Assassin (アサシン, Asashin?) is the Assassin-class Servant of Caster in the Fifth Holy Grail War of Fate/stay night. He is an irregular Servant that shouldn't exist according to the rules of the Holy Grail War, but Caster's unique nature as a Servant summoning a Servant twists the process. The true Servant, one of the Hassan-i-Sabbah, is summoned as True Assassin in the Heaven's Feel route.

He is one of the Servants summoned by Ritsuka Fujimaru in the Grand Orders conflicts of Fate/Grand Order, appearing as both his Assassin-class self and as a Saber-class Servant, Nameless Saber (セイバー・無銘, Seibā Mumei?), during his duel with Miyamoto Musashi.

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Profile Edit

Identity Edit

Assassin's True Name is Sasaki Kojirou (佐々木 小次郎, Sasaki Kojirō?), a mythical Japanese swordsman said to have faced Miyamoto Musashi in combat. In reality, the individual summoned as Assassin's true name was unknown, and to be more specific, he never had a true name.[5] Kojirou is known as a master swordsman whose existence is doubted even though his name remains recorded in history. He did not actually exist, so it would be impossible to summon the real thing as a Servant. The person summoned in his place is not a Heroic Spirit, but an existence closer to that of wraiths. If there was to be a database for all of humanity, he is the piece of data that best matches the parameters of Sasaki, so his personality would become Kojirou's personality and his monumental feats would become that of Kojirou rather than his own.[6]

This individual was the son of an ordinary farming family, living an ordinary farm life and separated from ordinary common sense. He met a master swordsman who had retired deep into the mountains, and began his ordinary life in the mountains himself. He was enthralled by the swordsmanship of the master, and he began training under him the next day. The master swordsman only taught him the refined behaviour of a swordsman; a communion with nature and the master swordsman did not instruct him on anything related to sword techniques. After one month, the master swordsman drew his last breath, and he completely threw himself into the path of a swordsman.[7] He was a nameless martial artist with some relation to the Ryuudou Temple, but there is no way to know his true identity.[2] He died lacking a name, never even fortunate enough to be given one, and the ability to read or write. He utilizes a long Japanese katana and discovered the ultimate technique, “Tsubame Gaeshi”, being absolutely all he possesses. The reason he is summoned is simply because he can execute that legendary technique. He spent much of his life simply trying to figure out the best method to cut down a swallow, and although he realized the method was impossible for a human, he had nothing else to do and kept on practicing. While determination is normally the key to success, he simply noticed that it had succeeded.

The legendary Kojirou is known as cool and elegant, so Assassin's pursuit of sword technique, sophistication, and finding joy in dueling with strong foes is reminiscent of that character. Differing from the legend, his katana is longer, 1.5 meters compared to 90 centimeters and engraved with Bitchu Aoe (備中青江, Bichū Aoe?, Blue River of Bitchu).[2] The Bitchu Aoe may have been the master's, or perhaps he received it from the Holy Grail when the legendary soul was summoned. It is simply something thought to be part of who he is.[7] With any great deed performed by Assassin, the reward will go to "Sasaki Kojirou", as he is nothing and all his actions are meaningless. He is a disposable swordsman meant only to act out the role of Sasaki Kojirou, a fictional swordsman created from a fictional story.

Legend Edit

While the Kojirou in the modern era is an invention, a blend of details from the lives of many nameless and forgotten historical swordsmen, he is said to have been born in the Eiroku era in the Echizen countryside according to records. His real name was speculated to be Tsuda (津田?).[8] He studied under the originator of the Chujoryu kodachi style, Toda Seigen, favoring a long sword. He defeated the master's younger brother, and named his own style "Ganryu." He was known as a handsome swordsman wielding the 3-shaku-long, approximately 90 centimeters to one meter, nodachi, “Bizen Osahune Nagamitsu”, that was also called the “Monohoshi Zao". He traveled around the country as a master swordsman, and it is said that he developed his secret sword technique, Tsubame Gaeshi, able to kill even a flying swallow, around the Nishiki River in the Suou region.

He terrified swordsmen around the country after that period, and eventually battled Miyamoto Musashi at Funajima Island to maintain the reputation of the domain he served, dying in the process. He was unable to fight while holding onto the sheath of his sword due to its length, so he threw it away in front of Musashi. Musashi is quoted to have said the famous lines "Kojirou, you lose. If you are were planning to win, why did you throw away your sheath?" and “Kojirou has been defeated!" after seeing that event. The finale was of the battle was Kojirou's death after having his forehead crushed by an oar.

