[Bijuu] Yoruichi Shihōin

Name: Yoruichi Shihōin

Gender: Female

Race: Shinigami

Canon/OC: Canon



Visual Appearance:

Shinigami Form



Feline Form


Physical Description: Yoruichi is undeniably a warrior by build alone. Standing at 5'3", with a slender build she has trained her body to its peak condition, which comes naturally as the result of her previous, prestigious positions. She has dark skin, golden irises, and black hair, which often seems more purple in the light. Her hair is waist-length, typically kept in a ponytail with chin-length bangs framing the sides of her face. Her appearance is viewed by many as stunning, and while Yoruichi herself is well-aware of that (often teasing her male compatriots) she still sees herself as more of a soldier than mere eye candy.

Unlike any other known Shinigami, she can transform into a small black cat for long periods of time. In this form, she has a distinctive male voice and golden eyes.

Clothing/Misc. Items: Her standard attire consists of a black, backless, sleeveless undershirt, an orange over-shirt with two white straps on each shoulder. In addition, she has large beige sash around her waist, and black stretch pants with a pair of lightweight brown shoes, which allow for stealth and easy use of Shunpo and Shunko. She occasionally wears a beige neck warmer, which she pulls up to cover her face to conceal her identity. While she still keeps it, its usage is nowadays limited. She occasionally wears long beige wrist and leg warmers, each secured by bands.




Sexuality: Bisexual

Goals: To reconnect with her Zanpakuto, aid those who are in need, retain her loyalty to Urahara

General Personality:

Yoruichi is someone who often comes across as much younger than she really is. She is a master manipulator, in a sense, mainly coming across as purely playful and flirtatious, especially to those who do not really know her. While it's not entirely a facade, it is a smokescreen to throw off her enemies and some subordinates. She knows how to push buttons, even with people she doesn't know. To her, most people are open books, begging for her to read them and thus gain the upper hand. Still, her laid back nature is something that has stuck with her since she was young and finds it instrumental in staying sane in a world wrought with chaos and despair. Yoruichi is typically very witty, often cracking jokes with Urahara to ease the tension. They're both seasoned professionals, a degree of levity is allowed, even necessary. That extends to her relationship with Sui-Feng, who insists on using honorary titles for Yoruichi, something the woman doesn't really find essential. Yoruichi is of noble birth, but prefers to not enunciate her title, since that remains firmly in the past. Yet it should be said that she knows how to act in a noble environment and especially a professional one.

Many forget how old Yoruichi truly is. Coming from a prestigious family and forging an even more prestigious career for herself, Yoruichi is someone not to be trifled with. Her knowledge of Soul Society and its inner workings are a goldmine to any that have the fortune of having her on their side. Even if she is only a reluctant ally of the Gotei 13, almost everyone there views her as someone to be respected. Yoruichi did, after all, become the most proficient Hoho user to ever grace Soul Society. Her title of "Flash Goddess" is one that strikes admiration and fear in most who hear it. Even more become vary whenever Yoruichi puts her mind to a task, as she is, frankly, an unstoppable force. Her no-nonsense way of getting down to business seems effortless, which is why some more unknowing opponents mistake that for weakness. Yoruichi is certainly cocky, to a degree, though she would say it's just confidence in her centuries of experience. Nevertheless, Yoruichi's playful nature should not be mistaken for aloofness or her being uncaring. She knows what she's doing and will show the necessary amount of maturity and expertise when needed.

Yoruichi is also someone who is rather selfless and is prepared to sacrifice whatever she must in order to help protect those closest to her. She did willingly abandon everything she had in Soul Society, after all. She has a tight-knit group of people who are her family and she will die for them, no questions asked. That's to say nothing of her skills as a mentor. Yoruichi will gladly take people under her wing who truly want to better themselves and be better able to protect their kin. She sees the potential in people and is excellent in reading their deepest desires.

As a former Captain and Commander herself, Yoruichi understands authority. While she is often the smartest person in the room when it comes to tactics, politics and the like, she will acknowledge when someone else has more insight to whatever or whoever she faces. Even if she doesn't fully agree with the course of action taken, she will either comply or try to present a path that is better, in her mind. Of course, Yoruichi's typical escapades often involve stealth, infiltration and espionage, she knows when to do things her way and when to compromise. But she knows, most of the time, that her plans are worth considering.

