Ninja Scroll: The Series

Ninja Scroll: The Series
Information
Original Title	獣兵衛忍風帖｢龍宝玉篇｣
Rōmaji Title	Jūbē Ninpūchō Ryūhōgyoku Hen
English Title	Ninja Scroll: The Series
Directed	Tatsuo Satō
Produced	Atsushi Mizuno Masaki Kobayashi Kenichirō Zaizen Miho Suzuki Toshiya Harada Hiromichi Masuda
Written	Toshiki Inoue
Music	Kitarō Peter "Peas" McEvilley
Studio	Madhouse
Licensed	Madman Entertainment (AUS) Discotek Media (NA) MVM Films (UK)
Original Network	WOWOW
Released	14 April 2003 – 15 July 2003
Runtime	13 x 24min

Ninja Scroll: The Series (獣兵衛忍風帖｢龍宝玉篇｣, Jūbei Ninpūchō Ryūhōgyoku Hen or Jūbē Ninpūchō Ryūhōgyoku Hen, lit. "Jubei's Ninja Chronicles: Dragon Stone Story") is a 2003 Japanese animated television series based on Yoshiaki Kawajiri's film Ninja Scroll. The series is directed by Tatsuo Satō and animated by Madhouse Studios.

Plot

Fourteen years after defeating the immortal warrior Genma Himuro and thwarting the Yamikubō's evil plans, Jūbei Kibagami continues to roam all over Japan as a masterless swordsman. During his journey, he meets Shigure, a priestess who has never seen the world outside her village. But when a group of demons destroys the village and kills everyone, Jūbei becomes a prime target after acquiring the Dragon Jewel - a stone with an unknown origin. Meanwhile, Shigure - along with the monk Dakuan and a young thief named Tsubute - travels to the village of Yagyū. And with two demon clans now hunting down Shigure, Dakuan must once again acquire the services of Jūbei to protect the Light Maiden.

Episode Summaries

1 | Tragedy in the Hidden Village

• Original title: かくれ里無惨
• Original airdate: 15 April 2003

Rōga is a ninja of the Hiruko Forces and he steals a stone called the Dragon Jewel from his clan. The Dragon Jewel is of great importance and the members of the Kimon People fight over it with Rōga. This fight wakes Jūbei Kibagami who is a ninja hero with a unique sword that cuts beyond its range. Jūbei intrudes into the fight and kills Makai of the Kimon clan. Rōga recognizes Jūbei by his skills and offers him to be his help, which Jūbei denies saying: "I can't trust someone who is afraid to show his face".

Jūbei goes to a peaceful village and there lives a girl named Shigure who is the Light Maiden. Shigure has never been out of her village and is eager to experience the outer world. Jūbei asks Shigure to let him stay in her village for some rest. While he is resting Ubume and Gōten (ninjas from the Kimon clan) attack the village and kill everyone. Shigure however manages to escape with the help of Rōga who arrives to fight the attack. Rōga sacrifices himself to save Shigure and just before dying, he sees Jūbei. He gives the Dragon Jewel to Jūbei and asks him to deliver the stone to the priestess of light Shigure. Jūbei on the other hand accepts the dying Rōga's task.

2 | Departure

• Original title: 旅立ち
• Original airdate: 22 April 2003

The sad and devastated Shigure is running for her life and on her way, she meets a mountain thief named Tsubute and an old monk ninja named Dakuan who saves her from thugs.

Meanwhile, Mufū, the leader of the Hiruko clan brings the dead Rōga's head to life. The head tells him that the village was attacked by Kimon and the Dragon Jewel is with Jūbei now. Mufū sends his fellow clansmen to bring the stone back from Jūbei.

On the other hand, Yamidoro, the leader of the Kimon clan gets the message of Shigure's location from a robotic bird sent by Gōten. Yamidoro sends the bird back with a message for Gōten to catch the Light Maiden and not fail as their master doesn't allow failures twice. He basically has the mission to combine the Light Maiden and Dragon Jewel to open the treasures of Hiruko.

Gōten then strikes again to catch Shigure but she manages to escape and kills Gōten with the help of Dakuan and Tsubute. She then decides to go to village Yagyu and both Dakuan and Tsubute accompany her.

Hiruko clansmen (Nekome, Jimushi and Shibito) attack Jūbei to capture the Dragon Jewel but Jūbei kills them with his sword and carries on with his journey to deliver the Dragon Jewel.

