Kusanagi

Kusanagi is gentle, selfless, optimistic, and remarkably unwilling to hurt others. Unlike hostile mononoke that prey upon humans, Kusanagi has never consumed human flesh and actively intervenes when other mononoke attack people. Its goal is not simply coexistence for personal safety but a broader world in which humans and peaceful mononoke can live without fear.

That pacifism persists even when humans attack first. When Ginchiyo initially targets Kusanagi, Kusanagi refuses Dora's suggestion that it become a sword so he can fight her directly. The decision helps convince Ginchiyo that their partnership is genuinely different from the predatory relationships the Izanagi Force normally encounters.

Kusanagi is also affectionate and easily delighted by ordinary comforts. After previously surviving on weeds and other poor food, it becomes particularly fond of dorayaki after Dora shares some. Its small size, expressive behavior, and enthusiasm for television and junk food frequently make it seem more like a household companion than the monsters feared by human society.

Kusanagi's primary ability is shapeshifting. Its most important form is an oversized katana that Dora can wield against hostile mononoke, but the ability is considerably broader. Kusanagi can become tools and objects including a large fan, pickaxe, bear trap, headphones, and hat.

It can also imitate people. During Ginchiyo's test, Kusanagi transforms to resemble Dora, taking advantage of Ginchiyo's ability to perceive supernatural energy while the real Dora remains effectively invisible to that sense because he possesses none. This demonstrates that shapeshifting can be used strategically rather than only as weapon transformation.

Kusanagi possesses supernatural energy but comparatively little physical combat ability in its normal body. Its greatest strength therefore emerges through cooperation. By transforming into a sword and combining its supernatural energy with Dora's abnormal physical capabilities, the pair can defeat enemies neither could handle alone.

Kusanagi can cloak Dora in supernatural energy, enabling his ordinary body to interact directly with mononoke. Their synchronization can advance into higher stages, with increased power requiring greater charging time. At their strongest known synchronization, the pair can unleash techniques such as Merged Mononoke: Heaven-and-Earth Slash and Merged Mononoke: Heaven-and-Earth Strike.

Kusanagi is introduced confronting a hostile mononoke that intends to eat kidnapped children. Although too weak to defeat the creature alone, it refuses to abandon the humans in danger. Dora arrives during the confrontation and discovers that Kusanagi can give him the supernatural power necessary to injure mononoke.

The resulting partnership solves both characters' limitations. Dora has physical strength but no supernatural energy; Kusanagi has supernatural energy and shapeshifting but lacks the combat power needed to defeat stronger monsters alone. Together they begin protecting people independently of the official samurai organization.

Ginchiyo eventually traces the unexplained mononoke defeats to them and initially treats Kusanagi as an enemy. After testing its refusal to kill humans, she accepts that Kusanagi is genuinely benevolent and recruits the pair as collaborators. She even becomes personally fond of Kusanagi, whom she calls "Ku-chan."

Kusanagi's unusual existence becomes a major controversy after the pair are brought before the Izanagi Force leadership. Some members consider the idea of a harmless mononoke impossible and advocate destroying Kusanagi immediately, but Dora's determination to protect it helps convince Yusai Yagyu to allow the partnership to continue under supervision.

The story later reveals that Kusanagi once had another human friend who was devoured by a mononoke. Witnessing that loss helped create its vow to protect both humans and peaceful mononoke from needless suffering, giving its dream of a "kind world" a personal origin.

Dora Sasaki is Kusanagi's partner and closest friend. Dora Sasaki's physical strength gives Kusanagi the means to fight powerful enemies, while Kusanagi's supernatural energy lets Dora pursue the samurai path that should have been impossible for him. Their mutual willingness to protect each other becomes the strongest evidence that human-mononoke cooperation can work.

Ginchiyo Yagyu initially attacks Kusanagi as an enemy mononoke. After observing its refusal to harm her even when threatened, Ginchiyo Yagyu accepts its peaceful nature, recruits the pair, and grows fond enough of Kusanagi to nickname it "Ku-chan."

Heisuke Ujii becomes one of the official samurai responsible for supervising Kusanagi after its existence becomes known to the Izanagi Force. Heisuke Ujii's involvement brings Kusanagi from an unofficial partnership with Dora into direct contact with the organization built to eliminate mononoke.

Yuusai Yagyu is the senior Izanagi commander who decides whether Kusanagi may continue living alongside human samurai. [After witnessing Kusanagi and Dora protecting one another, Yuusai Yagyu postpones Kusanagi's destruction and permits the partnership to continue under observation.](#spoiler)