Akihiro Shimazu

Akihiro Shimazu (, Shimazu Akihiro) is an heir of the Shimazu Bushi, which is part of the Uesugi Alliance. He is the leader of the platoon, in which Musashi was put.

Appearance
Akihiro is a tall, lean-muscled young man. He has a slightly wavy, orange colored short hair with an undercut and stern-looking eyes. Like his clan members, he has piercings, a spiral piercing on his lip. His attire consists of a light-colored shirt and a dark, undivided hakama. He wears shin guards, made of iron plates attached to the cloth, and has his Kitetsu Swords fixed on his platformed sandals. When he served under the Uesugi Alliance, he wore the uniform of White Corps, a white cape with the Uesugi mon on the back.

Personality
Cold, arrogant and untrusting, Akihiro is brutal, tyrannical person who demands blind obedience and does nothing more than bully and push around those who oppose him.

History
Akihiro is one of the seven heir candidates to the Shimazu Clan. He and his siblings were sent to Awaji Island on the promise that they would succeed as leader of the clan if one of them break the horn of Orochi. Akihiro's father was aware of the severe danger of the mission on Awaji Island, but sent Akihiro and siblings there anyway. Akihiro explains to Kuroko that such coldness and cruelty is accepted in the Shimazu Clan.

Awaji Island Recapture Operation Arc
When Musashi, Kojiro Kanemaki and Tsugumi Hattori are revealed to be an outsiders and Kanetatsu Naoe wants to capture them, Akihiro pins down Musashi with a single hit, as Musashi refuses to be captured. Later, Akihiro with other Bushi is send to the barracks, where Katsumi Amako wish to see who is the strongest and who will lead this squad. They face each other with Katsumi, but Musashi decides to join the fight and it becomes a three-way fight. Akihiro gets serious and easily defeats Musashi and Katsumi. Katsumi wish to continue fighting for his retainers, and Akihiro is fine, but Musashi stops them. Musashi accepts Akihiro as leader and so does Katsumi. However, Akihiro doesn't believe that Musashi is sincere and wants to be friends, as you don't befriend someone who just beat you. He believes that Musashi is acting of self-interest and attempts to secure better position. Akihiro also believes that Katsumi is also doing it of self-interest as he wanted to fight for his retainers, but quit so easily, like he was waiting for Musashi to step in and have an excuse to give up. As they don't fit to be leaders, Akihiro states he is the new leader and everyone should obey him.

After visiting the strategic meeting with the other leaders, Akihiro tells his unit that they will arrive tomorrow at Awaji island and and while they hold the oni, the Shimazu will slay them. Musashi is disappointed that he plans to take all credit, but Akihiro states that's how things work. Musashi also doesn't want to follow blind orders, but no one else backs him up. The next day, the ships are attacked by oni. Kanetatsu steps out and defeats few of them. As he inspires the people, he calls for those that wish to make names for themselves, to step up and fight. Akihiro then jumps ahead and slays an oni. They proceed to slay oni, while his unit and Katsumi provide support.

Since Musashi and Michiru are considered as spies, the Shimazu are ordered to stay at the castle until everything is clear. As they are going to miss the fight, Akihiro goes to Musashi and threatens him to explain everything and that he has nothing to do with Shimazu. Akihiro recalls a conversation between the other Shimazu, that their father decided to make the son of his concubine, his successor, even though he can't even use Kitetsu Blade. Haruhisa also speculates that their father plans on killing them all during the Awaji island operation. Oni arrive to support Michiru and he realizes she is the spy. Uesugi Bushi then come and Akihiro assist them into defeating the oni.

Later, Kuroko forms a plan and sends the Shimazu to assist Musashi and destroy the Yura Mine. As the Shimazu arrive, they see an oni protecting it and link up to destroy it. Shiro shows up, but so do Naotora and he defeats Shiro. As part of their next mission, they need to find and defeat the third enemy Bushi, however, Akihiro wishes that they destroy one of the Kishin's horn. Proceeding, they team up with other Bushi and see Yataro, who then states he merged with the Kishin and turns into an oni. The Shimazu attempt to link up to defeat it, but with his barrage from the swords, Yataro manages to always break their link. Akihiro grows inpatient and when Natsuki gets cut off, he just notes that he is always slow, however, Musashi comes and saves Natsuki. Musashi then proceeds to help other Shimazu, while also destroy swords, allowing them to finally link up with Akihiro, who then destroys the horn of the oni.

