Kagerōza Inaba

was the 7th Seat of the 12th Division & Chief of Precipice World Studies within the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.

Appearance
Inaba, while working with other 12th Division members, wears a standard uniform which is a laboratory coat over the standard Shinigami shihakushō. He is quite tall, thin with chin length straight hair that parts on the left side of his head. The right side of his hair is green and the left is yellow. He has a somewhat long face with circular glasses and white gloves.

When not with others, he wears a long yellow robe that buttons up in the front and protrudes upwards from the neck, covering the entirety of the back of his head. He does not wear glasses and wears gloves and carries a cane. Inaba's flamboyant attire bears a strong resemblance to that of Mayuri Kurotsuchi's, as noted by Uryū Ishida.

Personality
While he is working with other 12th Division members, he is quite polite and obeys orders given by higher ranked members. When pursuing Nozomi, he is quite rude to Kon and heartless when he strikes the girl's abdomen. He is also shown to have a profound respect for Mayuri Kurotsuchi, although this respect extends to Inaba believing he is superior in all aspects to him. Despite this, he seems to care about Nozomi to some degree, which is shown when he implores her to get out of the way of his attack, as she might die. After the attack, he claims that he is relieved that she is okay. He also has a strong contempt for those who forbade his research into Mod Soul science, especially the members of Central 46, to whom he deems were "afraid of his research". As stated by Nozomi, Inaba's being is filled with rage and ambition from Yushima.

History
96 years ago, a Shinigami named Ōko Yushima invented the mod-souls. They were created for "Project Spearhead", which was designed to use them in the dead bodies of humans in order to fight against Hollow. The project was later terminated due to moral concerns. When everything was to be destroyed, Yushima converted all the information into special Reishi and tossed it into the Dangai before using some of his own reishi as a basis to create another Mod Soul. By unknown means, the Mod Soul became split in two to create Inaba and Nozomi Kujō. Following Yushima's final orders before putting himself in a catatonic state, Inaba hid himself amongst the Shinigami and worked his way up to the position of 7th Seat in the 12th Division. During this time, he researched the Dangai as a cover in order to find a way to retrieve the Mod Soul data from the Kōtotsu. Also during this time, he created the Reigai.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

As a member of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Inaba brings Akon information from the Dangai whilst they are discussing the disappearance of Nanao Ise and Rangiku Matsumoto with the captains. He reveals that there is no record of them using the Dangai to return to the Soul Society. Later, he arrives when Akon is reading a message from Rukia Kuchiki. After being instructed to show Byakuya Kuchiki how to conduct a survey within the Dangai, he smirks upon seeing an image of Nozomi Kujō on the screen before leaving.

He enters a room piled with Reigai, he changes his clothes by removing his glasses, adding gloves, a new cloak and takes a cane. He thanks his reigai clones of Izuru Kira and Nanao Ise for waiting patiently, deciding they should start leaving. They arrive a Ichigo Kurosaki's house and pursue Nozomi when she flees. He injures Nozomi before requesting that the reigai kill Kon, who is in Ichigo's body. However Uryū Ishida arrives on the scene. Inaba easily defeats Uryū and prepares to kill him. Orihime Inoue appears and shields her friend whilst Inaba is attacked by Yasutora Sado, but easily overcomes him. Inaba is halted further by the arrival of Ichigo and then the real Gotei 13. Inaba decides to retreat for the moment, deciding to use his reigai army to retrieve Nozomi and further his plans.

The next day, Inaba discusses his plan with his reigai army. He states that they have to formulate a new plan before the original Gotei 13 regroup, informing them that communication is impossible as he sealed the Dangai for now. He also asserts that he has something special planned to deal with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. He maintains that the capture of Nozomi is essential to their plans before leaving. Later, he visits a green haired man who is being kept in a cell in a paralytic state. He insists that it is useless for anyone to attempt to flee from him before cackling wildly.

