Forum:Aging in Soul Society

Is Nanao a genius? In Turn Back the Pendulum, she was a child, already a Shinigami, and placed in the 7th Division (Kyouraku called her the youngest in his division). Is this normal for a Shinigami?

I don't think it's normal, as they certainly make a big deal out of child prodigies like Gin. However, since they do make such a big deal about child geniuses, and nothing was said about Nanao being one, it could simply be that she completed the Shinigami school to a satisfactory degree and had no where else to go, so they gave her a home in one of the divisions. Twocents 00:28, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

No, it is not usual. She is indeed a special case. As I can recall, other special cases involving an early graduation include Gin Ichimaru, Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Hiyori Sarugaki. I believe there are other such cases, but I cannot recall them. Laguna 00:30, 11 August 2009 (UTC)
 * To add, I'm including Hiyori Sarugaki because of her appearance and position. Laguna 00:33, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

I wouldn't put Hiyori in that category, mostly because she hasn't visually changed in the 100 years, unlike everyone else that was young then. I was wondering the same thing earlier today/last week. I just don't see why she's left out of the fame the other two get, unless there's some behind the scenes sexism there. Ancient Chaos 00:51, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

The only confirmed child prodigies are Gin Ichimaru, Toshiro Hitsugaya and Kaien Shiba. It's probably likely that Nanao maybe a genius as she was about Hisagi's age when she was a member of the 8th division 100 years ago. It's totally unlikely to have someone that young in the Gotei 13 as well as her intellect is evident from what we have seen. But the real issue is so little is known about her that it has not be affirmed along with much else about her besides her personality and the fact that she has been a member of the 8th division since she as a child all those years ago. Though she may not be a prodigy that stands out all those confirmed passed the academy in like a year she most likely either did more time or maybe they just haven't said anything yet to affirm that she is up there with them. Hiyori is just short and she is an adult, it happens sometimes. Just as Toshiro is an adult in relation to humans, though young compared to a shinigami, but he looks the opposite of his age.Salubri 01:27, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

Hiyori is just short and she is an adult. Good point. She didn't age unlike the other three. We really don't know anything about Nanao's abilities... I hope Tite Kubo is saving her for something special. Laguna 03:30, 11 August 2009 (UTC)


 * While it isnot common to see someone as young as her in the Gotei 13, this by no means qualify her as a genius. Lets look at the facts, Yes she was young but obviously not a seated officer by any means. Yachiru is about the age that nanao was then (in apperance not actual age as no shinigami has ever been given age as I remeber) and Yachiru is a Lieutenant. No one has ever tried to say that Yachiru is a genius. There are two members in the 12th Division that were children when Urahara was Captain, Akon and a female Shinigami. Toshiro and Gin are the only ones that have been stated to be genius Kaien was said to be talented not a genius. Very little is known about the requirements for a person to attemp to become a Shinigami, so until we get some sort of stated fact or confirmation that she is genius or anything by the like, all that can be said is that she has been a Shinigami since child-hood. WhiteStrike 03:46, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

Actually i did reference for kaien on both manga and anime separately he is called a genius by Ukitake ([]) himself other then him being modest about it he is in fact a genius having graduated in 1 year just as gin and toshiro had. Also Yachiru is only a lt. because kenpachi is a captain, we do know that captains can choose whoever they see fit for the position, regardless of their actual qualification. No one would go so far as to call yachiru even a actual fighter let alone a genius which is ridiculous thought if anyone has had it. The issue is that if the gotei 13 allows children in then they must be talented and genius level. Then the question comes that there is likely varying levels of genius some prodigies excelling up the ranks above others and then some of great talent but not necessarily on the same level as the prodigies. Suffice to say Nanao is presumed to have a high intellect but may not necessarily on the level of say gin or Toshiro.Salubri 04:14, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

I was gonna point out when Ukitake was talking to Kaien in the flashback but Salubri already explained it. He called Kaien a genius alright but Kaien was a very humble guy. 20 or 30 years ago when Kira, Hinamori, Rukia and Renji were in the Shinigami Academy, Hitsugaya looked small (smaller.. lol), kinda like Nanao and Hisagi 100 years ago. Decades later, he is at the height he's now, which isn't much of an improvement.. Now about being a genius. I think like somebody said there, it can be classified as how proficient one is in certain areas. Kaien, Histugaya, Gin and probably Ichigo (yeah, him too, why not?) can be considered prodiges because: they boost a high level of energy pressure, their growth rate is incredible and they have a keen intelect. Nanao Ise may be very skilled in Kido (as hinted much later after Chado was defeated by Kyoraku) and very smart, but not as proficient with sword fighting and any kendo techniques. So maybe to be considered one, you gotta have the trifecta. Excelling in only one or two categories may classify you as good and talented, but not a "tensai". About Yachiru, I was watching some old episodes and right around ep. 45, when Ishida had already lost to Tousen and was held in a cell with the others, Yachiru comes with Kenpachi and she finds that Maki Maki guy. She forgot his name and he answers and says a lot of other things, including something like "... lt. her name or last name, giving us the honor of being our lieutenant for 10 years. Now I don't know if it really happened in the manga but we could assume she's probably half of Hitsugaya's age but it's unlikely she'll grow much more than that, perhaps getting as high as Rukia, maybe less.. Deimonos 13:52, 11 August 2009 (UTC)


 * About that 10 years thing: to my mind, he (MakiMaki) is saying that it has been 10 years since he joined the 11th squad, not 10yrs since Yachiru joined. And it was never stated that Nanao completed the academy in less than 6 years, which Gin & Shiba did. She may well have just passed the academy in the normal six years and joined a squad like just about everyone else. --Yyp 14:33, 11 August 2009 (UTC)

Ok, I found the page. He says he's been serving under her for 10 years, which means that Yachiru has been a lt. for at least 10 years, but we dunno how long she's been at this rank, neither do we know how long she's been a shinigami at all. And back to Nanao, what we alluded to is that is rare to find such young people in the Shinigami Squads. But if she was just lucky or if she excels at certain areas, we don't know yet. Deimonos 17:51, 11 August 2009 (UTC)