Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 4 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 : Rout at Mount Hiei 

Part 1 

Mount Hiei's winter. 

Encamped upon the spiritual mountain Mount Hiei, where women are prohibited, the allied Asai and Asakura forces led by Shougakuin Gousei launched an assault during the night. They once again waged a defensive battle, retreating back to Mount Hiei once their situation turned disadvantageous, but that night they received unbelievable news from their scouts. 

"Oda Nobuna still lives! She has personally taken command of the Oda army surrounding Mount Hiei, and it looks like they are preparing to burn the whole mountain!" 

Asai Hisamasa refused to believe such a report. 

Just the fact that Oda Nobuna still lived was shocking enough, but to think that she wanted to attack Mount Hiei? 

"Im...Impossible... To burn Mount Hiei!? Mount Hiei has close to 800 years of history! It is the most esteemed holy mountain in every Japanese Buddhist community!! No no, it is a divine pillar that people have worshiped ever since they believed that Gods live in spiritual mountains." 

Hisamasa's words reflected the common sense of this era. 

"Is Oda Nobuna crazy? A woman daring to attack mount Hiei is already extremely disrespectful, but now she wants to burn Mount Hiei!?" 

Opening up "Tales of Genji" beside him, Asakura Yoshikage exclaimed, "What a crazed girl." as he stared at the moon 

"I admit defeat, Oda Nobuna. As expected from a woman proclaiming to conquer the world. You are fundamentally different from the other women of this era." 

"This is not a time to say ‘As expected’, is it?" Hisamasa shouted. 

The still composed Asakura Yoshikage sighed, "Oda Nobuna holds the resolve to battle to the end with us, and we were not prepared for her determination at all." 

"Listen Hisamasa, Mount Hiei's grounds are flat. It's totally unlike Mount Gifu where one can hold back most any attack. Because we never expected our enemy to attack, we did not make any preparations to defend. If she really attacks us, Mount Hiei is too vulnerable to grant us victory." 

Yoshikage continued. 

"Our plan has backfired with Oda Nobuna's resolve to ignore Mount Hiei’s prohibition of women... If they really start burning Mount Hiei, Oda Nobuna will become the enemy of all Japan's Buddhist communities, and her dream of conquering the world will never be fulfilled. She must know this, yet deciding to burn Mount Hiei anyways, this is becoming exciting...." 

"Oda Nobuna really wants to burn Mount Hiei, and is preparing to die with us; is that fellow actually a demon lord? Or is she just a rural girl with no common sense..... I really want to see her with my own eyes --no, I must bring her back with me to Ichijodani...." Asakura Yoshikage's eyes shimmered with an abnormal light as his lips curled into a sneer. 

The cowardly Asai Hisamasa had turned deathly pale. 

"Th...Thi...This isn't the time to joke around, Yoshikage-dono. Now that you mention it, weren’t you the one who chose Mount Hiei as our base? Hurry and do something!" 

Yoshikage laughed and snorted, "What an uninteresting fellow." 

"Hisamasa, we have three options. The first is to initiate the attack, though it is too late if they start burning. We would have to lead our whole army to battle with the Oda army, using our speed to bet everything on the outcome." 

"They might have predicted that we will attack once we received the report of them burning Mount Hiei. If so, they have already prepared their formation and are waiting for us to fall into the trap ourselves. Isn't there a more foolproof plan?" 

"Arara... You’re quite the paranoid coward..." Yoshikage laughed at Hisamasa before explaining the second plan. 

"Our second option is to let the monks of this mountain negotiate with them, telling them that if they burn Mount Hiei every Buddhist community will rise against the Oda clan. With this in mind, the monks will ask to postpone the battle. If Oda Nobuna isn't truly crazy she is sure to agree to our request, allowing us to retreat back home with no injuries. At the same time however, the once-surrounded Oda army will gain a chance to breath and the situation will stagnate." 

"This is truly a safe plan..." Hisamasa mumbled. 

"But Yoshikage-dono, what is the last plan?" 

"Seeing that there is no chance to win, you surrender to Oda Nobuna. You return your position as head back to Nagamasa who married Oda Nobuna's sister and become a monk. With this, the Asai clan will escape the fate of total annihilation.” 

"Surrendering is impossible!" Hisamasa jumped to his feet as blood rushed to his head. 

"T...To let my son Nagamasa become the conqueror of the world. I've gone so far as to completely betray the Oda clan. Surrendering is not possible at all, Yoshikage-dono!" 

This Asai Hisamasa really is an indecisive man. Yoshikage mused. 

"Yoshikage-dono, here we should use the second plan! We can't wrap Mount Hiei into this because of us; we should stop the battle and engage with the Oda clan head on later." 

Listening to Hisamasa, Tsuchimikado who was sitting at the side laughed, "Ara ara, the despicable betrayer suddenly wants to be ethical. Why not just honestly say that you don't wanna die?" 

Shougakuin Gousei, though silent all this time, finally declared, "If that's the case, let me be the missionary to negotiate with the Oda army! Uwahahahaha! Unclean women wanting to burn Mount Hiei. I, Gousei will never let you do as you wish. Besides, the very idea of a truce formed on equal terms makes me sick to my stomach. Just let me shout, 'Girls, kneel in front of me!' and demand their surrender." 

Gousei’s words became only more heated as he continued "This main hall houses the 'Holy Flame' that has been burning for more than 800 years. We must protect it. I, Gousei will never let those crazy bitches do as they like. I won't let them burn Mount Hiei!" 

"Shoukaguin Gousei, the self-declared enemy of all women, if this disillusioned and petty guy becomes the missionary... It will really be interesting if the negotiating of the truce fails." Yoshikage sneered. 

Part 2 

"Hanbei-dono, please wake up! If you don't stop Hime-sama....!" 

Kyoto, Myoukaku Temple. 

Nene tried her best to shake Hanbei awake. 

Manase Belchior who prescribed the medicine to Hanbei said, "It's regrettable, but I think she still needs a few days." and tried to stop Nene many times, but Nene was not willing to give up. 

Now that Yoshiharu and Juubei couldn't return, Nene's last hope was the genius strategist Hanbei, and she refused to give up. 

"Hime-sama woke up, but because of Onii-sama's death she ordered Mount Hiei burned together with the Asai and Asakura allied forces in a fit of anger! She won't listen to the advice of her retainers at all! Now, the only one who could stop Hime-sama is Hanbei-dono!" Nene shouted as her hands shook Hanbei's body... She didn’t even notice the tears flowing from her eyes. 

"...Uhh...Uhhh... Onii-sama and Akechi-sama can't come back anymore... Goemon-dono isn't here either... If even Hanbei-dono doesn't wake up, Nene... Nene doesn't know what else to do anymore....." 

A single tear fell onto Hanbei’s corpse-like body. 

And then... 

"...Nene-sama... What you said just now, is that true?" 

Hanbei finally opened her eyes. 

"Hanbei-dono! You've woken up!" 

The tear stricken Nene hugged Hanbei tightly. 

It came true... 

Of Nene's countless prayers while she cleansed herself with cold water, one of them had finally been heard by the heavens. 

"Nene-sama, Manase-sama, please tell me what has happened." 

"Hanbei-sama! If you don't hurry and stop Hime-sama, things are going to get bad!" 

Behind Nene, there was a heavily built man with a single namban monocle and a blonde haired sister with a cross hanging on her chest. The sister explained "After losing both Sagara-sama and Akechi-sama at the same time, Hime-sama lost her senses. Though it's just desserts for those monks who are so arrogant to take up arms and challenge the Oda clan, for the dream of conquering the world, Hime-sama's plan of burning Mount Hiei is just too reckless!" 

The man wearing a monocle was the merchant, Imai Sougyu. 

"I've heard that Mount Hiei holds the highest place of learning in Buddhism in all of Japan. We can't just burn the valuable treasures full of knowledge. Even though the monks at Mount Hiei have forgotten their place and taken up arms, we can just disarm them!" 

The sister was Louis Frois, who had permission to build Namban churches in Kyoto. 

The two of them had rushed over after hearing Nobuna's sudden change, planning to drop by Myoukaku Temple to talk with Sagara Yoshiharu before going to meet Nobuna. Instead, they learned of Yoshiharu's death from Nene. 

"Hanbei-dono, no matter what, please persuade Hime-sama!" 

"Everyone, tell me all that has happened while I was unconscious!" 

The crafty Hanbei instantly understood what had happened and what may happen in the future. 

Whether it was the result of Manase Belchior's treatment or Nene's prayers that moved the heavens, the fever that had tortured Hanbei was totally gone and Hanbei had a clear head now. 

"I understand. Everyone, we need to go to the front camp now to rectify Nobuna-sama's misunderstanding." 

"Misunderstanding?" 

"According to my deductions, Yoshiharu-sama did not die at Mizusaka Ridge." 

"What is this about, Hanbei-dono?" Nene asked loudly. 

"I will explain to Nobuna-sama the specifics. Nene-sama, please wait here for Yoshiharu-sama's return... Yoshiharu-sama will definitely return!" 

Caressing the shivering Nene's hair as she mumbled, "Onii-sama is still alive...?", Hanbei smiled. 

"Of course, because Yoshiharu-sama isn't a bad guy who would suddenly die and abandon such a cute sister." 

Part 3 

The preparations for burning Mount Hiei had been completed. 

Half of the Oda army, under the command of Niwa Nagahide, Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Inuchiyo, was stationed at Sakamoto facing Mount Hiei. In truth, they were chased away by Matsunaga Hisahide because she rejected the plan to burn Mount Hiei. 

The rest of the army was concentrated at Kyoto, at Nobuna's base on Mica Slope. 

The night's air was dry and windy. 

The conditions were ideal for a fire. 

Nobuna sat on the bench in her base, silently staring at the map in front of her. 

Time had not yet healed the wound on her abdomen, and occasionally a surge of pain washed over her. Nobuna however could no longer distinguish whether this pain was sent from the wound, or from her own heart. 

Matsunaga Hisahide stayed at Nobuna's side like a mother and fed her the drug frequently. 

"The preparations are all finished. We will reduce Mount Hiei to ashes tonight, Nobuna-sama; please give the order." 

"....Dearuka." 

Hisahide did not change Nobuna totally into her puppet like she did with Kuchiki Shinano, because if she did so she would destroy Nobuna's heart. Hisahide, who doted on Nobuna like her own daughter, refused do that to her. 

But Hisahide pressed the confused and hurting Nobuna to keep taking the drug, calling it a "painkiller", as she whispered words of vengeance. 

"Let all people of the world know there aren't any gods or Buddhas. Burn Mount Hiei to a pile of ashes.” 

"We must kill all those fallen monks who treat women as if they aren't human, kill all of them." 

"Those enemies who had taken your beloved, we need to let them know their foolishness for defying the conqueror of the world. We must make them regret being born into this world." 

With these poisonous words she had stolen Nobuna’s will, unintentionally making her little more than a puppet. 

If this continued, Nobuna's heart would be consumed by this drug Hisahide prepared. Eventually, she would become a puppet without any sense of self. 

But Hisahide, seeing Nobuna as her own daughter, was overcome with the desire to heal Nobuna's feelings and blinded to her actions. 

I don't know how to truly heal Nobuna’s great suffering, but I can at least make it my mission to kill off all of her enemies. Hisahide could only think. 

But, Nobuna was trapped by the pain and sadness of losing both Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide and an immense fury towards Asai Hisamasa's betrayal that led to their deaths. 

It's all fine now... The dream of conquering the world, or the dream of sailing the world... Without Saru and Juubei, there is no longer any meaning to those dreams anymore. 

"Come, Nobuna-sama. Take these corrupt monks who used Buddhism to do whatever they want and plunge them into the depths of despair. Whether it's Asai Asakura who stole your beloved from you, or those fallen monks, burn all of them right now. Please give the order for the attack!" 

Nobuna, caressed by the smiling Hisahide thought, Yes... Those bastards who stole my most important person... those companions that shared my dream... If I don't kill them all... the revenge for Saru and Juubei... I can't take it anymore..., her heart was slowly sinking into darkness. 

Nobuna's cold eyes lost their focus as she glanced at the sky as she mumbled. 

".....Troops, burn... Mount Hiei..." 

