Kou

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Uchiha Kou (叩)
Alias(es)	“Mysterious” (Akatsuki codename); Black Tortoise; “Konoha’s Black Lightning”; Yuji Itadori; Shiina Sora / “Lord Sora”; “King of Doujinshi” 17 166 173 181 189 243 288
Species/Race	Human; Uchiha clan member 102
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Konohagakure (formerly); Mist Village (formerly, under the Shiina Sora identity; later welcomed back); Akatsuki (formerly); covert Konoha collaborator; Land of Rice / Rice Organization 5 110 217 243 253 288 303
Occupation/Role	Shinobi; former Akatsuki operative; former Mizukage’s aide/high-ranking Mist official; leader of the Rice Organization 5 17 243 253
Status	Active 298 301 353
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-Tomoe Sharingan	39, 102	Possessed before his defection; its perception supports his high-speed, opening-focused combat style and allows him to read exceptionally subtle movements. 39 102 115
Mangekyō Sharingan	16, 75	Awakens the ocular abilities Magatsuhi God, which collapses space, and Inari God, which absorbs ninjutsu, chakra, and ocular power. He later dominates Orochimaru through Mangekyō genjutsu. 16 75
Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan	181, 253	Awakens it after absorbing a God Tree branch’s life force. By age twenty-seven, he possesses two top-tier ocular techniques, including the fully analyzed technique Eternal World. 181 253
Post-God Tree enhancement	181	The God Tree branch’s life force also raises his physical strength and chakra reserves to Tailed Beast level. 181
Eternal World / Susanoo Realm	272, 273	Applies Eternal World to reshape Susanoo into nine Azure Dragons and convert its materialized ocular power into the sealing barrier known as Susanoo Realm. 272 273
Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode	275	Activates Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode by gathering natural energy throughout the Susanoo Realm. 275
Seventh Gate and Rage Hair Heaven	277	Opens the Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder, while in Sage Mode and counters Pain’s Chibaku Tensei with Secret Art: White Dragon; he subsequently deploys Rage Hair Heaven against Super Shinra Tensei. 277
Complete Body Susanoo	279	Evolves the prepared Susanoo Realm barrier into a Complete Body Susanoo, greatly reducing the ocular-power cost of manifesting its final form. 279
Rinnegan / Kuenebiko-no-Mikoto	347, 349	Uses Almighty Push against Madara and maintains the Rinnegan technique Kuenebiko-no-Mikoto, which layers space to slow the effective approach of Madara’s attacks and movement. Sustaining it continuously drains ocular power. 347 349
Temporary Six Paths power / Six-Tomoe Rinnegan	352	After meeting Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki in his inner world, awakens Six-Tomoe Rinnegan and receives temporary Six Paths power, with sun- and moon-like marks on his palms. 352

Background / History

Kou is a transmigrator from Earth who was reborn into the Uchiha clan. His family moved next door to Uchiha Obito’s when Kou was about one year old, making the two childhood neighbors. After Obito’s parents died on a mission, Kou’s aunt and uncle later sacrificed themselves; their deaths drove Kou into relentless training. His friendship with Obito and Rin began after Rin confronted him for beating Obito during this period. 2 3 5

As a child, Kou publicly defended Hatake Sakumo against the condemnation following the White Fang’s failed mission, becoming widely known in Konoha for his verbal rebuke of the crowd. At nine, he assisted Minato Namikaze with ninjutsu theory and was brought into Minato and Jiraiya’s research circle. 32 85

During the Third Ninja World War, Kou fought beside Kakashi as one of Konoha’s “Black and White Twin Blades.” War left him deeply disillusioned: after his squad was ambushed by Sunagakure, he lost his teammates and squad leader, then killed a young girl who had escaped the battlefield. This trauma contributed to the evolution of his Sharingan and his later rejection of the shinobi life. 1 109

Kou defected from Konoha five years before his reunion with Kakashi and Might Guy. He later joined Akatsuki after finding a new objective: changing what he considers the “false Ninja World.” He also operated in Mist Village under an extremely refined Transformation Technique, holding the position of Mizukage’s aide while maintaining a secret cave base outside the village. 5 13 107 110

