Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 1 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Clash! Okehazama! 

It was the morning after the night Yoshiharu had sworn loyalty to Nobuna together alone. 

Currently, Goemon had returned and brought urgent news to Yoshiharu in the five leaf Aralia tenement. 

“I have returned from spying at Mino.” 

Without changing her expression, she disinterestedly reported the news. 

But the contents of that were astonishing to Yoshiharu. 

“The Mino nobles, towards Dousan's actions to Nobuna-dono...” 

“What?” 

“They are enraged at his proclamation of handing over the province to her.” 

“Goemon, don't tell me...?” 

“The son of Dousan, Saitou Yoshitatsu, having been stirred by them, has revolted.” 

“Don't keep on breaking sentences. Say it all together, what happened to Dousan?” 

“Dousan was chased out from the main castle of Mino, castle Inabayama.” 

“......My bad. Even if you stutter, I won't laugh, please say it all at once.” 

“As you wish. Ahem....Dousan is gathering his army near Nagara river, it seems like he is preparing to attack Iyamayama(Inabayama) castle.” 

“....pu” 

“.....” 

Yoshiharu thought "Why can't we advance our conversation when this is such an important matter!?". He apologized with his hands clasped together with a tearful mood. 

"Sorry, Goemon-chan. That one was just a fart. I didn't laugh." 

"....Cough. Saitou Yoshitatsu's side proceeded towards the Nagara river with an army 10 times the swize(size) of Dousan's, the battle between fazer(father) and son has started.” 

Goemon bit her tongue! He didn't even have the luxury to laugh at this. 

"That's too rash! Why don't they stay in a castle? Even if it's the powerful Mino's Viper, it's suicide if they face off with an army 10 times more than them in a plain battlefield.” 

"Indeed. Dousan had decided to die proudly in the battlefield." 

"Why?" 

"Most probably because he might be afraid that if the situation turns into a siege, Nobuna-dono will send reinforcements to help him in Mino. If she does that then Imagawa Yoshimoto, who is maing(making) preparations to advance to the kapital(capital), will attack Owari when it's empty.” 

"Reinforcements from Nobuna?" 

"It's true that Nobuna-dono had a difficult personality, but if she starts liking someone, she'll help them till the end" 

"So that ero-geezer wants to die in battle before Nobuna can realize about this coup d'etat in Mino?" 

"As expected from Mino's Viper, to have predicted to such lengths." 

Yoshiharu sprang up and ran out. 

"Sagara-uji, where are you going?" 

"I am going to report to Nobuna." 

"It's best if you don't. Act like you don't know ---- If you tell her Owabi(Owari) will be destroyed." 

"That's Nobuna's business! This isn't news I can just bury!" 

"Ohoh. Sagara-uji, in the period I wasn't here you have really developed a compassion for that princess~nya." 

"That's not true..." Yoshiharu replied unhappily while running to the main citadel. 

Rushing all the way non-stop to Nobuna who was playing with Katsuie, Yoshiharu informed her about Dousan being surrounded by his son's army at Nagara river and being driven into a corner. He reported it without hiding anything. 

"Sa-Saru? How do you know of such a thing?" 

Katsuie asked that while getting tied up with a thread over herself. 

Nobuna had a composed face. 

"Is it true?" 

"Yeah, if it's a lie, you can behead me. But listen to me Nobuna, don't send out reinforcements. If you do Owari will be in danger." 

"Yes. Imagawa Yoshimoto of Suruga can start advancing towards the capital any moment. How can I send out reinforcements to Mino at such a critical time, really...?" 

"Ehhhh? So you are not sending reinforcements?" 

"Aren't you the one who said not to send out reinforcements? I am a very rational person, if you calculate the benefits of this action, then anyone can understand it. After losing the position of head of Mino, Viper is useless now, let us abandon him." 

Nobuna said it as if nothing had happened. 

Wait a minute, something isn't right here. 

Was this fellow really such a heartless fellow? 

"What's wrong with you, you don't seem too happy. Do I have to shout out 'To save Dousan, I don't care about Owari!' to satisfy you?" 

"I-I don't mean it that way! But at least feel a little anxious or sad... don't you don't feel those emotions at all?" 

"A monkey is still a monkey after all. There is just one result "Not to send reinforcements" , which was decided from the start. If that's the case, isn't it useless to worry and get swallowed by such emotions?" 

"....It's-It's like you said. But....Dousan is....." 

"You might not know this, but Dousan knows very well in his heart. If I really send out reinforcements, I will be scolded by him 'You damn idiot!'" 

Well, for far-thinking people like Dousan and Nobuna, this kind of result is obvious, but is it really a decision that can be made so simply? 

Katsuie who had instantly recovered her form holding a spear after hearing the crisis of Dousan was at her wits end thinking "Eh? Eh? No need to go out for battle?" and put down her readied spear. 

"Anyway, that's it. This conversation ends here." 

"But......" 

"Shut up! No buts, I said that's the end of the conversation! Don't keep that behaviour any longer, you monkey face." 

Yoshiharu noticed. 

[Wait, on first glance, Nobuna's face looks as cold as a Noh mask. But after carefully looking, her lips were tightly bitten stuck together...... she wasn't revealing her true feelings. It's the same as the time when she declared to behead Nobusumi.] 

She was forcing herself to abandon her feelings and entered demon king mode. 

Yoshiharu knew that if he said any more, it would only hurt Nobuna. He knew that now was the time to just shut his mouth and say "I understand." 

[This fellow, after losing her own father, is she also going to lose Dousan who she finally met and who understands her?] 

[Can't I do anything?] Yoshiharu was vexed and was tightly scratching onto the Tatami. Katsuie shouted, "Oi Saru, don't scratch it! This tatami is very expensive!" and was going to beat Yoshiharu's head with the handle of the spear--- 

At that moment, Nobuna..... 

"Riku, Saru, listen. Even if Viper is dead, as long as we have the contract to give Mino over, we have the right and reason to go to war with Mino." 

Nobuna took out the contract of handing over Mino while frowning. 

She had neglected it thinking that there might be embarrassing things written on it. 

Katsuie and Yoshiharu gathered at both of Nobuna's sides and peered into the piece of paper in her hand. 

"Don't tell me that ero-geezer wrote something like 'I am not handing over Mino to you~?'" 

"Seems like just any normal official document." 

"I-I am not really good at Kanji so I can't understand what's written.....Uwahhh, idiot. I'm such an idiot! But since Saru can't read them either I won't mind it too much!" 

"So sorry Katsuie, but I can read it just fine." 

"Uwahhhhh, is my brain worse than Saru's?" 

While Saru and the idiot were doing a slapstick comedy on the sides---- 

Nobuna, who started reading the contract with a sour look, had her shoulders shiver slightly as she continued to read it. 

The villain of the chaotic world. The viper of Mino, Saitou Dousan. 

It is said that he used to be a monk during his younger days, but became successful by selling oil in the capital, Kyoto, and using his own fortune became a samurai after entering Mino. After betraying his own master again and again and banishing them using devious and cunning means, he kept on rising and finally sat on the throne of Mino, a huge villain who rose from a mere merchant. 

Whether it be the enemy or his retainers, he was the man known as the 'Viper' who drove fear into everyone. 

But the contents of the contract written by Dousan seemed almost to be from someone else. 

I dote Nobuna-dono more than my own daughter. 

I had thought that my life's purpose and dream of unifying Japan had been stopped mid-way, but after meeting with you, Nobuna-dono, I finally understood that your dream still had a continuation. 

Understanding that my stealing of the country was not futile, there's no more happiness for me. 

If I could be forgiven, I would give this Mino province which I spent half my life on making, and pass on the knowledge and military strategies to Nobuna-dono and assist you in your path towards unification of Japan from behind. I started wanting to spend my remaining years like that. 

But, most probably, if a disaster occurs in Mino, then please forget about this old man and obtain Mino with your own hands. 

If you are willing to become the daughter of Dousan, if you want to inherit the dream of unifying Japan, then definitely don't send out reinforcements. 

As long as you treat my beloved daughter, Kichou, as your own little sister, I have no other requests. 

I am already old, and everyone has to die someday. Partings shall always visit you. However, I was able to see the continuation of my collapsing dream. Always being misunderstood, I spent my life as a villain. Hence, my soul has already been saved. 

Just that is enough. 

If there's one thing I wish for, I hope that someday you meet your other half who understands your dream. I will head towards the afterlife now. 

Just when Nobuna finished reading the contract while trembling, an aide came in. 

"The princess from the Saitou clan has arrived after escaping from Mino." 

The page rapidly reported. 

An aged lady looking like a wet nurse bowed humbly at Nobuna's feet. 

"I am sending over your little sister like promised, furthermore, reinforcements are futile. I have come with this declaration from Dousan" 

Nobuna was in a chaos. 

The mask of the demon king had fallen off, and had become the face of a little girl. 

She let out a wail that no one could hear. 

Trying her best to suppress the feelings that are near exploding. 

"Ful...Full...Full.... forces, Full forces.....!" 

Full force to march to Mino, this is a sentence anyone can imagine. 

"......Excuse me!" 

Katsuie sent a punch right at the abdomen of Nobuna. 

The delicate body could not withstand the power of such a punch, and Nobuna fainted into the arms of Katsuie. 

Yoshiharu was stunned by Katsuie's actions. 

"Ka...Katsuie? What have you done!?" 

"Saru, Dousan is right. We are currently being eyed by Imagawa Yoshimoto's army from the east. So....." 

"So you knock Nobuna unconscious, and after she is awake, tell her 'Dousan is dead'?" 

"Yes! What else can we do?" 

"An army is unneeded. Actually, having a small amount of men is much better. We can send out a suicide squad to save Dousan!” 

"I thought of that long ago! But I can't leave Owari.....! And there is no one else who wants to lead the suicide squad to save Dousan.” 

"Ah, without you, the Owari army is useless! So you have to protect Aoshuu castle and keep an eye out for Imagawa Yoshimoto!" 

"Then... who can I give the "Go die" order? Nobukatsu? or Nagahide? Who can I send out!?" 

"I'll go!" 

"What did you say?" 

"Even if I die there won't be any effect on the Oda clan! Besides, this is my own rash action." 

"Saru.... Do you really have the resolve to go to that extent?" Katsuie looked at Yoshiharu and said lightly. 

"When Nobuna wakes up, just tell her that Saru has fled in search of the world's no.1 bishoujo! Katsuie, got it?" 

Though it's good to put on airs in front of Katsuie, but as a lowly soldier Yoshiharu had no retainers himself. 

So, now he can only go alone onto the battlefield of Nagara river. 

During the journey, he sensed the presence of Goemon. 

"Sagara-shi, I will be troubled if you go die by yourself." 

"Can you give me a hand?" 

"I'm a driftwood, I can't possibly let my own baster(master) rot away." 

"That helps a lot, thank you!" 

"Not leftover body [49] ." 

"It's barbarian language, it means thanks." 

"Oh......Barbarian language......" 

On the journey. 

Goemon rode on the horse she had prepared. 

Because Yoshiharu had no experience in riding horses, he could only allow Goemon to sit in front of him and hugged her back lightly while they rode together. 

Gradually, the thieves under Goemon's command, the "Kawanami group" was assembled. 

The Kawanami group was originally a bunch of thieves led by Goemon's deceased father. 

As a young, small girl, Goemon inherited the position and became the leader. 

Most of these people are actually samurais, but due to various reasons, they had lost their families and joined the huge amount of unemployed people. 

Though no matter how one sees, they are big, bulky men who are no different from bandits, but towards their leader..... 

The Goemon who was the single flower among them, they were abnormally loyal compared to samurais. 

Goemon had never spoken anything about her own issues, but from what Yoshiharu had gathered, Goemon seemed to want her thieves to get back their samurai life. 

But Goemon herself as the head of these thieves, added to the fact that she is a ninja, according to the common sense of the sengoku era, no matter how many feats she achieved, such a character can never be distinguished. 

