Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 11 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - The Result of the Battle of Kizugawaguchi 

The Sengoku Era- 

Will the conqueror of the next era be the Osaka Honbyo Temple’s large number of Cat Sect followers, or Oda Nobuna advocating Tenka Fubu? 

With Settsu as the stage, the decisive battle of the Honbyo Temple/Mori Allied Forces and the Oda Force occurring simultaneously in the land and sea ended in the landslide victory on the Honbyo Temple side. 

In the naval Battle of Kizugawaguchi, the Setouchi Pirates that sided with Mori, the Murakami Navy, used overwhelming agility and power by suicide bombing, to annihilate the Oda’s Kuki Navy. 

On the land, the gun mercenary group, the Saika Corps, engaged with Oda Nobuna’s Gokenin [i] in the first gun battle in the feudal states era, and the Oda were defeated due to an inferior number of guns and skill. 

The supreme commander of the Saika, Saika Magoichi, had injured the leg of the commander in chief of Oda, Oda Nobuna. She had holed up within a hastily constructed fort made by a ship that had run aground with her followers, Sagara Yoshiharu, Akechi Mitsuhide, and Takigawa Kazumasu, and had been encircled by the Saika Corps and Murakami Navy by land and see and driven into a corner. 

Oda Nobuna had tasted defeat before including the “Retreat of Kanegasaki”, but she had not been defeated so utterly and had not experienced being trapped. 

The Saika gun forces surrounded the fort on three sides, along with the large fleet of the Murakami navy on the river. 

There was nowhere to run. 

Nobuna herself couldn't personally break through the siege as she was having difficulty moving from large amounts of bleeding. 

There were no reinforcements. All of the Oda's military units have been stuck by the riot that was occurring everywhere. 

Nobuna who was cornered in the ship fort, according to the advice of her sister-in-law Gamo Ujisato, had no choice but to use a forbidden weapon – the “Three Sacred Treasures” of the Yamato Gosho. 

But the real nature of the Three Sacred Treasures, isn’t a destructive weapon to cut an enemy down, it was the key to open the “Amano-Iwato” that connects this world and the world beyond. 

Furthermore, in front of the stairs where the Amano-Iwato opens up to the sky, “I’m going back.” “Don’t Leave!” The hesitating forms of Nobuna and Yoshiharu was projected onto the sky. Almost like a mirage. 

The girl who idealizes Nobuna’s Tenka Fubu, Gamo Leon Ujisato, intended to ride out the crisis using the three sacred treasures to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future while everyone watches. 

It is the rumors of the forbidden love with Sagara Yoshiharu, the vagabond without social status that came from the future, that caused Nobuna to lose public sentiment and lead to riots across the country. 

Oda Nobuna is in love with this strange person and is going to destroy the class system of the country, this angered the privileged class of Samurai and powerful clans. “Oda Nobuna is crazed because of the social status that doesn’t allow romantic love and is going to take over the Yamato Gosho and become Himiko, and is attempting to make Sagara Yoshiharu the Kampaku” was stated in an anonymous document distributed to the entire country, causing unease with the senselessness of Nobuna. 

The people also participated in riots one after another. 

If the usurper of the Yamato Gosho, Nobuna, was to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to his world in front of all the people, the false charges would clear. 

Honbyo Temple would lose their greatest just cause to wage war. 

It would calm the riots occurring across the country- 

Believing this, Ujisato let Nobuna invoke the Three Sacred Treasures. 

“Even if death separates us, my heart with always be with you, Yoshiharu. My companion can only be you.” 

She never expected in her wildest dreams that when seeing Yoshiharu about to endure the pain and return home, Nobuna would give him a kiss with all her might. 

Ujisato is a girl who doesn’t know love. 

Admiring the Nobuna that charged forward towards Tenka Fubu, Ujisato was not mature enough to understand the affection Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu held. 

She couldn’t understand why the appearance of Nobuna and Yoshiharu kissing made her shiver and cry. 

It is at this moment that everyone in Japan was made aware that the rumor that Yoshiharu and Nobuna fell in love was true. 

Left behind, Akechi Mitsuhide could only watch the two people from the bottom of the stairs. 

And the bodies of Yoshiharu and Nobuna, which were about to go up the stairs that extended to the heavens, were completely exposed to the gun expert Saika Magoichi on the ground, holding the large gun Yatagarasu. 

The Saika corps girls that attend Saika Magoichi – Hotaru and Kosuzume, pressed her for a decision as Magoichi adjusted the aim of Yatagarasu towards the heads of the embracing and kissing Nobuna and Yoshiharu. 

Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu’s fate were in the hands of Magoichi. 

“Magoichi-sama!” 

“Oda Nobuna said she will not throw anything away-” 

“She said she will remain married for life with Sagara Yoshiharu-” 

“She declared it in front of the whole nation!” 

“Do you want to shoot or…” 

“The future of the country will be determined by Magoichi-sama’s decision.” 

Saika Magoichi, the flawless heir of the powerful clan of Kii, had won this war with the overwhelming might of the gun corps that Saika is proud of, but realized she had lost to Oda Nobuna as a person. 

I had just acted violently for sake of my own freedom. I am flawless. So I believed, but I joined this war due to the friendship with Honbyo Temple, not for the real feelings of Magoichi. 

But Oda Nobuna is ?Oda Nobuna, for the sake of ending the century of chaos and continuous wars and bring a totally new sense of values, resisted with all her will while receiving every disgrace. 

It brought home the difference in our caliber. 

A love that goes beyond social status with Sagara Yoshiharu and Tenka Fubu, for Oda Nobuna who transcends Japan’s traditional values such things are of equal value. It is a dream worth betting your own life. 

What a greedy woman. 

If this hero is buried here, this country’s history will probably change. 

And I’m afraid in a boring direction. 

But if I turn a blind eye to Oda Nobuna, Nobuna will, without fail, make a comeback. She will never give up. Nobuna will not stop until her life runs out. This war will continue. 

“Magoichi-sama!” 

Magoichi could no longer postpone it by hesitating. 

Magoichi wasn’t the only expert who could accurately snipe at Nobuna from this vast distance. There exists a person called the master of the impossible bow and arrow in the Warring States, Rokkaku Joutei and his son Rokkaku Yoshiharu. Nobuna once destroyed the Rokkaku clan of south Omi and chased the Rokkaku parent and child that fled into Koka. [ii] These two who had not been heard of since were the old masters of Gamo Leon Ujisato. 

If it is the Rokkaku father and son, it is possible to accurately shoot Nobuna’s head from such distance. 

“……??!?” 

With an inarticulate cry, Magoichi fired the Yatagarasu. 

From a distance, a single arrow was shot to pierce Nobuna and Yoshiharu’s head at the same time. 

Magoichi used her arquebus bullet to blast away the arrow. 

In the spur of the moment, she protected Nobuna and Yoshiharu. 

It wasn't logical. 

Magoichi’s finger that had trained with the arquebus until it changed into a part of her own body, protected the pair as if it had its own will. 

“Such as strong bow from that distance!” 

“What on earth, was that Magoichi-sama?” 

“That’s the sniper who shot Kennya-han and broke the peace between Honbyo Temple and Oda! This useless war was staged by him...!” 

In succession, more arrows were aimed and fired at Nobuna. 

Yoshiharu hugged Nobuna to defend her. 

Akechi Mitsuhide who had frozen in shock, panicked and began to go up the stairs. 

She couldn't keep up with the pair of men, the arrow was faster, Magoichi shouted. 

“Hotaru! Yatagarasu Kai Second!” 

“Second.” 

“I’ll shoot any number of arrows aimed at Oda Nobuna!” 

However, it was too late. 

Magoichi fired the next arquebus to blast away the rest of the arrows. 

