Assassin’s Creedhas captured the imagination of fans with its unique stealth gameplay, interesting overarching story, and historical settings and characters since its original release back in 2007. The long-running series features espionage, climbing, stealth, and the iconic assassin’s hidden blade, and this has inspired fans to imagine an entryset in Feudal Japan, where players can step into the shoes of a ninja character, infiltrating Samurai castles and using shinobi tools and weapons.
Ubisoft has accepted the challenge with their highlyanticipated upcoming titleAssassin’s Creed Shadows, featuring two protagonists, a ninja named Naoe, and a Samurai named Yasuke. Unlike Yasuke, who is a well-documented historical figure, not much is known about the fictional Naoe, but there are a few hints that can help players understand what to expect, such as her place of origin, her abilities, her personality, and more.
5A Shinobi From Iga
The Ninja Confederation
Naoe is from Iga, a more isolated region of Japan that became independent of outside rulers, forming a confederacy of warrior families to defend the area while passing down their techniques. Iga was one of two major schools of Ninjustsu, a collection of techniques in guerrilla warfare, espionage, assassination, and survival.
This is where Naoe would learn her skills in combat and stealth. Aside from being warriors, the people of Iga were mostly farmers, including Naoe herself. Iga would eventually be invaded and sacked by a major Daimyo and historical figure named Oda Nobunaga, alongside a massive army of samurai, including the game’s other protagonist,Yasuke.
4Daughter Of Fujibayashi Nagato
Legendary Historical Ninja
Though Naoe is a fictional character, she is the daughter of a historicalShinobi, Fujibayashi Nagato. He was a prominent ninja and leader in Iga during the 16th century, especially known for his clashes with Oda Nobunaga, and for preserving Shinobi culture and techniques when its existence was under threat.
Fujibayashi Nagato didn’t actually have a daughter, but he did have a son named Fujibayashi Yasumasa, who could potentially appear inAssassin’s Creed Shadowsas Naoe’s brother. His descendant, Fujibayashi Yastake, would later compile the encyclopedia of Ninja arts, the Bansenshukai.
3A Contrast To Yasuke
Opposites With Shared Goals
Assassin’s Creed Shadowswill featuredual protagonistswith vastly different playstyles and abilities, with Yasuke being a deadly opponent to face in open combat, and Naoe sticking to the shadows and striking before her enemies can react. But mechanics and playstyle aren’t their only differences.
According to developers at Ubisoft, Naoe has a reactive and fiery personality, wearing her heart on her sleeve thanks to her experiences and her upbringing in the Iga province. This is said to be a stark contrast to the more measured Yasuke, whose ties to Oda Nobunaga will cause tension between the two characters.
2A Skilled Infiltrator
Naoe’s Shinobi Skills
As the daughter of Fujibayashi Nagato, a child of Iga, and an assassin, players can expect Naoe to possess certain skills. She will be quick and light on her feet, able to run circles around heavier enemies and use their momentum and strength against them, as is taught in Ninjutsu.
Stealth will be the main focus for Naoe,moving silentlythrough enemy outposts and castles to sabotage, gather information, and undertake assassinations. Players can expect a more calculated and patient playstyle, possibly using misdirection, camouflage, and disguises to move around unseen and complete objectives.
1Shinobi Tools & Hidden Blades
Naoe’s Shinobi Tools
Ninja, or Shinobi as they were then known, were famous for wielding a vast array of tools and weapons for use in combat and infiltration, with many starting out as farming tools. From the reveal trailer and other promotional content, there are several items that Naoe is seen using. She wields a katana when engaging enemies head-on, as well as the iconic hiddenblade with a pivoton her wrist, similar to Connor’s blade inAssassin’s Creed 3. Ubisoft developers have revealed that this blade can be dual-wielded alongside a tanto, a shorter version of a katana.
She is also seen throwing shuriken (or ninja stars) to take down foes from a distance, as well as scaling buildings effortlessly using a grappling hook. This is an exciting development in assassin abilities and a real historical tool used by ninjas. Real Shinobi were famous for usingmany different weapons, so it’s not too far-fetched to imagine her with a bow, metal claws, kunai blades, and more.
