So, you’re trekking through the Izumi Settsu region in Assassin's Creed Shadows and you run into Usami Yoshiko. On paper, she’s just another target on a massive hit list. But honestly? Her story is one of the most gut-wrenching examples of how "ordinary" people got absolutely wrecked by the power struggles of the Sengoku period.
She isn't some high-ranking Templar general or a master shinobi. She was a concubine. A woman caught in a bad spot who made a choice for love—and that choice ended up burning down the world as she knew it.
The Honno-ji Betrayal: What Really Happened with Usami Yoshiko
If you’ve played through the early "The Betrayers" questline, you know the deal. Hori Hidemasa is out for blood. He wants to wipe out everyone who played even a tiny part in the death of Lord Oda Nobunaga. This leads Yasuke and Naoe right to Yoshiko’s doorstep in Katano.
✨ Don't miss: South Park The Stick of Truth Trophy Guide: How to Avoid a Second Playthrough
Here is the thing: Yoshiko didn't hate Nobunaga. She wasn't some political mastermind. She fell for a handsome samurai. Classic story, right? This guy convinced her to reveal a secret passage at the Honno-ji temple—a path usually reserved for concubines to sneak in their own "guests" away from prying eyes.
She thought she was helping a lover. In reality, she was handing the keys of the kingdom to Akechi Mitsuhide’s assassins. Once the temple was in flames and Nobunaga was dead, her "lover" vanished. He used her. Basically, she became the ultimate scapegoat for a coup she didn't even understand was happening.
Where to Find Her in Izumi Settsu
Finding her is kinda tricky if you aren't paying attention to the intel. After you clear out the first three targets for Hidemasa and finish the specific "Intel on Usami Yoshiko" sub-quest, her location pops up.
- Region: Izumi Settsu.
- Specific Spot: The outskirts of Katano Castle.
- Visual Cue: Look for a modest house located right across from a Christian church.
When you find her, she isn't hiding behind a wall of guards. She’s just... there. Living in remorse. She’s been repenting, and when you confront her, she doesn't even fight back. She explains what she did and how sick she feels about it. It makes the "Assassinate" prompt feel incredibly heavy.
Kill or Spare? The Big Dilemma
Assassin's Creed Shadows gives you a choice here. You can either fulfill the contract and kill her, or you can see the nuance and let her walk.
🔗 Read more: Why Through the Valley Lyrics Defined a Gaming Generation
If you kill her:
You get the job done. Hidemasa is happy (well, as happy as a man fueled by vengeance can be). You get your 2,000 XP, the Mastery Points, and the 275 mon reward. It’s clean, it’s professional, but it feels a bit cold.
If you spare her:
This is actually the canon choice. If you have "Canon Mode" toggled on in your settings—the feature Ubisoft added for players who want a streamlined, "true" story experience—the game won't even let you kill her. Naoe and Yasuke recognize that she was a victim of manipulation. Sparing her doesn't change the mechanical rewards (you still get the XP and items), but it changes the "vibe" of your protagonists. It shows they aren't just mindless executioners.
Honestly, sparing her feels like the more "human" path. It acknowledges that in a war this big, people like Yoshiko are just collateral damage.
Is She Based on a Real Person?
This is where things get interesting for the history nerds. Assassin's Creed is famous for blending real people with fiction. While Oda Nobunaga, Yasuke, and Hori Hidemasa are very real historical figures, Usami Yoshiko is a fictional character created for the game.
However, her role is grounded in actual historical mystery. The attack on Honno-ji remains one of the most debated events in Japanese history. How did Mitsuhide’s troops get inside so easily? How did they catch the most powerful man in Japan so off-guard? By introducing a character like Yoshiko, Ubisoft provides a "historical fiction" explanation—a secret passage revealed by a manipulated insider.
It’s a clever way to fill the gaps that real historians are still arguing about.
Why Yoshiko Matters for Your Playthrough
Dealing with Yoshiko is one of the first times the game really tests your perspective as a player. Up until this point, most targets are clearly "bad guys." But Yoshiko? She’s a reminder that the world isn't black and white.
Actionable Tips for This Mission:
- Level Up First: The suggested level for "The Betrayers" questline is around 30-35. Don't rush it. The guards around Katano aren't a joke if you're under-leveled.
- Check Your Settings: If you want to make the choice yourself, ensure "Canon Mode" is OFF. If it's on, the game will automatically spare her during the cutscene.
- Use the Intel: Talk to Hori Hidemasa at the Mouth of Seta in Omi before heading out. He gives you the specific clues needed to trigger the quest marker in Izumi Settsu.
- Listen to the Dialogue: Don't skip the scene when you find her. The voice acting really captures the desperation of someone who realized they accidentally helped kill a god-like figure.
At the end of the day, whether you decide she’s a traitor who deserves the blade or a victim who deserves a second chance, the encounter with Usami Yoshiko is a standout moment. It’s a small, quiet story tucked into a massive epic about war and shadows.
If you're looking to complete the full "The Betrayers" board, remember that she is just one of seven. You still have targets like Itakura Shigezo and Masatoshi Nakahara to worry about. Keep your blade sharp and your eyes on the rooftops. Regardless of your choice, the reward for finishing the entire chain—Hori Hidemasa’s Helmet—is well worth the moral headache.
To wrap this up, focus on the Izumi Settsu region once you hit level 30, and make sure you've spoken to Hidemasa in Omi to unlock the final leg of the investigation. Taking the time to actually listen to Yoshiko's side of the story provides some of the best narrative depth in the entire mid-game.