Mezamashii, Hikaru (目覚しい 光る; Literally meaning “Brilliant Light”)

| ◊ | The Red Scare | ◊ | ─ A name derived from his red hair and red eye, which tends to scare off most people due to the unusual appearance. Especially when young, children would call him rude names, usually to do with his hair color. Over time his vicious fighting style, genius tactics and cruel demeanor have coined him this fitting name. Coincidentally, his ideals are incredibly similar to those of a communist; making this name infinitely more fitting.

| ◊ | Kaminari no Kōtei | ◊ | ─ (雷の皇帝; Literally meaning “Emperor of Lightning”) Often times referred to simply as Emperor or Kōtei; this is the title he prefers to be called. Currently, only those around him refer to him by this name, and only because of their knowledge in his true intentions. The rest of the ninja village still refers to him as the Raikage, although this may change with time.

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The Raikage is a figure that represents the power and honor of the lightning country, and the appearance of this new Raikage expresses exactly that. While shorter than the first two Raikages, Hikaru is five inches larger than the woman he replaced; being an appalling six foot, and one inch off the ground. The overall body mass is also insignificant in comparison to his predecessors, a fair 183lbs (or about 83kg) at most. What strikes him as a fierce leader is obviously not found in his stature. In fact, he’s the most out of shape Raikage to date; having only somewhat advanced leg muscles, while the rest of him is actually below par. Luckily, his main habit of fighting does not center around physical contact at all, and so Hikaru’s body doesn’t even need to be well toned and muscular like his comrades. However, the thing that does give Hikaru his leadership qualities, is his powerful political voice. A stern and strong voice capable of changing a man’s opinion in but a ten minute conversation. One that speaks with logic and reason rather than fear and hatred. This voice though, can easily be used as a means of manipulation. It gives the man credibility yet unseen in the political world.

Where Hikaru fails at being physically intimidating, he succeeds at being alluring to women. His reflective scarlet red hair and heterochromic eyes are the two main aspects that help him project to audiences, while his well groomed face, narrow cheekbones, sharp chin and handsome facial structure keep the ladies staring. This combination gives him a look that’s the exact opposite of intimidating, even with a red eye and yellow eye easily being thought of as evil in many cultures. His charm sometimes even deludes people from noticing these strange oculi, and many are surprised when they notice it later on. The Raikage’s hair however, is the most prominent feature. It is what identifies and separates him from the rest of the ninja around him, and what gives him the final touch to his impressive appearance. The simple way it appears to be both groomed and messy can leave a person staring for unexpected amounts of time, and ends up being the main selling point with the ladies. While the more conservative ninja dislike this odd color, they can’t help but agree that red’s ulterior symbol for confidence and power give the man an ever increasing public appeal.

Now the Raikage tends to wear separate personas when adventuring. He recently invented a very illusive seal which gives him a far superior version to the original Henge no Jutsu. While this seal is active, the male is able to disguise himself with features that could easily mask his true identity, at a rather measly cost. Many call this paranoia, but Hikaru sees this as a means of keeping his enemies on their toes. Hikaru himself has done some very immoral things, and plans to do plenty more of them. Thus he fully realizes that he may not be the only one conducting such acts. To him, it is simply a safety precaution, however, these ‘personas’ of his are perfect for skipping town without a soul noticing. The height, weight and body structure of the personas all remain the same as Hikaru’s (Including battle scars and tattoos), but the face and hair are drastically changed for each persona. After all, that’s how people identify one another the best. Each persona has a different purpose, and thus a different appearance. They are as such:

• Noro - His youngest looking persona, having long green hair which is usually tied up behind his back, and hidden under his cap. It’s visible around his face more so than his actual head. The face of this persona is very different from Hikaru’s, looking more like a free spirit than a lost soul, which the blue eyes seem to calmly complement. This persona is used for adventuring the world; whether it be all of the Ninja Nations, or just Kaminari no Kuni. He goes around as more of an embassador than a fighter, and will almost never engage in actual combat when adventuring, unless intentionally provoked. This is the most detailed of his personas, as Hikaru always carries bundles of paperwork to get through locations in a breeze.
  
