Sanjuro and Ned have a lot of in common. They both seem like lost wandering souls who need a goal in life. Once each of them fulfills their purpose, they leave their respective towns, I would hope in search of a new adventure. They both appear to be thrill seekers because they each sought out a problem to get involved with. Ned didn’t have to get caught up in solving Taylor’s murder, but he did so because of the gamble involved. Likewise, Sanjuro came into a strange town looking for some action, and he got it by placing himself in the middle of the mob wars.