[A small shrug.] It's certainly more traditional where I come from. [Although those swords can take other forms when released in shikai and bankai, but Ukitake chooses not to go into that at this particular moment.]
[He shakes his head when Gabriel posits what he thinks a Soul Reaper's duties might be.] Our task is to defend human souls. We only collect those dead who are unable to move on to the next life of their own volition.