TV-Series
Description
Ayame Sarutobi, known as Sacchan, is a former member of the Tokugawa Shogunate's elite ninja unit, the Oniwabanshuu. After its disbandment, she became a professional assassin targeting those she considers corrupt or evil. She also works part-time as a waitress at the Kunoichi Café, wearing a stylized ninja uniform. Her childhood training under Zenzou Hattori's father developed foundational skills through activities like kick-the-can with peers such as Wakikaoru, honing stealth and rapid decision-making.
Physically, she possesses long light purple hair, a beauty mark beneath her right eye, and severe myopia requiring constant use of dark-red glasses. Without them, her vision is profoundly impaired, frequently leading to comical mishaps where she struggles to identify objects or people. Her standard attire features a modified martial arts top with detached sleeves, a red waistband, purple forearm sleeves, a matching scarf, black hot-pants, and boots. She stands 169 cm tall and weighs 52 kg. Alternate appearances include a male form "Ayao" during the Dekkoboko arc, sporting a shorter hairstyle and jacket-based outfit, plus various disguises like a Sexy Santa dress or bondage gear for missions or comedy.
Sacchan's personality blends intense professionalism with eccentric quirks. She demonstrates a strong sense of duty and loyalty, showing grave focus and tactical acumen during protective assignments like guarding Shogun Tokugawa Shigeshige. Conversely, she harbors an obsessive, masochistic infatuation with Sakata Gintoki, often stalking him and reveling in his harsh rejections, termed her "Lovestruck-pig mode." This contrasts her "Killer-mode," activated during missions. She is vocal, emotionally expressive, and prone to dramatic outbursts. Her single-target sexuality focuses exclusively on Gintoki, sparking rivalries with Otae Shimura and Tsukuyo that often mask underlying camaraderie. She fiercely protects her glasses, inherited from her late grandmother, viewing them as both a practical necessity and emotional anchor. Her trademark food is natto, which she uses as an unorthodox weapon.
In combat, she exhibits exceptional ninjutsu proficiency, specializing in pinpoint kunai throwing accuracy—even without her glasses—and utilizing tools like caltrops, smoke bombs, and extendable scarf mechanisms. Her physical abilities include high agility, pain tolerance, and enhanced reflexes. She employs natto's adhesive properties to immobilize opponents. Her glasses were temporarily enhanced by Hiraga Gengai to include laser beams, predictive targeting, and an armored "angel mode" culminating in the "Flight of Hundred Glasses" attack, though these modifications were later reverted. Her nearsightedness remains a recurring weakness, sometimes compromising stealth operations.
Key story involvements include:
- Her debut manipulating Gintoki to evade pursuers after a botched mission, sparking her fixation after he aids her despite her deception.
- Training the Yorozuya as the "Go-ninja" team to infiltrate an enemy stronghold and rescue Elizabeth during the Go-Ninja arc.
- Gintoki accidentally breaking her glasses during the Glasses arc, triggering her guilt-driven quest for a replacement. Her attachment to his temporary gift leads her to defend it against assassin punishers, culminating in a battle where she realizes friendship's deeper value over objects.
- Rejoining the Oniwabanshuu to protect Shogun Shigeshige in the Shogun Assassination arc, later confronting Shinsuke Takasugi's forces aboard an enemy vessel.
- Alternate portrayals include the film *Be Forever Yorozuya*, where she encourages an ill Otae, and the "Class 3-Z" spin-off, casting her as a health committee member infatuated with "Teacher Ginpachi."
Trivia notes state her nickname "Sacchan" avoids the "monkey" connotation of "Sarutobi," creator Hideaki Sorachi's stated challenge in writing her, and her rankings in Gintama character polls (e.g., 13th in a special poll). She shares a voice actress with characters from other series.
Physically, she possesses long light purple hair, a beauty mark beneath her right eye, and severe myopia requiring constant use of dark-red glasses. Without them, her vision is profoundly impaired, frequently leading to comical mishaps where she struggles to identify objects or people. Her standard attire features a modified martial arts top with detached sleeves, a red waistband, purple forearm sleeves, a matching scarf, black hot-pants, and boots. She stands 169 cm tall and weighs 52 kg. Alternate appearances include a male form "Ayao" during the Dekkoboko arc, sporting a shorter hairstyle and jacket-based outfit, plus various disguises like a Sexy Santa dress or bondage gear for missions or comedy.
Sacchan's personality blends intense professionalism with eccentric quirks. She demonstrates a strong sense of duty and loyalty, showing grave focus and tactical acumen during protective assignments like guarding Shogun Tokugawa Shigeshige. Conversely, she harbors an obsessive, masochistic infatuation with Sakata Gintoki, often stalking him and reveling in his harsh rejections, termed her "Lovestruck-pig mode." This contrasts her "Killer-mode," activated during missions. She is vocal, emotionally expressive, and prone to dramatic outbursts. Her single-target sexuality focuses exclusively on Gintoki, sparking rivalries with Otae Shimura and Tsukuyo that often mask underlying camaraderie. She fiercely protects her glasses, inherited from her late grandmother, viewing them as both a practical necessity and emotional anchor. Her trademark food is natto, which she uses as an unorthodox weapon.
In combat, she exhibits exceptional ninjutsu proficiency, specializing in pinpoint kunai throwing accuracy—even without her glasses—and utilizing tools like caltrops, smoke bombs, and extendable scarf mechanisms. Her physical abilities include high agility, pain tolerance, and enhanced reflexes. She employs natto's adhesive properties to immobilize opponents. Her glasses were temporarily enhanced by Hiraga Gengai to include laser beams, predictive targeting, and an armored "angel mode" culminating in the "Flight of Hundred Glasses" attack, though these modifications were later reverted. Her nearsightedness remains a recurring weakness, sometimes compromising stealth operations.
Key story involvements include:
- Her debut manipulating Gintoki to evade pursuers after a botched mission, sparking her fixation after he aids her despite her deception.
- Training the Yorozuya as the "Go-ninja" team to infiltrate an enemy stronghold and rescue Elizabeth during the Go-Ninja arc.
- Gintoki accidentally breaking her glasses during the Glasses arc, triggering her guilt-driven quest for a replacement. Her attachment to his temporary gift leads her to defend it against assassin punishers, culminating in a battle where she realizes friendship's deeper value over objects.
- Rejoining the Oniwabanshuu to protect Shogun Shigeshige in the Shogun Assassination arc, later confronting Shinsuke Takasugi's forces aboard an enemy vessel.
- Alternate portrayals include the film *Be Forever Yorozuya*, where she encourages an ill Otae, and the "Class 3-Z" spin-off, casting her as a health committee member infatuated with "Teacher Ginpachi."
Trivia notes state her nickname "Sacchan" avoids the "monkey" connotation of "Sarutobi," creator Hideaki Sorachi's stated challenge in writing her, and her rankings in Gintama character polls (e.g., 13th in a special poll). She shares a voice actress with characters from other series.