Kurōmaru Tokisaka (時坂 九郎丸 Tokisaka Kurōmaru?) is a former member of a clan of Immortal Hunters trained in the Shinmei-ryū with demi-human origins before joining UQ Holder member as one of their Numbers and later the closest companion of Tōta Konoe.
Appearance
Kurōmaru's appearance
Although, at first, she identified herself as male, Kurōmaru is genderless (meaning that she neither has male or female sexes due to her demonic lineage as part of the Yatagarasu, who remains genderless until their 16th birthday, whereupon she choose to become either male or female).
Though, Kurōmaru does physiologically appear feminine resulting in her being mistaken as female as shown in her first meeting with Tōta[4]; she has actively expressed the desire to instead become a male instead. After she realized her possible feelings for Tōta more than just friends[5]; this is further elaborated as her body started to become more like a woman as her breasts started getting bigger.[6]
Kurōmaru has a slim figure and very long black hair which is tied in a side-ponytail and split at the front as long bangs that sometimes covers her left eye and red eyes. Preferring to be identified as male, Kurōmaru normally wears a black long coat that hides her body shape, a white dress shirt, a red tie, and black pants. She is usually seen carrying her sword wherever she goes, although she can also use magic to summon the weapon should it not be on his person.
However, Kurōmaru has soon come to terms with her feelings for Tōta, which soon resulted in her developing more feminine features and chose to become a woman.
Personality
Kurōmaru so far has demonstrated a kind, and easy-going personality, and is quickly able to make friends. Originally, she held her clan to heart, although they may not have treated him kindly, she was loyal to their every command.
After joining Tōta she seems to not be as emotionally reserved as she initially appeared, showing to have developed a very close relationship with Tōta to the point of viewing him as her closest friend/partner. Kurōmaru appears to be hurt emotionally after Tōta decided to ask Kaito to teach him the Instant Movement Technique instead of herelf.
Despite wanting to be viewed as a man, Kurōmaru has shown traditional feminine attributes when speaking to others and is even seen holding a bathing towel like a woman. She also becomes annoyed about being called a girl and sometimes lashes out against the person in question. This is due to her not having gender as her clan does not gain one until they are 16, leaving her preferring to be seen as a male.
Kurōmaru desires to remain a friend and comrade of Tōta, which further attributes to her desire to become a male in order to remain his comrade on the battlefield. However, this conflicts with his romantic feeling towards Tōta, leaving her confused at times about either becoming a male or female. She soon started to become more honest with herself about her feelings for Tōta and started becoming more feminine.
History
Kiroumaru and Kuroumaru
She hailed from the Tokisaka Clan, a clan of Immortal Hunters and Yatagarasu, as a child, Kurōmaru was rather close to her older brother who he spent most of her time with. One day, while playing outside, she encountered a small black creature described as being the spirit of their clan's "Shintai", Divine Blade, Hina-Mori that she had referred to as "Hina-chan".[7] At some point, when Kurōmaru was at the lines of life and death and Hina-chan merged with her to prolong his life,[8] this sparked rage from their other clan members who wanted to retrieve the blade.[7]At some point, during his time training in the Shinmei-ryū, she was "turned" into an immortal herself under their experiments to create an immortal to fight against an immortal. She was later sent to kill Evangeline and is ordered not to return; the rest of the clan resents Kurōmaru for her "cursed body" as he overhears them talking about her mission, noting that if she succeeds, they would benefit from it and even if not, they'll at least get rid of the nuisance they considered Kurōmaru to be.[9]
Plot
Introduction Arc
Kurōmaru "meets" Tōta
Kurōmaru appears for the first time when Tōta accidentally stumbles upon her bathing.
