Shimazu Saito

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Shimazu Saito was a member of both the Shimazu clan and the Japanese Rite of the Templar Order active during the 1720s. He wore a metallic oni mask to conceal his identity.

In 1725, Saito led a group of ninja loyal to the Shimazu clan in the search for the lost city of the Khmer Empire, an alleged Precursor site, attacking a number of people in Macau who were connected to it. One of those people was the British Assassin Edward Kenway, who was also on the site's trail and who ended up clashing with Saito and his ninja several times during his own search for the ruins.

Biography

Attacks in Macau

In February 1725, Saito, alongside his many loyal ninja followers, attempted to silence anyone in Macau who knew about the ruins of Angkor to conceal the site's existence. Their first targets were the Dutch explorer Hendrik, who had stumbled upon the ruins during his travels, and his friend and fellow navigator John Young, who had stolen Hendrik's story and was boasting about his alleged discovery.

Saito dispatched three of his ninja to kill Young, but the navigator was protected by Edward Kenway, who was also on Angkor's trail and had approached Young after hearing about his story. Hendrik was not as lucky, as he was attacked by Saito's ninja in his room at the Dutch East India Company's dormitories in Macau and succumbed to his wounds shortly after being found by Kenway.

Saito encountered Kenway for the first time while the latter was trying to hide in an alley from Hendrik's company mates, who had mistaken him for Hendrik's killer. Unaware of his identity or Assassin affiliations, Saito ordered his ninja to capture Kenway alive and they ended up chasing him to Macau's port, where Saito watched from afar as Kenway effortlessly fought off many of his men. Impressed by the stranger's skills, which rivaled those of the Shimazu clan, he ordered his men to find out everything they could about him. After Kenway was saved by Young and his ship, Saito fired an arrow at the pair as they sailed away, which Kenway dodged.

Attack on the Mandarin's House

After Hendrik's sea log was acquired by businesswoman Madam Lee upon his death, Saito led his ninja in an attack on Lee's private residence, the Mandarin's House, in order to retrieve the log. There, Saito once again ran into Kenway, who had also come for the log and had managed to grab it shortly before the attack. Kenway helped Lee's guards fend off some of the ninja before realizing Saito was their leader and attempting to kill him to quickly end the battle. The two engaged in a duel, with Saito coming out on top and managing to break the Assassin's sword, which forced the latter to pull back.

As one of his ninja arrived to pick him up on horseback, Saito revealed his name to Kenway and asked for his in return. After the latter complied, Saito told him that he would remember his name before he and his ninja retreated, their mission seemingly a failure. After making it to safety, however, Saito revealed to one of his followers that he had been successful in acquiring Hendrik's log, having taken it from Kenway during their duel.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Forgotten Temple