Byakuren

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Byakuren (白莲)
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Kirigakure
Occupation/Role	First Mizukage; founder and leader of Kirigakure
Status	Alive; elderly and in declining health 69 137
First Appearance	Chapter 66

Background / History

Byakuren is a veteran of the Warring States period who survived countless battles and became the First Mizukage after founding Kirigakure. As one of the first-generation village leaders, he is regarded as a formidable shinobi rather than a ceremonial ruler. 66

His old battlefield injuries have caught up with him. Yura recognizes that his body bears the accumulated damage of reckless fighting in his youth, while Byakuren himself admits that he may not have many years remaining. He has no children and places Kirigakure’s future above personal concerns. 66 69 137

Appearance

Byakuren is an elderly man with a severe, battle-worn appearance.

• A savage sword scar crosses his face and blinded his left eye. 66
• He does not wear an eyepatch; his damaged eye slants upward, giving the impression that “one eye stands guard while the other keeps watch.” 66
• He commonly smokes a pipe or cigarette. 66 83
• He is described as physically aged, with the “reek of decay” visible to Yura’s ghost-clan senses. 69

Personality

Byakuren is pragmatic, direct, and focused on Kirigakure’s survival. He judges decisions by whether they strengthen the village, which is why he accepts Yura despite the danger and political disruption that follow her arrival. 66

Though blunt and often rough in speech, he is generous toward capable subordinates. He supports Yura’s initiatives, gives her room to establish her own unit and business, and treats her as part of Kirigakure’s family. 67 85 89

He is also politically cautious. Byakuren initially observes Yura rather than trusting her outright, considers the funding and personnel problems behind her proposals, and recognizes that powerful weapons are useless without worthy wielders. 69 84 86

“Yura, this is your home!” 85

Abilities & Skills

Veteran Shinobi Combat Ability

Byakuren is a battle-hardened Warring States shinobi whose reputation and authority stem from genuine combat experience. He is counted among the first-generation leaders capable of founding a hidden village. 66

• Fought through countless battles before Kirigakure’s founding. 66
• Was skilled enough to seize Kirigakure’s seven special ninja swords over the course of his life. 84
• Was known as a powerful sea fighter, using water clones to wield multiple blades during naval combat. 83

Water Clone Multi-Blade Style

Byakuren can create Water Clones and use them to operate his collection of seven ninja swords simultaneously.

• His “seven-sword style” relies on Water Clones rather than seven physical arms. 83
• His effectiveness increases at sea, where water is plentiful. 83
• His multi-blade swordsmanship is cited as a benchmark for prospective Seven Ninja Swordsmen. 60

Sage Arts

Byakuren possesses knowledge of Sage Mode and agrees to teach it to Kirigakure’s captains. 103 110

• Recognizes the rarity and extreme difficulty of sage arts. 103
• Trained with Lightning Blade Kiba in his later years, a weapon Yura identifies as particularly compatible with sage-art users. 103
• Offers Sage Mode training to Yura, Mito, Gengetsu, Saizo, and the other future pillars of Kirigakure. 103 110

Village Leadership and Organization

Byakuren oversees Kirigakure’s military expansion, clan integration, and administrative structure during the village’s early years.

• Personally registers Yura as a jōnin while keeping Lucy’s identity as the Seven-Tails’ jinchūriki confidential. 67
• Approves the seven-division structure proposed for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. 85 86
• Grants Yura authority over the Ninjutsu and Ninja Tool Development Unit, including jinchūriki development. 86
• Uses missions, public challenges, and division assignments to develop Kirigakure’s younger shinobi into future leaders. 90 99 110

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Seven special ninja swords — Originally Byakuren’s personal collection; later used as the foundation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. 83 84
• Lightning Blade Kiba — Used by Byakuren in his later years; capable of casting Lightning Release without hand seals and commanding natural lightning. 103
• Samehada — One of the strongest swords in his collection, capable of absorbing chakra. 84
• Hiramekarei — Chakra-sensitive twin blades that can amplify power and grow stronger by absorbing chakra through kills. 84
• Nuibari — A needle-like blade with steel wire that can retract at the speed of sound; Byakuren explains its demanding reflex requirements. 84
• Kabutowari / Thousand Jun — Kabutowari was melted down into an extremely heavy club later named Thousand Jun. 103

Relationships

• Yura — Recruits her into Kirigakure despite her notoriety, assigns her jōnin status, and increasingly trusts her ambition and contributions to the village. 66 67 85 89
• Hōzuki Gengetsu — A powerful Kirigakure shinobi and likely successor candidate whom Byakuren regularly reins in due to his impatience and battle hunger. 66 86 110
• Hattori Saizo — Byakuren’s trusted deputy and the leader assigned to Kirigakure’s covert forces. 85 86
• Uzumaki Mito — Welcomes her and her clan into Kirigakure, recognizes her potential with Hiramekarei, and agrees to teach her sage arts. 102 103
• Senju Hashirama — Maintains tense but formal political dealings with the First Hokage, including Kirigakure’s purchase of Tailed Beasts. 135 136
• Shishi Kagura — Entrusts her with a captaincy and encourages the next generation of Kirigakure’s leadership to train and grow. 131 137

Story Role / Major Arcs

Recruitment of Yura

When Yura arrives at Mizukage Castle, Byakuren confronts her over the disturbance she caused in Konoha. After learning that she survived an encounter with Hashirama, he welcomes her into Kirigakure because rejecting such a powerful shinobi would be against the village’s interests. 66

He personally handles Yura’s registration, grants her jōnin rank, and keeps Lucy’s jinchūriki status confidential. 67

Establishment of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen

Following Yura’s successful campaign against the Kaguya Clan, Byakuren considers her proposal to distribute his seven ninja swords among Kirigakure’s elite. He accepts the idea of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as a means to strengthen the village and create a lasting military institution. 83 84

He approves the seven-unit structure, appoints early captains, and assigns Yura to lead the Ninjutsu and Ninja Tool Development Unit. 85 86

Kirigakure’s Expansion

Byakuren supports Yura’s campaigns to bring surrounding clans and islands under Kirigakure’s authority. He prioritizes acquiring manpower over exterminating enemy clans, as shown when he expects Yura to subdue rather than simply destroy the Yuki Clan. 83 90 93

His willingness to back Yura’s reforms contributes to Kirigakure’s rapid growth, increased openness to outsiders, and expanding military strength. 85 125

Preparing Kirigakure’s Successors

Aware that his time is limited, Byakuren focuses on preparing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and their divisions to lead after him. He offers sage-art training and urges the captains to become the village’s future pillars. 103 110

Byakuren later speaks openly with Yura about succession and his hope to witness the future she is helping create. 137

Trivia

• Byakuren dislikes being called “old man” and insists that he is still young. 67
• He views raw strength as the ultimate basis of authority, dismissing the idea that recognition alone makes someone fit to become Kage. 69
• His collection of seven ninja swords was not forged for him; he gradually seized them himself. 84