Nakago, whose true name is Gi Ayuru, is the principal antagonist of Fushigi Yugi and the leader of the Seiryuu warriors. He hails from the Hin tribe, a marginalized people originally from the west, distinguished by their blue eyes and blond hair. His childhood was marked by extreme tragedy: when he was young, Kutou soldiers raided his village, raped his mother in front of him, and killed many of his people. In a burst of uncontrollable power, Nakago killed the soldiers and accidentally killed his mother as well. After that incident, the Kutou emperor learned of Nakago’s status as a Seiryuu warrior and took him into the palace. For years, Nakago endured abuse at the emperor’s hands, an experience that hardened his heart and fueled a deep, unrelenting desire for revenge. He eventually rose through the military ranks to become a general commanding two-thirds of the Kutou army, but his ultimate goal was never loyalty to the empire—it was to destroy Kutou and seize godlike power for himself.

In personality, Nakago appears cold, emotionless, and calculating. He is both merciless and charismatic, able to manipulate others with remarkable skill. He discards people as soon as they cease to be useful, and he shows little regard for human life. Despite this exterior, his tragic past explains why he is selective about whom he allows himself to care for; he has a capacity for deep, if rarely expressed, attachment. His motivations are driven by vengeance against the Kutou empire that destroyed his tribe and abused him, and by an ambition to transcend mortal limits by becoming a god. In the story, Nakago serves as the primary force opposing the Suzaku priestess Miaka and her warriors. He manipulates Miaka’s best friend Yui Hongo into becoming the priestess of Seiryuu, turning her against Miaka through deceit and emotional exploitation. He claims to love Yui, but this is a calculated ruse to use her wishes for his own ends.

Key relationships in Nakago’s life include the Seiryuu warrior Soi, one of the few people for whom he exhibits genuine, if guarded, concern. He takes Soi as a lover and is notably protective of her, even carrying her body after her death. He also interacts frequently with the illusionist Tomo, who knows the full extent of Nakago’s past and uses that knowledge to forge a mutual understanding built on shared darkness. With Tamahome, the chief Suzaku warrior, Nakago shares a bitter rivalry marked by mockery and contempt. Throughout the series, Nakago’s development is largely a descent into greater ruthlessness, though his backstory provides context for his choices. In the end, after bringing the conflict into the real world, he is killed by Tamahome when Miaka seals Seiryuu away.

Notable abilities include powerful chi manipulation, the capacity to fire energy blasts from his hands, and spellcasting that surpasses even the most skilled Suzaku mages. He also wields a whip in combat and possesses a life force that is said to exceed the combined power of all the Suzaku warriors. Nakago’s presence is commanding, and his skillful manipulation of both allies and enemies makes him a formidable and enduring figure in the narrative.