Joe Musashi

Joe Musashi is the original protagonist in the Shinobi series. He belonged to a branch of the Oboro called the Oboro School of Ninjutsu. He was skilled in the art of Ninjutsu and throwing shuriken and used a sword passed down in the Oboro clan called Hazy-Moon.

Past
Orphaned as a child, Joe Musashi was taken in by the chief of the Oboro clan, a mysterious band of ninja that has fought against evil and defended the peace for centuries. Beginning his training under Nakahara, a high-ranking Oboro Ninja, Musashi was trained in myriad martial arts, including Jujutsu, Karate, Kenpo, acrobatics, and stealth. Eventually Musashi would become an expert in the arts of Oboro Ninjitsu, mastering the art in less than ten years, half the time of ordinary men. As a symbol of his resolute character and accomplishments, Musashi recieved the Hazy-Moon sword; a superior shinobi blade handed to only the worthiest members of the clan.

GG Shinobi
As a teenager, Musashi served the clan faithfully as a member of the Oboro Five Ninjas; five shinobi of immense skill. Upon learning of his classmates were taken prisoner in Neo City, Musashi set out to free his clan brothers and sister. After doing so, the Oboro Five escaped and safely returned to the Oboro headquarters. But since then, there was another incident, involving a rogue ninja who cloned the Oboro Five in an attempt to steal the Five Element Crystals; ancient jewels containing the powers of nature gifted to the Oboro itself. After rescuing his brethren, they defeated their wicked copies, and faced the rogue Black Ninja, who became a demon after absorbing the gems' powers. After a tense struggle, Musashi and the others defeated the traitor ninja and escaped the collapsing fortress, returning back to the Oboro Village in the sunset.

Shinobi
After ZEED, a sinister collective began kidnapping the children of his clan to be used as soldiers for their plans, Musashi was ordered by the chief to find the children and bring the organization down. After many harrowing battles, Musashi learned that Nakahara, his own instructor, had become formed the ZEED to bring Japan back into chaos, so the Ninja can have a chance at glory again. After seeing what his former mentor had become, Musashi resolved to stop him. After the battle Musashi returned to the Oboro with the children in tow. ￼

Revenge of Shinobi
Musashi became famous in the underground society after the defeat of ZEED. Leaving on a training expedition, he left his lover Naoko in the care of the Grandmaster. But when he recieved word of an attack on the village, he finds his master dying, and several of his comrades dead, the Oboro brought to the brink of extinction by Neo ZEED; the reincarnated syndicate that Musashi defeated. the Grandmaster, dying in Joe's arms tells him Naoko had been taken captive, and gave Musashi a letter detailing ZEED's forces and locales. Swearing revenge, Musashi set out to the many hideouts of Neo ZEED. After defeating many enemies, he manages to find Naoko, held captive by another Masked Ninja. After defeating the villain, Joe takes his lover away from the evil trap, and look upon the sunset with his beloved. ￼

Shinobi III
After thwarting Neo ZEED, Joe and Naoko live happily at the Oboro Village, with Joe becoming chosen as the new leader of the Oboro. After a year of peace, one of the clan's agents informs him that ZEED still lives. He realizes that the Masked Ninja was just a double for the real mastermind; an evil master ninja known solely as the Shadow Master. Aware of the danger posed by Neo ZEED, Musashi, having completed his prior training, now faces down the ZEED menace one last time. After a lengthy battle, Musashi finally brings an end to ZEED, and returns to his home with his faithful horse Kurenai to carry him.

Trivia

 * Joe Musashi appears as an unlockable racer in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
 * Joe Musashi appears in Sega Heroes alongside Hotsuma, Hibana and Ageha representing the Shinobi series.
 * Joe Musashi appears as an custom head for Ash in Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit.