Kage (Suikoden)

Kage (カゲ, Kage) is a character in Suikoden. He is a lone ninja and a mercenary for hire.

History
"A ninja wastes no words."

- Kage

Kage, a solitary and unattached ninja, lived by the creed of contracts, valuing no sentiment or law above the agreements he undertook. Fueled solely by the right price, he was driven to carry out his missions with cold and efficient precision, never betraying a contract he had sealed.

During the early stages of the Gate Rune War, Kage had a contract with the Scarlet Moon Empire, tasked with stealing the plans for the formidable Burning Mirror from the Dwarves' Vault.

Subsequently, he crossed paths with the leader of the Toran Liberation Army at the Secret Factory, where he struck a new deal with the Army, agreeing to fight for a considerable sum of 20,000 potch, pledging his service for the duration of the conflict.

Indeed, Kage's successes had taught him the value of not selling his skills short, fostering immense pride in his role as a ninja, an unseen force manipulating the strings of history. Armed with a weapon that seamlessly transformed from an assassination blade when cloaked in shadows to a deadly shuriken when confronted with open combat, he was a versatile and lethal force.

On the roof of Toran Castle, he could frequently be found in the company of fellow ninja, Kasumi and Fuma. The atmosphere was not exactly friendly and the trio refrained from sharing their trade secrets or techniques, well-aware that revealing strengths or vulnerabilities in their line of work was ill-advised.

Kage's unparalleled abilities greatly enhanced the Liberation Army's espionage capabilities, and his prowess in battle made the 20,000 potch paid for his services appear as an absolute bargain. With the conclusion of the war and his contract fulfilled, Kage once more disappeared into the enigmatic depths of the shadows, avoiding leaving his mark on history.

Possible Appearance in Suikoden II
A character labeled as "Kage" appears in Suikoden II during plot events in Muse City. There, Jowy Atreides is seeing using this Kage as a messenger. It is never explicitly clarified if this Kage is the same individual from Suikoden, or if they are another anonymous member of the ninja organization.

Series and game guide books refrain from listing Kage in their "returning characters" sections. Kage's entries in the Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia and Genso Suikoden Kiwami Encyclopedia also do not mention him being involved in the events of the game.

That being said, the Genso Suikoden Encyclopaedia does mark him as a character appearing in both Suikoden and Suikoden II, lending some ambiguity to the situation.