Inaba appears before Retsu Unohana and Isane Kotetsu whilst they are investigating the recent happenings in the S.R.D.I., applauding the captain for deducing that he is no ordinary Shinigami. Evading Isane's attack, he admits that his abilities come from his research of the Dangai and insists they will understand his motives soon enough. Inaba then senses the real captains enter the Dangai and Unohana wonders if this will hurt his plans but he shrugs of her remark as impossible. Isane doesn't sense Sajin Komamura's presence and Inaba admits his research is incomplete. Isane then attacks him using Kidō but he disappears, taunting her not to rush. They pursue Inaba to an underground chamber and maintain that he has underestimating the power of the Gotei 13. He refutes this before Unohana is surprised when Isane raises her sword against her, revealing herself have been a reigai clone all the while. He reveals that a captain of her stature had required proper planning to face off against.

Inaba then elaborates on how he created the Mod Soul clones of the various Shinigami who had been travelling through the Senkaimon. Essentially he altered it to allow himself to take Reishi samples which allowed him to create the clones that he then placed inside his reigai dolls to complete. The door then explodes open revealing a clone of Unohana which he was able to create with the help of Isane's clone as she was able to collect a sample of her Reishi. He then taunts her by asking what her next move will be. Unohana faces off against her counterpart but manages to use Kidō to distract them all enough so that she can escape. Inaba prevents the reigai from pursuing her, knowing she hadn't meant to fight at all.

Again, Inaba visits Yushima in his cell and reassures him that it was only a matter of time before they caught Nozomi. Later, he is able to confront Ichigo as he arrives in Soul Society. He refuses to give Ichigo any answers, clashing with him several times before using his shikai to trap him inside the Dangai. He then informs Yushima that Komamura's Reiatsu has disappeared, assuring him that the other sources of Reiatsu would soon vanish as well.

Later, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Kenpachi Zaraki encounter Inaba in a silo. Without answering their demands, Inaba informs them that they have no chance of victory. When he releases his Shikai, Kenpachi demands that he make the fight fun at least. During his fight, Inaba repeatedly opens a portal to the Dangai and uses it to copy and recreate the attacks used on him by his opponents. Hitsugaya begins to figure out his ability, realizing that he is manipulating the space within the portal to attack. He uses this method to attack several times before Hitsugaya jams his Zanpakutō, preventing him from spinning it in the direction needed for recording. However, Inaba unleashes Kenpachi's attack on him, revealing he can replay an event as many times as he wants before recording another.

As he goes to finish Hitsugaya, he is interrupted by the arrival of Suì-Fēng and Isane, carrying Akon. He is surprised that they escaped and is then confronted by Yoruichi Shihōin who, Inaba realizes, has freed everyone. Inaba tells her not to underestimate him but she says not to underestimate his adversaries as more captains arrive. Inaba commends them for doing so well but says they will not win. Everyone attacks but Inaba is guarded by a group of reigai that show up. The captains attack and manage to finally get to Inaba, cutting him and seemingly killing him. However, his body turns to dust and he reappears and cuts all those before him before jumping to the rafters. As he taunts them, he is stabbed by Mayuri who reveals he switched places with his reigai a while ago.

Mayuri informs Inaba that he switched places with his reigai once the reigai lieutenants made their way to the Human World. Inaba comments that, even though he was able to outsmart him, he is still at a disadvantage. Mayuri retaliates, releasing his extendable arm, proceeding to constrict Inaba. He is hurled around effortlessly by Mayuri, before breaking free from his bonds. Inaba asks whether Mayuri thought he could bind him with such an obvious attack, as the captain tells Inaba not to out step his place. Inaba realizes that he was waiting for Ashisogi Jizō and states it will not work but is soon approached by Mayuri as he is unable to move. Mayuri explains that he injected Inaba with a drug that stops thought processes and stabs Inaba. The reigai of Isane then comes to his aid, saying she will heal him but Inaba just laughs as he admits his weakness before striking Isane, killing her and taking the pill from the ash and swallowing it, forcing her into his body as he is forced out, no longer affected by Mayuri's drug. He then states that the science behind this is not exact as he appears behind Mayuri, knocking him back to the ground.

