Satsui no Hado

The kanji '天' (, ten^?, "heaven") representing the Satsui no Hado.

The Satsui no Hado (殺意の波動, Satsui no Hadō^?, "Surge of Murderous Intent"), sometimes translated as the Dark Hado, is a dark energy-based force that is known for its use by Akuma. It is the antithesis of the Power of Nothingness, which is mainly used by Gouken and Ryu.

Appearances

Story-wise, the Satsui no Hado made its debut during the first World Warrior Tournament, where Ryu unknowingly awakened something inside of him to defeat Sagat in a drastic effort.

Originally, Ryu scarred Sagat with a single Shoryuken in the original Street Fighter game. That story element was later retconned in the Street Fighter Alpha series that Ryu lost control of himself and was possessed by it, rising up fist first, scarring Sagat with a Metsu Shoryuken instead. His attack took on the properties of Goutetsu's original art, despite having never been taught it by his master Gouken. Although Sagat wanted revenge for his scarred chest to regain his pride and honor, he never knew that the scar came from something that had awakened the darkness inside of Ryu until the events of Street Fighter Alpha 3. Ever since then, Ryu has had a massive struggle against the Satsui no Hado's influence over him throughout the series' plot.

During the events of Street Fighter V, the Satsui no Hado within Ryu was being called out by the consumer of souls. However, in the end, Ryu managed to control and overcome the Satsui no Hado inside him by tapping into the Power of Nothingness to seal Bison. It later manifested into a physical form known as Kage, though later on he apparently vanished from existence.

Description

The Satsui no Hado is a form of ki that is rooted in the darker aspects of the natural human instinct (including the desire to survive, trample, and impose over opposition), and on a metaphysical level, the natural occurrence and manifestation of loss, decline, and destruction.

To tap into the Satsui no Hado, a person must be so consumed with the desire for victory and perfection, be close to death, or else possess such intense rage and hatred, that they are willing to kill. As such, only people who push themselves to be the best at any cost can take full advantage of it, however, the untrained mind can be driven into insanity if they are not mentally ready for it. Learning the Satsui no Hado is the first step in learning the most fatal technique known to all of their martial arts - the Shun Goku Satsu, also known as the Raging Demon.

Physical and Mental Changes

For the people who do succeed in harnessing it, they become extremely powerful, but at the cost of losing their humanity and compassion; they develop a cold, negative outlook on life, a nihilistic detachment from themselves, as well as other people, and develop an obsessive, dark, murderous, and even suicidal desire to fight.

When under the Satsui no Hado's influence, a person's eyes will glow red and their teeth will extend into sharp fangs as the body of their skin darkens over time, their hair will also turn red to white and their nails will turn into claws. The voice of the user will also become deeper to the point of gaining an echo effect. If one embraces it to a lesser degree, their eyes will glow blue. If one balances the Satsui no Hado and the Power of Nothingness, they will be in complete control of their power; however, if one has used it to their fullest extent for too long, they cannot be released from its hold and will transform into a supernatural entity, likely one similar in appearance and personality to both Oni and Kage.

Powers and abilities

The user also gains the ability to sense and absorb other sources of power, telekinesis, float, fly, and potentially influence the emergence of the Satsui no Hado in others. Once an individual has tapped into the Satsui no Hado within them, it can be very difficult to resist conflict. From within the continuity of the game series, Goutetsu is the only person known to date who was able to balance its power without completely giving in to its evil.

From within the events of Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, the Street Fighter Alpha manga, Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind, and the UDON comic series, the user has apparently the special ability to talk and speak with others telepathically, gain a healing factor, and manipulate the soul of an individual and the weather, as seen and displayed with Evil Ryu and Kage.

Users

Street Fighter characters

Goutetsu

Goutetsu himself was once seen meditating while tapping into the Satsui no Hado, so he probably encouraged or at least accepted it, but he did not lose his humanity like Akuma. This is likely because he only used it sparingly and wisely, which is why he kept his human facial appearance and did not demonstrate signs of corruption. This was also how both of his students, Gouken and Akuma, were introduced to its power.

Akuma

Akuma's usual form.

Once Akuma fully gave in to the Satsui no Hado, he lost all of his human emotions and was solely motivated by violence.

Goutetsu was initially pleased and somewhat impressed with Akuma for tapping into Satsui no Hado during a life or death battle for control of their school. Akuma wanted to tap into the Satsui no Hado to become more powerful, and wanted to use it to kill people he found "worthy", rather than using it for enlightenment and good like his mentor. Goutetsu may have been unaware of his student's descent into madness.

