Ninja Scroll - Ending Explained

The Cure Twist: The revelation that Kagero's poison is the cure for Jubei's poisoning is the emotional climax. Jubei refuses to sleep with her to cure himself (refusing to use her as a tool), but her dying kiss transfers the antidote, saving him. This subverts the 'damsel' trope by making her the savior.

Gemma's Immortality: The twist that Gemma is Jubei's former leader explains Jubei's cynicism. Gemma represents the ultimate corruption of the ninja code. His defeat—being encased in gold—is an ironic punishment: the immortal is trapped forever in the material wealth he valued over life.

The Political Allegory: Some critics view the film as a cynical critique of the Tokugawa Shogunate's stability. The government (Dakuan) is just as ruthless and manipulative as the demons (Gemma), suggesting that political order is maintained only through the exploitation of outcasts like Jubei and Kagero.

The Feminist Reading: While often criticized for its sexual violence, an alternative reading suggests the film highlights the tragedy of female objectification in a patriarchal warrior society. Kagero's struggle is to reclaim her body from being a 'vessel' (for poison or men) to being her own person, achieving this autonomy only in her final choice of sacrifice.