Kuroko Usami

* Anime
* Manga

## **[Image Gallery]**

**Kuroko Usami** (宇 (う) 佐 (さ) 美 (み)  黒 (くろ) 子 (こ) , *Usami Kuroko*) is the Tactician as well as the Green Sword, First position of the Uesugi Bushi.

## Appearance

Kuroko is a women with long black hair, tied up in a ponytail with uneven bangs that cover up her left eye. She also wears a lace eyepatch that covers up her left eye as well. She has a thin scar going over her right eye, but this doesn't seem to impair her sight.

She wears lace gloves and a lace dress, along with heels.

## Synopsis

### Awaji Island Recapture Operation Arc

Kuroko Usami, the Uesugi Band tactician, explains that the first deployment's mission is to lure the rampant lesser oni on Awaji to a single location and Kanetatsu Naoe will be leading it. Kuroko continues to explain that the lesser oni have sturdy horns and most Bushi won't be able to cut them. The men then wonder why Kanetatsu is leading it. Tatsuomi Uesugi explains that Kanetatsu one of the strongest of his Bushi, but refuses any honors or promotions, so Tatsuomi bestowed him with the "tatsu" from his name, and Kanetatsu is one of his three dragons.

Tatsuomi suspects that there is a spy and assigns Kuroko to find it. When Michiru and Musashi form a black crystal, Kuroko captures them and tells Tatsuomi that Michiru was on her list of potential spies. However, she suggest that Tatsuomi arrest Musashi and lets Michiru. As Tatsuomi does, Michiru later contacts Yataro and Kuroko is able to trace it and find the enemy location.

Kuroko, Kanetatsu, Masaki and other bushi arrive to attack some oni, who were attacking Musashi, Michiru and Akihiro. As the oni tell them to move as they want the obsidian goddess, Kuroko and Kanetatsu realize that Musashi or Michiru is the goddess. Kuroko goes and binds Michiru's wounds with her blade energy to stop her bleeding. As Musashi wonders why she is helping them, Kuroko starts explaining since one of them is the goddess, but stops midway and states she just wants to be friends with them, which Musashi believes. Meanwhile, Kanetatsu and the rest had killed the oni and the three remaining oni consume on of theirs to become larger and stronger. Kanetatsu and the rest go protecting the castle from the other oni, while Kuroko stays with Musashi and Michiru. When Tatsuomi shows up, she explains that he is yellow bushi and specializes in enhancing physical traits. As he buffs the bushi, they easily manage to defeat the oni.

Moments later Shiro Inukai appears and states he got Tatsuomi. The Uesugi Bushi then chain their blade energy, but Seiroku Inukawa shows up and breaks the chain. Shiro switches Musashi's place with one of the Yamata no Orochi's head and without their blade energy, the Uesugi are unable to fight back. Eventually, Seiroku and Shiro run out of time and leave.

Kuroko then forms a plan to defeat Orochi, save Tatsuomi and defeat the Obsidian Eight. After explaining the plan, she gives special assignments to Musashi's squad to destroy Yura mine and the Shimazu to join them. Naotora doesn't like her plan and wish to only save Tatsuomi, otherwise Takeda Bushi won't be joining them. The next day, the battle starts and Kuroko uses Orochi's instincts to attack anything that threatens it or its offspring and causes fire at and near shore, tricking Orochi to start attacking there, and giving Musashi's group chance to reach it undetected due to the smokescreen. Seiroku had spies in her group and knows her plans, so he sets up an oni to defend the mine, but the Shimazu come and defeat it. Kuroko had plotted with Naotora to act like he won't join them, and as he appears that surprises the enemy, however, Seiroku know for both the Shimazu and Naotora, and assigns Shiro to transfer all the bombs meant for the mines over Naotora ships and blows the up. Seiroku then contacts Kuroko, happy about his victory and shares he loves when his plans work out. Kuroko reveals that she had him at the beach putting out fire as she wanted. With Naotora revealed to be alive, Seiroku wonders what is going on. Kuroko reveals she knew all of Seiroku's spies as normally the Uesugi soldiers would think twice before stepping on their clan crest flags, but his spies had no doubts. Kanetatsu then attacks Seiroku at the beach, with Kuroko noting that they need to break his Kitetsu blade to undo his blade energy blocking. Kanetatsu then breaks the seal and Kuroko sends the third deployment of black-clad elite Uesugi Bushi to defeat the Kishin.

## Etymology

* The name **Kuroko** means "beauty spot, prompter, black figures, stagehand, face mole/dark mole, mite" (黒子).
* Kuroko's surname **Usami** means "eaves, roof, house, heaven" (宇) (**u**), "help, aid" (佐) (**sa**) and "beautiful" (美) (**mi**).

## Trivia

* Kuroko has the same surname as one of the retainers of Uesugi Kenshin, Usami Sadamitsu.
* Kuroko has an extravagant fashion sense.

## References

Volume 09 Omake