Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 12 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 – Battle of Tedorigawa 

Shibata Katsuie, leading the Oda clan’s Hokuriku district corps, advanced from Echizen which was her original fief to Kaga, and made camp on the territory called Mizushima across the Tedori river. 

When the day broke, they would march on ignoring the rain, to enter the Nanao castle of Noto’s Hatakeyama house before the Echigo army. The plan was to suppress Noto and prepare for the decisive battle against the Echigo army. 

A messenger had been sent from Nobuna in Azuchi over and over again saying “don’t march until I arrive.” Katsuie resolved herself, “Just like with the naval battle of Kizugawaguchi, Hime-sama needs to have a flash of inspiration to break the unrivaled undefeated Echigo army, so it is necessary to gain experience fighting the Echigo army. Hime-sama becomes stronger after learning from her losses. But some sacrifices are necessary to surpass the god of war called Kenshin. The Oda house’s strongest general is me.” 

“Hime-sama, even if I return to heaven, this Katsuie will watch Hime-sama’s struggle for Tenka Fubu from the night sky. With grandfather Hirate, Matsunaga Hisahide, and Saito Dousan-” 

“Kaga is already the enemy’s land. This camp is filled with the Echigo Army’s shinobi. 

It’s a waste to burn Hime-sama’s letters….but it will be stolen instantly if I carry it and information will leak out.” Behind a curtain, Katsuie burned Nobuna’s letter by the candle’s fire, put her hands together before the ‘Golden Nobuna statue’ that was purchased from Soken Temple, and changed into a thin nightshirt and slipped into her futon. 

After an abnormally long rain continued from Echizen to Kaga, Katsuie and her officers and men were exhausted. 

It was more difficult to cross the flooded Tedorigawa than battle. 

The flooded Tedori river was worthy of its name. When Minamoto Yoshinaka pushed his forces through the Kurikara pass to invade the capital, they had a hard time crossing the swollen river. The officers and soldiers tied their hands together, and it is said they mutually supported each other so they weren’t swept away by the water. So it came to be called ‘Tedorigawa’. The raging river. 

“…Has Hime-sama already departed Azuchi? With this long rainy spell she probably 

won’t make it in time. Echizen’s highways are undeveloped compared to Mino and Omi. To begin with, such a heavy long lasting rain doesn’t fall in Mino, Owari, or the Kinai region.” 

However that is fine, I will draw out all of Uesugi Kenshin’s war styles on the battlefield, for Hime-sama’s fortune in war! Katsuie hugged the “Nobuna body pillow” that she also bought in Soken Temple and tried to close her eyes. 

But then, “Eek!?” Katsuie let out a small scream. 

Munyu. 

From behind, someone grabbed Katsuie’s swelling chest as if grabbing a peach! 

“Uyaaaaaa? Are you acting knowing that I am Shibata Katsuie? Is that Saru? A guy who would copy a monkey in this way, it can only be you!” 

“Hehehe. As expected Katsuie. It is I. Sagara Yoshiharu. There was sadness after rubbing them before, but my hand remembers the feeling.” [T/N: Yoshiharu is using Ore-sama to say I. 

Its about as pretentious and arrogant as you can get for saying I.] 

“Che? It really is Saru? Right now the headquarters is surrounded by the shinobi of the Echigo army, you shouldn’t be able to get inside the curtain where I sleep!” 

“Hold on, I had Goemon guide me to conceal myself as I entered.” 

So. 

For some reason, Yoshiharu who was soaking wet entered Katsuie’s bedroom. 

“The thirty thousand strong army that Nobuna is leading has been delayed by the long rain. But I was able to make it in time by going alone on horseback to Nagahama using the animal trails the ninjas use. While you are like an oni, Katsuie’s breasts are great! These, 

*grope* *grope*.” 

“Hi? Ahi?” 

Katsuie was filled with embarrassment rather than angry, and burst into tears. 

“St, stooooop? What, what, what on earth are you planning? You know I am a man- 

hater? In the first place you and Hime-sama love each other? Have you gone mad?” 

“Hahaha. It seems you can let out a cry like a girl after all Katsuie.” 

“Well, I’m going to die soon on the battlefield, there isn’t any meaning on continuing to use a manly tone in the bedroom! Wait what kind of thing am I saying! What on earth are you thinking? You really are the worst!” 

“I am sane! Now that the second Oda encirclement has been completed, in order to 

realize Nobuna’s great task of Tenka Fubu which is on the verge of collapse, I have to put the 

‘Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan’ into motion!” 

While rubbing Katsuie’s breasts that seemed to have become a size larger again since his absence, Yoshiharu’s eyes were glowing. 

“Hi, Hikaru Genji? Rokujouin? Nevermind that, don’t touch my chest, Iya! Don’t push in your finger!” 

“Don’t say so. Because I don’t want to hear that you died an honorable death, I came all this way to persuade you? This is the magnificent plan that flashed into my mind from Imagawa Yoshimoto-chan’s suggestion! I have now become unexpectedly popular due to opening the Amano-Iwato! It is the first and last opportunity to become the incomparable Hikaru Genji of the Sengoku Era! In the four palaces in Azuchi Castle’s inner citadel, I will gather the Warring States princess daimyos that I hit on and steal their heart and make my lovers! My legal wife is the shogun, Imagawa Yoshimoto-chan. My choice for lover is the ruler of the whole country, Nobuna. Juubei-chan who clashed with Nobuna over me. Mori’s prime minister, Kobayakawa-san. Takeda Shingen, also known as Katsuchiyo-chan. And then Uesugi Kenshin too! Because Bontenmaru is still a child I can’t seduce her immediately, but I will make a five year cultivation project to make her fall in love with me. This way, battles won’t be necessary anymore! I will unify the Chugoku District and Echigo and Kai and Shinano by the power of my love! I will seduce the remaining princess daimyos one by one! With this! The Sengoku Era is over! I will write a peaceful paradise! Read as Azuchi! The arrival of the Azuchi Mountain monkey era!” 

Yoshiharu made this loud declaration with a fervent voice from behind Katsuie. 

Because the story was too eccentric, Katsuie went past being angry to being amazed. 

“Ba, Baka! You can be heard outside the curtain! What kind of delusional idiotic plan are you releasing!? You, Hikaru Genji? With that monkey face? You intend on betraying Hime-sama’s innocent love? Stop it!” 

“I won’t stop! Right now I have a lot of energy and stamina at the same time! All for Nobuna! It is already impossible to break through the Oda clan encirclement through battle! 

Now, my romantic love techniques that I am proud of will become the Oda clan’s ultimate weapon!” 

“So for what reason are you assaulting me when I am the chief retainer of the Oda house!?” 

“Hahaha! Katsuie, it is because you will be the first to oppose it! If this monkey tramples over your Hime-sama’s heart, you will punish me! You will probably raise a ruckus and come to kill me? Therefore I made the first move! If you take my side, Nobuna will have no choice but to accept my magnificent plan!” 

“Ugu! What vicious monkey wisdom! I’ll kill you right here….ah? Wait, it hurts, it hurts it hurts! If you put in so much force when you rub them….they’ll lose their shape….! Stop it!” 

“Damn straight! If I ensnare the Oda house’s chief retainer who would object to this plan from the very start, I will quickly make you my lover! My ambition is completed with this! Even if you are satisfied with your way of life where you dedicate your loyalty to Nobuna and die on the battlefield as a soldier that doesn’t know love, a maiden like you should have once wanted to be in love! In addition to granting your desire tonight Katsuie, I shall save your life! It isn’t necessary to die an honorable death! Because I will also seduce Kenshin! I will woo Kenshin and make the Echigo army disarm! A battle won’t happen!” 

“Fua….ah, ah, ah…..no good, I’m losing my strength….I don’t like it…” 

“Katsuie can’t resist it. As expected the way of love is my victory hahahaha, the difference in experience between you and I is overwhelming, you are a girl too even if you insist you are a Himekishi,” Yoshiharu chuckled. 

“…D, don’t joke arouuuuund! You are ridiculing Himekishis! You want me to sacrifice the house and abandon the battle and surrender the Oda clan because I was seduced by you? 

There isn’t such a weak-willed Himekishi! Although we were all born with a female body, we were born as samurai and are fated to wage war for our beliefs and pride! Even if I surrender, it will only be when I have been defeated gallantly!” 

Katsuie flew into a rage. 

“Even that Imagawa Yoshimoto who hated war faced a decisive battle in Okehazama. 

Don’t make fun of Himekishis!” 

Yoshiharu’s attitude of “As long as the Himekishis fall in love, they will abandon their goals, passion and ambition” was infuriating to Katsiue 

“S, S, Saru! I can’t forgive you today for sure! I will arrest you and court-martial you!” 

“Fugya!? D, dammit it, I failed to run away because I got stuck! My hands can’t escape K, Katsuie’s breasts! After all, they are the largest breasts! If Nobuna has this much of a chest…” 

“Uoooo! Shut up! Die and die and dieeeeeee!” 

“Katsuie, use your head and think! Even if you die an honorable death, the Oda army can’t win against Kenshin. If you simply charge in without calculations or plans and are defeated thinking that Nobuna will find a chance for victory, you are a real muscle head! That would just be a useless death! As the world’s most frivolous man, I cannot lose your boobs that are national treasure class! No doubt, they are larger than Yoshimoto-chan! In the first place, don’t take Inuchiyo along! For Inuchiyo to die for nothing at the same time, that bad joke is rejected!” 

“Shut up! I want to behead you right now, but you are also a senior vassal of the Odas for the time being as well. I will punish you with a court-martial!” 

If Katsuie seriously tried to arrest and behead him, Yoshiharu can’t resist. 

Trussed up with a rope, “Sleep here until tomorrow morning’s court-martial” he was pushed into the stables. 

“You are truly the worst of the worst! Uesugi won’t send an assassin, but the Nokizaru are actively collecting intelligence on the Oda army! Because you were loudly making a ruckus, saying this and that about Hikaru Genji, all your worthless ambitions have been leaked to Uesugi Kenshin! It’s not only me! You’ll also enrage Kenshin.” 

Yes this fellow was careless like that, Yoshiharu grinned fearlessly and laughed while his face swelled. 

The next morning, Katsuie was increasingly at a loss at the court-martial meeting. 

Several people who hadn’t even been called intruded on Katsuie’s camp. 

Because it was hard to march through the heavy rain, none of them were commanders who lead an army. 

Everyone used a fast horse in the same way as Yoshiharu, and forced their way through the rain with only a handful of their own troops. 

“Everyone will band together and prevent Katsuie’s honorable death”. Somehow or 

other, Yoshiharu had invited all of the generals who were in the area. 

In any case, ‘Yoshiharu’s court-martial punishment’ that should have been finished with just Katsuie and Inuchiyo, became unexpectedly serious. 

“We performed an all-nighter directing the Azuchi Castle festival, but we were just in time. We still don’t know why the Soken Temple’s stone wall suddenly collapsed….Sagara-dono’s act this time was to laugh at Himekishis. Ten points.” 

Niwa Nagahide, who had just finished the heavy responsibility of being Azuchi Castle’s construction magistrate, opened her mouth. 

Having been too busy with supervising the Azuchi Castle debut festival, and after a forced march in the resounding rain, she hadn’t been able to sleep at all and had dark circles under her eyes. 

“It’s not because I’m old. It’s absolutely different. Absolutely.” 

“Since the Takeda forces are slow I came here, but what did Yoshi do? Really, to be a ladies’ man even here is impressive.” 

“Thanks to you, my miko clothes got wet,” commented Kazumasu Takigawa. 

“Because Oichi is busy raising our children, I unexpectedly came by myself. Gee, it has become serious. Saru is indiscriminate too. You have to settle down soon, ahahaha.” 

The young nobleman of Owari who became a parent recently, Tsuda Nobusumi. 

“The eternal pretty boy, Nobusumi-sama is a father?” Hearing that, many girls would be heartbroken and become nuns. 

“….I’m hungry.” 

Not part of the reinforcements, Katsuie’s sergeant, Maeda Inuchiyo. 

“Sob, sob. Many generals forced their way through and rushed here in this way, but a battalion can’t move because of the bad roads, Oda’s Hokuriku district army of 20,000 can’t be increased. 

If the heavy rain continues in Echizen and Kaga, the 30,000 reinforcements that Nobuna-sama leads probably won’t make it in time.” 

“No problem. As long as you have this Simeon, the Oda clan will win! Shibata Katsuie, even if you don’t die a meaningless honorable death, Simeon and Hanbei studied the past tactics of the Echigo army exhaustively. Preparations are all ready! Mufu! I was marked with one loss in the seminary, but this time I will raise the flag of First-class KuroKan!” 

The greatest strategists of the country that Oda clan boasted, Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei. 

And the one enigmatic Himekishi who stood out conspicuously in the tense court-martial hearing. 

“Ohohoho! Everyone is so bloodthirsty! I want to go sightseeing in Kanazawa, with y o u.” 

Sitting down on the knees of the bound and unmoving Yoshiharu, the world famous 

puppet shogun, Imagawa Yoshimoto. 

Elegant in her graceful juni-hitoe. 

Incidentally, she also came with a band. 

At the extreme inappropriateness, Katsuie shut her eyes. 

“Yoshimoto! What did you come to do? This is a court-martial, not a party.” 

“Don’t worry yourself, Katsuie-san. I have come to enjoy a honeymoon with Sagara 

Yoshiharu.” 

“Shut up! Because you inspired him with your elegant hobbies, the stupid monkey lost control!” 

“Now, now. What is it?” 

“Everyone, listen to me! I hit on a good idea of how to overcome Kenshin and the one way to break the encircling net. I already obtained Hanbei and Kanbei’s agreement! Let’s persuade Katsuie together!” 

Yoshiharu yelled “Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan” in front of all of the generals again. 

“Don’t yell so loudly or you will be heard by the Nokizaru, Saru!” 

Hanbei and Kanebi nodded to each other troubled, Yoshimoto rejoiced “My, my. You are adopting my plan?”, and Nobusumi was amazed. 

“How’s that, all of you! This is the Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan! The Mori clan can at least merge with the Oda now! Uesugi kenshin will fall soon. As long as we capture the aloof and pure Bishamonten Uesugi Kenshin, even Takeda Shingen who had never had any news of close relationships with men will burn with competitiveness and pushed me down too!” 

“Sob, sob. This is the prohibited strategy that turns the table on the Sengoku Era’s custom of Himekishis, but this is the only method to save the Oda house from its current predicament. 

The people of Japan know Yoshiharu-san’s face from the Amano-Iwato, for some reason it was seen as more handsome than the real thing, and his popularity among women skyrocketed” 

Hanbei nodded while sobbing. As for Kanbei, 

“If Sagara Yoshiharu doesn’t do this seducing to this Simeon, it may be fine to win no matter the method? But Simeon’s chance to play an active role will decrease.” 

She accepted it reluctantly. 

As for Kazumasu and Nobusumi, “Yoshii has the ambition of being ‘very popular’.” 

“You didn’t abandon it Saru-kun! On the contrary, now that you have become overwhelmingly popular from the Amano-Iwato it is a good opportunity!” They were taken aback. 

Nagahide frowned, “Hime won’t agree. There is the opportunity for an unofficial talk when the essential Hime and Akechi-dono not here. As for the Himekishis, this is a heretical act that will trample on Hime’s heart. Zero points.” 

Impossible? Hanbei and Kanbei accepted it reluctantly? They are being overcome by Yoshiharu! Katsuie raised a flustered voice. 

“Saru. You, are you talking about this seriously? Because the Oda clan has no chance of winning, did you go mad? Or is that your true character? Everything you promised Hime-sama so far, was it all a ploy to curry favor with Hime-sama? Or did you already lose interest because you got Hime-sama’s heart? Are you unable to choose? There is no more discussion depending on the answer!” 

In order to intimidate Yoshiharu, Katsuie shouted with her sword in hand. 

The one who suddenly grabbed Katsuie’s arm and stopped her, with her tiger head piece, was the adorable Maeda Inuchiyo. 

“I’ll lead the charge. Inuchiyo now becomes a candidate for Yoshiharu’s lover at this place too. If the chief vassals of the Oda clan, the four devas, all become Yoshiharu’s lovers and live peacefully, the Oda clan will be secure forever.” 

“Wait, don’t slip something like announcing your candidacy in during the confusion, Inu!” 

“…Katsuie will also be Yoshiharu’s lover. Yoshiharu is right, the discord between two people will cause a rip in the Oda clan.” 

“Inu, don’t joke like that! Because this monkey came to the Oda clan, Hime-sama was deceived by this monkey and Mitsuhide opposed Hime-sama. It was all ruined. That Shingen and Kenshin who were fellow rivals joined together to encircle the Oda clan at the same time is entirely the fault of this monkey who opened the Amano-Iwato and stole Hime-sama’s lips as those fellows watched! 