That’s because - 

“Damn. It’s useless! They have two archers. I’m alone....!” 

Magoichi despaired. 

Probably one of the shooters was the Daimyo that was ruined by Nobuna and fled into Koka, Rokkaku Joutei. 

The man who was participating in the siege on Oda had been planning on making a comeback until now, the genius that inherited his family’s Hekiryu School of archery. The master of the bow and arrow in the warring states. 

Another one is the son of Rokkaku Joutei, Rokkaku Yoshiharu. 

While young, it is said he inherited his father’s skill with the bow. 

Only these two people could shoot an arrow from such an unimaginable distance. 

Magoichi on the other hand is alone. 

She couldn’t stop the simultaneous arrows shot by the Rokkaku father and son. 

Three arrows pierced Sagara Yoshiharu’s back as he hugged and protected Nobuna at the same time. 

Blood poured from Yoshiharu's nose and mouth as he received the arrows, but Magoichi still saw the the figure turning his back towards the oncoming arrows to protect Nobuna. 

“...Yoshiharu-han!?” 

It was hopeless. Magoichi had been unable to save them. 

As her consciousness faded, Nobuna pushed Yoshiharu’s body away. 

She probably pushed him to gain distance, and keep Yoshiharu from being a target. 

Akechi Mitsuhide and Takigawa Kazumasu caught her body as she tumbled down the stairs.

Sagara Yoshiharu’s body fell through the air and was swept away by the flood behind the fort. 

The Amano-Iwato that was his chance to return suddenly closed. 

Sagara Yoshiharu’s whereabouts were unknown after he fell into the bursting torrent. 

The rising water level may have been caused by Yoshiharu crashing into the river embankment. 

Ujisato lowered the barely conscious Nobuna to the deck and listened to the high-pitched shriek of the Kampaku, Konoe Sakihisa. 

“All of you, pay attention to Himiko-sama’s divine decree! Honbyo Temple and the Oda forces are both to withdraw and make peace for half a year’s time! Temples and samurai must not wage war anymore! Together, you are the two wheels that support Japan! That is Himiko-sama’s will!” 

Konoe Sakihisa who had failed at forcing a peace talk, still had not given up on a ceasefire. 

It was not the time to immediately think about whether it was a genuine imperial decree or a fake Konoe fabricated on the spur of the moment. 

But Akechi Mitsuhide bowed before Konoe, “Understood, I will humbly receive the imperial decree” as Nobuna was laid on the ship. 

An imperial envoy rushed in towards the siege around Nobuna, and Magoichi received the imperial decree immediately. 

Magoichi sent off a large number of the Saika Corps all around the battlefield to arrest the Rokkaku father and son who had disappeared saying, “I can’t forgive them.” But it was already too late and they had probably already fled to Koka. 

Koka is a ninja village. The Rokkaku father and son probably had experienced ninjas as their guards. 

Nobuna’s fate would have come to an end if the heads of Honbyo temple had rejected the imperial command. But today they didn’t reject it. 

As for many of the members of the Honbyo temple that had joined in the riots, they had already lost the will to fight with the Oda clan. 

They had viewed from the heavens the first great gun battle in human history and they shuddered with fear and shock as the ghastly figure of Saika Magoichi threw away the Honbyo Temple’s doctrine of “laughter” and became a god of death, marching through a sea of blood and building a mountain of corpses. 

The tragic love of Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu that was blocked by an impassable wall of social status. 

Yoshiharu becoming Nobuna’s shield and receiving an arrow in the back. 

The form of Nobuna pushing away Yoshiharu to protect him from the arrows. 

Even the guns and the miracle of the Amano-Iwato was overshadowed by the forbidden love of Oda Nobuna and the man from the future. 

They had an instinct that she would open up a new era in this age of confusion and despair. 

Saika Magoichi led the Saika clan back to Kishu and the Murakami Navy exited the Kizu river mouth to return to the Seto Sea. 

The riots of the followers who had revolted simultaneously all around the Oda territory all dissolved. 

Only the various powerful daimyos and local leaders who had been dispossessed of their assets by Nobuna continued their opposition. 

The battle of the Honbyo Temple/Mori allied forces and Oda troops entered a ceasefire for half a year. 

The Oda clan just barely managed to escape from a quagmire where they were surrounded by foes. 

However, this is only for half a year. 

And the whereabouts of Sagara Yoshiharu are still unknown. 

The people were whispering “Sagara Nobuna was standing as a shield for the sake of guarding Oda Nobuna.” “No, Sagara Yoshiharu passed through the Amano-Iwato and returned to his world to let Oda Nobuna take over the country.” 

A short time after the establishment of the cease-fire with Honbyo temple, the retainers assembled from all around the Oda territory. 

After the ceasefire, Nobuna went to heal her leg injury at Kyo’s Honn?-ji temple. 

“Fortunately the bone is safe. By the grace of god you avoided a direct hit from Magoichi’s bullet. If the Yatagarasu’s bullet had made a direct hit, you would have lost your leg immediately. You can soon walk. Good, good.” 

Lying in Honn?-ji Temple, Nobuna got a seal of approval of “recovery” from the noted doctor Manase Belchior that morning as he kneaded some medicine. 

During the opening of the Amano-Iwato, I fainted and lost consciousness in Yoshiharu’s arms. I don’t remember anything after that. 

When I woke, I was on top of one of Honn?-ji Temple’s beds. 

The report that Sagara Yoshiharu had disappeared was like a dream. 

I can’t really feel it yet. 

Yoshiharu vanished from the battlefield with that perfect siege as I fainted on the verge of death. I don’t understand how I was able to come back from that hell. 

Apparently we were barely saved by Konoe Sakihisa and Himiko. 

“Hime-sama. The cat sect’s hostility no longer exists. Rather, in their hearts, there seem to be many people who are Hime-sama’s supporters. This is also because of Saru’s feat of volunteering his body to protect Hime-sama. 

Next to Nobuna, the courageous general Shibata had won a fierce victory over the temporary riots in Echizen. 

“The citizens, men and women alike, who saw your beautiful face for the first time are crazy about you Hime-sama” she said proudly, throwing out her chest. 

“Dearuka.” 

“When the figures of Saru and Hime-sama appeared in the sky, the men’s hearts were stolen by your beauty, and the girls shed tears and became supporters of the tragic love between Saru and Hime.” 

“I understand. Boys are simple.” 

Even with the first meeting with Saitou Dousan, that viper was flustered by my charming figure….Nobuna recalls the encounter with Dousan a long time ago. 

“While it is worrisome that Sagara-dono’s whereabouts are unknown, by opening the Amano-Iwato, Hime captured the people’s hearts. It is a miracle. To Gamo-dono, 80 points.” 

While drinking the tea that Rikyuu had prepared, Nobuna’s substitute elder sister Niwa Nagahide smiled sadly. “Incidentally, Sagara-dono’s absence only earns ten points.” 

“Anyway, Saru is alive Nagahide. It is impossible for that guy to die without permission.” 

“That's right, Katsuie-dono. What a vulgar life Sagara-dono has.” 

“That’s right. Before long that Saru will randomly return back. And at that time, I will hit him for leaving without Hime’s permission.” 

“…Mmm.” 

Silently wearing her tiger headdress, Maeda Inuchiyo nodded. 

Everyone close to Nobuna believed that Yoshiharu is alive. 

Rather than acting to not worry Nobuna, everyone truly believed in his survival. 

“Hee. The world knows about your relationship with Saru-kun at last onee-sama. When Saru-kun gets back, let’s have a marriage ceremony.” 

Nobuna’s brother, Tsuda Nobusumi laughed cheerfully as he gave an Uiro-mochi [iii] to Inuchiyo. 

