Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 12 - Chapter 5

Chapter 5 – Change in the Mori Front 

Echizen, Kitanosho Castle. 

Shibata Katsuie’s castle. 

After quietly crossing the Tedorigawa in front of the Echigo army, Shibata Katsuie and Sagara Yoshiharu who succeeded in withdrawing from Kaga safely, joined with the thirty thousand soldiers from Azuchi lead by Nobuna, at Kitanosho castle. 

A war council was held immediately. 

As for Imagawa Yoshimoto who doesn’t interfere with military affairs, “for now there is a break in the war”, she sat next to Yoshiharu and spread her fan. 

“Riku. Yoshiharu. Manchiyo, Inuchiyo, and Sakon are safe. Though we lost Kaga and the Tedorigawa northern coast was given to the enemy, it is great that the whole army could be evacuated safely. It is excellent that you all lived and we could meet again. We can regain Kaga if we win the next battle, but your life is something which can’t be recovered if lost. Even if we won against the Echigo army.” 

Nobuna laughed while feeding Inuchiyo uiro. 

Since Yoshiharu and Katsuie’s vassal group returned safely, the tension that came from having to confront the Echigo army led by the god of war directly was finally relieved. 

The two contrary feeling mingled together into an expression that seemed to be smiling and crying. 

“I’m sorry Hime-sama! Saru and Takenaka Hanbei built up layer upon layer to make the 

‘Last resort’ and the ‘Tedorigawa Descent’, but it still fell just short of missing Uesugi Kenshin!” 

“Katsuie is probably angry that she was fooled and got seriously angry,” Yoshiharu mocked her. Katsuie silently chucked a tea set at Yoshiharu, and only quit when Nobuna said 

“Stop it, it’s wasteful”. 

“At any rate, it is regrettable about Kazumasu’s tanegashima. If there was no rain and fog, maybe one shot might have skimmed Kenshin’s shoulder. Though she is an enemy, Kenshin seems to be blessed by the heavens and earth….” 

“Still, Riku is badly wounded. For the strongest commander in the Oda clan to suffer so many wounds. Uesugi Kenshin is that strong?” 

“Yes. Not to speak of her tactical skill, she is so strong that you can’t see the bottom of her power in single combat either. Without the help of everybody, I would have been long dead. 

I was nearly going to let Nagahide die. I have to devote myself more! 

On the battlefield against a cute enemy leader, my heart was swayed…” 

“I want the power to assist Ojou-sama! I won’t fall in love until my martial arts have reached beyond Uesugi Kenshin! I might miss my marriageable age and be mistaken for Yoshitaka Kuki, but I don’t care!” While Katsuie was fully motivated and had high spirits, 

“Riku, I think someone who falls in love becomes stronger,” Nobuna smiled wryly. 

“Is, is, is that right? Hime-sama thinks so too? T, T, Truly, I, I, I, p, p, p, perhaps, made a b, b, blunder….” 

“Riku is probably already strong enough? Rather than carrying out complete devotion to just martial arts, I think it is better to polish the sharp sensitivity that can perceive the weaknesses in a person’s heart. To stand in the position of your opponent and understand their thoughts and feelings, it is probably necessary for a head of a household? When Saru served the Mori clan, it seems he acquired this sense before he knew it. Riku seems to be at the stage where she is confused from having to fight a Himekishi like Kenshin on the battle. You can get stronger.” 

“Hime-sama has completely grown up! You were a child until just the other day. I’m going to cry of joy! Kuu!” 

“I, I am fine. Riku has to do it herself. Fall in love!” 

“Even if you say so, err, I am the chief vassal of the Oda clan whose social position only matches with other Himekishis, there is no opportunity to meet a gentleman…Nobusumi has a wife and children, and only the monkey can be found….” 