Kurōmaru attacks Tōta while he covers his naked body
Tōta evades Kurōmaru's sword and asks for her to calm down, and presumes Kurōmaru for a girl, due to her feminine figure, causing him to get punched by Kurōmaru. After they both calm down, Kurōmaru tells Touta that no one other than him has ever evaded his sword, and formally introduces himself. Tōta does the same and discovers that Kurōmaru is a resident from space, and immediately requests that Kurōmaru becomes his friend. Tōta later discovers that Kurōmaru is looking for 'Evangeline A.K. McDowell', otherwise known as Yukihime. Tōta explains how the person Kurōmaru is looking for is his traveling companion, and Kurōmaru then makes the discovery that Tōta himself is not human. She tells Tōta that it is a shame, since she felt that she and Tōta could have been friends, and brandishes her sword at him. Kurōmaru then attacks Tōta using the Shinmei-ryū fighting style, but Yukihime intervenes by catching Kurōmaru's blade and stabs him through the chest with her hand [10].
Kurōmaru vs Tōta
Tōta starts shouting at Yukihime for doing that to Kurōmaru, however, she tells Tōta to look closer at his body, and upon further inspection, it is revealed that Kurōmaru is an Immortal, as the wound in his chest heals. Kurōmaru regains consciousness after Tōta attempts to 'check' he gender and requests a duel between him and Yukihime for the sake of his clan. Yukihime tells him that if he is able to best Tōta in battle, she will grant him the right to fight against her. Kurōmaru accepts and begins to battle the unwilling Tōta, who is attempting to calm both of them down during their discussion. Tōta then tells Kurōmaru that he will fight seriously if Kurōmaru agrees that he will listen to whatever request Tōta gives of him, and Kurōmaru accepts. Tōta ultimately beats Kurōmaru in battle, and asks for the two of them to become friends.
The First Mission Arc
After joining UQ Holder, Kurōmaru and Tōta are sent to their first mission with Karin, another immortal. Before leaving, Karin enters the other two's room and accidentally sees Kurōmaru naked while changing. Karin asks why Kurōmaru never said she was a girl, and Kurōmaru denies it. Karin lets it pass and they leave for the slums, where a church in which several children live is threatened by land sharks. They encounter a cyborg known as "demolition man". Karin defeats him while revealing a strange tattoo on her back, and does not appear to be hurt although she is pierced by many spears. The three of them stay for a while. Kurōmaru discovers that Tōta is learning instant movement from a passing-by skilled martial artist. Suspicious, Kurōmaru tells Karin this and she says she will get the grunts to investigate. Karin then asks Kurōmaru whether she likes Tōta. Looking panicky, Kurōmaru denies it and Karin asks again whether he is male or female. Kurōmaru explains she is genderless.
Fighting Fate Arc
During this arc, she fought against Asura, a member of Ala Alba while trying to imprison Fate. The fight was left unfinished as Kirie had awoken and then sent them back into the past where he asked Fate a question about if there is a time limit for when Touta is needed to free his grandfather, Negi Springfield.
Mahora Investigation Arc
Tōta and Kurōmaru at the private boarding school
Kurōmaru joins Tōta and others to get information from Yukihime about their upcoming job. He learns that they will infiltrate a private boarding school in order to investigate a hidden immortal. However, much to his shock, he finds himself wearing a girl uniform, thanks to Karin. He argues that all he wants is to be friends with Tōta when Karin insists to be more aggressive towards him. Kurōmaru changes to a boy one and eventually arrives at Amano-Mihashira Academy City along with others, excited as he has never been to school before.[11] Both him and Touta are then seen being introduced to their class, as well as playing basketball, where Tōta warns Kurōmaru not to stand out. The two head for lunch, but are surprised to see students hurrying to get the food they want. Tōta and Kurōmaru soon meet up with Karin and Ikkuu, with the former explaining that the immortal has already killed two people. Kurōmaru then witnesses Michiel's arrival, soon realizing that he is talking about magic just as he claims Kurōmaru and others to be non-wielders. Kurōmaru watches as Tōta challenges Michiel to a duel.[12]
She and Tōta end up sharing a room with Santa, whom they are informed by Sayoko is a revenant, leading to a confrontation. Sayoko soon reveals her true colors as the murderer and when they try to stop her, Kurōmaru ends up being possessed by her power and made to fight Tōta until Santa calms her down. They return to the past where he apologizes for turning against him.
Mahora Martial Arts Tournament Arc
Kurōmaru is seen bathing with Kirie, saying the enemy of a maiden is an enemy of mine. Kirie calls Kurōmaru a newbie. Tōta asks what they are doing.
