Ikkaku Madarame

Ikkaku in search!

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Ikkaku Madarame (斑目 一角, Madarame Ikkaku) is the 3rd Seat officer in the 11th Division of the Gotei 13, under Captain Kenpachi Zaraki.

History

At some point in Ikkaku's history, he met Yumichika Ayasegawa while traveling the streets of Rukongai, and the two became friends. The two would frequently go from village to village, looking for opponents for Ikkaku to face in combat.

Eventually, Ikkaku met Zaraki Kenpachi, or as he was known then, Kenpachi of Zaraki. Basically, they fought each other and Zaraki, due to his monstrous strength, won, but did not kill Ikkaku completely, which is why the latter, thinking that they were playing with him, demanded to kill himself. However, Zaraki stated his philosophy to him: to accept defeat only after death, and until then to continue fighting no matter what, which earned Ikkaku's respect.

Afterwards, when he had rehabilitated from his wounds, Ikkaku, searching everywhere for Zaraki in order to challenge him, could never find him, until one day when Yumichika came to him with some news. He had heard Zaraki had beaten the captain of the 11th Division of the Gotei 13 in a single blow, which made him the new captain of this division. Taken aback by this revelation, having seen protecting others as not really Zaraki's style, Ikkaku set out to find his old opponent. In the end, he began serving in the 11th Division along with Yumichika, under the leadership of Kenpachi Zaraki.

Powers & Abilities

Master Swordsman: Even when ranked a 3rd Seat officer, his skills are of near-captain level. He uses a fighting style noted to be rough, but powerful, using complex movements which allow him to lunge with his sword from the left and defend with his sheath at the right, though he is ambidextrous and can switch between the two techniques.

Ikkaku's Zanpakutō is a naginata-type weapon while in Shikai. Ikkaku uses it perfectly against other sword-type weapons. Though Ikkaku's Zanpakutō is a naginata-type weapon while in Shikai, it can split apart into a three-sectioned staff and back into a naginata. While in its split form, he is highly proficient in the use of techniques similar in use to that of bo to take advantage of its versatility. Plus, he is well versed in Shunpo, even though he only uses it rarely, and has high Spiritual Power, as befits a Lieutenant of the 11th Division.

Shikai: Ikkaku's Shikai, Hōzukimaru.

Its Shikai command is "Grow" (延びろ, nobiro; Viz "Extend"). The Shikai of Hōzukimaru is unusual in that Ikkaku slams its hilt (and sometimes its pommel) into its sheath to activate it when saying the command phrase. Once released, Hōzukimaru takes on the form of what initially appears to be a Kikuchi Yari (spear) with a wax wood shaft. The pommel has a red horsehair tassel.

Bankai(prefers to use only in extreme cases): Ikkaku's Bankai, Ryūmon Hōzukimaru.

Ryūmon Hōzukimaru (龍紋鬼灯丸, Dragon Crest Demon Light): To activate it during his battle with Edrad, Ikkaku slams the two broken pieces of his Shikai back into the spear-form and says Bankai. Its two main weapons are a Chinese Monk's spade and a standard guandao. Both have a traditional horsehair tassel at the hilt, and a long, cylindrical weight for a pommel. The pommels are connected by a heavy chain to the center section, which resembles an axe blade, with a parallel handle forged into the blunt end and a dragon crest on one side of the blade. Ikkaku usually holds one blade in each hand and lets the central portion float behind him, though he will occasionally spin the entire configuration about using the center handle as a pivot.