Because Nobuna teased her saying that she would have to perform harakiri if she made a pass at Yoshiharu, Katsuie suddenly pulled out her short sword. “Uaaa! If such a thing happens with Saru, it is the end! Ah, no, I’m not saying anything about Hime-sama’s taste in men! I’m sorry! I will commit harakiri!” She began her habitual disturbance. 

“Wait. Katsuie-dono held out on the battlefield until the end, took on all of Uesugi Kenshin’s divine powers of concentration, let the difficult pincer attack succeed, and above all returned alive. You returned alive and met Hime-sama again. The Echigo Army couldn’t be defeated, but the worst outcome where the present Hokuriku district forces and the army lead by Hime-sama were each individually defeated by the Echigo army was avoided. 90 points.” 

Niwa Nagahide smiled while she hit Katsuie’s shoulder. 

“Oh, I carelessly failed to kill Kenshin, it was impossible for me. If it was Mi-chan, then she would have been killed beautifully. This is fine.” 

Kazumasu also laughed. 

“If I let Riku get married and have a family, maybe her habit of being so eager to perform harakiri immediately will also be cured. But Yoshiharu. During your negotiations in the depths of the rolling wheel formation Uesugi Kenshin suddenly collapsed, what happened? 

That can’t have been the true purpose of the ‘Hikaru Genji Rokujouin plan’, rather than a series of plays to quarrel with Katsuie by night crawling, but to get Uesugi Kenshin in the inner citadel of Azuchi Castle….” 

While stuffing her her mouth with uiro, Inuchiyo nodded in a grand way and agreed. 

“…Suspicious. Recently, Yoshiharu’s new nickname is ‘Ladykiller Yoshi’.” 

Shock. 

Yoshiharu broke into a cold sweat. 

“Th that’s. Nobuna, Inuchiyo.” 

“Haha. Okay. If you said that you will bring Kenshin into Rokujouin to seal the 

agreement, it seems like you will have crossed a line that shouldn’t be crossed. I wonder if it was to the degree that you exchanged a kiss at most. I would be jealous as to want to let you commit suicide, but because you saved Riku and everyone’s lives, I couldn’t punish you.” 

“Y, y, yes. W, w, what have you understood?” 

“Well. If you crossed the line with other women, you should have earnestly climbed Mt. 

Koya in fear of me at this time right? You wouldn’t be so stupid as to cross the line and show your face in front of me right? If it is just a kiss, a sufficient punishment would be chopping off one leg don’t you think? Right, Yoshiharu?” 

Yoshiharu trembled violently unintentionally. 

“I’m just kidding. I’ll overlook it this time. So Yoshiharu, the serious mission that you burdened yourself of your own accord is called “saving the life of Himekishis”. Even so, that belief was so strong that it defeated the unrivaled, undefeated Bishamonten. When a girl lover goes to that extent, I can’t complain anymore.” 

“I, I, I’m sorry!” 

“Alright. The princess who was troubled by a bad dream, did she wake up?” 

“Ah. As Kenshin is still alive, it appears that she has woken up.” 

“I see. Then I won’t lend Yoshiharu to the princess any more. The ending, Kenshin and I will arrive at it.” 

Nobuna’s expression as she stared at Yoshiharu was gentle. 

Nobuna seems to harbor a kind of sympathy for the much, much lonelier Kenshin. 

But if I do the same to another Himekishi next, it might become a difficult scene of bloodshed at that time, Yoshiharu though. 

Not to mention, if I temporarily lose to the temptation and make a move on Yoshimoto, there will be no use arguing and it will probably be beheading. 

“I can’t help being astounded by the attack speed of the Echigo army. When the Echigo army dispatched troops to Kanto for the first time, Hojo Ujiyasu had no choice but to throw away both Ueno and Musashi and shut herself in Odawara Castle before Kenshin’s lightning-like fierce attacks. In this situation if I abandon Hokuriku, the Oda army will be shut up in Azuchi Castle too. Then it would be a loss. The enemy who is starting a war to invade the capital isn’t only the Echigo army. There is also Takeda and Mori.” 

