Naoe arrived at the outskirts of the fort.
- Naoe: This is where the Ox was positioned before he took Miki Castle.
Naoe sneaked into the fort and eavesdropped on two samurai in a corner.
- Samurai Archer 1: Some among us are like children. They don't care if they live or die so long as the Ox is pleased with them.
- Samurai Archer 2: Some of them are children. What do you expect? The more of them die, the more left for us to take.
Naoe then climbed to higher ground deeper in the fort and eavesdropped on more samurai.
- Samurai Archer 3: Eyes open. Rumor has it one of our own has turned a group of fresh recruits against the Ox. Killed some of our brothers in Miki.
- Samurai Archer 4: Poison in our movement. We need to flush it out. Who is he?
- Samurai Archer 3: We don't know. No name, no face. He could be anywhere.
Naoe went up into the inner complex and read a report.
- Naoe: So not everyone in the Ox's army is sold on the cause. A conscript who tried to lead an uprising before he escaped Miki... They don't know who he is yet. I better find out before they do.
Naoe entered a building and found a waybill on the floor.
- Naoe: A waybill. Wartime supplies for Miki Castle. This could be a way in.
Naoe went back out in the open and tried to sneaked up on the fort commander, who was reading the plans. The commander noticed Naoe and attacked her.
- Castle Commander: You! You're not one of ours. What are you doing here?
After dispatching the commander, Naoe took a look at the plans.
- Naoe: The battle plans.
As she went through the document, a young boy tried to sneaked up from behind with a sword. Naoe sensed someone from the back and swung her katana, missing the boy who dropped his sword.
- Young Recruit: (screams)
- Naoe: You... You're just a child.
The boy immediately kneel down and bowed to plead for his life.
- Young Recruit: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! Please! I was supposed to stand watch if anything...
I saw you and I panicked! I'm sorry! If you take that map, they'll... I'll be punished. - Naoe: I would not hurt a child.
- Young Recruit: But you killed the commander. If I let you leave, they... They're going to kill me.
- Naoe: No, they won't. Trust me.
- Young Recruit: If you say so.
- Naoe: Why are you play-acting as a soldier with these men?
The boy got up.
- Young Recruit: I heard the Ox speak. He promised everyone we could avenge our dead. I dreamed of going to Miki. Learning from our best warriors there. Like the Tsuno. But... a conscript there, also tough! He turned a lot of the others against the Ox. Killed some of our men, then escaped.
- Naoe: A conscript? What's his name?
- Young Recruit: I'm sory. None of us know. I thought I could find out if he came here. Prove myself. Maybe the one to... you know.
- Naoe: And you thought it was me. You were prepared to do what was necessary?
The boy could not said a word.
- Naoe: Head to Kyokaiji Temple, to the north, Ask for Nakamura Tadashige. You will be welcomed there. Please promise me you'll go.
The boy ran off.
- Naoe: Wait!
After recovering the plans, Naoe left the fort and traveled to Kyokaiji Temple, where she found Tadashige talking to an elderly woman.
- Elderly Refugee: Please give this to someone who needs it more, sir. I am too weak.
- Tadashige: Which is why you must eat. You have to stay strong.
Naoe approached Tadashige and greeted with a bow.
- Naoe: Who was that woman?
- Tadashige: A survivor of the massacre at Tanjosan. The only family she had left was her grandson, and now he's gone too.
Did you find anything useful in Hiraiyama? - Naoe: The lead was solid. We found the Ox's battle plans for Miki Castle.
- Tadashige: Hiraiyama was once Hideyoshi's base of operations. It makes sense the Ox would have repurposed the camp.
- Naoe: Some of the Ox's soldiers run young.
- Tadashige: To Bessho Harumasa, anyone willing to pick up a sword and march under his banner is a warrior. No matter the age. Many of these soldiers are just peasants lured in by his talks of justice. His enemies will hesitate to kill them.
- Naoe: Not all of his men believe in his cause. I heard of one who went against him and nearly lost his life before escaping. Perhaps he could convince his fellow conscripts to step aside.
- Tadashige: Show me those plans you found. They might have a clue on how to proceed.
Naoe handed the plans to Tadashige.
- Tadashige: Ah... Miki Castle is nearly impregnable. Nothing goes in or out without Harumasa's permission.
- Naoe: What about his supplies? Surely he doesn't know the exact details of every shipment that gets delivered to the castle.
- Tadashige: A man called Hiromichi oversees these. He has no loyalty to the Ox. To anyone but his own wealth, really.
- Naoe: Can Hiromichi be trusted?
- Tadashige: No, he cannot. But we are short of options. You will need to strike down the Ox where he stands.
- Naoe: Disarm the Ox, then slip a knife past his guard. That's how we kill him and his movement.
- Nakamura Tadashige: When you are ready, seek me out at my safehouse in Miki Castle Town. We will plan the final assault from there. The decoration is hard to miss. My way of hiding in plain view of the Ox's men.