Ninja Gaiden 4 Ending Explained

There is only one ending in Ninja Gaiden 4; however, the story is pretty convoluted because you need to understand what happened in previous games.

The Dark Dragon has always been a big bad in the Ninja Gaiden universe, and the fourth installment revolves around it. However, this time we take on the story as Yakumo, a young Raven Clan ninja destined to kill the Dark Dragon.

However, the game also sees the return of Ryu Hayabusa, who plays a big part in the story. If you’re confused about the ending and why Yakumo was meant to kill the Dark Dragon, we’ve written this explainer for you. Please note that this is our interpretation of the storyline and might not align with your theories.

Is the Dark Dragon Dead for Good in Ninja Gaiden 4?

Yes, Dark Dragon finally dies at the end of Ninja Gaiden 4 as he gets defeated by Yakumo. The fight occurs after breaking all four seals, trapping the Dark Dragon, and revealing its soul to beat it for good. Sadly, in the process, Seori gets stabbed, which leaves Yakumo dejected before his final battle for the betterment of Tokyo.

Angered, Yakumo gains Ryu’s trust as he entrusts him with the Dark Dragon Blade, which will allow him to kill their worst nemesis. During the first phase, the Dark Dragon faces him in his usual form; however, it then switches to Yakumo’s form (gets yoinked again).

Using the Dark Dragon Blade delivers the fate the ancient being had been waiting to receive for a long time. Thus, the tale of the Dark Dragon ends in the Ninja Gaiden universe.

Did Seori Really Die in Ninja Gaiden 4?

Yes, Seori dies at the end of Ninja Gaiden 4. Seori is a pivotal part of the story, as she contains the soul of a Dark Dragon. Killing her would mean killing the dragon. However, it had to be Yakumo to deal the final blow because only he could do it.

The prophecy in Ninja Gaiden states that the Dark Dragon will be defeated by the master ninja from the Raven Clan. However, it was hard for Yakumo to do it because he had gained feelings for her. Alas, while Yakumo holds off his blade, Misaki ends up betraying him by stabbing Seori, freeing the Dark Dragon.

Yakumo kills Misaki, but their fight took too long, as Seori was left with her final breaths. In the end, Seori vents her sadness by talking about her mistakes and states she wasn’t ready to die. In the sad moment, Yakumo cries while holding Seori’s lifeless body, and the Dark Dragon reigns free above Tokyo.

Why Did Misaki Betray Yakumo by Stabbing Seori?

To understand Misaki’s betrayal, we have to go back in time. The Dark Dragon has been split into two: the body you can see throughout Tokyo in Ninja Gaiden 4, and the soul, which resides inside Seori.

In the past, Ryu could stop Achilles, who wanted to use Seori to free Dark Dragon. Seori and Ryu created four seals that are spread across the world to prevent such a thing from repeating. Back then, it was believed Achilles had been defeated and had gone missing ever since.

In the current timeline of Ninja Gaiden 4, Yakumo is aided by three people: Umi, Tyran, and Misaki. Misaki is the newest member of the Raven Clan and a trusted advisor. However, in the end, it was all a facade; it was revealed that Achilles was Misaki.

With all the seals broken, all Archilles had to kill Misaki and free the Dark Dragon, which he succeeded in doing. The good thing is, Yakumo quickly avenges the betrayal by killing the archfiend, but at what cost?

Why Was Yakumo Chosen To Kill the Dark Dragon Instead of Ryu?

While Ryu Hayabusa has earned the title of a legend, he couldn’t kill the Dark Dragon. Despite all his strength, killing Dark Dragon required someone who could wield the Dark Dragon Blade. The only one who could do so was Yakumo because the Raven Clan had a cursed bloodline.

The reason is that the Dark Dragon Blade is sealed in the Jewel of the Dark Dragon. It’s similar to King Arthur picking up Excalibur. So, despite having all the might, Ryu couldn’t kill the Dark Dragon.

The sad part is that Seori knew she would die in this endeavor, and it was her parting gift. Yakumo had no choice but to honor Seori’s existence and continue to defeat the Dark Dragon looming over DDO HQ.

Why Didn’t Ryu Try To Maul Yakumo During the Journey?

Ryu and Seori share a good relationship, and they set up all the seals to stop the Dark Dragon from escaping. However, Seori and Yakumo set out to destroy the seals set earlier. So when Ryu finds Yakumo with Seori, he clashes to protect Seori and kills the person trying to undo their work.

Now, here’s the thing: Ryu is mighty and was skilled enough to kill Yakumo. Later in the story, a cutscene is shown where Seori asks Ryu to entrust the Jewel of the Dark Dragon to Yakumo, but only if Ryu deems him worthy.

This likely happened before hard, which explains why Ryu isn’t going for Yakumo’s throat. All this time, when they were fighting, Ryu was only testing the young ninja’s skill and whether he was the strong Raven Clan shinobi who the prophecy defines.

What Happens to Tokyo After the Dark Dragon’s Defeat?

With Dark Dragon gone, Tokyo gets freed of the curse, and the rotting rain stops. In the process, Yakumo also frees his clan from the curse that came with the Dark Dragon. Overall, the ending of Ninja Gaiden 4 is bittersweet because the good things came with sacrifices and regrets.

That was everything you needed to know to understand the ending of Ninja Gaiden 4. Did you like the storyline? Do you think Seori and Yakumo would have been a great couple? Share with us in the comments!