While Yoruichi is mainly seen as a warrior, soldier, a woman of wisdom, and... other things not worth mentioning, she is also spiritual in her core. Was is perhaps the more accurate word, however. Her spirituality was largely a part of her in her youth, though that increased when she learned her Zanpakuto's name, which required Yoruichi to be connected to both herself and the world around it, as well as beyond, in the most complete way. It's not to say that she was a monk or anything of the sort, not at all. She was still Yoruichi through and through, simply more attuned to her own spirituality because it was required. That aspect of her is currently suppressed, however, in light of the threat of Aizen, Yoruichi has quietly begun working on regaining her inner spirit and once more truly connecting to her Zanpakuto. Few know of this aspect of Yoruichi's character and she has kept it so purposefully. Her preference on using Hakuda, Shunpo and Shunko isn't only because she lost her spirituality, but a part of it.




History:


Yoruichi Shihōin’s current predicament would fool anyone into thinking she was simply the capable friend of a shopkeeper. In Yoruichi’s case, reality was far more interesting than her laid-back demeanor would initially indicate.

Born into the noble Shihōin family, one of the great four noble families in Soul Society, Yoruichi was in a position of power essentially from birth. She didn’t have to experience the same quality of life that most souls did when they arrived in Soul Society. She grew up at her family’s mansion in Seireitei and was inseparable from her closest friends, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi. Yoruichi was never the proper nobility type, however. She was much more of a tomboy, preferring to get down and dirty rather than prim and proper. It took her family more time than they were willing to admit, to turn Yoruichi into a more noble princess, though they never managed to fully convert her. It simply wasn’t in her to be someone that was very much against her core nature. Whenever addressed, Yoruichi made sure to remind people how much she hated the royal titles. Nonetheless, she still performed her noble duties amicably and eventually became the 22. generational Head of the Shihōin Clan.

Yoruichi had a relatively stable family life, save for her father. The noble families were always dysfunctional, since royal duty was almost always held in higher regard than good familial relationships. Yoruichi’s father was especially strict with such policies and tended to keep Yoruichi at arm’s length. It was supposedly for her betterment and would teach her to understand the system they lived in. Yoruichi, predictably, wasn’t convinced and she was constantly at odds with her father. Their arguments tended to last for hours, even when they were reiterating the same points. An unstoppable force met an immovable object. She didn’t hate her father, even when they disagreed on matters so often. They had mutual respect for one another, especially after Yoruichi’s rise within the family and the Gotei 13. Long after his death, Yoruichi reflects that while their relationship wasn’t ideal, she knows how instrumental he was in helping her become the woman she is today.


When they were still children, Yoruichi, Kisuke and Tessai used to keep an eye on the various dealings of the Shinigami. They weren’t foreign figures to them, as Yoruichi’s family was directly responsible for one of the military branches. Meaning that seeing Shinigami wasn’t a rare occurrence. But to the little trio, they always seemed like such impressive figures. They wielded swords that transformed into whatever they could imagine. They cast spells and they were so fast that sometimes you couldn’t even properly see them. To Yoruichi, they were larger than life figures, people to aspire to be.

As she grew older, Yoruichi’s fantastical fascination with the Shinigami faded. However, that was replaced with her understanding of their necessity. That applied even more to the three military branches in general, which ensured her eventual involvement in the Onmitsukidō. Yoruichi was almost immediately put to work when she voiced her enthusiasm about the Onmitsukidō. She was supposed to lead the group in the future and it was deemed best that she started preparations at an early age.

Yoruichi’s training was expectedly lengthy and arduous, but wildly necessary to develop her skills and reveal her innate talents. Her affinity for Hoho and Hakuda was quickly apparent and they were the skills that Yoruichi enjoyed honing the most.

Years passed and Yoruichi was now heading the Shihōin Clan. A short time after that, she took on the title of Corps Commander of the Executive Militia of the Onmitsukidō. Even then, rumors of Yoruichi’s proficiency in Shunpo spread, with many already calling her the fastest woman in Soul Society. Others chose to forego her gender and simply said she was “the fastest”. As Yoruichi was building her career within the organization, Kisuke stuck with her, joining the Onmitsukidō himself. Tessai was already underway in his learnings on becoming a Shinigami and specialised in Kido, specifically.

Yoruichi’s intuitive nature and her raw talent in leadership, tactics and Shinigami abilities made her rise within the Onmitsukidō quicker than expected. Her eventual promotion to Commander-in-Chief was a no-brainer. Especially when the Shihōin family heads were traditionally supposed to fill the role anyway. During this time, Yoruichi took on additional training in Kido and began heavily training with her Zanpakuto. Learning to use the latter would prove to be her most significant hurdle. It yielded little to no results for a while, prompting Yoruichi to further focus on Shunpo and her mastery of it. However, she soon grew to understand what was necessary to successfully awaken her Zanpakuto, leading her to find her inner spirituality. Yoruichi left no stone unturned to ensure that she was as spiritually attuned as she possibly could. When she finally awakened her Zanpakuto, she was elated, to say the least. The power it wielded was impressive, but more impressive were the revelations she discovered about herself. Yet, leading a group like the Onmitsukidō would still force her to one her Shunpo further, leading Yoruichi to develop many techniques for it and cementing her eventual status as the “Flash Goddess”. Her ascension to the Gotei 13 was frankly, inevitable.