Hahaha. That’s wrong. Nobuna took my lips. While still bound Yoshiharu chuckled to himself with a villainous face. 

“Saruuuuuu! You bastard, you are a treacherous fiend for the Oda house! I overlooked it because you were carrying Hime-sama’s pure love, now that I know your true character I will kill you!” 

“Katsuie. Now matter how much you swear loyalty to Nobuna, you are a woman. But 

that isn’t enough for Nobuna who lost her father at a young age. A man’s love is also necessary too. In other words, me.” 

“You bastard! If you understand that much, all the more reason to stop the Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan!” 

“This is to save Nobuna. I am the man who will succeed the dream of Toukichiro-ossan. 

The ambition of owning land and being popular! With the misunderstanding from the Amano-Iwato, now is the time to grab that ambition with this good opportunity! Now that we stand at the edge of destruction, I will return and grab the original intention I had the day I was swept into the Sengoku Era!” 

The dramatic form of Yoshiharu-san who was reflected on the sky from the Amano- 

Iwato looked a hundred times cooler than the real thing. The power of the figure projected by the Amano-Iwato that calls to the heart of the people is beyond imagining, it seems to have an effect close to the ‘movie’ and ‘television’ that you say are in the future. Hanbei inferred the reason for Yoshiharu’s incomprehensible popularity. 

“To know something like that. Saru, it is said that humans show their true form when they are near death. Is that your real nature!? I’ll kill you here!” 

“Tch. Kill, kill kill! But. If you kill me, Nobuna will fly into a rage and execute you Katsuie! The Oda clan will fall!” 

“Please wait, Shibata-dono. If you and Sagara-dono mutually destroy each other, it will benefit the enemy. Zero points.” 

The gentle Nagahide interjected, “In this difficult situation for the Oda clan, the tricksters will try to stir our troubles into a blaze. What a foolish thing.” Katsuie who had turned bright red with fury and nearly exploded was restrained. 

“But Nagahide! He betrayed Hime-sama’s heart! There is no way this can be forgiven! 

For the sake of the many generals and vassal corps, we can’t set a bad example!” 

“That’s right. The Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan is the lowest. Of course it is rejected. 

How about we expel Sagara-dono from the camp and let Hime judge him personally. This man has no right to join in with the reinforcements.” 

Hooray! Nagahide who always supports the monkey has taken my side! Katsuie was convinced of her victory. 

“That’s right. If Nagahide says so, I can stop calling for a beheading. It is reasonable to entrust the judgment to Hime-sama. It will be beheading anyways. It will just be several days later.” 

“Yes. At best it would probably be exile to Mt. Koya. For now let’s hit him with a whip and throw you out.” 

“Mhmm. But while the princess who is the greatest victim should finally dispose of the monkey, I am not satisfied just chasing him away after he rubbed my breasts from behind in my bedroom. Now, the punishment is 100 whiplashes Saru!” 

“Yes. That is a perfect score.” 

Katsuie took up a whip, and approached Yoshiharu while blowing out rough breaths. 

“Ehm. Wait a moment, Katsuie? I’ll die!” 

“Good heavens. Katsuie-san? For you who doesn’t have any love experience, you don’t understand the elegant plan of Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

“Imagawa Yoshimoto, you are equally to blame! This Rokujouin and Hikaru Genji, you inspired this in the illiterate monkey? Because you can’t defeat Hime-sama in battle, you used your seductive techniques to entice the monkey and planned on using a woman’s weapon to usurp the world! I should have killed such a woman in Okehazama!” 

“Oh dear. It is a false charge. I am sorry, things like whips are too unpleasant, I’ll support you in your corner. Please do your best, Sagara Yoshiharu~” 

Yoshimoto left her juni-hitoe with a pop, and ran away with an agile figure. 

“Y, Yoshimoto-chan, don’t forsake me! I, I’m not like Hikaru Genji at all. To tell you the truth, I just got spoiled from becoming famous from the opening of the Amano-Iwato, I am not popular myself.” [T/N: The Ore-sama to refer to himself just fled to the hills.] 

“Naturally, this slow monkey! Unless you clench your teeth, your heart will stop from the pain! The grudge of Hime-sama who had her lips robbed by you and had her heart trampled, understand it! DIEEEEEEEE!” 

“Hiiii! STOP ITTTTT!” 

Nagahide and Kazumasu entangled themselves around Yoshiharu who tried to escape and sealed his movement. 

As the enraged Katsuie raised the whip like a terrible Deva King, Hanbei and Kanbei hugged each other and trembled without being able to move. 

“Weren’t you well informed about the ways of love, Hanbei! This is terrible!” 

“Sob, sob. There is a problem with it ethically, but when thinking about it using myself as a standing, this should be the best plan….l, l, legal wife, c, c, concubine, is the love that I can share with Y, yoshiharu-san not the same thing.” 

“Apparently you don’t have a desire to monopolize anything! That is because you pose as an strategist who lacks greed like a Sennin. Most people have a desire to monopolize! In particular, Oda Nobuna is the personification of the monopolistic desire in regards to love, it’s absolutely wrong!” 

The first blow of the whip hit Yoshiharu’s back- 

BISHII! 

“UGYAAAAA!” 

“When you are done enduring 99 more hits, I’ll revive you and expel you from Kaga!” 

“Ka, Katsuie. Please forgive him with three hits. As I in the past lead the Owari beautiful girl corps, I have to defend Saru-kun.” 

“Detestable Nobusumi! You let the girls pamper you and serve you in the teahouses as they giggled and made noise, that is entirely different from looking down on the Himekishis as lovers and planning to make a ‘Harem’! Nobusumi, will you downgrade Oichi from your wife to a mistress now and take a lot of girls to your home as your new wives?” 

“….Ah. Now that you say that, I would be a failure of a human. Saru-kun, I can’t protect you anymore. My condolences.” 

“Nobusumiiiii! I understand that the Himekishis would be enraged, but you are the only man in this place except for me, help meeeee!” 

“Because of Oichi, I can’t defend you Saru-kun. Forgive me. Although a man’s 

friendship is more important than anything, there is nothing more frightening in the world than for a jealous wife to be furious….” 

“So it is the second hit! Die this time, Erozaruuuu! Receive my angeeeeeer!” 

“UGYAAAAAH!” 

“If you approach Kuki with this talk she will happily become your concubine, Nobuna-chan will fly into a rage and banish you to Mt. Koya, and you will spend the rest of your life as a pirate,” Kazumasu cackled as she also smacked a whip on Yoshiharu’s back for fun. 

“Yoshii also has experience from living as a pirate in the Murakami Navy. Instead of being constrained by the bonds of the Himekishis and living in great distress, you will sing of the freedom enjoyed from the freedom on the sea.” 

“I’m thankful, but don’t strike me with the whip Kazumasu-chan! When I am whipped by a child, something that mustn’t be opened will open in my heart!” 

“This is also becoming fun to me. Pishi Pishi!” 

“AAAAAAHHHHHHH!” 

“Ha, ha. My chest is throbbing strangely. You should cry with an even better voice!” 

“Please stop Kazumasu-samaaaaaaa! Oh, Goemon-sama, help! Why are you only absent 

at times like this????” 

Thus, due to Yoshiharu’s idea that was too fantastic, “Sagara Yoshiharu’s punishment is to be whipped 100 times and punished”, and the war council completely changed to a scene of bloodshed. 

Sagara Yoshiharu who was knocked about like a ragged dustcloth, barely escaped death due to the secret salve brought by Goemon who appeared out of nowhere, and was ejected alone from the camp. 

While he was being expelled, “I just need a little time with Katsuie, just the two of us” he implored while groaning, 

“Because this is the last time…to separate in this way is regrettable Saru. I will hear your last request.” Katsuie agreed reluctantly, the two of them exchanged words for a short time deep in the camp where the Nokizaru couldn’t approach. 

Uesugi Kenshin will finish Noto far more quickly than our imagination and attack Tedorigawa. Nobuna won’t be in time, and you will be cruelly beaten Katsuie. This is the future that I know. 

As Yoshiharu left, he told Katsuie. 

Into Katsuie’s astonished ear, Yoshiharu told even more words. 

As for Katsuie who finished listening to the words, 

“You are a genuine fool. A hopeless fool.” 

With moist eyes, “Good-bye”, Yoshiharu was banished. 

Hanbei and Kanbei, whose lord had been driven out, and Imagawa Yoshimoto, crossed the Tedori river in pursuit of Yoshiharu who had withdrawn from the battlefield. 

Nobuna won’t forgive Yoshiharu who revealed his ambition of building a harem at this last moment after becoming suddenly popular. Yoshiharu will commit hara-kiri or be beheaded, at best it will be exile to Mt. Koya, the officers who remained under Katsuie whispered. 

As for the foot soldiers who were mostly made up of men, they were sympathetic to Yoshiharu. “If anyone is a man.” “He is born carrying the dream of becoming a feudal lord and gathering beautiful women in a harem.” “But most men realize their limits and abandon the dream partway.” “Sagara Yoshiharu is the great fool who didn’t abandon the dream to the end!” 

“But that is good!” “Women are stingy!” “They are jealous!” “Sagara Yoshiharu is the paragon of men!” They harbored dissatisfaction at the way Himekishis were their superior officers, and began to make a fuss. 

All the Himekishis with Katsuie as the commander-in-chief had angry hearts, “Poor Hime-sama!” “The worst!” “I don’t want to see his face!” “He absolutely can’t be forgiven!” 

Finally, forgetting the existence of the enemy called Uesugi Kenshin, a grand argument between the guys and Himekishis began everywhere in the camp. 

“In the first place, Shibata-sama isn’t interested in men.” “She is in love with the Oda princess.” “In the future words, it seem to be yuri.” “So she expelled Sagara Yoshiharu who is her love rival.” The guys shouted. 

“The pervert Hikaru Genji kidnapped, confined, and raped a little girl.” “Though it was love with a difference in social status, I supported it simply because Hime-sama was resolute.” 

“He surely got Kobayakawa Takakage pregnant with an illegitimate child, that is why he changed his attitude and proposed the Rokujouin to balance the accounts.” 

And the Himekishi weren’t defeated. 

Inside the Oda army, internal discord between the men and women that was hard to repair had occurred. 

“Don’t joke, anyone that defends the monkey is exiled,” Niwa Nagahide made a fuss on Katsuie’s behalf in order to manage the uproar, “Ahh, I abandoned Saru-kun” Tsuda Nobusumi fell into a slump, and “I dislike battle. I want to whip someone even more.” the fighting spirit of Takigawa Kazumasu who had shining eyes had also been weakened. 

Finally some of the male warriors became indignant, “We will share our fate with Sagara Yoshiharu. What does a Himekishi know!” and lifted up Tsuda Nobusumi who retired from the battle without permission. They numbered four thousand. The number of soldiers Katsuie had at hand was reduced to sixteen thousand. 

In front of the strongest god of war, they literally disintegrated. 

The Oda army that lost Yoshiharu who was the emotional support of the weak soldiers split apart, dark clouds hung low. 

The Echigo army departed Ecchu’s Uozu castle and entered Noto. 

The Nanao Castle was a stronghold included as one of the Sengoku Era’s famous ‘Five Great Fortresses’, along with the Asai clan’s Kodanjijou, Rokkaku Clan’s Kannojijoushi, Amago Clan’s Gassan Todajouato, and Kenshin’s Kagayama. 

However, under the command of “Bishamonten will invade the capital”, the Echigo army followed with violent attack after violent attack, and made the support castles fall one after another until Nanao castle became a solitary isolated castle. 

Shibata Katsuie and Sagara Yoshiharu entered a huge argument over the plan for the anti-Kenshin war, and at the very instant that Yoshiharu was driven out and a mass withdrawal event occurred among the male soldiers at the same time, the impregnable Nanao Castle was going to fall – Rather than by battle, by betrayal. 

Uesugi Kenshin was different this time, and mercilessly crushed any obstacles for her war to invade the capital. There was no intention to return to Echigo with the snowy season like in a regular year. They didn’t even pretend to obey their usual processes. 

The Uesugi vassals in Nanao Castle were cornered for fear of Kenshin’s raging advances. 

“We have no choice but to betray them and surrender the fort”, saying this they rose to action, killed the Oda clan vassals who kept appealing for them to fight as Shibata Katsuie’s reinforcements, and opened the gate from the the inside. 

It was a conclusion through betrayal that the commander of Justice, Kenshin hated the most. 

Because the young lord died of illness during the siege, the daimyos of Noto, the Hatakeyamas, ceased to exist. 

In the Tenjin Kawahara headquarters, Kenshin had an audience with the ‘betrayers’ who surrendered Nanao Castle. 

All the betrayers were frightened that they would have to kill themselves when the warrior of justice Kenshin went into a rage. 

Even if Kenshin forgives evil through ‘mercy’, there was something called a limit to benevolence. 

A betrayal from inside the castle, it was a method that the pure Kenshin hated and Takeda Shingen was good at. 

Being cornered, they took the sink-or-swim betrayal, if Kenshin became enraged and yelled “Do you intend to make me Takeda Shingen?” and executed them, it would be a reasonable act. 

They prostrated themselves in front of Kenshin while shaking and stated their message. 

“We betrayed the comrades that were also on the payroll of the Hatakeyama clan.” 

“In a despicable and cowardly betrayal that was unbecoming of samurai, we killed all of the people in the Oda faction’s group.” 

“That such a betrayal will be praised by Kenshin-sama, we do not expect it either. Rather, we are prepared for death.” 

“Will you forgive our crime?” 

Kenshin who was playing the biwa while sitting on a folding stool under the moonlight, 

“I forgive you.” 

uttered those words. 

“Live and make up for your disgrace. Keep on holding a memorial service for those you murdered throughout your life. Brethren betrayers, I forgive your crime of murdering your comrades. I was one day late in making the Nanao castle surrender through our powerful attacks.” 

Her voice shook with sorrow and anger. 

Was she blaming herself, blaming the betrayers, or grieving for the human actions. 

All were struck by the heart of mercy of the Justice Warrior, Bishamonten, and hung their heads in silence. 

Then, the bosses of the Hokuriku area riots that continued without dissolving even after the surrender of Honbyo Temple, prostrated themselves before Kenshin. 

The Hokuriku area rioters came from the powerful local families that were rooted in the land. And in their core they integrated with the followers of Honbyo Temple, and kept fighting against Kenshin for many years. 

Both Kenshin’s father and grandfather lost their lives in battles against the rioters. 

The rioters feared Kenshin, “We will never be forgiven by Kenshin, and will be given a death sentence sometime soon”, and continued to fight against the Echigo army for that reason. 

When most of the Honbyo Temple followers discarded their weapons and left the riots, the powerful local families of approximately ten thousand that feared Kenshin’s revenge were at a loss without the follower faction. 

“Even though we call ourselves the rioters, most of us are samurai. She will not forgive it anymore.” When they laid eyes on the severity of Kenshin’s advance, they finally surrendered. 

“Kenshin-sama. The Hokuriku rioters who defeated your grandfather and father, please forgive us.” 

Even the Justice warrior, Uesugi Kenshin couldn’t pardon our lives. While they trembled with fear and despair thinking this, they stole“one last glance” at Kenshin who was illuminated by the moonlight. 

“Rudeness!” The Echigo vassals were stopped when Kenshin nodded saying “Fine.” 

White. Everything was white. White like snow, with red eyes. She was like a celestial maiden who came down from the moon to the earth. All of the men spoke their true feelings as they sensed the end of their lives. 

Kenshin, while playing the biwa, spoke with a cold voice. 

“I forgive you.” 

Everyone except for Naoe Kanetsugu were astonished. 

“I forgive the crime of killing my grandfather. I forgive the crime of killing my father. 

Forgive the sins of my father who oppressed your religious sects. It is fine if you do not believe I am Bishamonten. Everyone can believe in the gods they believe in.” 

We will devote our lives to Kenshin-sama and fight to the death on the battlefield for the sake of justice, the chiefs cried out with hoarse voices. 

“Gentlemen. I committed the same crime as Takeda Shingen. I conquered the castle due to betrayal and seized other countries. Ecchu and Noto have become my territory. The people who have surrendered to me may return to their respective houses. Those that want to advance with me, we will proceed to the capital together.” 

“Our god is in Honbyo Temple, not Bishamonten.” “We who are her ancestor’s enemies will never be forgiven by Kenshin. Our clan will be exterminated.” The rioters that had said this while stubbornly resisting Kenshin for many years were absorbed into the Echigo army. The strong warriors who had fought against the Echigo army for a long time. 

It was not just that the Echigo army of ten thousand doubled to twenty thousand. 

The rioters of Hokuriku that continued to trouble Kenshin were dissolved, and finally made a heartfelt allegiance to Kenshin. 

It meant that the incarnation of Bishamonten exceeded the divine nature of the present head of Honbyo Temple who controlled the hearts of the people of Hokuriku. 

