Black Ichigo

## Ichigo Kurosaki

* 2023
* 2000

**Ichigo Kurosaki** (黒崎 一護, *Kurosaki Ichigo*) — known to the tenth universe as **Black Ichigo** (ブラック 一護, *Burakku Ichigo*) for his original appearance — was a variant of a man from the **Prime Universe**. He was a Shinigami Agent who was corrupted by Kūgo Ginjō in his original universe and betrayed Soul Society. He later invaded the tenth universe in his quest to eliminate the Shinigami who betrayed him. After his defeat, he was dissected and resurrected by Mayuri Kurotsuchi as a zombie.

## Appearance

Prior to his fall, Ichigo Kurosaki was indistinguishable from his **Prime Universe** counterpart. He had unruly strawberry-colored hair, brown eyes, and pale skin. In his Shinigami form, he wore a standard *shihakushō* modified with two white shoulder plates crossing his chest, one of which had three sections adorned with red scales, and and a white cloak with black markings tied around his waist.

Following his fall, Ichigo's hair became long and black, a trait that would later earn him his moniker, and his eyes turned a dark amber. He also seemed to be permanently stuck in Bankai and wore the black and white lattice ensemble the transformation produced. Only when accessing his Quincy powers did his ordinary strawberry hair return.

After he was resurrected by Mayuri Kurotsuchi, he was partly restored to his previous self, complete with his former strawberry hair and brown eyes. However, his body had to be stitched back together because his battle against Byakuya Kuchiki had left it in pieces.

## Former Powers & Abilities

    * **Beyond Bankai**: Ichigo was able to channel what remained of his Shinigami powers and use Bankai by using his Fullbring as a catalyst. In this form, he wore a black outfit crisscrossed with ivory skeletal lattice and a long skirt, reminiscent of a Shinigami's *shihakushō*. His Bankai exuded black-crimson Reiatsu which whipped around him violently. The form also transformed his Fullbring into a curved, black, longsword with similarities to a lance in appearance.

**Blue Ichigo** (ブルー 一護, *Burū Ichigo*): Ichigo could also access his Quincy powers, though he could not use them at the same time as his Fullbring due to the incompatibility of his Hollow powers. Whenever he transformed into his Quincy state, he adopted a black uniform, reminiscent to a suit, with a white undergarment and black lattice crisscrossing over the top. The ensemble flared out in coattails shaped like a *manji*, and the whole outfit was accented in light blue, giving the form its nickname "Blue Ichigo." The transformation also returned his hair to its ordinary strawberry color, though both of his eyes became blue.
* **Heilig Bogen** (神聖弓 (ハイリッヒ・ボーグン), *Hairihhi Bōgun*; German for "Holy Bow", Japanese for "Sacred Bow"): As Blue Ichigo, Ichigo was capable of forming a black **Heilig Bogen** from the Reishi particles in the air around him. The bow was noticeably small, being only around the size of a crossbow.

## Trivia

* Black Ichigo is a reference to Goku Black from *Dragon Ball Super*. Likewise, Blue Ichigo is a reference to Super Saiyan Blue.
* Black Ichigo is the first variant character in Earth-10 that was not actually *from* Earth-10. He originated from a reality where Ichigo became evil during the Tale of the Lost Agent Arc.
* Given the appearance of his unfallen self, it can be assumed that Ichigo had access to his "true" Zanpakutō in whatever universe he came from.
* Both of Black Ichigo's forms are direct nods to alternate forms Ichigo Kurosaki gained in the **Brave Souls Universe**.

## References

1. ↑ *Bleach* Official Character Book SOULs
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *Bleach* chapter 1
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Event: Black Ichigo Crisis
4. ↑ Databook: Timeline of Events