Orihime Inoue

Orihime Inoue is a female anime and manga character who features in Bleach.

Biography

Origin

Orihime Inoue.

Orihime Inoue (Japanese: 井上 織姫, Hepburn: Inoue Orihime) was a female human who was born as the child of a drunken father and a prostitute mother with her having an older brother named Sora Inoue. Her parents were always arguing and beating their children where her brother Sora came to believe that they would kill his sister. This led to him and Orihime running away from home when he turned 18 years old where he took his 3 year old sister with him. Upon running away, they settled in Karakura Town where he decided to raise his sister on his own from that point forwards.

At school, a distracted Ichigo Kurosaki collided with Orihime, knocking her to the ground. After he apologized, she acted strangely and began making excuses whilst fleeing the scene. The next day Orihime encountered Ichigo and Rukia Kuchiki on the street. She states that she is uncertain of whether or not she was hit by a car and has a bruise on her leg caused by a Hollow. Ichigo offers to walk her home, but she declined. Later, Orihime has Tatsuki over for dinner, revealing more of her crush when she becomes distracted by the thought of Ichigo's offer to walk her home. After dinner, they were attacked by Acidwire, who pulled Orihime's soul from her body, leaving the Chain of Fate unbroken so that she initially did not die. Horrified, Orihime witnessed the Hollow attack Tatsuki, who was unable to see either of the spirits and becomes scared and confused. Ichigo attacked the Hollow but is flung from the building. Acidwire then reveals to Orihime that he was actually her brother Sora. Orihime was initially sceptical as she doesn't believe Sora would do such horrible things, but finally believes him when she sees his reaction to her hair-clips. As his fight with Ichigo continues, Orihime places herself between the pair, resulting in Acidwire wounding her. She embraced him and apologizes to her brother for causing all this. Sora then purified himself with Ichigo's Zanpakutō as Orihime bids him farewell.

Following the incident, both Tatsuki and Orihime's memories were modified by Rukia in an effort to erase the event from their minds. Unknow to her, the encounter with a Hollow led to the pair beginning to develop spiritual awareness. Ichigo later introduced her to Uryū Ishida when she once again encounters a Hollow when Uryū lures a massive number to Karakura Town for his challenge to Ichigo. She tries to get her friends away from danger, but the Hollow, Numb Chandelier, uses her ability to make various students attack her. As the students endanger Orihime, Tatsuki arrives to defend her from the attack. However, Tatsuki soon falls under Numb Chandelier's control and is forced to turn on Orihime. Seeing Tatsuki in tears brings back old memories of the days when Orihime was bullied for the color of her hair and when Tatsuki saved her, thus Orihime decides it is time for her to protect Tatsuki in return for their friendship. This desire forces her powers to manifest for the first time. Orihime then notices her Shun Shun Rikka flying over her head and with their guidance, she uses them to defeat the Hollow and heal Tatsuki. Afterwards, Kisuke Urahara takes her and Yasutora Sado to his shop, where he explained their powers to them. As she and Sado watch Ichigo and Uryū fight a Menos Grande, Orihime reveals that she had not forgotten what happened with Acidwire. After Rukia is arrested and taken to Soul Society, Orihime asks Ichigo why nobody seems to remember her. After Ichigo explains the situation to her, she asks him what he is planning to do about it. After he leaves, she swears not to let him get hurt. Along with Sado, she accepts an offer to begin training her abilities under the guidance of Yoruichi Shihōin, the cat. Orihime asks Uryū to train with them, but he declines. During their training, she manages to activate her powers after remembering how she felt about protecting Tatsuki. Orihime lied to Tatsuki about where she was going and spent her last day in Karakura Town with her and promised to return.

Soul Society

Travelling to Urahara's Shop, she along with Chad, Uryū and Ichigo were led by Yoruichi into the Dangai as they journeyed to Soul Society. Despite Yoruichi's warning, Orihime uses her shield against the Kōtotsu to save her friends, putting herself at risk. She heals Jidanbō Ikkanzaka after Gin Ichimaru prevents them from entering Seireitei. When they reach the home of Kūkaku Shiba, Orihime proves able to create the Kidō cannonball needed to break through the Shakonmaku fairly easily compared to the others. She sacrifices her own food for Ichigo when he experiences problems with the technique. When the group uses the cannonball to enter Seireitei, she is blown away with Uryū when the ball disintegrates. Despite using Santen Kesshun to break their fall, she is knocked unconscious. Dreaming of Ichigo, she wakes up to find that Uryū had applied first aid to her injured shoulder. Upon arriving in Soul Society, their group came to split up with Orihime wandering the city with Uryū. Orihime spends most of the mission in the Seireitei with Uryū, and is noticed early on. The two manage to avoid Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, but are confronted by Jirōbō Ikkanzaka of the 7th Division. Orihime proves attempts to help Uryū defeat him, but her lack of killing intent renders her offensive ability ineffective, resulting in Tsubaki being injured. Nonetheless, Uryū defeats him with ease, saving her. Although happy with her friend's powers, Orihime laments her own lack growth through training. The pair steal Shinigami uniforms on Orihime's influence after she defeats weaker members of the Gotei 13. She attracts the attention of Toshimori Umesada of the Ninth Division, resulting in Uryū protecting her from his advances before he is called off. The pair renew their search for Rukia, unaware that they are being stalked by the captain of the Twelfth Division.