“Is there a possibility that we can reconcile with Uesugi Kenshin? Even if reconciliation is impossible, is it not possible to at least put off the decisive battle?” Nobuna asked Hanbei and Kanbei as Hanbei shook her head. 

“Even if she has become a human, Kenshin-sama is the justice warrior. It never occurred to her to change her lifestyle as the justice warrior. Once she gave an “agreement” to have the Ashikaga shogun depend on her, there will be no way to stop her invasion of the capital. On the other hand, if Nobuna-sama arrives at Echizen, Kenshin-sama will come out seeking a fair and square final battle. Unless the peace between Takeda Shingen-sama and Hojo Ujiyasu-sama breaks.” 

“Dearuka. In order to build a new Japan, it seems that Uesugi Kenshin has to be defeated along with the Ashikaga family.” 

“There is one more thing. For this war, Kenshin changed into a Sengoku daimyo that stole the land of other countries. As soon as she changed, she finished off the three countries Ecchu, Noto, and Kaga in one go, and her national power increased to 1.4 million koku, equal to Takeda Shingen. In addition, even though Kenshin’s weak point is ruling territory, there is the young strategist, Naoe Kanetsugu. While that girl is weak in battle, she is a genius in regards to internal affairs. The current Uesugi Kenshin is not an opponent you can bring into a long war as before, or possible to deceive with political ability and tricks. Unless we win quickly, she will keep pushing steadily.” 

“Takeda Shingen though is impossible, to keep fighting with that monster of war and continue being tied”, Kanbei added while complaining. 

“I got it, Harima. But, I must match the justice of Kenshin who followed the conditions of the withdrawal from Tedorigawa and returned Yoshiharu to me with my own justice. I’ll dispatch some military couriers to Kenshin. With this, it is now lending and borrowing.” 

“Hmm? Couriers? Will you send salt?” 

“Sob, sob. Was it possibly brought from Azuchi?” 

“The war we are going to perform now, is a war of change to give birth to a new Japan. 

Without personal grudges, I want to have a magnificent final battle with Kenshin.” 

“But Nobuna. What will you do about Takeda Shingen who is surrounding Nagashino castle? With the Sengoku Era’s dragon and tiger as opponents, to fight two fair and square decisive battles simultaneously is reckless. We have to at least reach a stalemate with one of the fronts.” 

“That’s right, Sagara-dono. The information that the Echigo army defeated the Oda army in Tedorigawa has been spread to the whole country. If they regard this as a good opportunity and Mori to the west starts an attack in earnest, then the situation will become one where the Oda clan is surrounded on all sides. Two points. 

“With this, the second Oda encirclement has been completed. It was rather difficult even with Honbyo Temple that doesn’t have battling as its main duty, and if the Honbyo Temple attacked, it was potentially possible to buy time by moving the Yamato Gosho to Honbyo Temple,” the always optimistic Kanbei had a grim expression. 

Hanbei on the contrary continued thinking of a way to break through. “Now that the Honbyo Temple riot was brought to an end, I can see a route to take the world by having a final round of battles of samurai family versus samurai family. We have seized a positive situation.” 

“With Honbyo Temple’s encirclement, they caused riots all over the country one after another using their followers. But this encirclement is the the united front of the strongest of the Sengoku Era, Takeda and Uesugi. Whichever one is more troublesome, it’s a difficult place. 

Additionally, I can’t use my trick of anticipating what will happen with my future knowledge since this has already taken a different shape from the history I know.” 

I was able to reduce the number of people killed in battle by ending the riot early, and avoid the road that lead to Nobuna becoming the demon king, but the reason the degree of difficulty for this ordeal is so high is my fault, Yoshiharu groaned. 

Tsuda Nobusumi brought in a messenger from the Tanba front. 

“Wait Ane-ue. Saru-kun. A herald came from Mitsuhide. It is an urgent request.” 

