The Untold Secret: How Ichibei Hyosube single-handedly caused Yhwach's defeat against Yamamoto in Bleach TYBW

The Quincy King's defeat by Yamamoto a thousand years ago was a pivotal moment in the Bleach TYBW arc. While the anime had previously shown Yamamoto's victory over Yhwach with his flaming blade, the latest episode delves into the concrete reason behind Yamamoto's downfall.

In Bleach TYBW episode 24, titled "Too Early To Win, Too Late To Know," it is revealed that Ichibei Hyosube prevented Yhwach from fully unleashing his power against Genryusai. Through a flashback scene created specifically for the anime, the episode uncovers crucial details about Yhwach's past, ultimately leading to his defeat in the first Shinigami vs. Quincy War.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers regarding Yhwach's powers.

Yhwach couldn't defeat Yamamoto a thousand years ago as his Almighty powers were sealed by Ichibei Hyosube, according to Bleach TYBW anime

An intriguing revelation occurred in Bleach TYBW episode 24, as an anime original flashback scene unveiled the fact that Ichibei Hyosube had devised a method to seal away Yhwach's Almighty powers. This extraordinary feat was accomplished by sacrificing the left hand of the Soul King, which had become necessary due to a profound disagreement in their ideologies. Consequently, during the tumultuous events of the Great War, the Quincy King found himself unable to employ his formidable Almighty abilities.

Yhwach's Almighty Eyes in Bleach TYBW (Image via Pierrot)

What exactly happened that made Ichibei make such a drastic decision? In the recent episode of Bleach TYBW, it was revealed that Manako Osho approached Yhwach with a proposal for a negotiation or non-aggression pact between the Soul Society and the Licht Reich.

According to Ichibei's terms, the Soul Society would focus on worldly matters while allowing the Licht Reich to prosper. However, Yhwach rejected this treaty, considering it deceitful. Yhwach was aware of a time when the world existed without the concept of life and death.

An image of a scene from Bleach TYBW (Courtesy of Pierrot)

The boundaries ensuring everlasting tranquility were established by the Soul King, who divided life and death, thus introducing the notion of fear to the realm. Gifted with extraordinary powers, Yhwach possessed the ability to perceive the suffering and trepidation of individuals, compelling him to aspire towards reuniting the three domains and eliminating the very concept of mortality.

Ichibei just revealed the Soul King's visions to him, pointing out how both the Soul King and Reio work together to uphold the delicate balance of our world. But Yhwach sees the existence of the King as nothing short of tragic. Essentially, his perspective clashes with the Soul Reapers, who strive to preserve stability across the three realms. #ContrastingViews #SoulKing #DelicateBalance

A fight ensued between them, leading to Ichibei sacrificing the left arm of the Soul King in order to seal Yhwach's Almighty eyes. The Manako Osho asserted that Yhwach's eyes would remain closed permanently, unable to be opened until his eventual demise.

This pivotal flashback scene from the Bleach TYBW series, presumed to have occurred prior to the First Great Quincy War, held immense significance as it clarified why Yhwach was unable to utilize his Almighty eyes against Yamamoto during the war. If the Quincy King had retained his original powers, the outcome of the battle could have been substantially different.

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