Kaito Shizuki

Kaito Shizuki
Details
Race	Human Planeswalker
Birthplace	Kamigawa
Lifetime	Mending Era-present
Born	4537 AR
Parents	Both deceased
Relatives	Eiko Shizuki (twin sister)
Colors
Currently:

Kaito is a human cyber Ninja and Planeswalker from Kamigawa. He made his debut in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

Appearance and characteristics

Kaito is a young man with shaven hair, usually dressed in black and dark blue clothes. He is trained as a samurai by the kitsune Light-Paws and Swift-Arm. He wears a device strapped along his chin and cheek that allows him to interface with the kami Himoto in the form of a drone or a tanuki mask. Kaito is now a master ninja who augments his skills as an infiltrator with innate telekinetic powers. Some substances, such as glistening oil resist Kaito's telekinesis, causing him major headaches after prolonged interaction. He is attuned to the movement of air, able to sense recent movement around him. Kaito is a skilled pickpocket, fighter, and telekinetic, and has access to blue and black mana. His sword can change form, if needed.

Kaito Shizuki pursues a personal agenda of technological progress on his homeworld of Kamigawa, determined to make the plane a better place for himself and his family. Kaito is a risk-taker at heart, and despite his childhood friendship with Kamigawa's emperor, he has no qualms about breaking rules or flouting authority to accomplish his goals.

History

The Wanderer and Kaito have known each other since childhood.

Origins

Kaito and his twin sister Eiko's parents had an accident at the Towashi lab where they worked, in which they were both exposed to radiation. Their father attempted to heal their mother with unapproved black market med-tech but was arrested by Imperials and died in prison shortly before his wife. Kaito and Eiko grew up as orphans in the Imperial Palace, learning together under Light-Paws for five years before he became the sparring partner of the young emperor, whom he quickly befriended. He was given an origami crane drone by the moonfolk Futurist Katsumasa.

Neon Dynasty

Kaito and Tamiyo confront Jin-Gitaxias in Otawara.

When Kaito was fourteen, the emperor (Wanderer) disappeared after being attacked by the planeswalker Tezzeret in the temple of Kyodai. Because the other Imperials didn't believe what he had seen, Kaito left the castle and joined the Hyozan Reckoners to search for answers on his own.

After spending a year with the Reckoners, Kaito was sent on a mission to steal the work of the futurist Tameshi, who had created a mechanized origami tanuki robot to interface with a kami; Himoto, the Kami of the Spark. Kaito's planeswalker spark ignited when he came into contact with the kami, who now lives in Tameshi's robot. Tameshi and the nascent planeswalker became best friends, and worked together as mentor and pupil under the Futurists for nine years until Kaito learned that his friend had betrayed both him and their organization to work for the Phyrexian praetor Jin-Gitaxias. After reuniting with the Wanderer on Kamigawa, he and the moonfolk Planeswalker Tamiyo fought Jin-Gitaxias and Tezzeret to keep the returned emperor and their plane safe. After the Asari Uprisers had been beaten and the Phyrexians returned to New Phyrexia, Kaito planeswalked away to continue his search for the missing emperor and her unstable spark.

Against the Phyrexians

Kaito, along with other planeswalkers and Mirrans survivors, launch a final assault on New Phyrexia.

Kaito and the Wanderer joined the Gatewatch and other assembled planeswalkers to support the Mirrans' efforts against Elesh Norn on New Phyrexia. When they planeswalked to New Phyrexia, Kaito was incapacitated by Norn's defense barrier and almost died in the sands of the Glorious Facade. After being rescued by The Wanderer, he traveled with Tyvar and Nahiri to Mirrex. The Wanderer couldn't accompany them, because the barrier prevented her from anchoring on New Phyrexia.

Meeting up with Koth and several others, they agreed to carry on with the plan to deactivate Realmbreaker with the Sylex. The team of planeswalkers descended with Melira to the Dross Pits, where Elspeth provided them with Halo to counteract the effects of the Necrogen. However, Jace inexplicably reacted adversely to the potent elixir and collapsed. After recovering, Jace's mind was focused on Vraska, whom he perceived to need help. Abandoning the group, he set out to find her. Because he carried the Sylex, the complete group set out after him.

