Ken Matsumune/Fanon Canon

Ken Matsumune (マツムネケン, Matsumune Ken) is a  from the. At the age of fourteen he committed a grave offense against his family clan and was ordered to cut off his swordhand as punishment before being banished from his homeland. While travelling through the he entered Jikanogakure, a village that subject to a time anomaly, and emerged several centuries into the future by mistake. Realizing that he was unable to return to the, he set off to gain as much future knowledge as possible and discover a way to return to the Land of Iron. During his search he eventually came to, where he offered his services as a mercenary in exchange for a. He currently serves under Soen, fulfillling the role of a military advisor to the Kazekage.

It is believed that Ken studied while in the  as he is able to use several  techniques. However, he primarily relies upon in battle, and his level of mastery is such that he was able to defeat one of the most powerful members of the. He currently wields the Nijunten (二順天の剣, lit. "duel will of heaven"), a and   that he inherited from his grandfather, Seigen, a legendary swordsmaster.

Equipment
二順天の剣 Nijunten no tsurugi

Abilities
Ken is, above all, a man of the sword. Unlike the modern warriors from the Land of Iron, Ken is from the Golden Age of the samurai and as such he is significantly more powerful as a combatant than those who, for example, fought against prior to the. His skills as a swordsman are unparalleled even when compared to (generally considered to be the “last great samurai”). In attack his onslaughts are unrelenting, as he possesses incredible durability and stamina, yet he demonstrates stolid patience in defense. Ken’s particular style of swordsmanship emphasizes smooth, fluid movements with marked flashes of blinding speed and strength. His style lends itself easily to being blended with the use of jutsu. When coupled with his impressive speed and mobility on the battlefield, he becomes a force of nature itself. His fortitude was demonstrated when he fought against the, besting most of them despite being outnumbered six to one. In addition to such physical feats, Ken is also a brilliant military strategist, utilizing his experiential intelligence and keen observation to remain several steps ahead of his adversaries.

Chakra and Physical Prowess
From the beginning, samurai concentrated on developing chakra for use in swordsmanship as opposed to ninjutsu. Thus, as a samurai Ken typically utilizes his chakra in a way that is completely different from that of a shinobi. If the chakra pathways of shinobi are described as an influence, then by analogy the chakra pathways of samurai flow in effluence. This means that, instead of drawing in and “kneading” chakra within the internal pathway system, samurai utilize their chakra to either resonate with and imbue their sword with energy or to quickly expel energy to attack, which bears forceful, physical repercussions. Through constant meditation, Ken’s chakra control has become incredibly refined, allowing him to fine-tune the amount of chakra that he actively releases at any one time. This not only enables him to conceal his presence, but also to execute highly advanced kenjutsu techniques that demand the upmost precision. Ken is also capable of feats normally assumed to be reserved for shinobi, such as the technique. While his chakra reserves are actually somewhat limited compared to a shinobi of his equivalent rank, this poses no considerable weakness since he compensates with expert efficiency, using the least amount of force necessary in order to achieve the greatest effect.

Years spent training to become a singular, unified entity with his sword allowed him to develop the ability to detect the presence of another person. While the range of his perception seems to be limited compared to that of trained, he is highly aware of the chakra signatures in his immediate vicinity and is able to instinctively sense nearby threats. His perceptive abilities allow him to accurately predict incoming danger by registering the “killing intent” behind an opponent’s attack to a degree that resembles foresight. In addition to his notable control of chakra, Ken’s possesses an impressive level of physical strength and stamina. As a samurai, his physical training has always been coupled with meditation, and as such is it probable that his physical capabilities have been directly enhanced by his spiritual practices. Whatever the means might have been, Ken has attained a peak level of conditioning that vastly supersedes that of a typical samurai. This aspect is not immediately evident, however, as Ken tempers his formidable strength with economy. Similar to the way he uses chakra, he only utilizes the least amount of force necessary to overcome a certain obstacle or inflict the most severe damage with minimal effort. For example, a strike using the pommel of his tachi might not seem to be a serious endeavor compared to fully drawing his sword, but when Ken concentrates power behind the strike it has enough force to punch holes through allegedly impenetrable barriers.

