ENGLISH VOICE ACTOR: Dave Mallow
AGE: Unknown
WEAPON OF CHOICE: Katana & Wakizashi(short sword)

Jinei Udou, a man so entranced by the sight of blood that he was driven to slay even his own allies just to see. During the revolution, Jinei was a member of Shinsengumi, the death squad of the Shogunate. It was during that time that Jinei became so obsessed with the smell and color of blood that he eventually left the Shinsengumi after killing a fair number of them in the process.

After the revolution, Jinei spent ten years doing what he did best, killing. In the years since the revolution he slaughtered hundreds of people. His targets were always high ranking politicians. No matter how well guarded they were, he would kill them, guards and all. Not even guns could stop him. It was during this time, that the Meiji government assigned him the code name Kurogasa after the basket hat that Jinei always wore.

Then, in the eleventh year of the Meiji, the police approached Kenshin Himura, formerly known as Battousai the manslayer for help. Kenshin confronted Jinei and prevented him from slaying his latest target. However, in the process, Kenshin made himself the mad swordsman’s next mark.

In their first exchange, Jinei finds that Kenshin is sadly wanting in terms of skill as he is no longer the same man that he was during the revolution. Before they part ways, Jinei gives Kenshin one day to prepare himself and awaken the manslayer within him. However, as Kenshin attempts to do so, Karou finds him. Jinei quickly kidnaps Karou, planning to use her to anger Kenshin enough to free the spirit of the Battousai.

Kenshin and Jinei meet again in battle. Once again, Jinei gains the upper hand. Trying to goad Kenshin into letting go of his control, Jinei unleashes one of his most powerful techniques threatening Karou’s life. This is all that is needed to break the seal on Kenshin’s heart and free the spirit of Battousai the Manslayer. Jinei quickly finds himself outmatched by the new (or old, depending on how you look at it) Kenshin. Battousai the Manslayer defeats him with relative ease. Then, just as Kenshin is about to strike the fatal blow, Karou overcomes Jinei’s technique, bringing Kenshin back to his senses. However, as a final gesture, Jinei ends his own life. As he dies, he tells Kenshin that he will be watching from Hell to see how long Kenshin can keep his vow never to kill.

Jinei is more important to the story than he seems as he is the first person to reawaken the spirit of Battousai the Manslayer in Kenshin, revealing that despite all that he is done, Kenshin’s murderous alter-ego is never far beneath the surface, waiting for just the right moment to reappear. While Jinei dies an episode after his introduction, his words continue to haunt Kenshin for the remainder of the series.

Jinei’s unique sword techniques also bear mentioning. Jyuumonji Kata Kara Take Wari: The style Jinei uses, Nikaidou Heihou, involves numbered stances and attacks. In the air, Jinei’s sword slashes form a pattern that creates in succession the Japanese characters for 1, 8, and 10. This is the first technique Jinei uses against Tani’s bodyguards immediately before his showdown with Kenshin.

Shin No Ippou: As Kenshin states, “Another name for the spell of frozen terror.” Shin No Ippou is a powerful technique that produces an illusion that induces a fear so powerful in the target that it creates a sort of “deer in the headlights” affect, completely paralyzing the victim. Jinei uses this technique especially whenever his targets attempt to flee so that he can keep them from escaping and finishing them off at his leisure. However, the Shin No Ippou is a contest between the spirits of the user and the target. If the target’s swordsman’s spirit is on the same level as the user of the technique, the Shin No Ippou is rendered useless. There is also a much more powerful version of this same technique that can completely paralyze the victim’s lungs, causing him or her to die from suffocation. There are three ways to end the Shin No Ippou. The first is to overcome it, as was mentioned before. The second is for the user to willingly release the target from its effect. The third and final way is for the one who cast the Shin No Ippou to die.

Hyoki Spell: Jinei uses the Shin No Ippou on himself, bouncing it off the reflection in his sword. This induces an illusion of such confidence that Jinei’s body actually responds to the stimulus, increasing his abilities according to his full potential. This is a hidden usage for the Shin No Ippou that is only known to those who have mastered it.