You're wandering through the southwestern Hills of Meeting, just east of Kyoto, and honestly, the map isn't giving you much to go on. Maybe you've spoken to Ise Sadatame already. If you have, you know you're looking for a former samurai named Ujimasa. This is the core of the Inside Help AC Shadows quest, a mid-game mission that feels like a breather but actually sets up one of the more annoying combat gauntlets if you aren't prepared.
Ujimasa is the "inside help" you need to get close to your target, "The Fool." But here is the thing: he won't just hand over the keys to the castle because you asked nicely.
Finding Ujimasa at Kiyomizudera Temple
Most people get stuck just trying to pinpoint him. The game tells you he’s at Kiyomizudera Temple, but that place is crowded. It’s basically a tourist trap in 16th-century Japan. If you're playing as Naoe, use your Eagle Vision. It’s a lifesaver here. You’ll find him standing right in front of three distinct water streams.
When you approach, a cutscene triggers. He’s going to talk your ear off about blessings and destiny. It's very "mysterious old mentor" vibes. Eventually, he presents you with a choice that makes a lot of players panic and hit the forums.
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The Stream Choice: Does it actually matter?
Ujimasa offers you a drink from one of three streams. He claims the "greedy will receive nothing" and asks you to pick your blessing:
- Love
- Success
- Longevity
I'll save you the stress: It doesn't matter. Seriously. Whether you pick Love or Longevity, Ujimasa gives you the same nod of approval. There are no hidden stat buffs, no secret romance unlocks, and your health bar isn't going to magically double. It’s a flavor choice designed to let you define Naoe's personality a bit more. I usually pick Success because, let's be real, being a shinobi is a high-mortality profession and I'll take any win I can get.
The Real Catch: The Twisted Tree
Once the pleasantries are over, Ujimasa drops the hammer. He needs a "favor." This favor is actually an entire separate mission called The Twisted Tree. You cannot finish Inside Help AC Shadows without clearing this out first.
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You’re tasked with eliminating a group of rogue samurai causing chaos in Kyoto. This is where the game’s difficulty spike usually hits. If you've been coasting by just button-mashing, these samurai will absolutely wreck you. They use posture-breaking moves and have way more health than the standard Ashigaru guards you've been bullying.
Tactical Advice for the Samurai Ambush
If you’re playing Naoe, don't try to trade blows. You'll lose. She’s built like a glass cannon. Use the environment—specifically the verticality of the Kyoto rooftops—to thin them out.
- Smoke Bombs are mandatory. If you get surrounded, drop one and reset.
- Parry, don't block. Naoe pivots to the side during a parry, which exposes the samurai's flank.
- The Grappling Hook isn't just for climbing. Use it to pull yourself out of a bad trade.
If you’ve unlocked Yasuke by this point and the mission allows the swap, honestly, just use him. His "Posture Attack" (holding the light or heavy attack button) can charge indefinitely. It’s the fastest way to crack a samurai’s guard.
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Finishing the Quest and Getting the Prize
After you’ve painted the town red in The Twisted Tree, head back to Ujimasa at the temple. He’ll finally give you what you came for: the Yamazaki Castle Gate Key.
This key is the "inside help" the mission title refers to. It allows you to bypass the heavily guarded main gates of the castle during the hunt for The Fool. Without it, you’re looking at a much longer, much more dangerous infiltration involving a lot of swimming through freezing water (which, if it’s winter in your game, isn't even an option because the water freezes over).
Actionable Steps for Success
To wrap this up efficiently, follow this sequence:
- Identify the Sub-region: Look for the Hills of Meeting east of Kyoto on your map.
- Use a Scout: If the exclamation mark isn't appearing, deploy a scout to the temple area to reveal Ujimasa's exact coordinates.
- Don't Overthink the Blessing: Pick whatever sounds cool; it won't impact your combat stats.
- Gear Check: Ensure your Hidden Blade and Katana are upgraded before starting "The Twisted Tree." The samurai you face are at least level 15-20 depending on your world scaling.
- Check the Season: If it's winter, Naoe’s footprints in the snow will alert the samurai faster. Stay on the wooden walkways or rooftops to maintain stealth during the combat phase.
This mission serves as the gatekeeper for the latter half of Act 1. Once you have that key, the path to the first major assassination becomes significantly smoother.