TV-Series
Description
Seiji Matoba, the second heir of the ancient and wealthy Matoba exorcist clan, rose to leadership due to extraordinary spiritual abilities surpassing even his sister Shinobu—initially groomed as heir. Her resentment over his ascension prompted her departure before his high school years. A scar beneath his right eye, concealed by a protective talisman eyepatch, stems from a generational curse after an ancestor broke a pact with a youkai; this eyepatch impairs his depth perception while shielding him from attacks targeting Matoba leaders' right eyes.
Driven by a fierce commitment to human protection, Matoba employs ruthless tactics: sacrificing weaker youkai as bait, eliminating obstacles regardless of origin, and dismissing human-youkai coexistence as naive. Despite his cold pragmatism, he safeguards subordinates by undertaking perilous missions personally. His arrogance in his unmatched power rarely falters, even amid setbacks.
His dynamic with Takashi Natsume began violently when Matoba, mistaking him for a youkai, attempted strangulation. After Natsume escaped, Matoba's fascination intensified upon discovering his lineage as Reiko Natsume's grandson. He persistently—and unsuccessfully—recruited Natsume, promising clan protection despite their ideological clashes. Trust gradually emerged, as when Matoba accepted Natsume's claim of losing a cooperation request. He saved Natsume and Madara from a youkai, acknowledging Natsume's dangerous latent power while insisting clan allegiance was his sole safeguard.
Matoba's rivalry with exorcist Shuuichi Natori originated in their teens. At a gathering, Matoba tested Natori's spiritual strength by having him identify a tree-entangled kimono's color. Later, he proposed joint combat against a three-headed youkai; Natori refused due to Matoba's arrogance. After Natori's solo defeat, Matoba felled the creature with one arrow and offered shared credit, which Natori declined. This cemented Matoba's reputation but forged lifelong mutual distrust, marked by tense adult interactions.
As clan head, Matoba commands shikigami and relies on assistant Nanase for operations. He preserves a portrait abandoned by Shinobu, honoring their father's attachment, and encounters spiritually aware individuals like Tooru Taki during her grandfather's memorial.
Matoba wields immense power: perceiving invisible phenomena like golden chrysanthemums, exorcising youkai with single arrows, and mastering techniques including sealing, purification, shikigami control, and youkai taming. Threats from youkai and rival exorcists—met with strategic pragmatism—never sway his focus on clan supremacy. While his worldview remains rigidly uncompromising, subtle shifts in dealings with Natsume and Natori hint at underlying complexity.
Driven by a fierce commitment to human protection, Matoba employs ruthless tactics: sacrificing weaker youkai as bait, eliminating obstacles regardless of origin, and dismissing human-youkai coexistence as naive. Despite his cold pragmatism, he safeguards subordinates by undertaking perilous missions personally. His arrogance in his unmatched power rarely falters, even amid setbacks.
His dynamic with Takashi Natsume began violently when Matoba, mistaking him for a youkai, attempted strangulation. After Natsume escaped, Matoba's fascination intensified upon discovering his lineage as Reiko Natsume's grandson. He persistently—and unsuccessfully—recruited Natsume, promising clan protection despite their ideological clashes. Trust gradually emerged, as when Matoba accepted Natsume's claim of losing a cooperation request. He saved Natsume and Madara from a youkai, acknowledging Natsume's dangerous latent power while insisting clan allegiance was his sole safeguard.
Matoba's rivalry with exorcist Shuuichi Natori originated in their teens. At a gathering, Matoba tested Natori's spiritual strength by having him identify a tree-entangled kimono's color. Later, he proposed joint combat against a three-headed youkai; Natori refused due to Matoba's arrogance. After Natori's solo defeat, Matoba felled the creature with one arrow and offered shared credit, which Natori declined. This cemented Matoba's reputation but forged lifelong mutual distrust, marked by tense adult interactions.
As clan head, Matoba commands shikigami and relies on assistant Nanase for operations. He preserves a portrait abandoned by Shinobu, honoring their father's attachment, and encounters spiritually aware individuals like Tooru Taki during her grandfather's memorial.
Matoba wields immense power: perceiving invisible phenomena like golden chrysanthemums, exorcising youkai with single arrows, and mastering techniques including sealing, purification, shikigami control, and youkai taming. Threats from youkai and rival exorcists—met with strategic pragmatism—never sway his focus on clan supremacy. While his worldview remains rigidly uncompromising, subtle shifts in dealings with Natsume and Natori hint at underlying complexity.