Kusana

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Kusana (草玖)
Alias(es)	Mang; Grass Mang; Teacher Amang; King of the Land of Grass 2 14 619
Gender	Male 10
Affiliation	Land of Grass; Kusagakure
Occupation/Role	Leader of Kusagakure and the Land of Grass; later King of the Land of Grass; educator and national planner 2 14 619
Status	Active 781
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Secret Technique: Paper Style acquired	5	Completes Konan's special order, receiving a complete Paper Style ninjutsu scroll as the reward.
Combat-ready Paper Release	21	Uses Paper Dragon Technique and Infinite Paper Swords against a group of assassination ninja; modifies his paper to resist Water Release and finishes restrained enemies with explosive tags.
Multiple Paper Dragons	136	Reveals that he can control several giant paper dragons simultaneously, after using one as a concealed explosive-tag trap against Kirigakure infiltrators.
Enhanced Paper Release	138	His paper becomes stronger, harder, and more numerous than its original form; its large-scale techniques can shatter dense Water Release, though controlling them heavily taxes his concentration.
Incomplete Sage Art / self-cultivated Curse Mark	416	Activates Kusagakure's experimental natural-energy technique, gaining major increases to speed, strength, recovery, and sensory ability. The technique remains physically dangerous and incomplete.
Sage Art: Paper Release: Thousand-Hand Diga	417	Deploys a giant paper-and-sealing construct modeled after Hashirama's Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands, overwhelming and capturing Urashiki Otsutsuki.
Controlled deactivation	418	The tattoos and horn-like mutation recede after use, showing a degree of mastery; however, Thousand-Hand Diga leaves him severely drained and the Sage Art remains burdensome.

Background / History

After assuming leadership during Kusagakure's reconstruction, Kusana introduced the first Land of Grass Prosperity Plan. Its covert “Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun” policy sought personnel, bloodlines, tailed beasts, and ninjutsu that could strengthen the nation. Publicly, he prioritized education, medical care, defense, construction, and livelihood so the Land of Grass would not again be destroyed between larger powers 2.

He personally compiled textbooks, including the elemental ninjutsu he knew, so academy students could study according to their talents rather than receive only basic instruction. He also founded a school and became a regular teacher to Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan 3 7 14 60.

Kusana brought displaced Uzumaki survivors to the Land of Grass and persuaded the exiled Chinoike Clan to join Kusagakure. The Uzumaki became central to sealing and scientific-ninja-tool research, while the Chinoike formed the core of the planned Guard Department 10 17 24 27. His successful defense of the clans from assassination attempts established him as the “strongest Grass Ninja” in the eyes of his new citizens 21.

Personality

Kusana is ambitious, resourceful, and intensely focused on making the Land of Grass prosperous enough to resist outside domination. He treats education, infrastructure, industry, technology, and military strength as connected parts of nation-building rather than separate concerns 2 24 45.

He is also opportunistic and manipulative. Kusana routinely uses disguises, planted weaknesses, propaganda, recruitment rhetoric, and commercial pressure to gain leverage over enemies and potential allies. He can be generous to refugees and talented recruits while simultaneously arranging situations that make joining Kusagakure their most practical option 6 21 149 287.

Despite his schemes, he is attentive to the people under his authority. He checks on workers, considers their family circumstances, writes lessons for children, and takes personal responsibility for civilians during crises 60 127. His humor is frequently teasing, theatrical, and deliberately shameless, especially when dealing with Mujie, Black Zetsu, Danzō, and his students 27 240 322.

Abilities & Skills

Order System

Kusana possesses the Order System, through which he receives ordinary and rare special orders.

• Completing special orders can grant major rewards, including complete ninjutsu scrolls. Konan's request to “eat [her] fill” rewarded him with Secret Technique: Paper Style 5.
• Kana's request for “a warm home” was another completed special order, while Black Zetsu's wish to see Kaguya remained unfinished for a long period 5 276.
• The system can provide ninjutsu, chakra enhancement, and physical-fitness enhancement 418.
• It does not directly grant Bloodline Limits or Sage Mode, requiring Kusana to develop or acquire such powers through other means 418.

Paper Release

Kusana's signature secret technique allows him to create, manipulate, and reshape paper into weapons, defenses, constructs, and clones.

• Paper Dragon Technique — Creates giant paper dragons resembling Hashirama Senju's Wood Dragon Technique; Kusana later demonstrates control over multiple dragons at once 21 136.
• Infinite Paper Swords — Produces vast numbers of paper blades for binding, piercing, and large-scale attacks 21 138.
• Waterproof paper — He deliberately allowed enemies to identify Water Release as a weakness before revealing that his modified paper resisted water 21.
• Oil vulnerability — His waterproof paper remains vulnerable to oil 21.
• Explosive-tag tactics — He conceals explosive tags within paper constructs or attaches them to immobilized opponents 21 136.
• Paper clones — He can leave a Paper Release clone behind while personally moving elsewhere 60.
• Limit — High-volume techniques require him to divide his attention and place heavy demands on his chakra, body, and mind 138.

Sage Art / Curse Mark Cultivation

Kusana uses an unfinished natural-energy technique developed by Kusagakure through research on Jūgo, the three Great Sage Regions, and Orochimaru's assistance.

• The technique resembles a self-cultivated version of Orochimaru's Heavenly Curse Mark more than conventional Sage Mode 416.
• It significantly amplifies his speed, strength, recovery, and perception 416.
• Activation spreads tattoos across his body and can produce physical mutations, including a horn-like growth 416 418.
• Unlike an uncontrolled Curse Mark, he can deactivate the form and make its mutations subside 418.
• The technique is incomplete, physically strenuous, and can destabilize the balance between natural energy and chakra 416 417.

