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Hāngetsū Hōzuki | |||
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[[Image:Hāngetsū_Hōzuki.png|frameless]] | |||
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Debut | |||
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Personal | |||
| Birthdate | May 15th | ||
| Sex | Male | ||
| Species | Human (Very Distant Otsutsuki Descendant) | ||
| Age | 22 | ||
| Status | Alive | ||
| Height | 6'8 1/2 | ||
| Bloodtype | 0- | ||
| Kekkei Genkai | *Lava Release
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| Kekkei Tōta | *Power Release | ||
| Classification | *Shinobi
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| Tailed Beast | Saiken (Six-Tails) | ||
| Occupation | *Shinobi
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| Affiliation | *Kirigakure
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| Team | *Team Rao
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| Partner | *Raiga Kurosuki (Mentor before his Defection, Deceased)
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| Clan | *Hōzuki Clan
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Rank | |||
| Ninja Rank | *Genin (Volume 1 - 1)
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| Academy Grad. Age | 7 | ||
| Chūnin Prom. Age | 9 | ||
| Jōnin Prom. Age | 13 | ||
| Kage Prom. Age | 19 | ||
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"Hāngetsū Hōzuki, direct descendant of the Second Mizukage, the Sharingan Butcher, Kiri's First Sword, the Strongest Jinchūriki, and our Strongest Swordsman, no one else is stronger or more feared outside the Land of Water or Beloved within. Therefore, I nominate him for the post of Fifth Mizukage."
— Mei Terumi during the Fifth Mizukage Election
Hāngetsū Hōzuki is the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure and a member of the Kaguyu, Funato, and Hōzuki Clans. Raised during the era of the Third Mizukage, and one of the first graduates of the Blood Mist Era of Kirigakure and eventually the Jinchūriki of the Six-Tailed Slug, Saiken, Hāngetsū earned fame as a fearsome combatant on the field of war.
Remembered as Hāngetsū of the Six Faces because of his highly unpredictable tactics and personality shifts, Hāngetsū's name inspires dread and fear on any battlefield. Following the start of the Third Great Ninja War, Hāngetsū would frequently battle against Minato Namikaze, Naka and Naori Uchiha, and Ino-Shika-Cho of the Hidden Leaf Village, as well as Hirohito Toyotomi, Ryūta Nagao, and Z of Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure.
The Legendary battles fought between Hāngetsū, Minato Namikaze, Hirohito Toyotomi, Ryūta Nagao, and Z led to each of them being known as one of the Five Great Armies. Before the death of Minato Namikaze, Hāngetsū was known as the Second of the Five Great Armies, though he became known as the First of the Four Great Armies following Minato's death.
Additionally, although Hāngetsū, Hirohito, Ryūta, and Z were considered the Four Great Armies after the death of Minato, all four still collectively called themselves members of the Five Great Armies, personally and adamantly maintaining their position in the original pecking order.
Following his final victory against Naka and Naori Uchiha, Hāngetsū - having claimed the Dead Uchiha's bodies - acquired the Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan, earning the hatred of the Uchiha Clan, and a reputation that earned him the Moniker; The Sharingan Butcher.
The series of battles he fought against each one earned him the support that led to the overthrowing of the Fourth Mizukage ten years following the War. As the leader of the Coup'd Etat, a Perfect Jinchūriki, Seven Swordsman and the Strongest remaining Shinobi in the Village, Hāngetsū was inaugurated as the Fifth Mizukage, following the First ever Mizukage Election.
As a veteran of the many civil wars and clan uprisings, the newly made Fifth Mizukage and member of the feared Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, would work tirelessly to rebuild Kirigakure's reputation and population, instituting massive reforms and policies that ushered in a renaissance period for Kiri.
Hāngetsu participated in the Fourth Great Ninja War, serving as the leader of the Shinobi Alliance's Special Operations Regiment. He later joined the Fourth Tsuchikage and Sixth Kazekage in fighting against the Third Raikage, Second Tsuchikage, Fourth Kazekage, and Hāngetsū's great-grandfather, the Second Mizukage. During the course of the battle against the revived Kage, Hāngetsū's Great-Grandfather conferred upon him the title of Kirigakure's Shield.