So, knowing these 2 facts, Goemon is willing to be just a shadow of a soldier, Kinoshita Tokichirou, and from him, start serving Yoshiharu. 

But this is the first time Yoshiharu meet face to face with the members of the Kawanami group. 

Though before today, due to work reasons, he had to borrow the strength of them, but till now, they had never met directly before. 

"Wh...What a scary bunch of people.....! Go...Go...Goemon, did she settle things correctly with them last time?" 

Unintentionally, he had started shivering on the horse. 

With their fierce face full of "Leave your money to buy your safe passage across", those thieves stood around. 

"How dare you hug our leader so intimately, you brat!" 

"To dare to do such a thing to our eternal idol, I will definitely kill him!" 

"Even though we had never touched the leader's small hands." 

"No matter how I look, he does not seem to be decent, it must be like this." 

Under the fierce glares full of jealousy by the bunch of macho men, Yoshiharu's, who was full of sweat, hair is on it's ends. 

"You bunch of men who are so bulky are all lolicons in the end!" The urge to burst out filled Yoshiharu. 

Don't tell me Goemon who had taken off her mask is actually a cutie?" Yoshiharu's heart is filled with such happy delusions. 

The sub-leader of the Kawanami group, Maeda, edged his horse near them and asked. 

"Leader, are we going to war, or to steal?" 

"To steal the Viper of Mino." 

"This is quite a job we have here. How do we do it exactly?" 

"The Viper is at the battlefield of Nagara river. Use rafts to go to Nagara river, once we find Viper, we bring him back to Obari(Owari)." 

"She bit it!" 

"Leader has stuttered again!" 

"She bit her tongue! So irresistible~!" 

"I became a thief just for this exact moment!" 

The macho men of Kawanami group suddenly broke into a bunch of cheers. 

"What the hell happened? This bunch of guys are bad news." Yoshiharu was feeling more and more scared. 

On full speed over to the river, they finally changed from their horses to rafts. 

But Goemon lightly waved her small hand, asking Yoshiharu to not follow. 

"It's ok if Sagara-shi doesn't follow us." 

"No, I must go. How can I let just you guys take the risk?" 

"This guy unexpectedly has some backbone!" 

The Kawanami group start chattering. 

"No, Sagara-shi will drag us down." 

"Yes! Will definitely drag us down!" 

The Kawanami group continues to chatter. 

"You bunch of people are just parroting.... Anyway, I'm definitely going! Dousan has decided to die in this battle so he will not listen to you guys, let me talk to him!" 

"......if it's this reason, roger." 

"Yes, we need the strength of you!" 

"Come on, all you guys ever do is parroting and cheering in numbers..... What kind of lolicon army is this?" 

Towards the Kawanami group, compared to land, using the rivers to steal is much more in their profession. 

Especially in the areas of Nagara river, to them, it's like their own backyard. 

What is lucky is that it's currently the season of rain. There's mist all around them, and their rafts safely passed through the border of Owari and Mino and successfully sneaked into the deepest parts of the battlefield. 

At the beach of the Nagara river, the army of Dousan is having a death match with Saitou Yoshitatsu. 

The battle is obviously not in Dousan's favor. What is left are just soldiers around his main base. 

They reach in the nick of time! On the raft, Yoshiharu put on a GUTS pose unknowingly. 

"If the mist isn't big sneaking in will be hard, looks like Sagara is right in coming with us~nya." 

"She bit it! Leader stuttered again!" 

"Ahhhh~ So irresistible ~!" 

"I can finish another three helpings!" 

"That's why I said you guys should stay quiet! Steer the raft closer to the base!" 

Yoshiharu with Goemon stood onto the beach, and rushed onward over to Dousan's base. 

On the way, Goemon kept throwing a thing like a smoke bomb so wherever they went there was just mist and smoke. 

After engulfing the entire surroundings of the base with smoke, Goemon rushed towards the side of Dousan who was sitting on a bench. 

Yoshiharu was instead being tripped over many times by the smoke shouting, "Wait for me!" and trippped his way over to Goemon's side. 

"Saitou Dousan, don't say anything and come with us to Owari." 

"Brat, it's you who came after all." 

Dousan, seemingly unfazed by their sudden appearance, sits on the bench not moving. 

"Fu~Fu~Fu~ I won't go." 

Though the tone is light it reveals an abnormally strong will. 

Without good skills it's impossible to subdue this old commander. 

Even if we subdue him with conviction who knows how many more men will lose their lives, and if Dousan chooses to commit suicide all those will be for naught. 

"As expected, Sagara-shi is critical in such a situation." Goemon mumbled. 

Yoshiharu stands up and started the quarrel with Dousan. 

"Geezer! I understand why you want to end your life here with a bang, but think carefully! How sad will Nobuna be if you just left her alone!?" 

"You...idiotic brat!!!!!" 

Dousan glared at Yoshiharu with eyes almost popping out, and shouted at him. 

Being alarmed by such a sudden shout Yoshiharu couldn't help but take a step back. 

"Uwahh. That scared me." 

"This is too dumb, brat! My life is all but gone, but Nobuna and you youngsters have much to go still!" 

"Huh? What has that gotta do with anything?" 

"Brat. I meant, compared to me, if even you lose your life here Nobuna-dono will be even more upset." 

"Ehhh!? Why?" 

"....Mister, your intelligence can be compared to a monkey's. With just this much you dare to call yourself someone from the future?" 

"We don't have time to hesitate anymore." Goemon whispered into Yoshiharu's ears. 

"Brat, listen to this old man. The thing called dreams is something to be shared with someone. If it's just yourself it can only be called ambition. No matter how you explain it to others the surrounding people will never acknowledge it." 

"Er....Sorry. I don't really understand......" 

"What I meant is, will Nobuna-dono's dream be just an ambition that she spent her whole life on, or will it become something shared between the country and the people, the choice is in your hands." 

"......Because that fellow had no other way, so the only retainer who can understand her dream in this era, and holding the same dream, so as to say me, is definitely crucial. Geezer, is this what you mean?" 

"Uhh. Knowing this is enough. If you understand, please return." 

"How can I return empty handed?!" 

Yoshiharu stuck his butt onto the grass with a "Tuh", and stared at Dousan, speaking loudly. 

"If you are so stubborn to not leave here, then I will stay here too. Let's get killed together then!" 

".....Mister, you.....!?" 

"What I say from now on is a secret, don't tell anyone. Though Nobuna isn't frank with herself and is a totally uncute brat, she did tell me a lot about herself. She told me that the people she likes... people she relied on all left her and died in the end!" 

"What?" 

"Her face at that time.... was so sad that it was unbearable! She showed that face again while reading the contract that geezer wrote! It's an expression that she might just burst into tears! That brat's sad expression, I do not want to see it again!" 

".....Uhh..." 

"So Geezer, you should definitely not die here!" 

Dousan laughed lightly, and slowly raised himself from the bench. 

"......Mister, after hearing what you said I feel even more that you can't die right here." 

"Hmmm? Why is it about me now?" 

"As expected, it's the era of youngsters now. This battle, I had lost entirely." 

"Good job, Sagara-shi." Goemon praised while she threw the rest of her smoke bombs around. 

But. 

This is right in the middle of the Nagara river battlefield. 

After decimating Dousan's army, Saitou Yoshitatsu's army had charged towards Dousan's base from all directions. 

The enemy only had one purpose, the general, Saitou Dousan's head. 

Just the Kawanami group lead by Goemon can never be able to withstand such an army. 

"Leader, if we don't retreat we will be squashed!" 

"Uhhh, let's go then." 

"Damn, the mist has dispersed!" 

"Ohh, it's already noon." 

"Shut up, monkey face mister, it's all because of your long and lengthy sentences that the situation became like this!" 

"So now, the chances that we will get back to Owari safely. No matter how we see it, they are gone now." 

With Dousan's raft as the head, the group starts retreating from the battlefield. 

The ones in charge of the back are Yoshiharu and Goemon. Yoshiharu held a bow for the first time in his life, and with a purpose of scaring the opponent off, started to shoot at the boats which were chasing them. 

"Bo...Bows are actually this heavy? It's tough, I cant pull it back." 

"Sagara-shi, sticking your body out is too dangerous. You will be shot at by the enemies' prrows(arrows)." 

Such a terrifying chase. 

The enemy's general, Saitou Yoshitatsu, Dousan's son. 

But, the two of them do not have any blood relations. Yoshitatsu is the son of the previous master of Mino who was banished by Dousan. 

At the time, when Dousan banished the master and captured Mino, to shut the nobles who were protesting non-stop he had to adopt the son and name him his own successor. 

Because Dousan's "Give Mino over to Owari's Oda Nobuna" totally went against his previous statement, the nobles who had long found the Viper untrustworthy began to name Yoshitatsu as the master and started the revolt. And Yoshitatsu hated that his own birth father was banished by Dousan, and without any hesitation, he began to revolt along as well. 

Since he had become the enemy of Viper, no matter what, he had to finish him off. 

Knowing how fearsome the Viper is, Yoshitatsu's army gave it their all. 

With Owari's financial power added to Dousan's craftiness there will be a possibility that Mino might be conquered. 

Because of this, there is definitely a need to not let the Viper, Saitou Dousan, flee to Owari. 

Yoshitatsu himself chased with all his might, he himself having joined the pursuit. 

Fiery arrows rain down on them, as their attacks are seemingly trying to sink the Kawanami group's rafts. 

It was hopeless. 

Even Yoshiharu can't help but let out his voice. 

The mist is all gone, lifting his head, all he can see are the bright skies. 

Like using all the blue paint, such a clear blue sky is impossible to be seen in modern cities. 

The rafts had been hit with a few of the arrows, and with these adding onto the weight, the raft is starting to tremble and the speed has dropped. 

3 feet, 2 feet, Yoshitatsu's boats seem to be almost reaching. 

"It's the limit, the enemies' numbers are just too much!" 

"Sagara-shi, just abit more to the territory of Owari." 

"Even so, these people won't just give up like that....!" 

All was gone. 

But. 

From Owari's side of the river, they heard the loud voice of a girl. 

"Do not let Yoshitatsu's army climb the hills! All troops, attack!" 

It's the voice of Nobuna who was leading the army. 

And, behind Nobuna, thousands of the Owari army await. 

Aiming at the boats of Yoshitatsu's army, Nobuna's army's archers rain down arrows upon them. 

"Retreat, retreat!" 

Not expecting the Oda army to come out in force, Saitou Yoshitatsu shouted out the retreat order. 

To cut down Dousan's head, Yoshitatsu's army in pursuit had split their armies and had formed the shape of a snake. 

If at this time they clash with the Oda army who was at the sides, the snakelike troops would definitely be eliminated entirely. 

Yoshitatsu, expected to be the godson of Dousan, had his way in leading the armies and fighting wars. 

While serving Dousan he had carved Dousan's strategies deeply in his mind. 

As such, even his retreat was not delayed by a second. 

Under his command, Yoshitatsu's boats did a U-turn in the river and retreated in the direction of Mino. 

At Yoshiharu's side, Goemon let out a weird "Nya~uh", as if she relaxed suddenly. 

"This kind of situation is totally getting saved in the nick of time." 

"Wait a minute, why is Nobuna here? Isn't she supposed to be sleeping in Aoshuu castle?" 

Yoshiharu thought, "With this, won't everything become meaningless?" and started to panic. 

And, even Shibata Katsuie is at Nobuna's side. 

It's true that without Katsuie's wits, the Owari army is nothing but useless people gathered together. 

But with this, isn't Owari totally opened for Imagawa Yoshimoto....? 

No matter what, Dousan and Yoshiharu's party was saved right at the last moment. 

Under the cheers of the Kawanami group, Yoshiharu brought Dousan down from the raft and climbed the hill. 

"This is your world number 1 bishoujo, Saru?" 

