Keshin Amanojaku



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"There is nothing more brave than a lonely candle persisting to live in the wind. But there is a fine line between bravery, and recklessness. If you throw your life in the midst of my wind, I'll blow it away."

-Keshin Amanojaku

1 John 2:18 "It is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”

Keshin Amanojaku (天邪鬼ケシン, Amanojaku Keshin) is one of the last members of the elusive Amanojaku Clan and the sole candidate to one day lead the clan. Born in an impoverished village south of, Keshin grew up to know very little of his Amanojaku heritage. The only clue to his origins was the mysterious bloodline he possessed. This along with his natural shinobi instincts lead to Keshin becoming a ninja within the nearby Shimogakure. It was not long before the boy rose through the shinobi ranks and gained recognition from his peers and village leaders. Within a few months after becoming a genin, Keshin had already become a chunin. By this time, he had become the village's pride. He was the light that shined in the people's darkest hour. Some believed he would grow up to become the next Shimokage, others the leader of the ANBU Black Ops. These expectations, however, were crushed when Keshin's true nature was revealed. He was no human, but a Kirawa; a humanoid demon that feeds on bloodshed. Spontaneous switches of personality are common among these beings; Keshin murdered his teacher during his first switch. For this crime, the thirteen year old boy would be locked away in the deepest dungeon of Shimogakure. Two years would elapse before he finally escaped from the prison and fled Shimogakure as a Missing-Nin. Shortly after he met up with Kusari Inuzuka, someone he had encountered and befriended during the Chunin Exams held in. From then on, he became a wanderer, aimlessly roaming the shinobi world. But no matter how far he ran, his Kirawa nature kept up with him, always causing the death of innocents. During one such incident, Keshin desecrated an entire village. The sole survivor being a small child. In an attempt to repent for his crime, he took the child in and named her Surotiku. Thus, he struggled against his nature, and sought to become somewhat human in the least.

As time passed on, Keshin gained the attention of a specter who wanted to abuse the boy's powers. Luring Keshin to his lair within The Yomi, he convinced Keshin that this limbo was the afterlife. Then he proceeded to twist the young boy's thinking and persuaded him to work towards his cause; flooding the world with the souls gathered in The Yomi. For a while Keshin served under Kowaremashita. It was not until he was ready to destroy the Fifth Gate that would cause the barrier between The Yomi and the realm of the living to be dissolved that the inscription of his mother's words melted his heart of stone. This caused Keshin to hesitate and ultimately refuse to work with Kowaremashita any longer. After a brief spat between the two, Keshin would engage the monster and defeat him. Now enraged and power-hungry, Keshin's nature took control of him as it had many times before. Driving him into a sadistic rage, he began to bite and devour the shadow. This incident caused him to gain the moniker He Who Devours (---,---) from his clansmen.

Consuming so much dark chakra at once took a toll on Keshin's body; he spent five years of suspended animation within The Yomi. Once he awoke from his dormancy, he would seek out both his child and Kusari, both of which had disappeared. For a week, he was unable to locate either, that is, until he stumbled upon a Jashinist citadel. As he attempted to break through and make it to the bowels of the stronghold, he was ultimately overwhelmed by the sheer number of Jashinists that had come to meet him. He was defeated, tortured, and ultimately crucified. Overjoyed by the fact that they had defeated the famed Byakkō, the Jashinists prepared to sacrifice his daughter before they offered him up to their god. It seemed as though Keshin had finally been broken. He hung his head in defeat and prepared to accept death. But just before the reaper could swing his sickle, Keshin seized him by the throat. The cries for help from his daughter caused him to manage a final surge of strength. Using the power of Kowaremashita through a forbidden technique, he broke the cross he had been nailed to over his own back. His precious child, however, had suffered too much and had succumbed to her injuries. He was unable to reach her in time. That night, over two hundred men lost their lives, and the ones who had achieved immortality wished they were dead. All that remained of the once mighty church dedicated to worshipping Jashin was the bodies of the dead men who once served him, and the mangled severed appendages of the ones who were beyond death.

Surotiku's death had a huge impact on Keshin's life. After her death, he began to aimlessly wander around the world. He accumulated a large amount of both power and knowledge thanks to his extended longevity made possible through the absorption and manipulation of Konkaku.

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Early Life
On a cool spring morning, a baby was born to a widow in a remote village on the mountainous border of the. When the little boy entered the world, he neither cried nor laughed, but remained completely silent. This, of course, surprised his mother, who expected a child to be rather difficult to keep content. Her baby, however, was easy to care for. Being reminded of her now deceased husband having joked about wanting a child who needed little from his parents, she became depressed that he was not there to see the child he dreamed of having. This prompted her to name the boy Keshin (ケシン, Despair); a strange name for a boy who was seemingly a blessing. For the next nine years he spent with his mother all day at home, Keshin showed just how much of a blessing he really was. As if he were a gift from heaven itself, he was always there to help his mother no matter the task. Be it chores, shopping, or anything that he could assist her with, Keshin was ready to help. His mother grew to adore her son, and placed his well-being over her own; this reflected the way Keshin felt about her. Even though he was small, his mother had already began to teach him how to be a man. She always repeated that Keshin would "grow up to be a man who protects those who cannot protect themselves; the man his father would've wanted him to be". These words took root in Keshin's tiny heart and would shape the person he would become.

By the age of nine, Keshin had demonstrated his ability to use the nearly lost Byakkodōbloodline]] of his clan. When his mother learned of her son's prowess, she was ecstatic. Excited to have birthed a prodigy, she wasted no time to enroll Keshin in the nearby 's shinobi academy. There, he learned the basics of ninja combat and protocol. It was not long before he realized that this was his calling. Keshin's skill in combat caused even the best in the class to seem insignificant. This gained the attention of other students, his instructors, the Shimokage himself, but most importantly, his mother. While he recieved praise from shinobi and commoner alike, the only one of these that mattered to him was his mother. Every day after school he would come home to a warm embrace. His mother would then ruffle his hair and call him her "little prodigy". Aceing all of his classes and being praised for it; this was Keshin's daily routine. But after two months of this, Keshin's instructors prepared a test for Keshin to take. The results would determine if he would be allowed to graduate from the academy now or later. Passing with perfect scores in all fields except the written portion, Keshin was allowed to become a full-fledged genin and was presented with his papers by the Shimokage himself in the center of the village. It had been a long time since Shimogakure had seen any exceptional shinobi rise from their own village. Keshin gave the people hope that their village could be one that would have influence on the shinobi world on a larger scale.

