Noboru Kodo is a sixth-grade student at Aibo Academy and a classmate of Gao Mikado, initially holding the rank of second-best Buddyfighter in his grade. He has yellow eyes and yellow hair marked with black tiger stripes. His appearance undergoes changes as the series progresses; early on, he wears a pale yellow shirt bearing a black tiger symbol, a blue open jacket, dark orange shorts, and blue sneakers. In later seasons, his outfit shifts to a white t-shirt with a golden tiger symbol, a sleeveless blue vest, a red scarf, light grey capris, and blue loafers. He consistently reacts strongly to anyone mistaking the tiger on his clothing for a kitten, promptly correcting them by insisting it is a tiger. At first, Noboru exhibits arrogance about his Buddyfighting abilities and a firm belief in the supremacy of Dragon Knights over dragons. This overconfidence results in early losses, such as his defeat by Tetsuya Kurodake, caused by poor management of gauge resources. His encounter and partnership with Dragon Knight, El Quixote, however, sparks considerable personal growth. El Quixote guides him toward better strategic thinking, strengthens his self-esteem, and teaches him the value of courage in embracing his true self. Despite these improvements, deep-seated insecurities and a feeling of being unexceptional remain, often surfacing as envy toward Gao Mikado’s achievements, which Noboru initially dismisses as mere luck. A major turning point occurs when his family relocates to the United States, leading to a temporary exit from Japan and his friends. He later returns to compete in the Gaen Cup tournament as leader of Team Destiny, a group assembled not to win but to support Gao against the hostile organization Disaster. In this tournament, he secures a win against Genma Todoroki using a new card, Cavalry Dragon, Hyperion. He also confronts the Purgatory Knight, later identified as Tasuku Ryuenji, in an effort to persuade him, but is ultimately defeated. In the second season, Hundred, Noboru is abducted and brainwashed by First Knight of the Apocalypse, Gratos, turning him into an antagonist called "Tiger." Under this influence, he serves as the Inverse Fiend for Dark Miserea and wields a Dungeon World Knight deck with Knight of Glory, El Quixote as his buddy. Freed from mind control after a loss, he continues using a Dungeon World deck, now centered on the Adventurer attribute and featuring dual lances. His Impact card, Full Strash Formation, enables extra attacks. During Triple D, the third season, Noboru’s family moves back to Japan, allowing him to reunite with his friends at school. He continues grappling with confidence issues, at one point declaring that Buddyfight is a game of luck—a belief that affects other characters. He undergoes a brief gender transformation due to an accident with a workout routine but reverts to normal by the episode’s conclusion. His competitive record in this period includes victories over Li Kung Fu and James Knightman, but defeats against Gaito Kurouzu and Kyoya Gaen. In the fourth season, X, and its sequel, X: All-Star Fight, Noboru takes part in the World Buddy Masters tournament but must withdraw after being hospitalized following a match with Sakate Onigashira. He later competes in the GGG Cup during All-Star Fight, using an Omni Lord Knights deck from Dungeon World with INV Third Omni Water Lord, Dark Miserea as his buddy. A dedicated episode, titled "Burn Brightly, Noboru! A Tear-Soaked Serious Buddyfight," focuses on his emotional match in this tournament. Noboru’s deck evolves considerably over his journey. He starts with a Dragon World deck built around Dragon Knights, first partnering with Dragon Knight, Red Baron before switching to Dragon Knight, El Quixote. After his brainwashing and recovery, he adopts a Dungeon World deck, initially focused on Knights and later shifting to Adventurers. His final deck in the GGG Cup employs the Omni Lord Knights, harnessing the strength of Omni Lords from diverse worlds. His relationships play a central role in his development. He shares a strong rivalry with Gao Mikado that gradually matures into mutual respect and friendship. His bond with El Quixote proves especially formative, acting as a mentor-like connection that shapes his personal and competitive evolution. He also maintains friendships with classmates like Baku Omori and Kuguru Uki, and his actions are frequently driven by a need to prove himself and conquer his lingering insecurities.