Sawatari

is a Bount under the service of Jin Kariya.

Appearance
Sawatari resembles an old man, making him distinguishable from others as possibly one of the oldest Bounts. However, this is in fact merely a by-product of his eating habits. In fact, he is far younger than his outward appearance would have one believe. He has been consuming living souls for far longer than any other Bount, causing him to age. He wears a black suit, with a light purple ascot around his neck reminiscent of 18th century gentleness dress style. He also has a walking cane.

Personality
When fighting, Sawatari seems to think lowly of his opponents, comparing them to mere children, in a similar fashion to Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto. Sawatari is very straightforward about his love of eating souls and freely admits to being power-hungry in this regard. He intends to use his power much the same way the rest of his tribe intends, and, like Ryō Utagawa, wanted to overthrow Kariya as leader of the Bounts.

Bount arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are in the anime only and do not constitute canon material.

Jin Kariya gathers a group of Bounts at his mansion and Sawatari is among them, seated. Kariya advises the Bount that he intends to end their unlawful persecution and that he needs their help to find Uryū Ishida, a Quincy. When Gō Koga captures Uryū, he has his doll Dalk bind him and bring him in front of other Bount to be interrogated. Sawatari sits in his chair watching as Kariya introduces himself and informs Uryū that he is interested in the powers of the Quincy. Kariya stresses that Uryū is an important guest within the mansion.

When Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends arrive at the mansion to rescue Uryū, Sawatari, along with the other Bounts, observe the proceedings as Ryō Utagawa battles the young Shinigami. They disagree with Ryō when he steals Kariya's crest and insists that he would be a better leader than Kariya. The treacherous Bount is easily killed by Maki Ichinose as they look on. Ichinose takes over the battle with Ichigo as they continue to observe the events unfolding before Yoruichi Shihōin arrives a helps everyone, including the captives escape.

Following the sacrifice of Yoshino Sōma and the creation of the Bitto, Kariya gathers the Bounts in a cave and explains how the Bitto turn living Human souls into a more concentrated form, taking a vial a drinking it. Mabashi objects to this and uses Sawatari's rapid aging and a reason this shouldn't be allowed. Kariya assaults him easily before maintaining to the other Bounts that his word is law. They all follow Kariya's example, drinking from the Bitto and experiencing the new powerful sensations gifted to them.

Sawatari confronts Yasutora Sado, Noba and Ururu that night in a Karakura Town park. The old Bount reveals his desire for more power and his lack of guilt over taking living souls. Rangiku Matsumoto interrupts them before they engage in battle, and they explain to her that Sawatari is a Bount. He proves this by revealing his Doll, Baura, the chair he sits on being part of it. When Rangiku attacks, Baura almost swallows her but she is saved but Noba's teleporting abilities. Sawatari has Baura surface completely, introducing his Doll to his enemies, shocking them all with its consciousness. Rangiku releases her Zanpakutō, but withdraws it immediately upon realizing that Baura was swallowing its ash cloud, which Sawatari commends her for.

Rangiku has the Shinigami Research and Development Institute freeze the time in the entire surrounding area so no Humans will be hurt during their confrontation. Sawatari and Baura force the group on the defensive, the Doll's abilities forcing them to do little more than evade the massive Doll's attempts to swallow them. Baura also swallows any attack they throw at him. The group try to force the Doll into the open, from his other dimension, but the Doll is able to pursue them but is surprised by Ururu when she kicks and stuns him. Assuming higher places are safer, the group escapes to a roof. However, Baura, who is able to emerge from any surface, surprises the group from the next building, swallowing Ururu, who sacrifices herself to save Sado.

Sawatari explains how Ururu is inside another dimension and that she will be absorbed eventually. Baura attacks again, but Rangiku uses Haineko to escape and knock down a nearby sign. Sawatari has Baura protect him from being hurt as the group enter a very narrow alley. Sado manages to surprise and punch Baura and knock him into Noba's portal, causing the Doll to vanish. However, he soon re-emerges through Noba's chest to continue the fight, greatly injuring the Mod Soul. Noba teleports the group away as they try to escape, however, Baura manages to eventually attack from above. Ready for his attack this time, they manage to have Sado ambush the Doll and punch it several times until it has to spit out Ururu from its mouth. Rather than continue the battle, Sawatari decides to retreat, deciding they had enough for one day.

