Natsu Tanimoto/History

==Early History==
It is revealed by Loki that Hermit and his sister were orphans before being adopted by a rich businessman (Tanimoto was the man's family name). The businessman later married a female doctor who then became his stepmother. His sister died from a disease and left him with the words "don't lose." These words would make him fight for his life and refuse to ever lose to anyone. The businessman died of unknown causes, and his wife was put under arrest as the primary suspect of his murder, fostering a distrust in doctors in the young Natsu. Natsu inherited the company, but unfortunately was not able to manage much of it, leaving it to the corrupt workers who worked under him and losing a vast amount of his fortune in the process. When the corrupt men tried to kill him, Ogata Isshinsai saved him, leaving him in debt to the master and influencing him into joining Ragnarök as a result. It was also revealed by Loki that because of this, Natsu received some tips from Ogata as a means of becoming strong enough to begin his own training, and eventually left to find a master of his own to learn from. Eventually his search would lead him to Sōgetsu Ma, who made the deal of agreeing to teach Natsu in return for a tuition fee of various alcohol and expensive wine. His training was very strenuous and according to Natsu, he was basically bullied during most of the training.
A couple of years after becoming his disciple, Sōgetsu decided to return to his life as a hermit, and skipped out on Tanimoto without telling him where he went, leading an angry Tanimoto to search for his runaway master while continuing his own training. During his search Tanimoto got involved in various gang related fights which leads to him joining Ragnarök as a means to continue his search uninterrupted. His skills, along with his connection with Ogata, eventually gets him climbed up the ranks to one of the strongest in the whole organization, becoming the Sixth Fist of Ragnarök, and a member of the Eight Fists (originally called the Seven fists at that time). At some point, he would meet Shō Kanō and the two, after fighting enemies together, become friends while Hermit was still the 6th fist. Even after becoming the Sixth Fist, Hermit never stopped looking for leads to finding Sōgetsu, and continued training by himself till the day he finally found his master.
==Plot==
==Ragnarök Arc==
===Valkyrie Arc===
Hermit first appears when he, Valkyrie and Loki of Ragnarök Eight Fists defeat an entire gang of 50 by themselves. According to Shinnosuke Tsuji, Hermit was supposed to participate in lynching Ikki Takeda for leaving Ragnarök, but he ultimately chooses to observe the ensuing battle.
===Hermit Arc===
He confronts the then-newly established Shinpaku Alliance and demands to know where Kenichi Shirahama learned martial arts, but the Shinpaku Alliance manage to escape from him. Not long after, he transfers to Kōryō High School as a first-year student and appears to be a model student, excelling at both academics and athletics, tutoring other students and infatuating many of the female students. He becomes the president of the school's Drama Club and is cast as Romeo in its Romeo and Juliet play, opposite Miu Furinji who is cast as Juliet. When a group of delinquents damage the set of the play, Natsu attempts to fight them but is quickly overwhelmed, prompting Kenichi to save him (despite the latter's jealous of him for his increasing closeness to Miu). In reality, however, Natsu had ordered the delinquents to attack the set as Hermit so he could observe Kenichi fight. When the delinquents leave upon realizing who Kenichi is, Natsu secretly beats them and puts them into the hospital, which leads to Haruo Niijima spreading the story that Kenichi was the one to beat them. While Kenichi is sulking over being framed and few people believing he's innocent, Natsu seemingly gives his support in believing Kenichi is telling the truth and offers to be friends, but Kenichi sees a trace of melancholy is in his eyes. 