However, Gouken developed an alternative derivation of the style by removing the dark power out of fear and disgust for the Dark Hado, as he believed it to be inherently evil, as a result of seeing how Akuma used it to murder Goutetsu. He condemned his brother for corrupting his Hado no Chikara (波動の力, Hadō no Chikara^?, "Surge of Power") and vowed to never teach it to anyone.

Although Akuma may have "mastered" the Satsui no Hado, he could not stop the side effects of this dark force, although it is highly likely he had no desire to. His understanding of the Satsui no Hado is so great that he can embrace it to a much lower degree, giving lesser opponents a fighting chance. However, he still cannot return to human form, as he has used it to his fullest extent for too long.

Oni

Oni is the result of Akuma fully merging with the Satsui no Hado. As explained earlier, his appearance has changed to that of a larger, demonic creature with a supernatural power beyond that of Shin Akuma. At this point, he has become a marauding berserker willing to kill anyone and anything, especially if he deems someone as a greater evil, such as Bison and Seth.

Evil Ryu

During Street Fighter Alpha 2, Ryu finally realized that the Satsui no Hado was the culprit behind his aforementioned victory over Sagat. Ryu vowed to reject the Satsui no Hado, because he knew that he could not control this dark force, and thus could not risk killing anyone he fought or losing his compassion and humanity.

Although Ryu never shows any signs of the Satsui no Hado's influence after the events of the Street Fighter IV series, several games present a hypothetical version of Ryu who has embraced the power, willingly or not, becoming Evil Ryu in the process. Furthermore, other media often depicts him temporarily succumbing to the Satsui no Hado and assaulting an opponent before returning to normal.

It was not until the end of Street Fighter IV that Gouken was able to seal it away using the "Power of Nothingness" to help him control it like Goutetsu; however, it is unknown how long the seal will be able to hold his dark power. Until in Street Fighter V, Ryu acquires a help from his friends Dhalsim and Ken, and thus manage to completely convert the Dark Hado into Power of Nothingness via Hado Kakusei during Necalli’s invasion on planning to devour him at the same time where he and the other Street Fighter heroes prepares for last battle against Shadaloo. A demonic version of Evil Ryu appears in the Arcade Edition of Super Street Fighter IV with an appearance similar to that of Akuma, possibly to show how he would transform if the seal was broken.

In addition, Ryu and Ken's ending in the crossover Street Fighter × Tekken suggest that Pandora's power is trying to influence and merge with the Satsui no Hado within him.

Kage

Kage is the physical manifestation of the Satsui no Hado that was dwelling within Ryu. After Ryu overcame the temptations of the dark energy, it was assumed that the persona of Evil Ryu had been vanquished. Yet the Satsui no Hado would develop sentience and came to manifest as its own entirely separate, physical entity known as Kage. He wanted to prove that Ryu is nothing without him, but failed due to Ryu mostly ignoring the dark influence, telling Kage that he can do whatever he wants. Distraught and confused, Kage vanished.

Shin Ryu

Shin Ryu

In the UDON comic book series Street Fighter Unlimited, Ryu finally attained complete control over the Satsui no Hado by entering a state he calls "Shin Ryu" (Shin meaning "True" in Japanese). This state allows Ryu to safely harness the Dark Hado by merging it with the Power of Nothingness, bringing balance to his light and dark ki. As Shin Ryu, he was able to finally defeat Akuma. Ryu's appearance in this form is mostly the same, the only noticeable changes are to his left eye, which glows red, as well as the occasional flare of a red and blue aura.

Dan Hibiki

In the events of UDON's Street Fighter Legends: Sakura comic, Dan falls to the dark power while fighting Sakura. However, Dan's attempt to perform the Shun Goku Satsu on her fails with him tripping over her backpack and rendering himself unconscious by Sakura's attack. 

Dan has a different kanji appearing on his back, showing the kanji (父, chichi^?, "father"). It is possible Dan's power stems from the feelings of hatred that he harbors towards Sagat for murdering his father.

Despite Dan's paltry skills, Gouken is well aware that such power can manifest to anyone, especially with a vengeance-motivated man like Dan, and become a proper threat in time. This is why Gouken expelled him from his dojo and deprived him of proper Ansatsuken teachings.

