opponents basically being thrown into sequential and/or concurrent illusions like they were in the matrix's architects room. where aizen basically can control the exposure to the number and scope of the illusions.. think like you are susceptible to flashing images, but each image is an illusion where eventually the target(s) mind(s) cannot grasp reality... not being able to see what is real from what is illusion.... putting them into a vegetative stance stuck inside their own minds. most times his illusions before bankai are focused on a specific idea, and stacking them over time.. with one or multiple targets.... anyhow hope i wasn't too wordy or repetitive. why am i thinking of jujutsu kaisen "domain expansion"?
I’ve always theorized that Aizens power was so vast that his Zanpakuto was unique that it’s Shikai was essentially also it’s Bankai. Because if he were to have a Bankai and it were to be essentially a more powerful version of his Shikai, what’s more powerful than Complete Hypnosis? The ability to make reality as he sees it and make it permanent. Then that would defeat his entire motivation of the story. Knowing Aizen, if his Bankai was truly more powerful than his Shikai, he would’ve used it from the beginning.
Generally speaking, it seems to me like characters who wear their heart on their sleeve and are straight-forward as people have the most straight-forward Bankai, most often being just an expansion of their Shikai (Komamura, Hitsugaya, Zaraki, Ichigo's true Bankai), whereas characters who have secrets and hide aspects of their personality from public view are more likely to have a tricky Bankai that contrasts strongly with their Shikai (Soifon, Kyoraku, Urahara). Aizen definitely falls into the latter category, so I think his Bankai would also be something that contrasts more than expands his Shikai. It might be that he chooses not to use his Bankai because it reflects that hidden aspect of "loneliness" that Ichigo sensed from him during their battle in Deicide. His Shikai is a representation of his outward persona - a liar whose whole character is based on hiding behind a false version of himself. His Bankai would be a representation of his truest self - the lonely man at the top, separated from others by his own power - which is why he's unwilling to use it. As for what it would be exactly, I can provide little specificity in my speculation.
I really like the 2nd and 3rd ideas, both fit well in their own way. Another idea would be if Aizen’s Bankai would be to shape reality, turning illusions into truth. Now not only do opponents see/hear what Aizen wants, but what he wants actually is brought into true existence
I think his bankai would be reality manipulation. basically instead of making near indistinguishable illusions (shikai), his bankai would make those illusions actually reality, basically his bankai could completely alter the present
While watching I had a thought about what Aizen’s Bankai could be…and I think it would be almost like a dichotomy. Aizen’s Shikai is all about altering peoples perception of reality and he uses it to deceive people several times through the series. Like mentioned in the video though there are Shinigami that can “feel” its presence. Every use case is some kind of physical illusion whereas I think his Bankai would be more metaphysical in use. Where his Shikai deals with changing the input of the senses, the Bankai would deal with changing a persons perception or reality from the inside out. Two examples would be Shunsui’s Kotoamatsukami or Lelouch’s Geass. Aizen would essentially be able to change someone’s mind on something or completely rewrite someone. Which is a strong possibility why Momo even knowing full well what Aizen is has a hard time getting over her perception of him. Note why wouldn’t he want to use it? One guess is that it isn’t initiated by people seeing it released and would involve either cutting or some other annoying circumstance. Second guess is that he is too proud and knows he can do it without everyone being subservient. He wants to rise to the station of Soul King and wether you like, hate him or fear him doesn’t matter as long as you know he became King no matter the obstacle. He sees himself the hero who will dethrone the evil that has become complacent and distant.
I think a good twist on Aizen's bankai would be taking a note from Naruto in Izanami and Izanagi. Where kyoka suigetsu affects the perceived reality of others, his bankai affects his own reality. Once his bankai is activated, he can alter any event that would be disadvantageous to him to leave him unscathed but at a large cost/with a delay in reactivating it.
@@cardmaster8772 that’s kinda the point. Aizen is shown the be the MOST calculated and analytical in all of Bleach. Until he becomes victim to his own hubris. If he had kept his demeanor before undergoing a full metamorphosis with the Hyogokyu then he wouldn’t have gotten solo’d so easily by Ichigo.
If his shikai manipulates the five senses and spritual perception, then I see his bankai being an extension to manipulate memories. Manipulating the fate of opponents doesn't seem too far of a stretch as well if we consider Benihime shikai and bankai.
I don't find it hard at all to imagine bankai for aizen at all. His abilities seem to be very similar to genjustsu in naruto and those higher tier abilities work well here as well. Tsukiyomi (locking an opponent into an infinite nightmare until some condition is met) seems reasonable though maybe not that different from his shikai. My favorite of the magekyo sharing abilities is actually izanagi (transiently being able to alter reality for a short amount of time). Another one that could be interesting is something like the dream dimension captain in black clover where aizen literally transports the opponent to an illusory dimension where he has total control over reality there.
I honestly like the third idea where it's essentially about turning realities into illusions. But that would be seriously broken though but as you said, so is his Shikai. Good job man
I always thought of it as a respresentation for how 4-5dimensions function, with the visuals being flower petals made out of glass. A reflection of the works and its different perspectives of the reality as we know it. You’d see past and future timelines and confuse yourself in time entirely. You’d do things you wouldn’t expect, reactions that seems logical or rational, turned irrational. A blast or attack just being a thought, instead of an actual action.
I think that a suitable bankai for him is something like the Perfect Tsukuyomi. Depending on his reiatsu, the area of influence can be big (and he has a lot of reiatsu) or smaller (unlikely to happen)
I like the last idea the most. Aizens bankai and theme follow a "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" theme. With the last one the idea could be the final lesser known: Do no evil. In which Aizen is allowed to determine what is evil and what isn't making his opponents abilities, illusory, false, or nonexistent. All that which is detected by his senses exists, but only that which he allows to exist that isn't evil may truly be real.
What do you think of my ideas for Aizen's Bankai? Do you have a favourite? What do YOU think his Bankai could be, if he has one? Let me know!
Maybe its aizens bankai would cause a effect that overstimulate his opponents senses
I think his Bankai is some sort of supportive Bankai and that's why he doesn't use it cause why would he go out of his way to help other people.
Before watching honestly i’d say his bankai is no longer illusions and him warping reality itself
My personal theories are
1 his bankai could be reality warping considering the fact that his shikai is an illusionary power i think it's on brand that his bankai is a reverse
2. Could also be a complete mind control power but can only affect one person
3. Could be spatial ability where he creates a dimension and traps u in it and where he can make anything real inside it within a certain time frame
@@Shirou-Shimotsuki his shikai already does that to a degree
I heard of a idea once:
What if his Bankai is not illusions - but revealing the truth? The exact opposite of illusion powers.
It counters all other illusions, possibly even reality manipulation in it's area of effect. And reveals truth to the wielder.
Learning the truth made him want to replace the soul king. What if his Bankai is what made him realize the truth?
This would also explain why he never used it - he simply never fought someone that used illusions on any grade he had to worry about. And never got a chance against Ywach.
He sounded a bit disapointed that he "only" needed Kyoka Suigetsu or basic speed to counter Shinjis Sakanade.
Finally found you!! I've been looking for this comment for months just to show my buddy the theory lol
Yooo cool
My personal head-canon is that, with his Zanpakuto being themed around hypnosis, Aizen's Bankai could be self-hypnosis. It's really weird to begin with how we have this guy, this Shinigami who for all intents and purposes is able to quite literally surpass *everyone* when it comes to the core tenets of a Shinigami's fighting style, and seemingly is doing so effortlessly. My thought is, his Bankai might very well be responsible for that, and it's because of this that we never see it used during the series, because we're already seeing the outcome his Bankai has led to, it's already been used beforehand. Aizen's Bankai could be what's bumping all his abilities to their utmost limits (he's hypnotized himself into a version of him capable of achieving the highmost points of Shinigami skills), and so the Aizen we see today is the result of him formerly unlocking his Bankai and using it. This would also explain his obsession with reaching the next stage for a Shinigami, because as long as he remains as he is, there'd no longer be any room to grow for him.
His bankai is ultra instinct
Maybe that's why hogyoku let aizen lose to ichigo. It's able to sense Aizen true desire beyond the self-hypnosis bankai
I like this idea. I was thinking something along the lines of eternal youth or something that would allow him the abilities to have all these abilities.
I was thinking the same thing before I read this comment tbh. Bcuz how else is he so broken
I like this a lot
I think that part of the appeal of Aizen is that there is always mystery with him. A Bankai reveal with him would be very special and a top 5 Bleach moment for sure.