Hāngetsū would eventually select Chojuro as his successor, passing on the position of Mizukage to Chojuro, while also passing on the leadership of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to his Adopted Daughter, Buntan Kurosuki.
Years after his retirement, Hāngetsū would return to active duty in order to train the next generation of Seven Ninja Swordsmen, with him additionally serving as leader of Team Hāngetsū.
Appearance[]
Like most of the Hōzuki Clan, Hāngetsū had purple eyes, shoulder-length, white-colored hair and pointed, shark-like teeth — a trait which members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist possess. Like all Kaguyu, Hāngetsū has two red dots on his forehead. As a Genin and Chunin, he wore an outfit very similar to his cousins, Mangetsu and Suigetsu, which consisted of a black, sleeveless shirt, light-purple-colored pants and striped leg-warmers typical of his village. However, he would take to wearing his grandfather's armor following becoming a Jōnin and head of the Hōzuki Clan. Additionally, Hāngetsū took to wearing a bloodstained straw hat to appear battle worn, but otherwise unremarkable.
Like his cousins, he carried a water bottle attached to a belt around his waist and wore bandages around his neck — another trait shared by the seven swordsmen — and the standard Kirigakure forehead protector. Overall, Hāngetsū, before becoming a Jōnin and adopting a new style, bore great resemblance to Mangetsu and Suigetsu.
After forcibly undergoing the Funato Rite of Passage, Hāngetsū acquired Gills, which allowed him to breathe underwater and acquire oxygen from water.
Personality[]
As a direct result of being raised primarily by Hōzuki Clan retainers following his mother's disappearance before graduating the Kirigakure Academy during the onset of the Blood Mist Era, Hāngetsū rarely shows his true personality, something that - alongside his battlefield exploits and tactics - earned him the epithet; Hāngetsū of the Six Faces.
At the center of his personality is an absolute loyalty to Kirigakure and the Hōzuki Clan. Hāngetsū, having survived as one of ten in a group of one hundred graduating students of Kirigakure's academy is a highly organized individual, never showing anybody his true nature except his cousin Mangetsu, who was the only individual whom Hāngetsū fully trusted. Extremely intelligent, Hāngetsū kept allies and enemies alike on their toes by displaying multiple personalities in varying situations.
After years of practice and living in a village where actions spoke a lot louder than words, Hāngetsū was able to hide the fact that he was in fact traumatized by his village. Indeed, Minato Namikaze - Hāngetsū's greatest rival on the battlefield - actually enjoyed a friendly rivalry with Hāngetsū and was the only one to whom Hāngetsū confided that if not for his greatest value being loyalty, would have long ago abandoned Kiri.
Hāngetsū as a result of his upbringing and intelligence, was able to keep the fact he was in fact a believer in the values espoused by Hashirama Senju's Will of Fire; Friendship, kindness, loyalty, honor, and bravery in his heart through years of suppressing his true nature. Following the massacre of the Kaguyu Clan, Hāngetsū who out of loyalty to his distant kin, rescued Kimimaro and finally snapped.
At nineteen and weary of more conflict, Hāngetsū finally took a stand and stopped hiding his grievances against the last two Mizukage's and displayed the charisma and charm that he'd abandoned in years past.
Following becoming the Fifth Mizukage, Hāngetsū proved a tireless, inspired, and hardworking leader. His desires to end the eras of needless bloodletting and his newfound freedom allowed Hāngetsū to finally be himself.
Hāngetsū had an intense hatred towards Raiga Kurosuki, holding Raiga directly responsible for his injuries and torture at the hands of Sunagakure during the Third Great Ninja War. Despite this, Hāngetsū adopted Raiga's daughter, Buntan and raised her as his own, even eventually passing down the Legendary Kiba blades to her.
