Yūichirō Kurono

is a Third Generation, and a combatant of the Skills Development Laboratory at Haijima Industries.

Personality
Kurono is a stern and confident individual, implied to wishing to meet his end by a powerful person. Despite that, he is fixated on the weakness of others. Which is implied to be a means of measuring his own strength. He enjoys provoking the weak into fights and will dismiss the orders of his superiors because he is more powerful than everyone around him. According to Victor Licht as 'The Craziest', in contrast to Benimaru's status as 'The Strongest'. These traits result in him underestimating strong opponents and showing confusion when they display anything other a weakness.

Appearance
Kurono is a tall young man with short dark coloured hair, and very angular eyes with light pupils. His right arm is blackened and charred as the result of overheating his body - which he typically wraps in white bandages, and unwraps when he's about to fight. His attire consists of a plain white collared shirt with a black tie and a white Shinigami-esque skull tie pin, long dark pants with a white Shinigami-esque skull belt, and dark shoes.

Abilites
Kurono excels in hand-to-hand combat, he is capable of quick movement and powerful strikes. His overall power is viewed as equal to Benimaru Shinmon and he would be able to join any combat-focused group he wished. Using his Ignition Ability, Kurono can emit smoke from his Ash Disease affected arm, which can reach the temperature of 130 celsius. With the smoke, he can manipulate it to enter people's bodies, resulting in them burning internally and dying. He can also manifest weapons such as knives and kunai from the smoke.

History
While Kurono was being held at Haijima Industries to be treated for his Tephrosis, he encountered a young Shinra Kusakabe, who viewed him as an evil person. Despite being capable of joining any Fire Force company, he chose to stay at Haijima Industries, with others saying he's waiting for his own destruction.

Haijima Industries arc
At Haijima Industries, Kuruno prepares Nataku for their third combat test against each other. Telling Nataku to show him his power, the boy attacks Kurono but is effortlessly defeated. Bring instructed to stop the fight, Kurono wraps his arm back in bandages. Getting into an altercation with a worker who watched the fight, Kurono calls him weak while choking him until his peer de-escalates the situation. Being aware that Shinra was visiting the facility soon, he questions if the boy will be his opponent in the next experiment. Upon Shinra's arrival, Kurono faces Shinra in another combat test, during which he overwhelms him using his smoke control. When instructed to stop by the researchers, Kurono defies orders by using blocking their view, increasing the room temperature and continuing his battle.

As Victor Licht learns that Nataku is being held at the facility, the scientist opens a door to let Shinra flee from from Kurono, leading to pair searching for Nataku. Kurono is informed that Special Fire Force Company 8 has attacked the compound, and is instructed to go protect Nataku. Having found the boy, Kurono strangles him, during which he attacks a Haijima Industries security guard trying to get the boy.

Trivia

 * The first kanji in his name (黒) means black - which fits the theme of his Ignition Ability, Black Smoke.