• Shizoru - His ‘playboy’ persona. This one is designed to be exceptionally handsome in the face (more so than Hikaru’s natural beauty), and with his blonde-hair and blue eyes, he’s a star with the ladies. This persona is the only one not to wear a headband or any method of identification, mainly because it is his play time persona. He almost never uses this persona for anything other than playing hooky or hooking up with women, but when he does, the innocence of this persona makes it nearly impossible for the enemy to detect him. He blends in so perfectly with his clothing arrangement and appearance, one could easily lose him in a crowd.
  
• Aoko - His ‘warrior’ persona. This one has rugged blue hair and golden eyes, while his face is almost completely hidden by his outfit. In fact the only parts that show are the eyes and hair, due to his outfit being entirely black, like that of an ANBU ninja or assassin. This is in fact the same uniform he wore during his adventures as an KYOBU member, being a completely black shroud that covers the entire body; with a single visible weapon (being a Katana). This persona is more used for spying and fighting, and acts as Hikaru’s ‘bodyguard’ most of the time. That is, Hikaru will either transform into this persona and use a shadow clone to act as the real him, or transform the shadow clone into this persona while he’s in the actual line of fire.

These personas each wear their own style of clothing (not created by the jutsu), however the redhead himself wears different, more royally suited clothing. When in public, making speeches, talking to his fellow villagers, or presenting himself to anyone Hikaru figures is ‘beneath him’, the male will dress like a king. Wearing a very fine white silk robe with the Kumogakure imprint in black and a decoration of several blue-gray drifting clouds to represent Kumogakure. This robe is complemented by what looks like a royal kimono, giving Hikaru the image of an incredibly royal man, even though he comes from no such noble blood. This kimono varies in appearance due to the large wardrobe Hikaru keeps hidden away. However, when not trying to present himself as a God, the Raikage wears a more durable cloak, having the same appearance as the silk one, although being made of cheaper material. Along with this cloak is a more Jounin-based uniform, although it’s still unique to the Raikage. The attire being completely black and gray, with a white Kumo imprint across the chest, and several locations to store his gear. When alone or not around company; usually only when confined to his room, Hikaru rarely wears any clothing at all, preferring to walk around with only Boxers and oftentimes a T-shirt. This isn’t a very safe habit for him, but when in front of close comrades, he knows when to put on at least some casual attire.

Because many people recognized him as the Raikage, Hikaru refuses to wear a forehead protector at all. However, his Raikage cloak is marked with the Kumogakure insignia, and his right shoulder has the Kumogakure symbol tattooed on it. His alternate personas however two of his three alternate personas wear a forehead protector. Aoko wears it around his neck like a scarf, along with the rest of the dark ninja attire. The scarf seems to blend in perfectly. Noro wears his around his shoulder, although occasionally placing it on his forehead during combat. Shizoru, being the more ‘adventurous’ of his personas, doesn’t wear the headband as this persona itself is meant for deception and cover. The persona also never enters combat, but is perfect for blending into a crowd.

The Raikage has a very interesting personality for someone designed to lead. He’s both prone to corruption and emotional instability, yet his resilience and determination are the very things that seem to define him. This very determination can easily be mistaken for arrogance and an increasingly obvious superiority complex, however the male only does this out of his core beliefs. Growing up relying primarily on his own physical prowess has made him a bit insensitive and cold hearted when it comes to serious issues. He’s not afraid to be incredibly blunt with a person, crack jokes at funerals or even insult those who seem to be praising him. This personality of his makes the Raikage seem to be an enormous, ‘dick’ for lack of a better word. Alas, this is just his outside personality. Like every other person, the onion of a mask he wears is near infinitely thick. Few have ever gotten a sensitive remark from Hikaru, and even fewer have received praise from him. Now this may seem insensitive and rude, but Hikaru doesn’t believe in giving people free gratitude. One must earn respect and attribution, rather than be given it out of pity or simple existence. Thus even a simple comment such as “Good job” can hold immense value to whoever receives it.

