Byakuya Kuchiki

Release Negation (Shikai): The release can be negated before its completion. Examples include Yoruichi Shihōin wrapping the sealed blade in cloth before its separation during Byakuya's second encounter with Ichigo; and Renji Abarai preventing it by striking the blade with Zabimaru before the release during their battle.[39][232]

Dissipation (Shikai): The release can be overwhelmed if faced with a powerful concussive force. When facing against Ichigo Kurosaki during their final duel, the blades of Senbonzakura were dispersed by Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshō.[233]

Hurtless Area Complication: If the enemy enters the Hurtless Area, this allows them to exploit an opening in Senbonzakura's otherwise invincible attack range. As Shūkurō Tsukishima explained, the trick to avoid Senbonzakura's blades is not to retreat, but to get closer.[202] Although Byakuya can compensate this weakness by allowing the blades to enter the Hurtless Area, since it is the range in which he can safely react and redirect missed attacks, by increasing the speed of the blades within this range, Byakuya can accidentally injure himself if his timing is distorted even slightly.

Shūkei: Hakuteiken (終景・白帝剣, Endscape: White Imperial Sword): This technique condenses each and every one of the Senkei swords into a single, potent one, proportionally increasing the latter's offensive power. Upon activation, the spiritual pressure released is colossal. The overflowing spiritual energy subsequently takes the form of large pristine-white wings as well as a grand vertical halo, both of which emerge on Byakuya's back; the spiritual energy extends from the wings to the front, flowing at the fore of his waist. The form bears resemblance to an oversized bird made of pure energy emanating from Byakuya. The blade, meanwhile, shines bright white, befitting the technique's name. In the instance it was showcased, prior to Byakuya's training at the Soul King Palace, it could inflict aggravated injuries in a single blow to Ichigo who had similarly released his Bankai and concentrated the full extent of his available spiritual energy for a final clash.

Ikka Senjinka (一咬 千刃花, One Bite, Thousand Bladed Flower): Byakuya launches at his foe the thousands of Senkei swords enclosing them, in unison. Representing Senkei's ultimate attack and befitting the scene focusing solely on offense, Ikka Senjinka was capable of turning the head of Gerard Valkyrie, in his Godly Size and complete Vollständig form, to dust.

Senkei (殲景, Slaughterscape): It represents the true form of Senbonzakura and requires Byakuya's blood to be activated. It unites the millions and millions of tiny scattered blades into a thousand glowing swords. These swords fully enclose Byakuya and his foe, forming four rows that float above each other and maintain a perpetual rotating motion. Senkei abandons the defensive attributes of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi to focus entirely on offense. Though visually menacing, these swords are generally not meant for a simultaneous attack, as Byakuya typically makes use of Senkei when he has sworn to cut down his enemy with his own hands; Ichigo being just the second individual to ever witness it.[227][62] Instead, condensing the elementary Bankai's millions of blades into a thousand swords enables every single one of the latter to possess a much higher potency and Byakuya calls them forth to his hand for melee combat. As a result, it seems to take fewer strikes from a Senkei blade to severely damage an opponent than the multiple blades needed from the unfocused Bankai. Once in his hand, the swords lose their glow, and take the form of his sealed Zanpakutō. As Senkei seals Byakuya in with his enemy, neither combatant are able to move very far from each other, but the delimited area remains nonetheless large enough for maneuverability. After his training at the Soul King Palace, Senkei appears to now consist of six rows instead of four; additionally, the swords in four of these six rows are now duplicated. The total number of swords this new version comprises is unknown.[228] Byakuya has also notably demonstrated an ability to form a few swords bearing much resemblance to the glowing Senkei ones with the Bankai in its rudimentary state still, though these were never stated to be related to the technique.

Gōkei (吭景, Mawscape): This technique creates a massive spherical formation with the millions of blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, fully enclosing the opponent. They swirl around like a cloud, from every possible angle, leaving no blind spot and no possibility of escape. The blades then fly at the enemy in unison; the whole sphere proceeds to collapse in on itself, wiping out any individual trapped within. In the instance it was used, Gokei, upon its activation, obliterated the large building Byakuya and his foe battled in from the inside out. Once the enemy was crushed by the sphere, the resulting shockwave affecting the surrounding landscape was of such intensity that Byakuya himself had to Flash Step away to avoid being damaged.