Finding Vraska in Sheoldred's Coliseum, they found she was heavily wounded and already infected with Phyresis. Too late to save her, Jace chose to stay behind with her and relive their happy moments on Ravnica in his mind. Lingering too long, Vraska succumbed to the Phyrexian influence and infected Jace in turn. The others tried to escape but were quickly overwhelmed by the black Phyrexians. Nahiri, who was also infected, decided to sacrifice herself for the greater good. With a mighty magical blast, she exploded the Coliseum and dropped it with all remaining planeswalkers on the Fair Basilica. Nearer to their goal, the infected Jace rejoined them and volunteered to activate the Sylex.

Traveling through the Mycosynth Gardens, Kaito, Kaya, and Jace reached the Seedcore just as Realmbreaker established its connection to other planes through the Blind Eternities. Jace prepared to activate the Sylex, but Kaya expressed concerns that the collateral damage of the Sylex blast had the potential to destroy one or more planes, or even the Eternities themselves. Jace acknowledged the possibility, but moved forward anyway, considering these planes the price for an un-compleated Multiverse. Kaya and Kaito attacked him to interrupt the blast, but Jace evaded them with illusions. Just as Jace began to activate the sylex, Elspeth, who had been fighting the compleated Ajani to buy them time, burst into the chamber, impaled Jace with her halo-infused blade, and seized the Sylex, planeswalking away.

Kaito was left alone with Kaya and Tyvar, the three of them watching Phyrexian armies march to invade other worlds. Suddenly, Elesh Norn entered the chamber alongside Tamiyo and the newly compleated Nahiri and Nissa. Norn animated Jace's now-fully compleated body, causing Luxior to fall out of it. Kaito swiftly grabbed the sword. Then, she invited the three to yield to the glory of Phyrexia. Kaito sarcastically replied that he was good as the invasion began in full force.

Kaito and the Wanderer protect Kamigawa during the Phyrexian invasion.

March of the Machine

After the three witnessed Nahiri being sent to Zendikar to conquer her homeplane, they were able to escape. Norn wanted them to tell their allies of their inescapable fate. After reconvening with their allies, Kaito left with Kaya to defend Kamigawa.

Returning to Kamigawa to protect his homeplane, Kaito fought Tamiyo but was almost overwhelmed. The Wanderer once again returned just in time to save him and kill Tamiyo. In the aftermath of the invasion, Kaito and the Wanderer led reconstruction efforts on Kamigawa.

On Duskmourn

Over a year after the invasion, Kaito broke into Otawara to steal back a scroll that had been scavenged from Tamiyo's body after her death. As he was doing so, he met with the Wanderer, who told him that Nashi, Tamiyo's adopted son, had disappeared, with the only clue to his whereabouts being mysterious footage of a strange door that he had captured before his disappearance. They resolved to rescue him.

Kaito traveled to Kaldheim to recruit Tyvar to the team, and the prince insisted that Niko Aris come along. They traveled to Ravnica through an Omenpath, where the strange door had reappeared. Niv-Mizzet, in hopes of studying what lay on the other side, had recruited other specialists to the rescue team, including Zimone Wola and Aminatou; however, the latter refused to enter the door, instead providing the team with magical fateshifter tokens that would allow them to see visions of the future when they made a decision that would result in their death. Armed with this backup, Kaito, Tyvar, Niko, Zimone, and the Wanderer entered the door, transporting themselves to Duskmourn.

Kaito was separated from his companions when a trap caused the floor beneath him to open. Despite his training and swift reflexes, he fell into the darkness below, his sword barely slipping from his grasp as he descended. The floor above was sealed shut behind him, leaving him isolated and alone in the eerie, disorienting space of the House. His fall disrupted the group’s plans, forcing them to regroup and attempt to find him while dealing with the dangers of the labyrinthine structure.

Kaito fell silently through the darkness, maintaining his calm despite the long descent. Himoto clung to his shoulder, offering him a sense of comfort. When he finally landed, he was on a forest floor, surprisingly uninjured despite the fall. The eerie, decaying forest around him reeked of wet loam, and as he surveyed his surroundings, a dragon appeared, setting the trees ablaze. Kaito attempted to escape, but the dragon's fire engulfed him. Suddenly, he found himself in a different setting — a barren, ashen plain beneath a sky filled with more dragons, torching a city. The scene then shifted again, leaving Kaito in an underground room where he encountered Jace, whom he struck instinctively. After a brief, tense exchange, they were forced to put aside their differences as the room groaned ominously, signaling a new threat.

