Hisagi Shuuhei (檜佐木修兵)

Age: unknown
Height: 181cm
Weight: 67kg
Birthday: August 14th
Blood Type: unknown
Affiliation: Shinigami
Rank: Vice-Captain
Division: 9th
Zanpakuto: Kazeshini
Release Command: Reap
First Seen: Volume 011; Chapter 094
Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese), Steve Staley (English)

Personality & Appearance

Shuuhei is a very calm and collected shinigami who exudes an aura of maturity which contrasts with his "bad boy" appearance. He believes firmly in law and order. The betrayal of his captain, Kaname Tousen, threw his world for a loop as the both shared similar views on justice, fighting, and peace. Shuuhei has dark shaggy hair and has the number "69" tattooed on the left side of his face. The tattoo is an apparent tribute to the former 9th Division captain Muguruma Kensei, who saved his life when he was a child, and who sported a similar tattoo on his abdomen. The right side of his face is decorated with three scars that run vertically down his face. Shuuhei acquired these scars from a hollow attack while in the academy.

Shuuhei also sports a black, chain-like, choker. The sleaves of Shuuhei's shihakushou are rolled up to expose his arms and allowing easy access to the matching armbands that he sports on both arms. The armbands can be ripped off and used with a kidoh spell (Bakudo 62: Hyappo Rankan). The spell changes the individual links into spikes and pins the enemy down. Deadly fashion sense.

Zanpakutou

Shuuhei's zanpakutoh is named Kazeshini (Death Winds?) and its shikai form is released with the command "Reap". In its shikai form, his katana becomes two dual-bladed scythes which are connected by a chain. It has been seen, thus far, that he can spin them rappindly by their chains and effectively dice up objects in his path. It is interesting to note that, aside from captains Kyouraku Shunshui and Ukitake Jyuushirou, Shuuhei is the only other shinigami we have seen whose zanpakutou becomes two seperate weapons upon releasing his shikai.

Currently

Shuuhei makes his first appearance in chapter 94 of the manga entitled "Gaol Named Remorse" when the Vice-Captain's meeting is interrupted by Hinamori's shrill scream upon finding her Captain has been murdered. Shuuhei again appears after his Captain [Tousen] leaves the 4th Division to pay his respects to the "departed" Aizen. Later he appears alongside his Captain and the Captain and Vice-Captain of the 7th to stop Zaraki Kenpachi and the Ryoka from interferring with Kuchiki Rukia's execution.

Shuuehei believed firmly in his Captain and his Captain's ideals. Upon learning of his Captain's betrayal he was devasted, but not to the point that he could not carry out his duty as a seated officer of 13 Protection Divisions. Unlike Hinamori Momo and Izuru Kira who were both devastated and broken [to an extent] by their Captain's betrayal, Shuuhei chose to carry on with his duties and fully intends to bring his Captain back to his senses or justice, whichever is achievable. That is not to say that Tousen's betrayal did not break or destroy something inside of him, rather Shuuhei has chosen to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward.

In the face off against Aizen, Shuuhei, alongisde Izuru Kira, Ayasegawa Yumichika, and Madarame Ikkaku, were selected as the guardians to protect the pillars that keep the real Karakura Town safe in Rukongai while Aizen and his army battle the shinigami in the fake-Karakura town in the real world. This is an important job that was entrusted to only the strongest of the seated officers, which irks the second division vice-captain Omaeda Marechiyo greatly. As of chapter 324 of the manga, Shuuhei is battleing Findor Carias, one of Baragan's fraccion, and has released his zanpakutou Kazeshini.