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Prepare yourself!
~ Hotsuma

Hotsuma (in Japanese: 秀真) was a shinobi and was once the leader of the Oboro clan. He is the main protagonist of Shinobi (2002), the franchise reboot, and he made an appearance in the direct sequel, called Nightshade in the west and Kunoichi (in Japanese: くのいち) in Japan, as a secret playable character.

Hotsuma was a young master ninja and the headmaster of the Oboro family. Originally a kind and gentle young man, his personality drastically changed when he and his older brother, Moritsune, were forced into a barbaric sealing ritual to appease the demon blade, Akujiki. After the ritual, Hotsuma became the Oboro clan's leader, but lost his beloved older brother; as a result Hotsuma closed himself off emotionally.

After the Oboro was wiped out by a host of Hellspawn, and an earthquake reduced Tokyo to a hellscape, Hotsuma journeyed through the ruins of the city to find and put a stop to the source of the upheaval, unaware that one of his family's greatest enemies was lurking under his very nose.

History[]

Early Life[]

Hotsuma and his brother were adopted by master Kobushi and raised in the Oboro ninja clan. Hotsuma and Moritsune lived there until they were forced to duel for the clan's leadership role. The two were rarely apart as children. As the youngest brother, Hotsuma looked up to Moritsune as a role model, and wanted nothing more than to be just like him.

The Discovery of Akujiki[]

The oboro childrens fate is sealed

Ageha grasps Akujiki.

One day, during their childhood, the two brothers and their friend Ageha went out to play. The trio entered the Oboro temple, where they found a sword in a chest that was laid before the shrine. Unbeknownst to them, that sword was none other than the cursed demon blade, Akujiki. Ever curious, Ageha grasped Akujiki in her hands, and in doing so, she awoke the cursed blade. Parched for souls, Akujiki began feeding on the unsuspecting Ageha; it would not let her go. Sensing trouble, Hotsuma ran to find master Kobushi. When they returned, the two found Ageha safe, but were horrified when they saw Moritsune, whose face was viciously cut when he tried to wrest the blade from Ageha's hands. Soon after this incident, the children were informed by Kobushi that the next clan leader was to be determined in a duel to the death, with Akujiki as an added prize. The brothers trained for ten years in preparation for a single night, during which they would clash in a heated battle, and with everything on the line.

The Tragic Duel and Hotsuma's Ascension[]

The sealing duel

The duel

On the night of the duel, Hotsuma defeated Moritsune but was forced to kill him with Akujiki. Reluctantly, Hotsuma accepted his duty and ended his brother's life. When Hotsuma became the leader of the clan, occasionally he would hear rumors that cast doubt on his victory and call Moritsune's defeat into question. Some even suggested that Moritsune intentionally lost the duel, which is allegation that was supported by the observation that he was clearly the more capable fighter. Regardless of the validity of these rumors, Hotsuma assumed his role as master and lead the clan along with the Oboro elders. Though he displayed a calm exterior to his clansmen, Hotsuma suffered inside. He was heartbroken over the duel and his brother's death, so he assumed a reserved and emotionless exterior, closing his heart. Often, while out completing government contracts for the Shinobi Agency, Hotsuma would leave the village in Kobushi's care and remain absent for long periods of time. Gradually, Hotsuma completely distanced himself from the Oboro village.

The Oboro's Demise[]

Four years after the fated duel, while Hotsuma was away on a government contract, an earthquake rocked Tokyo. When Hotsuma returned to his home, he found many of his comrades dead and hordes of demonic entities called Hellspawn occupying the land. Gripped by his failure as a leader, and by his failure to protect his clansmen, he swore to avenge them. With Akujiki at his back, Hotsuma descended into the demon infested streets. 

The Quest for Redemption and Revenge[]

Hotsuma fought the demonic Hellspawn while investigating the death of his clan. During his investigation, he encountered the reanimated corpses of his fallen clansmen and many ghastly beasts, among them the Hellspawn Lords Shirakumo, Benisuzume, and Kurakuda. He also encountered a young shrine maiden named Kagari, who was a direct descendant of the malevolent sorcerer, Hiruko Ubusuna. Kagari was being pursued by the Hellspawn, who were acting on Hiruko's orders, because she was intended to be offered as a sacrifice that could resurrect the ancient weapon, Yatsurao. Hotsuma destroyed each demon lord that sought her, but the demons still managed to kidnap Kagari and place her upon Yatsurao's altar. Although Hotsuma managed to destroy Yatsurao and save Kagari, this victory was in vain. Hiruko knew that Hotsuma would try to save Kagari, and he used her as bait to lure Hotsuma into Yatsurao's chamber. Hiruko expected that Hotsuma would prevail over the monstrosity, but he also knew that, if Yatsurao was destroyed, he could absorb its dark energy. When Hotsuma predictably defeated Yatsurao, Hiruko absorbed its power and transformed into a younger version of himself, endowed with even more deadly power. Hiruko had become a demi-demon, powered by the Yin that Yatsurao had stored for hundreds of years.

A Sorrowful Betrayal and a Final Farewell[]

Ageha vs hotsuma

Betrayal and desperation.

After defeating Yatsurao, Hotsuma pursued Hiruko into the cherry blossom groves of Kan'Ei Shrine. As Hotsuma raced toward Hiruko's Golden Palace, he encountered Ageha, who drew her blade against him. As their blades clashed, she explained the reasoning behind her sudden hostility, and Hotsuma's sorrow grew as he learned of her betrayal. After abandoning the clan years ago, and distraught over Moritsune's untimely death, Ageha broke the seal in the Kumano Shrine that contained a slumbering Hiruko. She hoped that Hiruko's magical abilities would assist her, as she intended to resurrect Moritsune. She revealed to Hotsuma that the duel between he and Moritsune was never meant to decide the leader of the Oboro, but was instead ordered to abate Akujiki's hunger by offering it a sacrifice. As it happened that Moritsune had been cursed by Akujiki in his childhood, he was chosen as the perfect candidate to appease the demonic blade. Embittered by this knowledge, Ageha vowed to restore Moritsune's life. With Hiruko's assistance, Ageha successfully revived Moritsune, but he was no longer the man she once knew. Moritsune was possessed by Aomizuchi, one of the Four Hellspawn Lords. When Ageha threw herself into his embrace, he murdered her. Enraged by what he saw, Hotsuma killed Aomizuchi and freed the tortured souls of both Moritsune and Ageha, then made haste towards Hiruko's palace.

Mission Complete; The Shadow Vanishes[]

The end of Oboro

The Shadow Fades.

Hotsuma infiltrated the Golden Palace and cut down every Hellspawn and reanimated Oboro in his wake. While he climbed through the great tower, Hiruko waited for him at the top floor. As he arrived to meet his hated foe, Hotsuma realized that Hiruko expected him to absorb all of the souls of both his kinsmen and the Hellspawn into Akujiki. Hiruko confirmed this conclusion, and revealed that the amalgamation of Yin inside Akujiki was merging into a powerful and pure evil, and that he intended to consume it in order to become a true god. Upon hearing Hiruko's wretched plan, Hotsuma strengthened his resolve to bring the scenario to an end. He knew that both he and Hiruko had to die. He was perfectly fine with dying; ever since he was forced to kill his brother, he felt dead inside. However, he wouldn't meet his death without ensuring Hiruko's destruction, and he also intended to take Akujiki straight to hell with him. In the end, Hotsuma cut Hiruko down and absorbed his massive Yin into Akujiki. After Hiruko perished, Hotsuma gazed toward the horizon. Having no clan to lead, and with Akujiki unsealed, he had no intention to escape. As the Golden Palace crumbled around him, Hotsuma whispered for his brother, sheathed the cursed blade, and consigned himself to death. With his death, the Oboro bloodline is no more.

Personality[]

In his youth, Hotsuma was a kind and gentle young man. He always loved and appreciated Kobushi both as his master and as his father figure. As the youngest of the two candidates for succession, Hotsuma looked up to Moritsune and held unrequited feelings for Ageha. He truly cared for the Aragane Twins as his younger siblings (albeit oblivious to Akagane's romantic feelings for him), and he was visibly saddened to let Akujiki consume them and the other jōnin (in Japanese: 上忍 high ranking ninja) that he once called comrades.

