Sōren Akuzora (握空草連, Akuzora Sōren) is a Soul and former Shinigami who was exiled from the Gotei 13 following his supposed death at the hands of an unnamed Shinigami. Sōren was the fourth Kenpachi. However, like those before him, he was an unstable and chaotic swordsman whose only purpose was to fell all by his blade. However, his near-death experience with his successor and narrow escape through the assistance of Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake, who had both predicted the outcome of the duel lead to a new paradigm within the man. Following this event, he took up residence in the Rukongai and has since acted as an unofficial hunter of all Hollow in the Rukongai, hence the reason for the Seireitei's almost perpetual peace from the said species.