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Heikin Kuragari (平均暗がり, Kuragari Heikin) is a pivotal member of the Phantom Troupe and renown master of Yin-Yang Release hailing from the Land of Shadows. Currently known as the infamous S-rank criminal, Oracle of the Dark Age (闇幾世の託宣, Yamiikuyo no Takusen). Contrary to common notion, Heikin was born into the dark and unforgiving world not as an avenger or villain, but as a hero and benevolent being. Growing up, a young Heikin aspired to be a samurai who vanquishes evildoers and brought prosperity to the declining kingdom. Initially, Heiken was at a steady growth to do so, eventually joining the ranks of the ANBU as a protector of the kage and guardian of the people. An aspiring leader, the people admired Heikin for his devotion and loyalty to their village. The sole candidate to ensue the esteemed title of Kuroikage, his future looked bright and unwavering. The final hopes for the decaying village, Heikin would be sent out with his closest companions to exterminate the evil that lies beyond the boundary that separates Kuraigakure from the Shadows. His hardened blade and indomitable spirit easily cutting down foe after foe, fighting valiantly to protect the despairing denizens of his homeland.

During these bouts, his skirmishes would lead him to face a shadow of palpable Killing Intent capable of rooting fear in the young knight's heart. Alas, fear did not stop him from his sworn duty to protect the people. Fought valiantly he did, but in the end the young hero was bitterly defeated and crushed by the shadow far wiser and stronger than he. A defeated general in battle, he sought death in which he did not receive. Instead, he was corrupted by the shadow, turned into a puppet of their own purpose. Driven mad by the foul chakra, the young knight had fallen into the deepest pits of apathy, despair, and most importantly darkness. Many believe Heiken died there; neither his body nor the shadow in sight. Whilst that belief wasn't entirely true or false, one thing was certain, the legacy of the boy known as Heikin was to be no more, replaced by an accursed existence lurking in the darkness; a shadow. As much as one may grief the death of Haikei, no one's grief matches the crestfallen denizens of Kuraigakure it seemed. It wasn't long until a memorial was built to honor his unyielding loyalty; his undying spirit; but most importantly, his illuminating light.

However, this song has yet to conclude. Reborn as an accursed shadow, Heiken was forced to realize his best wasn't nearly enough. Taken over by the shadows, he couldn't dare to bear face in the land he once called home. Unable to cope with the darkness corroding his spirit, he ran, unable to bear the burden of his own darkness. Thus, the indomitable warrior known as Heiken long dead, an entirely new legacy was born, the legacy of Heiken the craven; the crestfallen. With his shadow slowly consuming him, Heiken secluded himself far away from life in hopes of dying alone. Alas, his shadow did not submit to his wishes, consuming all he held dear. Relentlessly tired of his accursed existence, the legendary deserter fought against his own corruption once more. Despite his fruitless efforts at conquering himself, an accursed shadow will always remain a shadow. Unable to defeat his shadows, the forlorn warrior would embrace his shadow and in a way conquer himself.

With nowhere else to go, Heiken chose the path of a vigilante, mask hiding the humiliation beneath and blade forged through his very own undying spirit, he quickly became known as The Masked Phantom, rising in his own infamy once more. Gone was his cowardice, at this point in his life Haikei had resolved his internal conflicts and was ready to face the nefarious world he was born into. A warrior pledged with an inflexible oath to the Phantom Troupe, paving his own path in a world harboring darkness and hatred far greater than any other. Haikei wishes to bring forth change in this age of chaos and injustice. Gifted with a truly peerless intuition, Haikei plays the role of the vigilante to create a world bereft of such malice and hatred.