The Last Ninja/The Wastelands

Walkthrough
In the first part of the game, you need to collect the various items scattered throughout the map. You can get information about which item to colelct by visiting one of the temples, but you are free to collect items in any order.

First, head south until you can collect the sword. Then, head north, collecting any desired items, until you reach the dead body with nunchakus. Return south to the fork and head to the north west once you reach it.

Collect the smoke bomb, and step on the first branch in the swamp. Continue jumping across in a straight line until you reach the other side.

When you reach the second fork, head down the side path to collect the two items. Return, and proceed down the path.

When you reach the dragon, stand directly against the gray section of the southern-most boulder. Equip the smoke bomb, and fire it at the dragon. If you connect, the dragon is slain instantly; run past the corpse and exit the first level. If you kill the dragon and return, it will recover; if you collected all the required items, there should be no reason why you need to return from that point.

Map
In this level, there are three sections. The first is a simple north-south path with a single fork. The second is also a north-south path, with two roads forking off. The third section is a loop between these two branches, although the safest path involves taking only the first branch until you collect the shurkien and returning.