Line #15 Manga/Ryuuroden


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_ryuuroden_12_000a.jpg]]
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3	''Ryuuroden'' is a {{shonen\|Demographic}} manga by Yoshito Yamahara, which is serialized in ''[[Magazine/ShonenMagazine Monthly Shonen Magazine]]''. The original series ran from 1993 to 2007 and was followed by two sequels; ''Ryuurōden: Chugen Ryōran-hen'', which ran from 2007 to 2016, and ''Ryuurōden: Ouha Rikkoku-hen'', which began in 2016 and is still ongoing.
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5	Shiro and Masumi are childhood friends who attend the same school. Shiro's mother was of Chinese descent and her lessons in the Chinese language inspired an interest in Chinese culture and history for Shiro. The two children are on their annual ClassTrip one day and all seems well... When a [[DiabolusExNihilo dragon appears out of nowhere]] and snatches Shiro out of the plane that they were flying on. Masumi, having held onto Shiro for dear life, is also pulled along by the dragon, and the two seemingly vanish without a trace. The dragon promptly drops them into the middle of a massive battlefield. Shiro, with his knowledge of Chinese history, quickly realizes that they are no longer in modern-day Japan, but ancient China. Specifically, the era when ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' takes place.
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7	Shiro's life is saved by the famous military strategist Dan Fu/Xu Shu[[note]]It was noted that Xu Shu's original name was 'Shan Fu', quite similar with Dan Fu.[[/note]], but is mortally wounded in the process. Dan Fu, believing that the dragon brought Shiro into their world for a reason, appoints Shiro as his replacement strategist with his dying breath. Shiro, wishing to maintain the proper course of history and to honor the wish of the man who saved him, uses his knowledge [[CombatPragmatist of history]] to defeat an army of 50,000 men with only 5,000 followers[[note]]Again, in conjunction with the above, that was Xu Shu's accomplishment that eventually had Cao Cao spread the false letter about Xu Shu's mother in his custody, a quick way to eliminate the threat of Liu Bei.[[/note]]. Word quickly spreads of the miraculous Dragon Child's strategic genius and Shiro and Masumi are quickly treated with the same regard as some of the highest ranking nobility. However, the opposing army's leader is also very interested in Shiro's power and wishes to [[IWantThemAlive capture him]] so that he can use his power.
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9	Thus begins ''Ryuuroden'', a manga notable for its little fanservice, refined art-style, [[ShownTheirWork clear displays of the author's knowledge of the Three Kingdoms era]], and unique use of many {{Shounen}} anime tropes.
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11	!!''Ryuuroden'' contains examples of:
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13	* ActionGirl: Lian Hua. She uses the Tiger Style of martial arts, which consists of quick movements meant to confuse her opponent.
14	* ArtEvolution: The initial art style is a very traditional Sounen style. Later on, it's much more comparable to {{Seinen}} manga art styles.
15	* BringHimToMe: More than one villain states that he'd like to have Shiro, the Dragon's Son, by their sides. Justified based on the era the story takes place in. Dragons were seen as divine and humans brought by them would doubtlessly be seen as {{Physical God}}s.
16	* CameBackWrong: Black Tiger is actually vengeful spirit of Zhang Jiao, the founder and leader of Yellow Turbans, who was resurrected as a demonic being in BlackCloak.
17	* CharlesAtlasSuperpower: Subverted. Initially displaying this kind of power based on the training Shiro goes through after settling in the Three Kingdoms Era, it's later revealed that Shiro's birthmark is a sign that he became so powerful not through sheer talent, but incredible spiritual power.
18	* ChickMagnet: Shiro, specifically after he [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass.]]
19	* DeathByAdaptation: Early in the story, Dan Fu AKA Xu Shu died and Shiro had to take his place and face the danger of changing the course of history. Originally, Xu Shu lived on, even if he didn't do much afterwards.
20	* DirtyOldMan: PlayedForLaughs when Zuo Ci groped Lian Hua after he healed her wounds.
21	* FishOutOfTemporalWater: Shiro and Masumi, but Shiro manages to avoid most issues that being an example of this would present due to his extensive knowledge of Chinese history.
22	* InNameOnly: The main antagonist, Zhong Da, is basically the style name of Wei's famous strategist and the forefather of the Jin Dynasty that ended the Three Kingdoms era, Sima Yi. However, Zhong Da is a muscular superhuman akin to Lu Bu as opposed to the scholarly Sima Yi, so it's still unclear whether he is a corrupted Sima Yi or not.
23	* LivingMacGuffin: Both Shiro and Masumi are seen as these.
24	* OriginalGeneration: For the Three Kingdoms cast, it's Lian Hua. She's introduced as Dan Fu/Xu Shu's sister (whereas there has been no notes that Xu Shu has a sister)
25	* OurDragonsAreDifferent: Dragons follow the usual eastern archetype, being divine beings that doesn't usually meddle in mortal affairs, but are still benevolent. The only dragon ever seen, though, is the one that brings Shiro and Masumi back in time.
26	* PhysicalGod: Shiro displays signs of this, with his Divine Mark. That birthmark on his forehead is a sign that he can manipulate the world's Karma and Ki. Masumi later developed into more and more like a goddess with strong spiritual and even healing power.
27	* PlotDetour: Very late later, eventually the threat that Shiro had to quell moved away from Three Kingdoms and thus he and his friends had to move to Mongol and the story takes place there instead.
28	* RunningGag: Lian Hua having to play the MsFanservice angle. Either by an older man groping her boobs or she's getting a shower scene. And she naturally ''always'' reacted badly.
29	* SexyDiscretionShot: Shiro and Masumi did it [[SexForSolace the night before Battle of Chibi]].
30	* StarCrossedLovers: Making up a huge bunch of the story arc, just when Shiro and Masumi thought they'd be together within the Shu banner, Masumi got captured by the Wei forces and saw the good side of Cao Cao, making her not quite willing to leave. That and she had to keep an eye on Zhong Da.
31	* TookALevelInBadass: Shiro before entering the Three Kingdoms era: A scatterbrained nerd whose strength might be about how he's GenreSavvy about the Three Kingdoms. Several volumes later: Shiro is practically a superhuman master of martial arts after encountering many warriors around.
32	* WouldHitAGirl / WouldHurtAChild: When Zhong Da corrupted Emperor Xian and took over Imperial Court, they ordered execution for Cao Cao's wives and children, some of the children are still underaged. Thankfully, some of them are rescued just in time by Shiro and Cao Ren (who has become some kind of [[GratuitousNinja ninja]] at this time). Among the rescued children are Cao Pi, the future emperor of Cao Wei, who was still in late teen or young adult.

Context Manga / Ryuuroden