草薙ハヤテ Hayate Kusanagi

 

バックグラウンド Background
Born during a particularly violent snowstorm having suddenly subsided, Hayate's parents, Kenshin and Tomoka, chose the name fitting for the sudden change in the winds. Delighted to now have a son and heir, Kenshin doted over the child, while also ensuring his son was being prepared for his destiny. A soon as Hayate was three years of age, he underwent the beginnings of his training. He was joined during that time by a sister, Koemi, although those early years of his life were often too preoccupied to acquaint himself well with the newborn. As he grew, Kenshin made sure that Hayate was trained and tutored in all manner of things, from the clan's own style of Ninjitsu, to the geography and politics of the world. His training was relentless and brutal, near every day without fail from dusk until dawn. During that time however, Hayate became acquainted with another child of the village, Akari Nozomi. Whereas other children of the same age saw her as somewhat of an outcast due to her blindness, Hayate saw past that, and only saw another child, with who to make friends with. Despite his friendship however, Hayate was largely trained on his own, either by his father or another tutor, to ensure there would be no distractions from achieving his lesson goals.

As Hayate reached his tenth year, Kusanagi Village was attacked, the latest in a string of raids by their rivals the Ikamazu. However, they were now under new leadership, with their latest clan leader Genichiro at the helm. A blood feud between the two clans had been going on for centuries, with some speculating the original cause to be the Kusanagi being gifted Guardianship rather than the Ikamazu. But Genichiro wanted more than spilt Kusanagi blood; he wanted Tomoka. Many years had he lusted after her, but under his father, the previous leader, he had been forbidden from his want, for that had not been their goal. But now, the rules were his. The village was flooded with Ikamazu shinobi, and all available Kusanagi shinobi and those under their protection responded to the assault, staving off the invaders from what they thought was simply another raid or attempt to take the Stone. With the bulk of the Kusanagi forces distracted, Genichiro scurried his way to the homestead, where he slew the posted shinobi and found his way inside, where Tomoka hid, protecting her children. In want to protect his mother and sister, Hayate leapt at Genichiro but was easily cast aside and knocked unconscious. A similar fate befell Koemi, before Genichiro forced himself upon Tomoka. During the defilement, she attempted to fatally stab him with his own ninjato, only for a struggle to ensue, and the blade to end her life. Genichiro howled at the outcome, his object of lust now lying dead instead of being taken as he planned. But at least he could begin to thin the bloodline, and turned his eye on the unconscious children. It was at that moment that Kenshin broke into the homestead and witnessed the scene before him. Overcome with grief, he let Genichiro escape and flee with his men. From then on, he and his children would always be changed in some way.

Fifteen years later, Hayate was abandoned in the forests of Shimo, with only the clothes on his back. His test had begun for the rank of Master. Over a week he eluded his would-be-captors, or swiftly placed them out of action if discovered, all the while freezing, hungry and having to live off the snow-covered land whilst constantly eluding those who hunted him. Upon succession, Hayate was granted the title of Master Shinobi by his father, one of the few to earn the title, and vowing further to use his skills to protect his people. A decade and a half had passed, but he was still scarred by the loss of his mother.

