Oda Nobuna no Yabou - Volume 9 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 : The Revolt of Matsunaga Danjo 

In this sengoku era, Yamato is still called the “Kingdom of Gods.” 

Even after the moving of the palace over to Kyoto, the Buddhist influence did not reduce at all but was instead opposing the control and intervention of the samurai. 

In actual fact, it was the monks of Koufuku temple that had control over Yamato with their force comparable to Mount Hiei. 

A saying goes by that those samurais who came from Yamato were all monks from Koufuku temple who had once again embrace the mundane life. 

And close by Koufuku temple was the Todai Temple which was also known for it's giant Buddha statue. 

Known as the destroyer of traditions, Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide, ever since the time when she was a retainer general for the Miyoshi clan, had always been fixated and persistent on ruling Yamato. 

Since her submission to Nobuna and passing over the command of the capital over to her, Hisahide had been putting all her heart into ruling over Yamato, and the tension between her and Koufuku and Todai temple had been rising day by day. 

There are a total of two bases that Matsunaga Hisahide can reside in Yamato. 

The first being Shigisan castle, built on the spectacular and a natural fortress, Mount Shigi. Though that place is easily defended, it is far from the heart of Yamato, and that was Nara. 

The other being Tamonyama castle, a fortress that was build after destroying a mountain temple located right on a path between Kyoto and Nara. On it's peaks, the fortress can easily looked upon Koufuku and Todai temple. 

It's for the precise reason that Matsunaga Hisahide wishes to one day finish things off with her destined enemy, the Koufuku temple that she had build this frontline base right in front of them. 

Hisahide was a war orphan who lost both her parents during the massacre between the Buddhism forces of Kyoto and had seek refuge in Koufuku temple when she was small. 

However, rather than the Buddhist teachings, it was the skills with the Juumonji spear which Hisahide learned in Koufuku Temple. 

They were a powerful armed group similar to Mount Hiei, well known for being the best when it comes to spearmanship. 

Not long after leaving Koufuku temple, Hisahide was feared in the capital for her outstanding Juumonji spear skills. 

In battles, she had said many times that she wanted to burn down the giant Buddha statue of Todai temple, which is the Nara Buddha. 

With the blood of Persians running in her veins, Hisahide did not acknowledge this country's tradition and authority at all. 

In Kyoto, she assaulted the Ashikaga clan, destroyed the Ashikaga shogunate and had even coerced Nobuna to burn Mount Hiei. 

Though the worst case scenario of burning Mount Hiei was avoided in the end, the monks of Mount Hiei was still stripped of their military power and lost it's strength to threaten the palace. 

The reason why Nobuna's reputation was becoming worse every day might have been because she was relying heavily on Hisahide who had been destroying this country's tradition and authority repeatedly. 

To this sengoku era, Matsunaga Hisahide is like a poisonous scorpion exuding a demonic light. 

And right now, she is leading her troops inside Tamonyama castle at Nara. 

Tamonyama castle was a strange mountain fortress too. 

It has a four level Tenshu that had never been seen in Japan before. 

Under moonlight, it's pure white walls reflect a gentle light. 

But it's roof tiles are pitch black. 

Outside the castle, various flowers like mustard plants, roses form a weird garden filled with beautiful flowers. 

But once one enters the castle, they could see never seen before golden pillars and mysterious wall paintings from other countries. 

Such a strange castle form a distinct contrast with the traditional Todai temple and that might be Hisahide's intention. 

Tonight, a bright shooting star was dragging it's long tail as it flew past the sky. 

In the darkness, a bunch of people was silencing their footsteps as they walked the streets of Nara. 

"What a strange castle, my eyes are all dizzy from it." 

"Boss, this is the rumored Tamonyama castle, huh? There's a distinct difference between it and a Namban styled castle." 

"Uhh, I don't understand it's taste." 

"But it's quite compatible to that unlucky jinx." 

"I heard the princess of the Oda clan plans to build a Tenchu imitating this at Azuchi castle." 

"That is because Hime looks upon Matsunaga-shi like her own mother." 

"Talking about this, I had been feeling weird all this while, just which parts of each other did they feel attracted to?" 

"It might be that they both loves to burn things up, haha." 

Correct, this bunch of people is the lolicon squad, Kawanamishuu that follows the loli ninja, Goemon. 

After becoming the chief of the Sagara clan, Goemon was still wearing her ninja garb and being active as a ninja. 

Yoshiharu had once persuaded her, "You are already a famous samurai now, at least choose your symbol for yourself". But Goemon had chose the "?" without thinking. 

Isn't this a ninja still!? Yoshiharu can't help but retorted but Goemon had replied with a hint of hesitation, "I'm a ninja for life." 

Seeing the Kawanamishuu looking at Tamonyama castle and being distracted, Goemon ordered, "Don't look at it." 

"Let's not think too much about Matsunaga-shi, our mission is to steal from Todai temple." 

"Uhhuhh, Matsunaga Hisahide's breasts are needlessly big and her whole body exudes such a lewd atmosphere, what an evil woman...." 

"But shouldn't we ask her for help, Boss?" 

"Yeah, we don't have much time." 

"It's the critical period right now that decides whether will we be able to save that serious and strict Hanbei-chan." 

"Even if Matsunaga Hisahide wants my body in exchange, I will give that evil woman my purity while shedding blood tears!" 

"Me too! Though I will definitely bear unrecoverable wounds for the rest of my life if I hand my body over to that old woman." 

"But this is to save the cute Hanbei-chan." 

"CORRECT, BASTARDS! CUTENESS IS JUSTICE!" 