Sage Art: Paper Release: Thousand-Hand Diga

A massive Paper Release construct developed from sealing techniques, Paper Release, and Hashirama Senju's Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands.

• Built from an unknown quantity of layered paper inscribed with sealing formulas, giving it exceptional defensive strength 417.
• Can block Urashiki Otsutsuki's ultimate attacks and physically capture him 417.
• Forms a massive paper sphere to seal its target; Kusana used it to contain Urashiki 418.
• Consumes an enormous amount of chakra because the construct is created and controlled directly rather than summoned 418.

Elemental Ninjutsu and Close Combat

Kusana is proficient in the five basic elemental transformations and has organized the techniques he knows into academy textbooks 60 137.

• Uses Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water Release techniques 137.
• Is capable in taijutsu and swordsmanship in addition to Paper Release 415.
• Favors traps, ambushes, concealed explosives, misinformation, and battlefield preparation over direct contests of strength 21 120 136 137.

Leadership, Education, and Development

Kusana is the principal architect of Kusagakure's modernization.

• Founded the academy and promoted individualized instruction through accessible ninjutsu textbooks 7 60.
• Recruited and integrated displaced clans, rogue ninja, and foreign talent into state institutions 17 24 149.
• Supported the development of Chakra Capacitors, miniature ninjutsu scrolls, surveillance systems, transport infrastructure, and long-distance communication 24 45 141 237 346.
• Uses commercial exports, advertising, and industrial production to expand Kusagakure's influence without relying solely on war 84 319.

Relationships

• Kana — His wife and an Uzumaki survivor; she supports his work and previously served as one of his closest aides during Kusagakure's early reconstruction 3 25 269.
• Mujie — Longtime subordinate, diplomat, propagandist, and later president of the BBC Daily Newspaper Agency; Kusana relies on him despite frequently criticizing his shamelessness and cowardice 17 240 753.
• Konan — Student and early beneficiary of Kusana's protection; her special order gave him Paper Style, while she later applied Paper Release herself 5 14 90.
• Yahiko — Student and adopted son of Mujie; Kusana mentors him and involves him in Kusagakure's public and military activities 7 14 84.
• Nagato — Student and Uzumaki survivor whom Kusana helped reconnect with his clan identity 7 14.
• Uzumaki Yang Zheng — Uzumaki elder, researcher, academy dean, and Kusana's principal partner in scientific-ninja-tool and Sage Art research 24 45 417.
• Oyakamon — Chinoike Clan head and later head of the Military Police Force; Kusana recruited his clan and entrusted it with central security duties 17 24 397.
• Kakuzu — Kusagakure's finance official and battlefield ally; Kusana tolerates his profit-driven decisions because of his effectiveness 97 138.
• Hanzō — Former Rain leader and recurring ally-rival. Kusana works with him on the Land of Rain's recovery but repeatedly rejects Hanzō's more aggressive proposals 146 278 302.
• Pakura — Saved and recruited by Kusana after Sunagakure abandoned her; she became Kusagakure's vice-dean and later collaborated with him on education 149 152 503.
• Mikoto Uchiha — His assistant and secretary after seeking work to support her family 278 306.
• Black Zetsu — A coerced yet repeatedly favored associate whom Kusana calls “Little Black”; Kusana exploits Black Zetsu's desire to reunite with Kaguya while publicly treating him as a successor to the Spirit of Grass 322 651 652.
• Danzō — Political adversary and recurring target of Kusana's schemes. Kusana repeatedly manipulates, captures, releases, and attempts to profit from him 120 205 285.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Reconstruction of the Land of Grass — Establishes the Prosperity Plan, builds Kusagakure's foundational institutions, and develops education, medicine, and infrastructure 2 3.
• Uzumaki and Chinoike recruitment — Rescues Uzumaki survivors, recruits the Chinoike Clan from Hell Valley, and proves his leadership by defending both clans from attackers 7 17 21.
• Grass–Rain conflict — Protects over ten thousand civilians from Rain Ninja attacks, infiltrates Amegakure while disguised as Hanzō, and manipulates Danzō into wasting resources on a false assassination scheme 60 120 121.
• War against Kirigakure — Traps Kirigakure's assassination force, battles the Third Mizukage, and defeats him with enhanced Paper Release 136 137 138.
• Sunagakure reconstruction — Supports Sunagakure after its collapse, dispatching Kusagakure's infrastructure team to design and build the New Sand Village 302 306 308.
• Urashiki Otsutsuki battle — Organizes a multi-village response, tests Kusagakure's Sage Art research in combat, and seals Urashiki with Thousand-Hand Diga 414 416 417 418.
• Kage Summit and expansion — Uses the Kage Summit and BBC coverage to control the narrative after Kusagakure defeats the Four Great Ninja Villages, then prepares to absorb further villages 463 475.
• Moon mission and Otsutsuki recruitment — Travels to the Moon, persuades Otsutsuki clan members to relocate to Kusagakure, and arranges their housing, jobs, education, and psychological support 496 501 502 503.
• Rule as King of the Land of Grass — Extends the Land of Grass's influence into the wider world, confronting the World Government, building a navy, rebuilding Wano, and managing affairs across the seas 619 651 692 708.

Notable Quotes

“Truth lies within the power of ninjutsu, and dignity rests upon the edge of a kunai!” 2

“Welcome home! Everyone! From today onwards... the Land of Grass will be your home!” 10

“There are no useless ninjutsu, only useless ninjas.” 335