Dana Training Arc
Fairyland Hall Arc
Negi Springfield Arc
The Parallel World Arc
Cutlass Arc
Chachazero's Memory Arc
Pactio Arc
Ba'al Uprising Arc
Inverse Mars Arc
Dark Future Arc
Final Battle Arc
Abilities
Kurōmaru is an Immortal Hunter who trained in the Shinmei-ryū (
After joining UQ Holder as one of their Numbers, then training with Dana Ananga Jagannatha, Kurōmaru's skills and experience has grown all the more to where she could defeat a mature dragon, which often takes five masters in the Shinmei-ryu a week to defeat alone.[13] She couldn't use her physical strength, ki or regeneration properly due to her transformation into a woman, as a result of not being used to it resulting in it being weaker than normal.[14]
After becoming the living embodiment of the Hina-mori, Kurōmaru was able to fight on equal footing despite her drawing infinite magic power from the solar system, her strength being enough to overpower Genshin Buryou and Zankurou Hinokida, both heads of their respective clans; the latter compared her to a High Daylight Walker. Tōta noted that she was relying on his own strength and skill instead of the divine blade. Following the 45 years worth of training and experience, Tōta has described Kurōmaru as the perfect living blade able to defeat higher ranked demons alone, even impressing a Pureblood Vampire, Nikitis.
Immortality
"Hina-chan" appears before Kurōmaru
Despite being from the Tokisaka Clan, a clan of Immortal Hunters, he was the end result of their "Immortal Experiments" to create an immortal to fight immortals.[15][16] Her immortality has been classified as B-Rank, as such, her body registers any and all damages done to it and heals at a supernatural rate, which Kaito compares to being high than werewolves' healing abilities.[17] But, it does have a drawback since if he sustains too much damage, she'll be immobile until it heals and if something is wedged in the wound, leaving it unhealable until it's removed.[18][19]
After undergoing Dana Ananga Jagannatha's extraneous training regimen, Kurōmaru could decrease the time of the regeneration of his destroyed upper half from 3 minutes and 47 seconds[20] to 26.4 seconds.[21]
Kurōmaru is later revealed to be the host of the Shintai of the Tōgen Shinmei-ryuu, the Divine Blade, Hina-mori, a small black creature, which he encountered as a child and bonded with at some point;[8][22][23] which might even let them defeat Ialda Baoth, but as Kurōmaru bonded with the divine blade, the Tōgen Shinmei-ryuu needed to turn her into the blade itself.
After hearing Tōta calling her, recalling the words of her older brother, she became a living incarnation of Hina-mori itself after expressing his will for the first time. It was proven correct as similar to Negi and Asuna working in unison, Tōta and Kurōmaru worked with them in slaying Ialda Baoth.
- Wing Manifestation: Kurōmaru can create up to three pairs of wings from her back.[24]
- Flight: Kurōmaru can fly at high speed and levitate in the air due to the addition of her multiple sets of wings.[24]
- Limb Manifestation: Kurōmaru can manifest multiple limbs such as additional pairs of arms at will.[25]
- Blade Transformation: Due to becoming a living divine blade, Kurōmaru can produce blades from her body such as from her foot.[26]
Magical Abilities
- Summoned Swords: Kurōmaru seems to have a magical supply of swords which he can summon at any time.
- Fire Conjuration: Kuroumaru can turn her Ki into a fire to use as a light source using a pen. She states this isn't an app, but something she was taught as tradition.
- Inatsurubi no Katama - Magic Bind (稲交尾籠・くくり方陣, Inatsurubi no Katama Kukuri Hōjin): She can bind her opponents using magic bindings from all sides, which was first used on both Yue and Nodoka.[27]
Fighting Style
Master Swordsmanship: Kurōmaru is a proficient swordsman, having trained in the Shinmei-ryū, which is an ancient school meant to slay monsters and exorcise spirits making it effective against ghosts and spirits such as Santa[28]. She is proven to be more skilled than Tōta, holding back, she held her own and gaining the upper hand in their initial match, showing her superior sword skill in their time spent together. It has been noted that she uses an Iaido stance before using her techniques. Training with Dana, she improved to where she could defeat a dragon, which would take five Shinmei-ryū masters a week to defeat alone[13] and even defeated one of the three spirits like Ruin Ishkur with help from Tōta, Kirie and Santa after five hours.[29] Following 45 years worth of experience and training, Kurōmaru's skills has risen enough to defeat hordes of high-ranking demons alone impressing the prideful Nikitis who rarely acknowledges anyone.