“That’s impossible.~ If Saruharu-san comes back and breaks the law by having a marriage ceremony, the Takeda and Uesugi clans that lost their reason to drive out Saruharu-san and the Oda clan, will be given an excuse to invade the capital again. In that case, the Matsudaira that has been a bulwark to Takeda will be erased first~” 

Nobuna’s protege who had rushed over from T?t?mi, Matsudaira Motoyasu, shuddered in fear. 

The Oda and Matsudaira clans are allies, but only the Oda family had expanded to the west, in the east the Matsudaira clan was constantly under attack by Takeda Shingen. Recently Nobuna had been completely treating her as a retainer rather than a protege.  

“So because onii-sama who was in a romantic relationship that isn't allowed disappeared, people felt sorry for Hime-sama and she became popular? So if onii-sama and hime-sama stick together then they will be surrounded by enemies.” 

Yoshiharu’s younger sister, Nene, asked Nagahide while happily eating uiro-mochi. 

Nene had wailed when she heard that Yoshiharu had been killed at the Retreat of Kanegasaki, but now she fully believed in Yoshiharu’s safe return. 

“That is correct Nene. Setting aside the girls, the men probably would be. Since they were fascinated by the princess’ good looks, Sagara-dono would be the envy of all the men in the world if he stole Hime’s heart. They would say ‘Die Sagara Yoshiharu! You bastard!’ 0 points.” 

“My, my. In other words, most of the men in the country would become like the Kawanami?” 

“Of course the Oda clan’s soldiers who are familiar with Sagara-dono are different. Because they all adore Sagara-dono. However, people of other countries don’t really know Sagara-dono.” 

“Sagara-shi is a completely sinful man de gozaru. He is is obviously having an affair somewhere under our noses.” 

Hachisuka Goemon who had returned from the ninja meeting made a sour face while hanging from the ceiling. 

“...That’s right, he had an affair. To have an affair with Nobuna....” 

Nobuna’s right hand man, the master general of literary and military arts. Akechi Mitsuhide had recently been constantly maintaining her pistol for some reason.. 

In her spare time, she was polishing the pistol that she had purchased through Frois from the Namban traders. 

“....Broke our engagement. Even if he went mad on the battlefield, to steal Nobuna-sama’s lips, that fellow’s injustice and immorality is too much....” 

While Nagahide watches Mitsuhide with an anxious face. Strange, it is too strange, this state of affairs has already been too strange. ….Mother’s disease is grave. It’s that. It’s a woman’s big day. Katsuie still can’t find a husband right. Ha ha ha. 

The Mitsuhide who still thinks of herself as Yoshiharu’s fiancé was muttering to herself. “The kiss is a mistake, some people go crazy on the battlefield. No, it was surely an instant performance to win over the people’s hearts.” 

Juubei is strange, Nobuna thought. Was it the shock of understanding that Yoshiharu was in a romantic relationship with me? I must talk to Juubei sooner or later. For now, they had to deal with the immediate issues. 

To the east there are Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin who are not hiding their ambition to proceed to the capital and take down the Oda clan. 

Mori still obstructs us to the west, and in the center stands the Honbyo Temple and the Saika mercenaries in Kii. 

In half a year the ceasefire will finish and it will probably become a battle with Honbyo/Mori Temple again. 

If Takeda or Uesugi use that opportunity to invade the capital, the Oda clan will not be able to last. 

Above all, there is nothing to be heard of Yoshiharu… I can’t only rely on Yoshiharu. I have to grit my teeth and bear it without him….even if he never returns again. 

Yoshiharu may never return. 

He may have died protecting me. 

Sagara Yoshiharu died in battle. 

The likelihood was high. 

Everyone in the Oda household had a vague feeling. 

The Oda forces searched the battlefield thoroughly for Yoshiharu but he had never been found. 

At least I hope you returned to the future and safely reunited with your mother and father. 

Gamo Ujisato said that the spiritual power of the Three Sacred Treasures was exhausted by the miracle. The Amano-Iwato can never be opened again, if Yoshiharu returned to the future, then Nobuna is separated from Yoshiharu forever.

Even so, if Yoshiharu is still alive.... 

Nobuna ordered “report your plans to me from now on” to the two young girl strategists Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei who unexpectedly broke out into tears after returning from their revival in the Arima Hot Spring. 

While Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei were shocked by Yoshiharu’s disappearance, the strategists could only rack their brains to overcome this crisis. 

“Sob. Sob. You should have understood from the battle the other day, it is impossible to attack Honbyo Temple which is protected by the river, sea, and land. Having said that, it is also impossible to make an expedition to Chuugoku for a decisive battle with Mori while Honbyo holds control over the center of Settsu. That will cut off our escape route. The reason the battle ended temporarily is because the believers felt sympathy for Nobuna. Sob. Sob.” 

Hanbei’s eyes had been red and swollen since Yoshiharu’s disappearance. 

Kanbei, who had become Hanbei’s closest friend, held Hanbei’s shoulders to support her and nodded. 

“Sim, if Honbyo Temple is not sealed, the Oda clan will have to maintain a defensive fight. We have no choice but to blockade the river mouth and cut off provisions and reinforcements from Mori.” 

“Yes. It is as Kanbei says. Mori and Saika can’t send troops to Honbyo temple if the waterway is blocked.” 

“But Sakon’s Kuki navy was scattered by Mori’s Murakami navy at Kizugawaguchi. The Murakami Navy is abnormally strong. It seems that it is true when it is said that the Mori family that was a small force in Chuugoku was able to get a victory in Itsukushima to become the supreme rulers of Chuugoku due becoming an ally with the Murakami Navy that dominated the Setouchi Sea.” 

“We have a plan for Takigawa Kazumasu to defeat the Murakami navy. Sob. Sob.” 

“For Sakon? Come to think of it, Sakon and Leon didn’t show up.” 

One of the Oda clan’s Four Devas, Nobuna’s little sister Takigawa Kazumasu led the Kuki navy and was wiped out by the Murakami navy. 

The distinguished daughter of Omi who was promoted from hostage to Nobuna’s sister-in-law, Gamo Leon Ujisato, saved Nobuna from her crisis by releasing the Three Sacred Treasures – but it led to the whole country knowing about Nobuna and Yoshiharu’s relationship. She had put herself under house arrest after the ceasefire. 

The two had argued over the position of “Nobuna’s sister” - 

“The two of them are now working together on a strategy to come out victorious over the Murakami navy. Especially Gamo Leon who is regretting using the Three Sacred Treasures on the battlefield.” 

Kanbei tilted her head, saying “But how did Leon obtain the third sacred treasure?” 

“Originally, this Simeon also intended on using the Three Sacred Treasures to open the Amano-Iwato and send Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future. My motivation was basically the same as Leon’s. But the third sacred treasure, the Magatama, was lost as it sunk into the Seto Sea during the Genpei War. The Magatama should have been in the part of the ocean ruled by the Murakami Navy so it shouldn’t have been easy to obtain.” 

“Dearuka. Leon said that the Magatama was sent by a Namban missionary. I guess they had a connection as they are both Christian. 

“It was a missionary? Why would a missionary from beyond the sea know so many details about the myth of the Three Sacred Treasures? Sob. Sob.” 

“Sim. Even if he calls himself a missionary, he might have a separate job. Not all people have being a missionary as their only profession like Frois. Many are merchants or soldiers. The missionary who baptized Simon was originally a merchant who came to this country to trade.” 

“Dearuka….Their goal isn’t only to do missionary work like Xavier and Frois...seems suspicious.” 

In any case, the missionary Gaspard - is now in staying in Kyushu, likely under the supervision of the Otomo’s Christian Daimyo – there wasn't enough time to investigate. 