Later on, Orihime attempted to heal Tsubaki's injuries but proves to have difficulty doing so. The pair are then confronted by Makizō Aramaki of the Eleventh Division, who sees through their disguises. They are saved by members of the Twelfth Division, but they abruptly explode. Warned beforehand by Uryū, Orihime manages to use Santen Kesshun just in time to protect him, herself, and Aramaki. Orihime sheds tears over being unable to save the Shinigami, confusing Aramaki. When Mayuri Kurotsuchi appears and expresses interest in her abilities, she refuses to run away to save herself. However, Uryū threatens Aramaki into running away with her in his arms to get her away from the impending battle between him and Kurotsuchi, although the latter initially tries to prevent his target from getting away. Orihime and Aramaki are found by Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi and brought to the Eleventh Division quarters where she is questioned by its members. The whole group, with Orihime traveling on Zaraki's back with a jealous Yachiru, run for the barracks where Uryū, Chad and Ganju Shiba are being held and break them out of jail. Orihime and her friends witness Kenpachi challenge Captains Sajin Komamura, Kaname Tōsen and their vice-captains to battle before being dragged off by Yachiru in order to find Ichigo.

Orihime identified Ichigo's huge Reiatsu when they arrive during the climatic battle between their friend and Byakuya Kuchiki. Orihime explains their reasons for rescuing Rukia to a confused Aramaki. She refuses to leave the area when Uryū advises her to do so, staying despite the danger. Following his battle, Ichigo hurts himself by colliding heads with Orihime and is reassured that she was not injured at all during the mission. She tearfully informs him that she regrets not being able to help him, but Ichigo thanks her anyway for her concern. Because she was not healed by the Fourth Division, she is the only person in the Seireitei who does not hear Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu’s message about Sōsuke Aizen’s betrayal. Aizen escapes as Orihime watches helplessly with her friends at the bottom of the hill, though Rukia survives the ordeal. Afterwards, she uses her abilities to heal Ichigo, drawing the Fourth Division's attention. Orihime stays in Soul Society for a week while the others recuperate following Aizen's escape. After receiving new clothes for the return home from Uryū, Orihime suspects that he has a crush on Rukia due to the dress he made her, before discovering that her Shinigami friend is not in her quarters. She reports this to Ichigo after attempting to search for Rukia herself. They both search for her, with Orihime climbing up to Byakuya's window and having to decline an invitation to a drink with Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto; this leads them to the Shiba household, where they find Rukia. When Rukia decided to stay with the Gotei 13, Orihime gave Uryū's dress to her anyway, despite her not needing it in Soul Society. While many Shinigami officers look on, Orihime entered the Senkaimon with her friends to return to the World of the Living.

Arrancar

On the first day of the new semester, Orihime greets Ichigo along with Chad and Uryū. She came to be ambushed by Chizuru Honshō until Tatsuki intervened to extract Orihime from the formers grasp. Orihime then noticed when Ichigo's badge alerts him to the presence of a Hollow nearby and along with Chad, fakes a bathroom trip to follow Ichigo. While there, Orihime lets the others know that Uryū had not come because he's not been himself, but realizes she should not have said anything. Orihime is distracted by a worried Ichigo as a new student arrives in class. The next day, Orihime arrives in school and greets both Ichigo and Shinji, who seems overwhelmed that she'd remembered his name and hugs her. This causes a ruckus with the other students who express jealousy and bewilderment, with Chizuru even threatening Shinji's life before Ichigo pulls him away. Noticing the change of behavior in Ichigo, Orihime and Chad confront Shinji after overhearing his conversation with Hiyori Sarugaki. They manage to get Hiyori's name out of her, but before they can learn anything else, Hiyori was carried away by Shinji despite Orihime's attempt to stop them.

Orihime and Chad later responded to a surge of spiritual pressure where they saw a tear into the world of the living by the Arrancar. These two were Ulquiorra Schiffer and Yammy Riyalgo who were member of the Espada that had come to probe the resistance they would experience in Karakura Town. They arrive just after Yammy absorbs many nearby souls, saving the lone survivor, Tatsuki. Initially, on Chad's advice, Orihime runs away with her weakened friend, but stops when she witnesses the brutality with which Yammy deals with him in retaliation. She feels guilt because Chad asked her to run even though he knew neither of them could match Yammy in strength. Seen as worthless, the Arrancar goes to attack Orihime as well only to be stopped by her Santen Kesshun ability, surprising them both as she begins to heal Chad's injuries. She uses her Koten Zanshun against Yammy, but the attack is ineffective and Tsubaki is destroyed. Ichigo arrives to prevent Yammy from hurting her and she laments that she was useless in battle once more. She is reassured by Ichigo's determination to end the battle. Orihime recognizes the new darkness in Ichigo's Reiatsu that wasn't there in Soul Society. She retreated once more, but returns when Ichigo starts to get beaten. This time, Yammy lands a hit on her, aggressively smashing her away from Ichigo as she tries to help. Orihime sustains massive injuries from the battle, but is saved by the arrival of Yoruichi and Urahara. When Yoruichi attempted to treat Orihime's injuries, Yammy tied to attack once more but they came to be protected by Urahara.

