Summary
Tanimoto Natsu is a seventeen-year-old martial artist standing 176 cm tall with a muscular, well-defined physique. He is the former Sixth Fist of Ragnarok and the disciple of Ma Sougetsu, who serves as an unofficial captain of the Shinpaku Alliance. As the holder of the Moon Symbol of Yomi, Natsu is one of Kenichi’s primary rivals. He practices Chinese Kenpo, specifically Pī Guà Quán and Bā Jí Quán, and utilizes Katsujin Ken, though he reverts to Satsujin Ken while aligned with Yomi. Physically, Natsu is a fair-skinned young man with dark blue eyes and chin-length blond hair that is both spiky and wavy. His appearance is often described as handsome by his peers, leading to him being regarded as the school’s prince. He typically wears a white-grey shirt featuring a red cross, resembling a crusader’s design, while at school. In his Hermit persona, he dons a dark hooded cloak, arm bands, leather boots, and gloves adorned with pentagrams. Originally, his gloves bore the Roman numeral VI, but after defecting from Ragnarok, he replaced them with the pentagram symbols. A distinctive trait of his demeanor is his eyes: they remain large and calm when he is maintaining his kind facade, but narrow into small, cat-like pupils when he is angered or fighting. At school, Natsu serves as the president of the drama club and maintains a popular, soft-spoken image among teachers and students. He deliberately hides his muscular build, even claiming the sun damages his skin to avoid showing off during camping trips. He admits to joining the club to practice deception, viewing popularity as a tool for controlling others. Beneath this gentle exterior lies a cold, ill-tempered, and highly prideful nature. He often threatens or physically reprimands Kenichi and Nijima when they get too close, both literally and figuratively. He is particularly irritated by Kenichi calling him Natsu-chan, to which he sharply replies, "Who's Natsu-chan?!" His personality is heavily influenced by the final words of his late sister, Kaede, who begged him not to lose. This promise drives him to fight even when unconscious, as seen in his battles against Kenichi and Chou Enshin. However, this stubbornness also manifests in mundane matters, such as refusing to stop playing Othello with Honoka until he wins, which results in him being forced to comply with her demands upon defeat. His relationship with Honoka mirrors his bond with his sister, suggesting he views her as a younger sibling figure. After his defeat by Kenichi, Natsu discards his kind act around those unaware of his true nature. Although he refuses to accept Kenichi and his group as friends, his demeanor has shifted. He has become less hostile toward those approaching him, especially Honoka. Witnessing Kenichi’s belief in friendship and how it strengthens him as a martial artist has caused Natsu to doubt his own path. He has begun aiding Kenichi and his companions, though he always claims he is acting solely for his own needs, such as revenge. Since officially joining Yomi, Natsu faces a critical crossroads: as a believer in Katsujin Ken, he fights without killing, while Yomi staunchly advocates Satsujin Ken, forcing him to eventually choose between the two opposing philosophies.
