Yosuke "Kin no Kage" Sarutobi

### Likes

Learning more about the world outside of Hinansho, Hip Hop, Cooking, Lockpicking

## Magic

### Principle

Stealth

**Yosuke Sarutobi** (**猿飛 陽助**), also known as "Kin no Kage" or "Goldshadow for his hair always dyed blonde, is a shinobi of the Igaseishin and a member of the Sarutobi main branch. A highly skilled scout and saboteur, Yosuke grew up constantly being sent out of Hinansho for training in navigating modern society and thus learning how to blend in and manipulate and sabotage both technology and other advancements outside of the Border that the Igaseishin did not have. This also caused him to be more curious and accepting of the world and people outside their village, being one of the few who befriended Clara Ikeda. As his role is primarily a scout and infiltrator, he's more of an elusive fighter, wearing down opponents with traps and a variety of hidden weapons, weakening them until Clara's blade strikes them down. Outside of fighting, he's a highly skilled infiltrator, breaking into highly secure areas and stealing both information and belongings without making a sound.

## Background

Yosuke was born to the main branch of the Sarutobi in Hinansho, trained since childhood in Sarutobi-Ryu Espionage Arts. He was a curious child, which was especially prominent when he was showed the world outside the Border Realm. He'd always be excited whenever he'd be given mock missions and eventually actual missions in the bustling cities of Japan. In his off time, he'd read books such as kids' encyclopedias that he bought in Japan and immerse himself with the world outside of his home. This openness made him the first child in the Igaseishin to actually approach the recently adopted Clara Ikeda in a friendly manner. Although he admits that as a kid, a big part of it was he was interested in meeting a foreigner, it was at least not motivated with xenophobia as opposed to how the other kids and even the adults treated her. Young Yosuke tried his best to make her feel welcome in Hinansho, although he couldn't change the others' minds about her. When some of the children would sneakily put spiders on her shoes, he would in turn steal their favorite toys and hide them throughout the village, or sneakily "Sabotage" their food by applying chilies or wasabi, which he jokingly described as "training for poisoning targets." When Clara's adoptive siblings themselves made fun of her for her hair color, he started dyeing his hair blonde and told her that "Look, now I'm like your brother now. Forget about them, I'll place Vegemite on their food tomorrow". How he was able to bring an Australian spread in Hinansho, Clara still did not know to this day. Throughout their adolescence, Yosuke dyed his hair regularly in solidarity and continues to the present.

As a Sarutobi Shinobi, he takes on missions that require intensive scouting and intelligence gathering without being spotted. Yosuke has grown to be a highly efficiency infiltrator and information-gatherer, capable of remembering entire layouts of buildings and even conversations he only heard faintly once, and still be able to recite the information back to his comrades without making a single mistake. While he is not the best fighter compared to other shinobi like Clara, he excels in his specialties. He is also notorious for his prepared traps and hidden weapons. What warriors might call as cowardly and dishonorable, Yosuke and the Sarutobi retorts with "victory brings honor".

## Personality

Despite his rather stoic and intimidating looks at first glance, Yosuke is actually a very outgoing person. The Sarutobi upbringing of appearing to be an unfeeling but highly efficient shinobi has engraved itself into Yosuke's subconscious. When he's not in a stealth mission, he seems to be doing the opposite and typically draws attention to himself with the way he speaks, which is louder and more upbeat compared to most Igaseishin. Many blame this on the outsider media he is so found of, such as books, songs, and movies from outside Hinansho. He admits it's a factor, but Yosuke sees it more as the media he consumed simply allowed him to be more of himself. He does not let it get in the way of being a Sarutobi shadow, however, as he remains very skilled in the art of being undetectable while given missions. Clara sometimes doubts the idea that he wasn't influenced by his hobbies, as Yosuke speaks English in a manner similar to Hip Hop artists, the genre of outside music he likes the most*. "Not every English speaker sounds like a rapper, you know.".* He'd laugh this off but admit only to Clara that she's got a point.

