Haruto

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Early Life and Training

Before transmigrating, Haruto was a man in his twenties working a dead-end job. In his new life, he never knew his parents and was raised by his great-uncle. After the old man died, Haruto became Godogawa’s apprentice and moved to the Swordsmith Village 18.

Haruto lacked talent for forging swords and switched to swordsmanship at eleven. Godogawa taught him the breathing and sword techniques he knew, while Shinjuro Rengoku offered advice during occasional village visits. Haruto developed excellent swordsmanship, but his body and temperament remained poorly matched to Flame Breathing 1 5 8.

His family history was revealed much later. His grandfather, Takanashi Sōma, had joined the Corps at fifteen as a Thunder Breathing swordsman and worked undercover as a rōnin in Tokyo. Godogawa connected the family’s misfortunes to its exceptional looks, and Haruto subsequently learned that Daki had killed his ancestors 40 41.

Final Selection and the Hand Demon

At Mount Fujikasane, scrolling comments appeared in Haruto’s vision and predicted his death. He nevertheless entered Final Selection, encountered the Hand Demon, and was killed when an underground arm pierced his chest 1 2.

He awakened before leaving the village, retaining the experience of his death. Repeated events convinced him that something more than a nightmare had occurred. On his second attempt, he initially tried to stay near the two fox-masked candidates, Sabito and Giyu, but lost track of them 3 4.

After learning that Sabito was still helping other candidates, Haruto went after him. He refused to accept Sabito dying in his place, especially after the boy had tried to save him during his previous death. Haruto intercepted the Hand Demon’s attack after Sabito’s sword broke, and the two defeated it together 4 5.

After passing, Haruto demanded an explanation for the Corps allowing such a powerful demon to remain on the selection mountain for decades. Kagaya Ubuyashiki personally apologized and invited Haruto, Sabito, and Giyu to meet with him and Amane 6.

The Hot Spring Mission and Star Breathing

Haruto investigated Yūki Asai’s disappearance and discovered a man-eating demon at the Hot Steam House. After beheading the long-haired demon woman, he was poisoned and swallowed by her partner, the Ox Demon, dying again 12 13.

On the renewed attempt, Haruto worked with Giyu. He killed Nure-onna through a feint and coordinated with Giyu to behead the Ox Demon. A final poisonous tentacle strike left him unconscious, but this time he survived with four broken ribs 14 16 17.

His injuries deepened his doubts about his strength. A visit to the grieving Rengoku household worsened his mood when Shinjuro called them both useless. Haruto eventually rejected that judgment and began creating a breathing style inspired by the movement of the stars 17 18.

After demonstrating Star Breathing to Gyomei Himejima, Haruto built a house on Mount Sagiri to receive occasional guidance from Urokodaki. Sabito and Giyu moved in with him so they could live and train together 19.

The Kocho Sisters and Byōha

Haruto saved Kanae and Shinobu Kocho in Takinogawa Village. On a subsequent mission to Muyun Mountain, he encountered Byōha, Lower Rank Three, and recognized that the demon’s recent rare-blood meal offered an opening 21 22 25.

Despite being pierced by blood-draining branches and vines, Haruto severed Byōha’s neck with Moon-Banishment. He remained conscious long enough to confirm the demon was burning before collapsing. During his recovery, the Kocho sisters brought medicine, helped change his dressings, and asked him to teach them demon hunting 23 25.

Genya, Tamayo, and Hashira Promotion

After the Shinazugawa family tragedy, Sanemi left Genya in Haruto’s care. Haruto brought the boy to Mount Sagiri and hoped he would eventually inherit Star Breathing, but Genya proved unable to learn breathing styles 30 35.

Kagaya arranged for Tamayo to examine Haruto’s unusual blood. Her findings prompted Haruto to connect its effects with Byōha’s reaction during their battle. Over the following six months, he exchanged letters and blood samples with Tamayo while developing additional techniques 33 34 36.

Haruto accepted promotion to Hashira on his seventeenth birthday. He later greeted the Kocho sisters after their Final Selection as their senior and recommender, giving them matching butterfly hair clips 36 37.

Later Hashira Activities

Haruto tried to reconcile Sanemi’s desire to protect Genya with Genya’s attachment to his brother. Sanemi rejected his offer to become a Tsuguko, but Haruto told Genya that Sanemi had secretly come to check on him 43.