Five days later, Orihime came to return to school where she reassured her alarmed friends that she was alright despite her many bandages. When Ichigo showed up, appearing worried and conflicted, her failure to put him at ease upsets her. Meanwhile, the clash with the Arrancar prompted the Soul Society to send a group of Shinigami to help defend the Human World, with Rukia among them. Recognizing Ichigo's guilt, she drags him towards Orihime and forces him to apologize for his inability to protect her and for his depressing behavior. Orihime appears shocked at her return and later glad as Ichigo vows to get stronger to protect her, welcoming Rukia back in the process. While the return of Rukia helps to cheer up a depressed Ichigo, Orihime becomes conflicted with gratefulness and jealousy, feelings she expressed to the memorial picture she has of Sora in her living room, seeming upset. Meanwhile, the other Shinigami decide they can't stay at Ichigo's so Rangiku decides to stay with Orihime and tries to persuade her captain to come with her. Although initially shocked, Orihime lets Rangiku stay at her house, exciting the Shinigami. Later on, while Rangiku is in the bath, Orihime tells her of her jealousy, confiding in her her feelings of inadequacy. Rangiku comforts her, calling her a fool for feeling that way, and advises her not to be jealous of Rukia nor to let such feelings get the better of her as she is equally as important to Ichigo as she is. They had fun after Orihime cooks and surprisingly whilst Rangiku enjoyed her food.

During this time, Karakura Town came to be invaded again by an Arrancar named Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez and his subordinates. Orihime was left to look after Rangiku's Gigai so that she won't interrupt the battle. Instead, she tried to run to her guests, but was held back by the Mod-Soul inside of Rangiku's Gigai. Following Hitsugaya's defeat of his opponent, Rangiku rushes to get Orihime's aid in healing him. Later on, while healing Rukia, she could not help, but notice Ichigo watch on in concern, sadly closing her eyes afterwards. Rukia comments on how greatly Orihime has improved her powers, given the speed with which she healed her, though Orihime denied this. After the second assault on the Human World, Orihime becomes a little gloomy wondering if Ichigo is alright, but knows that he will be fine because, like Rukia, she can sense his Reiatsu if she concentrates. She notices that everyone seems gloomy, including Tatsuki and decides she needs to spend some time with her. However, her neighbor pulls her out of these thoughts when she is informed that her guests have brought something large into her living room. She stands enthralled by the large screen they brought into the room as the Commander of Soul Society finally informs them that they've figured out the true agenda of Sōsuke Aizen. She tries to leave what she considers to be an important meeting, but was stopped by Captain-Commander Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, who states that she should stay as the matter involves Humans as well. At the mention of the Ōken Orihime becomes confused until Rangiku explains that Soul Society has a King and that he lives in an alternate dimension from the Souls and Shinigami. She is also horrified to learn that the creation of the Ōken requires over a hundred thousand Human souls. However, she further learns that Aizen intends to use Karakura Town and its civilians to create the key, thus wiping most of them out. Yamamoto then entrusts with her the job of telling her people about this revelation so they can start preparing for the worst in the war to come.

She was able to track down Ichigo at the Visored base, despite it being shielded by a barrier. She is then able to show her great intellect by deducing the barrier's abilities and how powerful it was. Furthermore, she managed to pass through the Visored's barrier without much effort, greatly surprising them when she arrives and was just a Human. This feat amazes and impresses the Visored Hachigen Ushōda, who created the barrier. She manages to inform Ichigo of Aizen's plans and is amazed to find that he is with the Visored in an attempt to get stronger to stop him. She also marvels at how strong he is getting mentally and how his Reiatsu did not feel as dark nor as scary anymore.

Yoruichi would bring Orihime to see Urahara when she leaves the barrier. She wonders what he wants her for, watching Chad train with Renji and confirming that Tsubaki is still in a critical state. Because of her lack of offensive techniques, she is asked to stay away from the coming fights because she may become a liability and Urahara did not want her other techniques to draw the eye of Aizen. Although understanding the reasoning for it, Orihime runs off, upset. Despite this, she meets up with Rukia, who encourages Orihime to try her hardest, helping firm some of the Human girl’s resolve. Hiyori interrupts their conversation and drags Orihime back to the Visored headquarters to see Hachigen. While there, the large Visored explains that Orihime's hair clips act similarly to a Shinigami's Zanpakutō and offers to show her how to fix Tsubaki despite not having any piece of him left. After doing so, he informs her that her powers were like his own, and that she is more powerful than she can imagine, although neither of them are very suited for battle. Happy with the return of her offensive ability, Orihime leaves the warehouse to find that Rukia had followed her and was glad that Ichigo was at least safe. Together they decide to train in Soul Society together to improve their battle techniques.

