Bleach: Is Gin Ichimaru Dead or Alive? Here’s What Happens to Him!

Regarding Bleach characters, Gin Ichimaru is often listed and named as a character with great development and a twist that surprised everyone in the best way imaginable. Namely, Gin Ichimaru started off as your typical villain, he was even drawn to look like one, but as his story was uncovered more and more, he became deeper and more layered, eventually revealing a very cunning yet tragic story that transformed him from a loyal villain to a hero who did what he had to save whom he wanted to save. That was Captain Gin Ichimaru of the 3rd Division. Gin Ichimaru definitely has one of the best stories in the series that cannot be denied, which is why it is only natural that you might wonder what happened to him. In this article, we will tell you whether Gin Ichimaru died in Bleach or not and what happened to him in the story.

Gin Ichimaru, the former Captain of the 3rd Division, is dead in Bleach, being killed by Aizen after he betrayed him. Ichimaru saw what Aizen did to Rangiku and, liking her, promised to avenge her. He became Aizen’s seemingly loyal subordinate and waited for more than a century to avenge Rangiku, finding out everything about Aizen that he could. He ultimately betrayed him and seemingly killed him, but Aizen wasn’t dead, and he came back and killed Gin himself. Soon after, Aizen was defeated by Ichigo.

The remainder of this article will give you a detailed overview of Gin Ichimaru’s fate in the Bleach series. You already know what happened and how it happened, so we will just bring you the details so you know the whole context. Be careful, though, as the article will contain many spoilers, so if you don’t know all the details, be careful how you approach the text.

Although he was seemingly a villain, Gin Ichimaru ultimately died a hero’s death

Gin Ichimaru’s story can only be understood as a whole because of everything he has gone through. Telling you simply about his death at the hands of Aizen wouldn’t really make sense, as it wouldn’t be clear why he did it. So, this is the story of Captain Gin Ichimaru and how he became a true hero.

When Gin was a small boy, he saved Rangiku Matsumoto from starvation when they were children, and the two have been good friends ever since. While looking for mushrooms, he saw Sousuke Aizen for the first time. He observed other Shinigami presenting him with the Hogyoku and noticed the injured Rangiku. At that moment, Gin resolved to train to become a Shinigami and wanted revenge on Aizen.

He was regarded as a young prodigy because he completed the Shinigami Academy in just a year and was given a seat in the Fifth Division. Gin quickly dispatched the third Seat of that corporation, drawing Sosuke Aizen’s attention. He served as the Lieutenant of the 5th Division under Aizen before being appointed Captain of the 3rd Division.

Gin’s first major appearance is at the Seireitei gates after Ichigo defeats the gatekeeper Jidanbō. He fends off the two with ease and simultaneously closes the gate that Jidanbō was holding open (it is later revealed that he did so on Aizen’s orders).

Toshiro Hitsugaya, who had long mistrusted Gin, overheard a conversation between Aizen and Gin, suspecting that Gin was planning to assassinate Aizen and also Momo Hinamori. When Aizen is found dead by Hinamori the next morning, she attacks Gin in anger, who appears at the scene smiling as always.

Later, a confrontation between Gin and Toshiro is first interrupted by Momo, who, at the time, falsely believes that Toshiro killed Aizen and wants to kill him. Hitsugaya is forced to incapacitate her and now attacks Gin and Kira in a rage. The latter doesn’t stand a chance against the Captain, and after a fierce fight, the determined Toshiro even manages to freeze Gin’s arm.

Ichimaru, now noticing his situation, goes so far as to attempt to kill the unconscious Momo with his Shikai. However, Rangiku stops his attack. Gin now leaves the battlefield with Izuru Kira, with Rangiku remembering her past with him and wondering why he treats people this way.

When Aizen Sousuke’s betrayal of Soul Society is revealed, it also becomes clear that Gin was his accomplice and subordinate and that it was his job to draw Soul Society’s attention to himself. Along with Aizen, he sets out to secure the Hougyoku and is ready to eliminate Rukia, but Byakuya intervenes, shielding her from the blow with his own body. Before leaving for Hueco Mundo with Aizen and Tosen, he apologizes to Rangiku, although it’s not entirely clear what it’s about.

His role in Hueco Mundo wasn’t as big, and for a big part of the final battle in Fake Karakura, he was merely a spectator, although he did fatally injure Hiyori when she tried to attack Aizen (luckily, she survived).

Only when Isshin Kurosaki shows up to fight Aizen Gin is suddenly attacked by Ichigo, who has no opponent then. During the fight, Gin also unleashes his Bankai for the first time. With this new weapon, he seemingly manages to gain the upper hand but realizes that he should end the fight as quickly as possible. In the end, the fight is interrupted by Aizen’s appearance; Aizen and Gin take a Senkaimon to Soul Society to destroy Karakura.

While Aizen hunts down the few awakened humans in Karakura, Rangiku Matsumoto appears to confront Gin. Gin then apologizes to Aizen and jumps onto a rooftop with Rangiku, where they can talk privately.

Gin doesn’t respond to Rangiku’s question about why he switched sides, saying she’s in the way. Then you see Rangiku unconscious with a wound on her neck. Gin meets Aizen again, but something doesn’t seem right. Aizen asked him about Rangiku, and he said that he had killed her. Aizen is surprised and says he believed that Gin liked Rangiku; Gin denies this, describing himself as a snake.

When Aizen decides to kill Ichigo’s friends after all, Gin touches his sword and says he will kill them all. Instead, he uses his cloak to cover his sword, piercing Aizen’s chest. Gin then explains the only way to escape from Aizen’s Kyōka Suigetsu is to touch the blade. He also says it took him years to figure this out, and found it exciting that he was the only one capable of killing Aizen.

Aizen, who expected Gin’s betrayal and took him with him anyway, is disappointed that Gin thinks a simple wound like this could kill him. Gin denies this, revealing that he left a piece of Kamishini no Yari in Aizen and that everything he has said about his Bankai abilities has been a lie. In truth, it turns to dust at the moment of attack, and inside the blade is a deadly, cell-dissolving poison.

After almost all of Aizen’s chest has dissolved, Gin grabs the hōgyoku and steps away. However, Aizen, whose wound has already closed, finds him immediately and explains that the Hōgyoku is already his. Aizen then explains that thanks to Gin’s help, he has become something far beyond a Shinigami or a Hollow.

Aizen rips off Gin’s right arm, and then you see Kyōka Suigetsu’s blade stabbing through Gin. Gin’s body is seen hanging from the blade, which is the only thing holding him in this position. When Ichigo emerges in his new form, and Gin sees his gaze, he notices that his gaze has grown stronger and now puts all his hopes on Ichigo dying.