During a patrol, Haruto fought Lower Rank Four alongside Tengen Uzui. He protected the others from her attacks and nearly overwhelmed her defenses, but she escaped by severing and carrying away her own head. Haruto resolved to warn Kagaya and increase patrols 44 45.

At the 1910 Hashira Meeting, Haruto witnessed Kanae and Tengen’s promotions. He then visited the Butterfly Mansion, where he tested Shinobu’s newly developed Insect Breathing. Her speed exceeded his expectations, and her final thrust tore his haori 47 49.

Appearance

• Hair: Silky, slightly wavy, medium-length silver-white hair with pale blue tips. When the tips are cut away, the white ends turn blue again within days 2 20.
• Eyes: Mist-blue eyes described as appearing veiled in mist 2 3.
• Build: Initially looks slender despite substantial muscle; grows to over 180 cm by eighteen 1 47.
• Hands: Broad, callused, and scarred from training, demon hunting, and blood-based experimentation 20 36.
• Looks: Frequently attracts attention for his exceptionally handsome face; Genya calls him the best-looking man in the Corps 9 11 32.

Personality

Haruto is humorous and openly food-motivated, often planning a feast after a successful mission. His appetite does not displace his generosity: he thanks Kakushi carriers with food and remembers to provide supplies for Saori and her baby after Yūki’s disappearance 1 4 14.

He acts compassionately despite fear. The Hand Demon’s appearance terrifies him, and the memory of dying remains vivid, yet he returns to save Sabito. He also becomes furious when innocent people die before he can reach them 2 4 5 21.

Haruto is self-critical but adaptable. Repeated injuries make him question his usefulness, but he eventually treats his difficulties with Flame Breathing as a mismatch rather than proof of worthlessness. He hunts demons because killing the innocent must be stopped, not because he carries a personal hatred of every demon 17 18.

Kagaya considers him unusually wise, mature, and easy to confide in. Haruto nevertheless challenges both Corps decisions and religious explanations of suffering. He also rejects pressure to marry, unwilling to ask someone to bear his children only to risk leaving her a widow 6 7 22 41.

Abilities & Skills

Death-Triggered Time Rewind

Haruto returns to an earlier point after death while retaining memories of the failed attempt 2 3 13 14.

• Uses prior knowledge to avoid the Hand Demon’s initial location and change his approach to the hot spring mission 3 14.
• Can alter events rather than merely repeat them, most notably by saving Sabito 4 5.
• The supplied chapters do not establish a fixed rewind distance or a numerical limit on uses.

Scrolling Comments

Chinese comments intermittently cross Haruto’s vision, offering information about characters, dangers, and possible future events 1 2 3.

• Reveal the Hand Demon’s threat, Sabito’s predicted fate, Byōha’s identity, and Genya’s demon-eating potential 2 5 22 30.
• Sometimes provide direct danger warnings 13.
• Also contain jokes, speculation, and distracting remarks; Haruto must extract useful information from them 3 22.
• Their content changes after his first rewind 3.

Swordsmanship and Physical Conditioning

Haruto’s technical swordsmanship is exceptional even before he finds a suitable breathing style 5.

• Uses agile footwork, reverse grips, midair body control, and feints to create openings 5 16 49.
• Forms a fan-shaped shield of blade light to intercept projectiles and rapid thrusts 45 49.
• Trains by carrying a huge rock, supplying charcoal to nearby workshops, and performing five hundred one-handed handstand push-ups on each arm 10.
• His danger sense helps him react to Shinobu’s opening thrust, though her Insect Breathing is faster than his Star Breathing 49.

Flame Breathing

Haruto masters the first five forms, but the style integrates poorly with his swordsmanship and rapidly exhausts him 1 5 8.

Star Breathing

Haruto creates Star Breathing after observing the stars. It supports his natural swordsmanship without Flame Breathing’s severe exhaustion 18 19.

• Cannot unleash his full strength during the day, when no stars are present 19.
• His Starry Sky Perception detects distant activity in fine detail and lets him monitor Mount Sagiri for demons 22 36.
• Moon-Banishment’s numbering does not mean he originally possessed nine forms; he chose a high number to reflect its power 19.

Unusual Blood

Haruto’s blood produces a time-related mental effect in demons rather than duplicating his own rewind ability 34 36.