I will fight against the Murakami navy and win. 

There is no other way to break through this siege. 

“Sob. Sob. Kanbei put together an outline of how to break through. Takigawa Kazumasu-sama and Gamo Ujisato-sama who excel at naval battles will soon bring the concrete proposal to Nobuna-sama directly. It will require a tremendous investment from the whole Oda clan.” 

“Well it’s only an idea, but only the best strategist in the world, Simeon, can make this plan a reality. Hehehe.” 

Harima's plan is surely the one that dawned on me, Nobuna smiled. 

“Sob. Nobuna-sama showed everyone in the whole country a new way to live by opening the Amano-Iwato. A new way of life that doesn’t rely on the gods and Buddha, where there can be pure love beyond social status. The public sentiment immediately leaned towards Nobuna-sama. Because of that, the Honbyo Temple’s believers stopped rioting. Afterward, if Nobuna displays that she possesses not just the will, but also an overwhelming military power, Tenka Fubu can be achieved.” 

I didn’t really intend that.....I wasn’t fully conscious at the time....it’s a joke that the whole country saw my kiss with Yoshiharu right...Nobuna turned pale and then red as she spun the tea set she was holding round and round. 

OH GOD IT HAPPENED DIDN’T IT! I WANT TO FORGET IT ALL! I COMPLETELY REMEMBER! I WANT TO DIE! SOMEONE KILL ME! 

I almost felt like crying that out, but it’s possible that Yoshiharu was already dead and it didn’t feel like the right mood to crack jokes. However, because we were trapped, I did such a shameful act in front of the whole nation...if Yoshiharu doesn’t fall in love with me after all of that, it will seem like I have no backbone….kiss….in public…kiss….IYAAAA! Nobuna endured the vertigo attack. 

And then decided that that guy was in for a merciless punishment when he returned. 

“However, because Sagara Yoshiharu disappeared from the battlefield shortly after that kiss, Oda Nobuna won sympathy with the nation. At least that is the impression I get from the men. If Sagara Yoshiharu returns, most of the troublesome samurai and daimyos will become the Oda clan’s enemies to prevent Saru from starting the largest social upheaval in this country's history. Hehehe.” 

“That’s right Kanbei-san. People say that the only men who weren’t shaken by the divine figure of Nobuna-sama were the Uesugi clan generals that worship Uesugi Kenshin as the avatar of Bishamonten. All of the men of Echigo seem to be a bit special. Fufu.” 

Hanbei forced a smile, and Katsuie and the group of retainers suddenly erupted in laughter. 

Meanwhile, Mitsuhide sunk into a depression. 

“By any chance....will Senpai not return anymore?” 

She blurted out such a taboo thing while diligently polishing her pistol. 

All of the members fell silent. 

“Ju, Juubei. Everyone isn’t becoming depressed about Yoshiharu, thinking like that is bad for Yoshiharu, nobody is pretending to put on a brave face. Isn't it an admirable thing for someone as small as Nene? Read the mood once in a while...” 

“But. If Senpai isn’t found, is Nobuna-sama going to continue to pretend that Senpai lives for years and years?” 

Tch. How can Akechi-dono not read the mood, 3 points. What a difficult child. Katsuie also began to panic. 

“Juubei!” 

“This Juubei cannot bear it.” 

Nobuna and Mitsuhide glared at each other. 

“We all believe that Yoshiharu is alive. We aren’t just pretending. Didn’t Yoshiharu perfectly return alive even that time in Kanegasaki?” 

“When Zenki used the ninja art that time, the critically injured Senpai was only saved miraculously by this wonderful Juubei risking her life. It’s different this time. Juubei was only able to watch....it is Juubei’s responsibility. Is Senpai already....at a place that Juubei can’t reach....” 

“Juubei? What’s got into you? Cheer up!” 

“Well. It’s impossible that Nobuna-sama and Senpai had a forbidden romance like that! If Senpai really lives and comes back, what do you intend to do?! Are you seriously going to have a wedding ceremony? If you do such a thing, the Oda clan will be destroyed! Why…why Nobuna-sama….” 

“….Juubei.” 

“Even if you temporarily stem the drama with Senpai! Would you provoke Takeda and Uesugi by declaring your love to the world?” 

“Don’t the citizens of the nation support me?” 

“Only because Senpai disappeared! All hell will break loose if he shamelessly returns! No matter how much the people support us, it’s impossible to have Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin as enemies.” 

“Juubei? You seem to be losing your cool today. By any chance are you angry that Yoshiharu and I kissed?” 

“Th-th-th-that’s wrong! W-W-Why, this Juubei is the descended from the noble Toki Minamoto family. Ughh~.” 

“I’m sorry. I seem to have gone a little too far.” 

Nobuna was considerate of Mitsuhide’s feelings and stopped arguing. 

Even if the person still stubbornly wouldn’t recognize it, Nobuna had already understood it clearly. Mitsuhide had been in love with Yoshiharu this whole time. 

In the beginning, they should have been feelings of friendship and respect for a senior who fought on the same battlefield. 

Over time, it had actually become love. 

From what time was it? Nobuna thought. 

Leon didn’t understand my feelings for Yoshiharu. 

That girl is too young to know love, and wasn’t able to take my feelings for Yoshiharu into account. She never expected me to act like that when the Amano-Iwato was opened. Because Leon is extremely immature. 

But Juubei- 

Until now, Nobuna had avoided this topic. No, it may be that she had been crazy about Yoshiharu and hadn’t paid attention to the troubles Mitsuhide was having. 

Now that Yoshiharu had disappeared, Nobuna may have been able to notice the seriousness of the situation that she and Mitsuhide had fallen into. 

“Mi-mi-Mitsuhide. We don’t have the right to interfere with our lord’s love! In the first place I don’t have any problem having the one marrying Hime-sama be this Katsuie!” 

“For some reason, pandemonium and chaos is forming between vassals and master. This is not a normal situation for the Oda clan. Five points.” 

“Excuse me....the two of you must not quarrel....Yoshiharu-san would feel sad. Sob. Sob.” 

“Is that right, Hanbei? He would be happy and put on a monkey face. He would say something like ‘oh it’s so sinful to be a popular man’.” 

“Unyu. Its a problem that there is only one person in the Sagara-shi family. If only there was a technique to split Sagara-shi’s body into two.” 

“What do I do, I’m going to be bullied.” 

“That’s it. We can get a huge saw device and cut Sagara-shi’s body in half.” 

“Saruharu can’t die and leave things this way~” 

“…I’m hungry.” 

Katsuie made a fuss and tried to restore the room’s atmosphere. 

“….Well, because Juubei thinks of Senpai as only a monkey that uses human speech, I'll stop talking about Nobuna-sama's bad tastes now. But if Senpai nonchalantly returns home now without an excuse, I’ll kill him.” 

Nobuna thought. It seems Juubei can still not accept her own feelings of love. 

So for now while we are still on good terms, we can walk together as master and servant, two comrades that share the dream of Tenka Fubu. 

Nobuna had a foreboding that at some point Juubei will say the forbidden words “I like Senpai” and the relationship between her and Juubei will completely collapse. 

Perhaps Mitsuhide had the same premonition and was therefore forbidding herself from noticing her own affection. 

Although – the hope that Yoshiharu is alive is fading away day by day. 

Even so, I won’t throw away this dream. 

Nobuna thought. I won’t give up until the very end, even if I am burned by the flames of destiny, as long as I live, as far as this life goes, I won’t give up this dream. 

I resolved myself, for the nameless soldiers who died on the battlefield, Viper and Danjo, and now Yoshiharu who I owed my life many times, Nobuna clenched her teeth and nodded. 