- Stone Cutting Sword (斬岩剣, Zanganken): After infusing ki into his blade, Kurōmaru can cut through a boulder without issues.[30]
- Stone Cutting Sword Seven-fold Speed (斬岩剣七連倍速, Zanganken Nana-ren Baisoku): This is a modified form, where she slashes her sword at seven times the usual speed.[31]
- Evil Cutting Sword, Second Strike (斬魔剣 弐之太刀, Zanmaken Ni no Tachi): A secret form, where Kurōmaru infuses her sword with ki and attack the person behind her intended target.[32]
- Air Cleaving Flash (斬空閃 ,Zankūsen): A form, where Kurōmaru infuses ki into her sword and then release a circular slash.[33]
- Radiant Sword Wind, Inferno Wall (剣風華爆焔壁, Kenfūka Bakuen Heki): A form, where Kurōmaru infuses flames into her sword and release a wave of flames that acts as a wall while burning his targets.[34]
- Rising Silver Dragon Thousand Chrysanthemums Glowing Dew (昇銀竜千輪菊光露, Nobori Ginryū Senringiku Kouro): A technique, where Kuroumaru releases slashes in the air causing explosions akin to fireworks, which can be used to signal for help.[35]
- Earth-Splitting Four Oni Exorcism (地裂四鬼祓い, Chiretsu Shiki-barai): A technique, where Kuroumaru stabs her sword into the ground, then release ki able to release an upward explosion that lifts her opponents into the air.[36]
- True Thunderlight Sword (真・雷光剣, Shin - Raikōken): A secret form, where she infuses her sword with lightning, then releases a sphere toward her opponent causing a close-range explosion on impact. [37]
- Zantetsusen (斬鉄閃, Zantetsusen): A secret form.[38]
- Phoenix Flower Flash (鳳花一閃, Hōka Issen): A form, where Kurōmaru unsheathes her sword, then strikes her opponent in a swift manner before appearing behind them.[39]
- Thousand Thunder Blade (千雷剣, Senraiken): This is a new secret form that Kurōmaru herself developed, which has the same power as the Thousand Lightning Bolts. It was first used as a unison form with Tōta who used his "Revolution" to absorb it and entered Raiten Taisō.[40]
- Clone Technique: She can create clones for use in battle. [41]
- Fushi-Barai (
不 死 祓 い Fushi-Barai?, lit. "Immortal Exorcism"): A secret technique among both the Shinmei-ryū and Tōgen Shinmei-ryū, who have mastered its mysteries and is similar to Juuzou's Concept Slicing. It is able to cut through the concept of "Immortality", letting her hinder the regeneration of trained immortals.[42] In order to break the Fushi-Barai's curse, either Kurōmaru must be killed or her sword broken. Since Kurōmaru is the sword itself, a ritual exists that can undo the Fushi-Barai without killing Kurōmaru.
Ki Manipulation: As a user of the Shinmei-ryū, Kurōmaru can use ki, which she can use to enhance her strength and endurance through using Ki, as well as produce different effects.
- Shundō (瞬動, Instant Movement): A movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. This is used by concentrating ki or magic power into the feet to get from point A to point B in the least amount of steps. It's important that when going from point A to point B that you hold to the ground with the inside of your feet or you will simply trip. Kurōmaru's skill in Shundō has improved tow here Tōta compared it to instantaneous movement.
- Kokū Shundō (虚空瞬動, Void Instant Movement): This is a form of Shundō that allows the user to use Shundō on the air by bouncing off it.[43]
Pactio
Kurōmaru's Pactio card
- Gladiarium Neutrale (lit. "Neutral Swordsmen"):[44][45] Kurōmaru's Pactio card, which he received through forming a contract with Tōta Konoe with the help of Albert Chamomile although it was reversed and he ended up getting the card instead of Tōta.
