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I devoted myself to my webbed prey the way a servant devotes himself to his master. And then I feast when my prey has become beautiful and succulent.

Jiraia
Qotd


Tobita Danzo (鳶田 段蔵, Tobita Danzou), more commonly known as Jiraia the Spider (蜘蛛手の地雷亜), was born into a samurai clan and was a prodigy in the ninja arts. He was formerly a member of the Oniwabanshuu working under the Shogun before he was exiled. He was the founder and former leader of the Hyakka, former leader of the Red Spiders (Benigumoto) and Tsukuyo's master. He is the main antagonist of the Red Spider Arc.

Background[]

Tobita Danzo was born to a country samurai in Iga, and mastered ninja techniques at a very young age. His natural aptitude had people calling him a prodigy. The samurai in Iga were fighting year round, and the Tobita family was one of the larger families in Iga, so with a talented son like him in line to take over, his families' foes were not just going to stand by idly. All of his family was wiped out, save for himself and his younger sister, who was taken hostage by the enemy in order to gain Danzo's cooperation and obedience. His sister, unable to stand seeing her brother pushing himself for her sake, committed suicide in order to allow him to live freely. Later on, while working for the former Shogun, he burned his own face in order to work undercover. He would sacrifice his own body to perform any dirty and dangerous job. His devotion was his only motivation, and it struck fear into anyone around him. He abandoned his face, his name and his very existence for the sake of being able to change identities at will.

20 years before present day, when the Amanto invaded, the Bakufu and Shogun were terrified and cracked in no time. However, the Oniwabanshuu did not. A clan called The Hawks said that this was the time to fight and show their skills, while the moderates said that they should accept the decision from the higher-ups. Soon, they had a factional dispute on their hands. The Hawks became a nuisance to the Shogun, and Jiraia was ordered to erase them all from history, even though they were his comrades. He completed his task with ease, but when sitting infront of the Shogun himself, he suddenly attacked in an attempt to assassinate him and make history change its course. However, Zenzou's Father was acting as a duplicate the whole time. They fought, and he injured Zenzou's father's legs. By killing his own comrades, Jiraia's position among the Oniwabanshuu had been tarnished. Surrounded by the Oniwabanshuu, he still managed to escape, despite receiving critical injuries. Jiraia was the monster the Oniwabanshuu failed to eliminate and let loose into the world, as stated by Zenzou in Episode 179.

After this incident, he somehow managed to end up in Yoshiwara, where he became the original head of the Hyakka and Tsukuyo's master. He taught Tsukuyo everything he knew, and made her abandon her life as a woman in order to become strong and able to protect what she believes in. He trained her from a young age to create a hardened warrior, and as a final lesson four years before present time, he pretended to sacrifice himself and die in a major fire in Yoshiwara, protecting Tsukuyo, as stated by Hinowa in Episode 178.

Appearance[]

He had black shaggy hair and wore a dark colored hakama and haori. His most notable feature was his horribly burnt face and his large bulging eyes. He could conceal his face using a special face-mask.

Personality[]

At a young age, his family were all wiped out by other samurai, and he felt ashamed of his skills that had kept him alive, while everyone else was killed. Holding his sister hostage, the enemy, the ones who had also wiped out his family, forced him to obey them and work as their underling. This gave birth to Jiraia's twisted sense of devotion, and led him to literally sacrifice his sense of self in devotion to his work. This was his escape from the hatred, sorrow and shame of serving the ones who exterminated his family. He forgot his identity and focused on mechanically carrying out mission after mission. In present day, he was still haunted by the fact that he could not protect his sister, who wanted her brother to live freely and therefore committed suicide. In Episode 180, Zenzou thought that this was the reason Jiraia wanted to die in the worst possible way; to become the enemy of his own beloved student and die by her hands, as a self-inflicted punishment for failing to protect his sister. However, this was quickly disapproved by Jiraia himself, who said that he was just too afraid of losing anything else, a coward who was too scared to bear the burden. He then said that the reason he taught Tsukuyo was because he saw that she wanted to protect Yoshiwara and Hinowa, and tried to shoulder everything on her small back. He did not want her to get hurt like he was. He continued that in the end, he was scared of losing someone else again, and that he was not protecting her or his sister, but only himself and grew tired of himself. He then apologized to Tsukuyo for forcing her to shoulder a worthless burden.

Strength & Abilities[]

Being born in the Tobita family, he mastered ninja techniques at a very young age and was known to be a prodigy.

His choice of weapon were wired kunais, which could be used to trap his enemies and as a means of levitation.

He also have a tanto sword conceal on his back as his secondary weapon. He use it to slash gintoki on their first match.

His disfigured, burnt face allows him to disguise himself easily with any face he needs.

Relationships[]

Family[]

  • Danzo's sister: After the fall of the Tobita clan, the only survivors were Jiraia and his sister. The enemies took his sister as hostage, and therefore Jiraia had to submit to his enemies and use him as a weapon. His sister couldn't bear to watch this and committed suicide so he could be free of this burden. Jiraia's guilt over the death of his beloved sister further twisted his mind.