“Anyway. I won’t become the demon king just because Yoshiharu disappeared. Yoshiharu lives. I believe it more strongly than yesterday. Ever resilient, Yoshiharu wasn’t inexperienced on the battlefield. Everyone- lend your power to me. Particularly Juubei? Because you are my successor if I fail, do not hesitate about Saru’s disappearance. I rely on you!” 

“…Y, yes.” 

Nobuna stepped over to Mitsuhide and hugged her shoulders. 

“Please understand. Even if someone falls, if someone inherits their dream they aren’t truly dead. So Yoshiharu isn’t dead. Juubei.” 

“I’m sorry Nobuna-sama. I got too upset.” 

“I am sorry as well.” 

In a low voice that only Mitsuhide could hear, Nobuna gave a heartfelt apology. 

“Nobuna-sama?” 

The present Mitsuhide still doesn’t understand the meaning of those words. 

At some point, the time will come. 

It may be at that time that all the dreams that Nobuna and Mitsuhide built up will completely collapse. 

Still, Nobuna raised up Mitsuhide’s sinking spirits. 

As Nagahide sympathized with Nobuna’s heart she smiled. “The princess has become strong again. Full marks.” 

Honn?-ji Temple soon had an unexpected visitor. 

With his black teeth, the Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa, also known as Maro, came with a big basket saying “This is for Oda Nobuna”. 

Nobuna had Konoe be shown into a small tea-ceremony room with the ‘master of 1000 tea ceremonies’ Rikyuu. 

To Konoe the restoration of the Imperial Rule – in other words the ambition to restart all of Kyo’s aristocrats. Konoe had shown hostility for a long time against the samurai clan who advocated Tenka Fubu, but after Nobuna had grown from numerous trials, he surrendered himself. 

“Konoe. With the strategist you employed Kennya was shot 

By employing that shadowy strategist things went out of control, it became a battle with Honbyo Temple, and Kennya got shot – but out of consideration for Himiko’s imperial decree that brought about peace I won’t demote you.” 

“Hohoho. Oda Nobuna must be in good health if such abuse can come out of your mouth.” 

“What’s with the basket?” 

“….Between you and me, Himiko-sama is in here. She came here secretly.” 

“What? In a basket. Aren’t you most disloyal?” 

“Yes, there were various things! Well, Himiko-sama. Oda Nobuna is speaking directly to you.” 

“....I understand.” 

The very young head of the Yamato Gosho emerged from the basket. 

She was dressed as a pure white shrine maiden. 

Rikyuu who wore the jet-black Namban outfit let out a “throb” and shook nervously. 

However, the reason Rikyuu is called the Tea Saint is because she will never make a blunder in a tea ceremony no matter how nervous she is. 

“….(Here you go.)” 

“Nod, nod.” 

The tea was presented to Himiko excellently. 

“Oda Nobuna. This time was a mess.” 

“Himiko-sama. I apologize for using the Three Sacred Treasures without permission. I’m going to return the sacred treasures to the Yamato Gosho. For the particulars, Konoe can fill in the gaps.” 

“When you invoked the power, the holy energy was used up.” 

“Yes. According to Leon, the sacred treasures seemed to have used up the last of their power to open the Ama no Iwato. It seems they are unusable now.” 

“You were shown in person to the whole country.” 

“It’s embarrassing.” 

Himiko is young but intelligent. 

When Nobuna used the Three Sacred Treasures and opened the Ama no Iwato, she could have declared to the nation – no to the whole world, that she was the new God of the world. 

But Nobuna didn’t do that. 

She openly revealed that as a person, as a young girl, she was in love with Sagara Yoshiharu. 

Nobuna refused to return to the Age of Myths and made the coming Age of Humankind known to the whole world. 

Himiko understood Nobuna’s will perfectly. 

“Oda Nobuna. Sagara Yoshiharu is alive.” 

“Yes. He is alive. I will wait for Yoshiharu’s return forever.” 

“However, while he is gone you must not give up your ambition of Tenka Fubu. It will be a very difficult journey. And when you try governing the country later, Honbyo Temple will continue to haunt you if you do not get them in line.” 

“Unfortunately we are in a difficult position, but the Oda clan has Juubei and Hanbei. Definitely.” 

“To overcome the cat sect, Oda Nobuna would have to gain authority that exceeds Honbyo Temple. For example, the Shogun.” 

“But Imagawa Yoshimoto has the rank of Shogun.” 

“Mm. And you do not want to become a god – then, in order to quell the fires of rebellion, now is the time, to you-” 

Oda Nobuna. Himiko tried to say that she would hand over her rank to her. 

She tried to say that she was willing to abdicate. 

So Nobuna could stand on the heights that far exceeded the head of the Honbyo Temple - Himiko is an exceptional existence, descended from the gods and outside Japan’s class system - if Nobuna took the throne as Himiko there would be nothing to stop her love with Sagara Yoshiharu. 

When Konoe sensed Himiko’s decision he stopped her in a panic. 

“A-a-ah. What are you saying Himiko-sama! You shouldn’t say anymore!” 

“Despite your fear, this is all we can do!” 

“Himiko-sama. I have already chosen to live as a person. Besides- “ 

“Besides?” 

“In the Namban lands, there is a religious authority known as the Pope in Rome, it seems he rules above the royalty. The Yamato Gosho and Himiko are needed to oppose the Namban history and authority. Without the Yamato Gosho, the strength of the Namban civilization will engulf us. If I who marched to the capital from rural Owari usurped the position of Himiko, I would look like a savage from the Namban viewpoint.” 

“Is that so? Oda Nobuna. You even thought of something like this when you decided on Tenka Fubu?” 

“Yes. Beyond that point is my true dream.” 

“I understand.” 

The Yamato Gosho was protected – Konoe bowed his head as he ran out of energy. 

“Putting Sagara Yoshiharu aside, I will try to do anything.” 

“Thank you.” 

“I absolutely can’t swallow the malicious demand to have me adopt him and make him the Kampaku! ...Is what I would like to say, but rather than having Himiko-sama abdicate I will swallow my tears and make Sagara Yoshiharu the Kampaku, Fujiwara Yoshiharu.” 

If Himiko is protected, even if the Fujiwara clan is finished, the Yamato Gosho will recover later... I,I,I...Konoe shed tears while drinking his tea. 

“We’ll have that talk when Yoshiharu comes back, Konoe. There is a twisted rumor about that monkey usurping the Kampaku.” 

“The order to make Sagara Yoshiharu the Kampaku isn’t a rumor!” 

“Yeah, yeah. Well, who is the shadowy strategist that split from you and the anti-Oda clan group? Spit it out. He is the one who planned the assassination of Kennya and for me and Yoshiharu to get shot right? I can’t leave this alone any further.” 

“That sneaky man is even able to use a noble of the Rokkaku clan like a pawn. While having an unknown lineage, he has a fiendish personality, boasts an inhumane strength, and has an even more wicked intelligence. And despite being a vagrant he has gained a lot of money on account of me transferring war funds to him....” 

“Was there really such a person outside of Japan’s Great Three Villains Viper, Danjo, and Ukita Naoie? I had no idea. The man called the God of Strategy Motonari Mori is already dead and while Hojo Ujiyasu is black-hearted, she is still a young girl. One of the Koga and Iga ninjas? If that is so, it would make sense to not be aware of his name.” 

“It would be awful to reveal the name in front of Himiko-sama. I’ll tell you at the next opportunity.” 

“Why?” 

“If things don’t go well, it is possible for that man to harm Himiko-sama.” 

“….That’s crazy! Why did you lend war funds to such a person!?” 

“I have the deepest regrets. As to the matter of Kampaku Fujiwara Yoshiharu, it will take some time but I will try to think positively.” 

Konoe Sakihisa seems to have decided to entrust the future of the Yamato Gosho and Himiko to Oda Nobuna. 