Despite his fondness for the world outside his home, he still remains living in the village even if he was offered a position as agents working from the Igaseishin hideouts in Japan. When asked why, he simply answers "It's good to touch the Green Green Grass of home". His room in the village is perhaps the most modernized, with all the gadgets he either bought or "confiscated" from targets in past missions, such as music players, a computer, even a flatscreen TV. The lack of Internet or Cable has not stopped him from using them. He's also an avid cook after getting a cook book from a Japanese bookstore when he was younger. He always liked the idea that the one thing that can connect people the best is through sharing a delicious meal. Because of his knowledge of cuisine from the outside world that he terrorized the bullies who made fun of him and Clara with Vegemite-laced food.

As a Shinobi, he's silent and efficient. He attributes his ability to have a good memory when it comes to collecting information that was overheard or written down without actually taking a document and thus keeping his infiltration a secret with his childhood as an avid reader, when he excitedly remembered information and committed it to memory. He's also developed a hobby of lockpicking, always enjoying the challenge of breaking into locked containers or rooms with only just a lock pick or even makeshift tools like paper clips. One time he personally stole all the doorknobs and locks from a target's house for his own amusement once he gets back home and practices his lockpicking. Yosuke is also sneaky with his deft hands, and one of the most notorious pickpockets in the Sarutobi clan ever since he was a young child. Many watch out for him, since he could just bump into them and steal valuables of their person without leaving a single trace. He doesn't steal from his fellow Igaseishin but he did go on a "prank-stealing" spree on those who made fun of him and Clara.

He is attached to Clara and treats her like his own sister. He was an only child, but always wanted to have another sibling, so when he befriended Clara, she filled that role. Although he admits he might have gone too far when he retaliated on behalf of Clara, he'd admit he'd do it again if they were to turn back time.

Yosuke has the uncanny ability to hide his face in photos he is in, with all images of him at least have him covering his mouth or and obscuring his face. It first started of as a joke, it then became a way for him to train his reflexes as even his fellow Shinobi trying to take a photo him always find that he's faster than the camera and would hide his face wither with his hood and scarf, or his hand.

## Abilities

### Presence Concealment

The ability to entering a certain calm state of mind and become harder to detect is expected from the Shinobi of the Igaseishin, and Yosuke is no exception. Complemnted by Sarutobi-Ryu Espionage techniques makes him extremely difficult to find both physically and his metaphysical "presence". It would take high levels of detection magic to actually find him.

### Magic

Although he has not focused much on learning magic, Yosuke has nevertheless learned the fundamentals of magic. A majority of the magic he uses are the Spells that help gathering information, such as using Reinforcement to amplify his senses or use "Distraction" spells of the Sarutobi, such as throwing his voice at supernatural ranges thanks to magic, making and using magic smoke bombs, and even haze bombs that can knock out those who inhale it.

### Sarutobi-Ryu Ninjutsu

The main martial art that Yosuke utilizes, along with Iga-Ryu. Sarutobi Style Ninjutsu emphasizes highly athletic and stealthy movements to allow for agile scouts that can remain undetected when gathering information, sabotaging, or stealing information or important items. And in the off-chance he is discovered, Yosuke is trained in several Sarutob techniques such as "Ippo, Nan-po mo" or "One Step, Many Paces", which is an advanced movement technique that lets Yosuke increase the distance traveled with each step to make it look like he's doing short ranged teleportation. Combined with an emphasis of climbing and sneaking skills makes him a skilled infiltrator, approaching targets from unexpected angles. He's also skilled in Sarutobi-Tengu Standing techniques, where even the smallest surface is enough for him to jump from and still be able to launch himself high into the air.

Sarutobi-Ryu Ninjutsu is not meant for conventional combat, but it nevertheless has techniques when dealing with opponents with violence. Instead of directly fighting an enemy, Yosuke instead uses projectile weapons such as throwing knives, needles, and shuriken, and rely on hitting limbs and to cripple an opponent and create as much advantage while maintaining distance. There are also indirect methods he uses, such as creating spike traps or using magic to make more arcane traps, such as smoke mines that explode in a mist of poison or sedatives.