Kenshin surpassed Honbyo Temple. 

She converted the samurai that did not believe in gods. The hearts of the stubborn people of Hokuriku were taken by Bishamonten who advocated justice and grants infinite mercy. 

The Uesugi clan’s many vassals. 

“The life I gave to the holy war without reward that Kenshin-sama has maintained 

through her life, the time to be rewarded in one go has come.” 

They murmured this, deeply moved. 

But the loneliness of Kenshin just deepened. 

“Usami Sadamitsu. Naoe Yamato. At last I was able to reconcile with the rioters. With this, everyone believes I am the incarnation of Bishamonten, worships me, and calls for their souls to be saved. I became the true Bishamonten.” 

The human, Uesugi Kenshin, faded away again. 

Meanwhile, Naoe Kanetsugu conveyed the new information about the Oda to Kenshin. 

“Kenshin-sama. Sagara Yoshiharu entered into the Oda camp to go night crawling with Shibata Katsuie. I’m told that Katsuie was enraged and whipped him and banished him.” 

“Night crawling? Sagara Yoshiharu? He was at odds with Shibata Katsuie.” 

“Really, it’s an unbelievable story suddenly.” 

Sagara Yoshiharu yelled out before Katsuie and many of the other generals the contents of his ‘Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan’ which the Nokizaru that were hidden inside the Oda encampment could clearly hear. While faltering Naoe Kanetsugu reported it to Kenshin. 

The selfish, disgusting, and delusional plan to subjugate the world without fighting, Sagara Yoshiharu who became famous because of the Amano-Iwato would personally ensnare all of the princess daimyos using ‘love’ and gather them all in Azuchi Castle. 

Of course Kobayakawa Takakage, but there is also a chance concerning Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen, and I’ll make an imitation five year plan for Bontenmaru, this was what Sagara Yoshiharu was boasting. 

“Katsuie was enraged and Takigawa Kazumasu was amused with hitting Yoshiharu’s 

back with a whip one hundred times. Yoshiharu was expelled from the camp half-dead carrying serious wounds, there is the possibility that this was an act to draw the Echigo army to Kaga, but this Kanetsugu can’t understand the relations between man and woman and can’t draw a conclusion,” Kanetsugu reported. 

“….The love that that person speaks of, after all, it was that kind of thing?” 

Kenshin’s white skin flushed with rage and shame. 

“Did the memory of Azuchi Castle’s O-bon festival fade away too? When I got caught up in the moment and Sagara Yoshiharu took my heart, did he get conceited and think that he could snatch the heart of all of the princess daimyos? If it was such a thing, rather than letting that man take my lips, it would have been better to die of suffocation.” 

I shouldn’t have believed men after all, I was deceived, Kenshin got angry. 

“The male warriors who approved of Sagara Yoshiharu resigned without permission. The leaving soldiers that crossed the Tedori river into Echizen number four thousand in all. The military power left under Shibata Katsuie is sixteen thousand. With the sudden internal division, their morale fell due to the doubt the male soldiers hold toward the serious Himekishis. Oda Nobuna personally prepared thirty thousand soldiers and is departing Azuchi, but the Hokkoku Highway is blocked by the unfortunate heavy rain, and they still need several days before joining Shibata Katsuie. This is the best opportunity to deal a crushing blow while the Oda army deployed in Hokuriku is now divided into the Shibata Katsuie, Sagara Yoshiharu, and Oda Nobuna forces.” 

“Kanetsugu. The biggest advantage that the Oda house that is full of weak soldiers has, wasn’t it the unity of the vassal corps lead by the Himekishis? All of that was then spoiled by the main Oda vassal Sagara Yoshiharu who decided to pose as Hikaru Genji?” 

“Katsuie will leave the Mizushima camp out of necessity with the rest of the army that remains, and will aim to retreat to Tedorigawa. It seems they plan to escape to Echizen. But…the Oda army’s collapse was too perfect. If, if everything was an act to provoke Kenshin-sama and draw you to the Tedorigawa northern coast, it is dangerous.” 

But, even if they succeed in luring us out to Tedorigawa, I don’t think there are any plans to defeat the Echigo army beyond that point. Because all of the main highways that extend from the Tedorigawa battlefield to the Oda clan’s territory have been blocked by the flood damage, Kanetsugu stated. 

“On the other hand, if part of the highway that extends from this Noto to Kaga is submerged, it won’t become a problem with the marching power of the Echigo army that repeatedly campaigned in Kanto many times.” 

“Kanetsugu. This is not an act. Sagara Yoshiharu has grown arrogant. He was misled into thinking that he could obtain me, and forgot about his earnest desire towards Oda Nobuna. 

Absolutely inexcusable.” 

“Kenshin-sama? Your lips are trembling. Did something happen in Azuchi?” 

“Never bring up talk about Azuchi again, Kanetsugu.” 

I won’t waver anymore. Sagara Yoshiharu, it was only a mere illusion produced by the miracle called the Amano-Iwato. Oda Nobuna, you were a fool to be deceived by such a man. I will advance to Tedorigawa and scatter the Oda forces with a single blow. Kenshin shouted while hitting the ground with the bamboo. 

“Ladies and gentlemen. We will hurry to Kaga without rest. We will defeat the Oda Hokuriku troops that are divided into three, defeat Shibata, defeat Sagara Yoshiharu, and defeat Oda Nobuna. I will burn down that haughty Azuchi Castle where Oda Nobuna displays herself as an object of worship!” 

The record-setting rain poured down onto all of Echizen and Kaga for several days. 

After the torrential rain finally stopped, inside the deep night fog, Shibata Katsuie’s army that numbered sixteen thousand arrived at the northern coast of Tedorigawa, and laid out a camp without crossing the river. 

Katsuie who considered crossing the Tedorigawa to retreat to Echizen suddenly began to inspire the soldiers. “I won’t let the Echigo Army cross Tedorigawa!” She chose a “last stand.” 

After receiving the report that while Nobuna was marching to Echizen leading the main army for a decisive battle with Kenshin, the torrential rain blocked the roads and they were behind schedule, Katsuie nodded. “We mustn’t let the Echigo Army which is gaining momentum clash with Hime-sama without any injuries. I will stay in the Tedorigawa northern coast and defend it to the death!” 

The speed of the Echgio army which was used to forced marches across mountainous 

areas covered in heavy snowfall during the repeated campaigns in Kanto was too fast. 

“Shibata-dono. Taking advantage of this thick fog, the Echigo army will probably appear in Tedorigawa. To destroy us who would be expected to cross the river.” 

Next to Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide. 

“Not many days have passed since the surrender of Nanao castle. It would be battle common sense to think that this is about the time when they would approach around the mountain pass.” 

“No. We should assume that night marches and marching in the fog is Uesugi Kenshin’s forte. An ordinary person who doesn’t have good night vision can’t direct a large army, but Uesugi Kenshin who has a different perception from ordinary people shows her true power in a night battle. The reverse surprise attack that cornered the Takeda troops during the fourth battle of Kawanakajima, I heard that a night march in the fog became the winning move.” 

“Even if it is said that Kenshin personally has good night vision, the soldiers will probably not be effective? How do they move?” 

“Kenshin covers herself with a white priest garb and leads them at the front through the fog on a white horse. The white priest garb, it shines and glitters faintly in the moonlight and becomes a sign to follow.” 

“I don’t believe it. But it’s something like becoming a target yourself. Kenshin isn’t afraid of an ambush?” 

“She has faith that neither the arrows nor guns of an ambush can strike Bishamonten. If hit, it proves that she was not Bishamonten.” 

“Absurd. Kenshin may surely be intensely lucky. However if this was a dice game, it’s like the tables luck always appears on her side. You can’t continue winning the gamble forever.” 

Hime-sama took a desperate gamble at Okehazama too, but after that she never gambled on a surprise attack battle again. Hime-sama knows. Human beings are born carrying good luck and bad luck, even if you go through life as a lucky human you can’t always have good luck. It is impossible to constantly win when you gamble. And if the reverse side appears even once you will be ruined, that’s why it is gambling, Katsuie nodded. 

“That’s human logic, Shibata-dono. For Bishamonten, it isn’t a gamble. Ammunition will never hit Kenshin. It is the will of god, the will of Bishamonten.” 

“The Honbyo Temple household was worshiped as gods in human form by the followers because of their constitution that wouldn’t let them die even if they were shot by guns. After losing their power, they returned to being mere humans. Uesugi Kenshin is the same. When she returns to being an ordinary human, I can win.” 

“But Shibata-dono. Uesugi Kenshin is different from the Honbyo Temple household who reigned as gods due to the power of their unique bloodline. Kenshin became Bishamonten through her own force of will. Kenshin’s heart that boosted its own power to the realm of the gods, it has steel willpower. She refused to cling to the protection of the gods. Just as Hime continued to devote her force of will to ending these chaotic times and living as a human being to the end, her emotional strength and strong dreams are not at all inferior to Hime. Or, maybe it exceeds Hime.” 

I will open a hole in that heavy steel heart, Katsuie gnashed her teeth. 

Dawn began to break. 

Unbelievable speed. 

A silent march. 

A formidable power of control. 

It was exactly the same as when she made a sudden reverse surprise attack on the Yawata field that Takeda Shingen was waiting on in the battle of Kawanakajima. 

But the numbers of the Echigo Army were different. 

The current Echigo army that had absorbed the rioters that had been their long time rivals had doubled. 

As it had doubled, morale was so high as to reach the heavens. Everyone that advanced through the fog believed in Kenshin completely as the god of war, Bishamonten. 

It was different from Takeda Shingen who followed an art of war and logical battles, and Saika Magoichi who took her Tanegashima skills to their zenith and formed the strongest gunman corps. 

“These guys, those aren’t the eyes of samurai! After the battle of Honbyo Temple, I thought the Oda clan overcame Honbyo Temple, but was it not Uesugi Kenshin Hime-sama that obtained the power of these fellows!?” 

“The people of the Hokuriku area have a different temperament from the people in the areas around Kyoto. Even with the surrender of Honbyo Temple, and Hime showing that the era of humans has come, they continue to seek god. That they who were her greatest enemies were forgiven, they were probably convinced that she is Bishamonten.” 

Katsuie stood up, “Draw up the horses!” she ordered a page. 

“Is that the god of war? Is that the Echigo army? To have both the power of belief and the power of military arts, is this the strongest matchless corps? It can’t be measured by common sense.” 

But it isn’t a surprise Uesugi Kenshin. I have already known that you would make a surprise attack on Tedorigawa. It’s exasperating, but that monkey predicted it - 

“Nagahide, I leave the headquarters to you. I will go to the front line and confront Uesugi Kenshin directly. Single combat.” 

Uesugi Kenshin would probably accept single combat, but surviving would be difficult, Nagahide hit Katsuie’s shoulder quietly. 

“Shibata-dono. Return somehow for Hime’s sake.” 

“Out characters and personality are truly opposite, I wonder if I was useful to Hime-sama, Nagahide? As I was not smart or resourceful, you who acted as Hime-sama’s page were enviable. Because my role was to protect Nobunsumi.” 

“I longed for Shibata-don’s integrity and ability to wield a spear on the battlefield and scatter Hime’s enemies.” 

“Each of us was wielded by our bizarre Hime-sama, and there was no time to fall in love. 

I always, only saw Hime-sama. But I don’t have any regrets. Every day was shining. Even without a love affair, it was an invigorating way of life.” 

“Shibata-dono and I, once Tenka Fubu is achieved we will have room to look back. In this battle, you must not wane.” 

“Nagahide. The Himekishi that can support the Oda clan that has expanded so much is only you. But an incompetent general that can only rage on the battlefield, there are others beside me. If we have to choose between the two of us, it is better that I disappear. Please support the headquarters. Hold out as much as possible. Survive.” 

“Those words are ill omens. 20 points.” 

“If you get a lover, change that habit of giving points to everything. Oh, return alive and hurry to search for a husband. Ok, Manchiyo!” 

“Haha. Rude, I am not so old yet as to get impatient. Three points.” 

Katsuie rode the horse. 

Day broke. 

In the deep white fog. 

The twenty thousand jet-black armored warriors of the Echigo Army lined up in silence waiting for the voice of Bishamonten. The sixteen thousand under Shibata Katsuie that burned their bridges and were preparing for an honorable defeat. They glared at each other from point-blank range. 

Bishamonten, Uesugi Kenshin wore a pure white medicant priest robe and was on a white horse, she did not wear armor on her thin body. She issued a command in a low voice saying 

“start.” 

The start of the Battle of Tedorigawa. 

The Shibata Katsuie army didn’t move to cross the river, rather they were fighting with their back to the wall having cut off their path to retreat, it was unexpected for the soldiers of the Echigo army. 

They had repeatedly marched at night at lightning speed and should have made a surprise attack, but they were ambushed by the Katsuie forces as if they had been anticipated. 

The staff officer, Naoe Kanetsugu proposed, “Sagara Yoshiharu taught Shibata Katsuie that a battle would happen in Tedorigawa in the future?” Kenshin was calm, “I was also told. It’s not a problem.” 

When she was told of Sagara Yoshiharu’s insolent uproar, Kenshin had flown into a rage, but now she had no expression. No emotions were exposed. She only earnestly took in the atmosphere of the battlefield with her whole body. 

Not a single officer of the Echigo army was shaken. 

Bishamonten is unrivaled and undefeated. 

In other words, if she fights she wins. 

Because Bishamonten announced “I will defeat Shibata Katsuie, invade the Oda territory, and fight a decisive battle with Oda Nobuna”, it wasn’t possible to doubt it. 

The cavalry at the front surged from the jet black corps like a wave. 

The vanguard of the Shibata army was scattered with a single blow. 

In the east, the west, and the front, the soldiers of both armies clashed, and the earth shook. 

In the middle of the melee. 

“The Oda house first retainer, daimyo of Echizen, Hokuriku area commander, Shibata Katsuie. Give up.” 

Shibata Katsuie charged through with a vermilion spear in hand. 

She cut down any person blocking her way without any discussion, pushed forward, and while routing her foes, “Have a bout with me, Bishamonten!” she continued screaming. 

The Oda Clan’s strongest Himekishi, this day, in this Tedorigawa battlefield, showed the strength of a demon god. 

Aiming at only one person. 

Uesugi Kenshin. 

The one who stood in their ways was the one who set Oda Nobuna as her last enemy, abandoned her oath to not take territory, and became the strongest Warring States daimyo, Bishamonten. 

This god of war, recognized Katsuie as one who became as wild as an Asura. “I accept you as an opponent deserving of single combat”. 

Katsuie continued to single-mindedly thrust and continued to kill. 

Finally, she entered the view of Bishamonten who calmly watched the battle situation. 

“Is Shibata Katsuie the only person with tremendous honor and valor among the weak soldiers of the Oda clan? I will accept this match.” 

Shaking off Naoe Kanetsugu’s restraints, Uesugi Kenshin advanced her white horse, and appeared in front of the wild Shibata Katsuie. 

The common foot soldiers of both armies who continued the confused melee all moved to the left and right at the same time, clearing a space between Kenshin and Katsuie. 

“Kanto Kanrei, Uesugi Kenshin. Under the command of the Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshiaki, I will defeat the insurgent Oda Nobuna.” 

The figure of the heteromorphic girl who appeared from the white fog took Katsuie’s breath away. 

Such a weak and thin snow-fairy like girl is Uesugi Kenshin? 

This person is the god of war that cornered Takeda Shingen in Kawanakajima? 

Why the male warriors of Echigo worshiped Uesugi Kenshin, sometimes fought amongst themselves to gain her favor, and would throw away their lives to wage war as a soldier of god, Katsuie finally understood. 

While this fellow has been given all of the talents to live happily as a person who fell from heaven, she was going to choose nothing, turned her back on all of it, and became a god, Katsuie thought. 

She was enraged. 

“Uesugi Kenshin! Hime-sama is my dream. She will grab everything, both love and the world. Giving nothing up. No matter how she is beaten, even if she is defeated, even if she collapses, she won’t give up. Although she is covered in scars, she will get up. I continued longing after that Hime-sama. Uesugi Kenshin, you continued averting your eyes from both love and the world. You who has become Bishamonten now, do you have any regrets of the human world?” 

“It isn’t possible to defeat me with words, Shibata Katsuie. Take your spear. I’m about to strike.” 

The small of stature Kenshin grasped a short, thin cross spear in one hand. 

It looked like a child’s toy compared to the vermilion spear that was Katsuie’s signature weapon. 

Although her field of vision wasn’t complete due to the obstruction of the white fog, there wasn’t a problem if she came close. 

Katsuie rushed her horse forward. 

There was too much of a difference in the length of the spear each of them held. 

The distance was different. 

“Even if our abilities are equal, or even if Kenshin surpasses me, it will be difficult to reverse the difference in the ability of our weapons. That’s right. I have wielded a spear and polished my technique for this moment.” 