Because of his experiences in the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Hāngetsū takes a dim view of traitors and deserters. He personally hunted down Zabuza Momochi, Raiga Kurosuki, and Jinpachi Munashi. Despite this, he was willing to offer amnesty to any Shinobi who deserted during the reigns of the Third and Fourth Mizukage's.
Background[]
Born to Kojiro Hōzuki and Minamo Funato, Hāngetsū Hōzuki was the heir apparent to the Hōzuki clan before his distant relative, Araumi Funato, and his uncle, Shin Hōzuki murdered his father in order for Shin to become Clan Head and Araumi to marry Minamo.
At some point, before he joined the Kirigakure Academy, his mother forced him to undergo the Funato Clan's rite of passage, awakening his immense Power of the Sea Dragon and giving him gills that allowed him to breathe underwater and acquire air from water and forging a pact with the ancient Leviathan that served as the Funato Clan's most powerful Summon.
Following the disappearance of his mother and his father's assassination, Shin who bore no ill will to Hāngetsū, left him alive, and allowed him to be raised by the loyal retainers of the Hōzuki Clan, the Terumī Clan.
Abilities[]
"Naruto, listen to me. This is not an opponent you can win against you aren't even in his league. You graduated the Academy at the age of 12. This man became a Jōnin at 13. Two years after that, he was a S-Ranked Jōnin, and three years after that...he became the Mizukage. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that only the Fourth Hokage was his equal." |
As the man who would become the Fifth Mizukage, as well as the future Jinchūriki of the Six-Tails, Hāngetsū Hōzuki was one of the Shinobi World's most naturally talented Shinobi, and was considered by far the greatest Shinobi Kirigakure ever produced. From a young age, Hāngetsū showed a natural talent and aptitude in Kenjutsu, Fuinjutsu, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu. His natural curiosity and keen mind helped him to adapt quickly to new scenarios and eventually earned him a place at the side of members from the Strongest Generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Hāngetsū's fearlessness and natural ability to adapt and survive earned him praise from the likes of both the Third Raikage and Fourth Kazekage, with Hāngetsū being capable of killing the former before reaching the age of eighteen and joining the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
At the height of the Third Great Ninja War, Hāngetsū was the only person in the Five Great Shinobi Villages capable of fighting Minato Namikaze to a draw, Minato himself a once in a generation Shinobi even praised Hāngetsū's skills in Fuinjutsu, as Hāngetsū was the only one who was able to decipher and counter Minato's Flying Thunder God Jutsu's Sealing Formula.
During the Konoha Crush, Hāngetsū received praise from not only Orochimaru, but Jiraiya and the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, with Sarutobi informally passing on his tittle of God of Shinobi to Hāngetsū.
A Legendary Shinobi whose presence on the battlefield inspires loyalty and strength in friends and allies while reducing enemies to a terrified husk of a shinobi, and a standout at Kirigakure's Shinobi Academy and the only student capable of holding Zabuza Momochi at bay, Hāngetsū's legendary abilities would one day earn him the title of the Strongest Kage.
Ninjutsu[]
Hāngetsū was largely trained by members of the Terumī Clan before joining the Kirigakure Academy, as well as by his mother and father prior to the death of the latter and the disappearance of the former. His mother put him through the Funato Clan's rite of passage and as a result was capable of summoning the Funato Clan's Leviathan summon. He eventually extracted the means to travel to Shikkotsū Forest, Mount Myōbokū, and Ryūchi Cave from the Three Legendary Sannin and subsequently gained the ability to summon Toads, Snakes, and Slugs.
A natural Sensory-Type Shinobi, Hāngetsū's skills as a Sensor were honed within the Kirigakure Hunter-Nin Corps, and rivaled the Hyūga and Yamanaka Clan's at his prime.
