Renji Abarai grew up an orphan in Inuzuri, the 78th District of Rukongai. After stealing water, his group was chased by an adult wielding a kama until Rukia Kuchiki intervened, tripping their pursuer and leading them to safety. She then joined their makeshift family. A decade later, following the deaths of their companions, Rukia suggested becoming Shinigami, prompting both to enroll in the Shin'ō Academy. Renji scored among the highest entrance exam grades, placing him in the top class alongside Izuru Kira and Momo Hinamori. During early field training in the Human World, Renji, Izuru, and Momo encountered multiple Huge Hollows. Their superiors Kanisawa and Aoga were killed, but Captain Sōsuke Aizen and Lieutenant Gin Ichimaru saved the group. Renji dismissed Momo's aspiration to match their strength, insisting captains and lieutenants were "monsters". After Rukia's adoption into the Kuchiki Clan, Renji dedicated himself to surpassing her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki, though he consistently failed in their sparring sessions. Graduating in the academy's 2,066th year, Renji joined the 5th Division under Aizen before transferring to the more combative 11th Division. He rose to 6th Seat and trained under Ikkaku Madarame, who revealed his own Bankai and taught Renji combat techniques. Forty years after Rukia's adoption, Renji was promoted to Lieutenant of the 6th Division under Byakuya. He postponed sharing this news with Rukia until her return from a mission, but was instead tasked with arresting her in the Human World. There, Renji confronted Rukia, demanding she reveal the human who received her powers. He attacked her and later battled Uryū Ishida and Ichigo Kurosaki. After Ichigo overwhelmed him, Renji was imprisoned in Soul Society. During Rukia's imprisonment, he visited her periodically, attempting to bolster her spirits before her scheduled execution. Breaking out of confinement, he achieved Bankai through intensive training and confronted Byakuya to rescue Rukia. Despite his new power, Byakuya defeated him due to superior mastery. Renji later aided Rukia's escape, only to be intercepted by Aizen, who revealed his betrayal and gravely wounded Renji. Renji participated in subsequent conflicts, including battles against arrancar in Hueco Mundo, where he fought Szayelaporro Granz alongside Uryū Ishida. Seventeen months after Aizen's defeat, he observed the restoration of Ichigo's powers. During the Wandenreich invasion, Renji witnessed Byakuya's near-fatal defeat by Äs Nödt. After being healed by the Royal Guard, he achieved his true Bankai, Sōō Zabimaru, through training with Squad Zero. He returned to Soul Society and defeated the Sternritter Mask de Masculine using this perfected Bankai. In the Thousand-Year Blood War anime, Renji faced Uryū Ishida in an original confrontation. Holding back due to their past alliance, he was defeated when Uryū pierced his chest with an arrow. Tite Kubo commemorated the scene with artwork. Renji possesses crimson hair typically worn in a high ponytail, later adopting a long braid. Tribal tattoos cover his back, chest, extremities, and forehead, which he conceals post-timeskip with a maroon bandanna. He favors sunglasses from the Gin Tonbo store, though they frequently break, leading him to wear a white headband while saving for replacements. His standard attire is the Shinigami shihakushō, though he often wears a white night kimono with pink floral patterns when off-duty. His personality blends cockiness before fights with introspection after defeats. He exhibits fierce determination in battles, willing to die for his beliefs. Renji enjoys taiyaki and futsal, organizing a team within the 6th Division. He dislikes spicy food and dreams of designing his own eyewear. His loyalty drives him, particularly toward Rukia and Ichigo, though he frequently clashes with the latter. Renji's Zanpakutō, Zabimaru, manifests as a segmented blade in Shikai, released with the command "Howl". It extends like a whip or disconnects for omnidirectional attacks, though the latter leaves him temporarily powerless. His initial Bankai, Hihiō Zabimaru, formed a colossal skeletal snake capable of energy blasts. This imperfect form resulted from Zabimaru's refusal to acknowledge Renji's strength. After the Wandenreich stole it, Renji trained in the Soul King Palace, learning its true name: Sōō Zabimaru. This refined Bankai features a baboon arm mimicking his movements and a serpent-headed gauntlet with an extendable blade, significantly enhancing his combat versatility [citatio:10]. Renji married Rukia Kuchiki after Yhwach's defeat, and they had a daughter, Ichika. His relationship with Byakuya evolved from intense rivalry to mutual respect, with Byakuya entrusting him with Rukia's safety. Renji maintained friendships with Ikkaku Madarame and other lieutenants, though his rapid growth often positioned him as a benchmark for others' power, particularly Ichigo's. Outside the main series, Renji appeared in films like *Memories of Nobody* and *The DiamondDust Rebellion*, combating antagonists such as the Dark Ones and aiding in rescue missions. In the original video animation *The Sealed Sword Frenzy*, he fought the rogue Soul Reaper Baishin.