Assassin’s Creed Shadows: An Unpayable Debt Main Quest Walkthrough

Learn how to complete An Unpayable Debt mission in Assassin’s Creed Shadows while finding collectibles and viewpoints.

Naoe’s storyline in Assassin’s Creed Shadows begins with tragedy and loss, and the An Unpayable Debt mission shows pivotal moments that set her on the path of both healing and revenge. Following The Onryo Samurai mission, An Unpayable Debt begins with Naoe waking up in an unknown house. She walks outside and faints, triggering a short story quest flashback. When the injured ninja wakes the next day, the mission begins.

An Unpayable Debt Mission Guide in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Sorin, a priest, gives Naoe refuge in the Makinoodera Temple. He advises her not to move again, as it will cause her further injury. You can reply with “I won’t run” or “You can’t keep me here.” The dialogue options you choose throughout the mission will not alter the outcome. Sorin is assisted by a young boy, Junjiro, who has felt the brunt of the war over Iga. When Naoe asks the priest about her father, his reply devastates her, and several days pass in a time-lapse as she lies stunned.

One day, Junjiro approaches Naoe and says she needs to eat more and regain her strength. He is joined by Sorin, who asks him to cut the splint on her leg. In the next cutscene, Naoe is up and about when she spots Junjiro’s paintings of her as a demon. He tells her that he doesn’t paint like that anymore and offers to teach her about painting beautiful things.

Painting the Tanuki

As you take control of Naoe, follow Junjiro to paint a Tanuki named Mikan. When Junjiro pauses in front of a dilapidated temple building, crouch and sneak toward the steps. There will be a small circle above Mikan. As a larger one appears around it upon your approach, press the observe button. You will also be prompted by Naoe saying, “Good view from here.”

This interaction serves as a tutorial for Sumi-e Paintings, a side activity involving painting. Finding wildlife for Sumi-e Paintings in the open world will prompt you to draw the scene from nature after sneaking up closer to them. These paintings can later be displayed in your Hideout as collectibles.

After completing the ‘An Egg-Stealing Tanuki’ painting, follow Junjiro to another structure where he shows Naoe the remains of an ocarina played by her father. A brief montage will show Naoe regaining her strength and recovering from her injuries.

Naoe – Knowledge Points – Cutting Bamboo

Naoe takes up her sword and steps outside to test its edge. The primary objective is to slice through the bamboo to your right. However, you can also complete other tutorials by going to a nearby viewpoint or finding lost pages around the temple.

To find the viewpoint, run past the bamboo and observe your surroundings (right-click on PC). Spotting the damaged tree at the edge of a cliff will mark it as a viewpoint. Climb to the end of its branch to save Makinoodera Temple as a fast-travel location. Observing the house on the left before the bamboo, a white circle will pulse, pinpointing the location of a lost page of the temple that can earn you a Knowledge Point.

Once you’ve finished exploring, begin slicing through the bamboo until the blue meter on the top left fills up. A cutscene will play, concluding Naoe’s stay at the Makinoodera Temple. Junjiro reveals that he has fixed her father’s ocarina, and she plays it, bringing back memories that steel her resolve. Naoe thanks the pair and says that she can never repay their kindness. She sets out to her friend’s home in Settsu, completing the An Unpayable Debt quest.

---

We provide the latest news and create guides for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Meanwhile, you can check out the following AC Shadows articles or catch us playing games on Twitch and YouTube:

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows: PS5 and Xbox Performance and Quality Modes Explained
• Can You Do One-Shot Assassinations in Assassin’s Creed Shadows?
• How To Get Assassin’s Creed Shadows Slash of Sprecher for Free
• Who Are the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Protagonists? Everything We Know About Yasuke and Naoe
• Can You Play Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Steam Deck
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows Release Time Countdown for All Regions