While acting as Shiina Sora, Kou helped Mei Terumi and the Mist reformists develop the village, fostered loyalty among Mist shinobi, and organized the Odd Jobs Agency as a civilian-oriented employment and service network. The agency’s Land of Fire pilot program later drew a thousand genin and chunin, enabling further expansion into neighboring countries. 26 76 190 252

After discovering Minato and Kushina alive within Naruto’s inner world, Kou began secretly cooperating with Konoha. In exchange for intelligence on Obito and Akatsuki, Minato shared the Flying Thunder God Technique and its second-stage training method with him. 211 215 217

Over the following years, Kou seized control of Orochimaru’s former Land of Rice Fields base, recruited Hidden Star Village personnel, and reorganized his growing force as the Rice Organization in the Land of Rice. He pursued military strength while seeking ways to reduce the human cost of future wars, including refining Impure World Reincarnation and eliminating the Mysterious Peacock Method’s fatal side effects. 238 239 253

Following Obito’s apparent death and the release of Karatachi Yagura from Obito’s control, Kou ended his nine-year Shiina Sora persona. His true identity was exposed to Mei Terumi and Kimimaro, ending his covert role within Mist Village despite the reforms and personal bonds he had built there. Obito subsequently reappeared. 288 303

Kou later learned that Orochimaru had disappeared and that the Rinnegan was likely stolen. Recognizing that the Land of Rice lacked enough elite fighters to face a major threat alone, he sought broader cooperation with the great nations. Mist sent Mei Terumi and Utakata to discuss an alliance and the expansion of his Odd Jobs Agency and logistics company. Though Kou feared rejection over his deception, Mei assured him that Mist Village would always accept him, allowing him to regard it as home without hiding his identity. 298 303

Madara, who had once dismissed Kou as an Uchiha of ordinary talent, came to recognize his self-awareness and the changes he had helped bring about within the Uchiha clan and Konoha. During the later confrontation with Madara, Hashirama likewise pointed to Kou’s work across several nations as evidence that a future generation might accomplish what theirs had not. Kou rejected the idea that words alone could change Madara’s resolve. 308 346

Appearance

Kou is a tall, muscular young man with fair skin, long black hair tied into a short braid, and loose bangs falling across his forehead. His usual expression combines a roguish smile with an unrestrained, approachable air, though his gaze becomes cold and focused in battle. 107 211

• Scarlet Sharingan, later Mangekyō Sharingan and Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, with immense ocular power; he later displays Rinnegan and then Six-Tomoe Rinnegan. 16 181 211 349 352
• Commonly wore Akatsuki’s black cloak with red clouds during his membership. 39 151
• Often keeps a blade of grass or food such as dango in his mouth. 1 93
• Can disguise himself as an ordinary, slender Mist official; his Transformation Technique even replicates natural breathing patterns. 5
• Used the identity Shiina Sora during diplomatic contact with Konoha and throughout his infiltration of Mist Village, but abandoned the persona after its exposure. 189 288
• His Sage Mode produces purple markings around his eyes, white snake-like markings across his body, pale-glowing hair, jade-colored dragon horns, and a massive increase in natural-energy-enhanced chakra. 275 276
• Later wears a plain black robe with a small silver rice-sheaf motif at the cuffs. His temporary Six Paths power manifests as sun- and moon-like marks on his left and right palms, respectively. 299 352

Personality

Kou habitually presents himself as lazy, flippant, and theatrical. He teases allies, plays rock-paper-scissors with Tobi during Akatsuki meetings, and uses exaggerated reactions to defuse or redirect tense situations. Beneath that performance, he is observant, calculating, and careful not to expose his intentions prematurely. 1 18 21

He is deeply distrustful of Obito for the Uchiha clan’s extermination, yet still works alongside him when it serves his larger plans. Kou values conviction and reliability, which is why he openly expresses trust in Kisame despite describing himself as self-centered. 13 105 215

Kou’s departure from Konoha stemmed from moral exhaustion rather than simple hostility. He no longer wished to be a shinobi after witnessing and committing atrocities during war, but he remains committed to changing the world he believes produced those tragedies. 109 110

