Haruma Kuyanagi

Haruma Kuyanagi (鞍柳 晴真, Kuyanagi Haruma) is a male who serves as the third seat of  in. Hailing from an unknown district of, far in the outer areas, he was once the leader of a group who worked together to survive the harsh conditions of their environment. After an encounter with during that time, who was impressed with Haruma's natural talent as both a warrior and a leader, offered him and his people refuge within the  on the condition that they join as Shinigami. He would come to create many bonds of friendship and camaraderie, earning the respect of senior and junior officers alike, as he rose through the ranks and became an integral part of the Gotei 13. Though he had initial reservations against being announced as Yamamoto's successor, Haruma continued to offer his support and worked together with Kyōraku in order to rebuild the Gotei 13 after the war with the.

Appearance
Often noted by many, Haruma is shown to strongly resemble in his appearance, especially in the way he bears his short brown hair. In contrast, however, he bears a broad and muscular frame from his many battles. While it is not uncommon for him to wear common clothing during times of leisure, he is most often seen in the traditional garb: the black Shihakushō, consisting of a black kosode, black hakama, a white obi, and a pair of white tabi with sandals. He was once known to have a varying degree of thick facial hair, typically in the form of a bushy beard and mustache, though after joining the Gotei 13, he regularly kept himself rather clean-shaven. Haruma wears his Zanpakutō on the left side of his hip while keeping a pistol fastened to the right side of his obi.

Personality
Characterized as a man with a complicated sense of morality, Haruma is an individual with a strong personality that seems to invoke the wills of others around him. Though the actions he takes can sometimes be considered quite questionable, he has shown himself to be decisive, driven by intentions that are good for the most part and rarely ever border on selfishness. Haruma is a natural leader that possesses a modicum of pride and self-assurance in the sense that he is often unwilling to serve under the command of somebody he himself does not respect nor considers to be acting for the sake of the greater good. It is perhaps this reason that he was incredibly loyal to Yamamoto as a subordinate but has several qualms about working under the command of Shunsui, whom he believes to be far too careless and passive as a leader to be doing what needs to be done. There is a brutality about him which is demonstrated by his fierce declarations and adamant decision-making, depicting him as being somewhat inflexible, for better or for worse.

Though his values would suggest that he actively participates toward leading and inspiring his people, his history would seem to contradict these claims, as Haruma found a sense of peace when he joined the. Before he joined them, he led a group of souls in the outer districts of, helping them to survive the harsh and criminal elements that were present daily. The tough environment hardened Haruma's soul, turning him into a brutal individual who would not be above the most savage and violent actions in order to ensure the protection of his group. Though he lost many along the way, which caused his confidence to sway on more than on occasion, Haruma remained head-strong in ensuring the survival of his remaining people. When he believed he found a safer haven in the Seireitei, allowing his people to live comfortably in this secure community, he appeared to grow more complacent, even to the point of being satisfied with working under weaker superior officers as he lazily climbed up the ranks slowly, eventually reaching the fourth seat. In his own words, as long as his friends are safe, he would not need anything else; opting to simply enjoy things as they were and tried to develop some sort of life for himself, even trying to form relationships down the line. This is shown even after achieving, he never sought the position of Captain, even to the point of keeping his achievement a secret from others, including Yamamoto.

This drastically changed following the war brought on by and the, which saw the deaths of thousands of the Gotei 13 personnel, including the death of almost every single one of Haruma's old friends from his wanderer group all those years ago, save for two who managed to survive with minimal consequence, along with Yamamoto, his most respected leader. For a short while, he shut down, drowning in his despair as he even so far as contemplated suicide in order to atone for his mistake of becoming complacent. He came to understand that no matter how well things may look or how long peace may reign, there are always worse evils out there; there is no such thing as being completely safe. There will always be someone or something looking to take away what they have and destroy everything they have built. It took him a while to reignite his spirit, thanks in part to his friends and comrades, but once he managed to move forward from this ordeal, Haruma solemnly declared that he would take action to prevent such misfortune from transpiring once more.

Though he intended to take a Captain position as a result of his newfound drive, Haruma felt his time was best served in helping to rebuild and strengthen his own division, whom he had grown close to over the years. He grew to become a true leader in every sense of the word, accepting of both his brutality and humanity, believing both are necessary in leading his comrades toward peace. Haruma would come to earn the respect of many within the Gotei 13, for both his strength and his wisdom, including that of Captains themselves who would go to him occasionally for advice. An extension of his leadership is shown in his natural ability to rally others with his actions and words, inspiring others to work harder, improve themselves, and ultimately aim for a better tomorrow. With the impending threat of approaching, he was determined to do his part in ensuring their victory over the enemy organization.

Haruma does tend to enjoy recreational drinking from time to time, as well as other activities during his leisure time. However, most of the time, his mind is focused on the task at hand. Though he avoids becoming too comfortable with his situation, which does tend to have a negative impact on many of his relationships as a result, Haruma is still able to enjoy the fruits of his efforts in helping to secure a time of peace for his friends and comrades. He accepts all that he is, the good and the bad, for the sake of creating a life worth living for himself and his people.

Equipment
Kidō Pistol: Modeled in the shape of a silver Colt Python with a brown handle, Haruma comissioned the to create a pistol capable of shooting  spells without the need of casting it himself. The weapon was designed using materials that would serve as catalysts for the spells channeled through the gun, meaning that Haruma would be able to cast spells using the gun rather than speaking the incantation, and in doing so, he would be able to product compact and effective spells that retain their tremendous power. While it is theoretically possible for Haruma to use the gun for any spell he knows, his typical arsenal consists of, , and. He is not limited to only Hadō spells, as he has demonstrated the ability to shoot, which manifests initially as a compressed golden sphere as it is fired, expanding outwards as multiple glowing chains that seek to ensnare his target.

Zanpakutō
Tenka Taihei (天下泰平, "Peaceful and Tranquil World")

Behind the Scenes
This character was initially inspired by Rick Grimes from the comic book and television series, The Walking Dead.