- Naoe: A precise, narrow stab wound to the side of the neck. This wound looks quite familiar. Like one created by my blade.
Naoe saw the trail of bloody footprints and followed it along the road.
- Naoe: Fresh footprints.
The killer should be near.
Naoe followed the trail uphill and found more blood.
- Naoe: More blood. Looks like I'm on the right path.
She came across the body of another soldier by a fallen tree log.
- Naoe: Could this killer be... Kakushiba ikki? I thought chichiue was the last.
Naoe navigated up the tree log to a fortfied camp and found more of the killer's work in the camp.
- Naoe: The killer made no effort to hide their tracks.
Naoe sneaked to a less guarded area.
- Naoe: Fewer guards here.
She found blood splatters on the wooden door to an inner courtyard.
- Naoe: More blood. But whose?
Naoe passed through the door and eavesdropped on two guards behind a large fence.
- Ashigaru 1: We got away just in time. That shinobi, he... he stabbed one of ours with his hand. You saw it too, right?
- Ashigaru 2: Maybe it was a very well-hidden aikuchi?
- Ashigaru 1: I saw what I saw.
Naoe went past the guards and exited the camp through the main entrance. At that moment, she spotted an individual jumping down from a tree branch and killing the guard below.
- Naoe: A shinobi. It has to be him. I have to catch him!
Naoe pursued the shinobi to Mitsunodo Hall and confronted him.
- Naoe: Hold up, shinobi. I want to talk.
- Yagoro: Who are you? Here to avenge those samurai?
- Naoe: They probably deserved it. But I'm more interested in how you killed them. Thin, precise stab wounds.
- Yagoro: I don't know what you mean. I simply cut them down. They deserved no less. They force the peasants to beg for their lives, then slash their throats, laughing.
- Naoe: I saw what those men did. Such cruelty must end.
- Yagoro: Exactly! Something had to be done!
- Naoe: You have given their victims justice.
- Yagoro: No. Not yet. Their leader still leaves. A pig in samurai armor. I tried to get to him but I was, um, taken by surprise. I rushed in headlong. Barely made it back here with my life.
- Naoe: The trail you created was obvious enough for a child to find. Simply put, you are sloppy.
- Yagoro: What is with the lecture? I don't know you.
- Naoe: And I don't know you, either. Are you telling the truth about your relationship with those samurai?
- Yagoro: I would never ally myself with those men! I reject this implication! My only purpose is to protect others. That is why I wear this blade!
- Naoe: "Wear?" So you do have one?
- Yagoro: Enough questions! Fight me! I won't hold back.
The heated conversation sparked a duel between Naoe and Yagoro.
- Yagoro: They say to truly know someone, you must fight them!
- Naoe: "They" need to have their heads checked.
Naoe landed a few blows on Yagoro.
- Yagoro: You are strong. But I know I won't fail! I cannot!
Naoe starts to overpower her opponent.
- Yagoro: Can't hold out much longer!
Yagoro lost the fight to Naoe.
- Yagoro: I have failed my solemn oath! My life is yours for the taking.
- Naoe: Save it. Tell me about that blade instead.
- Yagoro: I have failed to live up to what it represents. That is all I will say about it for now. The leader of those samurai has to go. Please, do what I couldn't. Then I will answer all of your questions.
- Naoe: Fine. But I expect answers once I'm done.
Naoe left the complex and headed to the Jyujiin Courtyard. In one of the houses, Naoe found the samurai leader.
- Samurai: Another? No matter, you'll run just like the last one.
Naoe killed the samurai. Just as she does so, Yagoro came running in and noticed the blade on her wrist.
- Yagoro: That blade! You fight just like them.
- Naoe: So, you know about this blade. Is that how you killed those samurai?
- Yagoro: No! I mean, y-yes. I-I said I would explain. When I was younger, a hooded woman wearing a blade just like this saved my life. And now, I wear a blade just like she did. A-as you do.
- Naoe: The Kakushiba ikki. I thought they were gone. My chichiue. Sandayu. And this woman. I need to know. Her name. Was it... Tsuyu?
- Yagoro: No, miss. It was Fubuki. And I am sorry, but she is gone.
- Naoe: I see. And Fubuki... she gave her blade to you?
- Yagoro: I built my blade in memory of her. To inspire me to protect my home in Tamba, like she did.
- Naoe: Harima is a long way from there.
- Yagoro: There are rumors that a mysterious group stopped a conspiracy here. They even took down a powerful daimyo!
- Naoe: You don't say.
- Yagoro: I wanted to help with their good work and improve my skills. I swore I would return to Tamba once I was good enough. As good as Miss Fubuki. To be a light in the shadow. Like she was.
- Naoe: Forgery or not, you wield this blade skillfully.
- Yagoro: She was skilled like you are. Tell me, miss... why choose this weapon over others?
- Naoe: A promise, I think. A reminder to fight for those who cannot. To liberate them from tyrants. Many great women and men wore this blade. Each had their own reasons.
- Yagoro: This Kakushiba ikki. They did so much good. And now they are gone. But you remain, miss! You can educate me in your ways.
- Naoe: You clearly have skills. You are most welcome to join us. I'm not sure what I can teach you, though. There is so much I am still figuring out.
- Yagoro: And what is it you would teach me?
- Naoe: I know a few things about the discipline required to wield this blade.
- Yagoro: Your mastery of the craft is plain to see, miss. I am your willing apprentice.
- Naoe: I'm not sure about "apprentice." How about "ally?"
- Yagoro: Wonderful! I'm Yagoro. Feel free to call on me any time!