Part 7: Act 5 — Ashina Depths

Poison Pool, Snake Eyes Shirahagi, Hidden Forest, Mist Noble, O'Rin of the Water, Mibu Village, and Corrupted Monk illusion.

Part 6: Sunken Valley Walkthrough Index Part 8: Shinobi Siege

Area Intro Briefing & Overview

Summary Intro of Area

Act 5 — Ashina Depths & Mibu Village: Plummeting through the Bottomless Hole, Wolf explores subterranean poison pools, foggy illusion forests, and the cursed village of Mibu. This area houses 5 Prayer Beads, Gourd Seed #8, the Mibu Breathing Technique (underwater diving), and the Shelter Stone (the third ritual reagent needed for Fountainhead Palace).

What You Should Have Done Before This

  • Defeated Genichiro Ashina on Ashina Castle rooftop.
  • Defeated Lone Shadow Longswordsman in Ashina Reservoir well.
  • Stocked Divine Confetti & Snap Seeds (essential for apparitions).

What You Should Have in Your Loadout

  • Attack Power: 4–5.
  • Vitality: 14 (4 Prayer Necklaces).
  • Prosthetics: Sabimaru, Shinobi Firecracker, Flame Vent, Loaded Umbrella.
  • Consumables: Healing Gourd (7–8 charges), Divine Confetti, Snap Seeds, Fistful of Ash.

What to Do in This Area (Primary Objectives)

  • Defeat mini-boss Snake Eyes Shirahagi at Poison Pool.
  • Defeat mini-bosses Tokujiro the Glutton & Mist Noble.
  • Collect Gourd Seed #8 from Mibu Village central tree.
  • Defeat mini-boss O'Rin of the Water.
  • Defeat main boss Corrupted Monk (Illusion) & claim Shelter Stone.
  • Unlock Mibu Breathing Technique (underwater diving).

What You Can Do (Optional Detours & Secrets)

  • Collect Prayer Bead #23 atop giant Poison Pool Buddha head.
  • Defeat optional dual Headless Apes in Poison Pool cave.
  • Exhaust Water of the Palace quest with Mibu Priest for Pine Resin Lump.

Related Dedicated Guides for Ashina Depths & Mibu Village

Ashina Depths & Mibu Village Item Databank

1. Key Items, Gourd Seeds & Prayer Beads Table (Click to Expand)
Item / Upgrade Type Location & How to Acquire
Shelter Stone Key Reagent Found inside Wedding Cave altar behind Corrupted Monk illusion arena.
Mibu Breathing Technique Latent Skill Permanently unlocked upon defeating Corrupted Monk illusion (allows diving).
Gourd Seed #8 Key Upgrade Found resting at base of glowing canopy tree in Mibu Village center.
Bestowal Ninjutsu Ninjutsu Technique Dropped upon defeating Headless Ape rematch in Poison Pool cave.
Prayer Bead #22 Health Upgrade Dropped by Snake Eyes Shirahagi at Poison Pool.
Prayer Bead #23 Health Upgrade Grapple onto giant Buddha head in Poison Pool cave.
Prayer Bead #24 Health Upgrade Dropped by Tokujiro the Glutton in Hidden Forest.
Prayer Bead #25 Health Upgrade Dropped by O'Rin of the Water before Mibu Village bridge.
Prayer Bead #26 Health Upgrade Submerged at bottom of Mibu Village lake (Requires Diving).
Prayer Bead #27 Health Upgrade Inside attic rafters of Mibu Village priest house.
Water of the Palace Key Item Found inside priest house secret floorboard room in Mibu Village.
Memory: Corrupted Monk Attack Power Key Dropped upon defeating Corrupted Monk illusion (+1 Attack Power).
2. Shinobi Prosthetic Tools & Upgrade Materials Table (Click to Expand)
Tool / Material Type Location & Purpose
Lump of Fat Wax x3 Crafting Material Found in Mibu Village houses and dropped by village villagers.
Pine Resin Lump Prosthetic Material Found on house roof across Mibu lake. Crafts Flame Vent upgrade.
Scrap Magnet x2 Crafting Material Found in Poison Pool cave and Mibu riverbed.
Yellow Gunpowder x3 Crafting Material Dropped by Poison Pool shotgunners and near Tokujiro.
3. Consumables, Gold Purses & Buffs Table (Click to Expand)
Consumable / Item Type Effect & Location
Heavy Coin Purse x2 (500 Sen ea.) Currency Item Contains 500 Sen each. Found near Poison Pool Buddha and O'Rin bridge.
Divine Confetti x4 Apparition Buff Allows damaging Corrupted Monk and O'Rin. Found in Mibu Village houses.
Snap Seed x3 Consumable / Key Dispels Corrupted Monk illusions. Found near Mibu Village entrance.