The vermilion spear which Katsuie sent out much faster than Kenshin’s cross speart hrust forward, it should have gone through Kenshin’s chest. 

But, until Katsuie sent out her spear, there was no response. 

A paper thin distance, with a margin of just a hair at the last moment, Kenshin calmly twisted her body on the white horse a tiny bit and avoided Katsuie’s spear. 

At the same time, she lightly tapped Katsuie’s stomach with the handle of her cross spear, and even the horse that Katsuie was riding on was made to retreat. 

“…Uoh!? I….impossible?” 

It was expected that even if she hit, it shouldn’t have been a blow with this much power, Katsuie’s body received a terrible shock and was blown away. 

If she had not been wearing armor, Katsuie’s ribs probably would have broken and she would have fainted. 

“With child’s play of this level, you won’t hit me. There is only one person who has been up to the task of single combat and damaged me. That is Takeda Shingen.” 

Katsuie yelled “Not yet!” Without catching her breath, twice, three times, her spear was unleashed. 

It didn’t hit at all. 

It didn’t look like she was avoiding it, Kenshin’s body was just not in the former location where the spear was sent out. 

Avoiding it by a hair’s breadth. 

It wasn’t something she understood. She didn’t know if it was a skill of any school. 

It was completely different from the Kashima Shinto-ryu style Akechi Mitsuhide’s 

swordsmanship used. 

Kenshin was too casual. 

Perhaps it wasn’t from any school. 

It wasn’t the martial arts of the samurai. 

But it was different from the ninja arts. 

Uesugi Kenshin’s bravery was from a totally different dimension. 

In an instant, her spear was returned three times. 

The helmet and armor Katsuie wore were gradually cracking. 

The second shot was taken by the helmet, the third was taken by the back of the armor. 

Even if the spear was thrust towards the front of Kenshin’s body, it certainly would not hit. 

Katsuie used the battlefield methods that she had personally mastered. 

“Bottle slash!” 

It was a bold move to throw the bottle that had been loaded onto the horse’s back into the sky and smash it with a spear. 

Using this technique, Katsuie would launch the fragments to the location she aimed at. 

This is the secret technique only Katsuie mastered. The pieces of the bottle flew off in large numbers to attack Kenshin’s whole body. 

It cannot be avoided. 

That was how it was supposed to be. 

But in that moment when even a blink wasn’t allowed, Kenshin made a terribly bold decision. 

Just before Katsuie’s spear hit the bottle, she silently brought her own horse alongside Katsuie’s horse and suddenly glued herself to Katsuie. 

If she broke the bottle in this state and hit Kenshin, Katsuie’s body would be pierced with countless holes. 

“You thought the bottle can’t be broken if you entered my range? I’ve got you!” 

While shouting “I won,” she pushed out her spear at the bottle that was whirling in the sky to shoot Kenshin’s body as well as her own with the innumerable fragments- 

“Naive. The Nokizaru studied all the particulars of that technique. I already knew of it.” 

The spear was also whirling in the sky. 

One step ahead, the targeted bottle was pierced by the cross spear that Kenshin threw away. 

Katsuie had a premonition of her imminent death. 

She pulled back the horse’s neck and barely gained some distance from Kenshin. 

If she hesitated even a little saying, “I failed?” or “It was broken!”, Katsuie’s head would have been removed by the cross spear which came back from the sky. 

“Shibata Katsuie. If this is the level of your serious tricks, I will end this with the next blow.” 

Kenshin wasn’t even sweating. 

While remaining expressionless like ice, she assumed a calm posture on her white horse. 

With merely an instant of offense and defense, Katsuie’s breath had sped up. 

Her horse was also about to collapse. 

Takeda Shingen really is a monster. How did she hit this fellow with even a single blow? 

Kenshin doesn’t give time to hesitate. 

My body, armor, and horse are approaching their limit with just this amount of contact. 

Uesugi Kenshin. Although you are such a slender girl, this strength doesn’t seem to be human. 

This is the reason you are worshiped as Bishamonten. 

Kenshin advanced her swaying horse forward. 

Katsuie decided. 

When Saru was driven off, he confided some “secrets”. One of those – I’ll use it! 

“Not yet! Uesugi Kenshin, etch the name of Shibata Katsuie on your mind forever! 

Another blow!” 

Only one more bottle was on the horse. 

Katsuie threw the last bottle high into the sky. 

Because Kenshin is short, I can hit the bottle with the spear first, the vermilion spear will reach the bottle, I will break the bottle at a higher point than usual. 

Kenshin was made to believe that. 

“If I stick to you, do you intend to stab me with a knife this time? Such tricks won’t work.” 

While remaining expressionless, Kenshin put her horse against Katsuie’s again. She threw herself against Katsuie’s shoulder, and stuck close to her again. 

But Katsuie already understood that she couldn’t stab Kenshin’s body with a knife even if there was zero distance between them. 

A plan had already been prepared. 

I was warned by Saru. When I touch Uesugi Kenshin as I try to attack, the strength is simply returned. I don’t understand the theory, but it is the power of Uesugi Kenshin’s taijutsu. 

Therefore all of my martial arts that use brute force won’t work. Never challenge her in single combat. Then I will do the reverse. Softly, with a heart as if I was touching an infant – 

Without having a murderous impulse, she quietly put one hand on Kenshin’s thin waist, and embraced her. 

“…!?” 

This wasn’t expected to happen. 

There was neither hostility nor the urge to kill. There wasn’t any offensive abilities either. 

Merely embracing her tenderly. 

Kenshin raised her head and opened her red eyes wide as she stared at Katsuie who was taller than her. 

What a cute way to be surprised, Katsuie wanted to smile. 

“I caught you. You bad snow princess.” 

“You, embracing me, what do you plan on doing?” 

Even her tone was that of an innocent girl. 

Ah. 

This child, like me, if she was not born as a samurai family in the Sengoku Era, surely by now - 

It’s true. My destiny and aspirations as a Himekishi, there is a time where I feel like abandoning it all, Saru. I don’t want to murder this child. 

Compassion and hesitation. 

It wasn’t possible for Katsuie to bring an end to this silently. 

She told herself what she was going to do from now on. 

“Your hipbone, I’ll break it.” 

“Impossible. I will just return a prepared attack. Even more if it is unarmed, I will return your power to you.” 

“I found the only way to break through. Without hostility, malice, or the urge to kill, if I embrace you like I was hugging a baby, you can’t return it. 

In this way, I can actually catch you. It is something even Takeda Shingen was not able to do. This is my great deed.” 

“Then I will stab you to death with a dagger. If you are sticking so close to my body, you can’t survive.” 

Katsuie laughed. 

“Good. We’ll die together. The last partner who gets to hug this princess is a Himekishi like me, I’m sorry.” 

“The one who brandishes a knife with the urge to kill is faster than the speed of hugging without malice. Your heart will stop before my hipbone is broken.” 

“Give it a try.” 

Katsuie and Kenshin put power in their arms as they attempted to take each other’s lives, at that moment - 

“I won’t let you die Katsuie! Attack, attack, attack!” 

Having mastered Koka ninjutsu, the fifteen tanegashima corps who had completely cut off the signs of their urge to kill and were hidden in the depths of the white fog simultaneously aimed and shot at Kenshin who was held by Katsuie on horseback - 

“Who are they? Since when were they hiding?” Katsuie glared and shouted. 

“Hey, bakaaaaa! Let me settle it! Don’t get in my way!” 

“I don’t care. Kakkiyo must survive and help with the Takeda front! Otherwise Hime will be troubled! Don’t die in battle without permission! All of you, shoot!” 

But. 

“…Misfire? All of the bullets misfired?” 

Takigawa Kazumasu screamed. 

The Tanegashima unit wasn’t able to fire a single bullet. 

“No good. Moving stealthily like this is too much!” 

“Both the gunpowder and bullets got damp.” 

She arbitrarily decided without permission from Katsuie to hide and snipe Kenshin, Takigawa Kazumasu’s all or nothing gamble was destroyed. 

“The heavy rain that continued for several days and this heavy fog. The fog moistened the Tanegashima. Guns are vulnerable to fog.” 

From Kenshin’s small body, blood thirst and rage poured out. 

“You Owari people of the area around Kyoto know neither snow, nor fog, nor wind, I am not afraid of nature. The sky and ground that stand in the way of humans are not my enemy. I know nothing but fighting against the earth and the sky. Thus, I do not need the earth and sky as my friend.” 

“U, Uesugi Kenshin. What on earth are you?” 

At the same time as she failed, Kazumasu was able to get her shuriken and quickly stab it into the rear of the horse Katsuie was riding. 

“Wait Kazumasu, don’t bother us twice….uwaaaa!” 

Katsuie’s body was shaken from the horse suddenly. 

A confused melee started again. 

“Kazumasu? Where is Kazumasu? Aren’t you here? Damn, to the left and right is filled with footmen.” 

As Katsuie rose, she swung a sword at the Echigo Army footmen that rushed in. 

“Tsu. My helmet is broken. My head is dizzy…shit!” 

Blood was spilling from Katsuie’s forehead. 

If she hadn’t been thrown off the horse, her chest would have been pierced by the short sword of Kenshin who was enraged that their single combat was interrupted. 

Because her body was thrown off and she spun through the air, the aim of the short sword was turned aside at the last moment, and it seemed to have hit the helmet. 

I seemed to have been helped by Kazumasu twice. But now I am without a horse. She is just running about the battlefield as she pleases! I will shout at you with all my strength later. If I live, and we can meet again… 

Not only my horse, I also lost my spear. 

Because of the blood loss from her head I’m dizzy. 

“WHERE IS SHIBATA KATSUIE! You who want to kill me, yet had no malicious 

intentions while touching my body, THIS IS AN INSULT!” 

The appearance of Uesugi Kenshin who was searching for Shibata Katsuie who had 

suddenly disappeared from her horse could be seen in the distance. 

I seem to have been launched a considerable distance. 

She has finally become enraged. Kenshin’s eyes are only chasing me now. 

The Echigo army footmen knew that the single combat of Katsuie and Kenshin was 

abruptly interrupted by the Takigawa Kazumasu gun corps, and rushed at Katsuie. 

Kenshin is my opponent and we must kill each other, I can’t die here, Katsuie was fired up again. 

“Not yet. As long as I live, I won’t stop! If I am like this, I’ll be laughed at by Saru. I will stick to my resolution as a Himekishi!” 

Katsuie drew her sword while breathing heavily. 

“I’ve caught sight of Shibata Katsuie-dono!” 

“Surrender yourself to Kenshin-sama!” 

“If you don’t surrender, Hime-sama will take your neck!” 

This is the opposite of my position during the Battle of Okehazama, this must be karma, Katsuie gave a sarcastic laugh. 

Even while being pinned down I don’t want to die. I made a fool of Imagawa Yoshimoto who cried that she didn’t want to die and continued resisting me at that time, but perhaps that guy’s tenacity is wonderful, she thought. 

“I won’t run or hide! I am the chief retainer of the Oda clan, Shibata Katsuie! Come!” 

I can still move. 

Katsuie had faith. 

There was a chance for victory. 

Uesugi Kenshin who has shown an abnormal perception on the battlefield, she didn’t notice the existence of Kazumasu’s arquebus corps until the very last moment. 

Why? 

Because she got absorbed and was concentrating on nothing but her one on one fight with Katsuie. 

Only at the moment that she is concentrating on single combat, Kenshin seems to forget that she is a general that leads a large army. Because her concentration is too strong. The concentration beyond the limits of humans that Kenshin is proud of, on the battlefield it becomes the transcendent divine possession, but it also has a flaw! 

There, Katsuie found her last hope. 

Until my heart stops, I will never give up. 

To introduce myself, I must continue cutting down enemies. I will become Asura and defeat many of the Echigo army alone, Uesugi Kenshin’s eyes, her sense of smell will be attracted to me again. 

I have determined my role. 

“Uo….OOOOOOOO!” 

She cut down the jet black Echigo army soldiers who rushed in from every direction, she stabbed through the armor and smashed helmets. 

Now, there was no room to hesitate about the transience of life and the people that died by her hand, and there was no hesitation over her contradictory fate that had her fight as a military commander while being a princess. 

“This is a crucial moment. Shibata Katsuie. The sort of person I am, it will be determined in this moment!” 

In the past, there was hopeless retreat from the camp called the Retreat of Kanegasaki. 

Sagara Yoshiharu offered himself before anyone else, and generously abandoned his life to let Nobuna return alive. 

At that time, Katsuie was impressed by the readiness and love to Nobuna that Sagara Yoshiharu showed, and at the same time she was ashamed that she was one step slower than Yoshiharu. 

Were the feelings of Sagara Yoshiharu who fell in love with Hime-sama stronger than my loyalty to Hime-sama? 

That’s can’t be true! 

Between the loyalty given to a lord and the love between man and woman, there aren’t any winner or loser. 

Both are feelings yearning for another person. The essence isn’t different. 

It is said that the absolute loyalty that the Echigo army soldiers devote to the general called Uesugi Kenshin is resolute. 

Even if you wielded a sword and became a fighting demon to kill and kill, the Echigo army would not give up. They won’t stop. They aimed at Katsuie’s neck and rushed in recklessly. 

Don’t give in. It isn’t finished yet. Truthfully, I didn’t want to invite that hopeless stupid 

“guy” to the desperate battle with Kenshin. I didn’t want that guy to regret that his difficult plan failed. So I challenged Kenshin to single combat. Even if I couldn’t win, I wanted to buy time. 

But – that fellow will surely be in time. Even if I’m barely alive, I will stay on the battlefield! I will root Uesugi Kenshin to this battlefield! Kenshin’s mind, I will keep all of her perception and concentration on me! 

Katsuie looked up at the sky that had cleared up and become a deep-blue unnoticed. 

But the same trick won’t work on Kenshin anymore, it has become impossible to win. 

Well, when I saw her real face of an innocent girl, I hesitated to silently break her hip bone. I am the reason for our defeat. My hesitation has put the entire army in a predicament. After all, it seems that I am a girl at the same time that I am a commander. I will die soon. In the end, without knowing love. But I am Shibata Katsuie, the Oda clan’s chief retainer. I have no regrets. 

I won’t run away until my life runs out. 

Kenshin. Come quickly. 

“I will not retreat even one step from this place! Even if I die, I will continue standing on the battlefield!” 

DON! 

As Katsuie nearly reached her limit and her right leg started to give way, she skewered the earth with the damaged blade that could no longer cut or stab. 

“Ugh….it hurts! Even if I wanted to escape, I can’t run anymore. Ha, haha…..what an idiot I am…” 

Her last weapon – the short sword was unsheathed. 

“Everyone scatter! I will kill Shibata Katsuie myself!” she met Uesugi Kenshin who approached on horseback. 

“Kenshin! If I am a maiden, even you are probably a maiden. I will drag you down to earth!” 

Kenshin brandished her cross spear from horseback, “You don’t need to suffer anymore. 

I’ll kill you with a single blow.” She muttered with moist red eyes. 

“Splendid, Shibata Katsuie. I apologize for the impoliteness of our Echigo Army soldiers who interrupted our one-on-one battle.” 

“Ha, ha. Likewise our child miko disturbed us midway, it was bad. Well, she is a good fellow who misses the point, but don’t hold it against her. Please don’t get angry at Kazumasu.” 

“If that person hadn’t interrupted, I would have ceased breathing while being embraced by you. I’m not used to being hugged gently by somebody. But that is also the will of heaven. 

Bishamonten won’t allow me such a happy death.” 

“….That’s good. Even if you hadn’t made a vow of celibacy, if I was your partner, you would have regretted it. Snow Princess-sama.” 

“Shibata Katsuie. You are the strongest hero of the Oda clan, a truly loyal retainer that supports Oda Nobuna, a true warrior. You should have been able to beat me. But your kindness, your little feeling of pity, it decided this outcome. You will return to heaven a step ahead of me. 

Both the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven and Bishamonten will die soon.” 

As Katsuie’s consciousness was fading away, she heard those words, and opened her eyes with a glare. 

“…Wait! It will be different! Stop behaving as Bishamonten at the last moment! Speak with your own words, Uesugi Kenshin! That Hime-sama, I won’t let her die for such a reason that I don’t understand! Even I will say it! Such a divine message from Bishamonten, I will never accept it!” 

The cross spear Kenshin thrust from horseback, was barely stopped by Katsuie’s short sword. It was forcibly stopped. 

“…Absurd? My lunge was parried? Shibata, Katsuie…!?” 

“In Kanegasaki, when the Amano-Iwato was opened, that monkey fought to the last to protect Hime-sama. Even in the face of endless difficulties, that fellow continued defying fate no matter what. I will use the life I was given, and I will decide how I will finish living, not the gods nor Bishamonten! Even you can, Uesugi Kenshin!” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu betrayed Oda Nobuna! Didn’t you punish Sagara Yoshiharu and 

banish him!?” 

