Tatsumi’s full appearance.

Tatsumi stands at an average height, sporting captivating green eyes and medium-length brown hair that features a distinctive cowlick, giving him a somewhat casual yet endearing look. Initially, his wardrobe consists of a high-collared white jacket layered over a tan sweater vest, along with black trousers, sturdy combat boots, and brown gloves. This outfit evolves as he embraces his role as an assassin, transforming into a more traditional white assassin jacket worn over a sleek purple hoodie and a fitted black base layer shirt, paired with dark jeans. On his back, he carries Incursio’s key—a short sword with an intricate chain-link tassel hanging from its hilt.

Trained in the art of combat from a young age, Tatsumi has developed a lean yet athletic physique. After a month of rigorous training while the Night Raid base was relocated, he noticeably bulked up, a change that did not go unnoticed by the imposing Esdeath.

Upon activating his Teigu, Tatsumi becomes encased in armor that recalls the design worn by his late mentor. This armor is crafted for agility, allowing him to move freely while still providing protection. The long flowing cape remains a staple of his look. As Incursio evolves, granting him unprecedented power, the armor becomes more streamlined and aerodynamic, characterized by elongated horns, four eyes reminiscent of a Tyrant, and claw-like appendages at his fingertips. The long coat is replaced with two cascading black tassels that feature frayed ends.

As Tatsumi merges with Incursio, he begins to exhibit draconian traits inspired by its design motif, Tyrant. After the armor undergoes its first evolution, he manifests a single red eye with a cross-slit pupil, and the cowlick that once defined his hairstyle vanishes. With the second invocation of his Teigu, Tatsumi undergoes a more profound transformation, adopting a draconic visage. The right side of his face becomes scaly and reptilian, crowned by a formidable horn that juts from the back of his head. His right hand takes on a similar appearance, featuring tusk-like fingernails and segmented skin plates. After invoking it a third time, two horns sprout from either side of his head, further enhancing his draconic features.

In the climactic final evolution of Incursio, Tatsumi sheds all remnants of his human appearance. His draconian traits become fully realized, as scales cover his entire body, and his mouth morphs into that of a dragon, filled with sharp, jagged teeth. During this transformation, even the advanced scanning technology of Shikoutazer fails to recognize him as human.

Ultimately, when Tatsumi is completely consumed by Incursio, he transforms into a gigantic dragon, towering to the size of a small building. In contrast to Incursio’s original form, Tatsumi’s dragon body is more compact and agile, featuring large, powerful wings and multiple red eyes, rendering him indistinguishable from a Danger Beast.

Tatsumi, the main protagonist of Akame ga Kill!, starts as an optimistic young man from a small village who travels to the capital with his friends to earn money and save their home. However, his idealism is shattered when he discovers the deep corruption in the capital. Separated from his friends, who are killed by the city’s elites for sadistic pleasure, Tatsumi is rescued by Night Raid, an assassin group fighting against the corrupt Empire. Seeking justice and vengeance for his fallen friends, Tatsumi joins Night Raid.

Under the guidance of Akame and other Night Raid members, Tatsumi trains hard and grows into a formidable warrior. He inherits Incursio, an Imperial Arms that grants him immense power and armor, allowing him to face increasingly dangerous foes, including Esdeath, the powerful leader of the Jaegers who becomes infatuated with him.

Tatsumi’s journey is marked by intense battles and personal growth. He fights to dismantle the Empire’s corruption, forming bonds with his comrades and developing a romantic relationship with Mine. In the anime, Tatsumi sacrifices his life to protect the capital’s citizens, a final act of heroism. However, in the manga, he survives the final battle but is transformed into a dragon-like creature due to prolonged use of Incursio. He returns to his village with Mine, who is pregnant with their child, after helping to overthrow the corrupt government.

Tatsumi’s story is one of sacrifice, growth, and the harsh realities of fighting for justice in a morally complex world.

Tatsumi’s Incursio

At the outset of his journey, Tatsumi wields a short broadsword as his primary weapon, showcasing impressive swordsmanship that allows him to hold his own against formidable opponents, including Captain Ogre, and engage in lengthy battles against Teigu users like Zanku and Nyau. His combat skills even enable him to survive an encounter with Akame, despite lacking a Teigu of his own. Eventually, Tatsumi demonstrates remarkable versatility by mastering the spear, executing a move that splits two Giant Lizard Danger Beasts in half with a single strike.

