The Kitsune is one of the most substantial targets in Ghost of Yōtei, and tackling this chain early pays off. The arc takes you north into Teshio Ridge, introduces the Nine Tails shinobi network, and layers in stealth tools and progression powers you’ll use for the rest of the game.

The Kitsune, the Nine Tails, and why this arc matters

The Kitsune is a core member of the Yōtei Six under Lord Saito and is tied directly to Atsu’s backstory. In Teshio Ridge, the Kitsune leads the Nine Tails, a masked cadre operating from hidden shrines and training halls carved into cliffs and caves. Expect fox‑themed locks, hidden doors, and ambushes in deep snow. Midway through the chain, the mask comes off: the Kitsune is Dojun, a poison-wielding fighter who shifts styles mid-fight and uses smoke to break the line of sight.

Beyond story context, this line is an efficient way to build your kit. You’ll secure the Nine Tail Armor (a stealth-focused set), permanently unlock Smoke Bombs and the Listen ability, and pick up multiple cosmetics and an Onryo Armor upgrade. You’ll also be pointed toward kusarigama training and can reach kunai access points in the region.

How to start The Kitsune quest

The Kitsune chain unlocks during “The Yōtei Six.” Interrogate roaming enemy groups in Yotei Grasslands and choose the Kitsune lead when prompted. Follow the Nupur River northeast to the Great Lake, take the ferry north, and ride into Teshio Ridge. Early on, choose the “Rudeness costs extra” dialogue when paid by merchants to avoid delaying progression.

What to expect: step-by-step arc

The arc moves through six connected parts. You’ll escort and investigate, scout and infiltrate, then track and fight. Here’s the shape of it:

Part Focus Notable mechanics and outcomes
Spirits of Teshio Ridge Arrival and setup Snowstorm ambush; cave shelter fire mini‑game; first threads to Red Crane Inn and Oyuki.
Blood on the Snow Nine Tails hideout Shrine/lantern puzzle; fox statue placements; platforming into a dojo; record the directional cipher; climb to the upper building to obtain Nine Tail Armor.
The Way of the Shamisen Social infiltration Inn eavesdropping via shamisen; Zeni Hajiki tutorial; emetic setup; Black Dye House puzzle (statues and vat lids) into a hostage rescue and first Kitsune Puzzle Box.
Poison and Lies Deep forest approach More fox gates, trap reads, and statue swaps; sprint for the fleeing Kitsune; unwinnable duel transitions into a wolfsbane hallucination walkout.
The Tale of the Kitsune Skills and trust Dual with Oyuki to learn Listen; permanent Smoke Bombs; village clear; toxin resistance ritual; composition scene.
The Kitsune’s Fate Final push Waterfall braziers/rotations; alternating stealth and brawls through multiple ambush rooms; two‑phase boss pursuit; final duel with Dojun.

Fox puzzles and the directional cipher

Most gates in Teshio Ridge use one of three patterns:

  • Light the right fox lanterns: only ignite lanterns capped by fox figures that match the poses on nearby pedestals or reliefs. You can blow out mistakes before validating a pedestal.
  • Rotate fox statues: align statues to the direction indicated on their bases or by a reference shrine. A common pattern is placing outward‑facing statues on opposite pedestals so both face the gate.
  • Swap statues: sometimes only the two inner foxes are movable; swap their positions to open the door.

Inside the dojo, you’ll record a cipher that links four distinct marks to the four directions used throughout the hideout (up, down, left, right). Keep it handy; some doors only respond when you interact with the statue standing in front of the correct symbol.

Note: Anything marked with the death icon is a trap—interacting can spawn an assassin or inflict damage.

Boss fights: how the Kitsune fights and what to watch for

You’ll meet the Kitsune twice in combat and once in a scripted standoff:

  • First clash (unwinnable): After a downhill slide into a melee, the Kitsune tags you with wolfsbane. Survive long enough to trigger the hallucination sequence with Oyuki.
  • Ambush hall: A large brawl where enemies lob fire from balconies; hold space and pull them down rather than chasing. A standoff opens the room.
  • Final hunts: In one encounter, the Kitsune alternates between a kusarigama and a sword-and-shield after throwing smoke. Dodge the opening unblockable, use heavy strikes to break shields, re‑center with Listen when smoke drops. The last fight strips out most tricks—stay disciplined on dodges and punish windows.

