Who is Tsukishima to Ichigo in Bleach? Explained

Although Bleach‘s Fullbring arc has been a source of controversy for readers and viewers, it is important to consider the role of Tsukishima in this storyline. As a central character in the arc, Fullbringer proves to be one of the most psychologically damaging antagonists for the protagonist, Ichigo.

There is a strong argument to be made that Tsukishima was the only antagonist in Bleach who was able to psychologically break Ichigo in the same way. This was due to his Fullbring, Book of the End, which gave him the ability to manipulate Ichigo’s friends and insert himself into their pasts, making the conflict feel deeply personal.

Please note: This article includes spoilers for the series.

Who is Shukuro Tsukishima?

Tsukishima after putting Orihime and Chad against Ichigo (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Shukuro Tsukishima, a Fullbringer, serves as the main antagonist in the Fullbring arc and is the primary villain throughout that storyline. According to Ginjo Kugo, he was once a member of Xcution but eventually turned against them, exhibiting clear psychopathic traits as he took the lives of several of his comrades.

In truth, Tsukishima was actually Ginjo’s accomplice and utilized his Fullbring, known as the Book of the End, to manipulate people’s pasts according to his own desires. He manipulated Ginjo’s memories to prevent him from revealing any information to Ichigo, and also turned Ichigo’s friends against him in an attempt to weaken him emotionally and psychologically. This ultimately made it easier for Tsukishima to steal Ichigo’s powers.

After Ichigo regains his powers and the Gotei 13 Shinigami arrive to assist him, Tsukishima challenges Byakuya Kuchiki and is ultimately defeated. Despite being under the influence of the Book of the End, Byakuya has no qualms about taking Tsukishima’s life. Later, in the Thousand-Year Blood War arc, Tsukishima returns as a soul to aid in repairing Ichigo’s Bankai as a gesture of gratitude for showing respect to Ginjo’s remains and giving him a proper burial in the human world.

Explaining the Relationship Between Ichigo and Tsukishima

From the moment he was introduced in the series, Tsukishima has been portrayed as an enemy of Ichigo Kurosaki. The Fullbringer’s actions played a significant role in psychologically tormenting Ichigo, targeting his loved ones and turning them against him by the end of the arc.

It can be strongly argued that Tsukishima is the only villain in Bleach who was able to mentally break Ichigo through the use of his Book of the End. This ability allowed Tsukishima to manipulate the minds of Ichigo’s friends and family, making them believe that he had always been a part of their lives. As a result, they turned against Ichigo and supported Tsukishima, causing Ichigo to spiral into despair.

Tsukishima played a key role in Ginjo Kugo’s scheme, as he was the crucial target that Ichigo needed to trust in order to join Xcution and regain his powers. Tsukishima also utilized his powers to separate the protagonist from his allies, but this was ultimately thwarted by the intervention of Ichigo’s father, Isshin, and Kisuke Urahara, who had their own plan in place.

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