Vengeance was always taught as a dark and ugly thing in the shinobi code; yet honour was demanded of any wrongdoing. Knowing their father would be against it, Hayate and Koemi conspired together, and set out one night, unbeknownst to the village at large. Ever since that fateful night, the Kusanagi had never responded in turn to the Ikamazu, but tonight would be the turning point. The Ikamazu village was still, as the siblings swiftly took out any guards on patrol, before sneaking their way into Ginichiro's encampment, where he slumbered. Hunting his guards down one by one, he woke to see the two standing before him, their blades dripping with blood. He laughed at them, that there was no honour in killing an unarmed old man in his bed, to which they both disagreed. After all, their mother had been unarmed in her bed. But unlike her, the pain was not quick. After several moments, the two disappeared from the camp, the night never to be spoken of. Soon after, retaliation came. The Ikamazu attacked once more, now led by Kagato, Ginichiro's son whilst Hayate and Koemi were both respectively away with duties. The Kusanagi forces fought back, but were pushed back against the Ikamazus larger numbers. However, Kagato ordered that no killing was to take place. He had only come for Kenshin. Challenging the older man to a duel, the two engaged, outmatching each other for several moments, before Kagato blindsided the Kusanagi patriarch, and took the opportunity to lacerate him, heavily wounding and blinding him in the process. Before he could finish the deed however, his men pulled him back to escape, as Kenshin's people had now come to his aid. Swearing that the blood feud was burning more than ever before, Kagato escaped. Hayate and Koemi returned to find out what had occured in their absence, blaming themselves for what they knew were their actions. With Kenshin now too weak to continue to serve as Guardianm, the role was passed down to Hayate, along with the fabled Kusanagi Blade. Hayate now serves as the Kusanagi Clan's latest Guardian, and the duty that has been placed on him will be carried out, whatever the cost.

人格と行動 Personality and Behaviour
Hayate is described by many he has come across as a true embodiment of a Shinobi. Coming across as rather cold and aloof, he displays little to no emotion in his speech and actions, preferring to speak only when spoken to, or if he has something vital to add to the conversation.

However, when around his friends and family his true personality comes through, one of warmth and kindness. He cares deeply for his family and his village, doing whatever he can to ensure their protection and safety. He is popular among the village, admired by the children and respected by his peers and elders alike.

In combat, Hayate's grueling Shinobi training becomes apparent, as he turns into a lethal killing machine, devoid of emotion. Though he respects his enemies as fellow warriors, he will not hesitate from cutting them down at a moment's notice.

職業の詳細 Occupational Details
Hayate is one of the few throughout Tochi No Eien No Yuki to attain the rank of Master Shinobi, a brutal feat that breaks the body and mind ten times over of those who travel its path. While he operates as one of the land's most senior protectors, he also trains students and is himself a diplomat to the other nations, with his father growing older and having the village to lead. Though somewhat reserved, he has proven himself skilled in diplomacy, having a way with words and knowing when to speak and when to listen.

宗教的信念 Religious Beliefs
As with most of the inhabitants of Tochi No Eien No Yuki, Hayate reveres the Divine Pantheon, but gives particular honour to Mizuchi.

強迫 Likes
Solitude

However much Hayate cares for his friends and family, he highly values his own time and space, and loves to spend hours alone in the mountains.

Herbal Tea

A lover of many types of tea, Hayate particularly enjoys that of the White Dragon Bush variety.

Cold Temperatures

Being from Yuki, Hayate has adapted to the cold weather, and feels it pushes him to be a better Shinobi.

Poetry

Hayate enjoys poetry of many kinds, particularly surrounding the themes of warfare and romance.

Miso Soup With Ramen, Egg And Pork Cutlets

Hayate's favourite food, and a rare commodity in Yuki. Usually he will have to travel to other lands to eat it.

嫌い Dislikes
The Heat

Being of a frozen region, Hayate finds the heat draining and annoying.

Cramped Spaces

Being a Shinobi, Hayate likes to be in open spaces at all times, especially ones he can use to his advantage.

Laziness

Coming from a society where discipline and hard work is everything, Hayate views laziness as intolerable.

Firearms

Although they are rare, Hayate views firearms as cowardly and those who wield them as unworthy of calling themselves warriors.

Sweet Tastes

Hayate has a general disliking towards any sweet foods or beverages.

恐怖症 Fears/Phobias
Snakes

A Shinobi is scared of little, although snakes unnerve Hayate.

Death of Family

Hayate dreads his father passing away unexpectedly.

Dishonour

Although not as militant as the Samurai, the Shinobi still consider dishonour to be abhorrent.

Failure To Protect A Loved One

Hayate cannot abide by the thought that someone close to him would die because of his failure to act.

The Stones Being Reunited

Hayate is well aware of the catastrophe the Stones being united would create.

