As I recall, I was doing a chain of quests and was sent to Hattori. I think they intended for us to meet Hattori but not finish his quest until we got further --- but I want to fill out my load of Griffin gear and need griffin swords and have to get them from him ( I think ). So I tried it.
I'm level 18 and, according to some of the internet explanations, you can do this at a lower level, so I tried it. I suspect whoever wrote that article was using some of the cheats that are out there because it was damn near impossible. Not so much because of the level of the boss we had to kill but because the NPC's helping him were even stronger. Some of them could one hit you or two at the most and while you were fighting the boss they came at you from behind and you find yourself dead.
Of course, a quest to gain access to a Master Blacksmith ( I think he is supposed to be the best in the game and can make stuff for you all the way to the top level ) < should > be difficult --- but GEESH --- that's ridiculous.
What made it even more frustrating was the fact you have to stay within a certain area and do it in a certain amount of time --- but they don't tell you that.
But I got through it and I'm moving on. :)
Arizona-Willie: I did restart from an earlier save and finally managed to get the quest done. Threw a lot of bombs and used oil and let the NPC's do most of the work.
Still damn near died.
And, this quest seems to auto-fail if you don't get it done in a certain time or if you wander outside the area as you run away trying to heal up.
Really nasty quest.
Shoelip: Don't talk to Hattori when you're way too low level to do the quest... it says the level of the quest if you select it.
I mean, I know it's too late to be helpful now, but for anyone who hasn't done it yet, that's a pretty simple solution.