He knocks Mayuri back to the ground below, as the reigai proceed to join their master. Jūshirō Ukitake asks Inaba how he came across the illegal Mod Soul data hidden in the Dangai, as Kyōraku states that they will find out eventually. He asks Inaba who he truly is, to which Inaba reveals that he created mod souls and was a part of Project Spearhead. When the project was shutdown and everything was to be destroyed, he turned all the information into a special type of reishi and threw it into the Dangai. Inaba turns to Mayuri, stating that he agrees scientists fear oblivion and so he could not let his research be destroyed. Ukitake asks Inaba whether this is the reason why he aimed to resurrect Project Spearhead, to which Inaba confirms this, stating that his aim is to rule over Soul Society. Inaba thrusts his Zanpakutō into the air and the reigai's bracelets break, causing their reiatsu to surge as Inaba explains that they were all holding back. As more reigai arrive, Mayuri questions this and Inaba states that he could never create reigai of this caliber. As the Shinigami captains are overpowered by his Reigai, he laughs wildly, mocking their predicament.

An injured Inaba awakens from a dream. He goes to Yushima and asks him why he is worried. He tells him that everything is going to plan. Inaba asks if he is worried about Nozomi, saying that it is only a matter of time. Coughing up blood, he explains that he expected to be injured by the originals as they are not fools. He tells the man that he will see to it that the world will learn of his wish. Later, Inaba is working on restoring the imposters whose core was destroyed. The copy of Byakuya inquires what he is doing and then asks about Inaba himself. He states that he is recovering well and instructs Byakuya to tell the duplicates of Hitsugaya, Komamura and Kenpachi that they will soon being heading to the Human World.

Later, as the Reigai-Ukitake, Kyoraku, and Unohana attack Yamamoto in the World of the Living, Inaba suddenly appears to call off their attack. He reveals his plan: he wants Nozomi and attacks Yamamoto to achieve this. Ichigo begins to warn Yamamoto of Inaba's powers, but the Captain Commander states he already knows of them. Acting as a decoy, Nozomi attacks Inaba, who states that he will not fall for her abilities, but Nozomi reveals that she absorbed Yamamoto's reiatsu and attacks him with Arazome Shigure, forcing Inaba to copy the attack, barely surviving. Yamamoto and Ichigo attack with all their might, but Inaba uses Raikū's copied power of Aarazome Shigure to absorb both Ichigo and Yamamoto's attacks, leaving Ichigo's reiatsu depleted as he falls from the sky. Inaba then proceeds to attack Yamamoto with both copied abilities, but Nozomi gets in between the two.

Inaba voices his disbelief at Nozomi's attempt to defend Yamamoto. He voices his concern as the Mod-soul is pushed to her limits by the force of the attack, shouting for her to get away when he realizes that she has absorbed all she can. Nozomi refuses to give in, continuing to battle the attack. As Arazome Shigure begins to crack as it absorbs more and more energy, Inaba begs for Nozomi to stop as she'll die if she keeps trying. However, Yamamoto intervenes, meeting the blast with one of his own, causing a massive explosion that knocks both the Captain Commander and the master of the Reigai out of the sky.

