Line #60 Manga/Basilisk


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5	[[quoteright:323:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ga03-img-01.jpg]]
6	[[caption-width-right:323:My beloved...please die..]]
7
8	->''"There were those who loathed one another. Bodies rotted in the fields; souls were stained blood; and bonds were severed by blades. Sunk into darkness, sincerity cried out... to loved ones 'prepare to die'. My beloved... please die..."''
9
10	The year is 1614. The Shogun UsefulNotes/TokugawaIeyasu is old and sick yet not senile, and war is about to erupt between the numerous noble factions that want to see one of his grandsons, either Takechiyo or Kunichiyo, as the heir. To settle this, each group will be represented by two very powerful Ninja sects, the Kouga Manjidani (chosen to support Kunichiyo) and the Iga Tsubagakure (chosen to fight for Takechiyo), who will "compete" for their cause. However, there is a BIG problem.
11
12	The heirs of each group, [[WarriorPoet Kouga Gennosuke]] and [[YamatoNadeshiko Iga-no-Oboro]], are... [[ArrangedMarriage engaged]]. Have actually been for at least ten years. Unlike other arranged couples, though, [[StarCrossedLovers they're very much in love]] and [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage were very willing to tie the knot]]. And this engagement was settled many years ago ''specifically'' to bring peace among their clans, [[FeudingFamilies who have been bitter enemies for years]]. So, after the shaky truce is shattered, what will Oboro and Gennosuke do, as their warriors start fighting and killing each other with glee?
13
14	Fully titled ''Basilisk: The Kouga Ninja Scrolls'', this manga was authored by Masaki Segawa and published by Kodansha in Japan in 2003 and 2004, based on the historical fantasy novel ''The Kouga Ninja Scrolls'' by Futaro Yamada, published in 1958, which also inspired ''Anime/NinjaScroll''. The anime, produced in 2005 by GONZO Studios, closely follows the manga apart from a few differences. The manga also won the 2004 Kodansha Manga Award for general manga.
15
16	''Basilisk'' is followed by a sequel manga, ''Manga/TheYagyuNinjaScrolls'', though it features only a few characters from ''Basilisk'' among an otherwise all-new cast of characters. Another sequel -- the anime series ''Anime/BasiliskTheOukaNinjaScrolls'' -- was released by Kodansha in 2018.
17
18	Interestingly, doesn't include any actual [[BasiliskAndCockatrice Basilisks]]; the title is metaphorical.
19
20	----
21	!!This show provides examples of...
22
23	* ActorAllusion: It's not the first time Creator/NanaMizuki voices [[Manga/{{Naruto}} a]] [[Manga/NinjaNonsense ninja]]...
24	** Or [[Anime/DogDays girls]] [[Film/TheHungerGames participating in a deadly contest against their loved ones]]...
25	** Or [[VideoGame/EndlessFrontier a princess]].
26	* AdaptationExpansion:
27	** The anime in itself follows the manga rather closely but gives more room for CharacterDevelopment, also expanding the backstories of several characters (particularly Gyoubu).
28	** The same goes for the novel the manga/anime is based on. The anime expands considerably on it as well.
29	* AdaptationTitleChange: ''Basilisk'' is based on the 1958 novel ''The Kouga Ninja Scrolls''.
30	* ADayInTheLimelight: One episode focuses on the goings-on with the Shogun and the nobility, showing that things are getting pretty bad behind the scenes as well, to the point that both noble houses are actually staging regular assassination attempts on the opposing house's heir.
31	* AnyoneCanDie: And does. From the gentlest to the meanest characters, almost all of them have their days numbered.
32	* ArachnidAppearanceAndAttire: Shogen Kazamachi has a decidedly spider-like appearance, as he has elongated limbs, a tongue that spits out webbing and six markings on his forehead that makes it look as though he has additional eyes.
33	* AttemptedRape: Lots of it, they are usually an good indicator that someone (either victim or perpetrator) is about to die. Though, given the series, that isn't saying much.
34	* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Tenzen's]] ability.
35	* BattleCouple: Hotarubi and Yashamaru must have been one. But the show never lets us see them actually fighting as a team. In the flashback episode, Yashamaru actually discourages her from EVER taking part in a battle. Insisting that it would be a shame if someone like her were to ever smell of blood.
36	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Lots, but most notably Udono Jousuke and Saemon Kisaragi.
