Azashiro Soya

Azashiro (痣城宗谷, Azashiro Soya), otherwise known as Kenpachi Azashiro (痣城剣八, Azashiro Kenpachi), is the eighth generation holder of the title of Kenpachi and is also the eighth Captain of the Eleventh Division. He obtained this title after defeating Kenpachi Kuruyashiki, the previous Kenpachi. Due to his treacherous betrayal of the Soul Society, he was apprehended by the Royal Guard and sentenced to the Mūken. Following Mūkade's assault on the Seireitei, Azashiro was broken out of Mūken by Kamui and is now a member of the Tenka clan.

Appearance
In contrast to his title as Kenpachi, Azashiro has a rather gentle and docile appearance. He has long purple hair, which is darker than Kamui's, kept tied in a ponytail with a golden band that would belong to that of royalty, except for two long strands on opposite sides of his forehead that hang downwards. His eyes are always narrowed, symbolizing his seriousness and indifference to events that occur around him. Azashiro wears a unique variation of the Captain haori, first being worn when he was made the Captain of the Eleventh Division. It has a golden mantle with black markings going around his neck and attached onto his haori at the edges, going down until his midsection. His haori has long bell-sleeves, which each have slight cuts right above the elbows. Underneath his haori, Azashiro wears a standard Shinigami's uniform: the shihakushō. This consists of a black kosode and black hakama. As a Captain, he wore a standard white obi with his shihakushō, but after siding with Kamui, he takes to wear a thick golden belt over the obi, closed at the front by four locks. On either side of this strange belt, there seems to be some unique depictions that would be normally seen in mythology books.

History
According to the accounts of Azashiro recalled by Shunsui Kyōraku, it is known that he is atleast over 1000 years old. He was the eighth generation holder of the title of Kenpachi, having inherited the title after killing the seventh Kenpachi titleholder, Kenpachi Kuruyashi. Subsequently, he become the eighth Captain of the Eleventh Division. During his time as Captain, he used the power of his Bankai to keep track of everything that occured with the Seireitei, being able to see and hear all that would happen and be said respectively. Azashiro would stage a coup d'état against the Gotei 13 several years after. During which time, every Captain except for Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake attempted to subdue the rogue Shinigami, but to no avail. None of their attacks would do any damage to him. Because of this event, the Royal Guard were forced to act and apprehend the rogue. Azashiro surrendered immediately due to their sudden intervention, however, for unknown reasons. It is rumored that the Royal Guardsmen that were sent to apprehend Azashiro were far stronger than him or were able to overcome his Bankai's power. He was then sentenced to the Mūken, the lowest level of Soul Society's prison. During his imprisonment, he become acquainted with Sōsuke Aizen.

Zanpakutō
The name of Azashiro's Zanpakutō is currently unknown. Its sealed form is also unknown because it is never seen on his person. Shunsui Kyōraku stated that Azashiro had never revealed his Zanpakutō in person, and when he was confronted about this by Central 46, he stated that "I've already shown it." Kyōraku also noted that people would say "to explain this in a specific manner, he, indeed, kept his Zanpakutō on him, but it was not seen by our eyes." The spirit of Azashiro's Zanpakutō has shown herself to be a woman with purple hair styled in a manner befitting a traditional royal princess, along with a gold necklace with several strands hanging down from the front. Two dark purple sashes go around her cheeks, covering up both of her eyes, in an x-shaped manner. She wears a light purple kimono with two dark sashes running up and down both edges of the kimono, both of which are dark purple in color with a gold diamond design. The kimono is left open and loose to reveal her large ample bosom. It is kept tied together by a pink obi with a flowery design in a ribbon. From what has been seen, the spirit of Azashiro's Zanpakutō is rather crude and sadistic, in comparison to her level-headed and indifferent master. Even when speaking with Sōsuke Aizen, a dangerous criminal of immense strength, she only spoke in sarcastic and mocking remarks about the former. She suggested that Azashiro steal the Hōgyoku from Aizen by tearing him apart in cold blood, from his toes to the blood vessels behind his eyes. In addition, she appears to be deeply infatuated with her master, always finding an excuse to whirl her arms around him in a seductive manner.

Shikai: Not Yet Revealed

Bankai:Uro Zakuro (雨露石榴, "Rain and Dew Pomegranate") is the name of Azashiro's Bankai form. It has been heavily rumored that his Zanpakutō remains in a constant release of Bankai. In addition, Shunsui Kyōraku noted that Azashiro was able to obtain his title by killing Kenpachi Kuruyashiki in a single attack using his Bankai, implying that its strength is unrealistic. There does not seem to be visible form of the Bankai on Azashiro's person. Bankai Special Abilities: The power of Azashiro's Bankai is known as Yūgō (融合, "fusion/merge"). As the name implies, it allows Azashiro to merge his being with other substances, whether they be living or nonliving. Likewise, he can merge two or more living or nonliving substances together as well. That which he fuses with or to is not limited to just physical substances. Such things as the five senses can also be subject to this ability; ideally, not just physical, but anything mental and spiritual are also subject to influence. One such example is that he could merge his senses to the air surrounding the Seireitei, allowing him to know, see, and hear everything that occured within the Seireitei's walls. Using this same ability appears to allow him to outmanuver Aizen's Kyōka Suigetsu, which has the power of complete hypnosis, to the point that Aizen himself claimed that Kyōka Suigetsu would be rendered useless against Azashiro. As a defensive measure, Azashiro can merge with the air so that all enemy attacks are unable to make contact with him. He can also use this technique to teleport vast distances effortlessly, appearing akin to that of spacetime manipulation. Azashiro is able to produce a blade/razor-like effect in the air around him, allowing him to kill his opponents without a single motion nor a glance, although the specifics at which this power is tied into his "fusion" ability is not yet clear.

Seitai Yūgō (生体融合, "living body fusion"): One of his Bankai's ultimate technique, Azashiro used this ability to kill Kuruyashiki in a single move. While the specifics of the technique have not been made clear, it ideally allows him to merge with a victim's body and destroy them from the inside, thus destroying their internal body. However, doing so seems to make him vulnerable to damage.

Utsusu (写す, "imitate/copy"): Azashiro is capable of copying his mouth and hands several times over, among other body parts, in several different locations at once. Doing so allows him to utilize hundreds of high-level Kidō, such as Ittō Kasō and Kurohitsugi, at the exact same time, allowing him to effortlessly overpower a large number of opponents and even eradicate a Captain-level opponent or stronger with overwhelming assaults of Kidō.

Quotes
(To Sōsuke Aizen) "To make sure that I don't get an answer that has no value, I will say this before we begin... I do not take an interest in the sins you've committed, nor do I care for the power of the Hōgyoku. Such things are a waste in my presence."

(To Aizen) "The feeling of defeat cannot be understood by one such as myself."

(To the Zero squad) "If it wasn't for the combine power of the five of you, I would have destroyed that freak you called King."