興味 Hobbies/Interests
Training

As a Shinobi, Hayate keeps his skills sharp and trains for several hours a day. He also enjoys testing his skills against the best, be it a Minamian Master Samurai, or a Azuman wind-enhanced athlete.

Zen Meditation

Meditation helps Hayate to relax his mind and rebuild his chi, his strength and also to heal himself.

Mountaineering

Enjoying solitude, Hayate loves to traverse the mountains around his homeland.

Visiting Tea Shops

With Hayate's love of tea, a hobby of his is exploring tea shops all over Shiizun, and discovering new flavours and recipes.

強み Strengths
Willful

Hayate will see through any task he is given to the end, no matter what obstacles block his path. His burning will has served him well on many occasions, such as throughout his Shinobi training, and in combat, where he can come back and carry on from seemingly grievous injuries.

Righteous

Incredibly protective of those he cares for and the innocent in turn, Hayate is a born protector. Those who seek to harm others or spread evil in general will soon find themselves facing his blade.

Patient

Almost limitlessly patient, Hayate is never rushed and can wait for things to occur as long as it takes.

Skilled

Noted as somewhat of a prodigy, even among the highly skilled Kusanagi Clan, Hayate is tremendously skilled in all aspects of Shinobi life.

Resourceful

Hayate will always utilise his surroundings to the best effect, whether it involves using his elemental powers to manipulate the environment in combat, or to climb a tree to rescue one of the village children's' pets.

弱み Weaknesses
Impression

When most people first meet Hayate, they are often given the wrong impression, as he tends to come off rather cold and uncaring, due to his analytical nature.

Vengant

Due to his love for his friends and family, if one of them is harmed, it can set Hayate off down a vengeful path, even though part of the Shinobi code teaches one to forsake revenge.

Reckless

Although Shinobi are taught to be calm and collected at all times, Hayate will occasionally push himself to the point of endangering himself needlessly to protect others.

Overconfident

Although Hayate always tries to respect an opponent, he will sometime underestimate an adversary, given his own skill. The Shinobi code teaches that an opponent should never be underestimated, but Hayate sometimes overlooks it if he deems an adversary to be lacking in skill.

Heat

Although taught to endure all manner of extremes, Hayate tends to lose focus in the heat, specifically in the most Southern regions of Minami.

野望 Ambitions
What are your character's ambitions? Are they personal or do they aspire towards a greater cause?

ガーディアンスピリット Guardian Spirit
Kamui

Hayate, like all in his line before him for countless generations, was born a Conduit, linked with the Guardian Spirit Kamui the Fox. Upon using Kamui's ability, Hayate is able to instantly teleport anywhere within twenty feet, or by focusing on another person or an object, instantly trade physical places with them. Unlike many Guardian Spirit abilities, there is no cooldown as such, however in trade-off, this ability takes great strain on Hayate's body each time it is used. Therefore, he only uses it sparingly or in the case of an emergency.

家族 Family

 * 草薙剣心 Kenshin Kusanagi
 * 草薙コエミ Koemi Kusanagi

敵 Enemies

 * イカマズ加賀戸 Kagato Ikamazu

一般の見かけ Appearance
Many would be surprised to see that underneath Hayate's mask lies the face of a man who's image may not match that of the dark clothed ninja.

Hayate is a taller than average and muscular man in his mid twenties, with green eyes and jaw length dark brown hair. His features are fairly hard and rugged, reflecting the inhospitable terrain in which he lives. Nevertheless, he has been told the rugged look gives him a certain handsome charm, although he himself has never focused on it.

物理スキル Physical Skills
Peak Human Conditon

Having started his gruelling Shinobi training from the minute he could walk, Hayate possesses the peak human conditioning of a male in his prime. Therefore, his strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, reflexes, accuracy, longevity, durability, intelligence, healing time, flexibility and combat skills are heightened to a point of enhancement above most humans. Hayate is strong enough to punch an individual through a wooden/thin metal door, lift several times his own body weight and run fast enough to catch-up to horses at full gallop. He can exert himself to peak capacity; therefore, eliminating build-up fatigue chemicals, producing top-endurance and lung capacity; agile enough to scale the tallest of buildings and execute flips and somersaults with ease; reflexive enough to quickly dodge incoming attacks and react better to fast motions, accurate enough to achieve multiple small and further distant targets, durable enough to withstand normal and enhanced physical/projectile attacks, intelligent enough to understand complex problems more so than the average man, flexible enough to co-ordinate his limbs perfectly and his combat skills are advanced enough to defeat large groups of enemies.

