Summary
Theoriginal captains of the Gotei 13that were introduced at the beginning ofBleachhave cemented themselves as some of the strongest characters in the entire series, as only a few can rival their unfathomable power. Among these all-powerful characters is Kaname Tosen, the former captain of the 9th Division of the Gotei 13. While his defection may have deemed him an enemy of the Soul Society, it also served as a stepping stone for Kaname to gain even more unprecedented strength.
Kaname’s feats on the battlefield are often downplayed due to hisaffiliations with Gin and Aizen, two ofBleach’sstrongest characters. However, the reality is far from it as Kaname has proven his capabilities time and again, and his position as Commander of the Arrancar Army is one aspect that furthers this notion.
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A Sword That Fights For Justice
The most significant source of Kaname Tosen’s resolve is his desire for justice, as he has dedicated his life to maintaining peace among the world through a path without bloodshed. Whenever heunsheathes his Zanpakuto, its only purpose is to punish those that desecrate his notion of justice. Many Soul Reapers lack such a stern resolve, and the disparity in power between Kaname and his counterparts becomes apparent for this very reason.
Despite being completely blind, Kaname can wield his sword with utmost precision and accuracy, a feat only possible due to his heightened senses. While Kaname isn’t exactly known for his swordsmanship since his other powers take precedence, he is still considered an expert swordsman within the Soul Society. With his bare sword, he was able to hold off both Captain Sajin and Lieutenant Shuhei, indicating how powerful he is compared tothe Gotei 13’s ranks.
Kaname Tosen’s Zanpakuto – Suzumushi
Kaname’s Zanpakuto is similar to any other regular Katana, and its true state is revealed by the prompt “cry.” As soon asSuzumushi takes its Shikai form, it releases a high-pitched sound that can knock those in its wake unconscious. With this ability, Kaname can stop his opponents in their tracks without fighting them, a power that is in-line with his principles of avoiding violence.
If his opponents are strong enough to resist Suzumushi’s initial cry, Kaname can use his Zanpakuto’s second special ability, Suzumushi Nishiki: Benihiko. In its Benihiko form, Suzumushi can turn into a thousand blades that rain down on Kaname’s opponents. This is achieved by Kaname moving his blade in a semicircle, and the trail left behind by its movement conjures into thousands of blades.
However, the true strength ofSuzumushi lies in its Bankai– Suzumushi Tsuishiki: Enma Korogi. Instead of changing its own form, Suzumushi simply forms a massive dome from the ring on its hilt. The dome turns into a black void and anyone inside it has their senses completely nullified, along with the loss of spiritual energy. Only those in contact with Suzumushi’s hilt can maintain their senses, meaning Kaname is the only one who can keep his own senses power. Since Suzumishi’s blade remains unchanged, Kaname can strike down his opponents with ease inside this dark abyss.
Kaname Tosen’s Hollowfication
After joining Aizen’s ranks,Kaname gave in to Hollowfication, a process that mixes a Hollow’s soul with a regular soul, blurring the line between Soul Reapers and Hollows. In this form, Kaname dons a smooth, white Hollow Mask that covers his entire face. The Hollow Mask adds on to his Soul Reaper powers, thereby amplifying his overall strength considerably.
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While the Hollowfication process doesn’t exactly lend Kaname any unique abilities, it does offer regeneration at an exponential rate. He can heal himself indefinitely and regenerate any wounded body parts, making him invincible to some extent. Apart from rapid healing, Kaname gains access to enhanced speed, turning his flash step into an almost untraceable ability.
Kaname’s Resurrección
Resurrección is a transformation unique to Arrancars, and it essentially mixes their Hollow power with their human body. It can be deemed similar to a Soul Reaper’s Bankai form as both use the Zanpakuto for the transformation. In this state, Kaname Tosen takes on the form of a beast-like Hollow, and gains a number of special abilities that enhance his fighting capabilities. Similar to the Hollowfication state,Resurrección also grants an Arrancarenhanced regeneration, and any injuries prior to manifesting this state are also completely healed.
Los Nueve Aspectos is one of Kaname’s primary abilities in this state, and its unrivaled strength was capable of destroying Captain Sajin’s Bankai with one blow. The technique forms rings in the air which produce a concussive sound wave, thrashing any opponent in its trajectory. La Mirada is another one of his techniques in this state, forming two Cero in front of his eyes that result in a highly destructive blast.
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