Friend of My Enemy

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Friend of My Enemy was a virtual representation of one of Fujibayashi Naoe's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Naoe returns to the Hideout after killing The Onryo's The Wounded and The Golden Teppo.

Dialogue

Naoe entered the hiroma to speak with Tomiko and was immediately greeted by Junjiro with his drawing.

• Junjiro: Look, I've almost finished!
• Tomiko: Later Junjiro.

Junjiro left the two ladies alone.

• Naoe: It is done. The two Onryo are gone.
• Tomiko: They thought themselves beyond justice. It is a good beginning. Our next step is less certain. Our allies got wind of something.
• Naoe: What is it?
• Tomiko: Lord Akechi Mitsuhide wants to speak to you.
• Naoe: Lord Mitsuhide!
• Tomiko: Oda Nobunaga's most powerful daimyo – more like his dog!
• Naoe: I've seen how he resents his master. It could make him a powerful ally.

Naoe took a look at her hanged drawing of the Onryo.

• Naoe: But how did he contact us? Does he know about this place?
• Tomiko: No. We intercepted what we thought was a letter to a commander, but instead it was a message. For you.
• Naoe: He knew our spies were there. He knew it would get to me. Where does he want to meet?
• Tomiko: It only said "at the place where you killed the first."
• Naoe: The first... He must know about the Onryo I killed at Katano. Maybe the others as well.
• Tomiko: We need to be smart about this.
• Naoe: If lord Mitsuhide wanted us dead he would send soldiers, not a message. This is something else.
• Tomiko: Yes. A trap.
• Naoe: I know. It's a risk. But how else can we find out what he wants?
• Tomiko: Still.
• Naoe: I know Katana well enough. No one will see me unless I want them to.

Meanwhile, Junjiro sat nearby listening to their conersation. In the end, he stood up.

• Junjiro: No! You can't go to Katana!
• Naoe: Why7? What's wrong?
• Junjiro: It's... it's too dangerous! Promise me you won't go!
• Naoe: Don't worry. No harm will come to me.

Angry that Naoe did not listen to him, Junjiro ran out of the house.

• Tomiko: What was that all about?
• Naoe: I don't know. It's not like him. I'll talk to him when I get back.

Naoe left the hideout and traveled to Katano Castle, where she was permitted to enter without any hostilities. She entered one of the huts and found Mitsuhide making tea. She got behind him and drew her Hidden Blade.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: There will be no need for that.

He signaled for her to take a seat.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: Please.

Mitsuhide poured a cup of tea as Naoe sat down opposite him.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: Time is against us.

While Mitsuhide sipped his tea, Naoe remained still and did not touch her cup.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: You are skillful, as I thought you would be.

Naoe then took her sip of tea.

• Naoe: You were expecting me.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Yes. I was. When you were last here, you did me great service. The one you killed had proven difficult to find. There are others, but you know that.
• Naoe: You seem to know a lot about me.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Your work has not gone unnoticed.
• Naoe: Tell me why I'm here.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: I want you to help me kill Lord Oda Nobunaga. Did you know Lord Nobunaga practices tea ceremony? He takes chanoyu very seriously. He spilled my mother's blood without thought. Yet to spill even one drop of tea, he considers unthinkable.
• Naoe: Oda Nobunaga has spilled much blood.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: He slaughters without reason. He must be stopped. His fondness for tea ceremony will help us do it.
• Naoe: How?
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Lord Nobunaga believes himself untouchable. He has sent all his generals away. He remains at Honnoji, serving tea. Unprotected.
• Naoe: If that is true, you have an army. You don't need me.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Just defeating him will not be enough. I must take his head. And with you in the temple, I ensure he will not escape before I do.
• Naoe: Why should I trust you?
• Akechi Mitsuhide: You hunt a secret group with unknown identities. I also hunt them.
• Naoe: The Onryo.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: They call themselves Shinbakufu. Such arrogance! When I tell you what I know of them, you will demand to help me. Lord Nobunaga is their leader. It is he who ordered your father's death.
• Naoe: That's not possible.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: I served Lord Nobunaga faithfully for years. I did not believe it either, until I found this.

Mitsuhide took out an oni mask, which Naoe remembered as belonging to the one on horseback.

• Naoe: That was him. On the horse.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: He was very pleased with the group's success that night. How he bragged.

Naoe felt compelled to agree with Mitsuhide's plans.

• Naoe: What do you get from this?
• Akechi Mitsuhide: I am among those who might succeed him. I might even become Shogun. But this is not about any one of us. If we do nothing, Lord Nobunaga's madness will destroy everything. Our country will fall.
  Will you help me kill him?
• Naoe: Yes.
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Enter!

Mitsuhide called someone and introduced him.

• Akechi Mitsuhide: You will need help with your task. This is my son-in-law, Ise Sadaoki. He will wait for you at Kyoto. Do what he asks, but carefully. No one outside this room can suspect anything. Or it will be all our heads.
• Naoe: Hai (I understand).
• Akechi Mitsuhide: Go now. There is much to do.

Outcome

Naoe met with Akechi Mitsuhide, who asked for her help to assassinate Oda Nobunaga. Mitsuhide reveal Nobunaga as the masked leader of the group that killed her father, who compelled Naoe to accept. She was asked to work with Mitsuhide's son-in-law in preperation of their attack on Honnoji, Nobunaga's residence.