Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 8 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 : Master of Nagahama Castle, Sagara Yoshiharu 

"Finally you brat has become a master of a castle and province! Now we need to call you with a -sama. Wahahaha!" 

"As expected of Sagara Yoshiharu who our boss chose, no, our Sagara-sama!" 

"What a unprecedented rise in status!" 

"But if you attacked Boss, even if it's you, we the Kawanami clan will definitely rebel!" 

"Boss!" 

"Is forever!" 

"Pure!" 

"You guys.... All of you are already samurais of the Oda clan, yet you are still the same old......" 

I'm sleepy. 

Sagara Yoshiharu yawned. 

Moving from Kyo all the way to Northern Omi, he had not been sleeping as the celebrations continued through the nights. 

From this point, these Kawanami clan people who are used to celebrations are still full of energy. 

After the end of the rewarding ceremony at the Honnou temple, Yoshiharu who had rushed out of Kyo to head towards Northern Omi had entered Nagahama castle by Lake Biwa. The city of Imahama had been changed to Nagahama too. 

The reason why the name was changed is because in the event after the Asai clan was destroyed in the Sengoku game "Oda Nobunaga no Yabou", Kinoshita Tokichirou who had become the daimyo of Northern Omi had changed it's name to Nagahama. 

Same as Mitsuhide's Sakamoto castle and the Azuchi castle that Nobuna built, Nagahama castle is a small size water fort. 

With the castle walls directly in Lake Biwa, ships are cruising in and out from the gates. 

"We are the guys who became Master's retainers in Kanegasaki." 

"There isn't another day we are more happy than this." 

"Those comrades who died in Kanegasaki must be glad for us in the heavens~" 

Though there aren't many men in the Sagara corps, but that those men who had gone through the hellish Kanegasaki had made them even more united. 

Yoshiharu nodded and agreed, "Somehow, we've reached here." 

"Yeah. The graves of Tokichirou-jii-san and the comrades of Kanegasaki, we should erect them properly!" 

Jii-san's dream is to become a master of a province and open up a harem! 

Now, I who has succeeded the dream is just one step away! 

No, if I really open up a harem, I'll be killed by Nobuna so that's not going to happen! 

"You've finally made a name for yourself as a daimyo, Nii-sama! Nene is elated! Good Job~ Good Job~" 

Sitting on Yoshiharu's lap and emitting "Swoosh~" sounds, a tearful Nene is sucking in a bowl of mackerel vermicelli, a delicacy of Northern Omi. 

This mackerel vermicelli is a traditional delicacy of Northern Omi by serving vermicelli with a fried mackerel on top. Honestly, though there's a taste of mackerel, but it's not a bad food. 

But, the tradition of eating the mackerel vermicelli as a snack is totally like the Osaka's fried noodle tradition. So what is going on, is the vermicelli unnecessary? Yoshiharu started thinking. 

"Nii-sama, please eat some mackerel vermicelli too!" 

"It's all thanks to you Nene that I can be here today. Thank you." 

"Good~ You didn't put aside your work to chase after girls and have been enduring till now! An ero-saru like brother who likes girls... it's almost like a miracle! This is all Nene's good work!" 

"There's something wrong with the way you are feeling touched, right!?" 

"I have fulfilled the promise with Hime-sama properly, Nii-sama. From today onwards, you don't need to endure any longer, just go to the town and gather many cute girls and have some children!" 

"Huh!? Wh...Wh....What are you talking about?" 

"Nii-sama is already a daimyo now. Producing a heir is a very important job!" 

"No, I..... It's true that I like the best girl in the world but I don't plan to be so popular as to open up a harem, ok?" 

Yoshiharu hugged Nene as he shivered. 

If he really did something like that, he's going to be whipped by Nobuna and executed. Recently, that fellow isn't hiding her jealousy at all. 

"I see. If you understand it to such an extent, then marry this Nene as your wife!" 

"Huh!? Why did it become like this!? Aren't you my sister?" 

"You like the best bishoujo of Owari, Nene like your soul is taken. Being disinterested to other girls, I can understand that~ Nii-sama! Though I'm your sister, but we're not related by blood, so you can just marry Nene as your wife anytime!" 

The strategist Takenaka Hanbei and his retainers all rolled their eyes. 

"We've really seen a lolicon in need of saving, Yoshiharu-san. Fufu~" 

"What a bother yet intensely admirable, but if it's not Boss, I can allow it." 

"To bare your fangs at such a young sister, Master is really quite a crazy bastard." 

"It's a misunderstanding!" 

"You lolicon, how admirable!" The Kawanami clan said in unison. 

"It does not matter how you explain, you're a lolicon, Sagara-shi~" 

Goemon is wearing her usual ninja garb today too as she hangs on the ceiling. 

"It's ok if you come down too, Goemon. Are you going to be a ninja all the time? You are now the chief advisor of the Sagara clan, a warrior of the warring states, Hachisuka Goemon." 

"I will be a ninja all my life. If I skip training even one day, my ninja skillsh would deshline!" 

"Well~ O...Ok then." 

"Boss stutters again.....!" Kawanami clan shouted in unison. 

"Shut up!" 

It doesn't seem like there's a feeling of being a daimyo here, Yoshiharu thought. 

As expected of the official Sagara corps, the rules of the era of five leaf aralia houses didn't change. 

"Inuchiyo has been sent to be part of Katsuie's retainers, I'm a little lonely... She has always been by my side." 

"You are a lolicon as expected." 

"Everyone, the celebration ends here. We will need to dive into our jobs tomorrow since, the master of Northern Omi is replaced from the Asai clan to the Sagara clan." 

"What does Nii-sama want Nene to do?" 

"Ahh. It's ok if Nene continues playing around." 

"Uhh~Uhh~Uhh. Like what you said, I Nene am useless, Nii-sama? Uwahh~ Uhh, Uwahhhhhh!" 

"Ahh~ Don't cry, don't cry! I get it already, Nene will use her cuteness and friendliness to help gather new retainers! We are totally short on manpower!" 

Nene pat on her small chest and said, I got it. 

"Don't gather small girls. Recommend some strong people who are skilled in spears, and also, gather some big sisters who look like they are smart and knows how to handle administrative tasks." 

"I got it, Nii-sama! Leave it to Nene!" 

"Listen. Don't find some girls that are of the same age as you. You should understand from the people in the celebrations, There are just too many lolicons. And I've no interest in small girls, and no wish to wrap them up into the war." 

Nene. 

Goemon. 

And just from the age, you can't count her as a small girl, the chibi Hanbei. 

I've now finally become a master of a province and castle, but now I'm not opening a harem but an elementary school..... While sighing at the celebration full of small girls, Yoshiharu said to Nene with an expression full of troubles and pain. 

"Can I really govern this big piece of land properly, so...." 

"Yeah. In actual fact, it's not as simple as eliminating rates that the prices will go up. And it's not like I can distribute the rations to gain the popularity of the people. What should I do?" 

"Fufu~ I'm not good in politics too." 

As she gazed upon Yoshiharu's face. 

A small girl full of energy ran out from the courtyard. 

"Morning. I'm the master of Harima's Himeji castle, Don Simon, aka Kuroda Kanbei. Upon Oda Nobuna's orders, I will be Sagara Yoshiharu's strategist." 

Kacha Kacha! 

Kuroda Kanbei sat on the humonculus "Oh~ It stopped", while destroying the city gates, it rushed into the courtyard of the main hall. 

To show her face, she had opened the armor of it's abdomen area, showing them how she looked as she controls "Oh~It stopped." 

She's an underaged girl. 

In the midst of the celebration, she kicked up a big fuss akin to the fuss created by the Kurofune. 

[3] 

Why is it a small girl again, and anyway, isn't this the time to be shocked? 

Because the first shock that Yoshiharu received, and a big shock at that is.... 

"Oi~Oi~ This is the Sengoku era! What's this, how can a robot that shouldn't exist in this era be standing right here?" 

"A cute boy has joined the Sagara corps~~! We can accept this!" The Kawanami clan said in unison. 

"You guys, there should be other things you are looking at!" 

"How rude. Simon is a girl." 

At the cockpit, Kanbei angrily pursed her lips. 

"And we thought it's a cute boy, in actual fact, it's a small girl that has not become a maiden. This is unexpectedly alright with us~~!" The Kawanami clan shouted. 

"Wh...What a bunch of scary fellows. I should just eliminate all of them." 