As a naturally fast combatant, Ken can move so quickly at times that, even without using the technique, he appears to teleport across the battlefield. This is accomplished by concentrating and releasing chakra in his feet and legs in order to allow for short, incredibly rapid bursts of speed, such as what is used in. Furthermore, his endurance is such that he can run for days without stopping to rest and is able to cover nearly twice the ground while travelling that a shinobi could in the same amount of time. Ken can also fall from and leap to considerable heights, cut through thick tree trunks with minimal effort, climb to incredibly high altitudes, withstand freezing temperatures, etc. His durability was partly a result of the Matsumune’s philosophy towards fighting, which taught him to resist the “killing blow” of any opponent and minimize the damage of their attacks until he could strike at the perfect, fatal moment. As such, he is highly resilient as a combatant, and can continue fighting effectively even after sustaining injuries that would kill a lesser samurai.

Gelel Stone Enhancement
It is said that has the property to grant its user phenomenal abilities, equivalent to that of a. This is certainly true in Ken’s case, as the Gelel Stone fragment implanted in the center of his chest allows him to access enormous stores of raw power. Considering that he was already less dependent upon chakra to begin with as a samurai, Ken was able to make the transition to Gelel energy relatively easily and soon gained mastery in controlling the stone’s unique form of energy for use in ninjutsu and other techniques. The Gelel energy is tangibly different than Ken’s chakra, as it is thicker, darker than the normal light blue hue of his own aura, and actually visible when in use: another factor likening it to the energy held by a Jinchūriki. Unlike the hosts of the Tailed Beasts, however, the Gelel Stone fragment does not provide Ken with any special abilities beyond what he was already capable of. Instead, its powers simply serve to enhance Ken’s natural abilities, endowing him with extraordinary speed and strength. While the exact level is difficult to quantify, Ken’s Gelel-enhanced speed is heightened to the degree where he is at least capable of surpassing the, as evidenced by the fact that a sonic burst is created the moment he springs towards an opponent. As such, many have mistaken his Gelel stone powers to be a form of. Beyond this, he can visibly track the movements of other particularly swift opponents such as -using, react to the swiftest of attacks, and can even momentarily phase out of sight while moving. Perhaps most terrifying, however, is when this concentrated, incredibly powerful form of energy is combined with the use of : a technique already fast enough to prevent shinobi from using hand signals. Merely drawing his sword results in instantaneous damage, as the speed of the blade is too great to remain on one dimensional plane and cuts through the space-time continuum itself. Presumably, Ken’s level of strength is comparable to his speed: He once redirected a compact earth projectile with the destructive potential of a meteor with little visible effort in order to protect a regiment of his fellow revolutionaries. While the precise extent of these abilities remains to be seen, Ken does not typically rely on direct physical strength in combat. As such, aside from his speed, the Gelel-stone enhancement mainly serves to bolster the power of his ninjutsu. Thus, even though Ken’s knowledge and use of ninjutsu roughly parallels that of a standard, when coupled with the power of the Gelel stone fragment his techniques become cataclysmic in scope.

Kenjutsu
In recent history, the samurai have lost many of the fine arts of the blade as they began to rely on techniques such as chakra-repelling armor and the technique as opposed to traditional kenjutsu. Individual clan styles saw a sharp decline in the century preceding Mifune as samurai eventually sought an easily accessible standard in lieu of actual devotion to years of intense, individualized training. This is partly due to the rise in military prestige following the Great Reconstruction, which led to the sense that uniformity (or conformity) was something to be desired among the samurai. Ken, however, predates this era and as such his approach to swordsmanship is completely different than the current norm.

As a Matsumune, Ken considers his sword to be his companion or “mistress,” and has lived since the age of twelve without allowing his swords to leave his side. For centuries his clan practiced kenjutsu with the belief that the true, singular purpose of a sword is to kill, and as such their style is minimalistic, firmly grounded in basic forms, and intensely brutal. The Matsumune became known for their ability to endure anything in order to cut down an opponent, regardless of whether or not they actually survived. However, unlike the rest of his clan with its emphasis on unrelenting aggression and complete self-abandonment in battle, Ken’s method of fighting is much more reserved. During his childhood he was heavily influenced by his grandfather, who taught him the art of patience, elegance, and stillness in the face of death. Thus, while Ken still demonstrates fighting tendencies that are characteristically "Matsumune," such as his strong, concentrated attacks and incredibly powerful, unpredictable offensive strikes, he is much more defensive and precise in his movements. If Ken's style could be defined in three words they would be precision, speed, and restraint.