On the day of the play, Natsu puts on a spectacular performance, and during which Kensei Ma notices Natsu knows martials arts after he makes a subconscious martial arts step. After the player, Natsu is given flowers by some adoring fangirls and meets the masters of Ryōzanpaku. Akisame praises his performance, but notes he knows Natsu hated acting. When Kenichi arrives after missing the play due to preventing Kisara and her gang from disrupting it, he notices Natsu destroying the flowers he was given. Natsu then reveals his real personality and admits he just joined the acting club to hone his skill at deception and he was just hanging around Miu to increase his popularity. He accuses Kenichi of being the same and just pretending to be kind, but when Kenichi argues he isn't lying, Natsu tells him everyone is lying about who they are. Kenichi insists he isn't pretending about who is and leaves. Incensed at Kenichi, Natus dons his disguise as Hermit and ambushes him and Miu on top of a bridge. During the fight, Kenichi ends up falling off the bridge onto a moving bus and Hermit goes after him. Before resuming the fight, Hermit asks Kenichi if Sōgetsu was one of his masters, but Kenichi clarifies Sōgetsu's brother Kensei is his teacher. Kenichi asks Hermit if he is attacking on orders from Ragnarök and Hermit reveals he's doing this on his own accord out of personal disdain and Kenichi and his belief in justice. Hermit reveals his true identity and attacks Kenichi, overwhelming him and landing a dangerous blow to the back of the head. However, Kenichi survives thanks to his durability and asks Hermit if everything about his was an act. Hermit confirms that he was deceiving him for the first time, and that he orchestrated the attack on the acting club and hospitalized the delinquents. He declares he doesn't need friends and that being along makes him strong, but Kenichi tells him he is lying to himself and that the traces of melancholy he saw in Hermit's eyes betrays his claims that he wants to be alone. Hermit attacks again and almost knocks Kenichi off the bus, but Kenichi gets close and lands a Ma Style Takusousho in which sends them both falling off the bus. as Kenichi is saved by Kensei and Sakaki while Hermit pulls himself back onto the bus and is carried away on it, leaving the battle a draw. Afterward, Hermit stops attending school and disappears to train for a rematch. 
===Clash with the Fists Arc===
When he returns, he begins fighting other delinquents on the street. This leads to him saving Honoka Shirahama when she is attacked by delinquents and takes her to his house to treat her wounds. He soon grows fond of her because she reminds him of his late younger sister. When he and Loki find out that she is Kenichi's younger sister, Loki decides to kidnap her to lure Kenichi. While Natsu protests this, Loki blackmails him by tricking him into thinking that Kensei (The alias of Isshinsai Ogata) has giving him his authority. Nonetheless, Loki initially allows Hermit to fight Kenichi, but when the battle proves to be even, Loki interrupts it by having Number 20 hold Honoka at knifepoint. if Kenichi continues to fight back and taunts Hermit by revealing his past to Kenichi. When Hermit refuses to continue fighting, Loki attacks Kenichi personally. When Honoka is cut trying to escape Number 20's hold and shouts for Kenichi to help her, Hermit is reminded of his deceased sister and decides to rescue Honoka. He grabs the hand Number 20 is holding her knife and forces her hand to stab himself in the pectoral so she can't use it on Honoka before knocking her. With Honoka safe, Kenichi is free to retaliate against Loki, who threatens to expel Hermit from Ragnarök, only for Hermit quit Ragnarök on his own terms. Before the fighting can continue, Odin then appears and reveals that Loki had deceived Hermit by using Kensei's name and offers to give Hermit a chance to return to Ragnarök but is turned down. After Odin and Loki leave, Hermit and Kenichi continue their battle, and Hermit is defeated, passing out while still standing through sheer willpower. Akisame and Sakaki reveals themselves and take the two to be treated at the Ryōzanpaku. While Hermit is being treated from his stab wound by Kensei Ma, he is hostile due to his hatred and distrust of doctors and tells Kensei how harshly Sogetsu treated him during his training, but he was happy his brother had found a good life. He soon begins leaving despite still being in recovery and forbids Honoka from visiting his home again to keep her from getting in trouble again. On the way out of Ryōzanpaku, Hermit has an encounter with the Elder who advises him that he shouldn't go through life alone. Natsu returns to school the next day and clears up the rumor about Kenichi hospitalizing the delinquents who attacked the acting club, but he privately vows to Kenichi he will defeat him someday.
===Final Clash Arc===
After leaving Ragnarök, he is constantly pestered by Niijima to join the Shinpaku Alliance, but constantly turns him down. Eventually, he comes to aid Shinpaku in order to get revenge on Loki during their final battle against Ragnarök, but when Shōgo Kitsukawa defeats Loki, he decides to fight Berserker for taking his chance at revenge away. Hermit's training allows him to go toe to toe with Berserker's raw talent and briefly gets the advantage when he uses attacks that counter the human reflex to bypass Berserker's instincts. After knocking Berserker to the ground, Hermit tells him his raw talent is his weakness, as it has kept from learning how to struggle for victory. However, Berserker unleashes his Berserk Mode and overwhelms Hermit with a flurry of random attacks. When Berserker tries to land a finishing blow, Hermit reveals he was waiting for the opening and counterattacks, dislocating Berkserker's arm and winning the battle. Declaring his training surpasses Berserker's talent, Hermit gives Berserker his first defeat and tags out with Kenichi so the latter can fight Odin. During Kenichi's fight, Odin orders his men to kill Hermit and the Shinpaku Alliance, leaving them to fight off most of the remaining men in Ragnarök.