Akechi Mitsuhide returned to the Tanba front and restarted the fight to subjugate Tanba. 

The army of the supreme leader of Chugoku, the Mori clan, consisted of two battalions, Kikkawa Motoharu’s San’in army, and Kobayakawa Takakage’s San’yo army. 

Kobayakawa’s San’yo district was defeated in the naval battle against the Oda clan, and subsequently was moving to capture Harima and Settsu through the land route. Yamanaka Shikanosuke was in Harima’s Himeji Castle to prevent this. Probably because she suffered such a crushing defeat in the naval battle, Kobayakawa Takakage had become more cautious, and she also had to dismiss the traitor called Ukita Naoie from the front line. Because she can’t put her full trust in the last of the “Sengoku Era’s Three Great Villains”, Ukita Naoie, Kobayakawa Takakage became slow to act. 

The problem is Kikkawa Motoharu’s San’in army. 

The powerful commander, Kikkawa Motoharu, was trying to take the two countries of San’in, Tajima and Tanba, in turn and was going to invade the capital from the San’in highway. 

Tajima’s daimyo, Yamana Suketoyo, was a small and weak daimyo and had been going back and forth between Oda and Mori until now. With Kikkawa Motoharu’s army advancing, the possibility that he would change sides to Mori was high. 

If Tajima falls, Tanba which is the door to the Kyoto from San’in would be in danger. If Kikkawa Motoharu takes Tanba, the Mori’s huge army would be able to attack Kyoto all at once. 

And now, Nobuna was fighting against Kenshin and Shingen in the east. 

In other words, the last line of defense on the Mori front is Tanba. 

But the powerful clan of Tanba, the Hatanos, continued resisting the Mitsuhide army without submitting to the Oda house. 

Nobuna entrusted Mitsuhide with the important mission of “the Tanba capture” once again, and she was going to put a lid on the Kikkawa Motoharu’s road to the capital. But a herald came from this Mitsuhide. 

“It is a serious matter, Nobuna-sama. Yamana Suketoyo of Tajima surrendered to Kikkawa Motoharu.” 

The breakthrough power of the courageous commander, Kikkawa Motoharu, the Oda clan’s generals were not able to fully estimate it. 

Kikkawa Motoharu has the exact opposite personality of her younger twin sister, Kobayakawa Takakage, and her method of fighting is also opposite. 

Kobayakawa Takakage is a genius strategist who takes countries as if it was a chess problem, the strong general Kikkawa Motoharu merely beats down her opponents on the battlefield without thinking about anything. 

Mitsuhide who fights slowly against her opponents using logic would be compatible with Kobayakawa Takakage who has a similar nature. “Bringing several fronts into a stalemate to avoid a final battle against multiple enemies at the same time”, it was supposed to be Nobuna’s perfect strategy to win in the Mori front. 

But while Mitsuhide was setting up her schemes, Kikkawa Motoharu merely rushed forward without thinking, invaded the enemy territory, and conquered castles one after another. 

Even worse, Mitsuhide was having a hard time dealing with the powerful families of Tanba that developed the so-called guerilla warfare and were hiding in the mountains. With her hands full with maintaining the Tanba front, she couldn’t deal with the explosive breakthrough power of the oncoming Motoharu. 

“Kikkawa Motoharu’s army is already leaving Tajima for Tanba. The powerful local families of Tanba sided with Mori, Juubei is now the lone force in Tanba. I can only hold out for two weeks. The defeated army will be killed in the way of the samurai families. I don’t have regrets, but in this situation Tanba will be stolen by Kikkawa Motoharu. If Tanba is stolen now, the Oda army will be chased to Kyoto, the Imagawa Shogunate will collapse, and the Oda clan will fall.” 

For that Akechi Mitsuhide to call for reinforcements had never happened before, 

everyone was shocked. Mitsuhide was a comrade with a lot of pride, even if she abandoned her duty and achievements, she would always save her Oda clan comrades by personally leading reinforcements. 