During her tenure as the Covert Force’s leader, Yoruichi chose Soifon to be her personal bodyguard. The two formed an almost immediate bond, further strengthened by Yoruichi’s decision to mentor the aspiring Shinigami. Noticing Soifon’s talent, she took it upon herself to teach her everything she knew. Yoruichi also lent her mentorship skills to Byakuya Kuchiki, a friend from a fellow noble family. Her development of Shunko also fit into this time period. Yoruichi sought to give herself more variety in combat, without needing to rely on her sword all the time. The militaristic nature of her profession also began to strain her connection with her Zanpakuto, which required a spiritual connection stronger than most. The disconnect was gradual at first, but grew over time.

When she was appointed the Captain of the 2nd Division, Yoruichi further united the formerly more separate military arms of the Soul Society. The Onmitsukidō and 2nd Division became a merged force, with Yoruichi as its exceedingly capable head.


Yoruichi’s time as a Captain was reaching its end, however. Attending an emergency Captains meeting, she learned that several high-ranking members of the 9th Division had disappeared, following their investigation of similar cases. Captain-Commander Yamamoto formed a 5 Captain team to further investigate the situation. As the team was formed, Yoruichi was to await further orders. She and the Onmitsukidō were to conduct their own investigation in secret. Yoruichi witnessed the events of the night where Aizen revealed his initial betrayal and the eight Hollowfied experiments being left for dead. She was to report back to the Captain-Commander, but knew that if Aizen could conduct something like this in secret, then her knowing about it would put her in a precarious position. Thus, she decided to approach Urahara and Tessai first.

Before she could do anything, however, word reached her that Urahara and Tessai were arrested under the orders of the Central 46. Yoruichi berated herself for not acting sooner, quickly connecting the threads between their arrests and Aizen. The two men were quickly given their sentences and punishments were to be carried out in quick succession. Yoruichi was aware of the repercussions that would follow, were she to come forth with her own evidence and she was essentially left with one choice.

Yoruichi broke her two friends out of prison, taking them to the secluded underground area which Urahara had built years ago. Voicing her explosive disdain at how they excluded her from their plan, Yoruichi revealed that she had retrieved the Hollowfied Shinigami as well as Urahara’s prototype Gigai to take with them. Their only option now was to leave Soul Society. Yoruichi wouldn’t initially join the two in escaping however, stating that she had to get her affairs in order first. In a single night, Yoruichi’s belief in the system she grew up in was shattered. It was also the final straw that truly severed her connection to her Zanpakuto. After a lengthy conversation in her inner world, Yoruichi bid farewell to the spirit. However, her Zanpakuto was confident that Yoruichi would one day find her spiritual center once again and that he would be waiting for her seemingly inevitable return. This prompted Yoruichi to take her Zanpakuto with her, cautiously believing what he had said. Leaving Soul Society, Yoruichi left behind her titles and positions, but left behind a legacy in the forms of Soifon and Byakuya.


As means to keep herself well and truly hidden from the Soul Society, Yoruichi spent the majority of her time in her feline form as she arrived in Karakura Town. At some point, she became so accustomed to it that she rarely transformed back. As she, Urahara and Tessai settled in Karakura Town, Yoruichi decided to put her Zanpakuto away for safe keeping. She hid it in the underground training ground underneath Urahara’s shop, so that if she did want to reclaim it, she could have the necessary environment to do so. At the time, it seemed that the trio’s life in the shop was the thing that would remain the same for as long as they decided. Little did they know that their past would soon catch up to them, or rather, they would catch up to the past.

She was largely distant from the initial events that lead to Rukia Kuchiki’s retrieval by the Soul Society, seeing that it wasn’t her battle at the time. But as Ichigo proved himself to be a surprisingly capable Shinigami, as well as his group’s genuine desire to rescue their friend, Yoruichi stepped up. Urahara took Ichigo under his wing to help the latter regain his Shinigami powers. At the same time, Yoruichi offered to train Orihime Inoue and Yasutora Sado. With their powers new to them and their willingness to improve, Yoruichi felt it her responsibility guide them on the right path.

Training the duo seemed fruitless at first, as neither could willingly call on their powers. No stranger to the disconnect between a person and their abilities, Yoruichi made it clear that they would need to find the reason why their powers manifested in the first place. Only then could they be prepared to face the dangers of the Soul Society. Her words of wisdom and harsh reality checks eventually allowed Orihime and Sado to truly unlock their powers, even impressing the Flash Goddess to a degree. For mere humans, they were stronger than they wanted to admit.

Being a mentor once more brought back the now painful memories of her previous life. Yoruichi even wondered at that point if she should try and reconnect with her Zanpakuto, but decided otherwise. Still, after the group seemed ready and more than willing, Yoruichi decided to join them, acting as a guide. They didn’t know it, but Yoruichi knew Soul Society better than anyone.

Even though Yoruichi didn’t train Ichigo, she noted his resolve. It was even more apparent when they were preparing to invade Soul Society, applauding his determination, but also warning him of the consequences if he failed his mission.


Yoruichi’s expectations of the Soul Society’s dangers were proven right almost immediately. Even after a 100 years, she knew what would lie in store for them. What was somewhat surprising to her, however, was that her feline form disguised her completely even within Soul Society. She was more than prepared to be found out the minute she arrived with the others.

When their initial plan of storming Seireitei rather predictably failed, Yoruichi decided to track down Kukaku Shiba. An old friend, she was certain that Kukaku would have a solution to their problem. Convincing Kukaku was simple. She even reminded Yoruichi of herself, even if she was more rough around the edges, but her scrappy nature was what made the two close friends in the first place.

Having done the necessary preparations to enter Seireitei through Kukaku’s means, Yoruichi gave the group more necessary warnings for the next stage of their plan. To not wander off by themselves. To run if they encounter a captain-class enemy. To not engage in unnecessary risks. Their objective was to rescue Rukia, nothing more. Due to malfunction of the device they used to breach Seireitei, the group was forced to split. Yoruichi was left on her own, keeping herself on the fringes and not engaging in needless combat. She tracked the progress of the group, eventually having to retrieve Ichigo after his fight with Kenpachi Zaraki. It forced her to transform back into her human form, having done so for the first time in what felt like years. She was certain that her reiatsu would be felt by others, so she hastily took Ichigo to the secret underground area, the original one, which Urahara had built when they were young.

After recuperating and gathering their strength, Yoruichi began thinking of the next stage of their plan. Ichigo, however, sensed the reiatsu of Byakuya Kuchiki and noted that Kukaku’s brother, Ganju was in danger. Not able to stop him from storming off, Yoruichi followed. Once more, she rescued Ichigo and fully revealed herself in Soul Society in over 100 years. Byakuya and Yoruichi had a short reunion, with the former believing Yoruichi was dead. Recalling the friendship the two used to have, Yoruichi felt a pang of guilt at betraying Byakuya again, but noted that it was for a greater reason. She went on to state that in three days, she would make Ichigo stronger than Byakuya and that their impending fight was to happen then.

Shortly after, Yoruichi commenced her training with Ichigo, promising to make him strong enough to rescue Rukia and make things right. Yoruichi explained what a Zanpakuto can really do and how she can help him achieve Bankai in such a short period, when it typically takes more than 10 years for a normal Shinigami to master it. The three days Yoruichi trained Ichigo felt like they went on for much longer. She was equally impressed by Ichigo’s quick improvement as well as curious as to why that was the case. Not to mention how she remembered her own training in the very same underground space. She quietly thought about her own Zanpakuto once more, somewhat feeling as if she should have retrieved it for this occasion. But it wasn’t her battle, it was Ichigo’s. She could only guide him on the right path and hope he had what was necessary to complete his mission.

Yoruichi’s initial involvement in the battle of Sōkyoku was limited, since she was tied up battling her former protégé, Soifon. The latter noted how Yoruichi hadn’t seemingly gotten any stronger. Yoruichi instead opiniated that Soifon had grown weaker since the last time they met. Soifon continued to taunt Yoruichi, however, saying that when her involvement with the Ryoka was revealed, her Clan would no longer be considered noble. Yoruichi took a moment to reflect on her family, who had always been more like acquaintances than real family. Her father and brother came to mind as the few people she had a true connection with, however. Not wanting to predict how her father would react if she saw Yoruichi now, she stuffed those feelings and memories away.

Soifon was determined to destroy Yoruichi’s legacy, even saying that she would relinquish Yoruichi’s “Flash Goddess” title from her. Yoruichi was more amused than anything, as she took out an entire Onmitsukidō squad in mere moments. The two women continued their battle, which initially seemed more equal than expected. Soifon revealed her Shunko, claiming she had developed the ability herself. Her cockiness got the better of her, however, as Yoruichi explained how she created Shunko and revealed her own much more advanced variant of the technique. Yoruichi wasn’t intending on using it against Soifon, but Soifon’s usage of the skill proved to be too dangerous without proper mastery. Soifon herself continued to launch attacks against Yoruichi, determined to take her down for betraying her. As the smoke cleared, Yoruichi was the clear victor, with Soifon breaking down and asking why she was abandoned all those years ago.

