How would you rank the captains (Former and Current Included) and Why? it's my idea
1. Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genry?sai: Obvious really, neither Shunsui nor J?shir? were certain they could hold him.....and thats together.
2. Shunsui Ky?raku: Along with Ukitake he's easily the second most senior of the squad Captains, and one of only two shiningami who has a zanpakut? that exists as a pair.....and the only one who's zanpakut? are ALWAYS in such a state.
3. J?shir? Ukitake: He's just as talented as Shunsui so far as we can tell, but his questionable health holds him back ever so slightly from a tie at number 2. One could argue however, that his more studious habits make up for this.
4. Byakuya Kuchiki: Being roughly on Ichigo's level (without his mask) Byakuya marks the beginning of a lower class of Captain....as he has next to no shot of beating either of the three captains above him. Were Aizen still a captain I'm certain he would have this spot instead, leaving Byakuya to compete with Gin for the 5 spot....but those two aren't current captains. basically it's Byakuya's appropriate use of kido and versatile Bankai that give him this spot.......I just don't see Kenpachi beating him as he did Tosen and Komamura. lets not forget Byakuya COULD have beaten Ichigo if he wanted....he was afterall, the only one who could stand immediately after the fight....he had just lost his will, thats a boast Kenpachi couldn't claim in the slightest. And yes, Ichigo held back in the fight, but so did Byakuya in his own right.
5.T?shir? Hitsugaya: Meh...this was very close between T?shir? and Kenpachi, but in the end I went with the Bankai, as soon as that changes the rankings will. Kenpachi may be able to beat T?shir? but I think T?shir? has a least an equal shot of doing same....and the originality of his Bankai gives him more options in my mind. Both are extremely gifted at thinking on their feet in their own ways...it be a close fight......still odds are with T?shir? so long as he's going for the kill.