For that Mitsuhide to be cornered, Kikkawa Motoharu -! 

As expected, I might have been taking advantage of Juubei-chan all this time, Yoshiharu ground his back teeth and withstood the impulse to shout out. 

Juubei-chan participated in the battles and sent reinforcements everywhere while sacrificing her own work in the Tanba front. She kept putting off her own dream of becoming a daimyo that rules over multiple prefectures to revive the Akechi clan, and continued helping us. 

When I was unconscious and near death during the Retreat of Kanegasaki, when I was cornered in Harima, when I lost my memories and challenged and lost to Nobuna in the naval battle as a member of the Mori army and almost sunk in the Osaka Bay, Juubei-chan always rescued me. As a result, she is now in this predicament. 

But, the Echigo army has already invaded and attacked the Tedorigawa northern coast. 

Nobuna can’t move from Echizen. 

“Hanbei. Kanbei. Is there a method to stop Mori’s advance? If this goes on, Juubei…” 

Hanbei and Kanbei answered Nobuna’s question at the same time. 

“Sob sob. Nobuna-sama has already been making preparations, there is no choice but to oppose the encirclement by making an even larger encirclement. I will enter into an alliance with Data Masamune of Oshu to fight Kanto. For Mori-” 

“Sorin Otomo of Kyushu is the mortal enemy of the Mori clan. This Simeon has a connection to Sorin! Simeon will go to Bungo and try to mobilize Sorin.” 

The Christian daimyo Sorin Otomo, Yoshiharu raised his head as if he had woken up. 

“That’s right. Japan extends beyond the Oda encirclement! Oshu, Shikoku, and above all I completely forgot about the existence of Kyushu!” 

“Oh dear~? Yoshiharu~? Perhaps Oshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu aren’t recorded on future maps~?” Nobuna teased Yoshiharu. 

“No, I’m ashamed. With the exception of Gunma, all of them are included in maps. 

Because Gunma is a previously unexplored region it is currently a blank spot on maps.” 

“Where is Gunma? In any case it was the right decision to build the seminary in Azuchi Castle and gather foreign exchange students from Kyushu to build friendly relationships with the Kyushu Christian daimyos!” 

“Nobuna-sama. If we oppose the encirclement with a larger encirclement, this fight will stop being a local war of country versus country, it will become a nationwide battle. The victims will also increase. But, if we can win this bet, Tenka Fubu will be attained in one battle! This matter that should take tens of years, in just one battle. If defeated we will lose everything, if we win will capture the whole country. This is the true strategy Nobuna-sama was imagining.” 

“Mufu. Entrust Kyushu to this Simeon who has had the experience of living in Hakata. 

When it comes to the Namban, Sorin will completely wake up and get excited as she wants to make Japan a Christian kingdom. She’ll probably put a double-edged sword condition of 

“entering into a Christian Missionary alliance”, but in this case it is unavoidable!” 

“However, Kuroda-dono has a past record where she fell to Ukita Naoie’s plots and was confined to a dungeon. I’m worried about sending her alone as an emissary, fifty points,” 

Nagahide put out a sober score. 

Otomo Sorin is a Himekishi and a friend of Simeon so it is safe, Kanbei retorted. Nobuna and Hanbei had worried faces, “Harima races forward without thinking about the consequences, has a big mouth, and makes promises too hastily.” “I have heard that presently Otomo Sorin-sama is in conflict with the anti-Namban corps the “Shimazu family” for control of Kyushu. If she is asked to carelessly attack Mori, there is the possibility that it will cause a serious evil. Sob, sob.” 

“All you, your words are as if you aren’t Simeon’s true friends! It’s fine, Sorin is probably…surely…f, friend…maybe she isn’t…ueeeen!” 

“This alliance negotiation, we are low on days and not even the tiniest blunder can be allowed…. here Yoshiharu. I entrust this to you, the ultimate ladykiller!” 