Meanwhile, Orihime trained with Rukia within Soul Society, at the old training grounds of the Thirteenth Division. She continued her training with Rukia in the Soul Society at the old training grounds of the Thirteenth Division. However, Karakura Town experienced a third invasion from the Arrancar with the Soul Society informing Captain Ukitake who alerted Orihime and Rukia. When the third invasion commences, Soul Society alerts Ukitake, who in turn alerts Orihime and Rukia. Orihime tries to hurry home with Rukia, but is reminded that she did not have a Hell Butterfly and will need to wait for the journey to be made safe for her, which Ukitake is already on top of. The Senkaimon is finally completed mid way through the battle, and Orihime leaves Soul Society with two Shinigami guiding her through the Dangai. Ulquiorra intercepts Orihime and her allies in the Dangai. Ulquiorra cuts down one of her escorts only to have Orihime immediately prepare to heal him and advise the other one to run away, however, he is cut down as well, forcing Ayame to extend the healing shield to both of them, exhibiting Orihime's improved abilities. Ulquiorra is amazed by this, but demands that she come with him, showing her images of her injured friends and stating that she will agree or he will kill them. Threatened with the lives of those she cares for the most, she has no choice, but to go to Hueco Mundo. Ulquiorra gives her a bracelet that covers her in a Spiritual Membrane, to prevent anyone but the Arrancar from sensing her Reiatsu while she is still in the World of the Living. He gives her twelve hours to get her effects in order and allowed her to say goodbye to just one person during that time, provided that individual does not discover her presence as she was doing so.

Heuco Mundo

Orihime is taken straight to Aizen's throne room in Las Noches. Terrified of Aizen's immense power, she is forced to demonstrate her abilities by Aizen so that others may observe them. Using Sōten Kisshun, she regenerates the left arm of Grimmjow, which had previously been incinerated by Tōsen. Most of those present are shocked, Luppi in particular. Aizen explains her powers enable her to be able to trample upon the horizons that God himself has set in place. By Grimmjow's request, she then heals his scarred back, restoring his 6 tattoo. He swiftly kills Luppi to restore his Espada rank, much to Orihime's dismay. Orihime was assigned a modest room in Las Noches, and notices that there is nothing to do. She laments over doing the right thing in going to Hueco Mundo since helping Aizen would hinder her friends' efforts against him. She promises to appear worthwhile, before she suddenly feels the Reiatsu of her friends in Hueco Mundo. She is given a new dress-like outfit similar to that of the Arrancar's. Supervised by Ulquiorra, he informs her that her friends are in Hueco Mundo, in an attempt to rescue her. Although Orihime was shocked, Ulquiorra insisted it would not change anything as she was now their 'comrade' and belongs to Aizen. Aizen has Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia bring Orihime to his chambers and to leave them alone despite their heightened protests not to do so. The two Arrancar storm off, harboring great animosity for Orihime, especially Loly. Aizen then reveals his reasons for summoning her and proceeds to show her a slightly deteriorated form of the Hōgyoku. He claims that showing her this is a token of his trust in her as his plans cannot be achieved without its powers. He marvels at her powers, carefully asking whether or not she was going to use her powers for him or not in a coaxing fashion. His ruse doesn't fool Orihime; she knows he doesn't trust her, but the encounter allows her to resolve to erase the Hōgyoku from existence.

Inside her cell, she was approached by Loly and Menoly where the pair decided to take their jealousy out on her once again. The pair began to beat her and were looking to kill her for the attention she had received from Aizen. This was interrupted by Grimmjow who effortlessly knocked aside the two female Arrancar with him critically injuring Menoly. He then decided to take Orihime away as part of his own plan but she first intended to heal Loly and Menoly of their wounds. Grimmjow then took Inoue with him as he went to find Ichigo in order to continue his fight with Kurosaki where he wanted Orihime to heal the shinigami of his injuries. This was because Grimmjow wanted a fair fight where he would fight Ichigo at his full strength and to defeat him. At first, Orihime refused as she knew that Grimmjow only wanted to heal Ichigo to fight him but Kurosaki asked her to heal him as he intended to fight Jaegerjaquez as well.

Along with the rest of her friends, Orihime senses the defeat of Chad at the hands of Nnoitra Gilga. Her shock is observed by Ulquiorra, to whom she insists that her friend is definitely still alive, contrary to what he implied. This comment is ignored and caterers are summoned to her room. She is threatened to eat the food, or else Ulquiorra will shove it down her throat. Again, she insists Chad is still alive despite the subject change and so Ulquiorra informs her that it mattered little since all her friends would die soon enough and that they should expect this outcome. Orihime slaps his face, but earns no response to this action. The Fourth Espada leaves, again threatening her with force feeding should she not have eaten in an hour. Left alone, Orihime starts to cry. Later, Orihime senses Ichigo's defeat by Ulquiorra, but before she can react, Loly and Menoly break into her room. Loly attacks her and berates her weakness as a Human. Orihime does not react, angering the Arrancar even more which results in louder attacks and Menoly trying to quieten her down. Grimmjow then explodes into the room, ending the assault. Grimmjow proceeds to dispatch the two weaker Arrancar with little effort, much to Orihime's horror, with Menoly having the top half of her body blown away by the Espada's 'Cero'. He tells her that this is repayment for her healing his arm. He grabs her by the scruff then, demanding her attention on an errand.

