Chasing down elusive targets is the bread and butter of any Assassin’s Creed adventure, but the Kurai Eikyou board in Assassin’s Creed Shadows is a cut above the rest—even in 2026, it remains one of the most rewarding side hustles for players. Forget the basic fetch quests; this chain dishes out six legendary Yasuke items, unlocks permanent skills for both Naoe and the big man himself, and caps it all off with a cherry-on-top legendary katana. It’s the kind of content that stealth archer and bruiser builds drool over.
Getting started is straightforward. While you’re knee-deep in the main campaign, you’ll eventually cross paths with Fuyu, a Yamato local who’s part of the People of Yamato. You’ll need to hunt down the “Wise” target on the Onryo (Shinbakufu) board first, but once that’s handled, Fuyu spills the beans on five agents who are making a mess of the Yamato region. These Kurai Eikyou targets—the Messenger, the Akiyama Agent, the Blacksmith Agent, the Katsuragi Agent, and the Tsutsui Agent—are scattered like breadcrumbs across the countryside, and each one drops loot worth writing home about.
Target by Target: A Walkthrough with Swagger
1. The Messenger – Easy Prey in Nara Heartland
Kicking things off, the Messenger is practically a freebie. He hangs out in the Nara Heartland, southeast of Kofukuji Temple, just chilling in a flower field during springtime. Sneaking up on him is a piece of cake—he’s too busy sniffing blossoms to notice a shinobi closing in. Take him down and you’ll snag the Shade of Blight Naginata, a weapon with a poison buildup that instantly fills an Adrenaline Chunk once the affliction triggers. Talk about a nasty surprise in combat. Plus, you pocket 2,000 XP and two Mastery Points right off the bat. Easy peasy.
2. The Akiyama Agent – Castle Intrigue
This one ups the ante. A side quest sends you to some mercenaries near Uda Matsuyama Castle who are running a nefarious ruse on a local village. Wipe them all out, and the trail leads straight inside the castle walls. The Akiyama Agent is a lone wolf in a hut on the northern side of the interior, but the place is crawling with guards. Stealth is your best friend here. Once he’s sleeping with the fishes, you’re rewarded with the Repeating Fate legendary Teppo, a rifle that dishes out +5% damage per meter of distance. Pair that with a long-range build and you’ll be dropping enemies like flies. Another 2,000 XP and two Mastery Points are the icing on the cake.
3. The Blacksmith Agent – Hidden River Hideout
After some side-quest legwork, you’ll learn that the Blacksmith Agent is holed up in Miyataki, tucked away in the far eastern reaches of Yamato, near the Hidden River (southeast of Utano Tower). Pay him a visit at night and he’s often isolated, making a quiet takedown a breeze. The payoff? The Encouragement legendary amulet, which grants a Naginata specialization—boosting Yasuke’s stats by a juicy 15% when he’s wielding only a Naginata. For anyone maining Yasuke as a heavy-hitter, this amulet is worth its weight in gold.
4. The Katsuragi Agent – Not Just a Name
As the name hints, you’ll find this agent just outside the town of Katsuragi, on Yamato’s western border. Players often stumble upon him naturally while exploring the Asuka Rocks Basin, but if you’re hunting deliberately, head to the Katsuragi Kakurega and travel directly south to Gokenin Manor. The manor is guarded to the teeth, and the agent himself is no pushover—he’s a tough customer. Your best bet is a nighttime infiltration, slipping inside the main cabin while he’s alone. Down him and the Boulder Fall legendary Kanabo is yours, a monster of a weapon whose attacks cannot be interrupted. That means you can trade blows without flinching, which is a total game-changer in chaotic melees.
5. The Tsutsui Agent – Bloody Castle Finale
The final nail in the coffin is at Koriyama Castle, another western Yamato fortress—this one surrounded by moats literally running with blood. That’s not hyperbole; the water’s red. The Tsutsui Agent is holed up in the Retainers’ Quarters in the northeast corner, inside a building guarded like Fort Knox. Patience is key here. Take him out, and you’ll be holding the Dragon’s Wrath bow, which instantly charges arrows. It’s tailor-made for a Yasuke ranged or stealth archer build, letting you rain down death without the usual draw-time fuss. As with every target, you also grab 2,000 XP and two Mastery Points.
Wrapping Up the Board – The Big Payoff
Once all five agents are pushing up daisies, hoof it back to Fuyu. She’ll direct you to the persimmon tree behind Omiwa Shrine—the very spot where Kojiro first met Naoe and Yasuke. Head there and claim the ultimate prize: the Whisper of Marumasa Long Katana. But wait, there’s more. You’ll also bank a hefty 5,000 XP for completing the board and unlock two new skills: Kunai Assassination Damage III in Naoe’s tree and Silent Arrows III for Yasuke. These passives are clutch if you’re rocking a stealth build without Guaranteed Assassination enabled, essentially making both characters deadlier in the shadows.
By the time the dust settles, the Kurai Eikyou board has coughed up six legendary weapons/items for Yasuke, one permanent passive skill for each protagonist, and a combined 15,000 XP. That’s a haul that keeps on giving, whether you’re diving into the game fresh in 2026 or revisiting it to mop up missed content. The targets are designed to test your stealth, combat, and exploration chops, but with a little savvy and a lot of silent footsteps, the rewards are absolutely worth the trouble. Keep your eyes peeled, shinobi—Yamato’s baddies won’t know what hit ’em.