Sanada, Yukimura

真田幸村

Sanada Yukimura is a renowned general who lost the Battle of Sekigahara and, ultimately, Japan. He fled Kudoyama and plotted to assassinate Tokugawa Ieyasu, although the plan was never executed. Yukimura travels alongside Kyo to defeat the Mibu Clan and Oda Nobunaga. Achieving this would liberate Japan from the Mibu Clan's shadow rule and provide Yukimura with an opportunity to seize control of Japan.
Yukimura is accompanied by a team of elite ninja known as the Sanada Juuyuushi. His sword techniques are unnamed, but he employs the Sekireigan, a skill taught to him by Anri. Yukimura can use the Sekireigan to achieve extreme speed, though Anri instructed him never to use it more than five times a day.
In his youth, his childhood girlfriend was killed in a massacre that could have been avoided but was not, for strategic reasons. He appears to have greatly admired Hideyoshi, the founder of the Toyotomi clan, when discussing his past, which explains his other given name, Toyotomi Nobushige.
In volume 26, he fights and defeats Shindara. He also fights Kyo to a draw in volume 27, with both using their most powerful techniques; however, Kyo is not in his true body, nor has he awakened his true red eyes. Yukimura shows significant progress throughout the story, but most of it occurs off-page, with Yukimura simply leaving the main party and returning as a stronger warrior. He trains with Anri, one of Muramasa's guards, who teaches him the Sekireigan. With this, he is able to move extremely fast and attack from many angles simultaneously. He later faces both Chinmei and the Former Crimson King himself. Although he loses to the King, he is able to defeat Chinmei with the help of Sasuke and the Juuyuushi. Although he is not on Kyo or Kyoshiro's level at the end, he is clearly as strong as the Four Emperors.
Yukimura is renowned for his casual, cheerful demeanor; he is almost always seen with a smile and often seems very preoccupied with seducing beautiful women and drinking sake. He is thirty-seven years old and attributes his youthful appearance to good skin care. Despite this, he can be terrifying when enraged. He is also notable for his treatment of his ninja followers, whom he cares about and respects deeply as members of his family. As a result, the Juuyuushi are not only loyal to him but care about him personally.
Yukimura hates Ieyasu more than anything. It is interesting to note that historically, Yukimura had already fought Ieyasu's son, Hidetada (Benitora), at the Battle of Ueda Castle. This is briefly mentioned in the anime and possibly the manga. It is a battle which is believed to have ended in Yukimura's loss.