Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 15 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - The Predicament of Oda Nobuna and Akechi Mitsuhide 

“Yamana Toyokuni. As your uncle, the ruler of Tajima and vassal of the Oda Clan, Yamana Suketoyo refused to surrender to the Mori clan, we have sent a messenger to reach a truce at last. With this, the suppression of Inaba and Tajima has been completed. This Kikkawa Motoharu shall open a way to proceed to the capital right away. Most of the natives of the country of Tanba including Hatano Hideharu are accompanying the Mori clan. Right now Akechi Mitsuhide’s forces have been isolated in Tamba-- our long cherished dream of visiting the capital will be fulfilled once we defeat Akechi Mitsuhide.” 

The brave general of the Mori clan, Kikkawa Motoharu who lead the San’in forces of the supreme ruler of Chugoku, continued to attack like a surging wave. The Kikkawa forces had already crossed Inaba (east of Tottori) and Tajima (north of Hyogo) and were aiming at Tanba. 

“However…… The two men of Yamana, Toyokuni and Suketoyo, doing something like capitulating to Mori and joining the Oda. This Motoharu doesn’t like that sort of samurai. One whose character is fickle.” 

“……The mind is fickle, one cannot know when it will be certain. Such is the thing called the common man.” 

The ruler of Inaba, Yamana Toyokuni who advanced next to Kikkawa Motoharu on a horseback, answered with a pale expression. Previously, those words were said when he was assisted in reclaiming the Tottori castle after he had been chased from it. It was the same thing that he conveyed to his sworn friend Yamanaka Shikanosuke who had returned the seat of the ruler of Inaba to him. 

The noble son of the prestigious Yamana clan, Yamana Toyokuni was swallowed up in the wave of social upheaval and fell to ruin. Toyokuni was helped by Yamanaka Shikanosuke who raised a righteous army to help with the revival of the Amago clan. And yet despite this, Toyokuni had betrayed Shikanosuke twice and went over to Mori. 

The mind is fickle, one cannot know when it will be certain. Such is the thing called the common man. 

Yamana Toyokuni said those words to Shikanosuke and apologized. 

I may never meet Shikanosuke, Shikanosuke will be killed by the Mori clan. Toyokuni who thought this wanted to apologize to Shikanosuke with a letter at the very least. No, I wanted to make an excuse while in the painful position where I had to submit to the Mori clan for the sake of the continuation of the Yamana clan. 

However, as time went on, Shikanosuke miraculously survived. She entered into servitude under the Oda clan who invaded Chugoku, became a vice general of Sagara Yoshiharu’s army, and created an army in Harima. 

“She would never change her lord. Did something change Shikanosuke’s heart who said that she wouldn’t have any lord except the Amago clan? Could it be that my two betrayals of Shikanosuke were the impetus for her change? On top of that, I made my Oji-jo of Tajima betray his ally for the sake of opening a path for Kikkawa Motoharu’s visit to the capital.  Not only Akechi Mitsuhide of Tanba, but I also drove Shikanosuke of Harima into a predicament. I wonder if I will meet Shikanosuke face to face on the battlefield……?”  

Kikkawa Motoharu said this to the troubled Yamana Toyokuni. 

“Shikanosuke fell in love with someone called Sagara Yoshiharu. Just like an ayu (sweetfish) cannot live in muddy water, an ordinary man wouldn’t be able to capture the beautiful heart of Shikanosuke. They wouldn’t be able to control her. They could only be able to help her to believe in herself. However, Sagara 

Yoshiharu is different. He is a kind man. He resembles my Ani. A man who would die early in his life in the world of the Sengoku era to protect a Hime-Busho.” 

Kikkawa Motoharu squinted her eyes and looked up at the blue sky. 

“……And so I have shamelessly survived.” 

“Toyokuni. I am, this Motoharu is different from my Imouto. You have betrayed Shikanosuke twice. If you display a betrayal towards the Mori clan, I will cut you without hesitation.” 

Yamana Toyokuni trembled violently inside his heart. He had received a suspicious letter from Ukita Naoie of Bizen Mimasaka who presently followed Kobayakawa Takakage. It had shaken his thought that, “it’s a wise choice to help both Mori and Oda clan evenly”.  

“My Imouto, Kobayakawa Takakage has a gentle heart. For the sake of the Mori clan she tried to control the scoundrel Ukita Naoie who is like a Youkai without killing him. But I am different. Especially to you who has sold out my lifetime archenemy, Yamanaka Shikanosuke, twice to the Mori clan, I don’t like it. The next time your mind wavers, my beloved katana ‘Himekiri’ will drop your head.” 

The main objective of Kikkawa Motoharu’s San’in conquest tactic would begin when her imouto, Kobayakawa Takakage, blockaded Harima of San’yodou which was protected by Yamanaka Shikanosuke. Once that occurred, she would march from Inaba to Tajima at godspeed, join the Tanba’s anti-Oda clan force, subjugate the area, and then enter the backside of the capital from San’indou. 

The ruler of Tajima, Yamana Suketoyo, is the uncle of the ruler of Inaba, Yamana Toyokuni, who accompanied the Mori clan. “Even though you have run over to the Mori clan, I already serve the Oda clan. It’s too late for a betrayal now…… after this, let’s have a fair and square fight between the Yamana clan. The one who survives shall continue the clan name of Yamana.”  

Toyokuni began desperately persuading the unwilling Suketoyo. “I would be fighting Oji-jo who supported the Yamana clan together with me as a proxy of this Oda and Mori clan war. Then the Yamana clan will be crushed during the decisive battle between the Mori and Oda clans. Before Oji-jo knew it, I have made a truce with Kikkawa Motoharu by becoming her vassal. It’s possible to explain it to the Oda clan as a time of emergency.” 

Suketoyo whose body had weakened due to his old age compromised with his nephew’s persuasion. 

Kikkawa Motoharu was originally a brave general who didn’t like plots and creating strategies. But, to contrive a strategy and win against the enemy general before shedding any blood had been the traditional method of the Mori clan since its first generation Motonari. “This San’in attack is called a surprise attack so to speak. It will fail if we take too much time. We mustn’t give any more time to the wise Akechi Mitsuhide. The earlier the march, the better.” Kobayakawa Takakage recommended the plot to Yamana Suketoyo. 

“It’s finally a showdown with Akechi Mitsuhide. Its rumored that she is a Hime-Busho who is comparable to her lord Oda Nobuna and is fighting to obtain Sagara Yoshiharu. That woman who stole Yoshiharu from my imouto is my imouto’s hateful rival in love. Does she have any capacity as a leader? I will evaluate it in this battlefield through bow and arrow. And then, this Kikkawa Motoharu will certainly kill her!” 

Akechi Mitsuhide was in the battlefield of Tanba Sasayama. 

In Oda Nobuna’s original plan, Sagara Yoshiharu was planned to attack the San’yo region while Akechi Mitsuhide captured the San’in region. 

However, the frontline in Harima at San’yo intensified more than was expected. When Matsunaga Hisahide rebelled at the same time in Yamato, Mitsuhide who had captured Tanba  entered the frontline in Harima. 

In addition, Mitsuhide participated in the battle of Tennoji and Kizugawaguchi afterwards. 

Both were to rescue Nobuna and Sagara Yoshiharu who had fallen into predicaments. 

For this reason, Mitsuhide’s capture of Tanba advanced slowly. Soon the Takeda clan from the east and the Uesugi clan from the north will be marching to the capital simultaneously and it will become a situation where Mitsuhide won’t have any reinforcements. This caused Kikkawa Motoharu to judge this surprise attack as her chance at victory. 

Among the powerful clans of Tanba that resisted Mitsuhide, there was the strongest of west Tanba, Akai Naomasa of Kuroi castle. He was an old general who was famous for his bravery. 

Akai Naomasa cooperated with the other force in the area, Hatano Hideharu of Sasayama who had created the impregnable mountain castle Yakami castle as his stronghold. Although Hatano Hideharu himself was not very strong, one cannot easily conquer Yakami castle with a frontal assault. Although Hatano Hideharu had allied himself with Mitsuhide and they had previously been attacking Kuroi castle together, as soon he learned that Mitsuhide had left the Tanba frontline to fight numerous battles at Harima, he betrayed her. “It’s time to liberate Tanba from the Oda clan.” At that time, the kin of the Hatano clan, the lord of Miki castle Bessho Nagaharu, went over to the Mori clan and cut off the path of retreat for Sagara Yoshiharu’s army. That was one of the reasons for the Hatano clan’s betrayal. 

Hatano Hideharu knew that both Yamana clans of Inaba and Tajima had joined the Mori clan by now. If he stayed at Yamaki castle without fighting Mitsuhide, just like that both of the Yamana clans would draw Kikkawa 

Motoharu’s forces to Tanba some time soon. If both Kikkawa’s forces and Yakami castle attacked simultaneously, then even Mitsuhide cannot support her army. 

