Zankuro Minazuki



Zankuro Minazuki is the main villain and final boss of Samurai Shodown III, appearing again as the penultimate boss in Samurai Shodown IV.

Zankuro was a powerful swordsman, who obsessed on perfecting his sword skills. Because of this, he went on a murderous spree, going from village to village killing anyone on his path, which earned him the nickname "The Demon". One day, however, he stumbled upon a girl, whom he could not bring himself to kill. Horrified by what he had done, Zankuro enters hermitage, only killing those who challenged him.

Unknown to him, the girl was his daughter Shiori. She meets with Haohmaru, asking him to stop "The Demon". Haohmaru goes after Zankuro along with Shizumaru Hisame, a boy he was training who hoped to discover more about himself and the "demon" within him. The two fight and defeat Zankuro, who congratulates their prowess before being struck by lightning and dying.

Zankuro would later be revived by the evil Shiro Tokisada Amakusa, who sought to use him as a vessel for Ambrosia, but Amakusa was unable to control him, so he imprisoned Zankuro. After Amakusa is defeated by Kazuki Kazama, Zankuro breaks free and cuts Amakusa in half, proceeding to fight the heroes, but he is ultimately killed by Sogetsu Kazama.