Kanao Tsuyuri

Biodata

Power Progression

Background / History

Childhood and the Kocho Sisters

Kanao endured severe mistreatment as a child before the Kocho sisters bought and rescued her. Her fear of expressing herself was so deep that she initially would not take food even when hungry 6.

Kanae taught her Flower Breathing and cared for her like an older sister. Kanao regarded her as her most important family member. After Kanae’s death, Kanao remained at the Butterfly Mansion as Shinobu’s Tsuguko 6 10.

Meeting Su Chen

Aoi brought Kanao in as a stronger opponent for Su Chen’s rehabilitation exercises. Despite her early advantage in the medicinal-broth contest, he defeated her, then challenged her to a wooden-sword match 6 7 8.

During their spar, Su Chen copied her Flower Breathing and won through his superior reaction speed. Rather than treating the victory as an end in itself, he encouraged Kanao to speak without consulting her coin. She eventually thanked him and explained that she had left their earlier exercises because she thought he no longer needed the third test 9 10.

His gentleness reminded her of Kanae. She began talking more freely with him and later helped him learn the remaining Flower Breathing forms 10 17.

Learning to Follow Her Own Feelings

Su Chen used a coin-toss game to challenge Kanao’s belief that she could not speak or decide for herself. While waiting anxiously for the result, she spoke fluently and realized that she had already formed her own wishes before seeing how the coin landed 37 38.

She later gave him the coin Kanae had entrusted to her, presenting it as payment for Breathing Style lessons. Under his instruction, she learned Overlord Flower Breathing and became increasingly willing to act on her own initiative 41 46.

The Butterfly Mansion Attack

When monsters attacked the mansion, Kanao protected Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui with ordinary Flower Breathing. She deliberately avoided Overlord Flower Breathing because its excessive power could injure the children nearby 101.

After opening the barrier around Su Chen’s battle, she faced Hantengu’s emotion demons. She overcame her fear and severed Urogi’s and Karaku’s heads, but Sekido’s lightning paralyzed her and Aizetsu stabbed her waist, leaving her gravely wounded 103.

Kanao regained consciousness before Su Chen departed with Gyokko and Zohakuten to secure the mansion’s safety. She pleaded to accompany him and blamed her own weakness for his predicament. He insisted that she stay, reassured her that she had helped, and urged her to continue studying her sword move 106.

Recovery and Reunion

After Su Chen’s capture, Kanao developed a persistent high fever, stopped eating for days, and began withdrawing into her former silence. News of his whereabouts prompted her to eat and train again, believing she needed food to grow stronger. Shinobu refused to let her join the search because her injuries remained serious 107 125 154.

When Su Chen returned, Kanao helped him escape a crowd of admirers, then embraced him and cried with relief. She afterward escorted him to the Ubuyashiki Residence as Shinobu had instructed 184 185.

Advanced Training and the Swordsmith Village

Kanao asked Su Chen to improve her fighting ability and undertook special training. His corrections helped her develop Futility Peony, an original variation of Flower Breathing’s fifth form 188 202 203.

At the Swordsmith Village, she received a heavier Nichirin Blade tailored to her strength and agility. Testing it revealed that she could release Sword Qi. Tetchikawara Tetsuchin also noticed her emotional progress: the formerly uncommunicative girl now walked beside Shinobu, talking and laughing 209 215.

Later, Kanao persuaded Su Chen to remain at the Butterfly Mansion despite rumors about his demonic nature. She also suggested that he teach suitable Breathing Styles during Hashira training. Her subsequent battlefield intervention demonstrated further progress through Flower Thorn’s repeated Sword Qi attacks 258 266.

Appearance

• Hair: Black, worn in a side ponytail resting over her right shoulder 13.
• Hair ornament: Purple butterfly clip 13.
• Clothing: Pure white haori, frequently visible during training and combat 13 46.
• Features: Fair skin, large expressive eyes, and a faint smile; her warmer smiles reveal dimples 6 40.

Personality

Kanao initially speaks rarely and relies on coin tosses when uncertain how to act. This reserve stems from childhood mistreatment rather than an absence of feelings: she worries about hurting Su Chen during practice and becomes distressed when she thinks she has upset him 6 8 9 10.

Her confidence in swordsmanship contrasts with her uncertainty in personal matters. Even after becoming more comfortable with Su Chen, she panics under the attention of a large crowd and needs reassurance 8 78.

Her growing affection makes her openly protective and occasionally possessive. She intercepts Inosuke when he charges Su Chen and forcibly scatters female admirers while declaring that no one will take him away 46 62.

