Sesshomaru

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Family and Inheritance

Sesshomaru grew up striving to equal and eventually surpass his father, Tōga. He could not understand why his father risked his life for a human woman, and Tōga’s death left that question unresolved for more than two centuries 129 131.

Tōga left Tessaiga to Inuyasha and Tenseiga to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru resented this division, believing that only his own demon power could bring out Tessaiga’s true strength. During their struggle over the sword, Inuyasha severed his left arm 90 122.

More than fifty years before the later conflict with Kirinmaru, Sesshomaru faced the attacking Panther Cat Tribe alone. Inuyasha, sealed to the Sacred Tree at the time, could not receive word or assist him 251.

Seeking His Own Sword

Using a message prepared by Li Xia, Kaede challenged Sesshomaru to consider whether relying on Tessaiga would truly allow him to surpass his father. He subsequently began hunting demons and seeking a suitable sword, testing new blades against Inuyasha and Tessaiga 40 60.

These weapons often failed to accommodate his strength. Against Naraku, his newly forged sword could withstand only four-and-a-half-star demon power, leaving him disadvantaged despite possessing much greater reserves himself. Witnessing Goshinki bite apart Tessaiga provoked his bloodline awakening and renewed his determination to obtain a blade of his own 90 91.

Alliance with Li Xia

Li Xia’s first direct meeting with Sesshomaru became an alliance against Naraku. When Tessaiga’s barrier rejected Sesshomaru, Li Xia severed his own left arm and offered it as a bridge. With the human arm attached, Sesshomaru transformed Tessaiga into a golden-aura cleaver 101.

The two tracked down Naraku’s concealed body and destroyed most of his flesh, although he escaped underground. Sesshomaru retained the arm temporarily under an arrangement that included helping Li Xia confront one of Tōga’s former enemies 103 104 105.

After defeating Ginkotsu, Sesshomaru claimed the Heaven and Earth Longsword. Once Li Xia explained that Inuyasha needed Tessaiga to suppress his demon blood, Sesshomaru relinquished both Tessaiga and the borrowed arm. His prolonged use had strengthened the sword and transformed Li Xia’s arm through exposure to his demon blood and power 124 125 132.

Reconciliation with Tōga

Li Xia brought Sesshomaru to meet Tōga’s remnant soul in the Medicine Elder Poison Immortal’s Wine Vat World. Sesshomaru confronted his father about his death, but Rin’s arrival eased their exchange 129 130.

Tōga praised Sesshomaru’s protection of Rin and his unacknowledged assistance to Inuyasha. He explained Tessaiga’s barrier and directed Sesshomaru to develop Meido Zangetsuha through Tenseiga. Reassured that his father cared for him, Sesshomaru finally released his resentment 130 131.

Manganomaru and the Underworld Trial

During the battle with Manganomaru, Sesshomaru developed Azure Dragon Strike. He later combined the technique, channelled through Tenseiga, with Li Xia’s Tessaiga-based Backlash Wave to destroy their opponent 156 158.

His subsequent Underworld trial nearly cost Rin her life. His mother restored her, leaving Sesshomaru profoundly relieved. The experience confirmed that he would not accept losing Rin merely to develop Tenseiga 177 211.

Bakusaiga and Shinigami Oni

Aware of Tenseiga’s origins and warned about Shinigami Oni, Sesshomaru followed the Shikigami Child to a mountain ambush after sending word to Li Xia. When Meido spheres threatened to overwhelm him before he could draw Tenseiga, Bakusaiga emerged from his transformed left arm 132 195 197.

He fought Shinigami Oni, Oyakatā, and the Four Panther Cat Generals without losing his composure. After victory, he absorbed power from Shinigami Oni’s severed arm into Tenseiga and honoured his agreement to leave the defeated enemy to Li Xia 196 197.

Final Confrontation with Naraku

Naraku exploited Princess Saro and a reflected Backlash Wave to trap Sesshomaru at close range, intending to absorb him. Tenseiga’s automatic barrier prevented the attack from succeeding 236.

Sesshomaru retaliated with Bakusaiga, destroying Naraku’s regenerating body while Li Xia sealed the remaining flesh. When Naraku ruptured Saro’s Demon Heart, Sesshomaru fulfilled her final request by destroying her fused demon body. He then asked Li Xia to eliminate Naraku completely 237.