Musashi was one of Japan's best swordsmen, and Kojirou is known as Musashi's worthy rival. It is claimed that he gained fame around the period from the 10th to 17th year of the Keichou era, but his real figure is hazy like the moon on water. Any truth of this era is a mystery due to all books noting him being inconsistent in terms of years. His duel is legendary, and although he was said to be the disciple of Seigen, there are numerous conflicting documentations and legends, which still shroud his true identity even now.[2] The only one who should know of the existence of such a swordsman would have to be the supposed rival who defeated him, Musashi, but he is not mentioned at all in the book Musashi wrote, "Gorin no Sho."

Kojirou was a Japanese man without any real identity, his birth is unknown, and his story was only told through word of mouth. His past was falsely forged as a convenient foe to a famed swordsman. The records are too vague, but it was likely there existed man named Sasaki Kojirou and a man who wielded a sword called the Monohoshi Zao. They would not have been the same person, so the swordsman with the name Sasaki Kojirou was simply a fictional character created to be his enemy's foil. Even if there was a person like him, it can be said that his figure passed down to the present is a fictional swordsman nor an overstatement to say that he has never existed.

Appearance Edit

Assassin's appearance is that of a samurai swordsman with long indigo hair tied into ponytail and indigo eyes. He wears a traditional light purple umanori hakama and kimono, light purple tabi and black geta with purple haori and tekkou and carries his sword, Monohoshi Zao on his back.





Personality Edit

Assassin is quiet and composed, and while his general tone has a mocking nature to it, he takes it to another level with Caster. He is honorable in battle, always maintaining a degree of bushido, and he is not the type who would attack defenseless women and children. He willingly keeps Saber from exposing her name without any ulterior motives, and he prematurely stops their fight to keep an opponent from spying on her Noble Phantasm and possibly going after the weakened winner of the battle. He has no actual goal in participating in the Holy Grail War. He is not a Heroic Spirit, so there is no advantage to winning for him. He reveals his "true name" without regard, and seems disinterested in Caster's promised reward of making him into a real Sasaki. He only guards the gate while eagerly awaiting Servants to battle.

A refined man who admires the beauties of nature and wraps his body in an elegant battle surcoat. Aloof from the world and having a somewhat elusive personality but, as expected, he is a warrior who likes fair and square contests. Due to living in an age where casualties happened on a daily basis, his perspectives about life and death may also seem cold-hearted for a modern person.[4]

Relationships Edit

Medea He greatly dislikes Caster, seeking to kill her if possible. Not wishing to be ordered around by a woman, her first Command Spell was to force him into obedience. During Fate/hollow ataraxia, he is very carefree and casual with her, freely insulting her and mocking her orders as he wishes. She attempts to have him do menial work, but he uses logic like that it would take more magical energy to take form to sweep than if she herself were to do it. True to her nature as a magus, the logic is impenetrable because she would never utilize magical energy frivolously. He mentions that he enjoys watching her interactions with Kuzuki due to him not giving her any recognition. It was one of his few sources of amusement, but eventually began to tire of it. Martha Miyamoto Musashi Yukika Saegusa He befriends Yukika Saegusa, taking to her innocence that is like that of a puppy. He does his best to avoid the topic of his strange clothing and nature as a Servant.

Role Edit

Fate/Stay night Edit

Caster, borrowing the power of the Greater Grail, was able to obtain fake Command Spells and summon a fake Servant, Assassin.[9] Assassin was summoned as a guardian and watchman for the front gate of Ryuudou Temple. As an improper Servant, Assassin is entirely dependent on Caster for mana and cannot move freely beyond the grounds of Ryuudou Temple. Furthermore, he lacks most of the usual parameters and abilities granted to his class. Because of his limited status, Assassin cares little for the Holy Grail, and outside of his duties to Caster, he only seeks to enjoy a decent sword duel.

Fate Edit

In the Fate scenario, Assassin drives back Saber during her first assault on Ryuudou Temple. During their second meeting in Caster's underground temple (anime only), he allows Emiya Shirou and Tohsaka Rin to pass in order to engage Saber in a duel in which he is defeated. In the Visual Novel, he is never seen after his initial confrontation with Saber. He is defeated at some point in the story but it is only mentioned and not shown, leaving the identity of his killer unknown.