The only salvation for Mitsuhide is the flaw of the strongest brave general of Tanba, Akai Naomasa of Kuroi castle, who was not able to come as the reserve army for Yakami castle. But the similar “Mushou” Kikkawa Motoharu is much stronger. There were remarkable differences in the mobilization of military forces between a single man from Tanba and the conqueror of Chugoku, the great unified Mori force of San’in which had swallowed up Inaba and Tajima. 

“……Kikkawa Motoharu’s forces are too fast. Don’t tell me that in these last moments, Yamana Suketoyo of Tajima has betrayed Nobuna-sama…… it’s necessary to keep a hostage.” 

Headquarters of the Akechi army. 

Mitsuhide was calculating the number of days until Kikkawa Motoharu entered Tanba. No matter how many times she calculated it again and again, she only had a few days left. Mitsuhide was having difficulties in dealing with Yakami castle. Even if she adopted the “Long Siege Attack” that was contrived by Takenaka Hanbei and Kuroda Kanbei when they attacked Miki castle, she would still need time for a sieged castle to surrender. If they didn’t run out of provisions in the castle, the tactic would be ineffective. And there was still plenty of food in the castle. 

It was impossible to make Yakami castle surrender before Kikkawa’s forces entered Tanba. 

“If Kikkawa’s army arrives here, my army will meet defeat once I flee from Tanba. But this retreat is merely a losing battle. As expected from the Mori clan who houses the Ashikaga Shogun to accomplish their visit to the capital.” 

Mitsuhide was thinking hard while staring at the map. 

“The Oda main force is currently facing against Uesugi Kenshin in Echizen. Oda’s army has already suffered a crushing defeat at Tedorigawa and lost Kaga. On the other hand, Shikanosuke-dono who led the Sagara army at Harima is facing Kobayakawa Takakage. At Tokaido, Matsudaira Motoyasu is facing Takeda Shingen. In other words, the enemies are attacking simultaneously in every direction. Nobuna-sama herself realized that Takeda’s army was attacking much earlier than Uesugi outside of her expectations and led a forced march from Echizen to Shitarahara of Mikawa……at Settsu, because its ruler Araki Murashige-dono was suspected of rebellion, the chains of command are still in disorder. With this, there is no chance for reinforcements……” 

Mitsuhide had sent a letter for reinforcements to Nobuna. But with both of the latter’s arch-nemeses, the strongest Gunshin Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen who raises the flag of “Furinkazan”, having started their 2nd visit to the capital from the east and north, Nobuna is having a hard time at the frontline. Mitsuhide understood that she cannot spare any soldiers from Tanba to Tougoku no matter how much she racked her brain over it. 

“If we wish for a reversal, we must move Otomo Sorin from Bungo to attack the Mori clan from the back. The one who acted as the envoy is the deceptive Sagara-Senpai who should’ve gone over to Kyushu with Kuroda Kanbei-dono who is an acquaintance of Sorin…… if it’s like that, then reinforcement from Sagara’s army is impossible as well. The only thing that Shikanosuke-dono can do is to wholeheartedly protect Harima.” 

“The Oda clan doesn’t have enough troops, and they don’t have enough generals either.” Mitsuhide lamented. 

Although both Yoshiharu and Nobuna kept on promoting talented people and taking stepsisters which were full of wisdom under their wings, the course of 

the events in this world of the Sengoku era were too sudden and they didn’t have enough time. 

“If only Dousan-sama or Danjo-dono were still alive……” 

With Azai Nagamasa, Oichi, giving birth to 3 children, it was a serious blow now that this talented person was swept away as she cannot return to the battlefield. 

Nobuna also still wasn’t able to consummate her love with Yoshiharu yet. The Oda clan sensed they would risk destruction if she became pregnant now and the war for Tenka Fubu had to be delayed. Oichi’s childbirth and her complete retirement seemed to make Nobuna realize that. 

Come to think of it, Hime-Bushos often remained unmarried for a long time. The coexistence of battle with childbirth and parenting is impossible no matter how much they think about it. Aside from Uesugi Kenshin who swore to remain celibate for life to Bishamonten, the fact was that even Takeda Shingen and Hojo Ujiyasu still remained single. Was it because they were busy with daily battles and they never ever considered about their own retirement? 

I must conquer Yakami castle by my own power somehow or another. If Kikkawa Motoharu joins the people of Tanba, the Oda clan’s political power will collapse. But I cannot think of a plan. 

The vice general Hime-Busho Saito Toshimitsu who, like Mitsuhide, hailed from Mino encouraged Mitsuhide. “We have asked for reinforcements from Chosokabe Motochika of Tosa. The Chosokabe clan are kinsmen to my Saito clan. Though she is a Hime-Busho who is busy with unifying Shikoku, Motochika has a sharp perception and speculates that the Oda clan will become the supreme ruler of Honshuu. This is why when the Oda clan still only owned 2 countries, Mino and Owari, she took a stepsister from my Saito clan. Because Motochika thinks that she can obtain a guaranteed promise of ‘Shikoku’s Independence’ by selling out a 

favor to Oda, she would surely have led her fleet from Tosa to Sakai. Now we have the control of Osaka bay since the Oda clan owns it.” 

“That’s true Toshimitsu…… But, even if Tosa unified Shikoku, it’s different from Awa and Sanuki that face the Setouchi sea. It’s a country that is practically a foreign state outside of Japan. It seems close yet far. The Chosokabe clan who fought earnestly in Shikoku is unfamiliar with the Osaka bay. They will not be in time even if they came.” 

“……That is…… That is true.” 

Perhaps Saito Toshimitsu regretted that she should’ve made allies with the Miyoshi clan who took root in Sanuki which is near to Kinai. However, Miyoshi and Chosokabe are fighting over the seat of the supreme ruler of Shikoku. The Miyoshi clan was defeated in the dispute against Oda clan over Kinai and shut themselves inside Shikoku. Furthermore, they declined completely when their figurehead ‘Miyoshi Three’ fell one after another because of internal disputes. The only remaining brave general who stayed with the Miyoshi clan is the still young Sogo Masayasu. 

Toshimitsu anticipated that the Chosokabe clan would defeat the Miyoshi clan in the end even though the former is in an overwhelming geographical disadvantage. After that, she believed that they would launch navies which would be useful to Mitsuhide who would lead the army to Kyushu as ‘Koretou-Hyuga no Kami’ sooner or later. So she became Mitsuhide’s vice-general and kept on backing up the Chosokabe clan. Although there was a time when Chosokabe Motochika was being intimate with the Mori clan, at the same time she believed that the Oda clan would win in the end. Although she doesn’t know about things outside Shikoku, this was the chance for Chosokabe Motochika to appeal for herself as a ‘Cunning General’ and skilled general of Tosa to the Oda clan. She was currently maintaining a neutral position and completely severed her 

connection with the Mori clan and should’ve sent reinforcements to the Oda clan. Toshimitsu’s diplomatic plan has succeeded. 

But as expected, Tosa is still far away. 

A frail old woman dressed like a nun appeared before the hesitating Mitsuhide and Toshimitsu. 

She is Mitsuhide’s mother – Omaki-no-kata. 

Omaki-no-kata seemed to be older than her actual age. When Saitou Dousan was chased out from Mino by his son Yoshitatsu, the Akechi clan that supported Dousan fell as well. Since then, Omaki-no-kata poured all of her effort to raise the wandering Mitsuhide for the sake of the Akechi clan’s revival. She often lied in bed when she came down with an illness due to anxiety over Mitsuhide’s vagrancy. 

“By the time Mitsuhide served the Oda clan and joined in their visit to the capital, Juubei had become an excellent military commander. My role is finished with this.” Omaki-no-kata shed her tears and personally retired from the world so that she would never interrupt her daughter’s work.  

This mother appeared for the first time before Mitsuhide who was working on the battlefield. 

“Haha-ue? This place is harmful to your body! Why did you come to the battlefield?” 

“Please forgive me Juubei. But as a mother, I cannot overlook my daughter when the Oda clan that entrusted her with a dream fell into crisis. If I remain still and the Oda clan fell, the dream of the revival of Akechi clan will fall as well.” 

“Don’t tell me that Haha-ue has a plan?” 

“Any plans that your mother has thought of, should’ve already been thought of by you, Juubei.” 

“……But…… That means there is only that one……” 

“Send me over to Hatano Hideharu’s place to make peace. The siege of Yakami castle will end with this. If you can turn the whole army used for sieging Yakami castle onto the battlefield, you can meet and fight Kikkawa Motoharu fair and square in front of Tanba and it may be possible to win. You still have enough time to build a defensive formation now.” 

“That’s not possible! The Hatano clan has betrayed Juubei once! If anything happened to Haha-ue!” 

