A major difference between the anime and manga is that Kyo in anime is an artificial construct, born of Kyoshiro's attempt to purge violence and cruelty from himself. While Kyo is sealed inside Kyoshiro after losing a swordfight to him, as in the manga, the settings and motivations differ; Kyoshiro confronts Kyo at the Battle of Sekigahara in order to stop his bloody rampage, rather than to protect Sakuya. Apart from these and flashbacks to his time with Muramasa, Akira and Hotaru, the anime provides fewer details of Kyo's past than the manga. The manga also reveals much more about Kyo's relationship with Akira and his 'band', the Four Emperors, as well as glimpses of his former life when he was friends with Kyoshiro. Yuya, who is often relegated to the background in the anime, plays a much more prominent role in the manga. The manga is more graphic than the anime, containing far more blood and nudity than its television counterpart; kenyou play a smaller role in it, and it introduces characters such as Date Masamune, and the five stars of the Mibu Clan. Nevertheless, the manga and anime share themes of friendship, but the anime develops the idea that some warriors will actually fight to prevent peace.