Sakura Kasugano

In UDON's Super Street Fighter comics, Sakura actually falls to the influence of the Satsui no Hado while fighting Akuma but loses it thanks to Ryu absorbing it.

In Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, there is a secret character known as Dark Sakura (also called Sunburnt Sakura), a version of Sakura who utilizes a mixed moveset of Akuma and Evil Ryu. Despite her abilities, this form of Sakura does not use the Satsui no Hado, as referenced by her article on the Shadaloo Combat Research Institute database. Instead, she is angry because she got a sunburn.

In her normal forms, she also uses a variation of the Shun Goku Satsu that is not fueled by the Satsui no Hado, as seen in both the Rival Schools and the Street Fighter EX series.

Sagat

Sagat's own bout with the Satsui no Hado occurred during his story mode in Street Fighter V. Although not totally consumed by that energy, it has given him darker thoughts and visions of killing. He however overcomes the murderous intent and finally realizes that this is what his long-time rival was fighting against all along. Sagat becomes more determined to fight and seeks more of the same path Ryu always followed.

It is questionable if Sagat's own awakening to the Satsui no Hado was influenced by falling prey to Ryu's Metsu Shoryuken back in the first World Warrior tournament, or if it was fueled by his initial hateful vendetta against Ryu, or both. On the other hand, Ryu may have unknowingly and unwillingly influenced Sagat's awakening to the Satsui no Hado, being infested by it himself. It appeared to have temporarily laid dormant in Sagat as he became enlightened about his purpose of fighting until conquering it as Ryu did.

Oro

Oro is capable of utilizing the Satsui no Hado, or what he considers an imitation of it. Though he only uses it as an example for Dhalsim in his lecture on the nature of ki, Dhalsim notices that for that moment, Oro truly held a killing intent. Oro believes that the Satsui no Hado is not an inherently evil power, but rather an alternate form of surpassing physical limits much like Yoga, Soul Power, and Psycho Power. Through this knowledge, he is able to wield it without falling completely victim to it.

Characters from other media

Gyūki

In UDON's Street Fighter Origins: Akuma comic, Akuma and Gouken's late father, who is named Gyūki ("Ox Oni"), used the Satsui no Hado years ago to murder the leader of a bandit gang and a former partner of Goutetsu.

Jinx

In the Street Fighter × G.I. Joe comic, G.I. Joe character Jinx apparently uses the Hado as well in a fight against Bison.

Rogue

In X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Rogue can copy Akuma's Zanku Hadoken and Shun Goku Satsu.

Thanos

In the crossover game Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, on Earth-30847, Thanos built a containment device in Abel City. This device, a gauntlet of sorts, gave Thanos the ability to drain Ryu of the latter's Hado, which gave Thanos the power to wield the Satsui no Hado by artificial means, presumably with far better control and without the consequences of wielding it.

Belial

In Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers, Belial was able to use this power to stop Jedah from overthrowing his title as the supreme and undisputed ruler of Makai.

Toro

In Street Fighter × Tekken, Toro is said to have the Satsui no Hado in him. 

Shun

In Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, Shun used the Satsui no Hado when fighting.

Sadler

In Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation, Sadler was able to gain the Satsui no Hado from Ryu with his technology as a means to rule the world.

Known victims of the Satsui no Hado

Street Fighter games

• Sagat - Defeated and accidentally (and presumably unintentionally) scarred by Ryu's Metsu Shoryuken, while being awakened by its power several years later.

• M. Bison - Defeated and seemingly murdered by Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, but survived the attack by putting by a part of his Psycho Power in another body.

• Goutetsu - Killed by Shin Akuma in a fight to the death.

• Gen - Akuma used the Shun Goku Satsu on Gen during their fight in Street Fighter Alpha 2, but it had no effect on Gen since he had emptied his soul beforehand. In Street Fighter V however, Akuma returned to fight Gen again after realizing he had beaten his illness, thus deeming him worthy to kill. He defeated Gen with the Shun Goku Satsu after years of training harder.

• Gouken - Defeated and seemingly murdered by Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu, but survived by emptying his soul using the Power of Nothingness.

• Necalli - Defeated by Akuma in Street Fighter V.

• Gill - Though disputed whether canon or not, he was defeated and seemingly murdered by Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu in Street Fighter III, but recovered via resurrection.

Street Fighter-related media

• Lee - Defeated by Akuma in Street Fighter Origins: Akuma.

• Retsu - Defeated by a ten-year old Ryu in the UDON Comics.