To Protect...
After being assigned to a three-man squad under the watchful eye of a Jōnin leader, Keshin would prove his worth to Shimogakure on various missions.

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Chūnin Exams: To Konoha!
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Rivalry: Kusari vs Keshin
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Morals
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Voices
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Escape to What's Beyond
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An Old Friend
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Keeper of the Balance
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The Gates
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Shadow's Influence
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Liberation of an Empire
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Acolytes
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Appearance
In the past, Keshin was a handsome young man with messy black hair. He had a fair complexion that contrasted nicely with his dark mop. His bright blue eyes were the color of ice, and his gaze seemed to pierce the very soul of the one he cast his sights on. He had a soft face with attractive features. Keshin had a lean, yet muscular build that has been a constant theme throughout his entire life. He had a pair of strong arms that came about as a result of constant Taijutsu training. Keshin's body was basically an example of physical perfection. Having a rather toned figure and all, he has been called handsome by various women he has encountered on his travels. But despite this, Keshin has never stood out in a crowd. Though, being a Kirawa, he is easily distinguished from an ordinary person thanks to his malignant chakra.

Of course, throughout his long, complicated life, Keshin's wardrobe has undergone many changes. His attire as an acolyte of the Amanojaku Clan's head was made up of a simple, blood red shirt. The boy's arms were kept tightly wrapped in bandages; perhaps injured from the constant training he did. Daitengu's training exercises very much borderlined torture, and would often leave Keshin deathly tired or exhausted. These bandages, however, did not simply serve medical purposes, but could also be weaponized. In the hands of Keshin, even the basic components of his outfit could be turned into weapons. Aside from the shirt with the bloody hue, and the white bandages, he also sported a pair of khaki shorts. These shorts were a tad bit longer than most, as they came down to the area just below his knees. His feet were, like his hands and arms, bound in medical wrappings. Once again, possibly a result of his extensive training taking its toll on his body. Dark shinobi sandals would fasten the bandages in place, and keep them from slipping off as he walked. Occasionally, matching wrappings would bind his face in order to hide his identity.

Nowadays, both Keshin's physical appearance and his attire have underwent quite a few changes. However, he is rarely seen without a hefty black robe covering his still muscular figure. Despite his old age, Keshin's body is kept in pristine shape. Thanks to the countless victims that have fallen prey to his Mangekyō Sharingan's ability. His hair has changed in both style and color. It is now as white as snow thanks to the toll that the initial absorption of Kowaremashita took on his body. It sticks out in a very messy fashion and is rather spiky. Though, Keshin has been seen to allow his hair to grow down to his waistline. When he was younger and was training with Daitengu, he had long, black hair that reached his abdomen. Keshin would often tie it back to keep it out of the way. But more often than not, he allowed it to go unrestrained and flow free. Keshin's current attire consists of a curious steel mask that conceals his face from the eyes of the outside world. The mask is cold to the touch, and has some sort of engraving on its surface that are shaped like fangs and are a deep red in color. Two, slit-like eyeholes have been cut into its face to allow him to see from under the metallic shield. This white steel mask is shaped like a skull of some sort and has a dark line that seemingly shows where the two halves come together. To accommodate this ominous mask, Keshin wears black functional robes. Complete with a hood, it is ideal for stealth and is surprisingly light and breathable. Underneath his cloak, he usually has some sort of dark undergarment, complete with matching pants. Finally, he sports a pair of black shinobi sandals to complete his dark outfit.

Personality
Cold is the first word that comes to mind when one attempts to describe Keshin. Throughout his long life, he has been a man who lives by his sword. Keshin was able to strike down any opponent in cold blood, a second thought about their life never crossed his mind. This was the way Keshin lived for the first thirty or so years of his life. However, after the death of his adopted child, Surotiku, and his own failed crucifixion, Keshin was broken. The thing he cherished more than anything else was gone. With her death, Keshin made a vow to find her soul, who had not crossed over to The Yomi, which at the time he believed to be the afterlife. He was a hardened atheist, refusing to believe that there was a god. In his mind, no God who had the power to stop the death of an innocent child would let them die. This, along with the atheistic teachings of his clan's scrolls influenced him greatly.

However, over the course of time, Keshin began to question the very existence of The Yomi. He would constantly be troubled by what his old mentor had said. "What if there is some sort of existence beyond The Yomi?" He would say. Daitengu had no faith in such a monotonous afterlife. He believed that the universe was orderly, and that a good man could not possibly be tossed in amongst all the sinners of the world. Keshin began to think about his master's words and take them to heart. One such day, the answer to his question would come to him in a vision. He saw a shadow, Kowaremashita, shaping a world of his own. A limbo that would be used to gather souls in preparation to one day conquer the realm of the living. It was here that Keshin realized that The Yomi was nothing more than a limbo. He would go on to slay every Satsujinki inside of the dimension to cause it to simply fade away. Keshin forsook what he had read from his clan's scrolls all those years ago, and decided that rather than trying to bring his little one's soul to The Yomi, he should have been working towards guiding her to the Pure Lands. Now, Keshin has a new outlook on life, and has become a better man.

