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Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 12 - Chapter 1




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Chapter 1 – Uesugi Kenshin, rises 

The time is the Warring States Era. The setting is the Nagahama Castle of North Omi. 

Sagara Yoshiharu’s castle. 

To serve the Himekishi, Oda Nobuna, who earnestly advocates Tenka Fubu to unify the era of war, Sagara Yoshiharu came from the future. 

For some reason he drifted to the Warring States period from modern Japan, it was there that he met and fell in love with Oda Nobuna, and at last pledged his love to Nobuna as the whole world watched – that was how it was supposed to be. 

But on this day, at a noodle shop in the Nagahama castle town, the two great genius strategists that the Sagara clan boasted, Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei (baptismal name Don Simeon), let out a sigh. 

These two people, Hanbei had a timid nature, the confident Kanbei was the complete opposite, Hanbei had a fragile and pale-complexion, the suntanned and healthy Kanbei was the complete opposite, Hanbei is an onmyoji master strategist and Kanbei is a Namban science strategist and even though they were opposites all the way to their professions, they were closer than real sisters, and recently they would go everywhere together. 

“This is troublesome, Kanbei-san. To put out the bad rumors about Nobuna-sama, there was a story that Yoshiharu-san and Imagawa Yoshimoto-sama were going to have a wedding, but at this rate its going to come true. Sob, sob.” 

“Simeon isn’t very good at love talk about a man and woman. In the first place, why is the thing called love limited to men and women? Can there not be love between girls?” 

“Hii? Ka, ka, Kanbei-san? I, I, I, I l, l, l, like Kanbei-san, but what you call l, l, l, love is a little different, well, it shouldn’t be between girls.” 

“W, w, w, why is Hanbei embarrassed? T, t, that was only an example?” 

“Ka, ka, kanbei-san is embarrassed.” 

“Uuu. I’m still not very good. Just by saying the word love, my heart tightened and my breathing got rough.” 

“Well, in Kanbei-san’s case you haven’t reached the ‘fallen in love with love’ stage yet. 

Heehee.” 

“Why are you speaking as if you are a pers on that is experienced with love Hanbei?” 

“N, no, it’s nothing. Sob, sob.” 

“Oh? Are you by chance in love with a man? To actually have a man comes and tries to steal Simeon’s important toy Hanbei, I won’t allow it! I will exterminate such people.” 

“Ehh? I am Kanbei-san’s toy? We weren’t friends? Sob, sob.” 

“…Haaah. Perhaps love is something like a disease. Just by saying the word ‘love’ your wisdom is clouded, your judgment declines, and your emotions run wild, if it becomes full-blown love-sickness you will fall from your seat as strategist. Hanbei is still inexperienced, right?” 

“Heehee. It’s an unrequited love but I’m happy enough so it’s alright. In this way even just with my feelings for this person, I have a lot of strength to live.” 

“Unrequited love~? Isn’t it painful? In short, I will continue to be pronounced as the second greatest strategist in the world, I can’t be the greatest strategist?” 

“It may still be difficult for Kanbei-san, the love formed with a partner isn’t the only love in this world. Because love has many forms.” 

“Muu, you are still acting like an adult…that Hanbei’s loved one isn’t Simeon, it’s disappointing.” 

“Th, th, therefore, it isn’t g, g, good to be between g, g, girls?” 

“Okay, I’ve decided. Now, Hanbei, let me teach you who is the owner of Hanbei’s body! 

Muhuhu!” 

“D, d, don’t, stop~! Please!” 

“Ah, oh ya, Hanbei. I bought a large number of books in Sakai. Simeon devoured all of the Namban war records and history books one by one. I even read the Ming Dynasty’s 

‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’. I bet the Namban have tactics to oppose the strongest Takeda cavalry. Hehehe.” 

“Heeeh? Why the ‘Romance of the Three Kingdoms’? That isn’t a strategy document, it’s a story.” 

“You can even study the cute words and gestures of the ancient Himekishis of China and Korea. Well, this Simeon that can read the original directly and can monopolize the latest tactics of the Namban. It’s a given that I won’t translate it. Hehehe. With this I win Hanbei! First class Kurokan!” 

“Heeeeh? Meanie~.” 

Next to where the bullied child Hanbei and the bullying child Kanbei were making a ruckus, Yoshiharu’s childish younger sister, Nene, was slurping stewed udon with a huge shiitake mushroom while having a long chat with the storekeeper of the noodle shop about the product. 

“It’s extremely hard to throw away the fried mackerel somen that Onii-sama 

recommended, but this ‘Noppei udon’ is very good too! In this way we can increase add to the new local specialties, and it will be useful for promoting Nagahama!” 

“Huh. According to Lord Sagara’s planned ‘Nagahama-cho promotion project’ we need three things to revitalize the town. One is ‘B-class Gourmet’. I don’t understand the meaning of his future language at all, but it is said to be a food that becomes a feature of the town. When you are speaking of Nagahama it is mackerel, but I have recently added the power of udon.” 

“Shikoku has turned into ‘Udon country’,” 

By the way, Yoshiharu also preached that the other two elements to promote the town is a 

‘sanctuary’ and ‘mascot’, these two concepts were too difficult for the people of Nagahama in the Warring States era. 

“In neighboring Azuchi, the world’s greatest castle, the Azuchi Castle will soon be complete and a celebration will be held. The Nagahaman merchants in the beginning were happy that ‘if people gather in Azuchi, then neighboring Nagahama will also prosper’, and when Lord Sagara returned to the Oda clan from the Mori clan he said ‘Naive! Nobuna intends to cultivate Azuchi into a new huge world-famous tourist city. Already, the highway which reaches from the north, south, east, and west to Azuchi is quickly being constructed. Nagahama’s tourists will also be absorbed by the straw effect to Azuchi! [T/N: Azuchi will not only pull in people that were going to it, but everyone that would be going to the neighboring areas because its so magnificent. 

Comes from oil terminology.] At this rate, Nagahama will be a ghost town! We have to hurry and work out a plan to revitalize the town and counter Azuchi! He was very vigilant. Oh, I don’t understand the meaning of some of his words at all.” 

“It is said that at the summit of Mt. Azuchi there is an extremely tall castle tower! On a clear day, can you look out over Mt. Fuji?” 

Meanwhile, the ninja that serves Yoshiharu, Goemon, was hanging from the ceiling of the noodle shop. “Once the long-awaited Azuchi Castle is completed, the strongest enemy Uesugi Kenshin declared war against the Oda clan. It’s a necessawy wattle for Sagara-Shi.” She muttered with a lisping voice. 

“…I don’t know whether or not Sagara-shi is a large enough vessel that he won’t burst even if he holds onto all of the fruits. Although you were able to return from the Mori country in one piece, your opponenf thif time is Uechugi Kenchin. Well, it will be a sight to see. Fufufu.” 

Without understanding what she was talking about, Nene let out a cheerful voice and pointed at Goemon. 

“Sh… Shut up!” 

 

“Sagara Yoshiharu? Let’s head to Azuchi Castle now! The castle tower will be completed soon and the grand unveiling ceremony will be held! There will be sightseers coming from all over Japan!” 

“Azuchi Castle is going to be unveiled? Even though she just declared war against Uesugi Kenshin, is Nobuna alright? She seems extremely calm.” 

“No. Rather, now that Uesugi Kenshin-san and Takeda Shingen-san are proceeding to the capital at the same time, we have to pretend to be calm, or a revolt will occur underfoot. As expected of Nobuna-san.” 

“Is that how it is. By the way, you are sticking to me too much Yoshimoto-chan…” 

“Just right! Nobuna-san’s Azuchi Castle unveiling and the wedding between you and I, the Shogun,” Imagawa Yoshimoto’s eyes shined and she clung onto Sagara Yoshiharu’s arm. 

Imagawa Yoshimoto, the former “Champion of Totomi”, originally her destiny was to have her neck taken by the Oda army in the battle of Okehazama. Because Sagara Yoshiharu spared her life with the reason of “she is a beautiful girl”, she is now the figurehead shogun serving Oda Nobuna. 

She has a selfish personality that leaves troubles for other people to deal with, a lazy person and natural airhead with many weak points. But with white skin and long black hair, large determined eyes, well arranged features, a big chest that does not match her delicate body, if it is only in appearances she can match Oda Nobuna for the position of “world’s number one beauty.” 

That Imagawa Yoshimoto, in this way embraced her fiancee Sagara Yoshiharu with a smiling face and entwined her long limbs around him. 

“Why was I pushed down by Yoshimoto-chan in the tea house? In the first place, why will Yoshimoto-chan and I have a wedding? I don’t understand!” 

That’s right. 

There were many twists and turns, and now Sagara Yoshiharu had become the fiancee of the Seii Taishogun, Imagawa Yoshimoto. 

The Sagara retainer corps that were worried about Yoshiharu’s body can’t approach the tea house – Yoshimoto drove them away with her spirit alone. 

“Life really is strange. You don’t know what will happen. When I met you for the first time, I wouldn’t even dream that I would devote my heart and soul to such a savage and vulgar boy.” 

“Y, y, yoshimoto-chan? This is pretend right? Look. Because it became known in all of Japan that Nobuna is in a romantic relationship with me, the man from the future, Nobuna’s reputation has fallen. With the rumor about usurping the Yamato Gosho, there are enemies in all directions. Therefore, in order to get rid of the bad rumors, we adopted the plan to hold a wedding between me and a princess that isn’t Nobuna. But even if we say it is a wedding, it’s just a play to fool the public and put out the bad rumors.” 

