Hanatarō Yamada/Anime Continuity

is the 7th Seat of the 4th Division in the Gotei 13, serving as the leader of the 14th Advanced Relief Team.

Bount arc
Hanatarō is sent to the world of the living by Captain Retsu Unohana to investigate the Bount Invasion of Karakura Town. However, he ends up healing the wounds of those who encounter the Bounts like Keigo Asano. Hanatarō is almost trampled inadvertently by Ichigo Kurosaki and his group, as they were unaware of his presence in Karakura Town.

Hanatarō applies to several jobs in the Karakura Town, but is turned down each time. His stomach rumbles and he wonders why no one will hire him, and he finally collapses in hunger outside of a store. An employee walks out and notices Hanatarō on the ground. Hanatarō eventually finds a job at a local convenience store. He goes to investigate a large explosion outside, only to find that Ganju Shiba has arrived in this world. Hanatarō and Ganju are surprised to see each other, but before they can talk the police begin to come and Hanatarō takes Ganju away so that there won't be any problems.

Hanatarō arrives alongside Ganju at the hospital as Ichigo and his friends are in a battle against the Bount's Hō and Ban. Hanatarō is later seen brought to Urahara Shop by Tessai, wanting to go back to his job. However, he stops complaining when he sees an unconscious Renji and a boy. Urahara apologizes to Hanatarō for dragging him away from his job, but explains that it was an urgent situation. Hanatarō immediately leaves his Gigai and tells Tessai to put up a barrier so as to gather spirit energy. Tessai tells him he can, and Hanatarō states that if that's the case he can handle all of the rest. Urahara remarks that he knew they would be in good hands if they brought Hanatarō.

Later at the Urahara Shop, Lieutenant Renji Abarai argues with Hanatarō about something and the others come in to see what's going on. Hanatarō explains that the kid Renji saved was more severely injured than Keigo was and that he might not survive. Sado suggests that Hanatarō transfers part of his Reiatsu to the kid, like what Ichigo did for Keigo, but Hanatarō informs him that he's gotten too weak for that to work now. Renji states that this is his fault and that the kid would be fine if he only did better. Rukia tells Renji to calm down and informs Renji that the other Shinigami here are heading towards the Bounts hideout. She tells him that if he lets his feelings get to him then even the simplest things will mess up. Ichigo tells Renji that the kid will be fine since in the Soul Society when he nearly died, Hanatarō was able to fully heal him. Ichigo then tells Renji that they should be focusing on stopping the Bount and Renji remarks that he must be getting really weak to be lectured by Ichigo.

When Renji comes back to the Urahara Shop and asks Hanatarō how the kid he saved is doing, and Hanatarō tells him that he's doing fine, which Renji is glad to hear. Hanatarō then tells Renji that he's kind to have come back to check on the kid, but Renji tells him that it was also because he has to clean up the shop.

Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc
After Rukia is injured in her fight against Sode no Shirayuki, Hanatarō tends to her in the Sōgō Kyūgo Tsumesho.

Beast Swords arc
When several items from various barracks go missing, including four chickens Hanatarō was lovingly caring for, he along with Lieutenant Nanao Ise, 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and Ikkaku's Zanpakutō Spirit, Hōzukimaru go into the underground waterways in search for the thief. They find that the culprit is small metal toy-like man who is just as insecure as Hanatarō. When they are attacked by a Tōjū that appears completely resistant to physical attacks, the toy-man reveals himself as Hanatarō's missing Zanpakutō Spirit, Hisagomaru. Using his powers, Hisagomaru absorbs enough damage from Ikkaku to unleash his Shikai special ability on the Tōjū and destroy it. Relieved to be reunited with his Zanpakutō Spirit and find all the missing items, including his beloved chickens, Hanatarō and the others return to base to report. However, Hisagomaru gets lost again in the waterway.

Gotei 13 Invading Army arc
As the Reigai army meets, Hanatarō converses with his captain outside.

Zanpakutō
Hisagomaru redirects here. For the manifested spirit that appears in the anime-only Beast Swords arc see Hisagomaru (Zanpakutō spirit).

Like all other Shinigami, Hanatarō possesses a Zanpakutō, even though he is rarely seen carrying it. Since his skills lean more towards medical support and not battle, Hanatarō tends to misplace his Zanpakutō as he rarely needs to use it.

is a Katana with a blue handle and a circular guard with a brown sphere or bag attached to it. Along the length of the blade is a gauge.


 * Healing: Hisagomaru, unlike a common Zanpakutō, does not inflict damage when the blade hits a target, but rather heals the wounds of anyone it touches. Upon contact with a target a red smoke is emitted from the wound as it heals. The red smoke then enters the blade causing its gauge to fill up with a red light consistent with the level of the injury. Smaller wounds will barely fill the gauge at all, while Encroachment is great enough to instantly fill the gauge.


 * Shikai: Hisagomaru's Shikai command is . . When the gauge is full, Hisagomaru automatically initiates its Shikai and transforms into . In this form, it takes the shape of a scalpel.


 * Shikai Special Ability: Shuiro Hisagomaru concentrates every wound it has absorbed into one massive attack that is usually initiated with a slashing movement that generates a stream of red energy somewhat similar to a Cero, powerful enough to deal a near-fatal wound to a Gillian-class Menos . Subsequent attacks also have the healing restriction lifted, allowing Hanatarō to attack normally after the transformation, though Shuiro Hisagomaru's form makes that difficult.