Grimmjow gives her the chance to heal herself, but Orihime heals a reluctant Loly before resurrecting Menoly by rematerializing her body physically, being called a 'monster' for doing so. The Sixth Espada then drags the captive Orihime to Ichigo's apparently lifeless body and demands that she heal his rival as he sits down. She initially has trouble doing so because of the leftover Reiatsu left behind in the wound by Ulquiorra, as she meets an upset Nel Tu. She is shocked to learn the identity of Ichigo's attacker and that the wound was Ulquiorra's signature move. She eventually breaks through the Reiatsu and Ichigo begins to show signs of life. Both she and Nel watch over him in a relieved fashion, surprising him when he regains consciousness. Before she finishes the healing process, however, the Fourth Espada arrives on the scene. Ulquiorra's presence makes Orihime feel uncomfortable as he demands she is returned to his care. A fight breaks out between the two Espada with Grimmjow using a Caja Negación to take the other by surprise, temporarily imprisoning him. Orihime and Grimmjow then have a disagreement because she doesn't want to heal Ichigo just so they could fight and get injured again. Ichigo has to get in between them as Grimmjow begins to use physical force against her, and requests that she do as Grimmjow asks to end it once and for all in an even battle. When he's healed, Ichigo reassures her and Nel by promising he will win. Orihime does the same for an upset Nel after the battle begins, reminding her of his promise to them and that they should wait and believe in him. To goad Ichigo into using his full power, Grimmjow fires a Gran Rey Cero in their direction when Ichigo dodges it. They are protected by a masked Ichigo, the appearance of which disturbs Orihime, but Nel tells her she need not fear him in that state as the mask will help him win. When Grimmjow releases his Pantera, Ichigo advises her to use her powers to protect both her and Nel. Orihime still feels unsure of the mask due to his ruthlessness and dark power in this form. She becomes scared of even looking into his Hollowfied eyes, something Ichigo notices while fighting the battle. She attempted to overcome this fear, but the eyes continue to chill her.

When Ichigo appeared to be at a disadvantage, Nel deduced that Orihime's fear was having a negative effect on him. Orihime was shocked when the little Arrancar began to berate her for not cheering him on. Nel reminded her how Ichigo had gained the power to protect his friends and was now in an all-out battle just to save her life, meaning he needed her support in the process. At that moment, Orihime remembered why she had come to Hueco Mundo and how happy she had been that her friends had come for her. Part of her had been afraid that Ichigo's mask meant he actually possessed an ulterior motive for being in Hueco Mundo. She then summoned her strength and cried out for Ichigo not to get hurt anymore.Her support gave Ichigo the resolve to block Grimmjow's most powerful attack and end the fight. Ichigo came back to her on the tower, which caused her to feel relieved that he was normal again once he checked her injuries. She became cheerful when he expressed relief that she was fine. Ichigo embarrassed her by lifting her over his shoulder to get off the tower, insisting that she was not as heavy as he would have thought. Orihime asked Nel to stop dragging out the situation when the small Arrancar tried to explain his own folly, telling Nel that the explanation was depressing her even more.Their departure was interrupted by Grimmjow, who was still alive and wanted to continue the battle, an action that Orihime tried to stop. Instead, she witnessed the arrival of the Fifth Espada, who wanted to fight Ichigo after injuring Grimmjow further. Orihime was held captive by Nnoitra’s Fracción, Tesra Lindocruz, as she tried to help the injured Ichigo. She tried to convince the Espada that his actions were unfair, but her argument was completely ignored. When she thought about helping by using her powers, Tesra threatened to break her clips and destroy her Shun Shun Rikka powers in the process, which forced her to comply. She failed to bluff regarding the whereabouts of Nel, and her captor blasted away the rock concealing the tiny Arrancar, causing Orihime great concern. Both she and Ichigo were then informed of Nel’s true identity as an ex-Espada. Orihime was shocked by this revelation, but Nel tried to defend herself, denying the charge as completely impossible. Ultimately, Orihime cried out for Nel when Nnoitra ruthlessly grabbed the small creature up in the air by her mask, revealing that it had been broken because of him.