In the eerie, ever-shifting house, Kaito and Jace stood back-to-back as a grotesque, tentacled creature emerged from the walls, a nightmare given form. Jace realized the creature was born from fear and, using his psychic abilities, reached into the minds within it to dispel the fear sustaining its existence. The creature dissipated, but tension remained between Jace and Kaito due to past betrayals. As they ventured deeper into the house, the floor gave way beneath them, trapping them in a pit of thick gel. Struggling to free themselves, they spotted a vision of Vraska and Loot in danger. Jace, prioritizing the others, climbed out, abandoning Kaito. As the gel threatened to consume him, Kaito, feeling betrayed, planeswalked back to Ravnica.

Kaito found himself back in Ravnica in the alley where he had first met Zimone, overwhelmed by the city's noise after the eerie silence of Duskmourn. He realized he was holding a bloodstained piece of wood from Duskmourn and tried to Planeswalk to return to the House, but nothing happened, causing him to panic. Fearful that his spark might have failed, Kaito rushed to find Niv-Mizzet and the others at their camp. Niv-Mizzet stopped him and questioned what had happened, prompting Kaito to explain that Jace had left him behind. Aminatou reassured Kaito that his spark was still intact and suggested that the House itself had rejected him. Proft then suggested he had an idea that might help, and Kaito, lacking other options, followed him to the workstations, aware that time was running out.

Proft successfully created an artificial Omenpath to Duskmourn by using his mind magic in combination with Kaito’s spark, Aminatou’s abilities, and a piece of wood from the House that Kaito had provided. Kaito and Proft then rescued Nashi, the Wanderer, Tyvar, Zimone, and Niko from the grasp of Valgavoth. Sometime later on Kamigawa, Kaito watched on with the Wanderer and Yoshimaru as Nashi told of their adventures to an enthralled group of children that included Aminatou.

Trivia

• Kaito is the primary protagonist of the teaser, cinematic, and animated trailers for Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.
• The Universes Beyond card KAITO, Mysterious Maestro (a Reskinned Jace, Unraveler of Secrets) does not represent Kaito Shizuki, but rather refers to the Hatsune Miku Vocaloid KAITO.
• In Duskmourn: House of Horror, Kaito filled the horror trope of the "Seasoned Badass."

Artifacts acquired

• He carries a device strapped along his chin and cheek that allows him to interface with the kami Himoto in the form of a drone or a tanuki mask.
• Before meeting Himoto, Kaito carried an origami crane drone he received from Katsumasa.
• Luxior, a sword capable of producing Halo. Originally belonged to Elspeth before she left it in the body of the compleated Jace and Kaito retrieved it.
• A fateshifter from Aminatou.

Planes visited

• Dominaria
• Duskmourn
• Kaldheim
• Kamigawa
• New Phyrexia
• Ravnica

Planeswalkers met

• Ajani Goldmane
• Aminatou
• Angrath (non-canon)
• Arlinn Kord (non-canon)
• Chandra Nalaar
• Elspeth Tirel
• Garruk (non-canon)
• Huatli (non-canon)
• Jace Beleren
• Karn
• Kaya Cassir
• Koth of the Hammer
• Liliana Vess
• Lukka
• Nahiri
• Niko Aris
• Nissa Revane
• Ral Zarek (non-canon)
• Rowan Kenrith (non-canon)
• Saheeli Rai
• Tamiyo
• Teferi Akosa (non-mutually)
• Tezzeret
• Tibalt
• Tyvar Kell
• Vivien Reid
• Vraska
• The Wanderer
• Will Kenrith (non-canon)
• Wrenn