Just at that instant when Nobuna gave the order to attack, 

"PLEASE WAIT!!!" 

Takenaka Hanbei ran into the camp gasping for breath. 

Accompanying her were Imai Sougyu and Frois. 

"Nobuna-sama! Mount Hiei is both this country's ancient authority and symbol of Buddhism throughout Japan. If we set it ablaze, all the Buddhist communities will rise up against Nobuna-sama! And, if we were seen as enemies to the Osaka Honneko temple, which has a shocking amount of worshipers, then Nobuna-sama's dream of conquering the world will be delayed at least 10 years!" 

Hanbei, who had rarely ever been brave, tried her best to persuade Nobuna, resolving to stake her life on her decision. 

"And if you do that, you will lose the support of the people! Though it's a fact that those monks have fallen to a hopeless level, the common people do not know of this! They... They will just see Nobuna-sama as a cruel sixth demon lord who killed the buddha! And the Tendaizasu of Mount Hiei is the elder brother of Himiko-sama, if you burn Mount Hiei, the kingdom will lose their trust in Nobuna-sama too! All of Japan will treat Nobuna-sama as an enemy!" 

Nobuna looks at Hanbei's face wordlessly. 

She still can't think properly. 

....Am I still wandering in the dream world....? Or... But... Enough, Things like Tenka Fubu... it's already... meaningless... If I don't have the ambition for Tenka Fubu, Saru or Juubei won't die... If I don't... act now... Saru and Juubei's revenge..... 

Nobuna, her mind clouded with drugs, had lost normal decision-making skills. 

That which controlled Nobuna now was only her tremendous fury. 

"Nobuna-sama! Please wake up!" 

Hisahide narrowed her eyes and scolded Hanbei, "Shut your mouth, this battle is to take revenge for your master, Sagara Yoshiharu." 

But Hanbei did not stay silent. 

"Matsunaga-sama, the one who should shut up is you! I noticed just now what you have been feeding Nobuna-sama. Nobuna-sama isn't your puppet!" 

"It's just medicine to kill the pain, but... This medicine cannot heal the pain in Nobuna's heart. If Nobuna-sama doesn't kill off all of her enemies, her pain will never go away!" 

Dearuka... As expected, this is... a continuation of the nightmare too.... Nobuna thought dreamily. 

"....When once you served Miyoshi Nagayoshi-sama, you fed your master huge amounts of drugs, then coerced the confused Nagayoshi-sama to kill off those retainers who were loyal to him! Maybe, you already have plans to kill Shibata-sama, Niwa-sama and the aide Inuchiyo-sama? After finishing this battle and burning Mount Hiei, you will continue to isolate Nobuna-sama.... That is not an act of loyalty!" 

Matsunaga Hisahide snorts at Hanbei's words, coldly replying, "I'm confused by what you said. Isn't it the responsibility of a servant to reduce the master's pain?" 

"Those are two different matters! We should bet our own lives to stop our master when she starts walking onto the wrong path. This is the responsibility of us retainers as well! And, though I don't know if Akechi-sama is safe, Yoshiharu-sama wasn't killed by the Shikigamis at Mizusaka Ridge!" 

Nobuna-sama's face changed to shock. 

Is this a dream... A continuation of a dream...? Or... reality....? 

They seem to be saying things like Yoshiharu is still alive, 

If that's true... I hope this is reality, 

But, Nobuna no longer held the courage to believe that this was reality. 

If once again she could sigh, "I am really happy." and show her relief to live in such a world, someone whispered to her again, "It's all a dream."... She didn't want to experience that despair again. 

Scared, I'm so scared...... 

"....Saru is still living... What is going on?" 

"I, Hanbei couldn't go along with Yoshiharu-sama due to my illness, so, I asked Zenki-sama to take care of him before he went out. And, Goemon also went along with him to save Asai Nagamasa-sama. Hattori Hanzou himself was inside the back troops Yoshiharu-sama was leading in the ‘Retreat of Kanegasaki’. After that, Matsudaira-sama and Akechi-sama went to rescue Yoshiharu-sama and witnessed Yoshiharu's death... With these clues, the mystery is now solved!" 

".....Mystery?" 

"Yoshiharu-sama was born and lived in a peaceful era without any wars, and thus is a very kind and gentle person. He isn't someone who could coldly watch his important companions die one by one without doing anything. But, he also isn't one who would throw away his own life to protect his important companions, least of all his most precious Hime-sama. This person is someone who never gives up. An insatiable, greedy person; no matter what, he will grab it with his hands! So....." 

Nobuna is confused. 

Hanbei's words, were they spoken in reality, or... As expected, this was still a dream. 

Maybe, the wishes in her heart became the form of Hanbei, consoling her with false hope. 

Or maybe, 

Just maybe.... 

"Nobuna-sama, in the kouga ninja arts there was a trick named ‘Finely Hidden’. Rumor has it that in this trick a substitute is used to replace the master, and that substitute is blown to pieces for his own master, a cruel ninja art. Because the substitute was blown to pieces, there would be no way to see the real identity of the body. Tsuchimikado would never do such a thing like blowing up Yoshiharu-sama, who could be exchanged for a reward, so I think Hanzou-sama hid the fact of blowing up Yoshiharu's substitute. Of course, Yoshiharu-sama would never do a cruel thing like asking one of his companion die for him, but luckily there was someone very suitable for this task inside the back troops. He is......" 

Hanbei took out a talisman and threw it into the air in front of Nobuna. 

Shikigami, summon. 

Zenki with his fox face appeared in front of Nobuna. 

"Oh, isn't this the Oda clan's Hime-sama?" Zenki knelt down onto the floor. 

"Ahh, it's as Hanbei-dono said, even if I am blown to pieces, I won't die at all. So I performed this ‘Finely Hidden’ trick together with Hanzou, to see if we could deceive that Tsuchimikado. Thanks to Akechi Mitsuhide's sudden appearance, Tsuchimikado's attention was drawn away and the trick worked, it seems." 

Nobuna still muttered, "This is a dream, I'm deceiving myself with another dream.", and didn't seem to believe it at all. 

".....Saru is still alive...? Th... Then why didn't someone report to me immediately?" 

"Ohh, my master, Hanbei-dono had been unconscious all this while, and I can't materialize here without being summoned, so we couldn't report even if we wanted to. 

"If this isn't a dream... then where is Hattori Hanzou....? Where is Takechiyo....? Why didn't anyone tell me anything... those two....?" 

"I'm afraid Hattori Hanzou-sama hid the ‘Finely Hidden’ trick while in the midst of the enemy territory. It’s likely he only revealed the truth once he had escorted his master safely back to Kyoto." Hanbei said. 

"....If that's the case, where are they now... Takechiyo....?" 

"Yes, Matsudaira-dono is someone who cherishes her friends, so I'm afraid that she set out immediately to save Yoshiharu-sama hidden in the ground after hearing the truth. Now she must be leading quite an amount of troops in the mountains of western Omi." 

"....Really... Is that true....?" 

Matsunaga Hisahide scolded, "Aren't all of these merely your deductions?" 

Before Hanbei could respond, a new voice cut through the discussion. 

"Yes, yes, it's like this~! Because we were in a hurry, we forgot to leave a letter to Kichi-nee-san to say the truth~" 

"......Hattori Hanzou, here! It was quite a hassle, but because the back troops who had returned to Kyoto safely immediately volunteered to join us in our rescue mission, our mission has now been accomplished!" 

"I...I...I...I...I'm so sorry, Kichi-nee-san! So many things had happened. I had not even brought any troops from Kyoto over to Mizusaka Ridge previously." 

The tanuki eared Matsudaira Motoyasu and the darkly attired Hattori Hanzou had returned to the camp. 

And right at their heels, 

"You've done it, commander! We had always believed in you!" 

"Until the commander returns to Hime-sama, he is invincible!" 

"We of the back troops, a total of 150 surviving, are now commander's loyal retainers!" 

"From now on, our lives are tied to your will, commander Yoshiharu!" 

"Ohoh, you finally survived back to Kyoto!" 

It's these idiots who have miraculously survived through the "Retreat of Kanegasaki" yet returned to western Omi without rest to save Yoshiharu. 

These were the companions from the back troops. 

All of them had countless wounds on them, but their expressions were as bright as the sun. 

"The mission with our lives on the line has finally finished!" 

"We finally let Hime-sama and commander Yoshiharu survive and meet again in this world!" 

"Those companions who died must be feeling elated too." 

Each and every one, their faces were filled with cheerfulness and satisfaction. 

But.... 

"It's fake... This is a dream. I... had a very similar dream just recently, didn't I? I know. This is a dream. This is just a dream... No words can describe it, it's still all dark. So this is it, this is a dream that I wish for... A dream that would never happen... Hope that was lost, a future that will never come... This is just that...." 

Nobuna still can't wake up from the dream world alone. 

And.... 

"Ah, as expected... This is a dream." 

From these sweaty men, a young man that was in even more tatters than the rest of them walked in front of Nobuna. 

"Hurry and kiss Hime-sama, commander!" 

"It's good to be young! It's good to be young!" 

"I know I know! You guys, stop this plan of burning Mount Hiei right now!" 

Sagara.... Yoshiharu... 

A dream, it can't be anything else... 

But, 

Even if it's a dream, an illusion... 

It's okay if it's fake... 

Even if I can't wake up anymore, even if my body was destroyed... 

Even if that happens, all of it doesn't matter. 

Even that, is a good thing. 

I almost can’t see through my tears. 

Even so, I wish to meet this man again. 

"...I, am still dreaming. Saru should have died and not come back anymore..." 

"Oi, Nobuna? Why are your eyes so misty!? What is going on, it's me! Sagara Yoshiharu!? Hi, it's me. ME! OI!" 

"....Dream? A dream again... Uhh, Uhh...." 

"Anyway, Nobuna....? What is with you, why do you look so sad? Your appearance is weird!? Don't tell me, don't tell me you are regretting again!? Or, or you are crying because you regret the decision to kiss with me!?" 

Yoshiharu walked nearer. 

A step, 

And another step. 

Just like a real living Yoshiharu, 

If this is a dream, let me never wake up forever.... Nobuna prayed. 

"Huh... To close your eyes, Oi Nobuna, open your eyes!" 

With a *piak*, her face was slapped. 

Strange, this was a dream, yet it feels painful.... Nobuna felt strange. 

"Yoshiharu-sama, Nobuna-sama drank too much of the drug that Matsunaga-sama prepared. She seems to not be able to distinguish her dreams from reality... But, I believe if it's Yoshiharu-sama, you will definitely be able to bring Nobuna-sama back to the real world, *Sob*Sob*" Hanbei informed Yoshiharu. 

"Geez, I tried my best and finally returned here after all that trouble, but there's no helping it! Ok, Nobuna! In the western fairytales, a sleeping beauty can only be woken up with a prince's kiss! Well, though I'm a monkey prince from the monkey country....." 

Eh...? 

This is... 

Don't tell me, he wants to kiss me? 

His lips are getting nearer... 

Wait, 

Wait a minute... 

There's still so many people watching, and at such a place, 

Ah.... 

But because this is a dream, so it does not matter. 

Even if I kiss Yoshiharu, no one will blame me, right? 

So... 

So... Anything he wants then. 

"....." 

Nobuna did not resist. 

Closing her eyes, she waits for Yoshiharu's lips 

“Go! Commander! Go! Commander!” 

Those companions from the back troops started cheering. 

"Nobuna? N...Not running away? Th...there's no helping it then... If that's the case... I'm taking the reward!" 

At that instant when their lips were about to touch, 

Inhale* 

The overly anxious Yoshiharu did a big sneeze. 

... 

Uwahh? 

This... This stench is....? 

Takoyaki....!? 

"Isn't this... This isn't the Saru from my dream!? The Yoshiharu in my dreams will never have such a nauseating stench from his mouth just before kissing!" 

In Nobuna’s vision, though she still wandered in a dark dream, a light appeared in an instant. 

It took the shape of "Smelly Saru with takoyaki". 

"What is most unacceptable is that piece of vegetable stuck between Saru's front teeth; that's the worst!" The emptiness inside Nobuna from Hisahide’s drug disappeared in that instant. 

This isn't a dream!? 