Nowadays, Keshin resides in Tanigakure, a village he has grown to love. He has developed a great sense of responsibility for both the people, and the village as a whole. He is the first to admit he is not a good person, but Keshin strives to do what is right for the people of Tanigakure. He seeks change, and does his best to help around the village in any way he can. Occasionally, he will even be found working in the mines along with the miners. He sees his devotion to his new home as a sort of atonement for the crimes he has committed over the years. But even now, Keshin is still unable to control his nature as a Kirawa. No matter how hard he tries to maintain control over his savage bloodlust, he always tends to give in to his murderous nature. Keshin, however, does leave Tanigakure when these crazed fits seem to be creeping up on him. He will vent his bloodlust out on the Jashinists that make their home in the Land of Rivers, or, much to his own disapproval, will occasionally desolate small villages. Keshin hates being bound to his nature, and wishes he could be free from the burden of his carnage.

Not only does he suffer from his nature as a Kirawa, but Keshin also has an unsatiable hunger for souls, and more specifically, Konkaku. This peculiar condition started when Keshin first absorbed the Konkaku that emanated from his mentor, Daitengu's soul. Ever since that day, he would constantly feed off of the soul energy of others. This need, or rather lust for new Konkaku can sometimes cause Keshin's atention to deviate from the task at hand. While on his crazed killing sprees that stem from his Kirawa nature, Keshin will usually devour the souls of the fallen men and women he has slain. But with every soul he devours, he gains a temporary boost in his Kokaku reserves. Though, Keshin can satisfy this hunger through much less violent means. Simply being around people allows Keshin to siphon the loose Konkaku that emanates from their very being. No harm is done to those whose Konkaku has been absorbed, even if Keshin took it straight from their soul. This hunger is a constant reminder to Keshin that he will never fit in amongst regular people, and that he will always be some sort of outcast. He longs to feel accepted by the people around him, and while the citizens of Tanigakure are indeed kind to him, Keshin feels unwanted. One day, he hopes to control both this hunger, and his nature as a Kirawa, and become like every other normal person.

While Keshin usually seems quite reserved or cold-hearted to others, his true nature is always seen by his lover, Sōka. Ever since he found her in the streets of Shimogakure, he felt a strange connection with the girl. Both had nothing, so they clung to each other. Only a day had passed before they had confessed their feeling for each other. Although their love seemed rushed, and even awkward perhaps, their bond has stood the test of time. When around Sōka, Keshin has been seen to be rather cheery; always flirting with his lover. One of his favorite ways to annoy her is to touch her horns, a trait she possesses due to her curious origins. He always pokes fun at her about different things, and seemingly never ceases to make jokes with her. Furthermore, he is also rather perverted when around her; something they both share together. But with this leniency comes a flipside; Keshin is also very protective of Sōka, not because she is unable to handle herself in combat, but this simply stems from love and the fear of losing her.

At least, this was true at one point. After the invasion of the girl's celestial ancestors Akuzura was nearly destroyed. Having come for something his kingdom possessed, they ravaged the kingdom until Keshin ultimately killed each and every one of these godly figures. Sōka, whom Keshin believed to be the cause of this, became atrocious in his eyes. Believing if he had left the woman on the streets where he had found her, none of this would have taken place. Whether he was right in doing so or not, Keshin nearly killed Sōka after being prompted by Assei-sha, who pledged to aid in rebuilding Akuzura and promising to reveal the location of Surotiku's lost soul if he did. Even in his blind rage, however, Keshin was unable to kill Sōka, and intentionally allowed her to live. After she had awoken, he simply told her to leave. Keshin did not trust himself to do the best thing for her after he had made an attempt on her life. Thus, the two parted ways for the time being. Keshin left her in order to meditate alone and find peace with himself. With the hope that one day he can return to Sōka and continue to be with her. This goes to show that underneath, Keshin is truly a kindhearted and loving soul.

One of the greatest contributions to Keshin's slow, yet progressive stabilization of mind, is surprisingly, his knack to play music. Specifically, the. As a young boy in the village he grew up in, an elderly woman that resided in the town had seen him skipping and whistling in the streets. That woman would confront Keshin, and teach him how to play music. She gifted him a twelve-hole ocarina; its shiny wooden surface would reflect the light as he played. To Keshin, his music is his getaway; a means of escape from his nature. The loud, beautiful tones created by the resonating of his breath inside of the instrument forms the deep notes that make up his songs. In Tanigakure, citizens will often hear the soothing melodies played by Keshin during his free time. Even now, he remembers the lessons that woman had given him all those years ago; something that would stay with him his whole life. As a young boy, he learned how to play basic melodies and scales; not knowing much. However, after the death of his father, Keshin began to learn more from the old woman. She taught him how to read music, and even encouraged Keshin to write his own songs. During his career as a shinobi in Shimogakure, he learned several complex songs, and was by then a very talented musician. By the age of nine, he could be seen playing on the street corners in Shimo, hoping he would have money to bring to his mother back home. Of course, during his imprisonment, he was unable to play his instrument. But after his escape, even in the frantic fleeing from Shimogakure, he took his ocarina from his room at his old home, and has it even today. How the instrument remains intact is unknown. He is rarely seen without his ocarina, even when traveling abroad, it is kept close by.

Thanks to his longevity, Keshin has accumulated a great deal of wisdom throughout his life. Having viewed countless organizations and cults rise and fall; each one of them with a similar goal. Many believe in an ideal known as "world peace", but how many have succeeded in creating a serene environment for the people of the world to live in? None have, which is why Keshin himself does not attempt to fulfill this dream many before him have had. Rather, he chooses to pursue the will of his deceased mother as a way of redemption for her accidental murder at his own hands. He has become a guardian; a protector to those who need protection. Be it the people of Tanigakure, those in the Akuzura Empire, or simply someone he has encountered, Keshin has made it his duty to protect. Through this ideal, he has instilled upon himself a new set of morals. But even though he has a righteous goal, he is not free from his lust for blood, and will use it to his advantage when one threatens to harm someone from his empire, village, or anywhere for that matter.