Tatsumi’s fortunes change when he inherits the Teigu Incursio from Bulat, becoming its new successor. Upon first activating Incursio, Tatsumi impressively forces the demon armor to evolve, adapting it to his unique fighting style. His dedication to mastering this powerful weapon allows him to unlock its abilities at an astonishing pace. With Bulat’s training on Mt. Fake, Tatsumi develops a sixth sense, heightening his awareness during battles. After a month-long training period, Leone remarks on Tatsumi’s progress, noting that he has come close to matching Bulat’s strength, especially after witnessing him materialize and wield Neuntote, the spear/halberd auxiliary weapon.

Even before acquiring a Teigu, Tatsumi’s honed battle skills make him a formidable adversary. Trained in swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat by an ex-military official from a young age, Tatsumi’s abilities have only improved, enabling him to take down larger, more experienced foes with ease.

After donning Incursio, Tatsumi increasingly relies on his unarmed combat skills. His exceptional physical strength allows him to excel in close-quarters battles, as demonstrated during a tournament hosted by Esdeath, where he showcases his remarkable combat prowess. In training, Tatsumi proves capable of defeating a member of the “Temple of the Imperial Fist,” leveraging his skills without relying on Incursio. His strength is so formidable that while using Incursio, he can easily obliterate boulders many times his size, and he displays enough raw power to lift a bear-like Danger Beast with minimal effort.

When Tatsumi forces Incursio to evolve again through sheer emotion, his strength and speed reach incredible heights. He manages to hold his own against both Esdeath and Budo, especially after Incursio evolves to withstand ice and lightning attacks. This newfound resilience allows him to momentarily resist the effects of Esdeath’s formidable Trump Card, Mahapadma. Additionally, Tatsumi successfully avoids one of Budo’s lightning strikes, capitalizing on the opportunity to deliver a powerful counterattack.

Notably, Tatsumi achieves what few have done before: he lands clean, powerful blows on both Esdeath and General Budo. This accomplishment surprises everyone, including Esdeath and Akame, and even astonishes Tatsumi himself. However, these feats are partly attributed to Esdeath’s affections for Tatsumi and her enjoyment of the battle, combined with General Budo’s lack of experience.

As Incursio continues to evolve, it forms a bond with Tatsumi, ultimately allowing him to embody Tyrant’s new dragon form. This transformation, while powerful, comes at a cost, as Tatsumi faces the risk of being overwhelmed by Incursio’s influence after only a few uses. Remarkably, this evolution grants him resistance to poison, including a lethal toxin from Cosmina. Tatsumi proves his mettle by defeating Cosmina when she transforms into a hybrid Danger Beast, even though she would have had the advantage had she fed on humans for another two days. Despite these odds, Tatsumi manages to repel both Budo and Esdeath, two of the Empire’s strongest warriors.

Esdeath acknowledges Tatsumi’s growing power and the ongoing evolution of Incursio during their battle on the day of the Revolution. Although he is unable to land a decisive blow on Esdeath, he demonstrates the ability to hold his ground against her and protect the rebels, showcasing his strength and adaptability.

Tatsumi’s resilience shines through when he withstands Esdeath’s devastating ‘Hagel Sprung’ technique without sustaining any injuries. He reaches the pinnacle of his abilities after once more forcing his Teigu to evolve, gaining the power necessary to confront Shikoutazer. In this form, Tatsumi can inflict serious damage, destroying the Supreme Teigu with just two strikes, the second of which pierces through its weakened area. He also endures Shikoutazer’s artillery strikes with remarkable fortitude.

Despite the immense power of this transformation, it proves short-lived, as Incursio’s influence rapidly takes over. Ultimately, Tatsumi emerges as a well-rounded fighter with immense potential, recognized by Leone, Bulat, Esdeath, and Budo alike. Leone is the first to spot his potential and recommends him as a new recruit. Bulat believes that Tatsumi will eventually surpass him, while Esdeath envisions him as having the potential to rise to a general-class fighter. General Budo, too, acknowledges Tatsumi’s combat prowess, especially after he merges with his Teigu.

Beyond his combat abilities, Tatsumi possesses skills as a blacksmith, capable of repairing and crafting weapons. Although he is still a novice in this craft, he utilizes it as a cover during his time in the Capital, where he is known as “Tatsumi the Blacksmith” during Esdeath’s competition. Additionally, Tatsumi demonstrates culinary skills, having prepared meals for Night Raid during the early days of his journey.