So...So as to say... This fellow is the real Saru, and those "Go!" "Go for it!" "Kiss her!" soldiers are all... real!?!? 

Nobuna’s pale face flushed bright red immediately. 

"Eh....EHHHHHH!?" 

Bham* 

Nobuna who had regained her consciousness hurriedly gave Yoshiharu's nose a headbutt. 

"Ow...Ouchhhhh!? What the hell are you doing!?" 

Without any lapse, Yoshiharu's nostrils were pierced with two fingers. 

"GO AND DIEEEEEEE!" 

And then, 

"To try to steal my lips when I'm not conscious, you ERO-SARU!" 

"If we do that now, we can't hide it from the retainers!" Nobuna fiercely released a combo technique towards Yoshiharu. 

First, she gave Yoshiharu's right face a tight slap. 

Piak* 

"Wait... It's me, I'm just taking the reward as per promised....." 

But, these words were totally useless in front of Nobuna's combo. 

"Sh...SHUT UP! In the teachings of Christianity, isn’t it said that if your right cheek is hit, then you present your left!? So, prepare yourself to be beaten up obediently!" 

Yoshiharu's left face received a slap soon. 

"Nobuna-sama? That isn't what that means... Vio...Violence isn't good." 

Frois ran over in a hurry and hugged Yoshiharu. 

"Frois-chan! This violent woman is too much! I just wanted the promised reward... Why did I have to go through such a thing!? Ahh, this world is full of darkness....!" 

"It's alright now, Yoshiharu, it's alright now." 

Watching Yoshiharu use Frois's well endowed body to comfort himself, Nobuna believed it in an instant. 

This is it. 

This is without doubt, the real and only world. 

Because... In the dream, Saru will only look at me. 

But... The real Saru is a hopeless fellow who is obsessed over Riku and Frois’ cow-like breasts! 

So, there's a need to discipline him! 

"This ero-saru, hurry and get away from Frois!" 

"Don't wanna! You will never understand. I, who was cheated by you who renegade on your promises! As the replacement for your lips, I want to be nursed by Frois's warm breasts, like a baby!" 

"Um, Yoshiharu-sama? Pl...Please don't rub my breasts like this...." 

"Uwahhh! What are you doing, traitor! Pervert! HURRY AND GET THE HELL AWAY FROM FROIS'S BREAST NOWWWWWW!" 

Without thinking, Nobuna sent a kick to the twisting ass of Yoshiharu as she tried to suppress the urge to cry out. 

This isn't a dream. 

This isn't a dream! 

It's true! 

The real Yoshiharu had returned! 

"You did it commander! Right after getting beaten by Hime-sama, you dove straight into sister-sama's breasts, what a high standard!!!" 

"As expected from the world's no 1 pervert!" 

"This is Sagara Yoshiharu!" 

"You guys, control yourself, we are still holding a military meeting!" 

At this time... 

"Wait a minute! The one who saved gorilla-senpai and allowed him to scrape through is me, Juubei Mitsuhide! Everyone, why have you forgotten all about Mitsuhide!?" 

That wide forehead. 

The kumquat that had served as an accessory was missing, most likely eaten due to thirst during the journey, 

Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide kicked away the back troops soldiers as if she were walking through nothing and forcefully came in between Frois and Yoshiharu. 

"....Juubei!? You're still alive too!?" 

"What is with ‘too’, Nobuna-sama! The useless Hattori Hanzou let gorilla-senpai stay underground and retreated from Mizusaka Ridge, I, Mitsuhide replaced him to help gorilla-senpai! Without this genius Juubei Mitsuhide, senpai would already be a corpse buried in the ground!" 

Hanzou was taken aback. “Don't tell me, you survived after dropping into such a huge crack... Even seasoned ninjas will most likely perish after experiencing such a situation... The tenacity of Akechi Mitsuhide is as terrifying as that of a roach.” 

“Maybe, this lass had some strange destiny awaiting her!?” Hanzou mumbled with a rare frightened expression. 

"Well, those back troops soldiers that disguised themselves as escapee hunters did help me and senpai who were hiding in the cave, so I won't pursue the matter of Hanzou and Matsudaira-dono abandoning Mitsuhide and running off by themselves." 

Exactly, those escapee hunters who attacked Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu in the cave were actually those companions that had escaped back to Kyoto but headed back in, led by Hanzou and Matsudaira. Their speech had been covered with the Owari accent, but Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu had not noticed that at all, most likely due to the seriousness of the situation. 

The experts that were standing at the forefront of the group were ninjas from the Hattori squad. 

Were those people hiding in the caves real, or were they a trap? To confirm this, they had to act like escapee hunters to the end. 

The companions from the back troops started whispering to each other. 

"Damn it, we didn't notice it was the two of them at the start, but now it’s just like we’re peeking." 

"We noticed that only in the middle... that it was the two of them." 

"Though we don't know how, the atmosphere seemed strange. Without knowing it, we let them continue on." 

"What a waste, if we waited just a little more, Uwahahaha." 

"If I'd have know that earlier, I wouldn't have acted in such a humiliating monkey play no matter what... I regret it! You guys, forget all of it!" 

"It's right there in our heads, and we will never forget it, UWAHAHAHA!" 

"Precisely, so don't mind us at all." 

"You guys! That was all a fake! FORGET ALL OF IT NOW! If you dare leak out even a word, I will kill all of you!" 

Under Mitsuhide fierce stare, they became silent and shivered. 

"Monkey play... What kind of play is that...?" Nobuna can't help but feel curious, but, it does not matter anymore. 

It's not a dream. The real Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide survived and have come back to my side. That alone is enough. 

"So I say, Nobuna, hurry and stop this plan of burning Mount Hiei! As you've seen, both Juubei and I are alive and well! I'll say this first, we are not ghosts or illusions or anything like that!" 

"Ahh...Hmmm." 

Yoshiharu's voice awakened the moved Nobuna and, straightening her back, she slowly stood up from the bench. 

"Anyway, I went berserk just now so suddenly, but I had promised Saru! Kiss... Nan...The Nanban word is kiss, right? If... If I don't kiss with him...." 

Though she wants to fulfill the promise right now and kiss Yoshiharu, the retainers are all watching from the side. "T...To think that my lips will be stolen by this Saru... St...Stop joking... I don't wanna, but since I've promised him... And without Saru's back troops, we would all have been killed... But, but like I thought, if it's not when we're alone...." 

Nobuna held back her tears, forcing down the urge to hug Yoshiharu. 

"NOOOO! Now I must concentrate and try to break out of this situation. Giving Saru his reward... That can wait till we are alone!" Everyone was cheering, "Come and cry it out, hurry and cry it out, hug Saru now." As blood rushed towards her head and everyone is staring... "How can I cry out now!" 

The urge to hug Yoshiharu tightly and cry into his chest was so strong that it's almost unbearable, but she must endure it. Nobuna bit her lips. 

"....Hm...Hmph! Even so, as expected of Saru, you are much more capable in the wilderness!" 

"Idiot! How can I die so simply like that!" 

Yoshiharu laughed. 

That vegetable that was jammed between his front teeth was revealed again. 

Comparing this to Asai Nagamasa's elegant smile was like comparing shit to a moon. "Of course Yoshiharu is the shit.", the difference is obvious; he had no relationship whatsoever with the word "elegance". 

Maybe, the real Saru... She can't help but think. 

He’s totally different from the Yoshiharu in my dreams. 

"So disgusting..." Nobuna mumbled as her face blushed. 

"Eh? What did you say? I'm sorry but I didn't hear it!" 

"I said, you are getting more disgusting every time I look!" 

"What a totally uncalled for criticism and malicious tongue... But, it's the normal Oda Nobuna once again, ahh, that's good!" 

Looking at Yoshiharu's energetic smiling face, 

Nobuna's body... She felt a warm strength flowing out from the depths of her body, and was filled with that strength. 

She was right in the middle of a crisis, pinned down at Mount Hiei, but... 

There was not a trace of fear in Nobuna's heart. 

With this, she could finally live with Yoshiharu in the same world. A dream had been fulfilled. 

Though it's a crisis, I'm no longer alone now. 

At this world, I've met someone that will be with me. 

With just this thought, 

She felt an inexhaustible strength. 

She felt she could, and she would definitely break through this dangerous situation. 

".....Nobuna-sama, this is for soothing the senses, please drink this." 

Matsunaga Hisahide held out the drug slowly to Nobuna's lips, but Yoshiharu shouted, "Wait, wait!" and snatched the drug away. 

"Hisahide! Don't let Nobuna drink such a weird medicine from now on! Before meeting me, wasn't Nobuna in a dazed state!? Your medicine is too suspicious!" 

"Saru, without Danjo's medicine, I would have died from the gunshot wound. I might have drank too much, but don't pursue the matter on my account." 

"If you say so. Ok, Hisahide. Please don't do such a dangerous thing from now on!" 

"Understood... Nobuna-sama isn't someone I can manipulate." 

After being scolded by Yoshiharu, the stunned Hisahide obediently admitted her mistake and retreated. This gave Yoshiharu a shock. 

".....Nobuna-sama is a strong child, and... It seems she found a ‘medicine’ far stronger than my Persian drug, huh? The medicine I've prepared is totally useless, hoho." 

"Huh? Nobuna's medicine? What do you mean?" 

".....Geez... What a blockhead!" 

Hisahide refused to continue, buttoning her mouth closed. 

"Wait, it's not what you think, don't say anymore, Danjo!" Nobuna rushed to stop Hisahide. 

With this, the plan to burn Mount Hiei was stopped. 

Nobuna then immediately called back the retainers that were chased out of the camp. 

"Sa...Sa...Sa...Saru, Mi...Mi...Mitsuhide are still alive? Ah, Ah, Legs, yes, are there legs?" 

While crying and trembling, they confirmed that Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide had legs. 

"Yesyesyes, they are alive! If that's the case, you... Hurry and stop Hime's berserk actions!" 

"Hurray! Not a ghost, not a ghost!" Shibata Katsuie was so happy that she started waving her arms and legs in a wild, uncoordinated dance. Because she was a bit too happy though, she ended up kicking away the soldiers beside her. 

"From now on, we need to negotiate with Mount Hiei. We aren't out of this crisis... But just from seeing both of your expressions, hmmm. Full points." Niwa Nagahide said with a quiet laugh. Her eyes hide traces of barely held tears. 

"....I'm hungry... Kumquat, lemme eat it." 

Inuchiyo reached out her hand towards Mitsuhide's accessory, but Mitsuhide shouted, "N.O.P.E!" and rejected immediately.(!) 

After that, Yoshiharu was able to persuade them to make up. 

With this, other than Goemon who was rescuing the imprisoned Nagamasa and Nobusumi, all the retainers of the Oda clan had finally reunited at Nobuna's side. 

"Everyone! Though I want to celebrate Saru and Juubei's return, we are still pinned down by the Asai Asakura allied forces! If this goes on, the Miyoshi and Rokoku clans will definitely attack Kyoto from behind. Once the shogun Imagawa Yoshimoto is captured, we lose! Are there any good plans?" 

"Once it starts snowing, the Asakura troops will have no choice but to retreat back to Echizen..." Yoshiharu nodded and said. 

"Compared to Shikoku, the Miyoshi clan is more likely to advance from Settsu. At the same time, Kouga will lead the Rokoku to attack Southern Omi, sealing off our main path connecting Kyoto and Mino." Imai Sougyu explained. His information came from his rival, Tsuda Soukyu. Though Tsuda Soukyu had once used Konoe Sakihisa's plan to defeat Nobuna, he was currently supporting Nobuna's actions outwardly, but this may all have been a farce to hide his own ambitions. 

"Dearuka, though it's regrettable that we fell into the enemy's trap... now isn't the time to regret. What we should do now is lure the Asai and Asakura allied forces out from Mount Hiei and battle it out with them, but these irritating fellows are being difficult." 

"Uwahhh, don't tell me I can never return to Mikawa!?" 

"Don't worry, Takechiyo, I will break out of this situation no matter what." 

"Though we may say that, we are out of options if this goes on. 20 points." 

Just when all of them are thinking about a way..... 

"Mount Hiei's missionary request an audience!" 

