Assassin’s Creed Shadows features many romance options for both Naoe and Yasuke as part of its RPG system. One of the romance options and a potential ally for the League is Gennojo, a thief who gets into a tussle with Naoe in the main story quest, The Fool. If players make the right choices in the following quests, they can end up recruiting and even making Gennojo a romantic partner for Naoe.

How to Recruit and Romance Gennojo in AC Shadows

During conversations with Gennojo, Naoe will either have the option to keep Gennojo strictly as an acquaintance/ally by selecting the neutral options or romanticize him by selecting the dialog options with the “heart” symbol. Here’s a breakdown of all the choices in missions that will end in either Gennojo being simply recruited or also becoming Naoe’s romantic companion.

Lost Honor (Story Quest)

Lost Honor is the first quest that opens up Gennojo to become Naoe’s romantic partner or ally. After defeating one of the Shinbakufu, Ise Sadaoki, Naoe will have a chat with Gennojo and will have the following dialog options.

You might be right.
You are misguided.

Selecting the “You might be right” option will count towards romanticizing Gennojo, while “You are misguided” will simply keep him open to being recruited as an ally later. Regardless of your decision here, Gennojo’s questline will become available after this mission.

Sake and Swords (Gennojo Questline)

Sake and Swords is the first quest from Gennojo’s questline that involves Naoe meeting up with him near Ogura Pond in the Yamashiro province. Players will find him in an inebriated state with a couple of bystanders witnessing the drama unfold. During a conversation with him, players will get the following dialog options.

You’re putting everyone in danger.
I’m not interested.
Depends on what you’re offering.

Choosing the “Depends on what you’re offering” will further Naoe’s interest in Gennojo becoming a romantic option. However, selecting either “You’re putting everyone in danger” or “I’m not interested” will still lead to Gennojo being recruited.

Honor Among Thieves (Gennojo Questline)

The next mission in Gennojo’s questline will have Naoe meet him near Shokokuji Temple in Kyoto. He’ll ask Naoe to steal a scroll from the Kubo Sama Old Residence. After getting him the scroll, Gennojo will resort to his flirty tone, and Naoe will have a chance to either lead him on or shut him down with the following dialog options.

This is an important choice compared to the rest as this will solidify whether Gennojo stays strictly as an ally or becomes romantically involved with Naoe.

This is serious.
I’m keeping it, then.

Choosing “This is serious” will shoot down Gennojo’s flirty advances, but players will still be able to recruit him later on. However, Naoe can respond to Gennojo’s flirty advances positively by replying, “I’m keeping it, then,” displaying her interest in him.

Stolen Hearts (Gennojo Questline)

Stolen Hearts is the next quest after Honor Among Thieves that requires Naoe to meet up with Gennojo near the Hills of Meeting​​​​​. However, she’ll find that Gennojo has been abducted by soldiers and must rescue him from their clutches. After finding a wounded Gennojo and starting a conversation, players can select any one of these choices.

You should embrace your past.
I’d like to embrace you.

If players are serious about romancing Gennojo, they should select “I’d like to embrace you,” which will quickly cut to Naoe and Gennojo making out. The “You should embrace your past” will block out any chances of romancing Gennojo, but he can still be recruited into the League.

The Godless Harvest (Gennojo Questline)

If Stolen Hearts was the final choice to romance Gennojo, the Godless Harvest quest would decide whether he joins the League at all. After Naoe infiltrates Nijo Palace and finds rice, it’ll trigger a boss fight with Tatsugoro. After the fight, an enraged Gennojo has a fist full of explosives, ready to blow the rice shed to kingdom come.

Here, players will have the following options that will decide Gennojo’s fate in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

Stop Gennojo
Soothe Gennojo
Do nothing

Firstly, players mustn’t choose the “Do nothing” option, as it will result in Gennojo blowing the shed and himself up, getting consumed in the flames of vengeance. So, selecting any other option will lead to Gennojo being recruited as an ally in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.