There are a lot of characters in Bleach. However, the length of the series has given plenty of them moments to shine. These moments and the power system naturally lend themselves to character growth and development. Even growth that happens off-screen can be exemplified in small scenes that have a big impact. One of the characters that’s benefited from this is Soi Fon, Captain of the Second Division and the head of the Onmitsukido (Stealth Force).
Soi Fon was an antagonist during the Soul Society Invasion, holding a grudge against Yoruichi Shihoin. Yoruichi was once her mentor and the person she was dedicated to serving, and Soi Fon never forgave Yoruichi for leaving Soul Society. While Soi Fon became an excellent assassin and ruthless leader, she was deeply hurt over her abandonment. However, the confrontation she had with Yoruichi and her later battles against Baraggan Luisenbairn gave her a chance to move past these feelings and better herself.
Soi Fon is an Assassin and a Captain
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Soi Fon functions under two major roles for Soul Society. She’s both a squad captain and their head assassin. Generally, these roles demand the same things from her, but not always. At the beginning of the series, Soi Fon values her abilities as an assassin more than anything, so she doesn’t like her bankai and is reluctant to use it. However, she was faced with the limitations of her shikai and her assassination skills when fighting Barragan. They simply weren’t what was needed from a captain in a full-scale battle.
When the Quincy invasion happened, Soi Fon first tried her shikai. While she could have tried it more than once, she was willing to adapt after being rebuffed. When she struggled with landing the hits needed, she decided to try her bankai. Soi Fon knew bankai were being stolen, but she put the need for information on how that worked and the lives of her subordinates above that fact. She lost her bankai because she was willing to work with others, even if it didn’t amount to much. Her willingness to use her bankai shows how she’s grown in the time since the Arrancar arc.