Yataro Inuda

Yataro Inuda (, Inuda Yatarō) is a member of the Obsidian Eight just like Shiro Inukai and Nanao Inusaka. He strives to retrieve the Obsidian Goddess from Musashi, and also to hinder the mission of the Uesugi Alliance.

Personality
Like most members of the Obsidian Eight, Yataro is both a misanthrope and an admirer of Oni. From the bottom of his heart, Yataro is a darwinist, who thoroughly believes that life is divided into those who have worth and the worthless, and that the only value of the latter is to serve as fodder for the former, so they'll grow stronger and adapt better.

A depraved mind, he engaged in numerous experiments to create artificial Oni-based life to fuel his group's agenda, calling his creations as his children while asserting himself as their father. While he communicates with them with warm and tender words, in truth Yataro cares very little for any of his creations, applying the same utilitarian principles he employs for any living being, and which all members of his "family" follow to the core. In fact, he encourages that the weak and useless be purged and devoured to create stronger "children" and feels nothing if any of his creations are lost, for in his view, they outlived thier usefulness, with his creations feeling the exact same. However, the relationship between the group is highly dysfunctional and one-sided, as while the "children" praise their "father" and seek his approval, he only cares about those that are useful to him with everyone else is to be discarded.

The prime example of this abusive and malign conduct is Michiru, whom he exploited by praising her for being a success amongst his creations while arguably knowing how much she wanted his approval, only for him to discard her and deem her a defect worth destroying the second she shielded Musahi from her fellow creations, despite all she did for him beforehand.

His evolutionary mindset is so warped and ingrained in his views, that he believes human society and Bushi bands to behave in the same manner, by discriminating against others and using people as fodder for self benefit and propel some to leadership and promising positions at the expense of the lesser, ignoring the fact that while some people do in fact derive their power from others, it is not out of mere selfishness, but rather a means of teamwork and collective action.

In truth, Yataro is a miserable existence. Being born with physical impairments made him the subject of scorn and abandonment by his own family, which instilled in him a deep sense of loneliness and a desire to belong and be acknowledged. Being weaker than many other Bushi despite his alliegance to the Obsidian Eight further reinforced his own self-loathing amongst his peers who had no qualms about rubbing on his face about his lack of strength, which causes him to act submissive and nervous towards them whereas he's a complete authoritarian towards his creations. It is as a result of these experiences that he strives to be the strongest through whatever means possible, as a way to get the attention of all his comrades and pay back for all the scorn and humiliations he has suffered. In the end, it wasn't the approval of his strength that he truly sought, but rather someone to give him unconditional love, which he realized close to his own demise.

Awaji Island Recapture Operation Arc
At Awaji island, Yataro faces the Green Kishin, Yamata no Orochi. Yataro pledges his service and states he will destroy the Uesugi Band from within.

Yataro notes that he needs to get the Obsidian Goddess before Orochi finish his meal in five days. He wonders why the Goddess chose such a fragile boy as Musashi. Michiru then reports to her father, Yataro, who asks her if she remembers her true duty to find the Obsidian Goddess host and kill him. Michiru confirms, but states she still haven't found him. Yataro tells her she will know who he is once she meets him, as their stones will reach to each other. Yataro expects great things from Michiru, since she is his most capable daughter.

Yataro contacts Seiroku and informs him that he had found the Obsidian Goddess, however, she is in the middle of the Uesugi army. Seiroku then suggest that he and Shiro would hit the Uesugi Bushi, while Yataro focus on securing the Goddess. Seiroku is impressed that Yataro managed to find the goddess and wonders how he did it and Yataro reveals that one of his daughters found it.

A bit later, he contacts Michiru and tells her to finish the mission. As Michiru betrays them, he allows Minami and Iwanami to continue eating other oni to get stronger and defeat the bushi. Yataro explains that the weak becomes food for the strong and that way the family prospers, similarly how the bushi give energy to one of them, depriving others and monopolizing it for himself. Tatsuomi shows up and while buffing his men, he tells Yataro that he agrees to an extend, but they still feel joy when sharing and being shared with, just as much as they do when proving their strength and worth. The Uesugi Bushi then defeat Yataro's oni.