Top 3
Aizen is broken
It’s a level of mystery most other bleach characters don’t get.
I agree, as Kubo said less is more :)
Def worthy of a reveal if the hell arc doesn't get canned
My head cannon is that his bankai has the ability to alter and heighten HIS OWN senses and that he has always had it active. Altering his own senses allows him to cast an illusion that tricks his own body and mind to adapt and reflect those illusions. This would explain why he is so much stronger than everyone else and how he mastered all 4 basic combats skills in the soul society long ago.
This is probably it.
Ha. That sounds pretty feasible actually. Shikai: Alter perception of others. Bankai: Alter perception of user.
It would definitely make sense how such a brilliant researcher also managed to be the second strongest in the Gotei 13 (and was probably somewhere near that level of strength before he was even a lieutenant). How funny would it be if that's how he got out of Shinji's shikai effect so quickly, lol... They wouldn't even know he had said "bankai" because he's already controlling their senses.
This kinda makes sense. It's never explained why he's so much more powerful then everybody else accept Yamamoto.
Ichigo, on his way to save rukia, beat 5 lieutenants and 2 captains only for aizen to stop Ichigo's bankai and theme music with one finger. I think you're in the right track.
And maybe it was a one time activation. This is why he can predict, know and sense everything except Ichigo since he was way over Aizens level after Dangai training. Cool
Thats not bad... If his Shikai is always active, why wouldnt his Bankai be as well?
I think hearing Aizen say Bankai in the final fight would be the ultimate hype moment.
Aizen: "Bankai"
Fade to black
*episode ends with a 3 week hiatus*
Considering this eventually he'll arc would have previous captains fighting current captains, they will most likely need his help, so that's a strong possibility
@@bondsmatthew fade to black?? The fkk is that 😂😂😂😂😂 anything would be better
@@bondsmatthew Aizen: "Bankai"
*fade to black*
*first episode starts playing/first chapter repeats*
Every dick in 1000 miles explodes when he utters that word.
That's not the bankai effect, it's just that hype.
I like it when a storyteller doesn’t tie up every loose end. Aizen’s bankai not being revealed for example, gives Bleach an air of mystery and makes the reader feel like there is still a big world out there to explore. Another example is when we never saw or learned more about the shinigami king of Death Note. It just adds mystery and a coolness factor when we never get to see this seemingly fundamental character of that universe.
Its too important to leave it as a loose end. The series usually end when characters are at their strongest, it makes no sense for them not to use an ability that would help them in a last stand type of situations. Either we would need an explanation why Aizen hasnt been using it, a reveal that he doesnt actually have a bankai or leave it for hell arc, if that ever comes.
I think he has a Bankai but if he uses it, everyone under the spell of his Shikai will be released, so Aizen doesn’t really want to use it
That would be cool but it would also be fair and Aizen isn't about playing fair lmao
Nah reason why doesn't use it goes against his fighting style shikai is observation ritual.
Where bankai would have get aizen moving ABIT to work.
I think it relates to reflection of moon upon water surface. Doesn't matter how much puddles you make the reflection still clear in water
My theory: bankai cleansing the power of his enemies
Like this theory.
That would actually be pretty cool. I'd like that
I have always thought that if we were to have an aizen bankai this would be the reason he hadn't used it, perhaps its a domain that can only effect a small area or one person.
I imagine Aizen having a single-target only, but one-hit K.O. Bankai similar to Itachi’s Tsukuyomi Mangekyo Sharingan, that scene where he trapped Kakashi in a world where he controls the laws of time and space and tortured him. A world where 1 second is almost eternity there, and kills opponent through mental torture first, before the physical body gives up and dies right after too.
that's basically his 2nd idea and I would say is the most likely
Eisenhower 2 Aizen has a genjutuzu
I always had a schizo theory that Aizen's bankai makes it so that, instead of Aizen dictating what his opponents see, his opponents fool themselves into seeing what they want to see. Kinda similar to your second idea, but a little more nuanced. When he fools Yhwach at the very end, he says something like "so you think you're seeing Ichigo.. Curious." This makes no sense when you think about how his Shikai works, of course he would know that he was fooling Yhwach with an illusion of Ichigo if he was using his Shikai. This can explain why Aizen never uses his Bankai: it simply just isn't that useful compared to his Shikai and there is precedent for Bankais being too situational versus their Shikai, like Shinji's. It would only really works when he's fighting alongside other people and playing support for them, and of course Aizen never does this until he backs up Ichigo against Yhwach. This perhaps feeds into Aizen's contradictory nature; like how he wants to be a God while being normal at the same time, at the same time he has a broken Shikai but a borderline useless Bankai. As for why he uses this theoretical bankai versus Yhwach? Who knows, maybe it produces illusions that are truly foolproof, and he couldn't afford to have Yhwach seeing through his Shikai's illusion as such a critical moment.
My exact thoughts
I dig this theory. Never really understood why he would taunt yhwach like that saying it was interesting he was seeing Ichigo. Like it’s your illusion man, you should know what he’s seeing
And that’s why he doesn’t normally use it. He’s a control freak who prefers to micromanage his opponent’s illusion, not let them make their own. Perhaps he can use this Bankai on himself, allowing himself to self actualize (and therefore plan out his schemes) before making them.
I used to think the same way, but then I think I understood what actually happened and why Aizen didn't know what Yhwach was seeing. Actually what Yhwach thought he was seeing was not what the illusion Aizen was showing him, but what Yhwach's Almighty showed him through omniscience.
There are basically three versions of reality at play at that point. The illusion that Aizen was showing him which was different (but at that point we don't see it from the reader's point of view, since we're going by Yhwach's perception at the time, it's something someone like Renji would have seen, someone under Aizen's illusion completely), something Yhwach's sees through the Almighty, which he thinks is the truth (like cutting not Renji's hand but Ichigo's, it's the point where Yhwach switches from the direct view to the Almighty view), but it's not the actual reality since Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu messes with the Almighty, but it seems like it does it in a way that Aizen cannot control, and then there's actual reality that Ichigo, the one not under Kyoka Suigetsu's influence in any way, sees.
While it still can be the effect similar to what you've described that does the trick to mess with Yhwach's Almighty, it might be just an extra effect of KS as it is in shikai.
I think that taunt was supposed to imply that Aizen was not certain his illusion could truly affect Yhwach. It was a "So you really did fall for that? Curious." type of thing.
At least I always interpreted it that way.
I think it would be cool to have Aizen’s bankai be a domain control type like Tosen’s and Urahara. Whereas Urahara’s is one where he reconstructs anything in his domain and warps the concepts of the things around him, Aizens could quite literally bring his perfect hypnosis illusions to life.(eg. making the fly turning into a dragon a physical a real threat that has to be dealt with)
It’d just be a cool contrast where while Urahara controls reality, Aizen would bring to life fantasy.
This is what I think as well
i also think hed get The Visionary as his bankai
I feel like his Bankai would be similar to a reality marble or his own small world, illusion surpassing reality all within his control. A sphere of influence that marks you as under his spell another set piece to move within his grand theatre. It cannot create anything stronger than himself.
That's exactly the first thing I thought. Since his shikai requires you to see it being released, his bankai may not require that stipulation but instead is limited to an area as a cost/balance effect for the story, otherwise there would be no need for a story because he would already have control of everything.
Domain expansion
So basically a strong ass genjutsu??
@Broghai but to me, that's so silly. Literally the only person that could be useful against to me would be Kaname Tosen. Because there's just no way Ichigo could fight Aizen without looking at his zanpakuto. Yamamoto, Gin, and Yhwach are already under his illusion for life as long as they're not touching his zanpakuto so they're already in his reality marble.
Ichigo touched Aizen's sword so he has immunity to Shikai anyway.
I think the TYBW arc gives us two possible hints at Aizen's Bankai. When Ywach goes to the underground prison, Aizen seems to alter his perception of time. That could be his Bankai ability (or at least part of it). He can make an hour feel like a second or a second feel like an hour.
The other is in the final battle when he seems to imply that he couldn't trick Ywach as easily if Ichigo were under the effect of Kyoka Suigetsu. He makes it sound like everyone under his complete hypnosis sees the same thing. Maybe his Bankai could remove that limitation.
