TV-Series
Description
Houou Maniwa is a significant antagonist in the latter half of the story, serving as a high-ranking member of the Maniwa Ninja Corps, a group of ninja also seeking the legendary Deviant Blades. His name follows the corps naming pattern, with "Houou" referencing the mythical fire bird, the phoenix. He is directly associated with the eleventh Deviant Blade, Mekki, known as the Poison Sword. This blade is distinct in that it contains a part of the spirit of its creator, the legendary swordsmith Kiki Shikizaki.
Houou's personality before obtaining the Mekki is that of a skilled and presumably loyal member of the Maniwa Corps. However, his character is fundamentally transformed upon becoming the wielder of the Mekki. The blade's nature as the most poisonous of the Deviant Blades means it corrupts its user. When Houou takes the unsheathed Mekki, he is possessed by the spirit of Kiki Shikizaki, who was also a prophet capable of seeing and manipulating the future. This possession overwrites his original personality, and he becomes an agent for Shikizaki's centuries-spanning plans. In this state, his motivations are no longer aligned with the Maniwa Ninja Corps but with the grand, mysterious goals of the swordsmith himself.
His role in the story is that of a major obstacle during the final stage of the sword hunt. After being possessed, he overpowers both Emonzaemon, the retainer of Princess Hitei, and his fellow ninja Pengin in combat. He does not kill them immediately but instead leaves a wounded Pengin to deliver a message to the protagonists, Togame and Shichika, informing them that he can be found at the Maniwa village. This act sets the stage for a final confrontation. He functions as a vessel for Shikizaki, making him the embodiment of the final challenge against the protagonists before the true conclusion of their quest. His defeat is a crucial step in resolving the overarching conflict surrounding the Deviant Blades and Shikizaki's true intentions.
Key relationships for Houou include his connection to his Maniwa comrades, specifically Pengin. He also has a notable dynamic with Emonzaemon, with whom he is shown fighting. Their past relationship is ambiguous, though they speak as if they know each other well, and it is suggested that Houou may possess the same life-extending power as Emonzaemon. His most important relationship, however, is with the spirit of Kiki Shikizaki, who uses him as a proxy to act directly in the world. His development is not a personal growth arc but rather a corruption and transformation, turning from a Maniwa ninja into a possessed servant of a long-dead prophet.
Regarding his abilities, Houou is shown to be a formidable ninja even before his possession, skilled enough to engage both Emonzaemon and Pengin. His primary and most notable ability comes from wielding the Mekki. The blade itself is a black, jagged katana that gives off a dark aura. Its power is not just physical but spiritual; it corrupts the user and houses a fragment of Shikizaki's spirit. Upon being possessed, Houou's power increases dramatically, allowing him to easily overpower other highly skilled fighters. As a host for Shikizaki, he gains a motive and knowledge beyond that of a normal human, acting as a direct instrument of the swordsmith's will. His abilities serve as a direct physical and narrative threat that the protagonist, Shichika, must overcome in the final episodes.
Houou's personality before obtaining the Mekki is that of a skilled and presumably loyal member of the Maniwa Corps. However, his character is fundamentally transformed upon becoming the wielder of the Mekki. The blade's nature as the most poisonous of the Deviant Blades means it corrupts its user. When Houou takes the unsheathed Mekki, he is possessed by the spirit of Kiki Shikizaki, who was also a prophet capable of seeing and manipulating the future. This possession overwrites his original personality, and he becomes an agent for Shikizaki's centuries-spanning plans. In this state, his motivations are no longer aligned with the Maniwa Ninja Corps but with the grand, mysterious goals of the swordsmith himself.
His role in the story is that of a major obstacle during the final stage of the sword hunt. After being possessed, he overpowers both Emonzaemon, the retainer of Princess Hitei, and his fellow ninja Pengin in combat. He does not kill them immediately but instead leaves a wounded Pengin to deliver a message to the protagonists, Togame and Shichika, informing them that he can be found at the Maniwa village. This act sets the stage for a final confrontation. He functions as a vessel for Shikizaki, making him the embodiment of the final challenge against the protagonists before the true conclusion of their quest. His defeat is a crucial step in resolving the overarching conflict surrounding the Deviant Blades and Shikizaki's true intentions.
Key relationships for Houou include his connection to his Maniwa comrades, specifically Pengin. He also has a notable dynamic with Emonzaemon, with whom he is shown fighting. Their past relationship is ambiguous, though they speak as if they know each other well, and it is suggested that Houou may possess the same life-extending power as Emonzaemon. His most important relationship, however, is with the spirit of Kiki Shikizaki, who uses him as a proxy to act directly in the world. His development is not a personal growth arc but rather a corruption and transformation, turning from a Maniwa ninja into a possessed servant of a long-dead prophet.
Regarding his abilities, Houou is shown to be a formidable ninja even before his possession, skilled enough to engage both Emonzaemon and Pengin. His primary and most notable ability comes from wielding the Mekki. The blade itself is a black, jagged katana that gives off a dark aura. Its power is not just physical but spiritual; it corrupts the user and houses a fragment of Shikizaki's spirit. Upon being possessed, Houou's power increases dramatically, allowing him to easily overpower other highly skilled fighters. As a host for Shikizaki, he gains a motive and knowledge beyond that of a normal human, acting as a direct instrument of the swordsmith's will. His abilities serve as a direct physical and narrative threat that the protagonist, Shichika, must overcome in the final episodes.