While he is an enormous prick with a skyscraper sized ego and the superiority complex of a God, Hikaru does also have some flaws in his seemingly perfect personality. At times, he can be incredibly lazy and carefree, to the point that many begin to question whether or not he’s a suitable leader. However, all doubts are usually thrown away when Hikaru speaks. His voice has an earthquake like effect, garnering everyone’s attention in mere instance, and separating the weak willed from the strong spirited. Not only is his voice powerful enough to get into the head of a man without even using a Genjutsu, but the simple way in which he talks is a clear sign of leadership. Never doubting a thing, always optimistically looking forward, providing hope with no studer, and lying through his teeth so well that under Genjutsu, even the most experienced would have trouble doubting his tales. This inspirational voice is perfect for two things. Negotiating deals with his fellow council, and rallying up his village and country. Often times, when he feels his voice would not be enough, he may be inclined to throw in a genjutsu or two to gain more support, however these instances are very rare. As much as it seems that Hikaru loves his country, his true feelings are much more selfish.

Many may wonder why Hikaru has such a difficult complex; and the answer is actually very simple. At a young age he learned his own version of the ‘meaning of life’. He is a strong believer of the “Will to Power” philosophy, and the idea that our world is separated into two groups of people. Those who are born to lead, and those who are born to follow. Hikaru took this belief a step further, and rationalized that he was the only true leader. He was the only one who could bring the world of Shinobi into a lasting peace, and that everyone around him was simply a tool for manipulation, or an obstacle he simply had to overcome. While this is an incredibly selfish belief, it has miraculously guided him through the journeys of his life. Being an incredibly logical thinker, and relying solely on his own abilities, has given him the determination to work hard and become the Raikage that he is today. And while this core belief is still implanted deeply into his personality, it is not something that is ever revealed to the public, nor does he ever have a tendency to preach about his ideas. He is a logical man after all, he knows very well that sharing this information with others would only give him a more arrogant appearance.

This may just seem like an excuse for his behavior, however there is one other factor to add to the equation. His actual intelligence. Many in the ninja world tend to look at things from a black and white perspective. This is common in virtually all cases. It is what starts wars, and why the peace treaties last for only a short while. However, Hikaru prides himself on being a man who sees only gray. He realizes the differences between cultures, understands what causes conflicts, and knows that nothing is ever just black and white. Many intelligent men have figured this out for themselves, but what distinguishes Hikaru from the rest is his logical thought process. Since he entered his teens, Hikaru has been a massive book worm. Always reading new books the came out, studying up on information his ancestors wrote about, and having the insatiable craving to learn more and more. What actually inspired his lust for knowledge is unimportant, but what is important is what he did with this lust. Always reading books and overflowing his mind with information has pretty much blockaded away any sentimental and emotional values he had. It is not that he chooses to be an asshole, but rather, he has no choice. He never listens to his emotions, never acknowledges instinct, and always thinks things through before doing it. His advanced intelligence simply allows him to do this many times quicker than a normal man, and therefore retain much more wisdom in the same period of time.

However, Hikaru is not at all a serious man. He may have serious emotional issues, and many strict codes of conduct, but he never acts this way. Around anyone for that matter. It is simply not the man he is. His ego and optimism are what contribute to his carefree and luxurious lifestyle. By having loads of self determination, he simply has nothing to fear. Now, that’s not saying he has no fears. He does have those, but his only materialistic fear is that of insects. He does not even fear death, for he understands life is about accomplishing what one can while they are around, remorsing over death is just another sign of weakness which he cannot behold. Now these other fears of his, are more revolved around him not finishing the task he has been given. This isn’t a shallow idea such as forgetting to sign a few peace treaties. No, this is on a fundamental level. Hikaru’s greatest fear is that he won’t have enough time to accomplish his lifetime goals, and is the only thing that ever keeps him up at night. His insatiable fear of insects hardly comes close to paralleling this fear, even though he does go a bit psycho at the sight of bugs.

Now Hikaru, is a very adventurous soul. Even since he was little, he loved travelling. He’s actually travelled to several nations in the past (mostly for KYOBU missions). He is not at all a workaholic. In fact, Hikaru devotes his weekends to simply partying, hooking up with girls, or attending local festivals just to have some fun. Sometimes it’s with one of his personas, while other times the Raikage ventures off on his own. The latter is very rare, as even the smallest scandal would ruin his reputation, however his naturally paranoid instincts can get him out of trouble where he sees fit. The man is so easygoing though, that he doesn’t even take serious threats, seriously. Many of his peers tend to hype up a situation beyond reasonable proportions, however Hikaru is quick to notice these troublesome exaggerations, and is oftentimes the first to call them out on their ignorance. He enjoys explaining philosophy, science and even politics to those who wish to listen. His social life is also ever expanding. One of his personas has managed to build up a reputation of being a playboy, sleeping with women on a regular basis and sneaking into brothels late at night. Hikaru is a man with many outlooks on life, very few ever seeming too grim.