“…Ah. Did such a thing happen. I give up. My consciousness is fading a little…” 

The blood loss from the wounds all over her body was sapping Katsuie’s strength. 

While half unconscious, Katsuie’s body swayed. 

Katsuie regained consciousness and closed her eyes. 

With this remaining last sword, we will stab each other. 

At least one cut. 

The cross spear drew near again. 

But the cross spear was stopped by three people. 

“…Katsuie, it is still too early to die. You can’t die until after teaching me how to make my chest bigger.” 

“I agree! I was late in bringing the military force of the headquarters to the front line.” 

“I abandoned the headquarters and advanced the entire army. Shibata-dono, it’s because you made Uesugi Kenshin come here. The ‘last bet’ can now be a completed. Just a bit more effort. Fifty points.” 

Wielding a very long red spear with a small body, Maeda Inuchiyo. 

Abandoning her gun and taking out a ninja sword, Takigawa Kazumasu. 

Niwa Nagahide who should have guarded the headquarters in the back was holding a 

halberd. 

With three people, they barely prevented Kenshin’s blow. 

Katsuie’s eyelids that were smeared with blood opened. 

“N, Nagahide? Inuchiyo? Even if you go to the front line, how do you plan on beating Kenshin! Kazumasu, you…my god!” 

“No, no, it is my fault that the tanegashima got wet. I’m guilty. I was inexperienced with the climate of Hokuriku. I will make amends with this.” 

“Don’t be a fooool!” 

In this battle, twofold and threefold plans were piled up and came together to destroy the unrivaled, undefeated Uesugi Kenshin. 

The whole picture of these “plans”, Katsuie was only informed at the last minute. 

In order for this “plan” to succeed, Katsuie had to lure the Echigo army to the 

Tedorigawa northern coast, hold their ground as long as possible, and earn a little time on the battlefield until the “last plan” succeeded. 

“Kakki. Don’t throw away your life so easily. Kakki is too earnest. It is appropriate for humans to want more. At least die after the one you love.” 

“Sh, shut up! Don’t speak about life as a little girl! And stop using that unfitting ‘Kakki’ 

nickname! Since when did that start. Since when did you attach that nickname. Call me Katsuie.” 

“I’m not a little girl. I look this way due to special circumstances in the past, I am a respectable adult.” 

“Ba, baka! Oh, no. Don’t abandon the headquarters! If even you lose, it is the end! The trump card of “that guy” hasn’t arrived yet?” 

“…If you die, die after teaching the training method to gain huge breasts to Inuchiyo.” 

“There is no method. Because that guy will grieve if he can’t gather all of the fruits it is zero points.” 

“That’s right. If the Oda clan loses its greatest breasts, Yoshii will become a priest in grief. That guy’s heart faces Nobuna-chan, but that guy’s fingers will always aim at Kakki’s breasts.” 

“Stop it at a time like this! Especially that joke in particular Kazumasu! I felt a chill! I was about to faint, but I remembered the night crawling of that monkey and have woken up!” 

Katsuie pulled out the sword that had gone through her leg, and jumped on the horse that Kazumasu had come on. 

The four Himekishis worked together and surrounded Kenshin. 

“Three of the Oda Clan’s Four Devas and the red spear hero Maeda Inuchiyo. The four who have gathered are the pride of the Oda clan and equal to a thousand warriors. Kenshin-dono, you will be confined by us for a short period. Until the time comes. Eighty points.” 

“Don’t disturb us! While offering single combat, you will bring out tanegashima, and next rely on four people. Foolish. Cowardly on every level!” Kenshin closed her eyes as her lips trembled. 

She was not preparing for death. 

The white fog was clearing, and the dazzling sun was rising in the blue sky. 

Kenshin’s vision that was vulnerable to sunlight became weak. 

So without depending on her eyes, she was going to see all the actions of the four Himekishis using the flow of the air and the reverberations of sound. 

“This fellow, shutting her eyes….it is unpleasant. She has become even faster!” 

“We’ll all continue attacking her without giving her the chance to breathe, Katsuie-dono.” 

“Do it. I anticipated this plan and prepared my blinding powder.” 

“…What dreadful fighting spirit. If we relax our guard for even a moment the four of us will be defeated in an instant.” 

Why Uesugi Kenshin is worshiped as the incarnation of Bishamonten, the four 

Himekishis were given a reminder. 

Their opponent was alone, and there were four of them. They discarded their fears, and Kenshin who united with the god of war, Bishamonten did the same. 

Rather, the splendid cooperation of the Himekishis who gathered under Oda Nobuna and entrusted their lives to each other, it increased the power of Bishamonten that slept in the depths of Kenshin’s heart. 

“??Fate dwells in heaven.” 

Kenshin dodged the attacks that were sent out from every direction, dodged them on horseback, drove her horse forward and thrust with her spear. 

“They didn’t hit? Though four people attacked at the same time, she wasn’t even grazed!” 

“…The spearhead was slashed.” 

“My ninja sword broke? I didn’t see when it was struck.” 

“She is getting faster! Its as if there is no end to her speed!” 

*Don* 

Inuchiyo’s small body fell from her horse first. 

While letting the cross spear flicker with one hand and warding off attacks from every direction, she thrust her other hand into Inuchiyo’s stomach and dropped her. In theory it was understandable, but Kenshin’s movement couldn’t be followed with the naked eye. 

“Armor is in your chest.” 

When Kazumasu realized that she was next to be blown away, she smoothly fell off the horse’s back and clung to its stomach. 

But the horse was blown away with one hit from Kenshin, and was knocked to the ground. 

“Deeds rest at your feet.” 

“The present Kenshin isn’t a human. Even with four people we can’t buy time!” when Katsuie was going to yell, Nagahide had already been thrown off her horse as well. 

Takeda Shingen fought this god of war in single combat and survived. That Takeda 

Shingen that inflicted a wound on Bishamonten, how much training did you put upon yourself? 

Or did something other than skill protect Shingen’s life? 

“When Takeda Shingen faced off against her in Kawanakajima – Uesugi Kenshin’s heart still remained inside her. Like when Kenshin fought against me one-on-one. There was mercy and there was anger. But right now, Uesugi Kenshin isn’t a Himekishi. Bishamonten itself is beginning to wake up. All of the unrelenting powers of the dormant Bishamonten are being released!” 

Kenshin pointed the tip of the cross spear at Katsuie. 

Kenshin no longer needed to avoid the combination attack anymore. 

The next blow wasn’t a knockout blow. 

The cross spear brought death, flying from an unseen trajectory. 

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

From Kenshin’s red eyes that opened wide again, every emotion disappeared. 

Erasing feelings, erasing thoughts, erasing hope, when all of the existence of the girl called “Uesugi Kenshin” is erased from her heart, she becomes the unrivaled, undefeated god of war, Bishamonten itself. 

There was no longer conflict, hesitation or indecision anymore. 

Nobody can open the door to Bishamondo. 

No one can reach her. 

Even that Takeda Shingen that wanted it so much, even if she made every sacrifice, she could not reach her. 

Sagara Yoshiharu betrayed Oda Nobuna, and betrayed Kenshin’s heart. 

In front of the bond of the four Himekishis that gathered in the Oda clan, the lonely girl called Uesugi Kenshin left for the depths of Bishamondo, and Kenshin turned into the god of war, Bishamonten. 

Bishamonten completely awakened. 

This shouldn’t be. So much fighting spirit is flooding out. Kenshin’s body that continues moving at lightning speed that can’t be seen, how does she maintain it? Even if her soul is taken over by Bishamonten, her body should still be that of a human girl. Katsuie was astonished. 

“Saru! Come quickly! Uesugi Kenshin isn’t a human being anymore! You still aren’t here yet!?” 

“Katsuie! I kept you waiting! The Sagara Yoshiharu corps has suddenly appeared! With a total of four thousand troops, we have snuck to the rear of the Echigo army!” 

Katsuie heard the voice. 

Behind the Echigo army. 

The fog completely cleared away. 

Katsuie’s field of vision expanded. 

The detached force lead by Sagara Yoshiharu, suddenly appeared behind the Echigo 

army. On a fleet of ships that plunged through the swollen Tedorigawa. The members totaled a little over four thousand. In addition to the large number of the Kawanami that handled the ships, all of the male warriors who had withdrawn including Tsuda Nobusumi were present. 

“Hi. I was in time for the battle. The ‘Tedorigawa descent’ plan succeeded by a hair’s breadth, Saru-kun! Katsuie, we owe you for holding your ground to the end.” 

“In the night fog, the Kawanami members did an outstanding job navigating the upper rapids of the Tedori river. The art of handling the rafts, and even making the rafts in the mountwains was pewfect.” 

“Hooray! We were praised by the boss!” 

“It was an imitation of the top speed construction method ‘Tsu Bei Fou (Two-by-four)’ 

that boss Sagara used in Sunomata!” 

The Kawanami guys let out a roar of delight. 

“For us river thieves this is our method, not the earthen roads. River! If the Tedorigawa swelled because of the heavy rains, our marching speed just becomes faster!” 

“Having the weather as your ally, it isn’t the signature skill of only Uesugi Kenshin. At least when it comes to rivers!” 

“I’m sorry Kenshin. While I know that you have a sad reason why you can’t swim, I used your weak point for this plan. Concerning the sea and river routes, you can’t have your divinely inspired strategies like when you use a land route. No, actually you might be able to. Because you are an unparalleled genius of war. But, you are afraid of water. So in that case, a chance is born with the sea and river routes….I’m sorry.” 

“Sob, sob. We would lose for sure if we clashed with the Echigo army from the front. But if we wanted to do pincer strike, an ordinary march would be sensed by Kenshin-sama. 

Therefore we first expelled Yoshiharu-san from Shibata-sama’s camp, and separated a force of four thousand soldiers that defected. We detoured through the shortcut in Yamanaka and the Kawanami joined to build the ships at top speed. We went down the swollen rapids upstream of the Tedorigawa all at once, and took the back of the Echigo army suddenly during the battle between Shibata-sama and the Echigo army. With this, we could make the same pincer movement shape used in Kawanakajima.” 

“War is an act of engineering, it’s our win this time when we built the rafts using the quick Tsu Bai Fou future method,” Kanbei snorted. 

“How is it, this ‘Tedorigawa descent’ plan!? Sagara Yoshiharu’s absurd proposal, what a perfect shape! With this, I surpassed Kansuke Yamamoto! The time to raise the First Class KuroKan flag has come! Muhu!” 

“To make doubly sure, the drama to get Katsuie-sama to whip Yoshiharu-san and nearly kill him ?? the “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” “last resort” was used. Yoshiharu-san, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Kenshin-sama is a lover of the Hikaru Genji story, I guessed she wouldn’t be interested in reading a historical war novel like the Annals of the Three Kingdoms, thankfully it seems like my guess was correct.” 

“Why!? Why are all of Simeon’s predictions slightly off, and Hanbei’s predictions are always successful?” 

“That was a horrible drama. Or rather, Katsuie wasn’t playing. That fellow was only told the full story of this plan until after I was whipped and just before I was banished?” 

“The Nokizaru-san’s intelligence unit that Echigo boasts is powerful. Niwa-sama and I got our stories straight beforehand and the drama called the court-martial was possible, but it would be seen through by the Nokizaru immediately if I let Shibata-sama who is bad at acting perform. So without informing Shibata-sama that it was a play, Yoshiharu-san had to make her enraged thinking that Yoshiharu-san was seriously doing night crawling.” 

“I angered Katsuie too much by acting with all my might in that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, moreover I got too excited by Katsuie’s breasts midway and over did it. I thought I was seriously going to be killed….my back that Katsuie whipped still hurts. But why did Kazumasu-chan suddenly participate in the whipping? That wasn’t in the script?” 

“Because Yoshiharu-san would have died if Shibata-sama whipped you one hundred 

times, it seems she took that into consideration.” 

“Really? I see. I have to give Kazumasu-chan a tea set.” 

“Simeon watched, wasn’t she just having fun?” 

The guys including the Kawanami, while landing their boats one after another began to talk big again. 

“Uwahahaha! We caught Uesugi Kenshin!” 

“All of us single men, it would be impossible for us to abandon a pretty Himekishi!” 

“Even if the Himekishis are fussy, naggy, jealous and beat and kick us men repeatedly, we wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly at all!” 

“To have those fellows keep making a selfish racket as they please, they have to continue living, thus we have to become those guy’s shields!” 

“If there aren’t any girls, the world would be dark! In a world where there are only men, there is no meaning even if we live!” 

“Uesugi Kenshin! A man is a creature so foolish we can’t be made light of! For 

thousands of years, we’ll think about being dominated by a woman!” 

“While being accompanied by the male warriors of Echigo, you don’t understand 

anything! Your vassal corps is the saaaame!” 

“Besides our general is the number one lover of women! It would be impossible to leave the battlefield and abandon the Himekishis!” 

When Yoshiharu was banished – the Nokizaru hadn’t suspected the true meaning of the words that Yoshiharu whispered right before he was left, they had misread Katsuie. 

(Katsuie. I’m going to make Tedorigawa like “Sunomata”. Instead of building a castle, 

“The woodpecker”. Shingen’s role to attract the Echigo army, it isn’t possible if you aren’t the Oda clan’s strongest general.) 

While they were watching, the detached force went behind the Echigo army, the monkey did it, Katsuie smiled wryly. 

But Katsuie disregarded the words after that. 

(Listen. Don’t try to buy time in single combat. It’s an order from Nobuna.) 

While saying to become the decoy, don’t let your feeling overflow and say such an unnecessary thing. If we didn’t ignore that instruction we would have been annihilated idiot, Katsuie laughed again. 

The last plan that Katsuie waited for while remaining on the battlefield ?? the ‘Tedorigawa descent’ was attained. 

The Echigo army’s 20,000, it reached the state where it was sandwiched between Shibata Katsuie’s 16,000 troops in front, and Sagara Yoshiharu’s force of 4000 from behind. 

When Kansuke Yamamoto used the woodpecker strategy in Kawanakajima, Kenshin was 

attacked by the Takeda army’s pincer attack. 

But at that time, Kenshin saw through the woodpecker strategy beforehand, and made a surprise attack on the warriors of the detachment force lead by Takeda Shingen in Hachimanpara. 

During the little time before the Takeda’s detached force that was heading to Mt. Saijo turned around and headed back to Hachimanpara, she bet everything on an all or nothing gamble to try to defeat Takeda Shingen. 

However, this battle is different. 

Even with the same pincer movement, she flew into a rage over Sagara Yoshiharu’s 

betrayal, got angrier when Shibata Katsuie embraced her gently during the one-on-one battle, and focused all of her concentration and shut off her feelings in front of the beautiful cooperation between the four Himekishis. This Uesugi Kenshin was attacked when she was unguarded, a perfect surprise attack. 

The Echigo army, until now had no experience with such a dangerous position. 

If Kenshin didn’t accept the duel with Katsuie then while preparing in her troop 

headquarters, even if it was a bizarre plan like the Tedorigawa descent, she would have sensed the approach of the detached force with her unique senses and seen through the plan. 

But Kenshin focused all of her senses on the duel with Shibata Katsuie, and finally drew out all of her hidden military might to kill the four gathered Himekishis. 

At this time, Naoe Kanetsugu who realized her own failure in not stopping Kenshin’s reckless rampage was standing paralyzed in the headquarters. “To use the raging waters of the swollen Tedorigawa for a surprise attack!? Did you continue to shake Kenshin-sama’s heart by every possible means to make this pincer attack succeed? Sagara Yoshiharu posed as Hikaru Genji only to be beaten half to death? This is the powerful union of the Oda clan!?” Kanetsugu groaned. 

“Playing the part of Takeda Shingen who obstructed Kenshin to become a decoy, you performed the role wonderfully, Katsuie! But though I told you to not fight one-on-one, did you do so? That you are alive, it is incredible! As expected, you really are the strongest person in the Oda clan!” 

When Yoshiharu shouted from horseback, Katsuie responded. 

“You are late erosaruuuuu! I bet you held a grudge from when I previously whipped you and were late on purpose! If we both survive, I’ll add a hundred more whiplashes!” 

“You’re kidding me! If you are going to add on more whippings, let me rub your tits again!” 

“Uuu, shut up! If you touch me I’ll kill you without asking questions!” 

“Ahem. Our play was also excellent, Yoshi.” 

While patting the head of Kazumasu who jumped through the air and landed on the back of the horse, Yoshiharu was convinced, the Oda clan is lucky. 

“For a reward I guess it’s a tea set. How about it?” 

Sagara Yoshiharu army, Tedorigawa decent! 

The Echigo army was hit by a pincer attack. 

In the confusion, the form of Uesugi Kenshin disappeared in front of Katsuie suddenly. 