Bankai: Senbonzakura Kageyoshi (千本桜景厳, Vibrant Display of a Thousand Cherry Blossoms): To activate Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, Byakuya drops his sealed Zanpakutō straight down; the process does not require the sword to be undamaged as Byakuya can simply drop the broken pieces concomitantly.[207] The sword then phases into the ground as though vanishing in a pool of water, which generates a ripple effect. The surrounding landscape subsequently darkens and within seconds, two rows of a thousand giant blades rise up from the ground to the left and right of Byakuya. These thousand blades then scatter into innumerable tiny blades. This stage represents the Bankai's elementary form. Similarly to his Shikai, it is released with the command Scatter,[208] though Byakuya rarely voices it. The blades of Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, unlike those of Senbonzakura, can be mentally controlled but Byakuya guiding them with his hands increases their speed twofold.[209] As the blades move through the air like torrents, they, like his Shikai, bear resemblance to cherry blossoms flowing swiftly along the wind.[210] Upon deactivation, Senbonzakura is reconstituted in its sealed state in Byakuya's hand.[211] Bankai Special Ability: Byakuya's Bankai, in its elementary form, is an astronomically larger and more potent version of his Shikai. Prior to his training at the Royal Palace, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi was stated to consist of a hundred million blades.[212][213] They are so numerous Byakuya can simultaneously use them for offense and defense.[214] Offensively, he commonly deploys them in large waves to obliterate his opponents.[215][216][217] The Bankai's defensive attributes are also increased comparatively. The blades can ward off physical attacks and energy blasts by forming a defensive wall, as well as protect Byakuya, by fully enclosing him, from ferocious shockwaves such as the one generated at close range by the tremendous reiatsu of Ichigo during his first Bankai release.

Shikai: The release command of Byakuya's Shikai is "Scatter" (散れ, chire).[193] The blade of the sealed Zanpakutō then separates into a thousand tiny, slender, blades. They fly away from the handle, leaving the latter in Byakuya's hand. The blades of Senbonzakura are too small and swift to be seen for what they truly are; and because they reflect light, they bear resemblance to cherry blossom petals to the naked eye.

Shikai Special Ability: By swinging the handle, Byakuya controls the scattered blades. Senbonzakura enables Byakuya to shred opponents from a distance, destroy structures and break through almost any defense.[195][196][197] In the early stages of Byakuya and Renji's encounter with Äs Nödt and Mask De Masculine, his Shikai was also notably able to dig a hole so deep in the ground right underneath the latter that the battle between Byakuya and Äs Nödt had nearly come to a close by the time Mask made his way back to the surface.[198] The blades can also be used defensively, being able to ward off blows from hand-to-hand combat specialists,[199], parry strikes from swordsmen[200] or wipe out energy projectiles such as Äs Nödt's Reishi thorns by forming a defensive wall.[201] In order to prevent Byakuya accidentally damaging himself with either his Shikai or Bankai, Senbonzakura possesses a Hurtless Area (無傷圏, Mushōken; lit. "Woundless Zone"; Viz "Safe Zone"); the blades thus do not strike anything within a 85 cm radius of the captain unless he himself allows them to enter said radius.[202][203]

Senbonzakura (千本桜, Thousand Cherry Blossoms): Senbonzakura in its sealed state takes the form of a regular katana. It has crossguard with a distinctive open frame much like a four-pane window. The guard is bronze-colored, with lavender hilt-wrapping. The sword is associated with a white sheath.

In its sealed form, it functions as a simple sword, designed to cut and attack at close and medium range.

Immense Endurance: While not having the most imposing appearance compared to many other male Shinigami, Byakuya has an impressive level of stamina and a high tolerance to pain. During his fight against Ichigo, despite suffering severe injuries, notably at the hands of Zangetsu, Byakuya continued fighting effectively, ignoring his wounds to the point of seeming unfazed by them. At the end of the fight, he remained standing, was still able to use Shunpo to leave the battlefield,[184] and later survived being impaled by Gin Ichimaru's Shinsō, taking the blow in Rukia's place.[185] During his fight with the 7th Espada Zommari Rureaux, Byakuya willingly damaged himself to prevent the enemy's possession ability impacting him, and continued to fight as though unaffected, eventually emerging victorious.[186] During his clash with Tsukishima, he had his entire left arm mutilated by his own Bankai but it nonetheless remained fit for use, playing a decisive role in securing Byakuya victory over the Fullbringer.[187]

Immense Durability: Byakuya is an extremely resilient man, managing to survive a multitude of devastating injuries during his battle with Äs Nödt, including having his stomach ripped out after being viciously attacked with his own Bankai.[188][189] He was also able to resist the unique healing properties of Tenjirō Kirinji's hot springs without rotting away after being fully healed; Kirinji remarked he stayed in longer than anyone ever did.[190] After being struck with the shield of Gerard Valkyrie in his Godly Size, which caused the entire building he was standing on to crumble,[191] Byakuya emerged from this with only minor scratches and ruined clothes.

