Satsuki Kiryūin

"Fear is freedom! Subjugation is liberation! Contradiction is truth! Those are the facts of this world! And you will all surrender to them, you pigs in human clothing!"

- Satsuki's speech to the students of Honnoji Academy. "To unleash the most power, this is the form a Kamui must take! You cling to the puritanical views of the masses, proving just how inferior you are! But I won't be ashamed, if it means I can fulfill my ambitions, I will bare my breasts for all to see! I will do whatever it takes! For I know that my actions are utterly pure!"

- Satsuki while fighting Ryūko. "Ask not the sparrow how the eagle soars!"

- Satsuki Kiryūin

Satsuki Kiryūin is a major character from the anime/manga series Kill la Kill, serving as the false main antagonist for the first half of the series, and then later serving as an anti-heroic deuteragonist for the remainder of the series when the true main antagonist is revealed. While her intentions were noble, her methods and actions leading up to her reveal leave her as an anti-villainous character.

She was voiced by Ryōka Yuzuki in the original Japanese version, and Carrie Keranen in the English dub.

Personality
Satsuki is stubborn and arrogant, and rules over her school with an iron fist. At first, she seems to care little about those she deems benath her aside from the Student Council, and subjects them to harsh, even dangerous conditions. However, this is an extremist method to toughen the students up for the inevitable wars they will have to fight, though her rule still involves forces them into brutal discipline, squalorous conditions, and a fearful existance.

However, despite her apparent cold-heartedness, she is shown to occasionaly let her defenses down in the company of close friends and allies, where she will joke, converse, and bond with them. She trusts very few, but those she does trust see a more caring and approachable side, though she remains strict and arrogant.

Physical Prowess
Even as a child, Satsuki possessed enormous strength, able to take down 500 men and one-shot Ira Gamagōri despite his greater size and defenses. She is acrobatic and nimble, able to dodge incoming attacks and easily use kicks and punches to her advantage in combat. Her speed allows her to sprint extremely fast, and her reflexes allow her to quickly identify oncoming threats and react.

Intelligence
Satsuki is a master manipulator, orator, and liar. She can easily get others to do her bidding, whether they know it or not. She is strategic, and uses forethought and planning to carefully analyze opponents and either use them to her advantage or place them in seemingly unwinnable situations.

Bakuzan
Satsuki wields the Secret Sword Bakuzan, a black-bladed katana that she swings with massive force. The blade is incredibly sharp and durable, and is made of a material that is able to damage Life Fibers. This gives the weapon an advantage against Kamui, COVERS, and Life Fiber-infused beings. Bakuzan is powerful enough to go up against the Scissor Blades, but was shattered by Ragyō Kiryūin.

Bakuzan Gako & Bakuzan Kōryu
After Bakuzan was broken, two of its largest shards were forged into two new weapons, Bakuzan Gako and Bakuzan Kōryu, a long blade and short blade respectfully. These two swords possessed the same power as the original Bakuzan, but were able to be duel-wielded for additional damage and the ability to permanently sever Life Fibers.

Kamui Junketsu
Kamui Junketsu is a parasitic Kamui made by the Kiryūin family. When worn, Junketsu further enhances Satsuki's already great power, feeding off her blood to do so. Due to a lack of shame of its revealing nature, Satsuki was able to almost immediately attain the Life Fiber Override, propelling it into its most powerful form. While in this state, Satsuki's strength, speed, reflexes, and durability are enhanced tremendously, allowing her to move fater than the eye can see and strike with blows powerful enough to produce devastating shockwaves. However, due to her natural human resistance to Life Fibers, her synchronization with Janketsu is incomplete, meaning the true extent of her power cannot be accessed.

After her redemption, Junketsu was modified to contain both Satsuki and the Life Fiber-infused Ryūko's blood as well as fibers from Senketsu, Ryūko's Kamui. This gives her more access to Junketsu's abilities with less strain and effort.

Kamui Senketsu
For a brief time while Ryūko was brainwashed by Ragyō and was in possession of Junketsu, Satsuki reluctantly teams up and wears Senketsu. While the two are able to semi-synchronize, Satsuki is not able to gain full access to Senketsu's abilities, and is more working with Senketsu as partners as opposed to one being.

False Toenails
Two of Satsuki's toenails - her left and right big toenails - are actually false, made of the same material as Bakuzan, and sharpened to a point. Should she ever be caught without her weapons or a Kamui, she can use acrobatics to strike enemies with her bladed feet. Due to their material and sharpness, they are effective against Life Fibers.

Quotes
"A skyscraper built within your mind will never fall down."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"Great causes are always fueled by personal desire."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"It is not money that rules men, it’s fear."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"The Lioness will use all her strength even when hunting a rabbit."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"As long as there is breath left in me, Satsuki Kiryūin has a chance at victory!"

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"I understand now. The world is not cut from the same cloth. It’s because it is overflowing with inexplicable, unidentifiable things that the world is so beautiful."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"It is we who shall pave the way to humanity’s future."

- Satsuki Kiryūin

"Those who lack resolve are incapable of even wiping away their own tears."

- Satsuki Kiryūin