“It’s precisely because they have betrayed you once that the Hatano clan cannot make any truce with you without holding me hostage.” 

“Juubei. You are too softhearted. Sagara-dono has already become the most important person in Harima. Shibata-dono has become the ruler of Echizen. But you haven’t suppressed Tanba yet. This is the result of you sending out reinforcements to everyone at the expense of your own battles. By all rights, this is the time someone should’ve given some assistance to you.” Omaki-no-kata declared in a harsh tone. 

“……Be that as it may, now that a great encirclement has been formed, no one among the Oda clan can afford to send any reinforcement to Juubei. The Oda clan will perish if there is even one rip in our defenses. I cannot tell them to send reinforcements. You have to win this with your own effort. Therefore, take your mother’s life who is not long in this world due to illness.” 

“No way. I absolutely won’t do that! Haha-ue will be killed by the Hatano if you do that…… As for the guarantee that Haha-ue will be absolutely safe, there is no positive evidence that the Hatano clan will accept reconciliation!” 

“Juubei. All will die. I was able to entrust the pride, dream and the bloodline of Akechi clan to an excellent child like you. Even if I die, there will be no regrets as long as you survive.” 

“No. Even if it’s Hahaue’s order, I can only refuse that!” 

“Listen to me, Koretou-Hyuga no Kami. You have grown up into a really quite excellent Hime-Busho. You have been made the right arm of the Tenkabito, Oda Nobuna, and just in case, you have been appointed as her successor. How admirable that you have come this far from being a vagrant. If there is something that I regret, it is that I won’t be able to see the face of my grandchild.” 

“……That kind of thing, please don’t say that in this place now……” 

“Juubei. You have devoted yourself to the Oda clan at the expenses of your own self. There might be someone who will devote himself to you.” 

“Mother will stay at this place until you’ve made up your mind.” Omaki-no-kata said so. Although she is gentle, she is a person who will never listen to any person’s suggestions. 

Mitsuhide gave up sending her mother away from the battlefield. 

The night wind damages the body, and after Mitsuhide earnestly asked her mother, the latter decided to enter the tea room in the main camp situated among the mountains. 

“……Haha-ue……” 

She lost her father at a young age and she lost her clan while she was growing up. Mitsuhide was raised by her mother and achieved a number of miraculous promotions in her life while wandering around from place to place. Her filial piety to her mother is known to the whole world. If Mitsuhide sent her mother, Hatano Hideharu would trust Mitsuhide and he would be beheaded by Oda Nobuna if he betrayed her and didn’t surrender in peace. 

And it’s possible for Mitsuhide to barely escape the biggest crisis of being attacked from both sides by Yakami castle and Kikkawa Motoharu’s forces. 

If Mitsuhide can prevent Kikkawa’s advancement here, Nobuna may be able to find an opportunity for a counterattack at the battle in the east. 

“However, as I believe that Sagara-Senpai will come and move Otomo Sorin, I will wait until the very end. Hatano Hideharu had betrayed me once. He might betray me again. I will believe in Senpai and wait a little longer.” Mitsuhide prayed to her mother. 

Mitsuhide trembled. She might lose her sanity if she lost her mother due to the fight for Tenka Fubu. This is because she was loved by her mother who recognized and supported her talent, even if she lived as a naïve and greenhorn Hime-Busho who found herself in a difficult position and fell to poverty. 

What would Sagara-Senpai say in a time like this? 

Would he not throw away anything, scold me, and cause a miracle? 

Since he came from the future, Senpai seems to know the tragedy that will occur in Juubei’s future. Although Juubei doesn’t know what will happen, a tragic future will come to Juubei if I went through with a plan to sacrifice Haha-ue. I have that kind of feeling. 

Up until now, Mitsuhide kept on pouring gratuitous love like a mother to Yoshiharu who came alone from the future. 

Although Yoshiharu came to this world alone, he had freely and earnestly poured love to Nobuna without any time to grieve over being separated from his family and friends. 

He had to do that, because Nobuna’s heart, after continuing to fight to conquer the world while being rejected by her mother, would become a Maou’s otherwise. 

Yoshiharu’s loneliness, the grief from being parted from his home in the future world, someone had to heal and cover it. During the battle of Kanegasaki, Mitsuhide, who accidentally learned that Yoshiharu was really sad from being separated from his real mother, voluntarily took up that role. 

But there is a source of the affection that flowed within Mitsuhide which she placed into her own success in life and Yoshiharu. That source is Mitsuhide’s mother, Omaki-no-kata. 

If I lose Haha-ue, then Juubei will…… I will not be able to endure this love that will not be rewarded, these feelings towards my own master’s lover. The truth is that the moment that Juubei noticed these feeling towards Senpai, I actually couldn’t help myself from crying out loud. 

Mitsuhide coughed the name of that person, not because she wanted to give him help, but because she asked for help for the first time.. 

“……Sagara-Senpai……” 

Toshimitsu appeared once again before Mitsuhide with a gloomy expression. 

“My apologies. Your mother has……” 

“I don’t want to hear it.” Mitsuhide said in despair. 

But she understood it  even if she didn’t hear it. 

Although Omaki-no-kata was a gentle and sophisticated person, she is a resolute woman. 

And a woman filled with deep love. 

Even her own life can be given calmly for her beloved daughter. 

“……Haha-ue…… Could it be?.......” 

“Yes, using a single opportunity, she has gone to Yakami castle alone…… She left a will with the ‘Flag of Toki Kikkyou’.” 

 “Haha-ue. What should Juubei do if Hatano Hideharu doesn’t accept a truce and it ends with Haha-ue being freely kidnapped as a hostage?” Mitsuhide wanted to ask her mother. But Mitsuhide’s mother is no longer here anymore. 

“Everything depends on Hime’s feelings. If Hatano Hideharu is such a despicable person, stop going after the Mori clan so you can save your mother. If 

you come back to serving the Oda clan with a plan after recapturing your mother, nobody in the world will be able to curse Hime as a betrayer.”  

“Toshimitsu. Never again say anything about betraying Nobuna-sama. The true lord whom you should earnestly be loyal to is not Juubei. It’s Nobuna-sama. Our aim is not ‘Peace for the Akechi clan’ or ‘Toki Genji’s revival’, but instead ‘Tenka Fubu’. I will cut you if you say it again.” 

“But.” 

“Juubei and Nobuna-sama are two people in one body. If one of us is missing then the dream of Tenka Fubu will be over.” 

While trembling from the premonition of the irreparable depth of her and her own mother’s destinies…… “Nobuna-sama. I’ve had a flash of inspiration for a secret plan to maintain the Tanba frontline. Send out a messenger!” Mitsuhide barely told Toshimitsu. They have to negotiate with Hatano Hideharu. Mitsuhide has no choice but to bet on a future where Hatano Hideharu believed Mitsuhide. 

“However. Don’t mention that I sent my Haha0ue to the Hatano clan in the letter to Nobuna-sama. If it is known, it will torment the gentle Nobuna-sama and dull her wisdom. Now that our enemies are the Uesugi and Takeda clans, this is not the time where we can permit any slight mistake of judgement.” 

“……As you wish.” 

A cutting remark towards her vassal. These unusual words that weren’t expected by the vassals came out from the gentle Mitsuhide. 

Toshimitsu, who understood Mitsuhide had been pushed into the corner, thought that it was necessary to prepare another letter in her name to Oda Nobuna. 

Saito Toshimitsu’s only lord was Akechi Mitsuhide. To her, Mitsuhide was a noble and selfless hero, and she almost admired her like a savior. However, she couldn’t ever let Mitsuhide stain her hands with blood for Tenka Fubu like Nobuna, even though the latter had the same abilities. 

This person is too innocent. Nobuna is also a Hime-Busho who is full of “emotion”. Though they are both immediately generous towards their vassals and companions they have opened their hearts to, in Mitsuhide’s case, from the very beginning she lacked the idea of dirtying her own hands for the sake of her dreams. There is a clear difference between the two. Toshimitsu had a foreboding that Mitsuhide would fall because of that power sometimes soon. After Toshimitsu had determined that she should do the dirty work for Mitsuhide, although she served one of Mino’s Three, Inaba Ittetsu, she ran away and stalked over to the Akechi clan. 

In any case, Hatano Hideharu holds the initiative. Is there a plan to reclaim Omaki-no-kata? Mitsuhide and Toshimitsu began their discussion. 

A messenger from Hatano Hideharu came. 

Kasuga shrine is at the foot of the southern mountain of Yakami castle. 

The negotiation between Hatano Hideharu and Akechi Mitsuhide was performed in absolute secrecy in this Kasuga shrine. 

Both armies were only permitted to enter the Kasuga shrine with a small number of people, needless to say the bloodthirst rose. Especially for the Hatano clan that excelled in activities in the mountains of Tanba. There were some cases where, depending upon the circumstances, an assassination would take place if the negotiations broke down. 