In Fate/hollow ataraxia, it is revealed that Gilgamesh was the one who attacked Ryuudou Temple and killed both Assassin and Kuzuki.

Unlimited Blade Works Edit

In the Unlimited Blade Works scenario, Assassin permits Archer entry into Ryuudou Temple so he can give that "vixen a scare." He then battles Saber, who notes the clear difference in their sword technique and survives Assassin's Tsubame Gaeshi. After Archer nearly kills Shirou, however, Assassin allows Saber to run to him, stating that her concern for her Master is admirable. He then protects Saber and Shirou from Archer and engages in combat with him. The winner is not shown, as Saber and Shirou flee while they have the chance.

On the last night of the Holy Grail War, Saber goes to the front gate of Ryuudou Temple to fight against Gilgamesh. However, Assassin still exists and wants to duel against Saber. He is defeated by Saber due to his blade being bent from their previous encounter, which leaves an opening in his Tsubame Gaeshi. Soon after, he dies peacefully.

Heaven's Feel Edit

In the Heaven's Feel scenario, Assassin is killed by the entity known as the Shadow and his flesh serves as Matou Zouken's catalyst for summoning the True Assassin.

In Fate/stay night - Heaven's Feel I. presage flower, he ends up being the first Servant to be absorbed by the Shadow after the birth of True Assassin, causing the interference that ends up making the Shadow in the Second Lesser Grail instead of Illya.

Fate/hollow ataraxia Edit

In Fate/hollow ataraxia, Assassin remains bound to Ryuudou Temple, and continues to watch over its front gate even though peace has settled over Fuyuki City. He converses with whoever is kind enough to climb up the steps to see him. Incidentally, he takes upon the pseudonym Kojirou Tsuda (津田小次郎, Tsuda Kojirō?).

When Avenger makes his move, Assassin fights the dog-shadows right beside his Master, Caster and Souichirou Kuzuki.



Fate/Unlimited Codes Edit

In Fate/Unlimited Codes, he is known as Nameless Samurai (無名の侍士, Mumei no Samuraishi?). Assassin's story follow as he was summoned by Caster, he notices that the environment to be familiar to Ryuudou Temple. Caster corrects Assassin that it has been many years since he last saw Ryuudou Temple and calls him as Sasaki Kojirou. While Assassin seems confused with his name, Caster claims it is a name that people of the modern age calls him. Caster explains to Assassin that she summoned him to serve her and refers him as Assassin. Caster orders Assassin to guard the mountain gate whether they are Magus or Servants, however Assassin refuse to take order from Caster. He claims that he has no problem offering his life to a cause but drawing his sword on a command of a woman doesn't suit him. Caster forces Assassin to submit to her orders when she used her Command Spells. Although Assassin follows her command, Assassin mocks Caster whether she can still control him by the end of the Holy Grail War.

His clash with Saber is interrupted when Assassin says that a third party member is observing their fight and the possibility of them to attack when they witness their secret technique or taking advantage on the injured winner. Assassin suggested Saber to retreat as he already figured out Saber's techniques and along with the possibility that the third party member will attack Shirou Emiya who is on his way to collect Saber. Caster appears and orders Assassin to finish Saber as she is both tired and exhausted. Assassin tells Caster not to interfere and told her he has no desire to settle things in a vulgar manner. Caster used her second command spell, she orders Assassin to finish off Shirou while Caster has an interest in Saber. As he wins, he feels Saber shame in surviving the duel and wonders what to do with Caster who has gone too far to interfere.

His final opponent is Berserker who has passed through the mountain gates and in to the inner grounds of the temple, Assassin can sense Berserker immense vigor. Berserker strikes Assassin with one blow, Caster in disbelief was convinced that Assassin had no chance in defeating Berserker. Caster used her final command spell to fight Berserker to the very end, Assassin used this opportunity to cut down Caster. He planned to have the final command spell to be used and in doing so, his reserved energy was activated. It appears that he has many energy left due to defeating his enemies without a single loss.

Shortly after Caster death, Assassin will be gone shortly but he is glad to have a worthy opponent in his final moments. Although he doesn't know Berserker identity but he knows he is an exceptional warrior and that he has to use his full force to win. After his victory, he never believed that he would face against a tough opponent and was satisfied with his time spent in the Holy Grail War. He compliments the beauty of the Moon and fades away.

