Kuki Shinobu

Genshin Impact: Kuki Shinobu

Age: 23

Shinobu uses the medium female model. She has light green hair, pale skin, and narrow reddish-violet eyes. She also has reddish-purple markings on her skin at the sides of her thighs and waist.

The capable and reliable deputy leader of the "Arataki Gang." Please note: capable and reliable are not appellations for the "Arataki Gang," but for their deputy leader in specific. Unlike the rest of her family who work as shrine maidens, Shinobu prefers to forge her own path, having tried various trades, studying in Liyue and even joining the Arataki Gang, simply because they allow her to live how she wants — outside and enjoying various experiences, rather than being shackled to the same duties repeatedly.

She's a stark contrast to the rest of her group, taking matters seriously and in a generally professional matter. She handles the gang's legal issues and gets them out of trouble and tries her best to compensate for any damages that Itto might have caused with their antics. Her professionalism is noted by the people of Hanamizaka, who go to her for advice on various matters and are left impressed as their discussions with her go smoothly and efficiently. While the gang is not on good terms with the Tenryou Commission, she gets along well with Kujou Sara, even giving up her Vision to her for the sake of their friendship.

Shinobu is on poor terms with her parents, as they had forced her to become a trainee shrine maiden in her youth. She felt that they cared more for her doing a good job and not offending anyone, rather than trusting her to perform well nor caring for her well-being, along with her loathing the job. However, she is still on good terms with her sister Miyuki. She wears a face mask as to prevent others from getting involved in her personal affairs.

She is also known to be terrifying when sufficiently angered, often sourced from having her plans disrupted as a result from having to bail out the Arataki Gang from prison. She often uses physical discipline on the gang as a way to discourage further nonsense, causing the gang members to be fearful of her sometimes. On the other hand, Sayu believes that she will disturb her sleep because "birds of a feather flock together". Although Kuki Shinobu joined the Arataki Gang at a later stage, she is a powerful figure who transformed the whole gang. After she arrived, the gang's business scope expanded to all walks of life, including but not limited to: legal consultation, business negotiation, banquet catering, clothing customization...

What's even more surprising is that the lackadaisical Arataki Gang was able to produce all the relevant practice certificates, all signed with the same name: Kuki Shinobu.

It is said that this second-in-command had studied abroad, and it is also said that she has close affiliations with the Tenryou Commission.

When outsiders hear this, they inevitably have many suspicions. However, the residents of Hanamizaka who often deal with the Arataki Gang are different, and they always go to her for advice on various matters without any reservations.

In their opinion, discussions with Kuki Shinobu are always smooth and efficient.

Just always keep in mind the following two rules: One, do not attempt to find out how she looks like under her mask. And two, don't ask why she has to steer clear of the Grand Narukami Shrine every time she heads out for a job.

In the Arataki Gang, where swaggering commotion is something of an aesthetic, the ever-masked and low-key Kuki Shinobu, the gang's second-in-command, stands out all the more against the backdrop of the other, more clamorous members.

No matter what sort of mess the others have gotten themselves into, this deputy is often able to solve their problems in a manner that is both professional and highly efficient.

Making some snacks for children who had theirs snatched away, giving scratched lacquerware a new coat of paint, and serving as an advocate for detained comrades...

Such are her skills that onlookers often wonder if there is anything that she cannot do.

"I wouldn't say that I'm certified for everything. There are some industries that just don't have standardized assessments, so there's no way to sit for any such tests."

Her displeasure finds eloquent expression even behind her mask.

"Also, how can there be lines of work where you can find employment without the right qualifications? It boggles the mind." Equally mind-boggling, perhaps, is the fact that her deep puzzlement is just as contagious.

Kuki Shinobu had yet to wear her mask when she first joined the Arataki Gang.

While pursuing a certain business prospect, Shinobu was busy engaging in some serious talks. The other members of the gang were arrayed behind her in a single row, hands behind their backs and unsmiling.

"Just stay like that and don't say anything," Shinobu had instructed them to do so on short notice. "This is the most effective way of negotiating... For you guys, anyway."

The talks were going exactly as Shinobu expected, until a passing child suddenly pointed at her, exclaiming:

"Mama, mama, look! That's the shrine maiden who never smiled back at the Grand Shrine! Wow, she looks so cool!"

The child was whisked away by her panicked mother, but the quick departure did not change the mottled embarrassment and resignation on her face, as if she could not wait to flee for the hills and forests right that instant.

As for Itto's face, it was as if two onikabuto were wrestling for dominance upon it. Genta and the others, try as they might, ultimately lost their poker faces amidst gales of guffaws.

The next martial demonstration would, of course, see their faces beaten so hard that they were redder than Shinobu's was at that moment. If only they had known their fate, perhaps they might not have laughed quite so hard.

From that day on, Shinobu would sport that mask. Pitch-black and claws bared, it lent her a positively demonic aspect.

By the way, it was also that martial demonstration that served as the origin of her moniker "the demonic deputy". The day she left the shrine, Kuki Shinobu left all the things that she possessed while serving as a shrine maiden behind at home, starting over from the most basic of belongings.

As such, she knew immediately that the bag she lifted was not the right weight. Hadn't she only left towels inside it?

Reaching into the bag and fishing about, she pulled out, of all things, a glittering Vision, its loveliness so striking such that her sister, Miyuki, could not help but gasp.

An irony it was indeed that the shrine maiden who was fleeing her duties would receive a Vision for doing just that.

This, of course, was the very first "certification" that Shinobu would receive — from a god, certifying her freedom.

Indeed, Miyuki, who had intended to stop her at first, had a change of heart upon witnessing this sign, agreeing to help convince their parents.

...It was also due to this that she would willingly surrender her Vision while the Vision Hunt Decree was ongoing.

For one thing, she did not intend to make life difficult for her friend in the Tenryou Commission, but for the other, the Vision was but one of her many, many certificates.

Most things in life could, in any case, be settled without the use of a Vision, nor could the truly obdurate problems be dismissed simply by the dint of that device.

Removing generations worth of prejudice, for example, or searching for true, unbound freedom.

...Or, you know, stopping those dolts in the Arataki Gang from chomping at the bit to "help" her win her Vision back.

(EVERY CHARACTER IS 18 OR OLDER)