"By the request of Tendaizasu to protect Mount Hiei, I, Shougakuin Gousei am here to seek a surrender from these female warriors!" 

A heavy-set man appeared, a noxious stench of alcohol emanating from his whole body. 

"That fellow tried to ambush us in the night but was defeated by Katsuie, and then escaped back to Mount Hiei." 

"Using the rule of ‘Prohibiting girls’ as a shield and not knowing any shame, what a rough and cowardly man. 0 points." 

"Just what does he think girls are!? Unforgivable!" 

Though Nobuna and the rest put on a disgruntled expression, Gousei started talking seemingly without a care in the world. 

"What a chaotic era this is, what anarchy, unclean girls holding weapons and fighting with men... How regrettable and pathetic." 

Gousei said such things and rejected the tea brought forth by Inuchiyo, bluntly saying once more, "Unclean." 

"...If that's so, please eat some Uiroumochi." Inuchiyo endured as she held up the plate. 

"It might be poisoned." Gousei kicked the plate away, not even wanting to touch it with his hands, and continued bellowing like he didn't care about the situation. 

"Asai Hisamasa-dono and Asakura Yoshikage-dono could not tolerate your actions of burning the holy Mount Hiei. Oda Nobuna, I'm now giving you the chance to surrender to us. State your conditions." 

"He's just a missionary, yet he knows no shame...." Katsuie whispered to Yoshiharu at her side. 

Nobuna replied with a composed face. "Rather than surrendering, how about we negotiate on equal terms!? We have a few conditions on our side." 

"First, hand over Sugitani Zenjuubou who tried to assassinate me. It could hardly be pleasant if the rumors were to spread of an assassin hiding in a holy mountain used by monks for training." 

"Hmph, that is impossible. That useless Sugitani Zenjuubou has been exiled from Mount Hiei. We do not know where he has gone." 

"Dearuka. Well, I don't really care about that fellow, but there is no leeway in the next three conditions." 

"What!? But, I will listen to you nevertheless, Uwahahahaha." 

"First, give us that Omyouji who acts like a thief, sneaking into the ‘Retreat of Kanegasaki’ and almost killing Saru and Juubei, that Tsuchimikado!" 

"....Hmph... I see, It's okay, if it's just handing him over." 

He agreed rather easily... Maybe there's a trap somewhere...? Nobuna started to have doubts, but now isn't the time to hesitate. 

"Second, Mount Hiei must sign an agreement to never help the Asai and Asakura clans, and will disarm all monks from this day forth and return the disciples back to the original tasks of a monk." 

"What is this, disarm!? Are you an idiot? How is that sort of thing possible!?" 

"Refusing is not an option! Originally, monks should not take up arms. Isn’t your job to worship Buddha and save the common folk to get closer to the essence of Buddhism? If you love fights, how about you go become a soldier!? As a soldier, I will not object to you going to war for the conquest of unifying the world. Those men who are not willing to stop being a monk, yet still want to wave weapons around, you guys are just too shameful!" 

The female warriors of the Oda clan stare at Gousei silently. 

“Uwahh, what is with this pressure, just a few of them were able to produce such an immense pressure.” Gousei replied with difficulty, his face breaking out in a sweat. 

"Do you agree? If you don't disarm completely and stop supporting both the Asai and Asakura, you monks will be burned to ashes! This is not a threat! It's a final warning!" 

"You truly mean that the Monks will not spared?" 

"You are monks in appearance, but aren't you guys just soldiers grouped together and pretending to be monks!? Waging war means people die, no matter what side they’re on! To us warriors, we are betting our own lives on this battle! Just attacking us one-sidedly, daring us to retaliate so you can use your bullshit reasoning, saying we were disrespectful towards Buddha; we don't take that kind of bullshit here!" 

"But... Monks without any weapons who have not broken any rules, monks that are high in moral values should be plentiful on Mount Hiei, shouldn’t they?" 

In actual fact, we chased away all those monks when they started lecturing us... Gousei thought in his heart, as his tone can't help but shake a bit. 

But, the next words from Nobuna gave Gousei an even bigger shock. 

"Those monks who ignored all your wrongs for all these years, they are all guilty!" 

"Yo...You really don't you have any respect towards Buddhism, do you!? You deserve heavenly punishment, you brat!" 

"Wrong! What I don't respect are those hypocrites and despicable bastards who hide behind the symbol of Buddhism as they do all kinds of bad things! If there really is a God or Buddha, they will never punish me for punishing these villains for them." 

"That's why I say... It's because you have ideas like that that we reason with you at all..." Gousei mumbled. 

"Then, this is the last condition! This is the most important one, I'll never compromise on this." 

"There is more!? What is it this time, what's the third condition?" 

"The place to sign the peace agreement must be at... The main hall of Mount Hiei! I will personally go into Mount Hiei and sign it!" 

"That is the one thing I could never allow!!" Gousei shouted with fury as he stood up violently. 

"Stop joking, you damn brat! You namban lover and punishment deserving fool! The main hall is a holy place that has housed and worshipped the ‘Holy Flame’ for several centuries. To Mount Hiei, it's like the heart, the most holy place of all! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ALLOW UNCLEAN WOMEN IN IT!" 

Part 4 

Negotiations broke down. 

"What the hell are you doing? It's just a little more, isn't it ok if I sign the agreement on your behalf?" 

"Shut up Saru. A guy like you won't understand, but doing things like prohibiting women in this new era that has accepted namban culture... We will be too outdated if we continue treating women as unclean! That fallen monk’s expression seemed to say, ‘Ahh, because of all the female warriors, the air here had become dirty...’, and it pisses me off. I can't help it if I just subconsciously add another condition!" 

"Setting a new condition subconsciously!? Control yourself a little; if this goes on, our efforts at the ‘Retreat of Kanegasaki’ will be wasted!" 

Gousei interrupted without a trace of fear, "Inferior women will never enter the main hall, on this I will never compromise. If you don't like it, feel free to cut off my head, but can you girls do it? Uwahahahaha!" while looking at Nobuna and Yoshiharu's couple quarrel. 

"Though I can understand Hime-sama's feelings, it won't be good if the negotiations break down, 8 points." 

"They are the monks of the holy Mount Hiei, but to enforce a rule like prohibiting women, they are totally treating us like fools! Even if they are disarmed now, they might rise up and become our enemy again using the reason of prohibiting women. We should just burn them after all!" 

"Actually, this incident was caused by the Asai and Asakura clan using this rule of Mount Hiei. So, as long as this rule exist, Mount Hiei will very likely be the base for any anti-Nobuna forces... But, burning them isn't good... *Sob*Sob*." 

"....These monks, they dare say Inuchiyo's tiger hat is unclean... Unforgivable!" 

"These monks seem to be quite stubborn~ Kichi-nee-san too is known for her stubbornness~ How troubling~" 

"There's a saying between merchants, ‘For profits, it's okay even if the conditions are disadvantageous’. Right now, peace is our most important objective. The last condition is too forceful." 

"Both in Europe and Japan, why does the religious world treat women to be unclean? Maybe it's because women possess breasts? The expression of Gousei when he is looking at my breasts seems to say ‘The servant of demons’, full of fear and hatred; it makes me so scared... *Shiver*Shiver*" 

"They know nothing about us yet treat women as unclean. These bastard monks don't even have the respect to let us kill them. Since this is so troublesome, allow me to poison them all." 

"T...Th...Though I don't really understand the situation, what is everyone doing now? Uhh...Uhhhhhhh....." 

The opinions are totally divided. 

And to the wary Gousei, Hisahide's special skill of seduction was useless as well. 

Yoshiharu, who was knowledgeable about the sengoku games was also troubled by the rule of prohibiting women. 

If there were no cute girls or big-breasted girls in the world, even the perverted Yoshiharu might not survive a day, so he could not comprehend the ancient views that women were unclean at all. 

Nobuna, whose perfectionist mindset had surpassed others by 300 years could not suppress her feelings of wanting to both disarm Mount Hiei and, at the same time, remove the rule that prohibited women on the mountain. 

"If...If that's the case, we won’t get anywhere if Gousei dislikes women. So, why don't the bishoujos of the Oda clan serve them to let them change their impression on us?" 

Katsuie actually voiced her ridiculous idea, and Yoshiharu was instantly excited, replying "Good idea, everyone can cosplay as bunny girls, mikos and maids to serve those monks! I can have some good eye candy too!" 

Nobuna rejected loudly, "Huh? Miko? Maido!? Won't that be conquering the world using seduction!? If we really do it, the images of self-respecting female warriors everywhere will… " 

"Uwahhh.... I'm so sorry, so sorry Hime-sama! I...I...I... didn’t mean to suggest things like conquering the world using seduction!" 

With teary eyes, Katsuie seems about to burst into tears as Yoshiharu continued saying. 

"....This isn't good. Nobuna, don't worry about the rule! They will remove it by themselves around the Meiji era, so...!" 

"Meiji? When will that be!?" 

"Umm, around 300 years from now." 

"Huh? Are you an idiot!? Do I look like I can I wait for 300 years? I want to destroy this stupid rule now!" 

"Uwahhh, aren't you greedy!?" 

Gousei, who had been silently sitting to the side, stood up. 

Most likely he was afraid that the female warriors present would turn him into a hostage. 

"Uwahahaha! It's about time for me to go. If you want to force us to remove our rule of prohibiting women, we might as well get burnt to ashes! Come at us then!" 

At this time. 

Someone unexpected... The sister Frois tugged at Gousei's sleeves with all her efforts and refused to let go. 

"Please wait! Please talk again with Nobuna-sama! If this goes on, Mount Hiei will...." 

"Ohhhh!? A priestess from the evil sects of namban? But, these shockingly big breasts... Ahhhh, don't touch me, DON'T TOUCH ME! My power... My power will be sucked away!" 

Gousei kept shouting, "Ohhhh, let me go, let me go!" and seemed to dislike Frois a great deal. Sweat started flowing down his face; Frois’ call for reason seemed to have the exact opposite effect. 

Just when Nobuna was preparing to give up... 

"Oh hohohohoho! Nobuna-sama, you seem troubled. For a time like this, please ask for this Seii Taishogun!" 

The Seii Taishogun everyone had completely forgotten even existed, Imagawa Yoshimoto elegantly appeared wearing sandals commonly worn by mikos. 

Nobuna stared at Yoshimoto, her face immediately clouding with impatience. 

"Huh? When did you change back to "warara" [3] ? You are now my puppet, yet you still put on such airs!" 

"Ararararara, since I've become the Seii Taishogun, using warara again is obvious! Actually, I should refer myself as "chin" [4] , but since I don't want to give Himiko-sama trouble, I will have to endure with just "warara"!" 

"You are really messed up in your usage of keigo!" 

"Yes, that's it! At such a time, we can only rely on Himiko-sama's decree!" Yoshiharu slapped his own leg. 

"At such a time, even if all we have is this Imagawa Yoshimoto, it's better than nothing!" Mitsuhide agreed as well. 

Niwa Nagahide smiled and said, "As a missionary candidate, this is brilliant. 80 points." 

"There's no helping it... though I'm not expecting much of it." Nobuna said. 

"You guys can just wait here! I will use my godly negotiation skills to get the decree! Ohohohoho!" 

Imagawa Yoshimoto believed firmly that she could complete the historic task of getting the royal decree herself. 

Part 5 

Imperial Palace. 

"What!? That Suruga's puppet shogun came to see Himiko without an appointment!?" 

Early in the morning, Kampaku Konoe Sakihisa rushed over to the palace as soon as he received the report, his eyes rolling in surprise. 

Most surprising however was that Konoe Sakihisa was the one who planned the whole scenario of forcing the Oda clan into a corner. 

Sakihisa was the one behind Asai Hisamasa suddenly breaking off the alliance with the Oda clan, having sent him a secret letter saying, "Oda Nobuna wants to destroy this world of statuses and had threatened that she will destroy the palace and Himiko." This exact letter was actually the start of the whole conspiracy. 

Using the same method, persuading Mount Hiei using its relations with the palace went easily. 

As for the Rokoku and Miyoshi clans, they had both received a letter simply stating, "The Oda army is currently trapped in Mount Hiei, now is the time to act!" 

But, he never would have expected that Sugitani Zenjuubou could have failed his assassination attempt. 

