Tenchu

Ranking System
Regular Kill (RK)         +5 Stealth Kill (SK)        +20 Double SK                +50 Boss Defeated            +20 Spotted                  -25 Innocents Killed (IK)    -50 Stealth Kill Every Enemy +50 Never Spotted (NS)      +200 No Items Used           +100 No Enemies Killed (NEK) +100 (except bosses)

Grand Master / Assassin Rank (hereafter referred to as GM) requires 300+ points.

We can use two basic strategies: Techno Style and Spartan Style.

Techno Style
Techno Style means: use all the items you want.

The tree structure below shows the 'road to grand masterhood'. You select the Techno Style, then you can try being a Pacifist (kill noone) or a Shadow (in which case you have to perform 5 SK). Both sub-strategies result in GM. If you are spotted, however, you have to make 15+x SK, where x is the number of times you are spotted. In some levels, this is impossible, and you have to start over. If you have to make a single IK, you must make 3 SK (2.5*1 rounded up).

x times IK            => 2.5x SK (rounded up) x times [spotted + RK] => 15+x SK                      | Shadow(NS) | ≥ 5 SK \ |  Pacifist(NEK) \| /                      |/                       |                TECHNO STYLE

Spartan Style
Spartan Style means: use no items.

The Spartan strategy tree is similar, but GM requires fewer SK.

x times IK            => 2.5x SK (rounded up) x times [spotted + RK] => 10+x SK                      | Shadow(NS) | ≥ 0 SK \ |  Pacifist(NEK) \| /                      |/                       |                SPARTAN STYLE

Numbing Strike

 * can be used on Innocents
 * effect is permament, unless:
 * you are spotted, or
 * someone touches the victim, or
 * you kill the paralyzed victim.

I tested this by paralyzing the inhabitants of an entire level, after which I started killing them off one by one.

Sniper
=> stealth kill
 * zoom in using
 * throw a Kurenai (called Shuriken in USA version?) in the head of the enemy

False Wall

 * Makes you completely invisible from all angles
 * Use only when you aren't spotted

Jyuzou
To kill him easily, use one of these tactics:
 * All attacks are blockable, except:
 * "Too Slow" - which is a grab (use R1 to escape)
 * "Farewell" - which must be dodged, Jyuzou cannot be attacked whilst performing this move
 * Flash Grenade, followed by Bamboo Gun or combo attacks
 * Caltrops, followed by Bamboo Gun or combo attacks