Another thing Keshin gained thanks to his long life was his intelligence. While not being book-smart, as one might say, he is a tactical genius in the midst of combat. His ability to completely analyze an opponent over the course of an encounter, understand their fighting style, find the weakest area in their defense, and exploit it is without peer. This skill is further enhanced by his Dōjutsu, the Sharingan. Keshin's eyes allow him to see right through most flukes and feints an opponent may use to attempt to throw him off. Furthermore, he can foresee his enemy's next move, and prepare a counterattack accordingly. His mid-battle intelligence also allows him to formulate devastating combos through the skilled usage of his techniques. By combining several of his own techniques, Keshin causes destruction of mass scale. Also, he has been seen to create his own techniques. One such example was a technique that granted him a nearly perfect form of telekinesis. Keshin gained access to this technique after mastering the principles of chakra control, and using his Yin chakra as the means of manifesting this unique form of telekinesis. This is only one of the many examples of Keshin's genius applications of his chakra; many more techniques have been born as a result of his intelligent uses of his skillset.

Abilities
While not possessing an extensive background as a shinobi, Keshin is still a force to be reckoned with. With his long life came extensive traveling. During Keshin's journeys, he took part in countless battles. By the age of fourteen, he had developed his first technique: one that gave him access to psychokinesis. From a young age, he has been seen to be rather tenacious in the field of developing and perfecting techniques. Be it new ways to apply his chakra, styles of Taijutsu and Kenjutsu, or simply mental strategies to aid in overcoming an opponent. With a heap of knowledge and talent on his side, Keshin is able to overcome most opponents with minimum effort. He has a mastery of and affinity for Yin, the nature that makes up the core of Keshin's fighting style. Yet, he also has access to the unique powers associated with Wind Release that are granted to him by his Byakkodō and several Yang and Yin-Yang Release techniques. Furthermore, his abilities also entail a curious branch of techniques known as Tamashijutsu. This branch makes use of the energy within one's soul known as Konkaku. Only Kirawa, and truly skilled ones at that, are able to even dream of mastering this branch. After learning to use Konkaku, Keshin found a way to compensate for his naturally low reserve of chakra. Now, he rarely, if ever, uses chakra, and chooses to make use of his soul energy instead. This makes his techniques completely immune to the Rinnegan's absorptive powers, and causes them to take on a semi-intangible property. Truly a master of the soul and its secrets, Keshin is a master of his skillset.

Chakra and Physical Prowess
While not having the largest of chakra reserves, Keshin still possesses a decently sized reserve of energy. When he releases his chakra, it will usually take on the appearance of a spiralling column of dark purple energy that spins around Keshin. His chakra alone is enough to cancel out most Genjutsu, and even repel weaker Ninjutsu. While Keshin's chakra, is indeed, oppressive, his main source of energy is not his chakra. Rather, he tends to rely on his powerful soul energy to power his techniques. There are several reasons for this, the first being that Keshin, being a Kirawa, has a natural talent for the usage of soul energy and Tamashijutsu. He can control his soul energy, or officially known as Konkaku, with flawless precision. Another factor that plays into this is that Keshin has the ability to siphon the Konkaku of others. All souls have Konkaku, and usually, vast amounts. This means that Keshin will constantly have a source of energy, and can outlast most opponents in a long battle. He will occasionally draw out an encounter with the purposeful intention of tiring his opponent, and exhausting their reserves. Even for a Kirawa, Keshin's control over his Konkaku is nothing short of marvelous. When it manifests, it tends to take on the form of a gray, wispy sort of energy that is barely visible to the human eyes. Only Kirawa, and those with the Heavenly Eyes can see such energy.

Taijutsu is perhaps the branch of combat Keshin possesses the most background with. During his time in Shimogakure, he would train himself physically to the point of breaking himself. His moves consist of swift blows that are meant to incapacitate a foe as quickly as possible. He can skillfully counter most physical attacks with simple moves of his arms and legs. Along with his blistering speed, and powerful blows, he is a force to be reckoned with in the art of Taijutsu. Keshin is fast on his feet, able to leave most foes in the dust with his swift moves. When fighting opponents, Keshin tends to use the same tactic two or three times to see if he can overcome them with his enhanced speed and Taijutsu alone. He will appear behind them, and make a slash for their neck after manifesting a pair of claws via Insaidoauto. If countered two or three times, even after further enhancing his speed, he will switch his tactics and engage the opponent through a different method. Keshin's favorite branch of shinobi combat is indeed Taijutsu. In fact, Keshin has actually developed several styles of Taijutsu combat. One he developed to tire an opponent and create an opening for him to deliver a decisive blow, while the other was created to defeat stronger, armed opponents.

Blowing Wind
The first of Keshin's signature Taijutsu fighting styles, Blowing Wind consists of small, quick movements of the body to evade incoming blows while exhausting as little energy as possible. It is especially effective during long exchanges of blows that could result in a deadlock. Over the course of Keshin's many years of wandering the shinobi world, he fought many foes. And during these battles, he learned something. Keshin realized that most physical attacks can be completely evaded by slight movements of the head, torso, and the occasional hop. Thus, he learned he could allow his opponent to tire themselves while he used little energy. But Blowing Wind does not only consist of evasive actions, but also has an offensive usage. While dodging an opponent's blows, Keshin will watch and wait for an opening. As soon as the chance comes, he will deliver a swift, upward kick to the enemy and send them flying into the air. Keshin then pursues his opponent, and proceeds to execute a combo of deadly kicks. This will end in a falling axe kick that sends his foe flying downwards. Blowing Wind is Keshin's way of taking down opponents in a long, drawn out fight. The passive movements used to evade attacks, combined with the devastating kicks creates a lethal style of combat.

Passing Breeze
While traveling around the world and facing many opponents, Keshin came across countless swordsmen. Normally, one armed with a sword or a club would have an advantage over an unarmed man. However, Keshin developed the Passing Breeze fighting style. Passing Breeze employs various tactics to turn one's own strength against him. A noteworthy example of such moves is the Tachi-dori (太刀取り, Sword-taking). A move that requires both patience and concentration. Keshin will allow his opponent to make their move with their weapon. As they near him and swing their blade, Keshin will seize part of the hilt. Then, Keshin will deliver a quick thrust to the opponent's neck to force them downwards onto the ground. This will then allow him to take command over their weapon. Other uses of Passing Breeze include various choke holds used to strangle a reckless opponent who has allowed themself to slip into Keshin's grip. He will sidestep an enemy's attack, which could result in them momentarily stumbling past him due to their attack's momentum. Keshin will then position himself to the side of his foe, and proceed to bring his enemy into a choke hold. Other tactics may include throws, which can be performed in various manners.

