Tomiko

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"It's the only way to set things right. Blood for blood."

―Tomiko to Fujibayashi Naoe, 1582.

Tomiko (とみこ) was a Japanese woman who lived in Izumi Settsu during the late 16th century, where she owned a homestead. She was a friend to the Iga jonin Fujibayashi Nagato and his daughter Naoe, and later became a member of the Kakushiba ikki, who established their headquarters at her homestead.

Biography

Early life

"War. Years ago. Between daimyo whose faces I'd never seen. Powerful men who fought to rule my land, but never set foot in it. Their soldiers killed everyone. My family, neighbors. Left my mangled body in the dirt. Left me to burn as our fields turned to ash."

―Tomiko telling Naoe about her past, 1582.

Sometime during her youth, Tomiko visited Sakai with her parents when she came across a boy named Heiji, whose parents had just been executed by Oda Nobunaga's forces for refusing to craft weapons for them. As Heiji was being sought by soldiers, Tomiko risked her own life to hide him with her family. Heiji would therefore come to owe Tomiko a favor, something she kept in mind for years afterwards.

At some point, Tomiko's life was saved by Fujibayashi Nagato, who thereafter became a close friend, and she sought to repay his kindness through personal acts of compassion. Tomiko was also married at one point, but during a conflict over control of her land, soldiers razed her homestead and killed everyone in their path, including Tomiko's entire family. Tomiko herself survived but the incident left her bitter and vengeful, realizing those in power did not care about the common people. Yet, she retained her generous soul and continued to help those in need, feeling that was her only purpose left. She also attempted to rebuild her homestead, but her efforts were largely unsuccessful.

At one point, Tomiko became acquainted with a Portuguese man named Rufino, who visited her homestead on several occasions. The two became good friends but lost contact with each other over the years.

Assisting Naoe

"The last thing I heard, after my husband's screams fell silent... was laughter. Our lives meant nothing. These people don't care about us. So every scrap I have in this world is yours, Naoe. As long as you promise to make them suffer."

―Tomiko offering her full support to Naoe's cause, 1582.

On 30 September 1581, in the midst of Iga's invasion by Oda Nobunaga's army, Nagato came to Tomiko's homestead alongside his injured daughter Naoe. With Nagato also injured after being shot in the back with an arrow, Tomiko treated their wounds until they both recovered shortly after and left the homstead.

Several months later, Naoe returned to the homestead, informing Tomiko that a group of masked people she called "the Onryo" had killed Nagato and stolen a box she had been tasked to protect. Fully understanding and empathizing with Naoe's experiences, Tomiko gave her full control of the homestead, allowing her to establish a hideout to pursue the masked men.

In time, Tomiko's homestead grew into a steady community as Naoe brought her various allies to live on the land, beginning with the young monk in-training Junjiro, her former Igan neighbours Monta and Shinobu, and Heiji, whom Tomiko personally recommended on account of the favor he owed her and his skills as a blacksmith.

Joining the Kakushiba ikki

"Today, we become something else. Tomiko. I'll need an iron pot, a drinking bowl, and a very big fire."

―Naoe to Tomiko, before forming the Kakushiba ikki, 1582.

In June 1582, after their spies intercepted a letter from Oda Nobunaga's general Akechi Mitsuhide, in which he personally requested Naoe's presence, Tomiko informed the kunoichi that Mitsuhide sought to meet her at Katano Castle. Naoe accepted the invitation, but was subsequently manipulated into helping Mitsuhide assassinate Nobunaga, whom he falsely accused of leading the Shinbakufu, the group responsible for Nagato's death. When Naoe returned to the homestead after the ordeal, Tomiko took satisfaction in the news of Nobunaga's death, having regarded him as a monster, and encouraged Naoe to exact revenge on Mitsuhide for deceiving her.

Naoe subsequently departed for Katano Castle to search for clues to Mitsuhide and the Shinbakufu's whereabouts, but was secretly followed by Junjiro. Tomiko eventually noticed Junjiro's absence and scolded him for running away when he returned to the homestead alongside Naoe and her new ally, the samurai Yasuke. Tomiko later joined Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro for a ceremony where they formed a league to fight against the Shinbakufu and other threats to Japan, naming it the Kakushiba ikki. Tomiko's homestead became the league's official headquarters, and she assisted Naoe and Yasuke in finding new recruits.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed Shadows One-Shot (non-canon)
• Assassin's Creed: Shadows