As Yamamoto faints, Inaba struggles to his feet, grinning maliciously and voicing his relief that Nozomi is alright. As Rukia and Nozomi prepare to fight, Inaba chuckles and tells the latter that resisting isn't an option, as her Zanpaku-to is broken. He begins to advance, but Ichigo and Renji stop him. Ichigo tells Inaba that Nozomi doesn't want to come with him, to which Inaba responds by asking Ichigo why he said that. Inaba asserts that he is technically Nozomi's father, as he created the Mod-soul. He declares that the research is close to completion. Ichigo shouts that they won't allow that, and Kon adds that Nozomi would never be happy about that, to which Inaba replies that what makes him happy should please Nozomi as well. Ichigo tries to argue, however Inaba claims that he knows Nozomi best, so it is impossible that Ichigo would know Nozomi perfectly. Inaba reveals that he and Nozomi were made from the reishi of a single Shinigami. When Kon presses Nozomi for information, she just falls to her knees. Inaba notes that she hasn't forgotten. He reveals that if Nozomi were to fall into his hands, she and Inaba would become one and she'd be their enemy, so she kept her distance from him for this reason. Inaba asserts that Nozomi tried to push away everyone, but became attached to those who tried to protect her. He is Nozomi, and Nozomi is him. He then challenges them to ask Nozomi the truth of his statement. Ichigo, Rukia, Renji, and Kon attack, however, Inaba quickly defeats the four and steps on Kon's face. He then tells Nozomi to join him in going back to the place where they belong. After a terse moment, Nozomi refuses. Inaba narrows his eyes and calls her decision "unfortunate." He resolves to take her back by force, and advances. Nozomi attempts a strike at Inaba, but he catches her wrist and forces her to drop Arazomeshigure. Kon curses Inaba and throws his rock, hitting him in the back of the head, distracting Inaba enough to allow Nozomi to wrench her wrist from Inaba's grasp. Kon shouts at Nozomi to escape while he distracts Inaba, though he acts mostly as a pest than an obstacle. Nozomi slowly retreats; Kon wonders what she is waiting for and shouts at her to run. Inaba finally gets ahold of Kon and remarks that even though he is a Mod-soul, he is a failure. He hurls him underfoot and contemptuously mangles the Mod-Soul with his foot, resolving to "eliminate you completely from both the World of the Living and Soul Society." He finally forces Kon's Mod-Soul pill from his plushy's body and is about to destroy him when Nozomi suddenly blasts him with a Hado #58: Tenran and rescues Kon's pill and body before fleeing. Inaba attempts to follow, but is halted by a blast of fire from a barely conscious Yamamoto. Inaba angrily declares he doesn't have time to battle with the Captain Commander and uses Shunpo to chase Nozomi.

In the forest to which Nozomi flees, Inaba tries to grab her from behind. She uses Kon as a weapon and smacks him away, and suddenly the slope gives out from beneath Inaba's foot and he slides away. Later, Nozomi walks back through the forest, only to run into Inaba. Ichigo shouts for Nozomi to get down, and Inaba attempts to use Raikū but finds that it has vanished. Nozomi gets down and covers her head with her arms, and Ichigo unleashes all his reiatsu in a powerful Getsuga Tensho that completely obliterates Inaba. Ichigo then begins to tell her to come with him, but suddenly Inaba finishes with "to where we belong." Both people spin around to see Inaba laughing, and Nozomi wonders how he survived. Inaba reveals that back when the slope crumbled under his feet, he took a small precaution: Raikū can even copy Inaba himself. He created a decoy to ensure that they would waste their time with the decoy. He bids farewell to Ichigo and defeats the Substitute Shinigami with a single strike and then hand-knifes Nozomi in the back of the neck, knocking her unconscious as well. Inaba picks up Nozomi and opens up a time-space portal with Raikū, vanishing into it just before Kon arrives.

Inaba suffers from his injuries back in Soul Society while he makes preparations to fuse with Nozomi. Reigai-Nanao Ise suggests Inaba get treated, but he shoves her away in anger; insisting that he start the fusion between Nozomi and himself immediately, commanding her to make the preparations. Later on, he places Nozomi into a glass container and fills it with pink fluid; claiming that it is time to begin. When Reigai-Nanao voices her concern one more time before beginning the process, Inaba acknowledges the potential danger, but is convinced that should problems occur, he can control it with medication. With no more discussion, Inaba enters a second container and is submerged in the same fluid as Nozomi, delighted that his goal will soon be completed. After some time passes, the system finally completes its preparations and fuses Inaba with Nozomi. This unison ultimate resurrects Yushima as a Mod Soul with the combined powers of Inaba and Nozomi.

Despite restoring Yushima as a very powerful Mod Soul, Yushima's plans are ultimately stopped. In a final clash against Ichigo, Yushima is defeated, causing the the fusion to cancel out and restoring Inaba and Nozomi. As he dies, Inaba wonders if he was mistaken. Nozomi says a few last unheard words to him, before he dies.

