Tōshirō Hitsugaya
Tōshirō Hitsugaya is a male anime and manga character who features in Bleach.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Tōshirō Hitsugaya (Japanese: 日番谷 冬獅郎 Hepburn: Hitsugaya Tōshirō) was a male inhabitant of Soul Society where he resided in the province of Junrinan in the 1st District of West Rukongai. As a young child, he lived as a brat who ate watermelons with his grandmother and Momo Hinamori where he often poked fun at her. Despite his standoff nature with her, he was close friends with Hinamori despite being younger and shorter than her where he always felt the need to protect her.
From a young age, he showed the remarkable talent of calling out his Zanpakutō spirit Hyōrinmaru even when he was untrained as a Shinigami. In time, Hinamori decided to leave to become a Shinigami where he showed that he was happy to see her go though in reality he hid his true feelings about her departure. One day, he was out at the market where he was buying items when he encountered Rangiku Matsumoto. She came to yell at the shop keeper for how he treated Hitsugaya and reproached him for his poor customer skills. Tōshirō then bumped into Rangiku where she told him off for simply letting the shop keeper tell him off and not standing up to him like a man. Hitsugaya though came to run away from her and returned home where at night e ad a dream of a giant icy blue serpentine dragon with large wings alongside an echoing voice. Unknown to him, his Reiatsu had began to affect everything around him causing the temperature to drop and making his Granny cold as a result. In addition, Rangiku had tracked him down and was in his room where she told him that he needed better control over his power. She then suggested that he became a Shinigami as he had great power that he needed to learn to control as if he remained untrain then he would eventually unintentionally kill his grandmother. It was then she revealed to him that the voice he heard in his dreams was his idden power and came to convince him to become a Shinigami.
Soul Society
Hitsugaya came to attend an emergency meeting of the captain's that was called by Captain-Commander Yamamoto. During the meeting, bickering erupted among his fellow captains with Tōshirō regarding this as being the typical case of old men being engaged in pointless arguments with one another. Hitsugaya's sharp sense of intuition and keen sense of observation leads him to suspect 3rd Division captain, Gin Ichimaru, of foul play as the circumstances surrounding the coming execution of Rukia Kuchiki become more complicated. He warns Hinamori of these suspicions, which inspires her to attack Gin following Sōsuke Aizen's apparent murder, leading him to lock both her and Izuru Kira in prison. After they are taken away, Hitsugaya asks Gin whether he was planning on killing Hinamori. Gin calmly denies it, but Hitsugaya threatens to kill Gin if even one drop of Hinamori's blood should be shed on his account. After Gin releases Kira from his cell, Hitsugaya becomes suspicious and confronts both the lieutenant and captain together. He is interrupted by Hinamori, who now thinks that Hitsugaya murdered Aizen and subsequently tries to kill him. She grips her sword so tightly that her hands bleed. Hitsugaya acts upon his earlier threat and attacks Gin, releasing his Zanpakutō and warning Kira to get out of the way. During their fight, Hitsugaya successfully freezes Gin's left arm, causing him to open his eyes and drop his smile for the first time. Upon being trapped by Hitsugaya, he attempts to kill Hinamori as a distraction, but his attack is blocked by Rangiku Matsumoto, who threatens to fight him if he doesn't stop; Gin relents and disappears without saying a word. Seeing how destructive Rukia's execution is becoming and now firmly believing that Gin is the one behind it, Hitsugaya begins to wonder about what recent actions are fabricated and what are true. Eventually, he and Matsumoto are interrupted by a Jigokuchō, which relays a message detailing how Rukia's execution has once again been moved up to the next day. Hitsugaya resolves to stop the execution and disrupt Ichimaru's plan by appealing directly to the Central 46.
Upon arriving at the Central Underground Assembly Hall, Hitsugaya and Matsumoto discover all 46 members are dead. Hitsugaya surmises they had been dead for at least 2 days, but he is concerned about the exact time, as Soul Society had been under martial law and their Headquarters had been locked down since Renji's defeat. Further, the 13 seals of protection was still active and there was no signs of intrusion. Hitsugaya then realizes that the only possible scenario is that they were killed before they were sealed in and that all the recent orders that had been given were fake. He then realizes that such a plot would be far too elaborate for Gin to carry out by himself. He then is interrupted by Kira and he and Matsumoto give chase. When he asks Kira if he was behind the Central 46's death, Kira tells him no and that he arrived just after he did. He also informs Hitsugaya that instead of chasing him, he should be protecting Hinamori. He then goes on to explain that she escaped the 10th Division Barracks, explaining that Hinamori excels at Kidō and that breaking his barrier from the inside would be easy for her. Realizing that Hinamori has been following him and Matsumoto the entire time, he turns back and orders Matsumoto to handle Kira.
