Masaki Kurosaki, a member of the Echt Quincy clan, held a significant and heartbreaking position in the Bleach world. As the mother of Ichigo, Karin, and Yuzu Kurosaki, Masaki was the sole survivor of her family, eventually being taken in by the Ishida family before her life became intertwined with Isshin’s.
Despite Ichigo being deeply affected by her death at the hands of the Hollow, Grand Fisher, the true reason for her passing was more complex. Masaki’s loss of her Quincy abilities was a result of the Auswählen, a lethal selection process implemented by Yhwach, the originator of the Quincy.
Yhwach assimilated the abilities of Quincy individuals he deemed tainted, including those with mixed heritage like Masaki. As a result, Masaki was left powerless and vulnerable to Grand Fisher, ultimately leading to her untimely demise. This event not only served as an explanation for Masaki’s loss of powers, but also played a pivotal role in shaping Ichigo’s role as a protector.
Explaining Masaki’s Loss of Powers in Bleach
In the 22nd episode of the Bleach anime, Isshin exposes the reality behind Masaki Kurosaki’s demise. Yhwach, the original Quincy, performed a procedure known as Auswählen in order to regain the abilities of Quincy that he considered to be contaminated.
Yhwach possesses the ability to bestow fragments of his soul onto others and can also forcibly retrieve those powers if needed. This technique was employed by Yhwach nine years prior to the main events of the story to restore his strength during his resurrection.
During the Auswählen, Yhwach forcefully absorbed the powers of selected Quincy, including Masaki who had mixed blood. This process involves targeting Quincy whom he deems unworthy or impure, and absorbing their powers to strengthen himself. This redistribution of power is fatal, particularly for those who are already weak or possess lesser spiritual power.
Yet, the Auswählen is ultimately a method of redistributing power. Quincy abilities that are deemed superfluous are gathered and then reallocated by Yhwach to those whom he deems more deserving or in need of greater strength. This results in the recipients being reborn with amplified powers, thereby significantly increasing their strength.
Although weaker Quincy are unable to survive when their powers are absorbed, it has been observed that those with greater Reiryoku, such as the Sternritter and Masaki Kurosaki, can withstand the process, although they may be left in a weakened state. In the case of Masaki, the depletion of her powers during her fight against Grand Fisher left her vulnerable, ultimately resulting in her untimely demise.
Bleach: The Role of Yhwach in Masaki’s Tragic Fate
Masaki was wedded to Isshin and was the parent of three offspring: Ichigo, Karin, and Yuzu. When Ichigo reached the age of 9, he was targeted by a Hollow named Grand Fisher. This Hollow possessed the ability to entice individuals with strong spiritual energy by taking on the appearance of those he had previously consumed.
On that fateful day, Grand Fisher’s bait resembled a woman on the verge of leaping into a swift river. Due to his inability to differentiate between Souls and living Humans, young Ichigo hurried towards the woman in an attempt to assist her.
Despite sensing the imminent danger, Masaki did not hesitate to follow and protect her son. However, her efforts were rendered powerless during the encounter, as Yhwach had drained her Quincy abilities through the Auswählen, deeming her impure.
Masaki, who had lost her powers, was left vulnerable to the Hollow’s assault. In her attempt to rescue Ichigo, she tragically perished. This occurrence greatly influenced Ichigo, ultimately shaping his destiny as a guardian and fighter in the future.
Final thoughts
Despite possessing Quincy powers in the Bleach anime, Masaki Kurosaki was stripped of them through Yhwach’s Auswählen, an event that drained the abilities of impure Quincy. As a result, she was left vulnerable to the Hollow Grand Fisher and ultimately met a tragic end. This devastating loss greatly influenced her son Ichigo, ultimately molding him into a guardian figure.
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