Bleach has made it very clear over the years that, especially by the end of the series, Ichigo is the strongest Soul Reaper out there. However, series creator Tite Kubo claims there's someone who can rival him, although it may be a while before fans see this in action.

By the end of Bleach, Ichigo possesses some truly phenomenal powers, wielding the abilities of a Hollow, a Quincy, and a Soul Reaper, and having formerly possessed a Fullbring to boot. Ichigo was the only one capable of striking down Yhwach, and that level of godly strength doesn't come easily. Or at least, that's typically the case. However, fans were introduced to Ichigo's son, Kazui Kurosaki, in the final chapter of the manga, and only got a small taste of his potential. Kazui reappeared in the "NO BREATHES FROM HELL" one-shot a few years back, finally showing just what he can do.

Could Kazui Kurosaki Actually Be Stronger Than His Father?

Kubo Clarifies Kazui's Power Level

In a question asked on his platform Klub Outside, Kubo was asked about Kazui's Zanpakuto and its hilt. Kubo answered that the hilt is the same as Ichigo's old Bankai, a Manji, but added a few more details as well. As was implied in the final chapter, Kazui has had his Soul Reaper powers since a young age, and even though he's still a child, he was in fact the one responsible for quashing the last remnants of Yhwach's spiritual pressure. The phrasing suggests that this was a particularly exceptional event, and that Kazui is actually almost absurdly powerful for his age.

In the manga, Kazui does indeed find the last of Yhwach's spiritual pressure, which disappears before him when he reaches out to touch it, apparently destroyed by his own spiritual pressure. This is pretty impressive, as when the Soul Society detected remnants of Yhwach's power, they sent every available captain to deal with the problem, clearly expecting a substantial battle. The fact that Kazui was able to crush this remnant without even really consciously doing so suggests that he's ively on the level of a Soul Reaper captain, at the very least.

Kazui Has Every Advantage Ichigo Had, And Then Some

Kazui Could Easily Sur His Father Some Day

If Ichigo is special because of his unique heritage and power set, then Kazui should logically possess most of those abilities as well. He would be part-Hollow, part-Quincy, part-Soul Reaper, and part-Human, after all, and Orihime brings her own unique powers into the mix as well. It makes sense that Kazui would have some fantastic latent potential, although it's clear that he needs some training to be a proper Soul Reaper.

While Ichigo's experience and skill probably give him the edge on his son for now, Kazui could easily grow even beyond the level of his father with guidance. It would certainly be interesting to find out what kind of Zanpakuto Kazui has and what its abilities are, which will hopefully happen should the "Hell arc" continue. In the end, though, the only thing that will prove Kazui stronger than his father in Bleach will be new content, so hopefully Kubo proves it soon.