Gaijutsu
After killing Assei-sha and claiming the Akuzura Empire for himself, Keshin would take the scythe of the former emperor. Being fascinated with the weapon, he set aside time to learn to use this new weapon, and began to study the art of Gaijutsu. Like his sword, Muramasa, he was able to wield it in a similar manner to that of a staff. He is shown to be a very skilled practitioner of Gaijutsu, as he has actually been seen to defeat multitudes of Jashinists who were powerful Gaijutsu users themselves. His style consists of quick, powerful movements to the opponent's most vulnerable spot. The scythe, being a rather long weapon, has a considerable reach. Keshin uses the weapons ability to get around an opponent's defense to its fullest potential. The blade, being curved, can hook a foe's weapon and force the enemy into a vulnerable position. Furthermore, it can reach around a weapon that has been brought up to prevent it from reaching its target. While the blade does indeed have many uses and versatile applications, Keshin can also turn the staff of the weapon into a lethal weapon. In the hands of a skilled user, anything can become a tool of murder. Having trained in Bōjutsu before he ever had a sword or scythe, the principles learned from Daitengu in the art of using a staff have spilled over into both his Gaijutsu and Kenjutsu. With his scythe, he can spin it as he would a rudimentary stick, but with the blade on the end, it becomes a much more lethal weapon. The sheer speed of his spinning attacks are enough to overwhelm most opponents, and can also dislodge a weapon from their hands if they aren't careful. Furthermore, he can use the butt-end of the scythe to prod at his enemy; catching them off guard and forcing them to lose their balance. Also, he can use the staff portion of the blade to smack and opponent to prepare them for a blow from his blade.

Keshin's control over his weapon is truly impeccable. He is shown to be able to simultaneously wield both Muramasa and his scythe without one interfering with the other. Even with both of them being long weapons, neither will cross the other's path unless Keshin wishes for it to be so. He is able to combo the usage of his sword and scythe in such a way, that his relentless attacks are nearly unavoidable. When wielding both, his fighting style changes to that of a crazed berserker; going for broke at all times, and seemingly never tiring. Even the most skilled of shinobi will fall in the path of his skilled usage of Gaijutsu; their bloody corpses being yet another testament to his brutality.

Kenjutsu
During his long life, Keshin has grown accustomed to wielding all sorts of weapons. But perhaps the most frequently used is his Muramasa. Keshin found this ancient blade deep within The Yomi. He had some training with a sword during his time in Shimogakure, but it was not until after the loss of his daughter that Keshin really began to truly sharpen his sword skills. He is a skilled swordsman who has created seven forms of Kenjutsu combat.

Kettei
Kettei (決定, lit. Determination) is the first and most basic of his seven forms. It includes various "ready" stances, parrying, and finding marks of contact. The six marks of contact are the neck, waistline, left arm, right arm, left leg, and right leg. Kettei is the fundamental for the other six of Keshin's forms. When using it, Keshin simply remains in a defensive position and awaits his opponent's move. When they have closed in on him and have begun their attack, he will counter with his blade, and deliver a swift blow to one of the six target zones. Keshin will choose a zone after studying his opponent and verifying which mark of contact is the easiest to sever.

Shuchō
Shuchō (主張, lit. Contention) is a formal style of Kenjutsu combat that consists of classical and elegant moves. It is a calm form of Kenjutsu that enlists the usage of various spins and flicks of the sword to catch an opponent off guard. A skilled user of this style like Keshin can disarm a foe with ease by using their own sword's leverage to send the enemy's blade flying out of their hands. Keshin seems to be able to slip through just about any defense and deliver a critical cut to one of the target zones established in his first form: Kettei.

Kaifuku-Ryoku
Kaifuku-Ryoku (回復力, lit. Resilience) is the third of Keshin's Kenjutsu forms. Perhaps the most passive of the six, Kaifuku-Ryoku focuses on defense through efficient body movements. This includes various ways of reducing one's target area's size. Kaifuku-Ryoku is well suited for blocking incoming projectiles and countering basic attacks to open ways of escape from complex or extremely fast assaults.

Shinryaku
Shinryaku (侵略, lit. Aggression) is the fourth, and perhaps the most difficult to master of his seven forms. It employs an extensive use of acrobatic assaults to overwhelm an opponent and aims to catch them off guard by quickly delivering attacks from all sides. Shinryaku could involve flips over an enemy to attack them from above, powerful slashes in conjunction with leaps and spins, and other various elements.

Konki
Konki (根気, lit. Perseverance) is the fifth form, and an offshoot, or rather, continuation of the third form; Kaifuku-Ryoku. Rather than reducing one's target area and trying to find ways of escape through various counters and parries, one will use these means of defense in offensive manners. Such as the use of defensive parries to force and opponent to drop their guard, or the skillful disarming of a foe by catching their sword with one's own blade.

Setsudo
Setsudo (節度, lit. Moderation) is the sixth of Keshin's forms. It seeks to balance out the strengths of the previous five to create a single, solid form. Setsudo is said to be the pinnacle of Kenjutsu mastery, for a skilled wielder will be able to deliver swift, deadly blows, penetrate even the most solid of defenses, and show great overall abilities with the sword. However, while Setsudo does not focus on raw strength or power, a true Setsudo master will wield their sword with amazing tenacity.

