"The delicate Lieutenant that does not seem as such from her appearance. She cannot sleep after getting a nightmare. Kamaboko?" - picture caption by Tite Kubo[1]
Isane Kotetsu (虎徹 勇音, Kotetsu Isane) is the lieutenant of the 4th Division formerly under Captain Retsu Unohana. She is also the older sister of the 13th Division's 3rd Seat, Kiyone Kotetsu.
Appearance
Isane is a tall, young looking woman with gray eyes and short messy silver hair with strands on the right side of her face that are shoulder-length and styled as two thin braids. She wears a thin dangling red earring on each ear and a standard Shinigami uniform with her lieutenant badge on her left arm.
Personality
Isane is generally quiet and observant, with a strong sense of loyalty. She can be impatient in the face of an enemy, rushing after enemies she has no chance of defeating, including the seemingly unstoppable Sōsuke Aizen. She looks to Unohana as a mentor and mother figure. It is noted by Unohana that Isane suffers from frequent and recurring nightmares, which are often odd or whimsical in their contents. For example, she once had a nightmare involving kamaboko (a fishcake made of pureed surimi), which she intensely dislikes. Also according to Unohana, she rarely talks in a girly manner.[2] Her favorite food, on the other hand, is porridge, to the extent that she is capable of eating it as the three main meals on the same day.
When Isane has time off, she goes to see her sister Kiyone and vice-versa. They are very close sisters who enjoy meeting up and having fun together. Recently, her favorite place to hang out is the Kuchiki estate, in the "secret base of the Shinigami Women's Association". She is a notable member of the latter Association, where her meek nature occasionally gets her in trouble with group activities including getting captured alongside Nemu Kurotsuchi when attempting to take a picture of Byakuya Kuchiki.
Believing that the nutrient level of porridge is very low, Isane started eating porridge when she passed 170 cm in height as she did not want to get any taller. However, she did not stop until reaching 187 cm, her height being another source of frustration for her.[3] Once, after hearing of how sleeping helps children grow, she decides to not sleep again in order to halt her growth.[4] During a meeting of the Shinigami Women's Association, she proposes a Denreishinki sturdy enough to not break if it is dropped from a height of 2 meters, only to be told by Nanao Ise that it is not a common problem.[5]
Plot
Soul Society arc
Isane is mostly seen around Retsu Unohana. She is present when Unohana confirms to Sajin Komamura and Kaname Tōsen that Aizen is dead. [6] When Hanatarō Yamada went back to the 4th Division after he met with Jūshirō Ukitake, he gets in trouble with his captain. However, when Isane is walking with him afterwards, Hanatarō asks if what he had done was wrong, and Isane answers he was brave for what he did. [7]
Ichigo Kurosaki knocks out Chōjirō Sasakibe and Isane.
Isane attends the execution of Rukia Kuchiki with her captain on the Sōkyoku Hill as well as her rescue by Ichigo Kurosaki. She appears upset by Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's false promise to allow Rukia's would-be rescuers to leave safely after her execution, but Unohana tells her that he said it so she could die in peace.[8] After Rukia is handed off to Renji Abarai to get away, Isane hesitantly joins with Chōjirō Sasakibe and Marechiyo Ōmaeda after them. She releases her Zanpakutō to fight against Ichigo Kurosaki, but is taken down, albeit much lighter than the other two.[9] After her defeat, her sister Kiyone runs over to aid her, but Suì-Fēng intercepts her and knocks her to the ground. If not for the fast action of Yoruichi Shihōin, Kiyone would have been killed.[10]
Unohana picks up Isane, and when she starts to apologize for failing to defeat Ichigo, Unohana tells her to calm down. After dropping the wounded off, Isane and Unohana quickly head to Central 46.[11] They arrive at the scene in time to see Aizen defeat Tōshirō Hitsugaya. Captain Unohana announces her presence to the traitors while citing her own suspicions surrounding Aizen's staged death. She also goes on to claim that the Offices of Central 46 Chambers was the only place he could hide and mentions the use of an elaborate corpse doll on his part. Aizen then points out the mistakes in her analysis, while also commending her for seeing through his deception. Isane learns of Sōsuke Aizen's betrayal, and reveals that she and the other lieutenants thought Kyōka Suigetsu was a running water-type Zanpakutō, not one with the ability of perfect hypnosis. [12]
Aizen and Gin escape from Unohana and Isane.
