The mission "Spring and Fall" in Assassin's Creed Shadows leads to one of the most morally complex moments in the Harima region. As you infiltrate the towering Himeji Castle to confront Ukita Naoie, also known as "The Noble" of the Shin Bakufu, you are eventually forced to decide his fate. While many targets in the game are simple eliminations, Naoie presents a unique dilemma involving his young son, Hideie, and the machinations of Kuroda Kanbei.

Whether you are playing as the lethal shinobi Naoe or the powerhouse samurai Yasuke, the confrontation with Ukita Naoie is inevitable. However, the path you take to get there and the words spoken in his final moments change the emotional weight of the story significantly. Here is everything you need to know about whether you should kill or spare Ukita Naoie.

Reaching the Tenshu: Preparation and Leveling

Before worrying about the moral choice, you must survive the climb. Himeji Castle is a fortress in every sense of the word. It is recommended that you be at least Level 23 before attempting this mission. The guards within the inner sanctum often range from Level 26 to 27, and being under-leveled will result in facing "skull" icons, meaning enemies can potentially one-shot you.

If you prefer a direct approach, Yasuke is the ideal choice for the lower courtyards. His ability to break through gates and parry heavy attacks makes the initial waves of samurai much more manageable. However, once you enter the upper floors of the Tenshu (the main keep), Naoe’s stealth becomes invaluable. There are numerous rafters and hidden passages that allow you to bypass high-level ronin, saving your healing rations for the actual boss fight.

The First Decision: "We Fight Now" vs. "Finish Reading"

Upon entering Ukita Naoie's private chambers, you won't find a man reaching for his sword immediately. Instead, he is sitting quietly, reading a scroll sent by his son, Hideie. The game presents you with an immediate choice:

  • "We Fight Now": You interrupt him, forcing the boss battle to begin instantly.
  • "Finish Reading": You wait, allowing him to finish the stanza his son wrote.

Choosing to let him finish reading is the superior choice for players invested in the narrative. It doesn't make the upcoming fight easier, but it unlocks specific dialogue options later that provide emotional closure for his son. It humanizes the target, showing that even a "villain" of the Shin Bakufu holds a deep love for his family.

How to Beat Ukita Naoie

Regardless of your initial choice, a boss fight ensues. Ukita Naoie is a technical fighter who utilizes speed and deception.

  1. Smoke Bombs and Summons: Periodically, Naoie will vanish in a cloud of smoke and summon two or three shinobi adds. Do not ignore them. Use Naoe’s kunai or Yasuke’s wide-sweeping naginata attacks to clear the minions quickly so you can refocus on the boss.
  2. Unblockable Attacks: Watch for the red glint. Naoie has a lunging stab with incredible range. If you are playing as Yasuke, do not try to block this; use a side dodge to get behind him for a counter-attack.
  3. Parry Windows: His blue attacks come in a sequence of three. Parrying all three in a row will significantly deplete his stamina bar, opening him up for a massive finisher.

Option 1: Kill Ukita Naoie

If you choose to execute Ukita Naoie immediately after the fight, Naoe will step forward and end his life with the hidden blade. In this version of events, Naoie accepts his fate with a sense of grim resignation. He expresses that his death is a trade—his life for his son's safety from Kuroda Kanbei.

The Consequence: When you later meet with his son, Hideie, you will have fewer dialogue options. You can tell him the truth ("His life for your life") or lie to him. Both feel somewhat hollow because there is no final message from the father to the son. The scene is quick, cold, and professional, fitting for a vengeful playthrough but lacking in depth.

Option 2: Spare Ukita Naoie

Choosing to "spare" Ukita Naoie is a bit of a misnomer. In the world of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Naoie knows he cannot truly live. If he survives, Kuroda Kanbei will continue to view him as a threat and likely hunt down his son to maintain leverage. Naoie explains that for Hideie to be safe and to lead the Ukita clan, the father must disappear.

Instead of a standard execution, this choice leads to a heart-wrenching conversation. Naoie asks Naoe to kill him as a mercy, ensuring his son’s political future. If you allowed him to finish reading the scroll earlier, he will recite a final stanza: "The black earth glistens; with the promise of dead leaves; spring, fear not the fall."

The Consequence: This is widely considered the "best" ending for this arc. When you return to Hideie, you can relay this specific stanza to him. The young boy is moved to tears, finding solace in the fact that his father’s last thoughts were of his son’s poetry. It provides a level of closure that the "Kill" option simply cannot match.

Rewards: Does the Choice Matter for Loot?

From a purely mechanical and loot-oriented perspective, the choice does not matter. Ubisoft has designed this encounter so that players don't feel penalized for their moral leanings.

Regardless of whether you kill or spare him, you will receive:

  • Oni’s Fury (Legendary Amulet): A powerful accessory primarily designed for Yasuke, which increases damage output as your health decreases.
  • Legendary Engraving: This allows you to apply a damage boost for non-legendary gear at any blacksmith.
  • XP and Shin Bakufu Progress: You will receive the standard amount of experience points to help you reach the next level cap.

Final Verdict: Which Path Should You Choose?

While the rewards are identical, the Spare path is the recommended choice for most players. Assassin's Creed Shadows excels when it leans into the tragedy of the Sengoku period, and the interaction between Naoie and his son Hideie is one of the narrative highlights of the Harima region quests.

By letting him finish his scroll and then choosing the "spare" dialogue (which leads to a mercy kill), you gain access to the most complete version of the story. It transforms a standard assassination into a complex tale of sacrifice, ensuring that Hideie’s transition to the head of the Ukita clan is marked by a memory of peace rather than just blood and betrayal.

In your playthrough, remember that your protagonists are more than just killers; they are witnesses to the end of an era. Giving a fallen noble the chance to speak his last words to his child is a small act of mercy that resonates long after the mission is marked as complete.