The demands on Mitsuhide’s side is the truce between Hatano and Oda. The participation of the Hatano clan in the war against the Mori clan is not required. It will be enough if they stayed neutral. Mitsuhide’s mother Omaki-no-kata has been taken hostage in Yamaki castle. There will be no hostages taken from the Hatano clan. It was a generous request towards the other side who had betrayed her once. Even though Mitsuhide has a good character, she cannot be inflexible now that Omaki-no-kata is alone in Yakami castle. 

The Hatano clan is the strongest feudal lord in Tanba. Although the present head, Hideharu, is still young, he is a stubborn man who is hard to deal with. Miyoshi Nagayoshi who became the conqueror of Kinai left the conquest of Tanba to Matsunaga Hisahide’s brother-in-law. Hatano Hideharu cooperated with the feared lord of Kuroi castle, the “Tanba no Akaoni” Akai Naomasa to simultaneously attack Matsunaga’s forces and Akai Naomasa finally kill Matsunaga’s brother-in-law. 

The basic tactic of the two great men of the Hatano and Akai clans who refused to yield to Miyoshi’s political power was also effective against Akechi Mitsuhide who was dispatched by the Oda’s political power. Hatano Hideharu had originally pledged allegiance to Mitsuhide and enticed Akechi’s army into Tanba. He then let her fight against Akai Naomasa and betrayed her by attacking from the back. However, Mitsuhide was different than Matsunaga Hisahide’s brother-in-law. She broke through the pincer attack from the Hatano and Akai clans excellently and escaped from Tanba and accomplished distinguished services for herself during the “Harima Riot”. 

“It’s imprudent to think that Mori will win this time. Sagara-Senpai will definitely lead the Otomo army and land upon the Mori clan’s territories. Return your soldiers while Kikkawa Motoharu attacks Tanba-- If anything should happen to my Haha-ue, I will not forgive you, Hatano Hideharu-dono.” 

However Hatano Hideharu with his sly combat experience laughed scornfully. “Nobuna-dono and Hyuga-dono are too soft.” 

“The sworn friend of the Hatano clan, Akai Naomasa-dono of Kuroi castle still survives even though he’s laid up with sickness. One of Akai Naomasa-dono’s strength is that he married the Kanpaku, Konoe Sakihisa’s imouto. Even though everyone made light of the mountain soldiers of Akai Naomasa of Tanba, that was imprudent.” 

“In other words, both during the fight against Miyoshi and the fight against Mitsuhide, there were strings being pulled behind the Tanba frontline because Konoe-sama didn’t want these powerful samurai governments that were born in Kinai?” 

“Indeed. In those days when the Miyoshi’s political power was controlling Kinai for Kanpaku-sama, they all fought earnestly when the whole world would have been conquered by Matsunaga Danjou if the Yamato Gosho was destroyed. In order to reduce Danjou’s power, they used the mountainous country Tanba which is next to Kyoto. Tanba is an important place that must be conquered to rule Kinai stably. However, the peculiar topography of the complex mountains and basins of Tanba is a difficult thing for the warriors of Kyoto who are accustomed to the plains. This time as well.” 

“But Hatano Hideharu-dono. Konoe-sama has already become a sworn friend of Nobuna-sama. He changed his opinion and recommend Nobuna-sama for the sake of the whole world to put an end of the disturbances caused by the people of Japan. And right now, he has left the capital and is helping the Oda clan by persuading Shimazu Yoshihisa of the Shimazu clan of Satsuma. Kanpaku-sama doesn’t support Tanba anymore. Akai Naomasa-dono has already lost the support of Kanpaku-sama.” 

“No. Right now nobles are simply something like a ghost. They would change their sides instantly once they see that the Oda clan is in disadvantageous position. The one who has the Nishiki no mihata (New Government Flag) is strong.” Hatano Hideharu didn’t take Konoe Sakihisa’s support for the Oda clan seriously. 

“If Mori’s army enters the capital, Kanpaku-sama will promptly give Nishiki no mihata to the Mori clan. It won’t be called a betrayal if it’s for the sake of Yamato Gosho. That is what is called a noble, Koretou Hyuga-dono. In that way, 

the nobles have survived for 1000 years. Japan would change if Oda Nobuna crushed the Yamato Gosho. If it was Matsunaga Danjou, she would’ve done it. However, Hyuga-dono and Oda Nobuna are too soft. As you can see with your arch-nemesis the Kanpaku, you cannot fight the Yamato Gosho’s proud history and authority that lasted for 1000 years. That kind of thing is simply outrageous and wicked. Therefore, Kanpaku-sama will win in the end.” 

“There is another reason why we cannot submit ourselves to the Oda clan.” Hatano Hideharu pressed on. 

“Even though Oda Nobuna cannot crush Yamato Gosho, that Hime-Busho is stern towards monks and samurai clans who possess military power. She is merciless. Matsunaga Danjou who lent Oda Nobuna a hand to visit the capital became unnecessary when the Miyoshi clan was pushed back to Shikoku and after she shut herself in Yamato she died in an explosion with the Hiragumo. The highly successful Araki Murashige almost got her territory confiscated when Settsu was conquered and then she ran away in a hurry. And as we know, the heads of her arch-nemesis Azai Nagamasa and Asakura Yoshikage were turned into golden skulls. She set fire to Eizan when it supported the Azai and Asakura clans and took away the weapons of the armed monks. She started an unprecedented gun war with Honbyo temple of Osaka which resulted in heaps of corpses being left around the battlefield and she made the nuns of Honbyo temple leave Osaka. The Hatano clan who betrayed Oda Nobuna once will definitely be crushed when the Oda clan conquers the world.” 

The matter about the golden skulls is a drama that Nobuna performed to make the world think that Azai Nagamasa had “died”. But the trick cannot be revealed. Nobuna-sama has been misunderstood too much. Although Mitsuhide was mortified, she cannot tell Hatano Hideharu the truth. 

“On the other hand the Mori clan is, apart from Motonari’s era in the past, now known for their honest family’s social standing. They even permitted the allegiance of the brutal Ukita Naoie who is known as the “Kan’aku Mugen” (Unlimited Evil). My Hatano clan and Akai Naomasa who don’t have the demeanor or the deeds that that savage man has done, if I offer the whole Tanba and let Kikkawa’s army visit the capital from San’yodou, both the Hatano and Akai clans will have eternal peace and security. My Hatano clan has already decided to take the side of the honest Mori clan. I cannot take Hyuga-dono’s proposal.” 

Mitsuhide finally realized that the serious Kobayakawa is one of the reasons the heinous Ukita Naoie didn’t get purged no matter how much Kikkawa Motoharu pressed for that idea. “The integrity of the Mori clan is genuine because even one of the Three Evils of the World, Ukita Naoie was forgiven.” That's why they showed that magnanimity to the daimyos and the populace across the country. 

For this reason, the two daimyos who held strongholds in San’yodou and wavered between the Mori and Oda clan, Yamana Toyokuni and Yamana Suketoyo, were dethroned easily by the Mori clan. And the reason why the Mori clan wanted to possess Hatano Hideharu is the same as the two men of Yamana clan. 

On the other hand, the Oda clan has the strong impression that it will never forgive betrayers because of the big incident known as the “Golden Skulls”. Although Matsunaga Hisahide reaped what she sowed from the beginning for disobeying Nobuna twice, she died in a wasteful and showy death from an explosion while holding the Hiragumo. “Oda Nobuna has a short temper”, this is also the result of the exaggerated impressions by people who don’t know about the clan’s internal problem. 

“……Is that so? Hatano-dono has already put his trust in the Mori clan. Your partner Akai Naomasa-dono has fallen sick and yet.” 

“That’s right. Even if Akai Naomasa died of illness just like that, Kikkawa’s forces will arrive at Tanba soon. You are already a mouse in a trap once Kikkawa Motoharu enters Kuroi castle on behalf of Akai Naomasa, Koretou Hyuga-dono. The Oda clan has been surrounded by enemies in every direction, Hyuga-dono, reinforcements will not come from anywhere.” 

“No. There is Sagara-senpai in Kyushu.” 

“Hmph. Sagara Yoshiharu is just a person of doubtful origin who is only good at persuading Hime-Bushos. He is a youngster who can only do anything because he has the protection of Oda Nobuna. The reason why the Mori clan lost the naval battle is because they employed such an incompetent man as a strategist. He cannot do anything in isolated Kyushu.” 

“……Is that so…… If you won’t make peace with the Oda clan, I want you to return my Haha-ue, Hatano-dono.” 

