Ken Hayabusa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ken Hayabusa is the father of Ryu Hayabusa and the former head of the Dragon Clan in the Ninja Gaiden series. He is the subject of Ryu's quest for vengeance in the first game.
In the Japanese versions of the original trilogy and the Xbox version, Ken's name was changed to Joe (Joh) Hayabusa.
[edit] Before Ninja Gaiden
Aside from being a top notch ninja and protector of the Dragon Sword, Ken was an amateur archaelogist. Along with his longtime friend and fellow archaelogist, Walter Smith, both men were in the Amazon rainforest of South America on an expedition when they came across some old ruins, which housed the body of the Jashin, the Demon.
They found an ancient tablet which explains the history of the Demon and of its destructive power, and two statues, the Light and Dark statues of the Demon which contains the destructive power of the Demon inside. According to the tablet, the demon had enough power to destroy the world, but SHINOBI appeared. Using the power of the Dragon Clan, SHINOBI defeats the Demon, but is unable to destroy its body. As a result, SHINOBI transferred the Demon's powers into the two statues and confined the body inside the Amazon ruins.
[edit] The Demon Clan Incident
Ken was challenged to a duel by Bloody Malth, the leader of the Malice Four (although in the intro, Ken fights another ninja instead). Eventhough Ken is an expert swordsman, Malth defeats him. Ken, however is not dead. Instead, he is brought before Guardia de Mieux (the Jaquio), the head of the Demon Clan, brainwashed and transformed into Morgu, the Masked Devil.
After Ryu bests Malth in combat, the dying Malth tells Ryu that Ken is still alive, but warns him that "it will be the last thing you see," before he dies.
Ryu slashes his way though the Jaquio's final defenses until he reaches The Black Throne. From the shadows, the Jaquio presents his brainwashed father to him, claiming that not only Ryu can't beat his father, but that the only thing on Ken's mind is killing his son. Ryu breaks the control over his father, freeing him from the mind control.
The reunion is short-lived as the Jaquio appears. Screaming that both Hayabusas will perish by his hand, the Jaquio fires a ball of energy at Ryu. Ken, in an act of sacrifice, uses his own body as a human shield and takes the blast. Ryu cries foul and takes on the Jaquio. Once the head of the Demon Clan is dead, Ryu is reunited with Irene Lew, a CIA agent that was kidnapped by the Demon Clan.
Before they can leave however, Ken tells Ryu that they need to throw the two demon statues from the temple before the 'black moon' - a lunar eclipse - rises and the Demon will be revived. Ryu is too late as the aforementioned event happens and the Demon lives once more. But even the Demon is no match for Ryu, who like SHINOBI centuries earlier, defeats it.
After the battle, Ryu returns to his father's side. However, the energy blast that Ken took for his son is fatal and Ken has not much longer to live. He tells Ryu to take Irene and escape. When Ryu objects to leaving his father behind, Ken tells him that his destiny is tied to the statues.
"Ryu...good luck..." With those final words, Ken Hayabusa breathes his last breath and passes away.
[edit] The Vigoor Empire Incident
In the Xbox version of Ninja Gaiden, Ken (now Joe) Hayabusa has traveled away to the "Sacred Wilderness" training ground and is training during the Vigoor Empire Incident and entrusted Ryu with his Dragon Sword before leaving. His current whereabouts are currently unknown at this point.
