Murakami Shintōgo (芯刀御叢火海; Shintōgo Murakami; lit. "Marrow of the Swords Honor, Gathering Sea of Flames") was once a respected officer of the Ninth Division in the Gotei 13 several centuries ago. On a routine patrol with his squad on the border of the Human World follow reports of increased Hollow activity, he would discover the sinister plans of an Arrancar to create a massive breach into the Human World. Taking decisive action he and his squadron battled against the Hollow forces, forcing them back through the dimensional tear and sealing it off from the other side. Trapped in the dunes of Hueco Mundo, he and his men fought valiantly in a desperate struggle of survival, eagerly awaiting the arrival of reinforcements. But in an act that would forever change Murakami, the Gotei 13 withheld