Summary
- Shunsui Kyoraku is Nanao’s uncle, not just her captain.
- Shunsui honors his late brother and sister-in-law with mementos.
- Shunsui likely kept Nanao close to protect her, his only family.
The current head captain of the Gotei 13, Shunsui Kyoraku, shares a deep connection with his lieutenant Nanao Ise. It’s a tradition in Bleach for lieutenants to have a close bond with their captains. Be it the father figure and mentorship of Juushiro Ukitake and Rukia Kuchiki, the deep respect and admiration between Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai, or the more spiritual connection of Kenpachi Zaraki and his Zanpakutou, Yachiru Kusajishi, aka Nozarashi.
But Shunsui and Nanao are closer than the lieutenant realizes. Her captain is a key figure in her life, as he is her admired captain and her loving and protective uncle. Here’s what you need to know about the bond between Shunsui and Nanao in Bleach.
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Shunsui Kyoraku, Carrying that Weight
A Man of Many Losses
As a young teen, Shunsui used to visit his older brother Shunzan, as since he had married, he had become much more friendly and they finally started getting along. Shunzan’s wife was Isuzu Ise, a kind woman who was a member of the Ise clan, a family of priests. However, the Ise family was said to be cursed. They were a matrilineal family. Only women were born in the family and they adopted husbands into the family. But they were tormented by a curse. Every man who married an Ise woman would suffer an early death. And such was the case for Shunzan Kyoraku. He passed away, giving Shunsui a memento: a violet hairpin that Isuzu had gifted him.
Years later, Isuzu contacted Shunsui and asked him to hide what she thought was the source of the curse, the family’s ceremonial Zanpakutou, the Shinken Hakkyoken. Isuzu’s young daughter, Nanao, overheard this encounter. This was the first time Nanao would see her uncle, without ever knowing his true identity. Isuzu would later be executed for the crime of misplacing a sacred treasure, after which Shunsui would wear her hairpin and her pink flower kimono, honoring both his brother and his sister-in-law.
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Nanao Ise, A Set-Up Path
Destined for Squad 8
During her days at the Academy, a young Nanao witnessed the captain of squad eight visit the Place. Something in the man called her attention. He was wearing a pair of hairpins and a pink flowery kimono. Even if it was a common design, she noticed it was very similar to the one her mother wore. Nanao was then accepted into squad eight to work under the same captain, and she immediately recognized him as the man she saw speak to her mother when she was a little kid.
“I have a feeling the one I love will be the kind of man to scoff at the notion of a curse and laugh it off as ridiculous.”
With time, Nanao became the lieutenant of Squad Eight, working directly under Captain Shunsui Kyoraku. The two had a very close working relationship, but Shunsui always had this attitude of over-protection over her, always looking out for her and keeping her safe from danger. Nano could have always assumed this was mostly because of her lack of a Zanpakutou, but in reality, it was because she was much closer to the captain than she thought. It’s believed that she was sent to Squad Eight by Shunsui’s direct request in an effort to keep her close and protect her.
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Shunsui and Nanao, Uncle and Niece
A Promise to the Lost Family
During his battle with Sternritter X – Lille Barro, Shunsui tells Nanao the truth about their relationship. Nanao is the daughter of Shunsui’s brother Shunzan, which makes her his niece. Shunsui made a promise to her mother, Isuzu, to keep the Shinken Hakkyoken to keep Nanao out of danger, as Isuzu believed the sword to be the source of the curse. But since Lille Barro was much too powerful even for Shunsui, Nanao begged him to give her the Shinken Hakkyoken, as it was a sword capable of defeating a God.
Shunsui’s closeness and treatment of Nanao make more sense with this revelation. Shunsui had lost all of his loved ones by the time of this battle. He lost his brother Shunzan, his sister-in-law Isuzu, and then, during the war with the Quincy, he lost his father, Head Captain Yamamoto, his senior mentor, Captain Unohana, and finally his best friend, Captain Ukitake. Nanao is effectively the only family he has left, the precious niece he protects with his life.
- Shunsui Kyoraku is not just Nanao’s captain, he’s her uncle.
- Shunsui honors his late brother and sister-in-law by wearing their hairpins and kimono.
- Shunsui most likely accepted Nanao into Squad 8 to keep her close and protect her.
- Shunsui lost all his loved ones, Nanao is the only family he has left.
He carries a memento of his brother and sister-in-law with him in his hairpins and kimono, and now Nanao is his way of honoring his love for them. Shunsui will do all he can to protect Nanao. Even as she fights Lille, he stands behind her, supporting her, even on the brink of death, as he can’t allow himself to leave her alone to fight such a terrifying foe.
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Shunsui and Nanao don’t have a romantic relationship like some fans have theorized. And their bond goes beyond captain and lieutenant. Shunsui and Nanao are uncle and niece, and they’re each other’s last family members left. They’re a great example of the bonds that tie the Shinigami together, a bond that goes beyond work or experience. A bond that will keep them together. A man who has lost everyone still has his niece whom he cherishes with his battle-torn heart.