The Bounts later invade the Soul Society and Sawatari is present when the citizens of Kusajishi open the gate before Kariya betrays them. Sawatari criticizes how none of the Shinigami are reacting to the invasion but Kariya advises him not to underestimate the captains of the Gotei 13. He tasks Sawatari and Koga with defeating the captains while he carries out the plan of destroying the Seireitei. When Suì-Fēng kills Mabashi, Sawatari sense his defeat, surmising that whoever defeated him must have been talented. He then states loudly that he knows he is being followed and for his pursuer to reveal themselves. The spy reveals himself to be Mayuri Kurotsuchi who demands to know where Ichinose is and upon learning of his likely defeat, decides to settle for Sawatari instead. The old Bount agrees with this, stating that his task is to defeat the captains anyway.

The two face off and Sawatari demonstrates Baura's new ability of being able to emerge from mid air, a result of coming to the Soul Society. Unimpressed, Mayuri tries to cut the doll with his Zanpakutō but Baura's tough skin resists the attack. This allows the Doll to rip off one of Mayuri's arms, saddening Sawatari, who believes the fight has ended. However, Mayuri intrigues Sawatari by using one of his medicines to regenerate the limb easily. Using his hidden Kusarigama to draw him close, the Shinigami is able to stab the Bount in the arm. His arm paralyzed, Mayuri takes advantage of the situation and knocks Sawatari off the Doll and pins him to the ground. Baura begins to stir up dirt and sand, allowing for Sawatari to escape on his back once more.

While hiding from Mayuri, Sawatari realizes that his arm is not healing from the effects of the attack, angering him greatly. He resurfaces away from where he'd engaged the captain but is surprised to discover that Mayuri has easily tracked him using his own device created to track Sawatari's Reiatsu after his battle with Rangiku. Annoyed, Sawatari demands Baura attack with everything and the Doll releases several Kidō blasts absorbed from previous battles, causing Mayuri to lose his arm again. Annoyed, Mayuri releases his Bankai, Konjiki Ashisogi Jizō to defeat the Doll and it releases its poison gas. Desperate, Sawatari gives all of his Reiryoku to Baura so that he can grow larger and try to eat the massive Bankai. In retaliation, Mayuri unleashes the beast's hidden blades and has it repeatedly attack the Bount and his Doll. Having exhausted his Reiatsu, Sawatari begins to die from the poison, begging Mayuri for an antidote. The captain merely laughs at the Bount's predicament and Sawatari turns to dust in front of him.

Powers & Abilities
Soul Absorption: Bounts normally try to absorb the Human's soul after the person dies and is trying to pass on. But they are also capable of taking the souls of those who are living, to do so kills the Human.


 * Immortality: By absorbing Human souls, a Bount has the capability to live forever. When they absorb Human souls, they gain eternal life.


 * Empowerment: By taking the souls of living Humans, Bounts gain unique abilities.

Doll
is Sawatari's doll. Baura is a giant brown whale-like creature made up of hardened rock-like scales, which Sawatari sits on top of in something reminiscent of a chair. Baura's entire body is commonly underground out of sight.


 * Protective Sheath: Baura's upper hide is comprised of a rock-like substance that cannot be cut by bladed weapons. It is also capable of partially or completely covering Sawatari to protect him from any harm. This is commonly done when Baura is moving through solid object or when they are being attacked.


 * Spatial Manipulation: By generating a special dimensional space, Baura can swim and move freely through that space. Being a fish-like entity, Baura travels by "swimming" through solid objects by means of phasing through a different dimension that only he can access. Sawatari commonly gets Baura's attention by tapping him with his cane. Baura's shadow can be seen fully while he is underground swimming. To emerge, however, the exit point must be large enough to accommodate him. While in Soul Society, his power is enhanced, which allows him to move through his dimension in midair without the need of a flat surface.


 * Reiatsu Sonar: While in this dimensional space, Baura uses something akin to sonar to determine where his prey is. It allows him to feel a strange reiatsu vibration on the ground.


 * Inner Dimension: Baura can swallow opponents whole; its stomach is a link to another dimension. Anything caught inside is eventually dissolved, leaving the soul for Sawatari to absorb. Anything consumed in this manner would never return. In turn, Baura has the ability to expel all the contents it has consumed out of its mouth from dirt and debris to energy attacks.


 * Reiatsu Stealth: While in his dimension, Baura's Spiritual Pressure is effectively concealed until he chooses to resurface. However, only Noba and Mayuri Kurotsuchi are able to track his movements, through Noba's ability to manipulate space and Mayuri's tracking device respectively.