Students[]

  • Tsukuyo: As Jiraia's beloved student, Tsukuyo has similarities to his sister. Tsukuyo met Jiraia with the intention of becoming his student so she can protect Hinowa and Yoshiwara. Her strong desire to carry such a heavy burden on her young shoulders aroused his interest in her, making him agree to her request. Jiraia taught her everything he knew and was drawn to her. With time, however, he became aware that Tsukuyo was different from him. After his supposed death, she found comrades, a family and a home to protect, walking an entirely different path than her master. In his fear of losing Tsukuyo, Jiraia stepped back into her life as an enemy with the intention to destroy everything she loved, hoping that Tsukuyo would return to the same path as him again. It was not until he was fatally wounded by Tsukuyo that he revealed his true intentions to her, enjoying his last breath as he died in her arms.

Acquaintance[]

  • Zenzou's Father: Jiraia's former boss when he was working under Oniwabanshu. When the 13th Shogun becomes his target, Zenzou's father acted as a double and fought against Jiraia. With his legs injured, he was forced to retire and train the next generation though Zenzou claims that he maybe tired of the dirty business.
  • Hattori Zenzou: Jiraia met Zenzou once before and knows him to be his boss's son. Zenzou told Gintoki that it was his responsibility to carry his father's burden and track down the traitor. When Jiraia was dying, he asked if he was here for revenge for his comrades and his father. Zenzou claims he lost interest in revenge when he learned about Jiraia's past.

Enemies[]

  • Sakata Gintoki:
    Vlcsnap-2015-03-18-20h17m08s15

    Gintoki vs. Jiraia in Episode 180

    He tried to kill Gintoki as he knew that Tsukuyo had fallen in love with him. He used Gintoki in order to coerce Tsukuyo to kill him.
  • Tokugawa Sada Sada: He was devoted to Sada Sada to the point where he would burn his face for the sake of his mission. He tried to assassinate Sada Sada after he completed his mission in killing the Hawk Clan.

Story[]

Red Spider Arc[]

In present day, he made his first appearance in the anime in Episode 177, after Hosen's death and Yoshiwara's liberation. He seemingly resurfaced in order to become the next King of the Night by dominating the drug selling business, but it was later found out that he only did it to get Tsukuyo's attention and sway her back on the "right path", as he believed she had failed him by relying on Sakata Gintoki and the Yorozuya. He trapped Tsukuyo and Gintoki, who were following his trail, badly injured Gintoki and abducted Tsukuyo. Gintoki was rescued by Zenzou, who knew all about Jiraia, since he was originally with the Oniwabanshuu. Having captured Tsukuyo, Jiraia tried to create another fire in Yoshiwara, this time to burn the whole city down right in front of her. However, the Hyakka and the Yorozuya managed to cut the strings which he inflamed and used to start the fire, and thereby saving Yoshiwara. Gintoki followed the strings back to Jiraia's place, and saved Tsukuyo after a long battle with him. Jiraia was then confronted by Zenzou, who had previously been busy protecting Hinowa from a gang of thugs. Zenzou retold Jiraia's past, before Jiraia apologized to Tsukuyo for having her shoulder such a worthless burden. She then picked him up and carried him outside to show him the moon, before he dies.

Battles[]

Fight Outcome Time it Occurred
Jiraia vs. Sakata Gintoki and Tsukuyo Win Episode 177
Jiraia vs. Sakata Gintoki Loss Episode 180

Trivia[]

  • His real name, Danzō, is most likely a reference to Katō Danzō, a semi-legendary 16th-century ninja who was known for his supposed ability to fly — not unlike how Jiraia appears when standing on his threads.
  • He could potentially have been inspired by Jiraiya, from the Naruto series due to them sharing the same name, specifically Jiraia's nickname, as well as both also being ninja.
  • His nickname, Jiraia, is most likely a reference to Jiraiya, a fictional ninja and the protagonist of "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya" (児雷也豪傑物語, Jiraiya Gouketsu Monogatari). Jiraiya was a master of shapeshifting, which is mirrored in Jiraia's own aptitude for disguise techniques.

References[]