If that useless fellow had only succeeded, the Oda clan would be totally destroyed by now! Now he has even disappeared in shame, Sakihisa felt a fool for trusting the ninja! 

"No, definitely not. I don't know why Himiko-sama trusts that Oda Nobuna so much, but I must never let that Suruga puppet shogun and Himiko-sama meet....!" 

Sakihisa rushed to the palace in a hurry, but it was too late. 

"Ohhohohoho! If that's the case, please write the royal decree soon! As expected of Himiko-sama!" 

This high-pitched laughter that seems to pierce the brain... was definitely not Himiko-sama's. 

"Then, please take this royal decree over to my brother at Mount Hiei." 

"Ahhh, even Himiko-sama agrees... I, Seii Taishogun Imagawa Yoshimoto am so honored!" 

"I've heard that Nobuna is hurt; how is she now?" 

"That fellow is already energetic again! Though she seems kinda confused after drinking so much medicine and even had the idea of ‘burning Mount Hiei’, ever since that monkey she keeps returned to her from Kanegasaki, she is back to herself!" 

"I see, Sagara Yoshiharu is safe too." 

"Yes yes. He is safe, I'm only telling you, Himiko-sama. That Saru is the only ‘real Japanese man’ that I, the Seii Taishogun acknowledge, how can he die so simply!? Ahahahahahaha!" 

Konoe Sakihisa ran into the room, panting profusely. 

The Imagawa Yoshimoto that he had once thought was just an elegant puppet now wore a dragon shaped accessory on her head as she fanned herself with a golden fan. 

Even if she is the Taishogun, to dress like that in front of Himiko, this is just too disrespectful! 

"Wa....Wait!" 

"Ara ara, isn't this Kampaku-sama? Hmmm, white eyebrows with black teeth, what a noble look, or were you born like this? Oh hohoho." 

Sakihisa grinds his teeth with fury. This stupid Suruga woman believed that being Taishogun made her greater than Kampaku; no, maybe she even thought the shogun on par with Himiko-sama, so no matter what I say, she will definitely, "Ahahahaha" and not listen to any of it. 

This was the most difficult missionary, that bastard Oda Nobuna! 

With this, Sakihisa could only persuade Himiko-sama to retract her order. 

"Himiko-sama, if we force a peace between the Asai Asakura clans and the Oda clan, it will mean demolishing the rule of prohibiting women at Mount Hiei! The reputation of Mount Hiei, the holy mountain in charge of protecting Kyoto's gate of demons, will completely disintegrate!" 

"What are you saying?" muttered the young Himiko-sama behind the veil 

"Mount Hiei and Mount Koya's rule prohibiting women was established nearly 800 years ago during the Heijou-kyo era. It's a tradition that has 800 years of history. If we destroy such a tradition, it means we are destroying the authority of Yamato Gose and Himiko-sama." 

"The spiritual mountain's prohibition to women came from Heijou-kyo's Yoro code, and it was never intended to discriminate against females but to let the monks observe their tonsure..." Sakihisa continued. 

"In the Yoro code, men were prohibited as well as women, but now women are prohibited exclusively. Isn't that very strange?" 

"Ahh, Ahh, that..." Sakihisa stumbled and started shivering... 

800 years ago when the yoro code was established, the Buddhism community in Japan had both monasteries and nunneries. They all observed a strict rule: "Monks and nuns are to swear an oath of chastity." And so Yamato Gose who ruled Japan established the rule for females to not enter monasteries, and males to not enter nunneries. 

Eventually, this country's nunneries slowly disappeared due to the changing of eras, and the rule on prohibiting men was also forgotten by everyone. 

But the rule of prohibiting women was ingrained with the beliefs of the spiritual mountain before Buddhism came, and the reason for establishing the rule was forgotten and slowly became simply another tradition. 

"D..Do...Don't tell me, the young Himiko-sama even knows such an ancient story...?" 

Sakihisa still wouldn’t admit defeat and pressed on, retaliating "But the point about women being unclean has long been acknowledged." 

Himiko simply smiled and retorted "I see, if being a woman makes them unable to enter Mount Hiei... Then I too am unclean and can't enter Mount Hiei?" 

"Huh? Nn...no...No such thing! Those fellows who dare say the esteemed Himiko-sama is unclean will definitely receive divine punishment!" 

"If that's the case, the rule of prohibiting women is just an outdated thing, right?" 

"....L...Like you said~!" 

Sakihisa broke out in sweat and stood there trembling. 

"It's about time for the era of prohibiting women from entering spiritual mountains to end. Women were not born with sins, don’t you agree?" 

"What wisdom, I can't retaliate at all!" 

Sakihisa finally gave up resisting. 

"Ohhohohoho! You have nothing more to say, Kampaku-sama? Then let me, Ima~Gawa~Yoshi~moto go to Mount Hiei's main hall in place of Himiko-sama for the peace negotiation!" 

Interrupting Imagawa Yoshimoto's high-pitched laughter, Himiko said "I hope you can pass a message to Nobuna-sama: There isn't just one dream. I hope you can cherish Sagara Yoshiharu." 

"Ehh, Ehh, I don't really understand the meaning of this, but I understand the task." 

In the midst of this success. 

"Oda Nobuna, you once again sneaked through the crisis... Just you wait, I will gather stronger enemies to deal with you." Konoe Sakihisa had already started on a new plan. The evil expression on his face was not discovered by Himiko due to the veil. Maybe, the officials erected the veil precisely for this purpose. 

Part 6 

December 13th. 

The season was still winter. 

Along a mountain path covered with snow, energetic female warriors appeared, intent on destroying Mount Hiei’s 800 year-old rule prohibiting females. 

"What a breathtaking view! Though it's kinda cold, this scene makes climbing the mountain worth it!" 

"The view of Kyoto from Mount Hiei, 95 points." 

"Ohahahahaha! Are you satisfied, Nobuna-sama? Are you not going to reward me, who delivered the royal decree from Himiko? How about using gold for my Nijou castle?" 

"Yoshimoto-sama, Yoshimoto-sama, the battle with the Asai Asakura allied forces has not ended; your request is too unreasonable~" 

"Arara, Motoyasu, if that's the case, I will have to settle with silver then." 

"I thought it would turn into something bad..." 

Sob*Sob* 

With Oda Nobuna leading, the excited retainers formed the group. 

In the almost total female group, Sagara Yoshiharu was the only male in sight. 

"There! There are relatives of Saru right there! Your mates!" 

"Shut up, those are Japanese monkeys." 

Loud and boisterous as they walked, they finally reached the main hall. 

The Asai Asakura soldiers that surrounded the main hall to protect their masters were shocked at the sight. 

"Th...That is the princess of the Oda clan... Su...Such unparalleled beauty." 

"Shibata Katsuie, and Niwa Nagahide, and Akechi Mitsuhide, every one of them are rare beauties." 

"Only that Saru is unforgivable! To be surrounded by beauties, arghhhh!" 

"UNFORGIVABLE!" 

"Sagara Yoshiharu! We must kill you on the battlefield!" 

They could easily hear the whispers of the soldiers. 

The monks that were disarmed by the decree were equally amazed. 

"W...What pretty female warriors!" 

"Young, pretty and refined... Ahh, I can't seem to ignore these material beings." 

"No, maybe the material world is the real paradise." 

"....I, have decided to quit being a monk." 

"But there's a Saru mixed in, unforgivable." 

"Die! Hurry and die! Sagara Yoshiharu!" 

Admiring the pretty Oda clan warriors, but Yoshiharu felt them emitting obvious killing intent. 

"Why am I the only one hated... Just why is that?" 

"Hmph, let us go in, Saru." 

Asai Hisamasa and Asakura Yoshikage had already pressed their seals on the agreement. Nobuna was the only one left. 

But, 

At the gates of the main hall stood 2 people. 

Wakasa's shota omyouji Tsuchimikado and "Uwahahaha, come at me!" Shougakuin Gousei waving his metal rod as he laughed. 

"What, you two, we are here for the peace agreement. Don't tell me you plan to ignore Himiko's decree and start the war again?" 

"How can that be~ Asai-dono and Asakura-dono have already sealed their approval as per Himiko-dono's decree. I am just here to hand you Tsuchimikado as per the conditions. But... I don't mind handing him to you, but what do I do after handing him over? I promised you nothing! Wahahahaha!" 

"Exactly, I did not say anything about surrendering... but I plan to defeat you guys here." Tsuchimikado said arrogantly. 

"I'm leaving this to you, Tsuchimikado-dono, don't worry and give these unclean women a bloodbath... Please!" 

"What a bastard monk! Too despicable! And they were saying they aren't defying the decree!" Nobuna and the rest were enraged at the deception. 

"Ahh, Mount Hiei is as remarkable as ever... This inexhaustible ‘Ki’ that was gathered from Kyoto. After absorbing it, I'm 10 times stronger than when I was at Wakasa, no, 20 times stronger! Where is Takenaka Hanbei?" 

"Here." Hanbei raised her hand timidly as her small horse climbed forward up the mountain. 

"You are that rising dragon of Mount Bodai, being known as ‘The modern Koumei’? You are just a rural omyouji! Come and duel it out with the direct descendant of Abe Seimei-sama, the head of Tsuchimikado!" 

Yoshiharu and the rest shouted, "Despicable bastard~!" and were making a scene, and Nobuna also let fly, "What's with this kid?" 

"The low level shikigamis this fellow controls are afraid of the gunshots of arquebus, but no matter what we can't let Hanbei meet with any danger." Yoshiharu whispered to Nobuna, as she did not bring her arquebus to sign the peace agreement. 

Hanbei slowly got down from the horse and with a clear voice declared, "I understand, let's have a duel then." 

"Huh, it's too dangerous, Hanbei-chan! That fellow can control huge amounts of shikigamis, and he should be much more dangerous now compared to when he was at Wakasa." 

"Yoshiharu-sama, it's okay now. Due to you, my body has recuperated. Now is the time to make up for being unable to help after my collapse at Kiyomizu temple." 

Hanbei lowered her head with a difficult expression. 

"But, Hanbei-chan." 

"Hoo, there's really nothing to worry about." 

"Then, rising dragon-kun, we can start the duel now? Shikigami army, summon!” Tsuchimikado shouted confidently, and in an instant countless scary shikigamis appeared in the sky and rushed towards Hanbei, Nobuna and the rest. 

"There they are, there they are! The demons have appeared! Noooooo!" Katsuie started swinging her spear, intent on mowing down the spirits like she fought men, yet she could not reach the flying shikigamis. 

If this went on, Nobuna and the rest would all die at this peace agreement ceremony. 

But at this moment, 

Takenaka Hanbei calmly drew out a talisman and threw it up into the air. 

"Zenki-sama, I'll leave this to you." 

"Ahh, leave this to me." 

The gentleman with a fox face, Zenki appeared in front of Tsuchimikado. 

"What, this shikigami again? Though you did deceive me at Mizusaka Ridge." 

"Hoo, how can Sagara Yoshiharu be defeated by a guy like you? Such a foolish fellow to be so easily deceived." 

"No matter what, this is just too reckless. Even if you are a high level shikigami, alone you can never match my shikigami army. You yourself should understand. Since each of these individual shikigamis’ strengths are now 20 times greater, then it’s a simple numbers game. Just one of you is so boring, I can't even win with pride." 

Targeting Zenki, all the shikigamis rushed forward in an instant. 

Suddenly, Zenki laughed out loud. 

"You didn't notice? Since my master's health is good, and we are at Mount Hiei, my strength is 1000 times more than the time at Wakasa." 

"Stop boasting, it's impossible for any omyouji other than Abe Seimei-sama to be stronger than me. How can a stupid thing summoned by a rural omyouji be my opponent?" 

"Ehhh, even the Tsuchimikado clan's descendant is outdated. All of them are useless descendants." 

Facing the shikigami army coming from all directions. 

Zenki spoke softly. 

"Pathetic spirits that have even forgotten who you were in life, go back to the darkness." 

“Rin~Byou~Tou~Sha~Kai~Jin~Retsu~Zai~Zen!” 

“Come, thousands arms Guanyin.” 