37	* BigBrotherInstinct: When Okoi [[spoiler:was tortured and killed by the Iga]], her older brother Saemon threw himself fully and ''furiously'' into the Iga/Kouga feud. And even before this, the Kougas knew that doing something bad to Okoi was a Bad Idea.
38	* BirdVsSerpent: The opening to every episode starts with a narration while a battle between a snake and a bird of prey takes place, with each inflicting serious, possibly fatal, wounds on the other.
39	* BlessedWithSuck: A few of the ninjas in ''Manga/{{Basilisk}}'' have powers that adversely affect their lives. If Kagerou ever [[OutWithABang has sex with someone, they will die.]] Hyouma has a ''doujutsu'' that can kill people by looking at them, but he is unable to turn it off. Being ninjas, they will use these same abilities to kill their enemies.
40	* BlindfoldedVision: Hyoma keeps his eyes closed at all times because he possess the Dojitsu, an ability that could kill anyone he makes eye contact with. He taught disciple Gennosuke to also fight without his eyes.
41	* BloodyMurder: Akeginu of the Iga Tsubagakure group not only is extremely seductive as well as deadly with her trusty tanto dagger, but she can also control her own blood, secreting it out of her pores to blind or tag her opponents or create a sort-of mist as she mixes it with the air in her surroundings.
42	* BodyguardCrush: Koshirou for Oboro and Kagerou for Gennosuke.
43	* BreakTheCutie:
44	** My goodness ... poor Oboro. And to some degree, poor Kagerou. And Hotarubi, for that matter.
45	** In the anime, [[spoiler:Gyoubu]]'s backstory was a painful, cruel dose of this.
46	* BodyHorror: Many of the ninjas on both sides are quite freakish looking. The former Shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, also counts, what with the disturbingly scrotum-like swollen growth hanging under his chin.
47	* BreakTheHaughty: [[spoiler:Tenzen's fifth and FINAL death]]
48	* ButHeSoundsHandsome: Saemon is prone to doing this.
49	* CharacterExaggeration: Kagerou's jealousy was quite accentuated in the anime. If this fandom were bigger, Kagerou would be a ''major'' target of DieForOurShip...
50	%% * TheChessmaster: Tenzen.
51	* ClingyJealousGirl:
52	** As mentioned, anime!Kagerou takes this to the biggest, [[MurderTheHypotenuse more dangerous extremes]], [[spoiler:and that is [[HoistByHisOwnPetard the key to her downfall]].]] It's not like she's doing it without ''any'' reason other than wanting Gennosuke for herself... too bad [[BreakTheCutie her sad backstory]] was only explained [[AllThereInTheManual in the original novel]].
53	** In the Iga group, there's Hotarubi. Even insinuate her fiance Yashamaru might have another girl and she'll scare the shit outta you with just a DeathGlare.
54	* TheComicallySerious: In the flashback episode, we get to see some of the characters of the Iga side... trying to cure Oboro's hiccups. Some of these individuals have done horrible things (including attempted rape) during the series, so this is actually really weird to observe.
55	* CrashIntoHello:
56	** In both anime and manga, Oboro brings some tea for Gennosuke during their first meeting as adults, but she's so nervous that she trips and dumps the tray and its contents on him.
57	** Gennosuke manages to catch two out of three tea cups.
58	* DeadGuyOnDisplay: Gyoubu Kasumi is stabbed to death by Tenzen when he's merged with a wooden panel, and since his death doesn't allow for the corpse to be de-merged, the ''whole'' panel is exhibited in the nearest port as a warning to the Kougas.
59	* DeadPersonImpersonation: [[spoiler:Saemon]] does this several times over the course of the series. [[spoiler:It eventually backfires on him when impersonating Tenzen who, unbeknown to him, was {{Not Quite Dead}}]]
60	%%* DeusSexMachina: Subverted with poor Kagerou.
61	%% Examples should not rely on other examples. Please add proper context
62	* DisabilitySuperpower:
63	** In addition to Juubei and Koshirou, mentioned above, when [[spoiler:Gennosuke is also blinded (though temporarily, via Seven Days Ointment), he ''remains'' an effective fighter, able to trick and kill Tenzen for the third time ''and'' letting Oboro give him the coup de grace]] This is because he was ''specifically'' trained by Hyouma in case he came across an opponent that blinded him as a means to nullify the power of his eyes.
