He’s polarizing. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time in the To Your Eternity fandom, you know that mentioning Kahaku is like throwing a lit match into a room full of gasoline. Some people see him as a tragic, multi-generational victim of his own lineage. Others just see a manipulator who couldn't take no for an answer.
Kahaku is the sixth leader of the Guardians. He is also the first male descendant of Hayase to lead the cult-like group dedicated to "protecting" Fushi. But let’s be real: the Guardians have always been more about obsession than actual protection. When Kahaku enters the Renril Arc, he brings a massive shift in how we view the relationship between Fushi and the Hayase bloodline.
He’s complicated. He isn't just a carbon copy of his grandmother.
The Weight of the Knocker in Kahaku’s Arm
Most characters in To Your Eternity fear the Knockers. They are the primary antagonists—soulless, parasitic entities that steal Fushi’s forms and memories. Kahaku, however, lives in a bizarre state of symbiosis with one. It’s living in his left arm. It’s gross, if we’re being blunt.
This isn't just a weapon for him; it's a curse he inherited. The Knocker provides him with incredible combat prowess, allowing him to shapeshift his limb into blades or hammers to defend Fushi. But it also has its own agenda. This creates a fascinating dynamic where Kahaku is constantly battling for autonomy. Is he doing these things because he wants to, or because the parasite in his marrow is nudging him toward specific impulses?
The show (and Yoshitoki Ōima’s manga) does a brilliant job of blurring those lines. You see him struggle with the fact that he is biologically tied to the very thing Fushi hates most. It makes his "devotion" feel less like a choice and more like a biological imperative he’s trying to navigate with some semblance of human dignity.
Why Kahaku and Fushi’s Relationship Feels So Wrong (And So Right)
Fushi is an immortal being who, for a long time, didn't even understand gender or romantic love. Then comes Kahaku. Unlike the previous descendants who were violently aggressive, Kahaku tries a different approach: kindness. Or at least, his version of it.
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He proposes to Fushi. Yeah, that happened.
It’s one of the weirdest moments in the series because it forces Fushi to confront the idea of a permanent partner. Kahaku claims to love Fushi for who they are, not just as a deity. But can we really trust that? The "Hayase Will" is a powerful thing. For generations, this family has been obsessed with becoming one with Fushi. Kahaku argues that he is different because he’s a man and therefore "outside" the direct cycle of his female ancestors, but his actions often mirror theirs in a quieter, more insidious way.
He’s a bit of a "nice guy" trope turned up to eleven. He does helpful things, builds the Guardians into a legitimate force, and stays by Fushi's side, but there’s always that underlying pressure. He wants Fushi to choose him. When Fushi adopts a female form (Parona's form, specifically), Kahaku’s attraction spikes, which adds another layer of discomfort. It highlights that his love is conditional on his own desires, rather than Fushi’s identity.
The Turning Point in Renril
During the siege of Renril, everything falls apart for Kahaku. This is where his character arc hits the point of no return. You see him realize that no matter how many Knockers he kills or how many walls he builds, he will never be Fushi’s "person."
The jealousy is palpable.
When Bonchinche (Bon) enters the picture, Kahaku’s insecurity flares. Bon sees through people. He sees the ghosts. He sees the truth. Kahaku hates that. He realizes he’s a secondary character in Fushi's grand epic, and for someone raised to believe they are the "Chosen Protector," that’s a hard pill to swallow.
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The betrayal that follows isn't just a plot twist. It’s the result of someone realizing their entire identity is a lie. His Knocker—the one in his arm—eventually turns on the group, leading to a catastrophic loss of Fushi’s forms. Was it Kahaku’s fault? Technically, the Knocker acted. But Kahaku’s mental state gave it the opening it needed.
Is Kahaku Actually a Villain?
It's not black and white. If you look at characters like Tonari or Gugu, they had pure intentions. Kahaku’s intentions are a muddy swamp.
- He genuinely helped Fushi. Without the Guardians' resources, Fushi would have struggled significantly more to prepare for the Knocker invasions.
- He sought redemption. He tried to break the cycle of his family.
- He was a biological disaster. Having a Knocker in your arm is like having a ticking time bomb attached to your soul.
Some fans argue he’s a victim of fate. Others say he’s a stalker with a better PR team than his ancestors. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. He represents the tragedy of the Hayase line: the idea that even when someone wants to be better, they are often dragged down by the weight of their heritage and the expectations of their cult.
His ending is equally divisive. His final act is one of both ultimate sacrifice and ultimate selfishness. By removing the Knocker and ending his own life, he stops the immediate threat, but he also leaves Fushi with the trauma of another lost companion—even if that companion was a complicated mess.
Navigating the Legacy of the Guardians
To understand Kahaku, you have to look at the Guardians as a whole. They aren't just a group; they are a commentary on religion and the deification of individuals. Fushi doesn't want to be a god. The Guardians insist on it.
Kahaku is the face of that forced deification. He tries to humanize it through romance, but it's still a form of control. This is a recurring theme in To Your Eternity—the struggle between how people see Fushi and who Fushi actually is.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Readers
If you're trying to wrap your head around Kahaku's role in the series or his impact on the story, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Watch the Body Language
In the anime, pay close attention to Kahaku's left arm. The way it moves independently or twitches during moments of emotional stress tells you exactly how much control he’s losing. The animators did a stellar job of making the arm feel like a separate, predatory entity.
Read the Renril Arc Twice
The first time, you’ll likely focus on the action. The second time, focus specifically on Kahaku’s dialogue during the "downtime." You’ll notice how often he tries to isolate Fushi from other friends. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Compare Him to Mizuha
If you’ve moved on to the Modern Era arc in the manga, compare Kahaku to Mizuha. You’ll see how the Hayase "curse" evolves. Kahaku was the bridge between the ancient obsession and the modern-day psychological complexity of the bloodline.
Acknowledge the Gender Subversion
Think about why the author chose to make the sixth leader a man. It breaks the "mother-daughter" cycle of the previous leaders and makes the romantic tension with Fushi more complex, especially given Fushi’s fluid nature. It challenges the viewer to think about whether the obsession is tied to gender or something much deeper in their DNA.
Kahaku remains one of the most brilliantly written "gray" characters in modern shonen/seinen manga. He isn't there to be liked. He's there to make you uncomfortable and to show that even "love" can be a weapon if it's born from obsession.