Pointing to the heavens, chanting spells, countless punches visible only to the omyoujis and shikigamis fall from the sky, 

Bham* 

Boom* 

Kachak* 

Not a single one was left, the whole shikigami army was destroyed in a blink of an eye. 

The battle of the strongest omyouji, was over in an instant. 

"....What...? Such a thing... Im...Impossible...!?" 

Tsuchimikado fell on his feet, stunned.(!) 

"How is this possible!? The direct descendant of Abe Seimei-sama, the head of Tsuchimikado, Japan's strongest omyouji, how... how can I lose so easily..." 

"Hoo, the Abe clan that absorbed the power of a fox had declined over the course of a few hundred years. Tsuchimikado, the era of omyoujis has fallen to the dark ages of Japan. My master and I will personally end this omyouji era. 

With a glance Zenki saw Tsuchimikado’s face suddenly transform. 

His confident, tenacious look after being defeated suddenly vanished. 

Instead, Tsuchimikado’s face was now filled with fear. 

This is impossible. 

Such a thing... is definitely impossible! 

There’s no reason to ask why... 

The rumors that were passed down through the ages of the Tsuchimikado clan, that no matter how great one’s talent is, the strongest shikigami that could never be summoned, his real form is... 

"...Don't tell me... Don't tell me... You... are... Founder...-sama!?" 

"So troubling..." Zenki laughed like a fox. 

"Tsuchimikado, you still have a long way ahead. To proclaim yourself as the descendant of Abe Seimei, you are still 10 years too early. Go back to Wakasa and train from the start again." 

"Uwahh...Uwahhhhhhhhhh! I'm so sorry!!!" 

Tsuchimikado cried and tumbled down the mountain, so afraid that he was reduced to childlike blubbering. 

As he ran, Zenki created invisible hands to knock at Tsuchimikado's head, making his nose bleed as he kept tumbling down the mountain and soon vanished from Nobuna and the rest's sight. 

"....Ara ara, I was planning to take your life, thank my master's kindness." 

"Thank you so much, Zenki-sama! With this, Tsuchimikado won't dare to attack Yoshiharu-sama anymore." 

"Hmmm, Hanbei-dono, you are really a good child." 

Nobuna and the rest were stunned where they stood, asking "What happened? Did Zenki do something? I see nothing at all.", as Zenki vanished into a puff of smoke. 

"This... Impossible! Why did Tsuchimikado lose to this hamster-like lass!?" 

Gousei, having failed in his last bit of defiance, was slowly surrounded by Nobuna and the rest. 

"Uwahhhh! Is the main hall fated to never escape the taint of these unclean women!? Despair! Guanyin, please punish these unclean women right now! I beg you, I'm begging you, if you hear my wish, please save this monk from the evil claws of these women!" 

Gousei, feeling that his life was in danger, dropped his metal rod on the group and started shouting as his big body shook uncontrollably. 

Gousei showed his true cowardly nature, becoming a fish on the chopping board for Nobuna and her female warriors. 

The fury in the eyes of Nobuna and the rest was burning fiercer and fiercer . 

Especially angry was the one Gousei attacked dueled, only to retreat to Mount Hiei every time she was winning. Katsuie was even starting to grind her teeth in anger. 

Enveloped by the killing intent of these female warriors, Gousei coughed and quickly whimpered "*Cough*. If that's the case, I'm going off now." 

Just as he stood up and prepared to make a despicable retreat, 

Pak!!* 

"Uwahhhh!?" 

Nobuna's flying kick hit home on Gousei's abdomen... The ends of her feet digging itself nearly into his liver. 

"Who are the women deserving punishment!? Where are we unclean? Say it out, you bastard monk!" 

"Exactly! The unclean one here is you, planning to assassinate us during the peace agreement ceremony! You still think of yourself as Mount Hiei's monk after defying Himiko-sama's decree!? Do you know the word ‘shame’!?" 

Bham!* 

The shining forehead of the furious Juubei Mitsuhide sent a kick right at Gousei's crotch without any mercy. 

"Ohhhhhhh!?" 

Gousei could not withstand the fertility-destroying impact and writhed on the ground in pain. 

"Sp...Spare me! I know my mistake! Strong women aren't unclean, I won't say that again! Please spare my life!" 

"Do you think we will let you run away!?" 

"Everyone, how about we treat this fellow as a sandbag, beat him up till he stops twitching!" 

"Ohohohoho! Compared to shooting arrows, I'm much better in soccer!" 

"This might not be an appropriate action for a conqueror of the world, but my mood now is full points!" 

"Understood, Hime-sama! Eat this, Shibata special, Face Stomp!" 

UWAHHHHHH! 

Using all her strength, Katsuie mercilessly rained stomp after stomp on the prone Gousei. 

"Ehhh, so they are this violent!? Sa...Save me, Yoshiharu-sama!" 

Nobuna's initial kick was already fatal, and Juubei's kick to every man’s weak point without hesitation was enough to make any spectator cringe.... But, compared to them, Katsuie's stomping was... No matter what, it's too much, right? Looking at Gousei's pathetic state, Yoshiharu can't help but shiver with fear too. 

The monks and soldiers of Asai Asakura clans were saying, "Even that Gousei can't fight back, huh...." "Now, Gousei-sama seems unexpectedly unworthy of pity." "Somehow, it seems oddly satisfying." "He lost everytime he dueled with Shibata Katsuie." "To think that women are weak, what a big mistake..." "It's better if we leave the women alone." as they stood there, shivering and watching Gousei’s abuse. 

"Hanbei-chan, Hanbei-chan, please go and stop them." 

"But...It's scary... *Sob*Sob*" 

"Hoo, the esteemed monk Ikyu-sama once said, ‘Women are the treasure of Buddhism, because Sakyamuni and Siddhattha were both born from women’, so guys who use illogical reasoning like prohibiting women from entering someplace will never win against us." 

Matsunaga Hisahide held no intention of stopping them either. 

Yoshiharu himself did not have the courage to stop Nobuna and the rest who had been amassing their fury ever since the Retreat at Kanegasaki. 

But, someone courageously stepped forward. 

"No...Nobuna-sama! Violence isn't good! If you continue on, Gousei-sama is just too pitiful." 

This courageous girl used her own body and shielded the battered Gousei, trying her best to stop Nobuna and her gang’s violence. 

And this girl was... 

"....Frois? This fellow is the monk who had always been harming you missionaries. He is your enemy, isn't he? Why are you stopping us?" 

Christian missionary Frois. 

"Nobuna-sama, Jesus-sama once taught us to ‘love your enemy’. Gousei-sama has already admitted his mistake to you, and has thoroughly repented... Though it's a fact that we missionaries did indeed have lots of trouble, I'm afraid that Gousei-sama suffered through cruel training and held severe misunderstandings about women. So I beg you, please be merciful." 

"Well, since you said so... What about you guys?" 

"If that's the case, Mitsuhide too will forgive him." 

"Thanks." 

Frois helped Gousei up and revealed a light smile. 

Gousei, finally able to straighten his back with support from Frois’s shoulder.... 

"Bu....Buddha-sama....! 

“Uwahh!”, he sobbed, hugging Frois's legs. 

"You don't give up even on a useless guy like me, you are the real Guanyin-sama! Thank you so much! Thank you so much...! Who could predict the Guanyin-sama who helps all mortals will descent on this world as a namban girl!?" 

"....Eh? Ummm...?" 

"I heard Guanyin-sama had 33 forms, maybe this namban missionary form is your 34th form!? Ohh, ohh, what glittering blonde hair... That sparkling blue eyes... What an appropriate appearance for Guanyin-sama! And, those big breasts that are full of motherly instinct! The mother I have never met must definitely be like you!" 

"....Eh? Ehhh?" 

"From now on, Shougakuin Gousei will forever serve you, and become Musashibo that protects Frois-sama! Yes... As long as I have one breath left...! Ahh, Guanyin-samaaaaa!" 

Gousei screams as he continued to rub his face fiercely on Frois's legs. 

The monks who were utterly disappointed by his ridiculous actions all droop their heads and slowly disperse... 

"Wait, plea... please stop! I...I'm a sister already married to God... Who... Who can come save me!?" 

"What the hell are you doing, you lecher monk! Get the hell away from Frois!" 

"He is becoming more and more disgusting! We should just kill him off!" 

"Ara ara, though a troublesome enemy has become our ally... , I'm afraid it will become even more troublesome... A situation of 50 points." 

"I can continue hitting him then? Ok! Eat this!" 

Part 7 

Finally, 

Nobuna took the last step towards the peace agreement. 

They had finally reversed their desperate situation. 

They did not see the cowardly Asai Hisamasa during the peace agreement ceremony; he must have ran away before Nobuna had even stepped into the main hall. 

And the other person, Asakura Yoshikage. 

After walking out from the main hall, he finally saw Oda Nobuna herself for the first time. 

Asakura Yoshikage was a young warrior with both fine looks and build, but his face always drooped and his eyes seem to swim around unfocused. The most abnormal thing though was right behind Yoshikage now; a piece of wall within the main hall was covered with pretty girls from the tales of Genji. Surrounded by all the drawings stood the well-dressed Nobuna, idling around. 

"....This!? Asakura Yoshikage, was this drawn by you!? Is this really okay, to draw such things at such a holy place?" 

"A life of guarding a castle is just too boring, so I called Hasegawa Tohaku over from Echizen to draw this. Ho, ho, ho, but you are even prettier than the drawings, the exact princess I dreamt of. Finally, I have found a beautiful and flawless girl like my mother... You're too beautiful, so beautiful that I want to pull all your organs out and put them as specimens on my side!" 

Asakura Yoshikage had done research on Oda Nobuna while he waited upon Mount Hiei, and he seemed to have become infatuated with Nobuna. 

"......!?" 

Nobuna shivered silently. 

What? 

What's going on with this guy? 

Like his mother? ....Specimen...? 

What is he talking about? 

"Finally, I have found the girl I wanted in the real world. I must use all means to bring you back to Ichijodani. Then, I will dress you in different elegant attires... and cultivate you to become my Murasaki. Feel honored, this is our combined destiny!" 

"Don't come over!" 

Asakura Yoshikage’s eyes began to glitter with a crazy look as his hands raised like he wanted to catch Nobuna, but the shivering Nobuna reflexively hid behind Yoshiharu. 

This was the first time for Nobuna, who had not truly known what fear was like, to fear a person to this extent. 

And the face Asakura Yoshikage made as he leered at Nobuna was definitely not normal. 

They were not the eyes of a guy in love with a girl, but more like eyes that wanted to control; eyes with sinister ideas. Those eyes were full of a threatening darkness. 

"Saru, this guy is making me so uncomfortable! Why did he draw me like that even when we have never meet before? And saying he wants to make me into a specimen, though I don't know what is going on, I'm so scared... so scared..." 

"Calm down Nobuna, there are such guys no matter the era; there is no need to be scared." 

Yoshiharu fiercely held Asakura Yoshikage’s gaze as he held Nobuna close, giving her strength. 

"You must be Saru! Boring, so boring! There are things like that happening frequently in the real world. I thought I had found the perfect bishoujo, but there are always worms like you who are just quick... While I was thinking about girls frivolously, monkeys like you were destroying the maidens, unforgivable!" Asakura Yoshikage shouted, his voice filled with hatred. 

"Sagara Yoshiharu, I hereby swear to kill you on the battleground without fail! A miracle of art like Oda Nobuna will never be tainted by a worm like you! No matter what price I pay, I must definitely bring her and imprison her back in my residence and help her change her clothes. To cultivate her into a Murasaki that belongs only to me, only Oda Nobuna can be the girl who is my mother!" 

"Saru, hug me tightly... I'm so scared...." Nobuna hugged Yoshiharu even tighter in fear, and the scene only served to fan Asakura Yoshikage’s rage. 

"Let's meet again on the battlefield, Oda Nobuna. It's regrettable, but this is not the Heian era. Though I do not want to enter dirty battles... Just you wait. To be able to imprison you back at Ichijodani and cherish you fully, I will definitely destroy the Oda army, kill this shameless Saru and claim your love." 

Crazy, this guy was crazy. 

It was not just unreasonable; he seemed to be raping her with his eyes, his gaze enough to make any person shiver with fright. 

Too disgusting. 

