The central protagonist whose journey defines the series' narrative arc. After serving a seven-year prison sentence as a scapegoat for a yakuza hit, he returns to find his sacrifice ignored by his organization. This betrayal propels him into the Owada clan's internal power struggles and assassination plots, transforming him into a vengeful figure navigating a brutal, honorless underworld.
Kuroda acts as a legal shield for Kusunoki, sacrificing his freedom for a debt that is later ignored.
Kobayashi pledges allegiance to Kuroda alongside Shimura, forming a core trio.
A transactional relationship marked by initial betrayal and eventual reluctant acceptance.