64	* DoItYourselfThemeTune: Creator/NanaMizuki provides Oboro's voice and the ED themes, "Hime Murasaki" and "Wild Eyes".
65	* DoomedMoralVictor: [[spoiler:Oboro effectively wins - by killing herself.]]
66	* DownerEnding: [[spoiler:At the series' end, ''everyone'' is dead, including Gennosuke and Oboro. And yes, as we learn in the epilogue of the anime, there is also the consideration that this finally brings the clans' feud to an end, making for a potentially BittersweetEnding.]]
67	* TheDragon:
68	** Koshirou for Tenzen.
69	** Hyoma is also this to Gennosuke. In fact, he seems to be the only one with no stake in this fight outside of protecting the latter.
70	%% * DramaticIrony: All over the place.
71	* DrivenToSuicide:
72	** [[spoiler:Oboro prefers to kill herself rather than killing Gennosuke ''and'' continue as a puppet of Ofuku. And after she dies, Gennosuke drives ''a whole squad'' to kill themselves, then stabs ''himself'' to death.]]
73	** [[spoiler:Gennosuke's power '''is''' this trope. He has to power to reflect the killing intent of anyone going up against him back at them, which causes them to kill themselves instead.]]
74	* EvilMatriarch:
75	** Lady Ofuku. Not exactly Takechiyo's mother (she's his wet nurse and nanny), but her [[MamaBear devotion to him]] and thirst for power are equally fierce, and she'll stop at ''nothing'' to see her adoptive son as the heir of the Tokugawa shogunate.
76	** In the anime, Takechiyo's birth mother Princess Oeyo also counts, [[spoiler:having arranged poor Takechiyo's death via an odd poison to favor his brother Kunichiyo.]]
77	* EvilPlan: The entire plot was this by the shogun; he couldn't possibly lose. The mother and nanny of his grandsons Takechiyo/[[spoiler:the future Iemitsu]] and Kunichiyo/[[spoiler:the future Tadanaga]] were in a contest for behind-the-scenes influence of the heir that was turning violent. He wanted to prevent more assassination attempts now, and spare the samurai lives that would be lost if the grandsons grew up to fight for inheritance. So he arranged for ninjas lives to be lost instead, offering pardons and gainful employment to the winner between two clans who already passionately wanted each other dead. The ninjas who die are fewer ninjas to worry about, the ones who live would have the cunning to remove the winning nanny. The clan heads were smart enough to know just how they were being used, but their hatred for each other was too great; the rewards for winning was just icing on the cake.
78	* EvilVersusEvil: In a nutshell, the story is basically an evil clan of ninja (the Kouga) versus a slightly MORE evil clan of ninja. (the Iga) In fact, outside of Oboro and Gennosuke, the only one who doesn't show any signs of sadism or bloodlust is Hyoma Muroga.
79	* EyesAlwaysShut: In addition to Hyouma and Saemon, [[spoiler:Gennosuke and Oboro both get the "Seven Days Ointment" on them]].
80	* FanDisservice:
81	** Okoi from the Kouga ninjas is gorgeous in an AmazonianBeauty way, and at some point she's seen naked. The reason why she's in the buff, however, is that [[ShamefulStrip she's been captured by the Iga ninjas]] and almost completely at their mercy. [[spoiler:It's much, MUCH worse when she's fighting her way to freedom... but when she attacks [[PrehensileHair Mino Nenki]], he fights back ''and the still naked Okoi dies via being becoming a HumanPincushion''.]]
82	** Kagerou is maybe [[FemmeFatale the most beautiful of the Kougas]], but she's also a PoisonousPerson who can weaponize sex. When [[spoiler:Tenzen survives her attacks]],there's a [[NippleAndDimed very detailed]] view of Kagerou's gorgeous body... but this happens when [[spoiler:Tenzen has re-captured her to subject her to ColdBloodedTorture via ''shooting her in the torso with needles when she's bound and completely helpless'', causing her to scream in utter pain.]] And it's made even more terrible when [[spoiler:Oboro attempts to reason with Tenzen so he'll stop abusing poor Kagerou... and Tenzen replies via ''pining Oboro down and trying to rape her'' [[ForScience to see if this will trigger Kagero's powers]] upon being ForcedToWatch.]] Ewwwwww.
