Tenchu 2: Birth of the Stealth Assassins

Tenchu 2 is set in Japan during the Sengoku period , four years prior to the events of Tenchu: Stealth Assassins . Following the death of the elder Lord Godha, a coup against his benevolent son Matsunoshin is launched by his uncle Motohide. Each is supported by a ninja clan; Matsunoshin is supported by the Gohda's long-standing allies the Azuma Ninja, while Motohide ends up manipulated by both a neighbouring lord and the rogue ninja group called the Burning Dawn led by Lady Kagame. The lead characters are three young ninja of the Azuma clan who trained together since childhood. They are Rikimaru, dedicated to his duty as a ninja; the rebellious and free-spirited Ayame; and Tatsumaru, the chosen successor to their mentor Azuma Shiunsai. : 4–5 The storyline is split across three campaigns following first Rikimaru and Ayame, and then Tatsumaru. Motohide allies himself with the warlord Toda Yoshisada in order take control of the Gohda lands. Toda launched an attack against Gohda castle which resulted in the death of Lord Gohda's wife and the kidnapping of his daughter Kiku. Motohide is later killed by Toda, only to be killed in turn by Kagame, who founds the Burning Dawn to the goal of turning ninja into an acknowledged political force. Kiku is successfully rescued, forming a strong bond with Ayame. Over a period of time following Toda's death, the Burning Dawn partake in a series of underground criminal activities such as kidnapping, theft, forced labor, smuggling and murder. During one such conflict, Tatsumaru is apparently killed while fighting Kagame, but in fact suffered amnesia and was adopted by Kagame into the Burning Dawn under the title "Seiryu". Under this identity, Tatsumaru kills all the Azuma ninja aside from Rikimaru and Ayame, then kills Shiunsai who reveals he killed Tatsumaru's father before adopting him. In a final campaign by Lord Godha against the Burning Dawn on their flagship Fire Demon , Rikimaru kills Suzaku and then mortally wounds Kagame. Tatsumaru slowly regains some of his memories, and when fighting Ayame kills himself with Rikimaru's sword as penance for his actions against the Azuma and Godha. Kagame dies embracing Tatsumaru, having fallen in love with him, as the Fire Demon is destroyed by Godha's forces. Rikimaru pledges himself to Lord Godha as the Azuma's new leader, and Ayame while depressed by Tatsumaru's death chooses to keep living for Kiku, who has come to see her as an older sister. In the post-credits scene of Tatsumaru's campaign, Suzaku is revived as Onikage, servant of the demonic Mei-Oh and a leading antagonist of the first Tenchu .