Shiro teleports Musashi and Michiru at Awaji island. Yataro appears in front of Musashi and explains he is in the heart of Awaji island. As Michiru wakes up, she asks Yataro to not kill Musashi, but instead Yataro turns her to stone as he finds her a failure. Musashi disagrees and Yataro agrees that she is special and can wield a Kitetsu Blade. She turns her back to normal, but had reset her memory, as her feelings only get in her way. Yataro proceeds to fight Musashi, who can't draw blade energy, since he is using Michiru's sword. As Yataro prepares to kill Musashi, Michiru uses her crystals to attack him from behind. Yataro gets angry and promises to keep resenting her until she starts obeying him.

Having spies among the Uesugi, Seiroku and the rest learn of Kuroko's plan and know they need to protect Orochi for three days for them to win. They learn that Naotora won't be fighting due to Kuroko insisting to also defeat the Orochi, and guess their job would be easier. Shiro wishes to fight Naotora, but Seiroku has his eyes on Kanetatsu. Yataro states he will kill the goddess, but Seiroku tells him he is relieved of his duty and that he and Shiro will do it. Yataro wonders why and Seiroku guesses the rest decided that because he failed last time and is weak.

The next day, as the battle starts, having spies with Kuroko, Seiroku knows that they are sending men to the Yura mine and sets an oni to stop them, while he goes to put out the fires at the beach. When they defeat the oni, Yataro also informs Seiroku that Naotora is coming, but Seiroku knew that already, and have Shiro transfer the mine bombs over Naotora's ship.

Yataro takes Michiru to the deepest layer of the mineral deposits on the island as that is where his plan will bear fruit. With Shiro and Seiroku defeated, Yataro feels he needs to protect Orochi himself. Michiru wonders why he cares so much about Orochi, but he just looks at her. They reach a room full of young girls, and Yataro turns to Michiru stating he needs to prove he is capable of evolving beyond all others. Later, Yataro faces the Bushi and states he is one with the Kishin, although it required the sacrifice of all of his daughters. Yataro then transform into a large monster, stating he is the union of obsidian, man, and oni god. He also transforms some of his daughters to swords and defeats the bushi, except Musashi's group. As the Shimazu try to link, he keeps attacking them with the swords and doesn't let them do it. Musashi eventually start attacking the swords and breaks enough to allow the Shimazu to link and Akihiro then to destroy his horn. However, Yataro doesn't die, but turn to a white serpent carrying stones and heads towards the Kishin, while the group tries to stop him again.

After Orochi is defeated, Musashi and other Bushi head down inside the mountain where Orochi was. At the bottom, they find a black floating blade and powered up Yataro, who explains he took Orochi's power and they defeated and empty shell. He also turned Michiro into the ultimate weapon and she has the powers of a Goddess. Yataro easily overwhelms the Bushi, but feels the blade dulls when he tries to attack Musashi. Michiru is torn by serving her father or stopping him. Naotora comes and powered up by Tatsuomi, he and Kanetatsu attempt to defeat Yataro, but he cuts them down easily. Yataro then proceeds to cut down the Bushi.

Using the power of the Goddess, Musashi defeats Yataro and sees the stone he needs to break. Michiru asks him to let her speak with her father before breaking it. Initially she realizes she can't get to her father as he insist that they have the same goal, even though she states her dream is to hold his hand and spend time with him. She tells Musashi to break the stone, explaining that she will disappear with it as she was created by it. Yataro then explains that only he will disappear as Michiru is half human. Michiru then tells him he hates him and Yataro agrees that he is weak, but she then denies it, stating it doesn't matter what he is as he is her father and she cares about him. Yataro recalls his past and how he was thrown as worthless child and how lonely he was. He then sees another lonely soul and realizes its Michiru, and that Michiru isn't he. As he finally recognizes and sees Michiru, she leaves him happy, and Yataro turns to Kitetsu.

Etymology

 * The name Yataro means "eight" (八) (ya), "short, span" (咫) (ta) and "son" (郎) (ro).
 * Yataro's surname Inuda means "dog" (犬) (inu) and "field, rice paddy" (田) (ta/da).

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Инуда Ятаро