“Oh. Nobuna-san chose the way of Tenka Fubu. That a young beautiful Himekishi will get both the world and love, it’s an impossible story. Most of the samurais are men. Nobuna-san has to give you up in order to get the male samurais to swear loyalty. Otherwise those guys won’t understand, ‘Why that strange monkey known as Sagara Yoshiharu’ right?” 

“As for Uesugi Kenshin-san of Echigo, because the vassals want to make the beautiful Kenshin their wife, they were repeatedly at odds and rebelling. So far Nobuna-san has cleverly avoided the problem by gathering Himekishis as followers, but now she has reached this situation as a result of expanding her territory,” Yoshimoto laughed. 

“Even though she is stronger in battle than Takeda Shingen, the reason that she was unable to subjugate Kanto or proceed to the capital, but she persistently fought against Takeda Shingen in Shinano’s Kawanakajima, is that there was always discord in Echigo’s vassal troops concerning her.” 

“There is hostility in the vassal troopes around Uesugi Kenshin…to be fair I only met her once, but Kenshin seemed like a mysterious person who wasn’t of this world. She was beautiful. 

Like a celestial maiden or God who fell to earth.” 

“Yes, yes. Nobuna-san and Shingen-san avoided it well by fostering the development of Himekishis of the same sex, but because Nobuna-san has fallen for you it’s already hopeless.” 

“Mmm. That time with the opening of the Amano-Iwato, the relationship between the two of us was made public. With that, it was impossible to talk our way out of it again.” 

“There aren’t any Himekishis that can steal Sagara Yoshiharu from Nobuna-san. Even if you weren’t a mysterious future man, your social status wouldn’t be a match for your companion. But there isn’t a problem with me who is disguised as a surrendered general, and has better looks than Nobuna-san. The most beautiful in the world.” 

Oh, if its only appearances certainly, Yoshiharu was unintentionally convinced. 

“The only gentleman that wouldn’t prostate to my charm would be Kansuke Yamamoto 

who put his life on the line for little girls. In my case, it isn’t strange if you are snatched from Nobuna-san. Rather, it’s natural. Everyone in Japan is convinced. That’s right. Now it is my turn. 

Yes, yes. The world is Nobuna-san’s, but love is mine! With the pair of us, both ambitions can be achieved! 

“Even so, why did Yoshimoto-chan become so serious for me? Wait. Calm down. Your 

breasts are touching, calm down.” 

“I’m pressing them.” 

“Waiiit, whyyyyy!?” 

Yoshiharu noticed that his whole body was becoming hot as was Yoshimoto. 

Yoshiharu is a breast lover, but he isn’t a cheater. Rather he had a character that was single-minded in love. He didn’t harbor an intention to cheat with Yoshimoto, but it seemed that somehow or other his body had a different perspective, and his body was attracted to Yoshimoto and flushed hot. 

“You saved my life in Okehazama. Though there are various other reasons, I have 

acknowledged that you are the world’s best man. I have already entrusted the world to Nobuna-san, I will fulfill my love with you. As a result of disguising myself as a hostage of Nobuna-san, my status has fallen to be a good match with Sagara Yoshiharu, I didn’t expect that this appearance would prove fortunate. Ohohohoho! Sometimes you have to lose to win.” 

“It isn’t ohohohoho! There are a lot more gentleman that are handsome with a high social position! Why me?” 

“Because you saved my life. Isn’t it natural?” 

“This and that are different! I didn’t help Yoshimoto-chan because I wanted a reward! 

Even if this is the Sengoku Era, I don’t want to see a girl have her neck taken no matter what, no more than that!” 

“That is the logic of the man from the future. But that type of deeply kind hearted feelings are irresistibly attractive to the Himekishis of the Sengoku Era. Even I didn’t think of becoming your wife as a reward at that time. But before I knew it, I was gradually fascinated with your gentleness.” 

“Hieee~. My heart already belongs to Nobuna! Please, if we are seen like this by Nobuna, both of us will be killed!” 

“For you who keeps saving the lives of maidens one after another without thinking, it is retribution. It is a good medicine. It is said that the Himekishi of the Mori Clan, Takakage Kobayakawa, is infatuated with you too, right? She was attracted by your gentleness and was finally thrown away without being granted children, such a pity. I am the same.” 

When he heard Kobayakawa-san’s name, Yoshiharu’s chest hurt. 

For a period of time, Yoshiharu suffered a serious injury on the battlefield, lost his memory, and served the Mori clan. 

At that time Yoshiharu had completely forgotten all about Nobuna, to repay Kobayakawa whose kindness saved his life, he put in all of his effort saying “I will protect Kobayakawa-san!” 

Kobayakawa Takakage was a late bloomer, and Yoshiharu’s experience with love was reset to zero. 

While the both of them came to hold intense love for each other they hesistated, 

Yoshiharu recovered his memory suddenly, and an unexpected twist like a prank of fate occurred and he returned to the Oda clan. 

Even now when remembering the lonely profile of Kobayakawa-san, Yoshiharu let out an “ugh” and held his chest. 

“When you got intimate with Kobayakawa Takakage there were extenuating 

circumstances since you had lost your memory, but I am even more pitiful.” 

“Then from now on I should leave a dying girl alone? I can’t do such a thing! No matter what the consequences, whatever happens later, I can’t do that! When I spared Yoshimoto-chan’s life, how history will deviate if Imagawa Yoshimoto is spared, I didn’t think about that kind of thing at all…” 

“Heehee. It’s so foolish that it could be said that it disqualifies you as a Sengoku Era general, Sagara Yoshiharu. You are just so kind like that. Well, let’s go to Azuchi Castle. Or we can have a child before the wedding? I also studied the way of making children by reading a Namban book.” 

“A Namban book?” 

“Yes. A thing called a printed book has crossed over from Europe and is sold in Sakai and Kyoto. It also contained a book on making children….f-for example you can use your chest to please the men…though it isn’t something I have heard in Japan much…” 

“Don’t say such embarressing things while pressing your breasts!” 

At any rate, Yoshiharu hadn’t connected with Nobuna yet. 

On top of that, because he had been soundly trained as a pirate by the Murakami Navy for awhile, his body had gotten bigger and his physical strength and stamina had increased more than before, not to mention that he currently had an excess of male hormones. Nevertheless, if he has an affair he will be killed by Nobuna so nothing can be done. Furthermore, while Yoshiharu previously had gained some degree of immunity to big breasts through Shibata Katsuie and Yamanaka Shikanosuke, when he lost his memory in the Mori clan his immunity to big breasts seems to have reset. In other words, Yoshiharu is a healthy excellent Sengoku Era boy – and was at his limit. 

“Ohohoho. When you have already touched Nobuna-san’s chest before, how cute.” 

“Ah, ah, the size, mm, is different… l…like the difference between an apple and a watermelon. The weight and the presence that was transmitted over is totally different. The apple will fall due to gravity, but as for the watermelon, the watermelon is the universe itself! The universe! It’s very different. Damn it, if Nobuna hears such words I’ll really lose my life.” 

“My, my. As I look thinner in clothes it is natural. In the first place, you can’t understand the size of my chest in this juni-hitoe (12 layer kimono). Ohohoho.” 

“It, it’s really so big?” 

“Yes. It’s probably an equal match for Shibata Katsuie-san. Though naturally, I’m the best in density and shape. To use the words of Shingen herself, my breasts are as stable and majestic like a mountain.” 

[T/N: In this sentence, Yoshimoto is making a pun on Shingen’s famous words. Shingen’s Furinkazan, introduced in V4C5 is the topic here. The 4th word, Zan, is the kanji for mountain, which in V4C5, means steady as a mountain and is actually stated as ????, Yoshimoto replaced the 3rd kanji with ?, which means breasts.] 

With a pompous face, Yoshimoto was proud of her breasts. 

“…Well, if I touch it……I won’t be struck by divine punishment, right?” 

“This chest belongs only to you.” 

“No, wait! That’s right. When I fondled Katsuie’s chest, I was seen and beaten up by Nobuna like in romcoms. Nobuna and Juubei-chan, they have extremely accurate sense of smell, they can smell what I did with girls! In addition, if I touch these watermelon breasts my reason will definitely collapse!” 

“Let it collapse. I have never let other men touch them yet. They belong only to you.” 

Though her character has always been ditsy, the destructive power of Yoshimoto’s 

whispering voice is huge. 

It’s already useless…as the blood in his head boiled and he began to swoon, Yoshiharu groaned. 

“At, at this point, I’ll call to every religion repeatedly. Calm down Sagara Yoshiharu. 

Namuamidabutsu, Namuamidabutsu! Namumyohorengekyo! [Heart’s Sutra] When Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara practised the deep Prajnaparamita, he saw that the five skandhas were empty; thus he overcame all ills and suffering. [Lord’s Prayer] Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven… heaven…breasts! 

BREASTS, I WANNA SEE BREASTSSSSSSSSS!” 

[TL Note: Basically, Yoshiharu is calling on Buddha and God to save him… How hopeless…] 

No useeeeeeee! 

Even if I can endure the urge to cheat, only huge breasts are impossible! Regardless of my heart, the body acts on its own! 

Kobayakawa-san! Juubei-chan! Nobunaaaaaaa! Somebody stop my rampage! Why am I still a healthy teenage boy? I’m in trouble! Ruined! 