Fate/tiger colosseum series Edit





Fate/Grand Order Edit

Assassin, Saint George, and Saint Martha are dubbed by Mash Kyrielight as being a Three-man Dragon-slaying Team (竜退治三人衆, Ryū-taiji San'nin-shū?).

Do Moon Goddesses Dream of Dango? Edit

Travelling with Saint Martha and Georgios, Sasaki Kojirou runs into Marie Antoinette, Chevalier d'Eon, and Charles-Henri Sanson, who give them most of their dumplings as a sign of friendship. Afterwards, he and the others go to the waters of Marseille with him tagging along in the hopes that he'll get to fight with Martha.

Later, Sasaki eats the dumplings with Georgios and Martha while they camp out near the shorelines Marseille. He then asked by Martha why he is tagging along with her and Georgios, to which answers as he did before that he wishes fight her. After being rejected by her, Sasaki wonders if Martha isn't fighter as she says she isn't, and then answers her that he's wanderer when she asks him if he's a samurai. He then wonders about Tarasque, and becomes intrigued by Martha's fighting style when she states that neither his sword nor her punchs can penetrate Tarasque's scales. Ritsuka Fujimaru, Mash Kyrielight, and Artemis soon arrive however, with Mash demanding that they surrender. Sasaki and others, but Artemis reveals that they're still hiding some, with him hiding a rare dumpling in his pocket. With their poor deception unveiled by Artemis, Sasaki fights the group with Georgios and Martha. After being defeated by the group, Sasaki and Georgios pretend to pass out due to their male pride, but both end up getting knocked unconscious by Martha.

Shimosa Province: The Stage of Rivers of Blood and Mountains of Corpses Edit

Main Article: Nameless Saber

Interlude Edit

LEGEND OF THE SAMURAI is his interlude. Nero invited Kojirou to challenge her Collosseum. Kojirou faced 100 challengers and emerged victorious.[10]

Carnival Phantasm Edit

Assassin has minor appearances in Carnival Phantasm. The fact that he cannot go outside the temple is comically exaggerated, to the point of being replaced with a cardboard cutout in multiple scenes (including the opening theme). He is shown to be very attached to his gate, to the point he even talks to it, and apparently hears it talk back. He drives a Dekotora, which is large enough to carry his gate inside its trailer (and consequently allows him to somewhat leave the bounds of the temple).



Today's Menu for Emiya Family Edit

Due to his inability to leave Ryuudou Temple, Assassin rarely appears in Today's Menu for Emiya Family. His first appearance is in Episode 4, when Shirou pays a visit to the Temple as part of a delivery. When Shirou decides to make a couple of sandwiches, he offers three slices to Assassin out of kindness. Assassin is delighted by the taste, so much so that he even asks Caster if she could make some more.

Just like in Carnival Phantasm, the anime's ending features Assassin as a cardboard cutout.

Other appearances Edit

In Type-Moon's April Fools' Day 2009, moon.cinemas.jp is a fake movie theater site listing a number of parody films:

He was featured in Tank Man (戦車男, Sensha Otoko ? ), a parody film of Densha Otoko. Assassin plays the role of Medea's male caretaker. His role is expanded in TYPE-MOON 10th Anniversary Phantasm. Sasaki was calmly stating at how Medea was going crazy with an insect in her workroom, when her room was unhygienic. Medea knocks Sasaki out of the way and accidently knocks her modified Saber figure. He and Enkidu-chan was surprised when the other Eirei Throne Channel members suggested Sensha Otoko to buy a Saber figure for El-Melloi Girl.

(戦車男, ), a parody film of Densha Otoko. Assassin plays the role of Medea's male caretaker. His role is expanded in TYPE-MOON 10th Anniversary Phantasm. Sasaki was calmly stating at how Medea was going crazy with an insect in her workroom, when her room was unhygienic. Medea knocks Sasaki out of the way and accidently knocks her modified Saber figure. He and Enkidu-chan was surprised when the other Eirei Throne Channel members suggested Sensha Otoko to buy a Saber figure for El-Melloi Girl. He was featured in the animated film Papillon Shin-chan ~I call for sleepiness! Spicy shaggy Kingdom~ (パピヨンしんちゃん〜眠気を呼ぶ！激辛モジャモジャ王国〜, Papiyon Shin-chan ~Nemuke wo Yobu! Gekikara Mojamoja Ōkoku~ ? ), a parody film of Crayon Shin-chan.