• Cody - Defeated by a possessed Ryu in the Street Fighter II Turbo comic.

• Rose - Attacked by Akuma in an effort to save Ryu from Bison in the Street Fighter II Turbo comic.

• Shun - Murdered by Sadler during the events of Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation.

• Rosanov - Destroyed by Evil Ryu during the events of Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation.

• Guy - He was able to block and overcome Ryu's Raging Demon through the use of his Bushinryu strength in the Street Fighter Alpha manga.

• Twelve - Defeated by a possessed Ryu in Street Fighter Unlimited.

• Gebsion - Attacked by Dark Sakura during the events of Super Street Fighter: New Generation.

• Birdie - Defeated by Evil Ryu in the Street Fighter Alpha manga.

• Adon - Defeated by Evil Ryu in the Street Fighter Alpha manga.

• Seth - Attacked by Akuma which caused him to go rouge in the Street Fighter IV comic.

• Violent Ken - Defeated by Ryu in the Ultra Street Fighter II comic.

Other media

• Heihachi Mishima - While he survived Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu by sheer endurance and super strength in Tekken 7, he was weakened as a result and due to it, was later defeated and killed by his son Kazuya.

• Jedah Dohma - Defeated in the comic crossover Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers when Akuma utilizes Donovan's Dhylec in their final encounter.

• Kyo Kusanagi - Defeated by Shin Akuma in the SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos manga.

Trivia

• While Kairi from the non-canon Street Fighter EX games is not a user of the Satsui no Hado, the power he wields works in a similar fashion.
  • Fellow Street Fighter EX fighter Garuda is also said to be linked to said power in the EX games, feeding from its power for his own existence. A similar power infests Garuda in Fighting EX Layer, but from another source.

• Tekken character Steve Fox fought off an army of 100 Akumas using the Satsui no Hado in his Street Fighter × Tekken ending, though this ending may have somewhat intended to be comic relief.

• In the iOS game Street Fighter IV Volt, the Satsui no Hado appears as a skill in Wandering Warrior. However, one would need the title "Messatsu!" to get this skill. When this skill activates, the player's avatar endures the hit that would have cost the avatar the match with 1 HP remaining, and then, it activates. While this skill is active, the damage the player's avatar scores on the opponent's avatar is increased

• In Capcom vs. SNK 2, Rugal Bernstein, after defeating Akuma, mixed the Satsui no Hado with his own Orochi powers and becomes God Rugal (sometimes referred to as Ultimate Rugal).

• Marvel Comics character Thanos is the first and only user who has obtained and used the Hado via artificial and mechanical means.
  • In Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, Thanos claims that the Satsui no Hado has the power to destroy immortal beings such as gods, demons and even the embodiments of Death itself. This was foreshadowed in Akuma's win-quotes against Thor Odinson, Amaterasu and Shuma-Gorath in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

• In Sonic X, Sonic the Hedgehog had gained a transformation that works in a manner very similar to the Satsui no Hado. This form is known as Dark Sonic.

• In Street Fighter vs. Darkstalkers, Jedah's blade gets powered by the Satsui no Hado.

• In Street Fighter Alpha: Generations, it is implied that supernatural beings of legend, such as an Oni, were actually people who gave into the Satsui no Hado and because of this, the bloodline of an individual was also altered as well.^{[citation needed]}

• As stated by Oro,^{[citation needed]} such malevolent powers ultimately share a ground of neutral capability as with all forms of other power; significantly within the history of martial arts, such history also ties in with the nature of human morality and thinking, as many societal factors, including a greater emphasis on the closeness of spiritual affairs with the living world through deeper practice of religion and mystical practices, and the rather fragile developing state of the human condition did not see the immediate execution of outlaws and criminals and death of warriors to be unnatural for their eras prior to the 20th Century and the modern day. Significantly in Japan, this would tie into samurai culture and their purposes in society, from being allowed with degrees of allowance to slay those who threaten society at large, and to help manage their ranks to uphold the honor of their caste, before the abolishment of the samurai caste into the Meiji era by 1868. This would explain why Goutetsu is able to balance his use of the Satsui no Hado.

• While Akuma embraced the full extent of the Satsui no Hado, his moral code served as a means of self-restraint that keeps him from committing indiscriminate assault against his opponents. However, in the case of Evil Ryu (and by extension, Kage), who lacks the moral principles of Akuma, are capable of borderline psychopathy and sadism due to their insatiable bloodlust.^{[citation needed]}