Maeda Inuchiyo and Niwa Nagahide who barely escaped death were breathing hard. “I can’t move anymore. I seem to have lost all the blood in my body.” They were picked up by Katsuie who dismounted her horse. 

“…Strange. Kenshin can’t run away…” 

“What a dreadful sight. The Echigo army soldiers that are standing in such a dangerous position, they aren’t disturbed at all. It seemed that the Tedorigawa descent plan was full marks, but is it possibly the worst war situation…” 

Yoshiharu also immediately noticed that something wrong. 

The Echigo army’s formation changed. 

Like a giant dragon, the jet black Echigo army soldiers became one wave and began to turn slowly. 

In the center of that wave, Bishamonten, Uesugi Kenshin was standing in an unmoving pose wearing her white medicant robes. 

Hanbei raised her small voice. 

“Not good! That is the deadly battle formation that the Echigo army uses when they are in an inescapable position, it is the ‘rolling wheel’. The Echigo army soldiers make a huge whirlpool centered on Uesugi Kenshin and strike the enemies that approach in all directions. If you come into contact, you will immediately be routed.” 

“This was only used once in Kawanakajima. To see such a huge mass movement. Can an army of twenty thousand soldiers really move like one creature like this?” 

“Everyone in the Echigo army completely believes that Uesugi Kenshin-sama is the true Bishamonten. They have abandoned their own lives to protect Kenshin-sama. Twenty thousand sacrifices in all. The enemies who come in contact with them will also lose their life mercilessly. 

Friend and foe alike will be injured and lose their lives. What shouldn’t be done between Sengoku Era commanders, it is an annihilation battle. A competition where all of the soldiers throw away their lives in this way, it can only be performed in a religious war. Therefore, Kenshin-sama can’t use the rolling wheel formation unless she is already cornered. She only used it once reluctantly in Kawanakajima, it should have been sealed forever.” 

It is the forbidden move that only Uesugi Kenshin who has become Bishamonten can 

carry out while remaining a military commander, Hanbei was trembling while looking at the huge dark spiral that spread out across the earth. 

“Muhu. It came! The rolling wheel that was used only once in Kawanakajima! Kenshin is cornered! I equalled Kansuke Yamamoto, I matched Kansuke Yamamoto!” 

“Kanbei-san. This is not the situation to snort in excitement. The Takeda Shingen army that received this rolling wheel from the front during the Battle of Kawanakajima was nearly destroyed along with the Echigo army. Uesugi Kenshin was probably forced to make this decision. The Rolling Wheel formation will smash the Oda army that is performing a pincer attack from the front and back, and when it becomes a one-on-one fight with the Oda clan’s troops, they will be killed. It is the same as that time in the Battle of Kawanakajima. At that time, that Takeda Shingen-sama survived was something like a miracle. It might be because Shingen-sama is the strongest warrior equal to Kenshin-sama – at any rate, a miracle won’t occur twice.” 

“Hanbei. In that case Kenshin is aiming for Shibata Katsuie’s neck?” 

“No. The leader of the present Oda force is Shibata-sama, but there is only one thing that Kenshin is aiming at. It is the central figure of these large-scale tactics that put her into this predicament, the neck of Yoshiharu-san. 

Yoshiharu-san is going to defeat the tactics of the unrivaled undefeated Kenshin now. If he breaks through, Kenshin-sama will no longer be Bishamonten. Therefore, no matter how many sacrifices Kenshin-sama must make, Yoshiharu-san must be defeated.” 

“I think I understand it. In that case, I have to charge to Kenshin’s position.” 

“Y, Yoshiharu-san? Certainly Yoshiharu-san was planning on having the last move. But now that Kenshin-sama is using the rolling wheel battle formation it is dangerous! The person waiting for Yoshiharu isn’t the Uesugi Kenshin Yoshiharu-san knows anymore, it is Bishamonten!” 

“At this rate, both the Echigo army and the Oda army will die. Because of my neck alone, can we sacrifice such a large number of people. Even Kenshin doesn’t wish for such a fight. That child has regretted the great damage she unleashed during the Battle of Kawanakajima all this time. Can I burden her even more?” 

“Sagara-shi. The smoke screen won’t work for Kenshin, but it will work for the common soldiers of the Echigo army. It is the thieving art of the Kawanami, and can be used in order to pave a path for fwagile Sagara-ji.” 

“Humu. I was formerly part of a ninja troupe, I can use the Koka ninjutsu to throw up a smoke screen. My skin will get rough, but it is for Yoshi. There is no help for it.” 

“Thank you Goemon, Kazumasu-chan. The road we run down now leads to Bishamondo! 

At the time of her duel with Takeda Shingen, Kenshin went to meet Shingen. Shingen couldn’t force open the door to Bishamondo. Therefore we will do the opposite! I will go and meet Kenshin!” 

“Don’t start talking so that guy can hear you!” 

“Sob, sob. It is too dangerous. No matter what Yoshiharu-san, I can’t recommend it…” 

Inuchiyo rode a horse and carried the dying Katsuie to Yoshiharu. 

“Saru. I was wrong. Shouting ridicule at the Himekishis….you can’t be such a fellow, really I am, simple. Cough, cough.” 

“Hey Katsuie, are you alright? You are bloody from head to foot!” 

“….It’s not from me, Saru. Even if you intend to go meet Uesugi Kenshin now, stop.” 

“Why not?” 

With tear-filled eyes, Katsuie clung to Yoshiharu’s arm. 

“That girl isn’t Uesugi Kenshin any longer. Her body and soul have been taken over by Bishamonten. Whatever you shout, it won’t be heard by Uesugi Kenshin’s ears anymore.” 

“…It is because of my monkey wisdom that she was cornered. Though it was to win this battle, I angered Kenshin by all possible means and hurt her.” 

“No. When she declared war against Hime-sama in Kyoto, that girl had already almost been taken over by Bishamonten! Living alone in Bishamondo for many years, continuing a one person dialogue with Bishamonten all the time….otherwise, she couldn’t fight. If she felt that she was an ordinary girl, this battle through which many human lives will be lost, it would not continue! I finally understood it. I had the opportunity to take Kenshin’s life. But, I hesitated. I wasn’t able to murder that child on the spot…half of a Himekishi’s life is burdened by the fate of a warrior in battle. However, the other half is a girl. It was as you said…” 

“Katsuie. You…” 

“You were always here for Hime-sama. Therefore, Hime-sama did not become a demon 

king. Because you were here, though she repeatedly had horrible wars, Hime-sama could keep being a human girl. But, Kenshin!” 

“…Ah. All of the men in Echigo that supported Kenshin all died. Usami Sadamitsu. Naoe Yamato. Even her nemesis Nagao Masakage. But I’m alive, Katsuie. Will a living human lose to the illusion named Bishamonten. It is a ghost of a worn-out ancient age. The war with Uesugi Kenshin and Bishamonten can be finished. Together with Nobuna, we will open the era of humans.” 

Yoshiharu broke loose from Katsuie’s arm and laughed. 

“Uesugi Kenshin. That child is bound by a sad spell. She has a dream called Bishamonten that doesn’t end. Something like our lives are a short-lived dream. Kobayakawa-san said “Life is but a dream.” That is why I don’t believe we need to continue having that sad dream.” 

“…I understand. Go. I only saw one clue. Kenshin’s taijutsu, it is a unique method of attack that returns the bloodthirst and fighting spirit to her opponent. I was taught that by you beforehand, when I gently drew Kenshin’s waist close to me without having killing intent ?? 

that girl showed a totally different expression than the god of war. Just like a child…it was like, she had never been embraced by a person’s hand in that way, and seemed to be looking forward to it for a long time. If I was going to kill her, I would surely have been killed. But it was impossible to kill her. Yet. Even if she was hugged by my arm and lost her life, it would have been a happy death, Kenshin said that…I couldn’t kill her.” 

“Thank you. That explains why a wimp like me could give Kenshin a princess carry in the haunted house. If I am given that clue, it is enough. Katsuie.” 

“Yoshiharu-san. This battle formation is completely devoted to defense. Takeda Shingen who faced the rolling wheel formation in her camp responded with the crane wing formation which is superior in defense, but still the damage was enormous. But in order to oppose Takeda and Uesugi who use cavalry as their main force, Kanbei-san prepared the latest western-style defensive battle formation. If it is for an hour, we can endure the rolling wheel formation’s fierce attack.” 

“Muhu. Don’t worry, leave it to this Simeon! You guys in the detached force, I’ll show you the result of my secret training! Pick up a long spear! Bow corps, gun corps, defend the pike squad! The entire army, shift to the shape of the the spanish-style magic square, ‘Tercio!’ 

Originally I hid it as a trump card in order to block the cavalry corp’s charge, but it is unavoidable.” 

While reading through the Namban war manuals that she bought in Sakai, Kanbei 

discovered it, the anti-cavalry tactics employed in Europe, the Spanish style square formation, Tercio. 

In order to oppose the pressure and speed of the cavalry’s charge, the long pikemen that were specialized in anti-cavalry defenses form a square formation, and the bow and firearm soldiers placed at the four corners of the square would support the pikemen. 

Naturally, in order to maintain the advanced battle formation Tercio on the battlefield, a high skill level is needed. It is impossible for the common soldiers that are part-time farmers who are only called together for war. 

Pike. 

Guns. 

While Oda Nobuna was called ‘Fool’ for resisting the ancient customs of Japan, she thought of a new reward system called the tea set as a substitute for land, and went to great pains to separate the local samurai and form a standing army mainly composed of ‘professional soldiers.’ 

Since a standing army demands colossal maintenance costs, she must keep expanding trade, Nobuna got over this difficult problem by gaining control of Sakai. 

In order to make up the overwhelming disadvantage that the weak soldiers of Owari have, Oda Nobuna achieved these three requirements. Here with army units of Japan, for the first time in history, the enormous European-style defensive square was possible. 

“Sagara Yoshiharu. In the west for several hundred years, the overwhelming speed and destructive power of cavalry men continued to hold the position of the strongest. It is for this same reason that the Takeda cavalry corps is called the strongest in Japan right now. But, with the mass production of firearms, the the anti-cavalry square ‘Tercio’ that Hispania adopted changed everything. Now the military unit that can be used in combat in Japan, is only the standing army of Oda Nobuna. I cannot say that it can win against the Sengoku Era’s strongest Takeda cavalry and Kenshin’s rolling wheel formation, but for a period of time it can stave them off and minimize the damage. But the tanegashima got damp due to the long rain and fog today, the overwhelming defensive powers of the tercio can’t be expected. We can hold for an hour.” 

In order to win, she adopted the Namban styles one by one without hesitating, Kanbei’s strategic thought was completely aligned with Nobuna. The flash of inspiration that Kanbei had that arrived at using the Hispania-type square tercio to prevent the charge of the Takeda cavalry, it was in defiance of the common sense of the samurai of Japan that cavalry are the strongest since Minamoto no Yoshitsune. The outcome that was derived by Nobuna’s foresight and her continual efforts to separate farmers and samurai, and create pikes and guns. It could be said that this is the answer Nobuna arrived at to achieve Tenka Fubu despite taking on the disadvantage of the weakest Owari soldiers. 

“What is this Terushio?” 

“We were trained rigorously by her in the mountain, all for this strange formation.” 

“Really? While we were building the raft, you were being taught a Namban battle formation?” 

All of the Kawanami looked at each other. 

Yoshiharu nodded, “I asked Kanbei” 

“We can only endure for an hour. I will go see Uesugi Kenshin. That child has been waiting in the depths of Bishamondo for the day that someone would come to meet her, I have that feeling.” 

There was a princess that sent Yoshiharu off with a clap on the back. 

In order to cross the swollen river her ceremonial dress had to be taken off, because she was wearing armor he didn’t know who it was for an instant ?? but that cheerful voice, there was nobody else who could emit such cuteness. 

“You must never hesitate, Sagara Yoshiharu. Snatch her immediately. Nobuna-san, 

Mitsuhide-san, or my face, if you remember them and hesitate it will be your defeat. Don’t think about the things that happen after, simply give it your all to pick up the falling fruit. That is Sagara Yoshiharu. Grab it freely, pick it up. After you have picked up the fruit and given it life, whether or not the snow princess can find happiness, as long as she is alive that will be that child’s own battle.” 

“Ah. Thank you Yoshimoto-chan. Because Katsuie must not lose her life, I hesitated. But if I am leaving to save a life, I can go to pick it up. Whatever the result is in the future, I won’t hesitate. Thanks to you, I will be able to run without wavering.” 

“My my. It is fine even without thanks. If the relationship between Nobuna-san and Sagara Yoshiharu becomes complicated due to this and collapses, a love conflict will be my perfect victory. Ohohoho!” 

“Because I was moved by Yoshimoto-chan just now, don’t make me take it back!” 

Sagara Yoshiharu charged in as a long horseman and aimed at the center of the whirlpool of the Rolling Wheel formation. 

“The pikemen unit is forming a rectangle? I have never seen this mysterious formation. It doesn’t appear in any military strategy books either. It isn’t the crane wing or fish scale formation, it isn’t even a square and circle. This is Oda Nobuna’s battle –“ 

In the rolling wheel’s camp at the center of the whirlpool. 

Naoe Kanetsugu was the only allowed to stand next to Kenshin and serve her. While looking at the strange battle formation of the Oda clan that abandoned all mobility, she was astonished. 

“Kenshin-sama. Perhaps this is a new formation specialized in anti-cavalry defense. 

There is no mobility and its offensive ability is poor, but it is totally like a moving fortress. Or, it might be Namban battle formation.” 

However due to the long rain and fog, the tanegashima were damp and the battle 

formation can’t show its true power. We should be able to win if we make a forced attack, however – Kanetsugu was puzzled. 

The reason was that all of the emotions had been erased from Kenshin’s voice and expressions. 

Due to the terrible damage done to friend and foe alike in the Battle of Kawanakajima, she vowed not to use the “rolling wheel formation” a second time. 

In that case, now, this Kenshin who let the Echigo army make the rolling wheel 

formation and was going to destroy everything on the battlefield, was not Kenshin. 

Bishamonten completely took away Kenshin’s heart, Kanetsugu trembled. 

“There is no problem, Naoe Kanetsugu. Bishamonten does not lose.” 

The moment that the ‘word of god’ that Bishamonten never loses is made into a lie, the illusion of Bishamonten that possesses Uesugi Kenshin’s heart will disperse. 

Bishamonten is resisting. 

Sagara Yoshiharu performed night crawling on Shibata Katsuie and advocated the Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan. As a last resort, Katsuie whipped Yoshiharu and banished him. 

Reproducing the form of the pincer attack “Woodpecker strategy” that Kansuke Yamamoto used to try to exterminate the Echigo army in Kawanakjima, Sagara Yoshiharu reappeared with the detached force by the Tedorigawa descent. By becoming the decoy herself and attracting Kenshin’s perception herself to buy time, Shibata Katsuie’s courage let them successfully go downstream. The feeling of pity that that Katsuie showed for Kenshin when she gently held her in her arms. Entrusting their lives to each other, the cooperation of the four Himekishis of the Oda that staved off Kenshin’s violent attacks using a bond of trust until Yoshiharu’s detachment arrived. And the large-scale defensive formation that hadn’t been seen or existed in Japan, China, or Korea until now. 

The unrivaled, undefeated god of war Bishamonten was cornered for the first time in her life. 

Her heart had been attacked. 

The Oda army, Sagara Yoshiharu, it seems like they are going to break open the door to Bishamondo that totally seals Kenshin-sama’s heart, Kanetsugu was holding her breath. 

And. 

The Oda army, no, Sagara Yoshiharu’s last resort, struck. 

What was probably the smoke screens of the Oda’s ninjas blew up one after another. 

Sagara Yoshiharu himself, as just one horseman, rushed to the center of the whirlpool of the Echigo army. 

“I came to meet Uesugi Kenshin! This is the limit of the present Oda forces! The Echigo army is strong! The tanegashima were sealed by the heavy rain and fog! If this all-out war continues with the Tedorigawa at our back, we will not be able to escape! The Echigo army will win! But more than 10,000 soldiers of both armies will die! That will be an ending that violates the spirit of justice that Uesugi Kenshin continued keeping! So I came to the rescue!” 

It isn’t only the lives of the soldiers I want to rescue. 

The person who continued giving justice, mercy, and hope, I will rescue Uesugi Kenshin! 

Yoshiharu shouted while advancing as one horseman in the middle of the rain of arrows. 

“He appeared! Sagara Yoshiharu came!” 

“The womanizer monkey! Since you can’t win in a fair and square battle you gave up, do you intend to ensnare Kenshin-sama with your silver tongue!” 

“Wait! He is holding a hourokuyaki in his hand!” 

“He is planning to draw near Kenshin-sama and bomb her!” 

“That’s wrong! People of Echigo! He is carrying a paper lantern! It isn’t hourokuyaki!” 

