Hu

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Hu arrived in Soul Society as a nameless soul after transmigrating from elsewhere. Outside Bamboo Creek Plain, he drove off attackers and saved Fon Shaoling. She later gave him the name Yexing Hu, with Hu choosing his personal name himself 64 125.

At the Fon estate, Hu befriended the attendant Shimizu and began training under Cilian, Sakiro, and Tessai. In his Inner World, his Zanpakuto spirit explained that Hu had gained powers connected to the spirit and began training him through combat 12 15 28.

Appearance

Hu has silver eyes and a white lock of hair at his forehead 73.

• Academy uniform: Keiko sewed his uniform with small golden Fon Clan crests at the collar, cuffs, and hems 56.
• Clothing: Keiko later made him a black coat, gray wool coat, shirt, and sturdy boots 63.

Personality

Hu is direct, carefree, and often mischievous. Fon Shaoling considers him guileless and entertaining, though his behavior frequently causes trouble 60 73. He is also persistent in training: he refused an easier way to pass Sakiro's walking assessment and repeatedly rebuilt a breaking Phantom Blade during a real fight 28 34.

His desire to prevent tragedy drives him to protect others, sometimes at the expense of his own safety. After exhausting himself fighting a Gillian, he struggled with the people he had been unable to save; Cilian urged him to remember his mistakes and keep moving forward 24 25.

Abilities and Skills

Jiku'a

Hu's Zanpakuto cuts through space and can separate a soul from Hollow influence. Its spirit also serves as his instructor and sparring partner 12 22 29.

• Separation: Hu used its Shikai to separate Shimizu from the Hollow consuming him 22 23.
• Spatial slashes: Jiku'a can cut attacks and substances including fire, gas, and smoke 43.
• Judgment Cut—End: Hu opened numerous dimensional rifts to destroy a Cero aimed at Fon Shaoling, exhausting himself in the process 51.
• Bankai: Heaven's Punishment Jiku'a destroyed Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Konjiki Ashisogi Jizo and drove back its poison 102.
• Heavenly Demon Armor: The true Bankai's blade wings improve mobility and serve as weapons and defenses 119.

Beowulf

Beowulf enhances Hu's close combat with energy-clad gauntlets and greaves. Its power is associated with the Beast of Light 21 75.

• Hu used a projection of the armament before gaining the true Beowulf Armament 75.
• Its techniques include The Fist, The Hammer, Rising Sun, and Lunar Phase 76.
• The true armament was heavy, and Hu initially judged that he could not use it at full power for long 75.

Phantom Blade

A projected Reishi greatsword modeled on the Blade of Power. It is lighter than an Asauchi and can release waves of slashing energy 30.

• Hu can load it with Kidō, giving strikes effects such as lightning, knockback, or restraint 35 63.
• It remains usable without Shikai, although Tsukabishi's seal initially made Hu's version dimmer and less solid 68.

Summoned Swords

Hu creates small energy swords that can attack enemies and serve as teleportation coordinates 53 65.

• At Shikai, he could maintain five at once and form them only within roughly half a meter of his body 53.
• After attaining Bankai, he could maintain twelve 117.

Kidō and Movement

Hu trained in Kidō under Fon Shaoling and Tessai Tsukabishi, and in Hakuda and Shunpo under Yoruichi 28 67.

• He used Byakurai, Impact, and Hainawa while fighting a Hollow without his Zanpakuto, improving his casting without incantations during the encounter 34.
• His Concentration state sharpens his awareness in combat, helping him track movement and Reiatsu 51 73.
• Dangai training against the Kōryū's resistance improved his control, though he later struggled to construct spatial Kidō nodes 73 80.

Equipment

• Jiku'a — Hu's Zanpakuto. Its Shikai has a white-wrapped hilt, gold dragon ornament, and paired hexagonal guard 22.
• Hongming-skin sheath — A dark red, cracked-pattern sheath made from material shed by Hongming; Fon Shaoling had it made for Hu 56.
• Blade of Power — Reforged from the Sōkyoku Spear's Reishi after Hu awakened Sparda's sealed horn 119.
• Denreishinki — Used to communicate with contacts including Urahara and Gin 67 77.

Relationships

• Fon Shaoling / Soi Fon — Hu saved her before receiving his name, and she supported his training. He developed feelings for her and later learned that she was also Soi Fon 39 50 125.
• Shimizu — Hu's first friend in Soul Society. Hu awakened Shikai to save him from Hollow transformation; Shimizu and Keiko later offered to support Hu like family 20 22 63.
• Cilian — Hu's instructor, who trained him in combat and advised him to remember his failures without giving up 25 43.
• Jiku'a — Hu's Zanpakuto spirit and frequent sparring partner. He challenges Hu's resolve and teaches him how to use his powers 12 29 53.
• Gin Ichimaru — First met Hu under the name Shi and offered him advice. They became close enough for Hu to ask Gin to help him train for Bankai, although they later fought on Sōkyoku Hill 39 55 84 117.
• Kisuke Urahara, Tessai Tsukabishi, and Yoruichi — Hu's instructors in swordsmanship and overall combat, Kidō and spacetime, and Hakuda and Shunpo, respectively 67.
• Sylvan and Rain — Both later identified themselves as parts of Hu; Sylvan said he had less than a tenth of Hu's strength 147.

Story Role and Major Arcs

Bamboo Creek Plain

When Hollows appeared among evacuees, Shimizu transformed while defending Keiko. Hu awakened Jiku'a to separate him from the Hollow, then defeated the resulting Gillian, leaving himself severely exhausted 22 24.

During the battle against Hongming, Hu held off a Vasto Lorde-level monster while Shaoling prepared Shunkō. After another armored form emerged, Hu, Shaoling, and Gin fought together; Hu landed the final strike on Hongming and collapsed 51 54.

Academy and World of the Living

Hu entered Shin'ō Academy with Shimizu, though other students avoided them because of the Fon Clan crests on their uniforms. He later transferred to the Feimou Corps to gain field experience 56 63.

On his first World of the Living assignment, Hu learned to collect Reiatsu data and performed his first Konsō. In Karakura Town, he rescued a wounded Rukia from a Hollow and sent it to Hell 65.

Rukia's Execution and Sōkyoku Hill

After learning that Central 46 might not have properly issued Rukia's sentence, Hu sought Second Division help to investigate. He later rescued Uryū and Orihime from Mayuri and reunited them with Ichigo 94 102.

At Sōkyoku Hill, Hu fought Gin and then Aizen. He revealed his true Bankai and transformed after awakening Sparda's horn, but subsequently became a feral Hollow and attacked the assembled captains. Yamamoto shattered his mask, revealing his silver eyes 117 119 123.

Zanpakuto Uprising

After Hu was mourned, Jiku'a was left at Sōkyoku Hill during Muramasa's uprising. Sylvan and Rain identified themselves as parts of Hu; later, Sylvan's Inner World opened as his Reiatsu resonated with Rain, Oren, and Rook, and he defeated Tenken's Tengen Myō'ō on Peony Mountain 125 129 147 173.

Notable Quotes

“The things I shouted... I said I didn't want to see tragedies like that, and that I would change everything I couldn't stand.” 25

“No one would thank the person who plunged the world into chaos! We only thank the person who ends that chaos!” 119