Tenri Sazanami

Overview

Gallery

Tenri Sazanami
Japanese	漣 (さざなみ) 天 (てん) 理 (り)
Rōmaji	Sazanami Tenri
Relatives	Sora Sazanami (grandfather) † Kyora Sazanami (father) † Soya Sazanami (older brother) Hakuri Sazanami (older brother) Tamaki Sazanami (older sister) Enji Sazanami (older brother) Several other siblings
Biographical Information
Age	16 (at death)
Status	Deceased
Birthdate	February 8th
Physical Description
Gender	Male
Eye Color	Blue
Hair Color	White
Professional Information
Previous Affiliation	Sazanami Clan
Team	Tou
Previous Occupation	Sorcerer
Debut
Manga	Chapter 23 Chapter 33 (Named)

“I have to make Father proud.” ― Tenri's resolution to continue defending the Rakuzaichi even after being defeated by Shiba

Tenri Sazanami (漣 (さざなみ) 天 (てん) 理 (り) , Sazanami Tenri) was one of the four members of the Sazanami Clan's Special Forces known as the Tou. He was Hakuri's younger brother of one year and is extremely devoted not only to the Rakuzaichi, but also to making his father proud of him. He ultimately died as a result of using semi-stabilised Datenseki in a last-ditch attempt to defend the Rakuzaichi, which caused his body to explode.

He is a major antagonist in the Rakuzaichi Arc.

Appearance

Tenri was a young man slightly shorter than Hakuri. He had blue eyes and white hair, which was tied upwards in the middle by several hairties. He usually wore the Tou uniform; a black vest over a white dress shirt and black pants.

Personality

Tenri was an assertive and self-confident individual, as seen in his comments during the fight with Chihiro. He was also highly strategic, reacting quickly to changes during fights and requesting his father's backup.

Tenri's most notable trait was his absolute loyalty to Kyora and the Rakuzaichi, so strong that he put them above his life. Even if his life was on the line, Tenri would give his all if it was his father's order. When asked by Chihiro if he was aware of the consequences of using Datenseki, Tenri argued that it didn't matter because he had to “fulfill his duty”. In essence, he was an ideal member of the Sazanami Clan, dedicating everything for the Clan and the Rakuzaichi.

He also showed traits of arrogance, thinking himself special because of his father's words, but calling Hakuri a “useless coward” and believing he wouldn't come to Chihiro's aid during the Raid on the Rakuzaichi.

Relationships

Kyora Sazanami

Tenri truly loved his father, and his praise was enough for him to give his all. His words were the sole absolute authority to Tenri, so much so that he was willing to “defend [the Rakuzaichi] to the death”. One of his main desires was to make Kyora proud, and defending his honor was one of Tenri's main goals. Even during his failure, Tenri's last words to Kyora were simple words of apology.

Hakuri Sazanami

Although due to their small age difference Hakuri and Tenri were often together and were both labeled “special” by their father, after they grew older and Hakuri struggled to make use of his spirit energy, Tenri's opinion of him grew more negative. He believed that if people found out about Hakuri, his father would be “disgraced”. Every time Tenri talked about Hakuri he used derogatory words like “idiot” or “useless coward", displaying his disdain for his sibling for his weakness and uselessness to the clan.

Plot

Past

As with all members of the Sazanami Clan, Tenri was raised to serve the clan and the auction above all else from a young age. As a blood relative of Kyora, he was viewed as 'special' by Kyora alongside Soya and Hakuri. Following the death of Hakuri's grandfather Sora when Tenri was 7, Kyora (who Sora had passed down Storehouse authority to) told Tenri, Hakuri and Soya that he would one day pass down clan leadership and governance of the Storehouse to one of them.

As Tenri and Hakuri grew up, Tenri was able to make use of spirit energy but Hakuri was not, prompting him to be ostracised and bullied by the clan members, Tenri himself also viewing his older brother as useless, especially after seeing Kyora morose upon realising Hakuri's lack of sorcery potential. Later on, Tenri would single-handedly wipe out a defecting faction of the clan, prompting him to become the youngest individual ever to be promoted to the Tou in history. Seeing his father's pride, Tenri decided he had to make his father proud from thereon out.

Rakuzaichi Arc

When Chihiro and Shiba attacked the Sazanami Estate to pry information regarding Shinuchi from Kyora, Tenri was summoned alongside Enji and Tamaki to his father's side, and quickly told him why Soya was not present; he was searching for Hakuri, to Kyora's annoyance. Tenri, Enji, and Tamaki then prepared to engage Chihiro, activating Isou. Kyora announced they were the hunters now, and as Shiba proposed retreating to Chihiro his phone began ringing, Shiba immediately teleporting to Hinao at Chihiro's insistence. Tenri, Enji, and Tamaki then readied blades and attacked Chihiro, the battle moving outside the building, with Kyora quickly following.