Yoshiharu was in heat and involuntarily recited a Biblical passage, and self-destructed. 

Here is a high school boy. 

Yoshiharu shouted “uwaaaaa” and was just about to jump face-first into Yoshimoto’s chest. 

“By the way, I have supplied an oxcart to go to Azuchi Castle. I want to quickly see the castle town! It is said that that the castle tower of the Azuchi castle is very very high! I want to climb it!” 

The spontaneous Yoshimoto stood up without hesitation and avoided Yoshiharu’s charge. 

She had already forgotten that she had bewildered Yoshiharu with her huge chest and sweet whispers. 

“Fuguuu! My nose, my nose!” 

“Oh, what did you do Sagara Yoshiharu?” 

“…No. It was just well deserved divine punishment. I’m sorry.” 

Yes, Yoshimoto-chan is such a person, Yoshiharu wiped his face that was smeared with his nosebleed. I steal the girl’s heart when I save her life, if I repeatedly do this everywhere it becomes a problem, he sighed at the cause and effect of his actions he hadn’t been conscious of that Yoshimoto taught him. 

If I rescue Shikanosuke, or Hanbei and Kanbei who are from the same Oda clan, it won’t become a troublesome problem. There is a relationship of companions equal to family between Hanbei and me. However, love with Kobayakawa-san of the Mori clan, that relationship becomes a problematic situation between the Oda and Mori clans, it could be the source of conflicts that can’t be easily solved. 

“The encirclement by the Ashikaga fake shogun, Uesugi, Takeda, and Mori is almost complete, right? If Nobuna-san is unveiling the Azuchi castle at such a time, she is a big shot.” 

“…What the hell. In exchange for making the Honbyo Temple lose earlier than 

historically, Uesugi Kenshin who never decided to unite with Takeda historically has formed an encircling net…until now, there was a tendency for history to balance out somewhere even when I was running around and altering history, but this time there isn’t a way to come together to balance it! What should I do?” 

“Now, now. We can manage it if we entrust it to the Nobuna-san that defeated me. We don’t need to worry about it at all, ohohoho.” Yoshimoto laughed. 

Perhaps Yoshimoto may be the greatest person in the Sengoku Era, Yoshiharu thought. 

 

Echigo, Kasugayama Castle. 

Uesugi Kenshin’s castle. 

“The Dragon of Echigo” Uesugi Kenshin, so far almost all of her battles had unfolded in Kanto. 

With the worthy rival “The Tiger of Kai” Takeda Shingen, she had battled five times at Shinanogawa’s Kawanaka island. In the “Fourth battle of Kawanakajima”, Kenshin and Shingen attempted to fight to the end. Most of the officers in both armies were injured, and it is said that a large percentage died in battle, it was an all-out war, a rare thing in the Sengoku Era. 

In addition, to control Kanto and revive the Uesugi clan, she had to repeatedly dispatched troops to Kanto and made an enemy of Hojo Ujiyasu who had the earnest wish of subjugating Kanto. 

Uesugi Kenshin’s original name is “Nagao Kagetora.” 

Echigo’s shugo [T/N: provincial governor], the Nagao family, was the main supporter of the Uesugi clan. 

At one point, the Uesugi government that was in control of Kanto was chased out by Hojo and ran away to Echigo. “I transfer everything of the Uesugi clan to you. I want you to drive the Hojo from Kanto and revive the Uesugi clan.” She was asked and succeeded to the Uesugi clan, personally became the Kanto administrator, changed her name to Uesugi Kenshin, and repeatedly dispatched troops to Kanto. 

Because Uesugi Kenshin always battled for the sake of justice, her territory did not increase. 

When Takeda Shingen invades Shinano, or after dealing a crucial blow to Hojo Ujiyasu who tried to steal the Kanto area, Kenshin would return to Echigo and Kasugayama Castle like the wind. 

She was a rare military commander that lacked a craving for territory. 

As for her vassals, no matter how much they fought their territory did not increase, and they were continually roped into this holy war, so to speak, year after year. 

Without the strength of the battlefield talent called the personification of the god of war Bishamonten, Kenshin would have already fallen – However, that was the reality. The invincible, undefeated Uesugi Kenshin’s Kasugayama Castle hadn’t even once been invaded But, because it was requested by many generals, she had to simultaneously fight with the two great rivals Takeda Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu. So far she was not able to have a decisive victory or defeat in Kanto or Kawanakajima. 

Both Shingen and Ujiyasu are famous commanders that represent the Warring States period, but Kenshin’s battle genius was far and away beyond, to the point of divine possession. 

Even the great strategist named Kansuke Yamamoto who supported the Takeda army, after meticulously preparing, was defeated before the abnormal battlefield intuition that Kenshin carried. 

Shingen and Ujiyasu couldn’t defend against Kenshin’s supremely fierce attacks 

individually, and it is said they had no choice but to become allies while holding a mutual dislike for each other. 

But Kenshin, had a fatal habit that doesn’t seem like a Sengoku Era general – she will never punish a person who has surrendered and will pardon them unconditionally. She won’t take territory away from a general that surrenders. No matter how many times they betray her, if they surrender they will be forgiven any number of times. 

Because Kenshin isn’t a person, but a god – because she is Bishamonten. 

To fight for justice, to reform a villain through mercy into a virtuous person, that is the purpose of Kenshin’s wars. 

Therefore, Shingen and Ujiyasu contrived a plot to disturb the peace among the Uesugi vassals, and can be said to have obstructed Kenshin’s advances. 

Kenshin will dispatch troops anywhere to demonstrate justice if asked. 

On the request of Asai Asakura, she had built up troops to march to the capital in order to fight to the finish with Oda Nobuna who reigns over the whole country, but Takeda Shingen interfered and hindered them. In addition, at that time Kenshin didn’t have a personal grudge with Oda Nobuna, and lacked the ambition to advance to the capital and become the ruler of the whole country. 

But when Kenshin witnessed the miracle of the Amano-Iwato, she suddenly decided “My life’s last enemy, Oda Nobuna”, made peace with her two bitter rivals Takeda Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu, and through a sequence of events formed the ‘Aigoshi Tripartite Alliance’ which became the keystone to the second encirclement of the Oda clan. Nothing less than a miracle in the Warring States period. 

Kenshin who visited the capital alone and declared war on Oda Nobuna in Kyoto, was now barricaded in Bishamondo within Kasugayama Castle, and was playing the biwa. 

Kenshin spends most of her time when not in battle in Bishamondo. 

This is because Kenshin who was born with a body without skin pigment, is weak to the light of the day. 

But that isn’t all. 

When the time to dispatch troops approaches, Kenshin stays in Bishamondo and waits for the voice of Bishamonten. 

In the Uesugi clan, there aren’t any war councils to assemble all of the vassal troops. 

All of the battles are decided by Kenshin alone after hearing the voice from Bishamonten. 

Only the Himekishi chosen as the young new strategist, Naoe Kanetsugu, was permitted to stand in front of the door of Bishamondo and protect Kenshin. 

“Kenshin-sama, we have made peace with Takeda Shingen who obstructed our advance 

to the capital, I will let the capital advancement forces depart with Shingen. The time comes soon. On that occasion, Kenshin-sama will submit a great command to the forces advancing to the capital.” 

The large number of rioters standing in the way of a march to the capital in the Hokuriku area between Omi and Echigo were weakened after the Honbyo Temple supporters that comprised the main force disarmed themselves and went back to farming following the peace agreement between the Osaka Honbyo Temple and the Oda clan. 

Both Kenshin’s father and grandfather lost their lives fighting against the rioters in the Hokuriku area. 

This is why Kenshin was destined to not be compatible with the rioters. Having said that, it wasn’t possible for her to perform a cruel act such as exterminating the followers who had found salvation to keep living in the despair of these turbulent times. 

The faith that the gentle Kenshin carries through ‘justice and ‘mercy’, “kindness that can ruin an enemy”, achieving those ideals for herself became shackles in the Warring States period. 

The realist Takeda Shingen incited the rioting groups of Hokuriku many times and 

interfered with Kenshin’s holy war, but Kenshin still couldn’t destroy the uprising. 

But now, most of the followers have left and the uprising lost power, some of the followers of the resistance faction remain, but only the local ruling families that were rooted in the land continued their resistance to the Uesugi clan’s rule. 

The Jinbo family of Ecchu that lost half of their military power to the Hokuriku rioters. 

The Hatakeyamas of Noto who have vassal groups in the Kenshin faction and the Oda faction. 

The Kaga of Echizen who joined with the first retainer of the Oda Clan, Shibata Katsuie, to defend against Kenshin’s advance to the capital. 

If I defeat these three parties in turn, I can fight a decisive battle with Oda Nobuna. 

“Our earnest wish of the resurrection of the Kanto district’s Uesugi kanrei was virtually achieved by the Aigoshi Tripartite Alliance. The issue of possession of Kawanakajima was also settled. Now is the time Kenshin-sama, the territories of other countries – you must confer the heavy decision to steal Ecchu, Noto, and Kaga by force.” 

While Uesugi is ever-victorious, she doesn’t take the territory of other countries. 

She wasn’t like a Warring States daimyo in this sense. 

In order to show justice to the world filled with wars, to destroy immorality and crack down upon malicious motives of everybody so they may be reborn as a good person, the war which does not have greed or benefits had continued wholeheartedly. 

