Kūkaku Shiba

is the leader of the Shiba clan. She is the sister of Ganju and Kaien Shiba and a personal friend of Yoruichi Shihōin.

Appearance
Kūkaku is youthful-looking woman of average height. She has green eyes and wears bandages over her long messy black hair. She wears a white skirt and provocative red robe exposing her bosom. She is missing her right arm and has a tattoo on her left arm. She wears bandages around her right shoulder and both ankles.

Personality
Kūkaku is violent and very aggressive, often scolding and beating those who annoy her. Kūkaku has been known to change the location and design of her house without warning and without leaving any information as to where she gone. While the actual design changes, the theme is conistant and the houses are recognizable from a singal glance. Yourichi notes that she prefers to live away from built up areas, where it is quieter. She smokes a pipe. She is respectful of Kaien's memory.

History
Kūkaku was educated by Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko, who continued in her service after the fall of the Shiba family. Kūkaku's home used to be located close to the West Gate of Seireitei. She then moved to a location further away from the gate, and changed the design of the house to have Human hands holding a banner with her name on it.

Soul Society arc
After an unsuccessful attempt to break into Seireitei, Yoruichi leads the Ryoka to Kūkaku's house. Koganehiko brings them to the door of Kūkaku's room. Before he can introduce them, Kūkaku tells him to open the door, stating that it seems there is a rare guest. She greets Yoruichi, saying that it has been a long time since she last saw her and asks who the people with her are. Yoruichi asks for her help and explains their situation to her. Kūkaku agrees to help, saying that she cannot refuse since Urahara is involved. However, she states that while she trusts Yoruichi, her trust does not extend to her companions. She therefore decides to send Ganju with them. She opens a door to allow him in and is surprised to learn that they have already met Ganju.

She leaves no doubt that she is the master in the house, strictly (if not brutally) disciplining Ganju and Ichigo when the two, after they realize that they already met in Rukongai, want to continue their fight which began there. They do so, but Kūkaku breaks it up when one of them crushes her pipe by accident. Kūkaku then demonstrates the use of a special orb she develops. Sometime after they are able to use the orb properly, Kūkaku launches Ichigo, Yoruichi, and their friends, as well as Ganju out of her cannon and into the Seireitei.

She later reappears after Jidanbō Ikkanzaka recovers from his injuries at the hands of Gin Ichimaru. She claims that she has unfinished business with Yoruichi. Sometime later, she and Jidanbō make their way to Sōkyoku Hill after Sōsuke Aizen reveals himself to be alive and a traitor. After Aizen and his forces are seemingly subdued, the Menos rescue him, Gin Ichimaru, and Kaname Tōsen, and both Kūkaku and Jidanbō watch them as they depart for Hueco Mundo.

After the conflict within the Seireitei has ended, Rukia Kuchiki arrives and apologizes to both Kūkaku and Ganju about how she killed Kaien. She acknowledges that she felt guilty, but was too afraid to face both Kūkaku and Ganju to apologize to them before. Kūkaku forgives Rukia, explaining to her that Jūshirō Ukitake had already told her the details of Kaien's death, and that she would forgive Rukia if she ever came to apologize. She then subsequently invites both Rukia and Ichigo (who arrives a bit after Rukia apologizes) to dinner with her before Ichigo and his friends return to the Human World.

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

Kūkaku sends Ganju to the Human World to assist Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends.

After the Bounts infiltrate Soul Society, Yoruichi decides to make Kūkaku's house their base while tracking the Bounts. When they are alone, Kūkaku asks Yoruichi why she wants them to stay with Kūkaku rather staying in Seireitei. Yoruichi informs her that Maki Ichinose, an ex-Shinigami working with the Bounts, has already broken into Seireitei, and it would be more efficient to stay in a place that the Bounts have not yet infiltrated. Kūkaku agrees to assist Ichigo and his group.

Equipment

 * Sword: Kūkaku possesses a sword which resembles an ordinary katana. It has an pale orange hilt and a rectangular tsuba, the corners of which curve inwards. She keeps it attached to the back of the stub of her right arm.
 * This invention uses its weilder's reiryoku in order to generate and maintain a spherical shell of energy that protections them against the barrier surrounding Soul Society.
 * A large chimney-like structure with a capped top which is located behind her house. It is a Kidō-driven device that launches the Reishūkaku into the air.

Power & Abilities
High Spiritual Power: As a member of the Shiba family, Kūkaku possesses a high level of spiritual pressure.

Kidō Expert: Kūkaku is capable of using a level 63 Hadō. Kūkaku has also shown that she is able to use advanced Kidō techniques to launch a from her, a Kidō-driven device.

Keen Intellect: Kūkaku has shown herself to be a rather insightful woman, able to quickly understand the situation at hand and act accordingly. She is a well-informed person, having good knowledge of events in Soul Society.

Enhanced Strength: She strictly (if not brutally) disciplines Ganju and Ichigo when the two begin fighting each other. Kūkaku violently breaks it up when one of them crushes her pipe by accident.

Fireworks Expert: Kūkaku has a knowledge of creating and using fireworks.

Trivia

 * While she is missing her right arm in the manga, the anime shows Kūkaku with a prosthetic limb.

Quotes

 * (To Yoruichi Shihōin) "Been a while since we’ve talked like this, my friend. Lucky for you, I enjoy danger."