83	* FanService:
84	** Akeginu fights topless whenever she can manage it, due to the [[BloodyMurder nature of her powers]]. Okoi has a fight wearing nothing but a skimpy vest. Hotarubi is mostly covered, but manages to rip her kimono and expose her legs before one fight. Kagerou has her fair share of nudity, and Oboro has a little. Of all female ninja, only the crone Ogen remains (mercifully) clothed, except for a blink-and-you'll-miss-it [[spoiler:[[IWasQuiteALooker almost-striptease in her rendezvous with former lover Danjo]]]] in the first episode.
85	** Kasumi Gyoubu is really muscular and has to strip naked when using his power (merging himself with solid objects). He takes care of [[MrFanservice fanservice for the ladies]] pretty much by himself.
86	* FemaleGaze: Once, as Oboro and Gennosuke walk through a very thin path in the mountains, we follow Oboro's gaze as she looks at Gennosuke's back.
87	* FemmeFatale: Kagerou and Akeginu. These ladies embody the ''traditional'' concept of kunoichis, as highly seductive women who use their feminine charms on men to get information and then kill them. Okoi uses this, but in her own terms: she's a rough tomboy who wears short hakama and low-cut tops, since her powers involve absorbing people's blood through skin contact.
88	%% * GoodEyesEvilEyes
89	* {{Gonk}}: Tokugawa Ieyasu and his deformed chin.
90	* GreyAndGreyMorality: There are unpleasant, overzealous characters on either side of the clan war as well as decent people, and while the Iga have BigBad Tenzen, he's working more for his own self-interests than for the clan. The [[ADayInTheLimelight Day In The Limelight]] episode also shows that the people behind the clan war are resorting to drastic measures to keep the two noble houses vying for the throne from killing each other.
91	* HandicappedBadass:
92	** Hyouma, [[spoiler:Koshirou and Gennosuke when he's temporarily blinded.]]
93	** Juubei also counts as he was the first in the anime [[spoiler:to kill Tenzen ''with a knife concealed in his throat and wielded with his tongue'' and outrun the Iga ninja ''without arms or legs''.]]
94	* HeartIsAnAwesomePower: Every ninja has one special ability, and even though some have an ability that appears to be useless, each character uses their power to be a deadly warrior. Examples: Hotarubi has the power to summon butterflies. Jingoro has the power to turn into a small, slimy slug creature when he touches salt. Nenki has PrehensileHair. Jubei has no arms or legs, but does have a really long tongue.
95	* HiccupHijinks: In one episode Oboro gets the hiccups.
96	* HighPressureBlood: By the '''keg.'''
97	* HighlyVisibleNinja: All of them have distinctly conspicuous appearance and dress, if not outright freakish.
98	* HoistByHisOwnPetard:
99	** [[spoiler:In the anime, Tenzen captures and ''savagely'' tortures Kagerou after she opts to murder Oboro in her sleep rather than run away to reunite with Gennosuke; if she had not stopped to kill Oboro, she would have been somewhat more likely to avoid him. Later, the very same princess whom Tenzen broke so much through the whole series is the key behind ''his'' (final) death.]]
100	** [[spoiler:Sure, Tenzen. Go ahead and attempt to rape the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD CAPABLE OF NULLIFYING YOUR RESURRECTION POWERS. [[SarcasmMode I'm sure this will result in Rape Is Love rather than your ugly demise.]]]]
101	%% * IronicHell: Ofuku, after the end.
102	* IncestSubtext: Saemon and Okoi have a rather strange romantic chemistry, despite the fact that they are a brother and sister and the work constantly reminds us of this. In particular, when the excited Hotarubi runs to him, taking him for her lover, she immediately reminds Saemon about his sister...
103	%% * KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Ofuku]] at the end.
104	* KickTheDog:
105	** [[spoiler:Hotarubi brutally stabbing Shougen in an UnstoppableRage for not receiving the answer she needed about Yashamaru, Saemon's specially messy murder of Hotarubi herself, how Saemon and Kagerou manipulate the blinded Koshirou and kill him, Akeginu stabbing Hyouma's remains in grief for Koshirou's death, Saemon and Kagerou's murder of Akeginu, etc.]]
106	** Yeah, Saemon and Kagerou do this ''a lot''.
107	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Tenzen, thanks to Oboro's eyes being unsealed [[LaserGuidedKarma RIGHT before his resurrection.]] It's not pretty, either.]]