Only this time, Kenshin must go through the other countries in succession to reach the capital. 

As before, I let the powerful families of the native people pledge their loyalty and recognize their land ownership with the methods of Bishamonten. 

While Kenshin is advancing to the capital through the Hokuriku area slowly with a heart of justice and mercy, her eternal rival, Takeda Shingen, will arrive at Omi with a furious force. 

Takeda Shingen doesn’t hesitate. No mercy. 

When she decides not to move she will be imperturbable like a mountain and not move an inch, and will overrun an enemy country with lightning speed when she sees a good opportunity. 

Invading like a fire, that is all it means. 

“Kenshin-sama, our former way of life has to change entirely. It will benefit Takeda Shingen if we are late. Will it be Kenshin-sama who continued a lonely war to show justice in these chaotic times, or will Takeda Shingen who doesn’t conceal her ambition and desire. Who will become the winner will be determined by this war to advance to the capital.” 

Naoe Kanetsugu waited. 

The miracle ‘Aikoshi Tripartite alliance’ 

The triple alliance that was entered by Kai, Sagami, and Echigo. 

Kai’s Takeda Shingen. 

Sagami’s Hojo Ujiyasu. 

Echigo’s Uesugi Kenshin. 

The process that these three clans went through to come to an alliance and form the “Oda encirclement”, Kanetsugu looked back on it – when Uesugi Kenshin held a three-way summit at Kamakura with Takeda Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu, Kanetsugu was attending next to Kenshin prepared for any unexpected situation. 

 

To go back in time a bit. 

The Kou Aikoshi triple alliance between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen was a miracle of history mediated by Hojo Ujiyasu, ‘The alliance meeting at Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine’. 

In this historic space, Naoe Kanetsugu’s presence as an aide of Kenshin was permitted. 

The Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine in Kamakura, Sagami province is the holy land of the Bando Samurai. 

The administrative office of Japan’s first samurai government, the Kamakura Shogunate, it was in this Kamakura. 

In the time when Uesugi Kenshin was still called Nagao Kagetora, after having taken the family name of the fallen Kanto kanrei clan that was driven out by Hojo Ujiyasu’s schemes to conquer Kanto, she invaded Kanto and shut Hojo Ujiyasu in Odawara Castle. The place where the ceremony for assuming the office of the kanrei of Kanto was performed, it was this Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine. 

Naoe Kanetsugu personally witnessed the impossible scene of the three Himekishis that continued to compete for hegemony of the Kanto warring states gathered in one hall, and could no longer stop her body from trembling. 

“The previous shogun’s little sister, Ashikaga Yoshiaki, is the legitimate shogun. I must deal out divine justice on the two of you that have disturbed the order of Kanto. But with the order of Ashikaga Yoshiaki-sama, I must advance to the capital. Besides, the greedy woman Oda Nobuna is unpardonable. To open the Amano-Iwato, to take the world, and to grab a love with a difference in social position, there is no end to that person’s ambitions. She is greedier than you, Takeda Shingen.” 

Echigo’s Bishamonten, Uesugi Kenshin. 

Kanetsugu reveres the fantastic-looking Himekishi with red eyes like a rabbit and skin that is white as snow. 

No desire for territory. Therefore, Kenshin is not a Warring States general. She fought to restore justice and order. When asked by a weakened person, she will carry out a holy war without taking a reward. 

And, the Kenshin that Kanetsugu watched for a long time, was a very lonely person. 

Kenshin had lost her father and older brother early in life. As for the vassals that took the place of her father and older brother and supported Kenshin, they passed away one by one. She promised a “life abstaining from sexual intercourse” to live as an incarnation of Bishamonten. 

She kept men away, forbid herself from falling in love, and as her vassals died one by one, Kenshin’s loneliness increased. 

“Hmph. I thought we would never need to meet again, but you are the same as ever 

Uesugi Kenshin. Is a person’s desire that hateful? While the three of us were fighting in this way in the east, Oda Nobuna had taken advanage of this and taken the lead. The caliber to make the Honbyo temple open their gates, the victor who takes over the world is Oda Nobuna. If the both of us want to proceed to the capital, this is our last chance.” 

The Tiger of Kai, Takeda Shingen. 

In contrast with the justice general, Kenshin, she gained power as a warring states general by invading other countries without reserve and expanded her territory, the Himekishi who reached until it was said she was the top candidate to be the next ruler of the whole country. 

The famous commander who unleashed a fierce battle five times against Kenshin in 

Kawanakajima. 

The two great rivals who won’t yield one step, the military arts of Kenshin and the wisdom of Shingen made desperate efforts in battles without finally reaching a conclusion, when Oda Nobuna suddenly rose onto reached the stage and checkmated the world. 

Therefore, Shingen also came to an impossible decision. 

Then, at the same time that Uesugi Kenshin saw the reddish hair of Takeda Shingen as she stepped into the room, her white cheeks reddened slightly. 

It was an extremely small change that an outsider wouldn’t be able to notice, but Naoe Kanetsugu who always stared at Kenshin thought, the usually quiet Kenshin-sama is somewhat different. 

She is quiet, sorrowful and her feelings are not put onto the table, Kenshin always should be conducting herself as ‘the incarnation of Bishamonten’. Only in front of Takeda Shingen were her feelings confused like a little girl. 

On the other hand, Takeda Shingen, though she was sitting down at a distance where she could extend her hand and touch her deadly enemy Uesugi Kenshin, was calm and self-controlled. 

Naoe Kanetsugu saw the form of the perfected commander Takeda Shingen there. 

After a long silence continued between both of them, the first person to speak to the other party was unexpectedly Uesugi Kenshin. 

“Takeda Shingen. You beat me to the punch and previously blocked my advancement to the capital, and left Asai Asakura who was attacked by the Oda forces in a lurch?” 

“Yes, it may be so.” 

“Asai Asakura should have been a friend who formed an alliance with you to fight 

against Oda together. Although discarding alliances is your specialty, you are selfish to the bitter end.” 

“It’s different Kenshin. Because you didn’t kill me in Kawanakajima, I became this way. 

If you are angry, you should be angry at yourself. Or should we be happy that we are alive and can meet again? An impossible thing has occurred in this way.” 

“……” 

Kenshin mutely held a bamboo staff in her hand! And flung it against the floor. 

“Then let’s begin the final decisive battle now. The sixth battle of Kawanakajima.” 

“Well. It is the same as before, you can only talk to a person through battle Uesugi Kenshin.” 

“You shouldn’t talk. I am Bishamonten. I fight for justice and to crush immorality, and to reform villains into a virtuous person. I have lived only for this reason. The greedy woman is you. The woman who banished her father and stole the whole country of Kai. You always try to dirty my righteousness with desire.” 

“…Kenshin. Is this a complaint now? The moment when both you and I watched the 

opening of the Amano-Iwato, you set Oda Nobuna who rushes to the strongest seat in the country as your final enemy, you should have decided to fight against Oda Nobuna.” 

“The moment I saw your face, my thoughts changed. Shingen. Why did you cause so 

many sacrifices with Kawanakajima and do not utter a reproachful remark to me? I’m the enemy who defeated your younger sister.” 

“That is right. From the start we are destined to be incompatible. To hold the heavens together now, it is an impossible story. Do we fight and perish together? In Kawanakajima.” 

“If you desire it.” 

“…Hmph. It’s only a joke. Why do I have to commit a double suicide with you? 

Everyone that died a noble death in Kawanakajima, they will have died a useless death.” 

“It’s different. Shingen, if you didn’t invade Shinano, nothing would have happened. The two of us didn’t need to fight on the battlefield. Everything is the result of your desire and ambition.” 

Shingen looked down at Kenshin while narrowing her eyes – Shingen is a Himekishi that is large for a woman while Kenshin is small, when meeting face to face with Shingen in this way, it completely looked like an adult and a child. 

“Kenshin. I’m different than you and am only an ordinary human. I’m not Bishamonten or Acala (one of the Buddhist Wisdom Kings) either. The ones who rule these chaotic times are humans. Not God or Buddha. Such a thing won’t save a person anymore, they lost their power to save people long ago. You pose as Bishamonten, continue to fight without compensation to demonstrate justice, and when you fought you won. You kept winning. You still don’t know defeat. But what were you able to obtain with that? In the long run the Kanto area became Hojo Ujiyasu’s, and Shinano became mine. What on earth did you get? You quit being a human, and did you become lonelier than anyone else?” 

“Takeda Shingen. Do you deny all of me?” 

“That’s not it. You would deny all of me. What do you know of the relations between me and my father? To what extent do you understand? Do you think I gleefully expelled my own father from Kai?” 

“You are a child that lacks filial piety. Takeda Shingen. After all you are an unforgivable evil. I hate you. You are maddening.” 

“You don’t get along well. That’s right, Uesugi Kenshin. The young girl of Echigo that calls herself Bishamonten. A genius of war, the strongest Himekishi called the God of War. 

However, being the strongest is not enough in this Warring States world. I will break open the Bishamondo door, I desperately want to drag you down from heaven.” 

“You can’t do it. Has there been even one time that a lone horseman has ridden into my headquarters where I waited?” 

“Don’t say that, Kenshin. I do not have divine possession like you. The head of the Takeda clan, a large number of families and followers, retainer companies, I am responsible for the citizens of my territory. Is such reckless selfishness allowed!?” 