Abilities Edit

Assassin is an irregular Servant that should not actually belong to the Assassin class, and he is considered to be strange compared to most other Servants by Saber. Out of all the other Servants she has seen, he seems incomprehensible to her, but not out of having fearful aspects or a fearful weapon. Her unease comes from not being able to sense any magical energy or even a Noble Phantasm, that it should be easy enough for her to end the match in one blow. Nothing special can be felt from his sword, so it should be easy for her to repel it. While she wishes to rush in and be done with it, her honed instincts can sense his ability to seize a sure kill, so she remains cautious of him.

He is very atypical as an Assassin. Servants in the Assassin class are normally the weakest ones in direct confrontation, and they defeat enemy Servants through covert actions or by killing their Masters to cut off their magical energy supply. Assassin does not employ assassination techniques such as ambush, and due to excelling in swordsmanship, he frequently chooses to fight face-to-face directly with other Servants. He does not gain the class ability of Presence Concealment due to not being a true Assassin-class Servant, but he does have the ability on his own. It is his intrinsic ability as a martial artist to “cut off his presence”.[2]

Caster is unable to act as his anchor to the world due to also being a Servant, so he is instead bound to the land. The mountain itself acts as a host from the current age to keep him in the world. While that means that he cannot leave the mountain, it also means that he will not disappear even if his summoner dies. He can only appear on the mountain, and he will continue to exist as long as the mountain exists. He is not receiving constant magical upkeep, so he was only given twenty days worth of energy. He manages to go slightly longer than that limit in order to fight Saber, it is mostly luck that allowed that to happen. He begins to turn transparent, and will not last until dawn of that day.

Combat Edit

He is an oddity that fights under different battle conditions from other Servants, a "Saber-class defender", making him defensive compared to others being offensive. Fighting on the temple stairs gives him a higher position than his opponent, and due to the area being a Servant-killing battlefield and having Caster's anti-sorcery defensive barrier, the power of both magecraft and Noble Phantasms are decreased significantly. If the Noble Phantasm being used is not powerful, he will not take a fatal wound.[11] He does not have any defense against curses, so he will likely instantly lose against such Noble Phantasms. This allows him to repel the other five Servants without losing any ground, though he required both the terrain advantage and Caster's help in weighing down Berserker's body to repel him. Assassin has no actual way of hurting him and they have extremely bad compatibility in a fight, so the fact that Berserker was even pushed back is enough to say "whoah, Kojirou's amazing."[12]

While he would fall to other Servants in an all out death match, he reigns supreme on the stairs of the temple due to most battles having to come down to swordsmanship. The attacker is constantly at a disadvantage because they have to ascend the stairs to reach him, while he does not have to move if he does not wish. He has no need to chase a retreating enemy in a battle of defense, so he has no reason to forsake his advantage of higher ground. His excellent skill and the disadvantageous ground keep the opponent from being able to dodge his fatal strikes as they wish. His strikes that aim for the head means that they must retreat instead of press forward, but the terrain of fighting on the stairs leaves them unable to dodge to the side. They are left retreating to the same spot, all the while he has no need to move from his position unless he wishes to unleash his ultimate technique.

Even without Battle Continuation, he will be able to last longer with more serious wounds due to having a strong spirit alignment. Like Lancer, he will have some fighting power left even if his heart is destroyed, allowing him to close the gap between an opponent after receiving a fatal wound, such as True Assassin using Zabaniya to kill him, and use Tsubame Gaeshi to leave both of them dead.[13] Caster placed a curse into his body upon summoning, allowing her to have his chest explode from within at her leisure. Even though his ribs are protruding from his chest, he is still able to act without fading away and later heal.