Hitsugaya returned back to the Central 46 Chambers in time to see that Aizen alive and well. Extremely confused at this point, he was surprised to find Gin and Aizen together and referring to the forces of Soul Society as the enemy. Hitsugaya discovered Hinamori injured and asked Aizen when he and Gin became comrades, to which Aizen explained that they had always been comrades. Ever since he had been a captain, the only one he ever thought of as his subordinate was Gin. Hitsugaya then states that he has been deceiving everyone from the start. Aizen then explains his reasoning behind the deception, detailing that he was being compassionate and states that he would teach Hitsugaya that admiration is the furthest thing from understanding. Hitsugaya resolves to kill Aizen for his treachery and releases his Bankai. He then stabs Aizen only to realize it was an illusion from Aizen's Shikai allowing him to land a critical blow to Hitsugaya. After the ordeal, 4th Division Captain Retsu Unohana shows up and confronts Aizen, who gets away. Unohana takes it upon herself to personally initiate emergency surgery on Hitsugaya and Hinamori. They are found to be in stable condition with Lieutenant Kotetsu handling their post-procedural treatments after Aizen's escape from Soul Society. Hitsugaya later fully recovered and watched over a still injured and unconscious Hinamori.
Arrancar
Afterwards, reports came in of a new threat that was being encountered in the world of the living with these being evolved Hollows known as Arrancars. In response, the Soul Society decided to dispatch shinigami to recon the mortal world for signs of these new foes. Captain Hitsugaya was assigned the task and later led a group of Shinigami assigned to defend Karakura Town against the Arrancar threat where their cover was that of being students at Ichigo's school. Hitsugaya explained to Ichigo the danger that the Arrancar represented to Soul Society. When the group of Arrancar led by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez attack, Hitsugaya was placed in battle against Shawlong Koufang. Shawlong managed to easily fend him off, even when Hitsugaya began using his Bankai, Daiguren Hyōrinmaru. The two continued to battle with Hitsugaya's attacks still proving to have little affect on the Arrancar. After some more time, Shawlong begins to surmise about Hitsugaya's Bankai. He concluded it would not be right to finish off a captain when he was weak and that to finish of Hitsugaya while he was in Bankai was far better. He then proceeded to release his true Hollow form, and his attacks severely wounded Hitsugaya. Shawlong then uses his sharp claws to cut through one of Hitsugaya's Ice wings. He explains the truth about Arrancar and the Espada to Hitsugaya. Soon after, Soul Society finally approves the release of their power limit, allowing Hitsugaya to fight at full strength. Shawlong questions what the limit release is. Hitsugaya explains that it is a precaution seal automatically put on captains and lieutenants when they enter into the Real World. Hitsugaya then proceeds to use his Ryūsenka technique. Shawlong calls for a retreat of his group, only to be caught by Hitsugaya and he freezes Shawlong, killing him. However, right after Koufang's defeat, Hitsugaya collapsed due to his critical injuries, combined with exhaustion.
Sometime later, Hitsugaya speaks through a video monitor with Yamamoto who was debriefing Hitsugaya on Aizen's plan concerning the King's Key, and the Captain-Commander allows Momo to talk to him. Hitsugaya is somewhat surprised to see her up and asks her if she should even be walking around. Momo tries to persuade him that she is better, though she doesn't look it. Momo apologizes for not believing Hitsugaya and attacking him. Hitsugaya tells her not to worry about as it didn't bother him. He also tells her to get back to bed so she can get rid of those bags under her eyes. Momo thanks Hitsugaya for accepting her apology until he tells her even if she isn't one she looks like a little kid, and if she doesn't sleep more she will not ever grow. Momo yells at him, telling him he isn't one who should talk about growing. Hitsugaya then reminds her that she is to call him 'Captain Hitsugaya'. As Momo realizes the situation, she asks Hitsugaya if he is going to fight Captain Aizen. To which Hitsugaya says yes, She then asks if he is going to kill Captain Aizen, and then begs him to save Aizen. She explains she knows that what Captain Aizen is doing is bad, but she bets he has a good reason. Expressing her belief, she says that Gin or someone else could be forcing him to engage in his actions. She is quickly knocked out by Yamamoto, to whom he hands over her care to his lieutenant, Chōjirō Sasakibe. Yamamoto apologizes to Hitsugaya, saying he was just respecting her wishes allowing her to speak, but it was perhaps too soon. Hitsugaya is left angered at the state Aizen has left Hinamori in, but he thanks Yamamoto for allowing her to speak with him.
Sometime after being debriefed, Karakura Town is attacked for a second time by the Arrancar. Hitsugaya first pits himself against the 10th Espada Yammy Llargo. Hitsugaya's Shikai freezes the Espada, but only for a moment. Yammy comments that the cold attack felt 'refreshing'. At this point, Hitsugaya realizes even his Shikai at 100 percent is not enough to injure the Espada. Their fight is cut short by the new 6th Espada, Luppi Antenor who insists on fighting all of them at once, and proceeds to release his true Hollow form. But realizing the increase in power the Espada will have, Hitsugaya tries to attack before he is able releasing his Bankai. Though initially unable to defend against Luppi's attacks, as he was knocked to the ground in a single hit from the Espada, Hitsugaya comes back with his Bankai renewed and explains its ability. Luppi's inattentiveness gives him ample time to build up a finishing move, using his Sennen Hyōrō technique - just in time to save his subordinates. Luppi escapes death due to Negación, having only been incapacitated by the ice, and promises to kill Hitsugaya in turn. Upon learning that Orihime has followed the Arrancar back to Hueco Mundo, Hitsugaya and his team return to Soul Society to help in the preparation for the war against Aizen.