Chakra and Physical Prowess[]
As both a perfect Jinchūriki and very distant Otsutsuki descendant, as well as the great-grandson of the Second Mizukage, Hāngetsū has abnormally high Chakra levels and is extremely good at regulating and controlling his Chakra. Through Saiken, Hāngetsū is able to use soap bubble Ninjutsu and utilize corrosive water in his Water Release Ninjutsu.
Years of training, fighting on the battlefield, and frequent battles against Shinobi such as Minato Namikaze, "Unruly" Ay, and Fugaku Uchiha led to Hāngetsū developing the Power Release Kekkei Tota, which - using Chakra as a catalyst - enhanced his Physical Prowess. After years of using the Power Release as well as hard training, Hāngetsū acquired a physique and level of physical prowess not dissimilar to the Third Raikage.
After becoming the Fifth Mizukage and following several years of training, Hāngetsū gained physical strength that allowed him to endure hits from the likes of Tsunade and his sheer physical endurance would later earn him the title Kirigakure's Shield from his Great-Grandfather in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Jinchūriki Transformations[]
As a perfect Jinchūriki, Hāngetsū had access to massive reserves of exceptionally powerful chakra, which was at least fifty times greater than the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi's. Due to his indirect descent from Kaguyu Otsutsuki from his grandmother in the Kaguyu Clan, Hāngetsū's already formidable chakra has properly mixed with the slug's, allowing him to perform several chakra-taxing techniques unhindered, though it should be noted that Naruto Uzumaki's Uzumaki heritage makes Hāngetsū lackluster in this regard when compared to Naruto. Because he was able to gain Saiken's friendship and loyalty, it greatly enhanced Hāngetsū's abilities. By the end of the Fourth Great Shinobi War, he could access Saiken's version of Baryon Mode, but refused to ever use it.
Because he had Saiken's cooperation, Hāngetsū had no need to exercise extreme caution while using the Tailed-Beasts Chakra. This bond also increased his natural physical and mental resilience to such degrees to the point where he could survive the Ten-Tails' Tenpenchii and endure Itachi Uchiha's Tsukuyomi Genjutsu with no visible signs of damage - mental or otherwise. This cooperation of Saiken, like Kurama with Naruto and Gyūki with Killer Bee also provides Hāngetsū with an immediate resistance from Genjutsu.
Hāngetsū is able to manifest the slug outside himself for a short period of time akin to summoning, allowing both to fight as separate entities. During the endgame of the Fourth Shinobi World War, a dying Hāngetsū received an influx of Chakra from Killer Bee, receiving Gyūki's ink creation as a result.
Ninjutsu[]
Nature Transformation[]
As a member of the Hōzuki and Kaguyu Clans, as well as a descendant of the Terumi and Funato Clan Hāngetsū Hōzuki is naturally proficient in all five basic Chakra Natures. Additionally, as the Jinchūriki of the Six-Tailed Slug Saiken, Hāngetsū is extremely adept in Water Release and has abnormally high amounts of Chakra. Through his descent from the Kaguyu Clan, Hāngetsū is able to easily mold Lightning Release into his Shikotsumyaku, utilizing the guiding principle of using Lightning Release to boost his Bone's penetration power to the absolute limit.
Because of his Lava Release, Hāngetsū is especially powerful in both Fire and Earth Release, and his skill in Lava Release allowed him to use two distinct forms of it before becoming a Jōnin.
Lava Release[]
An exceptionally skilled user of Lava Release, Hāngetsū is able to use the Lava Release Kekkei Genkai, allowing him to combine both fire and earth-natured chakra, which he can use to create and manipulate the form and movements of an extremely durable and rubber-like substance, that was strong enough to withstand multiple of devastating techniques. The rubber-like substance created can be manipulated to serve multiple purposes, such as a rubber wall for defense, or large rubber balls to serve as a crafty distraction. He has also shown that he can manipulate the lava to form a rope out of this rubber that can be used to grab things and a large tube for added defensive purposes, which was strong enough to absorb and dissipate the impact from the Third Raikage's Hell Stab in the Third Great Ninja War. Unlike the other known users of the Lava Releases except Dodai, Hāngetsū is not only able to emit the substance from his mouth but is also able to summon it within his vicinity and from his body.
