Taira-no-Kagekiyo

A mysterious character from the "Tale of Heike." They came to be known to both the Genji and Heike as "Kazusa-no-Aku-Shichibyoe Kagekiyo" (which means "the mighty Kagekiyo from the Kazusa region, seventh son, holding the rank of Byoejou") after the battle of Yashima, but their true history and background are unknown. In the "Tale of Heike," they go by Kazusa, but their specific birthplace varies by source material.

Kazusa-no-Aku-Shichibyoe Kagekiyo eventually became known as an avenger of the Heike and was dubbed Taira-no-Kagekiyo. They became widely known as a vengeful ghost seeking the destruction of the Minamoto clan.

Height/Weight: 172cm, 57kg

Origin: "The Tale of Heike," "Gikeiki," Legend of Kagekiyo

Region: Japan

Alignment: Chaotic-Evil

Sub-Attribute: Earth

Gender: -

She uses the katana known as "Azamaru" as her normal weapon, which is a single sword, but for some reason she has two.

The one who kills the Genji. A Genji extermination device. As part of their mentality, akin to a hateful spirit of vengeance, she moves with the cold efficiency of a killing machine.

She never shows either joy or sorrow as a human individual. Has she abandoned those emotions, or is she somehow desensitized?

The military achievements of the Heike samurai, combined with the fallen warriors' resentment for the Genji clan, were somehow condensed into a single persona called Taira-no-Kagekiyo. Kagekiyo ambushed Yoritomo thirty-seven times, but failed each time. Anybody who feels a grudge against the Genji will eventually turn into Kagekiyo to bear their fangs against the Genji.

Are they truly Kagekiyo? Are they truly a Heike? Whether they are even a real person does not matter. Those who bear a grudge against the Genji become part of Taira-no-Kagekiyo. The historical Kagekiyo may have escaped to the Chugoku region of Japan and lived out a relatively happy life, but regardless, Taira-no-Kagekiyo seeks vengeance against the Genji.

There are numerous legends about Kagekiyo, and historic sites which (claim to) pertain to Kagekiyo exist throughout Japan...in the same way as there are numerous historic sites that claim to pertain to Yoshitsune of the Genji. Upon their manifestation, Kagekiyo literally became one with Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune.

In essence, the warrior Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune is now Taira-no-Kagekiyo. Was Yoshitsune incorporated into Kagekiyo because of his grudge against the Minamoto clan? Or did Yoshitsune's massive grudge become the core for Avenger Kagekiyo?

Yoshitsune was, for a time, Taira-no-Kiyomori's adopted son and harbored a grudge against the Genji. One could say that the path to merging with Heike's vengeful spirits was laid out for Yoshitsune early in his life.

Genji Must Die: A++

Taira-no-Kagekiyo...will kill...the Genji.

Kagekiyo Never Dies: EX

Taira-no-Kagekiyo will never die. They will manifest over and over, pursuing their cause thirty-seven times and more. In the kabuki play titled "Kamahige," Kagekiyo was even said to be immortal. As Kagekiyo possesses this skill at EX rank, it not only has the Guts effect, but also provides resistance against Death.

Azamaru's Mist: B

The skill user veils themself in mist to confound the enemy's attacks. It is a mystic mist art using Kagekiyo's sword "Azamaru" (currently housed in Atsuta Jingu).

『Fleeting World, Fleeting Might』

Rank: B+

NP Type: Anti-Personnel Hidden Technique

Range: 1 - 20

Maximum Targets: 1

Shogyo Mujyo, Jyosha Hissui.

A single cursed blow from a sword which embodies the whole of the Heike's hatred.

The belief that nothing persists unchanged, that power fades, and nations fall, coalesces in the blade to put an end to the target's very existence. Perhaps because Kagekiyo was known to wield a long sword, their weapon changes from the two swords "Azamaru" into a single giant blade upon the Noble Phantasm's True Name Revelation. Though it is powerful against targets that are not of the Genji, it demonstrates its true might against the Genji.