Yakushiji Tenzen

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Yakushiji Tenzen (japanese: 薬師寺天膳, hiragana: やくしじてんぜん, rōmaji: Yakushiji Tenzen) a major character featured in the Japanese anime Basilisk Kouga Ninpou Chou (known in English as the Kouga Ninja Scrolls) and the series' primary villain.

As the second in command to Ogen, Tenzen was chosen to be one of ten fighters to represent his clan of Iga Tsubagakure against the chosent ten of the rival Koga Manjidani clan. Due to Princess Oboro's hesitance to fight, Tenzen is able to completely usurp her authority and become the de facto leader of Iga following Ogen's death. Although his initial impression is of a pragmatic fighter concerned solely for the honor and survival of his clan, Tenzen is actually a sadistic and mendacious individual who revels in conflict and bloodshed. He also lusts after Oboro and desires for her to bear his child who will become the next leader of Tsubagakure, even if he has to rape her to do it (which he attempts at least twice over the course of the story).

Similar to Himura Genma of Ninja Scroll, Tenzen's power is one of regeneration and immortality. He was born with a 'twin' that appears as two eyes, a mouth and two stubby hands protruding from his right cheek (in adulthood it conceals itself such that only its closed right eye is visible as a wart/growth on Tenzen's ear). The creature seems to awaken whenever Tenzen has been wounded or killed, moving through his body to regenerate Tenzen by 'eating' his wounds and restoring any ravages of time or battle Tenzen may experience. Thanks to his powers, Tenzen was already over 200 years old by the time of Basilisk's beginning. Even when decapitated, Tenzen can still regenerate if his head is placed back onto his body with his twin sealing the cut.

[edit] Battles

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Tenzen VS Jubei: The first battle Tenzen fought and the first time he was killed during the series. After encountering Jimushi Jubei on the road to Sunpu; Tenzen sends Koshirou, Hotarubi, Nenki, and Rousai to seek out Kazamachi Shogen and take the Koga's battle scroll while he stays behind to interrogate Jubei. When he demands Jubei reveal the secrets of the Koga's techniques, Tenzen winds up getting stabbed through the heart by Jubei's sword who then leaves to follow Tenzen's subordinates. Tenzen quickly recovers though and reappears before Jubei, cutting him in half lengthwise before the quadraplegic ninja could kill him a second time. With his slain enemy's own blood, Tenzen marks off Jubei's name from the Iga scroll and burns the Koga's copy, ensuring a tactical advantage for Tsubagakure.

Tenzen VS Gyoubu: This battle took place on a boat, in which the remaining Iga were headed to the location of Kouga Gennosuke, who was currently going to Sunpu. After Gyoubu interrupts his attempted rape of Oboro, Tenzen challenged him to a duel, infuriating Gyoubu by mocking Gyoubu's desire to avenge his father's death at the hands of the Iga. Throughout this battle, Gyoubu would at many times merge with the walls, and other objects that were currently on the boat. Tenzen tricked Gyoubu into slashing at him with a katana, and threw a guest on the boat into the sword's path, leading to Gyoubu watching the guest's son cry. This brought back the tragic past of Gyoubu, in which he had to watch his father die at the hands of the Iga as a young child.

Akeginu comes into the scene, using her blood mist technique and covering Gyoubu so Tenzen could spot him. When Gyoubu merged into the wall to escape, Tenzen could see the location of Gyoubu by the red cover of blood. He finished Gyoubu off by stabbing him through the heart, and tossing the board that Gyoubu merged with (and died in) into the sea.

Tenzen VS Kagerou: Not knowing Kagerou's power, Tenzen attempts to rape her when she's taken hostage. Kagerou, seeing this as a chance to kill another Iga, willingly allows herself to be taken. Tenzen is "killed" by her breath, but comes back yet again. He ties Kagerou to a post, and cruelly tortures her by shooting small needles into her stomach to spell out the word Iga, despite Oboro's pleas for mercy towards her. Kagerou dies later from her wounds.

Tenzen VS Gennousuke and Oboro: Gennousuke comes upon the house where Tenzen had been torturing Kagerou. Because Gennousuke could not use his eye techniques, Tenzen knew he had an advantage. They fight for a little bit, then Gennousuke allows himself to be stabbed in the shoulder. Tenzen was then unable to move from his position or defend, and Gennousuke beheads him. When Tenzen's head is reattached to his body, his technique of being able to merge back together is stopped by Oboro's eyes of ruin which nullifies it, causing him to die for the last and definitive time.

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Alternate Information

Tenzen is also featured as a character in the live-action movie known as SHINOBI Heart Under Blade, in which he is said to be 300 years of age. In this movie, he has long white hair with purple lips and seems to wield duel chakrams.