Character outline
Jūshirō is a sickly looking man with long white hair. In volume 18 of the manga, it is revealed that the illness he suffers from is tuberculosis and his hair turned white three days after his illness surfaced. Although his body is weak, he often ingests a considerable amount of food, a classic symptom of tuberculosis. Jūshirō's favorite food is umeboshi-chazuke, and there are no foods he dislikes.
Jūshirō is respected by many, especially by his subordinates, for his honesty, loyalty, and personal sense of justice. The extent of his honor and respect is such that Yoruichi Shihouin leaves Rukia Kuchiki, Hanatarō Yamada, and Ganju Shiba behind when she rescues Ichigo Kurosaki from Byakuya Kuchiki, knowing that Jūshirō would not let any harm come to the three. Like Kaien, Jūshirō does not give up when he believes something is wrong and will break the rules if he must. He has been close friends with 8th Division captain Shunsui Kyōraku since his youth, and the two frequently work together.
In various Bleach omake chapters, Jūshirō is fond of giving people strange or unwanted gifts for no apparent reason, particularily Tōshirō Hitsugaya, because "Jūshirō" and "Tōshirō" sound similar and they both have white hair, making them both Shiro-chan (シロちゃん, a nickname meaning "whitey," in reference to their hair). In one sketch, Jūshirō gives Hitsugaya a comically oversized stocking full of candy and other treats. In a V-Jump sketch, Hitsugaya is given a life-size figurine of himself in a fighting pose by Jūshirō as a birthday present.
Before the demise of Kaien Shiba, Jūshirō often left the daily operations of the 13th Division to Kaien because of his illness; this responsibility is now taken care of by his two current 3rd Seat officers, Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki. To Jūshirō's chagrin, the two constantly compete over which is the better assistant. Jūshirō is the only captain who currently has no lieutenant.
Despite his illness, it is implied that Jūshirō is a powerful fighter. He is, along with Kyōraku, considered to be the one of strongest captains beside Yamamoto . However, he is limited by his illness to fighting only for short periods of time; excessive action triggers fits of bloody coughing (another classic symptom of tuberculosis). The true extent of his abilities has not been seen in the series; however, he and Kyōraku both held their own against General Yamamoto for a prolonged period, and Yamamoto states that Jūshirō and Shunsui, both of whom he trained himself, possess "greater powers on the battlefield than any younger generation, or old."
History
Jūshirō is the eldest son from the low-class aristocratic Ukitake family. He has five brothers and two sisters, whom he essentially supports by himself. He, along with Shunsui Kyōraku, was one of the first graduates of Captain Yamamoto's academy. Furthermore, he was personally trained by Yamamoto. It is implied that he and Kyōraku are the oldest captains amongst the Gotei 13, with the exception of Yamamoto himself. Jūshirō, due to his illness, rarely played his role as captain on a regular basis, instead having Kaien fill the role under his guidance.
When a hollow possessed Kaien's wife, Miyako Shiba, Jūshirō and Kaien prevented the possessed Miyako from killing Rukia, and then chased her into the forest. The hollow discards her body before they catch up, and Kaien proceeded to battle the hollow alone. Jūshirō stopped Rukia from assisting, explaining that Kaien was fighting for his honor. The hollows abilities ultimately allow it to possess Kaien, and Jūshirō began to fight it, although his illness got in the way and allowed the hollow to attack Rukia. To both Jūshirō and Rukia's horror, Kaien took control and killed himself with Rukia's sword. The 13th Division has never been the same following Kaien's death, being without its well-loved lieutenant and Jūshirō having to rely on Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki, which usually ends in disaster. In the manga, Miyako (whose face was never shown) died along with the rest of her team and her dead body was returned to the thirteenth squad's headquarters; instead of following her possessed body, Kaien, Jūshirō and Rukia found the hollow who killed her by travelling to the place that Miyako was scouting.
Synopsis
Jūshirō is first introduced sick in his room when he was informed of Aizen's death. Then, at the Shrine of Petinence, he stops Byakuya Kuchiki, not knowing the release of zanpakutō is temporarily allowed due to the assassination of Aizen. Jūshirō watches Ichigo's and Yoruichi's short battle with Byakuya, and prevents Hanatarō and Ganju from being killed. After hearing of the execution date being moved up, Jūshirō decides to help save Rukia and along with Shunsui destroys the Sōkyoku, and the two later have a short battle with Yamamoto. As a thanks for helping save Rukia, Jūshirō later gives Ichigo a badge that permits him to legally hunt hollows in his hometown and allows him to transform into his shinigami state at will.
Jūshirō appears in the Bount arc of the anime to assist in destroying the remaining Jōkaishō with the help of Rantao. He later makes a reappearance alongside Shūhei Hisagi, discussing Rukia's friendship with Orihime and Shūhei's new job as his division's leader.
Sōgyo no Kotowari
Sōgyo no Kotowari's shikaiJūshirō's zanpakutō is Sōgyo no Kotowari (双魚の理, lit. Truth of Pisces, Viz: Law of the Twin Fish). It is one of only two zanpakutō in Soul Society that exists as a pair, the other being Shunsui Kyōraku's Katen Kyōkotsu. Unlike Shunsui's zanpakutō, however, Sōgyo no Kotowari only splits into two swords when released, while Shunsui's zanpakutō constantly exists as a pair. Its shikai command is "every wave be my shield, every thunder become my blade" (波悉く我が盾となれ雷悉く我が刃となれ, nami kotogotoku waga tate to nare, ikazuchi kotogotoku waga yaiba to nare?, Viz: "Wave, become my shield. Thunder, become my blade").
In its shikai, Sōgyo no Kotowari splits into two thin blades resembling fishing javelins with a reversed prong-blade on the dull end. The two swords are connected by a cord, which is lined with several small charms. While Sōgyo no Kotowari's abilities go unseen in the series, they are depicted in a number of Bleach video games. In Bleach GC: Tasogare Ni Mamieru Shinigami, Sōgyo no Kotowari uses lightning and thunder-based abilities. In Bleach: The Blade of Fate, its special attacks involve water, light beams, and lightning orbs. In Bleach: Heat the Soul 3 and Bleach: Shattered Blade, Sōgyo no Kotowari uses similar combinations of water and electricity.
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