Morofuyu Kono is a unique character from The Elusive Samurai, known for his tragic fate and the twist of another boy taking his place after his untimely death. His legacy continues when Fubuki disguises himself with a wooden mask and becomes Morofuyu Kono, acting as a secret weapon for Moronao Kono and the Ashikaga army. The key highlight is how Morofuyu’s name and identity live on in someone else, playing a crucial role as a spy amidst the turbulent wars.
Morofuyu Kono's true face does not remain for long in the story, as he meets a tragic end early on. Afterwards, Fubuki wears a wooden mask to impersonate Morofuyu. This mysterious look, with a wooden mask hiding his true face, becomes how most people remember Morofuyu Kono.
The real Morofuyu Kono was not skilled as a warrior and showed little talent in battle. The masked Morofuyu, originally Fubuki, is cool, calm, and cunning, fitting his role as a secret agent for Moronao Kono.
Morofuyu Kono was Moronao Kono’s cousin and adopted son. He had hoped to make a name for himself on the battlefield, as expected from a samurai of his status. Sadly, he died during his very first battle due to an unfortunate accident, leaving his legacy behind for someone else to take up.
The First Battle and Death
Morofuyu joined Moronao Kono, his adoptive father, in battle when the Ashikaga army marched from Kyoto to attack the remnants of the Kamakura shogunate forces. For Morofuyu, this was supposed to be his glorious first battle. However, he lacked talent as a warrior and, in the middle of the fight, was accidentally trampled by a warhorse. The accident destroyed his face and killed him in a tragic and brutal way.
The Masked Replacement
After Morofuyu’s death, Moronao Kono did not seem very bothered by the loss of his adoptive son. While the Ashikaga army and the remaining forces of the Kamakura shogunate faced off, Moronao found a young boy who had surrendered, overwhelmed by Takauji Ashikaga’s power. Moronao then ordered the boy to impersonate his late adoptive son by wearing a wooden mask, saying, "If you’re going to be an adopted son, it’s better to choose a strong outsider than a weak relative." The boy, later revealed to be a distant member of the Kono family already loyal to the Ashikaga, took on the name Morofuyu Kono. He wore the wooden mask and became a mysterious and skilled agent for Moronao and the Ashikaga.
Facing Tokiyuki Hojo and Later Battles
With his new identity, the masked Morofuyu continued to fight as an agent of the Ashikaga. He later joined the army under Akiie Kitabatake and ended up facing Tokiyuki Hojo and his friends, who had just defeated Yoritō Toki.
Morofuyu Kono was originally the cousin and adopted son of Moronao Kono. After Morofuyu’s death, Fubuki, a distant member of the Kono family, became his replacement and played a major role for Moronao.
The story of Morofuyu Kono stands out because a real person dies and another takes his identity, creating a mysterious figure who wears a wooden mask and hides his true self from everyone.
The new Morofuyu Kono’s real name is not widely known, as he prefers to remain hidden behind the mask and the legend of Morofuyu. This keeps everyone guessing about his real identity.
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