Brave 10 - Episode 10

Episode – 10 characters

Isanami – She is the sole survivor of the Izumo shrine, also it appears that she has some strange power that she doesn't even know that she has. Another thing to point out is that her name is vary similar to the goddess in the Japanese creation myth. It wouldn't surprise me if they have her end of being the reincarnation of Izanami.

Kirigakure Saizou – He is the other real major character in this story. Also from the way he act, it like he has a great many secrets to hide. Like how he says that he is a samurai while in fact he is an Iga ninja. It also appears that he has some sort of connection with Isanami by how he is able to calm her down. There is also his unexplained hatred for feudal lords.

Sarutobi Sasuke – He is a Koga Ninja, and this is what leads to the conflict between him and Saizou because in Japanese his the Koga and Iga ninja's have a long standing rivalery. It also seems that for some reason the koga ninja's under his command are surving Sanada Yukimura.

Sanada Yukimura – His is Lord of Ueda Castle, it also appears that he is renown for his intelligence and integrity. Also it seem that he is seeking to draw ten great warrior to his side to equal his equal great fingers, before he can go to war.

Rokurou – He is a mysterious figure that is helping Yukimura in his ambition. His cover eye has a mysterious power to record everything he sees. However at this point he has lost this eye to Ana.

Kakei Juuzou – Is a Samurai in service to Yukimura, and he specialize in juujitsu (fighting with guns). He is also extremely conservative and believes that Isanami's behavior towards Saizou is highly inappropriate. That it would only be acceptable if they were married.

Yuri Kamanosuke – Is a bandit that is encountered on their way to Izumo, although he is not really interested in stealing. The thing he wants the most is to find someone the kill, because only on the edge of life and death does he truly feel alive.

Date Masamune – Is the ruler of Oushuu, and is an ally of Tokugawa Ieyasu. He is searching for kushi-mitama which are fragments of a god's soul. That he believes if he gets them all he will became a god and this is the reason he is after Isanami.

Miyoshi Seikai Nyuudou – He is apparently the brother of Isanami, although they are not related by blood. It is just the fact that they are both orphans what where taken in by the head priest, also he is the one that found Isanami at the entrance to the temple. Also the only reason he is still alive is that he left on a journey to become a monk, and now believes that Shinto and Buddhism are the same.

Mochizuki Benmaru – He is just a kid but Yukimura made him one of his brave ten, but original he was named Mochizuki Rokurou but Yukimura didn't like having two Rokurou so he gave him the name Benmaru. He specializes in explosives and traps, which is why he was testing people so that he could find someone strong to serve. It just so happens that Yukimura is the only one that passed.

Ishida Mitsunari – is a feudal lord of Aizu, and is trying to join an allince with Yukimura to fight the Tokagawa's. Then to this end he has made alliance with many other lords, the question is where this will end up leading with things also happening with Iga's league of five.

Naoe Hanegetsu – is a feudal lord of Sawayama, and like Mitsunari wants to form an alliance with Yukimura. He also makes it clear how incompetent he think of Ieyasu that he has so many fault that it is simple to time consuming to list them all. However the question is if the Alliance will happen with the Iga's league of Five attacking Yukimura's brave 10.

Tokugawa Ieyasu – Is the shogun, also he is referred to as a Tanuki. Which in Japanese folklore are know to be trickster. Although a lot of accusation are also place in the series that he is incompetent.

Nezu Jinpachi – He appears to be the last of Yukimura's brave 10. The interesting thing about him isn't his love for sake and women, but in how he is very similar to Saizou when he first met Yukimura. Where the only thing he really want is to enjoy his freedom.

Iga's League of Five – In the League of five is five legendary ninja which have focus on mastering a single Ninja displine each. That together there is no-one that is a match for their skill. The five are Hattori of flash speed, Byakugun of Herculian strength, Kaiyo of Witchcraft, Ana of Cold blood. Although the Fifth the core, has yet to make an appearance.

Ana – It turns out that she was one of the Iga's league of five, that she was in the end only with Yukimura for the sake of gathering information. Although she is important in sealing the goddess of murderer that lives with-in Isanami. The question is when Ana of the cold blood with betray the league of five.

Hattori Hanzou – Is the one that burned down the Izumo shrine, and is working for Tokogawa Ieyasu. It appears that all of this was only a part-time job for Hattori. That he was only working for Tokugawa because it fit his agenda at the time. Although as one of the League of five he is really only serving himself.

Kaiyo – Is one of the Iga's League of Five, also it appears that the snake user that was killed earlier in the series was her Sister. It's a bit Ironic that it is just now that we are learning that her name was Oukatsu. That like her sister she can control the minds of living things, however instead of controlling snakes she controls insects.

Byakugun – Is another one of the League of five, that he/she is a bit creepy since he looks like a woman at first but later when he pumps-up he looks like a man. The other thing that is a bit of a concern is that he is clearly stronger than Seikai.

Episode – 10 Summary

In this episode, it doesn't achieve a nice conclusion like all the others because this is the beginning of the final battle. Which means that it will take until the last episode to get everything resolved. The main thing that is going on in the beginning is everyone of the brave 10 that remind after the damage that Ana cause when she betrayed them, is having to deal with the reality of what Isanami really is. The ones that are having the greatest difficulties with this is Seikai and Benmaru. However the one that is having the greatest problem with this is Isanami herself. Realizing that her very existence is a threat to everyone around her and to the very world itself. Although the reality of what Isanami is doesn't scare Saizou away it just strengths his resolve to protect her.

The Second major issue that was brought up was revealing of the true enemy that Yukimura and his brave ten will end up facing. That is the Iga's League of five, and they intend to rule japan from the shadows. That whoever comes out victorious in the battle between the Toyotomi and Tokogawa matters little, because in the end they will only be League of Five's puppet. Although it isn't explained why they need to kill the Brave 10, it is still the fact that they are setting out to achieve this end. Then towards then end of these fights, most of the brave ten are defeated. However things fad-out with Isanami's dark-side coming out. One thing that is very strange about all this is that for some reason they believe that the kushi-mitama is the key to Isanami's power. While in truth that it is the very thing that is preventing her from killing the world.

The Third major thing is the conversation that Yukimura is having with Mitsunari and Kanetsugu about going to war with Ieyasu. The question here is that if Yukimura joins this alliance, with also the action of Iga's league of five. Things will not be able to warp things up before the start of the spring season of 2012. Which means that things will partially conclude in the next couple episodes. In some ways I see this as a better turn of events, if the end of this arc ends with Isanami getting partial control of her powers, and when it is pick-up again at a latter date Yukimura is entering total war with the Ieyasu. Only time will tell where the writers are going with the story, whether is going to be a quick end or lead into something greater.