"Uwahhh~ The metal monster is attacking us!!!" The Kawanami clan shouted. 

Kanbei moves the "Oh~It stopped" and plans to mess the celebration up. 

Yoshiharu hurried and stands in front of Kanbei. 

"Oi~ Wait a minute! Kuroda Kanbei, is it? Isn't there a more suitable way of introducing yourself? You actually destroyed the gates!" 

"Hoho. To display this Simon's talent, I must use the quickest way to present "Oh~It stopped". Sagara Yoshiharu, it's all for my ambition. I will serve under you." 

"What ambition? To take over the world?" 

"Not that. It's useless to talk to you so I'm not saying it." 

Just what ambition is that? Yoshiharu does not understand at all. 

But, there's one point he's very clear. 

"She seems to be having the same overconfident face like Nobuna and Juubei-chan." 

Yoshiharu noticed it only now. 

(Kuroda Kanbei?) 

Yes, she's the genius strategist comparable to Hanbei-chan! It's all because Tokichirou-jii-san had both Hanbei and Kanbei these two genius strategist that he is able to succeed as a retainer and finally become the ruler of men! It's like that, so it's not strange that Kuroda Kanbei had invented robots.... Eh, that's totally strange! 

"Kuroda Kanbei, can you not destroy the atmosphere of the sengoku era that I have finally immersed myself in!? Don't swing around in that robot, it's very dangerous so come down quick!" 

"Hoho. If you want me to come down, let Simon be the no 1 strategist." 

"Uhh~ Uhh~ The strategist of the Sagara corps should have already been decided to be me, Hanbei.... Am I... going to be bullied? I don't have a good feeling about this." 

"You are the legendary Takenaka Hanbei, huh? Have a proper showdown with this Simon. The one who wins will be the no 1 strategist of the Sagara corps. This Simon hates being second." 

Hanbei gazed at Kanbei's narrowing eyes. 

An aura of a mischievous child, Yoshiharu thought. 

Similar to Nobuna, Kanbei is filled with talent and ambition but suppressed (If these two are to clash, Japan is doomed). "But since I've planned to send Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future, I don't have any plans of acting like a child. And, it isn't a good thing to be compared to Takenaka Hanbei with everything I do. And it might even be a nuisance to the job of sending him back to the future." 

"Uhh~ Uhh~ Nice to meet you, Kanbei-san.... I... I... I'm Ta....Takenaka.... Ha....Hanbei.... Umm.... ar... are you going to bully me?" 

"Of course I am. This "Oh~It stopped" can even deflect bullets from tanegashimas. Hurry and fight with me." 

"Uhh~ Uhh~ Yoshiharu-san, I don't want to fight with Kanbei-san." 

"Oi~ Kuroda Kanbei. Our clan's motto is "United we stand". Be on better terms with Hanbei-chan!" 

From the cockpit of her "Oh~It stopped", Kanbei stare at Yoshiharu's face with a gloomy expression. 

With a gaze almost as cold and piercing like a scientist is observing an animal... Yoshiharu almost wants to hide. 

"....A boring face... He doesn't seem to use much of his brain. Is this the legendary guy who came from the future? Umm. Seems like the intelligence of people from the future isn't very far ahead. Boring...." 

"Uhh. A girl that's so rude to the great nature! Hanbei-chan, this is infuriating, finish off this robot! If this robot is in the sengoku era, everything will become messed up!" 

"Uhh~ Uhh~ It's ok if I just defeat this robot. Then Zenki-san, please." 

With a sobbing face, Hanbei stood in the courtyard and threw out a talisman. 

"Come~~! Leave it to me for the summoning of demons!" 

The shikigami Zenki was summoned and face the metal giant "Oh~It stopped" 

Like a fox, Zenki smiled and observed it. 

"Hmph~ So clumsy, almost like it will fall down after walking a few steps. How can such a toy be able to win this seasoned me?" 

"There it comes, the shikigami. It can be said that the era of omyoujis is already over. From now on, it's the era of scientist strategists." 

Ahh "Oh~It stopped" held a chain and Hanbei let out a tiny lament. 

"Shikigami, I will use this chain to seal your movements. This country will have a huge change, this era does not need omyoujis anymore. Kuroda's chains of hurricane!" 

Spin spin spin swoosh! 

"Oh~It stopped" swings it's arm and threw the huge chain up to the sky. 

But because Kanbei controlled it too tightly causing it to swing wildly, the stance of "Oh~It stopped" collapsed. 

Gong gong gong, kacha! 

"Oi. "Oh~It stopped" body was wrapped up by the chains." 

"Fufu. It seems to be so." 

"Fu? Despicable shikigami, what did you do!?" 

"No, I didn't do anything." 

Dooooooooooooooo~! 

"Oh~It stopped" had wrapped it's own body with chains and with the Kanbei inside, it fell onto the ground. 

And, the chains had stopped Kanbei from leaving the cockpit. 

The victor is decided. 

"Ahh? It ends like this, Hanbei-chan?" 

"Hmph~ Due to the centre of gravity of this moving doll being unstable, it's very easy to fall down. And, once it falls down, it won't be able to get up due to being too heavy." 

"So it means that it won't be useful in actual battles. The sengoku era won't end, I'm a little relaxed now." 

".....Hmph. Takenaka Hanbei is really scary. You're an opponent that this Simon won't be able to win against. But, there will be a day that I will definitely surpass you." 

"Uhhh. I get a feeling I am viewed as a lifetime rival....." 

Saved from the cockpit of "Oh~It stopped", Kanbei stood in front of the Sagara corps and with a "Fufufu" confident laugh, she reported her name. 

"Harima's Himeji castle's owner, Don Simon. You can call me Kuroda Kanbei too, but it's better to call me Simon. From today onwards, I will be the strategist for Sagara Yoshiharu and will lead the victory towards the Mori clan. The thing I like is Hakata's Tonkatsu ramen and the things I dislike are everything about Harima. From today onwards, I hope all of you are prepared to be used like a used cloth. And just to mention, I'm not a boy. This skin color comes from a tan." 

I want to do such a refreshing self introduction once, uhh~. Looks like Hanbei is very impressed with Kanbei's fearless attitude. 

"That's that. From now on, take care of me then." 

After Kanbei's limitless arrogance in the self introduction, she gave an angelic smile. 

"Ohhhhh, a bright smile that only young girls have!!!!" Kawanami clan shouted in unison. 

The people in the Sagara corps are mesmerized. 

Somehow, Hanbei "Ahh, what a refreshing smiling face. I'm really envious." as tears dropped from her eyes. 

"You said fighting with the Mori clan?" 

Yoshiharu quickly asked and Kanbei said, "Let's talk about such a thing after the celebrations ends." as she continues with her needless smiles. 

Kanbei's cuteness and that arrogance that fits with her age hits right at the weakness of the Sagara corps. 

"A boy... No, a girl." 

"One of the famous "twin beis", Harima's Kuroda Kanbei, huh?" 

"I always thought you're a child from namban." 

"In Hanbei-chan's eyes, there is only pure reverse thinking in her brain!" 

"Anyway, Kanbei is rumored to be skilled in everything from governing to socializing. With her, our Sagara corps will be safe." 

"Geez. Our master is really lucky! Wahahahaha!" 

"I have always been preparing to be ordered by young girls and tortured! My dream is fulfilled!" 

"What a coincidence, me too! I wanna try being scolded as useless by Kanbei-sama!" 

These fellows are really scary... While maintaining a cross legged sitting position, she retreated a step. 

"Ahh Hanbei, these fellows are harmless so don't mind them. Then, let's go into our self introduction time." 

[4] 

"Sagara Yoshiharu, you know English too. Then Simon will use English to talk with you. Fuck you asshole?You're real son of a bitch?” 

"Wahahaha, I'm getting embarrassed. Kanbei, don't praise me like that!" 

".....Forget it I'm not saying anymore. You're too pitiful." 

But Yoshiharu is still embarrassed and did not notice it. 

"I'm still this clan's master, Sagara Yoshiharu! Though I don't have much talent other than being from the future, but for Nobuna's Tenka Fubu, I will try my best!" 

"Geez, useless other than the fact that you're from the future. Simon is so disappointed....." 

"Leave me alone! I'm just being humble!" 

"Hmph. Is that being humble? Can you really reach the standard of being humble? This Simon has always been saying the truth and has not hidden her intentions at all." 

"You... are really not a cute brat!" 

"Not brat, it's Simon. Then... To show you my sincerity, I will use the newest divination method from namban to help predict everyone's fate. Draw a card from this deck of tarot cards, Sagara Yoshiharu." 

Kanbei puts the tarot cards onto the tatami mat. 

What's this? Poker cards? Picture cards? A fuss erupts. 

Kanbei wants to find out about the Sagara corps and use that information for future references such as the battle with the Mori clan and the sending back of Yoshiharu. 

"Oh, tarot divination! This is the first time I'm seeing authentic tarot cards!" 

"Please understand that it's meaningless if you are drawing for someone else. And, there won't be a clear result if you just draw any card on a whim. You have to declare whatever you wish to know while drawing it. If you do that, I will be able to predict the future according to your own subconscious." 

"Ok. Then, let me try my love fortune!" 

Yoshiharu drew a card and flip it over onto the tatami mat. 

On it.... was an embarrassed man being hanged. 

"What's this?" 

While narrowing her eyes, Kanbei said, "I see." 

"This is "The Hanged Man" card. So as to say, Sagara Yoshiharu, you have women troubles. In terms of love, you will have troubles with girls and disaster will strike on you one after the other." 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Yoshiharu screamed. 

"THIS IS TOO ACCURATE! IT'S EXACTLY LIKE WHAT ZENKI SAID! HOW UNFORTUNATE!" 

"From what I can see of the ending, you will be hanged by the furious girls." 

".....Can't my women troubles be resolved, Kanbei? Actually, I have already been hanged a few times due to these women troubles!" 

If this goes on, I will become the reason why Nobuna and Juubei-chan quarrel, and may eventually lead to the Incident at Honnouji! Wanting but unable to shout like this in front of his comrades, Yoshiharu finally became anxious. 

"I see. You will feel troubled if I explain here, right? Let's talk about it later." 

"I will remember this gratitude!" 

"The day that I can finally be rescued from the days of being trapped in women troubles has come!" Yoshiharu is elated and Kanbei (Hehehe. What an easily manipulated person.) revealed a sinister smile. 

Next, the trembling Hanbei starts her self introduction. 

"Uhh~ I'm Mino's Takenaka Hanbei.... a strategist of Yoshiharu-san. Er, umm, wi.... will you bully me?" *throw* 

Hanbei threw a dagger at Kanbei. Kanbei silently pulled out her sword and strikes it down. 

"As one would expect from the demon of battles, you have no openings at all. So this is the target I need to surpass, huh?" 

"Eh.... No, that just now... it's just a habit... I'm sorry, sorry~!" 

"Takenaka Hanbei. To let the world knows the good points of namban science, the seat of the best strategist will be Simon's soon." 

".....Uhhhhh....." 

These two just can't get along.... Yoshiharu sighed. 

"Takenaka Hanbei, you draw one too." 

"......Uhh. Then, my health then....." 

"Health? You are really a child, what a childish divination." 

"I'm done. Can I see it myself?" 

"Wait a minute. A smart elite like you, you might not want your fortune to be known by others and will change the card that you drew. Don't look at it, give it to Simon." 

"......Uhh. If I refuse, will I be bullied? Here....." 

Kanbei took over the card from Hanbei's hand and looked at it. 

"......Let's put this back into the deck." 

Why did she put it back to the pile and shuffle back? 

"Ahh, it ended? What's the result?" 

"Uhh~ Please tell me the result." 

".....No. It will be advantegous to Takenaka Hanbei. I'm not telling. It's enough for just I Simon to know about it, there's no need to tell everyone here. Hehehe." 

"Uhh~ Uhh~" 

"Kanbei, please don't quarrel with Hanbei-chan. I beg you." 

Kanbei did not answer as she silently shuffle the cards. 

"Che, next~" 

".....The ninja Hachisuka Goemon. That's all." 

Goemon's self introduction is full of Goemon's style. 

"Just this little? Just what kind of person are you, I don't really understand." 

".....It's because I don't speak often." 

"After saying more than 30 words, she will stutter." 

"Unya. Sagara-shi, don't tell her that!" 

"You stuttered. Hmmm~ Come, draw a card." 

"I drew one. I won the grand prize, can we go Izu Oshima for a trip?" 

"It's not a prize draw. Hmmm, it's a picture with angels blowing trumpets." 

"Unya. I said I've won. I'm a ninja (Ninja(???) sounds the same as trumpet)!" 

"This isn't a ninja's card. It's the "Judgment" card. It seems like you have to go through an ordeal some day." 

"......Is...Is that so? I don't really understand the meaning." 

"This is a divination done when she hadn't decided. That's why the result is unclear." 

"Unya. I've wasted my time." 

"Anyway Goemon! Can you try saying Hachisuka Goemon 5 times?" 

"Unya? Habcbhibsubbkba Gbobebmobbn, Habcbhibsubbkba Gbobebmobbn, Habcbhibsubbkba Gbobebmobbn....... Unyanyuhhhhhhh" 

"Sagara Yoshiharu, you lied to Simon. Didn't she start stuttering even before 30 words?" 

"When she panicked, she will start stuttering, don't bully Goemon too much! What can I do if she explodes!?" 

"Uwahhhhh! It's too late! I'm going off now!" 

Boom? 

Tearing up, Goemon threw a smoke bomb and left. 

"Ohh, she self destructed, huh? What an unfortunate turn of events." 

"She left because she feels too sad! Goemon is already so pitiful, so can you p.l.e.a.s.e not bully her, Kanbei!?" 

"You're like a meddlesome mother-in-law. As a commander, you should be more firm. Hehe." 

If I'm a mother-in-law, this fellow here will be the bratty general.... Yoshiharu thought in his mind. 

"I'm Nene. Onii-sama's younger sister!" 

"Uhhh, hi." 

"Don't bully Nene. Please don't. If she cries, it will become troublesome." 

"Relax. I won't bully small children." 

"You seem to have already bullied Hanbei-chan and Goemon, well~ It's not anything troublesome." 

"It will be troublesome if I make a child cry. If a child starts crying, I've to tie her up with a rope, put her into a cannon and send her flying. Because she will be very light, so she will flew out instantly. If I do that, my mood will become refreshed. Hehe." 

"Onii-sama! Please save me!" 

"Ah~ Yes, yes." 

Nene said, "I want to know tomorrow's weather!" and as she chanted good things, she drew out a "Sun" card from the tarot deck. 

"Hmmm. Tomorrow will be sunny. That's all." 

"Just that? Nene feels a little hurt! I should have tried asking when will I stop wetting the bed!" 

"Hehehe. Things like wetting the beds can be fixed easily. If you wet the bed, as a punishment, I will put you into the cannon and shoot you high up in the sky, with that, you can be a flaming cannonball!" 

"UWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" 

Don't cry~~! My ears hurt~~!" 

Next is the military meeting on fighting against the Mori clan. While smiling sinisterly, she told important news concerning the life and death of the Oda clan. 

Though Nobuna had already heard the news from Kanbei but it's still very impactful to Yoshiharu. 

"The Mori clan is supporting Ashikaga Yoshiaki who had ran to Ming dynasty. They already making preparations to send Ashikaga Yoshiaki back to the capital....... SAGARA YOSHIHARU! It's because of you messing around that Imagawa Yoshimoto became what she is now. Isn't it better to support Ashikaga Yoshiaki as the shogun?" 

Who would have thought that I would be the first to shed tears, Yoshiharu thought. 

Yoshiharu did not know the true motive why Kanbei came to his side, to force him back to the future. 

One of the reason why Kanbei wants to be his no 1 strategist is to execute her forcing Yoshiharu back to the future plan. 

But, with the appearance of the renowned strategist, Kuroda Kanbei and the starting of the war with the tyrant of Chuugoku, the Mori clan, Oda Nobuna no Yabou is finally entering the next stage. 

And, it's closer to that Incident at Honnouji. 

And, not just Zenki, even Kanbei's tariot cards had pointed out that Yoshiharu has women troubles. 

Yoshiharu (It's basically impossible for Juubei-chan to revolt or something, I can say so safely. But as long as I have women troubles, others might betray Nobuna because of me. If this goes on, the Incident of Honnouji might really happen because of me) starts getting nervous. 

Things like Ashikaga Yoshiaki being replaced by Imagawa Yoshimoto, like what Kanbei said, it's obviously due to Yoshiharu. Now that he thinks about it, it's also because of Yoshiharu's women troubles. Because Imagawa Yoshimoto is a great beauty, so Yoshiharu had pleaded for her. But that instead led to this crisis of the Oda clan. 

"Uuuu. Kanbei, if you can help with my women troubles, please do it now." 

"Sim. Then dismiss the people around us. When the both of us are alone, I can go ahead and remove it for you." 

"Uhhhh~ This Hanbei wants to be present too." 

"No...." 

"No, I want to. Because I'm Yoshiharu-san's strategist." 

Kanbei (Am I being suspected?) had cold sweat as she can't remove the persistent Hanbei. 

Kanbei's plan is stalled. Hanbei sticks closely with Yoshiharu and sat together with him, refusing to leave. 

The trio starts discussing about the removal of Yoshiharu's women troubles, but Kanbei plans to persuade Yoshiharu slowly and begins to slowly move her plans forward. 

Though she can't send Yoshiharu back to the future now, but before obtaining the "tool" at the Mori clan's territory, she wants to stop the spreading of rumors. 

Here, she plans to throw cold water on the romance of Sagara Yoshiharu and Oda Nobuna. 

But, the smart Hanbei is sitting here too. 

She has to persuade both of them at the same time. 

"Yoshiharu-san, I have a bad feeling about this." 

"You think too much, Hanbei-chan. Kuroda Kanbei is an extremely renowned genius strategist even in the future. She isn't inferior to Hanbei-chan and is trustworthy." 

"But she is a little too clever, she starts taking the lead before anyone notices. Uhhh~" 

"Because there isn't any perfect person in the world, this is also Kanbei's personality." 

"Huh? That seems to be so. Yoshiharu, you're really a good person." 

"Being in a team with the always calm and silent Hanbei, won't that be quite a good team?" 

"I understand." 

Kanbei took out the newspapers and put them in front of them. 

"First, I hope to show you these newspapers. Your women troubles have already developed to a state that will threaten Oda Nobuna's quest of Tenka Fubu." 

"......This....Yoshiharu-san! To actually train Nobuna-sama... Too despicable. I've been betrayed. Uhh~ Uhh~" 

"Hanbei-chan, this isn't.... Isn't this obviously fake!? Kanbei, have the rumors spread here? Is the relationship between me and Nobuna exposed?" 

"Sim. There might be someone spreading the news to the newspaper agencies. You who has came from the future shouldn't appear suddenly, it's impossible for Oda Nobuna and you to be joined in this world. That's why Oda Nobuna is saying things like destroying the rules and traditions and destroying the Yamato Gose, it's all due to these rumors." 

This point, he had already heard it many times from different people. Yoshiharu thought. 

"In actual fact, we have not developed to such a deep relationship like the rumors. Not mentioning about the feelings of both of us.... always when we are almost together, Juubei-chan will..... How unfortunate." 

"Simon is thinking that Oda Nobuna will definitely surpass her ordeals and achieve her Tenka Fubu. Since, I Simon will help her, so there's no doubt about that. But there's only one "Irregular" existence who forced himself into the Oda clan. The one who came from the future, what he's going to do, I Simon cannot predict it. Things like helping Imagawa Yoshimoto or the rumors with Oda Nobuna. It's because of all these that the history of Oda Nobuna being able to obtain the world is being made into such a big mess now." 

"You're talking about me, right?" 

"Sim. So as to say, to Oda Nobuna's Tenka Fubu, the biggest obstacle is Sagara Yoshiharu you. I Simon can see it, your women troubles will force history to a weird direction." 

Hanbei protested "That's a misunderstanding. Uhh~", but she can't explained why it's an misunderstanding properly. 

The reason why.... 

"Yoshiharu-san came to this world to fulfill Oda Nobuna-sama's dream." 

Hanbei is a someone from this era too, so she does not know the future event, Incident at Honnouji, that's why she can't say anything more than this. 

The only one who knows the actual history is Sagara Yoshiharu. 

"To come here to help Oda Nobuna. On this, I Simon am the same." 

"Uhh~ That's true too." 

"I had saved Imagawa Yoshimoto who was supposed to die at Okehazama, causing Nobuna to support Yoshimoto as the new shogun. Ashikaga Yoshiaki who was supposed to succeed the position of shogun escaped to Ming dynasty and disappeared from history. I had always thought of things to be like that.... But the history which was changed with my own hands had violently turned back to it's original course at the end." 

"Sim. You Sagara Yoshiharu aren't the only one creating history. It's something that is written by countless people with their own thoughts and actions. So you can't do as you wish by yourself and manipulate the flow of history according to what you want it to be. Even if you had successfully changed a path, history will bounce back with even messier consequences. Anything more than this will caused a fatal chaos to Oda Nobuna's destiny. 

"Ahhh....." 

From the situation, the optimistic Kanbei is confident that Nobuna has the strength to obtain the world, and had not noticed that the "Tower" had hinted at the Incident at Honnouji. She had firmly believed that Yoshiharu had disturbed the destiny of Nobuna. 

On his side, Yoshiharu knows the tragic future of Nobuna being killed at Honnou temple. 

It's because of this that though the two of them have the same objective, they are fundamentally different. 

But, Yoshiharu can't explain about the Incident at Honnouji no matter what. 

First, he will be executed if he tells Nobuna about the future. 

Even things like "Akechi Mitsuhide will revolt", even if Yoshiharu's mouth is split open, he does not want to tell anyone. The more Yoshiharu understands the maiden named Mitsuhide, the more he thinks that she won't do a thing like betraying Nobuna. He does not wish to snatch the future from Mitsuhide. As long as I work hard, the Incident at Honnouji can definitely be avoided, I have been working hard by myself all this while. 

"Kanbei-san. The things you are saying are too complicated. Please explain in a way that Yoshiharu-san can understand." 

"Sim. Like the Christian missionary who had came to this country first, the one named Francis." 

It's like that, huh? Yoshiharu nodded. 

"Assuming that Yoshiharu is a devout Nyankousou believer. To not let Christianity be spread in this country, he feels that Francis is an obstacle. He becomes a pirate and attacks the ship that Francis is on and kills him and his companions." 

"Why must I be the pirate?" 

"Or rather, a robber, thief, some pervert who loves cat tails, it's all fine?" 

"Anyone of them aren't good." 

"Then, let's assume that you had eliminated Francis and his gang. Do you think that the history will change like this? In this country, Christianity won't be spread here?" 

"Once then, Frois-chan and Organtino will come here in replace of Francis, succeeding Francis's will. Even if there are upsets in the middle, the result is the same. 

"Will it really be the same?" 

"No.... Yeah. If you kill the missionaries, the namban countries' impression on this country will become very bad. Not mentioning spreading religion, those angry countries might even sail their military ships and attack the Osaka's Honbyo temple." 

In actual fact, at the end of the shogunate, there was something similar too. Yoshiharu noticed. 

"If that's the case, it will become a full out battle between the Nyankousou and the namban countries?" 

Not changing the history of Christianity being spread in this country, I've even made things worse due to my thoughtless actions. If the war fails, this country will become a colony of the Christian countries. 

"The result will become totally opposite of what I want. Even though history had once been changed from the path that it is moving towards and had left it's course, in the end, it will definitely return to it's original path. And those useless actions of mine will only cause things to go in a bad direction. 

"Sim. It's like this. The flow of history is something that is born from countless thoughts and actions of people. Even if there's change in the path that it is moving, the endpoint won't be easily changed. You are just making history even messier." 

It might be like what Kanbei is saying, Yoshiharu thought. 

"But Yoshiharu-san didn't do anything bad like that. Rather than killing, he had worked hard in making people live on as he changed history. Uhh~" 

"Living or killing, they are the same "thoughtless actions". Because Sagara Yoshiharu helped Imagawa Yoshimoto, it results in this country having two shoguns. Since the shogun is just a puppet up to the point of Oda Nobuna obtaining the world, but now, it has split into 2. Though the history of the shogun being destroyed didn't change, but the process of it being destroyed is much more messier than the history that Sagara Yoshiharu know. What should you do, Sagara Yoshiharu?" 

"Uhhh..." 

"Uhh~ But avoiding the battle with the Honbyo temple, it's all due to Yoshiharu-san." 

"Oda Nobuna does not agree with the armed religious factions having a say in the political world. That is to create a strong and unified country so as to fight with the namban countries. So, won't the battle erupt again one day?" 

