Does Nemu Die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War?

Does Nemu die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War? Discover the character’s final fate, powers and impact on the series.

Does Nemu Die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War?
Nemu and Mayuri as seen in the Bleach manga (Image via Shueisha)

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War is a high-stakes storyline following the battle between the Soul Reapers and the Quincies. Headed by Yhwach, the Quincies wished to avenge years of oppression and were powerful enough to eventually reach the Soul King. To prevent the realms from collapsing, the Captains of the Gotei 13 fought against enemies serving the Quincy King. Resultantly, Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Nemu were also on the frontlines. This might make fans question whether Nemu dies in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.

Yes, Nemu does die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War during her battle against Pernida. Let us take a closer look at this.

Who Is Nemu in Bleach?

Nemu is the daughter of Mayuri Kurotsuchi and served as the lieutenant of the 12th Division of the Gotei 13. However, she is an artificial being created by combining Gigai and Kekon in Bleach.

This made her a part of Mayuri’s Nemuri Project, where he wished to create souls and bestow bodies upon them to remain in the world. Mayuri was always a twisted individual who constantly misused Nemu to achieve his goals. 

Does Nemu Die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War?
Mayuri and Nemu as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

However, he considers her a successful invention and enjoys seeing her grow up. Nemu was made artificially, but there is very little that separates her from a real person. She is very faithful to Mayuri and goes out of her way to protect him despite her reserved personality.

As seen in the battle between Uryu and Mayuri, she feels immense gratitude to the former for sparing her father and even assists him to pay him back. While Mayuri does soften up through the course of the series and helps his creation restore her body on occasion, he still plays an active role in her eventual death.

How Does Nemu Die in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War?

In the battle between Mayuri and Pernida – the left hand of the Soul King, Mayuri initially gained the upper hand through his ingenious inventions to combat the enemy’s nerve manipulation. Right after the Soul Reaper’s new Bankai consumed Pernida, the Quincy used Heilig Bogen to break out.

This turned the tide, and when Mayuri seemed to be in danger, Nemu stepped in to save her creator. Seeing that there was no decisive way to defeat Pernida, Nemu pushed her body at the cost of destroying herself. While this allowed her to burst through Pernida, the antagonist’s clones were too powerful for her and ended up tearing her to shreds with The Compulsory.

When Pernida began eating the remains of Nemu, Mayuri revealed that he had tricked the deity. Since Nemu’s brain had continuously multiplying cells, it would cause Pernida to self-destruct from continuous regeneration. Therefore, at the cost of her life, Nemu assisted Mayuri in taking down the Soul King’s left hand. 

Nemu’s Powers in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War

Nemu and Pernida as seen in the Bleach manga (Image via Shueisha)

As an artificial being, Nemu has several modifications on her body for improved use. These enhance her endurance, strength, and speed while making her a highly skilled combatant. Additionally, Nemu has an immunity to poison and uses this to store various chemicals in her body for Mayuri’s use.

Nemu’s brain has a cell division accelerator that helps her constantly upgrade and also serves as a failsafe. When an external entity eats her brain without a cerebrum attached, they would self-destruct, as we saw in Pernida’s case.

She possesses a high amount of spiritual energy and can use it in battle. By sacrificing portions of it, Nemu can use energy blasts and superhuman strength that completely destroy her target. However, this comes at the cost of her own decomposition.

Nemu’s Impact on Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood-War

Nemu plays a subtle yet very important role in Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War. She helped in showcasing a rare moment of vulnerability from Mayuri, who refused to let her die in vain. While he did end up using her brain to kill Pernida, this was only as a last resort. Before she gave her life for him, Mayuri stated that Nemu’s purpose was to evolve and not to protect him.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi as seen in the Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War anime (Image via Studio Pierrot)

Despite being a synthetic person, Nemu displayed more dedication to her mentor than most humans. Her huge role in killing Pernida also helped the Soul Reapers gain momentum in their uphill battle against the Quincy King.

Conclusion

While Nemu might not be the most outspoken name in the Bleach fandom, she has undeniably left her mark on the series. Along with humanizing Mayuri, she herself grew from a silent observer to a courageous warrior who actively took steps to protect her creator. 

This underscored the relationship shared between the two as well as the emotional depth of characters such as Nemu with less screen time in Bleach. 


Looking For More?

Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!