==Yami/Yomi Arc==
===Snow Summit Arc===
Tanimoto and the rest of the class go on a school ski trip, and he pretends to have fun most the time. When Kenichi and Miu go missing, he goes out to find them with (albeit begrudgingly) Niijima. The two of them find Kenichi fighting Radin Tidat Jihan and helps fight against the weaker foes so Kenichi can fight Jihan. After Kenichi and Jihan fall off the cliff, Tanimoto and Niijima find a sick Miu and he notes she's got a fever, and they get her out of there. Tanimoto has Niijima take Miu while he goes to find Kenichi and barely manages to save him from getting buried alive by Jenazad and forces Kenichi to stay on while Jihan is buried alive. They arrive back in the morning and Tanimoto has the school take care of Miu and Kenichi.
===D of D Tournament Arc===
Hermit's role in this arc is relatively small compared to the other Shinpaku members. He takes care of Kenichi for a short time away from Ryozanpaku and temporarily feels it is okay for Kenichi to stay with him after seeing Apachai knock him out. He also has information gathering operatives that work under him to help get information on martial artists or organizations throughout the underground world of martial artists. He transports the members of the Shinpaku Alliance to the D of D tournament in his own boat, but unlike the others, his intention is not to participate in it; but rather to find his master. He is believed to be dead when his boat is blown up by the missile defenses of the private island where the tournament occurs as the rest of the members of Shinpaku were unable to find him. 
He later shows up alive on the island, finding Sōgetsu while he took on some guards of Fortuna and trains under him again. He later comes to the aid of the Shinpaku alliance in their fight against Fortuna under orders from Sōgetsu to fight with a master class and plays a pivotal role in defeating him by using the Kyousa to significantly damage Fortuna. Afterwards, he yells with the others for Kenichi to get up and fight Sho and states if he loses, he'll kill Kenichi first. He later admits his relief that Kenichi won and leaves with his master. Sometime after returning home, he is greeted by Seta and Hayami at the docks where he often meets up with Shō and was informed that he was gunned down, leaving him shocked to hear that and even mourns his loss.
===Yomi in School Arc===
He is later called "Natsu-Chan" instead of "Tanimoto-Kun" by Kenichi during the camping trip, which he abhors to the extent of wanting to attack Kenichi. During Boris' attack, Tanimoto attacks the other soldiers, who make note that he was not listed as a member of Shinpaku Alliance, which was likely based on the list of Shinpaku Alliance members from the D of D tournament, as well as the fact that he was largely absent for its duration. He also seems to be interested in James Shiba as a master and wishes to see his improvements on Takeda since the D of D tournament. During the second fight between Kenichi and Takeda, Tanimoto was rather amazed by the fact that Takeda could even use Ryuusei Seikuken, one of the Elder's 108 techniques that was only shown to have been taught to Kenichi, yet Takeda managed to use it. This could be an indication that Tanimoto is interested in fighting Takeda when he is stronger.
===Weapon Fighters Arc===
Natsu Tanimoto appears walking around school as the girls were awing at him until Kenichi came by to talk to him in private. Once they were out of sight, Natsu threw Kenichi for being so clingy, but saw that Kenichi is much more aware of his center of gravity. Tanimoto later appears as Hermit, who just saved two security guards from a raging berserker with tremendous Dou Ki. Hermit knocked out the guards so they wouldn’t get in his way. Sōgetsu watches from above while explaining that Hermit had to fight opponents slightly better than him to get stronger faster and warned that if he doesn't defeat the berserker soon, the latter’s Dou ki will keep growing and he’ll kill Hermit. Hermit defeated the berserker under a minute by hitting the back of his head and attacked his side. When Niijima told Kenchi he discovered that Natsu's master was the tenth member of Yami's One Shadow Nine Fist, Kenichi asked Natsu if he’s part of YOMI, but Natsu ignored his questions and assumed his princely facade in front of the girls and told him that he was going to the staff room, leaving Kenichi befuddled.
