Ninku is a Japanese manga series Written and illustrated by Koji Kiriyama.

It was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shounen Jump from June 1993 to September 1995 where it was collected into 9 volumes. The sequel, Ninku 2nd Stage: Story of Etonins, was serialized in Ultra Jump from September 2005 to September 2011 where it was collected into 12 additional volumes. As of September 2011, it has over 9 million copies in circulation.

Ninku was adapted into a 55-episode anime, produced by Fuji Television. It was broadcast on Fuji TV from January 1995 to February 1996.

After many years of ruthless war, the world finally entered an era of peace known as the Edo era.

The story begins when Shuri and his sister, Yuka, find Fusuke passed out in a field due to hunger.

Being kind enough, Shuri gives Fusuke some left over Rice balls which he instantly swallows along with Shuri’s whole hand.

Fusuke thanks him, however says that his food tasted horrible.

Shuri, thinking he’s strange, tells him that his father made the rice balls, and invites him over to his house to which Fusuke happily agrees to.

At Shuri’s home he happily eats a lot but does not shy from commenting that the old man’s cooking tastes like absolute crap.

Over the meal, they introduce each other, however, Fuka remains silent the entire time.

Seeing her like that, Shuri explains that she hasn’t been able to speak because of the shock she got during the war a little while back.

After the meal, they all go out to help at the farm. On their way, Shuri tells Fusuke that Fuka lost her mother during the war and this peace might just be for a short while before the war starts again.

Fusuke barely listening to Shuri, goes over to Fuka and asks her to be his friend. He sympathizes by telling how he also lost his entire family during the war, but he keeps himself happy by focusing on the beautiful things in life.

As they arrive at the farm, they see that the Ninku, a martial arts group from the war now turned into criminals, have killed some of the cows.

The next day, the old man makes Fusuke some rice balls for his journey as he sets out to find medicine for his neighbor. On his way out, he gives Fuka a stone, which was a memento of his mother, saying that she can have it as she is his friend.

Fuka, wanting to give him her mother’s favorite flowers, rushes after him. Meanwhile the Ninku come back at the farm to kill more cows.

Shuri gets angry and tries to shoot the leader of the Ninku but he gets badly beaten up instead.

The Ninku leader kidnaps Fuka to hold her as hostage.

Meanwhile, Fusuke who is lost, finds Fuka’s flowers laying on the ground. He instantly realizes what is going on and rushes to save her.

As Shuri goes to save Fuka, the old man stays back at the farm to defend it. However, he gets killed defending it, but he does not go down easily and kills a Ninku in the process.

Shuri again is no match for the leader of the Ninku. They decide to sell Fuka off as there would be people willing to pay good money for her, however Fusuke arrives just in time to save her.

A fierce battle begins between Fusuke and the Ninku leader. Fusuke is revealed to be much stronger as it turns out, he was the leader of the Original Ninku Troop Division 1 during the war.

He easily defeats the leader using advanced Ninku techniques.

After saving them, all three of them head back to the farm and burry the old man. Shuri thanks Fusuke for all his help.

Just as Fusuke is about to leave, Fuka finally speaks. She thanks him and tells him to stay as friends.

What awaits Fusuke on his journey?