v - e - dList of Gintama Characters
Organizations · Families and Relations | Amanto
Sakata Gintoki | Shimura Shinpachi | Kagura | Sadaharu
Kanemaru | Ikezawa | Furuhashi | Beautiful Fleshy Woman
Shimura Tae | Shimura Ken | Kankou | Kouka | Kamui | Komako
Otose | Catherine | Tama | Terada Tatsugorou
Saigou Tokumori | Saigou Teruhiko | 西郷の妻 | Azumi | Wakame| Baneko |
どろみず じろちょう | くろごま かつお | ちん ぴらこ/どろみず ぴらこ | Hirako's Mother
Hasegawa Taizou | Hasegawa Hatsu
Otose お登勢CatherineTama 卵
Kurikan クリカンKashiwaya 柏谷Yoremon 四ェ門Catherine
Sorachi Hideaki 空知 英秋Amachi Hideaki 天知 英秋Konishi 小西Weekly Shounen Jump Chief Editor 週刊少年ジャンプ編集長Yoshizawa 吉沢Daitou-sanMu-san ムーさんToba-san 鳥羽さん
Other
Announcer 3 | Azumi | Banzou | Catherine | Colonel Cherry | Daitou-san | Daraku | Dark Vader | Death Cancer | Doromizu Jirochou | Dragon Leader | Elizabeth | Enari | 16th Ikeda Yaemon | Abuto | Anigasaki Momo | Archfiend Tapir | Ben | Blu-rayko | Brieza | Cello | Chogoro the Foxfire | Derude | 18th Ikeda Yaemon | Admiral Abou | Amachi Hideaki | Ane | Antenmaru | Beautiful Fleshy Woman | Chin Pirako | Chougorou | Chourou | (Chuu Nen Tai) | Daishikyou | Derude's Father | Double Dragons | Ebina | Gedoumaru | General Gero | Gou | Hachirou | Hanano Saki | Harada Unosuke | Eromes | Fumiko | Gorou | Gourou | Etekichi Kozou | Fat Dragon | Fujibayashi Gaimon | Furuhashi | Goemon | Grillin | Hachibei Takaya | Hachirou's Mother | Haga Kenji | Haji | Hanako | Hasegawa Taizou | Hashida Kantarou | Hayashi Fuyou | Hayashi Ryuuzan | Hedoro | Hijikata Toushirou | Hinowa | Hiraga Gengai | Hiraga Saburou | Honjou Kyoushirou | Houichi | Ikesawa | Ikezawa | Inoue | Jugem Jugem | Juurouta | Kagura | Kamiyama | Ketsuno Crystel | Kim | Kitaooji Daigorou | Kobayashi | Komako | Kouri Hanako | Kuzunoha | Hashida Kanshichirou | Kirara | Kitaooji Itsuki | Kiyoshi | Kouka | Kozenigata Heiji | Kujaku Hime Kada | Kumanaku Seizou | Hattori Zenzou | Hijikata Tamegorou | Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu | Ishida Genpachi Zaemon | Izumi | Jigsaw's Father | Jii | Jiraia | Kamenashi | Kameyama Duuke | Kidomaru | Kijima Matako | Kikuzou | Kimiko | Kintarou | Makoto | Minamito Sui | Momochi Rappa | Morinosuke | Mosquito Amanto | Murata Jintetsu | Mutsu | Narasaki Donbei | Nishino Tsukamu | No.502 | Obi Hajime | Oboro | Oguri Shunnosuke | Oiwa | Okada Nizou | Okita Sougo | Oryou | Mahha Noriko | Mashiroi Kaguzou | Mashiroi Utsuzou | Matsuo | Megami | Miyabi | Nakamura Kyoujirou | Nakasaki | No.307 | Obi Hajime | Ofusa | Okita Mitsuba | Old Man | Otakai Sayaka | Leukocyte King | Loan Shark Amanto | Madame Yagami | Matsudaira Katakuriko | Matsudaira Kuriko | Matsuno Brothers | Meru-chan | Mone | Murata Tetsuko | Murata Tetsuya | Musashi | Narasaki Sachi | Neptune Shoukaku | Nezumya | Ochi-san | Okita Sougo | Okuni | Onijishi | Otaki | Otohime | Otose | Ougai | Prince Hata | Princess Bubbles | Puusuke | Rotten Maizou | Sadaharu 28 | Sadomaru 22 | Sakata Gintoki | Sakata Kintoki | Shachi | Shinohara Shinnoshin | Shirino Douman | Tagosaku | Takatin | Tama | Toba-san | Tokugawa Morimori | Tomu | Pandemonium パンデモニウム | Prince Hata | Princess Bubbles | Puusuke | Rotten Maizou | Sadaharu 28 | Sadomaru 22 | Sakata Gintoki | Shachi | Shinohara Shinnoshin | Shirino Douman | Sorachi Hideaki | Soutatsu | Space Woman スペースウーマン | Tasuke | Tendou Soutatsu | Terada Tatsugorou | Tokugawa Shige Shige | Pakuyasa | Pluto Batou | Professor Meguro | Sadaharu | Saigou Teruhiko | Saigou Tokumori | Saitou Shimaru | Sakurajima Chiharu | Shimura Shinpachi | Suitsu | Suzuran | Tamo-san | Tatsumi | Terakado Ichi | Terakado Tsuu | Toba-san | Tokugawa Sada Sada | Tokugawa Soyo | Tsukuyo | Umibouzu | Unkei ウンケイ | Urara | Urashima | Weekly Shounen Jump Chief Editor | Tsuu's Father | Uchino | Unknown flashback character | Yagyuu Binbokusai | Yamazaki Sagaru | Yocchan よっちゃん | Yoshida Shouyou | Yoshizawa 吉沢 | Zenzou's Father | Toujou Ayumu | Toyako Hermit's Parents | Ungyou | Uranus Hankai | Utsuro | Wakikaoru | Yoremon
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