Mind and Body

Where are the paintings? This article is in need of more images and/or better quality pictures from official media in order to achieve a higher status. You can help the Assassin's Creed Wiki by uploading better images on this page.

Mind and Body was a virtual representation of one of Fujibayashi Naoe's genetic memories, relived through the Animus EGO.

Description

Naoe tries to deal with the after effects from killing someone during Oda Nobunaga's invasion of Iga.

Dialogue

Naoe laid down on her quilt, having flashbacks to the invasion more than month ago which she had killed for the first time in her life. She soon got out of her bed, changed her clothes and left the house. Outside, she found her father blowing the tsuchibue in his usual routine.

• Naoe: Good morning, Father.

Nagato stopped blowing and kept his tsuchibue.

• Nagato: You did not sleep well.
• Naoe: I'm fine. I was just... cold last night.

Nagato let out a sigh, knowing Naoe was lying.

• Nagato: I heard you cry out in your sleep. Last night, and the nights before it.
  The horrors of war come for everyone, equally. As your father... I had a secret hope that you would be spared.
• Naoe: Nobukatsu and his men spared no one. Why should I be?
• Nagato: I have been thinking. The victory of our battle will be short-lived. Oda Nobunaga does not know the word defeat. Nor mercy. I have not prepared you enough. This must change. Today, you will learn to wield a warrior's greatest weapon.
• Naoe: Is it the naginata?
• Nagato: No. It is not. Come, my plum.

Nagato led Naoe to a platform under a shelter, and had her sit in a meditation posture.

• Nagato: Take a cleansing breath.
• Naoe: We're going to meditate?
• Nagato: Not in our usual way. This is a technique for protection of mind and body. In times of danger. Fear.
• Naoe: Kuji-kiri.
• Nagato: Yes. I will teach you kuji-kiri to let go of your guilt and regret. A warrior has no use for these things.
  I know it was not the cold bothering you last night.
• Naoe: I didn't want you to think I was weak.
• Nagato: Weakness is an unease with the truth. Be honest with me, and with yourself.
  Now, tell me about your nightmare.
• Naoe: It's hard to remember. I was alone... and then, blood. A red moon.
• Nagato: Did you see the faces of the men you killed as they drew their last breath?
• Naoe: I did.

Nagato left her daughter's side to give her some space.

• Nagato: Lift your head up, Fujibayashi Naoe. We have ways to banish such darkness.

He kept a distance from her.

• Nagato: Breathe deeply. Come into the present moment.
• Naoe: (breathes)
• Nagato: Now, begin.

Naoe began performing the kuji-kiri, making hand signs in sequences, before slowly speeding up.

• Nagato: Let your breath be natural... and relaxed.
  Mushin. (No-mind.) Empty your mind, Naoe. Good.
  Do not force it. Mushin.
  Be here. Now.
  Mushin.

Naoe finished the ritual.

• Nagato: How do you feel?
• Naoe: Calmer. Lighter.
• Nagato: That happens when you empty your head of the past. You see the world for what it is now. Your mind is refocused, and next we will redirect it.

Naoe got back up.

• Nagato: Momochi Sandayu and Matsu have also agreed to help you. Find them, and learn from them.

Nagato turned around to leave.

• Naoe: Father. Thank you for believing in me.
• Nagato: I always have. Only now can I show you how much.

Naoe left her home and made her way to meet with Matsu.

• Matsu: Where have you been, child?
• Naoe: Just busy, Auntie Matsu.
• Matsu: Yes. I know what you have overcome these past weeks. Your first battle! How brave you must have been to survive it.
• Naoe: I wasn't sure I would. But Momochi Sandayu said I fought well.
• Matsu: As I knew you would too. Have pride in yourself! Now, we push past survival. With my family's scroll, written in my ancestors' hand. All shinobi families have secrets, you know.
• Naoe: Thank you.
• Matsu: The scroll's lessons will be very useful to you. But more useful when you retrieve it. I gave it away for safekeeping. My floorboards are already full of other secrets.
• Naoe: I'll find it. Where?
• Matsu: With the priests at the shrine. Go! Learn from those who came before us.

Naoe left to head to the shrine.

• Naoe: It's been a harsh winter. Tougher than any I can remember. Guess I need toughening up, too.
  I wonder what I'll learn from the ancestors' scrolls. I just want to be good. A real shinobi.

She saw the shrine in the distance.

• Naoe: The shrine. Auntie Matsu's scroll will be close.

As she got near, she caught sight of trouble brewing in the shrine.

• Outlaw Thug: Move! Get out!

The shrine maiden ran out of the shrine.

• Shinto Maiden: Bandits! In the shrine!
• Outlaw Rogue: Did you check in there? Loot it!

Naoe entered the shrine and cleared it of the bandits. After heading upstairs and eliminating of the bandits, she found Matsu's heirloom scroll in one of the altars.

• Naoe: Here it is. Auntie Matsu's family scroll. I would never have guessed Auntie's family was so powerful. I'll learn their secret techniques.

Naoe then returned home to speak to her father.

• Nagato: Are you finished your training?
• Naoe: For today. But there's so much more to learn, isn't there?
• Nagato: It is only the beginning. We have years' worth to catch you up on. Are you ready for that?
• Naoe: I'm ready.

Outcome

With blessing from Matsu and obtaining her family heirloom scroll, Naoe prepared to start on her training as an official shinobi.