Typically, Ken refuses to mount an attack until he has sufficiently observed an opponent, demonstrating a calm, unshakeable composure while masterfully responding to their onslaughts. His sword moves fluidly, naturally, and is deceptively graceful as he is capable of countering at any moment at speeds faster than the eye can perceive. He can manipulate any part of the blade with the utmost expertise, such as turning the tip at the last instant of an upwards slash to cut across an adversary’s throat, quickly readjusting his grip in order to change directions to throw an enemy off-guard, leveraging his blade against the opponent’s weapon in order to gain the advantage, etc. Since Ken learned to compensate for the loss of his right hand, his dexterity is not limited to his dominant hand, as he is equally proficient with both. Ken can also quickly adjust for distance, and while his defensive maneuvers remain close to mid-range, his mobility and sudden bursts of speed allow him to cross terrain and eliminate the gap between him and a long-ranged adversary before the latter has time to react.

Despite his emphasis on forbearance and precision, Ken does not shy away from bloodshed and becomes chillingly single-minded when on the offense. All excessive or superfluous movement is stripped away, much like the purity of the blade itself, allowing him to concentrate all his strength into devastatingly precise and powerful cuts. Those on the receiving end of his attacks often find themselves unable to counter the “sword that kills,” and in the past this allowed Ken to make short work out of entire regiments of samurai before his adversaries truly grasped what was occurring. However, Ken’s offensive capabilities paled in comparison to the viciousness of his older brother, and as such his name was never as feared on the battlefield as Nakago’s. Nevertheless, this perhaps made him the more deadly adversary, as his efficiency and cleanness of attack meant that few—if any—survivors were ever left to tell of his legendary abilities, allowing him a greater degree of unpredictability when encountering new opponents.

Philosophy
All samurai adhere to certain distinctive principles that differentiate them from shinobi. Originally, they followed the moral code specified by Wadō (和道, lit. "Way of Peace"), the samurai’s counterpart to, which stressed values such as loyalty, nobility, and honor in battle. Following these values, the samurai were able to temper the violent practice of swordsmanship with wisdom and serenity, thus elevating kenjutsu to the level of a true art form. However, a long series of inner-clan warfare forced the samurai to adopt practices that differed from the philosophy they professed, and most styles were stripped of any spiritual element, becoming militaristic and pragmatic in the face of rising conflict. As the Matsumune had risen to power during this period of violence, they too emphasized the qualities of aggression and minimalism in combat. To them, there was only one path, and that was to cut through the heart of a target; regardless of whether doing so would result in suicide. Perhaps the ultimate expression of their single-minded determination was Sōgoshi (相互死, lit. "mutual death"), a technique which allowed the user to so perfectly mirror the stance of an opponent that, upon striking, it would result in a simultaneous fatal blow.

Born and raised in this militant environment, Ken acquired a certain degree of fearless self-abandon in the face of death, and he was an originally reckless and furiously unchecked combatant. Having been taught that the sword was nothing more than an instrument to bring about the defeat of his enemies and that the moment it failed to serve him would be that of his own demise, he devoted much of his early life to gaining technical mastery in kenjutsu. As such, the fundamentals of his techniques are still largely rooted in the Matsumune style, particularly in his stances and offensive kata. However, after Ken began to be instructed by his grandfather at the age of eight, his approach largely came to reflect Seigen’s teachings, who differed significantly from the Matsumune in his philosophy regarding the way of the sword.

First, Seigen was a practitioner of Wadō and had returned to the traditional principles that advocated for forging a full appreciation and personal bond with one’s sword—that is, that the sword was more than a mere weapon. Secondly, he taught that, like fire or the spirit, the sword is a living thing which can be tempered but never fully controlled. Its properties were such that, without restraint, the blade that cut an enemy could be the same that cut an ally. It was therefore necessary to show respect towards the sword both for having its own “will” and for its tremendous capacity—and indeed sole, indiscriminate purpose—to kill. Seigen believed that the only way to restrain this capacity was to achieve a state of (無為, mui, lit. "inaction"), or the “action of inaction,” which allowed for a unity of mind and a resonance of will with the blade and its purpose, thus allowing the user to communicate with the blade and redirect its fatal intent. Adding credence to his proposition, Seigen’s own level of Stillness rose to a nearly perfect state that, upon his death, it allowed him to achieve enlightenment and ascend to the where his spirit could move somewhat freely between the physical and spiritual realms.