Step-by-Step Area Clearance & Item Pick-Up Order

Step 1: Poison Pool — Mini-Boss Snake Eyes Shirahagi

Area Clearance Order: Start at the Ashina Reservoir Idol. Return to the well where you fought the Lone Shadow, follow the underground path, and dive into the Bottomless Hole. Grapple as you fall to arrive in the Ashina Depths. Activate the Poison Pool Idol. Sneak around the edges to stealth-kill the cannoneer sentries on the high rock platforms. Drop down behind Snake Eyes Shirahagi for a free stealth Deathblow, then use the poison pool lure cheese or deflect her cannon grabs to finish her off. Defeat her for Prayer Bead #22, and climb the giant Buddha head statue to find Prayer Bead #23.

TACTICS WARNING: Click to Reveal Detailed Stealth Backstab & Poison Pool Lure Strategy

Detailed Poison Pool Strategy:

  • Stealth Opener: Hug the left cliff wall from the idol, grapple to the high platform above Shirahagi, and sneak behind her for a free stealth Deathblow.
  • Poison Water Lure Cheese: Lure Shirahagi down into the green poison pool water and grapple onto the high stone Buddha hand above. Stand on the hand while Shirahagi slowly ticks to zero health from poison damage!
  • Cannon Hook Parry: If fighting in melee, deflect her cannon hook grab right as she pulls her arm backward.

Items to Keep Picking Up:

  • Prayer Bead #22 — Dropped upon defeating Shirahagi.
  • Prayer Bead #23 — Atop giant Buddha head in Poison Pool cavern.
Step 2: Hidden Forest — Tokujiro the Glutton & Mist Noble

Area Clearance Order: Proceed past the Poison Pool cavern, grapple up the cliffs, and activate the Hidden Forest Idol. Drop down to the lower path, avoiding the spectral enemies and roosters. You will eventually encounter a large drunkard mini-boss, Tokujiro the Glutton, accompanied by monkeys. Use Puppeteer Ninjutsu on a monkey to distract him, then use Oil and Flame Vent. Defeat him to claim Prayer Bead #24. Continue along the cliff edge and grapple to the temple roof. Drop through the hole in the roof to execute a plunging Deathblow on the Mist Noble. Slaying the Mist Noble dispels the fog and removes the spectral enemies from the forest.

TACTICS WARNING: Click to Reveal Detailed Plunge Drop & Mist Noble Execution Strategy

Tokujiro & Mist Noble Breakdown:

  • Tokujiro Puppeteer Trick: Sneak behind one of Tokujiro's monkey guards and apply Puppeteer Ninjutsu. Use Oil + Flame Vent while he is distracted.
  • Mist Noble Plunge Execution: Grapple to the roof tree branch of the temple in Hidden Forest. Drop through the hole in the roof directly onto Mist Noble for a free stealth Deathblow, then slash rapidly 3 times to finish him off before he can summon illusions!

Items to Keep Picking Up:

  • Prayer Bead #24 — Dropped upon defeating Tokujiro the Glutton.
Step 3: Mibu Village — Gourd Seed #8

Area Clearance Order: After the fog clears, proceed down the path to activate the Mibu Village Idol. Sneak past or clear the aggressive, constantly respawning villagers as you make your way toward the center of the village. Look for a massive, glowing cherry blossom tree surrounded by enemies. At the base of this tree, you'll find Gourd Seed #8. Quickly grab it and head further upstream.

