Please explain something about the story to me *spoilers*

[Schizodiver]

I think I understand the game's characters decently enough, what I don't understand are all the factions and how they stand in relation to Sekiro.

So firstly, the main enemies that you encounter from the start of the game. The leader appears to be old man Isshin. You fight your way to the top of the castle, and rescue Kuro (I figured out eventually they didn't simply kill him because he is impervious to harm). So far so good, but it's at this point I don't understand anymore. From this point on, you have Isshin who is friendly and lady Emma. If Isshin is the leader, and he clearly doesn't have a problem with Sekiro because he teaches you skills, drinks sake with you, etc, why are all the warriors of Ashina trying to kill you? I don't understand this. Is it that they're taking orders from Genishiro because you're opposing him? It's just a strange dynamic that you spend so much time in the castle talking to Isshin, Emma and Kuro while the entire Ashina army is trying to kill you. I guess it fits the ninja theme, where you just get into these Japanese castles and nobody can stop you, really.

Then when the dusk sets, the castle becomes under attack and you have to rescue Kuro again. Why does Owl oppose Kuro? (I have not done the bad ending yet). I assume the enemies dressed in purple are the ninja recon force from the Interior Ministry's army but I don't know why they're after kuro.

Then the night sets and the Interior Ministry launches their attack on the castle. This one makes sense, but I still don't understand why the Ashina warriors attack you while you're helping them defend the castle. You have dying Ashina NPCs telling you things like "if you're able to help out with this battle then maybe all hope is not lost" but then you encounter Ashina soldiers out there and they're trying to kill you as much as the Interior Ministry's army men.

I guess while I'm at it, I don't understand Genishiro. He wants to defend his lands but he spends the entire game away working on whatever his plans are for Kuro. How does this help him defend his home?

Anyone know?

[PlutonArioch]

From what I remember, without looking anything up, a short summary:

Isshin is the leader of the Ashina clan, and has taken this land by force in his rebellion, which was shown in the intro cinematic. This is why the ministry is fighting him - they want the land to not be in the hands of some rebels but under their control. Genichiro is his adopted son, and has taken over command because Isshin is old and sick. Emma is Isshins doctor.

Genichiro has forsaken honor in favor of using any advantage he can, to win the war against the ministry. That is what he wants from Kuro. He does not want Kuro dead, but convince him to give Genichiro the "gift" of immortality, so he can not be defeated. Kuro is sort of a vassal of the Ashina clan, not an enemy.

Owl also wants immortality, but in contrast to Genichiro not to save his land and people but to take over everything. He instigated the attack on Hirata Estate, where Sekiro died the first time. Kuro saves him here by giving him immortality. Owl likely planned this, to later convice Sekiro through the Iron Code, to serve him instead of Kuro, and be used as a weapon.

No one has a problem with Sekiro directly, but you are sworn to serve Kuro. Genichiros men don't want you to save Kuro from Genichiro, so they fight you. Except for the few that talk to you, who may or may not know you form before the war, when you were serving a lord of the land. The ministry is not interested who you or Kuro are, you don't serve them, you die.

Isshin is too honorable to even consider doing what Genichiro does, and does not like it, So he sends his doctor to help you, without telling everyone that there might be disagreement in the clans leadership, for obvious reasons.