In response to the Bishamonten’s composure exploding as Kenshin vented her anger, even Shingen was gradually beginning to express feelings that should have been hidden in a place for diplomacy. Kanetsugu was puzzled. The tiger of Kai and the dragon Echigo. The distance between them was closing so that they could feel each other’s breath on their faces. A fierce duel to the death was about to begin! The continuation of the battle of Kawanakajima begins in this space! 

“Wait! Both of you! This is not the place for declaring war! We must join in an alliance of our three countries and assemble to destroy Oda Nobuna! Calm down!” 

With beautiful long black hair and an impressively cold gaze, the daimyo of Sagami, Hojo Ujiyasu, while stopping the explosive situation between Shingen and Kenshin, returned the talk to the main subject. 

“Both of you leave it at that! There is a solution for the Kawanakajima problem!” 


Hojo Ujiyasu carried the letter from Ashikaga Yoshiaki overhead, and the ever loyal to authority Kenshin was the first to fall silent. 

For Shingen, when Kenshin became quiet, there were no further provocations. 

“As for me until now, I sent a ninja carefully selected from the Fuma, and sowed a seed of discord among the Oda clan’s vassals. It is the Hojo’s style to gain victory without fighting. 

But the surrender of Honbyo Temple was three years earlier than my expectations. In this case it is too early for the seeds of discord to blossom, and Oda Nobuna will take the country. Both of you, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, you two are stubborn and won’t act in concert. It is because of this that a third party has profited while you fight.” 

The conqueror of Kanto, Hojo Ujiyasu, is rarely called the ‘The King of Sagami’ and is usually called the ‘Lord of Odawara castle’, the reason is that she confines herself in the largest castle in the world, Odawara Castle. 

When she received a violent attack by Uesugi Kenshin, or when she was in a 

confrontation with Takeda Shingen over the dominion of Suraga after Imagawa Yoshimoto left, Ujiyasu avoided a decisive battle, she was crafty and escaped the crisis by holing up in Odawara Castle and avoiding the opponent. 

Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. While being attacked by the strongest rivals in the Sengoku Era, she survived and expanded. In fact, it can be said that the stamina and political power of Hojo Ujiyasu who steadily changed vast sections of the Kanto area to Hojo territory can be called an abnormality. 

“Until now, the three of us have been continually fighting over the Kanto provinces. The one who took that opportunity to proceed to the capital like a thieving cat and steadily subjugate the capital, is that detestable Oda Nobuna. The three of us who are sandwiched between the Conqueror of Oshuu, Date Masamune, and the ruler of the whole country Oda Nobuna on the east and west should form the Kou Aikoshi alliance right now. I will stop Date Masamune alone. 

The defenses of Odawara Castle will become an even greater impregnable fortress. Even if the Oushuu army raids us again, we can hold them for one year. Meanwhile, you can proceed to the capital and crush the Oda army.” 

Ujiyasu pushed hard to persuade Shingen and Kenshin with “Let’s forget everything that has happened so far.” 

After Imagawa Yoshimoto was defeated by Oda Nobuna at Okehazama and surrendered, 

Hojo and Takeda were temporarily at odds over the ex-Imagawa territory, but an even stronger alliance was formed now. 

“Shingen. You lost your darling younger sister Nobushige at Kawanakajima. I understand the feeling of wanting to settle it with Kenshin. But do that after ruining Oda Nobuna!” 

It was Kenshin that reacted furiously to Hojo Ujiyasu’s words. 

“…I mourn for Nobushige who passed on to the next world every day in Bishamondo. I entered a foolish war to take the one neck of Takeda Shingen….” 

Kenshin did not tell a lie. 

Naoe Kanetsugu also knew that Kenshin still regretted the innumerable dead friends and foes that fell in Kawanakajima. 

The fourth battle of Kawanakajima was an unprecedentedly fierce battle in Japanese history. 

By repeating the battles at Kawanakajima which seemed like they would continue 

endlessly, both armies became tired. 

“The palace may dispatch troops to Kawanakajima just out of a desire to meet Uesugi Kenshin.” “Isn’t is possible that Kenshin just wants to spend time on the same battleground as Takeda Shingen?” The vassal corps of both armies began harbor dissatisfaction and suspicion and were on the brink of exploding. 

Uesugi who pledged a life of celibacy and would not let men near, and Takeda Shingen who somehow had no rumors of a man despite having a pleasure-seeking personality and surrounded herself with Himekishis she gathered, they truthfully are in a relationship between women – it may be a romantic relationship, they may visit Kawanakajima on the pretense of competition due to being fated enemies and are repeatedly having a secret lover’s tryst. This believable rumor came out of nowhere, and troubled the retainers in both armies. 

Both of their powers are completely equal, if they fought directly with each other they wouldn’t be able to get off safely, and both armies would be destroyed at the same time. Shingen and Kenshin pacified the discontent vassal armies, but the Echigo army was not satisfied and stated “I endured this battle without reward simply because I thought it was a war for justice, not so you can enter into a lover’s tryst with Takeda Shingen”, and the Takeda army got angry saying “How many times will you dispatch troops for such a small plot of land in the corner of Shinano. What on earth is with this war?” 

Finally Shingen and Kenshin said at the same time, “I will bring an end to this war” and reached a conclusion with the fourth battle of Kawanakajima – it was an unprecedented all-out war between the famous commander and the god of war that staked everything as they crashed into the front. 

In the middle of the night, the Takeda army secretly separated into two groups, the detatched force carried out a surprise attack in the early morning at Saijoyama to chase them to Yawatabara. And the Takeda army personally led by Shingen waited in advance at Yawatabara – 

the certain victory surprise attack plan was created by Shingen’s genius tactician Kansuke Yamamoto after mustering all of his knowledge, ‘The woodpecker strategy’. The god of war Kenshin’s genius manifested suddenly in a divine revelation, and she went down to Saijoyama under the cover of the fog late at night and aimed at the Takeda’s army in Yawatabara, beginning a fierce battle. 

Uesugi Kenshin personally entered the jaws of death from Saijoyama between the Takeda forces at Yawatabara and the upcoming Takeda detachment. 

At little bit before the Takeda detached force realized that Saijoyama was empty and arrived at the battlefield in Yawatahara. 

In fact, Kenshin challenged the game of ‘an all or nothing gamble’. 

Uesugi Kenshin that led the Echigo army personally rushed at Shingen’s headquarters. 

The weaker Takeda troops took a large number of casualties, but to protect their leader Shingen they do not retreat even one step, Shingen’s headquarters became a mountain and in the end did not break. 

And when the Takeda detachment that rushed from Saijoyama drew near the back of the Echigo army and blocked their path to retreat, the war situation changed completely and the Echigo army fell into a danger that risked annihilation. 

The cornered Kenshin, changed the military formation to the ‘Rolling Wheel’ and was sealed by the Echigo army. All of the officers made an arc around Kenshin, and every group coped with attacks in all directions while rotating like a whirlpool. For the Takeda forces, while fighting against one unit they were hit by an invasion of the next unit in the rotation, and then were hit by the following unit again. Each unit seemed to have become one creature, and the offense and defense continued endlessly in a circular movement. 

This creation was originally produced by Kenshin, a strange formation that ignored conventional tactics, it can gain time before all of the Echigo army’s officers and men became completely exhausted, and can cope with the pincer attack, and in the case that the morale of both sides was high, it was a type of forbidden tactics that would result in a fierce battle until all members died an honorable death together. 

Kenshin and the Echigo army were cornered so they had to use the forbidden strategy, and then Shingen and the Takeda forces were also cornered. 

The Echigo troops and the Takeda army, almost all of their members were injured 

together in the desperate struggle, and the casualties were innumerable. 

It became an unprecedented fight to the death. 

During the era when guns hadn’t been brought to the battlefield in massive quantities, there hadn’t been a battle with so many casualties in Japan’s history. 

The soldiers of both armies were practically destroyed. However, even when it became impossible for both sides to maintain their battle formations, they took up their spears and continued to fight to put an end to the endless Samsara called Kawanakajima. 

In the end, when Takeda Shingen’s headquarers was on the brink of collapsing, Uesugi Kenshin personally charged in as a single horseman, and it became a fierce single combat between the generals. 

It wasn’t settled. 

Including Takeda Shingen’s right-hand man, and her younger sister Takeda Nobushige who was even called Shingen’s other self, the lives of a tremendous number of people disappeared at Kawanakajima. 

While running through the bloodstained battlefield, Kenshin deeply regretted “why did I do this stupid battle”, while Shingen clung to the dead body of her younger sister and wailed. 

With that, the rumor that Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin were in a romantic 

relationship disappeared - 

While Shingen and Kenshin were thinking about Kawanakajima - 

Hojo Ujiyasu had finished reading the letter from Ashikaga Yoshiaki aloud. 

Ashikaga Yoshiaki was ridiculed as the Child Shogun and the Shogun of Letters. 

She was now freeloading with the Mori clan. 

She is still a little girl, but as a person of the Ashikaga family she excels at schemes, and is enormously generous about rewards. “The person who reaches the capital first will become the kanrei of the Kanto region under the Ashikaga Shogunate.” 

Uesugi Kenshin, Takeda Shingen, one of the Mori, whoever reaches the capital first will effectively be the ruler of the whole country, Yoshiaki suddenly gave an extraordinary reward. 

