The Curse of Kiyomizu-zaka Slope is the sixth chapter of the story in Onimusha: Way of the Sword. It begins at the end of Careful What You Wish For, after defeating Rasho-gan. As usual, throughout this spoiler-free walkthrough we'll help you complete every story chapter 100%, making sure you don't miss anything along the way and providing tips for the more difficult situations.
From this point onward, you can destroy the Malice Barriers that have been blocking access to different areas. There's one right next to you, and these barriers have their own icon on the map once you get close to them, making them easy to locate.
You can also now interact with Yorimasa's monument to buy items. Offerings, consumables and certain materials are available. Before continuing with the story, however, we're going to make use of your new ability to destroy Malice Barriers and clear up a few things we previously left behind. Start by looking for a chest inside a house to the southeast, shown below.
It contains a Whetstone. Now head to any Spirit Mirror and travel to Kiyomizu-dera Temple. We're looking for the Malice Barrier in the southwestern part of the area, so head south from Nio-mon Gate.
Destroy the barrier to find a couple of items and a chest containing Iron. Now head to the Malice Barrier to the north, near the Nio-mon Gate Spirit Mirror.
As soon as you pass through, head east of the next gate to find a small slope leading to a chest containing another Whetstone. Now go through the building you just passed to continue north. There are several minor items in the courtyard and a path leading east. Beside the stairs is a chest containing Hempen Cloth.
Now climb the stairs. You'll be in the southwestern section of the northern building, the area that was blocked the first time you came here. Head south to find one of the Kiyomizu-dera Treasures. It contains a Power Stone.
All right, now we're ready. Enhance whatever you can — and whatever you want — and head toward the mission marker in southeastern Kyoto. Before reaching it, though, take the path north at the intersection. In one of the courtyards where you found one of the Stout Pillars earlier, there's now a chest containing Whetstone x2 and Cotton Cloth.
Now, finally, no more detours. Destroy the southeastern Malice Barrier and continue onward.
After the cutscene, you'll see several plants emitting Malice. Start by running straight ahead through the Malice and climb the ladder at the back on the right. Once you're on the roof, you'll see the stem of the plant to your right.
Defeat the enemies and attack the plant until it's destroyed, but don't cross the bridge that appears yet. First, return to street level and collect the items you probably noticed while running through the Malice. Then climb back onto the roof, cross over and head northwest, dropping down into the fields. Your target is a chest in the northwestern corner of this plot.
The chest contains a Whetstone and Hempen Cloth. Now climb back onto the rooftops, head east — watch out for the archer on a nearby roof — drop down to the street, defeat the enemies, destroy the Malice Barrier and climb the ladders.
From the base of the tower, look ahead and to the right to spot the second Malice-emitting plant.
Drop down to street level and head toward it. Ignore the Rift for now and climb the ladder directly ahead. Defeat the enemies, cross the bridge on the rooftop south of where you emerge, then destroy the plant. You can now drop down and clear the Rift safely. Once it's sealed, climb back onto the roof and continue east across the bridge that appeared where the Rift used to be.
As soon as you cross, you'll see another Malice-emitting plant on a rooftop, but this time there doesn't seem to be a ladder nearby.
Don't worry. All you need to do is drop down and go around the building to find a ladder leading up to the plant. The problem is that once you cut it down, Byakue, Hundred Defilements will appear.
Once you've defeated it, you'll obtain your first Byakue's Talismans. Continue onward and destroy the final Malice-emitting plant. After the cutscene, A Strength in Refuge will begin.
