Nemu Kurotsuchi

Origin

The origin of Nemu Kurotsuchi is not completely known other than she is a woman the 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi created to be both his lieutenant and "daughter". She's a mixture of unknown sciences of Gigai bodies and modified souls, but with the ability to only be seen by those with spiritual power. She was created to be his devoted servant and is immune to Kurotsuchi's poisons.

Creation

BLEACH Vol. 11 JPN (Dec 2003)

The character of Nemu Kurotsuchi is a supporting character of the BLEACH series that was created by Tite Kubo, It first began serialization Weekly Shonen Jump in August 2001. She was first introduced during the Soul Society: The Sneak Entry story arc story arc that began in Volume 9.

She first appeared in BLEACH Volume 11, CH. 93 "Steer For the Star", and her first anime appearance was in BLEACH - Episode 28 "Orihime Targeted ". Her character in the Japanese series is voiced by Rie Kugimiya, and the U.S. dub produced by VIZ Media is done by Megan Hollingshead.

Character Evolution

" It would appear that you are making some kind of mistake. Attempting to use me as a hostage will achieve nothing. "

Soi Fon - BLEACH Vol. Ch. 34 303

Nemu Kurotsuchi

Nemu Kurotsuchi is a woman who shows little to no emotion as a classic example of the kuudere character. She has black hair and green eyes. Her personality is reserved an courteous. She was created by Mayuri Kurotsichi to be an unquestioning assistant to his experiments. She does still show a level of independent will as she will make requests of her own to Mayuri. The style of her clothes varies from many of the other Soul Reapers in the Soul Society. Nemu wears a more kimono style dress that is thigh high.

Birthday: March 30

Hair: Black

Eyes: Green

Height: 167 cm (5'6")

Weight: 52 kg (114 lbs)

Major Story Arcs

Soul Society: The Rescue Arc

Nemu joined Mayuri Kurotsuchi to see Ikkaku Madarame, who had been defeated by one of the invaders of the Soul Society's Seireitei. He wanted information on the human he fought, but they were interrupted by Ikkaku's captain, Kenpachi Zaraki.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Nemu

Mayuri Kurotsuchi later hunted down two more of the human intruders. A young woman with unusual powers of healing and defense, named Orihime Inoue, and a young male Quincy, Uryuu Ishida. Orihime escaped while Uryuu engaged Mayuri. To assist Mayuri in the battle, she grabbed Uryuu for Mayuri to strike. Uryuu escaped much damage, but nemu was gashed across her back. Mayuri scolded her for not holding him better and kicked her. When she asked for treatment for the wound to her lung, Mayuri only stomped on her in anger. Uryuu became enraged at witnessing this abuse, and Mayuri explained how he created Nemu. He further tempted Uryuu's anger by smashing Nemu's head into the wall. Namu watches the fight between Uryuu and Mayuri Kurotsuchi's Bankai. Uryuu comes out victorious and Mayuri's body liquifies for him to escape. Nemu then thanked him for not killing Mayuri by offering Uryuu the antidote to Mayuri's poison. Uryuu thanked her and left.

Nemu assisted Mayuri as he reformed him body. They were not present for the revelation that the 5th Division Captain Sousuke Aizen had betrayed the Gotei 13 with the assistance of Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tousen. She asked if Mayuri would assist in trying to capture Aizen, and he refused to get involved. With Aizen's plot revealed and his escape to Hueco Mundo, the human invaders were allowed to leave as their new allies against the coming war with Aizen.

Hueco Mundo Arc

Nemu joined Mayuri to Hueco Mundo as part of the retaliation on Aizen's forces. They were also joined by Captains Byakuya Kuchiki, Retsu Unohana, and Kenpachi. She joined Mayuri in the battle against the Espada member Szayel Aporro Granz to rescue Uryuu and Renji Abarai. Once Szayel realizes his powers have no effect on Mayuri, he tries to take Nemu hostage by binding her in a tentacle. Mayuri calls forth his Bankai to then consume Szayel alive.

Nemu revived through questionable means

Thinking Szayel dead, Mayuri goes to tend to Uryuu and Renji, but the testicle still holding her injects into her belly. Sazayel uses Nemu's life force in one of his special abilities to rebirth himself. This also robbed her body of her fluids and near death. Though, what he also absorbed was some of he poisons built into Nemu. This led to Szayel's ultimate defeat. Mayuri then went to Nemu and used some unseen and embarrassing method to completely restore Nemu's body and health. She then assists Mayuri in treating Uryuu wounds, and Mayuri instructs her to smother Uryuu if it's needed to keep him still. After she uncovered, Szayel's lab from the rubble, Myuri found two bodies hanging in the lab.

Fake Karakura Town Arc

Aizen had left to the Human World to battle the remaining Gotei 13 members, and seals escape from Hueco Mundo. Mayuri found technologies that would allow the creation of a Garganta portal to allow escape, and he has Nemu put it together. Ichigo Kurosaki is the first one needed to be sent, and Unohana joins him as an escort and insurance against any plot Mayuri had. Nemu then assisted Mayuri in opening the gate for them to head to the Human World. Aizen was ultimately defeated by Ichigo, but at the cost of his Soul Reaper powers.

Powers & Abilities

Nemu Kurotsuchi possesses exceptional skill and power as a lieutenant in the Gotei 13, but the extend of her training and skill is unknown since she it's unlikely she attended the Shino Academy.

• Enhanced Strength: Even by the standards of most other Soul Reapers, Nemu has incredible physical strength. She has been show to catch a Quincy spiritual arrow with her bare hand, and move large rubble of the Esapda lab in Hueco Mundo.
• Flash Step: Flash Step (Shunpo) is a technique that allows the Soul Reaper to moves at incredible speed that is hard to see.
• Hakuda: Hakuda is a form of hand-to-hand combat taught to all Soul Reapers at the academy. Since Nemu never seems to carry her own Zanpakutou with her, Nemu's primary source of combat is her own body. Combined with her incredible strength makes her even more deadly. Her knowledge in biology gives her the ability to target the weak points of a body.
• Body Modification: Nemu's body was specifically modified to be both stronger and immune to all the poisons that Mayuri has created. Through an unknown process, her body can be revived though she may appear dead.

Attacks:

Nemu's Tedoriru attack

• Tedoriru(手ドリル): With her modified body, Namu can cause her own forearm to spin at such incredible speed that it will be strong enough to break through rock.

Zanpakutō

The Zanpakuto is the unique sword of the Soul Reaper. Though, not much is known about her zanpakuto since she never seems to carry it. She instead opts to use hand-to-hand combat. Nemu's zanpakuto only appears in the BLEACH art book "All Color but the Black", but is mostly obscured.

Other Media

Nemu Kurotsuchi is a popular character in BLEACH and has made numerous appearances in the different products based on Tite Kubo's original manga. These include the anime, animated movies, and video games.

Anime

In the original anime that aired in Japan of Tite Kubo's BLEACH series, Nemu is a popular character for her deadpan personality. In the Shinigami Cup omake's, she is shown to be a member of the Shinigami Women's Association.

Movies

Games

As a series based mainly on fighting and battles, Nemu Kurotsuchi has made numerous playable appearances in the BLEACH series of games. Nemu's game debut was in BLEACH: The Blade of Fate (2006) for the Nintendo DS. In BLEACH: The 3rd Phantom (2008), Namu is shown to use Kido.

(For a full list of games that feature Nemu Kurotsuchi, see her profile on Giant Bomb. HERE)