Gato

Biodata

Background / History

War with the Mira Peng Family

Gato rose to prominence in the Land of Waves by secretly hiring assassins and wandering ninja to attack his business rivals. His principal opponent was the Mira Peng family, previously the country's wealthiest and most powerful family. When Shinji and Hidan arrived, Gato had not yet monopolized shipping or become the country's sole dominant power 17.

An attack aimed at Mira Peng killed his beloved youngest daughter more than twenty days before the pair's arrival. The death turned the business conflict into a personal war, prompting Mira Peng to call on the Jashin Cult for revenge 17 18.

Gato systematically isolated the family: expensive shinobi recruits shirked their duties or betrayed them, other mercenaries refused their missions, and most messengers seeking outside assistance were intercepted and killed. These tactics weakened both the family's resources and its reputation 18.

Assassination

Mira Peng commissioned Shinji and Hidan to kill Gato. After surviving a trap at a woodland villa, Shinji defeated and poisoned Captain Okamoto, forcing him to lead them to their target. Okamoto presented the pair as captured enemy ninja to gain access to Gato's secluded manor 19 20 21 22.

Gato initially ordered the prisoners killed and their heads displayed at Mira Peng's gate, but changed his mind to entertain himself. He offered to spare one prisoner if they decided which of them would survive, secretly intending to kill the survivor afterward. Instead, Shinji confirmed Gato's identity from a photograph, and the pair attacked 22.

As his guards were slaughtered, Gato hid beneath a desk. When Shinji called him out, he offered up to ten times the assassination fee, then proposed sharing control of the Land of Waves in exchange for destroying the Mira Peng family. Shinji rejected the offer, severed his head with a blood-red blade, and took it as proof of the mission's completion 23.

Collapse of the Gato Company

Gato's head was delivered into Mira Peng's arms while he slept. Mira Peng subsequently ordered it hung from the highest courtyard flagpole as a warning, intending to use it to honor his daughter's memory 24.

The company collapsed rapidly after news of Gato's death spread. His subordinates fought over whether to flee with its money, avenge him, replace him, or join Mira Peng. Meanwhile, oppressed villagers and opportunists stormed its businesses. Mira Peng planned to absorb the remaining resources 24.

Zabuza and Haku arrived the following day to discover that their employer was dead and their assassination contract no longer offered any prospect of payment. Later, Shinji suspected that an uncanceled mission posted by Gato explained another attack on Mira Peng, though he did not confirm this 25 30.

Appearance

Gato is described as dressed like a mafia godfather when receiving the supposed prisoners 22.

• Round, brown-tinted glasses worn during his meal 22.
• A white napkin tucked around his neck while eating steak and drinking red wine 22.
• A cigar clenched between his teeth during his confrontation with Shinji and Hidan 22.

Personality

Gato is cruel, domineering, and convinced that his brutality amounts to mercy. After deciding not to execute a chef's family, he instead ordered them sold into lifelong slavery and permitted the chef one visit per month. He sincerely regarded this as a generous act and relished his butler's praise 22.

He enjoys psychological torment, particularly forcing people to betray their companions. His proposed survival contest was designed to leave the winner overcome with guilt before destroying their hope of escape. His butler also warned that Gato hated being contradicted and expected even outrageous demands to be fulfilled 22.

His confidence depended heavily on his hired protection. Once those defenses failed, he hid, begged for his life, and tried to buy Shinji's allegiance with money and political power 23.

Abilities & Skills

Mercenary Recruitment and Economic Warfare

• Hired assassins, wandering ninja, rogue shinobi, and other armed personnel to undermine competitors 17 18.
• Drew mercenaries into his camp while sabotaging the Mira Peng family's recruitment and appeals for help 18.
• Used threats and violence against families as part of his struggle for commercial dominance 17 24.

Security Network

• Used several hiding places during the company’s war with the Mira Peng family 19.
• Restricted access to his location through concealed transfer points and intermediaries 22.
• Had five chūnin present at his final audience, counting Okamoto, and at least a hundred rogue ninja hidden throughout the manor 22.
• These defenses failed against Shinji and Hidan; Okamoto fled, and Hidan slaughtered the armed men stationed at the manor 23.

Relationships

• Mira Peng — Business rival and intended assassination target. Gato's attacks killed Mira Peng's youngest daughter, leading Mira Peng to commission his death 17 18 19.
• Akagi Shinji — Assassin who infiltrated his manor, rejected his counteroffer, and decapitated him 22 23.
• Hidan — Jashin Cult assassin who participated in the attack and slaughtered his manor's armed defenders 22 23.
• Okamoto — Subordinate captain who sought rewards and advancement, but led the assassins to Gato under coercion and fled when fighting began 21 22 23.
• Unnamed butler — Household intermediary who flattered Gato, arranged Okamoto's audience, and instructed him never to contradict their employer 22.
• Zabuza and Haku — Hired for an assassination mission; arrived after Gato's death and the collapse of his organization 25.

Notable Quotes

“Now, thank me for my mercy.” 22

“D-don't kill me! Whoever hired you to kill me, I can pay you double... no, five times... ten times the fee!” 23