Mitsuru Osafune

Mitsuru Osafune ( ミツル,Osafune Mitsuru) is a Bushi and also the Head of Swordsmiths of the Ryuzoji Bushidan.

Appearance
Mitsuru is a slender young woman with knee-length ombré hair that is darker on her scalp then gradually blends to a lighter color. As a warrior, she has many scars on her body, one across her nose and another across on her chest and on her left tight.

Her outfit consists of a bandeau on her chest and a fundoshi undergarment. Above them she wears a leisurely tied kimono. She also carries a small sword.

Daito Mine Arc
At a merchant gathering, the auction for the Kitetsu Blades start and Ryuzoji Band shows 25 pieces. Musashi wonders how to choose one and Mitsuru tells him to go with the one that he falls in love from the first glance. Understanding they never held a Kitetsu Blade, she tells them its important rite just like coming of age. Musashi and Kojiro choose their blades and Mitsuru comments they have good eyes. She tells them to pick them up to start their trial and as Musashi does, she explains that the swords need to accept them. Kojiro then picks his sword and finishes his trial. As he sees other completing it, but with different colored auras, Mitsuru explains its the color of their souls and the minerals in the blade match the soul color. There are five colors and depending on which one you have, it grants you different powers. Musashi however, turns black and fails. Mitsuru had never seen such thing before, but heard legends. She tells Musashi and his soul is black and it will be rejected by all swords, and since you cannot change the color of your soul, he must give up on being a Bushi. Soon after, a Kishin appears and sends his lesser oni and Mitsuru along the rest of the Bushi, fight the oni. After they defeat the lesser oni, all Bushi head to fight the Kishin.

She witnessed how Shiro came to attack them and eventually Musashi coming and saving them. As his blade breaks, she explains its happens when the sword channels more energy than it contain and its a sign for Musashi's potential. That night, she invites them to sleep in her castle and Musashi asks her to retake the sword trial. The next day, she announces that Musashi will be attempting the trial again. As he does, he passes it and gets a red colored soul, earning him the congratulations and attention from everyone.

Equipment
Small sword: She owns a small sword.

Abilities
She is able to wield a Kitetsu Sword.

Etymology

 * The name Mitsuru is written in katakana (ミツル), which has no special meaning. However, when written in kanji (満, 暢, 充 or 美鶴), it could possibly mean:
 * 満 - "full/fullness, enough, satisfy".
 * 暢 - "stretch".
 * 充 - "allot, fill".
 * 美鶴 - "beautiful" (美) (mi) and "crane, stork" (鶴) (tsuru).
 * Mitsuru's surname Osafune means "long, chief, boss" (長) (osa) and "boat, ship, vessel" (舩) (fune).
 * Osafune (長船) used to be a town that was famous for producing swords. Now it's part of Setouchi City but there is a Sword Museum located in Osafune.