I 100% am in agreement with that. It goes along with the theme of subtlety around his sword and it's vastly stronger than manipulating 5 senses.
he tells Yuha "so you see me as ichigo huh" could mean 2 things
1. he wasn't sure whether it should affect Yhwach
2. his bankai generates random illusions on the target or on everyone in the area
Anytime Aizen’s name is in a video= immediately watch
And before I watch imma say what I think it is. So Azashiro’s Bankai stated that for Aizen’s Bankai to work there had to be someone under Kyoka Suigetsu (which wouldn’t be a problem since basically everyone is under it)….so I think his Bankai actually makes his illusions come to life for the people under the Bankai. So an example would be how his Shikai can make you think a meteor is coming at you, his Bankai would actually form a meteor that you’d have to avoid..so I guess reality warping technically
Basically Sternritter v
Yes and the problem with Azashiro is that he couldn't handle blending himself Kenny's reiatsu. Just imagine the sheer devastation of Aizen's power. I feel like he was playing his hand too much with Aizen. The dude is on a whole other level 😂 even without his enhancements
@@lordlightning2339 Fr tho…I like what Tommo said though about the one where you’re abilities are basically illusions to Aizen, so they can’t hurt Aizen if his Bankai is on. That’d be op asf
@@gerdanbombales yea Gremmy, but technically not as op…because you have to be under Kyoka Suigetsu already but Gremmy just op asf
I think that's a little too similar to Rose's bankai. The only main difference is the sense that it originally targets. I mean I love the idea, Rose's bankai is one of my favorites in concept, but having two captains with similar bankais doesn't seem to be Kubo's style
I personally believe that we have already seen or in some part seen a variantion of what he's bankai was going to be. It may have been intended to be added or maybe he had the idea in back of his mind and decided not to "give" Aizen a Bankai but still liked the idea behind, and that person is... Tsukishima and his Book :P
Plot twist: What if Total Hypnosis IS Aizan's Bankai?
What if the Shikai power that he displayed to everyone originally really was his actual Shikai, causing confusion in the enemies around him, and his Bankai takes that a step further with Total Hypnosis giving him not only improved control over their sense, but affecting everyone who has ever seen the first stage? I feel like it makes sense in terms of power up.
As for how he could get away with it: It's been established that a Shinigami who has attained Bankai can activate their Shikai without speaking the release command, so that establishes that everyone who has a Bankai basically uses their Shikai release commands for dramatic effect...which actually suits Aizen pretty well, in my opinion. But what if Aizen has mastered his abilities to such an extent that he can even activated Bankai without using the release command? I feel like that would not only contribute to Aizen's ego by confirming his superiority over other Shinigami (since as far as everyone knows, it's not even possible to do that), but would also be an appropriate twist for his abilities. "You've already seen my Bankai...I've been using it all along."
Funny this vid just came as I was thinking about his Bankai. I always thought Bankais feeded off Shinigami inner hidden personality desires, like for Soi Fon being loud and brash or Shuhei not wanting to actually kill anyone. We don't get much of Aizen inner world, but in Deicide arc Ichigo mentions that Aizen wanted someone to view the world in the same way he does, someone he can relate to (similiar to Starrk but not neccesarily friend). Based on this I theorized his Bankai would need another person to activate, someone that would be an equal in Aizen eyes and someone he could trust - while his Shikai was about controlling others, his Bankai would make him give up control to another being entirely, either just to activate it or just straight up make someone else stronger.
Having him buff Ichigo vs Yhwach would be dope asf.
That's actually a really cool and out of the box bankai, I like it. Everyone would be caught off guard if Aizen used that with Ichigo
I had the same idea which is why I think his Bankai is Body swapping, as it would fit both his overall plans in the story, and his outward image of the master manipulator and his inner loneliness
As well as why he never used it
Your 3rd idea actually makes the most sense and would explain how he has been able to tank sooo much damage. Funny, how Harragan's axe shattered just as it got close to Aizen...
That was because of his spiritual pressure
My theory was always something similar to izanagi from Naruto. Casting illusion on reality and choosing what is real and what not. That way he can survive anything by making the damage an illusion but since he is immortal now his bankai is useless and that’s why we never saw it.
Are you sure you never saw it?
If I remember correctly, I think it was mentioned in CFYOW that Aizen's Bankai only works on those whom has seen his shikai. Yes, it still doesn't explain what it can do, but at least we got a hint of his bankai's capabilities.
I thought that was in another novel
@@KurokamiNajimi Spirit’s are forever with you
@@marcuslyles7625 I found this out afterwards but it doesn’t really matter for 2 reasons. 1 bc that’s an assumption of a character, no one knows how his Bankai works. And 2 even if this is true it doesn’t ruin my theory on what his Bankai is. I think it’s the power to manipulate the present. He would still be able to influence himself and the world even if you yourself aren’t influenced by it and he could make it so you now are influenced by it. You could go a step further and say bc it’s the Bankai the weakness of the Shikai no longer applies. Of all the theories I think this power is the most fitting and something that wouldn’t be underwhelming. As for how powerful the ability is I wouldn’t say it’s total god mode but would be pretty hax. You thought you were intangible? You thought you had a power called the miracle? Are your flames as hot as the sun or are they only half that? Etc. If it’s not this then idk wtf it could be because the idea of it just being more potent illusions is too predictable and we kinda already got that with Rose. That would still be pretty strong, I’ve always thought his ability could be way more broken if it was taken literal like making you feel as if you’re chained in hell etc
I literally screamed when I saw the fan art panel of Aizen going Bankai and Ichigo realising that Aizen was using the illusions to guide him. Tommo explaining the circumstances leading up to Ichigo locking eyes with the Bankai release gave me goosebumps
I think it's not that we never knew his Ban Kai, it's just we never knew his Shikai. There was something about him showing his Ban Kai to the all divisions and from there he kept it always active. The most scary part about Aizen was his reiatsu and in first place his ability wasn't oriented towards pure fighting abilities, so it's possible it didn't consume that much reiatsu and he just kept it on for years.
Actually in Ryōgo Narita's novel Bleach: Spirits Are Forever With You, it is established that Aizen's Bankai only works on those who are already hypnotized by his Shikai.
What chapter was that?
@HylianKirbo I don't have the book sadly. I checked Aizen's Bleach wiki page. I just rechecked the wiki and it's in Chapter 16.
Light novels are shite. And should not be accepted as canon by the fans. Especially since Kubo didnt write it.
@@Mr.Erikstad The author had Kubo's support and guidance.
@@cadeshanley218 it was clearly not enough
I'm gonna copy and paste a reddit post i made a few months ago with my theory on Kyoka Suigetsu's nature and Bankai theory:
I think i have a fairly plausible theory on the nature of Aizen's Zanpakuto and his possible Bankai.
Aizen's Kyoka Suigetsu (Mirror flower, Water Moon) spirit manifests itself as a beautiful moonlit pond in a flowery glade. Looking into the pond, Aizen shows him his reflection. I think in this case the reflection never talks to Aizen, even though Aizen very much wishes it would, further solidifying his loneliness and his being different from other Shinigami. Every other Shinigami more or less can comunicate with their Zanpakuto, while all his sword does is echo Aizen's words back to him, Aizen is alone.
Kyoka Suigetsu's ability: Kanzen Saimin (perfect hypnosis). The illusions are created on the pond's surface. When the Zanpakuto is released, Aizen's blade becomes the surface of the pond and seeing it transports a small part of you into the glade. Illusions can only show up when the water is still, that's why touching the blade dispels them - it creates ripples. Everyone who ever saw the release shows up as a phantom form on the other side of the glade, staring into the pond so. They are all out of Aizen's reach, he can't comunicate or understand them, all he can do is show them illusory images. Everyone is far away and weak, Aizen rules over their reality but he is always alone.
This brings us to the Bankai. I don't think it's necessary to make it any stronger or reality bending. It's plenty powerful and versatile as it is. Seeing as every Zanpakuto has one ability, the Bankai needs to be an illusion. I think my theory fits Aizen's personality and explains why he never uses it, so here we go:
Bankai: Kanzen Yume (perfect dream) - Aizen enters the pond himself until the surface over his head, he will never leave the water again. In the pond he is shown a perfect illusion of a perfectly happy life, from birth to death, where everything goes the exact way Aizen would be happiest. He is not alone, he is not far above everyone else, he is finally normal. On the outside Aizen passes away peacefully shortly after using the Bankai.
I think this is the perfect Bankai for Aizen, at all times he has the ability to live out a normal, happy life, a life he always wanted. Yet Aizen would never use that ability no matter how tempting it is. He would prefer to suffer as he does in reality than to have an easy out. The only thing his Zanpakuto ever said to him was explaining this ability and tempting him to use it. I love the idea of Aizen actually having the ability to have everything he wants at all times, even wishing he had the mindset to use it. But his ego and his personality will never allow him to achieve it so easily. Aizen is always alone, even inside his own soul.
