The Soul Reapers known as Shinigami in Japanese are spirit beings that inhabit the center of the Soul Society in the manga Bleach.

Soul Reapers travel to the world of the living to perform soul burials on spirits that have yet to find peace and pass on to the Soul Society.

Soul Reapers also have the task of destroying Hollows, evil spirits that have lost their connection to humanity.

When a Soul Reaper executes a hollow that didn't commit great crimes in life they purify the soul and return it to the Soul Society.

The only time a Soul Reaper sends a Soul or a Hollow to Hell is if that person committed great crimes while they were alive.

Since their beginning the Soul Reapers have been working to protect humans from Hollows by using their large army of Soul Reapers.

Within that army there are three main branches, the Gotei 13, the Demon Arts Division, and the Special Forces.

The Gotei 13 is the regular army and has 13 units that are led by 13 Captains.

Under each captain is a lieutenant who communicates directly between them and the lower ranks.

Each unit is different and some of these units aren't even combat capable, but instead are medical specialist.

The Demon Arts Division is made up of the Soul Reapers that are best at Demon Arts.

The Demon Arts Division is responsible for opening and closing the gates between the living world and the Soul Society.

All other activities that the Demon Arts Division carry out are strictly classified and kept to the members of the team.

The Special Forces is smaller than the Gotei 13 and respond to attacks and Hollows that are too powerful for the regular guard to handle.

All Soul Reapers carry a Zanpaku- to, a sword that has multiple forms that base themselves off of the power that the sword and the owner carry.

The basic uniform for the Soul Reapers is a black martial arts uniform that is very loose and baggy.

The Soul Reaper use black swallow tailed moths to signal when they have arrived or leave a place.

Advancement to captain's rank

The Soul Reaper's captain seats can only be filled when one of three conditions are met.

The first option for promotion is to take the promotion's exam.

To pass the exam the requires the Soul Reaper to perform their Zanpakuto's final release in the presence of the Commander General (who resides over the 1st Division) and two other existing captains.

A Soul Reaper's second option would be to get recommendations from six of the thirteen captains and at approval from three of the remaining captains.

The final choice for a Soul Reaper is to slay the captain that hold the seat that they want.

Lieutenant seats and below.

The Lieutenant seat is held by the Division's second most powerful Soul Reaper and is usually chosen by the Division's Captain.

Any seat beneath the Lieutenant is based on any factor from strength, ability, and experience. These seats can also be held by multiple people at one time, as is seen in the 13th Division.

Captains List

The Captains during the Soul Society arc.

1st divisions captain is the oldest and singularly most powerful of the Soul Reapers, Shigekuni Yamamoto- Genryusai.

2nd Division captain is Yoruichi Shihouin's former pupil Soifon.

3rd division is led by the deceptive Gin Ichimaru.

4th division is headed by the medical captain Retsu Unohana.

5th division has the traitorous Sosuke Aizen at it's command.

6th Division falls in the capable hands of Byakuya Kuchiki.

7th Division's captain is the helmeted Sajin Komamura.

8th Division captain is the laid back and womanizing Shunsui Kyoraku.

9th Division was led by the blind Soul Reaper Kaname Tosen.

10th Division has the youngest captain Toshiro Hitsugaya leading.

11th Division has the blood thirsty Kenpachi Zaraki leading it's men into battle.

12th Division was once led by Kisuke Urahara but now falls under the demented Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

13th Division belongs to the ill yet revered Jushiro Ukitake.

Replacements after the Soul Society Arc.

No one has been named as the new captains to replace the 3rd, 5th, and 9th division captains vacant seats. It would be logical for their lieutenants to take their seats, but they would first have to pass the promotions test.

Lieutenant's by Division

1st Division- Chojiro Sasakiba

2nd Division - Marechiyo Omaeda

3rd - Izuru Kira

4th - Isane Kotetsu

5th - Momo Hinamori

6th - Renji Abarai

7th - Tetsuzaemon Iba

8th - Nanao Ise

9th - Shuhei Hisagi

10th - Rangiku Matsumoto

11th - Yachiru Kusajishi

12th - Nemu Kurotsuchi

13th - Kaien Shiba (deceased)

Kido

Kidō also called "demon way" or "spirit way" is the ability to focus a shinigami's spiritual energy into magic spells and other abilities. There are three main types of Kidō spells, these are: Bakudō (Binding Spells), Hadō (Destructive Spells) and Healing spells which currently does not have any names.

