You’re staring at the map in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, scratching your head, and probably cursing the quest markers. I get it. The game tells you to "Help Gennojo" and gives you a cryptic hint about the southwestern Hills of Meeting. It sounds simple enough. But if you’ve been wandering around the green fields for twenty minutes only to find a bunch of empty grass and the occasional hostile guard, you aren't alone.
Honestly, the navigation in this specific mission—Stolen Hearts—is a bit of a mess. It’s one of those classic gaming moments where the text says one thing, but the geometry of the map feels like it’s playing a prank on you.
Where Exactly Is Gennojo?
The "Hills of Meeting" (En-no-Mine) is a real-ish area east of Kyoto in the Yamashiro region. When you arrive at the initial quest marker, Gennojo is nowhere to be seen. Instead, you find a pool of blood near the stone steps. This is where most people get stuck. The prompt says he was in the southwestern part, but the game logic actually expects you to track him.
Basically, you need to ignore the broad "southwestern" label for a second and look for the literal trail. From those blood-stained steps, head west and slightly north along the road. You’re looking for a small, unassuming hut or a yard where a couple of soldiers are currently giving Gennojo a very hard time.
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If you hit the river, you’ve gone the right way. Most players end up finding him by following the riverbank north from the bridge or taking the path that cuts through the woods to the west of the main shrine area.
The Stolen Hearts Quest: A Quick Breakdown
Gennojo isn't just some random NPC you're saving for the sake of a checkmark. He’s a core part of your Shinobi League and, for those playing as Naoe, a major romance option. This specific encounter in the hills is the "damsel in distress" moment—except he's a thief who got caught being a little too cocky.
- The Discovery: Arrive at the Hills of Meeting. No Gennojo. Just blood.
- The Investigation: Speak to the local caretaker or just use your Eagle Vision (or the 1579 equivalent) to spot the trail.
- The Rescue: You’ll find him tied up in a small yard. There are two guards. They aren't particularly tough, but if you’re playing on a higher difficulty, don’t just rush in. Naoe’s stealth is your best friend here.
- The Choice: Once the guards are dealt with, you untie him. This is where the dialogue matters.
If you’re trying to romance the guy, look for the dialogue option with the heart icon—usually something along the lines of "I'm here for you." It feels a bit fast, I know, but that's how these games work. If you find him annoying (and many players do, given his "thirsty" dialogue), you can be blunt.
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Why Everyone Gets Lost in the Hills
The frustration comes from the map labels. The "Hills of Meeting" is a large sub-region. When the quest text mentions "Southwestern Hills," it’s referring to the orientation within that specific sub-zone, not the southwestern part of the entire Yamashiro map.
A lot of players wasted scouts or hours of playtime because the waypoint doesn't "stick" to Gennojo himself until you’re practically on top of him. It’s a bit of "old school" game design hiding in a modern AAA title. It forces you to actually look at the environment—blood on the floor, disturbed grass, the direction of the path—rather than just following a golden line on the ground.
Is Gennojo Even Worth the Hassle?
Look, Gennojo is a "B-tier" ally for most. He’s voiced by Mackenyu (who you might know as Zoro from the live-action One Piece), which is a huge draw for some. But in terms of gameplay? He’s a utility character.
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- Mischievous Sabotage: He throws projectiles that startle enemies. Great for crowd control when things get messy.
- Charming Presence: This is his best trait. It makes it so servants won't snitch on you when they see you doing "assassin things."
- Distraction: He can pull aggro away from you, though you can’t always pick which guard he targets.
If you’re a completionist or playing a heavy stealth build, you need him. If you prefer Yasuke’s "smash everything" approach, Gennojo might feel a bit redundant, but he’s still a fun personality to have around the hideout.
How to Handle the "Godless Harvest" Next Step
Once you save him in the hills, the questline isn't over. You’ll eventually head back to Kyoto for The Godless Harvest. This is the make-or-break moment for his recruitment.
Pro tip: There is a timed event during this final quest where you MUST select the option to "soothe Gennojo." If you miss the window or pick the wrong reaction, he won't join your League. He basically goes off the rails because of his past—his parents were killed because of his thieving—and he gets pretty self-destructive.
He’s a tragic character wearing a "Robin Hood" mask. The game gives you plenty of chances to shut him down or even let him fail, but if you want the full roster, keep a cool head and keep him on the path.
Actionable Insights for Your Playthrough:
- Don't rely on the marker: When you reach the bloodstains in the Hills of Meeting, manually follow the path westward toward the river.
- Check the hut: The "meeting" isn't a peaceful one; look for the fenced yard near the water's edge to find the guards holding him.
- Save the rice: In the follow-up mission, prioritize stopping the destruction of the rice stash if you want the "good" recruitment ending.
- Switch to Naoe: While Yasuke can use Gennojo as an ally, the emotional weight and the romance options are exclusive to Naoe's perspective.