Shūhei Hisagi/Expanded Universe

is the co-lieutenant of the 9th Division, formerly under Captain Kaname Tōsen and currently under Captain Kensei Muguruma. He shares his position with Mashiro Kuna.

History
At some point after Hisagi became Tōsen's subordinate, the latter trained Hisagi in a forest in the Rukongai in Soul Society by using his Bankai, Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Kōrogi. As the sheer sensory deprivation Hisagi experienced eventually caused him to frantically swing his sword around before collapsing and screaming, Tōsen immediately deactivated his Bankai, allowing all of Hisagi's senses to return at once. As Hisagi recuperated from both his terror and his lost senses, Tōsen calmed him by admitting that he underestimated how dangerous his Bankai would be for Hisagi. Hisagi tried to apologize for failing, but Tōsen assured him that his terror was nothing to be ashamed of as even he, in his blindness, would be paralyzed with fear should his hearing suddenly disappear.

While Hisagi still feels ashamed, especially when Tōsen reveals that he lasted only half an hour, he also realized that he is one of the first people to experience Tōsen's recently unveiled Bankai, which Tōsen wanted to use to help Hisagi experience and confront his fears. However, Tōsen noted that while Hisagi certainly has fear in him, he cannot properly wield that fear, which Hisagi felt ashamed of.

Tōsen told Hisagi that denying one's fear and trying to cast it away would only turn those who do so into demons. While Hisagi believed that Tōsen would never become like that in any circumstances, Tōsen mused that he did not even know what the light and colors that constitute the world actually were and claimed that if this were to happen and he were to lose his fear and start feeling only hope and happiness, he would no longer be a warrior.

While Hisagi is confused, Tōsen taught him that if he wanted to embrace his pride as a Shinigami and protect the world, he must never cast away his fears, even when he eventually finds himself doubting everything he knows.

Equipment
Motorcycle: Hisagi owns a functional motorcycle from the Human World, which he bought from Kisuke Urahara.

Zanpakutō
Kazeshini redirects here. For the manifested spirit that appears in the Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc see Kazeshini (Zanpakutō spirit).


 * In its sealed form, Hisagi's sword looks like a regular katana with an octangular tsuba. Hisagi typically carries his Zanpakutō at his waist, but has on occasion carried it on his back.


 * Shikai: Kazeshini's Shikai command is . When released, it takes the form of two Kusarigama-like weapons, each with two scythe blades, with one inverted, giving it the resemblance of a pinwheel. The blades are connected to a spiked rod tethered together by a long chain. However, Shunsui Kyōraku eventually speculates that the true essence of Kazeshini lies not in the blades, but rather in the chain that connects them.


 * Shikai Special Ability: As the scythes of Kazeshini are believed to represent "death", the chain of the Zanpakutō is believed to represent "life". Due to this, the chain of Kazeshini is able to restore any injury Hisagi recieves, including lethal ones such as bisection, as long as Hisagi still has sufficient Reiatsu.


 * Bankai: : When activated, the chains of Kazeshini form a noose around Hisagi's neck that connects to a large black orb of entangled chains floating above him.


 * Bankai Special Ability: When Hisagi designates an opponent, Kazeshini Kōjyō connects both fighters with a length of chain around their necks. As long as Kazeshini Kōjyō remains active, neither fighter can be killed, as any injury sustained is instantly healed by the Bankai at the cost of both fighters' combined Reiatsu.