3 | Forbidden Love

• Original title: 邪恋慟哭
• Original airdate: 29 April 2003

Jashi from the Kimon clan along with his sister Rengoku is on his way to catch the Light Maiden. Meanwhile, Kitsunebi tells Yamidoro that the Hiruko clan is also chasing the Light Maiden to protect her. But Yamidoro believes that they are chasing her to gain her powers and now fate will decide who will finally own her.

Jashi attacks to capture Shigure but she hides with her companions where she finds Jūbei. When Jashi comes after Shigure he finds Jūbei as well and attacks him to get the Dragon Jewel. Shigure on the other hand is confused as to why everyone is calling her Light Maiden.

During the encounter, Dakuan and Shigure split up from Jūbei and Tsubute.  Rengoku chases Shigure while Jashi goes for Jūbei. During the deadly encounter between Jūbei and Jashi, Tsubute tries to steal the Dragon Jewel but fails. Jashi has the power to send Jūbei to an illusionary world. Jūbei however kills him by destroying his eye and his illusions. But his death makes Rengoku furious and she vows to avenge her brother's death.

Jūbei on the other hand delivers the Dragon Jewel to confused Shigure and leaves after telling her to get further information about herself and the stone from Dakuan.

4 | Broken Stone

• Original title: 割れた宝玉
• Original airdate: 6 May 2003

Tsubute steals the Dragon Jewel from Shigure while she is sleeping but Jūbei comes from nowhere and catches him. He takes the jewel from him and sends him back to guard Shigure. Jūbei tries to get information about Shigure from Dakuan but just then mysterious roots appear from the earth and attack Jūbei. In this encounter, the Dragon Jewel splits up in two halves. Turns out that the mysterious roots are the hands of a ninja from the  Hiruko clan named Azami who manages to capture one half of the stone. Which leaves Jūbei with just the other half of the stone and he goes after the missing half.

On his way, he encounters Hakurō of the Hiruko clan who is a ninja with such thick skin that can even withstand Jūbei's sword and its attack. But Jūbei kills him while he slides his sword through Hakurō's throat.

Kitsunebi from the Kimon clan attacks and captures Azami. He confiscates the Dragon Jewel and sends it to Yamidoro. He then tries to violate Azami but just then Jūbei arrives and lures Kitsunebi after himself saving Azami from being violated. Later Jūbei kills Kitsunebi with his sword while his moths are repelled by the sulphur.

5 | Diamond Child

• Original title: 金剛童子
• Original airdate: 13 May 2003

A worthless thief named Tatsunosuke tries to steal and fails. On his way back he sees Aizen of Kimon who is a manipulative ninja and tries to manipulate him but fails. Shigure on the other hand is on her way to  Yagyū village with Jūbei and her other companions. On their way a giant creature named Zanba attacks them. Tsubute takes advantage of this situation and steals the Dragon Jewel and runs away. Jūbei asks Dakuan and Shigure to leave while he fights the giant ninja. During the encounter, a huge bridge falls over the giant and Jūbei escapes.

Tsubute meets Tatsunosuke on his way and he snatches away the dragon stone from Tsubute. While he snatches the stone two officials start chasing them which leads them both to Tatsunosuke's house. Tatsunosuke lives with his sister Yayoi. He and Tsubute become friends and Tatsunosuke gives the Dragon Jewel back.

Tatsunosuke has special powers and can turn his hands into diamonds. Aizen offers him to join the Kimon People and to snatch the Dragon Jewel from Tsubute and kill him. But he can not kill his friend which makes Aizen furious. Aizen decides to kill them both however at the same time Jūbei attacks and kills Aizen instead. Later, Zanba again appears and this time Jūbei kills him and takes the Dragon Jewel back from Tsubute.

6 | Shelter from the Rain

• Original title: 雨宿り
• Original airdate: 20 May 2003

It's raining and Jūbei seeks shelter. On his way, he encounters Nenmu who fights Jūbei for the Dragon Jewel. He makes a poisonous cut on Jūbei's neck but Jūbei kills him with his sword. However, Nenmu can shift his soul to different bodies with the help of his eyeball. So he gets into the body of another man. Jūbei on the other hand is sick due to the poisonous cut and gets help from a lady named Sen and her son Takuma. While they are treating Jūbei, Nenmu comes again and tries to kill Jūbei. Jūbei again kills him but he carries on shifting his soul to other bodies and keeps on attacking Jūbei. After changing 3 bodies Nenmu escapes.

