Genichiro Ashina

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Genichiro Ashina's History

Genichiro Ashina (葦名弦一郎, Ashina Genichiro) is a mandatory boss in which the player is meant to lose. Adopted by the Ashina after the death of his peasant mother, Genichiro is the current leader of the Ashina Clan. Concerned that his army's strength won’t be enough to withstand the impending invasion by the Interior Ministry, Genichiro seeks to abduct Kuro and obtain the Divine Heir's gift of immortality. He plans to use this power to save both his beloved country and his clan.

backstory

After Isshin's coup, Genichiro was adopted into the Ashina family after his mother died and was raised as Isshin's grandson and eventual successor. At some point, Genichiro began training under Lady Tomoe, a descendant of the Okami warrior women of the Fountainhead Palace. He also became acquainted with Emma and Lord Takeru at some point, the doctor that will help Wolf . later on and the previous Divine Heir. He and Emma . would often go near the Everblossom and watch how Takeru played music and Tomoe danced to it. Three years prior to the game's events, Genichiro fought against the Interior Ministry and although he managed to drive their army back, Ashina still suffered a fatal blow at Hirate Estate. Genichiro began to seek immortality and encouraged Doujun.to research the Rejuvenating Waters of the Fountainhead Palace. It seems at some point he also allied himself with Senpou Temple and the Gunfort.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

After the attack on Hirata Estate, Genichiro has taken the current Divine Heir- Lord Kuro into custody. He locks him up into the Moon Tower and orders his men to guard it. Genichiro somehow learns of Emma's treachery and awaits the fleeting Divine Heir and his outhbound at the silverglass field, where he and Wolf engage in a battle. Genichiro is able to easily overpower the rusty and long inexperienced Wolf, severing his left arm and leaving him to die.However, should Wolf be able to emerge victorious against Genichiro, he will fall to his knees in defeat. As Genichiro curses Wolf as a "bastard" and Wolf points his sword to deliever the final blow, a nightjar (hidden nearby) throws a shuriken at Wolf. Wolf is able deflect it, but by the time he has turned his attention back to Genichiro, the samurai has gotten up and used the distraction to sever his arm anyway. Afterwards, Genichiro comments that "A shinobi would know the difference between honor and victory", before walking away with the nightjar, who is carrying an unconscious Kuro.

Main Game

The NPC eavesdrop dialogues suggest that Genichiro is preparing his defenses for a huge attack and is willing to put all manners of creatures on the frontlines. When Wolf finally arrives at the top of the Ashina Castle, Genichiro is seen together with Emma and Kuro, looking towards his grandfather's living quarters and asking Emma of his condition. After being informed of Isshin's dire condition, Genichiro approaches Kuro and asks him to accept him into his immortal oath again. Kuro refuses and states he cannot do so. After Wolf reveals himself and promises to take Kuro back, Genichiro realizes that the only way to get the Dragon's blood from Kuro is to kill Wolf.With his experience and skill now refreshed, Wolf is handily able to overpower Genichiro. On his knees, Genichiro muses that Wolf would be better off serving someone else, though Wolf declares his suggestion to be heresy. In response, Genichiro sheds his armor and reveals his lightning of Tomoe, telling Wolf that he will embrace any manner of heretistical strength if it means preserving Ashina. Despite this, Wolf still defeats Genichiro and stabs him through the chest; Genichiro mutters "Ashina" and falls over, dead. However, it's revealed afterwards that he too is immortal. He has drunk from the Rejuvenating Waters, thus allowing him to resurrect from a mortal wound but without being healed. Genichiro runs off in search of more power.After Wolf obtains the Crimson Mortal Blade, it could be speculated through one of Isshin's secret dialogues that Genichiro has also obtained a Mortal Blade of his own during that time.During the first invasion, Isshin hints at Genichiro coming back soon to put the Black Mortal Blade to use. After defeating the Divine Dragon and coming back to Ashina Castle, Wolf finds Kuro confronting Genichiro at the silverglass field, where all began. Prior to Wolf coming, Genichiro has wounded Kuro with his Mortal Blade. As Kuro collapses onto the ground, Genichiro and Wolf engage in one last battle, but even with the Mortal Blade, Genichiro is still unable to overcome Wolf. Genichiro realizes he is no match for him and concedes that he was powerless, but that grandfather was not. Genichiro then used the Mortal Blade to sacrifice his life and revive his grandfather in his prime, so that he may restore Ashina. Even this was not enough to overcome Wolf, who slew Isshin, thus ending Ashina's final hope for salvation.

Shura Ending

If Wolf chooses to side with his father, Great Shinobi Owl will fight and kill Genichiro (off-screen) while Wolf fights Emma and Isshin. In the Shura ending, Owl can be seen carrying the Black Mortal Blade and Genichiro's decapitated head.

Genichiro Ashina