The things Kanbei said might be a little hard to understand for me, but it had all fitted in. Will I cause the Incident at Honnouji due to my women troubles? Even if the revolt of Juubei-chan becomes impossible, the flow of history will still head towards the Incident at Honnouji. Someone that I had not expected becoming the culprit isn't impossible too... Like I expected, the reason history has became so messed up is because of my women troubles!? 

In front of Kanbei, Yoshiharu groveled. 

"I beg you, Kanbei. Help me remove my women troubles!" 

I succeeded, Kanbei smiled. 

"This is a very good decision. After removing your women troubles, Oda Nobuna will regain her normal mentality and the bad rumors will disappear too." 

"I beg you! If it's for that fellow's dream, I do not mind even if I have to separate from Nobuna for a while! But, just for a while, ok!?" 

"Ok, leave it to Simon." 

"Cough~Cough~ Kanbei-chan, a strategist must have a clear heart. If personal desire is wrapped in it, he or she will become a manipulative monster. Though I don't know what you are planning but wit isn't supposed to be used like that." 

Discovering Kanbei's suspicious smile, Hanbei timidly lectured Kanbei, "Chance!" but Kanbei had grabbed onto the opportunity . 

"This is for Tenka Fubu too. I Simon will use namban tools to give Sagara Yoshiharu a face off!" 

"Wait! Don't destroy my looks! That is extremely troublesome for me!" 

"Kanbei-san, that won't remove his women troubles. There isn't any relation between Yoshiharu-san's face and his women troubles. From the future, having the strength of a hero and being very gentle to girls, all these unable to be seen by the naked eye are reasons why he has women troubles in the first place. Especially his resolve of being the rearguard and dying instead of betraying his master in Kanegasaki, that is the blow that determines everything. There's totally no relation with his face. No relation whatsoever with his looks. Cough~ Cough~" 

Hanbei-chan, you don't have to keep emphasizing that it's not related to my looks. Yoshiharu feels sad. 

Anyway, the amount of times that Hanbei is coughing had become higher. 

She might be having a cold, as he starts worrying. 

"Is that so, not related to his looks, huh? It is definitely so. Then it's useless even if his face is to change." 

"That's right." 

"Hmph, you think that is enough to convince this Simon, Takenaka Hanbei? Naive." 

"Eh?" 

"If I can't remove his women troubles, I can just let some other thing possess him. Hehehe." 

"Letting something possess me? No. Won't that make history even messier!?" 

"The artificial spirit that Rikyuu-sensei and I Simon created together, Sunekosuri! Possess Sagara Yoshiharu!" 

Pong. 

Kanbei opened a bamboo container hanging on her waist. From inside, a furry living thing like a small white dog jumped out. 

It looks like a small puppy but it's body is just the size of a palm, around 7cm. 

"What's this fellow, it's so cute." 

"Demon-san?" 

"It's the aritifical spirit SuneKosuri. With the help of Sensei, Simon created it with the power of alchemy." 

"Sunekosuri is very very very lonely everyday. Kanbei, is it ok if I stick with this man?" 

It said something, what a cute voice. Yoshiharu and Hanbei thought as they look at each other. 

"Sim. Sunekosuri. If you possess at Sagara Yoshiharu who has many friends, you can touch any girl you like. With that, you won't feel lonely anymore." 

"Very different from the friendless Kanbei. I will stick to him." 

"No! How can it.... Cough, cough." 

Hanbei frantically tried to stop Sunekosuri, but it had already jumped into Yoshiharu's clothes. 

"Uwahh, itchy!" 

"Once it sees other humans other than the one he is possessing, it will have the habit of touching anyone close to it. With it's furry hands and tail, the one who is touched will feel very itchy. And, it hates the skin of rough men and will only touch the skin of girls." 

"Totally not unlike a pervert. I don't want to help a guy other than me touch girls." 

"Not a problem. Sunekosuri is a young female. It doesn't touch humans with lustful thoughts, but just because it is lonely and wants to become close with everyone. Just that, it won't touch it's actual parents, Simon only. Maybe I'm being treated as a boy....." 

"What a weird habit.... What good things will happen to me if this fellow possessed onto me?" 

"You who has women troubles, has the effect of making girls like you to no end. Let us end this effect. Every time girls come near you, Sunekosuri will hide itself and touch them in all places. The girls who are unable to see Sunekosuri will misunderstand and think you are the one touching them. You will be treated as a pervert." 

"WAIT JUST A MOMENT!!!!!!!" 

Stop joking around! I have finally become a master of a province. 

Yoshiharu let out a lament, "Hanbei-chan, I beg you, help me remove this thing!" But even with Hanbei using her talismans and chanting incantations, Sunekosuri just won't budge. 

Hanbei tried chanting different incantations, but it seems to be ineffective towards Sunekosuri who was created using namban science. 

Not just that, while Hanbei is chanting cute incantations like "Dis...Disappear....", her thighs were very close to Yoshiharu, thus Sunekosuri starts touching her with it's hands. 

"Uwahh? It...Itchy!" 

"It already started touching!?" 

"It seems to have come in from a dead angle, I didn't notice it at all. Uhh~" 

"Got it! I found it! Sunekosuri, be nice and stay put!" 

"Nah~ Sunekosuri thirsts for the warmth of humans. I wanna touch more of it. Please don't chase Sunekosuri away, don't chase me away~" 

"Don't look at me with such a tearful expression!" 

"Uhh~ I failed, Yoshiharu-san. Though it looks like a demon but it's different from other demons in the past. I do not know the way to remove it." 

If Nobuna is able to drift apart from Yoshiharu, the plan of forcing Sagara Yoshiharu back to the future will be easy to execute. 

"Wait? What should I do if Nobuna misunderstands and thinks it's me who is touching her and starts getting happy by herself, Kanbei? What happens if the relationship between Nobuna and I becomes even closer?" 

"Happy? Why? What's with that? A girl who will feel happy about you touching her does not exist in this world, right?" 

To Kanbei who is clueless about love, it seems like it's a topic that she can't even imagine. 

".....Looks like it's a topic that it's hard to understand for children.... It's nothing actually." 

Yoshiharu has the premonition that with this meddlesome Kanbei's actions, history will be even messier. 

At this time, while sucking her Mackerel vermicelli, Nene ran over. 

"Onii-sama! There's a smoke signal rising from Azuchi castle!" 

"Smoke signal?" 

"That... it seems like Hime-sama is on her way with a ship over here!" 

"WHAT~~?" 

So fast, it seems like the time for my plan to work will start soon, Kanbei is elated. 

Though she didn't create Sunekosuri for such a plan, but it had unexpectedly become useful. 

"As I expected, Fate had push this Kanbei along..." The young Kanbei naively believes so. 

After Nobuna destroyed the Asai Asakura clans, she had forbidden her retainers from hosting tea parties. 

This is known as "Political tea parties". 

[5] 

All the tea rooms of the Oda retainers had been sealed. Tea parties can only be held with Nobuna attending it personally, as they discuss military movements in secret. 

In actual fact, when Nobuna was staying in Hakone, just when things were almost set in stone, Mitsuhide had interrupted them, thus causing Nobuna to consider ways for her and Yoshiharu to be alone. 

Periodic trips to Hakone will disturb the work for Tenka Fubu and even when they are in Hakone, Mitsuhide, with her loyal face on, will disturb them saying "No, you can't!" 

In such a situation, Nobuna begins a secret battle. And that is the Political Tea Parties. 

To not allow secrets to be leaked, the Oda clan secretly hosts tea parties to discuss their military movements! 

And only the master, Nobuna has the right to host such political tea parties. 

Only by proclaiming things to be so can allow Nobuna to secretly enter a retainer's tea room and not be suspected (by Mitsuhide). 

Since Nobuna is alone with Yoshiharu in Nagahama castle's tea room, the easily deceived Mitsuhide will think that it's a political tea party and not suspect it. 

(What a genius idea! With this, Juubei will not suspect a thing!) 

Immersed in such thoughts, Nobuna came to Nagahama castle. 

But. 

This idea, was crushed completely upon reaching the harbor of Nagahama castle. 

"This Juubei has come to Nagahama castle to visit Sagara-senpai for work related issues too. This is really a coincidence, Nobuna-sama." 

"....What a coincidence...." 

"Of course it's a coincidence. It's very suspicious that you did not notice the smoke signal rising from Azuchi castle." 

"You are totally thinking that it's suspicious!" 

"Of course, please allow me to join in the tea party." 

Sailing across Lake Biwa on a fast boat from Azuchi castle, Nobuna who had reached the harbor of Nagahama castle met Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide who had rushed here from Sakamoto castle. 

It's totally like, she had seen through Nobuna's plans and had waited here. 

Of course, Nobuna is becoming more and more frustrated. 

I can finally be alone with Yoshiharu. 

If we are to start fighting the Mori, there won't be a chance like this anytime soon. 

She had held such an expectation in her heart...... until Mitsuhide appeared. 

"Don't join in." But Nobuna can't say it out. 

Even if it's suspicious, but an important military meeting has to be held in the tea room. 

Of course, the meeting will be about the upcoming battle with the Mori. 

A secret date with Yoshiharu will tentatively be after the military meeting ends. (Nobuna thought) 

While walking towards the tea room located at the main castle, Nobuna's expression was one full of fury. 

".....Juubei. Now is a critical period concerning the life and death of the Oda clan." 

Of course, the dense Mitsuhide does not notice it at all. 

"The Asai Asakura clans are gone, Nobuna-sama. Though the Mori clan is a strong enemy, but if we the Oda clan stay united, we are of equal strength with them." 

"The situation's already not like this. With the interference of Ashikaga Yoshiaki and the Mori clan, Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen who were supposed to fight at Kawanaka Island seem to have stopped." 

"Wh...What!? It can't be... In our west, there is the Mori army, in the east, the Takeda army and in the north, the Uesugi army, they might all attack at the same time?" 

"Though it's just an assumption, but the worst case scenario will be having to split our forces into three. And everyone of them are strong." 

While Mitsuhide clutched her fist, she apologize to Nobuna. 

"I'm really sorry, Nobuna-sama! I Juubei totally thought that Yoshiaki-sama had boarded the boat headed towards Ming dynasty! I should have eliminated any loose ends and tied Yoshiaki-sama to a rock and sunk her to the bottom of the ocean. Things wouldn't be like this if I had done that!" 

"Juubei, you can't just sink someone from the shogun clan to the bottom of the ocean. There's no helping it. It's all because that Saru saving Imagawa Yoshimoto that we have come to this. Geez, that fellow, he's just too frivolous." 

"Uhh~ I'm really sorry, Nobuna-sama....." 

"....Damn.... I can't get Sunekosuri off.... My time's up." 

Yoshiharu sits in seiza in the tea room waiting and with the arrival of Nobuna and Mitsuhide, a fuss broke out. 

"It's been long since we last met, Sagara-senpai! Let's hold the namban wedding ceremony in Sakamoto castle after I have conquered Tamba!" 

"Eh~~? Why is Juubei-chan here?" 

With the tea pot between them, Yoshiharu and Nobuna exchanged gazes. 

(It's only at such periods that Juubei is extremely sensitive. But, I have no idea what should I say to make her go back in the middle.) 

Now isn't the time to have a secret date, Yoshiharu complains with his eyes, But Nobuna turned her head away and ignored him. 

(Yeah. Passing everyday without regrets, I have resolve for that.) 

"Yeah. It's a life of 20 years. I don't have much patience too, things like hesitating or delaying....) 

(.....I know. Now that our relationship has been spread around by rumors, though I had planned to not be beside you temporarily, but, if it's in this tea room.....) 

(Hmmm~ As long as Juubei returns, no one will notice.) 

In the small tea room. 

Mitsuhide sits beside Yoshiharu. 

That.... is the start of the tragedy. 

"Hoho~ The shape of this tea cup is just unique, where is this created from?" At Yoshiharu's side, Mitsuhide observes the tea cup that he had personally created and let out her comments. Yoshiharu instead exchange conversations with Nobuna with just their eyes. 

It's almost like a conversation between hearts. 

At the same time, the military meeting starts. 

"Saru. Ashikaga Yoshiaki is displeased with the Mori clan serving under her and has pushed for peace between Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen. The two of them have stopped their battle at Kawanaka Island as Ashikaga Yoshiaki is persistantly sending both of them letters. Let's not care about Shingen for now, with the absolute servitude nature of Kenshin under authority, he might actually agree." 

"Yeah. Even if we have complete control over the lands surrounding the capital, if Uesugi and Takeda are to ally with each other, it will become quite an headache....." 

"It's like this. Though I want to send the whole of the Oda army to fight with the Mori clan, but right now I can only send a vanguard over to Harima, I myself will have to be alert on any news from the eastern provinces." 

"Harima, huh? Kanbei's birthplace." 

"The forces of the Mori clan stops right at the neighboring province of Harima, Bizen's Mimasaka. If Harima is conquered, Settsu will be in danger. Once Settsu falls, Kyo will be next. The vanguard has to be send immediately over to Harima." 

"It must be even more dangerous than the time at Anegawa or Gifu. I have such a feeling about this." 

"Sagara-senpai, with this Juubei around, such worries are unnecessary. Anyway, what is this pill?" 

The sharp Mitsuhide discovered a strange pill in Yoshiharu's tea set. 

"Pill? Ahh, this, huh. What's that?" 

It's the ninja drug that Goemon had given Yoshiharu when he was with Nobuna at Hakone. 

It was originally a painkiller, but it had a strong side effect. When it is applied externally or ingested, the body will become abnormally excited, like an energy booster. 

Yoshiharu is anxious and hope that problems won't occur. It was given by the virgin Goemon giving out strange vibes, a thing not unlike an energy drink. 

.....But, Yoshiharu did not know what drug this is for and had totally forgotten that it had mixed in the midst of the tea set. It might be because he had not planned to use it at all. 

"Actually, this is from Goemon. It seems to be a mysterious drug that is also a painkiller." 

"Hoho~ I Juubei, maybe because I'm using my head too much, but I can't sleep nowadays due to severe headaches. If it's a ninja drug, it must be fast acting. Itadakimasu. Gulp~" 

"Ah, oi! Juubei-chan, don't just ingest some unknown drug.... You're too careless." 

".....Uhh......" 

"Oi? Are you alright, Juubei?" 

"It's weird.... my body..... is getting warm....." 

With shocking speed, the drug had taken effect. 

Suddenly, Mitsuhide's face blushed bright red and "Hah....Hah" starts panting. 

"Ahh, I can't stop sweating.... Ho....How strange. My b...body.... Somehow, it's getting hot....." 

Gulp, Yoshiharu swallowed his saliva without thinking, Mitsuhide's appearance is becoming suspicious. 

Her legs start to spread out in the character "?" as she scratches the inner areas of her thighs. Her eyes had become moist too. 

"Wa...Wait, Juubei? Saru, just what did you give Juubei?" 

"I said, it's a painkiller. Ah? Wait, this drug seems to have some side effect." 

"What are you saying after so long?" 

"No...Nobuna-sama. Danger. Don't take this drug..... Uhhh, it's itchy.... In the deepest region of my body..... it's all hot. Hah, hah, hah" 

Though when guys take this drug, it's an energy drug, but to girls, it's a very strong aphrodisiac. And then, Nobuna had her troublesome curiosity too. 

"Hmmm? This isn't poison, right? Looking at Juubei, it seems to be very effective. I should take it too." 

"No...You can't, Nobuna-sama!" 

"It shouldn't be an overdose if it's just a single pill, right? Because I'm always losing my temper nowadays, my head has been hurting all this while~" 

"No, Nobuna-sama. It's true that it help headaches, but my whole body is now very hot.... I feel... restless.... Hah hah... hah... hah....." 

"The side effects differ with people. If there's any strange side effect, it's alright if I ask Danjo to synthesize an antidote. Gulp~" 

Nobuna too took the drug with curiosity. 

"Ahh!" 

Yoshiharu had finally recalled. This is a energy booster! It was originally used as a painkiller, the side effect will make people excited! Before the secret date with Nobuna, Goemon had given it to me! 

"Nobuna! No, that drug is.... You're already taken it!?" 

"Eh? It isn't a painkiller? Didn't you say..... Ah..... Hmmm!?" 

She becomes numb. 

After taking it, it's not very long before Nobuna feels numb all over. 

But, her mood becomes strange too.... This isn't just a normal numbness. 

"Wh...Wh....What's this? My b...bo....body.... Hot.... hot.... It's hot...." 