A deadly black whirlpool. Constructed of twenty thousand deadly soldiers, the rolling wheel formation pulsed. 

Yoshiharu plunged into the middle of it as a lone horseman. 

Countless arrows attacked Yoshiharu. 

The smoke screen that Goemon released at random to defend Yoshiharu, it was 

meaningless before the overwhelming number of arrows. 

The horse’s neck was pulled back, avoided the storm of arrows, and Yoshiharu still advanced forward. 

Such outrageously reckless behavior, it is impossible for me who isn’t a hero or the god of war, I might wet my pants, Yoshiharu thought. 

When Kenshin plunged into the enemy army as a lone horseman to rescue Karasawa 

Castle that was besieged by thirty thousand troops, did she feel fear like I presently do? Did you want to cry that you don’t want to die? In order to overcome your fear, to fill you with courage, did you obstinately believe the fantastic story that you are the incarnation of Bishamonten? 

He had intended to avoid them all, but he noticed that an arrow was stuck in his upper arm. 

I’m different than the miraculous Bishamonten after all, Yoshiharu wanted to laugh at the mediocrity of this Warring States commander. 

Don’t completely become a hedgehog before reaching Kenshin, Yoshiharu thought. 

But he didn’t reduce the speed of the horse he was riding. 

“I left things half-finished that night at Azuchi, really, I’m sorry – I won’t waver anymore. I will carry out the way of life of Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

Kenshin’s expression that heard Yoshiharu’s call didn’t change – but, faintly, her cheeks had flushed. 

Only Kanetsugu who had served Kenshin since she was young, noticed that tiny abnormal event. 

Naoe Kanetsugu had to decide. 

There is no time. When the Oda army is crushed by the Rolling Wheel formation and half the Echigo army is lost, Kenshin-sama will be taken away by Bishamonten forever. No one will be able to open the door of Bishamondo anymore. Should I bet on Sagara Yoshiharu who is an enemy? 

Sagara Yoshiharu was not an acquaintance. 

But, it was said that Sagara Yoshiharu gave hope to Bontenmaru. 

And Kenshin, when she saw the opening of the Amano-Iwato, she had an expression on her fact that Kanetsugu had never seen. 

As if she found something that she couldn’t obtain unless she personally asked the boy from the future. 

Was my life as the justice commander right, was it empty, was I rewarded? Sagara 

Yoshiharu who came from the future knows the answer to these questions, the answers that should have never been provided while Kenshin herself lived on the earth. 

Kenshin desired an answer. 

For this reason, she flew into a rage when Oda Nobuna declared that she would 

monopolize Sagara Yoshiharu. 

With a Himekishi of the same sex, the door to Bishamondo can not be pried open. The keys to open the door still had only been partly obtained. The key named Takeda Shingen. 

Shibata Katsuie might have become one of the keys too. But another key is absolutely necessary. 

If that was true, Usami Sadamitsu and Naoe Yamato should have become that key. But those two people are no longer in the world anymore. 

I sent Kenshin-sama to Azuchi, entrusted with the faint hope that she would have a second encounter with Sagara Yoshiharu. However in Azuchi, Sagara Yoshiharu didn’t open the door to Kenshin-sama. But in this battlefield, it might be possible. At any rate, this is the last opportunity to help Kenshin-sama. 

Sagara Yoshiharu. 

I will entrust you with Kenshin-sama once again. 

“Kenshin-sama, in Azuchi, “If I see you on the battlefield, I will overlook 50 steps in the army” , you said that you promised Sagara Yoshiharu that. Keeping your promises on the battlefield, this is justice. If you throw away your promise, it is immoral. Will you fulfill your promise?” 

Kenshin says that Bishamonten can never go against the word ‘justice’. 

Justice is the very meaning of the existence of Bishamonten, because it is all of the rules of behavior. 

While preparing to confront this man who bravely came as a single horseman to take Kenshin away, Kenshin silently nodded. 

Kanetsugu raised her voice, “Now.” 

“All of you! For fifty steps! Open the way in front of Sagara Yoshiharu! Set up a camp enclosure around the headquarters! The words of the bearer of the flag of truce, Sagara Yoshiharu, will be directly reported to Kenshin-sama!” 

Sagara Yoshiharu who saw the road through the Echigo Army soldiers open up like the seas were parting, was surprised. 

“Is this? Is it that? Did you remember your promise of fifty steps in Azuchi? But Bishamonten should consider me to be the greatest enemy who came to snatch Kenshin. Did somebody in the Echigo army give her a push?” 

I can’t think about hesitating. 

If I advance, it is now or never. 

Yoshiharu ran through the thin path that was opened up for fifty steps, and entered the headquarters that was set up in a hurry. 

Inside the camp enclosure, was Uesugi Kenshin and Naoe Kanetsugu. 

Sagara Yoshiharu. 

Only three people were gathered. 

Kanetsugu stepped back three steps silently, bowed down, and the people who faced each other on horseback became two people. 

“As expected, Bishamonten carried out the promise of fifty steps. I came to speak. But Bishamonten, I didn’t come to meet you. I came to meet Uesugi Kenshin. Let me meet Kenshin.” 

“Are you Sagara Yoshiharu?” 

“It is I. Have you forgotten?” 

“The daylight is dazzling. I can’t see your face well. The world of the day was always like this for me.” 

The sky had gradually cleared. 

Now that the sun was high in the sky, Kenshin’s eyesight had grown hazy. 

Even Sagara Yoshiharu’s face, the Yoshiharu who had held her in his hands, it couldn’t be clearly recognized. 

If it can’t be recognized, it was the same as if it didn’t exist. 

“That’s right. When your sight is blocked, it is easy to close up your heart. So I was able to become Bishamonten.” 

“I see. It seems that unless I touch you, the door won’t be opened.” 

“It isn’t permitted for men to touch the god of war who is abstinent for life.” 

“…Oh will you stop such a small drama. Bontenmaru is a child, but aren’t you already a fine woman? For how long do you intend to be Bishamonten, Kenshin? I already kissed your lips in Azuchi? You aren’t the celibate god of war anymore. To me, you are just an ordinary human girl.” 

PIK. Kanetsugu who had prostrated herself behind Kenshin, felt her shoulders shake. 

Kenshin’s eyebrows rose. 

Feelings of anger were unleashed. 

“You are a reprehensible person. There won’t be a second time, Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

The man named Sagara Yoshiharu. You are dangerous. And on this battlefield, the 

promise of fifty steps had already been fulfilled. You will be killed mercilessly. Kenshin, no, Bishamonten, uttered that with an emotionless voice and raised the cross spear. 

Even for Yoshiharu who was nicknamed “Dodgeball Yoshi”, this was an unavoidable attack. 

Coupled with an excessive speed and trajectory outside of common sense, it was an attack that couldn’t be followed by the naked eye. 

Yoshiharu couldn’t see the spearhead Kenshin lunged with and Kenshin couldn’t see Yoshiharu’s face. 

Ah. The two of them were not able to meet again. The piercing light of day, it had decided Kenshin-sama’s fate. 

Kanetsugu who had lost the bet despaired. Everything was over. 

But this time, heaven, moved. 

The wind blew. 

High in the sky where the sun was shining, suddenly, a white cloud covered it. 

The light of day that closed Kenshin’s eyes was blocked. 

As the spearhead was just about to pierce Yoshiharu’s throat, Kenshin’s eyes found Yoshiharu’s face. 

Kanetsugu held her breath. 

A situation outside of this Kanetsugu’s calculations occurred. The heavens – saved Kenshin-sama. 

The gentle glow of the paper lantern that Yoshiharu carried in his hand, a small light, let Yoshiharu’s face stand out in the darkness that suddenly came. 

“A lantern from the O-bon Festival that decorated Azuchi Castle. It’s a present.” 

“…Sagara, Yoshiharu.” 

“You finally came out of the depths of Bishamondo. Kenshin. Because you continued hiding, the sky clouded over. Like with Amaterasu.” 

While Kenshin’s red eyes brightened, the spear was stopped. 

“A very gentle light. I can see your face well. The man who came from the future. The man who knows everything about my life. You really are, a man who exists outside of my world.” 

“Oh. I am just an ordinary man covered in worldly desires. But I am perfectly alive. 

Carrying my own will and soul, I live my own life. Because you will change into a human being, things won’t go as you want them to and you can’t hand over your body to Bishamonten.” 

“Really?” 

“The me who was reflected when the Amano-Iwato was opened was surely an illusion. I don’t know how it appeared to the followers of Bishamonten either. My handsomeness was multiplied one hundred times. But I really am just an ordinary human. With a bit of a monkey face. If your military might makes you a one hundred, I’m around a 3. But, I can touch you.” 

“Ah.” 

The white hand that was keeping the the spear upright, Yoshiharu gently grasped it. 

“I caught you. Kenshin. Let’s come down to earth. You don’t need to be afraid.” 

“Such gentleness is irresponsible. Isn’t your lover Oda Nobuna?” 

“I am surely irresponsible. I can only save a person’s life. I can’t rescue their soul. The only one who save your soul is you yourself.” 

“I can’t obtain you. Even if I carry my unrivaled, undefeated record on the battlefield, even if I leave a legend as the justice commander, I can’t obtain you. You intend to torment me?” 

“Ah. I am going to torment you. I will drag you down to earth, and you will live and suffer as a human being. I won’t let you “escape to death”. Because I will also suffer, we will share it equally.” 

“Stop it. The things I really want, I won’t be able to get. Takeda Shingen is a woman same as me. And you are Oda Nobuna’s. I can’t steal you. Why? I didn’t choose such a lonely way of life? I, truly, never wanted to become god!” 

“At last I can hear your real feelings. Really, what did you want, Kenshin?” 

“I. As a human being – as a person, I wanted to be loved.” 

“You are loved. Katsuchiyo-chan. Usami Sadamitsu. Naoe Yamato. Even Nagao 

Masakage. The officers of the Echigo Army that are giving their lives to protect you in this rolling wheel formation. The feelings of those who continued running on the battlefield next to you, the heart that worships an idol, it is something beyond faith. Even if you stop being Bishamonten, even if you become a human, nobody will abandon you. You just tried not to see it.” 

“You are wrong. If the sun is shining, even if I wanted to see, it can’t be seen….stop it Sagara Yoshiharu. Don’t embrace me anymore. If you kiss me a second time, I will kill you.” 

“That’s fine. Goemon isn’t here this time, and the Himekishi here who has the helmet with the crest of ‘love’ seems to be tight-lipped. As for me, I have no excuses.” 

“Horrible. Stop it. This…I, though I can’t be joined with you….Sagara…” 

“….Uesugi Kenshin. With this, I will have kissed you twice.” 

On horseback, Kenshin tried to say something as she was embraced by Yoshiharu. 

“Only justice is not enough, Kanetsugu adopted that stance. Sagara Yoshiharu, I -” 

Why I would die if I made war with Oda Nobuna, Kenshin understood the meaning of the prediction of Bishamonten. 

Because I was destined to fall in love with a human man. My destiny has been fulfilled. 

The time when I return to heaven with Bishamonten has come. Ah. Strange. I don’t have any regrets. 

Her small heart was seized with pain. 

Kenshin’s body suddenly, like a puppet whose strings were cut, fell off her horse. 

Yoshiharu and Kanetsugu rushed over to Kenshin’s position at the same time and lifted her body. 

“Yoshiharu-sama. Kenshin-sama’s heart has stopped!” 

“Is it illness?” 

“No. At the moment that she believed that the prophecy was fulfilled, Kenshin-sama’s spiritual strength – it stopped her heart. The curse of Bishamonten is still binding Kenshin-sama. 

She was originally a person with a weak body. In battle after battle, her mind and body were both at their limit!” 

“Then it is okay, Naoe Kanetsugu. Because Kenshin has not yet said ‘I love you’ to me. 

The prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled.” 

“M, my name?” 

“I already knew it. The general that would attach something as crazy as the crest of ‘love’ 

to their helmet, there is only one in the world. The one who pushed Bishamonten who had shut herself in the rolling wheel formation to honestly abide to the fifty step promise, it was you right?” 

“That’s right. Honestly, Kenshin-sama was looking forward to the man who would take her out of the rolling wheel formation, I believed that was the case.” 

“Thus, the role of waking up the sleeping princess, you are okay with me?” 

“Of course. Because it is your fault she became this way, you should wake her up. In spite of being Oda Nobuna’s lover, you also will have kissed Kenshin-sama three times. What on earth are you thinking. Besides, there should have been other methods to rescue Kenshin-sama’s heart.” 

“After is for after. I’ll think about that after picking up her life! I’m relying on you, Naoe Kanetsugu. You who is hopelessly weak in battle.” 

“It’s fine! I want you to change the fate of Kenshin-sama! Kenshin-sama is Oda 

Nobuna’s arch-enemy. If you revive her here, we will confront the Oda clan by any means and one will fall. But Kenshin-sama was the justice commander up until now, she continued to forgive her enemies! Even if one of our supporting vassals is missing, and they are missing two, even if she becomes all alone, the righteous war was carried out until the very end! Please, Kenshin-sama’s justice, please respond with your justice! I want you to return Kenshin-sama’s mercy with your mercy!” 

“Understood, Naoe Kanetsugu. That the number of days that Kenshin could live as a human is just that one ordinary day spent in Azuchi, such an ending is impossible. 

In addition, I have a firm believe. Kenshin-sama won’t die yet. Because those who will save her life, it isn’t just my power -” 

Yoshiharu handed Naoe Kanetsugu the lantern. “It is the continuation of the O-bon festival. Take it.” 

On behalf of the Japanese of the future, I will return your justice, Kenshin. 

Incidentally, you became partially aware of it. 

The thing you sought after, that thing is inside your heart, 

Kenshin looked at the blue planet that shined in the darkness. 

That is the earth I lived on. 

I, still, wanted to live, Kenshin thought. 

The love and hatred for Sagara Yoshiharu who wanted to drag me down to earth, the confrontation with Oda Nobuna, the conclusion with Takeda Shingen, everything, it all has been left on the ground. 

I have been invited to this heavenly world once before. I lost father, and threw myself into the Kujira sea from the Oyashirazu cliff. I awoke in the world of the heavens and encountered Bishamonten. Live as Bishamonten, take up the sword on the battlefield and demonstrate justice, forgive evil with your heart of mercy, and die if you fall in love – those prophetic words were described by Bishamonten. But why. The prophecy has been fulfilled already, though I am trying to return to heaven, there is no sign or appearance of Bishamonten. 

The next moment. 

Kenshin fell to the ground. 

On a sand dune that continued endlessly, she stood still. 

I fell to earth? 

In the sandstorm, the shadows of two men swayed and moved. 

Kenshin recognized the faces of the two men. 

Usami Sadamitsu. 

Naoe Yamato. 

The strategist and prime minister that brought Kenshin up as the justice commander, pushed Kenshin into the position of daimyo of Echigo, and gave up their lives to Kenshin’s holy war and died. 

Unforgettable faces. 

After parting with them, I never met them in a dream, Kenshin realized. 

“It is already fine, Torachiyo. No, Nagao Kagetora. Or was it different? Now, it is Uesugi Kenshin. This guy is your reward.” 

While tossing a stuffed rabbit to her, Usami Sadamitsu laughed. 

Kenshin caught the stuffed animal in her arms. 

“You fought all alone and it was painful. It was wrong. I who pushed my dreams on you when you were young, I was selfish. It is already fine. The dream of Bishamonten has ended. 

From now on, return to being a human girl. Follow your own dream.” 

You weren’t selfish, Usami, you showed me my way of life, so I could live as my very best. 

So, it was conveyed. 

Even without uttering a word, it had been transmitted to Usami. 

“Hihi. Your face looks like it has completely become an adult woman’s. Good. Come to earth, put on beautiful clothes and dance.” 

The thin man who was calmly standing next to Usami, Naoe Yamato. 

“Ojou-sama. The keys to open the door to Bishamondo have been gathered, and the door is open. You are already no longer Bishamonten. The curse has been undone. Speak of love. Call for it.” 

Really, am I allowed, Naoe Yamato. 

In the name of righteous war, I took many lives. 

“Usami. Naoe Yamato. I became the justice general in order to compensate for my 

father’s sins. It was only natural. But, I took the position of Echigo’s shugo from older brother. I gained the position of Echigo Shugo from the Uesugi clan main house and became the Uesugi clan’s head and obtained all of the roles of the Kanto Kanrei. I fought with the husband of my elder sister, Nagao Masakage, and it resulted in deaths. I didn’t respond to Nagao Masakage’s courtship and finally he was repaid with death. Without being able to kill Nagao Masakage with my own hands, I let Usami who was unable to just watch stain his own hands, and I also let Usami die. I was unable to save either of you two. Naoe Yamato, I let you carry out a life of bachelorhood. Though I let Takeda Nobushige and other officers and soldiers die in Kawanakajima, I couldn’t kill Takeda Shingen and also couldn’t be killed by Takeda Shingen either. While promising that I wouldn’t invade other countries, I seized Ecchu and Noto through armed force. Finally, Oda Nobuna’s lover, I wanted him next to me, I wanted to steal him. I desired a kiss from Sagara Yoshiharu.” 

