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: ''This article is about the founder of the clan [[Shirai Ryu]]. For other character with the name Takeda, see [[Takeda (disambiguation)]].''

'''Takeda''' was a Japanese-born ninja who served as an assassin for the [[Lin Kuei]] clan many years ago. Takeda later founded the [[Shirai Ryu]].

==History==
Born in feudal Japan, Takeda at some point left his country to become a member of the Chinese assassin clan, the [[Lin Kuei]]. After learning their techniques, he attempted to leave the Chinese-based clan and return to his homeland, but leaving the Lin Kuei is the equivalent of treason and is punishable by death. Despite this, he was able to successfully avoid punishment and fled to his homeland. He then went on to serve various lords and generals using the skills he learned in the Lin Kuei.

He taught modified versions of Lin Kuei tactics and even revealed many of their secrets. Many of his skills and techniques were soon copied and learned throughout Japan, eventually evolving into the art of [[Ninjitsu]]. Unlike the Lin Kuei, the art of Ninjutsu involves the use of weapons and supernatural powers that can be mastered by any human with enough practice. This outraged the Lin Kuei back on mainland China. His practice in Japan eventually formed the [[Shirai Ryu]] clan, a tremendous rival to the Lin Kuei. His clan mocked the Lin Kuei by dressing in similar fashion but wearing yellow. This made Takeda a prime target for assassination. Takeda managed to elude death at the Lin Kuei's hand until his elder years, when his life came to an end through poison slipped into his tea.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/19980709022447/http://mythologies.dragondata.com/SCORP01.html ''MORTAL KOMBAT MYTHOLOGIES:SUB-ZERO'' SCORPION AND THE NINJA] <small>(Retrieved from Internet Archive)</small></ref>

==Trivia==
*Takeda has never appeared in any ''[[Mortal Kombat series|Mortal Kombat]]'' video game by far. His name is only mentioned in stories concerning the Lin Kuei and the creation of the Shirai Ryu, of which [[Scorpion]] later became a member as well.
*Takeda is the only character to have been a member of both the Lin Kuei and the Shirai Ryu.
*"Takeda" is usually transcribed into [[Wikipedia:Takeda clan|武田]] in Japanese, which is one of the prominent clans in Japan.
*Chronologically, Takeda is the first known member of the Lin Kuei to leave the clan and survive, while most others who attempted the same were either executed or severely punished.
*Interestingly enough, he shares his name with the [[Takeda Takahashi|apprentice of Scorpion]], with Hanzo being the founder of the newest iteration of the clan.
*Takeda's defecting the Lin Kuei, forming the art of ninjitsu, and forming the Shirai Ryu clan seems to parallel what may have happened in real-life ancient Asian history. While it is not 100% confirmed, the [[Wikipedia:Iga-ryū|Iga-Ryu]] [[Wikipedia:Ninja Museum of Igaryu|Ninja Museum]]'s reports implies that the "real-life Lin Kuei" were traces in the origin of the art of ninjitsu.

==References==
<references/>

==See also==
*[[Yong Park]] - another character who left Lin Kuei and killed by the clan later for his leaving

[[Category:Minor Characters]]
[[Category:Earthrealm Characters]]
[[Category:Ninjas]]
[[Category:Neutral Characters]]
[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Lin Kuei]]
[[Category:Shirai Ryu]]