Bleach is a supernatural shonen action series all about black-robed Soul Reapers, near-immortal beings who escort the souls of the dead to the waiting afterlife. These grim reapers are not to be feared, though -- in fact they are remarkably human, and that includes the Captain of Squad 10, the youthful Toshiro Hitsugaya.
Some Captains were practically born for the role, such as the wealthy nobleman Byakuya Kuchiki or the scientist Mayuri Kurotsuchi. By contrast, Toshiro had a humble background, and in his younger years, he never would have imagined becoming a Captain who leads Soul Reapers into battle. But that's just what he did in Bleach.
Toshiro Hitsugaya Heard The Call Of Hyorinmaru, His Zanpakuto Spirit
Toshiro was born and raised in a comfortable part of the Rukongai district, with Momo Hinamori as a neighbor. He lived with his doting grandmother, and he returned those feelings. But Toshiro was no ordinary boy -- a strange inner voice was drawing him away, enticing him to find his true calling as a Soul Reaper. He denied it at first, staying behind when Momo applied to the Shin'o Academy to become a proper Soul Reaper. Eventually, Toshiro met a Soul Reaper named Rangiku Matsumoto, who made a strong impression when she stopped a shopkeeper from cheating Toshiro out of his money.
Rangiku, who at the time served Captain Isshin Shiba, saw Toshiro's potential and urged him to become a Soul Reaper himself and harness his remarkable power. Toshiro didn't want to abandon his grandmother, but by now he had no choice. That strange inner voice was actually Hyorinmaru, which appeared to him in an intense, icy dream. Toshiro woke surrounded by frost, and that, combined with his grandmother's urging, pushed him to apply to the academy after all. She would have been heartbroken if Toshiro denied himself this opportunity on her account.
Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya Joins the Soul Reaper Team
Toshiro became the third seat of Squad 10 under Isshin Shiba, and sometime after Isshin's departure from the Gotei 13 in Karakura Town, Toshiro himself became the new Captain. During Bleach's Soul Society arc, Toshiro was supposed to fight and repel the ryoka (Ichigo and his friends), but his interests lay elsewhere. Toshiro was a tough but fair Soul Reaper, with no patience for plots or betrayal. He sensed something off about Captains Aizen and Ichimaru and began investigating them during the many battles for the Soul Society.
Unlike Byakuya, who never questions the law, Toshiro did question Central 46's decisions and the current state of affairs, putting him at odds with Gin Ichimaru and even his old friend Momo (who was fanatically loyal to Aizen). Sure enough, Toshiro -- with Rangiku's assistance -- broke into Central 46's chambers and found the slaughtered politicians there, realizing too late that Captain Aizen had not only faked his death, but also took control of the Soul Society with the illusory power of his shikai.
Toshiro, like Ichigo, failed to foil Aizen. However, Toshiro was still in the fight, and he set a good example by taking command of a vanguard team in Karakura Town to fight off Aizen's Arrancar minions and find a way to take the evil Captain down. When the battle for the fake Karakura Town began, Toshiro showed the true extent of his powers against the 3rd Espada, Tier Halibel. Tragically, he fell for Aizen's trickery once again and stabbed Momo by accident, nearly killing her. Enraged, Toshiro charged at Aizen, only to be struck down with ease. It fell to Ichigo, Bleach's protagonist, to finish the job.
The Growth & Humility Of Toshiro Hitsugaya
Up to this point in Bleach, Toshiro's character arc was defined by the odd combination of his formidable powers and his youth, being a child prodigy who still has much to learn. In terms of both his icy zanpakuto and his attitude, Toshiro had plenty of growth ahead of him, though he always strove to do his best. He was arguably somewhat vain and arrogant at first, practically coasting on his formidable powers and elite rank to prove himself. However, he slipped up in his battle against Luppi, and both of his duels against Aizen proved disastrous, partly due to Toshiro's surprisingly hot temper. He nearly died at the hands of the Sternritter Cang Du later on, until Kisuke Urahara helped him turn the tables.
Thus, Toshiro learned humility during his many experiences, realizing that his child prodigy status did not exempt him from exercising caution and exploring all his options during battle. He had his fair share of sloppy moments and bratty outbursts, but what's really important is his willingness to face his own deficiencies to learn and grow. No doubt Rangiku was immensely proud of him, and by the end of Bleach, Toshiro was a more thoroughly realized Soul Reaper who was finally comfortable with his rank, his zanpakuto powers, and his place in the world.