My headcanon is Aizen doesn't truly understand himself given his subconscious lost in Day Aside.
So his relationship with his sword is similar to that of Zaraki's: while he has a Bankai, it's not to his liking and he doesn't like using it - much like how Soi Fon is hesitant to use hers.
- This is a great way for Kubo to retroactively explain why Aizen seemingly willingly let himself stay in Muken and why he refused to join Ywhach.
- It was to understand himself more.
My thoughts exactly plus it makes sense that he doesn’t know himself for who he is which makes him only to desire power compared to ulqs who thinks everything is pointless. Further his shikhai being his only power further strengthens this idea of a lack of self introspection of who he is since he himself is powerful yes but no clue as to who he is and fills this void by becoming powerful a bankai is the true identity of the reaper and if you don’t have an understanding it makes perfect sense why a your power levels like shikhai and bankai aren’t applicable on you so your only power is the ability to trick others about you and everything else around them . Kind of in a way his shikhai is derived from believing his own lie as he himself doesn’t know the truth .
Deicide*
I think he probably likes using the shikai's power but he doesn't exactly strike me as a swordsman in the true, sportsman sense. It's a means to an end for him. But like you said, he has some issues with himself and that lead to him never achieving bankai. It's a subtle line about Aizen that I really like.
The story all but confirms this. Glad you saw too.
@@MaxIronsThird oh thanks! xD
I have two suggestions for Aizen's Bankai.
I propose Kyouka Suigetsu’s bankai ability to have similar effects of sleep paralysis. And, for another level, more severe bankai ability (maybe, an ultimate ability, or the “final episode”), it has similar effects of anesthesia awareness.
In sleep paralysis, a person experiences a vivid dream, and he knows that he is dreaming. He is aware that he is dreaming, but he can’t control it, he can’t control his dream self. Everything looks like a fantasy world, or it can also look like a normal world. It may contains monsters and fairies, or it may also contains normal people. It may also contains normal people who could transform into monsters.
In anesthesia awareness, not only a person experiences his dream as if it’s a reality, he also feels everything that happens to him, but unable to move. He can see the doctor cut through his chest, and feel the scalpel slice through his skin. Thus, in the case of Kyouka Suigetsu’s bankai’s case, victims will be aware of his dream-like world that he can’t control, and feel everything that happens to him, including the slash and stabs from Aizen.
Not only that, victims will “heal” instantly, that is, return to his normal, previous state, only to experience another catastrophic, hurtful events. For example, after a victim suffers injury from slashes and stabs, he will be brought to a state before it happens, only to experience it once more, should Aizen wishes it to happen that way. Aizen also can conjure up a completely different dream-like reality to inflict different types of damage and injury to the victim.
Its only weakness, or perhaps, a way for a victim to escape the illusion, is to master lucid dreaming, where the victim is able to control his dream according to his wish. He can become an ultra super hero who possess all superheroes’ powers and abilities and defeat his enemies, or he could just simply give himself the ability of sustained flight.
And, it’s not easy to master lucid dreaming. Only a few people, with certain practices and trainings, can master lucid dreaming.
The other suggestion is reality warping.
Aizen's bankai is the power to turn illusions into reality and reality into illusions, by dissolving the barrier between them.
By releasing his bankai. Aizen and his opponent are trapped inside a Dimension that takes the form of a featureless void that goes on seemingly forever. Save for an endless row of towers that are transparent and a massive flower that lies in the center of the void itself.
Within this void. Aizen has full control of space, time, matter and energy.
Allowing him to create doubles of himself, alter the area of the Dimension into anything he pleases, such as a desert or an ocean. Can teleport himself anywhere he wants to be, conjure objects, attacks or even creatures out of then air.
On top of turning them into illusions as well.
In fact due to the properties of this bankai. Aizen doesn't even have a real physical form while it is activated. Since its just an illusory construct just like everything else created within it. Thus making the void, the area itself. Aizen's true form.
However like many bankai has its own share of weakness.
With them being four.
One: the person must first be under the effect of Kyoka Suigetsu . Otherwise they are not effected by its abilities.
Two: since the bankai is a spiritual dimension. it can be broken by equal or superior spiritual power. which can causes massive damage to aizen's on soul if not flat out destroy it.
Three: the target must have their senses active in order for the bankai to effect them.
For example if one loses their eyesight to the physical forms of the bankai's illusion will just past through them or if they lose their sense of touch and taste. Fire created by the bankai can no longer burn them.
And Four. Aizen can only affect his opponent directly with his illusions or indirectly through its environment. Meaning he cannot turn themselves into an illusion, make them instantly die or teleport objects inside them.
I found a fanfic on what his Bankai could've been.
Aizen smiled, as if in wonder at a child’s naivete. “Has it not occurred to you, my friend, that I might also have Bankai?”
Isshin blinked, but recovered his resolve. “Your Kyoka Suigetsu is far too outrageous to be anything but a Bankai! You may have deceived others into being cowed, Aizen, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Aizen shook his head. “Isshin Shiba. It is true that our moon in the water is merely light reflected from the heavenly moon. But, have you forgotten? Even that heavenly moon of which you are so fond... is merely light reflected from the sun.”
Isshin’s eyes opened, and he lunged, a precise and decapitating stroke, but Aizen’s voice was faster still, accelerated by weeks of training.
“Bankai. Kyokkou Shingetsu.” Dawning Sun, the Truth of the Moon.
Just like Isshin’s, it was a Bankai that sounded similar to the Shikai, even when the meaning totally differed. Aizen made no move to intercept Isshin’s strike. It passed cleanly and effortlessly through his neck, to no effect.
“You... phased through it?” Isshin murmured, jumping back.
Aizen smiled, raising the seemingly unchanged Kyoka Suigetsu. “A common first reaction. As my initial release causes others to treat illusions as reality, so my final release permits me to treat reality as no more than an illusion. For beneath every illusion, is an unassailable foundation of truth. Do you understand? What you have witnessed so far is merely the reflection. It is time you saw the source.”
Aizen began to advance, sword held casually. Isshin attempted to fend him off with rapier thrusts, high-level Kidou, and even a sand-scorching, world-engulfing blast of Getsuga. Nothing touched him. Upon reaching Isshin, Aizen made a single diagonal slash, slicing through his opponent as if his reiatsu were nothing more than paper. Isshin choked, blood welling out of the massive, perfectly clean wound. Muscle and skin had yielded as easily as organ and bone.
“No, Isshin Shiba. It is not that I am passing through you. It is that you, are passing through me. Let me make myself perfectly clear. Relative to this world, I am not any less substantial than before. It is the world that has become insubstantial, relative to me. You can no more harm me, than our lonely moon could touch the sun. And even if it could...”
Aizen raised his sword with the air of a man helping his dearest friend commit seppukku.
“...It would not survive doing so. Sayonara, Isshin Shiba. You have my fondest farewells.”
I like to think of the Shikai as a reflection of the users surface-level personality. Aizen presents himself as someone that makes you question eveything, so his Shikai has the power of a near perfect illusion.
So, if the Bankai is meant to reflect your true, inner nature, what would that mean for Aizen? The two main things we know about his true feelings are his hatred for those he considers unworthy of ruling over him and him wanting to find someone he could consider an equal.
Therefore, I think a neat idea for his Bankai, would be that it is something that requires him to have someone who can fight alongside him and it is something that drags whoever is affect by it, down to Aizen's and his ally's level.
Whith that kind of ability, and Aizen's personality, it would explain why he would never want to use it. It would be something he would only use if he were to truly open up to someone, which he has never been fully able to do. I think that would be kind of cool and something that would showcase a real sense of character development for Aizen.
Aizen acts in TYBW like he is surprised what illusion Yhwach was under, I think his bankai simply automatically creates an illusion that fits the target best. This is a slight upgrade as it could create illusions based off knowledge Aizen doesn’t have, but he can’t plan based off it because he has no knowledge of the illusion hence why he favors his shikai because he can be in control
The 6th Anniversary form of aizen in Bleach Brave Souls is, like the version of byakuya, considered a "beyond bankai" form, and in short, he is able to completely alter reality. Based on this, the bankai could make "illusions" that are tangible, so he would not even need things like body doubles like when he made toshiro attack momo, making his illusions even more believeable and no longer needing any set-up.