Defeating Dojun yields the Kitsune’s Mask and upgrades the Onryo Armor (improving fear effects and Wolf’s Call progression). The chain also awards a late‑tier Onryo Armor level (IV).

Key rewards and when you get them

Reward Where it unlocks What it does
Nine Tail Armor + Acolyte mask/headband Upper building of the Nine Tails hideout (Blood on the Snow) Stealth‑leaning set from Teshio Ridge’s shinobi; equips on pickup.
Listen ability The Tale of the Kitsune (duel and training with Oyuki) Highlights enemies through obstacles to plan routes and ambushes.
Smoke Bombs (Quickfire) The Tale of the Kitsune (roadside ambush) Instant concealment to reset detection or set up assassinations.
Kitsune’s Mask Final duel with Dojun Vanity mask themed after the Nine Tails leader.
Onryo Armor upgrade End of the arc Improves fear chances and Wolf’s Call interactions.
Tip: From early scouting, you can also flag “The Way of the Kusarigama” training in the mountains and reach kunai access in Teshio Ridge settlements.

Why do this chain first

Starting with The Kitsune shortens the path to stealth gear and tools that pay off across the map. The armor, Smoke Bombs, and Listen all lean into how Yōtei’s spaces are designed to be approached: scout, solve, slip through the door, and cleanly thin groups before a duel. The region’s shrine logic also introduces fox puzzle vocabulary you’ll reuse at hidden camps and doors elsewhere in Teshio Ridge.

Nine Tails Puzzle Boxes in Teshio Ridge

Puzzle Boxes are a Teshio Ridge‑only collectible set with 12 total. The first appears inside the Black Dye House underground path during The Way of the Shamisen. The remaining eleven are spread across:

  • Four Kitsune Altars on the open map (marked once discovered).
  • Seven Yōtei Six camps in the region—some are hidden hideouts gated by fox puzzles. Clear the camp to access the Altar of Reflection and the box nearby.

Boxes always open via sliding stripes and panels in a set order, and their names rotate by the order you collect them (not by location). Rewards range from coins to Iron Sand and Shinobi Steel, plus charms and a mask. Opening all 12 unlocks the Trickster Fox trophy.

Hardest to miss: one box sits under a small camp roof by a corpse at the “r” of Sakuru Woods on the map—unlike the rest, it isn’t at an altar or camp.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

  • Dialogue detour: When paid after helping merchants near Teshio Ridge, choose the option that keeps you moving; the polite refusal stalls the thread.
  • Death-marked pedestals: if a fox base shows the death icon, leave it alone—triggering it can spawn a lethal assassin, especially on higher difficulties.
  • Statue facing: when a gate expects both foxes “toward” the door, that often means swapping sides so their snouts point inward, not out toward the path you came from.
  • Waterfall gate: if the statues spin freely at first, wait for your partner to help steady them, then set right and left to open.
  • Ambush halls: ranged attackers on balconies will eventually drop; don’t tunnel uphill and get surrounded. Hold ground, listen, and punish climbs.

Should you pick another target first?

You can. The Oni and the Saito Brothers arcs also unfold over multiple missions and open different corners of the map. But if you prefer stealth routes and early infiltration tools, the Kitsune chain delivers the biggest immediate return. It’s also a strong showcase of how Yōtei ties environmental riddles to combat pacing, which makes the rest of Teshio Ridge’s hidden spaces feel intuitive.

After settling Teshio Ridge, circle back for the remaining Puzzle Boxes and fox‑locked hideouts you skipped during the chase. The cipher doesn’t change, the statue logic repeats with variations, and the rewards stack cleanly into the builds you’ve just unlocked.