While his Presence Concealment is not a match for the Presence Concealment of True Assassin due to not being a skill trained for assassination, it allows the martial artist to merge with his surroundings. It is not a skill meant to hide someone, but a technique of the mind that allows him to cut off his presence enough that he is hard to detect even for a Servant. It is very difficult to perceive him during the first encounter, but his activity being limited to the range of the Temple Gate makes detecting him rather easy for those who know of his existence. The ability is rarely used for its intended purpose, as his personality makes it so that battles are usually only commenced only after the parties have presented and introduced themselves.[2]

Swordsmanship Edit

Assassin wields the Monohoshi Zao (物干し竿?, The Laundry-Drying Pole), an over five shaku long, 150 centimeter, Bitchu Aoe blade. The length defies common sense, the name being a derogatory nickname rather than a formal title, meaning “That blade is way too damn long to use!” It cannot be called "useful" despite its large range, as almost nobody except Assassin, having a mastery of the sword exceeding the realm of humans, could even wield it.[14] He is noted as the greatest in terms of pure swordsmanship among the Servants of the Fifth Holy Grail War, and not even Gilgamesh would want to face him in a battle of swordsmanship.[5][15] Lancer comments that he wouldn't like fighting him one on one and would prefer to kill him off from a distance.

He calls his sword a heresy, and says it will slice the head of one of average skill. He has no actual stances, meaning any seeming opening cannot be trusted, and the ability to use a sword of such length means that he has to be able to swing it from any position, even delivering slashes even while standing idly. The katana is a longsword not suited to direct competitions of power. It will break fighting off a sword like Excalibur, so he cannot lock blades or compete in strength. He can only parry blows and push the opponent back by attacking their body because the blade is meant to cut with speed and technique unlike western swords that cut with weight and power, making fighting styles between the two mismatched.

His swordplay is fast enough that even Saber has trouble following it. He works his sword like a hurricane, using elastic tracks to parry blows from opponents stronger and faster than himself, all while flowing toward the opponent's neck to decapitate the them with certainty should he detect an opening. Each of his attacks is fatal, meant to take the opponent's life by decapitation, so it is not possible to employ a strategy like taking a strike to then overpower him during the aftermath. He strikes with a curved path, a graceful arc that does not take the shortest route to the opponent like Saber's western sword. It would normally be that he should not be able to match a sword moving in a straight line and the length of the sword should make it easy to go inside his range after it is parried, but his sword techniques and Eye of the Mind, or simply dodging, allow him to counter the opponent’s attack and reduce the difference in distance to zero.

It is not possible to get used to his fighting style no matter how many times he utilizes the same technique on a single foe due to his Knowledge of the Sowa skill. It is the ability to “render one’s attacks unreadable to the enemy”, so even Saber's high Instinct cannot adapt to his fighting style after crossing blades many times. Its effect vastly improved with his unique “head-shot” techniques, so the opponent will not be able to see through his techniques even after retreating and challenging him again numerous times, always forced back to square one and fought as if it is the first encounter again.[2]

He cannot be emotionally overwhelmed in battle due to his Vitrification skill, a mental state called a “heart of clear water” that was acquired after reaching the pinnacle of arduous training. He is able to maintain a cool and collected heart, regardless the situation. Facing his own death will not cause him to waver, so it is a very useful ability for a gate guardian. Mental interference from charms and fear magecraft activated by the opponent are completely negated. He watches the gate in silence with a heart of clear water, like the many trees surrounding the temple and an unwavering guardian.[2]

The perception of his eyes is the best among Servants, allowing him to see through the weapon and style of his opponent after crossing blades only a few times. He initially has trouble with Invisible Air because its distance cannot be gauged, making it too dangerous to close in and not allow him to follow through with his strikes. He eventually becomes able to judge its exact measurements without using magecraft or even exchanging actual blows with the sword. He is an unorthodox sword-user who is only able to improve on such techniques, so he mentions that figuring out the shape is "just a street performance." It stems from his Eye of the Mind (False), a sixth sense that very different from Archer's danger avoidance that originates from “predictions augmented by experience”. Assassin's ability can be called a natural talent to sense danger. It also allows him to see that Saber is unable to use her Noble Phantasm attack due to a lack of energy.[2]

While Saber believes that he will lose any advantage by relinquishing his advantage of being overhead, she is misunderstanding his skill. From such a close distance, an opponent should be able to easily outmaneuver his longsword to get inside his range, but such logic does not apply to him. His secret technique, Tsubame Gaeshi, is three simultaneous sword slashes in mutually exclusive directions that can only be performed on flat ground. It is not a Noble Phantasm, but it has reached a similar level out of pure godlike skill. It should be unavoidable as long as there are no errors in its execution, making it a deadly technique. It makes him, who should be a "mere human", equal to Heroic Spirits armed with Noble Phantasms.