I mean, he was already capable of that to a degree. He made Hallibel fight literally nothing. He doesn't HAVE to paste himself over someone else. He's just a dick. It's probably a little easier in situations like when he had a squad member tailing Shinji at times he's not present.
actually, 6th anniversary aizen is based on the idea of aizen continuously evolving past his final form from the FKT arc, not beyond bankai like the rest of the captains
tricking reality and making his illusion able to shape the physical world
If his Shikai makes people perceive reality differently, maybe his Bankai could be the opposite and be something along the lines of reality perceiving people differently. Like a temporary reality that changes characteristics or aspects about the enemy's abilities.
I really liked your focus on the "Shatter" aspect with his potential Bankai.
You always bring interesting and new perspectives to Bleach, as someone who has been watching/reading Bleach from pretty much the start, I truly appreciate your content my dude!
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Love that your channel has been growing significantly as well!
I'm reading comments about your channel on different places now, last one I read was someone joking that Urahara retired after everything and is now making analysis videos on youtube as MrTommo lol.
I think the most natural evolution of Aizen's illusions is the ability to make them real. Although he's broken enough without bringing reality warping into his toolkit.
Another thought is what we think is his shikari is actually his bankai so he's been using it all along.
i had an idea that was similar to izanagi from naruto where it casts an illusion on themselves and reality, rewriting reality itself. A cool limitation is that the creations of the bankai will immediately dispel once the victim realizes the bankai’s tru ability( if they are aware that the bankai is active and what the bankai is doing)
Unfortunately though, wouldn’t that just be the visionary but with more control?
Loved the content as always!
My theory is that Aizen’s shikai is limited by space and time, in a way that he can manipulate anything but can’t change the environment or the perception of time itself. In this case his bankai would make him able to change even the space and time, creating a virtually infinite illusion, something like Tsukuyomi in Naruto, where the person inside the illusion can feel years passing in a matter of seconds in the real world.
Yep he can change time perception. He did that to yhwach to save soul society during the first invasion
Cool theory I just think since his shikai behaves like magician about to do parlour trick
Then bankai is like clown removing his makeup.
Meaning bankai just do opposite of observation ritual more physical projecting illusion onto himself and others
Power to cleanse power of others 🤔
Water is gives clean reflection I think metaphorically like that
If Aizen's Shikai requires someone/something to create the illusion (I.e. How he had to have an actual person to take his place for his "death" in the Soul Society Arc.) Then I always figured his Bankai would drop the requirement of having an object to change reality. It would just make the illusion with no requirements. Or at least something like that. Love your vids!
I think if he has a Bankai it has to do with Reality (Time) Distortion. Because his Shikai has the ability to control and effect all 5 senses this would make the most sense for his Zanpakuto Bankai ability to allude to. The manipulation of the perception of time which would be reality would make the most sense. And when YWACH stated that Aizen threw off his perception of time when he visited him before launching his attack on the Seretei. Making him having to leave and return to the Silbern. This is what really makes me believe that this would be his Bankai.
I was thinking that too. I feel like it should be something similar to Tsukuyomi from Naruto. Aizen would create a space that essentially a dream realm which he has control off. What’s more what he creates with in that space not only seem real but feel real as well
Yes correct!!!!
Ur making a scary ammount of sense
Gud point I think it extension of shikai ability. Of how moon is reflection on water surface. I think something relating to that
Water is clean
Shikai is reflection/illusion moon on water
Bankai is cleansing
Bankai cleansing everything it touches. Revert bankai back to its original state by touch.
Second example revert slash across aizen chest back to normal if he wishes 🤔
@@animanco6833gud theory but all above is mainly shikai ability reflection of moon upon water surface
I think bankai cleansing everything it touches.effect wouldn't jus be on mind of enemy but also his power his zanpakuto spirit.
I've always been partial to the idea of Aizen having reality warping powers. Similar to Book of the End or Almighty. In Aizens case, he could discard the current reality as an illusion and reveal a new world for everyone. With the real power being, that Aizen could rewrite everyones stats/powers essentially, but only to the same level they were previously. I also think this may be how Aizen was able to reach his maximum potential in every Shinigami ability so rapidly, he simply relearned his best each time and then moved the skills elsewhere.
My idea is a bit of your last one: that Aizen's Bankai would have the ability to "shatter" reality by creating any effect of his choosing in a specific situation or on a particular person.
So rather than making a fly appear as a dragon or a swamp as a field of flowers he actually makes the fly a dragon and the swamp a field of flowers.
This impliments a bit of Rose's Bankai where the effects of the illusions (i.e scorched clothes on masque) are retained after after they've ended, but on a more reality shattering scale.
The drawback however would be that the Bankai releases everyone who is under kyoka suigestu's shikai effect when used.
Which would be a good reason for Aizen not to use it, as he can honestly accomplish more with the permanent shikai hack.
Builder and spender, I dig it.
chatgpt bankai idea:
Bankai Name: Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu (鏡花水月 明鏡真実, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Clear Mirror of Truth")
Appearance:
Aizen's Zanpakuto transforms into a pair of ornate, mirror-like twin blades that reflect only the truth. His attire becomes more simplistic, resembling a traditional samurai's armor but with a polished, mirror-like sheen.
Abilities:
Shinjitsu no Kaze (真実の風, "Wind of Truth"): Any illusion, disguise, or form of deception used by the enemy is instantly dispelled when they come into contact with this wind, revealing their true form or intentions.
Meikyū no Kagami (迷宮の鏡, "Labyrinth of Mirrors"): Aizen can create a maze of mirrors around his enemies. These mirrors reflect only the truth, showing enemies their past actions, true desires, and even potential futures, potentially causing them to doubt or second-guess themselves.
Shinjitsu no Tsurugi (真実の剣, "Sword of Truth"): With a swing of his twin blades, Aizen can cut through any falsehood. This means he can not only dispel illusions but also negate abilities that are based on deception or misdirection.
Kenshō (顕照, "Revelation"): Aizen can force an opponent to confront their true self, stripping away any facade or persona they might have. This can be mentally and emotionally taxing for the opponent, as they are forced to face their deepest fears, regrets, and truths.
Release Command: "Reflect the unyielding truth and shatter all deceptions, Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu!"
In this version, Aizen's Bankai is an absolute force against deception, making it a formidable weapon in any battle scenario.
Bankai Name: Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu (鏡花水月 明鏡真実, "Mirror Flower, Water Moon: Clear Mirror of Truth")
Appearance:
Aizen's Zanpakuto transforms into a pair of ornate, mirror-like twin blades that reflect only the truth. His attire becomes more simplistic, resembling a traditional samurai's armor but with a polished, mirror-like sheen.
Abilities:
Shinjitsu no Kaze (真実の風, "Wind of Truth"): Any illusion, disguise, or form of deception used by the enemy is instantly dispelled when they come into contact with this wind, revealing their true form or intentions.
Meikyū no Kagami (迷宮の鏡, "Labyrinth of Mirrors"): Aizen can create a maze of mirrors around his enemies. These mirrors reflect only the truth, showing enemies their past actions, true desires, and even potential futures, potentially causing them to doubt or second-guess themselves.
Shinjitsu no Tsurugi (真実の剣, "Sword of Truth"): With a swing of his twin blades, Aizen can cut through any falsehood. This means he can not only dispel illusions but also negate abilities that are based on deception or misdirection.
Kenshō (顕照, "Revelation"): Aizen can force an opponent to confront their true self, stripping away any facade or persona they might have. This can be mentally and emotionally taxing for the opponent, as they are forced to face their deepest fears, regrets, and truths.
Release Command: "Reflect the unyielding truth and shatter all deceptions, Kyōka Suigetsu Meikyū Shinjitsu!"
In this version, Aizen's Bankai is an absolute force against deception, making it a formidable weapon in any battle scenario.
Your third theory reminded me of Hisogi Kumagawa's "All Fiction" from Medaka Box. This power allows Kumagawa to turn anything into nothing, reducing anything he wishes to "fiction". Such as when he turned the concept of color into nothing, therefore making the world be all black and white.
I always assumed his shikai was actually his bankai. He just mastered to such a degree he can effortlessly use it.
Same...
YeH, like, the shikai is the spell, the bankai is the illusion
Personally I think that Idea #2 Is very close to the genjutsu in Naruto which has already been a comparison people have been making for year, but Idea #3 I think is a very cool concept for Aizen especially sense it fits with his god complex and his loneliness because of the shattering ability as if he is the only thing that's real
i like the idea that his power is "Lies' - first he is the liar and then bankai makes YOU the lie. I love it
My points for Momo being Aizen’s bankai:
1. He has so much reiatsu, it could easily make another being like Zaraki
2. His whole thing is scheming. Having a person everyone trusts that acts as another pair of eyes/ears throughout the story makes sense.