As Aizen’s betrayal was broadcasted all over Soul Society, Yoruichi and Soifon hastily made their way to Sōkyoku Hill. Their combined efforts stopped Aizen from releasing his Zanpakuto, however Aizen still managed to escape with Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tosen. Their escape left both the Ryoka and the Gotei 13 worried for what was to come and what Aizen’s ultimate goal was.

Yoruichi eventually returned to the Living World with the others, reflecting on their new predicament with Urahara. Both agreed that they couldn’t stay on the sidelines any longer, with the threat of Aizen looming over their heads. Yoruichi took a moment to think about how she got to where she was. A journey that was long and filled with more obstacles than she would have liked. Yet, she was still in a position where she felt that she had to lend her efforts to the inevitable war that was coming their way. Her job wasn’t done and she wasn’t about to quit simply because the odds were stacked against her.

Faction: Urahara's Team

Rank: Partner, mentor, overall a slice of fun




Physical Abilities/Power:

Shunpo Master

Largely said to be the most proficient Hoho master ever in all of Soul Society, Yoruichi is immensely skilled in the use of Shunpo. Her title of the "Flash Goddess" comes from her ability to seemingly appear in multiple places at once, her absolute mastery of the skill, and how she has created techniques of her own to further amplify her Shunpo. Yoruichi's speed is so great, that crossing large distances can be done in the blink of an eye. She can also take out an entire squad of opponents in a matter of seconds, providing they don't have any ability to counter or match her speed. Yoruichi's mastery in Shunpo is something feared by many, with most preferring not to face the Flash Goddess purely because of how quickly she could dispose of them. It is fairly save to say that only Byakuya Kuchiki (and Sui-Feng to a degree) can reasonably catch up with Yoruichi, though she herself prefers to think that she edges him out just about.

• Senka - A technique where the user swiftly moves to their opponent's back and directly attacks them with two rapid strikes. The effect is basically cutting the opponent off from their reiatsu flow. Senka is quick enough for the opponent to not be able to tell from which direction they were attacked from. Even someone viewing from the side may find it immensely difficult to see the proper movements.
  
  

• Utsusemi - Way of Onmitsu, 3rd of the Shiho. A skill developed by Yoruichi, which allows the user to move at such speed, that they leave behind tangible after-images. Yoruichi's mastery of the skill lets her leave behind five after-images when using Utsusemi. She also taught the technique to Byakuya Kuchiki.
  
  

Hakuda Master

Yoruichi is one of the most accomplished hand-to-hand combatants in Soul Society. Her mastery of the art form is so great that she uses it exclusively as her form of combat, notably forgoing the use of a Zanpakuto altogether, although the reasons for that are more complicated. Yoruichi's skill in Hakuda means that she can take on numerous opponents at once with little to no trouble, as her fighting skill and speed outmatch nearly anyone she faces. Yoruichi is also physically much more durable, able to battle for hours on end without tiring herself. Her endurance is high enough that she can take a good beating without much injury, though even she has her limits.

• Taketonbo - Involves a simple throw which suddenly and violently flips an opponent upside down.
  
  

• Raiōken - A technique involving a series of high-speed punches delivered using both arms in rapid succession.
  
  
• Takigoi - A hakuda technique Yoruichi taught Soifon when young. It is used to create an opening in an opponent's defense. It essentially involves blocking an opponents kicks in a way that leaves them in a split position, where Yoruichi can effectively strike her opponent in the torso area with her free hand.
  
  
• Tesshō - Taught to Yoruichi by Tessai. A simple, but powerful open palm strike, which can bring down an opponent with great force.

Shunko

An advanced technique which combines Hakuda with Kido. This technique surrounds her back and arms with pressurized Kido based on the element of lightning. The uniform Yoruichi is seen in when using Shunko has no back or sleeves because they will rip apart when it is activated. The most obvious effect Shunko has, is significantly enhancing Yoruichi's physical strength. The Kido itself can be controlled and fired at opponents from her body, which creates sizable explosions. Yoruichi's version of the technique was developed and studied by her a century ago. Therefore, the technique is complete and the compressed Kido is visible. While using this technique, her Reiatsu takes the form of white lightning. Her skill and control in its usage has progressed to the point, where the Shunko takes on the form of a pair of lightning wings generated from her back.

• Shunko: Raijin Senkei - The lightning emitted from Yoruichi's back creates several circles of energy, connected to one another as Yoruichi unleashes a giant column of concentrated electrical energy to engulf her opponent.
  