Isane prepares to attack Aizen, but he and Gin Ichimaru quickly get away before she can get near them.[13] Unohana then instructs Isane to use her Kidō skills, both in tracking down Aizen and communicating with the remainder of Soul Society, as well as the Ryoka, on the emergent schemes of the traitorous captain. [14]
After the end of the incident, Isane assists the rest of her squad in healing the wounded. In the middle of the night, she wakes up while having a nightmare about fish paste. She wanders out to get some air while trying to decide what to do, only to be discovered by her captain, who gently tells her to get some sleep.[15][16].
Bount arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.
Isane makes several minor appearances in the Bount arc, notably along with her captain and 3rd Seat Yasochika Iemura healing wounded soldiers and later informing Tōshirō Hitsugaya of updates during Jin Kariya's invasion of the Seireitei. At the same time, when she tries some of Rangiku's cooking, which judging from a disgusted sound Isane makes, tastes revolting.
Hueco Mundo arc
Isane and Unohana are confronted by the Exequias.
Isane arrives in Hueco Mundo with her captain, Hanatarō Yamada, Byakuya Kuchiki, Kenpachi Zaraki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Nemu Kurotsuchi. When Isane and Unohana arrive, they are met by Rudbornn Chelute and the Exequias, who flee after hearing Retsu Unohana is a captain.[17] Isane prepares to chase after them, but Unohana stops her. She and Unohana proceed to heal Yasutora Sado and Gantenbainne Mosqueda.[18] She later tracks down Byakuya's location and does not appear until after his battle with the 7th Espada Zommari Rureaux. She then proceeds to heal Hanatarō and Rukia.[19]
Fake Karakura Town arc
After Mayuri Kurotsuchi announces that he can get Ichigo Kurosaki back to the Human World with a Garganta, Unohana offers to accompany Ichigo back to Karakura Town. Before they leave, she orders Isane to assist Byakuya and the remaining forces in Las Noches.[20] After Aizen is defeated by Ichigo, Isane returns to the Soul Society via Garganta along with Hanatarō, Byakuya and Zaraki.[21]
Zanpakutō Unknown Tales arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.
Isane tends to Chōjirō Sasakibe with her captain as Muramasa reveals himself.
Isane appears with Momo Hinamori at the 10th Division office, surprised to find Rangiku's Zanpakutō sticking out of the ground. When Rangiku tells her that she is trying to communicate with her Zanpakutō, Isane tells her that her own Zanpakutō, Itegumo hasn't been responsive lately, something that has never happened with her before. Later, she is summoned along with most of the other high-ranking Shinigami to Sōkyoku Hill as Muramasa and the other manifested Zanpakutō Spirits appear before their former masters, and is ordered to treat Lieutenant Chōjirō Sasakibe after he is injured by the Zanpakutō. She and her captain are later visited by Nemu with a request by Mayuri Kurotsuchi that Unohana come to the 12th Division barracks. After Rukia is injured by Sode no Shirayuki, Isane is seen treating her as she wakes up. When Rukia asks about Ichigo's condition, Isane mentions that his location is unknown and no one can go looking for him with the current situation. However, Ichigo eventually returns on his own after subduing Zangetsu. She appears with Unohana later as she goes to tend the wounded. Though she tries to say something to her captain, she decides not to and leaves.