The major turning point in his life was when he fought and killed his brother in the Suppression Ritual, ignorant of its true significance. When Moritsune died, Hotsuma became a shadow of his former self. Having closed his heart, Hotsuma hid his anguish and suffering behind a mask of calmness and stoicism. As he accepted more and more government contracts from Kobushi, he gradually distanced himself from the Oboro village.

When he learned what happened to his clan, Hotsuma cursed his irresponsibility as a leader and swore to redeem himself by avenging their deaths. When he realized that the soulless bodies of the Oboro were being manipulated by Hiruko's magic, Hotsuma's eyes were filled with sorrow and sadness for his clan, but searing rage flared up beneath his calm exterior. Even Ageha's presence didn't console him or heal his emotional wounds, as his feelings for her dissipated when she abandoned the clan and went rogue.

Hotsuma's hatred finally exploded when he learned that Hiruko murdered and dishonored his fallen kinsmen, manipulated Ageha's love for his brother, and used his brother's body to slaughter their comrades. Hotsuma's rage flared and dropped his stoic façade completely when Ageha was killed in front of him by Aomizuchi, but he wept after seeing Moritsune again after so long.

After he killed Hiruko, Hotsuma willingly let himself die in the collapse of the Golden Palace. With Akujiki free of its seal, he knew he'd be condemned to a life of slaughter in order to satisfy the endless appetite of the very sword that he hated for ruining his family. Disgusted by the very idea of being Akujiki's slave, Hotsuma was determined even in death to destroy the cursed blade, deciding to close the book on Akujiki himself.

​Relationships[]

Moritsune​[]

As children, Hotsuma and Moritsune were adopted by Kobushi into the clan leader's residence, and they were very close. Hotsuma idolized his brother, and Moritsune would do anything for Hotsuma. Moritsune even tutored him in the ways of the Obororyu shinobi. When Hotsuma and Moritsune fought the duel for Akujiki, Hotsuma was ready to die because he believed that Moritsune was the only one suited to lead the clan. When Hotsuma defeated Moritsune, he refused to kill his brother, but Moritsune thrust the demon sword into Hotsuma's hands and faced his death with a smile. Mortisune was proud of his brother, and he consoled him by assuring him that he'd always be by his side. Hotsuma was heartbroken when he killed Moritsune, and the guilt and sorrow that he felt for his brother's death ate at him ever since, causing him to stifle his emotions.

When Hiruko summoned Aomizuchi, who then used Moritsune's body to kill off the Oboro, Hotsuma encountered him a number of times throughout his mission. After Hotsuma exorcised the demon from his brother, Moritsune reappeared and they shared a short reunion. Moritsune took Ageha, who was murdered by Aomizuchi, with him into Akujiki so they could finally be together. Before he was consumed by Akujiki, Moritsune gave Hotsuma one last order as his big brother; He ordered Hotsuma to avenge the Oboro, an order that Hotsuma was more than happy to undertake.

Ageha[]

Ageha was Hotsuma's childhood friend and the object of his affection. Despite his admiration of her, she loved Moritsune more, and Hotsuma was content with that. As they grew up, Hotsuma saw her as an older sister. When she learned that Hotsuma and Moritsune were going to duel to the death, Ageha was absolutely against the idea. She considered the ritual itself to be pure madness, and she didn't want the two men that she loved the most to kill each other. When Moritsune died, Ageha abandoned the Oboro because she hated the clan for what they had done to him.

When she found out about the duel's true purpose, Ageha swore to resurrect Moritsune and make the Oboro suffer for what they had done. When she encountered Hotsuma four years later, she expressed no sympathy for the Oboro's fate, and she still expressed a bitter resentment towards him because he killed Moritsune. Hotsuma returned the bitterness in kind. He felt that when she abandoned the clan, she also abandoned him when he needed her the most. When Ageha revealed what she had done, Hotsuma was devastated, and he couldn't believe that she could have done such a thing. Hotsuma could only watch in horror as Ageha was murdered by the demon-possessed Moritsune. After Hotsuma avenged her death, Ageha was absorbed into Akujiki, where she was reunited with the true Moritsune, her lost beloved.

Kobushi[]

A member of the clans' Patriarch Association, Kobushi was a retainer of the Oboro family who was charged with raising Hotsuma and Moritsune. He raised the boys as both their strict-yet-loving father and teacher, and Hotsuma loved him with all his heart. Kobushi adored Hotsuma and Moritsune and saw Ageha as his daughter. When Moritsune died, he was just as devastated as Hotsuma but, because Oboro law dictates that none may interfere with such duels, Kobushi could only watch the tragedy unravel.