“We don’t have any personal grudge against Hyuga-dono. By all right, the negotiation of returning your mother would be selling favors to the Hatano clan. We know well that Hyuga-dono is a kind person both inside and on the outside. But we cannot return her. Our clan has already betrayed Hyuga-dono. We fear the wrath of Oda Nobuna. In the future, so that there isn’t any chance that Oda Nobuna would take revenge on my Hatano clan, we cannot return her until the Oda clan leaves the capital. In other words, the Mori clan’s visit to the capital has been accomplished” 

Saito Toshimitsu who waited next to Mitsuhide “bikuri” moved her silky eyebrow. 

Hatano Hideharu had contrived a plot against Akechi Mitsuhide from the very beginning. 

“That is, what do you mean by that?” 

“Hyuga-dono. It means that you must communicate secretly to the Mori clan if you want to save your mother. Of course, you should pretend to officially carry through your loyalty to the Oda clan. While you surround Yakami castle, end your siege of Yakami castle and retreat to Kyoto after being defeated by the night raid of the Hatano army -- Kikkawa Motoharu will soon led a large army from San’in. Hyuga-dono will retire to Omi Sakamoto castle because you cannot save the capital from being outnumbered.” 

“There is no way that you can make this Mitsuhide abandon Nobuna-sama! If I send my Haha-ue to the Hatano clan and then retreat, Juubei will be suspected of treachery by Nobuna-sama!” 

“No. Hyuga-dono didn’t send out her mother. Your mother voluntarily came to Yakami castle in order to save Hyuga-dono from your predicament. If Oda Nobuna doesn’t believe in such a moving story…… Oda Nobuna naturally will not believe in that since she and her own mother hate each other……it’s a fact that Tanba kidnapped Hyuga-dono’s mother. Ishikawa Kazumune!” 

“Yes!” a voice rang out in the same time. A small sized female shinobi appeared in front of Saito Toshimitsu and Mitsuhide without a sound. She seemed to have been hidden in the darkness all this time. 

She covered her face with a ninja hood. She had red eyes that shined with a deadly glare. A dreadful bloodlust was released. When Saito Toshimitsu involuntarily reached for her sword, the girl stated, “I will kill you before you can pull it out” and Toshimitsu was coerced silently. “This shinobi…… I seem to have seen her somewhere…… that’s right. She is somewhat similar to Goemon-dono.” Mitsuhide was puzzled. It was the first time that Ishikawa Kazumune met Mitsuhide after all. 

“This person, although she is young, she is the head of Tanba’s shinobi. She is a master of ninjutsu, a ‘master ninja’ who can sneak into any kind of place. Be it Shinano. Be it Hakone. Be it the Koga of Iga. In this mountainous country where large armies find it hard to move in, an excellent shinobi like Ishikawa Kazumune is naturally very useful. This person captured Hyuga-dono’s mother. It would best to make this as an excuse if Oda Nobuna doubts Hyuga-dono.” 

“That’s too easy-going. Let us just kill Oda Nobuna now, with that everything is solved.” Even though Ishikawa Kazumune spoke vehemently to Hatano Hideharu while biting her lips, Hideharu didn’t agree. “The head of Tenkabito cannot be easily be taken, no matter how good the shinobi is. Assassinating the head of the world is the last trump card that can only be used in case that this clan loses.”  

“Hyuga-dono. You only have to retreat bit by bit according to Kikkawa Motoharu’s movement: from Tanba to Kyoto, from Kyoto to Sakamoto of Omi so that you won’t be doubted by Oda Nobuna. If you rig it, you can retreat without causing damage to your soldiers while fighting. Kanpaku-sama will accept that Ashikaga Yoshiaki of the Mori clan is the official Seii-taishogun. Although the fake Shogun Imagawa Yoshimoto will be taken care of, with Hyuga-dono’s personality, it would be hard to get rid of that person even if she is incompetent. It will be nice if she is taken to Sakaki. Just like the previous Ashikaga Shogun who often ran away to Omi when was against the Hosokawa and Miyoshi clans.” 

“This amazing scheme should’ve not been thought of by Hatano Hideharu. Perhaps the wise Kobayakawa Takakage……  she would likely have prepared this while taking Juubei’s personality on account…… but, Takakage wouldn’t actually be able to decide the time to use the scheme against Juubei because Takakage didn’t expect that Juubei’s Haha-ue would come to Yakami castle on her own. At 

the same time Haha-ue came to Yakami castle Hatano Hideharu determined that ‘the wind is on the side of the Mori clan’.” Mitsuhide was in grief. 

Saito Toshimitsu had gone completely pale. 

“Hime. Even if you are reluctant about it, there is no choice but to yield to this temptation and ally yourself with Mori clan in the back. If you refuse…  your mother’s life… Kobayakawa and Kikkawa who built up the integrity of the Mori clan would never try to kill your mother but Hatano Hideharu who has bet his survival is an impertinent person. Once during the Harima riot, Ukita Naoie who was eager to gain the trust of the Mori clan was going to execute Kuroda Kanbei-dono! Furthermore, this shinobi Ishikawa is not an ordinary person. So long as there is the Tanba shinobi, rescuing your mother will be difficult. I understand the reason why even that Matsunaga Hisahide couldn’t control Tanba.” 

“The secret strife with the puppet manipulated by Danjou when her brother-in-law was killed was a difficult battle, but a puppet is still just a puppet. Furthermore Tanba is my domain and I was the one left standing, fufufu.“ Ishikawa laughed while squinting her eyes. 

※ 

Shitarahara – Mikawa. 

During the stalemate between Takeda Shingen’s forces against the Oda Nobuna – Tokugawa Ieyasu allied forces, Tokugawa Ieyasu let the veteran Sakai Tadatsugu lead a suicide attack without Oda Nobuna’s permission……it was falling apart after being ordered to do a surprise attack on Tobinosuyama fortress. 

The formerly gentle Matsudaira Motoyasu suddenly changed her name to Tokugawa Ieyasu at the last moment and declared dictatorship over the whole clan. 

“Even though you all are the vassals of the Matsudaira clan, you must absolutely obey Ieyasu’s orders.” A surprise attack against the Takeda army without permission from Nobuna, appointing Sakai Tadatsugu who is the first among the elders of Matsudaira clan with a job that would result in annihilation if it fails, Takeda’s forces losing their path for retreat if they receive a surprise attack while charging at Shitarahara which was protected by the Oda and Matsudaira clans --everything was a scheme that can be called a “betrayal of the Oda clan” carried out by the two schemers - Tokugawa Ieyasu and the returning Honda Masanobu. 

However the whole picture of this abnormal situation hadn’t been transmitted to the Oda camp yet. 

While the supreme commander Oda Nobuna’s expression changed on entering Ieyasu’s camp and talking something over with Ieyasu and Masanobu, many generals of the Oda clan including Takigawa Kazumasu were thrown in commotion. Because many Hime-Bushos who have long military records, including Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide, and Maeda Inuchiyo, are up against Kenshin in a staredown at Hokuriku, there is only one military commander who can gather up the army at Shitarahara in Nobuna’s absence. And that commander is Kazumasu. 

“Now is the time to regain our heart’s elegance.” Kazumasu held a tea ceremony in the camp to calm the shaking generals. 

“Gununu! If the rumors are true that Matsudaira Motoyasu has betrayed us then Nobuna-chan is in trouble.” 

“The Anti-Takeda forces are on the brink of defeat, nuoooooo. This Sakuma Nobumori really wants to retreat, milord. This one is not inferior to Sagara-dono in terms of escaping, only in escaping.” 

This famous military general with a reputation of leading an army whose offensive power is lacking, Sakuma Nobumori smiled wryly while receiving tea 

from Kazumasu. “I am known as the ‘retreating Sakuma’ you know”. Sakuma Nobumori was an old general of the Oda clan since its late head Nobuhide. Though logically speaking, despite his position as an elder who is superior to Shibata Katsuie in terms of his length of servitude as a vassal, he was lacking in any potential. Although most of the well-known male warriors of the Oda clan had been killed in action in order to protect Nobuna, only Sakuma Nobumori had persistently survived. After having fallen into the comfort of tea ceremonies that were introduced by Nobuna, he had ceased in making any military exploits. 

“Don’t make a preparation for retreating without Nobuna-chan’s permission. Even you who didn’t have any serious military exploits during the Honbyo temple riot and only held tea ceremonies. If the impatient and stingy Nobuna-chan hears of this, you will be banished to Mount Koya.” 

“That’s too harsh. However, not all vassals are hard workers who keep on doing their job like Yoshiharu-dono. If someone who is not a hard worker is not needed in the Oda clan then 80% of the lazy generals will drop out. It’s also necessary to keep a lazy general who looks like a good for nothing. It’s a secret method to maintain a group of vassals for a long time. At any rate, it will be a serious matter if many generals like Araki Murashige who overwork recklessly break down. Nuoooo.” 