"No...Nobuna-sama, th...this.... mi.... might be, aphr.....aphrodisiac." 

"What's aphr....aphrodisiac? Wh...Why is....is there such a thing.... in Saru's tea room?" 

"Hah, hah, hah.... It's so hot. If I don't strip..... Hah, hah...." 

"Wa....Wa...Wait, Ju....Juubei.....! Sa....Saru is still here, tha... that... is just unsightly.....Eh?" 

Si si.......... 

Her whole body started feeling strange, Yoshiharu's fingers started crawling up and down in a lewd way. Her legs and waist are so numb that she can't stand up. 

No, in actual fact, it's not Yoshiharu's fingers, but Sunekosuri's hands that is touching her. 

"No~~! Sa...Saru..... Yoshiharu.....! N....No, not now. Don't touch me there.......!" 

"Eh? Where exactly is there?" 

".....I'm nu....nu....numb.... N....No....NOOOOO!" 

Nobuna can no longer maintain the seiza position. 

She collapsed. 

"Ahh, Nobuna-sama! Sagara-senpai, what did you do!?" 

Mitsuhide "Hah....hah...." panted frantically as she rest her hands on the katana resting on her waist. 

"I got it, it's the doing of Sunekosuri! Stay there and not move, now isn't the time!" 

"Touching girls is the habit of Sunekosuri?" 

"This drug isn't just a painkiller! Even If I recall now, there's no helping it, it's too late!" 

Yoshiharu wants to put Sunekosuri who is currently touching Nobuna's thighs back into his shirt and forced it back against his chest. But, as he isn't used to the seiza position, his legs had become numb. 

"Uwah?" 

"Wait....Yoshiharu.... No! Juubei is still here!" 

Yoshiharu slipped and fell onto the top of Nobuna who had barely supported her own body as she "Hah....hah" endures some weird sensation. 

".....No...No....Nobuna-sama..... You can't. The trusted Senpai had disguised an aphrodisiac as a painkiller and deceived us into taking it...... Hah, hah, hah. Senpai, you can't do such a thing to Nobuna-sama. If you want to do it no matter what, please use this Juubei's charming body to satisfy yourself!" 

"No, it's really a misunderstanding! Oi, Sunekosuri! Don't come out, don't just touch them!" 

"Ahhhhhhh~? Hurry and stop, Yoshiharu. You are touching~~! That is between the legs~?" 

"So...Sorry. Sunekosuri seems to love touching girls' thighs!" 

"No! Nono, if you touch me there, I'm going to die~ Ahn~! Noo~~!" 

"Umm~ Senpai, where the hell did you touch Nobuna-sama..... Ah, hah~? Where did you touch her~! Ah, ahh, my strength......" 

"There too! Touching both of them at the same time.... Sunekosuri, what a scary fellow!" 

Yoshiharu is on top of the trembling Nobuna, while on Yoshiharu's back, it's the slim body of Mitsuhide who was "Uhhhh" sobbing. 

".....To....Too much, Senpai.... To...To actually do such a despicable thing.... Calling both of us together and making us take an aphrodisiac and then, touching us between the legs....." 

"It's not between the legs, it's the thighs!" 

"HAH, HAH, HAH.... I'M GOING TO CUT YOU DOWN MYSELF, SARU! I MUST EXECUTE YOU PERSONALLY! WHY DID YOU ASK JUUBEI ALONG TOO, IDIOT~~!" 

"Kosuri, kosuri. As long as I touch humans, I won't be lonely anymore. With my hands, legs and tail, I'm touching both of them." 

"EHHHHHHHHHH~?" 

"UHHHHHHHHH~!? 

"WAIT~~, SUNEKOSURI~~! YOU BASTARD, YOU'RE TOO MUCH~!" 

…… 

…… 

…… 

Finally after a period of time, the drug wears off. 

At a situation where they have no idea how, Nobuna and Mitsuhide were half naked as they sandwiched Yoshiharu and hugged him tightly, with "Hah, hah" moans coming out from them. But, suddenly, everything returns to normal like nothing had happened. 

Just a little more and the trio will fall into the demonic path filled with lust. 

It's only at times like this that Goemon won't appear! While lamenting like this, Yoshiharu had prepared to be "bathed" in the insults and scolding of Nobuna and Mitsuhide who are dressing themselves properly. 

Yoshiharu can't defend himself. 

And, it's most likely that they won't listen to my explanations. 

"TO...TO...TO...TO...TO ACTUALLY MAKE US NUMB WITH DRUGS AND TOUCH EVERYWHERE YOU LIKE....!" 

"I WOULDN'T HAVE REFUSED IF YOU HAD ASKED ME DIRECTLY, SENPAI IS THE WORST~! AND IT'S BOTH OF US TOGETHER! WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HEART OF MAIDENS ARE! PLEASE CHOOSE ONE OF US!" 

"It's all a misunderstanding! It's true that drug is a painkiller! It's just that, I had totally forgotten about the side effect....." 

"DI...DI...DID....DID...DIDN'T YOU TOUCH US!!?!? TOUCHING US H....HE...HERE AND T...TH....THERE!" 

"YEAH, WE'VE BEEN MOLESTED! AND YOU USED SOME SMALL FURRY THING! Wh...What's that, that thing that feels so comfortable?" 

"That... Umm, that is the doings of a demon.... Umm...." 

"HUH? AREN'T YOU THE DEMONIC ERO-SARU?" 

"Yeah! The Senpai today is totally an enemy of women!" 

While dropping tears, Nobuna threw punches at Yoshiharu's chest. 

"Owwwwww~!?" 

"I'M NEVER GOING TO BE ALONE WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU IN A ROOM ANYMORE! NOT JUST THE TWO OF US, WHETHER IT'S THREE OR FOUR, YOU WILL ATTACK THEM, RIGHT~!? YOU CHEATER! BASTARD! MOLESTER! PERVERT! TO MOLEST THE BOTH OF US TOGETHER, YOU'RE THE WORST! UWAHHHHHH~!" 

"Nobuna-sama, please don't cry! I Juubei am extremely sad too, my tears..... uhh....." 

"You, can't you distinguish the things that you can or cannot do!? Do you think you can be so frivolous after being a daimyo of a province!? Or is this what you really are?" 

"Please, I beg you, calm down and listen to me!" 

"Yoshiharu.... I hate you~!" 

Punishment~~! 

Punishment~~! 

Nobuna used all her strength to give continuous slaps to Yoshiharu's face till it becomes swollen and Yoshiharu thought (Am I going to be punished like this by the two of them.....) as he collapsed onto the tatami. 

Coming into such a fuss is Nene's grandfather, known as "Asano's Jii-san" appeared with his walking stick. 

The Asano clan, due to Nene's god-brother, Yoshiharu becoming the daimyo of Northern Omi, had become rich from the lands obtained by the Sagara clan. 

So, Asano's Jii-san had shifted over to Nagahama too. 

"Ohh, geezer! You're here to save me, right? I'm in your debt!" 

"Ohh. Isn't this Omi's Asai Nagamasa-sama? After seeing you, you have unexpectedly a dirty face. Compared to being Saruyashamaru, you are more of an ape." 

"I'm Sagara Yoshiharu! Nene's brother!" 

"Ohh, I see. There's urgent news from Harima." 

"News? Harima?" 

"The Ukita Naoie army who had become the vanguard of the Mori clans has attacked Harima. Now Harima, ahh, just where is it? The southern part of Ryukyu? Ohh." 

"Wh...What? What~~!?" 

Nobuna and Mitsuhide suddenly stopped crying. 

"While doing such a dumb thing, the Mori clan has taken the initiative! It's all due to Saru being too perverted.... This can't be~!" 

"What should we do, Nobuna-sama?" 

"Riku is at Echizen. Manchiyo is at Wakasa, Sakon is at Ise. We can't make it in time even if I send them to Harima now." 

"Juubei has just finish preparations for attacking Tamba, I can't just retreat now." 

"If that's the case, Saru! Right now, bring Kanbei who is familiar with Harima and head out! Chase Ukita Naoie out of Harima!" 

"Me?" 

"The only one in the Oda clan who is free enough to give aphorismatic to girls is just you. And also, I had originally planned for you to be the vanguard." 

"I have just shifted to Nagahama castle, the manpower I have right now is just a mere 5000. The most important thing is, I don't have the experience to lead the army as a commander. Nobuna, how about you come along with me." 