3. She’s indestructible and he can use her substitution jutsu style.
4. Much like his shikai it’s always active so he never has to activate it again.
Idk how much I agree with that but the thought of Aizen watching Toshiro simping for Momo and purposefully making him stab her is just too funny lmao "you trying to bang my sword bro?"
Momo actually being Aizen's Bankai is a like a playbook on how to screw with Toshiro more, lmao. Wow.
My idea for his Bankai is basically the one thing missing from his shikai ---- while Kyoka Suigetsu affects the senses, his bankai affects the mind. Like your second idea, but more about telepathy and mind control and manipulation rather than torment. So his Bankai basically makes him Jean Grey.
I like your idea of an illusory "domain expansion" though, the optics would be super dope
No matter how strong his bankai could be, I think him never using it points toward one conclusion: His bankai would reset his shikai's hypnosis effect. Basically, he worked hard to get everyone of note in the Soul Society to fall under his illusions and would lose all that if he were to activate bankai.
That's just my thoughts at least.
Kubo clearly wrote himself into a corner. Maybe he really should've just left that "mist which blinds and confuses enemies" ability as Aizen's actual Shikai (remember, it's the fake Shikai that Aizen showed the Gotei) while making that OP illusion ability his Bankai. I can totally understand that Kubo can't come up with something superior.
Yeah, reality-warping would be the next logical evolution to his powers, but that would be EVEN MORE broken and would also turn Aizen's motivations into a plot hole, since he could do anything he wants anyway and wouldn't have a reason to become more powerful (reality-warping is the most broken ability in fiction next to super speed like Flash's).
Anyway, one way that Kubo could fix the "Why did he never use Bankai" issue in the story is by making it so that Aizen's Bankai has a VERY NEGATIVE consequence for himself (others are released from KS's influence, it drains his life force, it puts immense strain on his mind, he can lose himself etc.).
I feel like we may see his bankai in the new hell arc. Would be awesome if we did🔥
That’s the last possible chance to show it. Kubo better go all out and utilize Aizen to the fullest
With Kubo working on TYBW anime and not wanting to be pressured to do the Hell Arc I have no idea when we could see Aizen.
I’m very curious as to what could possibly draw him out because even in TYBW he wasn’t exactly cooperating out of the shriveled goodness of his heart but rather he had to. Something truly insane would have to happen with Hell especially for him to use a Bankai (possibly Hell trapping him for eternity if he loses a fight? Has to be worse then Muken)
It’ll either happen then or never at all and Kubo would leave it as a mystery like his backstory.
Honestly, if I had to guess what his Bankai is, I would say the only way to blow Kyoka Suigetsu up farther is if it was basically like Izanagi from Naruto.
Izanagi is an ultimate genjutsu, or rather illusion, that one places apon themselves. And in doing so, the user can rewrite reality essentially making a dream world with those very illusions. A world where anything advantageous to the user is kept, but anything disadvantageous like damage or injuries is written out like a bad dream.
It would be perfect for someone like Aizen who has a God complex to be the master of his own dream world.
I just like the idea that his bankai is really his shikai. It just makes sense for aizen a character, and makes sense why he never uses bankai in the series
He never needed to use his bankai.His shikai was just way too op.
@@j.k.1239 ok he transcended soul reapers and hallows but if he had a bankai, would it not have been useful against ichigo?
@@rmanileavell5271 He didn't even used his shikai against Ichigo.
@@j.k.1239 But Im saying why not use his bankai then, or at least try since he was clearly using. but he decides to use a, Cero?
I came up with a pretty basic idea of his Bankai when I was like 15 that I still remember to this day in that I kinda used Byakuya's Shukei Hakuteiken as an inspiration
The idea is that his Bankai grants him 6 separate swords that he can summon and wield at will. Each one matches to a sense. The sixth sense would be the ability to detect reiatsu/spiritual energy. And, if he were to merely touch you with the blade of a given sword - it doesn't have to directly cut you, just a blade clash would work - then that corresponding sense will be cut off entirely. So he could permanently remove your ability to sense anything at all, especially with one of the techniques that resembled Shukei Hakuteiken in that all the blades would combine into one and have the effect of completely disabling an opponent
I’m pretty sure I’ve said this on another one of your videos, but my personal head canon is that the shikai ability he claimed it had (apart from being a water type) with the reflections and whatnot was actually his shikai, and the kanzen saimin (sorry if I misspelled it) was his bankai. That would explain, to me, why his supposed shikai was so overpowered and broken. I also wouldn’t put it past Aizen to trick everyone into believing that.
If we get Aizen’s bankai it will be absolutely amazing. I like your alternative ending too, imagine an Ichigo and Aizen team up like that!
Here are my ideas.
Throne Of Illusions - Aizen can make his illusions completely real but only for as long as he’s on his throne. This means he can even create a copy of perfect copy of someone but only for as long as he’s on his throne. While on the throne, Aizen can’t use any other abilities. The throne is also very energy-consuming so it’s impossible to use this bankai for a long time. If Aizen deactivates his bankai or leaves the throne for whatever reason, all things he created shatter and cease to exist.
Illusionary Dimension - Aizen can take his opponent into an illusionary world that he fully controls. This means that everything he imagines can become real in this dimension. He controls all laws of physics and everything that their opponent sees. However, it’s possible to escape this dimension if you touch Aizen.
Mind control - Aizen can control anyone who’s seen Kyoka Suigatesu’s release.
Eye of Illusions - Aizen can create a big eye in the sky that hypnotises everyone around him. For example, with this he could easily hypnotise everyone in Karakura.
I think his bankai's power is being able to both manipulate and enhance his own senses to aid him in battle. Much like Kisuke's but on senses.
My theory is that his Bankai was always on. The complete hypnosis is the Bankai. The true lie is a trick of intimidation. If Complete Hypnosis is his Shikai. What in the world could the Bankai be. That concern in his enemies’ minds would be another means to control their emotional state. And on top of that. Why would he tell anyone the name of his sword? When there’s a very strong shinigami out there that can erase one’s power simply by knowing it’s name.
I think Aizen’s Bankai should be the polar opposite of his shikai: while Kyokasuigetsu in its first stage shows everybody around him illusions of his own making, fooling all five senses… his Bankai shows *him* the *absolute truth*.
The truth about the world. The truth about reality. A truth so powerful it motivates him to topple the spiritual world order as we know it… and the truth about what would actually work.
His command “Shatter” is thus quite poetic. While it shatters the illusions he makes for others, it also shattered his worldview and confidence in the structure of the soul society and reality as ruled by the Soul King.
We’ll never see the Bankai, because we will never know the absolute truth regarding how the world should be. Only Aizen knows.
It has two weaknesses. If you touch the blade you can avoid it’s hypnosis. And when he and Ichigo fought Yuha Bach Ichigo said he could tell it was activated cause the feeling in the area was different. This maybe just for Ichigo as his ability to sense things has always been exceptional.
Great point, but the thing with the 1st weakness is that no one really knows about it except for Gin and he brought it to his grave.
Ichigo wasn't under KS tho, so maybe that's why could tell the difference. We haven't seen anyone that is already under the Complete Hypnosis realize that something is wrong except maybe Yamamoto but he was technically touching the blade so is rather dubious
The third theory is very similar to an idea I had in which Aizens Bankai effect was to "shift the reality" of things around him. In the Discworld series the character Death is able to walk through walls, live outside time and be immortal because he is the "final truth of the universe" and is essentially more real than any physical matter. This idea fits as a superpowered opposite to Aizens illusions. It could also work for a rewritten Karakura battle as the explanation for him negating his opponents powers and one shoting so many powerful characters. By becoming more real than them he could do all that.
Alternatively and to make it a little less overpowering the switching effect could instead be only applied when his sword pierces or touches other objects so he has to actually cut or stab things to "negate their reality" and shatter them (and mirroring the Shikai weakness Gin discoverd). This could also be used by him to protect himself by stabbing himself allowing attacks to phase through him. That would also make for a good bankai release scene, someone's attack gets through to him only to realise Aizen had pierced his own hand causing him to shatter like a mirror and the attack fail and then Dozen reforms unlike the many opponents he then uses it on.
Ive always thought his bankai must be part of the reason he knows so much like how did he know about the state of the spirit king bankai Ichigo bankai where in huaco Mundo to find the hollow king bankai. He seems to know way more then he should and it would make sense that his shikai effects others perception and his bankai effects his own
In all reality I think his bankai turns his illusions into reality sorta like gremmy, but his bankai undoes the hypnosis he put everyone under that’s y he doesn’t use it.