108	* KillingIntent: The Dojitsu is an ability that can turn an attacker's killing intent back on them, leading to the would-be assailant violently attacking themselves.
109	* KingOnHisDeathbed: Downplayed, because the shogun's not ''quite'' there yet. However, the fact that he won't live much longer is the reason behind the conflict in the first place.
110	* KissingCousins: Kagerou is Gennosuke's cousin and, if not for her powers, she would've been the one chosen to marry him.
111	* LastKiss: Subverted: [[spoiler:Kagerou didn't get to kiss Gennosuke and take him with her, thanks to Oboro's eyes being unsealed.]]
112	* LeftForDead: Happens quite a bit with many characters, even after precautions are made [[NotQuiteDead to prevent any unpleasant surprises later]].
113	* LetThemDieHappy: [[spoiler:Saemon is a very ruthless fighter, but not even he has the guts to deny Hotarubi a last flash of happiness and lets her believe he's Yashamaru so she can die without regrets.]]
114	* LivingForeverIsAwesome: [[spoiler:Tenzen, though he isn't completely immortal]]
115	* LoveAtFirstSight: Oboro and Gennosuke fall into this, as they were almost instantly attracted to each other the moment they met as adults.
116	* LovecraftianSuperpower: The various ninja talents tend towards these:
117	** Kazamachi Shougen has a grotesquely elongated tongue which he uses to spray webbing-like mucus, as well as the ability to secrete slime from hands and feet that let him travel on his webbing, just like the spider he resembles.
118	** Udono Jousuke has RubberMan powers, allowing him to inflate himself like a balloon, squeeze his entire (considerable) bulk through the bars of a cell, or catch a katana harmlessly in the flabby folds of a cheek.
119	** Jimushi Juubei uses a super-long, snake-like tongue to dispatch victims with a dagger concealed inside his throat.
120	** Okoi can [[spoiler:leech blood]] from whoever she touches.
121	** Kagerou exhales poisonous miasma when sexually aroused.
122	** Yakushiji Tenzen has a parasitic twin in his body that "eats" his wounds, [[spoiler:allowing him to resurrect.]]
123	** Azuki Rousai is also a RubberMan, which he uses to extend his limbs and neck to reach opponents from further away.
124	** Mino Nenki has PrehensileHair over his entire body.
125	** Amayo Jingoro can use salt to mutate himself into a repulsive, slimy slug-man.
126	** Akeginu can squirt blood from her skin to create a blinding mist.
127	* LoveMakesYouCrazy: Hotarubi is... not quite all there where Yashamaru is concerned.
128	** Possibly situational, considering that [[spoiler:he is, in all likelihood, dead as far as she knows. Missing at the very least. It's implied that she sort of knows, but she's eager to believe that he's alive. Of course, the AUDIENCE knows that he's already dead...]]
129	%% * MacGuffin: The scrolls, sorta.
130	* MagicalEye: Gennosuke's eye technique turns his enemies' evil intent against themselves. Oboro too has her own eye technique. Even though it isn't as sinister as Gennosuke's, it's still powerful enough to [[AntiMagic render any other technique completely useless.]]
131	* MaleGaze: Okoi is frequently shown from rather...strange...angles.
132	* MamaBear: Ofuku, to Takechiyo. EvilMatriarch style, of course.
133	* MasterOfDisguise: [[spoiler:Saemon's]] ability.
134	* MeaningfulName: The anime's titular namesake, [[BasiliskAndCockatrice the Basilisk]], is a mystical creature said to be able to kill any who meet its gaze. Eye contact is the most powerful asset that the main characters have: Gennosuke can reverse the murderous intent of any who meet his eye, thus forcing them to kill themselves; and Oboro can neutralize the ninja arts of any who meet her gaze.
135	* MurderTheHypotenuse: Kagerou is dead set on killing Oboro so she can have Gennosuke. [[CharacterExaggeration Much more in the anime than the manga, though.]] Tenzen also wants to kill Gennosuke so he can have Oboro as his puppet wife, which would grant him full control of the Iga Tsubagakure.
136	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In the anime, Gyoubu is utterly shaken and horrified after [[spoiler:Tenzen grabs a boy and throws him into the middle of their fight, causing Gyoubu to accidentally kill the kids's father when the old man tries to save his son. And that lets Tenzen kill him.]].
137	%% * {{Ninja}}: Well, DUH.
