Han-yuu said:
Peoples should not forget "THIS IS BLEACH". Don't believe on bad guys unless news get confirmation from Official source, something like "Databook".
I think this is enough proof to understand the situation.
Though i would love it if it's really true. Kubo please prove us wrong and let this happen. I want Byakuya, Renji, Hitsugaya and all other useless guys dead.
I wonder what is Ichigo doing? He abandoned his first job and now he stuck in between soul society. i would love to see his reaction about Byakuya and Rukia going down like that.If you look closely only the Espada said she's dead, her spiritual pressure got down a lot so the Espada couldn't feel her anymore, not to mention there was lots of spiritual pressure in the air. It's the same with Sado in the first arc when he faced Shinsui. Shinsui said he didn't kill him (iirc) but his spiritual pressure got down so the others couldn't feel it so they assumed he's dead, but after a while they felt it again when it got stronger again gradually. Hallibel's Fraccion are kinda the same case as Sado, the captain commander said he'll leave them alive.
In the case of Byakuya it might be a bit different, he might be dead but he also may come back to life in at the end, but in any case as a character Byakuya is dead for now with a possibility of re-appearing at the end somehow.