Kyuzo (Samurai 7)

Kyuzo is a major antagonist turned major protagonist in Samurai 7. He is voiced by Shin-Ichiro Miki in Japanese and Sonny Strait in English.
==Biography==
Kyuzo started off as a samurai working for Ukyo. After a priestess named Kirara gets away from Ukyo thanks to Kanbei, Kyuzo is sent by Ayamaro to kill the entire group, including Kirara. After a couple of battles with Kanbei, who is quick to appreciate Kyuzo's skill, Kyuzo decides to join the group as he wants to be the one to slay Kanbei in battle and acknowledges the old samurai will not fight to the death until the village is saved from the Nobuseri.
Despite being on the team, Kirara doesn't trust him due to his former allegiance. This changes when Kyuzo goes out of his way to protect her, knowing some enemies would come back for him. When she asks why he wants to kill Kanbei, he admits that he doesn't have an actual reason and just desires a proper battle to the death.
Upon arriving at the village, the samurai train the farmers to fight and engage the Nobuseri, who make their anger toward Kyuzo's betrayal clear when he allows himself to be captured with his fellow samurai. From within, the group takes the battle to the Nobuseri with Kyuzo striking most of the bandits down. After taking down a Nobuseri ship, the group have a sniper to deal with. Kyuzo splits up to deal with the sniper and scout around as the rest return to the village. After taking out a few bandits and swiping one of their weapons, Kyuzo reunites with the group as they get ready for the next battle.
After the battle, Kanbei takes off to the capital. Because of this, Kyuzo prepares to follow behind. Upon arriving at the village, Kyuzo saves his former boss, Ayamaro, from some men who threatened his life. He at first shows willingness to spare one of them under the promise they don't harm Ayamaro or Kanbei. When said criminal says they deserve to die, Kyuzo strikes him down. From there, he finds himself keeping Ayamaro safe before reuniting with Kanbei and Kikuchiyo.
After they get Ayamaro settled in and Mizuki reunited with her sister, the group investigate other villages before stumbling upon a destroyed Nobuseri. Afterward, they split from the farmers to face the Capital. When Ukyo orders the main cannon to be fired, the samurai use it to their advantage to board the capital. Kyuzo stays behind to take out straggling Nobuseri. He eventually arrives in time to save the rest of the samurai from Tessai. However, as he gets ready to save Kanbei from an attacking soldier, he is shot by Katsushiro along with the same soldier by accident.
In his last moments, he tells Kanbei to finish his job. He then expresses intent for the two of them to finish their fight in the afterlife before passing on. Kanbei takes Kyuzo's sword to remember him by.
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