Orihime watched in mounting horror as a completely exhausted Ichigo desperately tried to protect Nel, only to be effortlessly overpowered and brutally beaten by Nnoitra. Held tightly in place by Tesra, she felt entirely helpless as she was forced to witness Ichigo being pinned to the ground, crying out in panic when Nnoitra threatened to break his arm. Before the Espada could commit the act, Orihime felt a massive, sudden surge of spiritual pressure erupt from Nel, whose extreme distress triggered a spectacular transformation out of her childlike state. As the smoke cleared, Orihime gasped in shock to see a beautiful, adult woman standing over Ichigo, instantly recognizing her as Nel's true form, Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck.Orihime's terror turned to brief relief as Nelliel effortlessly countered Nnoitra's attacks, even swallowing a devastating Cero and blasting it back at him to defend Ichigo. She looked on with awe as Nelliel unleashed her Resurrección, Gamuza, transforming into a majestic centaur and completely dominating the Fifth Espada. However, Orihime's hope was brutally shattered when Nelliel's spiritual energy suddenly collapsed under the strain, causing her to shrink back into a defenseless toddler mid-strike. Horrified, Orihime could only scream as Nnoitra ruthlessly kicked the child away and ordered Tesra to transform and crush the battered Ichigo to death. Just as she feared it was truly the end, the crushing weight of a titanic new spiritual pressure flooded the tower, and Orihime looked up to see Soul Reaper Captain Kenpachi Zaraki stepping between Ichigo and certain death. Orihime’s overwhelming dread gave way to instant relief as Captain Kenpachi Zaraki arrived and effortlessly dispatched Tesra, freeing her from captivity. At Ichigo’s urgent request, she immediately rushed to the side of the unconscious Nel, deploying her Sōten Kishun to heal the small Arrancar while promising a battered Ichigo that he would be next. She watched in absolute shock from the sidelines as the monstrous battle between Kenpachi and Nnoitra escalated, even running forward to erect her Santen Kesshun barrier to protect Yachiru when Nnoitra briefly threatened the young girl. After Kenpachi finally unleashed his full Kendo strength to deliver the definitive, fatal blow to the Fifth Espada, he gruffly ordered Orihime to tend to his own severe wounds. However, as she moved to obey, the sudden, ominous presence of the First Espada, Coyote Starrk, shattered the momentary victory. Before anyone could react, Starrk used his blinding speed to effortlessly snatch her away, leaving a desperate Ichigo and Kenpachi behind as she was forcefully pulled right back into the depths of Las Noches.

The rushing wind whipped violently against Orihime’s face as Coyote Starrk carried her through the vast, white corridors of Las Noches with terrifying, seamless speed. When the blinding displacement of his Sonído finally ceased, she stumbled slightly as her feet touched the cold floor of Sōsuke Aizen’s grand throne room. Looking up with a racing heart, she found herself standing before Aizen himself, who sat calmly atop his elevated throne alongside his treacherous subordinates, Gin Ichimaru and Kaname Tōsen. The sheer, suffocating weight of Aizen's casual presence made her breath hitch, but she forced herself to stand tall, refusing to let her terror show.Aizen smiled down at her with a chillingly polite demeanor, softly explaining that her brief rescue had been entirely anticipated. Orihime’s heart sank as he revealed the cruel reality of his strategy: her abduction was merely a calculated ruse to lure Ichigo, the Soul Reaper Captains, and her dearest friends into the depths of Hueco Mundo. By trapping them within this endless desert fortress, Aizen had successfully divided the Soul Society's forces. He calmly announced that he was sealing all the Garganta exit portals, leaving her friends entirely marooned while he and the remaining top Espada marched unhindered upon the real Karakura Town.The absolute finality of his words struck Orihime like a physical blow. She watched in helpless despair as a massive Garganta tore open behind the three rogue Soul Reapers, swallowing them into the void as they departed for the World of the Living. Yet, before the heavy silence of the throne room could fully consume her, a familiar, cold spiritual pressure materialized from the shadows. Ulquiorra Cifer stepped forward, his hollow, emotionless green eyes locking onto her as Aizen's designated jailer. He quietly informed her that she was to be returned to her tower under his strict supervision until their master's return. Guided back to her pristine, isolated quarters, Orihime sat heavily upon the lone couch, her mind racing with desperate prayers for Ichigo and the others. She knew the final battle for her home had officially begun, and though she was locked away in the heart of the enemy's kingdom, she vowed to keep her resolve unbroken.

During her renewed isolation in the tower, Orihime found her resolve tested when Ulquiorra routinely visited her to question the nature of the human heart and her psychological state. She steadfastly refused to let her spirit break, even when he coldly informed her that her friends were failing in their rescue attempts. The tense monotony of her confinement shattered when Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia returned to her quarters to torment her out of jealousy, but their assault was violently interrupted by Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Grimmjow brutally attacked the two female Arrancar and demanded that Orihime heal them, a task she performed with her customary kindness despite their prior cruelty. Grimmjow then aggressively dragged her away from her tower to the location where Ichigo Kurosaki lay severely wounded and seemingly lifeless after a previous defeat. Orihime was struck with horror at the sight of her friend, but Grimmjow insisted that she use her unique phenomena rejection powers to completely restore Ichigo so that the two rivals could engage in a fair, unhindered duel. Before she could fully process the situation, Ulquiorra tracked them down, which initiated a fierce clash between the two Espada that resulted in Grimmjow temporarily sealing Ulquiorra in another dimension. Orihime diligently healed Ichigo's grievous injuries just in time for him to face Grimmjow in a cataclysmic battle, during which she overcame her deep-seated fear of Ichigo's hollowfied form to loudly cheer for his victory. Following Ichigo's hard-fought triumph, the relief proved short-lived as Nnoitra Gilga suddenly ambushed them, which left Ichigo battered and Orihime helpless once again until Kenpachi Zaraki arrived to slay the predatory Espada.

Thousand Year Blood War

Sometime afterwards, she came to marry Ichigo and later gave birth to their son who they named Kazui Kurosaki.

