Retsu Unohana

Retsu Unohana is a female anime and manga character who features in Bleach.

Biography

Origin

Yachiru Unohana.

Yachiru Unohana (Japanese: 卯ノ花 八千流, Hepburn: Unohana Yachiru) was a soul that came to inhabit the Soul Society where long ago she came to be most diabolical criminal to had ever existed in that realm. At some point, Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto came to seek her out where he convinced her to join him leading to her becoming one of the founding members of the Gotei 13. Unohana laid the foundations of what would be known as the 11th Division and became its first captain, as well as the first Kenpachi. At some point in the past, Unohana was taught medical techniques by Tenjirō Kirinji when she sought this knowledge in order to prolong fights. Approximately one thousand years ago, Unohana was noted to had fought alongside Yamamoto and the rest of the first Gotei 13 captains against Yhwach and his Quincy army. After becoming a captain, she undertook a mission to eliminate the warriors on the edges of Rukongai. Having lost interest in fighting, Unohana wandered from place to place in search of something that would please her sword, and came across a young boy who would one day be known as Kenpachi Zaraki. Attacking her on sight, the boy was able to injure her causing the woman to once again enjoy fighting. However, despite being the one left standing at the conclusion of their battle, she realized he was stronger and was better suited to become Kenpachi. Sometime after this fight, Unohana left the 11th division and became captain of the 4th Division where she devoted her talents towards healing. During this time, Unohana was taught medical techniques by Tenjirō Kirinji; she sought this knowledge in order to prolong fights. Being one of the founding members, she had been one of the Gotei 13's longest tenured captains alongside fellow captains Yamamoto, Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku. Approximately 110 years ago, Unohana was present for a promotion ceremony that took place at the 1st Division Headquarters, along with the rest of the assembled captains. She witnessed the arrival of the newly appointed Captain of the 12th Division, Kisuke Urahara. By this point, she gained a lieutenant with this being Seinosuke Yamada. Nine years later, Unohana was present at an emergency meeting called by Captain-Commander Yamamoto where he decided to create an investigation team to locate the missing 9th Division members. When he gave out orders, Yamamoto ordered Unohana to prepare the relief stations for casualties, but she interrupted him and asked if it would not be better for her to tend to the wounded there. Yamamoto plainly told her that he could not send healers out without knowing what the situation was like at the scene. Later on, she came to be present when Isshin Shiba made his report about the mysterious Hollow known as White.

Soul Society

Retsu Unohana attends a captain's emergency meeting called by Captain-Commander Yamamoto. However, she said nothing at this time and remains silent throughout the bickering between her fellow officers. After Sōsuke Aizen's apparent death, she examined the body and confirmed to Sajin Komamura and Kaname Tōsen that he was truly dead. When Hanatarō Yamada aws brought before her by the 13th Division after aiding an enemy, she determined that Hanatarō must be imprisoned on account of the fact that he was a Seated Officer in her Division and may have accidentally aided in the harm that the Ryoka had supposedly done to the Seireitei. While attending the execution, Isane Kotetsu expresses open regret that Yamamoto lied to Rukia regarding the release of the Ryoka, but Unohana explains to her lieutenant that despite the harshness of such a lie, it also allows Rukia to die peacefully with the idea that her friends' lives would be spared. After Ichigo Kurosaki arrives on the scene and destroys the Sōkyoku stand, Suì-Fēng orders all lieutenants to follow the fleeing Renji and Rukia. Isane, concerned about the order, looks at Unohana, and the latter calmly tells her to go, only to see the former lose to Ichigo. After defeating the lieutenants, Ichigo starts his battle with Byakuya Kuchiki while the captains then head off to their respective battles. Unohana releases Minazuki, even though the actual process is not shown, and saves all those hurt during the initial battle. She keeps Isane with her on top of Minazuki while her Zanpakutō heals the rest of her patients inside of its stomach. Arriving at the Relief Station, Unohana asks Minazuki to release everyone, and seals it back while calling for her subordinates to tend to the injured personnel for the time being. She then asks Isane to follow her to the Central 46 Chambers.