Master Strategist & Tactician: Byakuya has consistently displayed stupendous strategic acumen and tactical intelligence in battle. He quickly analyzes complex situations, discern the motives, strengths and weakenesses of his opponents, and makes well-considered decisions, enabling him to manage and outmaneuver them by anticipating their actions.[177][178][179][180] Immutably calm and composed, he doesn't get carried away by his emotions. He is a crafty combatant, opportunely putting his mastery of Shinigami arts such as Kidō to use in conjunction with his Zanpakutō in ways his opponents do not expect, making him particularly unpredictable.[181][182] Finally, he has proven himself capable of thinking outside the box when necessary. During his confrontation with Tsukishima who had, thanks to his Fullbring, gained knowledge of Byakuya's full arsenal of techniques as well as their weaknesses, Byakuya had his entire left arm mutilated by his own Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. Not long after, in an unexpected turn of events, he used that same arm to thrust the Bankai's blades through Tsukishima's chest in the blink of an eye, mortally wounding the Fullbringer who had carelessly closed in on Byakuya, confident in his ability to thwart every single one of the captain's attempts. It was then brought to light that Byakuya had inconspicuously caught a handful of the blades in his palm when he was struck by the Bankai earlier; this left Tsukishima dumbfounded as to what had transpired, before he drew his last breath, as Byakuya had never resorted to such a ploy in his life.[183]

Kidō Master: Byakuya is well-versed and incredibly skilled in Kidō. Even prior to his training at the Soul King Palace, he had proven himself capable of casting high-level Bakudō spells such as Dankū, without incantation, with these still possessing formidable strength. He could even cast, without incantation, low-level Hadō spells such as Sōkatsui and Byakurai to devastating effect, exemplified when he used the former to neutralize Renji's premature Bankai and the latter to perforate Ichigo in their final battle.[165][166][167] Furthermore, he was highly proficient in the use of barriers, having created one, in a matter of seconds, able to withstand the calamitous effects of Gokei, a technique of his own Bankai, in order to protect allies within it from damage.[168][169] After his training with the Royal Guard, he refrained entirely from using Kidō spells against Shūhei Hisagi, who was attacking him under the influence of PePe Waccabrada's The Love, as Byakuya deemed that doing so could kill the lieutenant.[170]

Hakuda Combatant: While rarely displayed, Byakuya is proficient in Hakuda. After discarding his Zanpakutō during his confrontation with PePe, he made use of his skills in this art to defend himself from Shūhei Hisagi's attacks with both Senbonzakura and Kazeshini.[171]

Immense Spiritual Power: As a captain of the Gotei 13 and the head of one of Soul Society's four great noble families, Byakuya already possessed an immense amount of spiritual power prior to his training at the Soul King Palace, which, in addition to his laudable skills and Zanpakutō, made him a formidable combatant. He could exert a tremendous amount of reiatsu that could be felt at great distances, which generally made people perspire.[172] Ganju Shiba has stated Byakuya is the strongest leader in the entire history of the Kuchiki Clan.[173] During his stay at the Soul King Palace, his spiritual power reached a whole new dimension thanks to Kirio Hikifune's dishes.

Shunpo Master: Byakuya is arguably best known for his great mastery of Hohō. He is easily one of the most proficient Shunpo masters in all of Soul Society. He could comfortably keep pace with the self-proclaimed fastest Espada[156] and remained able to use Shunpo after severing the muscles and tendons in his left leg.[157] After his training at the Soul King Palace, he had no difficulty fending off and defeating a Sternritter whose Vollständig form granted him terrific speed.[158] In his youth, the "Flash Goddess" Yoruichi Shihōin would often goad Byakuya into a game of tag, without him ever managing to beat her; she is also stated by Byakuya, during his battle with the aforementioned Espada, to be the one who taught him Utsusemi.[159][160]

Senka (閃花, Flash Blossom): An advanced Shunpo technique where one, moving to their opponent's back, directly attacks and seals said opponent's "Saketsu" and "Hakusui" in two rapid strikes, effectively cutting them off from their spiritual energy flow. This attack is his favorite to use.[161] The technique is so fast, an opponent may not be able to tell whether they were attacked from the front or the back, and even an outside observer may find it impossible to discern the movements.[162] Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shihō - Utsusemi (空蝉, Cast-Off Cicada Shell): One moves at blistering speed to avoid an attack, leaving behind an afterimage so realistic it can appear to have suffered damage. It is a highly advanced Shunpo technique taught to Byakuya by Yoruichi Shihōin, proven capable of deceiving even some of the best Shunpo and Sonido masters

Master Swordsman: Byakuya is a highly accomplished Zanjutsu master, possessing flawless technique and precision. With his Zanpakutō in its sealed state, he is able to perform lethal strikes with little to no effort[150][151] as well as repel even high-velocity energy projectiles such as Reishi thorns fired by a Sternritter.[152] His strikes can efficiently target his opponents' vital points and are too fast for all but the most advanced combatants to discern.[153] The conclusion of Byakuya's battle with the 7th Espada saw him eliminate the latter by cleanly bifurcating him before he even realized what had happened.[154] After his training at the Soul King Palace, he could, with ease, successively fend off bullet-shaped Heilig Pfeil fired from the pistol of a Sternritter in his Vollständig form and engage another Sternritter armed with her lightning swords in her Vollständig form.

