Brave 10 - Episode 12

Episode – 12 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. Although it appears that it will be awhile before we learn more about him.

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, is Raizu the master of illusions.

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.

Raizu – He is the last of the League of five, and it appears that his skill is illusions. That by giving them the greatest pleasure possible. Then he kills them, while they are still under his spell.

Episode – 12 Summary

Now we have reach the conclusion with Isanami releasing the goddess that was sleeping inside of her. Although it is kind of interesting to see how messed up in the head that Hattori Hanzou is. Where once he realize that the true power isn't Isanami hair-pin but Isanami herself. He believes that he can train Isanami, like he would a dog. Which means that he believe that he can enslave Isanami, which is just sick and wrong. However his arrogance leads to his undoing by believing that the kushi-mitama is to tool to control her power, in the end because of his arrogance he gets consumed by the darkness.

That with his death, is the prelude to the down-fall of the League of Five. The Next to fall was Byakugun, where he was defeat by the combination of Benmaru's explosives with Seikai's Kenpo. The third to fall was Kaiyo by Isanami's darkness freeing Kakei and Sasuke, when it confused Kaiyo's insects. This allows for Sasuke to bind her with a poisonous vine, while Kakei finished her off with his gun. Raizu is finished-off by Kamanosuke because his strike wasn't strong enough to finish him-off, this allowed by Kamanosuke to kill him when his guard was down. The last of the Legaue of five and the only one not to die, was defeated by Jinpachi when Ana went to grab her sword. Jinpachi electrocuted her by passing his lighting through the sword while at the same time breaking the ice he was sealed in.

This leads to the last matter, Saizou has to find a way to Isanami so that he can seal up the goddess. Then at this moment we find out what was written on the wall back at Izumo. When the darkness returns to this world, it will take someone with a vast and strong heart to seal it up again. Then because Rokurou can't see how to fulfill this prophecy he intents to sacrifice his life and use his water element to partial seal Isanami. Which in reality would probably be pointless, but before he can do this the darkness attack him, and he ends up getting save by Saizou.

This leads to Saizou taking matters into his own hands where, he believes that Isanami is still in there and that she is just being a pain as usual. This Leads to him cutting the orb with his sword, creating an opening so that he can reach Isanami. Then when Saizou finally meets her, she being all emo, and blaming everything that has happen on herself. Then by Saizou accepting her as a human-being, that the pain and sorrow she feels is proof that she is human. This gives her the strength to seal up the Goddess back inside of herself.

Then with that all finished, things progress in a way to allude to the fact that even-though the series is ending a sequel is in the works. This is emphasize by Hanegetsu and Mitsunari realizing what Isanami is, that Ieyasu is a fool to wish to use that kind of power. That there is no control there only death. Also with the information reaching Date Masamune, he make it clear that he is going to start a war with Yukimura. Things end with Saizou question Yukimura if he knew it was going to turn out this way all along, that he feels like that he is nothing more than a pawn in Yukimura's scheme. Yukimura responses to this by saying that if he believes this is so than it is also possible that he is a pawn is someone else scheme as well. Things end with Saizou being instated as the brave 10's leader.