Sosuke Aizen

Sosuke Aizen
Former Captain of of Division 5
H: -cm W: -kg Blood type: – Birthday: May 29
Zanpakutou: Kyoka Suigetsu (Mirror Flower Water Moon)
Bankai: ?
First Appearance: Manga chapter  |   Anime episode 23
Notable Episodes: episode 34 (Captain Aizen assassinated), episode 62 (Aizen’s true face)
Sosuke Aizen was the Captain of the 5th Division until he betrayed the Gotei 13 with fellow Captains Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen. He and his followers murdered the Central 46 Chambers in order to falsely push forward Rukia’s execution when she was taken back to Soul Society with the Orb of Distortion hidden inside her body. Aizen then setup his head quarters in Heuco Mondo and has an army of powerful Hollow and Arrancar under his command. His ultimate goal is to overthrow Soul Society and replace the Soul King as the god of the world. To do this, he requires the Royal Key, the only eay to gain access to the Soul Kings’ dimension.

When Aizen was first introduced, he appeared more like a scholar than a Division Captain. He is a very intelligent individual who always seems to be prepared for any situations because he tends to plan several steps ahead. However, what makes Aizen a villain is the fact that he lacks any degree of ethics and morals. Enemies and allies alike, Aizen treats them all like disposable assets. Before becoming the Captain, Aizen served as the Lieutenant of former 5th Division Captain, Shinji Hirako. It was around this time that he experimented on the creation of Hollow/Shinigami hybrids. Through these experiments, Aizen hoped to advance his own powers further because he had already reached the limit to which a Shinigami can grow. He later convinced Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen to come to his side, both of whom later became Captains themselves but remained loyal to him.

Aizen is an expert in all the Shinigami arts of combat and is said to have at least twice the spiritual power of a normal Captain-level Shinigami. The special ability of his Zanpakuto makes him all the more deadly. Aizen’s Zanpakuto is Kyoka Suigetsu and looks like a normal katana in its sealed state. Its Shikari command is “shatter”, and whoever witnesses its release falls under a state of absolute hypnosis. Aizen can then make the victim see whatever illusions he wants. The hypnosis is said to be unbrealable which is how Aizen was successful in convincing nearly all the Captains in the Gotei 13 that he was murdered.

Hanataro Yamada

Hanataro Yamada
7th Seat of Division 4
H: 153cm  W: 45kg  Blood type: –  Birthday: April 1
Zanpakutou: Hisagomaru (Gourd)
First Appearance: Manga chapter  |  Anime episode

Hanataro Yamada is the 7th Seated Officer of the 4th Division led by Retsu Unohana. He is a rather timid and clumsy Shinigami who is often picked on by others. Like most Shinigami serving in the 4th Division, Hanataro is proficient in providing healing to comrades who are injured in battle. As expected, Hanataro’s combat skills are fairly low. He does have a Zanpakuto, but claims that he often forgets where he put it since he rarely needs to use it.

Hanataro was first introduced after Rukia was taken back to Soul Society. As the 4th Division is often in charge of more menial cleaning activities around Seireitei, Hanataro often spoke to Rukia in while cleaning her jail cell. When he met Ichigo and Genju Shiba during their attempt to rescue Rukia, Hanataro volunteered to help them by guiding them through the sewers. He was firm on his decision even though he knew his punishment would be severe if he were caught.

The name of Hanataro’s Zanpakuto is Hisagomaru and has a rather strange attack. Prior to its Shikai release, Hisagomaru has a red gauge on its blade. Oddly, the Zanpakuto will heal opponents instead of injuring them, making Hanataro’s attacks quite pointless. However, doing so will fill the gauge on the blade. Hisagomaru’s Shikai command is “fulfill” though it will automatically transform when its gauge is full. The Shikai form is called Akeiro Hisagomaru and has the special ability of concentrating the damage of every wound it healed prior to the release into one large attack. Subsequent attacks using the Zanpakuto will damage the opponent as normal and will no longer heal wounds.

Isane Kotetsu

Isane Kotetsu
Lieutenant of Division 4
H: 187cm W: 70kg Blood type: – Birthday: -
Zanpakutou: Itegumo (Frozen Cloud)
First Appearance: Manga chapter  |  Anime episode
Isane Kotetsu is the Lieutenant of Restu Unohana in the 4th Division. She is the older sister of Kiyone Kotetsu, a 3rd seat in the 13th Division. Isane looks up to her captain as a motherly figure, she has not had many roles in the Bleach series and appears to be quiet and loyal, but inexperienced. Unohana has said in the past that Isane often has nightmares, though most are very odd in nature, such as a nightmare about fish paste.

Isane’s Zanpakuto is Itegumo and it has a snowflake shaped guard in its sealed state. The Shikai command is “sprint”, after which two more smaller blades protrude from the sword at 45° angles. Alhtough Itegumo has not had a chance to reveal its abilities in battle, its namesake suggests it has ice element powers.

Retsu Unohana

Retsu Unohana
Captain of Division 4
H: 159cm W: 45kg Blood type: – Birthday: April 21
Zanpakutou: Minazuki (Purify the Flesh)
First Appearance: Manga chapter 81  |  Anime episode

The Captain of the 4th Division is Retsu Unohana, an experienced and mature woman who excels at healing. Appropriately, her division is in charge of the medical needs of the Gotei 13 and provides healing for all Shinigami after they have been injured in combat.

Unohana appears relatively young, but she is said to have been the Captain of her division for well over 200 years; it’s not known when she became a Shinigami. Unohana always speaks calmly and politely, even in the midst of a frenzied battle. She is highly respected by the members of her division, in particular her Lieutenant, Isane Kotetsu. Although Unohana has not been seen in actual combat yet, many Shinigami including fellow Captains have stated that she is a very frightening opponent and one does not want to get on her bad side.

Minazuki is the name of Retsu Unohana’s Zanpakuto, it appears as a nodachi (long katana) in its sealed state. Minazuki’s Shikai ability releases a green mist from the sheath of her Zanpakuto and transforms into a flying creature resembling a manta ray. The creature can carry several people on its back and many more in its mouth to both transport and heal them at the same time.