Nanao Ise

"The desk-work expert who takes care of the division's administrative matters on behalf of her captain, who hardly performs any normal tasks." - Tite Kubo

is the lieutenant of the Eighth Division of the Gotei 13, under Captain Shunsui Kyōraku, and Vice-President of the Shinigami Women's Association.

Appearance
Nanao is a slim and youthful girl with long black hair normally kept pinned back, with flat bangs that hang to the right side of her face. Nanao also wears a standard Shinigami outfit. She has slightly light blue eyes that have a deep tint of violet and wears glasses with a slight oval shape to them. She notably resembles Lisa Yadōmaru, a member of the Visoreds and the person who preceded her position as the 8th Division Lieutenant. The resemblance is likely intentional on her part, as she is hinted to have greatly respected Lisa before she became a Visored, when Nanao was a child first joining the Gotei 13. As a child, she had rounder glasses with chin-length hair that framed both sides of her face.

Personality
She is a very serious and pragmatic person who often puts up with her captain's silly antics, but like all lieutenants, she is extremely respectful of her captain and follows his instructions without hesitation. She is almost always carrying a heavy book. Nanao is often accosted by her captain, whose teasing takes various forms. Nanao's usual reaction is to scold him or hit him with something, usually a fan. When she is particularly annoyed she takes off her glasses, though her face has never been seen while doing so. Apparently this act is quite frightening, as most people who see it are reduced to gibbering wrecks just by witnessing it. Even the sadistic, cold-hearted 12th Division captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi fell victim to this intimidating spectacle.

In her free time, she likes to go shopping, but even more to read, and often visits the library. She is in good terms with fellow reader Momo Hinamori; she even brought her books during her hospitalization. Nanao also has an article serialization in Seireitei Communication, titled "Please be Moderate", which is very popular, especially among the male readers. Nanao is known to be an excellent calculator, a skill very handy, given that she has to do even most of her captain's paperwork. Her favorite food is sweet bean jelly, and she does not like powdered green tea, a trait which is interestingly shared with her captain.

Nanao is the Vice-President of the Shinigami Women's Association, but is usually the one who attempts to maintain and control the meetings due to the juvenile actions and behaviors of president Yachiru Kusajishi. Yet while she attempts to be the main moderator, Yachiru usually has higher say on everything from budget decisions to activities done by the club making any of Nanao's comments or advice worthless. She is also frequently at odds with Shinigami Men's Association leader Tetsuzaemon Iba, of whom she usually forces her superiority and control regarding the influence and power she and the Women's Association have over his association.

History
Nanao was notable for being in the 8th Division when she was a little girl, and enjoyed being read to by former lieutenant Lisa Yadōmaru, something they did regularly each month around the time of the first. Eventually, between the period of time when Lisa was forced to hide alongside the other transformed Visored and the present day, she worked her way up from being Shunsui's subordinate to his lieutenant.

Soul Society arc
Nanao is first seen when Yasutora Sado makes his way to the Eighth Division’s offices. She was talking to Shunsui Kyōraku, who was teasing her, calling her “Nanao-chan!” ("Little Nanao!" in the English Dub) which she hates.

She later spreads flower petals so that Kyōraku can make his grand entrance. But as usual he starts teasing her and she gets mad at him and dumps the rest on his head.

During the fight between Kyōraku and Chad she stays out of the picture, and then receives a message from the Onmitsukidō, informing her of the murder of Sōsuke Aizen. She runs to Kyōraku to tell him, and then as they turn to leave, she notices that Chad, who has been cut by Kyōraku, is not dead. She asks permission to deliver the finishing blow, but Kyōraku says no and instead tells her to take him to the Fourth Division. Much later, during the day of Rukia Kuchiki's execution, she finds Kyōraku at his usual spot sleeping up on a roof. She puts up once again with his teasing as she tries to hurry him to the Sōkyoku Stand. As he asks her what he should do, she tells him that no matter what she thinks or advises, he would still do what he wanted to. “Don’t worry,” she also said, “I will stay several steps behind you, so as not to get caught in trouble, but I will follow.”

After the failed execution, Nanao follows Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake to the place where they could battle Yamamoto without getting anyone else implicated. She then describes the spiritual pressure that is Yamamoto, but while trying to take out her Zanpakutō, she is caught in Yamamoto’s stare and is suffocated by his spiritual pressure. Kyōraku breaks the eye contact to save her, and brings her to a safer spot. She then realizes that it is not only difficult to win against Yamamoto even with two Captains on their side, but it is next to impossible.

Bount arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

She makes several minor appearances in the Bount arc, most notably to give Yamamoto a message about the powers and secrets of the Jokai Crest, after which the head captain orders her to inform Kyōraku and Ukitake that they are to continue to investigate the data on the crest. She also appears when giving Kyoraku several messages from Ukitake.

Arrancar arc
In a flashback of Yamamoto's, Nanao appears beside her captain, Ukitake, Sentaro, and Kiyone while searching for clues to Aizen's master plan. Eventually, they stumble upon information that Aizen is trying to make a copy of the royal key from Karakura Town.

The New Captain Shūsuke Amagai arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

Shortly after Shūsuke Amagai is appointed the new 3rd division captain, Nanao informs Kyōraku that the 3rd division is holding a party for their new captain. When Kyōraku tells her that sake usually tastes better in mid-day, she responds "I wouldn't know".