"....Saru... Too scary... To be caught by such a guy and imprisoned... I would rather die..." 

"Don't be afraid, if we battle with Asakura Yoshikage, you will definitely win!" Yoshiharu assured, hugging Nobuna tightly. 

A tear stricken Nobuna raised her head as she faced Yoshiharu. 

"Really? Is this your future knowledge? Didn't we have an agreement? Do you not want your head anymore?" 

"No, it's not my future knowledge. That maniac who is engrossed with his own world will never be the Oda clan's opponent. We could never lose to such a maniac, get it!?" 

"Yes, it's like that." Nobuna finally smiled. 

But Yoshiharu kept his guard up, thinking Though Asakura Yoshikage is a pervert, he may unexpectedly be a strong enemy. 

Postponing the battle with Asakura and Yoshikage, Nobuna had finally gone through her biggest crisis. 

The Miyoshi and Rokoku clans knew that they couldn’t stand up against the Oda clan and once again backed down. 

After that though, Takenaka Hanbei did trip and fall onto the "Holy Flame" when she ran into the main hall, causing the whole hall to go up in flames. Zenki who was summoned again summoned a big rain and the Holy Flame that had not been extinguished for 800 years was put out completely. But Gousei, having already enslaved himself to Frois did not mind it at all. Only the monks of Mount Hiei were crying in anguish. 

With this, Nobuna herself could finally return to Kyoto. 

The wound on her abdomen was no longer hurting that much. 

"It's...It's about time to give Saru his reward....." 

"Hmmm? Why is your face red?" Yoshiharu asked her. 

Nobuna started stuttering, "Hu...Hurry and go back to Nene's side. That child, has been cleansing herself to pray for your safety." 

"Ohh, that’s true; I should go back soon!" Yoshiharu answered. 

"I've been with the army this whole time since I came back from Kanegasaki! If I don't return to calm Nene down, things will be bad." 

Wait, Saru! it's true that many things have happened, but don't tell me you've forgotten about the promise of a kiss with me? 

Thinking this, Nobuna suddenly became unhappy. 

After Yoshiharu shouted, "Wait for me, Nene!" and ran off, Niwa Nagahide walked to Nobuna's side with a smile. 

"....Hmm, the night when we go back to Kyoto, ask Yoshiharu-dono to your room, and then give him his reward properly." 

"Is that really ok? Aren't you guys against me being together with Saru?" 

"No, Nagahide will not make such a dumb mistake a second time. From now on, I will fully support the love between Hime and Yoshiharu-dono." 

"Support.... Manchiyo, are you misunderstanding something? I...I...I... am just giving Sa...Sa...Saru a reward as his Ma...Ma...Ma...Ma...Master... T...Th...Th...This is just purely a duty... A duty...!" 

Nagahide grasped Nobuna’s hands as she began to panic and babble things like usual, revealing a smile that accepted everything. 

"....Hime, there is no need to worry so much anymore. Just be the conqueror of the world like this. This path is a hard path, so, even if Hime is a little willful, you must grab your own happiness. I will support you silently from behind until Hime has fulfilled all her wishes." 

Nobuna said, "Well... Since you said so....", and still wasn’t honest. 

If she continued to look at Nagahide's gentle smile, she might really cry out. 

But, now isn't the time to act tough... Though I'm sorry for Manchiyo... once we return to Kyoto, I must give Saru his reward, using my first kiss. 

Though it was only a little, Nobuna was finally able to be honest 

Part 8 

"Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama! Onii-sama~! Nene is finally, finally able to see you back home safely!" 

Kyoto, Myoukaku Temple 

Back at the temple where Yoshiharu had temporarily stayed, Yoshiharu revealed a troubled smile as Nene hugged him tightly. 

So noisy and irritating. Wetting her bed during the night, coming over to disturb me when I am flirting with girls, and being better than her brother in maths; honestly, such a dislikeable sister... 

But, as expected... 

This brat Nene is just too cute! 

Those big eyes swollen from crying and that small nose still trembling with snot... Ahhh, damn! 

Damn it, even I can't hold back the tears, these happy tears. 

I, who was trapped in the sengoku era finally had a family. 

Ahhhh! It's so good to be alive! It's so good to not die on the battlefield! 

Yoshiharu, who almost died at the "Retreat of Kanegasaki", was finally able to experience the warmth of his family from Nene, who had been waiting for him all this while. 

Yoshiharu had never had an actual sister before, yet he was shouting, "So cute, so cute." and did not exactly know what to do. 

"Uhhh, what should I do at such a time, I have totally no idea!" 

First, I should try touching her hair... 

Ohhh! She looks a little annoyed, yet full of happiness. She's just so cute. 

"Hey, what's going on Onii-sama, you are kinda different from normal." 

"Ahhh, don't mind me, don't mind me, it's just purely an expression of love between family members." 

"But when you were at Kanegasaki, didn't Onii-sama just think only of Hime-sama? Hadn't you forgotten all about Nene?" 

"Nono, when I was almost dead, all I could think of was Nene. Nene is the very reason I could come back alive!" 

"....Ehh!? Did you eat something bad, Onii-sama!?" 

"It's so good that Nene's here.... It's so good that Nene's here.... I kinda feel like I forgot something very important, but no matter what, I will celebrate tonight together with Nene." Yoshiharu thought. 

"Ahh, Onii-sama, did you buy any Echizen souvenirs for me?" 

Nene began to chant "Souvenir! Souvenir!" as she wiggled in Yoshiharu's lap, getting noisier and noisier. 

Ahh... To have a family waiting for you when you come back is just so good... I should thank Nobuna for giving me Nene as my sister. 

"I did not have time for souvenirs at Echizen, but I did buy lots of souvenirs and dried tofu strips from Mount Hiei! Come and test them!" 

"Ohh! What are tofu strips, Onii-sama?" 

"It's a specialty that monks eat. It's made of hardened tofu." 

"Ohhh, specialty... It's different from tofu?" 

"It's different from tofu. It's more flexible, kinda like noodles." 

"I understand! Hurry and throw tofu and these tofu strips into Hatcho Miso soup!" 

Nene hastily started a fire under a pot and took out a bottle of Miso. 

Yoshiharu stopped her frantically. 

"No miso allowed. If you put them in, won't it be Nagoya flavored?" 

"Hmmm? If I don't put miso in, it will become tasteless, can that be eaten?" 

"Please, Nene. Try to cook something other than Nagoya flavored. 

"NO! There must be miso~! If you say something bad about miso again, I will cry right now!" 

"Damn it... Damn it~! Sisters are just so troublesome!" 

Nene playfully ran away holding the bottle as Yoshiharu shouted, "At least, not the tofu strips." and chased her, the both of them playing happily in the room! 

"Gotcha!" 

"Ahhhh! Onii-sama, lemme go!" 

"No can do! That miso isn't allowed! *tickle*tickle* Eat this!" 

"Ahahahahaha! If that's the case, I will use these 'Kick of Surekill to Man' from Akechi!" 

Uhhhh. 

"Uwahhhh!? ... Don't suddenly kick at my weak point!" 

"Ohhh? Onii-sama really collapsed? What should I do?" 

"That's why, don't become a girl like Juubei-chan. Uhhhhh, it hurts, Sa...Save me!" 

"Ahh, Onii-sama? Get a hold of yourself, don't die!" 

Thump*Thump* 

Thump*Thump* 

Nene sat on the tummy of Yoshiharu who was rolling around the tatami due to the pain. 

"Is it here, does it hurt here? Let Nene help you stop the pain!" 

"Stop, hurry and stop. It will become much worse, in many ways really, so don't touch there! Don't press on it, ouch!" 

"If that's the case, how about this!?" 

"Don't rub! Don't take off my pants! We will be misunderstood!" 

"If I don't take them off, how do I know the condition of the wound!?" 

"No! Damn it, it's the worst if sisters are your opponent!" 

But, no matter what Nene did tonight, Yoshiharu could smile back at her. 

"Yoshiharu-sama... Umm... I brought the report from Goemon-sama, but, what bad things have you been doing here?" 

"....It's just Me and Nene playing too much... *Shy*" 

Goemon, currently at work on Takenaka island trying to save the imprisoned Asai Nagamasa and Tsuda Nobusumi, had sent back a report. Holding that report, Hanbei and Inuchiyo came to visit Yoshiharu. 

But somehow, Yoshiharu was very happily "playing" with Nene, who always had quite a "weird" relationship with him. 

Anyway, why is Nene rubbing Yoshiharu's crotch!? 

"Yoshiharu-sama!? Don't tell me... Your perversion has finally raised your hands onto the still young Nene!?" 

"....Different from Gousei, a real women's enemy. Let this justice, Inu-sama give divine punishment!" 

"Eh? Wrong, it's a misunderstanding! Nothing happened, I did nothing!" 

Inuchiyo and Hanbei push away Nene who had been riding on Yoshiharu's body. 

"What are you guys doing!? Nene is just playing with Onii-sama!" 

"Don't be fooled, Nene-sama! Yoshiharu too, if you lust after girls' bodies so much... Then... I... I... Um... I'm much older than Nene-sama, but our body size is very similar...." 

"Hanbei-chan, I said it's a misunderstanding! Why did you start to strip!?" 

"....Gosh... If we don't drag Yoshiharu back to the real world, he will become a useless person forever liking small girls... Inuchiyo will help too." 

"Why did you suddenly hug me, Inuchiyo? Anyway, aren't you a loli too!? From my point of view, both you and Nene are of the same type!" 

"....*Piak* Inuchiyo... isn't a small girl... In terms of age.... Is a shoujo" 

"It seems that there was a scary illness in Yoshiharu-sama's country that is called 'Lolicon', an illness that makes the person only love small girls. I think Yoshiharu-sama definitely had an attack from 'lolicon'! Th...Tho...Though I'm so embarrassed, before it's too late, we will treat you!" 

"I beg you, Hanbei-chan, calm down and listen to me! I'm not having an attack from 'lolicon'. But if Hanbei-chan and Inuchiyo-chan keep exciting me like this, I might really become a lolicon!" 

"Ohhh... Is it a 'game' to strip naked with Onii-sama? It seems interesting, Nene wants in too!" 

"Noooo! Nene-sama!" 

"....Yoshiharu is really bad, to train Nene to such an extent....." 

"Don't say such strange words, Inuchiyo! Oi, don't strip anymore!!" 

A chaotic scene... 

Yoshiharu was starved for air under the bodies of three half naked girls. 

"Oh yeah, I remembered!" 

I hadn't gotten the promised kiss from Nobuna, I've finally remembered it. 

I...I...It's not like I want to k...ki...kis...kiss Nobuna or something, but, but if I don't get the reward quickly, that petty woman might regret and find an excuse to reject it, it will definitely be so! 

"Ohhhhh! No matter what, I must find Nobuna!" 

Energy full, spirit beyond full! In an instant Yoshiharu climbed out and away from these pillows made by the girls. 

"Ahhh..." 

"Ohh, Onii-sama is fired up!" 

"....What shocking determination." 

"I'm sorry but I have to go out." Yoshiharu explained and rushed out with the speed of a champion Olympic runner. 

"I...I...I...It's not like I like Nobuna or something!! I...I...I... I just want to fix that petty woman's bad habit of always regretting the rewards promised to her retainers! Yes, those retainers who were denied the reward will definitely be angry, and might revolt at any moment! It's a responsibility of me as a retainer to prevent that!!" 

Running ahead... 

Running down a street under a moonlit sky. 

"Nobuna should be at Honnou Temple now. I had visited there during my school trip to Kyoto, but that Honou Temple was different from the one where Nobuna is staying. It's the new Honou temple that was built on another location after the Honou temple was burned down during the 'Incident at Hounouji'. So this Hounou Temple of the sengoku era, yes, it should be at the side of the Myoukaku Temple where I was staying...." 

Ahhh... 

This is Kyoto. 

It is different from the modernized city full of public streets that I saw during my school trip. 

Straight dirt paths. 

I'm using my own legs to run in the Kyoto of the sengoku era. 

Yoshiharu was so excited that he almost let out a shout. 

Nobuna... 

You, the attack at Okehazama, the siege of Inabayama castle, heading towards the capitial, and your life's greatest crisis, the Retreat at Kanegasaki, you have survived through it all. 