To make the two great heroes of the Sengoku Era, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen suspend hostilities, if you let them compete for who will arrive at the capital first, Oda Nobuna will be unable to prevent it and soon perish. 

At any rate, if they delay by a single step, their enemy will become the ruler of the whole country. Both Kenshin and Shingen who were opposed until now, they would advance to the capital in a frenzy. 

To think up something like this, even if she is very young as one would expect of the Ashikaga family, Naoe Kanetsugu was past being shocked and instead rather admired her. 

The second proposal. 

“Hojo Ujiyasu’s younger sister will be adopted as a daughter by Uesugi Keshin who has a vow of celibacy. The princess will become the Kanto kanrei after Kenshin’s death.” 

While the Hojo clan is solely in pursuit of control of Kanto, Uesugi Kenshin is trying to carry through justice the revival of the Kanto administrators, the Uesugi clan. It was an exquisitely clever scheme that fulfills both duties together. 

Kenshin respects the authority of the Yamato Gosho and Ashikaga Shogunate, and tries to defend the old traditions and systems. She is not particular about blood. As long as the container called the house is continued, she believes order can be maintained. 

For this reason, Kenshin herself was originally born of the Nagao house which is only a vassal line of the Uesugi clan, and inherited the Kanto Kanrei Uesugi house. 

As for Hojo, they will even obtain hegemony over the Kanto area. Originally, even the surname of Hojo was only borrowed from a prestigious family of Kanto. Even if ‘Hojo’ becomes 

‘Uesugi’, if they get control over Kanto there are no problems at all. 

However, the third and last suggestion that Ashikaga Yoshiaki proposed was a problem. 

“I will make Kawanakajima a neutral area under the direct control of the Ashikaga clan.” 

The root of conflict between Uesugi and Takeda, “I will take Kawanakajima from both”, will cut off both of them from Kawanakajima with a clever plan. 

Anyways, the present Ashikaga shogun doesn’t have any territory under her direct 

control. 

Her standing is that of a temporary guest of the Mori clan. 

Therefore, Shingen and Kenshin can’t say that they will give land to the Ashikaga family. 

But this wasn’t a condition that Shingen and Kenshin could easily accept. 

“How is it? Isn’t this a very good suggestion? I’m ok with this. Nobody loses, and they remained justified. But except for the one point whether the person who arrives at the capital first is Uesugi Kenshin or Takeda Shingen. The person who manages to arrive first is the true winner of the battle of Kawanakajima, right?” 

That Kawanakajima is a placed tied into the fate of both of them, Kenshin-sama and Shingen may never part with it, Kanetsugu thought. I happened to be present at the place where Kenshin-sama and Shingen managed a miraculous reunion and finally understand. In a sense, Kawanakajima is something like a bond between these two heroes. Though they intensely hate each other, it is proof that they lived in the same world together at the same time while fighting. 

The feelings of the many people killed in actions such as Takeda Nobushige are also left in that place. It cannot be thrown away so easily. 

But Hojo Ujiyasu prepared a trump card to make Shingen and Kenshin decide to advance to the capital. 

Of course, the partner that she should truly be careful of was Shingen who was a 

pragmatic person. 

If Shingen is determined, Kenshin has no choice but to decided, that ought to have been Ujiyasu’s aim. 

“Takeda Singen. I have received another letter for you. The sender is not Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Look well at it.” 

Shingen’s complexion changed completely as she was quietly handed the letter. 

“…Is this genuine?” 

Ujiyasu was convinced that she moved Shingen’s heart at last and smiled. 

“Yes. It is the genuine article. In order for Takeda Shingen who thinks nothing of standing up to the authority of the Ashikaga Shogunate, this letter was necessary. I had a hard time getting it written. Well what will you do Takeda Shingen?” 

“Ujiyasu. You are a woman who will do anything in order to win. You’ve been like that from the old days.” 

“There is nothing I won’t do to win. In order to carry out our earnest wish of Kanto independence. Even if I suffer hundreds of losses against the invincible Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, I will absolutely survive and make Kanto independent. Even if the capital is desolated by war, I won’t move an inch, in my peaceful paradise. The dream country that Masakado Taira once tried to build. The will that I inherited from my grandfather, Hojo Suen, I will never be shaken and abandon it. I have not forgotten it. I will not in the future either. 

Because I am a cold woman with a heart like ice. But you seem to be different. Shingen. Will you finish your life as a country daimyo holding onto your memory of Kawanakajima? You will continue to complain about Kawanakajima where Nobushige died?” 

“Do not underestimate me. I have not said any complaints so far! But now I am suddenly in an unexpected situation. Before my eyes is Uesugi Kenshin whom I never expected to have an audience with again. And this letter….” 

“With this the measures I prepared are finished. I don’t have any more hands. In the end you have to decide for yourself. It is your life. Takeda Shingen.” 

Or else can you not decide when you do not have your strategist, Kansuke Yamamoto? 

Ujiyasu sneered. 

Shingen was about to become enraged at “this woman” but held her ground. 

“A large number of people died. Kansuke, Nobushige. I want to give an answer to 

everyone who died. I want to inform them that their death wasn’t meaningless with the way of my life. So I never look back at the dead. If I think on the dead and cry, it will be after I have raised the Takeda’s banner in Seta. It is after I let the flag of my descendants flutter. I have already decided. But I met Uesugi Kenshin again unexpectedly and was carelessly confused.” 

“In other words, Shingen. Uesugi Kenshin is that important to you.” 

Naoe Kanetsugu saw Uesugi Kenshin’s shoulder suddenly shake as she sat silently. 

“D, don’t say such a joking thing! Uesugi Kenshin is a small bird shut in the cage called Kawanakajima. Even a dragon is not Bishamonten! But I am different. I do not need to be bound by Kawanakajima anymore. I will prove it by actions from now on.” 

“Oh yeah? At last, the mountain moves. It was long time.” 

“I was skillfully tricked by you here, Hojo Ujiyasu! Sure thing. You can do what you like in Kanto. In addition, next time you are invaded by Date Masamune I will ignore you even if you cry. I will now go to Kyoto.” 

“This is your last opportunity to reach Kyoto, Takeda Shingen. You are slow to act. You who continued losing important family and retainers in battle, you have acquired a bad habit of avoiding big fights that might damage your soldiers. Especially after that fierce battle of Kawanakajima. While not being conscious of it, you avoid sending your soldiers into the jaws of death. Otherwise, you should have already been able to fell that Matsudaira Motoyasu greenhorn at Mikatagahara.” 

“…You really are a merciless woman, Hojo Ujiyasu. It’s encouraging when you are an ally, but you really are the most depressing to have as an enemy.” 

“Thank you for the compliment. Shingen, you are too cautious. But. There isn’t a next time anymore. I will say it again. This is the last war to reach the capital.” 

The plan to put a crack between Oda Nobuna and her retainers is still being advanced, but if the second encircling of Oda ends in failure, the world will be subjugated by Oda Nobuna before the Oda clan fractures, this is the last chance to defeat Oda Nobuna, Ujiyasu repeated herself. 

“Matsudaira Motoyasu was defeated by you in Mikatagahara before, but now may have transformed herself. There is a rumor that thousands of the vassals that left the Matsudaira clan and participated in the Honbyo Temple riots came back together.” [T/N: Transformed, because Tanuki, get it?] 

No problem, “Matsudaira Motoyasu” is a woman who doesn’t have it in her to be cruel, that fellow cannot send her vassals to their deaths. No matter how many strong soldiers and tacticians she gathers, if she is incapable to put them to the death she can’t keep them alive, Shingen laughed. 

It was a savage smile like a ferocious tiger. 

Naoe Kanetsugu who realized the terror of Shingen strengthened her resolution again. 

Takeda Shingen. She is not a sweet person or a person who is too kind. This person, her cold-heartedness, cruelty, and intensity that will sacrifice everything for the sake of her ambition, I am afraid. Come to think of it, the Uesugi family that Kenshin-sama leads has never lost a retainer of the main house in battle. The reason is because Kenshin-sama is really gentle. 

She always lets herself bear the brunt of it and has managed to not lose a vassal or soldier. But the Takeda clan is the reverse. Because so far an innumerable number of chief vassals that follow Shingen have died in battle! When the time comes, Takeda Shingen can drive a retainer and their family to the death. Therefore, I am too cautious! 

Kanetsugu felt like she understood the reason why Uesugi Kenshin made Takeda Shingen her arch-enemy. 

The two of them are too different in personality, way of life, faith, and appearance just like oil and water. 

They may have been intensely attracted because they were so different. 

And. 

At that time Takeda Shingen accepted the conditions of the Kou Aikoshi triple alliance and proclaimed that she would advance to the capital. 

The last of Kanto’s three heroes – it was time for Uesugi Kenshin to decide. 

To abandon the grudge in Kawanakajima, enter a sister-in law alliance with Hojo 

Ujiyasu, and to destroy the Sixth Demon King Oda Nobuna will she enter a competition with Shingen to reach the capital and demonstrate justice? 

Or will you demand a decisive battle in Kawanakajima again in front of Shingen who you should not have encountered again? 

Naoe Kanetsugu who had followed Kenshin since the time she was a page, she was not able to predict which way Kenshin will decide. 

