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This article is about a/an Transformation Device in Hero Retold: Kamen Rider Shinobi. |
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The Shinobi Hyoutans are the seven gourd-shaped bottles that house mystical powers through the Sanzu Waters. These powerful containers are the main transformation items of the Shinobi Riders in Hero Retold: Kamen Rider Shinobi.
History[]
The Shinobi Hyoutans were originally created by the Ashikage Clan, that time only known as a family of mystics, to seal the powers of the rampaging Seven-Colored Serpent. In the past, the bottles contained the divided powers of the Rainbow Serpent and select retainers could use these to protect the territories that were assigned to them by the Royal Family. However, when the civil war between the corrupt retainers broke out and the Serpent was revived due to the bloodshed, the Third Head had to enact the first Kumite, gathering all of the Hyoutan’s powers into one vessel and use it to defeat the Serpent.
Now as powerful as the Serpent itself, the Head sought to not repeat the mistakes of the retainers by subjugating them under an iron command. This resulted in his own corruption from the single Hyoutan’s power, eventually enslaving a great part of the nation through intimidation and force.
When the Head’s sibling instigated a silent coup, the Heir gathered the other depowered Hyoutans and had these imbued with the spirit of animal guardians that had similar powers as the serpent. With the six remaining Hyoutans regaining their powers, the Heir led the campaign to confront the Head before the Crimson Year began, successfully sealing the seventh Hyoutan’s powers along with the Third Head’s spirit, and using the Gold Hyoutan as a conduit to keep these two at bay.
After the rebellion, the remaining Hyoutans would still be used by the reformed Royal Family to continue protecting the nation, especially during the Crimson Years that would follow. However, the succeeding head and the retainers decide to do so in the shadows, so that the general public would not know that such powers existed, and these would not fall to the wrong hands once again.
Currently, the Hyoutans are now in possession of different individuals using them in their own personal missions, while also dealing with the Nin-Ju threat that has resulted in the Crimson Year of 2025.
Design[]
The Shinobi Hyoutans hold the main transformation devices of the Riders; the Mirai Driver and the Shinobi Starter, while serving as the secondary arsenal in their battles against the Nin-Ju. These items are comprised of the following parts:
1. Sanzu Holder: The main bottle part of the Hyoutan. This holds the Sanzu Waters that are used by the Riders. It is also the main item used in the Sanzu Secret Arts technique when a Rider drains the red waters from the Nin-Ju. Despite its size, this can hold gallons of the Waters and can seemingly never be filled.
2. Kurogane Element: The square plate in front of the Hyoutan. This serves as a special plate that holds the powers of the Kurogane, imbued with the spirit of the animal guardians. The Hyoutans can be repaired as long as this remains intact.
3. Protection Seal: The lid of the Hyoutan. When this is removed, the Sanzu Waters will freely flow out of the Hyoutan, even if it’s right-side-up. The Riders must then use the Sanzu Secret Arts Technique to manipulate the waters.
1. D ‘9 Slot: An exposed slot where the Riders can place the Jonin Starters. Used to access either the Jonin Forms or True Rider Forms
2. Shinobi Element: The main body of the Driver. Used to hold the Shinobi Starter and initiate the transformation. This is also where the Kurogane manifests during transformation or summoning.
3. Menkyo Kaiden Plate: A special plate where the Riders can hold on. Certain Riders need to push these sideways to transform into their base forms.
4. Shinobi Starter: The special transformation key that manifests separately from the Mirai Driver. Must be placed on the Driver’s Shinobi element before transforming.
Functionality[]
Transformation[]
In order to transform, the user must remove the Hyoutan’s Protection Seal and pour out the purified Sanzu Waters. These waters then form the Mirai Driver, the main transformation belts, and the Shinobi Starters, the main transformation keys. By placing the Starters onto the Shinobi Element and activating them (either by spinning the shuriken or pushing the Menkyo Kaiden Plate sideways), they can initiate transformation. The Driver summons a giant mechanical animal called the Kurogane and it equips them their Rider suit. To initiate a finisher, they can activate their Starters again, momentarily charging their bodies or weapons to execute a powerful maneuver that can defeat their enemies.
The Hyoutans can also house another variant of the Shinobi Starters called Jonin Starters, special transformation trinkets that let the Riders upgrade their forms. In the case of Shinobi and Hattari, these allow them to assume Jonin Forms. For Kenzai, this lets him use the signature abilities of the other Riders, while the rest gains access to the True Rider Forms. This is done by placing the Jonin Starter at the D ‘9 slot of the Driver and activating the Shinobi Starters once again. This summons their Kurogane once again and disassembles to form their upgraded armors.
Sanzu Secret Arts Technique[]
Aside from being used as transformation devices, the Shinobi Hyoutans also serve a vital role for the Riders in their battle against the Nin-Ju. Once the Rider has incapacitated a Nin-Ju, they must use the Hyoutans to seal the beast’s waters through the Sanzu Secret Arts technique, manipulating the unstable waters from the Nin-Ju host’s body and redirecting them to the Hyoutan which sucks and drains the waters inside it. Once all the waters are drained, the Rider must put the Protection Seal back so that the untuned waters would not seep out of the Hyoutan and possess another potential host.