• Tamayo experiences fragmented time after drinking it and becomes interested in researching the sensation 34 36.
• Haruto suspects Byōha was mentally sent back after absorbing a large quantity of his blood 34.
• Coating his Nichirin Blade allows blood to enter wounds, but the small quantity produces a weaker effect than substantial blood consumption 36.
• Repeated blood use leaves scars, and its attraction to demons can endanger him 34 36.

Cooking and Instruction

• Explains fish preparation, including a Chinese method using lotus leaves and baked mud 8.
• Takes Genya into training and intends to pass down Star Breathing 30 35.
• Encourages swordsmen to seek approaches suited to their bodies rather than pursuing physical strength alone 38.
• Spars with Shinobu to test her newly created techniques 49.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Original Nichirin Blade — Forged by Godogawa and carried into Final Selection 2.
• Haganezuka’s custom Nichirin Blade — Designed to support Haruto’s precise swordsmanship. It has a smaller guard, longer tang for two-handed handling, pale purple-and-white hilt wrapping, and a pure-white sheath 9 10.
• Landscape-embroidered haori — Blue-green garment belonging to Godogawa, chosen instead of his flame-patterned haori after the first rewind 3.
• Flame-patterned haori — Red-and-yellow garment worn during his first fatal encounter with the Hand Demon 3.
• Carrying basket — Holds food and travel supplies; contains two hundred rice balls when he first leaves the village 1 3.

Relationships

• Godogawa — Master and childhood caregiver. Teaches Haruto swordsmanship, worries over his injuries, and repeatedly pressures him to continue the Takanashi family line 1 9 17 40.
• Sabito — Friend, housemate, and training companion. Their attempts to rescue one another establish a close bond; Sabito later comforts Haruto during difficult recoveries 4 5 19 24.
• Giyu Tomioka — Friend and housemate. Fights alongside Haruto against Nure-onna and the Ox Demon, then helps watch over his recovery 16 17 19.
• Sakonji Urokodaki — Training adviser. Identifies Haruto’s incompatibility with Flame Breathing and provides guidance after his move to Mount Sagiri 8 19.
• Makomo — Mount Sagiri companion. Receives a wisteria-shaped sword tassel from Haruto and helps care for him; Godogawa’s matchmaking does not establish a romance 8 9 25.
• Kagaya Ubuyashiki — Corps leader and childhood acquaintance. Values Haruto’s maturity, arranges the examination of his blood, and approves his Hashira promotion 7 33 36.
• Shinjuro Rengoku — Occasional Flame Breathing instructor. His despair after Ruka’s death contributes to Haruto’s crisis over his own abilities 1 17 18.
• Gyomei Himejima — Senior swordsman who recognizes Star Breathing’s potential and later shares the circumstances of his imprisonment with Haruto 19 39.
• Hotaru Haganezuka — Swordsmith responsible for Haruto’s custom blade. Their exchanges are antagonistic, particularly when Haruto criticizes his aesthetic taste 9 10.
• Kanae and Shinobu Kocho — Survivors Haruto saves, then supports as their senior and recommender. He gives them butterfly hair clips after Final Selection and later tests Shinobu’s Insect Breathing 25 37 49.
• Genya Shinazugawa — Apprentice and dependent. Haruto takes him in after Sanemi leaves and hopes to make him Star Breathing’s successor, despite Genya’s inability to learn breathing styles 30 35.
• Sanemi Shinazugawa — Genya’s older brother. Haruto challenges his attempts to push Genya away and unsuccessfully offers him a Tsuguko position 43.
• Tamayo — Physician and research collaborator. Studies his blood and exchanges correspondence and supplies with him; provides emergency pills for Genya in return 34 36.
• Tengen Uzui — Ally against Lower Rank Four. Haruto introduces him to Kagaya before Tengen eventually qualifies as a Hashira 45 47.
• Cang Kong — Distinctive white parrot with blue-tipped tail feathers. Delivers missions and carries Haruto’s correspondence with Tamayo 20 36 37.

Trivia

• At ten, Haruto could eat an entire pig, according to Haganezuka’s recollection 8.
• After Final Selection, he eats twenty boxes of eel and rice while Sabito and Giyu watch in shock 6.
• Haruto dislikes being called by his surname, Takanashi, just as Haganezuka dislikes being called Hotaru 9.
• Although raised in the Swordsmith Village, he is not an official swordsmith and must follow its blindfold-and-earplug transport precautions 1.
• He deliberately disconnects his starry-sky awareness on returning to the village, fearing that a future demon might read sensitive information from his memories 39.