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 residence area in Central 46 Compound 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. The first was that he was not here to hide, and the second was immediately shown as he releases his Zanpakutō in front of Unohana and explains Kyōka Suigetsu's Complete Hypnosis. He then proceeds to tell Unohana about the third member of his group, Kaname Tōsen. He and Gin Ichimaru then teleport to Sōkyoku Hill, leaving them behind. Unohana immediately requests Isane to find out his exact location and inform everyone of Aizen's betrayal, including the Ryoka. She then takes steps to heal Hitsugaya and Momo Hinamori, both of whom were critically injured by Aizen before her arrival. After ensuring that both would escape death for the moment, she leaves them in the care of Isane and travels via Minazuki to the Sōkyoku stand, where she tells Yasochika Iemura, the 3rd Seat of her division, that the Ryoka do not require help. She then settles down beside Byakuya Kuchiki and gently scolds him, saying that he has pushed himself too hard. She then calls Rukia over upon Byakuya's request, during which he reveals his reason for allowing her execution. A week after Aizen's insurgency, Unohana stops two 11th Division members from creating a ruckus at the 4th Division’s Relief Station, and unsuccessfully tried to convince Hitsugaya to speak to an unconscious Momo, who was still recovering from her injuries.

Fake Karakura Town

Unohana and Isane appear alongside Captains Kenpachi Zaraki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Byakuya Kuchiki in Las Noches after the titanic battle between Ichigo and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez. Her initial appearance effectively stops the approaching Exequias from doing further harm to Yasutora Sado, to which their leader, Rudbornn Chelute, calmly orders a retreat. She then stops Isane from pursuing them, claiming that they are only there to heal the injured, not start more fights. She proceeds to heal Sado and Gantenbainne Mosqueda, and orders Isane to go to the location of Byakuya Kuchiki as she feels something is wrong with Hanatarō, who was originally sent with Byakuya. Unohana appears alongside Mayuri Kurotsuchi after the latter announces that he can get Ichigo Kurosaki back to Karakura Town through a Garganta. She offers to accompany Ichigo back to Karakura Town, claiming to have faith in Mayuri's abilities, but not without adding a remark of how if he fails, Urahara will be disappointed, obviously irritating him. Before leaving with Ichigo, she orders Isane to remain behind and assist their remaining forces in Las Noches. When Mayuri and Nemu open up the Garganta, Ichigo and Unohana jump in and head towards Karakura Town. As they are travelling, she asks Ichigo about his fight with Aizen, when learning that Aizen defeated him without using Shikai, Unohana was somewhat relieved. She then informs him that he is the only one who can stand up to Sousuke Aizen because he has not seen his Shikai. She tells Ichigo that his advantage was that not only does he have captain-class Reiatsu, but also that he hasn't seen Aizen's Shikai. She finally warned him not to witness Aizen's Shikai, stating that once he does, the war would be over. Ichigo thanked her and tells her that he will defeat Aizen. As they made their way back to the living world, Unohana noticed that Ichigo was making a path that was weak and brittle and asked that she be allowed to take the lead. Ichigo protested, saying it was unnecessary until she asked again even more politely, scaring Ichigo into submitting to her will. Once Unohana was in front of Ichigo, he comments on how she can make such a clean and sturdy path with captain-class Reiatsu, making note of the difference between them. Unohana asked him what he was referring to, stating that his Reiatsu was not so different from her and as his wounds are healed, it was possibly because his Reiatsu was too rough and thus unsuited for the particular task. Ichigo objected, stating that if his Reiatsu was at full strength, he would be able to do better. Unohana did not believe his reasoning until Ichigo explained that the condition of his Bankai's shihakushō was able to give a clear example of how much Reiryoku he has left. Orihime had already healed him, but told him that it would take longer to replenish his Reiryoku, and since he went to help Rukia and the others, his Reiatsu never did get fully replenished.