Kanao’s determination to improve is tied to protecting both Su Chen and Shinobu. After creating her own technique, she privately resolves not to hold them back and recognizes that Su Chen does not belong to her alone 203 204.

Abilities & Skills

Flower Breathing

Kanae taught Kanao this style, which emphasizes agility and graceful sword trajectories. Kanao retains it after learning the more destructive Overlord variant 10 101.

Overlord Flower Breathing

Su Chen’s modified Flower Breathing increases Kanao’s offensive power and contributes to her physical growth 46 200.

• Second Form: Overlord’s Plum Blossom — Scatters a crowd with an area-effect attack; also severs Karaku’s head during the mansion battle 62 103.
• Fifth Form: Fruitless King Peony — Unleashes nine consecutive strikes; decapitates Urogi before he can use his Blood Demon Art 103.
• Sixth Form: Overlord Vortex Peach — A spiraling aerial slash whose impact throws Inosuke away even after he blocks it 46.
• Final Form: A Flower Blooms in a Single Thought — A descending attack that Su Chen assesses as Hashira-level 201.
• Limitation: Its destructive reach makes it unsafe around nearby allies, prompting Kanao to switch to ordinary Flower Breathing when protecting children 101.

Sword Qi

Kanao first visibly releases Sword Qi while testing her custom blade, producing an invisible ripple that cuts a deep gash into iron ore 215.

• Later shapes it into numerous tiny blade-like projectiles through Flower Thorn 266.
• Can release successive waves rather than a single cutting ripple 266.
• Its initial appearance surprises Shinobu, who considers Sword Qi highly demanding in both training and talent 215.

Reflexes, Mobility, and Rehabilitation Training

• Possesses exceptional reactions before meeting Su Chen and serves as his opponent in rehabilitation contests 6 7.
• Demonstrates stretching, medicinal-broth reaction exercises, and a cat-and-mouse mobility game for recovering Corps members 63.
• Becomes strong enough to carry the injured Su Chen into a room for treatment 73.
• Shows noticeably improved speed and recognition during later training 200.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Original Nichirin Blade — Designed for Flower Breathing, with a flower-shaped guard. Kanao lends it to Su Chen before his search for Shinobu; he damages it and later apologizes 9 18 27 29.
• Rengoku household spare blade — Given to her by Kyojuro after the loss of her original weapon 29.
• Weighted replacement Nichirin Blade — A new flower-guard blade made heavier at Su Chen’s request, contributing to the force of her attack on Inosuke 46.
• Su Chen’s custom-forged Nichirin Blade — Described by its maker as five times as heavy as her old sword. Tailored to her strength and agility; she treasures it as his gift 215 216.
• Wooden sword — Used for practice and sparring 8 200 258.
• Kanae’s bronze coin — A long-carried decision-making aid, worn smooth through use. Kanao eventually gives it to Su Chen as payment for instruction 37 41.
• Wisteria poison — Supplies Su Chen with a jar before he leaves to find Shinobu 19.

Relationships

• Su Chen — Initially her rehabilitation opponent and a student of her sword movements; later her instructor and romantic interest. He helps her express herself, while she repeatedly seeks promises that he will return or remain with her 9 10 18 82 185 203 258.
• Kanae Kocho — Rescuer, Flower Breathing teacher, and beloved older-sister figure. Kanao sees echoes of her kindness in Su Chen 6 10 81.
• Shinobu Kocho — Rescuer, master, and older-sister figure. Shinobu protects her during recovery and is startled by how fluently she begins speaking around Su Chen 6 46 154.
• Aoi Kanzaki — Butterfly Mansion colleague who brings her into Su Chen’s initial rehabilitation tests and helps care for her after the mansion attack 6 107.
• Kiyo, Sumi, and Xiao Caihui — Younger Butterfly Mansion companions whom she protects from attacking monsters 101.
• Kyojuro Rengoku — Provides a spare Nichirin Blade and allows her to accompany Su Chen at his training ground 27 29.
• Inosuke Hashibira — Injures him while stopping his armed charge at Su Chen 46.
• Kanamori — Previously forged her sword; her inability to explain her requirements once required Shinobu’s intervention. He later witnesses the power of her custom blade 209 215.

Notable Quotes

“No one is taking Mr. Su Chen away!” 62

“Su Chen, I’m going with you!” 106

“I’ll definitely protect you.” — Her private resolve to protect Su Chen and Shinobu 204