Gallery

• 
  Kaito in the Neon Dynasty world guide.
• 
  3D model.
• 
  Glove 3D model.
• 
  Glove 3D model.
• 
  Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Key art.
• 
  Kaito and the Wanderer as children.
• 
  Kaito and the Wanderer as adolescents.
• 
  Kaito in the Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty animated trailer.
• 
  For many years Kaito chased Tezzeret across The Multiverse looking for answers about the Emperor of Kamigawa's disappearance.
• 
  Kaito Shizuki in the Imperial gardens.
• 
  Kaito wears Himoto as a tanuki mask.
• 
  Concept art.
• 
  Kaito in the Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty cinematic trailer.
• 
  Kaito jumps through Towashi.
• 
  Kaito and Himoto in Towashi.
• 
  Kaito visits Eiko.
• 
  Invading Jin-Gitaxias' lab in Kamigawa.
• 
  Kaito and Tamiyo discover Jin-Gitaxias' kami experiments.
• 
  Kaito and Tamiyo confront Jin-Gitaxias and Tezzeret.
• 
  Kaito and Himoto discover the fate of Jin-Gitaxias' kami experiments.
• 
  Kaito charges Jin-Gitaxias and Tezzeret.
• 
  Kaito fights Jin-Gitaxias.
• 
  The Wanderer saves Kaito from Jin-Gitaxias.
• 
  Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Marketing Art.
• 
  Magic: The Gathering Arena avatar.
• 
  Concept art of Kaito and Himoto by Jehan Choo.
• 
  Mechanics of Kaito's sword.
• 
  Kaito and Himito chilling

Story appearances

Title	Author	Publishing date	Set	Setting (plane)	Featuring
Kaito Origin Stories: A Test of Loyalty & The Path Forward	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2021-12-16	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	Kaito Shizuki, Satoru Umezawa, Nari, Azamuki, Eiko Shizuki, Kodama of the West Tree, Tameshi, Katsumasa (mentioned), Gravelighter, Himoto
Episode 1: A Stranger in Eiganjo	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2022-01-24	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	Kaito Shizuki, Eiko Shizuki, Light-Paws, Swift-Arm, The Wanderer, Katsumasa, Kyodai, Tezzeret
Episode 2: Lies, Promises, and Neon Flames	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2022-01-24	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Eiko Shizuki, Risona (mentioned), Light-Paws (mentioned), Tameshi, Jin-Gitaxias
Episode 3: An Unexpected Alliance	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2022-01-25	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Mud-Tail, Tamiyo, Nashi, Jin-Gitaxias, The Wanderer
Episode 4: The Break-In	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2022-01-26	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	The Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Tamiyo, Kyodai, Light-Paws, Eiko Shizuki, Risona (mentioned), Tezzeret, Jin-Gitaxias
Episode 5: Threads of War	Akemi Dawn Bowman	2022-01-26	Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty	Kamigawa	The Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Tezzeret, Tamiyo, Kyodai, Risona, Light-Paws, Eiko Shizuki, Jin-Gitaxias
The Brothers' War - Chapter 5: Exodus	Reinhardt Suarez	2022-10-26	The Brothers' War	Dominaria	Chandra Nalaar, Nissa Revane, Kaya, Saheeli Rai, Teferi Akosa, Wrenn, Seven, Nahiri, Jace Beleren, Jodah, Elspeth Tirel, The Wanderer, Kaito Shizuki, Tyvar Kell, Lukka, Vraska
Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 1: Uncontrolled Descent	Seanan McGuire	2023-01-13	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	New Phyrexia	Kaito Shizuki, The Wanderer, Nahiri, Tyvar Kell, Melira
Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 2: Unstable Foundations	Seanan McGuire	2023-01-13	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	New Phyrexia	Elspeth Tirel, Kaya Cassir, Koth of the Hammer, Tyvar Kell, Jace Beleren, Nahiri, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Melira
Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 3: Inconceivable Losses	Seanan McGuire	2023-01-14	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	New Phyrexia	Elspeth Tirel, Nahiri, Koth of the Hammer, Kaya Cassir, Kaito Shizuki, Tyvar Kell, Jace Beleren, Melira, Himoto, Vraska, Atraxa
Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 4: Impossible Odds	Seanan McGuire	2023-01-16	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	New Phyrexia	Elspeth Tirel, Koth of the Hammer, Melira, Kaya Cassir, Jace Beleren, Tyvar Kell, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Karn, Ajani Goldmane, Tibalt