  

• Hanki - A technique that nullifies an opponent's Kido by hitting it with a Kido of perfectly opposite speed and energy. The technique can neutralize an opponent's movements.

Way of the Omnitsukido

As her previous titles suggest, Yoruichi has retained many of her skills from her days as a Captain and Commander. Most obviously, Yoruichi is an expert swordsman. While she prefers to solely rely on her hand-to-hand combat skills and Shunko, she is still capable of wielding a Zanpakuto just as effectively as almost any other current Shinigami.

She is also a master strategist and leader, having proven time and again her quick-thinking nature and adaptability to nearly any situation. Unafraid to think outside the box, Yoruichi can come up with solutions that may sometimes seem unorthodox, but effective nonetheless. She prefers to always have at least two additional plans to her primary one, so that she can always stay atop the situation and never lose the advantage. As a leader, Yoruichi can command groups of people effectively, with everyone having a core role, as the situation demands. These days she works in concordance with Urahara's ideas, but she is still very capable of leading her own forces if needed. Her understanding of Soul Society's inner workings and politics give her a unique advantage some may not have.

As is expected of any Omnitsukido leader, Yoruichi is one of the foremost masters of the art of assassination and espionage. She has repeatedly shown impressive skill in staying hidden and unseen. When necessary, she can effectively exploit having an advantage against an opponent or hiding her presence. Even the most skilled and perceptive people have been caught by surprise because of Yoruichi's raw talent in the field.

Immense Spiritual Power

Members of noble families have always had notably higher levels of reiatsu. Yoruichi is no exception. Her level of spiritual energy and control over it is renowned throughout the spirit world, with many being wary of even trying to engage in combat with Yoruichi. Her reiatsu takes on a red color.

Feline Transformation

Through currently unknown means, Yoruichi has the unique ability to transform into a small black cat at will. So far, she is the only one able to do this out of all Shinigami. Yoruichi has possessed this ability for well over 100 years. There is no set time limit on how long she can stay transformed, as she has shown to spend an extended amount of time in her feline form. In this form, she can still use spiritual energy and still retains her speed. Due to physical limitations, she cannot do much else in this form. As an added disguise benefit, Yoruichi's voice in her cat form is distinctly male. The origins of this form are still unknown, though it seems that it doesn't have any connection to her Zanpakuto and is most likely an ability granted by Urahara. It remains unconfirmed, however.

Kido: Yoruichi is well-versed in Kido. She is highly skilled in using Kido to further her capacity in combat, often mixing it with other fighting techniques. She has used mid to high-level binding and destruction spells with no incantation with expert skill. For the higher level kido, Yoruichi uses incantations, though is seen doing so only when her other skills fail her.

Bakudo - Yoruichi is required to perform an incantation from Bakudo #73 onward to have them properly function.



Hado - From #73 onward, Yoruichi is required to perform incantations for proper effect.



Zanpakuto:



Gensei Hoshō - (literally meaning "Primeval Sentinel")

Gensei Hoshō is a peculiar and old Zanpakuto. As is the case with every Zanpakuto, it requires the user to be immensely attuned to their spirituality and inner self. Because of its abilities and Yoruichi's immense reiatsu, Gensei Hoshō requires more than most. Balance is the key word when describing what Gensei Hoshō represents and how it functions. In its sealed form, Gensei Hoshō is a wakizashi with gold being its primary colour. Black leather covers most of the hilt, Shihoin family crest presenting itself on both sides. The cross guard is circular and golden, parts of it hollowed out, making it look like a yin-yang symbol, echoing the spiritual nature of the Zanpakuto. The sheath is striped golden brown and black, made from strong wood, its end widening out. The piece is completed by a red ribbon, wrapped around a small quarter of the sheath. 





Inner World - The inner world of Gensei Hoshō is split into two distinct halves. Always to the right, is a calm sea reaching beyond the horizon, visible mountains peeking from the horizon, all in perpetual nighttime. To the left is a large field, consumed by fire and battle, to last forever. A large temple looms in the distance, only barely visible through the smoke and fire. Both sides have two traditional, impressive gates as their most significant landmarks. The two halves are connected by a small circular garden in the middle, small trees, bushes and flowers surrounding it, never withering. In the center of the garden, is a bar, where Gensei Hoshō himself resides, keeping the balance of the two sides. These halves represent Yoruichi in broad strokes. The sea represents her laid-back nature, the calm levity she often brings to the table. The battlefield is a symbol of Yoruichi's warrior half, one that's constantly present and will forever remind her of who she was and probably will always be.




