Xehanort (Japanese: ゼアノート, Hepburn: Zeanōto, English: /ˈzeɪ.ənɔːrt/) is a fictional character and the central antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts game franchise by Square Enix. He is the main antagonist of the Dark Seeker Saga, the first phase in the Kingdom Hearts series. He was introduced as the original form of the sentient Heartless "Ansem, Seeker of Darkness" in the first game and the Nobody Xemnas in Kingdom Hearts II. Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep reveals the human elder Xehanort who, like his alter-egos, wishes to create hearts labeled as Kingdom Hearts. While Kingdom Hearts III is the last major installment that focuses on Xehanort, the mobile phone game Dark Road explores the character's childhood and descent into villainy.