I feel like Aizen’s bankai should have an ability that is kinda troublesome for him to use, so it makes sense that he hasn’t done it.
Personally I like the idea of a bankai that instead of making illusions shatter every illusion and falsehood within an area. It would make any ability affecting the senses useless and even make people unable to lie or hide the truth. A pretty strong ability that fits with Aizen’s desire to expose the Soul King for what he really is, but also one that affects Aizen as well and since he is always using tricky and lies he doesn’t want to use it.
Was looking for this comment! The only answer that makes actual sense.
I always thought: if it's more powerful why hasn't he used it before?
It must be because like Sui Feng he doesn't like it.
it would be cool if I'm the hell arc he remakes it thanks to the power of the hogyoku taking inspiration from mayuri
I have the idea that his Bankai is simular to Tsukishima's book of the end, but without limits: his bankai allows to completely modify the memories and perception of the reality for hus enemies, and as well as Kyokasuigetsu it's multitarget
I don’t know why but I’ve always thought that Aizen’s bankai could turn his illusions into reality
It's Izanagi
Gremmy already does that
My theory for aizens bankai is that instead of controlling the senses, he has complete control over a persons time perception, like he can slow or speed somebody up either mentally or physically.
Tybw aizen is already a monster with his shikai but imagining his bankai just terrifies me honestly.
Think it can destroy the universe 😄😂😂😄💜
Really love the third Idea! Turning his opponents attack from real into illusions! Havent heard one like that suggested for him before and I think the idea of him turning himself into this larger than life figure, the only one on the battlefield that can prove himself to be real, goes along great with his character.
I don't speak japanese so I havent been able to confirm, but I've heard that Spirits Are Forever With You claims that his bankai requires one to be under his shikai's influence to work... Which imo works perfectly with this third idea as well. Aizen already sees himself as unbeatable with just his shikai, so a bankai that makes him neigh impossible to damage would seem worthless to him in battle. Why would he need a defensive ability against opponents that dont pose a threat in the first place? Thus we'd never see him use it as there's no need.
Really cool twist of his Zanpakuto that makes it almost like he's saying with his shikai "You'll never be able to tell what's real again" only for him to follow up with the bankai saying "except me."
Actually perfect for him. I love it.
I don't know if this was mentioned at all in the comments, but I always thought of Aizen's Bankai being an extension of a more powerful hypnosis that literally alter a peron's memory (kind of like Tsukishima's fullbring, but can target multiple people) to a point where he can make them believe they are someone else or take away their memories or create new ones to make them believe something they never believed in.
But the reason he doesn't use it is because it possibly is powerful enough to alter their memory of them ever seeing his shikai and it resets them or altering memories doesn't compare to creating illusions in a battle especially if he doesn't have to expand his energy to fight for long periods of time if he needs to.
Before reading the fullbringer arc, i had this exact idea, then i kinda discarded it because it felt like Kubo had used it with Tsukishima, but i still think its the only theory that fits Aizen's power and personality. I always thought that the power to alter someones memory would make for a shocking twist, if important events that happened in the story were later revealed to be false, like how they defeated Yuha or even events from many years ago.
My theory on Aizen's bankai is that it's not combat related at all, and that it's the inverse of what his illusion spell does. Aizen's power isn't just about fooling his opponents in combat with illusion, it's symbolism for how he views Soul Society to be living under a blanket of lies and self imposed deceptions... he wanted to tear through the lies of this world and find deeper truths, but no one he met was strong enough to see through the lies like he did. If the first release blankets the world in illusion, then this is symbolic of how Aizen views the world to be a false reality, but the bankai would reveal the world for what it truly is.
I think the first time Aizen unlocked his bankai, the sword revealed to him the deep secrets of the universe and among those secrets was the existence of the Soul King. Aizen soon realized that the only utility his bankai provided was one of meditation, a bankai that only exercised his mind to expand the limits of what he could see. With this bankai Aizen learned the truth behind the Soul Society, and knew the depth of their sin and depravity and knew the system needed to be changed. Upon seeing the "god" of this world, and deeming it an abomination, Aizen took it upon himself to become a proper god for this world and bring about true prosperity.
Aizen doesn't use his bankai because he doesn't have one, but because it has no utility for combat. It's a private and personal bankai that enlightened him, but would never be useful in combat. Maybe at best, if Aizen considered someone worthy to be on his level he would show the bankai to them and see what truth it reveals to them. It would be curious to know what truth Aizen's bankai would reveal to Ichigo, or to Urahara (the only two people I think he even respects).
Wait, doesn't it sound reasonable that Aizen showed everyone his bankai but pretended it was his shikai, so that they would think he's even stronger?
I like the concept of your second idea. A thought I had, and to go along with your mentioning of opposites, could go something like this. His shikai lets him create perfect illusions and effect those who have seen its activation unless they were touching the blade. For the inverse, his bankai could require contact between the blade and his opponent (slash, stab, brush, what have you). This, in turn, would grant Aizen an altered form of perception in which he, and he alone, could visibly see the intentions of said opponent, giving him highly accurate combative foresight. He would then go from creating projected illusions that affect others to forcing his opponents to unknowingly project their next moves and being affected themselves.
Admittedly I've always considered that Kyouka Suigetsu is just in constant Bankai (I don't think any other Zanpakutou has a multi-word Shikai name) but I do like these ideas. The third one just makes me think of the Reality Infinity Stone.
Katen kyokotsu does
What 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Two bankai ideas: pne bankai that dispels illusions and reveals truth but only for Aizen. Think he can sense weaknesses, true abilities and more of opponents. This fits with opposite theme and can be OP. Second, his Bankai is same but operates without him thinking or commanding just as servan and he can watch from far away as Bankai tears people apart like distant king.
I believe thematically it may be that Aizen's bankai might be similar to Gremmy's ability, where his illusions also manifest in reality.
Why I think this would fit him a lot is because it would tie into the reason he never used it, because it would essentially turn him invincible. He was already very gifted, and perhaps the idea that he wouldn't even be able to lose with his bankai is very frustrating.
Thinking about it, Aizen has a very (albeit in a sadistic way) "playful" nature, he likes mindgames, he likes to have arguments, he likes to have the last word. He likes to experiment with things and just see what happens.
I also think it appeals to his personality where he's a very curious person, and is a sucker for things that can surprise him, like when he was surprised his shikai worked on the Almighty, or when Masaki appeared in the White incident, he seemed very happy and was genuinely smiling.
Activating his bankai in this case might seem like using cheat codes in a game, there's no more excitement when you know you can't loose.
I feel like for Aizen’s bankai it would be similar to how Byakuya drops his into the ground, but instead of flower pedals it would create a field of mist, obscuring the vision of those around it while also causing mirages that would seem so real they could possibly even inflict damage to the people caught in it, and it wouldn’t be limited to one person but rather be an AoE type bankai.
Bleach as a show is Aizen's Bankai and we're all trapped in it.
Whereas in a novel, we were told that Aizen can only use his Bankai on those who have seen his Shikai.
I believe that his Bankai will allow him to take control of his opponent's mind by plunging his mind into an illusion that would become his reality.
I think the best out of theories you have was the one where his target is trapped in their mind. The problem with that is why didn't Aizen use it against Yhwach. I really hope that in the tybw anime, they make it so that the stakes are much higher than what was shown in the manga and that Aizen had to use bankai. It's such a shame we didn't get to see it because Aizen just muttering the words would probably cause everyone to lose their minds
Aizen's Bankai would certainly be akin to Wonder Woman's lasso of truth;in a sense that each & every thing opposite to illusions in general shall be used to his advantage.Which would then explain why opponents should initially be under Suigetsu's shikai first before being finally subjugated over Kyōka's Bankai!
Tbh, i think Aizen having a bankai that completely erases all memories of those who saw Kyoka Suigetsu, basically completely resetting everyone's memory of the user to the point that they first saw his Shikai would be really cool, and make a lot of sense for Aizen, who would 100% have something like this as a total last resort if everything goes wrong
I always thought that Absolute Hypnosis was Aizen's Bankai, that like Ichibei's Bankai, it was extremely linked to his Shikai. Cutting a name, before anointing a new one. Seeing the start of an illusion, before falling under Complete Hypnosis. Aizen's Bankai is the response to his Shikai's call
What If he wrote the story "it's all part of my plan"
i thought about it quite a bit(and it's truly hard to come up with a Bankai for Aizen), but here is my suggestion: Aizen's Bankai Mirror's his own strength in order to amplify the strength of others until they are at his level.
this falls into the category of "illusion"(illusion becoming real), of the mirror/reflection, and also of Aizen's desire to stand amongst equals and not ants.
and it gives a good reason as to why he never used it- his goals were not aligned with making others exactly as strong as he through his own power, nor would it help Ichigo in his strongest form since he was even stronger than Aizen at that point.