Despite his cynicism and self-preserving instincts, Kou is capable of deep attachment and responsibility toward those under his protection. His treatment of Karin, Kimimaro, Mist’s reformists, and the people recruited into the Land of Rice reflects a persistent desire to create a safer alternative to the existing ninja system. 13 73 253 288

Kou uses humor to conceal anxiety and guilt. After abandoning Shiina Sora, he becomes notably apprehensive about confronting Mei Terumi and Mist Village’s delegation, fearing the consequences of his long deception. Mei’s assurance that Mist still accepts him helps him acknowledge those bonds openly. 288 298 303

His strengths also lie in recognizing his own limitations and finding ways around them. Madara identifies this self-awareness, rather than exceptional innate talent, as the quality that set Kou apart from other Uchiha he had observed. 308

Abilities & Skills

Sharingan and Mangekyō Sharingan

Kou’s ocular abilities are the core of his combat style. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan gives him extraordinary observation, prediction, and precision; his Mangekyō greatly expands his genjutsu and control capabilities. 39 75 102

• Detects concealed opponents and attacks that even high-level stealth techniques should hide. 39 44
• Reads opponents’ movements to exploit the brief openings created before hand seals and ninjutsu are completed. 115
• Uses Inari God to extract and transform ocular power from a Byakugan. 17
• Dominates Orochimaru and keeps him under Mangekyō control, though his later disappearance shows that Kou did not retain custody of him. 75 128 298
• Easily controls the Nine-Tails after entering Naruto’s inner world. 211
• Awakens the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan after absorbing a God Tree branch’s life force and fully analyzes Eternal World by age twenty-seven. 181 253
• Uses Magatsuhi God / Space Collapse to collapse and disintegrate a targeted area of space, producing overwhelming offense at the cost of substantial ocular power. Maintaining his gaze on a moving target is a limitation against an opponent fast enough to escape his sight. 16 282 347
• Uses Inari God at range through his right eye, allowing him to absorb chakra, ninjutsu, flames, and even ocular power without requiring physical contact. 16 275 282
• Uses implanted Kotoamatsukami through Transcription Seals, enabling him to interfere with a target’s thoughts or create a brief mental opening. 60
• Can analyze the construction of ocular techniques and replicate their principles through Inari God and Eternal World. 62 253
• Materializes and reshapes Susanoo through Eternal World, including the Azure Dragon form, Susanoo Realm barrier, and Complete Body Susanoo. 272 273 279
• Later uses Almighty Push and the Rinnegan technique Kuenebiko-no-Mikoto. The latter layers space between him and an opponent, buying reaction time against otherwise overwhelming speed; its continuous ocular-power drain limits how long he can maintain it. 347 349
• Receives temporary Six Paths power from Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki and manifests Six-Tomoe Rinnegan. 352 353

Body Flicker and Flying Thunder God

Kou is renowned for exceptional mobility. His Body Flicker is fast enough that Itachi’s Mangekyō Sharingan can perceive only a blurred afterimage, and the Fourth Raikage recognizes him as the “fastest in the Ninja World.” 1 172 173

• Uses Body Flicker to evade close contact and disappear from combat zones. 1 107
• Later trains the Flying Thunder God Technique for practical combat, specifically seeking a means to counter Obito. 217 253
• Combines speed with Sharingan perception to launch high-speed attacks before enemies can react. 115
• Developed Lightning Release: Swift Thunder, which turns his body into a lightning-like flash of movement that can exceed the Fourth Raikage’s speed. 120 170 173
• Can further accelerate with Swift Thunder: Annual Meeting, although this technique is still constrained by the user’s chakra and physical condition. 283

Elemental Ninjutsu

Kou is proficient in all five elemental transformations, with particular expertise in Fire Release and Lightning Release. 102 253