Kampaku Fujiwara Yoshiharu. I only said that to Konoe half-seriously at first. But now it’s becoming a real story- there may be a chance to truly get married with Yoshiharu. 

However, the crucial Sagara Yoshiharu still hasn’t been found. 

Where on earth are you Yoshiharu? By any chance could the truth be – Nobuna wanted to cry when she thought of it. 

“Oda Nobuna. Is Sakon alright?” 

“Sakon, together with Leon, is running about to defeat the Murakami navy.” 

“'You are you. Live your own way. It was good to meet you.' I want you to tell this to Sakon.” 

“....Himiko-sama? No way. I did think you looked a lot alike but could you mean?” 

“D-d-don’t say anymore Himiko-sama! You heard nothing Oda Nobuna.” 

Nobuna now understood why Takigawa Kazumasu was so shaken on the battlefield. 

It is said that every ninja carries their own secrets – but this? 

And that Kazumasu has already overcome her past. 

“The first time I saw onee-sama, was when the Oda troops were advancing from Gifu and was starting the capture of Omi, the Kannonji castle. I was the heiress of the Gamo house which served the Rokkaku clan, and the battle with Onee-sama was my first campaign.” 

Not far from Honn?-ji in the Nij?-j? castle garden, Gamo Leon Ujisato was arranging a large number of books from a pile while talking about her meeting with Nobuna. 

The young girl listening on her knees listening was Takigawa Kazumasu. 

She was dressed exactly like Himiko in a shrine maiden outfit. 

She originally was a Koga ninja. 

Leaving the Koga, running out of energy in Owari she was picked up by Nobuna, becoming her little sister. 

“At that time, Nobuna-chan’s blitzkrieg tactics took out Rokkaku Joutei’s castles one by one and he had to escape to Koga. In the end, the main Honjo castle, Kannonji, was taken without a fight.” 

Kazumasu sulked as she did not participate in the invasion of the capital because she was busy with the capture of Ise. 

“I was in despair over this Sengoku Era where I didn’t know when I would die. With the Ashikaga Shogunate losing power, not even the distinguished Rokkaku clan that the Gamo house served had the force to push Asai Nagamasa out of Omi. The Yamato Gosho did not have the military force, and even the armed monks of Mount Hiei and K?fuku-ji Temple that served the gods and Buddha could do nothing. The citizens needlessly suffered and died. The world was too chaotic. Even so, I was young and no matter how much knowledge I gained from books, I was powerless and couldn’t save anyone. Even if I read the Bible, reality couldn’t be changed – even in Gamo territory the fields were ruined from the constant fighting and the people experienced misery. And yet I couldn’t save them with books. I was in such despair myself.” 

“Precocious. If Yoshi was here, he would probably say you had the chuuni disease.” 

“Knowing that the Oda troops were using the overwhelming strength of the arquebus to capture Yamashiro with a new method, I believed it was easier to die in battle and plunged into the front lines of the troops lead by Onee-sama. I thought if I took an arquebus bullet I could escape from the hell that was this chaotic period filled with suffering. I shouted ‘Kill me’.” 

“It’s the same despair filled charge as Yamanaka Shikanosuke but with a different motive.” 

“I wasn’t shot to death. I was dragged from the horse and scolded by Onee-sama. 'Don’t say such a childish thing, live without running away!' she scolded me while smacking me.” 

“That seems like Onee-chan’s style. She would be called an S in future speak. If it was Yamanaka Shikanosuke, she would climax with emotion, get too aroused and then suddenly die.” 

“At that time, Onee-sama’s figure was like that of a god who had descended to earth in front of my eyes. In the form of a wild and beautiful goddess that had come down to the land to destroy Japan. There was a fire in her eyes, burning with an angry intensity at something. Surely, she was angry at the samurai, monks, and nobles that cannot control the country in this eternally turbulent period.” 

“In other words Ujisato was beat up and brainwashed by Nobuna-chan.” 

“Don’t mix it up! I, who was glared at by those burning eyes of Onee-sama was given the courage to live and the will to do what I need to for her as long as I have life in me. I will never again mourn and want to die. I don’t need to sulk and run away from my powerlessness. As long as Onee-sama lives, I will continue to fight” 

It was very different from my encounter with Nobuna-chan, Kazumasu thought. 

She hadn't been gentle to anyone to that extent. 

No matter what trials and tribulations befall her after this, there are the memories of that night at the festival in Tsushima, and Kazumasu can live. 

Perhaps Oda Nobuna shows a very different form depending on who she encounters. 

As for that tragic expression that wholeheartedly sought love with Yoshiharu, it is only shown to Sagara Yoshiharu - 

Nobuna-chan's face then, that was the true Nobuna-chan, thought Kazumasu. 

“Well Ujisato differs from your two cute older sisters who are happy people. Kuki is also safe. Next time we will crush the Murakami Navy for sure.” 

“That's right. I must atone for the fact that my plan to use the Three Sacred Treasures lead Onee-sama to be hurt and my crime drove Sagara Yoshiharu to vanish.” 

“As for me, next time I will wash away the shame of causing us to lose by getting confused and worn out on the battlefield.” 

“Doesn’t it sound strange for a Miko and Christian to join forces? But let’s do our best.” 

“Oh, we’ll join our powers together. However, what about the missionary who sent the Magatama from Setouchi-” 

“Gaspard-sama [iv] is a person truly concerned with the future of Japan.” 

“Ujisato seems to be the sort of person who is tricked easily. The Namban are suspicious. I have to ask you something directly.” 

“Why are you putting your hand on me and questioning about my overflowing love for Onee-sama? Oh onee-sama. Onee-sama, Onee-sama, Onee-sama! Why is Onee-sama so beautiful!? Gasp, pant.” 

“This can be a double-edged sword when I cannot help hearing what I don’t want to hear.” 

“Munch. I have a good plan. The reward can be ten years’ worth of Ise’s mochi.” 

In the corner of the garden on the edge of the pond. 

Eating a heaping bowl of dumplings, the blond haired armored female knight Giovanna raised her voice. 

This oddball warrior(?) is said to be of the Namban Knights of Malta. 

Originally, she was the escort for a missionary ship. 

All too quickly, she had settled down in the Kuki navy under the supervision of Takigawa Kazumasu who was well-known for being careless with human resources. 

While it would be doubtful that a young girl could handle a sword with such thin arms, the owner could run around while constantly in heavy armor, and could almost eat endlessly. 

It is said that most of the Kuki Navy’s expenses are just the food expenses for Giovanna. 

“At the war council Leon seemed to talk about the fall of Constantinople. The historically famous event where the Ottoman Empire’s forces destroyed the ramparts using Orban’s cannon [v] .” 

“Yes, I obtained that knowledge from some Namban books that were imported. But Orban’s legendary cannon has already been lost and isn’t it probably impossible to make it again?” 

“The designs may be lost but it really existed. It can be built again. Yoshiharu’s strategist Simeon is a world-famous genius. Even if it is only halfway, Orban’s cannon – might be able to be built.” 

Kazumasu shook her head, even if they were able to make such a large cannon, they wouldn’t be able to carry it to Honbyo Temple. 

But Giovanna said “Here is my idea” while proudly stuffing her mouth with a dumpling. 

“I’m not putting up appearances by bringing up the hopeless siege war against the Ottoman Empire forces in Malta. In the battle for Malta, eighty percent of the knights of our order died an honorable death in battle, but the order accomplished the defense of Malta.” 

Malta was besieged by the Ottoman Empire army. Malta was the most important location in the Mediterranean Sea, with the island being important for both the Christians forces and the Ottoman army which planned to conquer the Mediterranean Sea. That is why it became a rare battle for annihilation, I have heard there were innumerable victims for both armies – if I compared it to Japan, it was a ghastlier war than the battle of Kawanakajima. Ujisato nodded. 