Dōmō
Dōmō (獰猛, lit. Ferocity) is the seventh of the seven forms, and easily the most powerful, yet most dangerous. This style consists of using one's inner emotions and the emotions of others to fuel their own aggressive style. One must enjoy combat to the fullest in order to truly be a skilled practitioner of Dōmō; they must love the sights, sounds, and perhaps even the taste of blood. Thus, Dōmō is much more than a fighting style; it is a way of life and a state of mind. One has to be willing to give into their darkness, accept the fury of their opponent, and glory in the death of the enemy.

Bōjutsu
During his time with Daitengu, Keshin learned to wield a bō staff. He has learned to disarm foes with this weapon, and can use it quite skillfully in battle. Quick, concise movements make up his Bōjutsu style, which often involves the skillful spinning of his simple weapon to create complex attacks to catch his opponent off guard. However, now that Keshin possesses Muramasa, usage of his bō is rather limited. Instead, his Bōjutsu is seen to trickle over into his Kenjutsu style. Muramasa is shaped similarly to a bō, and thus, can be wielded in a nearly identical fashion. Keshin's Bōjutsu simply serves as a foundation for his Kenjutsu.

Genjutsu
While perhaps not his preferred field, Keshin is actually quite skilled in the art of Genjutsu. Though, he goes about utilizing Genjutsu in a most unorthodox manner; through his Wind Release. He actually developed several Genjutsu techniques that trap the target in a powerful illusion after they have felt the wind from the technique; these techniques are called his Cursed Nightmare Genjutsu. The first one of these techniques that Keshin created, and perhaps the most noteable is the Cursed Nightmare: Crucifixion. Having had experience with crucifixion, Keshin knew all too well the helplessness one feels while nailed to a cross. He would create a Genjutsu that would cause the target to feel the pain he felt on that dreadful day he had been nailed to a cross by Jashinists. The Genjutsu is of the highest tier; the combination of the excruciating pain that is inflicted onto the target along with the helpless point of view will usually be enough to result in the target's conciousness leaving them once released. The technique is cast through a wave of wind that shoots out in all directions, allowing Keshin to capture an entire crowd in this technique.

Keshin actually possesses several techniques that work similarly to this one; another excellent example of the Genjutsu-imbued wind is his Cursed Nightmare: Mutilation of Self. To start the technique off, Keshin will summon multiple wind senbon. He can either materialize them in midair and launch them forwards, or simply manifest them in his hands and throw them manually. These windy projectiles travel at blinding speeds, making them extremely difficult to evade. On top of this, they are very small and transparent; nearly impossible to see without a means of visualizing chakra. Though, even this will not usually help, as Keshin tends to use Konkaku to power his techniques; a substance that even the Rinnegan is unable to visualize unless in the form of a soul. When the senbon hit a target, even if barely grazing them, they will commence a powerful illusion that causes the target to view their own gruesome death. According to Keshin, he can have the target visualize any type of death he wants; be it bisection, decapitation, or simply them being torn apart limb from limb. The illusions created by this Genjutsu are so powerful, that some victims sustain permanent damage within their psyche

While the other two Genjutsu are meant to completely break an opponent, Keshin possesses a third, much more passive technique. The Cursed Nightmare: All Goes Down takes on the form of a gentle breeze. As soon as the opponent has felt the soft brushing of the wind, they will find themselves falling through an eternal sky; they never hit anything, and simply fall for ages. The emptiness in the technique is said to be able to cause insanity over time, and prolonged exposure can result in the target's brain temporarily shutting down from inactivity. However, this is not the true purpose of the technique, rather, Keshin uses it as a means to plug in other Genjutsu. Since the technique is rather empty, he is able to use basic applications of Genjutsu to create a virtual world that the opponent will find themselves trapped in. Such an illusion completely immerses all five of the opponent's senses, making it nearly impossible to break free from.

Ninjutsu
Despite having a knack for both Taijutsu and Genjutsu, Keshin's most powerful techniques belong to the branch of Ninjutsu. Most of the techniques in his arsenal were developed by none other than himself, further showing his genius in this field. With an affinity for Yin Release and the ability to wield Yang and Yin-Yang Release, Keshin is not one to be taken lightly.

WIP

Yin Release
While Keshin is amazingly skilled in several other fields, perhaps his true strength lies in the Yin Release. When Keshin was locked up in the Shimogakure Prison, he discovered that Yin chakra can be used as an extension of his mind so to say. Only through extreme focus and extensive meditation did Keshin ever witness just what Yin could really do. By focusing both his mind and Yin chakra, he caused a fork in his cell to tremble on the floor. Thus, Yin Release: Psychokinesis was born. Through even more meditation, Keshin found that he was able to move multiple objects at once. According to Keshin, the size of the object means nothing. He has proved this on several occasions. One such occurrence was him stopping a meteor through application of his Psychokinetic powers alone. He has been seen to be able to uproot nearby trees, stop falling rocks, and once even control a bolt of lightning. But his Psychokinetic power is not limited to simply lifting objects and throwing them around, Keshin can applying his power in several different ways. A great example of this is his ability to choke an opponent by cutting off the airflow by means of Psychokinesis. This is accomplished by crushing the victim's throat with Psychokinetic power. Keshin can also use this application of the Yin Release: Psychokinesis to break an opponent's neck. This can be done by twisting or compressing their neck to the point where it is forced to snap. Keshin can commence choking a foe with a grip sort of gesture with his hand. Most usages of his Pychokinesis make use of hand gestures. Keshin is seen flicking his arm to the side of he intends to throw an already caught victim.