Nobuna, coming down from the horse and sitting down onto the bench without a word, Katsuie was "Oh...hohoho......" and smiling at the side. 

"Why is Nobuna here? And isn't it full force! Katsuie, don't tell me you told this fellow my whole plan?" 

"I...I had no other choice! After being asked non-stop by Nobuna-sama, I could only say it out, right?" 

"Since there is no other way, then at least stop her! Just knock her unconscious again!" 

"Sto...Stop saying stupid things! Punching Nobuna-sama twice? There's a limit to being rude, idiot!" 

"So in the end, even you came over from Aoshuu castle?" 

"No...No other way, right? How can I let Nobuna-sama come here alone......" 

"You slow witted idiot, at least think of what happens later!!" 

"What are you saying? I have no reason to be called an idiot by a monkey like you! Actually, if we didn't come here, Dousan and you will have died here, isn't it?" 

"That's two separate issues!" 

"It isn't two separate issues, ok? If you die, would you be here chattering non-stop?" 

"A fellow like you will start chattering by herself with just your breasts!" 

"Wh...What did you say!?" 

Nobuna glared at Katsuie and Yoshiharu quarreling without a word, and said "Too noisy!" unhappily. 

The both of them stopped like a stone in an instant. 

"If we didn't come in full force, Yoshitatsu would have started to come ashore to chase you guys. With me and Katsuie in the lead, and a resolve to finish it off, this is the best way for Yoshitatsu to retreat." 

"B...But..." 

Nobuna's palm flew straight towards Yoshiharu. 

Without any warning, Yoshiharu was hit by a slap. 

"Damn Saru, in the end isn't this the result of you being reckless!? Since there is no other way to save Viper other then sending in a suicide squad!" 

"Nobuna-sama, it's my responsibility for not stopping Saru! I'm very sorry!" 

"Enough. Treating this Saru as a retainer, I'm too dumb" Nobuna sighed. 

"But Saru, I will never forgive you! How dare you do such a thing behind my back!" 

"Sorry. I had planned to bring geezer back while you're still sleeping." 

"This is what I meant by being overboard! You did not even bring a spear, why are you still acting like you can do everything!?" 

"......I can understand why you are angry, I won't find any excuse, it's all my fault. But, if you are really angry, you could have just not saved us, right? I had planned this before setting out as the suicide squad." 

"Tah!", Nobuna had sent a punch right at Yoshiharu's abdomen. 

Like in the past, Yoshiharu did not avoid it. 

"Its... Its not like I'm here to save you, don't be stupid! I'm here for Viper, because if Viper can come over to Owari I have even more reason to attack Mino! Yes, just for this reason only!" 

"Ahh, so that's it." Yoshiharu finally started to be angry, and gash his teeth. 

Nobuna's mood is getting much worse by the minute. 

"For a fellow like you, even if you were killed by Yoshitatsu's army, there isn't any problem to me!" 

"What are you trying to do, why are you stirring up things?" 

After getting retorted by Yoshiharu, Nobuna had planned to say something back. 

But, after a "I...." escaped from her mouth, she hurriedly bite her lips. 

And when she next open her mouth, a torrent of words assaulted Yoshiharu. 

"I...I...I... Because I hate someone like you!" 

"Oioi, saying this isn't right..." 

"Al...Always acting like you understand me, there's a limit to being rude, ok!?" 

"I see! Ahh, I got it! For a fellow like you who is so impatient, willful and totally un-cute, I hate it too!" 

"Don't use strange monkey language on me!" 

"Who is talking to you, you self conscious woman!" 

"Execution, execute him now! I don't need a fellow like him! Go to where you want now!" 

"No... Nobuna-sama, there isn't a need to say till....." 

Looking at the intense quarrel, Katsuie had to become the pacifier unwillingly. Nobuna and Yoshiharu were both red in the face, and with a snort, both turn and face away from each other. 

At this instant, a horse rushed into the base, and the rider is Niwa Nagahide who was supposed to be stationed in Aoshuu castle. 

"Suruga's Imagawa Yoshimoto is heading towards Owari with a 25000 strong army. It seems like she had finally made up her mind to head to the capital. 

"So she did notice our castle is empty. It's all the fault of this Damn saru." Nobuna's expression seemed grumpy and mumbled with a volume so low that almost no one can hear. 

"Actually, it's your fault, ok?" Yoshiharu muttered while turning his head back. Their view never crossed paths. 

Katsuie who was stuck between them, was so messed up by the uncomfortable atmosphere between them that her own stomach started to churn. 

"The few bases near the border have been conquered one by one, our current situation is just 1 point." 

"No matter if it's me or the Oda clan, all is gone now. "Owari's nagoya" will be a thing of the past." 

"Hime, that depressed way of saying things, even if it's a 100 points, I can only give it 5 points." 

"Stingy, Manchiyo. At least a 20." 

"Even the 5 points was given because it's Princess." 

Even under such a situation, the usual smile of Nagahide is still there. 

Katsuie was thinking "Nagahide is so strong" and was deeply respectful towards Niwa Nagahide while thinking up plans to repel the enemies. Finally, she thought of one. 

"Oh...Oh ya! Nobuna-sama, how about listening to the suggestions of Dousan?" 

Katsuie's "ask others for help" strategy. 

Anyway... 

".......Uhhh.... My back... My back......" 

The crucial Dousan's old illness seems to have relapsed during the travelling period and is now lying down onto the bench while massaging his back. 

"Uh,uhhhh... This is the first time I have experienced such pain... I can't think properly either....." 

"Damn! You damn geezer playing tricks like this in such a crucial period?" 

Another scout returns. 

"Imagawa forces have broken through into the territory of Owari." 

"Hokkaido's strongest bow" Imagawa Yoshimoto, after knowing that Owari which is an obstacle to her way towards the capital is empty, attacks elegantly with her troops. 

According to the calendar, it's 18th of May in this world. 

But according to modern times, it should be June. 

Just like the mist in the morning, it's the season of rain. 

Though it is sunny now, the humidity and temperature is pretty high, a hot and wet season. 

The base at Marune which is between Owari and Mikawa is the final line of defense against Imagawa which Nobuna built. 

For Imagawa, if she can capture it, it's smooth sailing all the way towards Aoshuu castle. 

Flattening Owari with her steel shoes just like this, and then conquer Omi and on towards Kyoto. 

Just like Yoshimoto's style, it's a plan which is kinda sloppy. 

"Oh~hohoho. It's really hot, I wanna rest for a while! Use this time to set up the camp properly." [50] 

This trip to Kyoto, Yoshimoto had spent quite an effort in dressing up, appearing in a very formal and grandiose attire. 

But no matter what, wearing the full Juunihitoe in this weather is just too dumb, 

Even getting up and down from the horse requires a huge amount of aides to help out. 

Add the fact that due to the heat, to avoid having a heat stroke, rest is needed at a place called Kutsukake. 

But, as long as her retainers do their job while she is sleeping, they can still keep the schedule to head to Kyoto. Resting aside, Yoshimoto did not forget to waste time pushing on her noble strategy. 

"Motoyasu? Motoyasu~?" 

"Yes~ Here~." 

While elegantly cooling off from the heat in her base, Yoshimoto called her lackey, Motoyasu, to her side. 

Matsudaira Motoyasu was actually Mikawa's master, but she had encountered multiple unfortunate incidents from birth. First is being taken hostage by the Imagawa clan, and then getting kidnapped by the Oda clan, and after a few twist of events, she was back under Imagawa Yoshimoto as her lackey. Living half of her life getting kicked around like a ball, she was an ill-fated girl. 

The long period as a hostage and multiple kidnapping incidents, add to the fact that she had to follow each and every wish of the extremely willful Imagawa Yoshimoto had changed her to always smile deviously and a very cunning tongue. 

Motoyasu who was looking at the improperly dressed Imagawa Yoshimoto who was fanned by aides while complaining "It's so hot.....", is still having an expression that seems like she can lick her feet willingly anytime. 

"I want to rest here for a while to prepare myself." 

"Roger~ Then, I will too~" 

"What are you talking about, Motoyasu? You will lead the army now and capture that base of Marune." 

"Roger~. Then, I will finish off all the Oda army who are trapped in the base~" 

"Towards those fools who dare oppose me there is no need for mercy. Oh hohoho." 

"Ah, what a beautiful but evil laugh~. Hmmm, hehehe." 

"The evil one is you Motoyasu, using Ninjas to conduct those shadowy battles is your favorite skill. Oh hohoho." 

"It might be so~. Hmmm, hehehe." 

Ordering Matsudaira's troops to handle all battles on route to the capital, letting her troops rest. 

If Motoyasu died in battle then I can just absorb Mikawa as my own. Even if she survives she can at least reduce the amount of those loyal warriors of Mikawa. 

With this the troops of Imagawa don't need to go into battle themselves, and can easily advance to the capital. 

A strategy filled with the air of nobility, elegant and graceful. Yoshimoto had it all planned out. 

"This is the way Nobles fight. I have such a brilliant brain. Oh, hohoho." 

"Though I don't quite get it, but it's like this~. Hmmm, hehehe." 

"Owari, under the governing of a fool, after witnessing my Imagawa army's strength there is no other way than running." Imagawa Yoshimoto thought to herself with confidence. 

Actually, at the same time when they were surrounding Marune, Motoyasu had advanced towards the plains. But though they were already at the territory of Owari the farmers were welcoming them with "The princess of Imagawa clan has arrived!" and they met no resistance at all. 

The night darkens. 

In Nobuna's base not a sound was heard in the silence. 

After saving Saitou Dousan, Nobuna, who had the fiercest quarrel ever with Yoshiharu, had been reduced to a hikikomori in her own base. And no matter how long the retainers wait she had not given a single order. 

At this moment the urgent news that the base at Marune had been nearly conquered by the surrounding Matsudaira Motoyasu forces was here. 

"Motoyasu had already sent ninjas into the base and fire had broken out in the backyard." 

"What an evil battle plan." 

"How long will Hime-sama wait like this!?" 

As the head retainer of Nobuna, Katsuie had gathered all of the retainers and is currently holding a strategic meeting. 

The reason she chose this place was also because she can let the hikikomori Nobuna hear the contents of the meeting. 

But, as a warrior, other than "If that's the case, we should just march our entire army towards Imagawa's troops." such a suicidal plan, Katsuie can think of no other plans. And all other generals can only think of "Protect Aoshuu castle at all costs and hope Imagawa troops will pass by Owari." such depressing plans. 

"All of you are too naive! At the end, we will just be eliminated by Yoshimoto! We will not have any reinforcements from Mino." 

Like what Katsuie said, we will be finished if we avoid the battle. 

"Let me lead and rush to the base of Yoshimoto." 

Niwa Nagahide smiled and lightly shook her head. 

"The enemy have a total amount of 25000, and we a bare 2000 strong army. No matter how valiant our Katsuie-dono is, you will use up your energy before you reach her base. 17 points." 

"Then what should we do, Nagahide?" 

"I too, have no good plans." 

"Dousan?" 

"His back seems to be hurting him a lot, looks like he won't be of much use. 3 points." 

"That damn geezer~!" 

"Now, we should follow Hime's will and decide on our actions. That will give us 90 points." 

"But, Nobuna-sama is......" 

".....Because she quarreled with Saru-dono, looks like she is not in a good mood." 

The both of them look inwards together. 

Anyway, Yoshiharu, who was ordered to be executed, was seen sitting beside Nagahide cross-legged in a rare sight, as if he was thinking about something. 

By right, he should be removed and returned back to ronin status and be driven out, but none of them did anything. 

Whether Nobuna-sama is a simple fool or a general who has the big ambition to conquer the world, all of that can be seen from her next order. 

Suddenly, the curtains inside of the camp was pulled away. 

Nobuna had decided. 

Her skin was white like snow. 

But her eyes radiated a fiery glow. 

She is never a foolish person. 

All of her retainers knelt down before her. 