Spirit - Gensei Hoshō himself takes the form of a handsome, seemingly middle-aged man. He is always found in the garden bar, always smoking, always having a drink, and always keeping his sword close by. As he is the "gatekeeper" of these two halves, he visually represents them as well. Apart from the eyepatch, Gensei Hoshō wears an unbuttoned dress shirt with an undone tie, simple black slacks and boots and covers himself with a military style cloak, adorned with symbols seen on the Zanpakuto's crossguard, as well as the Shihōin family crest. Gensei Hoshō is typically laid back in nature, but remembers his scars from numerous battles. He and Yoruichi have a complicated bond and haven't spoken for over a hundred years, but he remains at the bar. Waiting for the inevitable day when Yoruichi returns, joins him for a drink and reclaims her true power.


Shikai:

To release her Zanpakuto, Yoruichi typically holds her wakizashi in front of her in a reverse grip with her dominant (right) hand. She then crosses her left hand underneath the right one to grab the blade, having her arms in an x-formation. When she utters the release command, the wakizashi transforms into a chakram (about 40cm/5 inches in diameter), half of it in each hand. The chakram does reattach, though Yoruichi prefers to use it separately. The chakram itself has a partially symbolic nature to it, as the shikai's abilities affect Yoruichi's body more than they do the blade. And yes, the chakram can be thrown and it will come back to her, as will the separate pieces if she decides to use them as projectiles.

Since Gensei Hoshō deals in balance, the shikai ability reflects that. Yoruichi has access to two gates. Each give her a different set of abilities that give her an edge in battle. One gate greatly increases her physical capabilities, beyond her usual limitations, while also making her more ruthless and furious. The other gate sacrifices physical strength in favor of intelligence, even giving Yoruichi a degree of foresight, allowing her to predict her opponent's movements to a meticulous degree. Yoruichi can use one gate at a time, but she can switch between them fairly quickly, firmly keeping the battle a guessing game for the adversary. Yoruichi can always opt to use neither gate, if she wants to simply use the benefits of the chakram itself as well as the full capabilities of her regular physicality.

• Rashōmon - The gate of fury is one that increases Yoruichi's physical capabilities above their usual limits. She will become four times as strong as she usually is (this is counting in Shunko as well), capable of demolishing three city blocks with a single, well placed strike. Her durability makes her far more capable of taking damage from a blade, arrow and even a bullet. Her speed remains unaffected, since her Zanpakuto senses how fast she already is. However, the Rashōmon gate gives Yoruichi a much more potent thirst for battle. She will be more ruthless, more willing to take risks, and can sense that she may become more blinded by fury and rage when using Rashōmon. While using the Rashōmon gate, Yoruichi cannot access Shunko or Kido in general, since her physical abilities more than make up for both of them. When Yoruichi uses Rashōmon, her reiatsu turns from her standard red to a blend of dark red and orange, fluctuating like fire.

• Suzakumon - The gate of calm is the second gate, which amplifies Yoruichi's mental capacity. In short, she will become significantly more intelligent. This will be at the cost of her typical strength and speed and making Yoruichi less durable in general. Suzakumon gives Yoruichi a much better understanding of her opponent, increasing her intuition, where she can quickly deduct her opponent's skills and abilities when they use them just once. In addition, Yoruichi gains limited foresight. She can predict her opponent's movements 3 seconds in advance to an almost certainty. When using Suzakumon, Yoruichi can still access Shunko and her Kido spells as well. When using Suzakumon, Yoruichi's reiatsu takes on a blend of turquoise and green.

• Chakram Control - As her Zanpakuto is an extension of herself and is closely tied to her being, Yoruichi can control the chakram and its halves telekinetically, for the lack of a better word. If she chooses to throw them/it, she can manipulate their trajectory and guide them where she sees fit. Her range reaches to roughly 30 meters. She can also make the chakram spin faster or slower and imbue them with certain kido spells/shunko energy, depending on which gate she is currently using, if any.

"Tekiō."

Bankai:

Yoruichi's bankai is oddly far simpler in design than many would expect. In fact, when Yoruichi activates bankai, she is given no visible transformation nor does she have a sword or a new variation of her chakram. She remains in whatever outfit she was wearing at the start of the battle, albeit any damage done to the clothing has been reversed. While Gensei Hoshō in its shikai form symbolized balance of the physical and mental forms, its bankai deals with adapting to your circumstances when you can't viably change them. Or rather, when you can't change what has happened or predict what will happen. Only the present is under your control, something which Gensei Hoshō's bankai quite literally depicts. Even the bankai's name "Tekiō" literally means "Adaptation".

