Age: 36
Date of Birth: November 21
Birthplace: Wutai
Hair: Black
Eyes: Black
Height: 6'1
Blood type: O
Weapon: Gun
Job: First in Command of the Turk
Tseng was born in Wutai to a prominent family. His father had come across a vast area of gold in the mountain around Wutai, and became a merchant of gold, making anything for any customer out of gold. He earned a condsiderable income this way.
One day a band of theives stole his father's entire stash of gold. Without it, his father could not continue his business - and was facing bankruptcy and eventual poverty.
One night, Tseng, who was sixteen, over heard a conversation between his father and a friend, who was a skilled Ninja, about the incident. He instructed the Ninja to kill his wife, where upon he would collect her life insurance policy to keep from going broke.
Tseng tried to warn his mother immediately but realized that she was out on a shopping trip. She never returned.
The next day his father gently informed Tseng that his mother had fallen in the Wutain river the day before and drowned. But Tseng knew the truth. He told his father what he knew, and ran to Lord Godo with the accusations.
Unforturnately, no one believed Tseng's story. His father was an esteemed member of the community, and everyone knew how his wife loved nature and could often be seen wandering too close to the edges of the river bank. Aside from that, there was no Ninja in Wutai who would do such a thing - to kill an innocent like that was strict violation of Ninja code.
Lord Godo ordered Tseng, whom he called "a rebellious and hateful youth" to apologize publically to his father in front of the temple of the five Pagodas, and to ask for his forgivness. Tseng refused. Godo told him if he did not comply, he'd have to leave Wutai. Tseng did, and never looked back.
He went to Midgar, but didn't have a dime to support himself. He began robbing and looting people on the street, until he tried pickpocketing a man in a blue suit. This man had a gun, unlike the others.
Tseng had been trained in some Ninja skills and wasn't giving in without a fight. The man in the blue suit was impressed with Tseng's skill. He offered him a way to pay for his crime of trying to rob the leader of the Turks.
He could become one.
Tseng is a quiet and stoic person. He is very serious about his job, as it has been the only thing he's known since the age of seventeen. In his many years with Shin-Ra, he's put his past behind him in a way that he has practically forgotten what happened. Now, he is concerned only with what is important as a Turk - which is why he so successfully and quickly became leader of the Turks.