Takeda Shingen is a Himekishi who severed her regret, sorrow, and despair that she shouldered on her back and charges toward ‘the future’ in the name of ‘ambition’. But Kenshin does not personally have the ambition to reign over the country, on the contrary it has all been done to return everything to the time of antiquity. Though the revival of the Kanto administrator Uesugi clan was already an impossible thing, Kenshin-sama continued pushing on naively. As for Kenshin-sama, it is not ‘the future’, but possibly she is a lady that adheres to ‘the past’. Does the ideal that Kenshin-sama looks for exist in ‘the past’ and not ‘the future’? 

In that case, she will surely be a sorrowful lady. She is so strong, a little girl with a pure heart, though she is born in this world as a mysterious unusual beauty, will Kenshin-sama be destined to live while continuing to be tied to ‘the past’? 

Is it possible for this Kanetsugu to free Kenshin-sama’s bound heart? 

Why does a person like Kenshin-sama merely live on lonesomely in ‘the past’? 

What is binding Kenshin-sama? 

Part of it is that she was born in a body that lacked color, but it shouldn’t be only that. 

Kenshin-sama is not the type of lady who will continue to be tied up by her own outward appearance. 

There must be some bigger cause in her heart. 

As for Kenshin-sama, why did you come to believe that you are Bishamonten? Why are you not a person? Why did you become a god? 

There is a clue here. Kanetsugu was convinced of it. 

But there was no more time to continue looking for the clue that points to the identity that tied Kenshin’s heart to ‘the past’. 

While Kanetsugu kept thinking, Isn’t there a way to rescue Kenshin-sama? Uesugi Kenshin made her decision. 

“Takeda Shingen. I will break out of the cage called Kawanakajima now. I am going to raise an army to march to the capital and I will destroy Oda Nobuna before you. I will show Oda Nobuna that you cannot live as both a god and a person at the same time. The world after that does not matter. I will give the glory of the earth to you, a human being. Because you will never try to become a god. I will leave the last evidence that I am the incarnation of Bishamonten on this earth and then pass on.” 

Uesugi Kenshing completely regained her usual expression as the calm divine general. 

Kanetsugu experienced the delusion that the true god took the form of a human and fell to earth. 

Her readiness to destroy Oda Nobuna was strengthened, Kanetsugu was tense and held her breath. 

But Takeda Shingen stared at Kenshin with such sorrowful eyes. 

Kenshin, are you tired of the human world and did you feel like running to Mt. Koya and becoming a nun? It’s always like that. When it becomes troublesome to live as the justice commander, you shut your heart and escape to being a nun.” 

“I do not run away. Passing away does not mean becoming a nun. It means that I will die. 

Bishamonten taught me. When I kill Oda Nobuna who is a demon king destroying the order of this country, my mission on the surface ends. Justice is carried out.” 

“You will die? Kenshin! Aren’t you still the head of the Echigo Uesgui clan!? Do not carelessly speak of your death! You who have not lived even a single day as an ordinary human will die beautifully while playing god – I will never accept it! Without settling this with me, you will take your winnings and leave only the myth of your unrivaled invincibility!?” 

Takeda Shingen – suddenly was upset. 

Ta. 

Naoe Kanetsugu stood in front of Shingen silently blocking her, holding her hand back. 

“Who are you? This is between Kenshin and I, don’t interfere.” 

“Shingen-sama, by any chance are you worried about Kenshin-sama?” 

“That’s not it. But I can’t forgive this human being that poses as a god! I am always condemned for being a greedy person that lacks filial piety, but what about that fellow! That girl is an ordinary human like me! I want to show the state of things in several years to that Kenshin!” 

“Please leave this to me. I will certainly find a way to release Kenshin-sama from the spell of ‘the past’. I will not let Kenshin-sama return to heaven in solitude. Shingen-sama, I will surely introduce you when Kenshin-sama returns to being a ‘human being’. At that time, both of you should be able to reach a conclusion and truly leave Kawanakajima.” 

“…Lass. Who on earth are you? You aren’t a mere page.” 

“I am the person who inherited the spirit of justice from Kenshin-sama, Naoe 

Kanetsugu.” 

 

Kanetsugu’s reminiscence broke off there. 

The Bishamondo door opened. 

Uesugi Kenshin who gave up her hesitation and became the incarnation of Bishamonten told Naoe Kanetsugu, “I will lead the Echigo army and proceed to the capital”. 

The Echigo vassals that flocked to Kasugayama Castle, all of the soldiers had gathered on the plain next to the castle at the same time. 

The Echigo did not have a Himekishi until Uesugi Kenshin appeared. 

Thus, the main force of the Echigo army is still comprised of boorish male soldiers. 

Unparalleled loyalty. 

Uesugi Kenshin is worshiped as the incarnation of Bishamonten, they do not demand territory as a reward, they gave up their lives for the justice Kenshin believes in at Kawanakajima, and the soldiers continued fighting in the Kanto region. 

Because they worship Uesugi Kenshin too much, there was a commander who had the 

ambition of making Kenshin his wife and revolted. 

There was a commander that raised an objection against the constant holy war without compensation and rebelled against Kenshin too. 

There was a general who had a change of heart due to Takeda Shingen’s schemes. 

Kenshin abandoned Echigo in anguish, and tried to run to Mt. Koya and become a nun. 

But nobody doubts that the Kenshin right now is an Echigo samurai with a spirit of justice. 

Unrivaled, undefeated, and selfless. The genuine god of war. Everyone there was 

convinced that Uesugi Kenshin-sama was the incarnation of Bishamonten. 

In the past, in the past there was a man who seemed to be filled with ambition in his whole body from head to foot called Nagao Masakage in Echigo. 

Nagao Masakage was the greatest political rival who fought with Uesugi Kenshin for the seat of the Echigo sovereign. 

He married Kenshin’s older sister, he reigned as the family head, and was second in command of the Echigo army, but still he continued defying and opposing Kenshin – Nagao Masakage had an unhealthy obsession for Kenshin vb. 

“One day I will make Kenshin my wife”, he would never abandon this ambition. 

To obtain Kenshin, Nagao Masakage opposed Kenshin many times and often cornered her. 

Kenshin always kept permitting Nagao Masakage’s rebellion and evil thoughts. 

That is the way of life as Bishamonten, in addition, since her darling older sister became the wife of Nagao Masakage, it was impossible for Kenshin to murder Nagao Masakage or expel him. 

It brought discord to the Echigo retainers for years, creating a lot of friction between Kenshin and the retainer groups, it would not be an exaggeration to say that Nagao Masakage was a man like a treacherous fiend. 

Even if a villain ran wild and did whatever he wanted, the “Justice Commander” Kenshin will never punish him. In that case, even if she showed just a little bit of her desires that could be called selfishness, Kenshin-sama would forgive it - 

That’s right. Look at Nagao Masakage. Kenshin-sama is lenient to traitors. In any case, the territory does not increases in a crusade, so it is advantageous to act selfish. 

Not only the elder sister, but also the younger sister will be made his wife! Rather than be taken away by a villain like Nagao Masakage, I will marry Kenshin-sama. That way Kenshin-sama may also find happiness. 

In this way, the poisonous existence called Nagao Masakage continued to spread his poison deeper among the Echigo retainers, multiplied, and became the fetters to obstruct Kenshin who was continuing the difficult wars with Takeda and Hojo. 

But Nagao Masakage is not in this world anymore. 

After there were innumerable victims of both friends and foes in the fourth battle of Kawanakajima, Kenshin still did not give any reward besides copper coins as ‘blood-stained commendations’. 

“At this rate we will lose and die.” 

“Even if it’s an order from Kenshin-sama, I can no longer stand it”. 

The dissatisfaction of the Echigo army was on the brink of exploding – 

Nagao Masakage who was the head of the anti-Kenshin party, used the discord to have fun sailing on the lake with Echigo’s famous tactician, Sadamitsu Usami, and they drowned together and died. 

Sadamitsu Usami raised the childish Kenshin as Echigo’s first Himekishi, and as she took the seat as Echigo’s daimyo, he was the man who guarded Kenshin all the time. He was Kenshin’s confidant and her right-hand man. 

The timing was too perfect and the death was suspicious. 

There was a rumor that it was an assassination. 

Kenshin-sama finally abandoned being the justice commander, the vassal corps was 

worried whether she would become a terrible dictator. 

Of course, Kenshin had nothing to do with the plot to drown Nagao Masakage and 

Sadamitsu Usami. 

Kenshin learned of the sudden death of the two of them, and was temporarily distraught, and she soon adopted the eldest daughter of Nagao Masakage and her real older sister Aya as her own daughter, and gave her the name Uesugi Kagekatsu. 

To the child of that Nagao Masakage who tormented Kenshin during his lifetime, she let her succeed her, let her inherit the Uesugi house, let her inherit the position of Echigo shugo, it was declared. 

Nagao Masakage who was born in the branch family and had been discriminated against had always held an inferiority complex towards the head of the clan Kenshin who had the family status and bloodline, and he struggled to obtain the seat of the Echigo shugo even if he failed countless times. Kenshin had the best family status in Echigo/Kanto, after having taken office as the Kanto kanrei following succeeding the name of the “Uesugi clan”, his inferiority complex and earnest desire for Kenshin became even more intense. 

The thing that Nagao Masakage wanted to that extent, his child was given it easily. 

Kenshin truly promised a ‘life of celibacy’ as Bishamonten, abandoned herself and strove for justice, everyone in the Echigo vassal corps shed tears and believed in her. That belief soon turned into faith, all of Kenshin’s orders that came from hearing the “voice of god” were carried out by the Echigo army without question. 