In the history that I learned from sengoku games, Oda Nobunaga will fall into the 'Entrapment of Oda' orchestrated by the shogun Ashikaga Yoshiaki. 

But this world's shogun is Imagawa Yoshimoto who you spared in battle, and after coming to Kyoto, she had been engrossed with soccer and playing around. She can't even thank you enough, so plotting a revolt is impossible. 

If that's the case, who is the mastermind planning a revolt? If it's really like 'Even if the method is different, the flow of history won't change', then there will definitely be someone secretly plotting the 'Entrapment of Oda'....! 

The historic knowledge I have from the games and this world has started to split, and I will become more and more useless from now on. 

The guarding strategy during Kanegasaki also failed. 

Maybe some time in the future, no, very soon, I won't be of help to you. 

But, even so, 

Definitely... 

The one thing I must do is stop the 'Incident at Honouji'. 

Juubei-chan who admires you so much would never think to revolt against you. 

Hanbei had once mentioned, 'The strength to return history to it's path'; if it really exist, then there might be someone else replacing Juubei-chan and launching the 'Incident at Honouji'. That person may be among the retainers now. 

Or maybe, it's someone that I have not seen before. 

No idea how it will happen 

But even though I have no idea how, I will definitely protect you. 

The future where you did not die at Honou temple, the other future that I was not born in, no matter what, I want to see it. 

I must have come to this sengoku era for this reason alone. 

A thing like being delayed by the Mori clan and and arriving too late to stop the 'Incident at Honouji'... I definitely don't want it to happen. 

I'm just a useless high school student compared to Tokichirou-jii-san, but I will surpass him in just this. No, I must surpass him! 

Even if... I must replace you and be burned to ashes there... I'm willing to... 

.... 

.... 

.... 

Part 9 

Finally here 

Honou temple at night. 

It was almost like a fortress. 

Drains outside it, the walls are as high as one could see, and an epic-ness that makes people exclaim, "Is this a temple within a city!?" 

So this is it, a place most suitable to house Nobuna. 

"Oh! Guards! It's been tough on you! Please pass a message saying, Sagara Yoshiharu is here to collect the promised reward!" 

"Sagara-sama, please wait." 

"....Eh?" 

The gates were opened immediately, and the servants brought Yoshiharu inside. 

"It's here, Hime is waiting for you inside.” 

At a room inside the castle, Yoshiharu can't help but swallow his saliva. 

Thanks. 

"Ah...Ehhh? I came in so simply... Nobuna, did you say that the reward is cancelled? Oioi, just what is going on here...?" 

Suddenly he became excited. His stomach clenched, his throat went dry and his heart was thumping like it was almost going to explode. Yoshiharu almost pathetically said, "I think I should go back." 

"No, nonononono, this was the decision of my petty master! And, it's just a k...k...ki...kiss! I won't do anything more than it! B...Bu...But, there isn't anyone around... What the hell am I talking about!? UWAHHHHH~!" 

With trembling hands, he violently pushed the doors open. 

There was someone in the room. 

A girl sitting in seiza. 

Wearing a white robe... Shibata Katsuie. 

"Uhhh, Uhhhhhhh...." 

With an expression almost close to tears, Katsuie shivered on the spot. 

"Ehh, why is it you, Katsuie!?" 

"No, no, no, umm, didn't I promise you before, if you came back alive, I will let you touch my breasts all you want? .....Uwahhhh! I... I said that thinking that you would definitely die, but who would have expected it, you really came back alive...! So, to fulfill that promise, I have made up my mind!" 

"H...Huh? I had forgotten all about that promise which because you said it so casually! Rather, where is Nobuna?" 

"Uwahh, Uwahh, uwahhhhhh... C...Come! Touch them! Don't be merciful and touch all you want! *Sob*... I'm about to be dirtied... *Sob*Sob*Sob* Ahh... Save me... Mother....!" 

"Don't be like this, I said I have something on with Nobuna... And since you hate this to the point of crying, it's alright if I don't touch you, okay? I'm the one who should be crying with you hurting me like this!" 

"Sa...Sa...Samurais do not go back on their word! Do you want me to commit seppuku, Saru!? Just how much of a bastard are you....!" 

"....If I don't touch it... You will commit seppuku?" 

"I...Is...Isn't that obvious!? If I abandon the promise exchanged using our lives in the battlefield, I...I...I can't be called a samurai! Doesn't that mean I can only commit seppuku!? B...Bu...B...But to be touched by a Saru like you, ahh, maybe seppuku is better... N...Nooooo!" 

"....If I touch them, you will let me go meet Nobuna?" 

"Sob...Sobsob... Ahh, I got it! I will let you see her! So hurry and touch them, hurry and get this over with!" 

Uhh... 

I had totally forgotten all about the promise made before the Retreat at Kanegasaki at that hellish battlefield, but there's no other choice, right...? 

To attack Nobuna after coming to Honou temple, I must first break through Katsuie. 

"Well, Nobuna has rejected my rewards countless times, so it should be ok for me to accept such an extra reward, right?" 

Yoshiharu's arrogant mind began acting up again. 

"Cough... Well... There's no helping it then. Since you say you will commit seppuku if I don't touch them, my only choice is to touch them. It's only natural to help each others out." 

"Uhhh, Uhhhh... So you are really touching!?" 

"No, though I'm ok with whatever you choose, if the Oda clan's strongest were to commit seppuku, we will all be troubled." 

"Sob... Mama... Uhhhhhh... Enough, come and touch them!" 

"Somehow, it feels like I'm doing something really bad..." Yoshiharu sat in seiza in front of Katsuie. 

And then, he timidly raised both hands. 

Just ahead of his hands, two proud melon shaped breasts are waiting. 

"*Gulp* As an extra reward, this is the best, I...I'm digging in." 

Not knowing why, his words were excessively formal. 

Yoshiharu spread his fingers, and slowly touched the universe's best paradise... 

Boin* 

"W...What softness...!?" 

"Uwahhh, Uwahhhhhh... Ehh, you really touched them, you bastard Saru!" 

"....So...So...SO... SO GOOD....!" 

Just like the first Apollo moon landing; one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind! 

Even if Katsuie beats me into a pulp right after this, I have no more regrets. 

"Ma.... Maybe just a bit more fingernail into it... what will happen...?" 

Rub* 

"Ehhhhhh, Uhh, Uwahhhh, my breasts were really touched by Saru...! No longer... I can no longer be married!" 

"Th...Th...Th...This....! Full of bounciness, my fingers inside the breasts were bounced out!? Why is this, Katsuie? Why do you have such embarrassing weapons!?" 

Rub*Rub*Pinch* 

Uwahh, it's the best. Even if it's through the robe, I can really feel the size of it... the softness... 

"Ohhhh!? You gotta be joking, this... this is how tits really feel!? As expected of a girl! I...I'm so glad to be alive, my tears just won't stop!" 

"Sa...Saru! Ah... Noo! To rub like this... It's no good to rub like this! Ow... it hurts!" 

"Ahh, S...s...s...sorry, I got too excited without realizing...! Woah, my han... hands were sucked in, I can't take them away! What is this, what is going on!?" 

"I...I'm gonna be broken. It's still my first time, be more gentle, baka!" 

"This is the universe's greatest treasure that humanity has asked for all these years!" 

"D...Do...Do....Don't say such meaningless words! There should be something else, something else you should say to a girl at a time like this." 

"S...So...Sor...Sorry Katsuie, I'm so excited I think I fried my brain...! Wh...What a comfortable feeling... That Gousei had been ignoring all of this, the big idiot! Breasts SAIKOU!" 

"Uhhhh! I'm so embarrassed, too embarrassed, hurry and let this end!" 

Just as the two of them became fully oblivious to what was happening around them... 

Kacha* 

The door was suddenly dragged open, and a woman dressed in the same white robe attire as Katsuie Nobuna was slowly entering the room, a step at a time. 

"...Hi...Hime-sama!?" 

"Eh!? Nobuna!?" 

... 

... 

... 

In this short period, Yoshiharu experienced a quietness like that on the surface of the moon in the dead of space. 

As if wearing a noh mask, the expressionless Nobuna stood there for a long period of time, and finally opened her mouth to speak. 

"...Hoo... So it's like this, compared to kissing with me, Katsuie's big breasts are better. I say. That's how it is; compared to my lips, you like Riku's fat-filled breasts. Coming from the future monkey kingdom, you said before that in your monkey country of the future, big breasts like Riku's are very, very popular, I see I see... Huh... I had all sorts of delusions for what was going to happen tonight, but I had totally not thought of a situation like this... Saru totally forgetting the promise with me and ran over to Riku to have a rendezvous, and having such a lewd face rubbing Riku's breasts..." 

"Um... Nobuna?" 

"No...It's not like this, Hime-sama! This is definitely not a rendezvous, it's just a promise made at Kanegasaki... Uhh... uhhhhh....!" 

"Shut up! Riku! Well done, how dare you feed the monkey that I [5] keep." 

"Uhh..Uhhhh, Hime-sama is really angry...! I can't be married anymore after being played by Saru, yet now I have even lost the love of Hime-sama~! I.. I'm already used goods....!" 

Uwahhhh, Katsuie sank her face into the tatami and started sobbing. 

"...Ehhh... Riku is crying so sadly... Ohh... And I was thinking that there was something weird, I see. Saru forcefully pushed himself on Riku who hates him, and ignoring Riku's defenses, he rubbed Riku's breasts. All the fault lies with Saru, as expected, this is what happened..." 

"Ehhh!? It's not like this! I...I'm here for your reward... Katsuie, this isn't a time to be crying! Come and explain everything to Nobuna, Katsuie!" 

"No more words from you!" 

Klang* 

Faster than any magic trick and twice as terrifying, suddenly Nobuna's hand held the renowned sword, "Heshikiri Hasebe", and just as suddenly she slashed at Yoshiharu's neck without even thinking. 

At the nick of time, Yoshiharu rolled to the side and avoided it. 

"Uwahh!? Wait, that was really out for my life! If I had been slower by half a second, you would have completely removed my head!" 

"NO MERCY TO GIRL ASSAULTING VILLAINS LIKE YOU! Ahhhh, I, who had all kinds of delusions by myself and was troubled by it was like an idiot!" 

"Eh? Delusions? What is that?" 

"SHUT UP! I WON'T FORGIVE YOU TODAY, YOU ERO-SARU! GO TO HELL~!" 

"Ka..Ka...Ka...Katsuie, I beg you, explain to her!" 

"Uwahhhh.... Hime-sama... Hime-sama is so angry because Saru touched my breasts, I had never seen Hime-sama so angry before, as expected, as expected Hime-sama likes Saru, and upon finding Saru being frivolous, she likes him to the point of killing him! HIME-SAMA!!" 

Yoshiharu ran out with all his might. 

Out of Honou temple, and rushing down the dirt path lit by moonlight. 

"Oi, I said wait! You demonic Saru that sneaks onto humans! Why did you run!? Hurry and show me your neck for me to cut it off!" 

"You, calm down and listen to my explanations!" 

"NOT LISTENING NOT LISTENING NOT LISTENING NOT LISTENING! DEFINITELY NOT LISTENING! YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF FEELINGS I..I...I...I..I...I...I HAD WHEN WAITING FOR YOU TO COME? BUT, BUT, WHY DID YOU RUN TO RUB RIKU'S BIG BREASTS SO SHAMELESSLY!?" 

"Eh? Wait? What did you just say?" 

"N.O.T.H.I.N.G! Anyway, just go to hell!" 

Hoo... 

Slash* 

Uwahhh, just a little more and I'm dead. 

She is serious this time. 

Nobuna went into Demon lord mode!? 

If I'm caught, I will definitely be killed! 

Yoshiharu ran throughout the night streets, all the while shouting "DAMN IT... WHY DID THINGS BECOME LIKE THIS!? DAMN IT!" 

"WAIT! YOU FRIVOLOUS BASTARD!" 

That night, the people in Kyoto spread a terrible rumor, that, "The sixth demon lord who almost burned Mount Hiei is swinging her sword wildly to banish a demonic monkey that appeared in the city this time." Even when Yoshiharu screamed, "SAVE ME!" and knocked on the doors, no one would open for him.