Challenge from Kirinmaru

Preparing to face Kirinmaru, Sesshomaru sought Li Xia’s support and trained against his Three Great Shikigami. He also arranged for Rin’s safety, recognising that battles against other Demon Kings could exceed his ability to protect her 248 249.

Sesshomaru initially fought Kirinmaru evenly with Bakusaiga. Inuyasha’s intervention disrupted their coordination, but Sesshomaru still protected him with Meido Zangetsuha. Tenseiga then released Tōga’s inherited power into both brothers; Kirinmaru ultimately lost by a move or two 251 252 253 254 255 256.

Afterward, Sesshomaru attempted to revive Kirinmaru’s daughter, Rion. Tenseiga restored some vitality, but her destroyed Demon Heart prevented a complete resurrection. Li Xia proposed cultivating a replacement heart from her revitalised blood 257.

Appearance

• Humanoid form: A handsome young nobleman with long, silvery-white hair, golden eyes, a crescent mark on his forehead, and two demon markings on each cheek 40.
• Bloodline awakening: His eyes turn blood-red, his cheek markings become jagged, and a red pillar of demonic aura rises around him 91.
• Left arm: Initially has an empty sleeve following Inuyasha’s attack; later uses Li Xia’s human arm before recovering and transforming his own 101 124 195.
• True demon form: An enormous white dog. His tail can wrap around and carry another person during flight 103 173.

Personality

Sesshomaru is proud, reserved, and intensely competitive. He treats surpassing Tōga as a personal obligation and reacts strongly to suggestions that he depends on inherited power. Even when questioning his father’s choices, he continues to respect him deeply 40 91 129 211.

His actions repeatedly contradict his denials of affection. He secretly watches over Inuyasha, relinquishes Tessaiga after learning why his brother needs it, and instinctively protects him in battle. He nevertheless insists that he is not helping his younger brother 124 130 254.

Rin brings out his compassion most clearly. Sesshomaru allows her to decide whether to remain with him, values her life above Tenseiga’s development, and later recognises her need for safety and companions her own age 173 177 211 248.

His pride can also create openings for enemies. Naraku exploits his reluctance to reveal his feelings during the trap involving Princess Saro 236 237.

Abilities & Skills

Demon Power and Bloodline

• Possesses unusually pure, abundant demon power; Naraku recognises that Sesshomaru’s reserves greatly exceed his own during their early confrontation 91.
• Can overwhelm an enemy by allowing a power-absorbing weapon to take more energy than its wielder can withstand, as demonstrated against Ginkotsu 124.
• Bakusaiga’s awakening draws out the potential of his Demon King bloodlines and greatly increases his reserves 197.
• Receives Tōga’s insights into the Second Transformation, but is not shown completing that transformation in the supplied chapters 255 256.

Swordsmanship and Sword Pressure

• Coats blades in demon power to disperse enemy attacks, including Kagura’s Wind Blades and sword energy reflected by Kanna 90.
• Uses overwhelming sword pressure to destroy incoming projectiles, including Kirinmaru’s Diamond Spearheads, thunderbolts, and flames 254.
• Can be limited by a weapon’s capacity: an inferior blade prevents him from applying his full demon power 90.

Wind Scar

• Wields Tessaiga after attaching a human arm to bypass its rejection of full demons 101.
• Amplifies the sword with his own demon power, producing a golden aura and far greater destructive output than Inuyasha’s early use 90 101.
• Uses the attack to expose and severely injure Naraku’s hidden body beneath a hut 104.

Azure Dragon Strike

• An ultimate technique expressed as an azure thunder dragon; developed through combat with Manganomaru and the stimulus of the Heaven and Earth Longsword 156 176 177.
• Can combine with Tessaiga’s Backlash Wave. Sesshomaru and Li Xia use this combination to kill Manganomaru 158.

Meido Zangetsuha

• Opens passages to the Underworld through Tenseiga 153 195.
• Progresses from small crescents to a half-moon through training 153 179.
• Can intercept attacks spatially: Sesshomaru opens a crescent above Inuyasha to remove incoming projectiles 254.
• Initially encounters a ceiling short of a complete circle. Absorbing Shinigami Oni’s power advances the technique without changing Tenseiga’s life-saving nature 195 197.