Later, she is out in the Seireitei, informing Lieutenant Tetsuzaemon Iba that Suì-Fēng and the Onmitsukidō have closed in on the Zanpakutō Spirits in the 6th Division's barracks. As they both decide assist them, they are confronted by Ashisogi Jizō.[22] It tries to attack them with a blast of poison gas, but she uses a Shō Kidō spell to knock it away, and Tetsuzaemon uses his sword to cut down a building and trap it underneath the rubble. They try to leave to inform Mayuri about the situation, but are confronted by Haineko and Tobiume before they are able to leave. Ashisogi Jizō recovers as well. Isane tries to hit it with a Shakkahō Kidō spell, but it manages to avoid it and attacks her with several blades bursting through its front. Isane barely manages to block the blow, but is knocked backwards. While she tries to recover, she realizes that she can't move her legs. Tobiume explains that when Ashisogi strikes a limb, it becomes immobile, and that since Isane can't move her legs, Ashisogi Jizō's attack must have struck both of her legs. Despite her immobility, she tries to fight back against Tobiume, but the Zanpakutō Spirit avoids her attack and tries to retaliate. However, Momo Hinamori arrives to block the blow. Rangiku Matsumoto arrives as well and attempts to fight Haineko, but Ashisogi Jizō confronts them and spews a large cloud of poison at all four of the lieutenants.[23] Tetsuzaemon and Rangiku then help an injured Isane to run away along with Hinamori, but Ashisogi Jizō assumes its Bankai form and pursues. Even though they manage to escape, the four lieutenants collapse, affected by the Zanpakutō's enhanced poison. Isane is later seen in the 4th Division Headquarters, receiving treatment.[24]
Beast Swords arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.
Isane comes into Nanao Ise's temporary office and offers her a box of cookies that Momo Hinamori made. When she is about to make tea for the two she notices that the tea leaves have vanished. She and Nanao then report this piece of information to the rest of the captains.[25]
Gotei 13 Invading Army arc (anime only)
Note: Events occurring in this arc are only in the anime and do not constitute canon material.
Isane carries Akon.
Having been locked away by Kagerōza Inaba, Isane is freed by Yoruichi Shihōin and carries an injured Akon to the confrontation with Inaba.[26] She later joins the other lieutenants in fighting the Reigai with the captains.[27] Despite evening out the numbers, Isane and the other Shinigami are still pressured by the Reigai. With Byakuya injured, Reigai-Yumichika attacks her and keeps her occupied so that she is unable to heal him.[28]
The Thousand-Year Blood War arc
Isane's breaking into tears while Unohana berates her.
After the release of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto's Bankai during his battle with Yhwach, Isane notes that her skin had suddenly become dry, to which Unohana remarks that she had said something really girly, greatly embarrassing Isane.[29] Isane stays within the 4th Division's building with Unohana throughout the Wandenreich incursion. After the enemy departs, the rattled Isane begins to question if staying inside was the right thing to when so many people were dying. Gently berating her, Unohana tells Isane to not act based on her emotions. Breaking into tears, Isane is then reminded that it was the Captain-Commander's last order for them to remain inside.[30] Later, she stands looking out the window, clutching onto a note left to her by Unohana before bursting into tears.[31]
Guenael surprises Isane.
Later, Isane bears witness to the swift and complete invasion of Soul Society by the Wandenreich.[32] The next day, Rukia Kuchiki brings the grievously injured Captain Rōjūrō Ōtoribashi and Captain Kensei Muguruma to her for urgent medical care and Isane sets about healing them.[33] While Isane is healing, Yachiru Kusajishi, who she had enlisted to help her, comes and brings her beds to lay the wounded on. Telling Yachiru to be quieter so they aren't noticed, Isane apologizes for giving her such a dangerous job. When Isane thinks it's a miracle Yachiru hasn't been found considering how loud she is, she is surprised by a voice coming seemingly from nowhere which correctly deduces her thoughts. Trying to locate the voice's origin, Isane is asked where she is looking as Sternritter V, Guenael Lee, appears behind her and grabs her. The Sternritter is punched away by Yachiru, making him disappear. When Yachiru is hit by the Sternritter, Isane runs over to her. She then listens to Guenael introducing himself and his power. [34]
Guenael appears behind them.
