VASTO LORDE TRUE BANKAI ICHIGO vs YHWACH! What to Expect from Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Episode 45

In the previous Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War episode, Kenpachi unleashes his premature Bankai against Gerard Valkyrie through his lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi, who is the Bankai form of his Zanpakuto Spirit Nozarashi, but when Gerard revives via the Heart of the Soul King in his Vollstandig form, Toshiro Hitsugaya reveals his Complete Bankai, maturing him to adult form with a different voice. Meanwhile Ichigo

Chapters Adapted

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Episode 45 is titled, “Defend You”

This is the second Thousand Year Blood War episode with an anime-original title since Episode 37: “Shadows Gone”.

Just like Episode 33: “The Gate of the Sun”, this seems to only adapt two chapters, Chapter 677: “Horn of Salvation 2” and Chapter 678: “Future Black” and expands on it heavily with anime-original material and confirmation from Kubo’s Klub Outside, particularly Question 578.

Vasto Lorde Form

In this particular question, Kubo confirmed that Ichigo was capable of using the Full Hollow Mask from the form the fan community dubs “Vasto Lorde Ichigo”, the one responsible for killing the 4th Espada, Ulquiorra.

However, Ichigo’s fear of his own powers prevented him from truly using his Hollow side afterwards; the mask feels “heavier” and more brittle, and it only partially changed appearance, simply featuring the two stripes that run down his whole face

Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde form is different from either the movie or the fight against Ulquiorra.

He retains the full Hollow Mask but his body is black like White’s, likely a result of the Quincy side balance within his body.

TRUE BANKAI ICHIGO

On top of Ichigo’s Vasto Lorde form, we will also see the anime debut of Ichigo’s Bankai, something so long awaited that it was the very first teaser of Cour 4 at the end of Cour 3 on December 2024, although most of the promotional material showed Ichigo’s Demi-Hollow or “Horn of Salvation” look, which fans still held as the Bankai form.

It seems that Ichigo will be using both his True Bankai and Hollow Mask at the same time, being the second person to do so outside Kensei Muguruma, who was shown doing so in Episode 43: “Blood for my Bone” against Gerard Valkyrie and alongside his fellow Vizards.

This also raises the possibility of a major alteration to the scene of Ichigo’s True Bankai being immediately destroyed upon activation.

This was one of the most hair-raising moments of the entire series and in all of anime, as Yhwach broke a silent rule, breaking the transformation and it had such impact.

By destroying Ichigo’s Bankai, Yhwach became an even more serious threat than he already was.

With the anime, it looks like we will see more of Yhwach transforming the future by destroying Rukia’s Bankai.

Yet there is just as much potential for Ichigo to actually reveal the true power of his Bankai, ending a decade-long debate over its true nature.

Even if it will not be done in this fight, it could most certainly be shown in the real final battle.

Bankai Rukia Confirmed

As established in the Cour’s opening and Bleach: Mirrors High teaser, Rukia is going all out, using her Bankai for the second time this arc, something the manga did not give her.

Although a new Bankai with a clear flaw, that is freezing its user to death eventually, Rukia was willing to take that risk for her beloved nakama Ichigo.

In fact, she lasts long enough to reach the end of the episode.

Uryu vs Haschwalth!

While Ichigo’s fight against Yhwach is the highlight, Uryu vs Haschwalth continues to look amazing.

Through his glasses, we see a glimpse of Uryu releasing another Vollstandig attack, his Sternenstaub behind Haschwalth

Meanwhile, Haschwalth looks uncharacteristically as smug as ever, the anime expanding on the personality changes that come from wielding the Almighty and the Soul King’s power combined.

Considering that Ichigo has unleashed his Bankai, it is possible that we will witness Haschwalth lose his new form as Yhwach reclaims the Almighty.

This is an interesting dynamic since the anime gives Yhwach the ability to use the Balance and absorb powers without the need for his sleep requirement via the Soul King.

However, this is not where the fight ends as it continues next episode.

Episode Ending: ORIHIME VS YHWACH 1v1

The end of the episode is quite BRUTAL.

Ichigo is in his Bankai form, so is Rukia.

But Rukia has a sword through her stomach and is left half-dead.

With both defeated by Yhwach, Orihime is the only one standing against Yhwach.

She was her looking like a walking corpse because of Yhwach’s attacks eariler, with blood dripping everywhere.

After that, she heals herself and unleashes her full-power attack.

Because of the attack, they both disappear, and the screen turns completely white with flowers everywhere and we back for a second seeing Ichigo on the ground while they disappeared:

Two flowers appear.

One falls while the other remains standing, and the full title of Episode 45 is revealed.

The first flower has the title “Defend you” on it

The other flower’s petals completely falls off, and theres a title on it saying “Life to”

and this is where Orihime says:

“Bye-bye, Kurosaki. I’ll bear everything, okay?”

The two flowers represent Ichigo and Orihime but they could also represent Shun Shun Rikka, seemingly killed by Yhwach.

This adds even more to the already shocking destruction of Ichigo’s True Bankai upon its destruction

Next Episode: The End

Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War Episode 46 is titled, “The End”.

This will adapt Chapter 679: “The End” to Chapter 680: “The End 2”.

This is the end of Uryu vs Jugram Haschwalth, likely the way the manga moved with the Balance and Antithesis in motion.

It seems there is no episode poem, which would be poetic considering it is “The End”

This episode will be released on August 29, 2026.

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