Boil Release[]
Because of his Terumi Heritage, Hāngetsū is able to mix Fire and Water Release Chakra to make Boil Release. However until he encountered another shinobi in battle using Boil Release, he had shown little more than an immunity to the residual and immediate effects of Boil Release.
After killing Yasahiro Toyotomi, Hāngetsū was able to learn the Boiler Jutsu, which Toyotomi had used to kill Ameyuri Ringo of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Through the Jutsu, Hāngetsū is able to kill hundreds of enemy shinobi by turning the Hiding in the Mist Jutsu into a death trap.
Additionally, Hāngetsū can release vapors that are non-toxic, but feed off an enemy's Chakra draining it and feeding it directly to Hāngetsū.
Swift Release[]
Through his experiences with the Kekkei Tōta Power Release, Hāngetsū was able to develop the Swift Release Kekkei Genkai after transplanting the cells of Yasahiro Toyotomi and a year of experimentation.
Senjutsu[]
As a result of his battles against Minato Namikaze, The Sannin, and countless others, Hāngetsū would journey to each of the three Sage Regions to learn about Sage Arts. It was at Mount Myōbokū that Hāngetsū first began learning Senjutsu.
Hāngetsū would eventually choose to master the Sage Arts of Shikkotsu Forest. Despite training and mastering Senjutsu at Shikkotsu Forest, Hāngetsū would go on to study at Ryūchi Cave and Mount Myōbokū in order to "perfect" the Sage Mode.
Space-Time Ninjutsu[]
After a hundred battlefield engagements against Minato Namikaze, Hāngetsū became well-versed in Space-Time Ninjutsu, creating Sealing formula that could counter and alter the Flying Thunder God Jutsu utilized by Minato. Eventually, Hāngetsū was able to replicate the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, and because his prowess in Fuinjutsu far exceeded Minato's, was able to teleport faster and could teleport more objects or people. He would be praised by the Flying Thunder God's inventor, Tobirama Senju during the battle against the Ten-Tails.
Fuinjutsu[]
Arguably the greatest Fuinjutsu specialist Kirigakure ever produced, Hāngetsū's natural abilities in Fuinjutsu and his natural instinct to perfectly perform the difficult sub-form of Ninjutsu earned him the title of a Fuinjutsu Grandmaster, becoming one of the few non-Senju/Uzumaki's to be well-versed in Uzumaki Sealing Jutsu, as well as the handful of people who were capable of creating their own Flying Thunder God Technique Sealing Formula and undoing the Reaper Death Seal.
Kenjutsu[]
Like his cousin Mangetsu, Hāngetsū was an extremely gifted swordsman, having been accepted into the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Like Mangetsu, his skill, power, and chakra were such that he was able to wield all seven blades of the swordsmen, including the notoriously picky blade: Samehada. His recognition of wielding the seven famed swords was further shown by him being trusted to carry all of them in a scroll until battling, but due to personal preference often deferred this to Mangetsu. Training under Raiga Kurosuki, Hāngetsū was selected to replace Raiga when he died, though Kurosuki deserted before that could happen.
Due to only slight differences in how they were used, Hāngetsū was chosen to replace Kushimaru Kuriare as the wielder of the Sewing Needle Sword, Nuibari. Four years after having ascended to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Hāngetsū was feared as the most dangerous member, surpassing Fuguki Suikazan and later Kisame Hoshigaki as the strongest. Utilizing the Nuibari's thread and his own Lightning Release, Hāngetsū could use the thread to electrocute countless enemies to death at once.
Following the premature death of Mangetsu, Hāngetsū would take up Hiramekarei, and begin to master the seven swords, both to honor his cousin and fully master them. Eventually, his mastery of the Seven Swordsmen Blades earned him the titles of "First Sword of Kiri" and "Strongest Swordsman".
