Kamui, born into the burakumin, feudal Japan's lowest caste, faced systemic discrimination and oppression from childhood. This forged his resourcefulness and resistance against rigid class boundaries, leading him to reject the social hierarchy. His membership in a ninja clan culminated in the transgression of abandonment—an act punishable by death under their code. This decision transformed him into a fugitive, relentlessly hunted across Japan by clan assassins viewing him as a traitor.

Survival demands Kamui's advanced ninja abilities, sharp intelligence, and wilderness skills, constantly employed to evade capture through diverse landscapes. His fugitive existence profoundly shapes his psychology, breeding intense paranoia where every encounter holds potential threats and he believes everyone intends to kill him. This deep distrust isolates him, complicating any potential alliances or fleeting connections. His journey intersects with individuals across all social strata—villagers, outcasts, authority figures—often exposing systemic injustices or hidden agendas within feudal society.

During a specific narrative arc, Kamui finds brief respite in a seaside village, forming a bond with the fisherman Hanbei, who shares a sense of honor. This interlude offers temporary stability, but his past inevitably resurfaces, forcing confrontations with pursuing assassins and testing his fragile capacity for trust. Later interactions with characters like Sugaru and Gumbei further challenge his worldview and survival tactics, though these connections remain fraught with danger and betrayal. Kamui's story embodies themes of rebellion against oppression, the psychological toll of persecution, and the struggle for autonomy within a rigid societal structure, driving his actions and evolution shaped by relentless conflict and social critique.