• COUNTDOWN TO THE END
Like Aizen, Ukitake planned a revolt of his own, but for different purposes. Ukitake realized that something was wrong with how Rukia was being persecuted for her crime, so he did something about. He appealed to the central government, Center 46, but that didn’t work. So, he teamed up with his good friend, Shunsui, to destroy Soukyoku themselves. Although what they did could have caused them to lose their titles as captains and perhaps even their lives, they followed through with their plans motivated by one of the things Yamamoto had taught them while they were in the academy: to protect everything you have while following your sense of judgment.

How did they plan this all out? How did they manage to get an artifact of the Shihounin family which one of the few things, if not the only thing, that is capable of destroying Soukyoku? Most of the planning was done behind the scenes without anyone but Kiyone and Sentarou, third ranked shinigami of the Thirteenth Division, knowing. Since there were frequent meetings between the vice captains and one between the captains before Rukia’s execution date, chances are the artifact was stolen by Kiyone and Sentarou during that time. If they stole it during that time, Ukitake couldn’t have done it himself because people would question why he isn’t at the meeting. In addition, Shunsui was at the meeting, and Nanao knew nothing about it. Also, keep in mind that Ukitake was absent from the captain’s meeting due to ‘illness’. Knowing that his illness causes him to be frequently absent from many events, did he use that at his disposition?

Why was Ukitake the one who was to break the seal of the artifact? Compared to Shunsui, the shape of of the artifact itself is more similar to Ukitake's zanpakutou, Sougyou no Kotowari, than Shunsui. Sougyou no Kotowari are two blades attached with a rope, wherease the Shihounin artifact was basically a large plaque with two rods attached with two pieces of rope. Thus, Ukitake is more likely to manoeuver with it than Shunsui. For example, when Ukitake threw the rod of the Shihounin artifact and managed to have it wrap around the Soukyoku's neck with ease.

It wasn’t until Sado had explained why he had to fight Shunsui that they were aware that Ichigo and his friends were also trying to save Rukia. Because, knowing that they weren’t the only ones wanting to save Rukia, it may have reassured their reasonings for their revolt. Another thing in relation to friendship, the Shihounin artifact needed to destroy Soukyoku is activated with two zanpakutous pierced through it. If Ukitake didn't have such a friend who he can trust, this revolt wouldn't have happened.

As a result of their revolt, they were personally punished by Yamamoto in form of a fight directly after Ichigo had destroyed the arbor of Soukyoku. However, the fight ended when Isane announced what she and Unohana, captain of the Fourth Division, had discovered about Aizen.

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