Jūbei is then left alone with Sen and her son who tells him that a man has killed her husband and now she wants revenge. Actually, she thinks that her husband's killer is Jūbei and she confronts him. Meanwhile, Nenmu again attacks Jūbei and kills the lady and takes her body. Jūbei eventually kills him by cutting his eyeball into two halves as Nenmu leaves the lady's body in a panic.

7 | Blossom

• Original title: 蕾
• Original airdate: 27 May 2003

Both Kawahori (ninja from the Kimon) and Azami are after the Dragon Jewel. Shigure entrusts the Dragon Jewel with Jūbei until she finds everything about her. While chasing Azami, Jūbei gives the jewel to Dakuan who also turns out to be after the power of the Dragon Jewel. Azami snatches the jewel from him and ties him to a tree. Later, Jūbei confronts Dakuan and forces him to tell him about the secret of the jewel. Dakuan then tells him that the jewel is actually the key to an ancient treasure that belongs to a lost dynasty.

Kawahori on the other hand attacks Azami to get the stone back but Jūbei comes in, takes Azami and runs. Later, he tells Azami that he is not after the treasure but the Light Maiden has entrusted the jewel with him. Azami then helps Jūbei in fighting and killing Kawahori. She then tells him that the treasure belongs to the Hiruko and they are the descendants of the lost dynasty. She then dies but gives the Dragon Jewel back to Jūbei.

8 | The Fate of Rengoku

• Original title: 煉獄昇天
• Original airdate: 3 June 2003

Shigure with her companions is on her way. They hear about mountain monsters and decide to stay away from the road passing through the hilltop.

Yamidoro presents the other half of the Dragon Jewel to his master Yamikubō. The master is not happy with just the one half and orders Yamidoro to get the other half as soon as possible. Rengoku is still after her revenge and attacks Jūbei. In her burning wish for revenge, she even ignores Yamidoro's order to get the jewel and focuses only on killing Jūbei. But he cuts her with his sword and goes away with the jewel. Rengoku regenerates her body and meets Dakatsu from the Hiruko who manipulates Rengoku telling her that he will help her in killing Jūbei and in return he will take the jewel.

Later, he reveals that he also wants Rengoku's body and he takes her arms and legs. But she doesn't like the deal and her hands choke him to death. She then goes on to kill Jūbei but while she is fighting him Dakatsu's tail stinks her and Jūbei escapes. Yamidoro appears and kills Rengoku as he fears her madness for her brother.

9 | A Dragon Within

• Original title: はらわたに龍
• Original airdate: 17 June 2003

Yasubei, a government Yagyū ninja, finds Shigure and tells her that the symbol on her medal means that it's the medal of an ancient dynasty and the Yagyū clan is after that too. He then attempts to kill her in order to take the medal. A ninja named Zōfu from the Hiruko appears at the spot and saves Shigure by killing Yasubei. Zōfu tells Shigure that both the Hiruko and Kimon clans are after the hidden treasures. Hiruko wants that treasure so that they can build a new nation. He also reveals that they have been in darkness for so long and now they need Light Maiden to survive. But Shigure says she doesn't want this royal life, instead, she wants a simple life.

He takes away her medal and tells Jūbei that he has killed Shigure making Jūbei furious. He also tells Jūbei about a parasite that lives in his stomach and is linked to his life. Jūbei kills the Parasite which in turn kills Zōfu. Shigure then gets her medal back and goes away with Jūbei.

10 | The Heart of the Hiruko

• Original title: ヒルコの真心
• Original airdate: 24 June 2003

Rokai of the Hiruko clan escapes from the prison he was kept in due to his foolish nature. The elites from the Kimon attack Shigure and Jūbei. Rokai comes in and takes Shigure away as he comes to know that she is the Light Maiden. Yamidoro and his elites want to capture Shigure but Rokai tries his best to save her. Yamidoro attacks him and kidnaps Shigure. He then goes on to capture Jūbei who meanwhile is fighting Tobizaru and his horde of ninja monkeys. During their encounter Yamidoro causes an explosion to kill Jūbei but it kills Tobizaru. He then tells Jūbei that he is after the Dragon Jewel and Jūbei can also join them by giving him the jewel but Jūbei refuses. As a result Yamidoro attacks Jūbei but Rokai appears to save Jūbei but gets himself killed. It gives Jūbei a little time to escape.

