Formal Analysis: Chivalrous Hero: Fourth Kind
The Strict, Old-School Yakuza-Style Mentor Who Embodies Classic Heroic Virtue
Fourth Kind (real name unknown) stands as one of the most memorable “side-mentor” figures in My Hero Academia despite relatively limited screen time. A mid-tier Pro Hero with a deliberately retro, almost anachronistic presentation, he represents an older generation of heroism built on discipline, chivalry, community service, and bone-crushing physical punishment as a teaching method. In a world that increasingly idolizes flashiness and individualism, Fourth Kind is the unapologetic voice of traditional duty.
1. Professional Profile
Hero Name: Chivalrous Hero: Fourth Kind (任侠ヒーロー; literally “Yakuza-style Chivalry Hero”)
Birthday: February 16
Height: 184 cm
Birthplace: Hiroshima Prefecture
Quirk: Quad Arms
Occupation: Pro Hero & Civil Servant (government-affiliated)
Agency Style: Small, traditional office; accepts only a handful of interns
Confirmed Active: From Sports Festival internships → Gunga Mountain Villa Raid (Paranormal Liberation War)
2. Appearance & Aesthetic
Fourth Kind’s entire design screams “retro yakuza boss turned hero”:
Four massive arms protruding from a wide, muscular torso
Buzz-cut grayish-brown hair, heavy brow ridges, no eyebrows, stitched scar over left eye
Black suit with four sleeves, cyan tie with three yellow diamonds, thick gold pinky rings on all twenty fingers
Metal jaw casing and neck guard
Permanent scowl that terrifies small children
The deliberate “scary but honorable oyabun” look is not accidental; it is a loving pastiche of classic Japanese gangster cinema and 20th-century chivalrous outlaw archetypes.
3. Personality & Teaching Philosophy
Fourth Kind is defined by three core principles:
Absolute discipline – Being even one minute late earns a four-fisted smack
Chivalry & public service – Interns are forced to clean parks and make perfect tea for clients
Pain as pedagogy – Regularly punches Kirishima and Tetsutetsu while their hardening Quirks are active “because it feels good” (secretly because his own hands hurt)
Despite the brutality, his methods produce results: both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu cite him as one of their most influential mentors, and their dramatic growth in toughness and professionalism is directly traced to his training.
4. Quirk & Combat Style
Quirk: Quad Arms (四本腕) Grants two fully functional extra arms emerging from the upper back/shoulders. Each arm possesses full strength and dexterity (effectively quadrupling close-range striking power).
Combat Role:
Pure close-quarters brawler
Specializes in multi-angle grappling, simultaneous four-fisted strikes, and overwhelming physical restraint
Ultra Archive stats: Power 5/5 A – one of the highest raw strength ratings among non-top-10 heroes
He is the rare hero whose Quirk is simple yet perfectly synergistic with classic martial arts and street-fighting technique.
5. Key Appearances & Legacy
Vs. Hero Killer Arc (Chapters 48–59) Takes on both Kirishima and Tetsutetsu simultaneously because he “saw “real guts” in them at the Sports Festival. Subjects them to tea-making hell, park-cleaning duty, and daily beatings. Becomes the single biggest influence on their “manly” philosophy.
Shie Hassaikai Arc Mentioned as being too busy to accept Kirishima’s second-year internship request (implying his agency remains highly selective).
Paranormal Liberation War – Gunga Mountain Villa Raid Part of the main assault team. Survives Gigantomachia’s rampage and is later shown guarding 16,929 captured PLF members, confirming he made it through the war unscathed.
No appearance in Final War or epilogue, but also no injury or retirement flag.
6. Speculation on Current Status (Post-Series)
Given his age (mid-to-late 30s during internship arc → mid-40s in epilogue), physical durability, and government affiliation, several futures are plausible:
Most Likely:
Still running his small, traditional agency in the reformed hero system
Promoted to a training/command position within the Public Safety Commission’s “Hero Fundamentals” curriculum
Became a legendary “demon instructor” at Ketsubutsu or Shiketsu, feared and respected in equal measure
Wishful Thinking:
Opened a “Fourth Kind Dojo” that specializes in training hardening-type and close-combat students
Quietly mentors the next generation of “manly” heroes (Kirishima occasionally guest-teaches)
Conclusion
Fourth Kind is the last bastion of old-school, no-nonsense heroism in an era that increasingly rewards spectacle. He never sought fame, never chased rankings, and never softened his methods, yet he produced two of the most dependable young heroes of the final war. In a story that repeatedly asks what true heroism looks like, Fourth Kind’s answer is simple: show up on time, hit hard, serve the community, and make your tea exactly 62 °C.
