The Tale of Genin

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The Tale of Genin was a virtual representation of one of Fujibayashi Naoe's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Naoe travels to Wakasa to meet Katsuhime's friends.

Dialogue

Naoe arrived in the village of Kumagawa Juku, overhearing comments from the residents.

• Man: Somebody must protect us from these never-ending pirate raids.
• Woman: We need a strong shogun to enforce the law.
• Man: The mighty Lord Nobunaga has fallen. He might have filled that role.
• Naoe: Pirates! I hope those aren't the friends Katsuhime mentioned.

Naoe went down the road and entered a house that was in a mess.

• Naoe: This place is in ruins. Was it pirates?

Inside, Naoe found and spoke to Katsuhime.

• Naoe: Katsuhime! Are you all right? What happened here?
• Katsuhime: I'm good, but my friends—Master Zenjubo's family—are missing.
• Naoe: Sugitani Zenjubo was your teppo master. He's dead... isn't he?
• Katsuhime: Yes, but my father and I have been hiding his wife and son here. For nine years.
• Naoe: Nine years. But why?
• Katsuhime: Because nine years ago, my father paid Master Zenjubo to assassinate Oda Nobunaga. With his teppo.
• Naoe: And he missed. Don't worry, we'll find your friends.
• Katsuhime: Yes... there must be signs of Sada and her son. Let's look.

As Naoe looked around, she overheard a nearby couple talking about her.

• Woman: She doesn't look like a shogun.
• Man: At least somebody's doing something about the pirates.

Naoe first investigated the broken door.

• Naoe: A busted door. Someone broke into their home.

Naoe then investigated the broken down fence.

• Naoe: A broken fence. The attackers may have gone that way.

Naoe spoke to the nearby onlooker.

• Naoe: Pardon me. What happened here?
• Man: Pirates! They grabbed Sada and her son and fled.
• Naoe: When did this happen? Where did they go?
• Man: They took them across the river. Not long ago.
• Naoe: Thank you.

Naoe and Katsuhime followed the trail of blood to the nearby bridge and found a big puddle.

• Naoe: Your friends were taken.
• Katsuhime: But where?
• Naoe: Towards the woods at the edge of the village.
• Katsuhime: I'll save them!

Katsuhime ran off with Naoe following right behind. They cross the field and reached a hut, with the pirates holding a woman and a child. Katsuhime then began attacking with her teppo.

• Katsuhime: Ha! This is the Way of the Teppo!

Naoe stepped in and helped her to eliminate the pirates.

• Child: Wow, you showed those pirates!

Katsuhime then freed the child and Sana of their bindings.

• Katsuhime: There, that should set you free.
• Sada: Thank you, Lady Katsuhime.

Naoe and Katsuhime spoke with the family.

• Sada: A thousand times we thank you. And your retainer.
• Naoe: Retainer?
• Katsuhime: The Rokkaku clan swore to protect you. And so we have. Ah, this is my... associate...
• Naoe: Associate?
• Katsuhime: ... Naoe. From Iga.
• Sada: Thank you too.
• Naoe: So the pirates wanted Master Zenjubo's teppo. It's that valuable?
• Sada: Yes. After Oda Nobunaga executed my husband, he had it gilded and engraved. And named it the "Jaws of the Crocodile."
• Naoe: Why that name?
• Katsuhime: The bullet grazed his body, but spared his life. He described it as escaping the jaws of a fearsome beast.
• Sada: Yes, and then he put my husband's teppo on display in Azuchi Castle. To remind himself of the Way of Heaven.
• Naoe: That's a bold thing to do. So where is this teppo now, in Azuchi?
• Sada: No. After Nobunaga's death, it was stolen and taken to Omizo Castle.
• Katsuhime: My mentor's teppo! I didn't know it was missing. I must steal it back.

Katsuhime and Naoe bid Sada goodbye and walked off.

• Katsuhime: He was my mentor. It is something I should do. Alone.
• Naoe: How exactly did he die?
• Katsuhime: After his failed assassination attempt, he ran. But eventually, they caught him. Oda Nobunaga ordered his head sawed off with a bamboo stick.
• Naoe: Oh.
• Katsuhime: He wanted it to take a long time and hurt very much. I hate the Demon of Wari.
• Naoe: Katsuhime. This is what it means to be in the Kakushiba ikki. We help each other. Let me help you recover the teppo. Let me help you avenge your mentor.
• Katsuhime: Admit it. You just want to spend more time with me.
• Naoe: I do want to help you, but I have my own selfish reasons. Our quiver will need every shaft for the battles to come.
• Katsuhime: Naoe. You are such a straight arrow. I ought to get going. Duty calls.
• Naoe: I understand. But what about your mentor's teppo?
• Katsuhime: Meet me near the gates of Omizo Castle when you are ready. There is a house with a good vantage point.
• Naoe: Your mentor's teppo is as good as ours.

Katsuhime then took her leave.

Outcome

Naoe helped Katsuhime to save Zenjūbō's family from pirates. Learning that the late marksmen's teppo was stolen to Omizo Castle, Naoe asked to join Katsuhime and retrieve it.

Behind the scenes

The memory's name is a reference to the Heian period novel The Tale of Genji, written by lady-in-waiting and writer Murasaki Shikibu.