Byakuya Kuchiki is the Captain of the Sixth Division in the Gotei 13.
His lieutenant is Renji Abarai. He descends from one of the four great noble families of Soul Society, and as such
he is the embodiment of pride and discipline, intending to be a role model for all Shinigami. Due to an oath he took,
he strongly supports the punishment of his adopted sister, Rukia Kuchiki, after she is abducted and sentenced to death
for giving her powers to Ichigo Kurosaki, thus he becomes the fiercest opponent of the latter, when he comes to Rukia's
rescue. After being defeated by Ichigo and learning the truth behind Rukia's planned execution, he becomes slightly more
lenient and even more protective towards his sister and her Ryoka friends. Later, just like the other Captains, he is involved
in the war between the Arrancar and Shinigami. He ranked 7th in the most recent popularity poll with 4,010 votes, edging out O
rihime Inoue by 35 votes.
Byakuya wears the standard Captain uniform along with a white headpiece called a kenseikan
(symbolizing his nobility as the head of the Kuchiki family) and a white scarf made by the master weaver,
Tsujishiro Kuroemon III. The scarf is made from the silver-white, windflower light silk (ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu)
and is a family heirloom that is handed down from generation to generation and is given to each Kuchiki family head.
Ten large houses can be built for the cost of just one of these scarves.
Byakuya Kuchiki is the 28th head of the noble Kuchiki clan, one of the four great noble families
in Soul Society. As such, Byakuya acts in an aristocratic manner — he seems always serene and apathetic towards other
people, even when he is actually deeply conflicted. He is also extremely calm, even in battle, and is very seldom
surprised by even the most drastic of actions. Ironically, when he was younger, he was quick to anger and very hotheaded,
as noted by his grandfather, much like his lieutenant, Renji Abarai, and Ichigo Kurosaki. Due in part to his status in Soul
Society, he generally acts indifferent, bordering on arrogance, to most situations that he is faced with as seen from how
he rarely views his opponent worth his time. Despite this trait, Byakuya is a very perceptive man and is fully aware of
the limits of his abilities and usually anything he states in comparison to an opponent is justified.
Byakuya strongly believes in law and order. As the head of one of the great noble families and as a Captain
in the Gotei 13, he always works hard for a peaceful society.
