Hozuki Mangetsu

Biodata

Appearance

• Face: Mu Feng identifies him partly through his resemblance to Hozuki Suigetsu 17.
• Teeth: Sharp, pointed teeth, which help Konoha’s Anbu identify his corpse 20 22.
• Clothing: Distinctive Hozuki Clan attire 22.
• Weapon: Carries Hiramekarei, a large, flounder-shaped broadsword 17.

Personality

Mangetsu is proud of his talent and status, initially treating Kakashi and Mu Feng as children he can easily kill. He laughs at Mu Feng’s willingness to confront him and regards being pursued by a young Konoha ninja as an insult. When Mu Feng forces him to use Hydrification, he worries that the encounter could disgrace himself, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and Kirigakure 17 18 19.

His arrogance does not prevent tactical caution. He withdraws when Konoha reinforcements become a threat, recognizes that Mu Feng’s enhanced state cannot last indefinitely, and uses a water clone to test his apparent exhaustion. Nevertheless, his desire to personally kill a Konoha prodigy draws him into Mu Feng’s final trap 18 19 20 21.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Taijutsu

Mangetsu is a swordsmanship prodigy capable of proficiently wielding all seven Ninja Blades of the Mist. His close-combat skill places considerable pressure on Mu Feng before the latter’s enhanced speed shifts the advantage 17 18 19.

• Uses rapid approaches and sweeping Hiramekarei strikes to close distance and threaten lethal blows 18.
• Defends against repeated sword attacks, though Mu Feng’s four-gate attack frequency eventually forces him onto the defensive 19.
• Cannot keep pace with Mu Feng after the fifth gate opens 20.
• Mu Feng considers his swordsmanship superior even to Kisame Hoshigaki’s at his peak 36.

Hydrification Technique

The Hozuki Clan’s kekkei genkai allows Mangetsu to transform his body into water and return to human form 19.

• Evades a slash aimed at his waist by liquefying, then retreats before reforming 19.
• Counters physical attacks and virtually any ordinary slashing attack while active 19 20.
• Requires timely activation: Mu Feng wounds his shoulder before he fully liquefies 20.
• Is vulnerable to Lightning Release. Chidori disrupts the transformation and allows Mu Feng to pierce his heart 21.

Hidden Mist Technique

Mangetsu creates dense fog to obscure the battlefield beside a pool outside Konoha 18 19.

• Conceals his position while engulfing Mu Feng’s surroundings 19.
• Fails to prevent Mu Feng’s Sharingan from locating him 19.
• The chakra released by Mu Feng’s first four gates disperses the mist around Mu Feng 19.

Water Clone Technique

Mangetsu creates two water clones and exchanges positions with them to conceal his real body 20.

• Mu Feng cannot distinguish the original from the clones even with his Sharingan 20.
• Uses the clones to stall until the Eight Gates’ strain weakens Mu Feng 20.
• Sends his remaining clone to test whether Mu Feng is defenseless before approaching personally 20.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Twin Blades, Hiramekarei — A broadsword formed from two symmetrical blades, one above the other. It can enlarge its blade and fire gaseous energy spheres 17.
  • Mangetsu fires an energy orb at Mu Feng during the pursuit 18.
  • Releases a wide-area energy blast when he can no longer track Mu Feng, tearing up trees and soil 20.
  • Konoha’s Anbu recover the weapon together with his corpse 22.

Background / History

Encounter Outside Konoha

Mangetsu appears near Konoha shortly before the Chunin Ninja Exams. He overpowers Kakashi in the forest and is about to finish him when Mu Feng intervenes with shuriken. Mu Feng recognizes both Mangetsu and Hiramekarei, then declares his intention to kill him 17.

Mu Feng evades his opening sword strike with the Sharingan and counters with Earth Dragon Bullet and Great Fireball. The fighting attracts attention from Konoha, prompting Mangetsu to retreat rather than risk being surrounded by Anbu. Mu Feng borrows Kakashi’s short sword and pursues him until Mangetsu stops beside a pool and deploys Hidden Mist 18.

Battle and Death

Mu Feng opens four gates, locates Mangetsu through the mist, and attacks with the White Fang short sword. Mangetsu’s swordsmanship initially pressures him, but Mu Feng’s speed and Sharingan-assisted analysis gradually overcome that advantage. Hydrification saves Mangetsu from a strike to his waist 19.

After Mu Feng opens the fifth gate, Mangetsu suffers a shoulder wound and resorts to water clones and Hiramekarei’s wide-area release. When Mu Feng’s enhanced state ends, Mangetsu tests him with a clone. Mu Feng destroys it with a thrown sword, then resumes acting exhausted 20.

Mangetsu approaches to deliver the killing blow, unaware that Mu Feng deliberately deactivated the gates to regain access to ninjutsu. Mu Feng ambushes him with Wood Release: Cutting Branch Technique, then strikes with Chidori. The lightning disrupts Hydrification and pierces Mangetsu’s heart, killing him 21.

Recovery and Investigation

Mu Feng disguises the Wood Release injuries with sword wounds before leaving. Anbu identify Mangetsu through Hiramekarei, his clothing, and his pointed teeth, then recover his body and weapon 21 22.

His death prompts Hiruzen Sarutobi to order a search for infiltrators. Kakashi later confirms that Mu Feng—not himself—killed the Kirigakure Jonin 22 23.

Story Role / Legacy

• Exposes an enemy plot: The investigation following his death uncovers cooperation between Kirigakure and Kumogakure to kill Konoha’s exam candidates 38.
• Changes Kirigakure’s orders: After his defeat, Kisame and his teammates are instructed to keep a low profile during the exams 26.
• Provides Mu Feng’s swordsmanship: Mu Feng receives 2,000 Blackening Points and an ability-extraction opportunity, which grants him Mangetsu’s swordsmanship 21.
• Leaves a recognizable fighting style: During Mu Feng’s match against Kisame, a Hozuki Clan spectator notices traces of Mangetsu’s swordsmanship in his attacks 46.
• Challenges reliance on the Eight Gates: His Hydrification demonstrates the limitations of brute-force taijutsu, leading Mu Feng to prioritize broader development in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu 21.

Relationships

• Mu Feng Uchiha — Opponent and killer; analyzes Mangetsu’s swordsmanship during battle and extracts it after his death 19 21.
• Kakashi Hatake — Enemy whom Mangetsu nearly kills before Mu Feng intervenes. Kakashi witnesses Mangetsu’s defeat and reports it to Konoha’s leadership 17 21 23.

Notable Quotes

“Cutting off the head of a Konoha genius will be a wonderful experience!” 20

Trivia

• Mu Feng remembers Mangetsu dying to Might Duy’s Eight Gates Released Formation during the Third Shinobi World War in the original story. In the novel’s events, Mu Feng kills him before that remembered outcome 17 21.