Chihiro activated Nishiki and swiftly sliced through Tenri's blades, Tenri calling for his father to supply him with more, the blades appearing next to him. The battle continued, Tenri baiting Chihiro into attacking him before using a shockwave to halt his momentum and leave Chihiro in place for his siblings to attack, Enji readying a shockwave and Tamaki a sword. Shiba then teleported in with Soya, who was readying a shockwave of his own, Soya and Enji's clashing shockwaves sending them in opposite directions while Chihiro parried Tamaki's assault. The four Tou members prepared to attack again, but were interrupted as Kyora summoned Hakuri, having realised his role in allowing Chihiro and Shiba to arrive. Holding him hostage, Kyora then agreed to a trade with Chihiro; Hakuri for Enten. Following the trade, Chihiro, Hakuri and Shiba left the estate.

One week later, on the day of the Rakuzaichi, Kyora assigned the Tou to the corridor leading to the Naginojoen door rather than their usual position on the stage. Tenri and his siblings debated the reasoning, and concluded that it was likely in case of intruders such as Chihiro Rokuhira, who was likely to know about the door. Hakuri then poked his head out on the other end of the room, prompting Soya to chase after him while the remaining three Tou members were suddenly faced with Shiba's presence, and prepared to engage him.

The three Tou members fought hard but were ultimately overpowered by Shiba, who held a cigarette to Tenri's eye as he asked how to open the door. Wanting to save Tenri's life, Enji spoke up and said he would reveal how to open the door, but Tenri refused, not willing to let them interfere with the Rakuzaichi. Kyora then summoned a piece of semi-stabilised Datenseki by Tenri and ordered him to defend the auction to the death, Tenri agreeing with confidence and grabbing onto the Datenseki, to the dismay of Enji. Tenri stood up, now with a manifestation of spirit energy next to him in the form of a jellyfish.

Tenri re-engaged Shiba, who was surprised by the sudden increase in Tenri's strength and speed, Tenri's shockwaves now dealing massive damage to the surrounding area. Seeing Tenri fight, Enji also engaged Shiba, and Kyora then summoned a barrage of swords in front of Tenri, who launched them at Shiba with a large shockwave. Chihiro then arrived and halted the blades in place using Yui, and asked if Tenri knew the consequences of using Datenseki. Tenri shouted back that he knew but had to fulfill his duty first and foremost. While Shiba suspected Tenri's strength had a time limit and wanted to leave to wait it out, Chihiro replied that he would give Tenri an honourable death and kill him.

Overwhelmed by Tenri's speed, Chihiro had no choice but to use Mei: Shred to keep up, the two disappearing into rapid blurs clashing across the area. Tenri sensed an opportunity and lunged with an attack, but Chihiro zipped behind him and slashed towards his neck. Tenri's sudden murmur for his father momentarily slowed Chihiro's blade, just as Tenri's body could no longer handle the overabundance of spirit energy and exploded, Tenri apologising to his father in his last moments.

Abilities

Tenri has shown exceptional ability in being a sorcerer, not only becoming a member of the elite Tou forces, but also being the youngest to do so in history. His strategic thinking and ability to react quickly during battle can be seen in his near-automatic coordination with the support of his father's Storehouse. Alongside Enji and Tamaki, he was able to clash evenly with Chihiro Rokuhira, a wielder of an Enchanted Blade.

Sorcery

Isou: As a member of the Sazanami Clan, Tenri was able to use the family's signature technique, which allowed him to create and manipulate shockwaves. He used it as his primary form of attack and also used it in more unique ways, such as halting Chihiro's momentum during their first fight.

Tenri's spirit energy manifested in a form of a jellyfish.

Datenseki: After Tenri received a piece of semi-stabilized Datenseki from Kyora, his spirit energy increased significantly, making him much stronger and faster, so much so that he was even able to wound Shiba, a feat he had previously been unable to do. His spirit energy manifested in the form of a jellyfish, but unlike in the case of the Enchanted Blades, Tenri did not use any unique techniques, only using the amplified spirit energy to enhance his physical capabilities and Isou. This eventually led to his demise after his body, over-abundant with spirit energy, exploded.

Equipment

Twin Blades

Tenri acquires more blades

During his first fight with Chihiro, Tenri wielded two blades to clash with Chihiro's Enten in tandem with his shockwaves. After Chihiro broke his first set, Kyora supplied Tenri with a second set from the Storehouse.

Etymology

The name Tenri Sazanami (漣天理 Sazanami Tenri) can be broken down as follows:

• The surname Sazanami (漣) means 'ripples'.
• The given name Tenri (天理) means 'laws of nature' and consists of the character for 'heavens' (天) and 'logic' (理).