I kind of messed up, guys. In assuming that Assassin's Creed Shadows would be like the series' past RPG entries – think the largely inconsequential player decisions in Valhalla and Odyssey, for example – I discovered that it's possible to be such a stubborn, vengeful asshole that recruitable allies refuse to join your cause.

Allies can mean life or death in feudal Japan, so you better learn how to use Allies in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

The same applies in Assassin's Creed Shadows, as Naoe and Yasuke can recruit members for their group, allowing them (and, by extension, you) to summon these allies in battle to give you a hand. Some even help during stealth segments.