Name: Kougino Sou
Age: 23
Rank: N/A
Village: Kumogakure
Sou Kougino is known as a reclusive fallen monk as well as a killer for hire.
As a young boy, he had lost his father to illness. Because of his father's death, he was extremely protective of his mother. When he was first enrolled in the Kumogakure Ninja Academy, It took his mother an hour to convince him to leave her side. As more time went by, he began to become less dependant, but no less protective of her.
When Sou was 10, he had returned home one day to find his mother dead. Completely lost and confused, Sou laid next to her for five days before anyone ever noticed them. The doctors examined his mother and explained to him that she had passed from heart failure. Sou never heard them, his mind was completely lost. With no other family, Sou was turned over to the village's Buddhist temple, which provided shelter for orphans.
It took three years before the monks were ever able to get Sou to talk, interact, or even leave his room. He sat in a daze in his pitch-black room the whole time, never speaking or paying attention to anybody. There were many times when the monks would bring a candle with his meals, returning to find the candle extinguished and soaking in a glass of water.
After those three years, Sou finally emerged from his room, only to find that he could no longer withstand being out in the sunlight. The years in darkness had made his eyes weak to light, while also enhancing his hearing to a great extent. While being out in the daylight, he would often wear a headband around his eyes and guide himself by sound.
Despite what the monks had expected, Sou had emerged as a very gentle and kind person, taking to their lessons and teaching with fascination and excitement. When he was out among the public, Sou was somewhat awkward socially, but no less kind and generous.
Years later, Sou had returned from shopping to find ninjas all throughout the temple. One of them told him that some people were discovere to be spies from another ninja village. In their desperation, the spies had hidden in the temple, taking the monks hostage. Sou panicked and ran into the temple. The spies saw him, and thinking he was one of the ANBU, killed the high priest. At that instant, the ninja outside had cut the electricity to the temple, and the lights in the room went out.
When the ninja went in to clear the temple, they turned the lights back on, and found the spies dead, torn to pieces, and an unconscious Sou with clothes soaked in blood, and two large cuts on his face.
When Sou recovered, he was cast away the temple. The other priests saw him as a demon, and wanted him as far away from the temple as possible. Sou was furious that the people who took him in so many years ago would so quickly cast him aside.
The next morning, Sou left the temple and began his life as a wanderer. It wasn't until a few days later that anyone noticed that the temple was full of corpses.
It has been two years since then, and Sou is now a professional killer. He takes offers to kill just about anyone, save for mothers and their children.
Combat
Sou is a skilled fighter by day, and an excellent one by night. The years of darkness expanded the pupils of his eyes to take up almost 80% of the eye's visible surface area, giving him almost completely jet black eyes. These eyes take in light at a much higher intensity than normal, making starlight bright enough to seem like a well-lit room. This coupled with his heightened hearing puts him at an incredible advantage during the night. He often conceals himself during the day, preferring to fight exclusively in the darkness.
Sou wasn't in the ninja academy long enough to learn complex jutsu, nor any elemental ones. He relies almost exclusively on his own brand of improvised taijutsu. He also wields a monk's staff, which conceals a hidden blade. His fighting style relies on speed and stealth. Quick surprise attacks are his specialty.
Samsara - A technique in which Sou spins his blade multiple times in the time frame of a second. If he cuts down his enemy, he sheathes the blade, and sounds the ring chimes on his staff.
Nidana - A technique Sou uses to kill an enemy in a more painful manner. Sou cuts the enemy 12 times, severing vital tendons and ligaments, rendering the enemy incapable of moving, much less escaping. How the technique ends depends on Sou's mood, but never merciful.
Sunyata - The most common method used to end Nidana. Sou cuts a circle into the victim's chest, and tears out their heart.
San-youshiki - This is Sou preferred technique for assassination. It follows three stages...
Anicca - Inflicting a non-lethal injury on the target, often stabbing through the shoulder or leg.
Dukkha - Pursuit. Sou gives the target a moment to escape. While they are doing so, he tends to any others that are around. If the enemy doesn't flee, he inflicts more injuries similar to Anicca, or uses Nidana if the victim is getting out of control.
Anatta - Disembowelment. The arms and legs are cut away.
The victim then moves on to Nirvana, which is decapitation.