Natsu Tanimoto's master Ma Sōgetsu is revealed to be a member of Yami and has asked for Tanimoto to be the new member with the symbol of the moon of YOMI. In the fight for the YOMI position, he faces the temporary member named Chou Enshin in a death match. Facing the disadvantage of fighting a stronger and faster fighter, Tanimoto was almost overwhelmed by his opponent and even loses consciousness for a few moments. While unconscious and trying to get back up, he sees his long death younger sister and Honoka, and even to his surprise and annoyance, Kenichi, who he reluctantly realizes has become one of the closet people in his life. He also realized that, despite Kenichi's oddities and lack of talent, Kenichi regularly persists in fighting stronger people. He strikes himself in the head to calm down, a tactic formerly used by Kenichi while fighting Odin, and finally manages to defeat his opponent, earning the symbol of the Moon and become the tenth official member of YOMI. 
A wounded Tanimoto arrived at the festival he promised to take Honoka to and meets up with her and the Shinpaku Alliance members who were attending there too. Niijima asked if those injuries were from the battle for the seat of Yomi, but Tanimoto claimed that they were from training. Kenichi finds out the truth from Rachel and is shocked and angry about it, however, he calms down once hearing from Akisame that Natsu has a reason for doing what he does and since he has not done anything bad, yet he feels okay about it.
===Okinawa Arc===
When the Shinpaku Alliance planned to follow Ryozanpaku to Okinawa, Natsu refused to go despite being asked by Takeda and Nijima. Natsu is shown in a Yami base with Kajima, Rachel, and Chikage playing Shogi during the time that Ryozanpaku attacked the Okinawa Yami base. Rachel assumed that he was next in line to challenge Kenichi but was corrected by Kajima who stated that Sōgetsu showed no interest in Kenichi and muttered that he was moodier than he heard. Kajima asked if Natsu if he was interested to play a game, but Rachel claimed that he was rather unsocial in school based on her observations, which prompted him to speak out, stating that he plays Othello. When Kajima had tried to use his mind reading ability on Natsu, Kajima was unable to read his thoughts and stated that Hermit is skilled at concealing his heart. After Kokin's defeat, Natsu shows up with the Shinpaku Alliance as they visited Kenichi, stating that there is a rumor that Kokin and his master fled to Thailand. Niijima questioned how Natsu knew that, but Natsu claimed it was just a rumor with a smirk.
===The Tidat Kingdom Arc===
Later at school, Kenichi asked him about Shō's background and only told him what he knew about the guy. When Miu is kidnapped by Jenazad, Tanimoto shows sympathy towards Kenichi and even smiles when Kenichi regains his fire to save her. Then he was asked by Kenichi on when was he here, resulting him into becoming silent.
===Return to Japan Arc===
Following Miu's return and Jenazad's death, Tanimoto was absent from school for a while attending YOMI's meetings. After coming back to school, he tells Kenichi not to let his guard down, but the latter wants to talk to him privately. During the ensuing conversation, Hermit explains Ogata's talent in raising powerful disciples, although this only makes Kenichi wonder whether or not he would kidnap her the same way Jenazad did. Tanimoto claims that he will just make her into fodder for his own disciples before issuing a cryptic warning to his rival, saying that the enemy will come after more than just him, and someone will probably die in the upcoming battle. Kenichi refutes this claim and asserts that he won't let that happen to anyone, momentarily impressing Hermit.
===Titan Arc===
During a mass training session for the Shinpaku Alliance, Tanimoto appears at the alliance's headquarters playing another game with Honoka, his skills impressing her this time. When Nijima tries to kick Rachel Stanley out of their hideout, she points out that since they let Hermit hang around, she should also be allowed. Kenichi happily considers the visiting YOMI members his comrades, but Tanimoto is called away alongside Rachel and Chikage to participate in a mission. Upon arriving at the YOMI base, the trio encounter Ryūto Asamiya and two of Ogata's other disciples, one of which is revealed to be his old enemy, Berserker. Mikumo Kushinada enters the room and greets the gathered disciples, citing their past defeats to practitioners of the Saving Fist philosophy. She tosses a series of shuriken at them, but the YOMI members manage to dodge and counter with relative ease. Berserker then tells his fellow disciples off for underestimating their opponents before pondering out loud what kind of fights they've been in.
