Hiyori is a very short, blonde-haired girl who wears her short hair in stubby pigtails. She wears a red jogging suit decorated with the first
kanji of her name and flip flops. She also has an overly long fang protruding from the lower left side of her mouth. This physical characteristic has caused both Ichigo and Shinji to call her "snaggletooth". During her time in Soul Society she wore a standard Shinigami uniform with her lieutenants armband on her left arm. During this time her pigtails were fairly long and hung down.
Approximately 110 years ago, Hiyori was the Lieutenant of the
12th division under captain
Kirio Hikifune until her promotion. Hiyori is first seen surprise attacking captain
Shinji Hirako of the
5th Division as he arrives at the
1st Division Headquarters. For her troubles she gets knocked on the head by captain
Love Aikawa, who states that she should apologize, which only prompts Hiyori to question his authority in disciplining her. Love basically states that since her captain isn't present someone has to keep her in line. Regardless of Love's attempts to get her under control Hiyori still insists she won't apologize.
[1] Hiyori is later seen waiting with the other captain's as the newly appointed 12th Division captain
Kisuke Urahara arrives to the meeting. Hiyori looks on unimpressed upon his arrival.
[2] Later that day Urahara formally introduces himself to the 12th Division and Hiyori, though she flat out tells him that she will not accept him as her captain slapping away Urahara's hand which shocks him. Hiyori states that she already can't stand the fact that captain Hikifune left without a moments notice and now they have to deal with a 2nd Division member as their captain, making note of the the fact that he was Special Forces so he is most likely a sneaky murderer. When the other 12th Division members try to warn her that she is going to far, Hiyori fires back that she is only saying what they are all thinking though the other 12th Division members refuse to side with her opinion. When she confronts Urahara trying to get a rise out of him he simply laughs it off and tells her that he has already been made the captain of the 12th Division. He then explains that he has already made up his mind that the role he will play as their captain and no longer a member of the 2nd Division. Urahara tells Hiyori if she has a problem then its hers to change, Hiyori then proceeds to kick him in his crotch and runs off only succeeding in injuring her foot.
[3] While walking around the 12th Division Barracks Hiyori becomes irate when she finds the division moving all of Urahara's vast amount of personal items. She then gets into another confrontation with him when he tries to be of aid to her. The following day at a division meeting Urahara details that he has decided to change the policy of the 12th Division but has yet to determine what course of action he thinks would be a good role for them. Hiyori becomes increasing angry upon hearing that he is still thinking about it and attacks him. She later walks around the 12th Division barracks when she is confronted by Shinji, they get into a small argument and Hiyori attacks him for saying something that Urahara commonly says that she can't stand. She then goes and confronts Urahara and challenges him to a fight which he accepts but asks that they fight hand-to hand. They prepare to fight and Urahara tells her to attack him from any angle, upon hearing this Hiyori goes running at him and kicks him square in the face. Hiyori then runs off and while at the entrance to the division headquarters she realizes that Urahara saw through her attack and moved out the way and then back in place so that she would hit him. She becomes confused at what drives that actions of Urahara.
[4] The following mourning she arrives at the captain's chamber Hiyori becomes enraged at how Urahara has changed the room from its former state, he tries to calm her down and tells her in getting to know him he will get to know her. Not deterred Hiyori attacks him, but he brushes it aside and asks her to to accompany him to Maggot's Nest.
[5] Hiyori accompanies Urahara onto the
2nd Division grounds, where he proceeds to explain to her what the detention unit is and what truly happens to those found under their jurisdiction. He further explains what the
Maggot's Nest is and what function is entailed. Upon entrance into the facility Urahara tells her that they are not permitted to leave but they are still free within the facility. He then warns her to be careful as the inmates can become violent. Hiyori asks what they did and Urahara plainly tells her nothing causing Hiyori to question the methods but Urahara quickly explains to her the dangers these inmates can bring and why they are imprisoned. He makes note of the true dealings of what happens to those who withdrawal from service in the
Gotei 13. Urahara then explains that though the people in the facility are possibly dangerous, he has always felt that given a suitable outlet they could channel their power into something more productive. When one of the inmates tries to attack Hiyori which she soon realizes she can't fight as she left her Zanpakuto behind, the inmate is easily stopped by Urahara who apologizes as he noticed she left her Zanpakuto behind and chose to say nothing, he then makes note that in the facility they are not allowed to carry weapons so hand-to-hand combat mastery is key.
[6] This prompts the other inmate to attack to which Urahara easily defends himself and takes out all his attackers much to Hiyori's surprise. Eventually one of the inmates tries to take Hiyori hostage but is quickly overwhelmed by her as she shows her own capabilities in hand-to-hand combat.
[7] Urahara then tells Hiyori they are going to meet the only inmate that is so dangerous he requires his own cell,
Mayuri Kurotsuchi. Urahara then asks him if he wants to leave the Maggot's Nest.
[8] Mayuri and Hiyroi get into a small argument where Urahara explains that she is his lieutenant and then asks Mayuri for an answer to his proposition. He then explains that in his capacity as the captain of the 12th Division he has decided to to make an organization the
Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Hiyori is surprised and further amazed that he would put such a dangerous criminal in the line to a position of power.
[9] 9 years later Hiyori is seen with Urahara and now 12th Division, 3rd Seat & Vice-President of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Mayuri Kurotsuchi. The trio are greeted by captain
Shinji Hirako and lieutenant
Sōsuke Aizen. Shinji proceeds to tell Urahara about current events but is attacked by Hiyroi who claims that he didn't say Hi to her. The two get into a fight which leaves Aizen to explain to Urahara that the 9th Division has been sent on a special investigation to find out what is happening with the disappearances in the Rukongai.