“It is unexpected for that Giovanna that only lives by gluttony to have such a gruesome past.” 

“…Since I was in a severe starvation state for a long time, I became frightened of being attacked by hunger and it reached the point where I eat ten times that of other people…” 

“Nya. Is that so?” 

“And – The reverse is true too, I am good at siege warfare. Hmm. Another helping of dumplings!” 

A land route for a large army to rush towards Honbyo Temple in Settsu has still not been secured yet. 

For Mori to use a land route to march to the capital from Settsu, they have to take over Harima. 

However one of Harima’s largest bases, Himeji Castle, was held by Oda’s Sagara Yoshiharu corps and blocked Mori’s army. 

But now, Sagara Yoshiharu has not been heard of and the two great strategists Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei are working out the plans for the next confrontation with Honbyo Temple, leaving Himeji’s Sagara Yoshiharu Corps to be led by the second in command, Yamanaka Shikanosuke. 

Yamanaka Shikanosuke – Izumo’s Princess General. Originally the vassal of the Amago house. The head of the Ten Amago Braves. Despite being a young Princess General, she had already endured hardships several times greater than an ordinary person. Praying to the moon, “Please give me the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains,” she had already endured a series of disasters as the Amago clan was destroyed, Shikanosuke herself was captured, and she had to escape through a toilet passage. 

It could be said that something in Shikanosuke was definitely twisted, especially after escaping by pretending to have diarrhea and crawling through the toilet passage despite being a young lady. 

Now, for the sake of restoring the Amago clan, she led the Amago’s remnants to join the Sagara Yoshiharu corps and use her spear for the Oda. 

For Yoshiharu who didn’t have any retainers or protégés, the strong generals representing Chuugoku and the combat experienced Shikanosuke had become a necessary existence.... 

“Milord went missing on the battlefield……suddenly going away somewhere, and leaving this Shikanosuke in the warring states world. Terrible. Too terrible Milord. Did you abandon this Shikanosuke? What suffering, * pant pant *” 

Today, at the headquarters outside of Himeji Castle, hearing the report from Goemon about Sagara Yoshiharu being lost made her body shake and twitch. 

“Yamanaka-shi. This is not the situation to be worrying.” 

“It seems I was left by Milord. Even if I live there is only despair. In addition, Mori’s army is before my eyes to kill me and scatter me like a flower.” 

Near Shikanosuke’s headquarters, Kikkawa Motoharu of Mori had created a perfect formation that was awaiting Shikanosuke’s charge. 

Kikkawa Motoharu is the daughter of the first generation of the Mori clan, Mori Motonari. 

Along with her younger twin sister Kobayakawa Takakage, they assisted the young third generation in managing the Mori House. 

Kobayakawa Takakage holds the San'yo district on the Setouchi Sea side, while Kikkawa captured the San'in district on the Sea of Japan side – Since the Amago Clan were the daimyos of Izumo's San'in region, it could be said that Kikkawa Motoharu had viciously destroyed them. 

For Shikanosuke who had dedicated her youth to fighting the Mori forces without hope, Kikkawa Motoharu was her natural enemy. 

“Charging in has been banned by Sagara-shi.” 

“That's right. As one would expect from Milord, holding back this key point is agonizing! Does Shikanosuke have no choice but to continue in agony alone? Abandoned by Milord - * pant pant* 

“....While Sagara-shi is still lost, it is getting increasingly dangerous.” 

Under the supervision of Shikanosuke and Goemon who were performing a manzai, an unbelievable report came in from one of the soldiers standing guard. 

“Master Sagara Yoshiharu has appeared close by.” 

“Once again. My joy will be short-lived and afterwards I will be knocked down into the abyss of despair, I won't be able to go on.” 

“Chop. Sagara-shi who we looked for everywhere in Settsu and the surrounding territories has been found in Harima? Really?” 

“Yes. That is....” 

“That is?” 

“Say it quickly!” 

“For some reason, master is at the front of the Mori forces.” 

Shikanosuke laughed. 

“I see. Milord is purposely pretending to go over to the Mori side for the sake of pushing me further into despair! As one would expect of Master, he will use every trick to hurt this Shikanosuke’s heart.” 

“Chop. Yamanaka-shi. If this is true, this is a terrible situation.” 

“I am going directly to the camp where Milord is and bringing him back easily.” 

“We don’t know if it's an impostor. Because it's really easy to trick Shikanosuke-shi....I say its a trap...” 

“If it is a trap, I will want to meddle in this even more. In fact, it is this Shikanosuke’s way of life to offer my youth to the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains!” 

“Wait a moment! This is suspicious in various ways!” 

Shikanosuke did not listen to Goemon’s voice of restraint, and bravely rode into the Mori camp alone while humming. 

Because she was excessively confident, the Mori foot soldiers were convinced that Shikanosuke had to be an ally, and didn’t attack. 

However, even if all the soldiers attacked at once, it’s not like it could stop Shikanosuke. 

It surely was him. 

In the Mori’s camp, was the armored clad Sagara Yoshiharu. 

With an extremely deep black sunburn, looking completely like a fisherman or pirate, it is impossible for Shikanosuke to mistake Yoshiharu. 

“Master! I’ve come to meet you! Now, come with this toilet passage girl, and please kick and abuse me!” 

And then. 

Sagara Yoshiharu noticed Shikanosuke and tilted his head to the side. 

“Eh? Who are you?” 

“EHHHH!? This master who forgets me is truly terrible ohhhhhh.” 

“No, I really don’t know you. This is our first time meeting.” 

“UWAAAAA!? What is this unknown feeling I’ve never experienced before that is piercing my insides!?” 

Shikanosuke, whose whole body had gone numb, collapsed onto the lawn. 

One samurai leaped onto Shikanosuke and began wrapping her body up with a rope. 

The Tactician Daimyo of Bizen and Mimasaka, the “Infinite Wickedness” that acted opportunistically between the Oda clan and the Mori clan and had poisoning and assassination as hobbies, known as Ukita Naoie. 

“Hyahaha! My plan worked! Yamanaka Shikanosuke has been caught!” 

“Hey, you are Ukita Naoie? You hurt your hip when you fell of your horse during battle and should have been holed up in Bizen….and, didn’t you receive a great kindness from Milord and were reforming your ways and working with Oda!?” 

“Don't you know!? Are you paying attention!? Oda completely lost the war against Honbyo Temple, and because Mori has overwhelming superiority I stopped being opportunistic and completely allied myself with Mori! That is Ukita Naoie’s way of life! You are the present to Mori as an apology for me being opportunistic.” 

“Ku. The strong should help the weak...how vile! I will always be incompatible with this guy.” 

“Say whatever you want, wahahaha. The survivor of the Warring States period will be me!” 

“That means, this Milord truly is an impostor you prepared?” 

“Eh? This is the real Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

“What!? Milord! What on earth is this? Ha? I can’t believe….that you wanted so badly to sully this Shikanosuke in a dark dungeons, to secretly bully, tease, and torment, that you would switch sides to Mori. If it’s for such a reason, you could have bullied me as much as you wanted in Himeji Castle’s dungeon! I have already collected a variety of torture devices for my dazzling future with master over there....lots of rare devices such as the “Iron Maiden” and the “triangle wooden horse” that I purchased from the Nambans.” 

“Umm, Ukita-san? Because she is a girl shouldn’t you stop treating her so roughly? Be courteous.” 

“And the tone of Milord is a bit different than usual...ah! What on earth happened, I who is only an Izumo countryman can’t understand!?” 

