Ushiwakamaru

The Wandering Tales of Shana-oh are the embodiment of the numerous legends that arose after Ushiwakamaru became Minamoto no Yoshitsune and traveled to Oshu. This Noble Phantasm comprises five secret techniques.

Eye of Shiva - Detecting the Five Secret Teachings: Forcibly relocates everyone on the battlefield, creating an overwhelming advantage for allies while leaving enemies at a disadvantage.

Usumidori - Short Steps with the Celestial Sword: It is a brilliant cut made with Usumidori. This attack, created from the Tengu's footwork, is difficult to evade.

Benkei - Firm Position: It evokes an imitation of Musashibou Benkei's body. The more faith Ushiwakamaru has in Benkei, the stronger the body becomes, making it a durable shield. It can even block B-rank anti-army Noble Phantasms.

Leaping the Eight Ships at Dan-no-ura: This is a demonstration of Yoshitsune's feat of leaping eight ships at Dan-no-ura. No matter how difficult the terrain, leaps are possible as long as there is even the slightest foothold. This technique also enhances Ushiwakamaru's leaping power.

Hoemaru - Spider Slayer: Unleashes the true power of Usumidori. This repels demons in the area and deals additional sonic damage.

Tengu Art of War (Rank A): A skill derived from the story of Ushiwakamaru learning the arts of war from a Tengu, an existence beyond humans. It provides bonuses to close-quarters combat power, such as swordsmanship, archery, and spearmanship, as well as military tactics and magic resistance. Charisma (Rank C+): Although her form isn't universally pleasing, she possesses a strange charm that draws people in the near distance. Swallow Art (Rank B): With her body as light as a swallow, she has dodged Benkei's terrifying attacks not once but twice on Gojo-ohashi Bridge.

Magic Resistance (Rank C): Nullifies spells with an enchantment less than two verses. Cannot defend against spells of the Greater Sorcery level or Greater Rituals. Horsemanship (Rank A+): All vehicles and creatures up to the Phantasmal Beast and Divine Beast levels can be used as mounts. However, this does not apply to members of the dragon species. Their mount is a white horse named Tayuuguro.

Her sword is Usumidori (薄緑, ?), the one that once decapitated the Earth Spider, which is said to have belonged to her ancestor Minamoto no Raikou. Despite being an expert swordswoman, Ushiwakamru is unable to find a gap in Ushi-Gozen's movements to cut a path with the help of Sakata Kintoki, Musashibou Benkei, Fuuma Kotarou and Mash Kyrielight.

Ushiwakamaru is a genius swordswoman who wholeheartedly adores her older brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo. She respected him as a samurai and loved him for being her brother. Although she tries not to boast, she says he was the most exemplary older brother in the world.

Ushiwakamaru likes to have fun. As a child, she was quite mischievous, spending her days playing pranks on adults and causing trouble for monks, all while laughing her head off. However, this is no longer the case, as she behaves as best she can.

For some reason, Ushiwakamaru suffers from a certain level of acrophobia, as she hates high places and never wants to be in any high place.

She was constantly pursued by those around her in life due to her great talent. While there is no doubt that she was an excellent strategist, Yoshitsune lacked something vital. That is a fear of the battlefield; she never thought battles were terrifying. Throughout her life, she was incompatible with the other military commanders. That Yorimoto even had intentions of killing Yoshitsune was probably something she never understood. Because, as a genius, having a concern for skills was something that didn't exist in her. But no matter how many times she is betrayed, she still wants to fight for someone's sake.

A beautiful, disciplined swordswoman who scolds even her master for any careless habits. Despite her beautiful figure, which displays an appearance like a flower blooming at midnight, Ushiwakamaru lacks self-assertion. She sometimes speaks when necessary, but she lacks the talkative disposition that can express a beautiful voice that would draw 10,000 people to listen in ecstasy. Furthermore, she doesn't boast about her outstanding martial arts, instead demonstrating them with nothing but results and on the scene of battle. It's possible to say that this person is a model of chivalry who discerns propriety and speaks with actions before words... and, simply put, someone seen as a true fighting machine.

Ushiwakamaru was a young, slender woman who resembled a samurai. She was dressed in a segmented kimono that covered half of her upper body, with deep magenta tunic sleeves for one arm and a high collar around her neck. At her waist was a flowing, divided hakama, decorated with beautiful designs and shimmering with a collection of brilliant colors. It wrapped around her waist, topped by a miniature samurai helmet and a tassel as if holding it together. Her other arm was far from bare, as it was equipped with a gauntlet and a samurai armor shoulder guard made of elegant, separate sheets that protected her shoulders and down. Finally, in her hand was her sheathed katana.

Much of her appeal invoked a wandering warrior aesthetic and image, complemented by her incomparable, lush, jet-black hair cascading down, almost reaching her feet, in a long, thick ponytail with a golden, feathered hairpiece to keep it neat. A silver headband wrapped around the top of her head with other accessories and captivating dark blue eyes that scanned everything within her gaze.

Perhaps this unfortunate commander is probably someone so famous that there is no one in Japan who doesn't know her name. This recognition is also evident in the proverb "Sympathy for a Tragic Hero." Namely, a tragic military commander who, while brimming with charisma and possessing the innate disposition of a genius, was cast out in defeat at the end of a confrontation with Yoritomo, her older brother, who was jealous of this prominent figure's nature.

In any case, she couldn't read men's hearts, and her inability to understand this matter left her perplexed by her own humanity.

“Love, what is that?” she wonders. Ushiwakamaru was left in the care of a temple when she was very young, and raised as someone who had never known the love of a father, a mother, or even the love of a loved one. If there is only one certainty, it is that Ushiwakamaru was a samurai. A samurai serves and swears loyalty to the lord. As far as she was concerned, that was the only truth, and with the exception of that, nothing else mattered. Having been taken from her parents when she was very young, she was trained by a tengu in the mountains; and subsequently, she was unable to nurture her “humanity.” That was the way of a faithful dog closest to a pure beast: Ushiwakamaru fought for the sake of her master rather than her own.

Ushiwakamaru triumphed to be recognized. She won by careful means, that is, she stripped herself of all ostentation because that was nothing more than an option to kill her enemies efficiently. Yoritomo was afraid of that, and Ushiwakamaru's circumstances did not increase his popularity. Perhaps it was not discovered that his fangs could have been turned on his allies to tear out their attractive but deceptive outward appearances... but others feared his inhuman nature, which did not truly fit with the relationship of gaining through power.

Better known by her adult name, Minamoto no Yoshitsune (牛若丸, ?), it would not be an exaggeration to say that Ushiwakamaru is the most famous military commander in Japanese history, with probably only someone like Oda Nobunaga possessing a popularity capable of rivaling hers... However, there are many obscure points regarding her legend, and especially the first half of her life before raising an army is shrouded in mystery.

It has been said that at the age of eleven, while under the care of the Kurama shrine, Ushiwakamaru met the onmyouji Kiichi Hogen—although some theories hold that it was actually Kurama Tengu—and was bestowed with the arts of war. Although blessed with talent and charisma, Ushiwakamaru was abandoned by her brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo, and defeated along with her assistant, Musashibou Benkei.