Stealth

An integral part of what it is to be Shinobi, Hayate is well versed in the art of stealth. Although equally versed in confrontational combat, if Hayate does not wish to be seen, there are few who could detect him. He is a master of camouflage, whether hiding in the snow or blending into the shadows, and has been trained to make his movements, as well as his breathing silent. Likewise, he is also able to detect most other beings in stealth, and is thus nigh impossible to catch off guard.

Weapons Expertise

Aside from the standard Shinobi weapon of the katana, Hayate has trained in a variety of weapons, from bows and staffs to throwing knives and tonfas. While he has trained religiously with all of them and is a master with any weapon that falls into his hands, Hayate's go-to will always be the katana. Wielding the blade with surgical precision, he is noted to be one of the greatest swordsman in Yuki, and more than a match for a Master Samurai.

Hand-to-Hand Combat

Having studied the Kusanagi form of Ninjitsu all of his life, as well as the art of Hapkido, Hayate is just as dangerous unarmed as he is with a weapon. A combination of his peak strength, speed and agility make him a deadly hand-to-hand opponent, easily able to break bones, dislocate limbs and tear muscles.

Ambidextrous

Hayate is ambidextrous, meaning he can use both hands efficiently for a given task. This can be anything from writing and eating to wielding weapons.

知的スキル Intellectual Skills
Literate

Although it is by no means unheard of, many in Yuki can neither read nor write, living in a culture where such a skill is not crucial to ones wellbeing. Kenshin ensured his son was taught to read and write just as well as any Nishin or Minamian scholar.

Multilingual

As the heir to the guardianship of the Stone of Water, Hayate is well aware he must interact with people of all nations. As a result of his more academic sided education, he can speak in a variety of languages, being fluent in Kitan, his native tongue, and Shiin, the common tongue of Shiizun. He has an advanced knowledge of Azuman and is passable in both Nishin and Minamian.

Strategical Mindset

A key aspect of Hayate's education was the study of strategy and cunning. Knowing that as well as a clan leader, his son would grow to fight and lead men into battle, Kenshin ensured Hayate was taught how to analyse an opponent's every move, as well as how to manipulate the battlefield to his favour. As well as martial lessons, a large part of the training involved regular games of Pai Sho.

Anatomical Knowledge

Taught that he must know everything about his opponents, Hayate was heavily taught in the structure of his fellow man, everything from the skeletal system to major muscle and artery locations. As a result Hayate knows exactly where to attack his attack his target, depending on whether his purpose is to disable, injure or even ill. It has also taught him the vital parts of his own body to defend as a priority.

Pitch Detection

Having an appreciation for music, but also as part of being a Shinobi, Hayate was taught to finely tune his ears to listen out for change in pitch, whether he is pursuing a target in stealth, listening to their breath pattern in combat or identifying an animal nearby.

エレメンタルスキル Elemental Skills
Ice Traverse

Water elementalists are able to freeze the surface of a wall, either vertically or horizontally, and by applying ice to their feet, attach themselves to the surface in question.

Water Jet

High pressure jets can be used to force opponents back or even blast clean through a target if focused enough. Water jets are primarily used if the user has the intent of severely injuring their opponents or removing obstacles.

Water Wall

Water can be moulded into a variety of shapes and can be used to deflect an attack, trap opponents in a viscous body, reshaped and propelled at attackers before they can recover, or solidified into a shield of ice. This diversity and ability to swiftly change to suit the situation is what makes the water elementalist's defence so adaptable. Although usually protective, the shield needs some type of compression or else it will not be effective.