“EH!? Me?” 

“With Kanbei, enter an alliance with Otomo Sorin! I entrust you with full authority! 

From the cessation of territory to the appointment of government officials, do as you like! Your time limit is two weeks. This is the only method to break the state of the war where we are surrounded by enemies and save Juubei who is alone in Tanba!” 

“But I don’t know Otomo Sorin?” 

“In this situation, the means don’t matter. Because I won’t be angry even if you put Sorin into your Rokujouin without permission. Nothing other than saving Juubei is important. If I lost Juubei…please!” 

“…Alright. Setting aside Rokujouin, I will negotiate an alliance with Sorin-dono. Otomo Sorin is an ardent Christian. I also heard that the missionary Gaspard is serving as her advisor. I will have Frois-chan participate as well.” 

“Fine. But if you commit some obscene behavior with Frois, then…” 

“I won’t do that!” 

“Oh dear. In that case I will go to Kyushu with my husband.” Because Imagawa Yoshimoto suggested this, Nobuna signaled Katsuie and Inuchiyo with her eyes and Yoshimoto was kidnapped. “What did I do~” Yoshimoto who was running wild was dragged out of the room without discussion. 

“Isn’t she becoming more and more brazen? I think that woman never had the intention of ending the wedding talk with Yoshiharu-dono as an act! In the first place, to bring a marriage partner to the location of alliance negotiations, that would be the worst impression!” 

While Nobuna’s temple twitched she barely controlled the impulse to shout “Command Imagawa Yoshimoto to commit harakiri!” 

“But the Shimazus of Satsuma who are aiming for complete control over Kyushu won’t stay silent if the Oda clan intervenes in Kyushu. Hanbei, do we have no choice but to send that guy to Satsuma? I’m a little worried when compared with Yoshiharu, but in order to get the pompous Shimazu house to listen, it can only be that guy.” 

“Yes. If it is possible to suppress the Shimazus for a brief period of time, Otomo Sorin-sama can focus her efforts on the anti-Mori war. She can stop Mori’s advance.” 

Hanbei nodded calmly. 

As for Kobayakawa Takakage who leads the San’yo district forces of the conquerors of Chugoku, the Mori family, she restarted the march to Harima through the land route. 

Takakage’s twin older sister who leads the San’in district’s army, Kikkawa Motoharu, had already advanced through the San’in district with the speed of a rapid wave. 

“The way Takakage advances is so slow. Hurry up and steal Sagara Yoshiharu. Take Oda Nobuna down.” Motoharu sent urgent letters one after another. 

“The Oda army was soundly beaten by Uesugi Kenshin in Kaga’s Tedorigawa, they fled, and Uesugi Kenshin’s illness started and the Echigo army has halted. How long are you going to hesitate over your judgements? The one who won was certainly Uesugi Kenshin, but that she is down due to illness is lucky. In addition, I’m worried about the Oda army’s easy way of escaping.” 

Ukita Naoie, the daimyo who was forced into military service this time, pulled up next to Kobayakawa Takakage on horseback and asked, “How does Kobayakwa-ojousama see it? Can Kikkawa-ojousama crush Tanba with just force?” 

If she replied carelessly, Ukita Naoie might immediately go over to the Oda clan. 

Ukita Naoie was a man who bundled up a gift for war as a vassal and a genius at schemes resembling Mori Motonari. He was always sniffing around for the “winner” that he could entrust his daughter Hideie to after his death. In order to protect his daughter, Naoie would always change sides to the house that seemed like it was going to win at any given moment. 

But, if I am unable to control this man I would be unqualified to enter this battle with the world at stake in the first place, Kobayakawa Takakage had already resolved herself. 

“Oda Nobuna will try to build an even larger encirclement than the Oda encirclement to try to overcome this critical situation.” 

“A large-scale encirclement?” 

