Burden of the Soul

"After this, you will be forced to shoulder great responsibility. If you merely continue walking, you will find many things barring your way. What you do when that happens, is entirely up to you. I will not be able to guide you forever. So for now, I offer you these words. Fearing others, and picking up your sword to protect only yourself... Leave such thoughts behind. Wield your sword, not to defeat your opponents, but to protect your very soul. The soul that is within you... and the soul that you leave with those you love."

- The words of Seireitou's teacher, Shōyō

The Burden of the Soul (魂負担, Tamashī no Futan) is an ideal held by Seireitou Hyūga, and is the reasoning behind all of his actions. It was a belief that the power used by a person is meant, not to defeat an opponent nor to protect one's self, not even to cut away one's weaknesses, but to protect one's soul. Subsequently, it is meant to protect one's own soul: their pride, their morals, and their beliefs; to never yield to another's will. But most of all, to protect the fragments of one's soul, passed on to those that one would form bonds of friendship with. It treats the soul as an organ within the body that holds more significance than even one's heart or mind, and that as long as the soul exists, even if the body is crushed to pieces, one can keep fighting.

Although the term was not coined specifically by Seireitou, he would normally refer to that which he protects as a "burden that would be better off thrown off his shoulders, but can't bring himself to do so."