Dojutsu[]
After winning the final battle against Naka and Naori Uchiha, Hāngetsū would acquire their Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan. Seeking to avoid losing his sight, Hāngetsū transplanted both Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan into his left eye socket in order to acquire the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Years of practice and his own natural instincts made him a skilled user of the Sharingan and Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Because the cells of both Uchiha were later transplanted into his body, Hāngetsū isn't as adversely affected to using the Sharingan or Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan as a non-Uchiha user like Kakashi Hatake would be. However, because he is not directly descended from Hagoromo Otsutsuki and is not as directly related to Kaguyu as the Uchiha Clan is, the use of the "Acquired" Dojutsu is still costly to Hāngetsū despite transplanting the cells of the original owners of the Sharingan.
Sharingan[]
Taken as both a trophy and memento of the Third Ninja War, Hāngetsū transplanted the Sharingan of both Naori and Naka Uchiha into his left eye socket. As a result, the Sharingan, which had awakened into Mangekyō Sharingan with both previous users prior, fused to become an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Because he's not a true Uchiha, Hāngetsū - like Kakashi Hatake - is unable to deactivate the Sharingan. After transplanting the cells of the dead Uchiha, and receiving Chakra from Hagoromo Otsutsuki, Hāngetsū was able to deactivate and activate the Sharingan at will, though doing so did consume Chakra however minutely.
Because the eyes of Naori and Naka Uchiha which were transplanted into Hāngetsū were an Eye of Insight and Eye of Hypnotism respectively, Hāngetsū is able to utilize the abilities of both forms of the Sharingan in his single Sharingan.
With the Sharingan, Hāngetsū can see the flow of chakra, accurately reproduce any movement he sees (his own physical skill permitting), track fast-moving objects, and predict opponents' movement to a degree. He can also use Genjutsu: Sharingan for broad purposes such as distraction, interrogation, knocking targets out, or placing them under his control. He can use his Sharingan to relay information to others or enter their subconscious, which in the case of Jinchūriki allows him to suppress their Tailed-Beasts. His Sharingan, like Sasuke Uchiha's, was also shown to be able to wipe people's memories within a specific time gap, though he was unable to match Sasuke's time gap.
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan[]
Because the Sharingan he'd had transplanted into his body were already fully mature and both had already been evolved into Mangekyō Sharingan, Hāngetsū's transplant gave him the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Through the fusion, Hāngetsū is able to utilize a Long-Range Kamui and Amaterasu. Like Sasuke Uchiha, Hāngetsū can use Amaterasu, igniting whatever he looks at with black flames that can burn anything. Because one of the Mangekyō inherited Amaterasu, he can use Kagutsuchi to shape the flames into a variety of forms and purposes, such as spikes to impale people. This ability to manipulate his Amaterasu makes him more skilled than Itachi was with his own, but less skilled than Sasuke who is able to manipulate and control it to a far greater extent.
Much as Kakashi Hatake did, Hāngetsū was also capable of using a Long-Range Kamui, through which he: can remotely form a barrier around whatever he looks at so that he can warp the target to Kamui's dimension; because he acquired it and the Knowledge of it two years earlier than Kakashi, he was able to learn how to send himself to the dimension and to a new location from it much earlier. Due to his own Sensory skills and his training in Precision Ninjutsu, he had little trouble in aiming Kamui properly to hit his targets, though he did struggle with the Chakra Consumption initially. Over the years, he has improved to the point that he can use Kamui on fast-moving projectiles, including projectiles enhanced with Lightning or Wind Release. Because Hāngetsū trained in Kamui extensively before he first starts using Kamui in battle, he was able to lessen the time that it takes to cast and some amount of the preparation.
