Unveiling Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Untold Saga of Momochi Sandayu

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This article contains story SPOILERS for Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

For nearly two decades, the Assassin’s Creed series has consistently incorporated characters inspired by history, ranging from renowned figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Cleopatra, to infamous personalities like Blackbeard (Edward Teach). Regardless of changes in the gameplay, setting, or mood within the series, these historical appearances have persisted. In keeping with this tradition, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows also features such characters.

In “Assassin’s Creed: Shadow,” we have a major installment in the series, not just for its expansive map, but also due to the profound impact of historical figures and real-world events on its main storyline and key character interactions. For instance, Momochi Sandayu is one such figure woven into Naoe’s background narrative.

The Real-World History of Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ Momochi Sandayu Explained

Momochi Sandayu – The Defender of Iga

The stories about the life of Momochi Sandayu are often vague and contradictory, with some stating his birth year as 1512, while others suggest it could be as late as 1525. Yet, despite the uncertainty surrounding many aspects of Momochi Sandayu’s personal history, scholars agree on one point: he was instrumental in the historical narrative of Iga.

In the year 1579, Oda Nobunaga dispatched his son along with a large military force to take control of Iga, a region that resisted submitting to Nobunaga’s efforts to unify Japan. It is widely speculated that Momochi Sandayu led the resistance of Iga against Oda Nobukatsu, and based on most accounts, it is believed he employed guerrilla warfare strategies to defeat Oda’s army. These guerrilla methods would come to be known as Ninjutsu techniques.

The majority of historians generally agree that Momochi Sandayu likely perished in 1581 during Oda Nobunaga’s second victorious attack on the Iga Province. Yet, certain tales suggest that Momochi not only survived this second Oda invasion but also found refuge in a simple farming lifestyle.

Legend has it that Momochi Sandayu was a skilled trainer of notable ninja figures such as Hattori Hanzo and Goemon Ishikawa, a rogue and assassin known for targeting the wealthy and distributing their wealth among the less fortunate.

Momochi Sandayu Plays an Important Role in Naoe’s Life

In the game “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, though Momochi Sandayu may not appear frequently, he significantly impacts the story, particularly regarding Naoe’s past. Prior to the events in “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, Momochi became a member of the Japanese Brotherhood of Assassins, which is also known as the Kakushiba ikki.

In the group known as Kakushiba ikki, Momochi collaborated with Nagato, Tsuyu, and Hattori Hanzo, who were Naoe’s parents and fellow shinobi. Momochi initially crossed paths with Naoe during a mission to protect her hometown Igan from Oda Nobukatsu’s attack. She won their respect by slaying a samurai, and was subsequently mentored by Momochi.

Over the coming years, Momochi instructs Naoe on various shinobi skills such as concealment, surveillance, and deception, even presenting her with a grappling hook. In a twist similar to many historical narratives, Assassin’s Creed Shadows portrays Momochi Sandayu meeting his end during the second invasion of Iga, but it’s Yasuke who takes his life here.

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2025-03-26 20:07