138	* OnePersonOnePower: Each of the twenty ninja named on the ninja scrolls have one power, whether it be abnormal mastery over a weapon, or genuine superpowers. These powers are usually quite specific, but the ninjas have trained to utilize their abilities in a wide range of scenarios. Background material suggests these powers were achieved through many years of selective breeding.
139	* OneWordTitle
140	* ParentalAbandonment: Gennosuke was raised by his grandfather Danjo and his maternal uncle Hyouma since his parents died when he was a child. Oboro's parents are also dead, so she was raised by a nanny and then by Ogen. Out of the other Iga and Kouga, only [[spoiler:Gyoubu's father Kasumi Renbu]] is mentioned, [[spoiler:and he's dead]].
141	* ParentalSubstitute: Muroga Hyouma, helping take care of his very young nephew Gennosuke when barely out of this teens.
142	* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Oboro and Gennosuke were engaged at childhood, but as it's already been said, they fell in love of their own will.
143	* PetTheDog: Koshirou's woodcarving skills and his relationship with the flautist boy.
144	* PigeonholedVoiceActor: Three guesses as to which character is played by Hayami Show! Yes, Tenzen, how did you guess?
145	* ThePlan:
146	** Tenzen pulls some of these through the series. [[spoiler:We later find out that the destruction of the truce is the result of a BIG one of his', bordering on GambitRoulette, that was ''this'' close to leave him as the pretty much last warrior standing in both clans, with Oboro as his puppet wife and as ManBehindTheMan for the next shogun.]]
147	** People like Danjou, Ogen, Gennosuke and Hyouma are also capable of these.
148	* PrehensileHair: Mino Nenki, and to a lesser extent, Yasamaru.
149	* PrettyBoy: Yashamaru is described as 'very handsome' in the original novel's character sheet.
150	* PsychicAssistedSuicide: [[spoiler:The dōjutsu, though it only works when the target is trying to kill the user]].
151	* PuppyLove: Oboro and Gennosuke originally meet at around the age of 5. And are completely ADORABLE together. In no small part due to Oboro being a chibified GenkiGirl... Who is introduced tugging on Tenzen's hair-spikes.
152	* RapeAsDrama: [[spoiler:Tenzen attempts to rape Oboro ''twice''. He hopes for Rape Is Love, or at the very least that it will turn her into an obedient little wife so he can be the leader of the Iga village.]]
153	* RazorFloss: Yashamaru's weapon of choice.
154	* ReallySevenHundredYearsOld: [[spoiler:Tenzen looks like he's in his late 30's, but is over 200 years old. Apparently, being able to come back from death regularly also makes you age slower.]]
155	* RequiredSecondaryPowers: Akeginu's power is to expel her blood. Far more than a normal person's body could possess. Enough to create a cloud of mist.
156	* ResurrectiveImmortality: [[spoiler:Tenzen Yakushiji. As long as his inner parasite twin is fine he can abuse of this power as much as he wants.]]
157	* SexSignalsDeath: Kagerou's bitterness at the world comes from having powers that will inevitably kill ''every'' man she has sex with, so she will never be able to be with the man she's loved ever since she was a little girl. [[spoiler:Later, Tenzen captures and rapes Kagerou, so she has her revenge by poisoning him ''and'' snapping his neck... but he ''survives'' thanks to his own powers, to re-capture and savagely torture her)]]
158	* SpannerInTheWorks:
159	** The only thing Tenzen couldn't plan for was [[spoiler:Oboro's regaining her sight and using her power on him while he was vulnerable.]] [[spoiler:Though you'd THINK he'd be expecting her to try and murder him at the first opportunity, given the RapeAsDrama entry...]]
160	** That, and [[spoiler:she]] also derailed [[spoiler:Ofuku]]'s gambit by [[spoiler:committing suicide rather than killing Gennosuke. ''Almost'', since Gennosuke made sure the Igas would be pronounced victorious and then killed himself, but it still was a neat way to throw Ofuku's crap back at her, since it gave her a ''spectacular'' VillainousBreakdown]].
161	* SparedByTheAdaptation: [[spoiler:Oboro]] in the live-action movie ''Shinobi: Heart Under Blade''.
162	* StarCrossedLovers: Oboro and Gennosuke. [[spoiler:And when young, Danjou and Ogen.]]
