Kusanagi, Mamoru

草薙護

After the Aragami reawakened, they took steps to ensure their continued survival. With this goal in mind, Orochi sought out a family that had been attempting to sacrifice the Kushinada and put the Aragami back to sleep. Orochi killed the parents, but he had a special plan for their baby son. By implanting seven mitama, or seven Aragami souls, into him, Orochi charged little Mamoru Kusanagi with the task of watching over the Kushinada and ensuring that no harm would come to her... until they were ready.
As he grew, Mamoru kept a watchful eye on little Kaede Kunikida, observing her growth and development. He did not know it at the time, but watching Kaede grow in this way would stir up emotions later that he would struggle to control. Kusanagi was unhappy with his destiny. He sought freedom, and he believed that to achieve it, he would have to kill the Kushinada and allow the pulse to lock his masters in sleep.
Mutated by the seven mitama within his body, Kusanagi has green blood flowing in his veins and possesses the ability to transform his body to some extent. He can cause blades to sprout from his arms and has incredible physical abilities, including a penchant for long and high jumps. However, without an eighth mitama, he lacks the strength or abilities to take on Murakumo. Yet, Kusanagi is not one to give up easily, and his unusual connection to Momiji (since both she and he received their mitama from Orochi) will play a crucial role in the late stages of the conflict.
As his name implies, "Mamoru" means protector, while "Kusanagi" derives from "Kusanagi-no-tsurugi", the Grass-Cutting Sword, a blade supposedly given by the Japanese gods to the emperor.
-taken from Absolute Anime