Assault on New Phyrexia - Episode 5: Inevitable Resolutions	Seanan McGuire	2023-01-16	Phyrexia: All Will Be One	New Phyrexia	Jace Beleren, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Kaya Cassir, Elspeth Tirel, Ajani Goldmane, Tyvar Kell, Tibalt, Elesh Norn,Tamiyo, Nahiri, Nissa Revane
March of the Machine - Episode 1: Triumph of the Fleshless	K. Arsenault Rivera	2023-03-15	March of the Machine	New Phyrexia	Elesh Norn, Kaya Cassir, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Tyvar Kell, Lukka, Rothga, Ajani Goldmane, Sheoldred, Jace Beleren, Nahiri, Nissa Revane, Tamiyo, Atraxa, Ephara
March of the Machine - Episode 2: Holding Your Breath	K. Arsenault Rivera	2023-03-15	March of the Machine	Dominaria	Chandra Nalaar, Wrenn, Seven, Tyvar Kell, Kaya Cassir, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Liliana Vess, Vivien Reid
March of the Machine - Episode 3: Mother, Son and Story	K. Arsenault Rivera	2023-03-17	March of the Machine	Kamigawa	Tamiyo, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Kaya Cassir, Nashi, The Wanderer, Kyodai
Outlaws of Thunder Junction Epilogue 1: Bring the End, Part 1	Alison Lührs	2024-04-01	Outlaws of Thunder Junction	New Phyrexia, Vryn, Ravnica	Jace Beleren, Kaya Cassir, Kaito Shizuki, Elesh Norn, Tyvar Kell, Vraska, Ranna Beleren
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 1: Don't Go Past the Old Dark House	Mira Grant	2024-08-19	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn, Kaldheim, Kamigawa, Ravnica,	Marina, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, The Wanderer, Yoshimaru, Tamiyo (mentioned), Nashi (mentioned), Genku (mentioned), Niv-Mizzet, Tyvar Kell, Kaya Cassir (mentioned), Niko Aris, Trygve, Zimone Wola, Etrata, Alquist Proft, Aminatou
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 2: Don't Split the Party	Mira Grant	2024-08-20	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn	Kaito Shizuki, The Wanderer, Nashi (mentioned), Zimone Wola, Niv-Mizzet (mentioned), Tyvar Kell, Niko Aris, Himoto, Swift-Arm (mentioned), Birgi (mentioned), Winter
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 3: Don't Look Back	Mira Grant	2024-08-22	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn	Winter, Niko Aris, The Wanderer, Niv-Mizzet (mentioned), Kyodai (mentioned), Nashi (mentioned), Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Teferi Akosa (mentioned), Jace Beleren, Nahiri (mentioned), Zimone Wola, Tyvar Kell, Liliana Vess (mentioned)
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 4: Don't Give Up	Mira Grant	2024-08-26	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn	Kyodai (depicted), The Wanderer, Winter, Niko Aris, Esika (mentioned), Nashi, Tamiyo (mentioned), Aminatou, Jace Beleren, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Vraska, Loot, Tyvar Kell, Zimone Wola, Kianne (depicted)
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 5: Don't Give In	Mira Grant	2024-08-28	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn, Ravnica	Tyvar Kell, Zimone Wola, Koma (mentioned), Marina Vendrell, Rootha Squallheart (mentioned), Valgavoth, Nashi, Winter, The Wanderer, Niko Aris, Rill, Sunset, Tamiyo, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Jace Beleren, Aminatou, Etrata, Niv-Mizzet, Alquist Proft, Yoshimaru
Duskmourn: House of Horror - Episode 6: Don't Die	Mira Grant	2024-08-30	Duskmourn: House of Horror	Duskmourn, Ravnica	Niko Aris, Nashi, The Wanderer, Tamiyo, Valgavoth, Marina Vendrell, Winter, Zimone Wola, Tyvar Kell, Kaito Shizuki, Himoto, Alquist Proft, Aminatou, Yoshimaru, Loot, Etrata, Niv-Mizzet (mentioned)

In-game references

Represented in:

• Kaito, Bane of Nightmares
• Kaito, Cunning Infiltrator
• Kaito, Dancing Shadow
• Kaito Shizuki
• Heroes of Kamigawa (Heroes of the Realm)

Associated cards:

• Kaito's Pursuit

Depicted in:

• Brain Freeze (Secret Lair, #410)
• Bribery (Secret Lair, #411)
• Collected Company (Special Guests, #72)
• Explosive Entry
• Get Out
• Idyllic Tutor (Secret Lair, #1020)
• Island (Foundations, #285)
• Planar Disruption
• Reality Heist
• Scorching Dragonfire (Duskmourn: House of Horror)
• Shadow of Doubt (Secret Lair, #414)
• Snap (Secret Lair, #412)
• Solve the Equation (Secret Lair, #1022)
• Spell Pierce (Neon Dynasty)
• Unmask (Secret Lair, #413)
• Vanish From Sight
• Veil of Summer (Secret Lair, #1024)
• When We Were Young