The Magic Serpent 1966

The Oumi Kingdom, ruled peacefully by Lord Ogata, is torn apart when his corrupt general Daijô Yûki partners with a menacing ninja, Orochimaru. They murder the lord and his wife, and their young son, Ikazuchi-Maru, flees in a small boat as pursuit closes in. Orochimaru presses on in serpentine form, sinks the boat, and nearly ends the boy’s life—until a mighty eagle streaks in, injures the snake, and carries the child to safety.

Years pass, and Ikazuchi-Maru grows into a skilled ninja, mastering ninjutsu and a strange toad magic under the careful tutelage of the old hermit Dôjin Hiki. When a band of ninja sent by [Daijô Yûki] launches an assault, the young warrior tests his training, pushing beyond his limits to protect those who stand with him. Along the way, he befriends a bright young girl named Tsunade, and the two form a bond that will be crucial to what lies ahead. The mentor figure Hiki reveals a shocking connection to the villainous Orochimaru: he is Orochimaru’s former pupil, and the same eagle that saved Ikazuchi-Maru years ago left a scar on the boy’s head. The revelation deepens the stakes of the quest for vengeance. Before setting out on his mission, Ikazuchi-Maru bids Tsunade farewell. She is cared for by an old, enigmatic “spider” woman, Spider woman, who entrusts Tsunade with a spider hairpin. The hairpin can summon a giant spider, but it can be used only once, lest the creature turn against her.

The journey grows personal when Ikazuchi-Maru crosses paths with Saki, a brave girl Saki, and her younger brother Shirota, whose village has suffered under Daijo Yuki’s oppression. Yuki himself attempts to execute Saki and Shirota for treason, but Ikazuchi-Maru intervenes, declaring himself the invincible ninja—a name that fans would later know him by as he steps into the role of Jiraiya. The young hero’s vow for revenge against Yuki intensifies as the path winds toward old rivalries and buried loyalties.

A spectacular duel unfolds as Ikazuchi-Maru faces Orochimaru, who answers with the power of his giant serpent form. The clash is framed as a contest between two colossal magical forces: Ikazuchi-Maru’s toad-inspired prowess versus Orochimaru’s serpentine might. Along the way, the story also circles back to Tsunade, whose lineage becomes a central secret: she is revealed to be Orochimaru’s daughter, a revelation that adds a heavy layer of personal conflict to the battles to come. Orochimaru presses Tsunade to his cause, urging her to join him in a deadly gambit, including poison plots against Jiraiya—the monster he believes must be stopped at all costs.

As the battles rage on, Ikazuchi-Maru’s resolve hardens. He fights not only for himself but for the memory of his parents, for Hiki’s legacy, and for the people who depend on him. He storms Yuki’s fortress in a transformative moment, summoning a giant-toad strength that shakes the battlefield. Orochimaru meets him in a final, pulse-pounding encounter—two enormous mystic forms collide, echoing the long history between master and pupil, and the fates of their intertwined lineages. The duel between a heroic ninja and a vengeful serpent becomes a test of courage, loyalty, and the lingering bonds of family.

In the end, the tale threads together themes of vengeance, mentorship, and the heavy costs of power as Ikazuchi-Maru stands at the crossroads of duty and destiny. The saga leaves viewers with a vivid sense of how past friendships, hidden connections, and the choices made in the heat of battle shape not only a single hero’s path but the future of an entire kingdom.