Itsuki Kurogane

"Ikki, you became a big person."

- Itsuki Kurogane

Itsuki Kurogane  is the current Head of the Kurogane Family and the Branch Chief of the League of Mage-Knight Nations' Japanese Branch. He is the son of Genma Kurogane as well as the grandson of the Legendary Blazer, Ryoma Kurogane. Itsuki is also the father of Ouma, Ikki, and Shizuku Kurogane.

Appearance
Itsuki greatly resembles his son Ikki; albeit a bit older, showed with tear troughs, as it would naturally come with age. He has long black wild hair that is combed back, although the back of his hairs are spiked up, as well as covering some of his ears. Itsuki has been seen wearing the attire of a businessman, is seen wearing a black business suit, coupled with a white collared dress shirt, and a black tie.

Personality
Due to his harsh upbringing, with his father and the elders of the Kurogane Family continuing to push all their ideals onto Itsuki before he was old enough to think for himself, Ituski has grown to be extremely devoted to his duties as both Head of the Kurogane Family as well as the Branch Chief League of Mage-Knight Nations' Japanese Branch, going as far as to force Hagun Academy to not allow his second son to take classes which ultimately caused him to fail school just for the sake of maintaining the harmony for of the Mage-Knight System. In fact, Itsuki's devotion to his duties went to the extent where he even permits Akaza to use whatever methods (ie. drugs) on Ikki, all for the sake of banishing him from the Mage Knight world.

However, Itsuki is shown to not be as extreme as his father, which his son noted. He loves his youngest child, his daughter Shizuku despite her anger towards him and never punishing her for anything, likely due to her being a genius, unlike Ikki. Despite Ouma having left the family, Itsuki is shown to still maintain contact with his oldest son and trusted him enough to entrust him with helping Tsukikage. Even towards his reputed useless son, Itsuki still gave him the choice of cutting off his ties to the Kurogane Family rather than having the entire clan continue to interfere with him and Ikki noted that the fact that he did not outright cut off Ikki's ties to the Kuroganes proved that not only does Itsuki fight for the balance of the Mage Knight system of Japan but also for the country's people. It is also possible that his constant attempts at stopping Ikki from being a Blazer was also because he believed that like with all other F-Rank Blazers, Ikki couldn't even handle bullets the E-Rank Blazers could and henceforth he didn't want his son to step into the battlefield as it may very well kill him, meaning although his extreme actions greatly contradict it, Itsuki deep down does care for Ikki. This is further proven by how although he is tolerant of the extreme methods used on his son, he never actually ordered his death and Itsuki himself stated he did not hate Ikki at all and only saw him as being incapable of doing anything and thus useless. His tone when referring to how he could not support Ikki despite all his achievements may also meant that he saw Ikki no longer being a Kurogane as not only a way to make sure his son would no longer be a threat but also to free his son from the burden the Kurogane Clan would continue to inflict. After Ikki stated no matter what Itsuki is still his father and he will always be a Kurogane, Itsuki was not only accepting of his son's decision but was even impressed by it and openly acknowledged and praised how much he had grown and his nobility, finally showing pride at his son. His improved view of his son was shown by how he personally asked the best doctor in Japan Kiriko Yakushi to cure his son and as a precaution that it would fail, asked Director Kurono to revert the time of his son back before he got hit by Amane and appeared genuinely concerned when Kurono stated she couldn't do that.

History
Itsuki's father was Genma Kurogane, who held the strict traditions of the Kurogane Family in high regard. Genma and the other family elders pushed their extreme views on Itsuki before he was able to think for himself. This soon shaped his own personality, earning Itsuki the nickname Iron Blood, due to his own strict nature.

When Ikki was five years old, Itsuki gave the F-Rank Ikki, in order to not do anything to prevent shaming the family name and end the conversation by telling the latter, "You can't do anything, so don't try". After that, the man never spoke to his son since then, leading Ikki to become ignored and isolated in the household. When Ikki left the house and attend Hagun Academy, Itsuki used his position to force the school to not let Ikki graduate. This led the current director of that time set rules that wouldn't allow Ikki to take classes, which made the latter repeat a year.

Incident of Okutama
Itsuki was seen sitting inside his office complaining about Shizuku losing the Selection Battle and loathing the fact that Ikki might appear in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festival until Akaza appears and make a proposal to him.

Itsuki was then seen at a holding cell, where the Ethics Committee was holding Ikki. The man talked with his son for the first time in many years and explained why he and Ikki's relationship was like it is. Itsuki simply explained that he didn't hate nor was disappointed with Ikki, it was simply that he didn't believe in him nor did he have any expectations. Also, he believes Ikki's successes will give false hope to the other low-ranks and bring about horrible outcomes that could destroy the harmony that the Ranking system maintains. Itsuki was then confused as to why Ikki was silently crying so suddenly after the former explained his reasons.

Afterward, Itsuki met up with Akaza while explaining his frustration of not understanding Ikki's motives while noting that the latter's older brother was not that hard to understand. Itsuki told Akaza that he will promote the latter to a higher political position after ordering him to do whatever it takes to banish Ikki from the Mage Knight world, gave a warning to not fail in this. As Itsuki was alone in his office, he looked up at a wall which hanged the photos of the previous directors. He monologues of how more than half of them each held the Kurogane name and the duty of maintaining the peace that results from the Ranking system, before acknowledging that the responsibilities now falling onto him. On that note, Itsuki will carry that conviction of his duty to do whatever it takes to eliminate those who threaten the peace and the iron law, including his own son.

Conclusion of the First Round
It's mentioned by Ouma, Itsuki's oldest son, that Itsuki was the one who asked him to join Bakuga Tsukikage's Akatsuki. This was because, Itsuki supported Tsukikage's idea of Japan splitting from the League of Mage-Knight Nations, as it would bring more power to the Kurogane Family.

The Rowdy Medical Room
Itsuki appeared after Ikki's second match in the Seven Stars Sword Art Festivals. He tells that he is ready to cut Ikki's ties with the Kurogane Family. Itsuki then leaves Ikki to think about his suggestion.

Seven Stars Sword Art Festival Third Round - Beginning
Itsuki meets Ikki again, asking about his decision on cutting ties with the Kurogane Family. Ikki refuses the offer, stating that even though the offer would benefit both Ikki and Itsuki, he is still a Kurogane. Itsuki says that Ikki's become a big person, and he then leaves.

Itsuki watches Ikki's match against Sara Bloodlily, along with Yuuzou Kaieda.

Abilities
Unknown

Device
Unknown

Trivia

 * Itsuki's given name (巌) means "Rock", which correlates to his strict upbringing to fully embrace his father's twisted ideals.
 * Like the Kurogane Family, his surname (黒鉄) means "Black Iron".