- Tenka Goken: Mikazuchi Munechika Replica - Tatami no Mai (
天下 五剣 三 日 月 宗 近 ・偽 畳 の舞 Tenka Goken - Mikazuki Munechika - Repurika - Tatami no Mai?, lit. "Five Swords under Heaven - Mikazuki Munechika - Tatami Dance"): The Pactio card ability is summons a bunch of replicas of a famous sword around Kurōmaru.[46] She is later seen using these swords either on hand in combat alongside her original sword, or having others hover around her.[47]
- Tenka Goken: Mikazuchi Munechika Replica - Tatami no Mai (
Battles
| Opponent | Result |
|---|---|
| Kuroumaru vs Yukihime | Loss |
| Kuroumaru vs Touta | Loss |
| Kuroumaru vs Gengorou (Anime only) | Loss |
| Kuroumaru & Touta vs Jinbei (Manga only) | Loss |
| Kuroumaru vs Gengorou (Anime only) | Win |
| Kuroumaru & Touta vs Monsters (UQ Holder Test, Manga only) | Won |
| Kuroumaru vs Kaito & Nagumo | Loss |
| Kuroumaru vs Asura | Interrupted |
| Kuroumaru & Touta & Ikkuu vs Santa | Loss |
| Kuroumaru vs Sayoko | Loss |
| Kuroumaru (Zombified) vs Touta | Draw (i) |
| Kuroumaru & Santa & Kirie vs Tena Vita (Manga only) | Draw (i) |
| Kuroumaru & Touta vs Ruin Ishkur | Won |
| Kuroumaru vs Xingzi Chao & Asura | Won |
| Kuroumaru, Touta, Santa, Karin, Ikkuu, Yukihime & Fate VS Mage of the Beginning, Negi Springfield, Albireo Imma, Jack Rakan, Yue Ayase, Nodoka Miyazaki & Tena Vita | Interrupted |
(i) - interrupted/incomplete
Voice Actors
- Japanese: Yuki Hirose
- English: Kalin Coates
Trivia
- Her fighting style is the same as both Setsuna Sakurazaki from Mahou Sensei Negima! and Motoko Aoyama from Love Hina.
- Kurōmaru appears to favor Iaido, Japanese swordsmanship, which involves unsheathing for a rapid attack before she sheathing again. This is noted as she takes an Iai stance before using a technique.
- Kurōmaru is the first character to make a Pactio contract in the series.
- Mikazuchi Munechika is one of the Tenka Goken, a group of five famous Japanese swords.
- She lost her virginity to Tōta in Chapter 181.
- Kuroumaru can look extra feminine if she wants, but her emotional state can trigger the change involuntarily.
- If her love for Tōta overwhelms her rational thinking, Kurōmaru can end up saying embarrassing things; such as her desire for intimacy in chapter 181.
References
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 3
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 170
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 181
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 3, Page 7
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 99, Page 5
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 101, Page 2
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 171, Page 26
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 170, Pages 12-14
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 4 Cover Page
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 3, Pages 4-17
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 43
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 44
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 82, Pages 2-3
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 102, Page 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 4, Page 4
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 169, Page 24
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 19, Page 10
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 19, Page 15
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 20, Pages 1-4
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 79, Page 8
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 82, Page 9
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 170, Page 23
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 170, Page 24
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 172, Page 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 172, Page 15
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 172, Pages 17-19
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 132, Pages 8-9
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 50, Pages 15 - 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 91, Pages 15 - 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 3, Page 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 133, Pages 3-4
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 4, Page 9
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 8, Page 9
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 11, Page 2
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 23, Page 11
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 52, Page 16
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 72, Pages 7-8
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 146, Page 9
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 160, Page 30
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 167, Page 19
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 58, Page 14
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 170, Pages 16 - 17
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 38, Page 8
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter UQ Holder! Manga, Volume 14 Limited Edition
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 151
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 152, Page 11
- ↑ UQ Holder! Manga: Chapter 180, Page 14