"Such a princess will never make the decision to stay back and defend." Katsuie and Nagahide can tell. 

"Riku! Beat the drum!" 

Using a high tone, Nobuna said loudly. 

Katsuie pick up the drum, and drummed a rhythm by the name of "Atsumori" 

Nobuna stood up from the bench and danced to the tune. 

"A life of 20 years, compared to this world, is but a fleeting dream. Someone with this life, how can there be anything that lasts forever?" 

The people in audience, not one made a single sound. 

Yoshiharu, Katsuie, Nagahide and the others, at this moment, carved this image of Nobuna dancing with her resolve to die in their minds. 

Just that, not knowing when, a certain area in the body is warming up. 

It's a call from the battle field. 

Wanting to... go to war. 

With the song ending Nobuna rushes out of the base without a word. 

Alone on her horse, towards the battle with Imagawa army. 

The retainers all followed behind panicking. 

Leaving Yoshiharu behind. 

Not even a glance, ignored like he was the air, Yoshiharu was left behind. 

But, thoughts like leaving Nobuna's side just like this had never cross his mind. 

"Because I had wanted to save Dousan, leaving Aoshuu castle empty, Imagawa army had the chance to attack..... It's all my fault. Being ignored is obvious, but..." 

Even if I'm ignored or hated, I do not want that fellow to die. 

I was a ronin before. 

It's the same when I had first come to this world and gotten lost. 

"Even if I had to battle alone..." While lightly saying Yoshiharu stood up. 

At the back a voice rang out. 

"Mister, don't lose your life from meaningless battles." 

It's Saitou Dousan. 

It seems like his body still wasn't back in good condition as aides were supporting him. He seems to want to express something. 

"Nobuna-dono isn't banishing you because she hates you or something. It's because she doesn't want you to die from a battle with zero chance of victory so she wants you to run for your life." 

"Geezer, what are you saying? Don't tell me you are really muddle headed?" 

"Because that brat isn't honest at all, and you don't seem to understand yet. I was seeing things very clearly." 

Really, it's like that, huh? 

If so... 

"If so, though I don't like it, but this means that maybe she has just a tiny bit... maybe just a tiny bit of cute-ness in her....." Yoshiharu thought. 

"How is it, have you made up your mind to run?" 

"Geezer, thanks. I finally had the resolve! I've decided to battle it out!" 

"How can I abandon this stupid and dangerous fellow" Yoshiharu's eye's started to emanate a glow, and his expression became serious. 

"Not planning to escape?" 

"If I abandon that fellow and ran away by myself I will forever be a coward, right!? If that can also be considered as Sagara Yoshiharu I won't allow that ever!" 

Strength started to flow from his whole body. 

There wasn't a tinge of fear. 

"Geezer, you said before, things like dreams are meant to be shared with people. I had swore an oath to fulfill that fellow's dream, and help her out where I can in this world! For someone who had traveled through time, how can that fellow not have someone like me?" 

"I get it..... Because there is such an oath between you guys that child had to make the choice to banish you." 

Dousan bore with his back pain and mumbled "How young, the both of you are so young." 

"Compared to this, don't tell me you have some plan? Geezer, you are the Mino's Viper who had all devious plans under the world in your head." 

"Now I'm just a geezer who had retired. From now on, it's the era for youngsters." 

"Wait! Don't go retire on your own!" 

Hohohoho~ 

Dousan let out a strange laughter and pointed at Yoshiharu's nose and said. 

"Mister, you yourself, aren't you the one with plans? Didn't you proclaim yourself as one who can see the future?" 

"......How can I see it? It's just that I know a bit from the knowledge I have. But....." 

"But?" 

"It's not like I'm totally clueless. It's very possible that what is happening now is a very famous battle." 

"If so let's gamble on that thinking of yours. Compared to just swinging spears around use your future knowledge to help Nobuna-dono. That is what you should actually be doing, right?" 

".....Ahhh, that's it!" 

"Using your mediocre skills you can't help Nobuna-dono as a soldier. Since you had resolved to help that brat I will not stop you anymore, but this time around you are gambling your life." 

Just how can I change things to have the best ending, just how can I protect Nobuna.... 

Keep thinking of problems like this. 

At this moment, Yoshiharu finally abandoned all hesitations. 

"Only by living can I serve my master properly." 

I understand, geezer. 

Yoshiharu said his farewells to Dousan and headed towards the direction Nobuna is in. 

On route, he met Goemon who was riding a horse and the Kawanami group who god knows where they came from. 

"Sagara-shi, no matter how I see it the Oda clan had ran it's course. Do you want to go to other clans?" 

Facing Goemon's question Yoshiharu answered with a smile. 

"How can I go! The master I serve can only be the Oda Nobuna! Such a troublesome master, I don't want another!" 

"Are you sure?" 

"Yes!" 

"Hehe." Goemon laughed lightly under her mask. 

"Roger. If that's the case allow me to follow you to the end." 

"What a brave chap!" Kawanami's macho men started to cheer too. 

Jumping onto Goemon's horse in an instant, Yoshiharu said out his destination. 

"Onward to Okehazama. Sorry, let us be the suicide squad again!" 

"Okehazama? But the Nobuna army is currently gathering at Atsuta Shrine." 

"If it's Atsuta Shrine we can go later." 

"Why?" 

"According to my game knowledge this battle is most likely the famous "Battle at Okehazama"." 

"Uhh, it's that geimu knowledge." 

"If it's true then Imagawa Yoshimoto will be carelessly resting at Okehazama! If we launch a sneak attack now we will definitely win!" 

"It's impossible to launch a sneak attack with just us. There is not enough manpower." 

"What we are doing now is to check on the exact position of the enemies' base! We must make sure if Imagawa Yoshimoto is really at Okehazama!" 

"I get it, but if Nobuna chooses not to believe in Sagara-shi's report, what do we do?" 

"That fellow will definitely believe it." 

"The fact if we become warriors will really depend on this." the sub-leader of the Kawanami group, Maeda, said in a panic. 

"Chap, if we win remember to return leader to us." 

"Please!" 

"But, mister, if you dare to touch our eternal idol, leader Goemon, we will kill you!" 

"The leader is!" 

"Eternally!" 

"Pure!" 

"That's why I say why are a bunch of macho guys like you all lolicons. I'm full of despair for the lolicons of this world." Yoshiharu sighed while hugging onto Goemon's waist. 

Yoshiharu and the gang took off on a different course compared to Nobuna's army and headed to the borders of Owari and Mikawa where the 25000 strong Imagawa army is. 

"We will reach Okehazama soon. If we let out any noise we will be discovered by the enemy. From here we should plimb(climb) the mountain on foot." 

"Leader bit her tongue!" 

"That's a precious encounter of biting the tongue!" 

"I... can now die without regrets!" 

"You...You guys, shut up!" 

Finally...... Yoshiharu jumped down from the horse, shivering a bit with excitement. 

But, "That's Okehazama" which Goemon was pointing to, was not a valley but a small mountain with a certain level of height. 

"Wait.....Goemon, that's a..... mountain?" 

"I said, it's a mountaintop named "Mount Okehazama"." 

".....Mount....Mount? Oke...Oke...Okehazama is the name of a mountain?" 

"Of course." 

"To...Towards a base that was mounted on top of a mountain, will we be successful in attacking?" 

"Impossible. The movements of the Oda clan on the plains below can be seen perfectly." 

"Impossible!? So it can't be done if it's not a valley?" 

Yoshiharu's confidence was shattered with lots of "kachak" sounds. His self-confidence became confusion and had "level down" in various meanings. 

So it can't be done? Is the real world different from the game? Is that difference this big? 

Don't tell me due to me saving Saitou Dousan from his death in the civil war of Mino I've changed the course of history? Has the parallel worlds had a split somewhere? 

Uhh...Uwaahhhhhhh!? 

If the knowledge I get from games is totally useless then what use do I have here!? 

So.... I'm just a little brat that was banished to this sengoku era!? 

The higher the confidence is for a guy the greater the disappointment is when his hopes are shattered. 

Mental breakdown! 

"Save me, Goe~mon! You're bullying me again, ahhhh~!" 

"Do...Don't be rash! Don't hug me~nya! not so tight~nya!" 

After being bathed by the killing stares of the Kawanami group, Yoshiharu finally came to his senses. 

Somehow, I was totally down and was hugging Goemon's waist while kneeling down, making a fuss all the while. 

"Sa...Sa...Sa...Sagara-shi, calm down. What had actually happened~nya?" 

"The mediocre sengoku gaming knowledge I had are all shattered! What should we do now?" 

"Ok, release me first then we'll talk." 

"Kill this bastard!" The kawanami group who were all bleeding tears started rushing over. 

With muscles almost touching his eyes, Yoshiharu had to use his rarely used brain and turn it up to full capacity. 

"Wait, Waitwaitwait! Calm down and let me... think about it! Recall about the Okehazama event in the game "Oda Nobunaga no yabou"...! That's an event that will suddenly happen when making the choice in the 1st chapter.... I should have played it through tens of times...." 

It should be...... 

While Imagawa forces are attacking Owari, Oda Nobunaga dances to the “Atsumori” tune and leads a sneak attack to Yoshimoto's main base in Okehazama. 

.....Wrong, it's not like this! 

"Though the legends are that of the Battle of Okehazama, but Yoshimoto's death place is at a place called "Dengakuhazama". I think that is what I heard from my memories, right!?" 

"I got it! Yoshimoto's main base, it should be at "Dengakuhazama"!" 

"Its...It's "Dengakuhazama"?" 

"Hmmm, don't tell me "Dengakuhazama" is a mountain top named "Mount Dengakuhazama"? You are not saying that, right?" 

"It's brue(true) that bhere(there) is a mountain bop(top) named Dengakuhazama, yes, that's right." 

"Goemon? Why are you stuttering as soon as you open your mouth?" 

"Plea...Please don't bare(care) about me~nya... Uhhhh...." 

"Why is your face red?" 

"Be...Be...Being hugged bightly(tightly) by a man.... Uhhhhhh~" 

"Buck up, Goemon! Is it a fever? You gotten a cold?" 

"You better get your ass away from our leader! Her skin will rot!" The angry rants from the macho guys started ringing out. 

"Wait a minute!" 

In front of Yoshiharu help appeared! 

From the numbers it seems to be around a hundred. 

And all of them are cute pretty girls chosen from Owari. 

But there weren't any warriors, most are villagers or farmers. 

As for the warrior who lead this army that has almost 0 strength, it is..... 

"Owari's bishounen! Oda Kanjuurou Nobukatsu, actual name, Oda Nobusumi, to fulfill the promise with Saru-kun, we are here!" 

"Ahh, Nobukatsu, so you are alive. I forgot all about it." 

".......Me being alive isn't a small matter!" 

"When I didn't see you during the military meeting I thought you had camped somewhere and escaped." 

"That's rude of you. As the bishounen of Oda clan, how can I do something shitty like running away? It's just that because I had revolted a few times they did not allow me to join the meeting, ha~ha~ha." 

"Is that something to be proud of....." 

Nobusumi-sama is the best! 

So cool! 

You can do so much for this ugly guy due to friendship! 

Ahh, the friendship between guys is just the best, it's the absolute best that I had come to this sengoku era. 

At the midst of the cheers and screams Nobusumi raised his fist and said, "Hahaha, though it's the truth I will still feel embarrassed if someone points it out, right?" and started to laugh, revealing his white teeth. 

Goemon, who looks totally unhappy, drew out her ninja sword and rested it on Nobusumi's shoulders. 

"Wawa! Ninja-san, what are you doing? I'm the reinforcements!" 

"Shut up. Such a pestering guy like you, not saying helping us, you will just drag us down. Why don't we just pinish(finish) him off, Sagara-shi." 

"Wait, Goemon. No matter what we can't kill such cute girls, that's the very least of my limit. If you break this promise then our combination is finished." 

"What is Kom...Bi..nation?" 