“You are right. I only bully girls that I want to make my woman, If I do that I'll be scolded by the Kobayakawa and Kikkawa ojous. I’m entrusting the job of keeping you in jail to Sagara Yoshiharu. You should be lucky that the Mori clan is at its core a Princess General family, Shikanosuke.” 

“Shit. This Shikanosuke will not be pleased by being tormented by such a vulgar man that does not have a warrior’s spirit!” 

“Sorry. Unlike last time, there is no toilet for you to escape. This time I prepared a jail cell exclusively for you who could calmly escape through a toilet despite being a maiden, this time there isn't a toilet anywhere.” 

“What? That can't be?!” 

“Oh, you can soil yourself. Don't worry, I won’t go near. I imagine you’ll lose strength after being in jail for three days.” 

“UWAAAAAA. How do I get around this? Even for the Seven Misfortunes and Eight Pains, this treatment is too unreasonable for a maiden! Milord, please help me, Milord AAAAHHHH?!” 

“Erm, Ukita-san. I will prepare a toilet….it's too pitiful” 

“Milord, a toilet is too good for this Shikanosuke. A bedpan please!” 

“B, bedpan?” 

“This hopeless girl, something must be done soon….that the index finger of I who took the nickname Princess General Killer won’t move...” 

Thus, Yamanaka Shikanosuke tragically became the Mori’s prisoner- 

And in the Mori’s camp, the dark tanned Sagara Yoshiharu had joined for some reason. 

The sudden change in the situation was brought to Nobuna in Honn?-ji Temple by Goemon who ran through San'yo’s roads at top speed. 

Of course, Nobuna was completely confused. 

“Yo-yo-yo-Yoshiharu, defected to Mo-mo-Mori, eeeeeeh!?” 

“What is this Goemon? That Saru that only pursues the world’s most beautiful girl can’t betray Hime-sama! Because Hime-sama is the world’s most beautiful girl! Or are you saying that Mori clan has a Princess General whose beauty exceeds Hime-sama’s?” 

“This...Although Sagara-dono survived, he ran to the Mori clan. I did not expect such a situation. One point.” 

“Sob sob. Yoshiharu-san has joined Mori’s side and captured Shikanosuke on top of it. You have to quickly send reinforcements to Harima.” 

“I don't get it! I-I-I know. Because that fellow likes breasts!” 

“Sim. That Ukita Naoie is the worst! He has been watching the balance of power between Oda and Mori, and after the war becomes a little advantageous for Mori, he makes a fast break to return as a newcomer! As expected, I should have killed him in Harima.” 

“Possibly, it was the childish charm of the Mori Third Generation, Mori Terumoto, who is said to still be a toddler. Yoshi has been gradually awakening to the charms of little girls. Its an attack of the disease worse than the Kawanami group. It is the sin of being too cute.” 

“Nene is the cause. Because Nene slept in the same futon as onii-san and repeatedly wet the bed and shared a bath together something probably broke in onii-san.” 

“……If that’s the case then it may be Inuchiyo’s fault. Because Inuchiyo has small breasts, history has been changed....” 

“I-I-Its my crime. G-g-g-guilty of t-t-tempting S-s-s-Sagara-shi, this blunder is impossible to overcome.” 

“All of you, don't go making Yoshiharu a lolicon! Because eighty percent of Yoshiharu’s head is occupied with breasts. Any time he meets Frois, his nostrils flare. Therefore that fellow has no interests in children.” 

“Ah, please don’t talk about breasts Hime-sama! I remember the nightmare of him rubbing my chest!” 

“In short, even if the breasts are grand or tiny, Sagara-dono doesn’t care as long as it’s a girl. How indiscriminate. Can't you at least choose one or another? The biggest charm point for a woman is her thighs. A gentlemen whose eyes only go for the chest is five points. 

“Nagahide does not need to have the experience of being attacked by that Saru!” 

“What’s that Katsuie-dono? Sagara-dono holds back around me as the beautiful elder sister, it should be expected that thoughts about what he wants to do as a boy should be running around in his head. Three points.” 

“Wait a second! Manchiyo wanted to have an affair with Yoshiharu? Even if its Manchiyo, I'll kill you with my bare hands if you make a move on Yoshiharu! Even if you are about to miss marriageable age!” 

“Hime? Take care that you do not put me in the same place as Kuki Yoshikata-dono. Absolutely. Never. Seven points.” 

The calm Gamo Ujisato yelled out to Nobuna who was getting confused in strange directions. 

“We shouldn't be talking about breasts and little girls! Sagara Yoshiharu cannot betray the Oda house and Onee-sama. Everyone understands that. So there must be a deeper reason! In Mori there is Kobayakawa Takakage who inherited the first generation Motonari’s strategic ability, this is probably a plan by Kobayakawa to alienate each other!” 

Is that so…Japan's number one frivolous guy….attacked by lolicon disease….currently in love with somebody of the Mori house sob sob….all of the Princess General retainers gave Ujisato a complicated look. 

While they didn’t doubt Yoshiharu’s loyalty to Oda and love for Nobuna, all had the strange conviction that Yoshiharu was flirting with one of the girls of the Mori clan without Nobuna watching over him. 

In the first place, there was the previous time when he became very popular among the girls of the cat sect of Honbyo Temple. 

Ujisato was the one person who didn’t know about Yoshiharu’s womanizing habits, with innocent shining eyes she completely naively believed that “He is the destined person for Onee-sama, surely he must have been threatened and can’t escape”. 

There was one thing Ujisato didn’t understand. 

Nobuna didn’t want to believe that “Yoshiharu seriously betrayed the Oda clan.” 

Therefore, she wanted to take the story in a different direction. 

But, when she became calm and thought about it, it was clear that he didn’t have the intention to return to the Oda clan- 

If he had been willing to come back, when Shikanosuke came over to the camp Yoshiharu was at, he would have traveled back to Oda with Shikanosuke. 

With Shikanosuke’s military prowess, it should have been easy to escape with Yoshiharu. 

“....Yoshiharu....perhaps you are worried you will obstruct Tenka Fubu if you are beside me.” 

“Oh. It may be true! Alright. I’ll sock him and bring him back to Hime-sama!” 

“Sob. Sob. Certainly if Yoshiharu-san returns to Oda, it would be the seed for bad rumors. The gentlemen of the country who became captivated by Nobuna-sama when the Amano-Iwato opened, their love would certainly turn to hate if Yoshiharu-san returns to Nobuna-sama. But....this time I have an uneasy feeling that there is a more complicated reason....” 

“Dearuka, Hanbei.” 

“Yoshiharu-san once said in the past that he was going to sacrifice himself to Honbyo Temple for Nobuna’s sake. Even if he seems tactless, he is a wise person who won’t make the same mistake again.” 

“Is that so....more and more I don’t understand....what is going on Yoshiharu?” 

Even if Yoshiharu returns, it will become the source for losing the people’s support for the Oda clan, and a much gloomier shadow has fallen over the Oda house if Yoshiharu doesn’t return- 

Nobuna wished that she could hear Yoshiharu’s reason directly. 

However, Yoshiharu is with the Mori forces in Harima. 

“It’s alright, its Yoshiharu. It is good that he is alive. I must think so…but it seems there is no way! I have to believe, I gave you a kiss in front of the whole world! Everyone, we will defeat Mori and recapture Yoshiharu! Such an incomplete way of parting is impossible! What comes after that is after that!” 

“Oooh!” 

Meanwhile, left outside was Akechi Mitsuhide, who was muttering while continuing her daily routine of polishing her pistol. 

“I understand. Your engagement with Juubei and your love relationship with Nobuna-sama became troublesome and you suddenly ran away one night. Any argument. Senpai……next time we meet I'll kill you without any arguments.”