The Uesugi clan, the Echigo army doesn’t have a war council. 

Kenshin personally hears the voice of Bishamonten, and gives her orders to the vassal corps. 

“Honjo Shinenaga. Hojo Takahiro. Nagazane Irobe. Saito Asanobu. Oni Kojima Yataro.” 

Kenshin rode on horseback in front of the large battalion that was standing in a line, while calling out the name of each military commander, and waved her bamboo staff to cut the army corps into each unit. 

By obeying the commands that Kenshin had seemingly only gives by intuition, the 

Echigo army becomes the strongest army by following no set rules. 

Nobody makes any objections. 

All of the members shook with emotion. “Kenshin-sama has finally stood up to destroy the ruler of the world Oda Nobuna.” 

“Generals. I promised that I wouldn’t invade other countries like Takeda Shingen and until now I have ordered my generals to engage in a crusade without compensation, but we must suppress the Hokuriku area for the sake of a decisive battle with Oda Nobuna. Therefore, from here we will capture Ecchu and Noto. I will entrust the two subjugated countries to Saito Asanobu, I will invade and immediately attack Echizen from Kaga and sweep away Shibata Katsuie’s army, and we will charge straight to Oomi and destroy Oda Nobuna. Hojo and Takeda are now no longer rivals, but allies. With the decisive battle with Oda ahead of us, we will not dispatch any soldiers to Kawanakajima and the Kanto area.” 

Until now the numerous crusades of the Echigo army had gone without rewards, to bet the whole world on this decisive battle, the Echigo samurais made a stir. 

“The vice-captain will be Naoe Kanetsugu. When I am absent, obey the commands of 

Naoe Kanetsugu. If I lose my life when proceeding to the capital, make my adopted daughter Uesugi Kagekatsu the head of the Echigo army. Even if I disappear, carry out the charge to the capital by any means, and devote yourself to the Yamato Gosho and the shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiaki. Even if I enter the capital, do not bring chaos like Yoshinaka Minamoto. When your evil thoughts are revived, remember my form. Bishamonten’s eyes always watch you. Show the justice of the Echigo army to all of Japan.” 

All of the people were surprised by the ominous words, Kenshin-sama will bet everything on this fight, they nodded to each other. 

As for our old enemy, Takeda Shingen, she will establish an army to invade the capital, and the one that arrives at the capital earlier will become the administrator of the Kanto area and reign over the whole country. 

Kenshin-sama will reign over the whole world! 

You must not fall behind Takeda Shingen! 

We will settle Kawanakajima with this! 

The Echigo samurai waited for the words that Kenshin would speak when taking the 

field. 

The word of god. 

It is the voice of the god of war Bishamonten that Nagao Masakage longed for and 

couldn’t stop being obsessed with. 

“Fate dwells in heaven. Armor is in your chest. Deeds rest at your feet.” 

Kenshin chanted. 

She became the incarnation of the Bishamonten in mind and body, when faced with 

destiny Keshin recited these words. 

Words to rally the courage of the common soldiers and her many generals. 

“Engage in combat fully determined to die and you will be alive; wish to survive in the battle and you will surely meet death.” 

The army roared at once like one creature. 

Oh, oh oh! 

Oh, oh oh! 

The flag of ‘Bishamondo’, and then the flag of ‘The Dragon’ were raised all at once. 

Kenshin ran forward as a lone horseman. 

The strongest army of the Sengoku Era, the Echigo army, followed after her. 

While shining with a crest of ‘love’, to Kenshin’s older sister Aya – when her husband was drowned she became a priest, and introduces herself as ‘Senmomoin’ now – Kanetsugu lowered her head saying “I will go.” 

“Kanetsugu. This morning Kenshin said her final farewell. Bishamonten’s ‘voice’ told her fate.” 

“Senmomoin-sama. This Kanetsugu will look after Kenshin-sama without exception, and we will return to Echigo.” 

“You’ve changed, Kanetsugu. Just a little while ago you worshipped Kenshin as a real god.” 

“Yes. When I met with Takeda Shingen at the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine I had a 

glimpse of Kenshin-sama disturbed by intense feelings of love and hatred, it was the real Kenshin-sama. I thought then. With eyes like Oushuu’s Botenmaru who descends from a Namban person, the image of Kenshin-sama overlaps with her. I should have noticed earlier. I may have been blinded by Kenshin-sama’s strength and beauty that transcends human knowledge.” 

Senmomoin said while looking at the galloping Kenshin. 

“I felt sorry for that child who had been born with white skin like snow and a body that was so weak. Her skin is burnt just being in contact with the sun and she is blinded. Her heart is damaged when she repeatedly works too hard. There were few things she could eat. She has to take her nourishment by drinking. She is a woman so she gets a fever once a month, and movement becomes impossible. That child always lived while being possessed by the shadow of death. The voice of Bishamonten is the voice of Kenshin’s heart. I think that child foresees that her body is reaching its limits.” 

“No. Kenshin-sama’s body isn’t yet at its limit. It’s her heart that is really at the limit. 

Kenshin-sama has constantly been losing important people one after another to live as Bishamonten.” 

“Yeah. That child once said that if one worshipped God, they will not die. She has stubbornly refused the courtship of men. Because Kenshin’s character is like this, she burned with passion unable to forgive Oda Nobuna who has the power of a god and the love of a human.” 

“On the day when Kenshin-sama is free, she wouldn’t able to live as a human girl. I have never seen a person as lonely as her. Loneliness torments Kenshin’s body and mind. Living as the incarnation of Bishamonten any more than this…” 

“As expected of the Himekishi that Kenshin approved as her successor. Two men 

protected, raised, and supported Kenshin. The strategist who discovered you, Sadamitsu Usami, and the Prime Minister Naoe Yamato that raised Naoe Kanetsugu as a daughter. You are the last present left by those two people for Kenshin who has no choice but to live as the lonely Bishamonten. For Kenshin, please.” 

Kanetsugu nodded silently. 

In any case, we must overcome Oda Nobuna – we have to win this battle, for the future of Kenshin and Echigo. 

But I can’t save Kenshin from her fate only by winning. 

I said to Senmomoin that “Kenshin’s body wasn’t at its limit yet”, but the mind and body are two sides of the same coin, Kanetsugu knew. 

Kenshin’s intense force of will that could be called an abnormality, it had a huge impact on Kenshin’s body. For example, when believing that Bishamonten exists, she can really hear the voice of Bishamonten. 

Or it can be said that Kenshin’s weak, sensitive body tended to be affected by her extreme spirit. 

Perhaps at the moment that Kenshin-sama was convinced that “the time has come for Bishamonten to return to heaven”, she felt that her “destiny has been fulfilled”, and after tirelessly continuing to dispatch troops and repeatedly pushing herself without rest Kenshin-sama’s body reached its limit. 

Usami. Father. Please lend me strength. Your wisdom. Naoe Kanetsugu pursued Kenshin while praying. 

“The Oyashirazu mountain pass to enter Ecchu is dangerous! Don’t run alone, Kenshin-sama!” 

I was able to catch up to Kenshin. 

While looking at the Sea of Echigo from horseback, Kenshin asked Kanetsugu. 

“Kanetsugu. You personally chose the crest of love after an exchange through battle with Botenmaru. What is love?” 

I was taught all about justice and compassion from the tactician Sadamitsu Usami and prime minister, Naoe Yamato, but I still don’t know what the thing called love is. 

“When the Amano-Iwato was opened, why did Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu kiss, 

why didn’t they hide their love knowing it was a path to ruin, I can’t understand. Before the decisive battle with Oda Nobuna, only this one mystery still remains to be solved. Why did I get so angry at Oda Nobuna like this…because Takeda Shingen was told significant words when she encountered Sagara Yoshiharu, I entered the tea house in Kyoto. But Sagara Yoshiharu was an ordinary boy. Although he seemed extremely kind, he was just an ordinary human man. I don’t understand why Shingen and Oda Nobuna are so obssessed with Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

“Kenshin-sama. In the world of humans, if you don’t associate with human beings 

directly, you won’t be able to understand.” 

“But. I already encountered Sagara Yoshiharu. I conversed.” 

“If you had a trivial discussion in a tea house just once, it isn’t possible to understand the other party.” 

“…Kanetsugu. Once I enter Ecchu, I want to go ahead and scout out the structure of the Azuchi castle. I can defeat Shibata Katsuie. The decisive battle will possibly be Azuchi Castle. It is said to be an impregnable castle equal to Odawara Castle.” 

“By all means Kenshin-sama you may go to Azuchi yourself. But a long absence will delay our progress on the strategy to invade the capital, and the condition of your body will worsen, too. Spend just one day freely in Azuchi, and then please return to headquarters. This Kanetsugu will go to Azuchi to receive you.” 

“It’s okay Kanetsugu? When I said that I would go, I thought you would say it was dangerous and stop me.” 

“I realized in the battle with Botenmaru, that I am inferior at war. I don’t even come up to Kenshin-sama’s feet in ability. But Kenshin-sama should personally look at Azuchi Castle in the face of danger. Besides, Oda Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu should participate in the festival held for completing Azuchi Castle.” 

“Festival?” 

“Yes. A festival unveiling the completed Azuchi Castle, it also seems to cover the O-bon festival. It is said that any kind of person is allowed to enter the Azuchi town freely.” 

“The O-bon festival. The festival to send the souls of the dead who have returned to earth back to heaven again.” 



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