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Jūbei Jimushi (地虫 十兵衛, Jimushi Jūbei) is a member of the Kōga Manjidani clan and one of the ten ninjas selected by Danjō Kōga to participate in the war against the Iga Tsubagakure clan.

Appearance[]

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Jūbei's full body and facial expressions

Jūbei has long black hair, pointed ears and wears a strip of metal across his nose and cheeks. He wears a pale yellow tunic with large, grey shoulder pads and his tongue is unnaturally long, just like a snake's. He has a scar on his right eye.

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Juubei wearing the kosode and haori, also smoking a Kiseru (A traditional Japanese pipe)

A "living torso", Jūbei lacks both arms and legs, but he is able to slither across the ground like a snake at high speed by flexing his chest muscles to manipulate the armor plates sewn onto the front of his tunic.

However, before the war, Jūbei seemed to wear a yellow kosode with a black haori over it and his metal strip is gone, revealing that he has another scar across his face. It is unknown if Jūbei lives this way because of a deficiency (being born without legs and arms), lost them or is just a part of his own special technique.

Personality[]

Jūbei is a very intelligent man who is able to stay composed in the most difficult situations. He is aware that he is at a disadvantage during combat and always keeps his hidden blade with him. Jūbei doesn't inform his clansmen of futures that do not concern him, shown when he adamantly refused to reveal to his clansmen what he had prophesied regarding Gennosuke Kōga's future with Oboro. He knew Gennosuke would not change his mind on the marriage so resigned himself on letting fate play out as it would.

Biography[]

Before the War[]

In an anime only flashback, Jūbei is seen telling Shōgen Kazamachi's fortune, warning him that some kind of misfortune will befall him when he's near water. Later, Kagerō is seen by Hyōma Muroga leaving Jūbei's room visibly upset. Hyōma enters the room and asks what he had said to upset Kagerō. Jūbei says he had refused to tell her how Gennosuke Kōga's marriage to Oboro would turn out. Hyōma says he too is interested, but Jūbei refuses to tell him too. However, it's hinted during this conversation that Jūbei had foreseen sorrow and loss in both Gennosuke's future and that of the Kōga if he pursued his intention to marry Oboro, but was unable to discern what the final end result would be.

Search for Danjou[]

Seeing a dark star over Lord Danjō Kōga, Jūbei left to investigate, travelling in his palanquin. As he is travelling, he is intercepted by Tenzen Yakushiji and four other Iga ninjas. Koshirō Chikuma uses his sickles to kill the guards carrying the palanquin, causing it to slide at a high speed across the ground. When it stops, Tenzen asks Jūbei to come out, although Jūbei calmly asks what happens if he doesn't want to come out. Tenzen then slices the top of the palanquin with his sword and Rōsai Azuki kicks the top off, exposing Jūbei. The Iga looked shocked at his appearance, but Tenzen carries on as normal and asks where Jūbei was going. Jūbei simply returns the question and Tenzen lies, saying they were looking for Ogen. Tenzen then tells Koshirō, Rōsai, Hotarubi and Nenki Mino to go ahead and look for Shōgen Kazamachi, saying he's all that's needed.

After the other Iga leave, Tenzen points his sword at Jūbei and demands to know the skills of the other Kōga ninjas. Jūbei laughs and when Tenzen asks why he's laughing Jūbei tells him that his lucky star is no longer on his side. Jūbei stabs Tenzen through the chest with his hidden blade, killing him instantly before he returns the blade to his throat and gloats about killing Tenzen. He then wonders what the Iga are up to and decides to go and find Shōgen and Danjō as he is worried about their safety. He slithers off leaving Tenzen's body lying on the grass.

Later, he finds Shōgen just as the Iga ninja are finishing him off. Before Shōgen dies, he throws the scroll at Jūbei who leaps from the bushes and catches it in his mouth. The Iga ninja notice him and all, but Hotarubi begin to give chase. Jūbei begins to think he'll get away as the others are so slow, but he is stopped by a dark figure in front of him. Jūbei is shocked to see that Tenzen is still alive and realizes that he must drop the scroll in order to attack him. He leaps into the air, projecting his hidden blade at Tenzen with his tongue. However, Tenzen knew what to expect and easily sliced him in half as he leapt through the air. Later, Jūbei's corpse is briefly seen being eaten by mice.

Abilities[]

Snake Physiology: Jūbei has many abilities in common with a snake. He has a long tongue which he has trained to act like an arm, using it to grasp and pick up objects. He can also slither on his stomach using the armor on his chest. While slithering he reaches unnatural speeds, shown when he outran the three Iga ninjas chasing him.

  • Hidden Blade: Jūbei keeps a short sword in his throat. He uses his extremely long tongue to pull the sword from its sheath and attack, catching his opponent off-guard. He then return the sword to its sheath and swallows it once his opponent is dead.

Fortune Telling: Jūbei has the power to read the stars in a way that allows him to predict the future. His clansmen seem to go to him often to try and find out what's in store for them and, according to Shōgen Kazamachi, Jūbei's predictions have never been wrong.

Relationships[]

Okoi[]

Even though it is never shown in the Anime or manga, it is implied (from Okoi's own words) that Jūbei and Okoi are friends who seem to be 'tea-time buddies' and they seem to enjoy talking with one another. It is, however, included in the Drama CDs, which are also included in the first track of the Drama CD section in OST # 1.

Quotes[]

  • (To Tenzen Yakushiji) "I didn't know I was so well known out here. I guess a beautiful face like mine is hard to forget."
  • (To Rōsai Azuki) "What carriage? The one you so rudely destroyed?"
  • (To Tenzen, before killing him) "Your stars show misfortune as well."

Etymology[]

  • The name Jūbei means "irregularity" (十兵衛).
  • Jūbei's surname Jimushi means "grub" (地虫).
    • A grub is a worm-like larva of a beetle; the term grub can also be used to describe someone who moves slowly or with labor. This is ironic, considering how Jūbei is completely compable of moving himself (and at rather fast speeds) despite his missing limbs.

Trivia[]

  • Jūbei did not appear in Shinobi: Heart Under Blade, a film based on the same source material as Basilisk.
  • Jūbei is probably the fourth most wise character in Kōga Manjidani after Danjō Kōga, Hyōma Muroga and Gennosuke Kōga.
  • As the flashback between Jūbei and Hyōma only occurs in the anime; Jūbei in the manga has perhaps the smallest role among the entire Kōga ten.
  • While Jūbei's weapon is a straight bladed tanto in the anime, he uses a blade that more closely resembles a hiltless jian (a Chinese straight sword) in the manga.
  • In the original novel, Jūbei maintains his quadraplegic form and he is described as having a face like an ox. His abilities are the same as in the anime and manga but instead of having an extendable tongue, Juubei projects his hidden weapon by regurgitating it from his mouth at high speeds.
  • In the novel, Jūbei is able to make his skin change into snake-like scales at will, which is the only power he lacks in the manga and anime.
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