Aside from choking a foe, he has shown many other ways of dealing with an opponent. When Keshin first began using the Yin Release: Psychokinesis, he learned that in order to use it to its fullest potential, one must center themselves. Keshin learned to completely balance himself and sharpen his focus through meditation. This resulted in Keshin learning how to applying his Psychokinetic powers in a devastating way. Through sheer focus, Keshin will channel his Psychokinetic energy into the space around him. Then, he will draw it all in as he begins to levitate. Suddenly, he will release it in all directions. This results in a massive wave of energy that blows away everything in its path. Keshin can use it to throw back opponents if he has been surrounded, or to drive away incoming Ninjutsu assaults. And by using a similar principle, he can create a blast of repulsive energy from his hands. Keshin can simply throw one of his arms out and release a concentrated blast of Psychokinetic power. He can also create a much more powerful blast that can send incoming Ninjutsu or projectiles flying back at an enemy. By concentrating the energy between his hands, Keshin will create tremendous buildup of pressure. Then, by pushing his hands out towards the target, he can release that pressure in a single column of energy. Despite having flashy ways such as these to finish off an opponent, Keshin's favorite method of defeating an enemy with his psychokinesis is rather simple. He enjoys seizing his opponents with his power, and throwing them about. One cannot so easily break his grip. Absorbing the chakra used in this technique is nearly impossible, but if one manages to do so, it could make it worse on them. For the Yin chakra used in this technique is completely subjugated to Keshin's influence. Meaning, that once inside of a victim, Keshin could potentially attack their organs and kill them from the inside. Attempting to scatter the chakra in the technique is useless as well. For the chakra is under Keshin's nearly flawless control. For many long years, Keshin learned to gain an absolute command of his Psychokinetic powers. Through many hours of meditation, he continues to strengthen his powers, not satisfied with his current command of his technique.

Keshin does not only use Yin Release to gain Psychokinetic abilities, but for many other things as well. One such ability he gained is the power to take command over the shadows of himself and his surroundings. This allows him to create various constructs comprised of darkness. A basic usage of this technique consists of forming various weapons from his own shadow. He can form a sword, a bow and shadowy arrows to go with it, small projectiles that resemble a knife, and many, many more things. Another usage allows Keshin to shield himself from incoming attacks by using his own shadow to form a dome-like structure. The dome can shield him from various Ninjutsu that consist of one of the five basic elements. Taijutsu is completely useless against such a construct. Keshin can create shadowy spikes or tendrils to skewer or ensnare a nearby enemy. Keshin can also create shadowy spikes from the shadows of an opponent or the surrounding terrain to run an enemy through from all sides. Aside from this, he can also form thousands of shadow arms to restrict an opponent. These arms can also intercept an enemy's projectile attacks. Keshin's shadows are used for much more than just forming constructs, he can also create blasts of shadowy energy. In fact, one of his most powerful techniques is the Shadow Rogation: Karma. By forming a single rod of shadowy energy, Keshin will focus a tremendous amount of energy into it. Through a combination of both Konkaku and chakra, he will gather the surrounding aura and create a devastating explosion of concentrated shadows. The entire surrounding area will be caught in the blast. Even the strongest of defenses will fall in the wake of his technique.

A rather new and much more effective usage of Keshin's Shadow Rogation is the Shadow Rogation: Dark Void. This allows Keshin to directly connect to the Shadow Dimension. The applications of this technique are seemingly limitless. It enables him to envelop foes in their own shadow, and bring them to this realm of darkness. Not only does this usually end an encounter, but it also allows him to completely drain them of both their chakra, and Konkaku. Keshin can then circulate both energies simultaneously to himself. Thus, he has yet another mean to replenish his exhausted reserves mid combat.

Another usage lets him open portals within these shadows to intercept incoming attacks. When he does, he can then absorb the energy within it, or redirect it with another shadow. This principle is similar to the Shadow Rogation: Projection, a technique that allows him to project techniques through shadows. Also, the technique can let him store items within this dimension. Curiously, when Keshin opens a portal within a shadow to retrieve a stored item, it always seems to be right next to the portal. This could mean that the Shadow Dimension is indeed a small pocket dimension that exists within individual shadows, and not a world connected to all shadows as some may be lead to suspect. Either way, Keshin has learned to use this technique to its fullest potential.

After Keshin absorbed the very essence of Kowaremashita, his body was filled with a malignant chakra. Such energy is said to have tremendous power when tapped into. But despite this, Keshin was unable to do much with this dark chakra besides fuel techniques. So in order to tap into this power, Keshin developed a technique known as Insaidoauto. When one uses the Insaidoauto, it allows one to call on the power deep inside of oneself. For Keshin, it's the darkness of Kowaremashita. When he activates this technique, he can take on the form of a shadowy warrior. Keshin tends to only matierlize the claws that Insaidoauto grants. With these, Keshin can inflict deep cuts on an opponent. He can also create shadowy wings that grant him the power of flight. If Keshin enters his full transformation, he will struggle to remain in control of himself. Both the crazed bloodlust that is standard in all Kirawa, and Kowaremashita will begin to take control. This is why Keshin rarely enters the full transformation that can be achieved with Insaidoauto.

Masks and Summoning Techniques
Being a member of the Amanojaku Clan, Keshin has one of the treasured masks of the clan in his possession; given to him by Daitengu Amanojaku. This mask is the Amamehagi; one that allows the wearer to summon and control each and every one of the Masked Beasts. These creatures' power varies from beast to beast; each having a specific set of skills with the sole purpose of benefitting their master.


 * Aosagihohi is perhaps the most well-known of Keshin's summons, for he is often seen on the creature's back. It is a large, dragonic creature that flies like a wyvern. Its large, webbed wings whip up strong winds as it takes off. The face of Aosagihohi is like that of a mask; a flat, disc-shaped mask with asymmetrical red lines running all over its surface. The cries of this creature are said to be capable of frightening even the bravest of heroes with the high screeching sound it makes. From its mask, it can fire highly concentrated blasts of highly destructive chakra that is capable of mass destruction. It has been said that a dozen Aosagihohi could take even the most protected of strongholds; attacking from all directions and firing off chakra beams on those below.


 * Amefurikōzo is a creature that any member of the Amanojaku Clan can easily summon with their mask. It is a monkey-like creature that feeds off of chakra itself. With this peculiar hunger, it is able to devour just about any chakra-based construct or technique; drawing the energy into its cold, steel mask-like face. On top of its absorptive powers, it sports a pair of sharp claws that are used to slash opponents. It is also rather quick and able to keep up with most foes. Amefurikōzo are usually summoned in swarms, as one Amefurikōzo would be rather useless by itself.


