Lieutenant Sasakibe lost his life early on in the Thousand Year Blood War, and his death was a hard blow for everyone that knew him. New Bleach viewers did not have the opportunity to meet this highly respected Shinigami, whereas older fans may be wondering (to put it crudely) what difference does it make?
Chōjirō Sasakibe may have been second-in-command to the all-powerful Yamamoto, however, his role in the overall storyline has often been overshadowed by more awe-inspiring warriors; until his final breath, that is. Sasakibe's funeral opens up a whole new can of worms, as the Shinigami's afterlife comes into question.
This article contains spoilers from Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War, currently streaming on Hulu.
Sasakibe's Secret Bankai
Not just anyone has the capacity to be the great Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's most trusted comrade, and if Sasakibe surpassed both Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku for that position, he must truly be something special! Apart from his fierce, unwavering loyalty, Sasakibe is a Kido master with enough prowess to shield entire cities singlehandedly (such as Fake Karakura Town) safely behind Reiatsu barriers. His flash step skills are nothing to laugh at either, but that Bankai of his is simply magnificent, yet viewers hardly ever get to see it!
The elusive Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū is a weather-manipulating Bankai much like Tōshirō Hitsugaya's Tensō Jūrin attack, however, it is fueled by electricity rather than ice. By raising his Zanpakutō towards the heavens, Sasakibe can call upon a shower of lightning bolts to rain from the sky, forming an electrified dome of sorts across his immediate vicinity. How much control the wielder possesses over each electrical discharge is unclear, so it could technically have a similar effect as a violent natural disaster if unleased in the wrong conditions.
Why So Mysterious?
Sasakibe has been around for very many years and is one of the first and oldest members of the Gotei 13 (after Yamamoto, of course.) Although anime fans would likely not describe Sasakibe as an expert swordsman, they may be surprised to discover that this Lieutenant mastered his Bankai before Captains of the 8th and 13th Divisions were able to. So why doesn't he ever use it? Sasakibe holds Yamamoto in such high regard that he personally deems it disrespectful to release Kōkō Gonryō Rikyū around him (especially considering he scarred his beloved leader's forehead with it once during a sparring match!)
It is generally also believed that Sasakibe is secretive about his Bankai because he is perfectly happy at his station as the Vice-Captain to Yamamoto, however, if his true potential is widely known, he would likely get a promotion of sorts. Passing up any opportunity to further ascend in the ranks of the Gotei 13 just to remain at the Captain-Commander's side is the ultimate sign of loyalty, which Sasakibe happily accomplished until his dying day.
The Wallflower
Fans' first impression of Sasakibe is not cast in the most generous light, leaving them with the impression that the 1st Division's Vice-Captain is rather incapable in combat. Ichigo defeats him relatively easily in the Soul Society Arc when they first meet and, after the extensive battle that Strawberry just had with Kenpachi, taking Sasakibe down seems like a walk in the park. All it takes is a swift uppercut to this respectable Lieutenant's glass jaw to incapacitate him, it seems (not that Ichigo is complaining in the slightest.)
Besides bickering with the Captain Commander about whether Western dishes are better than Japanese cuisine or not, Sasakibe is more of the strong and silent type; always present during important meetings and several significant events, but without adding extensively to the overall plot in any way. Well, until the Thousand Year Blood War, that is!
Seireitei is attacked by an unknown enemy in episode 2 of Bleach's latest installment and many faithful Shinigami lose their lives, but none hit as hard as Sasakibe's sudden death. Impaled by an oversized Quincy projectile and thrown around like a ragdoll, Yamamoto's most loyal companion dies right before his very eyes. The Lieutenant, who was previously stationed at Soul Society's gates along with the rest of the 1st Division, sadly succumbs to defeat during the 182-second-long fight. He does, however, manage to release his Bankai beforehand, which may not have annihilated the enemy, but at least alerts the Captain Commander about the severity of the impending danger. Unfortunately, Sasakibe's mighty Bankai is also stolen in the process.
Classified Information
While Lieutenant Sasakibe may not have played a very significant role in the narrative of Bleach so far, his death is technically a vital component to revealing the Shinigami's deepest, darkest secret. Since Aizen's traitorous crew was taken out of commission, there haven't been any high-ranking Soul Reaper deaths to report of, which is why the question of a Shinigami's afterlife was never really discussed. Surprisingly, however, these particular dearly departed warriors do not automatically enter the cycle of souls, because their advanced Reiatsu readings could potentially topple the system. But then, where do they go?
Unlike most mythologies, Bleach's Hell is apparently not only reserved for sinners and miscreants, even though it is theoretically intended to house Hollows and Arrancar who are incapable of retribution. It also seems to be the only realm capable of adequately handling ample amounts of spiritual energy without much consequence, due to the potent nature of its regular occupants. If an overpowered Shinigami's Reiatsu is too extensive to be adequately dispersed throughout Soul Society, they will, unfortunately, spend the duration of their afterlife within the bowels of Hell too.
As a countermeasure, the Gotei 13 can elect to perform a Konsō Reisai ritual, whereby an unsuspecting (and essentially "innocent") Hollow is captured and killed at Soul Society's official gravesite. Most Shinigami are under the pretense that these Jogimen Reibaku sacrifices are a catalyst to reincarnate the Captains' spirits back into the flow of things, however, they are actively casting the faithful Shinigami straight into Hell, "piggybacking" on the Hollows, so to speak. Years of selfless servitude as Soul Reapers, and this is the thanks they get? It appears that becoming a high-ranking Shinigami is the last stop for many souls, before reaching their infernal destination.