‘The Stray Dogs’ walkthrough and Kanzashi location in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

“The Stray Dogs” is the final quest you’ll need to complete to recruit Yaya the monk as an ally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In it, you need to find a Kanzashi that was stolen by a guy named Tetsuo.

In this Assassin’s Creed Shadows guide, we’ll give you a full “Stray Dogs” quest walkthrough, including where to find the Kanzashi and if you should side with Yaya or Tetsuo.

Where to find Yaya in ‘The Stray Dogs’

The first thing you need to do in “The Stray Dogs” is find Yaya after “Heads Will Roll” — the pre-requisite quest, which you’ll complete during the assassination of The Wounded. You’ll find her north of Sakai, in the western part of Osaka, in the Fisherman’s District. The objective is a straight shot north from the Sakai Kakurega.

Once you reach the city area, you’ll find Yaya doing what she does best: smashing heads. Help her kill the remaining enemies and then talk to her.

Should you punish or forgive the shrine raider in ‘The Stray Dogs’?

While you’re talking with Yaya, you’ll be asked to pass some judgement on a shrine raider who has — as the name suggests — stolen from a shrine.

Just like in “Heads Will Roll,” you’ll be given a bit of a false choice here.

• If you say “we forgive him,” you and Yaya will agree and send the raider away.
• If you say “we punish him,” Yaya will push back and suggest that you spare him so he can learn a lesson. Regardless of what you pick, the thief is spared.

Despite a notification saying “this will impact Yaya,” we were able to recruit her as an ally at the end of the mission both when we voted to punish the thief and when we replayed the mission and voted to save him. But if you’re trying to make Yaya as happy as possible, we suggest you go for forgiveness — especially if you angered Yaya during ‘Heads Will Roll’ by voting to execute the guards.

Kanzashi location in ‘The Stray Dogs’

After talking to Yaya and following her, she’ll send you to find a Kanzashi, which is being held in the Church of Takatsuki.

Travel to the Takatsuki Kakurega and head directly west. You’ll find a little fort area that has guards posted outside. Climb the walls and hang out on the rooftops. On the eastern side of the fort (to the right from the front gate), you’ll find a tall building that has a large stone Christian cross stuck into its front yard.

Enter the building via the front door or a window on the top floor. On the main floor of the church, you’ll find Tetsuo. Confront him and he’ll run from you.

At this point you’ll be told to “chase Tetsuo.” But this isn’t like other Assassin’s Creed games where the goal is to catch up and assassinate the poor guy. Instead, just follow close behind until he reaches the edge of town, where Yaya will come out of nowhere to lay his ass out.

Should you side with Yaya or Tetsuo in ‘The Stray Dogs?’

You’ll be given another dialogue choice here where you can say “you need to forgive each other” to Yaya and Tetsuo, or you can tell Yaya “you need to take responsibility.” Your choice changes Yaya’s dialogue slightly, but won’t impact the actual quest at all, despite the “this will impact Yaya” warning.

After you resolve things with Tetsuo, you’ll be given another dialogue wheel, and this choice actually matters.

• If you say “let’s work together,” Yaya will join you at the Hideout (and in-combat, on a cooldown) as an ally.
• If you say “I wish you well,” she won’t become an ally.

Yaya is very good at knocking enemies over, which can be a huge boon if you get into combat as Naoe, so we highly recommend you pick her up as an ally. Once you tell her to join you, you’ll finish the quest and Yaya will join your crew.

For more Assassin’s Creed Shadows guides, see our running lists of Lost Pages, Kuji-kiri, and armor locations. Or see our full Assassin’s Creed Shadows walkthrough, and our guides on how to get all companions and romance options.