 * Furutsubaki-no-Rei, the largest of the Masked Beasts, and easily the most powerful, is Keshin's resort when all else fails. This monstrous summon looks similar to a massive boar, and actually fights in a similar manner. Its attacks consist of wild charges at the opponent. Such moves result in the opponent being trampled, gored, or both. The sheer size and power of Furutsubaki-no-Rei is enough to easily overcome most enemies; it has even been seen to be able to wrestle with a completed Susanoo, and can take a few blows from the swords of the mighty ethereal warrior with its tough hide. However, while it is indeed powerful with its raw strength alone, it does have another means of attack. Furutsubaki-no-Rei can create massive spheres of dense, red chakra that work similarly to the Tailed Beast Balls that Tailed Beasts and their Jinchuriki can make. Upon contact, they will explode into giant blasts of chakra. These explosions are capable of mass destruction and can penetrate most defenses with ease.


 * Namahage is quite an unusual specimen even for the Masked Beasts. Standing at about six feet tall, it is humanoid in appearance and seems to be an intelligent creature. Yet, its only means of communication is a loud screech that can potentially bust the eardrums of anyone nearby; Keshin himself has to be wary of Namahage's cries. However, its main means of attack is the usage of the sharp tendril-like appendages on its sleeves. With quick, concise moves, it can slash a nearby opponent with ease.

Kirawa Abilities
As a Kirawa, Keshin is cursed with an insatiable bloodlust that will haunt him throughout his entire life. However, he is also granted a wide array of abilities to aid him in his quest for blood. Specifically, he has a power connected to the very souls of humans, and can draw energy from the souls of others, and himself.

Tamashijutsu and Ectoplasmic Manipulation
Keshin is able to access a nearly forgotten branch of techniques known as Tamashijutsu. With his mastery over this ancient division of arts, he is able to draw upon, manipulate and absorb a substance known as Konkaku, or more commonly referred to as Soul Energy. Keshin prefers to use his Konkaku over chakra, as his reserves of Konkaku are much larger than his shallow well of chakra. Keshin is constantly feeding on the Konkaku that emanates from the souls of all. These feeding habits resulted in him developing a form of pseudo-immortality. As long as Keshin takes in the Konkaku of living things, he will be blessed with eternal youth. When using techniques through his Konkaku, as it can be used as an alternate fuel for techniques, non-Kirawa will be unable to sense the attack. This is because only Kirawa can learn to sense and devour this energy. While some users of the Rinnegan have been seen to take chakra from the souls they absorb, none are able to access this energy. A true master of Konkaku can devour the soul of another, absorb and utilize all of the Konkaku in that soul, and release it in the form of Konkaku-powered Ninjutsu or in unique Tamashijutsu techniques. Only the most skilled users of Tamashijutsu are actually able to use techniques that are unique to this branch, as most simply use the absorptive abilities granted by a basic mastery over Tamashijutsu. Keshin was actually develop a technique that has yet to be recreated, one known as Soul Shackle. This technique creates long, white chains comprised of pure, compressed Konkaku. If the chains have been formed using Keshin's own, they can be manifested directly from the body in a similar manner to the Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains. They can be used to constrict an opponent, or simply impale them. Keshin can also cause the chains to sprout up and out of the ground by focusing his Konkaku into his feet and sending them through the ground, though, the same end goal can be accomplished through the use of his hands by applying the same basic principles. However, when Keshin siphons an opponent's Konkaku to create the attack, the chains will be drawn to the opponent, and will try to make their way to the foe's soul. This will either result in the unrelentless chasing and eventual impaling of the opponent, or them simply being constricted to death.

Perhaps one of Keshin's most well-known usages of Tamashijutsu, and Konkaku in general is his Cloak of Souls; a truly impeccable application of Tamashijutsu. By manipulating his own soul and the Konkaku within, he can create a type of barrier that causes anything within it to become invisible. However, since Konkaku has mass, the technique is not absolute, and small distortions in the air where the technique is cast may be seen. Though, these may be dismissed as hallucinations, as no chakra can be felt from anything within this space thanks to the curious nature of Konkaku. Silent like the grim reaper himself, Keshin can sneak behind an opponent and whisk them away into the next world with a swift attack. His extensive usage of this technique has earned him the reputation as a silent wraith who watches his prey; waiting for the right moment to strike. To take his stealth abilities a step further, Keshin can combine this with his Zephyr Release: Body Flicker Technique; allowing him to travel in the form of the dark wind of Shinatsuhikō, and remain unseen. Thus, creating an attack that is almost undetectable. Furthermore, he can combine the technique with nearly every technique he has. This means he can use the technique to hide any of his techniques, and not only himself.

Aside from techniques that have been specifically named, Keshin can use Konkaku in other ways. One such way is through the creation of Konkaku spheres that can be hurled at an opponent. Unlike the Truth-Seeking Balls used by sages, the spheres Keshin creates are not dense, and rather, take on a wavy sort of appearance. These wispy balls of Konkaku can actually be used to consume the Konkaku of whatever it has come into contact with. Potentially, it could drain an opponent of all their Konkaku, and actually devour their very soul. While the attack is very effective when used against those who have no mastery over their Konkaku, the spheres will have little use against a fellow Kirawa, who will simply consume the attack and use the newly acquired Konkaku against the one who used the attack.

Soul Visage
Unlike most Kirawa, Keshin did not manifest his Soul Visage until he first entered The Yomi in search of Muramasa. This trait seen in all Kirawa allows them to see the souls of all people, as the name suggests. Without the Soul Visage, Kirawa would be unable to visualize Konkaku and souls. When this phenomenon is active, the user's irides will take on a blood red hue, and their sclerae will be dyed as black as midnight. While Keshin seems to be able to activate this peculiar trait at will, it is much more common for it to simply manifest when his Kirawa bloodlusts get the best of him. The eyes of a Kirawa are said to reflect the darkness in their soul and are able to strike fear into even the most courageous of foes.