Yoruichi Shihouin

A woman with dark skin and a free-spirited personality, contrary to her stern, elderly tone of voice. She refers to herself as "Washi". She usually takes the form of a black cat, enjoying the freedom it offers, such as eating more with less food and not needing to wear clothes. Her true identity is a former captain of the 2nd Division and former Commander-in-Chief of the Covert Ops, as well as the former head of the First Division "Punishment Force" of the Gotei 13, and the 22nd head of the noble Shihouin family, one of the four great noble families. She was childhood friends with Kisuke and Kūkaku, and 101 years before the Arrancar arc, she was framed by Aizen's conspiracy, stripped of her Shinigami powers, and fled to the human world with Kisuke, abandoning her position. A master of footwork and Hakuda, she has also mastered "Shunko", a high-level technique that combines Kido with her physical combat skills, earning her the nickname "God of Flash, Yoruichi". She primarily fights using Hakuda, and although she possesses a Zanpakuto, she states in the novel "Can't Fear Your Own World" that she is stronger fighting barehanded. In the Soul Society arc, she trains Orihime and Chad's spiritual powers and leads Ichigo and his friends to Soul Society to rescue Rukia. After Ichigo learns Bankai, she reconciles with her former subordinate Soifon. In the Arrancar arc, she appears with Urahara to help the overwhelmed Ichigo and others, fighting and overwhelming Yammy. However, she sustains injuries to her arms and legs during the fight. In the battle in Karakura Town, she wears special gauntlets made by Kisuke to fight alongside Kisuke and Isshin, but is defeated by Aizen, transformed by the Hogyoku. Later, in the novel "The Death Save The Strawberry", it is revealed that Aizen's conspiracy was acknowledged, and she, along with Kisuke and Tessai, are cleared of all charges. In the final arc, she appears with the Gotei 13 to confront Yhwach at the Royal Palace, but is injured by Pernida's abilities and healed by Orihime. She plans to attack Pernida from a distance, but Mayuri defeats Pernida before she can reengage. She then joins Ichigo in fighting Lille Barro, but struggles until Kisuke arrives and helps her recover, although she is ultimately defeated by Lille's "Quincy Vollständig". She does not appear in the final chapter. In the novels, she declines the position of captain of Squad 8 and becomes a monthly instructor at the Spiritual Arts Academy. She also appears in subsequent novels. In the anime, she appears in the Gotei 13 Invasion arc to help Ichigo and others, and appears in her black cat form in the final episode. Initially, her former captain status was not mentioned, and she was explicitly stated as not having been part of the Gotei 13 in "Karakurizer+", but this was added in the backstory from volume 36.