I quite like the idea of the 3rd one you suggested since it would at least partially explain why Aizen's never bothered to use it. Due to his own power and ego he's never really felt that he'd need to nullify attacks that he can likely already neutralized without resorting to Bankai. In that vein I really like the idea of Aizen & Shinji's bank to serve as complimentary inversions of one another to help explain why Aizen never uses his. My best guess is that, go with the themes of water reflecting the image of the moon (and the story of the monkey coveting the moon's reflection that Byakuya cites to Ichigo early on) that his Bankai allows him to amplify the power of those Aizen considers to be an ally through the usage of illusions, (ex. a cut struck from an ally becomes greatly exaggerated and is mentally felt by an opponent) as even though Aizen has had many followers, minions, and subordinates yet part of what defines him, as Ichigo puts it, is that he feels isolated due to the gap in power between himself and his peers; so he has no 'true allies', only pawns. Having the power to briefly and falsely elevate one's peers, while tempting to most, could result in a tumultuous relationship for Aizen and his Zanpakutou. As his Zanpakutou offers an 'easy' solution to a problem Aizen doesn't wish to acknowledge. Aizen is incredibly gifted and feels that the current system is fundamentally flawed and that he is one of the few capable of 'righting' the wrongs of the current world, so he's always sought out that 'next step' to elevate himself.
I feel like a combination of one and two would be cool pretty much his ban kai would trap a person in their own mind in a matrix like fasion with aizen being almost a god controling everything they would be in a dazed almost coma like state while in their mind anything aizen wishes would happen as if they were in the matrix and he controlled everything
I think he's been using his bankai
the entire time
I think his Bankai tricks Aizen himself and takes him into his own Illusion, its weird concept cuz his Bankai isnt actually useful for Aizen but for his enemy and its a contrast like u said in the Shinji case. A Shikai so useful and powerful that can trick everyone, a Bankai so powerful but useless that it tricks u
This would explain why Aizen doesnt use his Bankai too Lol
I’ve been waiting for an up to date on this subject! Thank you delivering, always wish we got to see Aizens Bankai
love all the ideas :D the 2 that popped into my head.. 1) black hole sun. being able to trap energy, by making it part of itself. thou gravity control, distortions in time space could also be part of it. and 2) i'll call "the fate engine". being able to overwhelm an enemy with these sorts of illusions, but instead of just one, its like you are stuck in a rerun with different outcomes each time.. the opponent or opponents basically being thrown into sequential and/or concurrent illusions like they were in the matrix's architects room. where aizen basically can control the exposure to the number and scope of the illusions.. think like you are susceptible to flashing images, but each image is an illusion where eventually the target(s) mind(s) cannot grasp reality... not being able to see what is real from what is illusion.... putting them into a vegetative stance stuck inside their own minds. most times his illusions before bankai are focused on a specific idea, and stacking them over time.. with one or multiple targets.... anyhow hope i wasn't too wordy or repetitive. why am i thinking of jujutsu kaisen "domain expansion"?
I’ve always theorized that Aizens power was so vast that his Zanpakuto was unique that it’s Shikai was essentially also it’s Bankai.
Because if he were to have a Bankai and it were to be essentially a more powerful version of his Shikai, what’s more powerful than Complete Hypnosis? The ability to make reality as he sees it and make it permanent. Then that would defeat his entire motivation of the story.
Knowing Aizen, if his Bankai was truly more powerful than his Shikai, he would’ve used it from the beginning.
Generally speaking, it seems to me like characters who wear their heart on their sleeve and are straight-forward as people have the most straight-forward Bankai, most often being just an expansion of their Shikai (Komamura, Hitsugaya, Zaraki, Ichigo's true Bankai), whereas characters who have secrets and hide aspects of their personality from public view are more likely to have a tricky Bankai that contrasts strongly with their Shikai (Soifon, Kyoraku, Urahara).
Aizen definitely falls into the latter category, so I think his Bankai would also be something that contrasts more than expands his Shikai. It might be that he chooses not to use his Bankai because it reflects that hidden aspect of "loneliness" that Ichigo sensed from him during their battle in Deicide. His Shikai is a representation of his outward persona - a liar whose whole character is based on hiding behind a false version of himself. His Bankai would be a representation of his truest self - the lonely man at the top, separated from others by his own power - which is why he's unwilling to use it.
As for what it would be exactly, I can provide little specificity in my speculation.
I really like the 2nd and 3rd ideas, both fit well in their own way. Another idea would be if Aizen’s Bankai would be to shape reality, turning illusions into truth. Now not only do opponents see/hear what Aizen wants, but what he wants actually is brought into true existence
I think his bankai would be reality manipulation. basically instead of making near indistinguishable illusions (shikai), his bankai would make those illusions actually reality, basically his bankai could completely alter the present
While watching I had a thought about what Aizen’s Bankai could be…and I think it would be almost like a dichotomy. Aizen’s Shikai is all about altering peoples perception of reality and he uses it to deceive people several times through the series. Like mentioned in the video though there are Shinigami that can “feel” its presence. Every use case is some kind of physical illusion whereas I think his Bankai would be more metaphysical in use. Where his Shikai deals with changing the input of the senses, the Bankai would deal with changing a persons perception or reality from the inside out. Two examples would be Shunsui’s Kotoamatsukami or Lelouch’s Geass. Aizen would essentially be able to change someone’s mind on something or completely rewrite someone. Which is a strong possibility why Momo even knowing full well what Aizen is has a hard time getting over her perception of him. Note why wouldn’t he want to use it? One guess is that it isn’t initiated by people seeing it released and would involve either cutting or some other annoying circumstance. Second guess is that he is too proud and knows he can do it without everyone being subservient. He wants to rise to the station of Soul King and wether you like, hate him or fear him doesn’t matter as long as you know he became King no matter the obstacle. He sees himself the hero who will dethrone the evil that has become complacent and distant.
I like the idea that he would be able to control the perception of the time, it's the only "sense" missing in his shikai
I think a good twist on Aizen's bankai would be taking a note from Naruto in Izanami and Izanagi. Where kyoka suigetsu affects the perceived reality of others, his bankai affects his own reality. Once his bankai is activated, he can alter any event that would be disadvantageous to him to leave him unscathed but at a large cost/with a delay in reactivating it.
If that was the case, Aizen would have been an idiot, if he didnt use it when battling Ichigo.
@@cardmaster8772 that’s kinda the point. Aizen is shown the be the MOST calculated and analytical in all of Bleach. Until he becomes victim to his own hubris. If he had kept his demeanor before undergoing a full metamorphosis with the Hyogokyu then he wouldn’t have gotten solo’d so easily by Ichigo.
If his shikai manipulates the five senses and spritual perception, then I see his bankai being an extension to manipulate memories. Manipulating the fate of opponents doesn't seem too far of a stretch as well if we consider Benihime shikai and bankai.
I don't find it hard at all to imagine bankai for aizen at all. His abilities seem to be very similar to genjustsu in naruto and those higher tier abilities work well here as well. Tsukiyomi (locking an opponent into an infinite nightmare until some condition is met) seems reasonable though maybe not that different from his shikai. My favorite of the magekyo sharing abilities is actually izanagi (transiently being able to alter reality for a short amount of time). Another one that could be interesting is something like the dream dimension captain in black clover where aizen literally transports the opponent to an illusory dimension where he has total control over reality there.
I honestly like the third idea where it's essentially about turning realities into illusions. But that would be seriously broken though but as you said, so is his Shikai. Good job man
I always thought of it as a respresentation for how 4-5dimensions function, with the visuals being flower petals made out of glass. A reflection of the works and its different perspectives of the reality as we know it. You’d see past and future timelines and confuse yourself in time entirely. You’d do things you wouldn’t expect, reactions that seems logical or rational, turned irrational. A blast or attack just being a thought, instead of an actual action.
I think that a suitable bankai for him is something like the Perfect Tsukuyomi. Depending on his reiatsu, the area of influence can be big (and he has a lot of reiatsu) or smaller (unlikely to happen)
I like the last idea the most. Aizens bankai and theme follow a "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" theme. With the last one the idea could be the final lesser known: Do no evil. In which Aizen is allowed to determine what is evil and what isn't making his opponents abilities, illusory, false, or nonexistent. All that which is detected by his senses exists, but only that which he allows to exist that isn't evil may truly be real.