Nagoya Yagoro
Nagoya Yagoro[1] was a Japanese shinobi during the late Sengoku period. A native of Ikuno, he became an ally of the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke and soon joined their league, aiding Naoe and Yasuke with his quick assassination skills.
Biography[edit | edit source]
Early life[edit | edit source]
Born in Ikuno, Yagoro sold himself as a servant to the Akechi lords to support his mother. However, his work was never enough and proved to be in vain when his mother eventually passed away. Orphaned, Yagoro was fortunately taken in by the people of Ikuno, who became his new family. Meanwhile, the cruelty of the Akechi clan continued until an Assassin named Fubuki began fighting against it.[2]
Yagoro was saved by Fubuki on one occasion and was thus inspired to fight against the Akechi oppressors. However, one day, he watched as Fubuki was worn down by Akechi soldiers before being slain by their leader, Akechi Mitsuhisa.[2] In honor of Fubuki, Yagoro constructed his own Hidden Blade and resolved to continue her fight against those abusing their power.[3]
Joining the Kakushiba ikki[edit | edit source]
In 1582, having trained himself as a shinobi, Yagoro ventured to Harima after hearing of a local samurai abusing his authority over the locals. Chasing and hunting down his soldiers, Yagoro's actions caught the attention of the Kakushiba ikki members Fujibayashi Naoe and Yasuke. After they tracked down the trail of blood, they caught sight of Yagoro killing a samurai and chased after him. Stopping him at Maniden Hall, they questioned him about his motives but rejected the implications of him being allied with his victims. Challenging the pair, Yagoro faced them in a duel but was bested.[3]
Yagoro then offered his life for the taking, but Naoe and Yasuke clarified they had not come to kill him and instead asked about his Hidden Blade. Yagoro promised to reveal more if they took down the head samurai at the Jyujiin Courtyard. Agreeing to help, Naoe and Yasuke infiltrated the courtyard and killed the samurai. Yagoro then arrived and, seeing Naoe's Hidden Blade, understood she was part of the same group as Fubuki. As Yagoro, Naoe, and Yasuke discussed the former's mission to honor Fubuki, the pair offered Yagoro a place in their league. The young shinobi accepted and left with a new conviction.[3]
Later, Yagoro returned to his hometown, where he met with Naoe when she came to visit Ikuno. Yagoro recounted his upbringing and his memory of Fubuki, including her death at the hands of Akechi Mitsuhisa. With this newfound conviction, he admitted that he intended to hunt down Mitsuhisa at Fukuchiyama Castle, to which Naoe offered to come along.[2]
Traveling to Fukuchiyama, the pair infiltrated the castle and confronted Mitsuhisa. Fighting Mitsuhisa and his men, they defeated them in combat and brought the Akechi samurai to his knees. When Yagoro confronted him over his misdeeds, Mitsuhisa recognized him as the young orphan who had cried at the sight of Fubuki's death and commented that he was a poor choice of protector for his people. Having heard enough, Yagoro struck Mitsuhisa down with his blade and thanked Naoe for her help before heading back to Ikuno.[2]
Finding a new purpose[edit | edit source]
Yagoro returned home as Naoe arrived to talk with him about his next steps. During their conversation, Yagoro led Naoe through the town and introduced her to the people who had raised him. However, their walk was soon interrupted by a young boy, Torabo, who stated that his friend Haru had ventured into the mines to find a lost treasure. Knowing the silver mines were overrun with bandits, Yagoro and Naoe infiltrated the mines' grounds to look for Haru.[4]
Atop a hill, they found Haru hiding within a hut. Haru thanked them for the rescue and explained that she sought the "treasure from the shadows" to use against the bandits. Yagoro explained that she did not need to fight and that she could help in other ways. However, Yagoro was secretly intrigued by this rumored treasure and, after escorting Haru to safety, decided to look further into it.[4]
With the treasure on his mind, Yagoro investigated, and his findings led him to the Chasuriyama Kofun, which held a secret Assassin outpost. There, he was met by Naoe, who offered to enter first. Yagoro traversed through the kofun and came across a box with an authentic Hidden Blade. When Naoe joined him, Yagoro insisted that she hold an impromptu ceremony to formally induct him into the Kakushiba ikki. After the ceremony, she offered him the Hidden Blade, but Yagoro decided to keep his own blade and bring the other one back to the league's hideout.[5]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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Yagoro -
Yagoro wearing his Novice rank attire -
Yagoro wearing his Initiate rank attire -
Yagoro wearing his Veteran rank attire
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]