Inventions
Reigai: He is seen to have various reigai stored in a room. He is also known to have manufactured reigai look-alikes of several Shinigami lieutenants and captains, as well as the reiatsu-limiting bracelets that they possess on their forearms. According to Urahara, he also has made a special Reigai, which he himself wears, which seals off his reiatsu, allowing him to enter the Kōtotsu without dying.

Powers and Abilities
Scientist & Inventor: As a member of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Inaba has demonstrated remarkable intellect. With his scientific knowledge, he is able to create reigai duplicates of several high-ranking Shinigami. He is very insightful, able to quickly understand the situation for what it is and to quickly comprehend the nature behind his opponent's technique. He is a expert of the Dangai as well.

Expert Swordsmanship Specialist: Inaba has demonstrated remarkable skill in battle. His fighting style is fluid and precise, able to quickly change his attack pattern to suit the situation. With his Zanpakutō he was shown to able to defeat Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai simultaneously, as well as fight evenly with the likes of Ichigo Kurosaki and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Shunpo Expert: In battle, Inaba has demonstrated considerable speed and efficiency in Shunpo. During his battle against Uryū, he is able to effortlessly dodge all of the Quincy's arrow attacks.

Kidō Practitioner: He is quite skilled in using Kidō as he is able to bind Kon with a mid-level Bakudō without saying the incantation.

Modified Spiritual Energy: While only a 7th Seat Officer, Inaba has shown considerable spiritual energy, able to compete with Ichigo's Bankai and Hollow mask (albeit Ichigo's power was greatly weakened). A unique trait of his Mod Soul nature allows him to completely conceal his reiatsu, prevent others from detecting him. It also allows him to freely move about in the Dangai, even able to safely pass through the Kōtotsu to regain the Mod Soul data.

Dangai Manipulation: As a result of his extensive research upon the Dangai, Inaba has gained the ability to alter space. He has used this ability to travel from the Human World to Soul Society, as well as to manipulate the Kōryū and Dangai. According to Kisuke Urahara, however, his abilities do not extend to control over the Kōtotsu.

Hakuda Practitioner: While never used in actual combat, Inaba showed enough skill to knock Nozomi out with a single chop to the neck.

Zanpakutō

 * In its sealed form, Inaba's Zanpakutō takes the form of a silver cane. The handle of the cane is dark blue and curves around to meet the shaft.


 * Shikai: Raikū is released with the command, . When released, a yellowish green light wraps around the cane and transforms it. The cane turns into a double-headed voulge with red markings on it. Inaba’s Zanpakutō can also control the Reigai’s Reiatsu-Limiter bracelets on their forearms, allowing him to break them at will, as well as to increase their surge in reiatsu.


 * Shikai Special Ability: Raikū has the ability to manipulate space. This is performed by spinning Raikū which produces a bell-like chime before activating.


 * Space Manipulation: Raikū is also capable of creating portals to connect with the Dangai. It can also be use to drag opponents into Dangai. By twirling Raikū to the right, these portals are also able to negate attacks and record the information to recreate the space as he desires. This power to replicate can extend to various events: an opponent's attack, movements, even their Zanpakutō attack or attributes.  This ability can only be used from one direction at a time. It also can be very taxing on Inaba's energy-reserves from constant use. Twirling Raikū to the left, Kagerōza's Zanpakutō calls forth a portal that manifests the recorded event, which he is capable of doing as many times as he pleases.


 * Clones: Kagerōza has demonstrated the ability to use his Zanpakutō's recording ability to record himself, thus producing a clone of himself. Unlike when he clones another person's abilities, the recorded version of him can act independently until it is destroyed.


 * Space Displacement: While appearing to freeze time, by using these portals on himself, Kagerōza can in reality relocate himself instantly. With no warning to his new location, Inaba can attack his opponent off-guard.


 * Bankai: Not Achieved.