Gotei 13 Timeskip Changes

[ceasar]

Renji I cannot see being a captain just because of the fundamental differences in power between people like him and the captains. Renji and Ikkaku have bankai but what captain could they even remotely stand toe to toe with. Hisagi and Kira have only displayed shikai and for them to gain bankai in only two years and be seen as more proficient then renji and ikkaku would be silly. If these spots are filled they have to be filled by the vizards or new characters but then you would have to explain their whereabouts. I go with these seats may still be vacant unless more prodigies pop-up.

[hirou]

BTW did anyone notice that Byakuya lost his signature hairpiece and scarf? Citing bleach wiki:

Byakuya has ... long black hair, which he keeps up in intricate white headpieces called kenseikan that symbolize his nobility as the head of the Kuchiki family .... He wears the standard captain uniform along with a white scarf .... The scarf ... is a family heirloom that is handed down from generation to generation and is given to each Kuchiki family head

He brought them to Hueco Mundo, so it's not a question of hindering his battle ability. Does it mean that Kuchiki Family has a new head?

[g0dzax]

Actually,Byakuya still has the kenseikan on his head

http://mangastream.com/read/bleach/90527597/4

Look at top of his head,it's there(he put it on the backside of his hair).Also,it's not like it's a requirement to wear the Kenseikan,remember when we saw Byakuya's grandfather?He was the head of the family Kuchiki at that time,but he wasn't wearing the Kenseikan.

[abyozuu]

I think after we see other Lts, Renji won't be so impressive anymore. If he's stronger, others are going to be as well.
I think Rangiku trained hard with Hitsu after everything with Gin (), Rukia as Lt is going to be massacer IMO... Who else is there? Yumichika was impressive every time he fought seriously (And he is not Lt), Ikkaku seems to be.. well, we've seen that.
The 1st Division's Lt is fodder, Omaeda is Omaeda, Kira and Hisagi were IMO the strongest even back then. Momo is either a wreck, or she's doing fine and I won't say anything about her strenght..

From others we haven't see really anything note-worthy, so I don't know.

if she could recover after all captains attacks(remember when aizen switched place with her before the attack), hinamori would be among the top tier vcs, if not the strongest. she was a kido expert, had a nice shikai. second candidate for strongest is yachiru. she should be a beast being exposed to zaraki's uber reiatsu all the time.

[Darjaille]

if she could recover after all captains attacks(remember when aizen switched place with her before the attack), hinamori would be among the top tier vcs, if not the strongest. she was a kido expert, had a nice shikai. second candidate for strongest is yachiru. she should be a beast being exposed to zaraki's uber reiatsu all the time.

However, I think what you just wrote are just assumptions. Yachiru? Yep, she could be very strong. But we have seen nothing from her, so until she stops hiding in Kenny's robes and starts doing something, I'm not believing that one.

About Momo... well, her powers sure are impressive, but the problem is her emotional side. She hates fighting, and after she was stabbed by Hitsu.. I'm not quite sure she'll be back in her form. She was absolutely, absolutely mindEF'd by Aizen. Anyway, I may be surprised in the future.

[abyozuu]

You're right, that could possible be a hint. however i don't hope Rangiku becomes captain..she is so hilarious as Hitsugaya's vice-captain, it would be sad to split them up..

actually, if she becomes a captain, she would become more hilarious. when she was a vc, she received icy reprimands from hitsugaya, now it is yamamoto's turn, she will be on fire

[Jorge D. Dragon]

If we are talking about the strongest Vice Captain, it will be Hisagi. But actually I would say that even though Ikkaku is not a VC, he is stronger than Hisagi.
After them there will be Iba, Renji and Kira at about the same level.
But that was before timeskip. Now I believe that Renji got definetly the third place.

[sarutobi_sensei]

Strongest VC?

If Hisagi and Kira are still VC, they and Renji + Rukia are the top 4 of VC.

Here's how I think it was before time skip:
Renji
Hisagi
Kira
Yachiru
Matsumoto
Hinamori
Nemu
Iba
Isane
Nanao
1st Division
Omaeda

[Jorge D. Dragon]

I totally can't agree that Renji was stronger than Hisagi or Kira before timeskip. I would say that Renji was one of those who was useless before timeskip. Especially with his Shikai, while Kira's Shikai is way stronger than Renji's. Hisagi showed to be ther most versatile and really closer to Captains even without Bankai.
And of course I can't agree that Rukia now is among top 4 Vice Captains, because before timeskip she was even more useless than Renji. Yachiru should be stronger, even though we don't know much about her.

Also, about Yama's Vice Captain... I wouldn't put him lower than Nemu, Nanao or Isane. He is way more experienced and also isn't Yama's Vice Captain for nothing. Even though he was oneshotted by Ichi, the same were Omaeda and Isane. And I would say that the majority of Vice Captains would be oneshotted by Ichigo at that point of manga.

[thornofcarrion]

Same here, Hisagi impressed me more than other VCs. He looked mature and more resourceful in the battles. Renji failed to impress even with his bankai.