Muramasa

Muramasa (村正, Muramasa) is a legendary weapons-smith and shop owner from the Ninja Gaiden series, first appearing in the Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox. Known for his curious habit of creating and installing statues of himself around the world, he comes to aid Ryu Hayabusa by providing him a large selection of weapons, items, and equipment upgrades. He also makes cameo appearances in Dead or Alive 4 and Dead or Alive 5.

Ninja Gaiden
Ryu Hayabusa encounters Muramasa and his statues while infiltrating the Holy Vigoor Empire, with Muramasa himself occupying his store in Tairon, the empire's capital city. Allying with Ryu in his quest against the Fiends, Muramasa provides information, equipment upgrades, bonus items and access to his store's stock via the statues around the city.

Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword
Overseeing the rebuilding of the Hayabusa Village, Muramasa provides information about the Dark Dragon Stones when Ryu returns with one after having been teleported back to Tairon.

Ninja Gaiden II
Now possessing a new shop in the Sky City Tokyo, Muramasa returns to aid Ryu by providing weapons, items and upgrades in person or via statues of himself. Muramasa is also aware of the events surrounding the ressurection of the Archfiend Vazdah and personally joins the fight at the base of Mt Fuji against the Black Spider Ninja Clan and the Fiends. Despite his old age, Muramasa is shown to be a master swordsman who can dispatch a group of ninjas with relative ease via a hidden sword in his walking cane.

Dead or Alive 4
Muramasa makes a cameo appearance in Dead or Alive 4 as a market vendor selling fruit and vegetables; his shop is located at the Seaside Paradise stage. In Hitomi and Leifang's story modes, they fight over his last cabbage. In Bass Armstrong and Tina Armstrong's stories, he tries to sell Bass some food, until Bass sees his daughter on Muramasa's television.

Etymology
The kanji used to spell Muramasa's name (村正) means "Village Plus".

Dead or Alive Series

 * Dead or Alive 4 (2005 - 2006)

Trivia

 * It is hinted in Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword that Muramasa had a relationship with Obaba in the past.
 * In Ninja Gaiden 2, there is mention of a rivalry between Muramasa and another craftsman; Shishido.
 * Muramasa was been on the search for the Golden Scarab - a legendary and super rare artifact - for years. Only 50 of these are said to exist. Ryu can exchange a number of the artifacts for rare items with Muramasa.
 * In Ninja Gaiden Black, during the Ninja Dog difficulty, Ayane preemptively buys some items from Muramasa for him to give to Ryu for free.