[10] During her brief time as a member of the institute, Hiyori served as a lab manager, while clashing with then 3rd Seat & Vice-President of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute Mayuri Kurotsuchi, over who has more authority under the Captain. The two get into a ongoing argument about whose in charge prompting Hiyori to call in Urahara. He explains to her that with the disappearances occurring he has created a new type of gigai. Before Hiyori can respond they are interrupted by the arrival of Todo the 6th Seat of the 9th Division. Urahara agrees to send a researcher over to the investigation site as per the request of captain
Kensei Muguruma of the 9th Division. Urahara elects Hiyori to go to the site, to which she become irate and asks why cant he send someone less important, referring to lab assistant
Akon. He questions if she should continue being a lieutenant prompting Hiyori to attack him though he simply dodges her. Though reluctant Hiyori gives in once Urahara explains that she is the only one that he can trust with the task.
[11] Sometime later Hiyori is seen running for her life from a shadowed creature, which is revealed to be a hollowfied Kensei. Just when he about to deal her a devastating blow his attack is deflected by the arrival of Shinji Hirako.
[12] Moments later a team of various captains and lieutenants that were sent to investigate the disappearance of Kensei's squad arrive. They begin to attack Kensei and then a hollowfied
Mashiro Kuna, lieutenant of the 9th Division. In the midst of this Shinji picks up Hiyori and pulls her out of harms way.
[13] The investigation team gathers after the fight and talk about the situation. It within that moment Hiyori starts coughing and becomes Hollowfied herself. It is then that a darkness falls around the rescue squad and they are attacked by a unseen assailant.
[14] The assailant is then found to be
Kaname Tōsen, Kensei's 5th seat, who is acting under the orders of
Sōsuke Aizen who is the one behind the disappearances and Hollowfication experiments.
[15] Just as Aizen gives the order to kill the Hollowfied Shinigami captain Kisuke Urahara and Kidō captain
Tessai Tsukabishi show up and save them from destruction. Aizen,
Ichimaru, and Tōsen make there escape and Tessai uses Forbidden Kidō to preserve and transport them to the 12th Division barracks. In his lab, Urahara tried to reverse the process using his created item, the
"Hōgyoku".
[16] Unfortunately, it ended up as a failed process, not having the desired effect Urahara expected.
[17] The next day, Urahara and Tessai were arrested under the orders of the Central 46 Chambers. The Hollowfied Shinigami are sentenced to execution as Hollows. But before any of their sentences could be executed, however, both were rescued by 2nd Division captain
Yoruichi Shihōin, who brought them to a secret underground area.
[18] In the secluded area, she had also brought Hiyori and the other Hollowfied Shinigami, along with the prototype for the new gigai that Urahara was working on. With that epiphany, Urahara resolved to make ten Reiatsu-blocking Gigai to aid him, Tessai, and the eight victims escape to the real world, where they would find a way to undo the
Hollowfication process.
[19] Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Hiyori is a very capable hand-to-hand fighter who commonly use various kicks in combination with her Zanpakutō to take out opponents. She has highly aggressive tendencies often make her lash out at other people even under normal circumstances. She has enough skill to hold her own against a dangerous inmate from the Maggot's Nest who had taken her hostage.
[44][45] Enhanced Strength: Both as a lieutenant and a Vizard, she brutally beat up Shinji and Ichigo using her enhanced strength and her hand-to-hand combat.
[46][47] Enhanced Speed: Her speed is considerable and she regularly uses it to supplement her fighting skill surprising those she attacks.
[48] Immense Spiritual Power: Being a Vizard, Hiyori possesses a dual-type spiritual energy, part Shinigami and part Hollow. Her spiritual energy is pink in color. With her mask on, she can focus considerable amounts of energy into a blast to knock targets away.
ZanpakutōKubikiri Orochi (馘大蛇,
Beheading Serpent): Hiyori's Zanpakutō is standard in appearance, even though its
tsuba (decorated sword guard) is decorated in small hearts, a contrast to her not-so-girlish personality. During her days as a Lieutenant, she would wear it by her belt, but as a Vizard, she normally carries her sword from her right shoulder on her back; being one of three known Shinigami to do this, the other two being Ichigo Kurosaki and
Tōshirō Hitsugaya.
- Shikai: It's Shikai command is Chop Cleanly (ぶっ手切れ, butsutegire). With this release, Hiyori's katana becomes a large cleaver with a serrated saw-like blade.[49]
Hollow Mask: Her hollow mask is skeletal in appearance and sports a prominent horn centered on the forehead with a row of diamond shaped markings over the eyebrows. Also when donning her hollow mask Hiyori's sclera turns completely black and her irises become golden-yellow.[50][51] She took the longest to defeat her inner Hollow out of all the current Vizard (excluding Ichigo, who took about the same amount of time), at 69 minutes and 2 seconds. When angered or provoked in some way, the mask's power increased due to her emotions ruling her.
- Power Augmentation: While wearing the mask, Hiyori's Hollow powers supplement her Shinigami powers, giving her a vast increase in both strength and speed.
Cero: While fighting an army of Menos, Hiyori displays the ability to fire a Cero from the open mouth of her Hollow Mask. The blast is wide and can take out more the one target at once.
[52]