Can I possibly be forgiven? 

Two hands were placed onto Kenshin’s head as she collapsed onto the sand. 

“It has already been forgiven. You let many soldiers die in battle, but you saved more lives by continuing to show justice and mercy, you helped save their souls. Over and over again throughout your lifetime.” 

“Yes. Ojou-sama continued meeting every evil with righteousness and mercy. Ojou- 

sama’s will was transmitted four hundred years into the future.” 

Usami Sadamitsu and Naoe Yamato. 

That’s right. I was loved by these two all this time. How much she had been loved, Kenshin at last recognized it. 

The thing that I had been searching for all this time, it was within my heart. 

“The crime where you took the seat of Echigo’s shugo from your older brother is 

forgiven. The crime of obtaining the Echigo shugo, family headship of the Uesugi clan, and the Kanto Kanrei from the Uesugi main family is forgiven.” 

“The quarrel you had with your older sister’s husband, Nagao Masakage, I forgive the crime that lead to deaths. That you did not respond to Nagao Masakage’s courtships and he was repaid with death, I forgive that crime.” 

“Letting Usami Sadamitsu dirty his hands and the crime of letting Usami Sadamitsu die, it is forgiven.” 

“The crime of letting Naoe Yamato go through his life as a bachelor, it is forgiven. The crime of killing Takeda Nobushige and other officers and soldiers in Kawanakajima, it is forgiven.” 

“The crime of being unable to defeat Takeda Shingen or be killed by Shingen is forgiven.” 

“The crime of seizing Ecchu and Noto after vowing not to invade other countries, it is forgiven.” 

“The crime of wanting to steal Oda Nobuna’s lover, wanting to have him next to you, it is forgiven.” 

“The crime of desiring a kiss from Sagara Yoshiharu is forgiven.” 

I didn’t want to find it, because I didn’t want to face the sorrow from losing Usami and Naoe Yamato. If I faced it, my heart would be torn apart by grief. I can’t be Bishamonten anymore. I have become a simple human girl. 

“Well then. Thank you for everything until today. Our lives spent raising you and protecting you, it was given meaning. The paper lantern of the O-bon festival, it will soon disappear. We are out of time.” 

“This is farewell, Ojou-sama. It is I that made your older sister marry Masakage. Not you. Thus I decided to go through my life as a bachelor. Ojou-sama, there is no reason why you must carry out a vow of celibacy through your life. You showed justice in these chaotic times. 

After this, please have your own dream. I pray it will be a happy dream. This is last order of Naoe Yamato to Ojou-sama.” 

When Kenshin raised her face, the two figures weren’t there anymore. 

“Ah….ah…..ahhhhhh…..” 

They died. 

They disappeared. 

They left. 

Usami Sadamitsu. 

Naoe Yamato. 

Seized by grief that she could no longer endure. 

Tears. 

Usami Sadamitsu died, Naoe Yamato died, the tears that couldn’t flow when she heard that, they could no longer stop. 

“U…UWAHHHHHHH!” 

As Kenshin’s body bent over, while writhing on the sand dune, she kept shouting the names of the two of them. 

“AHHHH, AHHHHHHHHH!” 

Kenshin’s feelings, her emotions, they were sharper than an ordinary person. 

Unbearable sorrow. 

Suffering that was beyond description. 

In response to this grief, in order to protect Kenshin’s fragile heart. 

The shadow of Bishamonten that should have disappeared permanently appeared in the sky again, it approached Kenshin who was writhing and crawling on the ground. 

But. 

“Your role is already over, Bishamonten. I’ll take you with me. That bastard Usami, on the pretense of going sailing, brought me here.” 

Suddenly standing behind Kenshin, the big black eyebrows of the man who cut the 

shadow of Bishamonten in half with a single sword strike and erased him, with her sharp eyes, Kenshin remembered them. 

Nagao Masakage. 

Kenshin’s political opponent. The old enemy who struggled for the position of daimyo of Echigo. Though he was the husband of her older sister, he never tried to hide his desire to make Kenshin his wife, the man whose ambition was to own Kenshin until he died. 

In the end, he was assassinated by Usami Sadamitsu to try to prevent the splitting of Echigo. Usami also died with Masakage. 

“Nagao, Masakage.” 

Why would this man appear before me, why would this man erase the shadow of 

Bishamonten, Kenshin questioned. 

Masakage was just as arrogant as he was in life. 

He bared his white teeth and laughed. 

“How is it Kenshin. You lost Usami, you lost Naoe Yamato, and you couldn’t obtain either Takeda Shingen nor Sagara Yoshiharu. Is it heartrending? Is it painful? Are you sad? That is the life of a human. That is love. If you say you love people, I’m satisfied. This present face, I wanted to see this crying face. It is the face of a crying girl that is begging for love shamefully. 

Your soul has now fallen to earth.” 

But, the smiling face of a demon was there. 

After Masakage finished laughing he bit his lip, and with lonely eyes that Kenshin had never seen before, he stared at Kenshin. 

“Kenshin. It really was a long time. The fight between you and I is over. It is your victory. As for me who has died, I can’t touch you anymore. But you are alive. While you live, you can touch it, and it is possible to struggle in order to obtain it – you became a “human”. 

When Kenshin awoke again, it wasn’t in the heavenly world, and it wasn’t the sand dune. 

The Echigo Army headquarters. 

While Naoe Kanetsugu put Kenshin’s head on her lap, “It is good that you returned” she said with teary eyes. 

“…Kanetsugu. Is Sagara Yoshiharu alive?” 

“He is alive and returned to the Oda army. We made a deal. Kenshin-sama collapsed suddenly, and after that the control of the Echigo army remained in perfect order, and continued to maintain the shape of the rolling wheel formation beautifully. The Oda army that abandoned their mobility to make a square formation can’t close in for an attack, this battle is the victory of the Echigo army. While the Echigo army returns Sagara Yoshiharu, the Oda army gives up on the Tedorigawa northern coast and will retreat to Echizen. The Echigo army won’t pursue the Oda troops across the river. Oda Nobuna will be in command in the next battle, and that will become the magnificent final battle. I exchanged this promise with the enemy side’s tactician, Takenaka Hanbei. Even Kenshin-sama would want to avoid an annihilation war when you are absent. After Oda Nobuna joined this army with the forces she leads in Echizen, they want to meet for a decisive battle once again. The interests of both parties were equal.” 

“…Takenaka Hanbei. She gave the Echigo army the honor of a huge win, and took back Sagara Yoshiharu as soon as she knew that I collapsed. Besides, the Echigo army is an army of justice, we can’t chase after the defenseless Oda army as it crosses the river. She predicted everything perfectly. She is a courageous strategist.” 

“To the officers and men of the Echigo army, it was told that Kenshin-sama had her illness from her time of the month (menstrual cramps) suddenly, but would be fine if you rested quietly in bed for half a month. Because everyone knows the manner of Kenshin-sama’s illness, nobody was suspicious. Furthermore, the Echigo army that made the Oda army retire to Echizen still has its unrivaled and undefeated record.” 

I wanted to keep Sagara Yoshiharu in this camp until Kenshin-sama awoke, but I was unable, Kanetsugu lowered her head. 

“If Sagara Yoshiharu faces the awakened Kenshin-sama, he might be attracted to 

Kenshin-sama’s spirit, and might not be able to return to Oda Nobuna, therefore he left before Kenshin-sama woke up.” 

“I see. Though I am sad, it is a very happy thing, Kenshin muttered. 

“The Oda army isn’t a match for the Echigo army, they abandoned Kaga and fled, that is what is being spread to the world. But the land can be recaptured in battle, and the myth of the undefeated Echigo army will end if Oda wins the next battle. The attack speed of the Echigo army exceeded Oda Nobuna’s reserve army’s, and there was a possibility that the Shibata Katsuie army and Oda Nobuna army might have been destroyed one after another. Above all, the unity of the Oda clan is in danger if Sagara Yoshiharu is taken. So they abandoned their reputation to pick up the fruit. The strategist called Takenaka Hanbei is terrifying isn’t she?” 

“The person who built that mysterious defensive formation, is the other tactician Kuroda. 

It seems that that was a Namban battle formation that was adopted to stop the charge of the Takeda cavalry and the Echigo army.” 

“So….from the Nambans.” 

Somehow Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda. They harmonize perfectly. The two prided 

tacticians of the Oda army, in the next fight they might give me the first defeat of my life, Kenshin though. 

“When he left, Sagara Yoshiharu left a message with me. To ask Kenshin-sama.” 

“Kanetsugu. Sagara Yoshiharu doesn’t have such an indifferent way of talking. Please mimic it.” 

“Mimic him? Moreover, a monkey imitation?” 

“Please do it.” 

Because Kenshin sulked when asked, Kanetsugu was made to play the the act called a monkey imitation. 

“…Naoe Kanetsugu, tell Kenshin. If Kenshin was killed this time, there might not have been any more battles. Therefore if soldiers die in battle from now on, it is my crime. I’ll shoulder it.” 

That is a poor imitation, a wry smile appeared on Kenshin’s face. 

Still, Kanetsugu continued her serious monkey imitation. Each word was accurate to the end. 

“Kanetsugu. While spending the one day with Kenshin in Azuchi, I noticed it. Kenshin isn’t alone. In Kenshin’s heart, there is a large number of people. The salvation and love that Kenshin sought was there from the beginning. I just intruded shamelessly at the end and opened the door. The “future” that I know has been altered. Decide your future with your own will. 

Finish living your own life to not have any regrets, the road that you walk with your own feet will be our future, please tell Kenshin that.” 

While Kenshin muttered, “thank you, Sagara Yoshiharu,” she remembered the figures of the larger number of men who left this earth and appeared before her - 

(Good-bye. Usami. Naoe Yamato. Masakage. At last I understand. For me, there isn’t an unloved person in earth or heaven.) 

“In the northern sky, is that a shooting star? One. Two. Three.” 

While invading Matsudaira Motoyasu’s Mikawa province, Takeda Shingen who had 

started the long Nagashino Castle capture muttered while watching the star. (If Kansuke Yamamoto who was good at divining through astronomy was alive, how would he have seen this star?) 

In order to send a rear guard to Nagashino Castle that was surrounded by the Takeda army, it is said that Matsudaira Motoyasu marches to Shitara field with the Mikawa army. 

Without learning your lesson, do you intend on challenging me on the field? That glasses tanuki. She should have been weak, but she became very bold. Taigen Sessai, it is worthwhile that I kept my eyes on the one who you made into Imagawa Yoshimoto’s right-hand man after you died. 

There was a despicable rumor that swept over the Tokai district for a time that when she was decimated by Takeda Shingen in Mikatagahara and had to scramble and flee she pooped her pants while on horseback. 

While surrounding Nagashino Castle in this way, a large amount of information was made available to Shingen from a large number of ruffians that were sent to Kyoto and Azuchi Castle. 

As for Oda Nobuna, to hinder Shingen’s movement to the utmost, she sent out disturbing information. In the shadows of the cheerful festival in Azuchi, there was a secret war between the ninjas, the traps that were devised to deceive the Takeda secret agents and ensnare them, countless information wars had been waged. 

But, the Takeda information network is carefully organized by the Sanada Shinobi. It can’t be tricked. 

The “Strongest” of the Takeda Four Heavenly Kings, the Himekishi Yamagata Masakage who wore crimson armor on her small-sized body, imparted an important matter to Shingen. 

“Shingen-sama. Uesugi Kenshin and Shibata Katsuie with Sagara Yoshiharu clashed in Tedorigawa. The battle ended in victory for the Echigo army and the Oda army withdrew from Kaga. They were pushed back to Echizen.” 

“Was the strife between Shibata Katsuie and Sagara Yoshiharu that lead to discord and his withdrawal from the battlefield an act? I thought it might be a ‘last resort’, but it was admirably achieved.” 

“Uesugi Kenshin was tricked as expected and was lured to the Tedorigawa northern coast where a pincer attack was performed.” 

“And the Oda army was destroyed? But that Kenshin, even if she was caught in the same shape as the ‘woodpecker’, she wouldn’t be finished easily. Was she made to use the rolling wheel formation?” 

“Even though it was used, it didn’t become an extermination battle like that time in Kawanakajima. Sagara Yoshiharu reached Uesugi Kenshin’s position as a herald for a truce, Uesugi Kenshin had a bad illness and collapsed unconscious right after.

The Oda army crossed the Tedorigawa with their whole army to escape and the 

movement of the Echigo army was stopped.” 

Shingen dropped the large war fan she held in her hand. 

“Kenshin? Illness? Is she safe?” 

“Please calm down. She is resting for half a month. It seems she will recover with that.” 

“Is that so. The will of heaven didn’t side with Kenshin.” 

“Ku. Shingen-sama. Your face was dismayed when you heard that Kenshin collapsed. 

Like a girl who is completely in love. I’m jealous.” 

“Sh, shut up. With this, Takeda will arrive at the capital first. But it is strange. It should have been a one in a million chance for Sagara Yoshiharu to kill Kenshin. In order to save his lord from her dilemma, there isn’t a guy who would spare her life.” 

“It is said that Sagara Yoshiharu nursed Kenshin after she collapsed, and helped her escape death.” 

“…Is that so. That guy, did he pick up the fallen fruit. If that is the case, Kenshin may have already been released from the cage of Kawanakajima…originally Kenshin must have had the destiny where she died after selecting the battle of Tedorigawa as her last battle. Sagara Yoshiharu changed the future again.” 

“What kind of thing is this?” 

“It seems that Kenshin’s time that had stopped in Kawanakajima has begun to flow again. 

Though I recommended that Kenshin encounter Sagara Yoshiharu herself, I feel like I have been robbed of Kenshin by Sagara Yoshiharu. My chest hurts.” 

The person who can drag the god of war, Uesugi Kenshin, down to earth, it can only be Japan’s strongest general. 

In order to put a defeat on Kenshin’s record and drop her to the ground, I acquired the strength equal to and surpassing Bishamonten while in a human body, I had to become a commander unparalleled in history. 

Why did I have to grow and become “the great commander Takeda Shingen”, why did I keep making large numbers of victims in my clan and the vassal corps, why did I continue struggling to defeat the unrivaled undefeated god of war, Uesugi Kenshin, Shingen felt like she completely understood it. 

And yet, the visitor from outside the temporal axis of this world, Sagara Yoshiharu - 

Are you going to steal Uesugi Kenshin away. 

The mission that I should accomplish, did Sagara Yoshiharu accomplish it? 

I am jealous of that boy, Shingen thought. 

“I am a woman, he is a man. When he appeared in front of Kenshin at the opening of the Amano-Iwato, Sagara Yoshiharu finally managed to open the door to Bishamondo, but those conditions are unfair. I had no way to break Kenshin other than battle. Haha.” 

“Shingen-sama. As a girl, please don’t be jealous of that boy. Five times, Shingen-sama fought against Kenshin in Kawanakajima. Pouring in all your efforts. At the last moment, Sagara Yoshiharu just brought the last piece.” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu is strong. If it is only based in spearmanship it will be a losing battle, but he’ll steal the heart of the Himekishi before you know it. Though there is no lover more fearful than the asura Oda Nobuna, he won’t consider the consequences. Rather than calling him the world’s greatest con-man, he is the incomparable ladykiller. Even I am a young girl. I can never hate that fellow. He seems totally like my younger brother. If I say such a sweet thing, I wonder if I can win?” 

“Haha. Shingen-sama will win. You will win and hoist the flag of Seta. Kenshin who fell down to earth is also waiting for Shingen-sama. To fight against Shingen-sama with the world at stake. At the time that Shingen-sama and Kenshin reach a conclusion, when the legend of the battle between the two of you ends, the chaotic Warring States Era will also end.” 

“In Kawanakajima, Kenshin became impatient and ran into my headquarters as a single horseman. Next time, I must go to her. As Sagara Yoshiharu did so.” 

“Yes. Your dream, it mustn’t end as a dream. To grab it, you must reach out your hand.” 

Shingen nodded. 

Tonight, we celebrate for Kenshin. 

The souls of the people who died at Kawanakajima have probably returned to heaven. 

“Masakage. The war council is over for now. Let’s drink. Call all of the four heavenly kings. Call Shouyo (???), Sanada, and Sarutobi. I’ll cook red bean porridge. Tonight’s appetizer is salt from Echigo. It hasn’t gotten damp?” 

Yamagata Masakage who rarely laughed, smiled. 

“Yes. That is an important gift from Uesugi Kenshin. In order to not absorb moisture, it was stored properly. It’s fine.”