You’re stalking through the rainy, mud-slicked streets of Izumi Settsu. Your eyes are peeled for a man who, frankly, has one of the most ridiculous names in the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise. We’re talking about Chief Cuckoo. It sounds like a joke. Maybe a mascot for a breakfast cereal? But in the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, this guy is anything but a punchline.
Honestly, when players first saw the name pop up on their target list, the memes were instant. "Who’s next? Captain Cornflake?" But once you actually get into the weeds of the Kabukimono organization, you realize Chief Cuckoo represents everything Ubisoft is trying to do with the "shadow" part of the game’s title. He isn't some grand Templar grandmaster sitting in a golden throne. He’s a thug. A violent, opportunistic ronin who’s basically turned a local oil trade into his own personal piggy bank.
If you’ve been hunting him and keep getting spotted—or worse, blown up—you’re not alone.
Where is Chief Cuckoo anyway?
Locating this guy is the first hurdle. Most people assume he’s just wandering the open world like a random encounter. He’s not. He is a specific target within the The Kabukimono questline, which you’ll trigger after a chat with Shin’nyo. This monk has been hearing horror stories from the locals about a group of lawless warriors terrorizing the countryside, and Cuckoo is one of the big fish.
You’ll find him at the Katano Oil Trading post. It’s located just west of Katano Castle in the Izumi Settsu region.
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The place is a mess. It’s basically a fortified camp filled with explosive oil barrels, which is either a gift or a curse depending on how clumsy your fingers are on the controller. Chief Cuckoo likes to hang out in a small building toward the southeast of the compound. He doesn't travel alone. He’s got a couple of high-level Ronin bodyguards and one of those massive Elite guards who loves to kick you across the map.
The Yasuke vs. Naoe Dilemma
Here is the thing about Chief Cuckoo AC Shadows players often miss: the game actually rewards you differently based on who pulls the trigger. Or the hidden blade.
Kinda weird, right?
If you go in as Naoe, the shinobi, you can play the vertical game. Use the rooftops. Stay in the rafters. If you take him down as Naoe, you’re rewarded with the Prancing Naginata. It’s a unique, uncommon-tier weapon that actually scales pretty well into the mid-game. It also comes with a "Damage After Dodge" engraving that’s basically essential for high-mobility builds.
But here is the kicker—and something many players have flagged as a potential bug or a very specific design choice: if you kill him as Yasuke, some players have reported that the unique weapon doesn't drop. Now, whether that's a glitch in the early builds or a subtle hint from the devs that this is a "Shinobi-style" mission is still being debated in the forums. Honestly, just use Naoe. It’s more satisfying to drop from a beam onto his head anyway.
How to take him down without a massive brawl
Look, you can go in guns blazing (well, matchlocks blazing). But the Katano Oil Trading post is a literal powder keg. One stray spark and the whole place goes up.
- The "Boom" Method: Chief Cuckoo eventually wanders into a shack filled with explosive barrels. If you’re perched on the roof outside, you can just toss a Kunai at a barrel. Boom. Target neutralized.
- The Stealth Approach: Use your Eagle Vision (or the 2026 equivalent, "Observe") to tag the guards. There’s a back entrance near the fence that lets you bypass the main gate's Elite guard.
- The Reward: Besides the Naginata, you’ll pocket 2000 XP and 2 Mastery Points.
The Mastery Points are the real prize here. Early on, these are what separate a "squishy" assassin from a powerhouse.
What this target says about the game’s world
Some critics have complained that targets like Chief Cuckoo feel like "checklist" activities. They’re not entirely wrong. If you just follow the blue dot on your HUD, he’s just another name to cross off. But if you actually listen to the NPC dialogue and read the notes scattered around the oil post, you get a grittier picture of feudal Japan.
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These Ronin aren't fighting for honor. They're squatters. They move from village to village, eating the locals' food and stealing their livelihoods. Chief Cuckoo is the face of that local-level rot. He’s an egotistical, violent man who answers to nobody. Killing him doesn't save the world, but it makes the Izumi Settsu region a lot quieter.
Actionable Steps for your hunt
If you're heading out to finish the Kabukimono questline right now, do these three things to make your life easier:
- Check your gear level: Ensure you’re at least level 15. The bodyguards in the Katano compound can stun-lock you if your defense is too low.
- Swap to Naoe: To guarantee the Prancing Naginata drop and the extra loot, use the Shinobi protagonist for this specific assassination.
- Use the environment: Don't fight the Elite guard head-on. There are enough oil jars in that camp to clear out the entire squad without ever drawing your sword.
Once you've cleared Chief Cuckoo, make sure to check the small desk in his shack. There's a letter there that provides a clue to the next member of the Kabukimono organization, which is usually either "Ember" or "Grave Dancer," depending on which order you're tackling them. Getting these clues early prevents you from having to "scout" the next region blindly.