Asking Yachiru what happened to her, Isane is shocked when Guenael appears behind them. Asking if he is a Sternritter, she listens as he confirms this and notes he has already said it before. When Guenael cuts Yachiru, Isane, having forgotten the Quincy, asks why she was suddenly wounded. Guenael proceeds to toy with them, with Yachiru continuously trying to hit him while he vanishes and she forgets all about him between every punch. Isane asks why she keeps punching someone she can't be sure is an enemy and receives a very illogical answer. She then watches as Yachiru draws her sword. [35]
Isane watches as Guenael is killed.
Watching Yachiru playing with the creatures manifested by her Shikai, Isane thinks about how unusual the Shikai is. She then sees Guenael rising again and is very surprised when he is cut through the shoulder. She is shocked by the appearance of another Sternritter within the force field she set up to heal the wounded captains. She is confused by Gremmy's claim he created Guenael through his imagination. After watching Guenael's demise at the hands of Gremmy, she demands the Quincy to move away from the wounded, causing him to reveal he's already killed them. She runs to check and discovers the Sternritter's claim to be true. [36]
When Kenpachi Zaraki arrives, Isane asks where Unohana is. She is saddened when she learns of Unohana's death, but is relieved to know that Kenpachi Zaraki has fully inherited her title. She is shocked when Gremmy elevates the ground they stand on. She warns Kenpachi to be careful as she leaves, taking the bodies of Rose and Kensei to safety.[37] Later, Isane goes to Urahara's laboratory, where she assists in the healing of the wounded 11th Division members. When Ukitake claims it was all thanks to her and Hanatarō's work, Isane states that they could not have done it without Ukitake's guidance.[38] After Kenpachi agrees to leave the search for his lieutenant to the rest of the 11th Division, Urahara gives Isane a sphere to charge with her Reiatsu.[39]
Powers & Abilities
Kidō Expert: Isane is shown to be highly proficient in Kidō spells, apparently excelling in chaining multiple spells together for various effects. While being the second most proficient in healing Kidō in the 4th Division, she has good understanding of binding spells as well. She is also shown using Hadō #1 Shō and #31 Shakkahō, revealing that she is skilled in the use of destructive spells as well.[23]
Expert Healer: As the lieutenant of the 4th Division, Isane excels in healing techniques, being second in the 4th Division only to her captain. She is known for speedily providing medical attention.
Shunpo Practitioner: Isane is proficient enough in to keep up with her captain.
High Spiritual Power: Being a lieutenant of the Gotei 13, Isane boasts a high level of spiritual energy.[40]
Zanpakutō
Itegumo (凍雲, "Frozen Cloud"; Viz "Frozen Snow"). In its sealed form, Itegumo takes the form of a katana with a deep blue handle and a pointed round guard, somewhat similar to a snowflake. It is kept sheathed on the left side of Isane's waist.
Itegumo's Shikai.
- Shikai: Its Shikai command is "Run" (奔れ, hashire). When its Shikai is activated, two smaller blades protrude from Itegumo's hilt at 45° angles.[41]
- Shikai Special Ability: Unknown
- Bankai: Not Yet Achieved
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bleach Official Character Book Souls, page 192
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 507, page 5
- ↑ Bleach Official Bootleg, page 88
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 194, Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
- ↑ Bleach manga; Colorful Bleach Shinigami Women's Association omake
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 109, page 6
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 45
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 149, page 20
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 152 Pages 11-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 153 Pages 10-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 154, pages 3-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 171, pages 5-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 171, page 16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 172, pages 6-14
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 179, pages 19-21
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 63, Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 298, pages 13-16
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 299, page 2
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 302, page 19
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 380, page 16
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 310
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 242
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Bleach anime; Episode 243
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 245
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 359
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 328
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 339
- ↑ Bleach anime; Episode 340
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 507, page 5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 515, pages 1-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 524, pages 1-3
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 547, page 6
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 566, pages 6-7
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 570, pages 11-17
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 571, pages 1-12
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 572, pages 1-11
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 573, pages 2-8
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 613, pages 4-5
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 613, page 10
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 173, page 4
- ↑ Bleach manga; Chapter 152, page 13
Titles
| Preceded by Eventually Seinosuke Yamada |
Lieutenant of the 4th Division ? - Present |
Succeeded by Incumbent | ||
