Gou

Gou is a professional mercenary who follows the employment arrangements of the Shinobi 5. His loyalty during missions is directed toward the group and its current contract rather than a larger political ideology.

He appears confident in the Shinobi 5's ability to overwhelm inexperienced opponents, particularly when facing Shimura Shinpachi, Kagura and Kotarou Katsura.

The series provides relatively little individual characterization beyond his role within the ninja team.

Gou is a trained ninja and former member of the Oniwabanshu, giving him experience in stealth, infiltration and combat.

His title, Idaten no Gou, associates him with speed, fitting the specialized epithets carried by members of the Shinobi 5.

He participates effectively in coordinated combat with Shuwa and Matsuo, initially placing the inexperienced Go-Ninja group at a disadvantage.

Gou first appears during the Go-Ninja arc. Chintarou Touyama hires the Shinobi 5 to guard his mansion after apparently taking Elizabeth hostage.

The Yorozuya, Katsura and Ayame Sarutobi infiltrate the estate after receiving improvised ninja training. Gou joins the other Shinobi 5 members in ambushing them.

Although the professional ninjas initially hold the advantage, Katsura has laced the curry used during the battle with laxatives. Gou and several teammates eat it and are incapacitated, allowing Shinpachi and the others to overcome them.

Gou later appears with the ninja forces involved in protecting the shogunate during the Shogun Assassination conflict.

Zenzou Hattori is Gou's leader in the Shinobi 5 and a fellow former Oniwabanshu ninja.

Shuwa, Wakikaoru and Matsuo are Gou's fellow members of the Shinobi 5.

Shimura Shinpachi, Kagura and Kotarou Katsura oppose Gou during the infiltration of the magistrate's mansion.

Ayame Sarutobi is a former Oniwabanshu ninja who fights on the opposing side during the same incident.