Sumoto Castle

Sumoto Castle (洲本城), also known as Mikuma Castle, was a castle situated in Sumoto in Awaji, Japan. Its ruins have been designated as a protected National Historic Site since 1999.^[1]

History[edit | edit source]

By 1585, the Master Assassin and the last remaining active member of her Kakushiba ikki Tsuyu was captured by the Japanese Templar Kimura Yukari, her taishō, and her army, the Sanzoku Ippa. Keeping her alive, Yukari tortured and interrogated Tsuyu for the location of the Sword Regalia, but to no success.^[2] Realizing she had to try a new strategy, Yukari sent out a puppet show to bait her daughter and Igan shinobi Fujibayashi Naoe to travel to Awaji.^[3]

Within the year, Naoe infiltrated the castle^[2] after finding a report of a recently captured shinobi, whom she believed was Tsuyu, being kept in its tenshu.^[4] Making her way inside the tenshu, she found a guarded room and opened it. There, she saw Tsuyu bloodied and beaten and began to loosen her restraints. Tsuyu, seeing Nagato's Hidden Blade on Naoe's arm, realized it was Naoe but grew worried about her arrival. Suddenly, Naoe was knocked out by Yukari's enforcer and fellow Templar Imagawa Tomeji.^[2]

Naoe woke up without her equipment and with a katana to her neck. Yukari began to chastise Naoe's attempted rescue as Tsuyu remarked that she will not speak if Naoe is hurt. Yukari left them to talk among themselves before Tomeji locked the door once more. Together, Naoe and Tsuyu spoke about all that transpired, especially Nagato's death. Naoe explained that those responsible have been dealt with while Tsuyu told her that she will mourn him when the time is right. Telling Tsuyu that she recovered the other two Regalia, Naoe also informed her of her friend and fellow Kakushiba ikki member Yasuke.^[2]

Fortunately, Yasuke, following Hattori Hanzō's correspondence, met with his ally Konatsu at a safehouse in Sumoto and discussed Naoe's capture. With this information, Yasuke broke into the castle and sought to rescue Naoe^[5] Yasuke found Naoe and Tsuyu and broke them out of their room but Naoe had to go find and recover her equipment. After re-acquiring her armor and weapons, Naoe took out the guards around the premises. Leaving together, the three Assassins soon heard the bell ring, which led Yasuke to fend off incoming soldiers.^[6]

Meanwhile, Naoe and Tsuyu made their way towards the exit but realized Yasuke will need help. While they worked to lower the platform for Yasuke to escape, Yasuke made his way to the exit but was met by Tomeji, who introduced himself and vowed vengeance for his fallen master Kimura Kei. After a lengthy fight, Yasuke bested Tomeji, who admitted his loss but called out his men to surround Yasuke. Fortunately, Tsuyu threw two kunai, taking down two soldiers, as Yasuke ran and dodged all their arrows and bullets. Yet, Tsuyu was hit by a stray bullet and Yasuke carried her out while locking the door behind them. With Naoe, Yasuke left with Tsuyu and barely escaped the castle on horseback.^[6]

Despite their teamwork, the Assassins eventually lost the Sword to Yukari and her forces.^[7] Thus, they planned to attack and eliminate Yukari's taishō, including her enforcer Tomeji.^[8] Along with hunting down Tomeji's captains,^[9] Naoe and Yasuke confronted Tomeji at his estate within the castle. There, they faced off against Tomeji, defeated him, eliminating Yukari's strength, and recovered the kanabō Boneshaker from his personal effects.^[10]

At some point, Naoe and Yasuke later infiltrated the castle again, assassinated its five samurai daisho, and looted its treasure chest, acquiring the bow Crimson Call from its contents.^[11]