Name: Aoshi Shinomori
Aliases: Okashira (leader)
Age: 26
Birthdate: January 1853
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Blue
Blood Type: A
Aoshi is the leader of the Onmitsu Oniwa Banshu (elite ninga group) and treated with high respect by the others. He became the group's leader at the young age of fifteen as appointed by Okina. He is a very skilled swordsman and he almost defeated Kenshin in their first match. He is a master of kenpou and his technique is the Nitou Ryuu. He has an intense desire to be the most powerful, so he continues to battle the one who has the coveted title. He will crush anyone who dares to get in his way - may he be friend or foe. At the end of the Tokugawa Era, the group split up, but Aoshi still led the remaining warriors. As a leader, he trained his men to be the best, to live up to their prestigious syndicate.
He was offered a post in the Meiji government but declined as he had to leave the rest of the Oniwa Banshuu. This guy here is extremely dangerous and strong. He unlike others uses a special weapon kodachi. A shorter and more flexible sword than the katana.
Nevertheless, his age didn't matter for skills were excellent. At sixteen, he became the chief spy protecting the Edo Castle prior to the restoration. He used to act as the second in command, under Takeda, though he's practically the boss. He refused the position to train his men and to see to their welfare.
Currently, Aoshi lives in Kyoto at the Aoiya, where other Oniwa Banshu members such as Misao and Okina live and work. For a lengthy period, he spends time meditating in a shrine to think about his past, despite being harassed by Misao at home. Still, Aoshi is a quiet individual. He keeps to himself most of the time, as he is that type of person.
He's an enigmatic figure and he doesn't betray his emotions by having them written all over his face. He doesn't exhibit any emotion at all, maybe a few, but the man certainly does not know how to smile. Despite the cold and calculating facade, he does, or did, have a heart.
In Tokyo, the Oniwa Banshu had gotten a bad name because they were affiliated with Kanryu Takeda, yet, Aoshi and his men kept their sense of pride. Kanryu thought he owned the Oniwa Banshu, but Aoshi never showed any signs of being controlled. Aoshi was his own individual and not a lackey. When Kenshin had raided Kanryu's mansion due to the kidnapping of Megumi, the Oniwa Banshu had fought with Kenshin and Sanosuke. In the end, it was Aoshi against Kenshin. This was the biggest fight for Aoshi. If Aoshi could defeat the man known as Battousai, he would earn himself the title of the strongest. Unfortunately, Aoshi was defeated in combat, but promised to fight Kenshin again another day. Shortly after, an enraged Kanryu tried to kill off Aoshi for disobeying him with a gatling gun, but instead, the loyal four to Aoshi protected their master with their bodies.
After defeated by Kenshin and witnessed the death of the Onmitsu Oniwa Banshuu, he promised himself that he would defeat Kenshin to get the title of the 'strongest' to honor them. He later learns to use two kodachis ( Kodachi Nitouryu).
Aoshi buried Hannya, Shikijo, Beshimi, and Hyottoko's bodies in the mountains and lived there in solitude for quite some time. When word about Makoto Shishio's plot to overthrow the government was heard of and Kenshin went off to Kyoto, that's when Aoshi revealed himself again. Over the period of time, Aoshi had turned into a devil, building up hate for Kenshin because he wanted to earn the title of the strongest for his men. With some help from Soujirou, Aoshi returned to Kyoto in search of Kenshin.
Upon his return to Kyoto, Aoshi was not the same person as before. He had joined an alliance with Shishio, since he was promised a battle with Kenshin in the future, and even went as far as to severely injure the Okina, a well-respected Oniwa Banshu member. In Shishio's base, Kenshin encountered Aoshi. The promise of another battle between the two was kept, but it was different than before. Although the battle had ended in the same way, Aoshi losing, there was a different result. Kenshin had hit Aoshi with the succession technique of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, the Ama Kakeru Ryuu no Hirameki, causing Aoshi to see the light. No longer was he possessed with the goal of becoming the strongest.
He was the man who raised Misao halfway through her life until he relegated the duty to his good friend and mentor, Okina.
Technique
Kaiten Kenbu Aoshi's most powerful attack. The Kaiten Kenbu starts off with the user in the air, then quickly slashes the opponent three times. No one has ever survived from this attack (except for Kenshin).
Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren This technique was thought up by Aoshi during the Shi-Shio Saga when he switched his style to Kodachi No Nitou Ryu (Double Kodachi Style). This is basically the same as the Kaiten Kenbu but done with two kodachi. However, instead of slashing three times, Aoshi slashes six times. This technique can be initiated by either hand.
Waterflow A defensive technique of the Oniwa Banshu Kodachi Ryu. Aoshi slows down his movements and produces multiple images of himself making it hard for the opponent to hit the real Aoshi.
Waterflow switch to Kaiten Kenbu An attack Aoshi only used once during the series. He starts off with the Waterflow technique to confuse the opponent, then quickly switches to the Kaiten Kenbu to finish off the opponent. Because this combo switches from defense to offense, it leaves Aoshi defenseless for a split second.
