Double Cleave and Tricky Business

I have just arrived home from a game against Jim's yokai-themed Cult of Yurei, and it was a difficult draw in the end.  So far Jim has been roflstomping everyone else with the list, but I put my game-face on and whipped out the Ito Clan to stop this nonsense.  Unfortunately I left Ayako at home, so I didn't have my normal double-Shisai styled lists, which made me grit my teeth at times.  Instead I brought along my double-Cleave ashigaru list, which lacks tricks and really just punches my opponent's models in the face until they give in.  I find it a little uninspiring but a good all-round list.

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Ito Clan - Double Cleave Ashigaru
Ito Kaihime
Ito Masunagi
Naoko
Sakura
Takeji
Temple Bushi
Temple Bushi

Cult of Yurei - Yokai Trickery
Harionago
Wanyudo
Taka & Wrath
+ Kimiko's Whistle
Nezumi
Gaki
Large Rat Swarm
Small Rat Swarm (3)

Drain Spirit

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I can't seem to find space in any of my Ito Clan lists for Special Cards, which I feel is something I should work towards.  There's definitely the surprise factor in having the cards, and they help allay any weaknesses in various lists.  For instance, Arashi's Fan on Naoko is amazing, and goes a long way to stop her being turned into a large pincushion.  Or Dark Secrets can actually win you games if you're even a little lucky with it.  I think what the Ito Clan need at this point is a number of very cheap models.

How Does the List Work?
Well, it's generally very simple, Naoko blinds something, and you have 3 vectors to kill it once the blind has been applied: shoot the target with Kaihime; stab it with Masunagi; stab it with Takeji.  The blind isn't vital, but it goes a long way to help if your opponent is surprised and so can't use any special attacks, special defences, or Ki feats.  Most often when one of the models with Cleave go in, your opponent is down two dice in melee already (Temple are the exception as they have access to Sixth Sense in spades) so you can even utilize Powerful Attack.
That's really it, the Temple Bushi are generally used as fodder to hold up my opponent while my heavy hitters manoeuvre around the table.  I often find Naoko gets shot to death by the end of the second or third turn, so learning how to function without her is a good idea.  However, my opponent has to work to deal with her or else suffer some horrific consequences.