Lady Kyashira at 12:14, 12 May 2026

2026-05-12T12:14:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:14, 12 May 2026
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	{{Character Infobox		{{Character Infobox
	\|name= Nowaki		\|name= Nowaki
	\|image= ACSH CoA Nowaki ~~DB1~~.png		\|image= ACSH CoA DB Nowaki.png
	\|birth=		\|birth=
	\|death= 1585<br>[[Hidden Swamp]], [[Awaji]], [[Japan]]		\|death= 1585<br>[[Hidden Swamp]], [[Awaji]], [[Japan]]

Soranin: Created page with "{{Era|Individuals|Templars}} {{Imageneed}} {{Character Infobox |name= Nowaki |image= ACSH CoA Nowaki DB1.png |birth= |death= 1585
Hidden Swamp, Awaji, Japan |species= Human |database= Nowaki |affiliates= Templars *Japanese Rite **''Sanzoku Ippa'' }} '''Nowaki''' (died 1585), also known as '''The Ambusher''', was a Japanese ''shinobi'' and a member of the Japanese Rite..."

2026-05-02T15:52:19Z

Created page with "{{Era|Individuals|Templars}} {{Imageneed}} {{Character Infobox |name= Nowaki |image= ACSH CoA Nowaki DB1.png |birth= |death= 1585<br>Hidden Swamp, Awaji, Japan |species= Human |database= Nowaki |affiliates= Templars *Japanese Rite **''Sanzoku Ippa'' }} '''Nowaki''' (died 1585), also known as '''The Ambusher''', was a Japanese ''shinobi'' and a member of the Japanese Rite..."

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{{Era|Individuals|Templars}}
{{Imageneed}}
{{Character Infobox
|name= Nowaki
|image= ACSH CoA Nowaki DB1.png
|birth=
|death= 1585<br>[[Hidden Swamp]], [[Awaji]], [[Japan]]
|species= [[Human]]
|database= [[Database: Nowaki|Nowaki]]
|affiliates= [[Templars]]
*[[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Rite]]
**''[[Sanzoku Ippa]]''
}}
'''Nowaki''' (died 1585), also known as '''The Ambusher''', was a [[Japan]]ese ''[[Ninja|shinobi]]'' and a member of the [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Rite]] of the [[Templars|Templar Order]] during the [[Sengoku period]]. She grew up on [[Awaji]] with her older sister [[Suma]], from whom she learned about the Templars, their [[New World Order|ideology]], and her stealth tactics.

Following Suma's death, Nowaki became more dangerous and feral, attacking and even killing any locals who visited her. Orphaned once again, she was then taken in and mentored by the Templar [[Kimura Yukari]], who sharpened her into an effective tool within her arsenal. In time, Nowaki became known as Yukari's personal ambusher, one of her three ''[[wikt:大将|taishō]]'' (大将, lit. "general"), and led a team of ''shinobi'' to fight against those who rebelled against her mistress's control.

However, the Templars' hold on Awaji began to dwindle in 1585, when the [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']] members [[Fujibayashi Naoe]] and [[Yasuke]] traveled there in search of Naoe's mother [[Fujibayashi Tsuyu|Tsuyu]] and the sword ''{{Wiki|Kusanagi no Tsurugi}}'', one of the [[Imperial Regalia of Japan]]. To diminish Yukari's will over the island, Naoe and Yasuke eliminated all of her allies, including Nowaki and her ''shinobi''.

==Biography==
===Early life===
At a young age, Nowaki was orphaned and was taken in by her older sister [[Suma]]. Unconventionally close, Nowaki began to learn how to hunt and fight under Suma's tutelage. At some point, Suma was recruited into the [[Templars|Templar Order]] and divided her time between working as their enforcer and training her sister. After being assigned an exceptionally difficult mission, Suma, fearing she may not return from it, left Nowaki a letter, instructing her to seek the Templars and continue her work if she were to perish.<ref name="Home of a Killer">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Home of a Killer]]</ref>

Following Suma's death,<ref name="Database">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Database: Nowaki]]</ref> Nowaki was left alone once again and became wild and vicious. When visitors came to check on her at her [[Derelict House|home]], she left traps that hurt or even killed those that came too close.<ref name="Home of a Killer"/> Eventually, Nowaki was found and essentially adopted by the [[Japanese Rite of the Templar Order|Japanese Templar]] [[Kimura Yukari]],<ref name="Database"/> who came to [[Awaji]] and garnered power after starting a relationship with the island's ''[[daimyō]]''.<ref name="Puppet Show">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[The Puppet Show]]</ref>

