TV-Series
Description
Nataku, also known as Li Nataku, is a supporting character in the anime Hakyū Hōshin Engi. He is a paopei ningen, a human created and sustained by powerful magical artifacts known as paopei. His origins begin with his mother Inshi, who carried a child that had died in the womb. The immortal Taiitsu Shinjin placed a reiju, a spirit bead, into her belly, causing her to give birth to a large flesh egg. Nataku burst forth from this egg already wearing three paopei, marking him as an extraordinary being from the moment of his birth.
In terms of personality, Nataku appears cold, emotionless, and distant. He shows little outward emotion and rarely speaks beyond blunt observations or threats. He is stubborn, bossy, and often acts without considering the consequences of his actions, charging headfirst into dangerous situations without a second thought. However, beneath this detached exterior, he holds a deep and persistent grudge against his father, Li Sei, who destroyed the shrine his mother built for him after his first death and threw the reiju into a river. Despite having many opportunities to kill his father, Nataku never does so, which suggests a more complex emotional state than he lets on. He also cares deeply for his mother Inshi and shows a soft spot for orphaned children, particularly Kou Tenshou, allowing the boy to ride on his back.
Motivation for Nataku is centered around combat and duty. He exists largely as a weapon for the forces aligned with Taikoubou and the Hoshin Project. He does not question orders and is often directed by Taikoubou in battle rather than acting on his own initiative. His primary drive in life is to fight, and he approaches battle with a fearless, no-holds-barred attitude. The grudge he carries against his father serves as a rare personal motivation, but it remains largely unresolved, as he refrains from acting on it.
In the story, Nataku serves as a powerful ally to Taikoubou and a key combatant in the struggle to overthrow the corrupt Yin dynasty and seal away the immortals. His immense combat power makes him a formidable asset, but his lack of human emotion and tendency to rush into danger without thinking can also be a liability. His role is that of a blunt instrument of the Hoshin Project, though he gradually develops a more human connection to his allies as the story progresses.
His key relationships include his mother Inshi, for whom he harbors genuine affection; his father Li Sei, with whom he has a deeply strained and hostile relationship; Taiitsu Shinjin, the immortal who created, repaired, and upgraded his body and paopei; and Taikoubou, the strategist who directs him in battle. Nataku also develops a soft, protective attitude toward the orphaned Kou Tenshou, indicating that he is capable of forming emotional bonds despite his usual cold demeanor.
Development for Nataku is reflected in the gradual accumulation of new paopei and upgrades to his body, which increase his already considerable power throughout the timeline. His emotional growth is subtle but present, as he shows more willingness to protect and interact with his allies. However, he never fully sheds his blunt, combat-focused nature.
Notable abilities stem directly from the paopei he wields. He was born with three paopei: Kenkonken, a pair of iron bracelets that function as homing missiles with tremendous impact; Kontenryou, a cloth at his waist that can control water; and Fukarin, boots with wheels that allow him to fly. Over time, Taiitsu Shinjin adds more paopei to his arsenal, inclusive of Kinsen, a cannon on his shoulder that fires beams of destructive light; Kasensou, a spear that can extend its reach; and Kyuryushinkatou II, a container that can protect or imprison targets. Later, he gains Kinkousen, a super paopei originally belonging to Chou Kou Mei, which he can use to summon golden dragons. These tools, combined with his fearless fighting style and his ability to operate multiple paopei simultaneously, make him one of the most destructive forces on the battlefield.
In terms of personality, Nataku appears cold, emotionless, and distant. He shows little outward emotion and rarely speaks beyond blunt observations or threats. He is stubborn, bossy, and often acts without considering the consequences of his actions, charging headfirst into dangerous situations without a second thought. However, beneath this detached exterior, he holds a deep and persistent grudge against his father, Li Sei, who destroyed the shrine his mother built for him after his first death and threw the reiju into a river. Despite having many opportunities to kill his father, Nataku never does so, which suggests a more complex emotional state than he lets on. He also cares deeply for his mother Inshi and shows a soft spot for orphaned children, particularly Kou Tenshou, allowing the boy to ride on his back.
Motivation for Nataku is centered around combat and duty. He exists largely as a weapon for the forces aligned with Taikoubou and the Hoshin Project. He does not question orders and is often directed by Taikoubou in battle rather than acting on his own initiative. His primary drive in life is to fight, and he approaches battle with a fearless, no-holds-barred attitude. The grudge he carries against his father serves as a rare personal motivation, but it remains largely unresolved, as he refrains from acting on it.
In the story, Nataku serves as a powerful ally to Taikoubou and a key combatant in the struggle to overthrow the corrupt Yin dynasty and seal away the immortals. His immense combat power makes him a formidable asset, but his lack of human emotion and tendency to rush into danger without thinking can also be a liability. His role is that of a blunt instrument of the Hoshin Project, though he gradually develops a more human connection to his allies as the story progresses.
His key relationships include his mother Inshi, for whom he harbors genuine affection; his father Li Sei, with whom he has a deeply strained and hostile relationship; Taiitsu Shinjin, the immortal who created, repaired, and upgraded his body and paopei; and Taikoubou, the strategist who directs him in battle. Nataku also develops a soft, protective attitude toward the orphaned Kou Tenshou, indicating that he is capable of forming emotional bonds despite his usual cold demeanor.
Development for Nataku is reflected in the gradual accumulation of new paopei and upgrades to his body, which increase his already considerable power throughout the timeline. His emotional growth is subtle but present, as he shows more willingness to protect and interact with his allies. However, he never fully sheds his blunt, combat-focused nature.
Notable abilities stem directly from the paopei he wields. He was born with three paopei: Kenkonken, a pair of iron bracelets that function as homing missiles with tremendous impact; Kontenryou, a cloth at his waist that can control water; and Fukarin, boots with wheels that allow him to fly. Over time, Taiitsu Shinjin adds more paopei to his arsenal, inclusive of Kinsen, a cannon on his shoulder that fires beams of destructive light; Kasensou, a spear that can extend its reach; and Kyuryushinkatou II, a container that can protect or imprison targets. Later, he gains Kinkousen, a super paopei originally belonging to Chou Kou Mei, which he can use to summon golden dragons. These tools, combined with his fearless fighting style and his ability to operate multiple paopei simultaneously, make him one of the most destructive forces on the battlefield.