"If it's Nobusumi, do as you like." 

"Saru-kun! That's too heartless of you!" 

"There is no more time to waste, we have to sneak into Dengakuhazama." 

"Sagara-shi, what is wrong with Okehazama?" 

"Because Okehazama is a mountain top rather than a valley, right?" 

"Nobusumi-sama, at the east of Mount Okehazama there's a narrow field." one girl from Nobusumi's troop said. 

There was someone who was a child of a local farmer. 

Since they are locals they will know the lands around here. 

From what the girl said the locals did not just call the mountain Okehazama, even the east fields had been called the same. 

"Actually, there is a name by "Kotobuki kagirina kotobuki kagirina sh?ma Gok? Kurenai kamiai Dengakuhazama (?????????????????????)" But since the name is so long there is totally not a person who will call it by that name, since it's impossible to say it out. 

"......Which idiot used such a stupid name?" 

"Hmmm. Sagara-shi, my investigations are incomplete. What a disgrace." 

".....It's...It's not Goemon's fault at all. Because just from thinking about it you will stutter so you don't want to care about that "Kotobuki kagirina kotobuki kagirina sh?ma Gok? Kurenai kamiai Dengakuhazama" right?" 

".....I have goosebumps just from listening." 

But with this, everyone is even more confused. 

At the east of Mount Okehazama there is a narrow strip of field commonly known as "Okehazama". 

But the "Dengakuhazama" mountain top does exist too. 

If the situation is like what Yoshiharu had in mind then Yoshimoto must be in one of the two places. 

And if Yoshimoto is camping at the mountain top then all is over. 

We can only believe in her not being at the mountain. 

"There is no more time for hesitation, what should we do?" 

"Hmmm, we don't have the manpower to split to 2 groups! Where, where is Imagawa Yoshimoto?" 

"Let these bandits go to a place, and me lead my team to the other, that should solve your problem, right? Hahaha" Nobusumi put on a smiling face without thinking of anything and said indifferently. 

"We are willing to die for Nobusumi-sama!" The girls in his team start to cheer at the side again. 

Though unwilling to let the girls be in dangerous situations, there is nothing that can be done now! Yoshiharu has decided. 

"Wait, letting these noisy people go is the same as suicide." Goemon voiced out her concern without hiding, but Yoshiharu insisted, "If that's the case, let me go with Nobusumi." and split up the party. 

No matter which party, once they have found out the base of Imagawa Yoshimoto they are to return to Atsuta Shrine and ask Nobuna to launch an assault. 

Goemon led her Kawanami team over to Dengakuhazama while Yoshiharu and Nobusumi, with his cheerleading group, head to the field commonly known as "Okehazama". 

"Got it!" 

Yoshimoto's base is at the narrow field commonly known as "Okehazama". 

At the guidance of the local girl, Yoshiharu and party walk through a small path in Mount Okehazama and finally discover the base of Imagawa army. 

Wearing the elegant but totally unsuitable Juunihitoe and a golden dragon helmet that looks very heavy and uncouth.... 

And her Oh hohohoho laughter like a maniac's, Yoshiharu's eardrums can't bear it even from that distance. 

"A pretty face as if a doll, she does have the face of a distinguished princess, but she emanates a distasteful aura. As someone who holds integrity as utmost importance, I cannot give the no.1 bishoujo name to her...." Yoshiharu gives a strict verdict at Yoshimoto. 

"It can't be wrong, that's Yoshimoto." 

"Is that true, Saru-kun?" 

"Ahh, I had met her in the battlefield once. And, I won't forget the looks of any beauty I have seen." 

Dawn has creeped up on them unknowingly. 

Yoshimoto, who had started moving from Kutsukake just last night, was saying "Today is hot too." with the sun rising, she ordered the army to stop. 

Towards the Yoshimoto who is like the reincarnation of the word arrogant, her retainers all said in their minds, "If it's hot, just take off that Juunihitoe!", but no one seemed to have the guts to tell her in the face. 

Just a while more, the lackey Motoyasu will have conquered the base at Marune, then I can elegantly conquer Aoshuu castle. 

Yoshimoto had it all calculated. 

"The numbers of the Oda army is limited, Yoshimoto can just conquer the mountain and not be afraid of any ambush. Why must she run all the way to this field which has poor line of sight and pitch camp? Just how dumb is this woman?" 

Hiding in the forest of the mountains and spying at Imagawa army Yoshiharu mumbled to himself. 

"Because she had gotten off her ride yesterday it seems like she is elegantly sitting in the sedan." 

The girl who is their guide said. 

"Is it? It sure will be troublesome if she has to sit in the sedan, so that's it." 

"What should we do, Saru-kun? No matter how careless they are there are at least 5000 men in there. I think no matter what ambush we do it's impossible with just us." 

"Nobusumi, if it's you what will you do?" 

"The same as we had originally planned, rush back to Atsuta Shrine and report to Nee-sama." 

"Just that isn't enough, it isn't close to enough." Yoshiharu said. 

"No matter what we can't let the Imagawa move anymore. If we don't launch our ambush here we have no chance of winning." 

Nobusumi was restless from the feeling of achievement of "Discovering Yoshimoto". And being slightly prophetic, Yoshiharu seems to be more calm. 

"As expected, the course of history has not gone in a direction that I do not know of. Now, it's time for us to act!" 

With confidence restored Yoshiharu now seems like a young general in the eyes of Nobusumi and the rest, his body radiating bravery. 

"First, we must report this matter to Nobuna, and at the same time we must stop Yoshimoto." 

"Anyway, it's about dragging time, should we call the Ninja?" 

"No, Goemon and her team are too far away from us." 

"Uhhh....Hmmm." 

"Okay, Nobusumi, you rush to Nobuna's side now. I will lead this cheer-leading team into Yoshimoto's camp and party with them, faking that we are celebrating their arrival in Owari to drag the time." 

"Ah, that's a brilliant plan. My team has lots of villager girls, Yoshimoto will not be suspicious." 

"We don't wanna!" 

"We want to be together with Nobusumi-sama!" 

The cheer-leading group pouted and glared at Yoshiharu, and Yoshiharu had to reluctantly change his plan. 

"Then let me return and report to Nobuna. Nobusumi, it's okay if I leave things to you here?" 

"You can relax and leave such an important thing to me. I just have to lead these girls and mix around with Yoshimoto, right?" 

"That's it." 

"Such a thing is nothing to me, hahahaha." 

"Nobusumi-sama has his way in impersonating a merchant's son." The group of girls cheered him on. 

"Because if I just go and fool around I will be scolded by Katsuie~. Besides, looking at my handsome face even if I become the Oiran there will be no problems!" 

"You cross dressing to seduce the warriors of the Imagawa army. There shouldn't be any problem, right?" 

If this guy was pushed down by those excited Imagawa warriors and ****-ed I will really be sad for him. 

"I know even the songs of Oirans." 

"You are really a hardworking idiot-sama, huh?" 

"That was all training for this current moment! Hahaha." 

"The best candidate to drag time, other then this fellow, there is no one else." Yoshiharu thought. 

Yoshiharu worked the mountain path alone and ran at the direction he came from. In the front, a kawanami thief is waiting for him with a horse. If there is a ride the time it takes to report to Nobuna who is at Atsuta Shrine will be shortened considerably. 

Stripping off his armor, Yoshiharu in his villager clothing noticed that he has seemingly never ending strength in his body. 

Just why is this possible? 

This filled feeling in his chest can let him feel so hot and restless. This is a feeling that Yoshiharu had never experienced before. Because his own report will affect the fate of the Oda clan and Nobuna. 

Ahh, I have really come to the real sengoku era. 

"The me now, no matter anywhere, I will reach it!" 

He thought. 

"Wait for me, Nobuna!" 

And then, Yoshiharu who was running towards Nobuna in full force was met with his greatest danger. 

While running in the mountain there was a cold air creeping up from the back all of a sudden. 

This feeling is very similar to being struck from the back during dodge ball practice. 

Even if it's someone not in sight the determination of "Finish this guy off" was hidden within the thrown ball. 

This determination was transmitted to his nerves through the air. 

He does not understand the logic, but if he concentrates he will definitely feel it. 

But this feeling was a much colder and sharper feeling than any he had ever experienced before. 

"Will I be killed?" 

Following his own instincts and hunch Yoshiharu ducked subconsciously. 

Narrowly scraping Yoshiharu's head a couple of shuriken flew past. 

"Nin...Ninja?" 

"Hehehe. Good, to think that you can dodge that." 

The murderous low tone lets Yoshiharu turn towards it's direction. 

There is a man standing upright wearing an all black attire. 

From his voice he should be young, but from his well built body covered all in ninja garbs and his full of self confidence eyes he seems to be quite a difficult opponent. 

"That's bad, as expected I should have headed out after meeting up with Goemon." 

Though Yoshiharu had a tinge of regret, the opponent did not give mercy. 

"My name is Hattori Hanzo. I can't let the Oda spy go back alive, hehehe" 

"Oi, you have been "hehehe"ing from just now! Aren't you a ninja!?" 

Hattori Hanzo, one of the sixteen generals of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the head of the ninja army. 

So as to say, he is currently "Matsudaira Motoyasu", that glasses girl's subordinate. 

Anyway, he is now the ninja of Imagawa's army. 

"Looks like I've triggered the alarm!" Yoshiharu noticed. 

"To want to attack Imagawa's main base, that's some foresight from you. Here I come." 

"Wait, Wawawawait a minute!" 

"Not waiting." 

Hattori Hanzo jumped down from the tree silently. 

This light movement, it's as if his body had anti gravity equipment on. 

"Damn! If I remain here I will definitely be dead!" 

Yoshiharu jumped up and ran away with all his might. 

But Hattori Hanzo's speed was abnormally fast. 

Before he noticed it he has stopped in front of Yoshiharu. 

"Damn it! Is this fellow still human, he is totally an imbalanced character! I have no more place to run." 

"Die!" 

The shurikens start flying over. 

To escape from the straight flying shurikens Yoshiharu jumped. 

But the shurikens beneath his feet suddenly change direction and flew straight for Yoshiharu's throat. 

"Wh...wh...wh...what the hell is with those shurikens!?" 

"Iga style, shuriken throwing technique "Kazeana". There is totally no one who has avoided those." 

Using a special way of throwing, and the air currents on the mountains, thus allowing the trajectory of the shuriken to change. 

And while the enemy is concentrating on the trajectory they flew straight for the throat and took the enemy down by surprise. 

Hattori Hanzo's one hit kill secret technique. 

"Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!?" 

Yoshiharu reflexively bent his body, the joints in his neck were bent backwards to their utmost limit, and finally dodged the shurikens. But though he avoided them the skin near the throat and chin area was cut and blood was flowing out. 

"Ou....Ouch!!!!!" 

"Hehehe, to have dodged my one hit kill technique! Looks like there is worth in killing you!" 

"Stop joking! I want to return to Nobuna's side! And then tell her the enemy is at Okehazama! Before that, I will definitely not die!" 

"And I thought you had some backbone. In the end you planned to run....." 

Hmph. If this is what you do there is no way you can survive in this sengoku era. 

"Shut up! I won't die from something like this! I will dodge you non-stop, dodge till you are tired!" 

Yoshiharu's legs start to turn like a train. 

In his body an unthinkable strength starts to flow out. 

As if he is running with his life. 

Using will, strength that surpassed even the experienced Ninja, Hattori Hanzo, a minute, two minutes, three minutes, continuously running. 

No matter if it's his hands, legs, or back, they were all cut by the numerous shurikens, and his lack of stamina was starting to show. 

But never once did a shuriken hit cleanly. 

"You fellow...... why, why can't I hit?" 

"To what extent can I dodge the shurikens from Hanzou?" Yoshiharu does not know. 

Slowly, his vision started to blur. 

But even with that he still sprints in the mountain. 

"Not good." This time Hanzou started to panic. 

