Part 176

Learn about Hanzo's decision to spare William, Okatsu's background, and Kuroda Nagamasa's history in Nioh 3.

Hanzo's Farewell:

Hanzo was ordered by Ieyasu to conceal the existence of Amrita (a divine substance). To accomplish this, William had to be eliminated. After defeating Kelley and rescuing Saoirse, William let his guard down and turned his back to Hanzo as he left. Rather than seizing the opportunity to kill William, Hanzo watched him leave as a friend. For Hanzo, who had never let sentiment interfere with his duties before, this was a token of gratitude and farewell to the samurai from a foreign land who had fought for Hanzo's country.

Character Entry: Okatsu

Okatsu is a female ninja, or "kunoichi" (a female ninja), under Hattori Hanzo. Trained in the same Iga ninjutsu as Hanzo, she accompanies William on his travels. Kunoichi are as skilled as warriors and spies as male ninja, but are also able to masquerade as powerless women to encourage targets to let their guard down, or disguise themselves as maids to gather information. Okatsu's mastery of every aspect of the ninja way is said to rival even her teacher Hanzo's, making her a strongly trusted figure.

Okatsu's father is Tokugawa Ieyasu. Her elder brother Nobuyasu was killed at an early age, allegedly to ensure the safety of Ieyasu himself. She has borne a grudge against Ieyasu ever since and left his household as soon as she could to study under Hattori Hanzo. She despises not only Ieyasu but all samurai – and, indeed, the entire bloody, warlike world she is forced to live in.

Okatsu has spent years under Hanzo, gathering rumors about yokai (supernatural beings) and information about strange phenomena likely to be Amrita-related from around the country. She is highly experienced and a master of disguise, able to infiltrate any location. Okatsu is skilled in the art of the kodachi dagger and the shuriken throwing-blade, but considers these a last resort, as she is reluctant to harm people, even for the sake of the mission.

At first, Okatsu was suspicious of William, a foreigner who claims to be able to see spirits (a supernatural ability), but she eventually warmed to him. In William, she feels great ninja potential, seeing him make more effective use of his skills than she ever could. But, at the same time, her competitive side will not let her defer to him so easily, and when she crosses blades with William, she does so in deadly earnest.

Over the course of their battles, Okatsu became interested in, even fond of William's way of thinking and approach to life, so different from the Japanese samurai she knew. However, she never revealed this interest to William, and he left Japan without saying a word to her. For her part, she made no attempt to follow him or persuade him to stay.

Character Entry: Kuroda Nagamasa

Kuroda Nagamasa, sometimes known as "Kichibei," was a general under the Toyotomi clan. The son of Kuroda Kanbei, Nagamasa was entrusted to Hideyoshi as a child hostage. When Kanbei was captured by enemy forces, however, Oda Nobunaga suspected him of treachery and ordered Nagamasa killed. It was only quick thinking on the part of Takenaka Hanbei that saved him. After coming of age, Nagamasa made his name fighting alongside his father for Hideyoshi at Shizugatake and during the conquest of Kyushu. As a leader on the front lines, his opinions often clash with those of Ishida Mitsunari, who provided support from the rear. Since he also believes that his father's removal from the center of power was due to slander by Mitsunari, he bears a grudge against him.

Nagamasa is a good person who wears his heart on his sleeve and gets along well with new people. He does have some of his father's political genius, being involved in the plotting of the Mohri clan, but he prefers to face his enemies face-to-face like a warrior. He is driven by a constant, urgent desire to live up to the expectations of his father and earn his approval through great deeds.

At the Battle of Sekigahara, Nagamasa wore an unusual "Ichinotani" helmet instead of his usual horned design. "Ichinotani" refers to the battlefield where Minamoto no Yoshitsune's surprise attack defeated the Heike. Nagamasa's helmet evoked it with a striking design in a prayer for victory. It was said to have been designed by Takenaka Hanbei, the man who saved Nagamasa's life, and Nagamasa apparently wore it to symbolize his vow to Takenaka that he would be victorious.