Overview

Personality and attributes

In appearance, Orihime Inoue was a human Japanese female teenager with a slender, highly curvaceous build and fair skin. She possessed long, vibrant burnt-orange hair that fell past her lower back in straight, voluminous tresses, styled with a neat fringe covering her forehead and two distinct long strands framing her face. Her hair was worn long in honor of the promise Tatsuki Arisawa once made to protect her. Her eyes were large, dark grey, and consistently carried a warm, gentle expression. Her standard civilian wardrobe consisted of the official Karakura High School winter uniform, featuring a structured, light grey long-sleeved jacket with a high collar, white piping, and a dark blue tie fastened at the neck. She wore a short, pleated dark blue skirt paired with dark knee-high socks and practical brown leather school loafers suitable for navigating a campus. Secured into her hair on both sides of her head, she wore a pair of small, light blue six-petal hairpins that she had received as a childhood gift from her brother. She did not wear military-grade ballistic armor, helmets, or traditional masks, maintaining a highly polished, ordinary, and conventional civilian presentation.

Orihime was gentle, compassionate, and empathetic, always prioritizing the well-being of others over her own. Though she initially appeared ditzy and lighthearted, she displayed profound emotional intelligence and resilience, particularly in dire situations. Her affection for Ichigo grew into quiet devotion, motivating her to stand firm even in overwhelming danger. Orihime’s tendency to see the best in people—including enemies—was both a strength and a vulnerability, underscoring her role as the moral and emotional anchor of Ichigo’s group.

Orihime was shown to be friendly, humorous, sensitive and kind person. Her warm and bubbly personality meant that she was very sweet who tended to be a good friend to almost everyone. She believed it to be possible for people to care about one another and to place their hearts as close together as they can manage to the point that they were one.

She tended to come off as naïve and somewhat clueless which was at odds with her exceptionally high marks in school. This also led to her tendency to rush into situations without thinking which sometimes lead to embarrassing or even dangerous consequences.

Orihime has a tendency to rush into situations without thinking, sometimes leading to embarrassing or even dangerous consequences. She tends to have an overactive imagination and gets carried away thinking of implausible scenarios, such as initially fantasizing a date with Ichigo, later ending into her becoming a boxing champion prior to being shot. Her imagination led her to wanting to do many things in her life as she said she wanted to be a teacher, an astronaut and even own a cake shop. However, she often lamented that the sheer number of things she wanted meant she wished she could live her life five times over or be in five different places at once. Despite that, she remarked that though she wanted to do different things she would always fall in love with the same person.

She had an older brother by the name of Sora Inoue (井上昊, Inoue Sora) who was responsible for raising her.

In fact, she wore her hair long in honor of the promise Tatsuki Arisawa once made to protect her.

Originally, she developed a crush on Ichigo Kurosaki (黒崎 一護, Kurosaki Ichigo) after he saved her life. This led to her becoming his close friend where her feelings developed into an unconditional love for him. At one point, she cam to be jealous of the relationship that Ichigo and Rukia Kuchiki shared with one another despite her friendship and admiration of both of them. By adulthood, she came to marry Ichigo Kurosaki and in that time she had their child who was named Kazui Kurosaki (黒崎一勇, Kurosaki Kazui).

Powers and abilities

Originally, Orihime Inoue was an ordinary human being with no special inherent abilities in her base form. On a basic feats level, her standard human biology provided her with the physical strength, reflexes, and environmental durability standard for a young human female who did not engage in regular military or physical combat training, though her regular sparring sessions with Tatsuki Arisawa granted her baseline physical coordination. She was a highly exceptional member of her species due to her profound, high-level spiritual pressure, which was systematically awakened through close exposure to the residual spiritual energy of a Soul Reaper.

Her cooking style can be described as very bad, disgusting, or more often strange to the point that aside from Rangiku Matsumoto, no one would think it delectable, and became a running joke.

After her encounter with Acidwire, she came to begin to develop spiritual awareness. Her primary power during this introductory phase was latent spiritual awareness, enabling her to see incorporeal entities, perceive regional spiritual energy signatures, and look directly at hollows or Soul Reapers that remained entirely invisible to ordinary human civilians. She possessed an exceptional capacity for emotional empathy and mental endurance, allowing her to retain her cognitive focus and speak coherently while subjected to the terrifying, paralyzing spiritual pressure emitted by a high-tier monster. While she lacked any active combat techniques, projectile generation, or barrier casting during her initial introduction, her unique spiritual awakening established the structural framework for her future mastery of the Shun Shun Rikka.

She came to be skilled in detecting spiritual energy allowing her to sense Hollows and battles at significant distances. Orihime was even able to sense Reiatsu of people that were within protective barriers.

Her spirit energy cam to manifest in the Shun Shun Rikka (盾舜六花, Six Flowers of the Hibiscus Shield; Viz "Six Princess Shielding Flowers") that was a six-petal flower-shaped hairpin given to her by her brother. It consisted of six sprits that resided within the hairpins each of which were two petals on the clip when inactive. She had four techniques that use the spirits in combination with a spirit chant and the technique name. Only spiritually aware beings could see them. They resided in her hair-clips which were shaped like six-petaled flowers, each fairy had two points on a given clip when inactive. Through various combinations of the six fairies, Orihime had the power to reject fate by denying or undoing events in various forms. This power depending on the combination could be used for either attack, defense, or healing. This placed her powers closer to reality manipulation than traditional healing or defense.