Overview

Kido is a combat-based spell which shinigami use for general purpose. The spells are produced with strong reaitsu and have 3 categories. Bakudo which are binding, sealing, defensive, and communicating spells, Hado which are used offensively in Combat, and Barriers/Seals which are sub-branching of Bakudo which focus mainly on binding and sealing. It is a manner of Zankensoki which is Shinigami combat. Kido generally uses incantations but a select few masters can use them without incantation with a similar effect.

As the title suggests, the Kido Corps is a branch of the Soul Society, which excels in Kido.

A few Masters are Sosuke Aizen, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi, Genruysai Yamamoto and Hachigen Ushoda. These are some of the greatest Kido users able to use Kido with or without incantation with similar effects or use several Kido in a short time span.

How it Works

Most Kido is grade from the numbers 1 to 99 in range of power/general usefulness or ability to perform. The power of the spell relies on the user and low-class spells could be dangerous if a High-Class Shinigami is using it.

Kido can be used for practical purposes as well. Renji once used a kido to illuminate a dark hallway.

Kido is best used in sneak attacks or times when the opponent doesn't know it's going to be used.

Forbidden Kido

A classification of Kido deemed illegal by the Soul Society. Usage results in imprisonment or worse. Kido which fall under this branch are either space-time manipulation or a Kido which sacrifices the user.

Kaido

Known as Healing Kido, Kaido doesn't have a name, number, branch, or incantation to cast. They simply heal a target. The user casts a green glow from their hands using reaitsu which heals the target. It is used in this manner. Recovering of the physical body and then restoration of reaitsu.

Military Branch

The Kidō Corps is also a branch in the Soul Society's military which excels in Kidō. A special division dedicated to the art. Now it is unknown who holds the position of Captain and Lieutenant and any other notable positions and the meaning of the insignia is still unknown.

Responsibilities

The Kido Corps is responsible for opening and closing the Senkaimon between the human world and the Seireitei.

Known List of Spells

Binding spells/Bakudo

1. Restrain: Locks a target's arms in place behind their back.

4. Crawling Rope: An energy rope that entangles a target's arms.

8. Repulse: creates a round surface that repels and temporarily stuns whatever hits it.

9. Strike: Engulfs a target in red light, completely paralyzing them.

21. Red Smoke Escape: Creates a blast of smoke at the area where it is cast, much like how a Ninja's Smoke bomb works.

26. Curved Light: Hides the target from sight, by bending light. The spell has the ability to totally hide the presence and reiatsu of the user or specified object.

30. Beak-Piercing Triple Beam: Forming a golden triangle with one's finger, it shoots three beams of light that pin the target to one place on a surface, slamming into his or her body in three places in a shape of a perfect triangle.

37. Suspending Star: Creates a star-shaped cushion of Spiritual Energy, which anchors it to nearby objects with "ropes" of spirit particles. It can stop falling objects, acting like a safety net.

39. Arc Shields: Summons a shield of condensed reiatsu to block opponents' attacks.

58. Summoning of the Tracking Sparrows: Tracks and locates any spiritual force the user focuses on. To activate it, the user must draw a circle on the ground, cut into four parts with a specific character in each. The incantation animates the circle, causing various numbers to appear within until the specific set is found. The number set seems to be a variation on longitude and latitude.

61. Six Rods Prison of Light: Summons six thin, but wide, beams of light that slam into a target's midsection, holding them in place. Referred to as "Six Rod Light Restraint" in the English manga and "Six Bars of Light" in some of the games.

62. Hundred Steps Fence: A rod formed of energy is thrown towards the target before it disintegrates into numerous short rods which are used to pin the target to the surroundings and render them immobile.

63. Chainlike Desert: The target is wrapped from the neck down in a thick chain.

73. Inverse Mountain Crystal: Creates an inverted pyramid-shaped barrier around the caster.

75. Quintet of 1 kan Iron Pillars: Summons five incredibly tall and thick pillars to pin a target to the ground.

77. Heavenly Rickshaws in Silken Air: Transmits messages to anyone within a specific area. In addition to reciting the spell, the user must draw specific markings on their arms, which are animated by the spell to convey the messages.

79. Nine Sunlight Traps. The user creates 8 black holes which cast spiritual energy and the ninth black hole, manifests on the targets chest which then immobilizes the target.

81. Splitting Void: Creates an energy barrier in the form of a rectangular wall. According to Byakuya, it is capable of stopping destructive spells up to #89.