"Though doing this goes against my philosophy, but... here I will use shurikens smeared with Cantharidin [51] fluid to send you to heaven." 

"Poison?" 

"You will die even if it grazes you! Go to hell!" 

His leg had already cramped. 

Blood is flowing out from several parts of his body and his strength isn't enough too. 

His body starts to fall. 

The poison shuriken flies over like a rain droplet. 

"Bas....Bastard!!!!!!" 

But that shuriken was... 

*Kachak, Kachan!* 

At that instant when the shurikens had almost pierced Yoshiharu's body, they were all struck down by a long spear. 

"Who...Who is it?" 

"......Yoshiharu, I'm here to save you." 

"You? Who is it?" 

The one who saved Yoshiharu is..... 

"......Knowing that Hime-sama is in danger, I am here to serve as a new retainer." 

Holding a bamboo spear, a little entertainer girl. 

Covered with tiger skin from head to toe and wearing a tiger-head hat. Her lower body attire wasn't the usual dress but namban styled pants, revealing her snow white thighs. Besides that, the clean and neat small face of hers was drawn like an entertainer with a red dye. 

"That's why I said, who are you?" 

Seemingly annoyed, the small entertainer pouted like a small duck. 

"......Inuchiyo." 

"Ah, so it is Inuchiyo.... Oi, when did your character change this much!? After escaping from Aoshuu, what the hell happened after that?!" 

"....fallen..." 

"Fallen?" 

".....reborn-ed." 

"Reborned?!" 

"....reborn-ed as a BASARA [52] ." 

"Aren't the 3 words the same!?" 

".......Actually, during the trip to find my way of life I lost my way." 

"What an extraordinary but fitting reason!" 

But now isn't the time to feel happy about the reunion. 

"The result is the same even with one extra person! Just go to hell quietly!" While rushing over, Hattori Hanzou said while grabbing his ninja sword. 

"Wait, Inuchiyo, this fellow is very strong!" 

".......Inuchiyo is very strong too." 

Inuchiyo, real name, Maeda Toshiie. 

In the various sengoku games or sengoku dramas he is always an old but kind fellow. It's all because of his capable wife that he is able to succeed in life; though he was fooled around by his own nephew, Maeda Toshimasu, to get a cold by taking a cold water bath. Such a muddle headed character is exceedingly rare. 

But the Maeda Toshiie of history have the name of spear of Mataza, given to honor his high competence in martial arts. [53] 

According to legends his right eye was shot by someone with an arrow, but he remained unnerved and continue to battle on. He was such a brave warrior. 

"Hmph. Looks like in the face of your spear my shurikens tricks are useless..... If so, let's battle it out using swords!" 

Hanzou's ninja sword and Inuchiyo's spear ignited a series of sparks in the air from the fierce battle. 

Yoshiharu's eye can not even catch up to their weapon's trajectory. 

Both of their expressions did not change as they swung their weapons like sophisticated machines. 

Even if he wants to help there is totally no leeway. 

But he finally understands one thing. 

Both of their skills are comparable. 

But. 

"The difference between the body size is too obvious. If this goes on Inuchiyo will be the one who loses!" 

Hattori Hanzou too feels troubled due to Inuchiyo's unexpected strength. 

"Che..... You, don't tell me you want to drag the time by just defending!?" 

"......Right!" 

"But in the end you are just a weak brat. Once your breath hastens up I will kill you along with that guy!" 

"......Will not allow you to kill Yoshiharu. If Inuchiyo dies, you will too." 

"The resolve to die together, huh. Interesting! Let me see this to the end!" 

"What the hell are you saying, Inuchiyo?" Yoshiharu can't help but speak out. 

Coming to his senses, Inuchiyo's body has been dyed red by the numerous scrapes from the battle. 

It seems like her strength has run out, her legs are already trembling slightly. 

"......Leave this to me. Hurry and go to Nobuna-sama's side." 

"How can I leave you alone!" 

".......Hurry. I can't... last long." 

Yoshiharu launched an attack at Hanzou with a loud "Ahhhhhh!" 

But he was kicked aside by Hanzou. 

During this, his battle with Inuchiyo did not slow down one bit. 

This fellow is just too strong. 

"With just my terrible attack it's not possible to divert his attention." Yoshiharu understands that from that exchange. 

Instead, after looking at Yoshiharu being kicked aside, Inuchiyo's techniques start to become messy. 

Of course, Hanzou did not miss such an opening. 

".....Uhhh" 

Inuchiyo's shoulder suffered a hit from Hanzou and her expression instantly revealed pain. 

"You lose your calm from just that, too naive. In the end you are just a brat after all." 

Hanzou seems to think that this had decided the victor. His eyes narrowed, becoming slits. 

"Opp...Opposite effect, huh... Damnnnnnnn!" 

Yoshiharu gritted his teeth and stood up while thinking with all his might. 

"There must be something... there must be a way to save Inuchiyo....." 

His knowledge of the sengoku era.... Other than that he has nothing else. 

Ninja, Hattori Hanzou, Matsudaira Motoyasu (Tokugawa Ieyasu)'s loyal retainer. But the Motoyasu now is the lackey of Imagawa Yoshimoto. 

"But if Yoshimoto loses in the battle of Okehazama, Motoyasu can lead Mikawa into independence. And then she can become Tokugawa Ieyasu. If that's the case......" 

"Wait, Hattori Hanzou!" 

"Not waiting!" 

"Use your brain and think! If you kill me and Inuchiyo here Imagawa Yoshimoto will conquer Owari and head on to the capital." 

"What about it?" 

"If that's the case your general, Matsudaira Motoyasu, will forever be Imagawa Yoshimoto's lackey." 

"....Hmmm?" 

"Matsudaira Motoyasu's actual thoughts are to hurry and cut off all relationships with Imagawa and let Mikawa become independent! Imagawa Yoshimoto had promised to let Motoyasu retain her name as daimyo of Mikawa, but in fact all of that is bullshit. She was just ordering Motoyasu around nonstop like a lackey." 

"That's why I said what about it! Facing such a strong enemy there is no way we can revolt!" 

"There is no such need. Just let us go back! Nobuna will definitely defeat Imagawa Yoshimoto! Motoyasu can use that timing to announce the independence of Mikawa!" 

"You think I will be that naive to believe you! From the numbers of the Oda army there is no chance they can win against Imagawa!" 

"We will definitely win! If we can't you can just take my head!" 

"Totally nonsense! Even if the Oda army wins what guarantee do I have that Oda won't attack Mikawa on the way? If that's the case, my master will have no way out, isn't it!?" 

"It won't happen! If my knowledge is correct Motoyasu and Nobuna should be childhood friends, and Nobuna does not have any interest in the surrounding lands! Now all she thinks of is how to conquer Mino. So Nobuna will definitely form an alliance with Motoyasu! No, I will bet my life on it that I will make this alliance happen!" 

The heavily injured Inuchiyo fell down on her knees, her spear on her hand slipped down to the side. 

Hanzou rests his ninja sword on Yoshiharu's neck and said. 

"Brat, your life has no value whatsoever." 

"But defeating Imagawa and then forming an alliance with Mikawa, that's something." 

"If we continue on our way to the capital all the retainers by the princess's side will die one by one and the Mikawa warriors will be all gone. So we should point our weapons at Imagawa right now, this point is totally correct." 

"Yes. Nobuna loves ordering people around, but compared to Yoshimoto she is much better. Because that fellow battles on because of her dream of "All the world by force of arms"!" 

"Hmph. Brat, I will believe you this time. But if you break the promise, no matter where you run, I will send ninjas to get this head of yours!" 

"Ahh. It's yours for the taking anytime!" 

Yoshiharu and Inuchiyo do have some luck..... 

Hattori Hanzou isn't just a ninja after all. 

If he is, he would most likely not understand Yoshiharu's reasoning and concentrate on completing his mission. 

But Hanzou isn't such a guy. As a replacement to his father and leading the ninjas of the Matsudaira clan, he does have the temperament to become a general. 

It's because of that that he listened to Yoshiharu and choose to bet everything on the assault of the Oda army towards Imagawa. After Nobuna grabs the victory, the dream of having Mikawa be independent can be fulfilled too. 

"Even if the Oda army fails my master will still be safe, and the fact of letting them go will only be known by me. If Imagawa wins all I have to do is just to kill both of them." 

Hanzou does the weighting of the pros and cons in his head and lets them go. 

But if Oda is able to win that will be more to his own wishes, though there is much doubt in it. 

After finally reaching Nobuna's base at Atsuta Shrine with much difficulty, both Yoshiharu and Inuchiyo had bruises all around their body. 

Both of them supported each other and walk swaying to Nobuna. 

Looking at the state of the two Nobuna formed an indescribable expression and lashed out at them. 

Nobuna herself had sent spies to check Yoshimoto's main base, but not one of them had returned. 

It seems like they had been caught by Hattori Hanzou and his subordinates. 

"Inuchiyo! Saru! I said that both of you are to be executed! Then why are both of you back!?" 

Nobuna slapped Yoshiharu's face coldly. 

Was she crying, or fuming, or is that laughing? Yoshiharu did not understand. 

".......Yoshiharu discovered Yoshimoto's base." 

Inuchiyo said while bearing the pain. 

"Ahh, at the east side of Mount Okehazama there is an area known as "Okehazama". Their troops are about 5000 strong and they were isolated from the rest of the troops. Currently, Nobukatsu and his team are stopping their movement by drinking with them." 

"Kanjuurou?" 

"Nobuna. What I can do is just this. Now what?" 

"Saru. Using your knowledge, what do you think I should do....?" 

After speaking Nobuna closed her mouth. 

Yoshiharu's bruised face slowly formed a smile. 

"This is your own path, Nobuna, you should walk it yourself. I will just shut up and walk it with you." 

Nobuna too formed a fearless smile. 

"If that's the case all forces head to Okehazama! I will bet my everything on this assault!" 

Shibata Katsuie answered with an "I get it" and with clear eyes sounded the horn with alarming presence. 

The Owari army's soldiers all stood up and shouted at the skies. 

"Since we had come to Atsuta Shrine how about we pray to the gods for victory?" 

Nobuna who accepted Niwa Nagahide's proposal, with her poker face, walked to the shrine with big steps and said loudly. 

"How long must this country be in a mess for you to be satisfied? From now on, let me replace you guys to protect this country and it's inhabitants! Oi, did you hear me? If you are really gods, prove it to me by letting me win this battle!" 

Following that, Nobuna said various stuff and did disrespectful actions that will incur wrath, and in the end, she said, "Hmmm, I heard it! These fellows in the shrine had said too, I will win for sure today!" while pointing her finger to the skies and exclaiming with a bright smile. 

This is just too messed up. 

The soldiers went into battle frenzy and shouted "Ohhhhh, let's thrash it out!!!" 

Katsuie mumbled, "Wa.... You will be punished for this, Nobuna-sama" and cried while Niwa Nagahide said "Really. Well, it's ok with this much energy, 100 points." 

With Nobuna as the vanguard the Oda army moves out with full force. 

As the injured party, Yoshiharu and Inuchiyo were putting on the secret medicine of Goemon who rushed back from Dengakuhazama. 

Though it's impossible to suddenly close the wounds it did lessen the pain. But not knowing why, his body starts to fill up with energy. 

".....My body... is heating up....." 

"Wh...Wh...Wh...Wh...Why, Goemon, what did you give us? Why do I want to go to war so much now.....?" 

"Using vipers and turtles, it's a medicine to fill you with vitality." 

"....Let's follow Nobuna-sama!" 

"Ohhh, let's go Inuchiyo! If we don't move now, we will lag behind!" 

Moving towards Okehazama. 

In the middle of them moving out the skies had changed suddenly. 

Maybe the gods of Atsuta were angered by the arrogant Nobuna's actions, or they were finally awakened by her.... 

The bright sunny sky that was there just a moment ago was shrouded with dark clouds. Lightning mixed with rain was pouring down onto the troops. 