“Though your logic is correct, that’s only an excuse of being lazy…… Gunonono. The tea tastes bitter when you hold a tea ceremony with an old man. A tea ceremony for Hime-Bushos is supposed to be gorgeous.” 

“Is the rumor of Matsudaira Motoyasu’s betrayal true? Kazumasu-dono?” 

“I don’t know. But, although it’s hard to believe, it’s the truth that she moved her soldiers without Nobuna-chan’s permission. If that’s true then it’s impossible to maintain the Shitahara frontline. Then we have no choice but to retreat.” 

“I am concerned about Akechi-dono’s predicament in Tanba. Sagara-dono still hasn’t come back from Kyushu. This is a critical moment - with the exception of Matsuidara Motoyasu, the generals who will betray us haven’t moved yet.” 

“It can’t be. All those inside the Oda clan, everyone, all are friends who share both sorrow and joy together.” 

“We don’t need to worry about Shibata-dono and Niwa-dono who are the successors of vassals of the Oda clan. Akechi-dono was an outsider. There is no telling that she won’t betray us. The rumor that Akechi-dono has been hard-pressed to send out her Haha-ue as a hostage to the Hatano clan has spread out in the camp. Perhaps it could be a resistance against the Mori clan.” 

“It can’t be. The capital of Kyoto and Azuchi castle are in Michii’s sphere of influence. If the rebels from Saigoku are supporting Michii now, the Oda clan is literally finished. Yoshii still hasn’t come back from Kyushu. This thing could be happening……” 

“Sagara Yoshiharu-dono who is a man from the future is a special case. Our Hime entrusted 2 people who were ‘commanders of both literary and military art and treated their comrades like a family’ with an important position as the head of an army. The supreme power of the Kinki Kanrei position and the unification of Kinai has been entrusted to Akechi-dono,. Perhaps Kazumasu-dono has been entrusted with the task of suppressing Tougoku and was given the role of Kanto Kanrei to hold back Takeda’s forces at Shitarahara. She has deep trust in the literate Niwa-dono who is like a substitute Ane-ue to our Hime and the valorous Shibata-dono, because as military commanders those two like two people in one body. If we lack either Akechi-dono or Kazumasu-dono….” 

“……The Oda forces that hold their frontline at various places would completely collapse. Nobuna-chan’s feeling would be broken too. But, the raccoon girl of Mikawa is like an imouto to Nobuna-chan. She is a Hime-Busho who 

possesses a straight and tenacious sense of duty. There is no way she would have discord with us and break our alliance in front of the large Takeda army.” 

“At any case, we shouldn’t discuss this any longer. We shouldn’t make useless disturbances in the camp.” Kazumasu commanded Nobumori.  

“Acknowledged. I will erase our presence and retreat for a while.” Nobumori who could feel the unrest that tinged the tea ceremony took and drank his tea. 

Nobuna who had returned from Ieyasu’s camp suddenly entered the tea ceremony room. Her expression... 

“The Matsudaira clan, no, the alliance with the Tokugawa clan has been annulled! Sakon! Prepare for a retreat now! Destroy all the construction in the camp and escape to Owari!” 

“Wha-what the heck? The alliance with that tanuki girl has been annulled? Why?” 

“We will talk later! If we don’t escape from this frontline before we are sensed by Takeda Shingen, we will be annihilated in Shitarahara!” 

Kazumasu unintentionally dropped the tea set that she held in her hands. 

※ 

In the Kasuga shrine of Sasayama in Tanba. 

“All will be too late once Kikkawa Motoharu enters Tanba. Muu, we have no choice but to conspire. There are many generals in the frontline who play at both sides! Furthermore since your mother’s life is at stake, there will be no shame!” 

Although Saito Toshimitsu kept on begging Mitsuhide, Mitsuhide didn’t agree. 

“No……guarding Kyoto is Akechi Mitsuhide’s task…… Even if stones would be thrown at Haha-ue, I cannot abandon Kyoto and betray Nobuna-sama.” 

Mitsuhide’s own choice would never be to conspire even if she knows that her own words would kill her mother. Her expression is pitifully pale. Mitsuhide knows. Shibata Katsuie. Niwa Nagahide. Maeda Inuchiyo. The vassals of the Oda clan who have served Nobuna since Owari would absolutely never betray Nobuna even if they fell into this situation. They wouldn’t even hesitate. And she too, even though she is not a pedigree of that Oda clan, she is a full-fledged general who has been entrusted with the dream of Tenka Fubu from Saito Dousan. For Nobuna who personally succeeded Dousan’s dream, Mitsuhide whose teacher is also Dousan is an existence beyond the hereditary servants. The right hand and one half of the body. It’s not possible for any betrayal. Even if she played at both sides without being noticed and somehow a miracle finally occured and the Oda clan defeated the Mori clan, Mitsuhide would never forgive herself for that for her entire lifetime. 

“Haha-ue would never approve it, she would never approve that the proud descendant of the Toki Genji clan, Akechi Mitsuhide would abandon her feelings……” 

“Will you still carry out your loyalty to the Oda clan until the end? Even if the dream of reviving the Toki Genji clan perishes?” 

Hatano Hideharu pressed on again with a gloomy expression. 

“Even if I cannot take Tanba…… I will defend Kyoto until the end. That is Mitsuhide’s duty.” 

“Hyuga-dono. Please think on it carefully. There is no time to decide other than now. Oda Nobuna cannot sustain against the Takeda – Uesugi army. Oda’s 

army until now kept on defeating powerful enemies by using crushing plans after centralizing the military forces. Oda’s forces will have no strength if their army is dispersed. It was only back when Saito Dousan was still alive that they were able to gain victory while dispersing their power. Now that Dousan is dead…… Oda Nobuna won’t be able to defeat the Takeda army at Toukaido and the Uesugi army who march at Hokurikudo at the same time. Hokurikudo and Toukaido are like walking on a tightrope right now, sooner or later Oda Nobuna will be pressed and withdraw to Omi. At that time if Hyuga-dono returned to Sakamoto castle to preserve your soldiers…… Just like the time at Kanegasaki, it’s possible to kill Oda Nobuna who left her soldiers at the frontline and took a small number of hatamoto (soldiers) to go back to Azuchi castle.” 

When she heard those word. 

At last Mitsuhide decided. 

She forget her hesitation. 

“Those words are unnecessary, Hatano Hideharu. At last, the choice to join hands with the Mori army surreptitiously has disappeared. After all, if I betray Nobuna-sama for the sake of single-mindedly saving Haha-ue, Juubei will end up following and raging down the path of a rebel. My eyes have been awakened. Kobayakawa Takakage who is knowledgeable about the change of human hearts wouldn’t suggest such a stupid reason.” 

“Our conversation ends with this Hatano-dono,” Saito Toshimitsu also nodded. As a faithful vice general, she thought about playing both sides to protect Mitsuhide’s mother. But she cannot let her lord be a rebel who would kill the one who’d rule the whole world. Akechi Mitsuhide didn’t become the “Rebel who betrayed and killed the ruler of the world” which has been told of for eternity in the history of Japan. Omaki-no-kata would grieve more than anyone else. 

“I understand. Hyuga-dono, you truly are a hero…… Well done, you have rejected my proposal. However Hyuga-dono. As a military commander who cunningly survived this chaotic age while antagonizing Miyoshi Nagayoshi and Matsunaga Danjou, I will only say this. There is only one Hime-Busho who can obtain Sagara Yoshiharu-- Just like that there is only one Tenkabito, there is only one who can obtain Sagara Yoshiharu. A right hand man and one half of the body is just the nonsense of women and children. Indeed…… Hyuga-dono is too lenient on Oda Nobuna. Too soft. After losing your mother, eventually, Hyuga-dono will lose both Sagara Yoshiharu and the world. Oda Nobuna will obtain everything. You will regret it.” 

The negotiation at Kasuga shrine had ended. 

Omaki-no-kata didn’t return to Mitsuhide’s camp. 

“At the time when Kikkawa Motoharu’s forces enter Tanba, Hyuga-dono’s mother will be killed. But we don’t want to kill her if possible, I will wait until then.” There was only a notice from Hatano Hideharu. 

The reinforcements didn’t come. 

They don’t know what is happening to Sagara Yoshiharu and Konoe Sakihisa who went to Kyushu. 

It’s not possible to stop the spy from the Tanba shinobi that are led by Ishikawa Kazumune from bringing information to Mitsuhide’s camp which surrounded Yakami castle. 

It is just……with the Oda – Matsudaira allied forces being cornered by Takeda Shingen at Shitarahara, there was a rumor that the Matsudaira clan was going to pick both sides of the Takeda and Oda clans. The vassal group of the Matsudaira clan is broken up into pro-Takeda and pro-Oda factions. 