• Uchiha Style Sword Technique: Sun Halo Dance — combines Fire Release and Wind Style into three precisely directed flame slashes. 39
• Uchiha Flame Formation — erects and expands a flame barrier capable of forcing the Fourth Raikage and his subordinates to retreat. 172
• Channels blue lightning through Inazuma to block the Fourth Raikage’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode attack. 166
• Has mastered Yin–Yang Release by age twenty-seven. 253
• Dragon Flame Song Technique — a Fire Release technique used to stall and control the battlefield against Kakashi and Might Guy. 117
• Mighty Flame: Sun Wheel — an S-rank Fire Release that absorbs and concentrates surrounding heat into a powerful attack capable of countering most Fire Release techniques. 118
• In Sage Mode, can combine massive Wind and Earth Release constructs, including a giant wind dragon and earth serpents, and unleash Sage Art: Fire Release: Grand Flame Sun Wheel. 276

Swordsmanship and Taijutsu

Kou was already an exceptional swordsman, genjutsu user, and taijutsu practitioner before defecting from Konoha. His style combines weapon skill, chakra control, speed, and Sharingan-based analysis. 39 102

• Studied Uchiha Izuna’s sword techniques from a scroll given by Kisame. 13
• Demonstrated unprecedented output with the ninja blade Hiramekarei. 73
• Trained the Eight Inner Gates to the Seventh Gate by age twenty-seven. 253
• Opens the Seventh Gate, Gate of Wonder, in battle and uses Secret Art: White Dragon to destroy Pain’s Chibaku Tensei. 277
• Uses the Great Ori Cutter through his Complete Body Susanoo as a decisive large-scale weapon. 279

Sage and Forbidden Techniques

Kou continues pursuing techniques outside conventional Uchiha combat methods. 253

• Achieved functional mastery of Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode, gathering surrounding natural energy to dramatically increase his power. He later activates Sage Mode while wielding temporary Six Paths power. 275 276 353
• Continued improvement of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. 253
• Inherited the forbidden technique Rage Hair Heaven from En no Gyōja of the Tsuchigumo Clan. 253
• Used Rage Hair Heaven to oppose Pain’s Super Shinra Tensei. 277
• Sought a solution to the Mysterious Peacock Method’s side effects. 253
• Recruited Hidden Star Village practitioners after exposing the Mysterious Peacock Method’s lifespan-shortening effects and promising to develop a safe alternative. By the time he considers an alliance with the great nations, the Land of Rice’s air force uses a nearly side-effect-free version. 253 298

Transformation and Deception

Kou is an unusually skilled actor and infiltrator, capable of sustaining convincing identities even under scrutiny. 5 21 189

• Uses a Transformation Technique so refined that even Kage-level observers cannot see through it. 5
• Maintains a false persona while recognizing Nagato’s attempts to test his loyalty. 21
• Withholds selected details when explaining Obito’s history to Minato and Kushina, protecting his own plans. 215
• Sustained the Shiina Sora identity for nine years while influencing Mist Village’s reformist government, concealing that Sora had never existed as a separate person. He later accepts Mei’s assurance that he no longer needs to hide who he is. 288 303
• Employs Shadow Clones for administration, intelligence work, and battlefield misdirection, including stalling Obito while his main body returned from the Akatsuki conflict. 70 283

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Inazuma — silver-white lightning blade custom-made for Kou by Asuma and Kakashi as a jonin-promotion gift. 151 166
• Hiramekarei — one of the Seven Ninja Swords; Kou can unleash exceptional chakra-enhanced attacks through it. 73
• Uchiha Izuna’s swordsmanship scroll — received from Kisame and preserved by Kou. 13
• Akatsuki cloak — black cloak with red clouds, worn during his membership. 39 151
• Great Ori Cutter — a powerful weapon wielded through Kou’s Complete Body Susanoo. 279
• Uchiha Gunbai — briefly contested during his confrontation with Obito, though Obito ultimately retained use of the fan. 282 283