While he holds out the thought that his sword may be able to block a few strikes from Excalibur, it is bent only after one clash. While it is a good sword able to cut steel, something made by a human cannot compare to something not made by men. He utilizes the method to force Saber onto flat ground to utilize Tsubame Gaeshi, but it proves to be his undoing due to the bend in the sword allowing for a gap for Saber to escape from the technique.

Musashi believes that as a swordsman, Kojiro has already reached the state of emptiness.[16] It is said that there is no swordsmen that can reach Infinity, a path that surely no one can ever walk upon.[17] But for Kojiro, who attained Tsubame Gaeshi that expresses the existence and concept of Infinity, he is such a swordsman that has reached it.[18]

Forms and Alternate Versions Edit

Nameless Saber Edit

Nasuverse character Nameless Saber Japanese name: アサシン Behind the Scenes Franchise: Fate Appears in: Fate/Grand Order Characteristics Gender: Male

Nameless Saber (セイバー・無銘, Seibā Mumei?) is a Saber-class Servant appearing in the Shimosa Singularity in Fate/Grand Order: Epic of Remnant.

Role Edit

Sasaki Kojiro encounters Musashi after the latter's duel with Munenori, and the two warriors would enter their fated duel. Their blades clash, and their power and skill are equal. Both their swords transcended time and space, yet their existence and concept are the exact opposite. The clash of the existences and concepts between Kojiro's Infinity and Musashi's Zero creates an infinite place, or perhaps, an empty place, where there is no time, space, karma, good or evil. A situation only those two who put their very souls into their blades can reach. Simultaneously, both of them surpass Infinity. Both of them would continue to try to kill each other over and over again for all of eternity. It is not the real world, and this moment will never be recorded or stopped for anyone. This place lies between the real world and the world of dreams. An impossible place where Infinity and Zero can intersect. A miraculous sword fight that is supposed to go on forever, never reaching its conclusion. But due to Ritsuka Fujimaru's presence and deciding his/her winner, Musashi was able to win the duel against Kojiro, the sword of Zero having destroyed the sword of Infinity.[18]

Abilities Edit

Being the only swordsman who can wield "The Laundry-Drying Pole", Nameless Saber has undoubtedly reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Even Amakusa Shirou, who burns with loathing for the world and everything in it has some respect for Saber's skill, claiming there is no demonic sword in the entire human realm that surpasses his. Due to this, as long as Saber is by his side, he considers he has nothing to fear from Miyamoto Musashi.[18]

Nameless Saber is an exceptional swordsman just like Saber of Empireo and just from looking at him, Musashi immediately recognizes his identity as his fated ultimate rival, Sasaki Kojirou. Before their swords ever clash, Musashi also claims that his skill is godly and that he's at least several times stronger than her.[18]

As their blades clashed, their power and technique seemed evenly matched. Not only that. Their skills had surpassed everything; time, space, existence, essence. Each being the other's perfect mirror image. Through "history's greatest duel", their duel would have prolonged for eternity had Ritsuka Fujimaru not determined Musashi as the winner.[18]

Tsubame Gaeshi:

There is a sword of infinity that leads to multiplicity. A way to acknowledge "multiple possibilities". A single act that is originally finite; a single slash that can only be performed at one time, in one space. It is, so to speak, an "infinite" sword that gives birth to several "correct answers". To make one's own existence transparent to the extremes, until there is nothing more. And yet to grasp for "something" beyond that. That is Kojiro's "Tsubame Gaeshi". A sword that creates a "future" that not even the gods can escape from.[18]





Development Edit

Reception Edit

In the first Popularity polls of Fate/stay night in 2004, Assassin was ranked 14th.

in 2004, Assassin was ranked 14th. In the second Popularity polls of Fate/stay night in 2006, Assassin was ranked 25th.

in 2006, Assassin was ranked 25th. In the Type-Moon's 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Assassin was ranked 63rd.

In Fate/Grand Order, Assassin is named as part of a dragon slaying trio due to the various online memes revolving around him being a fellow "dragon slayer" during the France chapter. The affinity of the Assassin class over the Rider-class dragons made him an easily accessible unit during the chapter, so he was made part of the trio despite not actually appearing in-story during the chapter.

References Edit