163	* StockNinjaWeaponry: Many characters employ kunai daggers and tanto. We also have Gennosuke and Tenzen (katana), Nenki (a long nunchaku that can turn back into a pole), Jubei (an Aikuchi dagger [[spoiler:hidden in his esophagus]]), Koshiro (two kama) and also Danjo Kouga (needles).
164	* StoryBreakerPower: Gennosuke and Oboro's powers ([[spoiler:the power to drive anyone who tries to kill him to suicide and a PowerNullifier for ninja powers, respectively]]) are so broken that both end up getting blinded for a good chunk of the story to keep them from using them.
165	%% * TechnicalPacifist: Gennosuke and Oboro.
166	* TraumaticHaircut: He did it himself after Kazamachi nailed him with his spit.
167	%5 * TheUnFavorite: Poor, poor little Takechiyo.
168	* UnluckyChildhoodFriend: In the novel, Kagerou is said to be in love with Gennosuke since they were kids. Her poisonous powers (which are inherited in her side of the family; her MissingMom also had them) developed when she was a teenager, though, and that's one of the reasons why she can't marry him.
169	* UsedToBeaSweetKid:
170	** Young [[spoiler:Gyoubu]] was a simply ''adorable'' child. Then [[spoiler:his dad died]]...
171	** The same could be said for most, if not all of the cast. This is just the example we see. Some of them remained sweet, some... not so much.
172	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman:
173	** There is a clear tendency for the more grotesque ninja ([[spoiler:Juubei, Shougen, Rousai...]]) to die first.
174	** [[spoiler:The old people]] are the first two to die. So quickly, in fact, you might forget to count them in the 10 warriors from each side. And I think [[spoiler:the Bishounen Yashamaru]] goes down in the third episode.
175	* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler:Ofuku]], AND HOLY GODDAMNED HOW. For as sadistically short-sighted as the character is, [[KarmaHoudini she got off fucking lucky.]]
176	* WomanScorned:
177	** Hotarubi ([[spoiler:after Yashamaru's death]]), to the maximum degree.
178	** Kagerou on the other hand, is one of the most tragic examples ever, and with a much longer indication of dwelling under the shade of this trope. For most of her life she has been bitter that despite her worthy lineage, her inherited abilities keep her from getting too close to Gennosuke. The twist of the knife comes when he is [[ArrangedMarriage set up to marry]] Oboro, the heir of the hated Iga clan... and [[PerfectlyArrangedMarriage is more than willing to do so]]. She manifests her hurt through her desire to kill Oboro and her clan once the truce has been dissolved, and she has Gennosuke promise that he himself will take Oboro's life. On her weaker moments she tends to be suicidal and wants Gennosuke to die with her, and Gennosuke has to ''use his powers against her''. [[spoiler:The worst of these moments comes when, in near death after experiencing so much tragedy and personal torture from the Iga, she witnesses Gennosuke refusing to kill Oboro, breaking his promise to her. Though Gennosuke chooses to take Kagerou with him, she knows she cannot have the life with him that she wanted so much, and she has gone through the DespairEventHorizon; so she attempts to kill Gennosuke so that they may both die together.. And ''then'' Oboro's eyes are unsealed and dispel Kagero's poison, derailing her desperate plan right before she succumbs to her injuries and dies.]]
179	** Oboro [[spoiler:averts this trope for still believing in and struggling to understand Gennosuke after he (apparently) turns his back on her and after all the tragedies she has experienced from his clan, for trying to ''help'' Kagero after learning of the savage torture she's been put through, and for letting Gennosuke choose to leave her and take Kagerou with him.]]
180	* WorldOfActionGirls: Most of the named female characters are capavle of ass-kicking. Akeginu, Hotarubi, Okoi and (to a lesser extent) Kagerou, just for a start.
181	* WouldntHitAGirl:
182	** Subversion: Saemon Kisaragi thinks it's not in him to harm a woman if he can help it, [[spoiler:but even then, he kills Hotarubi ''very'' bloodily, since she had a part in the demise of his dead little sister.]] Not to mention, almost half of the Iga and Kouga warriors are females, and they ''all'' die very messily.
183	** Let's not forget that [[spoiler:he killed Akaginu while Kagerou distracted her on the bridge]]
184	* YourHeadAsplode. [[spoiler:Tenzen's final death.]]
185	* YouKilledMyFather: In the anime, [[spoiler:Gyoubu Kasumi saw his father Renbu die at the hands of Iga ninjas]]

Context Manga / Basilisk