"....must be... angry." 

Inuchiyo said. 

"This is the so called fate! Using this rain as a cover rush to Okehazama right now! Forget about the soldiers, our target is just Imagawa Yoshimoto!" 

No matter when, Nobuna is full of energy. 

The torrents of rain were not letting everyone see things clearly. 

But it's also due to this rain that the sight of those small troops that were separated at the borders was reduced, and they never noticed the Nobuna army that was moving towards Okehazama like a fast hurricane. 

Only one of them... standing at the top of the mountain, the head of Matsudaira Motoyasu who leads the ninja troops... 

Hattori Hanzou looks quietly at the muddy lands.... 

And the black Nobuna army which is like a black dragon moving across it... 

But, Hanzou stopped his men who were about to report this to the main base. 

"That isn't people, it's a dragon. We did not see anything." 

Saying lightly, and to witness the result of his gamble, Hanzou disappeared without a trace. 

The Imagawa warriors in Okehezama who were enjoying the company of Nobukatsu and his gang, were caught unaware by the sudden rain and hid in the forests without their armor. 

In the base of Imagawa Yoshimoto, what's left are just a few aides, the formation is as good as none. 

"What is on with this weather! Where is Motoyasu? Hurry and build a roof in my base now!" 

The aide whisper softly into her ears. 

"Hime, Motoyasu and her troops have just conquered the base at Marune, they won't be coming soon." 

"Ara, well, so as to say, we had won. As expected of the words reserved especially for the great Hokkaido's strongest bow, Imagawa Yoshimoto!" 

"Hime, it will be very difficult to move if we continue staying here. Let's go to Mount Okehazama." 

"No, if I climb the mountain on the sedan I will be dizzy from all the swaying....." 

"But the soldiers are currently all drunk. If the enemy strikes at this moment....." 

"Ara, just who is this someone who will ambush the great Hokkaido's strongest bow? There isn't an idiot general who will do this. Oh hohohoho." 

But. 

The general who had exceeded Yoshimoto's imagination, there is one right here. 

"Everyone, entrust all your lives to me, Nobuna! 

Okahazama which is in the middle of a storm...... 

Just at the moment when lightning strikes at the ground of Imagawa Yoshimoto's base, a beautiful princess general rides onwards on her own. 

It's Oda Nobuna. 

"Full force attack! Charge!!!!" 

In the midst of the lightning and the storm the Owari army's roar can be heard. 

A state of panic has taken over Okehazama. 

The careless soldiers had all taken up their weapons and ran back to the plains in a hurry, but the muddy field made movement difficult. 

"Vanguard, Shibata Katsuie is here!" 

Katsuie swung her spear and charged at the base like a hurricane. All the enemy soldiers in her path were blown away. 

Owari's no.1 general...... Though Shibata Katsuie is bad at calculations once she grabs a spear she can only be described as invincible. 

Like an Asura she cleared a path in the enemy's army, letting people think that she, her horse, and spear had combined into one. 

Besides, because of the years of revolt of Nobukatsu, Katsuie's spear that had accumulated lots of pent up stress was released all at once. The tip of her spear emitted the deadly aura of death. 

"Finally, I can party hard! This battle, let this be the festival to celebrate my return to the battlefield!" 

"Riku has cleared a path! Rush onwards to the base!" 

Nobuna who grabbed this chance of victory, swung down the command flag in her hand. Yoshiharu and Inuchiyo stayed at the side of Nobuna who was acting as a vanguard. As a brief mention, Yoshiharu was sitting behind Goemon. 

A lightning fast battle. 

Imagawa's 5000 strong army, most of them were in the forest to hide from the storm. Due to this storm, not many had seen the formation of the Oda army. 

The roars full of killing intent were covered by the howls of the storm, anyone who was slightly away from the base can not hear it properly. 

Even if they had noticed the ambush of the Oda army, the soldiers cannot move in the mud, and all of them were destroyed by the Oda army. No one had the strength to return to their own general. 

"Wh...What happened? What the hell happened? Everyone fighting while drunk isn't very good..." 

At the moment when Imagawa who was sitting in the base thought that it might be the Oda army, Katsuie and her troops were already attacking the center of Imagawa's base. 

"Momomomotoyasu, finish them for me.... Wait, that tanuki brat hasn't returned from Marune? Just who is that idiot who sent such a useful lackey to some other place than the base?" 

Before noticing that it was she herself, Shibata Katsuie had already come down from her horse and subdued Yoshimoto. 

"Oi, Imagawa Yoshimoto, prepare youself!" 

*Kachan* Unsheathing her sword, Katsuie rested it on the neck of Yoshimoto. 

"My life has ended without me knowing anything?" The eyes of Yoshimoto who had always put on airs started to reveal droplets of tears, and her limbs started struggling. 

"Ahhh? Uwahhhh? What is this, you rude fellow! Stop it~ Please stop it~" 

"This is the rule of the battlefield, excuse me." 

"Uwahhhh. I... I don't want to die~ I...I...I...I...I hate dying~ ~ ~ ~!" 

"There's no helping it, huh. If you don't wanna die, surrender right now." 

"Who will surrender to this bunch of Owari monkeys! If I want to surrender, I might as well die!" 

"Ah, I get it. Then I will just slash off your head......" 

"Ahhhh, I don't wanna die~! Don't kill me~!" 

"What do you actually want! Choose one for me!" 

"Wait Katsuie! Don't kill her, it will be a shame to kill her!!" 

Katsuie was hugged from the back by Yoshiharu. 

Because she wanted to enjoy the battle, Katsuie did not even wear her armor, and her bra-less breasts were caught by Yoshiharu while she emitted out screams of "Ahhh~" like a cat. 

"It's too pitiful! Her character sucks, but if I allow you to kill such a bishoujo I will regret it for life! I beg you, please release her, Katsuie!" 

"Uwah,Uwahh,Uwahhhhhh....! St..St...St..Stop it... Release meeeeee! I won't.... I won't kill her, ok? Stop rubbing my breasts!!!!!! Uhhhh, a ma... man's fingers... so...so...so... so disgusting!!!!!!" 

"Ohhh, you get it, huh, Katsuie." 

"Uhhhhhhhh...." The crying Katsuie falls onto Yoshimoto. 

Yoshimoto, while being Katsuie's cushion, tilted her small head and looked at the guy who saved her life. 

"Who are you exactly?" 

"Oda clan's foot soldier, Sagara Yoshiharu. Imagawa Yoshimoto, end this battle right now. Before that impulsive Nobuna executes you, surrender yourself." 

".....Th...There is no other way, huh. I will just let you guys off then." 

Yoshimoto mumbled and turn her face with a "hmph". 

"This woman's tongue is sharp....." Yoshiharu regrets saving Imagawa Yoshimoto a little. 

But after taking a closer look, she is really a beauty (Though it's just the exterior). 

The battle of Okehazama ends within 30 minutes. 

At the same time when the news of Imagawa Yoshimoto surrenders and retires spreads, the Imagawa warriors stripped off their armor and ran away towards the direction of Suruga. 

Strangely, the skies have become sunny again. 

It's a good thing that they were able to get the blessings from the god of Atsuta, but all these might be the result of the annoyed gods giving some trouble to the rebellious Nobuna too. 

Nobuna formed her new base at Okehazama. While sitting on her bench listening to the different news coming from everywhere, she was giving out rewards to her retainers. 

"We have gotten lots of military funds, weapons, and armor. There was quite an amount of food too." 

"Matsudaira Motoyasu seems to have retreated to Mikawa. After Imagawa Yoshimoto was destroyed she seems to be preparing for Mikawa to be independant." 

"The headless Imagawa main country, Suruga, had been conquered by the tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen." 

Though there's good news, there were bad reports too. 

Though they have defeated the Imagawa Yoshimoto, in the end they did not get any of Imagawa's land so they did not actually gain a lot from the battle. 

But, the fact that the Owari's foolish princess defeated Hokkaido's strongest bow spread across the whole of Japan in an instant. Nobuna did receive such a reward. 

Now there will be no one in this country who calls Nobuna a fool. 

But compared to this, what is more important now is...... 

In the moments when Nobuna is at her limit, not caring about their life and still return to her with bodies full of injuries. 

"Inuchiyo, I will forget about Kanjuurou's matter. You can return to the Oda clan now!" 

".......Roger." 

"In this battle, you have done a good job. As a reward, you have a year supply of Uiroumochi." 

"......What to do....." 

Imagining being buried by a whole mountain of Uiroumochi, Inuchiyo put her hands on her almost flat chest and started to pant. 

At Inuchiyo's back, Nobukatsu who was in the attire of Oiran was holding on to his buttocks while relying on his team of ladies, moaning all the time. 

His attire is very messy, while his face has thinned. 

"Ara, Kanjuurou, you are there? What's with the attire?" 

"Ahhh...Nee-sama.... Don't care about me today, please..... *Sobsobsob*" 

"Huh? Hmmm... I got it....?" 

Nobukatsu slowly walk out of the tent. 

The one who contributed the most was at the same time the guy who was announced being executed and banished. 

Nobuna's eyes turn to the rude guy who was sitting cross-legged beside Inuchiyo. 

"Now, Saru." 

"Give me my reward." 

"I haven't said anything yet, have I!? Why did you come back!? If you weren't lucky and met Inuchiyo wouldn't you be dead by now?" 

"You are really noisy. I don't care about being fired by you. No matter how many times I will come back and pester you." 

"That's why I asked... Why?" 

"Because without the great me you will be impatient and impulsive and I can't stand it!" 

"S.H.U.T T.H.E H.E.L.L U.P. You just did a little good, don't be arrogant now, ok!?" 

"Besides, even if I serve some daimyo other than the Oda clan, honestly my brain won't be of much use. For example, the Southern clans in Mutsu, what will happen right now, I have totally no idea. So, it's... it's not like I want to be together with you, don't you have some wrong ideas about me!" 

"Hmph! There's no helping it, huh. Though it's interesting to see you die, but I can just keep you beside me and torture you to death! Take a piece of silk and wrap it around your neck, slowly using some strength and........ Hehehe!" 

"What kind of an S [54] fellow are you? You get high due to that?" 

"Your luck ends right here, next time I will let you suffocate with my bare hands! Prepare to be sent to hell by me!" 

"Ohh, try it if you can!" 

"Here it goes again....." Katsuie started to sigh again. 

"Er.... 

"Hime-sama. I do understand your feelings of wanting to play with Saru, but we still have a lot of stuff to do. Can you please hurry up......?" 

"Who...Who is playing with Saru, Riku? I... I'm just disciplining this Saru who has no manners." 

"Anyway, let's return to the Oda house, ok? And, give me the reward! I have 2 requests." 

"Okok, I got it. What do you want? Uiroumochi? Or Miso Udon? If it's chicken wings it's a no as it's my special right." 

To the grumbling Nobuna Yoshiharu decided to say out what has been in his heart for some time. 

But the first request must be said first. 

"First, form an alliance with Matsudaira Motoyasu who has returned to Mikawa." 

"I have long sent a messenger over. I have no other plans other than conquering Mino and going to the capital afterwards. I have no intentions to go to war with the eastern warlords too. You dumb or something?" 

As expected from Nobuna. Yoshiharu hides his admiration. 

"Why do you want such a reward?" 

"Nothing much, it's ok if you have already decided on it." 

In such a tiny amount of time Nobuna had grown a little again. 

Her back seemed to emit out a glow and her sharp eyes had grown much stronger. 

But this is not the time to change his expression. 

Right now he must say his true wish for the reward. 

Finally, finally the time had arrived. 

Listen, the roar of my heart! Not a tinge of false feelings, my true wish! 

"The second reward! Please let me be close to the no.1 bishoujo of the world!" 

Did you see it, touchichirou-jii-san! I am walking towards the peak of your dream! 

