Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga Chapter 12

Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga Chapter 12 is the twelfth chapter of the manga Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga, a prequel to Assassin's Creed: Shadows. The manga, written and illustrated by Reguje, was released on 21 August 2025.

Summary

Mikawa, 1561

At the Imagawa Mansion, locked in a cage, a young boy Nobayasu asks his mother Sena where his father Matsudaira Takechiyo is and why they cannot go home. His mother tells him that his father will come to find him and tells him to go to sleep. Then, Imagawa Ujizane walks by and tells her to stop lying and how her husband betrayed the Imagawa clan and left them behind. When Sena pleads not to scare her kids, Ujizane takes out his cross and shoves it in her face, telling her that this will guide him to unite all of Japan. He then states that they all are pawns in his game and to behave.

Elsewhere, Hattori Hanzō and Watanabe Moritsuna walked inside the residence of Takechiyo and met with the daimyō personally. Greeting them, Takechiyo recognizes the other visitor as the son of Hattori Yasunaga. After some brief discussions, Takechiyo explains that his wife and kids have been taken captive under the Imagawa clan. He expands that he sought out another collaborator to go with Moritsuna to rescue his family. He also details that the mission is secret and must be done with the upmost discretion and how he blames himself for letting his family to be a weakness. While Moritsuna tries to reassure his lord, Takechiyo states that his firstmost thought is his family's safety.

While Hanzō is uneased at Takechiyo's sentimentality, Takechiyo asks Hanzō why he is here and how he heard of his training in Iga. Hanzō admits that he was sent here to investigate the claims of a strange European presence in Japan. Interested, Takechiyo admits that when he was at Imagawa Mansion, a Jesuit priest visited and began a conversation with Imagawa Ujizane. Through time, he came just to visit Ujizane. Hanzō asked if he recalled what the priest wore. Takechiyo states that he carried a cross around his neck. With this information, Hanzō agrees to help and thanks Takechiyo for the offer.

Hanzō and Moritsuna then move to a storage to plan their rescue mission. After Moritsuna trains with a polearm, he looks at and asks Hanzō if he was tense during the meeting with Takechiyo and if he understands the situation at hand. Hanzō admits that he is aware of the situation. Moritsuna moves in closer, pulls Hanzō in towards him, and tells him that they are now brother in arms in this mission. At ease, Hanzō asks Moritsuna if he wants to hear a story about his story, which entices him. For a moment, Hanzō tells the story of he met a woman named Tsuyu in Iga. He goes on about being unable to stop thinking about her beauty, comparing it to Kisshōten, and her strength, comparing it to Hachiman.

While thinking about Tsuyu, Hanzō places his chin on his wrist and slightly tenses his muscle. Instantly, his Hidden Blade activates and grazes his left cheek, surprising him and Moritsuna. Studying the blade more fervently, Hanzō places their attention back on task on rescuing Takechiyo's family. He then states that he has devised the perfect plan.

Characters in order of appearances

• Nobuyasu
• Sena
• Kamehime
• Imagawa Ujizane
• Watanabe Moritsuna
• Hattori Hanzō
• Matsudaira Takechiyo
• Paulino Massa (flashback only)

References

• Assassin's Creed: Shadows – Tales of Iga