He then points to his sleeve that he has left and says this is how much Reiatsu he currently has at the moment. Unohana then thinks to herself that it is impossible, as there is not even half of his shihakushō left, causing her to wonder if his Reiatsu is only at half. Unohana then realizes that she must have mistakenly thought that Ichigo's Reiatsu is at full strength because it was comparable to a captain's. She then asks Ichigo to run in front while she restores his Reiatsu to full strength as they travel. Ichigo questions if she is capable of doing that while they are running to which Unohana answers by explaining how healing Kidō works and that restoring the Reiatsu once a body has physically healed is an easy task. Unohana then acknowledges to herself that if Ichigo's Reiatsu was only at half strength, then he may just be the trump card they need to defeat Aizen. She later made it back to the Human World and went to where Hachigen and Hiyori were located. Unohana finished healing Hiyori Sarugaki and tells the Visored that she should be alright for the time being. Lisa Yadōmaru asks if that means that she might not survive, to which Unohana explains that healing through Kidō is no different from medicine. Unohana notes that she has finished fixing her physical structure. So as long as Hiyori did not give up on living, she will eventually wake up. Whether or not she gives up, is something she thinks Shinji Hirako would know better than her. As she begins to walk away Shinji tells her that he owes her one. Unohana stopped and asked him why does he thank her, as she did not require thanks for saving the lives of her 'allies'. Shinji responded that he never said they were her allies as the Visored look on in surprise making him question what Hiyori would say in the situation. He simply said again that he owed her one. When Kisuke Urahara explains about his intentions to restore Ichigo's power in front of the Gotei 13, Yamamoto tells him to bring him the sword which will allow Urahara to do so. Unohana asks if he intends to agree to Urahara's plan and he replies that they were saved by Ichigo and thus it is their turn to save him, no matter the means. He then orders the captains and lieutenants to give their Reiatsu to the sword. Some time later, Unohana was present when Ichigo meets with the captains to request the return of Kūgo Ginjō's body.

Overview

Personality and attributes

In appearance, Retsu Unohana was a slender and very youthful woman with blue eyes and black hair.

Typically, she was shown as having a gentle and warm personality that augmented her appearance. Unohana was a soft-spoken, polite, and caring woman who used honorifics when addressing everyone, including her subordinates and the enemy. She rarely showed any signs of panic or distress, and had a great sense of duty.

Retsu Unohana projected an aura of profound serenity and maternal grace that masked a far more predatory and bloodthirsty nature. During her long tenure as the Captain of the Fourth Division, she maintained a soft-spoken demeanor and a gentle smile that commanded absolute, terrified respect from her peers and subordinates alike. This composed exterior was a deliberate choice she made to distance herself from her original identity as Yachiru Unohana, the most diabolical criminal in the history of the Soul Society and the first Kenpachi. In the past, her personality was defined entirely by a singular, obsessive love for combat and a desire to find opponents who could push her to the absolute limit of her endurance. Even after she dedicated herself to the art of healing, this hidden aspect of her character remained visible through her intense gaze and the subtle, chilling pressure she exerted whenever she felt her authority was being questioned. She viewed the act of healing not merely as a service, but as a practical tool that allowed her to prolong a fight indefinitely, ensuring that she could savor the thrill of the blade for as long as possible. Ultimately, her personality was a complex duality; she was a woman who mastered the art of saving lives only so she could eventually return to her true passion of ending them in the most glorious battles imaginable.

Her seniority led to fellow shinigami captain Ukitake referring to her as 'Senpai'.

Unohana herself had said that she was infatuated with crossing blades, and firmly believed in taking any actions necessary — even sleight of hands such as hidden daggers — to get ahead in battle.

She commented that the scar left on her chest was causing her pain just from the sound of hearing Kenpachi Zaraki's voice.

Powers and abilities

Retsu Unohana was was a Soul (魂魄, Konpaku) who were spiritual beings that were formerly the spirits of dead humans from the World of the Living that passed on to the Soul Society.

Notes

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

Appearances

• Bleach:

External Links

• Bleach Wiki Entry

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