When Hotsuma became leader of the clan and decided to begin distancing himself, he entrusted the village to Kobushi, who was all too aware that Hotsuma was suffering. When Aomizuchi destroyed the Oboro, and Hiruko enslaved their souls, Kobushi was left to die at Kumano Shrine. As he lay dying, he tried to understand how Hiruko could have escaped. After sending Hotsuma to assassinate Hiruko, Kobushi revealed to Ageha that he was dying, and that he didn't want Hotsuma to see it, aware that it would break his heart even more.

The Oboro Family[]

As the head of the Oboro clan's main household, Hotsuma had many friends and rivals, such as Hakuraku, Homura, Kongou, the Aragane Twins and Kizami. As children he would often hang out with the Aragane Twins, and Kizami was a close mentor to him and Homura. When the clan died as a result of Ageha's betrayal, Hotsuma cursed his irresponsibility as their leader and his failure to protect them. Because their Yin bound the reanimated Oboro to the earth and subject them to Hiruko's will, Hotsuma was left with no choice but to cut them down with Akujiki. 

Akujiki[]

The phantom sword was the progenitor of Hotsuma's many woes; it became the bane of his existence and the end of the Oboro. As a child, he witnessed Akujiki's evil nature when it tried to devour Ageha. Moreover, when he witnessed Moritsune emerge from the Oboro temple with scars that were inflicted by the blade, he was heartbroken and scared. During the Oboro's horrid ritual, Moritsune told Hotsuma to complete the ceremony by killing him with Akujiki, and Hotsuma was forced to feed his brother's pure spirit to the evil blade; this event would lead to the destruction of the clan and bring them all great sorrow. After he learned about the ritual's true purpose, Hotsuma blamed the sword for all the pain and suffering that he and the Oboro had endured. During his final moments, because Hotsuma was so disgusted with the thought of living to sate the unholy blade's appetite for carnage, he let the the crumbling Golden Palace collapse around him. In doing so, he freed himself from a life of servitude, and hoped that the sword would also be destroyed.

Legacy[]

After allowing himself to die in the Golden Palace cave in, Hotsuma left behind his sword Akujiki which is used to seal off the Hellspawn so they cannot wreak havoc again. Later, Nakatomi ninjas were stealing the fragments allowing the Hellspawn to roam freely once more. The last surviving Oboro kunoichi, Hibana eventually takes up Hotsuma's blade keeping it out of the hands of the government and leaving with them a decoy.

Quotes[]

"Their deaths shall be avenged by my blade. I do not need your help." — Hotsuma to Ageha.

"Perhaps this is our destiny." — After a successful tate.

"Die." — After a successful tate.

"Forgive me." — After a successful tate.

"Rest in peace." — After a successful tate.

"You fought well." — After a successful tate.

"I am sorry." — After a successful tate.

"I shall put your soul to rest." — After a successful tate.

"Is that all you have left to say? If you want this life I threw away when I killed my brother, you can have it. However... I shall destroy you along with this accursed blade!" — Hotsuma to Hiruko.

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Hotsuma appears as a playable character in the 2003 sequel, Nightshade. Hotsuma wields the same weapons and plays the same as he did in Shinobi (2002).
  • Nightshade protagonist Hibana wears an outfit whose design was once influenced by Hotsuma's costume.
  • According to Kumonov, who created the PS2 Shinobi series, Hotsuma intentionally died as the Golden Palace collapsed, and had his soul taken into Akujiki.
  • Hotsuma, in the history of Shinobi, is the first protagonist to become a tragic hero and die at a story's end.
  • Hotsuma makes a playable appearance in Template:W, and he is paired with Capcom's Strider Hiryu. Hotsuma's theme is a remixed version of Patience, Shinobi's introductory theme.
  • Hotsuma's and Jiro Musashi's circumstance bares a similarity; in both of their universes their entire clan was betrayed and obliterated. As the sole survivors they avenged their families, but Jiro, not cursed by Akujiki, which had not been forged by Hiruko in his universe, survived to rebuild the Oboro a new, while Hotsuma was not so fortunate.
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