Tekiō allows Yoruichi to automatically adapt to whatever ability her opponent has. In essence, whether it's a shikai, bankai, resurrection or anything else falling under those categories, Yoruichi's bankai can adapt her to their specific skillsets and abilities. The only real exceptions to this are Kido, Cero, Bala and other auxiliary techniques in their usual forms. However, those can still be adapted to if they're tied to the user's Zanpakuto or whatever weapon they use to fire those abilities. So when Kido is a part of the user's Zanpakuto, Yoruichi can adapt to it. Same with other auxiliary powers. In addition, the forms of adaptation Tekiō gives Yoruichi, vary nearly every time. It may be something as noticeable as a lightweight armored suit, shield or a more unnoticeable change in her body, making it difficult for most to immediately understand what her bankai really does. As soon as her opponent adaptation effect kicks in, Yoruichi will herself know what it is and how it functions. While Yoruichi cannot necessarily predict what form or shape the adaptation will take, she can typically guess what it will most likely be. And while the effects will be automatically placed upon her, she can willingly discard them if necessary. When Yoruichi is under the adaptive effects, she cannot use Shunko, but can still perform Kido spells.

A few examples. If Yoruichi were to face off against someone like Toshiro Hitsugaya, Tekiō would bestow Yoruichi with the means of adapting to his ice-based Hyorinmaru. Be it a suit of armor able to withstand the cold or raising Yoruichi's body temperature to a degree where the ice would melt. If Yoruichi were to face someone with a more cerebral ability, like Shinji Hirako's Sakanade, Tekiō would effectively change Yoruichi's way of perception to adapt to Sakanade's effects of inversion. For something even more simple, such as Sajin Komamura's Tenken and its bankai, Yoruichi's body would simply become durable to its immense size and strength or she herself will become stronger to match it. As another example, Yoruichi can adapt to Jushiro Ukitake's shikai by merely adapting to whatever ability he's firing back at her. Be it a kido spell or cero or something third.

Likely the biggest caveat to using Tekiō is its time limit. From the bankai's commencement, Yoruichi has exactly 10 minutes and 13 seconds to use it. This includes the times whenever she decides to forego the bankai's effects to use Shunko. When she reaches the time limit, Tekiō will effectively end and she will be reverted back to her shikai abilities for the remainder of the battle. It's the primary reason why Yoruichi doesn't like her bankai, as she has to weigh whether the situation is worth the 10 minute window for her bankai.

RP Sample:

The inner world of Gensei Hoshō was a place dealing in opposites. Constant battle on one side, seemingly eternal peace on the other. And in the middle was a garden, with a bar. That last part was something Yoruichi herself didn’t expect when she first stepped into this world. But it was now a place she considered a home of sorts. It was the place she had come to when she needed to reflect, away from prying eyes, away from unwanted attention. A place that had a special place in her heart and soul. So it was beyond painful to come here for a last time, to bid farewell to someone who had served her so ardently. Who had her back and who knew Yoruichi better than almost anyone else.

Gensei Hoshō was predictably waiting for Yoruichi as she walked on the small stone road leading to the bar. The man was smoking, as he always was and a jug beside him, ready to be poured out for one last toast. He sensed her anguish and regret, but he didn’t react on it. He was as calm and collected as he had always been. Yoruichi sat on a stool by the bar, not saying a word, since her Zanpakuto already knew what was about to transpire. The two sat for several minutes, wordlessly communicating their thoughts to one another. Gensei Hoshō poured Yoruichi a drink, slid it towards her and took a quick puff from his cigarette.

“So this is truly the last time you will be visiting, Yoruichi-san?”

It occurred to Yoruichi that she hadn’t even made eye contact since she arrived. Only now when she looked at Gensei Hoshō, she saw the mix of emotions in his eyes. Yet his emotions never seemed extreme. Always balanced. She had also forgotten how handsome the spirit was. It was distracting at first and even more odd to call your sword’s spirit handsome, but the man was a looker. A strange thing to remind yourself when you’re essentially shutting down a part of yourself.

“It… it is. You know what happened. You know how I feel about this. And you know that this is the most difficult thing I’ve had to do my entire life.”

She took a swig from her cup, as Gensei Hoshō gave her a slow, deep nod. He understood her reasoning. He wasn’t going to fault her for doing what she thought was right. He knew what kind of woman Yoruichi was, he respected her immensely.

“I know. I also know, that there will come a day when you will return. Be it because of yourself or external circumstances. Or maybe because Kisuke’s just such a pain in the ass."

“Tsk. Dumbass.”

Gensei Hoshō chuckled briefly at his last sentence, as did Yoruichi. They poured a final drink, toasted each other, and Yoruichi took her last steps in the garden. A partnership, strong as steel, broken. But it had to be done. Only time would tell if Gensei Hoshō’s words rang true.