Nadeko Sengoku, a middle school student, begins as shy and meek, her eyes often hidden behind long bangs and avoiding direct interaction, especially with unfamiliar people. She harbors a long-standing childhood crush on Koyomi Araragi, met through her friend Tsukihi Araragi, calling him "Koyomi-onii-chan." This affection feels safe to her; his existing relationship prevents rejection while allowing her to depend on his protection during crises. Her sheltered upbringing involved parents and others excessively emphasizing her cuteness, hindering the development of a genuine self-identity and fostering a victim complex. She habitually avoided responsibility by blaming external factors. When rejected by classmate Sunshi Sajou, she became the target of the jagirinawa curse, manifesting as invisible snakes coiling around her body, causing physical harm. Incomplete occult rituals at North Shirahebi Shrine inadvertently activated the curse, requiring Koyomi's intervention to save her. Nadeko's personality unravels through multiple confrontations. Assigned by her teacher to improve class morale after conflicts, her avoidance tendencies make her struggle. Encounters with Ougi Oshino, who criticizes her evasion of accountability, and Shinobu Oshino, who mocks her artificial childishness, culminate in Tsukihi Araragi cutting off Nadeko's protective bangs. This removes her physical barrier, leaving her unable to hide her gaze. Emotionally destabilized, she snaps at her teacher and classmates, revealing buried self-loathing and resentment. Following this breakdown, the serpent spirit Kuchinawa urges her to ingest a talisman to restore her bangs and secure Koyomi's love. Though Koyomi tries to dissuade her, Shinobu's taunts provoke Nadeko into consuming it. This transforms her into a deity with white-snake hair, crimson eyes, and immense destructive power, enabling attacks with venomous snakes or spears. As a god, she adopts Kuchinawa's arrogant speech patterns and masculine pronouns, planning to kill Koyomi to eternalize her unrequited love, rationalizing the violence as romantic: "If I mean to have an unrequited love, it'd be a lot more romantic if he were dead." This deification is later revealed as a subconscious fabrication. Kuchinawa symbolizes her self-criticism and guilt over prior actions, particularly the snake sacrifices at the shrine, allowing her to evade acknowledging her own role. Shinobu identifies the transformation as a loss of conscience. Nadeko's resolution comes through Deishuu Kaiki, who exposes her secret dream of becoming a manga artist—a passion hidden in a forbidden closet to avoid vulnerability and failure. Kaiki challenges her dependence on Koyomi, arguing his presence hinders her growth: "Romance can strengthen people, but it can also make them useless." Persuading her to relinquish godhood by emphasizing her human potential, including her drawing talent, she agrees, abandons her divine powers, and parts ways with Koyomi permanently. Later, Nadeko embraces her artistic ambitions, cutting her hair short and adopting practical clothing like red tracksuits. Her room, once filled with cute décor, now has such items pushed aside, symbolizing her rejection of past facades. She addresses Koyomi formally as "Koyomi-san," distancing herself from her infantilized persona. While maintaining friendship with Tsukihi, she focuses on manga creation, eventually serializing three works and displaying a more grounded, self-assured demeanor. A spin-off portrayal in a crossover event depicts an alternate version as a magical girl whose wish—"I don't want anyone to see me"—reflects her canonical fear of exposure. Her supernatural form, a snake-like Doppel, curses intruders by reflecting their own malice, underscoring her desire to shield her true self.