Saizo

If you were looking for the Warrior from Pokémon Conquest, see Saizō. For other characters named Saizō in Japanese, see Saizō (disambiguation).

Saizo サイゾ Saizo
Saizo in the anime
Gender	Male
Hometown	Ninja Village
Region	Kalos
Trainer class	Trainer
Anime debut	A Stealthy Challenge!
English voice actor	Vic Mignogna
Japanese voice actor	Kōsuke Toriumi

Saizo (Japanese: サイゾー Saizō) is a recurring character who first appeared in A Stealthy Challenge!. He hails from Ninja Village.

History

Saizo wearing a Shiftry mask

Prior to the events of A Stealthy Challenge!, 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 falling into 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 techniques to escape. Saizo, still disguised, ambushed Sanpei again, this time inside a cave where he managed to kidnap his friends to stop them from intervening in Sanpei's trial. However things did not go according to plan, with Ash managing to stay by Sanpei's side and Team Rocket interrupting the next confrontation. However, Saizo quickly fought Team Rocket 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 designed to test what Sanpei had learned in his journey. Saizo commended Sanpei's efforts, namely his resourcefulness and bond with Greninja, and awarded him a pass on the mission.

He was seen in a flashback in The Legend of the Ninja Hero!.

Saizo reappeared in person in A Festival of Decisions!, returning to save Ninja Village from the vengeful Kagetomo and the Ninja Corps. He managed to weaken Heidayu's Bisharp with a powerful Razor Shell attack from his Barbaracle, aiding Ash and Sanpei. He later alerted Ippei and the others that Kagetomo was behind the attack, and directed everyone's attention to nearby Otori Mountain where chief Hanzo had been taken. Saizo later joined the counter-offensive against Kagetomo. He helped Shinobu, Clemont and Serena defeat the Ninja Corps in a battle. He also witnessed the battle between Ippei and Kagetomo, in which the former emerged triumphant. Afterwards, Saizo attended the village festival to watch Ippei announced as the new chief of Ninja Village.

Character

Saizo is incredibly skilled in the ninja arts and is also an instructor, having helped train Sanpei in A Stealthy Challenge!. He and his partner Barbaracle are agile and swift in their approach, often utilizing unconventional strategies for a perfect defence in battle.

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 appeared in a flashback during The Legend of the Ninja Hero! and reappeared alongside its trainer in the next episode, saving Pikachu, Frogadier, and Greninja from Heidayu's Bisharp and defeating it. It was shown in a flashback in Facing the Needs of the Many!. Barbaracle's known moves are Razor Shell, Poison Jab, and Mud-Slap.
Debut	A Stealthy Challenge!
Voice actors
Japanese
English	Billy Bob Thompson

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.