"You, do you understand what you did to your own master? In such a situation, I will normally execute you myself! I will pardon you if you can successfully stop the invasion of the Mori clan!" 

"As long as Goemon comes back, I can be acquitted.... Uhhh~" 

This time, it's 3 punches at his chest. 

"Uhhhhhhhh." 

"I've decided. I will leave the Mori clan to you! You are the commander for the Chuugoku army right now! Until the Mori clan surrenders, never appear in front of me~! YOU.... BASTARD SARU!" 

"Ehh~? Don't say impossible things! The opponent is the tyrant of Chuugoku! Not mentioning the thing about me being the vanguard, there is no chance I can force a surrender of that Mori clan." 

"I've changed my mind." 

"That's just you being rash and taking revenge!" 

"Ahh? You are the hero who deceived Juubei and I to take an aphrodisiac, and planned to bed both of us. Isn't a thing like destroying the Mori clan a small thing compared to this?" 

"Oi, don't be nonsensical. Won't that make our position of master and subordinate even further apart!? Kanbei! Where is Kanbei! Oi~, help me explain this~!" 

"Hmph~ You are the worst to actually push the fault to a new retainer. Juubei, we are going back!" 

"Roger! Until Senpai apologizes from his heart, I won't send out any reinforcements! I'm currently in the midst of conquering Tamba, I'm very busy and will never help you out!" 

"How did things~~!" 

Nobuna and Mitsuhide left Nagahama castle like a hurricane. 

Being left alone in the tea room, Yoshiharu suddenly noticed. 

".....When they scold me, both Nobuna and Juubei-chan are the victim as they are totally in sync. With this, I might just be able to avoid the Incident at Honnouji....?" 

The women troubles that bothered Yoshiharu recently might be totally removed. 

Kanbei's plan seems to have succeeded effectively. 

But as the price, Yoshiharu has to face the Mori clan alone. 

Once Nobuna and Mitsuhide's rage simmered, they should send reinforcements.... 

"Oioi. As long as Sunekosuri is possessing me, the fury of both of them won't simmer." 

To the trembling Sunekosuri in his bosom, he greeted it. 

"You, just when are you going to stop possessing me?" 

"After I've touched many girls and not feel lonely, if not, I will keep possessing you." 

The seemingly cute Sunekosuri revealed it's small face and answered Yoshiharu. That round eyes and small furry face, it's extremely cute. It's a plus point that it's as big as his palm. As long as Nobuna sees this.... As long as she knows the actual culprit, I should be forgiven. Actually, she might just "Ahh~ Kawaii~!" and become extremely happy. 

But there is the possibility of "So this fellow is the actual molester, huh?" and squash Sunekosuri to a bunch of meat. 

"I don't have a clear idea. State clearly the day and time." 

"If that day nears, you will know." 

"Is that so? You yourself aren't sure?" 

"Possessing a human and touching girls like this, a life of tickling girls is really very fun. I'm already not lonely. It's so lucky that Sunekosuri is an artificial spirit." 

"I don't feel the least bit of happiness being a human! I can't get close to any girls now!" 

"Sunekosuri will die from loneliness for not touching girls. Sagara Yoshiharu, you want such a cute Sunekosuri to die so tragically?" 

"Don't use such a tearful expression to look at me!" 

".....Sagara Yoshiharu. You shouldn't have any women troubles at the start? You shouldn't be popular with your looks. If you are really popular, the two of them just now at the tea room would be very happy "Touch us more~"" 

"Shaddup. Actually, I'm starting to think if I'm being too overly self-conscious!" 

"Then get near to all kind of girls for Sunekosuri." 

"I'm so envious of you. Suddenly, I have the feeling that I'm just the extra and you are the main body." 

"That's it. You are too dense for noticing it so late. If there's no girls in the vicinity, Sunekosuri is going to sleep. The sleeping time for Sunekosuri is longer compared to humans." 

"So lucky, this fellow." 

Sunekosuri shrunk back to his bosom and began sleeping, Yoshiharu changed his thinking pattern. 

Though Sunekosuri is a extremely troublesome fellow, but it will have to leave one day. 

For now, let's just solve the other problem. 

"The Mori clan... We can only send the vanguard out. If I don't hurry up now...." 

The vanguard over at their side.... 

"The Mori clan's vanguard invading Harima.... Ukita Naoie, huh? 

Ukita Naoie. 

"Ah, huh~?" 

Yoshiharu hugged his head. 

Though he knows of his name, but the only thing he know is that his intelligence is very high. 

"Won't my only strong point be useless now~~!" 

"Geez, I have no idea what that idiot is thinking. Has some part of it's brain short circuited after becoming a daimyo, or has his actual personality appeared now?" 

Standing at the deck of the boat heading towards Azuchi castle, Nobuna looks at the moon reflected on Lake Biwa while puffing up her face. 

"Well~ With this, Juubei won't be near him for now..." 

Though she is looking forward to being alone with Yoshiharu, she had gone too far with her anger and before she could react, she had send Yoshiharu alone to face the Mori clan. 

But, the Nobuna now is slowly becoming calm. 

If the Mori clan activates the whole of their army, it will be a number surpassing tens of thousands. The manpower that Yoshiharu has is a measly 5000. 

"I have given such an unreasonable order. If I don't head out...." 

Once I reach Azuchi castle, I will send reinforcements over to Harima. Nobuna thought. 

But, she does not understand Yoshiharu's action in the tea room. 

"It might be because Yoshiharu likes me too much and had lost his senses. That drug, he might have planned to take it together with me.... It must be so. Juubei being together with me is totally out of both him and my expectations. Yoshiharu didn't ask us to take the drug, it's Juubei who took it without asking...." 

Even so, I don't mind if it's just my body. Why did he even touch Juubei? As I expected, he's really a pervert! With this, the flames of fury began to burn brightly in Nobuna's heart. 

What the hell is going on? To do such a perverted thing to other girls, it shouldn't be possible. Who does he think I am? I'm the demon lord of the sixth realm, Oda Nobuna. I will burn all who oppose me. Originally, it's not too much of me to personally execute him in that tea room. 

"I shouldn't have let Yoshiharu see my dere face all this while. Just being sweet isn't the way to go, I must give him the whip sometimes. Or else who knows just how arrogant can that Saru be." 

Nobuna called for Inuchiyo. 

"I have to send out aides to give him a proper scolding! Inuchiyo!" 

…… 

There's no response. 

"Ahh.... Inuchiyo had become Akahorushuu from an aide. Now I'm here in Echizen together with Riku...." 

Not waiting for the Tenshuu to be completed, Nobuna had entered Azuchi castle. Riku, Inuchiyo, Manchiyo and Yoshiharu, all of them aren't around. The territories that the Oda clan are holding had increased too fast. 

Though she had thought that using Lake Biwa, she could meet with anyone, but everyone had been so busy over Tenka Fubu and didn't have many chances to meet. 

And her mother Lady Tsuchida, after that golden skull day, had refused to see her. 

She had been closer to her dream, but the closer she is, the more lonely she gets. Nobuna thought. 

Asai Nagamasa.... Oichi, after losing the fate of being a sengoku daimyo, she had been living a complete life with Nobusumi as husband and wife and it seems that they are very happy now. 

I want to live like that too. 

There are times that I sincerely hope I can live a life like that. 

But, the existence of "Oda Nobuna" is much too huge for this world. 

Right now, she can't easily abandon her quest for Tenka Fubu. For her own dream, many samurais had lost their lives. It's only this that she can't do. 

(It's ok for anyone to talk about me, a thing like the world, I can just pass it to Juubei. It's ok if I'm just a nameless wife of Yoshiharu. So, please be with me forever. After obtaining the world, if Yoshiharu is the one who pleads, if that's the case....) 

Such a thing will never happen, while closing her eyes, she mumbles softly like talking to someone. 

I'm so lonely. 

My heart is so cold. 

From a corner of her eyes, tears flows out. 

(I shouldn't have come back. It's ok if we quarrel the whole night and not reconcile. It's better if I stay at Yoshiharu's tea room.....) 

At Nobuna's back, a black shadow climbs onboard from the lake. 

It's not a human. 

Nobuna "Who's there?" turned her back, but that shadow had disappeared. 

"It's my imagination. I must be really lonely tonight." 

Is this shadow heading towards Azuchi castle and then sneaking into Kyo? The dark world of the era is already baring it's fangs at Nobuna in ways that she can't expect.