“That’s right. Oda Nobuna should be trying to make a net with the whole country to seal us. To restrain Uesugi and Takeda she will ally with Date Masamune of Oshu, and to stop the march of Mori she will join forces with Kyushu’s Otomo Sorin. Otomo Sorin is a Christian daimyo, and is the mortal enemy of Mori who has fought over north Kyushu for many years. 

Oda Nobuna will focus all of her efforts on an alliance with Otomo Sorin.” 

“Oh ho. The Mori clan has Otomo Sorin as their weak point for some reason. Even the first generation Motonari gave up on north Kyushu and barely escaped Kyushu with his life. Isn’t this bad?” 

“Plots and strategies mean a lot in Chugoku. Kyushu is where the countries of the ‘Kumaso’ and ‘Hayato’ amassed their war schools and is the world of carnage. Even if we are successful with three, four, or five traps, everything can be overturned in one all out battle. 

Power is the strongest. Military might is justice. The country of the Asura, it is the law of Kyushu. But now Kyushu is boiling over with an unprecedented Christian mania. The reason why Oda Nobuna built the seminary in Azuchi and gathered foreign exchange students from the Christian daimyos of Kyushu is to deepen friendships and and enter an alliance with them, including Otomo. In addition, Oda Nobuna will also move for Otomo Sorin’s arch-enemy, the four Shimazu sisters of Satsuma. To not let the Shimazu who are aiming at unifying Kyushu attack Otomo, she will strike with a harsh method. Because Otomo can focus all their efforts on Mori if Shimazu is sealed.” 

“Oh my, that fellow is so far-sighted, Ojou-sama. Oda Nobuna is formidable. If Otomo hits us from behind, we won’t be able to proceed to the capital. What about Mori’s crazed march as of now?” 

“…Oda Nobuna thought of it, but I was one step ahead. I have already played my hand. 

Shimazu will not abandon their ambition of unifying Kyushu, and will fight a decisive battle with their old enemy Otomo Sorin.” 

Kobayakawa Takakage closed her eyes, and smiled quietly while feeling the sea breeze that blew in from Harima’s sea. 

“Finally, this war with Oda Nobuna, from Oshu to Kyushu, it will be a war on the nationwide scale including all of the countries of Japan. Even if there are many twists and turns, both of us are aligned, the ‘war’ that Oda Nobuna and I envision will be realized. These chaotic times that have lasted for one hundred years will come to an end with this oncoming ‘war’.” 

Ukita Naoie had never seen the form of Kobayakawa Takakage charging forward without any hesitation like this before. 

“Between mortal enemies, they are aligned, is that it? Moreover, they are opponents who have never met. Is such a feat possible?” 

Takakage nodded proudly. 

“Because Oda Nobuna and I, now, have the same dream.” 

Kaga, Mattou castle. 

The battle front of the Echigo Army that subjugated all of Kaga following Ecchu and Noto after the Shibata Katsuie army fled in Tedorigawa. 

The sound of a biwa resounded in the parlor of the center area. 

Not the former sound filled with calm and loneliness, it was a passionate tone like piled up emotions were exploding. 

Suddenly, Kenshin stopped her hands. 

“It’s strange, Kanetsugu. The moon this evening is strangely red.” 

Nonchalantly, she looked up at the night sky. 

Naoe Kanetsugu was standing next to Kenshin. 

“From Oda Nobuna who has entered Echizen, some gifts have been sent to Kenshin-sama.” 

“To the opponent she will fight a decisive battle with from now on, she sent gifts? Is it possibly salt?” 

“One is the ‘Views in and around Kyoto’ folding screen. The former shogun, Ashikaga Yoshiteru, dreamed of the day that the justice warrior Kenshin-sama who became the kanrei would proceed to the capital and subjugate this chaotic world. Since this ‘Views in and around Kyoto screen’ is prompting Kenshin-sama to visit the capital, it seems that this is something that Yoshiteru ordered from the genius illustrator Kano Eitoku. Kano Eitoku had a premonition that this picture would push Kenshin-sama to move and would change the history of japan, and continued to work day and night to make his “life’s masterpiece”, but because Yoshiteru was driven out of Kyoto before the picture was completed it remained unfinished in the hands of Kano Eitoku. It seems that Oda Nobuna placed an order for this masterpiece again and had it completed.” 

