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. Claiming that the strong should be protected and the weak defeated. It is implied to be a means of measuring his own strength. He enjoys provoking the weak into fights and tormenting them, to the point of dismissing his superiors because he is more powerful than them. However he is willing to take orders from the head of the company. Furthermore, Kurono believes that people have to potential to become stronger, however their weakness must be cherished becuase it is temporary. 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 pale eyes with light sharpened 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 is very skilled in hand-to-hand combat, capable of quick movement and powerful strikes by uses a style based around his right arm. 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, a kunai and a sword from the smoke. By using both hands, he is able to coat a weapon with flames.

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, Kurono 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. After the exercise ends, Kurono gets into an altercation and chokes a scientist until his peer de-escalates the situation. Being aware that Shinra was visiting the facility soon, Kurono looks forward to the next experiment against him. Upon Shinra's arrival, Kurono faces Shinra in another combat test and 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. While keeping ahold of Nataku, Kurono continues to chase after Shinra and Victor before encountering the rest of Company 8. Noticing Tamaki and Iris, Kurono beings to focus his attacks on them while Arthur and Akitaru move to protect the two. His assult is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Charon and his henchmen as they make their attempt to abduct the Sixth Pillar. While dueling the cultist, Kurono loses his hold of Nataku. Despite this, he still focuses on attacking the weaker members of Company 8. Becoming bored by Arthur's defense, Kurono switches his focus to Charon's henchmen and effortlessly slaughters them. While Kurono, Charon and Akitaru get into another struggle over Nataku, Ritsu of the Ash Knights uses the ashes of the dead to create a Flame Giant that absorbs Nataku into its mass. After receiving orders from Haijima's President, Kurono is willing to help Shinra to save the child.



Upon seeing Nataku's true power, Kurono initially plans on killing him to reslove things before deciding the boy is too strong and that he no longer wants to be involved. While Charon and Shinra move to destory the now out of control Giant, Kurono claims that Nataku is too naive to be ready for power. Kurono watches as Nataku's raditation blast is unleased and threatens the entire Tokyo Empire. He also witnesses Charon deflecting the attack saving them all. Deciding that Nataku becoming too powerful and too dangerous, Kurono calves the Flame Giant apart and rips Naktaku out of its remains. Claiming that the boy truly seeks weakness, Kurono manages to calm him down by letting him accept his own limitations and weaknesses instead of living up to impossible standards.

Trivia

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