Resurrection and Soul Perception

• Uses Tenseiga to see and slay Underworld Messengers, enabling revival; he saves Rin and later attempts the same process on Rion 130 257.
• Cannot fully revive someone whose Demon Heart has been destroyed 257.
• Tenseiga can threaten otherwise difficult-to-harm soul entities, although some souls cannot initially be perceived even by its wielder 257.

Movement, Senses, and Resistance

• Transforms into a fast-moving ball of light; his bloodline awakening multiplies his speed further 90 91.
• Travels in giant-dog form at no less than roughly one hundred metres per second while carrying Li Xia 103.
• Detects Naraku by scent and notices changes in Inuyasha’s blood through its smell 73 122.
• Has innate advanced poison resistance, making Naraku’s miasma largely ineffective against him 91.
• Cannot reliably track Naraku through barriers, puppets, and deliberately misleading traces without additional information 103.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Bakusaiga — His awakened personal demon sword, with a white hilt and spine and strange patterns along its length. Its Instant Kill destruction prevents regeneration and continues damaging affected matter until it is destroyed; the Shikon Jewel is the only stated exception 195 237.
• Tenseiga — His paternal inheritance, used for resurrection, soul attacks, Meido Zangetsuha, and automatic defensive barriers. Its barrier saves him from Naraku’s close-range Backlash Wave trap 130 236 257.
• Heaven and Earth Longsword — Claimed after defeating Ginkotsu. Absorbs demon power and spiritual power, can tear space to create black holes, and helps him develop Azure Dragon Strike 124 176 237.
• Tessaiga — Temporarily wielded using Li Xia’s human arm. Sesshomaru nourishes the reforged blade with his demon power before returning it for Inuyasha’s protection 101 124 125 130.
• Oni Cutter — A sword forged for him by Ginkotsu. Discarded after the Heaven and Earth Longsword drains its power and damages its edge 124.
• Li Xia’s left arm — A temporary prosthetic that allows him to wield Tessaiga. His demon blood and power transform the arm before he returns it 101 124 132.

Relationships

• Rin — Human companion whom he revives with Tenseiga. Her bond with him changes his attitude toward protection, and he eventually prioritises her safety and childhood over keeping her constantly at his side 130 173 211 248.
• Inuyasha — Younger half-brother and rival. Their struggle over Tessaiga costs Sesshomaru his arm, but he later watches over Inuyasha, restores his sword, and shields him against Kirinmaru 122 125 130 254.
• Tōga / Dog General — Father and lifelong benchmark. Their reunion resolves Sesshomaru’s resentment over his inheritance; Tōga later grants him power through Tenseiga 129 130 131 255.
• Sesshomaru’s mother — Noblewoman of the Cloud Palace. Guides his Underworld trial and restores Rin, preventing the loss he finds unbearable 153 173 177.
• Jaken — Devoted retainer. Sesshomaru protects him during Shinigami Oni’s ambush and pursues Naraku after attacks endanger both Jaken and Rin 162 196.
• Li Xia — Ally and eventual friend. Their cooperation includes the arm exchange, battles against Naraku and Manganomaru, the reunion with Tōga, and preparation for Kirinmaru 101 130 158 178 249.
• Totosai — His father’s swordsmith. Repeated refusals to forge him a suitable sword strain their relationship, although Totosai later unlocks Meido Zangetsuha in Tenseiga 153 166 211.
• Naraku — Recurring enemy who targets his companions and repeatedly attempts to exploit or absorb him. Sesshomaru ultimately destroys his regenerating body with Bakusaiga 162 236 237.
• Shinigami Oni — Tōga’s old enemy. Sesshomaru defeats him after an ambush and takes part of his demon power to strengthen Tenseiga 195 196 197.
• Kirinmaru — Veteran Demon King and rival whose challenge tests Sesshomaru’s strength. After their battle, Sesshomaru attempts to revive his daughter Rion 251 255 256 257.
• Princess Saro — A woman devoted to him whom Naraku uses as a trap. Sesshomaru fulfils her final request to destroy her demon body 164 236 237.

Notable Quotes

“I will use my own fang to forge a Demon Sword that belongs to me alone!” 91

“Do you think my demon power is so easy to bear? However much you want, I’ll give it to you!” 124

“Someone to protect? I, Sesshomaru, have no one to protect!” 124

“Father, Rin is different.” 130