Just to divert back to the "Kick back and smell the roses" discussion - my translation of the manga says "retired".
Shunsui says: The 3rd retires, the 12th gets promoted. They didn't die like the 10th. This is a peaceful change."Skip04

stop to smell the roses- taking time off to appreciate things around

kick back - relax

I agree with Skip04 that his definition of the Taichou retiring from captaincy to enjoy a stress-free life.

As for the captains list, i decided to leave Unohana out of the list until she shows at least a bit of her fighting skills.

Yamamoto > Aizen > Gin > Zaraki > Ukitake > Byakuya > Kyouraku > Soi Fon > Komamura > Mayuri > Hitsugaya > Tousen

Gin is younger than Byakuya and could effortlessly kill a 3rd Seat while Byakuya was still practising with wooden sticks.

Kyouraku and Ukitake both take so long to release their shikais, having to recite poems to do so. Zaraki/Gin could probably dice them before they even got to the 2nd verse. And I imagine the duo would have to sing full songs to release their Bankai.

Zaraki doesn't pay much attention to defense hence getting a lot of damage in a battle but Ukitake is ill (needs to be bedridden at times) even without the opponent having to lift a finger.

About Mayuri's poison gas, if Zaraki could fight without his sense of sight ,touch and hearing, I'm sure he can hold his breath and battle as well (lol)

Tousen and Komamura did not fight Zaraki at the same time (Bankais not compatible) DMDuelist

Thats true. if Komamura was trapped in Tousen's Enmakoorogi, his giant Bankai would be slamming down at random, squashing Tousen by accident.

Komamura..is always used as a pushover captain. last time it was him rushing with his bankai towards aizen only to be pawned with kido and now being blasted away by an unreleased fraccion. He is also insulted being called a dog and forced to wear an upturned dustbin on his head. I mean, what other captain faces this kind of humiliation?

My rank of Captains (BEFORE the trio transfered to Hueco Mundo):

Yamamoto

Aizen Sousuke

Ichimaru Gin ( he carted off Zaraki in the earlier chapters)

Zaraki (at full power (removed all restricting fabrics - eyepatch, tight underwear etc..) and kendo)

Ukitake (cool double blades)

Byakuya

Shunsui ( too gay for his own good..plus he lost to the guy from Diamond Dust)

Soi Fon

Komamura

Mayuri / Unohana (both are better of doing other things besides fighting)

Hitsugaya (i like him a lot..seriously. just needs to improve his skills)

Tousen ( he's blind his whole life thus should have the upperhand in any "blind situation". in his bankai, Zaraki was rendered blind and deaf and could still beat after adapting for few minutes)

ikkaku.. no!

both yet to release but pillar already destroyed? this is bad. can't wait for captain fights.

what happen to the old manga discussion thread?