When Kenshin turned and looked behind her, the golden ‘Views in and around Kyoto’ was displayed in the room. 

The image of the revived capital of Kyoto that had been destroyed by continual wars and revolts since the Onin war, Eitoku’s bold brush strokes and gorgeous color usage had finished the painting magnificently. 

On the right, the Yamato Gosho, Enryakuji Temple, Kiyomizu temple, Gojobashi, the touring of Yamahoko. 

On the left, Kurama Temple, the Golden Pavilion, the funeral ceremony, the togetsu bridge at Arashiyama. 

The many people who were drawn in the golden city – the townsfolk, the noble samurai, and the total number reached almost 2500. 

Kenshin stared at the dazzling picture on the folding screen. 

“They all seem as if they are alive.” 

Among those people, there was a little girl dressed as a miko, a Himekishi with a wide forehead posing with a pistol and wearing Namban shoes, and a missionary with blue eyes. 

And, the figure of a petite Himekishi who was pure white just like a snow fairy. 

The Himekishi who grasped a bamboo staff in her hands, was not carried out on a palanquin carried by the vassals’ troops. 

On her own feet, she stepped on the ground of Kyoto, walking. 

There was a girl wearing a Namban hat and a crimson mantle, a small monkey riding on the girl’s shoulder, and the figure of a large warrior maiden with long bright red hair, carrying an O-bon lantern and waiting for the white Himekishi. 

“Kanetsugu. This girl with white skin and red eyes?” 

“That is Kenshin-sama. Oda Nobuna is calling Kenshin-sama to the capital. It can be seen as a magnificent challenge, but she may have also wanted to convey the will that when the age of war is over, she will invite Takeda Shingen and you to meet in the capital as friends. Or maybe it was all of those.” 

“But. This girl isn’t wearing the priest hood. Besides, I don’t wear clothes like this. Such flashy red clothes. Such brilliant, vivid, clothes like a maiden in love, they don’t suit me.” 

“I may bite my tongue, but it seems to be called, ‘Crimson snow petals doubuku’ The real thing was sent. Here.” 

TL Note: The doubuku is the the layer of clothing seen after a samurai removed his armor. 

A sliding paper door opened suddenly and Kenshin’s eyes looked in. 

Dazzling, the red body clothes gave off a gorgeous brightness. 

Red. 

It was red to a shocking extent. 

Is the snow willow pattern inlaid in the red cloth supposed to represent the snow of Echigo? 

For Kenshin, this kind of feminine clothes that almost seemed to be from a dream, had never been worn. 

Bishamonten is abstinent. It does not come down to earth. The figure of a charming young girl. It was not necessary to show anyone, and there was never an opportunity. 

That was how it should be – until yesterday. 

But now. 

While being confused by the feelings that were rising inside herself as if they were going to explode, Kanetsugu went behind her and finished helping her put on the crimson clothes. 

“It looks very good. The numerous princesses that appear in ‘The Tale of Genji’ don’t match the loveliness of Kenshin-sama.” 

“Ah. Kanetsugu. I have held a desire. The deep desire that not even Takeda Shingen held. 

I want to obtain it, I wonder if it is okay.” 

“Yes. Humans fight in order to obtain their dreams.” 

“May I dance? I want to practice. One day, rather than alone, in order to dance with that person.” 

“Yes. To your heart’s content. This Kanetsugu will play the biwa.” 

Kenshin danced. While a soft smile appeared on her lips. 

Now that I have come down to earth, let’s settle this. 

Betting each other’s dreams, betting the things we desire, let’s fight. 

Not as Bishamonten and demon king, but as human and human.