Beast Swords arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material. After Muramasa's defeat, Nanao reports to Kyōraku and Ukitake about the Tōjū. Knowing that only Captain Kurotsuchi can figure out a way to solve this problem, Shunsui sends Nanao with a box of sweets to bribe the scientist to help them. Kurotsuchi initially refuses to help, but Nemu accepts the sweets and apologizes for her captain's lack of interest. Later on, after several items go missing in the Fourth Division compound, she assists in the investigation of the underground sewers. During the journey, she, along with Hanatarō Yamada, Ikkaku Madarame, and his Zanpakutō, Hōzukimaru, run into a powerful squid-like Tōjū and are washed away by the overflowing sewer water caused when Hanatarō triggered a booby trap. Soon after, she meets Hanatarō's Zanpakutō, Hisagomaru. Suddenly, the squid-like Tōjū reappears and attacks the group. After the Tōjū's defeat, Nanao and her search party return aboveground, where she is congratulated by her captain.

Later, she is sent by her captain on a mission to defeat another Tōjū along with the much quieter half of Katen Kyōkotsu. She initiailly finds the girl disturbing to be around, due to her aggressiveness and the way she tortures the Tōjū they were sent to kill. As a result, Nanao uses a Kido spell on Katen Kyōkotsu while the spirit is battling the Tōjū, but her interference allows the Tōjū to escape. She enlists the help of Rangiku Matsumoto in order to try and get the girl to come out of her shell, but both women fail drastically. Afterwards, she notices that the spirit likes flowers, and thus places one in her hair as a gift. Suddenly, both are ambushed by the Tōjū from before. Before the Tōjū can move in to make the kill, however, they are saved by Kyoraku's timely arrival. Later, at a party, Katen Kyōkotsu puts a flower in Nanao's hair, signifying that they are friends.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.

In the Human World, Rangiku and Nanao complete their share of the cleansing of the area around Karakura Town. They had been setting up barriers for the past month. Rangiku suggests that they celebrate, prompting Nanao to note that Rangiku has seemed somewhat depressed recently. Rangiku receives an order to return to Soul Society. Nanao opens a Senkaimon and the pair enter the Dangai, noting that while it is the designated path, it is creepy. As Rangiku notices something odd, their Hell Butterflies turn into energy. The following day, Nanao and Rangiku arrive in Seireitei and are brought before Captain Yamamoto. When questioned, they insist that only three hours have passed since Hitsugaya ordered them to return.

Later, Nanao appears with other members of the Gotei 13 in the Human World as they escape the Dangai and fend off Kagerōza Inaba. After fending off Inaba and forcing him to retreat, Nanao joins other members of the Gotei 13 as they hold a meeting in Ichigo's room. A few days later, the Shinigami gather in Ichigo's room once again. Nanao reports that Retsu Unohana has escaped Seireitei, has informed her that the Reigai are very powerful without their limiters and that Captain-Commander Yamamoto's wounds will take time to heal. As they discuss what to do with Nozomi, who wishes to help fight Inaba, Nanao insists that without knowing what her powers are, they cannot put her at risk as Inaba is targeting her. While in the living world, she assists Captain Unohana in treating the wounded.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc
While the captains are in a meeting, the lieutenants gather and discuss the situation with the Vandenreich and recent disappearances of Hollows and Rukongai residents. She listens as Izuru deduces that Shinigami were likely involved in the disappearance of the Rukongai denizens. When the Vandenreich attack Seireitei, Nanao notices the assault and rushes outside.

Powers & Abilities
Kidō Expert: It is revealed in Kubo's cliff notes on the sides of omake chapters that just like Momo Hinamori, Nanao is also a Kidō expert. She is shown at least skilled enough to perform mid-level spells without incantation.

Shunpo Expert: Nanao is proficient enough in flash steps to keep up with most lieutenant-level Shinigami.

High Spiritual Power: Being a lieutenant of the Gotei 13, Nanao boasts a high spiritual energy.

Zanpakutō
Not much is known about Nanao's Zanpakutō, since she is very rarely seen with it. An illustration in the art book "All Color but the Black" reveals that her Zanpakutō takes the form of what appears to be either a wakizashi or tantō with a rectangular tsuba decorated with diamond shapes in the corners and question-mark shapes on the broad sides, which she seems to conceal within her sleeve. This is confirmed when just before Shunsui Kyōraku and Jūshirō Ukitake's fight with Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, where she reaches in her sleeve only to be overwhelmed by Yamamoto's Reiatsu.


 * Shikai: Not Yet Revealed


 * Bankai: Not Yet Achieved

Appearance In Other Media
Nanao appears as a playable character in the Bleach: Heat the Soul series from the 3rd to the 7th, where she carries her book with her in battle and can attack with a reiatsu-enhanced palm at close range, similar to what she tried to use to finish off Sado.

Trivia

 * Nanao writes a serialized article in the Seireitei Communication called which is one of the top three most popular columns and is very popular among the male readers. The column resounds with readers' problems and complaints.

Quotes

 * (To Shunsui Kyōraku) "What is wrong with you, Captain Kyōraku. That Ryoka is still alive. Shall I finish him off?"

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