Additionally, because he trained extensively prior to using it on battle, it is not as big of a huge drain on his chakra each time it is performed like it was for Kakashi Hatake. Hāngetsū's familiarity with Space-Time Ninjutsu as well as advanced Fuinjutsu allows him to utilize Kamui at a more advanced stage than Obito or Kakashi. Hāngetsū is able to infuse Kamui into his Fuinjutsu or his Wind Release in order to create what Hāngetsū coined "Implosion Release". When combining with his Hiding in the Mist Jutsu he uses his speed and the Flying Thunder God Jutsu to spread his Kamui Implosion Seals across a battlefield in order to activate it faster, enough that opponents may not even notice he used it at all.
Rasengan[]
A genius at acquiring rare and difficult techniques through a keen battlefield intuition, and his own conversations with Saiken and experiences against Minato, Hāngetsū was able to perfectly replicate and perfect the Rasengan Technique. He was also able to succeed where Minato failed and add nature transformation to the Rasengan. He would later teach this to Naruto Uzumaki as a repayment of the debt he owed to Minato for saving his life.
Intelligence[]
A highly intelligent person in general, Hāngetsū's natural ability to adapt and his innate curiosity combined with his intellect have seen him compared to both Shikaku Nara and Hiruzen Sarutobi. His intellect and natural talent for Ninjutsu allowed him to replicate the Flying Thunder God Jutsu of Minato Namikaze and also allowed him to perfectly copy and master the Rasengan after only seeing it once. Hāngetsū was also an extraordinarily talented tactician, outfitting his forces with breath masks to protect them from his Boil Release: Boiler Jutsu.
History[]
Kirigakure Academy[]
While at the Academy, Hāngetsū shared a class with Mei Terumī, Ganryū, Junsai, and Suiren. Throughout his time at Kiri Academy, Hāngetsū excelled at Kenjutsu, Fuinjutsu, Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu.
His Shikotsumyaku and Lava Release quickly made him a favorite to join the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
During his second year in the academy, Hāngetsū met and killed the older academy student, Ryuuta Hoshigaki. His actions lead to Hāngetsū being scouted for the Hunter-Nin corps.
Third Blood Mist Graduation[]
In his third year at the Academy, Hāngetsū applied for and was permitted to undertake early graduation. Thus, he was assigned to the third graduation class and forced to undergo the final test.
Of the one hundred students who undertook the graduation test, Hāngetsū killed thirty. His spree would only be halted when he crossed blades with Zabuza Momochi, and the exchange quickly halted when the Third Mizukage ordered a stop.
Zabuza who had killed Fifty students and was not actually a student was interrogated before being assigned to the graduating class. The short fight between Hāngetsū and Zabuza would mark the beginning of a rivalry.
The Clan Wars[]
Immediately after graduating, Hāngetsū was assigned to the ANBU, and joined the Hunter-Nin Corps. His first assignment was to join a team that was sent to put down a Clan Revolt.
Under the Command of Kirigakure's Thunder, Seven Swordsmen member, and former Kiri Hunter-Nin, Raiga Kurosuki, Hāngetsū joined the First Purge of the Clan Wars against the Fuminoto, Hiroshika, and Ashigana Clans. During the course of the mission, Hāngetsū distinguished himself as an effective killer, as well as a skilled infiltrator and long-range marksman, showing immense proficiency in Bukijutsu and Kenjutsu throughout the mission as well as several precision Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
Assigned to the four-man team of a squad of twelve to take out the Ashigana Clan, Hāngetsū engaged one of the Mercenary-nin teams hired by the three clans. Dispatching them led to Hāngetsū being engaged by Sunagakure Missing-Nin Yasahiro Toyotomi, who had previously killed Ameyuri Ringo having used his Boil Release to poison Ringo to death.
Slaying the Kazekage's Firstborn[]
In a battle lasting nearly an Hour, Hāngetsū fought and eventually killed Yasahiro Toyotomi. In the aftermath, Hāngetsū discovered that although Yasahiro was a Missing-Nin, he was also the firstborn son of the Third Kazekage and carried a large Bounty. In killing the one who caused the death of Raiga's predecessor, as well as personally beheading the head of the Ashigana Clan, not to mention a Tokubetsu Jōnin-level shinobi, the Third Mizukage directly assigned Hāngetsū to the Hidden Mists Elite Sword Unit in addition to his role in the Kirigakure Hunter-Nin.
