Summary
Hyakurin serves as a lieutenant within the Mugai-ryū, though her past is defined by her role as an assassin and a victim of domestic abuse. She was previously married to Hayakawa Kakōsai Genkei, a samurai whose obsession with gaining fame led him to train their frail son, Matsuhiko, in swordsmanship with lethal intensity. When Genkei ultimately caused the death of their son, Hyakurin exacted revenge by killing her husband. Although she was subsequently arrested and sentenced to execution, her case caught the eye of Kagimura, who recruited her into the Mugai-ryū. Her most distinctive physical characteristic is her blonde hair, which she frequently hides under a wig. She maintains this color through a compulsive ritual of bleaching her hair with harsh chemicals, driven by an urge to remove the stain of blood. While her swordsmanship is considered unremarkable, she possesses extensive knowledge of poisons, which influences her choice of weapon: a collapsible wrist-mounted crossbow called Burafuma (Little Steps). This device fires poisoned bolts and features two blades, allowing Hyakurin to use the collapsed weapon for stabbing attacks. Her combat effectiveness is significantly reduced after her arm is broken in the Beasts arc of volume 11. Later, she becomes pregnant and is effectively "retired" from the Mugai-ryū following a deal struck between Habaki and Giichi when Giichi gains his freedom. Hyakurin has no intention of raising the child, as it serves as a painful reminder of Shinriji's death and the trauma inflicted by the Ittō-ryū men who raped her. She makes her first appearance during the Dark Shadows part 1 arc.
