Yachiru Kusajishi/Anime Continuity

''This article is about Yachiru Kusajishi. For the Kusajishi District, see Kusajishi. For the person Yachiru was named after, see Yachiru Unohana.''

is the lieutenant of the 11th Division in the Gotei 13, under Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, as well as the President of the Shinigami Women's Association.

Bount arc (anime only)
Shortly after Kenpachi killed the previous 11th Division captain and the pair joined the Gotei 13, Maki Ichinose informed Yachiru and Kenpachi of his intention to leave the Division. She asked him if he was really going to leave and if he hated Kenpachi. When he denied that he hated Kenpachi, she asked him why he was leaving. He then told the pair that the previous captain was the only person he could accept as his captain and, with Kenpachi's permission, he left.

Bount arc (anime only)
In the 11th Division barracks, Ikkaku and Aramaki report to Yachiru and Kenpachi that former 11th Division Shinigami Maki Ichinose has been discovered in Karakura Town. When Aramaki becomes confused over Yachiru's use of similar nicknames for both himself and Ichinose, he requests that Yachiru not call him Maki-Maki. Yachiru denies that the nicknames can be confused, insisting that they are completely different. Kenpachi says they should leave Ichinose alone, prompting Yachiru to reveal that she feels responsible for Ichinose's situation. Yachiru states that she is glad he is alive, but Kenpachi tells her that he is probably being kept alive, though he does not know by whom. Yachiru is present for a meeting of several Gotei 13 captains and lieutenants, where Mayuri reveals that his data-bank has been broken into by someone. Yachiru asks what information has been read and Mayuri states that it was on the Bounts. After the meeting, Kenpachi tells Yachiru that he has a bad feeling about this incident and the return of Ichinose. She asks him why that is, but he states that he does not know. Yachiru tells him that he must be worried about Ichinose, which Kenpachi denies.

After Ikkaku is attacked in Seireitei, Yachiru listens as he tells Kenpachi that the intruder got away. As the Shinigami search for the Bount, Yachiru enjoys watching them conducting the search. When Kenpachi decides to leave, Yachiru jumps on his shoulder, prompting him to ask her if she is bored. Yachiru states that she's relieved, explaining that if Ichinose is with the Bount, he would not be able to enjoy his fight with him when they cross paths. Kenpachi replies that he does not care about that, but is concerned about how Ichinose is being used. After Kenpachi learns that Hitsugaya has learned the location of Maki, the pair go to confront him, with Yachiru looking forward to seeing him again. When they encounter Ichinose attacking Ichigo and the search party in a forest in Rukongai, Yachiru greets Ichinose, Ichigo, and Orihime. At Kenpachi's behest, she moves away from the pair and watches them fighting, encouraging both to do their best. She tells Ichigo to let them fight, saying that it will make Ichinose happy. As Kenpachi is engulfed in light from one of Ichinose's attacks, Ichinose informs her that he has been killed. Yachiru tells him that he is wrong and goes to leave. True to her words, Kenpachi reappears and defeats him. Yachiru bows to the defeated Ichinose and leaves with Kenpachi.

Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc (anime only)
Having been away when Muramasa started the Zanpakutō rebellion, Yachiru reappears along with Zaraki, just as the Shinigami are on the back foot from the Zanpakutō attack. She explains that she and Kenpachi were fighting Hollows in Rukongai. They headed back as soon as they received word of what was happening, but got lost on the way, hence why they were late. When Kenpachi berates her for revealing that they got lost, she gets upset, defending her statements. She also expresses her annoyance at Kenpachi for running past a candy store without stopping. Zaraki promises to take her back to the candy store later and tells her to get back, as he is about to cut loose. She agrees and gets off Kenpachi's shoulders.