However, as that doesn't defeat the oni and it proceeds towards the Kishin, Musashi wants to form a plan and the Shimazu agree, revealing they have accepted him. Akihiro isn't looking happy and explains that they shouldn't be happy as they failed to kill the oni and now their comrades are in danger. Haruhisa gets angry and explains that Akihiro only cares about himself and getting the heir to the clan. He doesn't care about the rest and is fine if they die. As Akihiro confirms it, Haruhisa slaps him and states he won't be following him anymore. Akihiro takes something from his pocket and throws it out. Musashi picks it up and asks Fuyuie what it is and Fuyuie explains its a wooden piece used in planning battles, and that the Shimazu brothers did the same when they were young and shared their dreams. Haruhisa calls Musashi to be their final chain in the link and as they attempt to link up with him, Akihiro tries to steal the link, which only annoys the Shimazu for his greed. Musashi apologizes, stating he shouldn't have taken his place and that his dream is to defeat oni with his brothers. Recalling their past, Akihiro didn't want to be the final chain, but Haruhisa, Akihiro tells Musashi that he is wrong. Akihiro manages to steal the link and attacks the serpent, knocking it out for a moment, but the serpent later continues.

Akihiro then orders everyone to line up and link while standing still. That offends the Shimazu, but Akihiro states that's the only sure way they will link with others. They all link up and Akihiro heads towards the serpent, noting to himself that this way his brothers are safe. As he reaches the horn, Orochi ends up swallowing him and the serpent. While inside, he continues to follow the serpent, but gets attacked and knocked out. As he wakes up moments later, he finds Haruhisa there protecting him, who gives him the wooden piece. Akihiro then explains that he ordered them to stay there to be safe. As a red blade, he has the duty to cut the horn, which doesn't allow him to go and save his allies. If he isn't there to cut the horn, the oni survives and all the offers are wasted. Akihiro is torn up that he can't protect his allies and do his duties at the same time. With Haruhisa coming to save him, he broke the link and now they can't defeat the serpent, however, other Shimazu and Musashi show up, stating they will just link again. They link up, but Akihiro is exhausted and fails. Musashi suggest that he takes his place, but Akihiro refuses, otherwise he has no use for the Shimazu and his life would be meaningless. Haruhisa states he forced all that on him, but what really matter is that they are brothers. They link again and this time Akihiro breaks the serpent horn.

With the Orochi nourishments cut, the Bushi manage to cut Orochi's horn and defeat it. An Uesugi bushi asks the group who cut the serpent horn as that saved thousand of lives. The Shimazu brothers point at Akihiro, but he doesn't want the reward and states someone else should take it. Haruhisa tells him that he fought harder than anyone else and the Shimazu brothers will be part of all kind of legends now. Haruhisa also tells Akihiro to thank Musashi for finding his wooden piece and Akihiro promises to repay him.

The Bushi notice that the Kitetsu isn't gathering at their swords. As Tatsuomi is saved, Musashi decides to go look for Michiru and the Bushi go with him. They go inside the mountain where Orochi was and find powered up Yataro who made Michiru into a blade and with powers similar to the Goddess. Natsuki doesn't take him seriously, as they defeated him earlier, but Yataro points his blade at Natsuki and almost kills him. As they start fighting, Yataro obliterates the Bushi and cuts down Harushisa, Tokisame and Katsumi, among others.

Using the Goddess power, Musashi manages to defeat Yataro. At the honor ceremony, the Shimazu are awarded with a castle, allowing them to become an independent bushi band.

Kitetsu Sword
Tenrō Tekkyaku (, Sirius Iron Kick): Akihiro’s Kitetsu Sword is a two-piece weapon worn on his legs. It consists of two pivoted black blades, an inner and an outer blade, folding in and out of his sandals. Since Akihiro wears his Kitetsu Sword on his legs, his fighting style involves a lot of kicks. Musashi described his fighting style as resembling a rampaging beast.

Abilities
Red Sword Color: Akihiro has a red sword color

Etymology

 * The name Akihiro means "autumn" (秋) (aki) and "vast, broad, wide" (弘) (hiro).

Trivia

 * Akihiro's character was probably inspired by the real life samurai, Shimazu Yoshihiro.
 * Akihiro ranked 14th place in the manga's 1st Character Popularity Poll.