Relationships

• Uchiha Obito / Tobi — childhood neighbor and friend; later an uneasy ally whose role in the Uchiha massacre leaves Kou resentful and distrustful. Their relationship collapses after Obito reveals his intentions, leading Kou to swear to kill him. Although Kou believes Obito dead after their confrontation, Obito subsequently reappears and remains a threat. 3 13 105 215 282 288 303
• Hatake Kakashi — longtime friend and fellow “Black and White Twin Blade”; Kakashi remains determined to understand and bring Kou back after his defection. 1 85 107 110
• Might Guy — former training partner and close Konoha acquaintance; Guy remains openly happy to see Kou despite their ideological divide. 94 107
• Uchiha Itachi — former junior who once admired Kou; their relationship became hostile after Itachi exterminated the Uchiha clan. 1 18 162
• Jiraiya — early research mentor and later combat opponent; Jiraiya recognizes Kou’s exceptional growth and suspects outside assistance in it. Kou later helps him escape with Gaara during the conflict with Akatsuki. 32 39 85 272
• Namikaze Minato — Kou’s former senior and later covert ally; Minato teaches him the Flying Thunder God Technique and supports his plan against Madara. 32 217 352
• Uzumaki Kushina — a cherished Konoha senior whose unexpected survival shocks Kou. 211 212
• Kisame Hoshigaki — trusted Mist and Akatsuki associate; Kisame provides Izuna’s swordsmanship scroll, while Kou openly praises his conviction. 13 187
• Orochimaru — defeated and placed under Kou’s Mangekyō control; Kou uses him for information and orders him as a subordinate. Orochimaru’s former Land of Rice Fields base becomes part of Kou’s growing power structure. Orochimaru later disappears, and Kou investigates his whereabouts. 75 125 139 238 298
• Nagato / Pain — Akatsuki’s leader, who tests Kou’s loyalty and later assigns Konan as his partner. Kou eventually battles Pain directly, defeating Akatsuki’s forces through Sage Mode, Eternal World, and Complete Body Susanoo. 20 21 243 275 279
• Konan — Kou’s assigned Akatsuki partner under the Black Tortoise–White Tiger pairing. She protects Pain during their conflict by sacrificing a paper clone and later asks Kou whether he knows a way to stop Madara. 243 276 318
• Sarutobi Asuma — former Konoha friend who tries to bring Kou home and confesses his feelings for him. 151
• Uzumaki Naruto — Kou approaches Naruto in disguise, later reveals his identity, and develops a quiet mutual sense of familiarity and trust. 207 211
• Uchiha Sasuke — Kou gives him training advice during his years of covert cooperation with Konoha. Sasuke later places his trust in Kou’s attempt to obtain the power needed to stop Madara. 253 352
• Rin Nohara — childhood friend whose intervention helped turn Kou and Obito from quarrelsome children into close companions. 5
• Mei Terumi — Kou’s closest political partner in Mist Village. As Shiina Sora, he supported her reformist ambitions and worked with her to modernize Mist, but his eventual exposure strains their relationship. She later comes to negotiate with the Land of Rice and assures him that Mist Village still accepts him as himself. 26 70 233 252 288 298 303
• Karin — Kou’s devoted young subordinate, disciple, and housemate, who regards his hidden Mist base as their home and remains fiercely loyal to him in the Land of Rice. She is overjoyed when he comes to regard Mist Village as a home too. 13 14 298 303
• Kimimaro — a Mist subordinate who respects Lord Sora and later instinctively recognizes Kou’s familiar concern after Sora’s identity is exposed. 73 288
• Anko Mitarashi — former Konoha acquaintance who agrees to pose as Kou’s girlfriend to deflect unwanted attention; she remains emotionally affected by his return and departure. 195 217 221 223
• Cook — Kou’s black-cat Life-Bound Spirit Beast, a capable scent tracker with an arrogant, mercenary personality and a habit of complaining about Kou. 48 51 183
• En no Gyōja — Tsuchigumo Clan leader who entrusts Kou with the forbidden technique Rage Hair Heaven. 253
• Uchiha Madara — initially dismisses Kou as a possible successor because of his ordinary talent, but later recognizes Kou’s self-awareness and capacity to change the Uchiha clan and Konoha. He remains opposed to Kou’s approach to the Ninja World and battles him directly. 308 346 347 353
• Senju Hashirama — fights beside Kou against Madara. Hashirama sees Kou as a successor capable of improving the Ninja World, while Kou helps him analyze Madara’s abilities and coordinate their strategy. 346 347 349
• Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki — meets Kou within his inner world, questions him about the future he hopes to create, and grants him temporary Six Paths power. 352

