Early on in Naoe’s journey to learn the truth of her destiny, she’s presented with a moral conundrum which starts to define her character across the rest of Assassin’s Creed Shadows: should she side with the monk Yaya as she preaches forgiveness against Nobunaga’s soldiers, or the bloodthirsty warrior Mitsumune, who only thinks of revenge at all costs?
Thinking carefully about your next move gives you the opportunity to recruit a powerful ally to your cause, not just in a story sense, but as a friend to call on in the heat of battle too.
Should you side with Yaya or Mitsumune in Asassin’s Creed Shadows?
With her target defeated, Naoe stands with her allies ruminating on a hard-fought victory, but another battle is brewing between Yaya and Mitsumune.
Mitsumune, still hurt by the falling out with his father and grieving the loss of his comrades after Nobunaga’s forces raided his temple, is pushing for retribution against the enlisted men formally under the tyrannical leader’s command.
Yaya on the other hand is arguing that while the battalion has committed terrible acts at Nobunaga’s behest, if Japan is to come together in peace, then they must be forgiven.
When Naoe is given a chance to interject, she can either choose forgiveness or revenge. But to make matters even more interesting, you’re also given the ominous message that your decision will “impact Yaya”.
If you side with Yaya and forgive the soldiers:
- Mitsumune’s men will still kill the captured soldiers, causing Yaya to storm off from the battleground
- However, Naoe will receive a further quest to catch up with Yaya, where she can be recruited as an ally in battle if the correct subsequent choices are made
If you side with Mitsumune and kill the soldiers:
- The prisoners will be executed and Yaya will leave the battleground disgusted
- You will still receive the same quest to catch up with Yaya, but she will be much more difficult to convince with your actions during that quest, and likely won’t join up with your crew at the hideout
With this in mind, it’s better to join Yaya in preaching forgiveness. While the outcome of the situation at hand is the same, the reputational boost you get with Yaya is worth it.
How to recruit Yaya as an ally
After the battle, you get the Stray Dog quest to meet up with Yaya in Sakai to the south.
Make your way down to her, then lend a hand in the ensuing melee. Afterwards, continue to turn the other cheek and choose to show forgiveness to the temple robber. This is very important, as these conversation options affect the outcome of the quest and Yaya’s decision to join you!
Next, follow Yaya, then head north to the Church of Takatsuki, which is just to the south of the Takatsuki Castle.
Catch up with Tetsuo inside a house in the church grounds, then chase him through the streets of the settlement. When Yaya steps in, you should say for her to show the forgiveness she preaches herself.
If you stuck up for the captured soldiers, showed forgiveness to the temple robber, then persuaded Yaya to let go of her anger towards her brother, she will be persuaded that Naoe shares the same values as her and agrees to make her way to the hideout.
This unlocks Yaya as an ally, allowing you to call her into battle as a helper when times are tough. She not only tackles an enemy when she joins the fray, but sticks around to help beat people up too. Hold L2 to ready the Ally wheel, then press Triangle (by default) to call for her help.