Because he was the one to kill Yasahiro Toyotomi, the Third Mizukage allowed and indeed insisted on Hāngetsū claiming the bounty on Yasahiro's head. Additionally, he was assigned directly under the command and tutelage of Raiga Kurosuki, thus becoming a member of the Mist's Advanced Sword Unit, as a result. Upon collecting the Bounty on Yasahiro Toyotomi's head, Hāngetsū learned he was the firstborn son of the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure, and Yasahiro's death likely would result in a retaliatory attack when it inevitably reached the Kazekage of the death of his son. Unconcerned by the threat, Hāngetsū returned to the Hidden Mist Village and was immediately granted access to the restricted levels of Kirigakure's Shinobi Academy, as reflected by his new membership in the Mist's Advanced Sword Unit.
The Advanced Sword Unit of the Hidden Mist[]
As a freshly minted member of the Advanced Sword Unit, Hāngetsū was required to pass through the initiation rites of the Unit passed down from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The rites required Hāngetsū to fight his way through the entire unit until he would be forced to fight a random member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Fighting his way from the weakest members of the Unit until he reached its strongest member - his cousin Mangetsu - Hāngetsū was forced to fight against Juzo Biwa, wielder of the Kubikiribōchō Executioner Blade.
In a battle lasting approximately twenty-five minutes, Hāngetsū nearly beat Juzo, before Fuguki Suikazan intervened and called an end to the fight. Though upset that he was unable to get a decisive result against such a prominent member of the Seven Swordsmen, Hāngetsū acknowledged Suikazan's authority to do so and begrudgingly returned to his part of the Advanced Sword Unit's barracks. Raiga - who was impressed by Hāngetsū's skills and being able to last as long as he had against Biwa - officially began to include Hāngetsū in his part of the Advanced Sword Unit.
As a part of the training under Raiga, Hāngetsū - alongside Kashira Suragani, Sao Fujira, and Misako Hoshigaki - was taken on many Assassination missions with the Kirigakure Hunter-Corps and was assigned to take part in several border skirmishes in the hopes of provoking conflict with the neighboring countries.
Intrigue at Azamo Cove[]
Several months into Hāngetsū's tenure in the Advanced Sword Unit, Raiga was assigned to end a smuggling Ring in Azamo Cove in the neighboring Country of the Land of Gales. The smuggling ring had severely damaged the interests of the Kiri Economy, and the Third Mizukage and Water Daimyo had both had enough, with the latter applying pressure to the Gale Daimyo and forcing his fellow Daimyo to hire the Mist to take care of the problem. Hāngetsū was sent to Azamo Cove as the Advanced Sword Unit's first scout, with orders to gather intelligence regarding the smuggling.
During the course of his investigation, Hāngetsū struck an alliance with Mizuko Sanjo, one of the many smugglers who's business had been disrupted by the greedy Ryuku Syndicate. Through Sanjo, Hāngetsū was able to wage a campaign of terror against the Syndicate, and quickly wiped out the Syndicate's senior leadership, his tactics and the fact no one who saw him and lived to tell barring Sanjo led to the smugglers referring to him as Michi no mono, the unknowable one. With the promise of deference to Kirigakure's interests, The Mizukage authorized Hāngetsū to install Sanjo as the new Head of the Ryuku Syndicate.
Statement[]
During the course of leaving Azamo. Hāngetsū was ambushed by Mercenary Ninja hired by the remnants of the Ryuku Syndicate who refused to bow to Sanjo. In a display of ruthless and psychologic tactical warfare, Hāngetsū quickly and surgically dismembered each of the Shinobi sent after him. He later directed Sanjo to deliver the bodies in a sack to the men who'd sent them after him. Upon returning to Kirigakure, the Mizukage applauded Hāngetsū for the bold statement and officially ordered Raiga to begin training him.