He is then called back with Chikage and Rachel as Mikumo pairs them with Berserker and Lugh as she sends them to kill Kenichi and his friends. He later arrives at the amusement park with the other Yomi members. At night, he appears behind Siegfried and prepares to fight him. Sieg notes this is the choice he made and always had suspicion with him and declares he will force him back to their side stating he won't preach to bad children who don't listen. They continue to fight as Siegfried complements his improved skills as Hermit does to Siegfried. Siegfried then asks why doesn't he play the "ensemble of friendship" with them, but Hermit says it can't be helped due to how things ended up and all things must come to an end. Siegfried disagrees and clashes with him stating there are some things that will never end, and this surprises Hermit as a part of his hood is cut.
Their battle continues with both sides complimenting each other's skills and Siegfried saying he won't speak to someone as an equal who won't accept friendship which Hermit refuses to do so, leading to a final clash of the two. Eventually, Sieg is defeated by Hermit noting the slight difference in strength, demanding he realize what friends do to help polish one's skills. Hermit acknowledges his increased skills but tells him to not try to look down on him after losing. Siegfried just scoffs stating his reason that he still has a way to go and if he'd fought with Kenichi now, he would definitely lose, much to Hermit's annoyance, realizing he should have fought Kenichi instead and decides not to kill Siegfried.
===The Eternal Sunset Arc===
Hermit was seen present when Kajima introduced disciples from the weapons team. When he asked Kajima if he should stop Rachel from attacking Hyougo, Kajima laughed stating this was likely to happen.
After Shigure's abduction, Kenichi asks him at school if he knows anything, and, after giving a serious look, Kenichi figures he's processing what he said and doesn't know for certain where she is. Then Kenichi tells him he can't have Honoka which prompts a comical outburst from Tanimoto. Natsu is later seen with the rest of the Yomi disciples preparing for the eternal sunset, keeping to himself as the other unarmed Yomi members clashed with the armed disciples.
When Nijima lead the Shinpaku Alliances (which the exception of few, i.e, non-combatants) and one Military man to the other end of the island as per request, Natsu was seen together with the Yomi and disciples from Haichou Executioner on the top of the cliff.
He was later seen with the rest of YOMI (minus Kajima) facing the Shinpaku Alliance. After Kenichi, Miu and Niijima escape, he and the other disciples charge towards the Shinpaku Alliance.
However, Hermit and the other unarmed YOMI disciples remain on the sidelines during the ensuing battle. He then reacts surprised in seeing Chikage seemingly changed from before. After Chikage's assault on the armed division's lack of honor and ganging up on the Shinpaku Alliance, Hermit allies with the alliance temporarily as he assaults Sayama. He then contacts his master as Kensei is about to be killed, stating he was unable to save his sister, but Sōgetsu can still save his brother. His master saves Kensei at the last second, commenting how noisy his disciple is.
Once they start to overwhelm the weapons team, Hyougo takes the lead and has them work together more effectively. Just then, two masters: Chin Sougaku (crescent moon spade) and Ortal Sin (jamadhar) arrive and begin to put more pressure on them. However, Ryuto, Renka, Koan Shokatsu and Genson Ryu, Renka's fellow disciples, arrive and attack the enemy reinforcements. Once Ryuto tells them what to do, Hermit fights along side Ryuto and Berserker against Chin.
At the disciples' battlefield, the Shinpaku Alliance senses that Kenichi is in trouble. Tanimoto confirms that he also feels Kenichi's ki, along with the Shinpaku Alliance and Yomi of the unarmed division, and called out to him to not give up as Kenichi's eyes regain their strength.
Eventually, once Ryuto, Hermit and Berserker unleash their most powerful moves they defeat Chin. Afterwards once the YOMI forces retreat, Ryuto and everyone else celebrate the collapse of Yami.
===Epilogue===
In the Epilogue, Tanimoto leaves Yomi, but is now annoyed how Honoka and now his master now frequently stays at his house more often. Regardless, he now seems to enjoy their company.