At any rate, the Matsudaira army had been crushed perfectly by Takeda Shingen at Mikatagahara. It’s only understandable that people who despaired 

would appear one after another since it’s impossible to fight until the bitter end with Takeda-Uesugi-Mori clans as their opponent. 

At one side, Kikkawa Motoharu’s forces already arrived at Tajima and approached Kurokawa castle which is the western doorway of Tanba with a big army. Although the life of Akai Naomasa which has been struck by illness seemed likely to run out soon, there didn’t seem to be any problem for the Akai clan to join hands with the Kikkawa army. 

Bad rumors coming out one after another. 

Tanba shinobi are probably the only spies who have disadvantageous information for the Oda clan. 

There was no sign of arrival from the reinforcement from Chosokabe of Tosa who Saito Toshimitsu had gambled upon. After all, it’s a long distance from Tosa to Tanba. For the Chosokabe clan who isn’t familiar with the mountainous land of Tanba, they would take time on the land route to Tanba and won’t be in time even if they can arrive at Sakai. 

Mitsuhide who was left stationed at the Tanba frontline, was isolated in every meaning. 

※ 

The time of destruction approached Mitsuhide with every second. 

The Sagara Yoshiharu army which was built in San’yo was set as the last defensive line for Himeji castle which is the center of Harima again Mori’s San’yo army that were led by Kobayakawa Takakage as its opponent. Because the supreme commander Sagara Yoshiharu was sent to Kyushu with his strategist 

Kuroda Kanbei, his vice general Yamanaka Shikanosuke was taking care of this place in his absence. 

Kobayakawa Takakage who lost midway during the previous naval battle of Kizugawaguchi made a plan to overtake Harima through the land route this time and had gradually encroached upon west Harima. The brave Yamanaka Shikanosuke rallied the Amago 10 heroes, rushed and swiftly pulled up, and repeated this situation of taking another castle when the opportunity arises all the time. Although Shikanosuke would definitely win if both Shikanosuke and Takakage led the same number of soldiers and crashed into each other directly, that kind of luck would never come to the general of Shichinanhachiku (7 Misfortunes and 8 Pains), Shikanosuke. 

Right now, the Mori army had taken up most of west Harima and Shikanosuke was exhausted from chasing Takakage and came to Himeji castle just to catch her breath. 

“Its feel as if there is an elephant on my waist.” The daimyo of Bizen-Mimasaka, Ukita Naoie who should’ve played the role of a vanguard under Takakage complained about his lower back pain again and left momentarily. This seems to be caused by the old scar from when he fell from his horse during the Harima riot. Naoie doesn’t think of it as a betrayal. The fate of the Oda clan is already coming to an end. 

In Inaba, Tajima of San’in region which is the backside of Harima, Kikkawa Motoharu who has made two men of Yamana clan as her subordinates hurried straight at Tanba. But Nobuna who was dealing with Takeda and Uesugi at the same time at the frontline cannot bring any reinforcements. It was known by Shikanosuke that Mitsuhide has already fallen to a crisis. 

“Milord and strategist-dono haven’t returned and there have also been no messengers. Perhaps the messenger has been attacked on the the land and sea route 

between Kyushu and Himeji and was completely caught by a subordinate of the Kobayakawa Takakage and Murakami navies. Aah, Shichinanhachiku……!” 

Shikanosuke urgently held a war council after summoning the Amago 10 heroes at the mansion in front of Okiku-ido in Himeji. 

“It’s our mission to protect this Himeji castle until our lord has returned. If Himeji castle falls, the Miki castle will fall as well, if Miki castle falls then Kobayawaka’s army will arrive at the capitol in one go from Settsu to the capital of Kyoto. But if I just sit here then Tanba will be lost and Mitsuhide-dono will be defeated and Kikkawa Motoharu will go to the capital of Kyoto. If I sit here, it will fall, if I go out and attack I will be destroyed. There is no doubt that right now we are suffering Shichinanhachiku since the time of Amago clan extinction! Although I have made up my mind…… I would like to hear the opinion of the 10 heroes who came with me so far.” 

The 10 heroes that formerly mainly consisted of the old Amago vassals, with most of the important generals having already been killed in battle, had surrendered themselves to the Mori clan. As for the people who remained now, there were many young Hime-Bushos who were attracted by Shikanosuke’s charm and gathered under her. Everyone is in high spirit. 

“Yuudorinosuke. You are the vice general of the 10 heroes now. I think that there is no other choice but to attack but.” 

“Its plausible de-gozaru. Amago heroes can only attack. But……” 

“But?” 

“Unfortunately we don’t have military power or generals to attack both Kikkawa and Kobayakawa’s forces at the same time. Even if we are going for a mutual honorable death, an unlikely miracle will not happen unless we focused our attack at one spot.” 

Yuudorinosuke who kept saying “it’s plausible de-gozaru,” even if it was absurd, opened her eyes wide for the first time and gave her opinion to Shikanosuke. 

“Teramotoseishinosuke also has the same opinion. We should’ve been a match at San’in which is our domain. And Kikkawa Motoharu is our fated arch-nemesis! Let’s charge at Tajima by the north straight from Himeji over the mountain path and pass through Ikuno pass!” 

“Seishinosuke seem to have the same opinion. How about Yabunakabaranosuke?” 

“The truth is Yabunonaka (inability to finding out the truth because of conflicting testimonies), life is a thorny path. Our lord Sagara Yoshiharu-dono’s nature has the doctrine of grasping everything. Therefore we should begin to pick up both the San’in and San’yo frontlines together.” 

“You have a point. But just like what Dorinosuke said, I cannot divide Himeji castle guards evenly. Even I who wish for Shichinanhachiku, it’s obvious that I want to crush both the Mori Twin Rivers and annihilate them together. I don’t want to throw away the important soldiers and castle that we look after for milord……but how would milord despise me if I abandon Mistuhide-dono? Aah, Shichinanhachiku…!” 

“In that case we should divide the army unevenly!” 

Yabunakabaranosuke opined. 

After their dead master’s residence shrunk, Shikanosuke and the Amago 10 heroes had a life of a ronin and were famed for their so-called guerilla war in San’in region in the mountainous topography. This time they cannot do anything but to use guerilla tactics. 

If Shikanosuke invades Tajima across the mountain with only the 10 main heroes and a small number of soldiers, she could perform bandit work, striking 

everywhere at once and disturb the march of the Kikkawa army. Of course, she is outnumbered and will be crushed and annihilated sooner or later and the short-tempered Kikkawa Motoharu will chase her arch-nemesis Shikanosuke without exception. It’s possible to slightly delay her visit to Tanba. 

Most of Shikanosuke and the 10 heroes, of course, would die in the mountains of Tajima. 

Kikkawa Motoharu who hastened her march towards the capital would never show mercy to Shikanosuke. No, since she understood that Shikanosuke will never surrender to Mori clan, she couldn’t spare her life even if she wanted to. Once when Shikanosuke was caught by Motoharu, the former escaped by crawling through the toilet. 

Therefore, if the suicide army would die together with Shikanosuke, it’s possible to bring about a slight chance that Mitsuhide’s life will be saved. 

On the other side, all of the soldiers except the suicide army in Himeji castle would be made as a body double for Shikanosuke. “Shikanosuke chose to hole up in the castle as her tactic.” it was all to make Kobayakawa Takakage think like that. Although it will be seen through by the wise Kobayakawa Takakage, this is certainly a fight to earn a few days. Because Takakage doesn’t like unnecessary bloodshed and wasting soldiers, she cannot begin a full scale attack on Himeji castle until she notices that the Shikanosuke is an impostor. 

“Ooh. The Amago 10 heroes who repeatedly charged towards an honorable death have grown up and gained some ingenuity.” As expected, Shikanosuke was deeply moved when there was a meaning in properly fighting repeatedly despite a series of losing battles. 

At last the time to lay down my life has come. Although milord has told me to “live”, if I can rescue Mitsuhide-dono, my death will not be in vain. Milord would forgive Shikanosuke for offering her life…… 

With this, her dream of meeting Sagara Yoshiharu will not be fulfilled anymore. But it was a life that originally should’ve ended together with the dream of reviving the Amago clan at Kozuki castle. This short life was given to Sagara Yoshiharu. Even though Yoshiharu is likely to cry manly tears, if you compare the life of Akechi Mitsuhide and Yamanaka Shikanosuke for the Oda clan, it goes without saying that Akechi Mitsuhide is much heavier. 

“However, the moment that Kobayakawa Takakage realizes that I charged at Tajima with the 10 heroes, the fate of Himeji castle will also run out. Is there a person who can safely withdraw milord’s important soldiers? All of the 10 heroes are only wild boar Himes who only know how to charge ahead. It’s almost my fault. Between the Mori Twin Rivers and the 10 heroes, what are the differences……? The commanders, the differences in national power……” 

The Hime-Bushos that were introducing themselves with “we shall be the body double!” all at once, they are Hakotsushiyoujinosuke, Awanarutonosuke, Anauchikorinosuke, Oguranezuminosuke, Otanikoinosuke,. 