Though her character is a bit... But please introduce me to the Hokkaido's no.1 bishoujo, Imagawa Yoshimoto. That fellow is now a hostage after surrendering. She might be more subdued and no matter what, I'm her life-saver. 

If...If...If it's just a little... She mi... might service me....? 

No matter what she is one of the sengoku distinguished families.... 

Imagawa's clan's princess-sama. Compared to the ordinary girls of the modern world she far outstrips them. She will definitely be extremely embarrassed on the bed, and might be very cute....... 

Oh my god... Oh my god. 

Ahh, it's such a good thing to have come to the sengoku era! I'm serious! 

Yoshiharu's eyes emitted out a glitter of hope while he smiled, revealing a tidy set of white teeth. 

Nobuna mumbled lightly... 

"....Really, you are just such an idiotic monkey." 

"What now? Why are you rolling your eyes and staring at me?" 

"If I look at you directly my beautiful eyes will be tainted by you!" 

"Hmph, this fellow is not cute at all." Yoshiharu mumbled. 

"Stop the nonsense and give me the reward! If not, I'll cry for you to see!" 

"Ahhh, shut up, shut up! Asking for such a boring reward yet still being so shameless! You clearly have no shame, huh!" 

"Stupid fellow! I did not do even a tiny bit of being shameless!" 

".....Huh?" 

"The reason why guys put their own life on the line is to protect cute girls and never letting them die! That's it, there is nothing else! At the least I'm such a fellow!" 

"Ahh...." 

Nobuna delicate shoulders jumped a little for an instant. 

Her mouth formed a ^ shape while she stared at Yoshiharu with jet black eyes and said, 

".....Hmph... In this battle you contributed the most... Hmmm, yes.... There's no helping it." 

Ohhh? Though not really knowing why Nobuna had finally given in! 

Yoshiharu is almost moved to tears. 

Nobuna, her face started to blush a little while she pouted with her small lips and said. 

"Tonight, clean yourself and wait for me in the courtyard." 

In the night. 

The five leaf Aralia house was enveloped with the atmosphere of being victorious. 

In the small house of Yoshiharu, his neighbors brought gifts one after the other and visited him. 

Asano-jii-san who had brought over some rice with koi fish, and Katsuie who had gone into berserk mode and screaming "Saru, this time around i will definitely kill you; Prepare yourself!" But Nobukatsu who was at the side was touching his own buttocks and crying, like a frail girl sitting at a corner, he was biting his own clothes too. As for what really happened in Okehazama, everyone was afraid to ask. 

Besides, Niwa Nagahide who had never visited the houses before brought along Saitou Dousan who can't even straighten his back. 

"Knowing the other's thoughts, there will be a day when you grab the hearts of all the masses." Dousan said. 

"Huh? What is that? I don't understand at all." 

"I don't understand too, but the feelings of congrats is of full points. But this time round, your performance is just outstanding, please do take care of me from now on, Yoshiharu-dono." 

"No such thing, please do take care of me too! The Oda clan has not many proper retainers so with Nagahide-san around I feel much more at ease." 

"Oi, damn Saru! Don't tell me you are talking about me when you talk about those not proper retainers!?" 

"Ahhh..... I Nobukatsu... have become dirtied....." 

Till deep into the night the small room was filled with cheers and laughter while the party continues. 

But, at the end of a busy day, everyone finally left one by one. 

In the end, other then Yoshiharu, the house is left with 2 of them only. 

"....It's still... hot", Inuchiyo whose body can't seem to get used to it was squirming about, and "Tonight, this temperature is so hot that it's hard to fall asleep, please bear with it." Goemon who remained to tell Inuchiyo about the proper usage of her medicine. 

"But anyway, Sagara-shi is really someone comparable to Kinoshita-shi. I believe Kinoshita-shi who is in the heavens will rest in peace." 

"So embarrassing, hahaha! Right now I should ask Nobuna for some wages and build a big grave for uncle!" 

"Besides, the request of the Kawanami group, how will Nobuna-sama respond?" …… …… .....Forgotten all about it. 

With his head full of being close to girls, he had forgotten all about it. 

I can't say it out... towards Goemon who was looking at him with glittering eyes, how can I say such a thing out....? 

Besides, if I say that I had forgotten about it I might just be finished by the disappointed Goemon with a slash. 

"Ye...Yes. Hmmm, Nobuna can't easily be persuaded." 

"....So as to say, it can't be done?" 

"Nono. I think if there is a next time, she will definitely agree!" 

"......Is it like that?" 

Damn, Goemon's eyes look kinda cold. Such a look is exactly like Hattori Hanzou! 

Don't tell me, I've been exposed? 

"Hey, Hey Goemon! Even if they can't be Nobuna's direct subordinates once I have my own castle all of you guys can come over! I promise you that!" 

"Ohh? That's quite a huge boast." 

"Since I have no family or subordinates in this world, all of you guys are like my family! Combined with my sengoku game knowledge and your skills I believe we will definitely make it big some day! Leave it to me!" 

".....If so I will not pursue this matter then." 

"Eh?" 

"But, if you forget about us next time when talking about rewards.... you will be mass tortured by the Kawanami guys....." 

So I have been exposed!? 

Yoshiharu was sweating nonstop with fear, but at that instant Inuchiyo stood up and pulled onto Goemon's sleeve. 

".....Sleep." 

"You have a point. I will say my farewells too.... To not let the Kawanami group assault Sagara-shi I must return to bersuade(persuade) tem(them). 

".....Cu...Cute...." 

"I...I...I'm not cute at all! I am the bandit Hachizuka(Hachisuka) Goemyon(Goemon) who even crying babies will pop(stop) crying once they hear my name~nya!" 

".....So cute." 

"Uhhhhhhhhh~!" 

Even Inuchiyo and Goemon had returned. 

Well, Inuchiyo had returned, but all he needed to do is open the windows and separate the tree branches and he can continue talking with her. 

Yoshiharu lied down and formed a "?" shape. 

Without knowing it he felt lonely. 

There were a lot of people who came over and played with him... But, in this world, there was no one who was his true family. 

Thinking that, he felt a bit like crying. 

Nono, missing home or something, that's not my style at all. 

Looking outside through the tiny hole on the roof, he lightly shook his head. 

If he didn't want to cry he could just think of something happy. 

"Tonight there will be a cute girl coming over... Nobuna hinted that... But Yoshimoto coming to such a poor place is a bit impossible, who will it be?" 

Anyway, the Nobuna who was mumbling "Wait there then.", her face was a bit red. 

Don't tell me. 

Don't tell me.....? 

My reward... is that fellow herself? 

At that moment when he thought of that. 

Bham! 

His heart beats with a sound he had never heard before and seemed to jump out from his mouth. 

"Is...Is...Is...Is that the side effect of Goemon's medicine, why am I so excited?" 

Wanting to get close and personal with the worlds no.1 bishoujo, he did say that himself to Nobuna. 

Ah? 

That fellow, to think with confidence that she herself is the world's no.1 bishoujo.... Not talking about character, that might actually be true... so as to say....? 

"She said "Wash your body and wait" Don't tell me... Don't tell me... Don't tell me..." 

How can that be possible, that fellow can never do such a thing. Giving herself to someone she doesn't even like, and it's her own retainer. She doing such a thing is impossible, and that fellow will definitely think that a guy who fits her does not exist in this world so she is unexpectedly pure. 

But if that fellow has some feelings for me......? 

Because that fellow isn't truthful at all, so if she likes me she might use the pretext of a reward, and with a poker face, sneak into my bed and then say something like "Why must I do this kind of thing with such a disgusting Saru?" 

"No... No! My nose is bleeding already! Goemon's secret medicine is too effective!" 

Yoshiharu who was rolling around in the room started to chant Buddhist scriptures. 

Troubles begone! 

At this moment when he is chanting anyhow the door was opened with a snap and in came someone. 

"Uwahh...." 

As if his body was being held up, he can't move. 

The visitor deep in the night sat down beside Yoshiharu. 

"Ehh, I don't like that violent girl one bit, but backing out like this goes against my principles as a man! I will not give up on seeing Nobuna being shy! Ju... Ju... Just tonight, just tonight! Goodbye my virginity!" 

Pon~ ~ ~ ~ 

Yoshiharu with his bloodshot eyes, pounced onto the small shoulders of the visitor like a tiger. 

"What are you doing! Have you gone muddle headed, Saru-sama." 

"Hmmm? Nene~~!? Why?" 

"Because Nobuna-dono said to give the no.1 bishoujo to Saru-sama as a reward!" 

"I do not understand ONE bit of what you are saying! What has that gotta do with you!?" 

"Because Nene is that no.1 clever and pretty bishoujo of Owari!" 

Bham, Yoshiharu knocked his head onto the tatami. 

Then, he cried. 

"You... are a child.............! You are NOT a bishoujo! You are just too young!!!!!!!!" 

"I will become a bishoujo after 10 years!" 

"I DON'T CARE about that! What I want... What I want now... is to be all touchy and feeling with a girl!" 

But Nene did not listen to all that. 

"Anyway, this is it, from today onwards Nene will be Saru-sama's little sister." 

"Why, why has it become like this?" 

"If that's the case, Saru-sama won't be a nameless soldier anymore. From now on you are a relative to the Asano clan and will truly be the retainer of the Oda clan! That's something to be happy about!" 

*ClapClapClap*, Nene who was clapping stood up while saying "Congrats, Onii-sama!" 

"Anyway, Onii-sama has been promoted to a vice-captain now." 

That sort of thing isn't worth the congratulation..... 

Yoshiharu cannot get up from that blow. 

"Um, Nene. What I asked Nobuna for is her to recommend me a girlfriend, and not a sister.... Why has the contents changed to something weird....?" 

"A girlfriend or something is forbidden." Nene sat down onto Yoshiharu's back while speaking clearly.. 

"Nene had the order from Nobuna-sama to not let that ero-saru extend his demonic claws onto any girls, observe him closely as a sister." 

"Ehhhhhhh?" 

Nene continued to imitate Nobuna's tone and said. 

Nobuna-dono said, "Act...Actually I don't care in the least of who Saru is being close to, but for those poor girls who are cheated by that ero-saru I must do this!" and then she became very angry. 

That's really a face full of blushing, her body slightly trembling, the look of utmost anger! 

"Why did she become so angry!?" 

"From now on, you are not allowed to stare sheepishly at any girls other than Nene!" 

"Why has it become like that? And besides, when had I looked at you sheepishly!?" 

"No means no, you are forbidden from flirting around!" 

"Why!? You are killing me now!" 

"Currently, this is the most crucial period! Nobuna-dono wishes that Onii-sama not chase around girls and strive to become a distinguished warrior! Nene agreed with this too.....!" 

No, Nene is currently using her big glittering eyes and looking at me, hoping that I can be something big in the future. 

I had totally been fooled around by Nobuna! 

Ahhh, but I can't reject Nene's pure hope all together. No matter how mature she might be she is still a child. 

"That woman... so that so called slow torture means this? This is just too cruel, that fellow is really the last demon lord!" 

Damn it.... That woman who dragged me down to hell full of despair from the top.... Damn it!!!! 

This... Don't tell me this is the treatment of the person who led the army to victory in the battle of Okehazama? 

"Ohh, you broke down into tears of joy after hearing that Nene has become your sister? Onii-sama!!!" 

"This is pain and suffering leaking out from the depths of my soul!" 

"With the no.1 clever and smart sister around to help Onii-sama you will definitely become something big in no time at all." 

"Ok, stop treating me like a cushion! Get down now!" 

"Come, let's sleep together tonight, Onii-sama!" 

"I want to sleep with girls of the same age!!!" 

"You're 10 years early!" 

"How can I wait for another 10 years!" 

Ah, forget it, be it about being your cushion or pillow I don't care anymore. 

The ZZZ demon starts to assault the tired body. 

"I've decided to work hard a little more in this world...." Yoshiharu mumbled lightly along his slowly diminishing consciousness.