When using her powers, she said the words "I reject" (私は拒絶する, watashi wa kyozetsu suru). Among the techniques known to her included:

• Santen Kesshun (三天結盾, Three Sacred Links Shield) : a defensive technique that created a shield between the enemy and the target which repelled any attacks against it.
• Sōten Kisshun (双天帰盾, Twin Sacred Return Shield) : a healing technique that surrounded a target in energy that returned it to its former, complete state. Rather than heal, it rejected, reversed, and reconstructed phenomena that had occurred even those that Orihime had not witnessed.
• Koten Zanshun (孤天斬盾, Solitary Sacred Cutting Shield) :
• Shiten Kōshun (四天抗盾, Shield of Four Heavens' Resistance) :

She later underwent basic training in Kidō with Kūkaku Shiba where Orihime demonstrated a natural talent for precise spiritual energy control as she quickly mastered the technique. While Orihime was not primarily a frontline combatant, her abilities made her indispensable to her allie

Notes

• Orihime Inoue was created by Tite Kubo where she featured in the setting of the Bleach universe.

In other media

Television

• In Bleach, Orihime Inoue appeared in the setting of the anime television series adaptation where she was voiced by Japanese actress Yuki Matsuoka and by English actress Stephanie Sheh in the dub. An anime original story was the Bount Arc where Orihime returned to school with her friends, where Lieutenant Renji Abarai turned up outside in a Gigai. Later that evening, she is visited at home by what appeared to be her dead brother reassuring her, though he acts strangely. Her friends arrive in time to witness her being sucked into doors that bear a striking resemblance to the Gates of Hell. The next day everyone seems to have forgotten her. The shadowy figures rope Ichigo and the others into playing their 'games' to get their friend back, eventually kidnapping Chad instead of returning Orihime. One of the shadowy figures impersonates Orihime beforehand, and turns into a tall thin man with a mustache, glasses, and top hat who reveals himself as Kurōdo. Next, a thin teenager with a zipper hood appears and introduces himself as Noba, and finally comes the girl who was phoning them, named Ririn. Chad was then sucked through the gates, leaving the group down to three. They discover that the culprits are three modified souls who return Orihime and Chad. Urahara reveals that he was behind the whole thing to test Ichigo and his group. After Urahara reveals the loss of Uryū's powers, Yoruichi arrives to tell them of the Bounts and how they might be potential targets. Orihime is paired with the Mod-Soul, Kurōdo, in the form of a rabbit bag. The Mod-Souls detect a Bount so she and Chad run to be confronted by Ryō Utagawa, who merely walks away from them. They arrive to the battle after he takes Yoshino Sōma. Orihime excitedly greets Rukia again. After bringing Rukia up to speed with the situation, Orihime continues to help out against the Bounts. She is at the hospital with the others when they are attacked by Hō and Ban, who are eventually defeated with the aid of Ganju. She helps rescue Uryū from Kariya's mansion. When attacked by Yoshi, she teams up with Rukia and Kurōdo to fight her. Despite their efforts they can't defeat her and are ambush by a second Bount, Mabashi. He uses his doll, Ritz, to take over Rukia and force the two of them to battle one another. Orihime soon overcomes her fears and uses her healing ability to heal and rejects the doll from Rukia. Later, Orihime arrives at the Bount's cave with her friends, where they struggle with Ugaki's doll, Gesell. She stays behind with Chad in order to heal both Rukia and Rangiku, who were injured during the struggle. Orihime and her friends chase the Bounts to Soul Society. After discussing the invasion, they all move out to search for the Bounts in Rukongai. Orihime and Ichigo, after sensing that Rukia was in trouble, arrive on the scene just after Byakuya saves her from another attack by Yoshi. She witnesses the explosions that damage the Seireitei. They all wait for Rukia to recover at Byakuya's luxurious home. Orihime calms Ichigo down when he and Byakuya get into a confrontation over their presence in Soul Society before she thanks the noble for helping Rukia. She and Ichigo tire themselves out searching for Bounts all day with no luck and later collapse at Kūkaku's house, confused. She enjoys riding the boars as they use them in order to go out searching once more. Later, the group gets information on the Bounts’ whereabouts, but Ichigo leaves when Kariya begins fighting with Byakuya. She is there when the group is confronted by Maki Ichinose, who tries to wipe out the group using his light abilities, rendering their attacks ineffective. They are saved by the interference of Kenpachi, who takes over the fight and allows them to rush to stop Kariya from entering the Seireitei. They arrive at the gate too late and find that Jidanbō has been injured by Kariya and his Bounts. She heals the giant enough for him to open the gate, but upon seeing him struggle with his injuries, Orihime decides to stay behind and heal him more. She tosses Kurōdo towards her friends so he can aid in their search. Later on, Orihime meets up again with Ichigo and the others, and heals both Chad and Uryū's injuries.

Appearances

• Bleach:

External Links

• Bleach Wiki Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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