Kushimaru Kuriarare

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kushimaru Kuriarare (栗霰串丸)
Alias(es)	Wielder of Nuibari
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kirigakure; Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist
Occupation/Role	Elite shinobi and one of the first-generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist
Status	Deceased; killed by Uchiha Daiki 23
First Appearance	Chapter 6

Background / History

Kushimaru was one of Kirigakure's first-generation Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He joined the group in pursuing a Konoha logistics team after the force assigned to attack its medical unit failed to return. He identified the team's split during the pursuit and assumed it would only hasten their deaths. 6 7

Alongside the other swordsmen, Kushimaru was caught off guard by Uchiha Daiki's explosive-tag trap. He later helped prepare an ambush for Sarutobi Shio, Hyuga Koji, and Uzuki Sen, while the swordsmen also discussed eliminating the unidentified Uchiha who had injured Jinin Akebino from long range. 8 9

Appearance

Kushimaru is a man with fluffy, spiked yellow hair. He wears a Kirigakure Anbu mask and several loops of bandages around his neck. 6

• Carries the long sword Nuibari, a needle-shaped blade over one meter long. 10
• Uses steel wires attached to Nuibari for remote attacks and traps. 23

Personality

Kushimaru is cold, merciless, and confident in his combat ability. During his duel with Hyuga Koji, he relentlessly attacked the latter's Rotation defense from every direction, seeking to force an opening rather than allowing his opponent room to recover. 10

He is also calculating and deceptive. After realizing that Uchiha Daiki's apparent body was an afterimage, he improvised a countermeasure by luring Daiki into the Earth Spider Stitch wire trap. However, his confidence turned into fatal overconfidence when Daiki escaped the trap and struck from behind. 23

Abilities & Skills

Blade Ninjutsu

Kushimaru employs blade techniques centered on Nuibari and its attached steel wires.

• Controls Nuibari's steel wire with Chakra to strike targets from unexpected angles. 23
• Uses Blade Ninjutsu: Earth Spider Stitch, causing steel wires to erupt from beneath the ground and bind a target's legs. 23
• Combines wire restraint with a simultaneous thrust from Nuibari to attack from multiple directions. 23
• His wire trap failed to finish Uchiha Daiki, whose restrained body proved to be an afterimage. 23

Speed and Precision

Kushimaru's attacks are described as exceptionally fast and difficult to defend against.

• Suppressed Hyuga Koji despite Koji using the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms: Rotation. 10
• Pressured Koji's “absolute defense” continuously, attempting to outlast it. 10
• Reacted quickly enough to block three kunai fired from concealment with Nuibari, though the impact knocked him back to the ground. 10

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Nuibari — A long, needle-shaped ninja sword wielded by Kushimaru. 6 10
• Steel wires — Chakra-controlled wires attached to Nuibari, used for binding, cutting, and surprise attacks. 23
• Kirigakure Anbu mask — Worn during the pursuit of Daiki's group. 6

Relationships

• Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist — Fellow Kirigakure elite shinobi; Kushimaru pursued Konoha forces and coordinated ambushes with them. 6 7 22
• Uchiha Daiki — Enemy who previously humiliated the swordsmen through an ambush; Kushimaru attempted to kill him with Earth Spider Stitch but was fatally stabbed through the heart. 22 23
• Hyuga Koji — Konoha opponent whom Kushimaru overwhelmed with Nuibari's swift, unpredictable attacks. 10
• Uzuki Sen — Kushimaru attempted to kill her while she moved to treat the mortally wounded Sarutobi Shio; Daiki's kunai knocked Nuibari away before the strike landed. 11
• Jinin Akebino and Suikazan Fuguki — Fellow swordsmen who focused on locating and confronting Daiki during the Konoha team's ambush. 11

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hunt for the Konoha Logistics Team

Kushimaru and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen pursue Daiki's temporary team after detecting a possible sensory-type ninja among them. When the Konoha group splits, he dismisses the move as making them easier to kill. 6 7

Ambush of Hyuga Koji's Team

Kushimaru battles Hyuga Koji during the swordsmen's ambush. His rapid assaults force Koji to maintain Rotation, while Kushimaru attempts to wear down and breach the defense. 10

When Daiki covertly intervenes, Kushimaru tries to attack Uzuki Sen. A precisely thrown kunai knocks Nuibari from his hand, preventing the strike and contributing to the swordsmen's eventual retreat. 11

Final Battle Against Uchiha Daiki

After encountering Daiki again while targeting Might Duy's group, Kushimaru calls for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to surround him. Daiki immediately appears behind him, but Kushimaru pierces only an afterimage with Nuibari. 22 23

Kushimaru then uses Earth Spider Stitch to bind Daiki's legs and follows with a thrust aimed at his heart. Daiki escapes the trap, appears behind Kushimaru, and drives a kunai through his heart, killing him. 23