Etymologies[]
Hyoutan Bearers[]
The main users of the Shinobi Hyoutans are called Bearers and are often chosen based on their skill and aptitude in Ninjutsu. There are actually no strict rules when it comes to using the gourds, such as the case with Rekka. Despite this, there are many common instances where the Hyoutans themselves select their rightful bearers, signified by the bottles glowing when held by a rightful user. When this happens, the Rider gains more power coming from the Hyoutan. The selection is also not as exclusive, with cases of two or more rightful bearers existing at the same time.
Tuning[]
After every usage of the Hyoutan, specifically with sealing raw Sanzu Waters, the bottles must undergo a form of maintenance called Tuning. These are done by the select members of the Royal Family called Tuners, advanced practitioners of the Sanzu Secret Arts technique in a quiet and isolated area. The Tuners remove all of the Sanzu Waters inside a Hyoutan and are manipulated to remove impurities from the untuned waters, such as malice, fear, stress, or any negative emotions that triggered the previous Nin-Ju transformation. Then, the waters are synchronized to the Hyoutan’s Kurogane, as evidenced by the changing of the Sanzu Waters’ colors, before these are put back inside the bottle.
Depending on the skill of the Tuner, the Tuning process can be accomplished in a few minutes, with a few even capable of Tuning multiple Hyoutans at the same time. Some Riders can tune their own Hyoutans, allowing them to perform a Perfect Tuning, which not only synchronizes the waters to the Hyoutan but also their own abilities as well, giving them a massive power boost in battle.
Hyoutan Break[]
Like any other bottles, the Shinobi Hyoutans are capable of shattering into pieces. When this happens, the Sanzu Waters inside will forcefully react and envelope the previous Rider (also sucking out the waters inside them if they have), transforming them into a powerful beast called a Cho Nin-Ju. The transformation to a Cho Nin-Ju was originally permanent, the only recourse was to kill the beast along with its host until Gamano accidentally found a loophole to save them using the Sanzu Starters. The usual way for a Hyoutan to break is through the repeated use of the bottle without Tuning, as the raw waters reject the powers of the Kurogane, creating tension on the Hyoutan that manifests in cracks. The Hyoutans can also be forcibly shattered with enough force to the same effect.
Despite this, the Hyoutans can still be repaired and used once again if the Kurogane Element on the Hyoutan is left intact. However, repairing the Hyoutans is a secret that is only passed to the Heirs of the Royal Family each generation. Outsiders or retainers who learn this secret must be put to death for an unknown reason.
Kumite of the Shinobi[]
The Kumite of the Shinobi, or simply Kumite is a historical ceremony that involves combining all of the powers of the Shinobi Hyoutans into one vessel, the last one gaining extraordinary powers that allow them to easily rule the world. The First Kumite was done thousands of years ago when Yamato Ashikage forcefully assimilated all of the powers of the Seven-Colored Serpent into the Crimson Hyoutan, using it to defeat the revived beast. A second Kumite was planned and executed by Kunimitsu Ashikage in order to slay the Rainbow Serpent for good and rule the world, but was met with failure after he was killed by Kamen Rider Sanzu Shinobi. Ryo Sakurada then declared that he would take over the Kumite, ultimately succeeding in doing so and once again unleashed the powers of the Crimson Hyoutan, with Yamato possessing his reincarnation and becoming Kamen Rider Kakugane. Another version Kumite was later enacted by Iroha and the rest of the Riders in order to revive Rentaro. Unlike the past Kumite, the Bearers willingly gave up the powers and syncronized their beliefs towards Rentaro, allowing them to complete it without any setbacks. This not only revived him but also gave him the ability to transform to Kamen Rider Shinobi Sennin.
Users[]
| Hyoutan | User | Kamen Rider | Tuner | Notes From Writer |
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| Silver Hyoutan | Suzaku Ashikage
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Master Gamano (initial) |
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| Gold Hyoutan | Isamichi Konjo | Ayame Suzumiya Haruka Ashikage (temporary) |
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| Scarlet Hyoutan | Rekka Ayano | Chief Takajo | Assumed Kamen Rider Kurenai's role despite not being chosen as a rightful bearer. | |
| Clay Hyoutan | Mary Arma
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None (initial) Ahn Dong-Won (once) Johnny Yoo (current) |
Johnny learned how to tune his own Hyoutan using the scrolls that Dong-Won left him, as seen in the final part of Hero Retold SP: Gamyeon Rider Bakugo | |
| Camo Hyoutan | Kyoya Hibino | Haruka Ashikage | ||
| Azure Hyoutan | Kunimitsu Ashikage
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Kunimitsu Ashikage |
Iroha assumed the mantle of Kenzai after Kunimitsu's death. | |
| Crimson Hyoutan | Yamato Ashikage
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None | Unlike the other Hyoutans, the Crimson Hyoutan does not require tuning, due to its powers being absolute. |
Notes From Writer[]
- All of the Transformation and technique announcements of the Mirai Drivers are voiced by Kenya Hatsumura, reprising his role from Kamen Rider Zi-O and the Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi special.
- The overall function and use of the Shinobi Hyoutans strongly resemble the use of the Fullbottles in Kamen Rider Build, from their ability to collect essences from the monsters they fight to being purified in order to make the Riders stronger and access different forms.