Fake Karakura Town
Afterwards, the Gotei 13 moved to counter Aizen's efforts where the rogue shinigami looked to sacrifice Karakura Town in order to create the Ōken through which he could enter the realm of the Soul King. Learning of this, they came to create a fake version of the human settlement that took the place of the real one which was displaced into the Soul Society. It was then that the majority of Captains of the Gotei 13 and their forces lay in ambush in the fake Karakura Town whilst the others journeyed into Hueco Mundo. Per their plan, Aizen arrived in the fake Karakura Town along with his Espada and their respective Arrancar armies to battle the Gotei 13. Captain Hitsugaya and his lieutenant where both were ready to battle the enemy.
Lost Substitute Shinigami
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Tōshirō Hitsugaya was a short human with turquoise eyes and short, spiked, white hair that tended to draw attention in the Human World.
From a young age, it was said that he had a personality as cold as ice.
Typically, he was shown as being a mature and serious individual despite his young age. This put him in contrast to his more care-free and free-spirited lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto.
He believed that wielding a blade out of duty alone was what embodied being a Shinigami captain. In contrast, wielding a blade out of hatred was nothing more than petty violence.
Tōshirō expressed an annoyance when he was not referred to by his title of Captain as he felt that he had worked hard for his rank.
Among his favourite foods were watermelons and amanattō though it was said that he did not like dried persimmons.
Ichimaru came to remark that Hitsugaya was the embodiment of a heavenly guardian that would be reincarnated every few centuries.
One of the closest people to him was Momo Hinamori (雛森 桃, Hinamori Momo) who was a childhood friend. Tōshirō was shown to be especially protective of her and grew angry if she was injured. This was to the point that he vowed to kill an enemy if they hurt her.
Powers and abilities
Tōshirō Hitsugaya was a soul that came to reside in the afterlife of the Soul Society where he developed the ability to channel and control his Spiritual Pressure. His Spiritual Pressure was said to been very large and 'cold'. Even before he became a Shinigami, his spiritual pressure was immense and uncontrollable.
He was noted for being a prodigy that was the kind that was only seen once in a century. It was said that graduated from the academy in a single year with the highest written and performance scores in each of his classes. Shunsui Kyōraku came to remark that Tōshirō's talent was such that in a century that he would be more powerful than him. Despite his age, Hitsugaya had great instinct and intuition in battle. He was generally aware of everything in his presence, and was also able to see through most deceptions.
Hitsugaya was skilled in the use of 'Kidō (鬼道, Demon/Spirit Way; Viz "Demon Arts") and could use advanced spells in combat.
As a shinigami, he wielded a Zanpakutō (斬魄刀, Soul-Cutter Sword; Viz "Soul Slayer") that was named Hyōrinmaru (氷輪丸, Ice Ring) which when sealed looked like a normal katana except for the guard that took the shape of a four-pointed bronze-coloured star. The hilt was light blue whilst the sheath was dark blue where it completely dissolved when Tōshirō drew the blade. Unlike other Zanpakutō, the sword was somewhat longer with it measuring at 1.4 meters long making it taller than him which prevented him from wearing it at the hip. This was the reason why he carried it on his back by the green sash on his right shoulder. Hyōrinmaru was the strongest of all the ice-element Zanpakutō where it was able to produce water for its abilities. Hitsugaya control over its power was great enough that he was able to use some of its Bankai techniques whilst in its Shikai state.
Among the techniques known to him included:
- Tensō Jūrin (天相従臨, Subjugation of the Heavens) :
- Shinkū Tasō Hyōheki (真空多層氷壁, Multilayer Vacuum Ice Wall) :
- Shinkū no Kōri no Yaiba (真空の氷の刃, Vacuum Ice Blade) :
- Ryōjin Hyōheki (綾陣氷壁, Woven-Ice Wall) :
- Rokui Hyōketsujin (六衣氷結陣, Six-Clothed Ice Binding-Array) :
As an inhabitant of the Soul Society (尸魂界 (ソウル・ソサエティ), Souru Sosaeti; Japanese for "Dead Spirit World"), he came to be a shinigami where he joined the ranks of the elite Gotei 13 (護廷十三隊, Goteijūsantai; lit. "13 Division Imperial Guards"; Viz "Thirteen Court Guard Companies"). In time, his skill and talent led him to rise to the position of Captain where he headed the Tenth Division (十番隊, jūbantai; "Squad 10" in the English Dub).
Notes
- Tōshirō Hitsugaya was created by Tite Kubo where he featured in the setting of the Bleach universe.
In other media
Television
- In Bleach, Tōshirō Hitsugaya appeared in the setting of the anime television series adaptation where he was voiced by Japanese actress Romi Park and by English actor Steve Staley in the dub.
Films
Video games
- In Jump Force, Tōshirō Hitsugaya appeared as a playable character in DLC of the crossover fighting video game where he was voiced by Japanese actor Romi Park.
Appearances
- Bleach:
External Links
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