99. Part 1. Seal: Binds the arms of a target with spiritual fabric and iron shafts.

99. Part 2. Great seal: This spell's effects are divided into three "songs"

• First Song: Halting Fabric - covers a target from head to toe with spiritual fabric.
• Second Song: Hundred Linked Bolts - stabs the target with numerous metal blades.
• Final Song: Great Seal of 10,000 Forbiddings - smashes target with an immense metal cube.

Destructive/Hado spells

1. Thrust: Pushes the target away from the caster.

4. White Lightning: Fires a concentrated bolt of lightning from the caster's forefinger.

11. Bound Lightning. The user generates an electric current through the object they touch.

12. Ambush Flare. The user traps others with a net which allows an attack to be conjoined against those touched.

31.Shot of Red Fire: Fires a ball of red fire at a target.

32.Yellow Fire Flash. Lifting a Zanpakuto horizontally, the user creates a yellow flash that widens across the user's sword resulting in a flash of yellow energy.

The English dub uses the phrase "Red Flame Cannon" in conjunction with the Japanese name. It also incorrectly identifies this spell as bakudō 33 in certain scenes, though correctly identifies it in the scene in which it is revealed.

33.Blue Fire, Crash Down: Fires a column of blue fire at a target in a similar manner to 31, but over a wider area and with more power.

54.Abolishing Flames: Fires a blast of purple spiritual energy that will incinerate a target completely when it makes contact.

57.Upturned Earth Dance. The user thrusts their hands outwards, causing nearby objects to levitate and to be thrown at a destination the user wants.

63.Thunder Roar Cannon: Fires a massive wave of yellow lightning at a target.

73. Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down: Essentially a doubled version of #33, this spell fires two shots of blue fire with greater potency than the single-shot variety. In the anime, Rukia labels this spell as #73.

78. Cutting Flower Ring. The user creates a yellow energy arc around their zanpakuto which bursts outward.

88. Flying Dragon Striking, Heaven-Shaking, Lightning Cannon: A massive blast of spiritual energy in a fashion similar to a laser.

90. Black Coffin: Forms a box of black energy around a target, which is then pierced by dozens of energy "spears", lacerating the one inside from head to toe. Aizen notes that the spell only reached a third of its destructive potential the one time he uses it, indicating that the spell would be far more damaging at full power.

91. Thousand-Hand Incandent Heaven Culling-Sear. The user generates 10 energy points that attack a target and cause a massive explosion.

96. Single Blade Cremation. A forbidden Kido which uses the body as a sacrifice. It causes a massive erupting pillar of red fire.

99. Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction. The user creates 5 massive light purple energy(color varies) dragons.

Incantation Spells

Eishōhaki. A kido class that erases the concept of a spoken incantation. For the sake of time, it decreases the power of the kido. Mostly done by masters or skilled practitioners, few can use it in great combat effect.

Nijū Eishō. A blend of 2 separate Kido incantations which saves time and confuses the opponent.

Kōjutsu Eishō. A kido class where the user uses an invitation after the initial spell to add additional power to the kido.

Other

These spells do not fit entirely into any other category.

White Crawl: Momo Hinamori uses this spell while imprisoned to knock out a guard and destroy everything within a certain radius of herself. The anime suggests that it is a binding spell, but doesn't number it.

Mirror Door: Tōshirō Hitsugaya used this to seal Momo Hinamori's hospital room. It creates a glass-like barrier that is difficult to break from the outside, but quite simple to break from the inside.

Temporal Stasis: A forbidden spell used by Tessai along with Kūkanten'i.

Spatial Displacement: A forbidden spell used by Tessai with Jikanteishi to teleport a specified portion of space from one point to another, transporting even kidō spells.

Ambush Flare: This spell was used along with a Kido net and Spell 31 by Momo Hinamori to cause a much larger explosion.

Garganta: This spell is used to open up a passage to the hollow world of Hueco Mundo. The spell Rips open the dimensional fabric separating the worlds. This then reveals a tunnel of whirling, torrential energy that must be focused and solidified to create a discernible pathway. This is used by Tousen and Urahara as well as many members of the Espada.

Thousand-Coil White Snake: A long cloth is wrapped around the user in a spherical shape that teleports the user elsewhere while it coils.

Reverse Demon: The user casts a kido that opposes a kido of equal power, spinning in the opposite direction, neutralizing an opponent's movement.

Chocolate Bar Slider. The user creates 5 rectangular prisms from their hands and launches them at an opponent. They multiply and damage the opponent of blunt force from many angles.

Curtain Stripping. The user grips thin air which neutralizes and reveals anything concealed in the area in which the user has used the Kido.