“No good, not at all. Everyone wants to commit suicide?” When she looked at their expressions, Shikanosuke lowered her head and felt greatly troubled. Above them all, Otanikoinosuke had an expression of dying to rush towards Kobayakawa force right now. 

“The soldiers of Himeji castle are not only us, the Amago soldiers. There is the Kawanami clan of Owari and the Omi clan of Nagahama castle who followed milord as well as each member of the Kuroda clan. We cannot let them perish together with us, the Amago 10 heroes. The important army that would diminish until milord arrives home, we are not going to let them die an honorable death! But we who have always pursued the idea of self-destruction are poor at retreating……” 

“Its plausible de-gozaru. Shall we leave the all of the commands to Kuroda Kanbei-dono’s Chichi-ue, Kuroda Mototaka-dono? He is a calm person who was not shaken even when his daughter was taken hostage by Ukita. And that one person from the Hachisuka clan who protected Miki castle, Maeno-dono seemed to cooperate well.” 

“That’s it, Yuudorinosuke. Please become my body double. If its you, you will never abandon our principles. Wear my Kadzuno helmet and impersonate Shikanosuke. When Kobayakawa Takakage goes into an all-out attack, I want you to evacuate the soldiers to Miki castle with Kuroda Mototaka-dono to keep the pace.” 

“And when Kobayakawa Takakage is closing in on Miki castle?” 

“At that time, retreat further to Amagasaki in Settsu. Because Kobayakawa is a careful Hime-Busho, she will advance slowly while steadily capturing castles like playing Go. Earn even a little bit of time. Don’t charge in to have an honorable death at the San’yo frontline. Protect our lord’s soldiers and vassals. I am sorry to force such a disgraceful job for the Amago 10 heroes, but I beg you. This is our final farewell……” 

“This Dorinosuke is well experienced in retreating. It’s plausible to give this assignment to me de-gozaru.” 

Shikanosuke decided to leave several people among the 10 heroes in Himeji castle and bring the remainder which was almost all of the members. Only a select few wouldl be honorable suicide soldiers who will go to Tajima and die across the Ikuno pass. If there were too many, their marching speed would decrease and they would be discovered by Kikkawa easily. 

“Teramotoseishinosuke, Yaburanakabaranosuke, Idzutsuonnanosuke will go to Tajima with me. 30 suicide soldiers come to me. We might survive for several 

days. For Sagara Yoshiharu-dono who changed our fate to die abandoned by the Oda clan at Kozuki castle……the time to repay our lord has come.” 

“O’Taisho, we are delighted to accompany you! But this Kameisekainosuke wanted to take a look at the Ryukyu islands that I have long yearned for! I have to send a few message to Sagara Yoshiharu-dono! At the time when Tenka Fubu is attained, please appoint Sekainosuke as the keeper of Ryukyu islands!” 

“Aah. Wait, Sekainosuke. I will give you the other assignment. Though I am sorry, as the present head of Yamanaka clan, I have to do it.” 

“The world will certainly meet its end. The samurai clan of Yamanaka will end with my generation. Resign as a samurai. You must become a merchant. After you become a merchant, play an active role and travel all around the world.” She wrote down a letter which became her testament and handed it over to Kameisekainosuke. 

“O’Taisho~!? You intend to give sympathy to Sekainosuke!? There is no way that Sekainosuke regrets her life! To abandon her friend and O’Taisho?” 

“No. But you kept repeatedly saying you wanted to go on a boat to the Ryukyu islands since the old days. Milord and Oda Nobuna-sama have a dream of sailing to the sea with a big boat. It’s painful to have you die here…… please go to the Ryukyu islands with our lord on my behalf. I wanted to leave even one of the Amago 10 heroes to our lord. Although it was short, I want you to survive as the proof that we had lived under the Sagara clan.” 

“……O’Taisho, a person like you… Uuuuh……I understand! The youngest sister will take a namban wine and sweet potato when visiting Ryukyu islands!” 

“Namban wine? Although it look like a human blood, its delicious. It’s possible to invent a new brand of sake if we incorporated the techniques of the nambans and Ryukyu to our traditional japan sake. It’s good to run a genuine 

Shinroku liquor store. You must sell the sake of Shinroku to the world on a big boat.” 

“I am sorry with this!” The restless Kameisekainosuke reluctantly took flight while crying and holding the letter to her chest. 

“Things are about done with this.” Shikanosuke nodded while staring at the silver that shine from the other side of the window. 

“We cannot possibly know what our lord is suffering about regarding the future waiting before us in this Sengoku world. Although it’s regretful…… If Akechi Mitsuhide-dono’s ruin can be prevented, then it’s possible to change the future that our lord is scared of. Our lord said. The future and destiny are not fixed. Even if it’s impossible by one’s own power, it can be changed through the action of many people.” 

“I will organize 30 suicide soldiers and escape from Himeji castle under the darkness of the night. We will go north of the mountain path and cross over Ikuno pass and enter Tajima. Whenever Kuroda-dono learns about what I want to tell to Dorinosuke, make sure to stop it.“ Shikanosuke informed the 10 heroes. And then they took out the Yamanaka clan heirloom which was inherited from Sagara Yoshiharu’s “Gold Gourd” and exchanged sake with each other. This gourd was an important memento given by Nobuna to Yoshiharu during the battle of Inabayama castle. “Because it’s a precious thing, I will leave it to you. Don’t die an honorable death.” Yoshiharu asked when he handed it over to Shikanosuke. Ever since then, Shikanosuke always kept the ten-ringed gourd close to her and filled it with the specialty of Izumo, “Jidenshu”. 

The gourmand, Uirougomonosuke talked cheerfully.  

“According to the legend of Izumo, when Susano’o-no-Mikoto was banished from Takagamahara and entered Izumo and was about to exterminate the evil Jinushigami, Yamata-no-Orochi, he made Yamato-no-Orochi drink sake until it 

became drunk and then chopped off its heads when it was sleeping. That sake, Yashiori-no-sake is said to be the oldest sake of Japan. The series of O’Taisho’s hard battles that came one after another to aim for the revival of Amago clan, it was a series of misfortune after misfortune……if imouto-kun, Kameisekainosuke starts a liquor shop, we will know it will succeed beyond expectations. The people of the Yamanaka clan have the virtue of never betraying the Shichinanhachiku as their best selling point. Perhaps they are better off becoming a merchant rather than a samurai clan.” 

“Our lord is someone who is suitable to become a merchant rather than a military commander.” Shikanosuke was influenced and laughed. The Chinese god – Kan’u-sama also became a god of merchants because of his loyalty which would never betray his lord.  

“Its fine for me to be left in history. I am nothing but a friend called the mountain monkey Shikanosuke in the corner of milord’s heart, there is no greater happiness if I can stay like this.” 

“Its plausible de-gozaru.” Dorinosuke nodded and Shikanosuke stood up at once. 

“10 heroes. This is our last battle. We will sneak over to Tajima after we cross over Ikuno pass by day and night. The ruler of Inaba, Yamana Toyokuni should’ve acted as the vanguard for Kikkawa Motoharu’s army because Kikkawa forces doesn’t understand the path to Tajima. They will join his uncle, Yamana Suketoyo and will keep marching the whole army toward Tanba. Our unit is to interfere with the course of the vanguard led by Yamana Toyokuni! Delay the march of Kikkawa main force even a little bit!” 

But Shikanosuke reminded the 10 heroes. 

“Even if you see the banner of Yamana Toyokuni, you mustn’t get enraged and attack! Even though we will die an honorable death in the end, our mission is 

to earn time! If we are insta-killed, we will lose everything! First and foremost is that I don’t hold a grudge against Toyokuni-dono! For the continuation of the clan, you may have to betray a friend before being swallowed up by stronger man and destroyed. It’s the destiny of someone who is born in the samurai clan of the Sengoku era. You mustn’t bear a grudge because he sided with the Mori clan……you mustn’t break down our valuable tactic with resentment. Please understand.” 

“O’Taisho who was betrayed by Toyokuni and fell into misanthropy, met Sagara Yoshiharu by chance and regain her footing completely, no, she has grown into a magnificent general” Yuudorinosuke who was given the task to remain at Himeji castle was smiling broadly and bowed to Shikanosuke’s honorable death unit. 

“The fortunes of war be with you. The Shichinanhachiku that O’Taisho asked from the moon is not merely about giving pain and misery to O’Taisho, but I believe it was a trial to forge O’Taisho’s spirit by standing up after failures. That is the true meaning of our principles!” 

“All of you followed me until the end. I was able to meet a person named Sagara Yoshiharu. I already have been rewarded. That is enough.” Shikanosuke responded.