===Service under Kimura Yukari===
By 1585, under Yukari's discipline and direction, Nowaki harnessed her skills as an ambusher and began to lead her own group of ''[[Ninja|shinobi]]'' to enforce fear and kill any who opposed Yukari's rule.<ref name="Database"/> In time, Yukari recruited an army of loyal followers that became known as the ''[[Sanzoku Ippa]]'', and Nowaki took a position as one of the group's ''[[wikt:大将|taishō]]'', alongside [[Imagawa Tomeji]] and [[Yasuhira]].<ref name="A Shinobi on Awaji">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[A Shinobi on Awaji]]</ref>

At some point, Yukari captured the [[Master Assassin]] [[Fujibayashi Tsuyu]], who held information on the sword ''{{Wiki|Kusanagi no Tsurugi}}'', one of the [[Imperial Regalia of Japan|Imperial Regalia]].<ref name="The Reunion">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[The Reunion]]</ref> Along with Yasuhira, Nowaki was directed by Yukari to inflict methods of torture,<ref name="Snake in the Shrine">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[A Snake in the Shrine]]</ref> but after years of brutal [[Interrogation|interrogation]], Tsuyu never broke and refused to disclose the Sword's location.<ref name="The Reunion"/> With this setback, Yukari sent out puppet shows to entice Tsuyu's daughter [[Fujibayashi Naoe|Naoe]], who had established her own [[Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins|Kakushiba ''ikki'']], to come and rescue Tsuyu.<ref name="Puppet Show"/> The plan worked, and Yukari and Tomeji captured Naoe at [[Sumoto Castle]], holding her prisoner alongside Tsuyu.<ref name="The Reunion"/>

However, Naoe and Tsuyu's containment was short-lived, as fellow Kakushiba ''ikki'' member [[Yasuke]] rescued them.<ref name="Prison Break">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Prison Break (Shadows)|Prison Break]]</ref> With Tsuyu injured during their escape, Naoe left to find the key for the Sword and obtained its location from ''[[bō]]'' master [[Taguchi Myoga]].<ref name="Way of the Bo">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Way of the Bo]]</ref> Unbeknownst to Naoe, Nowaki followed her and ambushed her at the [[Okunoin Sasayama Shrine]], after the former had retrieved the key. Nowaki shot at Naoe as her ''shinobi'' attacked the [[Assassins|Assassin]], but Naoe survived the ambush and defeated the ''shinobi'', forcing Nowaki to retreat.<ref name="A Long Lost Key">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[A Long Lost Key]]</ref>

Later, the Templars managed to track Naoe and Yasuke to [[Myōshō-ji]]. There, they found and captured Yasuke, taking him hostage, before they looked for Naoe. Outside one of the temples, Nowaki stood beside Yukari, her fellow ''taishō'', and a group of ''Sanzoku Ippa'' soldiers as they saw Naoe exit the temple with the Sword. With Yasuke as their bargaining chip, Naoe agreed to trade the Sword for their lives. Nowaki was sent to take the Sword, though as she picked it up, Naoe remarked that they would not get far.<ref name="The Regalia">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[The Regalia]]</ref>

Having acquired the Sword, Yukari reneged on the deal and commanded her followers to kill the Kakushiba ''ikki'' members. Just as Tomeji was about to strike Yasuke with his ''[[kanabō]]'', [[Arrow storm|multiple arrows]] were loosed at the Templars, killing their guards. Ambushed, Nowaki dropped a [[Smoke screen bomb|smoke bomb]] as she, Yukari and Tomeji fled while their remaining men faced off against Naoe and her allies, including [[Hattori Hanzō]] and [[Konatsu]].<ref name="The Regalia"/>

===Hunted down===
With the Sword in the Templars' possession, Yukari moved forward with her plans.<ref name="A Sour Defeat">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[A Sour Defeat]]</ref> Meanwhile, Nowaki returned to her main task of hunting down Naoe and Yasuke. She continued to track them while the pair investigated any clues to learn more about her background. After corresponding with a [[leather]] [[merchant]] in [[Yura]], the pair headed to meet [[Shiro]], a former associate of Nowaki, at the [[Hunter's Lodge]].<ref name="Hunting the Hunter">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Hunting the Hunter (Shadows)|Hunting the Hunter]]</ref> After finding Shiro, they began to talk with him about Nowaki. However, their meeting was cut short when Nowaki and her ''shinobi'' attacked, with the intent of killing Naoe, Yasuke, and Shiro. The Kakushiba ''ikki'' members eliminated the ''shinobi'', but Nowaki escaped again.<ref name="Origin of a Killer">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Origin of a Killer]]</ref>