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Konoha prodigy and war veteran — rises from an initially unremarkable Uchiha child into a renowned Konoha shinobi, while the Third Ninja World War leaves him disillusioned with the shinobi system. 18 85 109
• Defection and Akatsuki membership — abandons Konoha, works through Mist Village, and becomes an Akatsuki member while hiding his long-term goals behind a carefree facade. 5 17 110
• Orochimaru’s subjugation — defeats Orochimaru, reveals his Uchiha identity, and uses Mangekyō control to turn him into an unwilling source of knowledge and labor. 75 128 139
• Reunion with Konoha — confronts Kakashi and Guy after five years, explaining that he left because he no longer wanted to be a shinobi. 107 109 110
• Land of Lightning conflict — prevents escalation between Itachi and the Fourth Raikage, earning the Raikage’s respect through his speed, swordsmanship, and flame barrier. 166 172 173
• Konoha infiltration and alliance — returns under disguise, reconnects with Naruto and Minato’s family, then establishes a secret intelligence exchange with Minato. 189 211 217
• Later growth — spends five years advancing his ocular powers, Flying Thunder God, elemental releases, Sage Mode, and other techniques while feeding intelligence to Konoha. 253
• Mist Village reformer — as Shiina Sora, helps Mei Terumi transform Mist Village’s institutions, develop the Odd Jobs Agency, and expand its economic reach beyond the Land of Water. 190 233 252
• Rice Organization founder — takes control of Orochimaru’s former base, recruits Hidden Star Village, and creates the Rice Organization as an independent force intended to reshape the Ninja World. 238 253
• Akatsuki confrontation — aids Jiraiya’s escape with Gaara, battles the Six Paths of Pain and other Akatsuki members, and unveils Eternal World, Sage Mode, Rage Hair Heaven, and Complete Body Susanoo. 272 275 277 279
• Break with Obito — confronts Obito after his confession, uses Space Collapse against him, and deploys a Shadow Clone strategy to exhaust Obito’s Izanagi. Kou later believes Obito dead, but Obito reappears. 282 283 288 303
• End of Shiina Sora — reveals that Shiina Sora never existed as a separate person, ending his covert life in Mist and forcing him to face Mei Terumi and the people he deceived. Mei subsequently assures him that Mist still welcomes him without the disguise. 288 298 303
• Six Nations Conference — organizes a meeting in the Land of Rice to bring the major villages together, then watches their arriving delegations quarrel so spectacularly that he privately regrets holding it. 338
• Battle against Madara — joins Hashirama in attempting to stop Madara, using Magatsuhi God and spatial layering to counter his extreme speed. After their initial plan fails, Kou receives temporary Six Paths power from Hagoromo and returns to face Madara with Six-Tomoe Rinnegan. 346 347 349 352 353

Notable Quotes

“Because after leaving Konoha, I... found a new goal.” 110

“A goal... that could change this false Ninja World.” 110

“Uchiha Kou. That is my name.” 211

“Uchiha Obito, here and now, I will personally... kill you.” 282

Trivia

• Kou was initially considered a hardworking genius with only average innate talent compared with Itachi and Shisui. 18
• Darui and C recognize him as Yuji Itadori, a famous doujin artist, and abandon their mission long enough to ask him for an autograph. Killer B later joins them in publicly celebrating his work at the Six Nations Conference. 173 338
• His greed can override his apparent laziness: he immediately accepts Pain’s suspicious mission after learning it pays eight million ryo. 20
• His flamboyant and unserious public persona originated partly as a deliberate attempt to appear unsuitable for recruitment by Danzō’s Root. 3
• Cook, Kou’s Life-Bound Spirit Beast, is a black cat rather than the imposing summon Mei Terumi initially expected. 48
• Kou is deeply embarrassed by the prospect of meeting Mei Terumi after the exposure of Shiina Sora, to the point that he considers hiding at Kakashi’s home instead. 298