Ichibe’e Hyōsube

Ichibe'e is a large and broad individual with a bald head, red eyes, bushy eyebrows and a long black beard. He wears the standard shihakushō beneath a white, long-sleeved haori decorated with the Royal Guard's emblem. The top of his uniform is open enough to expose his hairy chest. He also wears a large set of red prayer beads around his neck and a pair of single-toothed tengu geta. Ichibe'e is an upbeat and friendly man who often speaks in a loud and upfront manner, typically accompanied by a wide grin. He frequently bursts into laughter when he finds something amusing. As a mentor figure to other Shinigami, such as Ichigo Kurosaki, Renji Abarai, and Rukia Kuchiki, he helps them hone their skills and offers guidance. He actively supports their growth, as seen when he reveals to Renji that the name of his Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, was false and that he had become worthy of calling it by its true name, Sōō Zabimaru. He expresses pride in those who improve, such as when he commends Renji and Rukia for adapting to the Reishi density in the Soul King Palace, or when he smiles after Ichigo successfully completes his training at the Irazu Sandō, acknowledging his growth in both body and spirit. However, he is also critical of weakness, expressing disapproval of the Gotei 13 for becoming complacent after a thousand years of peace. As the commanding officer of the Royal Guard, he takes his duty seriously and is unafraid to discipline his fellow Royal Guard members when necessary, as seen when he strikes Tenjirō Kirinji for his attitude towards Suì-Fēng. Beneath his cheerful demeanor, however, Ichibe'e possesses a darker side, often symbolized visually by his eyes turning pure white. As a member of the Royal Guard, he is highly authoritative, deeply loyal to the Soul King, and utterly dedicated to protecting him and maintaining the balance of the Three Worlds at any cost. He holds no respect for those who threaten that balance, and even Shunsui Kyōraku and Mayuri Kurotsuchi have questioned his motives. When the Schutzstaffel invaded the Soul King Palace to kill the Soul King and disrupt the worlds' balance, he was prepared to fight Yhwach without hesitation. While he is regarded by Yhwach as the leader of the Shinigami, Ichibe'e takes great pride in his status as a Royal Guard member and servant of the Soul King, condemning Yhwach for attempting to invade his body with Blut Vene Anhaben and trespassing upon the Royal Palace. He has little patience for disrespect and will not tolerate anyone addressing him by his given name without permission, cursing them into becoming mute should they do so. He is confident in his abilities and ridiculed Yhwach for believing that discarding the name "Black Ant" using The Almighty would make a difference, and proclaimed he would crush him beyond the possibility of rebirth using Futen Taisatsuryō before sending him into a pitch-black Hell. Similar to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Ichibe'e views his battles as a form of judgment, initially attempting to eject Yhwach from the palace before escalating his attacks as the battle progressed. In combat, Ichibe'e is ruthless and patronizing towards his opponents, always smiling, with Yhwach noting that he seemed to become even happier once he resolved to kill him. He displays a mocking form of respect toward his opponents, claiming to have cut Yhwach's power in half to avoid "tarnishing" the Quincy King's reputation by defeating him at full strength. He also has a tendency to use excessive force in battle, having used his Shin'uchi against Yhwach after already defeating him just to demonstrate the vast gap in their power. Despite his mercilessness, Ichibe'e is steadfast in his pragmatism and more openly willing to resolve conflicts peacefully when possible. Over 1000 years ago, he attempted to negotiate with Yhwach, proposing that the Shinigami allow the Lichtreich to unite the Quincy in peace, so long as they did not interfere with the Shinigami's duty of maintaining the balance of the Three Worlds. However, he was shrewd enough to bring the Soul King's left and right hands as safeguards in case of conflict. During his battle with Yhwach, he implied that he would have spared him had he been willing to reflect on his actions, but deemed him too stubborn to be allowed to live. Additionally, he does not act unfairly towards others, as shown when he hesitated to send Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies to fight Yhwach in his place as he knew they would likely not succeed. However, he ultimately still did so because his power required time to recover, apologizing for the burden and clarifying that he was not asking Ichigo to kill Yhwach, only to stop him. As the bearer of the title of Monk Who Calls the Real Name, Ichibe'e places great importance on names. He coined the terms Zanpakutō, Shikai, and Bankai, and personally named many aspects of Soul Society. He knows the names of all Zanpakutō from the moment they are formed as an Asauchi by Ōetsu Nimaiya and believes that anything without a name holds no power. Despite coining the term "Bankai," he refers to his own by its original name, Shin'uchi, showcasing his traditionalist nature. As the commander of the Royal Guard since ancient times, Ichibe'e possesses vast knowledge and an exceptional strategic mind. His ability to assess an enemy's nature at a glance, combined with his formidable Shinigami skillset, makes him extremely dangerous in battle. His wisdom, leadership, and combat prowess earned him recognition from the Wandenreich as one of Soul Society's Special War Powers.