Items to Keep Picking Up:

  • Gourd Seed #8 — Base of central glowing tree in Mibu Village.
Step 4: River Bridge — Mini-Boss O'Rin of the Water

Area Clearance Order: Activate the Water Mill Idol near the top of the village. Before crossing the bridge, you'll hear the sound of a shamisen. Approach the crying woman, O'Rin of the Water. Because she is an apparition, apply Divine Confetti before starting the fight. Parrying her rhythmic strikes and jumping her floating sweeps will break her posture. Defeating her grants Prayer Bead #25 and the Breath of Life: Shadow Skill.

TACTICS WARNING: Click to Reveal Detailed Divine Confetti, Sabimaru Stun & Head Stomp Technique

Apparition Parry Guide:

  • Divine Confetti Buff: Apply Divine Confetti before starting dialogue. O'Rin is an apparition — Confetti boosts damage by +37%.
  • Floating Sweep Head Stomp: O'Rin floats invulnerably before striking. Deflect her 5-slash flurry. Whenever she floats high and sweeps across the ground, press Jump TWICE to stomp her head for immense posture damage!
  • Sabimaru Poison Vulnerability: Sabimaru strikes cause her to vomit and flinch, opening 4 free slashes.

Items to Keep Picking Up:

  • Prayer Bead #25 — Dropped upon defeating O'Rin.
  • Breath of Life: Shadow Skill — Unlocked upon O'Rin defeat.
Step 5: Wedding Cave — Main Boss Corrupted Monk (Illusion)

Area Clearance Order: Cross the bridge after defeating O'Rin and head toward the large clearing in front of the Wedding Cave door to trigger the fight against the Corrupted Monk (Illusion). Use Snap Seeds to heavily damage her at the start of the fight, then use Fistfuls of Ash and Firecrackers to lock her in a stun loop. Defeat her to earn the Memory: Corrupted Monk and the Mibu Breathing Technique (which lets you dive underwater everywhere!). Finally, enter the Wedding Cave to collect the Shelter Stone from the altar.

TACTICS WARNING: Click to Reveal Detailed Snap Seed & Fistful of Ash Stun Lock Loop

Detailed Stun Lock Method:

  • Snap Seed Burst (3 Max): Use 3 Snap Seeds directly next to her as the fight begins. Each Snap Seed stuns her and removes ~15% of her total vitality bar! (Note: Snap Seeds lose effect after 3 uses).
  • Fistful of Ash Stun Loop: Apply Divine Confetti. Throw a Fistful of Ash at her face -> strike 2 times -> throw Fistful of Ash -> strike 2 times. Repeat this sequence 10 times to lock her into an inescapable stunlock loop to victory!
MAJOR STORY SPOILER: Click to Reveal Shelter Stone & Fountainhead Portal

Wedding Cave Shrine: The Corrupted Monk guards the Wedding Cave containing the Shelter Stone, which is required alongside the Lotus of the Palace and Mortal Blade to unlock the sedan chair portal to Fountainhead Palace.

Items to Keep Picking Up:

  • Memory: Corrupted Monk — Consume at Idol for +1 Attack Power!
  • Mibu Breathing Technique — Permanently unlocks underwater diving!
  • Shelter Stone (Key Item) — Inside Wedding Cave shrine altar.

Shinobi War Trigger Warning

Important Note: The Mortal Blade, Lotus of the Palace, and Shelter Stone are the three key ritual items. Collecting the 3rd and final item of the set will immediately trigger the Shinobi War, locking down Ashina Castle Idols. Before collecting your 3rd item, make sure to finish leveling up, exploring, and collecting Prayer Beads. You can also make a manual save before picking it up. Out of the three, you should definitely prioritize getting the Mortal Blade first (in Senpou Temple), as its combat art helps kill enemies much faster.

Next Steps: What You Should Do Now

With the Shelter Stone acquired, you have one of the necessary ingredients for Immortal Severance. If you haven't yet, you should head to Senpou Temple for the Mortal Blade or Sunken Valley for the Lotus of the Palace. If you have all three, return to Kuro's Room (via the Abandoned Dungeon Entrance) to witness the castle siege.

Part 7 Collectibles Checklist

Part 6: Sunken Valley Walkthrough Index Part 8: Shinobi Siege