The Meaning of the Blade

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

Description

Naoe travels to Yamato to pursue Ashikaga Yoshiaki's leads about the Kakushiba ikki.

Dialogue

Naoe arrived near the Sakafuneishi.

• Naoe: This is where the Shogun's spies lost track of the assassin. There may be a clue as to how they escaped.

Naoe approached the ruins and found the insignia of her parent's former group.

• Naoe: There it is. The Shogun told the truth.

She got near the lock where her Hidden Blade should unlock.

• Naoe: Let's see what happens.

Naoe drew her blade into the lock, but no response came through. She got up and tried to use her strength to push the large slab of stone away.

• Naoe: Come on! Move! Move!

Despite Naoe's efforts, she failed to move the stone and open the tomb.

• Naoe: (screams)

She leaned her back towards the stone, reflecting on her next actions before getting up.

• Naoe: Enough, Naoe. Stop.

Naoe got into a meditating position and closed her eyes.

• Naoe: (breathes) Okay. Think. Feel. Let it all pass through you. Clear your mind. Mushin.

Naoe's reflection brought her back to the night she failed to retrieve the box from the Mihata Kofun. After being injured by the masked samurai, her father brought her on his horse to seek help.

• Naoe: Father...
• Nagato: You are alive. Rest, my plum. I've got you.
• Naoe: The box... I couldn't stop him.
• Nagato: The fault is mine. It was my oath. And I failed.' I kept... so many secrets for so long. Never knowing if I should reveal them. Your mother left me with a heavy burden - protect the box and to raise you. I did not want to put that burden on your shoulders.
• Naoe: The box...
• Nagato: One of three Imperial Regalia. The Jewel, Yasakani no Magatama. They are the sacred heart of our country. Treasures the emperor entrusted the Kakushiba ikki to protect. But that was long ago. Back when we met Tsuyu.
• Naoe: My mother...

Flashbacks was shown of Naoe's mother and her meeting with Sandayu, Nagato and Hanzo.

• Nagato: She was the apprentice of a nanban stranger. She followed his foreign creed of assassins. They came to Iga seeking help from Momochi Sandayu. They said the balance of the world was at risk. Tsuyu stayed with us in Iga. Became a student of Sandayu - as Hanzo and I were. But soon, the student became the master. We all swore upon her creed and oath. The creed I should have taught you. You are so much like your mother. I was afraid that if you knew, you would suffer the same fate.
• Naoe: Father...

The flashback then showed Nagato and Tsuyu raising Naoe and living a life.

• Nagato: It was my oath to the creed to protect the Jewel... But I loved her. And when you came, you were our jewel. We loved you so much. For a few years, we prospered. The regalia were safely hidden in Settsu. Our league grew. Our enemies faded. We were foolish to let our guard down. A new foe rose from the shadows.

Flashbacks of the ikki being slaughtered by the Shinbakufu was shown.

• Nagato: I stayed in Iga with you while the league was slaughtered. The regalia stolen. Only Sandayu, Tsuyu, and Hanzo survived. Tsuyu returned in the night - with the Jewel. She made me swear to protect it and entrusted me alone. She promised me she would return with the other regalia. But... she never did. When Sandayu returned, he told me Tsuyu had died. It shattered my soul.

A flashback was then shown of Nagato placing the box in the Mihata Kofun and him playing his tsuchibue.

• Nagato: I hid the Jewel in the kofun and kept her secret. The league died with her. And every night, for years, I played her favorite song. And then one night, across the valley, I heard someone playing the song back to me. I ran towards the source, but... she was gone. I know it was her. And so, I kept playing her song every night to let her know the Jewel was safe. And that you were all right. Naoe, she might be alive. We must find her. If we can just reach Tomiko's, there is hope. She will help us.

The flashback ended with Nagato reaching Tomiko's home just time before falling unconscious from his arrow wound. Back in the present, Naoe reflected on the memories she remembered.

• Naoe: I remember now. I remember it all. Father... Why did you carry that burden by yourself? You weren't alone, I was right there! You weren't alone. (cries)

Naoe then pondered about the song her father played and taught her, and took out her tsuchibue.

• Naoe: Their song... he was calling to her.

Naoe stood up.

• Naoe: Tsuyu. Mother.

Naoe played the song and after a moment, the slab opening up, revealing the entrance into the kofun.

• Naoe: I can't believe that worked. I wonder if my father knew of this place. Knew where these stairs lead.

Naoe entered the kofun.

• Naoe: All those years angry at Father for not talking about my mother.

As she went down the stairs, she reached a chamber bearing the banner of the ikki.

• Naoe: The imperial regalia. "The sacred hearts of our country." That was the mission Catarribera wrote about. Why would the emperor trust them with this treasure? It doesn't matter. My parents died protecting them, and I will too.

She headed down a passageway to the right side of the room and found a chamber bearing the same banners and three pedestals in the Settsu kofun.

• Naoe: Valor. Wisdom. Benevolence.

On the pedestal representing the benevolence banner, Naoe placed the box of the jewel.

• Naoe: I return the Jewel, Yasakani no Magatama. I have honored my promise, Father.

Just then, she noticed a scroll hidden on the left side of the pedestal. She picked it up and read its message.

• Naoe: "My love. If you read this, it is because... because you and our Naoe have been forced from Iga. Because our secret is discovered. I know you may not understand my absence or my reasons for it. They are not the only secrets I have kept from you. I did not die the night our league fell."
• Naoe: (gasps)

Just then, she heard her father's song being played from behind. As a shadow approached, she drew her Hidden Blade.

• Naoe: Mother?

However, the song was revealed to be played by Hanzo.

• Hattori Hanzo: The countless nights I kept hidden. Listening to Nagato's song. Again and again. It took all those years to understand it was the key.
• Naoe: It was you playing back to my father.

Hanzo approached the Wisdom pedestal and took out a similar box to the Jewel's.

• Hattori Hanzo: Forgive me, Tsuyu.

Hanzo placed the box, which contained the Yata no Kagami, on the pedestal.

• Naoe: You stole the regalia?
• Hattori Hanzo: No. Lord Ieyasu found the Mirror and stole it from the foreign order. A secret very few know. He believes these treasures belong to our land. He kept the Mirror and waited to return it to the emperor.
• Naoe: To gain favor from the imperial court.
• Hattori Hanzo: Perhaps. He plays a much better Go (game)Go game than I. But we both believe the foreign powers are only here to take from us.
• Naoe: So how did you get the Mirror?
• Hattori Hanzo: I am loyal to him, Naoe. I simply asked for it. Come. I will explain.