Satsuki Kiryuin was one of the main characters in the Kill La Kill anime. She was introduced as its most powerful individual and the villainous counterpart to Ryuko Matoi, with their rivalry being the center focus to the first half of the series.
Though Satsuki has taken actions to prove herself as (and would ultimately be redeemed to become) a hero at the end of the story, it may be difficult for some to excuse her villainous actions in achieving these ends. By comparing her most noble deeds with her worst, we can appropriately gauge the woman's morality - or lack thereof.
10 Villain - Conquering The Other Schools
In pursuing her mother's ends, Satsuki would not remain complacent as the leader of Honnoji Academy. She mustered her forces and marched on other schools, dominating them in spite of their clearly inferior ability to defend themselves.
One such example came from the Elite Four's struggle against Takarada, a wealthy man who would not go down as easily as his peers. Though he held out admirably against Satsuki's army, he would ultimately be subjugated through her uncompromising resolve and strength.
9 Hero - Merit Based Hierarchy
The function of Honnoji Academy may have been brutal, though it was fair and one based off of merit. Those who demonstrated themselves as promising would be elevated within it, sparing no consideration toward nepotism.
As a result, it created an extremely efficient and just order by which to organize an entire society. Even Ryuko - who had been Satsuki's sworn enemy at the time - was given permission to form a club and win prestige for herself and her adopted family - much to the surprise and bewilderment of the Elite Four.
8 Villain - Lying To Ryuko About Her Father's Death
Satsuki had openly lied to Ryuko about her father's death in order to motivate her and see what she was capable of. The Honnoji leader anticipated her pending battle with Ragyo and wanted to understand the full capacities of her sister's power.
However, this would backfire in more ways than one. Not only would it breed sincere resentment from her sibling, it would also cause her to go berserk and nearly destroy the school and everyone in it after Nui Harime's introduction. It was one of her greatest mistakes and so prodigious that she was able to admit it despite her usually proud and arrogant demeanor.
7 Hero - Willing To Take A Punch From Ryuko To Earn Her Trust
After the dust had settled and Ryuko's mind had been restored, she was still understandably livid toward the actions her sister had taken in the past. She wanted the opportunity to punch her directly in the face - which, considering her unnatural strength on account of the life fibers - could have possibly killed Honnoji president.
In spite of this, Satsuki was willing to risk herself in order to win Ryuko's heart and allegiance. This demonstrated maturity and patience, even if the punch would never actually connect.
6 Villain - Using Senketsu's Fragments To Empower Her Troops
Understandably, Satsuki may not have been able to prevent Nui Harime from brutalizing Ryuko since it would blow her cover. However, she willfully confiscated Senketsu's shredded remains and used it in order to imbue her soldiers with the strength they would need to conquer Honnoji's rivals.
This demonstrated a willing participation in Ragyo's schemes and could make one reasonably question how moral she actually was. It also exacerbated the growing rift between herself and Ryuko, giving her a justified reason to loathe her sister.
5 Hero - Betraying Ragyo
Satsuki's arguably greatest feat is impossible to ignore. Despite having fulfilled her mother's maniacal wishes at the beginning of the series, she defied her toward the end and provided vital assistance in Ryuko's quest.
She would be bold enough battle her mother directly regardless of the power she wielded. Even after she had been stripped naked and abused, Satsuki had mustered the resolve to continue the fight for the sake of her friends and the entire planet. It demonstrated an unwavering determination that was refreshing to see when employed for good, rather than evil.
4 Villain - Gathering Innocent People For The Life Fibers To Harvest
Ragyo had ordered Satsuki to gather a massive number of people in order to begin the Life Fiber takeover, and her daughter was willing to oblige. She demanded all Honnoji students and their families attend a great cultural and sports gathering, one which would lead them to their deaths.
Though many families had managed to escape the fray, it nonetheless depicted Satsuki's willingness to barter with human life in order to complete her charade. Considering that she was not strong enough to kill Ragyo once the ruse had been revealed, her arrogance was nearly responsible for an unprecedented massacre.
3 Hero - Standing Up To Ryuko
After Ryuko had been corrupted by Ragyo, she was intent on murdering the entire Nudist Beach resistance. Satsuki wore Senketsu in order to mount a last line of defense and protect her friends from the impending carnage.
Despite being massively outclassed in raw strength, she also held back so that she would not accidentally kill her own sister. Considering what was at stake, it was a magnificent display of conscience and one that might absolve her of previous crimes.
2 Villain - Turning Mako Against Ryuko
Satsuki understood the latent avarice within the hearts of Mako's family and sought to exploit it. By making her the president of the Fight Club, she correctly anticipated that the young girl would not readily depart from the delights she had been given.
Later, she would insist that Mako fight her old friend, resulting in a gruesome, one sided battle where Ryuko willingly endured the abuse doled out at her. Mako had nearly beaten her to death before she relented - all while Satsuki watched. She remained idle as her entire academy witnessed a formerly innocent girl's descent into brutality.
1 Hero - The Purpose Of Honnoji Academy
Though Honnoji Academy effectively worked as a self sustaining society, it had a second and more important purpose; it introduced young people to Life Fibers and made them resilient against its influence.
As a result, Satsuki was effectively able to raise an entire army of trained warriors in order to defy Ragyo. This provided a massive advantage to the outnumbered Nudist Beach forces, especially after Ryuko absorbed the fibers of everyone else in the school. It imbued her with enough strength to win her final confrontation with her deranged mother, saving the entire human race in the process.
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