Kuroyasha

Kuroyasha (黒夜叉), whose name means Black Yaksha or Black Demon, is one of the last faithful vassals of the Hokuto Sōke, the main lineage of Hokuto. A small, dark-skinned man with a deceptive appearance, he is, according to the official Hokuto guidebook, even more powerful than Jukei himself. He devotes his life to protecting the heirs of the Hokuto Sōke, Kenshiro and Hyoh, and ultimately loses his life while shielding the latter from Kaioh's elite troops.

Vassal of the Hokuto Sōke

Kuroyasha has long served the main clan of Hokuto, as a vassal of the heirs to the lineage of Shuken, founder of Hokuto Shinken. His mission is twofold: to protect the heirs of the master branch, and to preserve the lost techniques of Hokuto Sōke no Ken, the original art from which Hokuto Shinken and Hokuto Ryūken originated. This knowledge of the Hokuto genealogy and the schism between the two schools makes him a witness to the entire tragedy of the Hokuto Sōke.

Despite the invasion of the Land of Shura by Kaioh and the consecration of Hokuto Ryūken, Kuroyasha refuses to submit. He acts from the shadows to preserve the fragments of the lineage and support the rare opponents of the Rashō's reign.

Connection with Kenshiro and Hyoh

When Kenshiro is still just an infant, Kuroyasha already detects in him an aura made of love and friendship, which stands in stark contrast to that of the heirs of the Ryūō branch. From that point on, he takes it upon himself to protect him and his biological brother Hyoh, after the fire that claimed the life of the mother of Kaioh, Raoh and Toki.

When Jukei sends the baby Kenshiro to the continent with Raoh and Toki, Kuroyasha stays in Shura and continues to watch over Hyoh, whom he senses is destined to become Kaioh's instrument.

Kenshiro's ally in the land of Shura

When Kenshiro returns to Shura to save Rin, Kuroyasha reveals to him part of the secrets of the Hokuto Sōke and helps him uncover Kaioh's plans. He is notably the one who describes the Anryū Tenha of Hokuto Ryūken as a distortion into another dimension where the victim loses all ability to determine their location, giving Kenshiro a first key to countering Kaioh's ultimate technique.

His experience, his cunning, and his knowledge of the terrain of Shura make him an essential support for the successor of Hokuto Shinken during the early stages of the arc.

Sacrifice alongside Hyoh

Kuroyasha's decisive episode comes when Hyoh, freed from Kaioh's mental hold, turns against his former adoptive brother. Aware that Hyoh will not be able to face the elite army sent by Kaioh alone, Kuroyasha supports him in battle and takes down several attackers to clear the way for him.

Severely wounded during the engagement, the Black Yaksha continues to fight until exhaustion. He succumbs to his injuries, but his sacrifice allows Hyoh to continue on his path toward Kaioh's castle.

Death of Kuroyasha

Before dying, Kuroyasha entrusts to Hyoh and Kenshiro the last hopes tied to the lineage of the Hokuto Sōke and reveals to them fragments of their shared history. His passing brings an end to the long, silent watch he had kept since the two brothers' childhood. With him, a part of the lineage of the ancestral servants of Hokuto is extinguished.

Techniques and abilities

Despite his small stature and deceptive appearance, Kuroyasha is one of the most powerful fighters in the Land of Shura, even superior to Jukei according to the official guidebook Kyūkyoku Kaisetsusho : Seikimatsu Haō Retsuden. His fighting style relies on aerial leaps of blinding speed and the use of iron claws attached to his hands, allowing him to slash his opponents in mid-flight.

He has mastered several techniques from the main Hokuto lineage, including Joma Kōshō, an attack originating from the Hokuto Sōke no Ken tradition that takes the form of a cutting beam of light, and Yūshō Seibu, an aerial combat dance that disorients the opponent. Kuroyasha's design is most likely inspired by Marhan, the shaman from the village of Mayapore in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.