Ōken Clothing: After training with the Royal Guard, Byakuya dons special clothing in order to safely return to the Seireitei. These clothes are made from the bones and hair of the members of the Royal Guard, and they possess incredible defensive power, allowing Byakuya to withstand the friction that results from breaking through the 72 barriers between Soul Society and the Soul King Palace without suffering any damage; Yhwach notes that no Shinigami could hope to wear greater garb.[148] These clothes take the form of a white, turban-like headpiece covering the upper half of his head and trailing off to his shoulders; a tasseled muffler covering his mouth; and a white cape with a thick, light-colored hem worn over his shihakushō.

In the decades between Rukia's adoption into the Kuchiki clan and her death sentence, Byakuya's regal manner and seeming apathetic disposition made her believe he never cared about her, even noting that he had never once looked at her. In spite of this, Byakuya cares for and protects those important to him. This holds especially true for Rukia, whom he considers his pride,[12] as he loved Hisana dearly and promised he would protect her younger sister no matter what. This promise had led Byakuya to hamper Rukia's career; he made sure she would never become a seated officer, despite her competence, as the risks involved in missions undertaken by Shinigami holding such positions are high.

Byakuya was stated by Ganju Shiba to be the most famous of the Gotei 13's captains in Soul Society.[15] He likes Japanese cherry blossoms, night-time walks, spicy food, and bananas, but does not like sweets. Byakuya excels in calligraphy.

Byakuya looks immutably solemn; as befits his status, he always acts and speaks in a dignified manner. He appears inflexibly stoic as well as apathetic towards everyone, even when actually deeply conflicted. He is just as equanimous in battle. He generally acts indifferent, bordering on arrogance, to most situations he is faced with, and rarely views his opponent as being worth his time. Byakuya is easily offended when his interlocutors refer to him by name without the adequate honorifics and has more than once reprimanded Ichigo Kurosaki, who simply refers to him by his first name, on the matter. Byakuya, meanwhile, always refers to the latter by his full name. Byakuya is very perceptive, fully aware of his strengths and limitations, and anything he states in comparison to an opponent is usually justified. Despite consistently stating himself to be far stronger than opponents like Zommari Rureaux, Byakuya retains a formal tone, always using "watashi" in the Japanese script which is a formal way of referring to oneself. In his youth, he was notoriously hot-headed, a trait noted by his grandfather and demonstrated by Yoruichi Shihōin who particularly enjoyed teasing him.[9] Despite maturing greatly and becoming much calmer as an adult, Byakuya still holds onto grievances over Yoruichi's constant teasing of him in his youth, so much that he despises having to resort to using techniques she taught him.[10]

Byakuya strongly believes in law, order and duty. As a captain of the Gotei 13 and head of one of the great noble families, he strives for a peaceful society. He deems that if someone of his status does not follow the rules, it would be foolish to expect others to do so. He believes that all lawbreakers must be punished, even if it goes against his personal wishes. Byakuya considers that part of a captain's responsibilities is to make sure that the lieutenant's responsibilities are taken care of.

Byakuya Kuchiki (朽木 白哉, Kuchiki Byakuya) is the 28th head of the Kuchiki Clan, one of the four great noble houses in Soul Society. A Shinigami, he is also the captain of the 6th Division in the Gotei 13. His previous lieutenant was Ginjirō Shirogane and his current one is Renji Abarai, promoted after the former's retirement. Byakuya is the adoptive brother of Rukia Kuchiki, younger sister of his late wife, Hisana Kuchiki.

Byakuya's appearance is that of a youthful and eye-catching adult man. He is tall, lean, fair-skinned and clean-shaven. He has slate gray eyes as well as long black hair, which he keeps up in intricate white headpieces called kenseikan (牽星箝, Pulled Star Insert; Viz "Pull Star Silence"). Symbolizing his nobility and his status of head of the Kuchiki Clan, he wears three of them on top of his head and two others on the right side. In addition to the standard Shinigami shihakushō and a short-sleeved captain haori, Byakuya dons a white scarf, which is tailored by the master weaver Tsujishirō Kuroemon III. It is made from Ginpaku Kazahana no Usuginu (銀白風花紗, Gauze of Silver-White Flurry of Snow in Clear Skies; Viz "Silvery-White Windflower Silk Gauze") and is a family heirloom, handed down from generation to generation to the heads of the Kuchiki Clan. The scarf alone is worth ten mansions in the Seireitei.[4] He also wears fingerless white tekkō which only cover the back of his hands.

Byakuya is popular with the Gotei 13's female Shinigami and was voted number one in the "Captain we desire to release a photo book for" poll taken by the Shinigami Women's Association.