Speaking with Shiro again, Naoe and Yasuke learned of Nowaki's house near [[Kamaguchi Village]] and rumors of her morning visits to the [[Sannomiya Shrine]].<ref name="Origin of a Killer"/> Before leaving to investigate, they spoke with Shiro more and learned about Nowaki's upbringing. Traveling to her home, they managed to bypass and dismantle all of Nowaki's traps before entering the house. Inside, they found a shrine, a [[Templar insignia|Templar cross]] necklace and a note from her late sister Suma, who had left the necklace for her. Leaving, they planned to confront her at the Sannomiya Shrine, using Suma's necklace to draw her out.<ref name="Home of a Killer"/>

At the shrine, Naoe and Yasuke waited until the next morning as Nowaki walked cautiously onto the shrine's grounds. Confronted by the pair, Nowaki planned to escape until they revealed their knowledge of Suma and showcased her necklace. Nowaki threatened them in response before instructing them to follow her as she ran away from the shrine. Naoe and Yasuke obliged and chased Nowaki to a [[Hidden Swamp|swamp]], where she took up a sniping position as she began shooting at the pair with her ''[[Arquebus|teppō]]''.<ref name="Turning the Tables">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[Turning the Tables (Shadows)|Turning the Tables]]</ref>

In an arena of Nowaki's own making, Naoe and Yasuke were forced to overcome the Templar by dodging her shots, staying hidden, and dismantling her traps as they slowly snuck up on her. Each time they got close enough to land a hit, Nowaki would drop a smoke bomb and move to a different position, until she was finally wounded enough to make her final stand atop a watchtower. Naoe and Yasuke once again approached Nowaki without her noticing and delivered a killing blow, eliminating Yukari's ambusher. Before they left, the pair recovered the ''teppō'' [[Little Helper]] from Nowaki's personal effects, alongside a note detailing the location of Suma's [[Ophidian Feeder|personal]] ''[[kusarigama]]''.<ref name="Turning the Tables"/>

===Legacy===
Despite the ''Sanzoku Ippa'' being dismantled after Yukari's death,<ref name="The Final Assault">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[The Final Assault]]</ref> Nowaki's remaining ''shinobi'' continued their activities on Awaji. Scattered, they planned to reconvene and rebuild the ''Sanzoku Ippa'', until Naoe and Yasuke, with the help of Konatsu, found and killed all the ''shinobi'', ridding the island of Nowaki's ambushers.<ref name="All That We Leave Behind">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]'' – [[All That We Leave Behind]]</ref>

==Personality and traits==
{{Quote|If Tomeji is a club to the face... Nowaki is the blade to the back. A particularly savage one. She leaves no trace and cannot be tracked.|Tsuyu describing Nowaki.|Assassin's Creed: Shadows|A Sour Defeat}}
Nowaki was a vicious and savage killer who became a devout follower of the Templar cause to honor her late sister's final wishes.<ref name="Home of a Killer"/> To blend in with her surroundings, she wore a unique leather attire, sourced from a local merchant in Yura.<ref name="Hunting the Hunter"/>

Despite her unstable nature, Nowaki possessed an unusually loyal side due to her upbringing<ref name="A Sour Defeat"/> under both Suma<ref name="Home of a Killer"/> and later Yukari.<ref name="A Sour Defeat"/> The loss of Suma, the only caring presence in her life, deeply traumatized Nowaki, to the point that she became a recluse<ref name="Home of a Killer"/> and threatened to kill anyone who spoke of her sister.<ref name="Turning the Tables"/> By contrast, Yukari was able to control Nowaki's temper, enough to turn her into a loyal follower by encouraging her to use her talent for hunting and setting ambushes to further the ''Sanzoku Ippa''{{'}}s goals.<ref name="Database"/><ref name="A Sour Defeat"/>

===Skills and equipment===
Nowaki was trained in the ''shinobi'' ways by her sister and relied on her stealth skills and tools to surprise and entrap her enemies. She wore a self-made mask and had visible scarring on the left side of her face. Unlike other ''shinobi'', her weapon of choice was the ''teppō'', making her a skilled markswoman who specialized in eliminating targets from afar.<ref name="CoA">''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]''</ref>

==Behind the scenes==
Nowaki is a fictional character introduced as a secondary antagonist and assassination target in ''[[Claws of Awaji]]'', the [[Assassin's Creed: Shadows downloadable content|downloadable]] expansion for the 2025 video game ''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" position="center" widths="180">
ACSH CoA Hidden Swamp 2.jpg|Concept art of Nowaki fighting against Naoe
ACSH CoA Hidden Swamp 8.jpg|Concept art of Nowaki fighting against Naoe
</gallery>

==Appearances==
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Shadows]] – [[Claws of Awaji]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{ACSH}}
[[Category:1585 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Japanese]]
[[Category:Ninja]]
[[Category:Templars]]
[[Category:Japanese Templars]]
[[Category:Sanzoku Ippa]]
[[Category:Marksmen]]

Nowaki - Revision history

Lady Kyashira at 12:14, 12 May 2026