Saizo

Saizo

Saizo unmasked

Saizo (Japanese: サイゾー Saizō) is a character of the day who appeared in A Stealthy Challenge!.

Shortly prior to the events of the episode, Saizo gave Sanpei a mission to deliver a secret scroll to a mansion by sunset. As Sanpei went on his way, however, Saizo appeared in his way in a Shiftry mask, along with his Barbaracle, claiming to be battling him for possession of the scroll. Although Sanpei's Greninja put up a fight, Barbaracle poisoned it with a Poison Jab, while the two eventually ended up astray on the river, eventually being found by Ash and his friends.

Saizo later appeared to battle Sanpei again, but this time Sanpei was assisted by Ash. Knowing he and Ash wouldn't be able to defeat Saizo, Sanpei used his ninja skill to escape.

Eventually, however, Saizo and his Barbaracle appeared yet again as Sanpei and Ash approached the mansion, challenging them once more. Team Rocket intervened in the battle, however, Saizo quickly fought them off, then continued the battle. While Barbaracle managed to temporarily gain the advantage against Froakie and Greninja, Froakie eventually evolved into a Frogadier and defeated Barbaracle. From there, Saizo then left. While invisible to Sanpei and Ash, he said that Sanpei may head to the mansion, and there he will learn the secrets about his companions.

As the two reached the mansion, Saizo appeared yet again, and unmasked himself, much to the surprise of Sanpei. He revealed that the scroll was in fact empty, and that the mission was a test to see how much Sanpei had learned in his journey. It was also revealed that Saizo set the course in such a way that outsiders could not traverse through.

Pokémon

		Barbaracle
		Barbaracle is Saizo's only known Pokémon. Just prior to A Stealthy Challenge!, Barbaracle fought against Sanpei and his Greninja, poisoning it and leaving both injured. It later battled Ash's Pikachu and Froakie, but their attacks didn't do anything to it. It later followed Ash and his friends who went with Sanpei to reach his goal and fought against Ash's Pikachu, Ash's Froakie and Sanpei's Greninja, blinding Pikachu and Greninja with Mud-Slap and crashing Froakie into a rock, but Froakie evolved into Frogadier, who used its new Aerial Ace attack to defeat Barbaracle. Barbaracle's known moves are Razor Shell, Poison Jab, and Mud-Slap.
Debut	A Stealthy Challenge!

Voice actors

This article is part of Project COD, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each one-time character of the Pokémon anime.