Ironclad and Adamant are two things Hikaru was called during his KYOBU years. Many would refer to him by this manner, because he seemed nearly invincible. He rarely ever lost a spar (and when he came close to losing one, he cleverly managed to play out some sort of accident that would otherwise delay the match), and seemed virtually invincible. Now, that’s not to say he has no weaknesses. In fact, his biggest weakness is something completely unrelated to combat. The thirty-two year old Raikage actually seems to have a soft side for, well, cute things. Whether it be adorably shaped pastries, cute animals or small people, he will simply fall in metaphorical love with them. When it comes to people, this weakness becomes even more evident. His captivation of adorable things makes him incredibly trusting of these very things, and could easily lead to his demise should an adorable assassin come and attempt to kill him. Even though he simply can’t say no to such things, he does have a brain. After only five or six backstabs will he finally realize the malicious intentions of this cute artifact. Since Hikaru views malicious intentions to be very un-cute, the infatuation is usually lost, and the male has no remorse getting back at the foe.

As for his actual fighting personality, it’s not very different from his usual personality. When in combat with any regular foe, he’ll remain carefree and usually toy with his enemy, not really having any attempt to kill them. In fact, whenever he measures someone to be weaker than him, his main strategy is to simply ‘wait it out’. He knows that the enemy would have far more to prove, and would therefore try harder. Using a bit of psychology and manipulative words, the Raikage can actually force the enemy into exhaustion by simply playing defensive and annoying. However, things become very different when the Raikage acknowledges a credible foe. The carefree attitude may show itself at the beginning, primarily to judge his enemy’s capabilities, but once it is confirmed that the foe is not one to be messed with, Hikaru becomes the ruthless killing machine that’s garnered his nickname. His fighting style is incredibly bloody, not not in a literal sense. He’s just incredibly twisted mentally. He loves watching his enemies slowly suffer at his own hands, and will draw out a battle for as long as possible, simply to soak in their agony. Even when losing, Hikaru will never try to simply win a fight. Instead, he will continue to torture his victims using his speech, genjutsu and fuuinjutsu. Such a malicious intent is one to be reckoned with.

Now, there are many, many more parts of Hikaru’s personality to explore, but these are the simplest to put on paper. Anymore and his complexities would outweigh his interesting features. As such, a simple list of his passions, likes, dislikes, and hobbies will be presented to those who wish to get to know Hikaru better. This information is however not something everyone will know, but is usually something one can expect Hikaru to share should he actually show interest in another person.
[list]Likes: Women, Reading, Fighting
Dislikes: Hypocrites, Listening to people’s complaints, Doing nothing.
Favorite Book: Any novel written by Uzumaki Robin, the great writer from Konoha.
Least Favorite Book: “How to Train Your Poodle”
Favorite Activity: Reading
Least Favorite Activity: Doing work.
Favorite Color: Teal.
Least Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Food: Any confectionary that looks ‘cute’.
Least Favorite Food: Eggplant.
Coffee or Tea?: Tea
Night Owl or Early Bird?: Early Bird during the weekdays, rarely sleeps during the weekends.
Light or Heavy Sleeper?: Very heavy sleeper when in the comfort of his own Raikage mansion. Light sleeper anywhere else.
Secret Skills: Incredibly good at sex. Also very creative and artsy, although he refuses to acknowledge this trait.
Secret Hobbies: Sneaking out and hooking up with women. Also plays with very adorable ‘action figures’ (they’re dolls). No one has ever seen him play with them, or even knows of their existence. It’s safe to say he’ll go to the ends of the Earth to make sure no one does know.

1. Peace cannot be obtained without conflict and sacrifice. How ironic.
   
2. ”The greatest battles are fought when both challengers fear one another. Show me what fear is.”