Kenuichio Harada was Mariko's former love interest and head of the Black Ninja Clan, sworn to protect the Yashida family. He has an exceptional talent in ranged weapons, most notably archery.
Harada was working for Viper, an associate of Master Yashida. The archer first discovered Logan during Master Yashida's "funeral," in which he covertly assisted Wolverine and Yukio in attempting to prevent the kidnapping of Mariko Yashida.
He searched for Logan and Mariko throughout Nagasaki, directly reporting to Viper in the process. Both he and the Black Clan (a personal squad of ninja at his direct command) stood as an obstacle preventing Logan from entering the abandoned research facility in which Mariko was held captive. He and the Clan pelted Logan with anti-Adamantium arrows (the poison being provided by Viper), ending with Wolverine incapacitated and captured.
While Logan was held captive, Harada attempted to dissuade Mariko from assisting him, revealing an attraction to her. However, she spurned him, stabbing him with his own knife, running after Logan. Harada displayed a change of heart after seeing the error of his ways, going on to serve as an ally to Logan during their final battle with the Silver Samurai, only to be mortally wounded by the armor's heated sword after taking a hit for Logan, with Mariko holding his hand just before he perished from the battle wounds.