For his part, Ken seems to bridge the gap between his grandfather and the Matsumune. While he ascribes to the noble tenets of Wadō and the aspirations of his grandfather, he also recognizes the logic behind the Matsumune’s pragmatic minimalism, and as such sought to reconcile the two opposing views. For many years he struggled to attain a balance as his style continued to develop, and he oftentimes felt tossed between two extremes. Eventually, after his banishment from the Land of Iron, Ken was exposed to ninjutsu and learned that chakra could be used differently than what he had been previously taught as a samurai. This gave him new insight into a means of balance, and he at last successfully melded the two branches of swordsmanship together in order to create his own style, which he called Futugawa no Goryū (二川の合流, lit. “confluent flow of two rivers”).

Unlike either the Matsumune or his grandfather, Ken came to see the sword as both an instrument of destruction and the means by which peace could be secured. Like the Matsumune, Ken realized that conflict was inevitable, but rather than trying to avoid it entirely he saw the path of the sword as a way of resolution. That is, the wielder himself is the one who determines whether or not the sword is used in order to either kill or preserve life, as it may be necessary to sacrifice one individual in order to save a multitude. The philosophy behind Futugawa no Goryū thus recognizes two purposes of the sword as opposed to one, and seeks to find harmony in discerning when to strike and when to remain still. In many ways, this perspective fits personally with Ken’s prophesied position as both a great agent of peace and a harbinger of destruction. More generally, however, the duality of the style is reflected in the Futugawa no Goryū’s unique emphasis on wielding two blades with differing lengths simultaneously. The way in which Ken utilizes his tachi in conjunction with his shorter kodachi is refined, efficient and powerful, as it allows for fluidity between timing and distancing, thereby exploiting the advantages of both blades without creating gaps or wasting movement. As each sword offers its own strengths and weaknesses, dual harmony is a necessary and inherent element of the style, reflecting its philosophical roots in the razor-edge balance between life and death.