Ice Disc

A water elementalist can create a cylindrical column of ice and proceed to slice razor-sharp sections of it off and send them at an opponent. They are sharp around the edges but also very thin.

Water Pinwheel

This move involves the user moving a large mass of water and spinning it vertically around him/her.

Ice Drill

By turning the tip into ice, water elementalists control massive amounts of water into a spiralled frozen drill.

Water Bullet

The water bullet is a move where a water elementalist manipulates a large amount of water and sends it in a forceful blow toward their target. It is similar to a water jet, but it is more for a quick use since the jet takes more concentration. It is basic yet useful because it takes little time to perform and has a significant effect on the target.

Wave

By moving a large mass of water without separating it from its original source, water elementalists can create waves of nearly any size. They do this by using an upward movement that raises the source, which they subsequently send away in their desired direction. This can be used to sweep opponents away or even as a form of transport, with the user surfing on the crest of the wave. This same process can be used to propel waterbourne crafts.

Ice Creeper

A water elementalist can send a ray of ice on the ground, speeding at an opponent to freeze them. This technique freezes a trail of water beginning with the water elementalist performing the move and ending with their targets freezing.

Maelstrom

In a large body of water, a water elementalist can create a gigantic whirlpool.

衣服スタイル Clothing Style
When not in his Shinobi armour, Hayate opts for clothing such as kimonos, often rather plain or with minimal decoration, not seeing the point in elaborate garments.

兵器 Weapon/s
Kusanagi Blade

The Kusanagi Blade is the ninjato passed down to Hayate as the latest heir and protecter of the Kusanagi clan.. Comprised of folded steel, treated with boiling and freezing water to balance the metal, the blade can cut through flesh and bone with ease, as well as the toughest woods like bamboo. Hayate is able to channel his own elemental energy through the blade, coating the steel with ice to increase its cutting power or project out bursts of energy. Jinran-Maru

The Jinran-Maru was the ninjato first forged for Hayate to wield upon the passing of his initial training. A standard weapon, while it served Hayate efficiently for many years, it doesnt not possess the strength or cutting power of the Kusanagi Blade. Hayate largely ceased to use it once the Kusanagi Blade was handed down to him, and mainly keeps it in a display, only utilising it if needs be.

Kusarigama

The kusarigama is a staple of a Shinobi's armoury, useful in a multitude of ways. It can be used as flail, a grappling chain and a sickle, or a multiple combination of the three. The sickle blade is deadly sharp, while the flail head can easily crack bones. While it is a deadly weapon, it can be precariously deadly to the user if not wielded correctly, which takes astute skill.

Falcon Talons

This weapon is an evolved version of the hand claws, or tekko-kagi, which have been an essential part of the shinobia's arsenal for centuries. The design of the claws embodies the immense power of birds of prey. The weapon features not only steel claws strapped to the hands, but bladed foot attachments as well. This weapon instantly allows shinobi to convert their physical attacks into cutting and slashing movements. Although the claw blades themselves are short, this is more than made up for by the attachment of multiple blades to each appendage. This increases the overall cutting surface and results in devastating attack capability. Due to its savage brutality, this weapon has long been feared. In addition, because they are based on a protective gauntlet design, the claws have high defense capability, making them extremely well-rounded weapons. Kunai

Hayate carries several kunai on him at all times, with their multi-purpose use as knives, throwing projectiles, grappling hooks and climbing tools.

Shuriken

As with kunia, Hayate carries pouches of shuriken on him, never knowing when he will need them. Small and easy to conceal, they can be used to kill, injure or incapacitate. Many Shinobi swear by them and their use in the field and in other situations.

鎧 Armour
Shinobi Armour Considered his true Shinobi attire, Hayate's armour that he utilises for stealth and missions consists of a sleeveless cuirass of black leather, with several small bamboo plates woven into the material. His black leather gauntlets possess steel edges, being able to block against incoming blades, while his bottom half consists of black leather pants, bamboo greaves and black leather tabi. The armour was built more for flexibility than physical protection, through offers decent guard against small arms.