One of the main supporting characters of Bleach is Uryu Ishida, a human Quincy with ties on both sides of the battlefield. More than a few parties wanted Uryu on their side, at the expense of all others, from his father to his grandfather and his friends, this even includes the terrifying Wandenreich Quincy empire.
However, time and again, Uryu proved himself a loyal and stalwart friend who values truth, honesty and integrity over cheap power and opportunity. This is what makes him a true shonen hero, but it has also caused Uryu some anguish from time to time.
Soken Ishida, Uryu's grandfather, was an important figure in Uryu's young life. Family ties often help or hurt in Bleach, from Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's tenuous relationship with Rukia to Ichigo fighting to protect his sisters Karin and Yuzu. In Uryu's case, his grandfather was one of the last Quincy, and his warm, paternal presence was essential for training Uryu to become one, too. On the other hand, Uryu's father Ryuken had given up the Quincy lifestyle in favor of a more conventional (and lucrative) career. Given his tense relationship with his father, Uryu defaulted to the family member who nurtured and supported him the most -- his dear grandfather.
Thus, Uryu grew up with a great deal of Quincy pride, unlike his father, which led him to view Soul Reapers with disdain and anger, eventually transferring the anger of this bitter blood feud to Ichigo Kurosaki, who had gotten his Soul Reaper powers from Rukia. Uryu declared himself Ichigo's rival and even challenged him to a Hollow hunting contest. In a twist of fate, these competing youths ended up cooperating to take down a Menos Grande, and it would be far from the last time they joined hands to fight. Rukia's capture by Soul Society would lead Uryu to become Ichigo's ally for real.
During the Soul Society arc, Uryu mainly fought to save his friend, Rukia, from the cruel injustice of the Soul Reapers, even going so far as to disguise himself as one. But he was also concerned with protecting his dear friend Orihime, who was determined to help Ichigo retrieve Rukia. Uryu was ready to face any threat or challenge to keep Orihime safe, from rank-and-file Soul Reapers to mighty Captains like Mayuri Kurotuchi and Kaname Tosen, who wound up capturing him. From that point on, Uryu trusted Ichigo to complete the mission and rescue Rukia once and for all, and his trust in Ichigo was well-placed.
Back in Karakura Town, Uryu approached his father for Quincy business: he needed to get his powers back. Ryuken reluctantly cooperated, but on the condition that Uryu would swear to never aid or associate with Soul Reapers ever again. This was a matter of Quincy pride, but by now, Uryu was more proud of his strong and genuine friendships than his inherited feud with the Soul Reapers. Besides, Ichigo was a human, and a substitute Soul Reaper; in Uryu's mind, he didn't count. This strong bond of loyalty is what drew Uryu to follow Ichigo to Hueco Mundo, so they could storm the palace of Las Noches and rescue the abducted Orihime Inoue.
In Hueco Mundo, Uryu fought a Privaron Espada named Cirucci Sanderwicci, and helped Renji Abarai take on the Octavo Espada, Szayelaporro Grantz. Again and again, Uryu sided with his so-called enemies out of common interest, and true evil lay not with the Soul Reapers, but with the traitor Sosuke Aizen and his Arrancar army. When Ichigo fell in battle to a fully-released Ulquiorra, Uryu charged right in, attacking with unusual ferocity to keep Orihime safe. Uryu fought to within an inch of his life for her sake.
Uryu's loyalty was tested yet again when the Wandenreich, the invisible empire of the true Quincy, emerged from the shadows at last. These were Uryu's people, or at least, they claimed to be. On the surface, Uryu was siding with his countrymen, though this left Ichigo feeling betrayed. Uryu was chosen as Yhwach's successor, receiving the letter A from him, to the outrage of the long-time Wandenreich members. It seemed that the legacy of the Quincy had totally won Uryu over.
Uryu had long since learned that his true family were the people whom he trusted, respected and loved, and he couldn't say that about any of the Wandenreich's revenge-obsessed members. He worked from within to take the Wandenreich down, and even came to blows against Sternritter B, the mighty Jugram Haschwalth. Uryu fought with everything he had, including his newfound Wandenreich powers, and managed to defeat Jugram. Remarkably, the defeated and dying Jugram wished Uryu well, and noted that loyalty to one's friends and choosing one's own path in life is a better route than following destiny like a puppet. Not even a millennium-old Quincy can talk Uryu out of his heartfelt loyalty to the people most dear to him.
