Kurapika is the last survivor of the Kurta Clan, an isolated group persecuted for their unique Scarlet Eyes, which turn scarlet during intense emotions and are highly coveted on the black market. His clan was massacred by the Phantom Troupe when he was about twelve, during his absence seeking medical aid for his ailing childhood friend, Pairo. Returning, he discovered the decapitated and eyeless bodies of his people, including Pairo. This event forged his life's purpose: to retrieve all stolen Scarlet Eyes and exact vengeance on the Phantom Troupe. Before the massacre, Kurapika displayed a more adventurous and impulsive personality. His deep bond with Pairo drove his initial journey beyond the clan's forest, overcoming the elder's resistance by passing a test requiring composure despite provocations. His failure to control his rage during this test, resulting in a violent confrontation with thugs, revealed his protective nature and foreshadowed his lifelong struggle with anger. He enters the 287th Hunter Examination to gain the resources and status of a Blacklist Hunter for his quest. During the exam's preliminary phase aboard a ship, he clashes with Leorio Paradinight over differing motivations but reconciles after cooperating with Leorio and Gon Freecss to rescue a crew member in a storm, marking the start of their friendship. His analytical skills and knowledge prove crucial throughout the exam, like deciphering the "silence" solution to an examiner's riddle. After passing, he parts ways with Gon and Killua Zoldyck to pursue his goals alone. To infiltrate the criminal underworld where Scarlet Eyes circulate, he joins the Nostrade family as a bodyguard in Yorknew City. There, he masters Nen—a life-energy manipulation system—under an unnamed mentor. His Nen type is Conjuration, manifesting as five chains from his right hand. When his eyes turn scarlet, he becomes a Specialist, gaining Emperor Time. This ability lets him use all Nen types at 100% efficiency but shortens his lifespan by one hour per second. His chains include: Chain Jail, which deactivates a target's Nen and immobilizes them (with a self-imposed limitation causing his death if used on non-Phantom Troupe members); Holy Chain for healing; Dowsing Chain for tracking; Judgment Chain to enforce lethal conditions on a target's heart; and Stealth Dolphin, which stores and transfers stolen Nen abilities. He uses these strategically to defeat the physically dominant Phantom Troupe member Uvogin and later captures their leader, Chrollo Lucilfer, sealing his Nen with Judgment Chain. He exchanges Chrollo for the kidnapped Gon and Killua, leading to the sacrificial death of Troupe member Pakunoda. This arc forces him to confront the complexity of the Troupe's bonds but does not deter his vengeance. After Yorknew City, he distances himself from friends to protect them and focus on retrieving the eyes. He is later recruited into the Zodiacs—an elite Hunter Association group—as the "Rat" based on Leorio's recommendation. He accepts primarily to infiltrate a voyage to the Dark Continent, where Prince Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou possesses the final set of Kurta eyes. Serving as bodyguard for Prince Woble aboard the voyage ship, he continues his mission. His abilities evolve, with Stealth Dolphin enabling him to steal and utilize others' Nen powers, though triggering Emperor Time further reduces his lifespan. In the film *Phantom Rouge*, he investigates rumors of another Kurta survivor, encountering a puppet impersonating Pairo, created by former Phantom Troupe member Omokage. After defeating Omokage and reclaiming his stolen eyes, he encounters the real Phantom Troupe, who defer their confrontation. The film expands on his childhood bond with Pairo and survivor's guilt. *The Last Mission* depicts him confronting an antagonist named Shura during a tournament. Kurapika's character arc centers on the tension between his destructive pursuit of vengeance and his loyalty to friends. He initially sees friendships as hindrances but gradually acknowledges their value, prioritizing rescuing Gon and Killua over immediate revenge against the Troupe. His self-destructive tendencies persist, worsened by Emperor Time's life-draining cost and the psychological toll of retrieving his clan's eyes, which he describes as losing something with each recovered pair. His physical capabilities include enhanced strength, speed, pain tolerance, and proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry like bokken swords and chains. His greatest weakness remains the life-threatening limitations on his Nen abilities and emotional volatility triggered by references to his clan or the Phantom Troupe.