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Assassin’s Creed Shadows: The Stray Dogs Walkthrough and How to Recruit Yaya

Help Yaya in Osaka, chase down Tetsuo at the Church of Takatsuki, and choose forgiveness at both decision points to support her recruitment.
Length2 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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To complete The Stray Dogs in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, help Yaya in Osaka, choose forgiveness at both dialogue decisions, then recover her kanzashi from Tetsuo at the Church of Takatsuki. Forgiveness is the path that aligns with Yaya’s approval and gives you the best chance to recruit her; recruitment also depends on choices in earlier Yaya story content, including Heads Will Roll.

How to unlock The Stray Dogs

Continue Yaya’s preceding story content before looking for this quest. Walkthroughs differ on the precise unlock trigger: Gamer Guides says it becomes available after the prologue and meeting Yaya during The Wounded, while Neoseeker lists The Fatherless Monk. Follow the active Yaya questline and check your quest log or map for the marker rather than relying on one trigger description.

Find Yaya and help her in Osaka

Look for Yaya in southern Osaka, in Izumi Settsu. Game8 places her shortly southwest of the Osaka Kakurega; Neoseeker describes the area as south of the Temple of Osaka and east of the Fisherman’s District. These are differing landmark clues for the same general search area, so use the quest marker if it is available. Deal with the attackers, then speak with Yaya.

Decide how to handle the shrine raider

When the game asks how to respond to the raider, choose the forgiving response if you want Yaya’s approval and are aiming to recruit her. Yaya spares the raider either way, according to Game8; the choice affects your relationship with her, not whether she personally carries out the punishment.

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Recover Yaya’s kanzashi from Tetsuo

  1. Travel to the Church of Takatsuki in Takatsuki, in northern Izumi Settsu.
  2. Go inside and speak with Tetsuo to begin the chase.
  3. Follow him until Yaya catches up and stops him.

This is a follow sequence, not a combat encounter. Game8 reports that Tetsuo cannot be attacked or assassinated during the chase, so keep pursuing him rather than trying to interrupt it with a takedown.

Choose what to say about Tetsuo

When advising Yaya, select “You need to forgive each other.” This is the response she approves of and the one that supports recruitment. Yaya forgives Tetsuo regardless of the advice, so the choice is about her relationship with you rather than changing whether the story reaches forgiveness.

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Complete the quest and recruit Yaya

Finish the conversation to complete The Stray Dogs. Gamer Guides reports a reward of 1,000 XP. To recruit Yaya, your choices across this quest and earlier Yaya content—including Heads Will Roll—must meet her conditions. If the option appears, ask her to join; once recruited, Game8 says she can be called as an ally in battle.

Quick Recap

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Choice guide at a glance

Decision Recommended response for recruitment What the choice affects
How to respond to the shrine raider Choose forgiveness Aligns with Yaya’s preference; she spares the raider either way.
What Yaya should do about Tetsuo “You need to forgive each other.” Wins Yaya’s approval; she forgives him regardless of your advice.

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