After Ashisogi Jizō's attack upon the Shinigami, she tries to "play" with Ashisogi Jizō. Thinking they were playing a game of hide-and-seek, she chases Ashisogi Jizō around. This then morphs into a game of tag and she manages to pin it down briefly by grabbing its wings. Ashisogi Jizō almost releases its Bankai form, but is subsequently caught by Kenpachi and then detonated by Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi. She is present as the Shinigami begin treating the injured. Yachiru and Kenpachi are found to be the only one's caught in Ashisogi Jizō's poison that were unaffected by it. Yachiru claims that she held her breath, but Mayuri informs her that the poison should have gone through her pores. Captain Shunsui Kyōraku claims that Kenpachi probably used his Reiatsu to blow away the poison.

As the Shinigami decide on their next course of action, Yachiru accompanies Kenpachi as he goes with a team consisting of Yoruichi Shihōin, Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, and Ichigo Kurosaki to rescue Yamamoto. Kenpachi and Yachiru enter the Zanpakutō's hideout first and initially get lost in the caves. They then encounter Gonryōmaru and Tenken as the Zanpakutō Spirits are alerted to the Shinigami's presence. As Zaraki fights the two spirits, Yachiru realizes that they are fighting defensively, and that the Zanpakutō are stalling for time and trying to keep Ichigo separated from the other Shinigami. After the defeat of Gonryōmaru, Zaraki tells Yachiru to get out of the way as the fight is about to become more serious.

Beast Swords arc (anime only)
After the events involving Muramasa and the Zanpakutō rebellion, Yachiru is busy going about her daily activities again. She eats large amounts of sweets as the Shinigami Women's Association have another one of their gatherings, after Zabimaru and Senbonzakura accidentally discover 12th Division's secret surveillance system of all of Seireitei in the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. Yachiru and the other members of the Shinigami Women's Association are soon discovered by Captain Byakuya Kuchiki as they are revealed to have been hiding in a secret room when Senbonzakura caused a number of technology malfunctions in an attempt to shut down the surveillance system. Yachiru, along with a number of other officers of the Gotei 13 and their Zanpakutō, then appear to confront both Zabimaru and Senbonzakura when they accidentally destroy the buildings of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc (anime only)
When a time gap is discovered in the Dangai, Kenpachi is ordered to provide security for Mayuri Kurotsuchi's survey team. Yachiru accompanies him into the Dangai. Perched on Kenpachi's shoulder, she pokes the Dangai's wall until it bursts, claiming that it is fun. She remains on his shoulder when he begins arguing with Mayuri. The argument is interrupted by Nemu stating that something is coming. The group then watches a bright light coming from one of the walls. Later, Yachiru appears with other members of the Gotei 13 in the Human World as they escape the Dangai and fend off Kagerōza Inaba. The next day, the Shinigami hold a meeting about the current situation within Ichigo's room, in which Yachiru is present.

Before leaving the Urahara Shop, Yachiru reassures Ichigo that Kenpachi will not die in the Seireitei. Yachiru travels with Kenpachi back to Soul Society and makes it through the Dangai world on his back. She finds a safe spot when Kenpachi is confronted by his Reigai counterpart and marvels at how alike the two really are. When Kenpachi is about to cede victory to his counterpart, Yachiru protests, appearing before him in an act that brings him back to his senses. He remembers that he would never be able to leave her. After Kenpachi collapses, once he finally kills the Reigai, Yachiru runs over and asks if he is about to die. She smiles happily when he assures her that he isn't. As Kenpachi enters a bamboo forest, Yachiru rides on his back. As they are confronted by the Onmitsukidō, as they prepare to attack Kenpachi tells Yachiru to dodge and she lowers herself down on his back as they attack. As he defeats the attackers, he tells her to take off and she gets off his back.

Nicknames
Yachiru is known for making up nicknames for people, sometimes on a moment's notice. This is a list of her known nicknames:
 * Sajin Komamura- Koma-Koma/Doggy/Bow-Wow
 * Maki Ichinose- Maki-chan
 * Jūshirō Ukitake - Ukki
 * Shūsuke Amagai - Ama-Ama
 * Shūhei Hisagi - Hisa-Hisa
 * Masayoshi - Mappy
 * Mayu - Mayu-Mayu