The Rod Of Trial is an item that grants access to the Test Of Valor, which is a 
series of challenges found in several chapters that, upon completion of a test, 
will reward the victor with rare and useful items. In order to get the Rod Of 
Trial, defeat all the enemies running down from the stairs and into the yard. 
When you have killed all the ninjas, the candles behind the fence will light up, 
and the Rod Of Trial will appear. If you hare having difficulty defeating the 
enemies in the yard, target the archers around the perimeter before killing the 
ninjas rushing towards you. The arrows from the archers are difficult to spot, 
especially if you are surrounded by a group of ninjas. The in-game description 
of the Rod Of Trial is "A rod symbolizing the fighting spirit, cast from the 
purest of gold. Those upon whom it is bestowed face an endless path of battle, 
as though they walked through the underworld itself. It is said that those who 
carry it must face hordes of opponents in fights to the death known as Tests of 
Valor. According to legend, this treasure was one possessed by the god of war 
himself."