Kisuke Urahara was introduced to fans of Bleach as a mild-mannered candy shop owner who sold Soul Reapers supplies on the side. When Rukia was taken back to Soul Society for execution, he ended up training Ichigo to become stronger as a Soul Reaper. His Zanpakuto, Benihime, was among the first introduced in the series, and it was implied from the get-go that there was far more to Kisuke than meets the eye.
In reality, Kisuke is the former Captain of Squad 12 and one of the most powerful Soul Reapers ever to exist. In addition to this, his intellect was considered unparalleled in Soul Society, with even geniuses such as Sosuke Aizen conceding that Kisuke's mind was superior to his. Kisuke also invented several important devices Bleach, including the Hogyoku, which can create Arrancars out of Hollows. In battles against the Arrancars, Aizen, and eventually the Quincies, Kisuke has shown that his reputation as a genius and warrior isn't baseless. But how strong is he?
Kisuke's Powers
In battle, Kisuke tends to rely on high-level Kido, his Zanpakuto, and various inventions he's conceived, such as an inflatable Gigai which he uses as a decoy. Kisuke is among the strongest users of Kido in the series, able to use all three forms: offensive Hado, defensive Bakudo, and healing Kaido. He has been shown to use the extremely strong spell Hado 91: Senju Koten Taiho with an incantation, and effortlessly used lower-level Kido without them.
Kisuke's true strength, however, lies in his Zanpakuto, Benihime. In its Shikai state, Benihime is a versatile sword equally proficient in close and long-range combat. Similar to Ichigo's Zangetsu, Benihime attacks at long range by emitting spiritual energy, in its case a crimson energy which can take on many forms. These include a barrage of energy blasts, a long slash similar to Ichigo's Getsuga Tensho attack. Benihime's energy can also be used defensively to form a shield or stop an opponents attack by drawing a circle of energy around it. Benihime can also conjure a net of red energy to ensnare opponents, a technique known as Shibari Benihime. After using it, Kisuke can also generate bombs over the net by stabbing it, resulting in a massive, fiery explosion.
Kisuke's Bankai
Kisuke's Bankai is called Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame. Its abilities are massively different than Benihime, and generates a giant, puppet-like woman over Kisuke. Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame allows Kisuke to remake anything it comes in contact with. In practice, it operates almost surgically, able to cut enemies open from a distance as if dissecting them. That said, the Bankai has a limited area of effect and leaving it will revert any changes caused. It can also stitch wounds back together, allowing Kisuke to temporarily heal his own injuries, but this fades once the Bankai is resealed. Kannonbiraki Benihime Aratame can also form new paths or push aside obstacles for allies, meaning that it affects the immediate environment as well as living beings. Kisuke is also not limited to using the Bankai's surgical abilities. He retains Benihime's blade while using it and can fight as normal while the Bankai is in effect.
These skills have brought Kisuke nearly to the peak of Bleach's most powerful characters, with him being able to fight monsters like Sosuke Aizen and the Arrancar Yammy, the latter with ease. Kisuke has only used his Bankai once so far, and Benihime only on a few separate occasions, and as such he could be concealing even more powers and techniques. With Tite Kubo writing the new Echoing Jaws of Hell Arc, Kisuke could well make a return and prove once again to be an instrumental force fighting alongside the Soul Reapers. Only time will tell, but what can be said with certainty is the Kisuke is easily one of the strongest Soul Reapers ever to exist.