General Techniques

 *  (中段の鉄門, chūdan no tetsumon, lit. "middle iron gate"): The Iron Gate Stance is the most basic posture used in the Matsumune canon of kenjutsu. It is a mid-level stance that provides for a balance between both offensive and defensive techniques, and is assumed by placing the left foot, with the heel slightly raised, behind the right foot (or vice-versa for a left-handed stance), with both feet parallel and the hips aligned, shoulders relaxed, and spine straight. While similar to the basic chūdan stance that is used in most styles of kenjutsu, the Matsumune differ in that their feet are placed much farther apart in a state of readiness that resembles a bound lunge. This has the effect of firmly establishing the kenjutsu-ka’s center of gravity between the feet, thereby “rooting” them to the ground and aligning their center of equilibrium to a solid structure. Thus, by allowing his core to resonate with the power of the earth itself, Ken is able draw out enormous cutting power to either attack or defend against an opponent’s onslaught. The stance also enables him to remain fixed and stable regardless of the effects an opponent may impose upon the environment, as well as to withstand certain powerful, physical forces such as or . The one drawback of the Iron Gate is its rigidity, as while it is useful for singular strikes, a more fluid stance must be adopted when maneuvering or performing multiple kata.
 *  (踊刃冒, yōjinbō): While this technique appears to be a basic slash that is performed while dashing headlong towards an opponent, the Dancing Blade Risk is actually a precise, subtle feinting technique that requires the utmost skill to perform correctly. Essentially, the forward-slash distracts the adversary from the kenjutsu-ka’s true intentions, which involves a slight lag or a misstep in footwork in order to cause the adversary to incorrectly perceive the distance of the incoming attack. As Ken executes the feint, he presents an opening to his opponent in order to draw them in past the optimal . Because of the straightforward charge, the opponent assumes Ken is attacking from mid-distance, when in reality the faulted step allows him to enter chikama (close-range). Exploiting this lapse in the adversary’s awareness allows Ken to completely bypass whatever counter the opponent originally intended and thus gain the decisive advantage. When executed correctly, the opponent is unable to gauge the incoming strike and is subsequently bifurcated. However, the technique holds a notable weakness in that, for a brief moment of time during the misstep, Ken is completely exposed and unable to defend himself should the adversary decide to strike. The technique reflects this in its name, as “dancing” refers to the feinted step and “risk” to the vulnerability created in the lapse.
 *  (鷹嘴の構え, takahashi no kamae, lit. "falcon's beak stance"): The Falcon’s Beak is another basic stance associated with the Matsumune, and it is perhaps most characteristic of their aggressive, self-abandoned style. Unlike the Iron Gate stance, which provides balance and stability, the Falcon’s Beak is an intimidating posture that allows the user to strike quickly and unpredictably from above. As an upper-level stance, the Falcon’s Beak is distinct because both feet are pointed forward and the sword is raised high above the practitioner’s head, with the elbows positioned at the side. While this leaves the chest and torso completely exposed, it also allows for unquestionable versatility and momentous power. From the Falcon’s Beak position, Ken can use either both hands or a single hand to strike, and is able to extend the reach of the blade by allowing his grip to slip back along the tsuka. By remaining light on his feet, Ken can easily transition from one position to the next and cut quickly across distances. The posture is also useful for gathering strength and energy in preparation for a singularly destructive attack. Most notably, the Falcon’s Beak stance allows him to become airborne without interrupting the momentum of a strike, thereby carrying it forward in a linear, instantaneous swoop that descends without warning upon an opponent. These strikes are not limited to a vertical direction, however, as Ken has used the Falcon’s Beak when attacking from the side or even below. The stance remains at its most powerful, however, when cutting straight down to split a target in two, allowing gravity to add impetus to the falling blade.
 *  (下山の構え, gezan no kamae, lit. "descending the mountain stance"):
 *  (破断, lit. "severing destruction"):
 *  (八相形, lit. "eight phase form"):
 *  (飛燕, lit. "flying swallow"): Hien is the prototype for the, and involves augmenting the killing power of a blade by flowing chakra into its cutting edge. In the modern era, this technique was advanced to include extending the cutting edge past the end of the physical sword itself, shaping the materialized chakra into a hardened blade. Ken’s use of the technique, however, does not focus so much on manipulating the shape of the chakra but rather the property of the chakra. The most dangerous aspect of Hien is that, by vibrating the chakra that cycles through the extended edge at an incredibly high rate of speed, the rotating energy becomes sharp enough to cut through most chakra fortifications. In fact, the density of the extended chakra blade is so great that it becomes visible and is capable of interacting with physical attacks, such as elemental-based jutsu. This property is also especially useful when Ken is defending against chakra attacks, as the chakra channeled through his blade allows him to block or even cut through the otherwise “intangible” energy. However, Ken mainly uses Hien as an incredibly fast, unpredictable flash of chakra which extends past the reach of his sword. Like most other samurai, he can also channel the chakra to fire condensed crescents of energy, which hold great destructive potential.
 *  (一閃, lit. "flash"):
 *  (無心, lit. "no mind":
 *  (箙を傾けて, ebira o katamukete):

Ninjutsu
Water Release: Learned in Kirigakure under Hunter-nin, but was trying to gain medical information in order to improve the puppetry of his hand. Water Senbon with medical precision along with typical swordsmanship water blades, hiding in mist, and chakra-draining mist. Mainly uses natural sources. If in the Land of Iron, temperatures there are typically so cold the water techniques become ice.

Trivia

 * Ken's full adult name, Seidōken, was given to him by his grandfather, meaning "righteous sword."
 * 松棟 Matsumune, Ken's clan name, means "pine sword-spine," and was meant to refer to both the Matsudaira, a historically powerful samurai clan, and Masamune, the legendary Japanese swordsmith.
 * Ken and all of his brothers were all given adult names that refer to swords: Iori, (庵), top ridge of the mune, Nakago (茎?), tang, Ken (剣), straight double-edged sword or blade, and Chikei (地景), black gleaming lines that appear in the metal between the ridge and waterline.
 * Ken's dual sword set, consisting of a tachi and kodachi, were based off of the Heaven's Will (順天) sword from Vietnamese mythology.
 * Ken's theme song, as stated by the author, is Demons by.

Quotes

 * (To the former Tetsushōgun) "Do not mock me, Tetsushōgun-sama. I am not sparing you because your existence is somehow more valuable than that of any other man’s. A mere flinch and this blade would end your life but for the fact that it is neither the right time nor the right circumstance for me to do so. I assure you, if you were in any other position your head would be rolling in the mud. Consider this a warning."