Yamidoro then orders to take Shigure to the master. In the meantime, Dakuan and Tsubute find Jūbei who has now decided to get Shigure back at any cost.

11 | Renya Yagyū

• Original title: 柳生連夜
• Original airdate: 1 July 2003

Jūbei is on his way to save Shigure from the Kimon. Yamidoro shows Shigure how Hiruko's men are coming to save the Light Maiden. He then kills them all by bombing them. This makes Shigure sad. Renya Yagyū from the Yagyū clan accompanies Jūbei on the ship. Renya has a mission to find Shigure and to take the Dragon Jewel. A little mysterious girl on the ship takes the Dragon Jewel from Jūbei and runs. When caught, she tells Jūbei that some old lady has the jewel. The girl has the ability to grow a monster head and kills Yagyū's men and also lies about the jewel. No one knows that the girl is responsible for killing all those men.

She again attacks and this time Yagyū kills her monster making Jūbei realise that she is the one who has killed all the men. Eventually, she gives the jewel back but then Renya kills her as well making Jūbei furious. Then he strikes Renya with his sword. They both then land at the same place with the same aim i.e to find Shigure.

12 | Dynasty Restoration

• Original title: 王朝復活
• Original airdate: 8 July 2003

Yamidoro along with his men is taking Shigure to his master. They kill Yagyū's men on the way and carry on their journey. Jūbei traces their path and follows them. Utsushie from the Kimon clan takes Shigure's mind and body to fool her friends. Jūbei finds Shigure and at the same time, Yamidoro and his men attack him. During the encounter, Jūbei strikes Yamidoro and manages to get the other half of the jewel.

Mufū appears and restricts Yamidoro from killing Jūbei. He then bows down to Shigure and tells her that she is the Light Maiden and they have been protecting her. Moreover, he asks her to come with them and revive their kingdom. Jūbei gives the Dragon Jewel back to Shigure as promised. As Utsushie is disguised as Shigure she takes control of Dakuan and other ninjas. She also kills the Three Scout Brothers of the Hiruko along with these ninjas and acts as if she doesn't know anything. She reveals herself when Mufū gathers all the items and tells her the procedure to access the hidden treasure.

At the same time, Yamidoro appears with the real Shigure. Utsushie's men throw Mufū into the fire and Yamidoro kills Utsushie in an attempt to kill Jūbei. Jūbei also falls into the fire.

13 | Farewell Jūbei

• Original title: 青天飄々
• Original airdate: 15 July 2003

Yamidoro and his master are happy as now they have the Light Maiden. They use her to open the ancient dynasty and go inside with her. At the same time, Renya appears with his men and chases them. Turns out Jūbei is not dead and has been saved by Dakuan. Dakuan fools everyone by pretending that he is against Shigure but in reality, he is sane and saves Jūbei's life. Jūbei with his friends chases Yamidoro to save Shigure.

Shigure on the other hand opens the way to the hidden treasure but at the same moment, Mufū appears and fights Yamidoro. Renya on the other hand captures Yamikubō who is killed by Yamidoro while he strikes to kill Yagyū but accidentally hits his master. Mufū tells Yamidoro that now all is up to the Light Maiden.

Shigure on the other hand abandons her powers as she wants to live a simple life. Both Yamidoro and Mufū turn out to be twin brothers and parishes together. In the meantime, Renya attacks Jūbei as he wants to kill Shigure but Jūbei restricts him and tells Shigure to run. Shigure manages to escape, leaving Jūbei behind.

Later, she lives a happy and simple life like a village girl with Tsubute. Also, it turns out that Jūbei survives and is peacefully living.

Soundtrack

Ninja Scroll is an original soundtrack to Japanese TV series of the same name, written and directed by Yoshiaki Kawajiri. The music for the soundtrack is co-scored by Kitarō and Peter (Peas) McEvilley. It was released on August 26, 2003, and the length of the soundtrack is 0:43:50.

Track listing

1. "Jubei's Theme"
2. "Sure Shot"
3. "All We Are"
4. "Peppercorn - Tsubute's theme"
5. "Ninja Femme Fatale"
6. "Gales Of Wind (Dance Mix)"
7. "Drifting Journey"
8. "Hikari"
9. "Only The Night"
10. "Itinerancy - Dakuan's Theme"
11. "Glory"
12. "Peaceful Village"
13. "Shigure's Theme"

Gallery

The cover of the first DVD volume of Ninja Scroll: The Series.