"If it's to protect Boss's life, I don't mind even if I have to hand over my butt to that Sagara brat." 

"You can't call him a brat anymore, Sagara Yoshiharu is now our master. Call him the lord." 

"Yeah! If it's for the boss, I can even be the lord's pet!" 

Uhh, nobody want the bodies of you guys.... Though Goemon mumbled softly but no one seems to hear it. 

"Ara, it's lucky that my lord is a straight guy without any interest in young girls and men's buttholes. What a relief." 

"For now, we should greet Matsunaga Hisahide, Boss!" 

"Even if we can't get her help, she won't obstruct us." 

"Yeah yeah." 

"But she might want us to give this muscular body over to her as reward." 

"Uhh, somehow, I have a premonition of stepping on a tiger's tail." 

But it's true that the Todai temple is extremely close to Tamonyama castle. 

If it's just a greeting, it won't take up much time. 

"Then let's greet her then." 

"So that's it then, Boss, let's do it." 

"It'll be bad if we activate any strange traps if we sneak in, let's enter from the front door." 

Goemon curiously looked at the various strange decorations of Tamonyama castle too. 

Different from Japan's ninja and Onmyouji, Hisahide is well versed in the illusions from other countries. 

At the junction towards Todai temple, Goemon and the others turned towards Tamonyama castle but at this moment... 

"Eh?" 

"The gates of Tamonyama castle opened?" 

"It's so late already, what the hell are they doing?" 

"Are they welcoming Boss?" 

"No...Noo, the Matsunaga army is moving out!" 

"WHAT!?!?!?" 

That fluttering flag was indeed Matsunaga Hisahide's symbol. 

Spearman squads... 

Cannon squads... 

Bowman squads... 

There were a few types of soldiers that even Goemon and the rest didn't see before. 

And the soldiers of the Matsunaga army all looked abnormal. 

Their eyes were all cloudy as they kept sprouting nonsense. 

As if they are drunk or they are already not of this world. 

"The enemy is at Kyoto!" 

"The master is going to attack Oda Nobuna right now!" 

"Our master Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide-sama is the true ruler of men!" 

It's a revolt! The vice-captain of the Kawanamishuu Maeda can't help but shouted out. 

"Why did Matsunaga Hisahide suddenly revolt!?" 

"This goes beyond any common sense!" 

"It might just be her habit!" 

"Yeah! She had attacked the princess of the Oda clan in Kyoto before." 

"Here they come!" 

The Kawanamishuu left the road and hide in the forest. 

Not long after, the soldiers with a drunk face walked past the Kawanamishuu one after the other. 

At this moment, Goemon who was hanging on a tree branch suddenly thought of something. 

"...Uhh... Don't tell me this is that future that Sagara-shi had said before....!?" 

The current Nobuna that is in Honnou temple has only a few aides and body guards. 

And what's worst is that Nobuna herself had collapsed. 

"The Sagara corps is at Harima, Akechi-shi is at Tamba, Niwa-shi at Wakasa, Shibata-shi at Echizen, Takigawa at Ise... Uhh, Hime-sama has no one guarding her!" 

Nara is very close to Kyoto. 

Much closer to the Oda clan generals scattered everywhere. 

If one was to revolt, now will be the most opportune moment. 

All this makes Goemon think about that future that Sagara Yoshiharu had once told her about... The Incident at Honnouji. 

But why this moment? 

"This is the worst." 

"It's what you're best at, Boss. Choose between the two, whether to steal the Rajantai or to stop the revolt?" 

"Ahhhh! If it's Sagara-shi, he won't abandon both Takenaka-shi and Hime, zhat(what) should we do!?" 

"Our boss had been infected with the lord's bad habit." 

"But such a boss is just too cute!" 

"Shut up! At least let me stop Matsunaga-shi! If we can't stop her, we will pink oh samping.(Think of something)." 

"No Boss, that woman is too dangerous!" 

"We will go too!" 

"Not allowed to follow." 

After she said that, Goemon stepped on a tree branch and jumped out. 

"BOSSSSSSS!" 

In the short amount of time that Goemon and the Kawanamishuu talked, the situation had become even more complicated. 

The Matsunaga army had set ablaze a patch of forest in the territory of Koufuku temple, burned through a path and started their attack. 

The shocked monks were shouting, "Uwahh, Danjo attacked!" as they gathered in panic and started a chaotic battle with the Matsunaga army. 

Their opponent is their arch enemy, Matsunaga Hisahide. 

It's that Matsunaga Hisahide who escaped from Koufuku temple and become the master of Yamato after repeatedly revolting and fighting against the monks. 

It's that Matsunaga Hisahide who declared that she will burn down the great Buddha of Todai temple, 

and the one who allied with Oda Nobuna who almost burnt Mount Hiei. 

Though the monks of Koufuku temple who gathered are panicky, they did not let down their guard. 

No, it's more like, they were already prepared for such a moment. 

"You're finally come, huh? Enemy of Buddhism, Matsunaga Hisahide!" 

"When the jinx star shone brightly high up on the night sky, I know it will become like this!" 

"The Buddha had already give us a premonition of your intentions!" 

"Listen everyone! We must protect the Buddha statue!" 

But there's still a problem, the one that Matsunaga Hisahide is betraying is the enemy of Buddhism, Oda Nobuna who attempted to burn Mount Hiei. 

"If we fight Matsunaga Danjo, won't we become the allies of Oda Nobuna?" 

"Rather than Oda Nobuna who we never met before, it's the enemy right in front of our eyes that's more important!" 

"If you guys still have the time to talk nonsense, they have already attacked here!" 

"The foolish Danjo, isn't it ok to ignore us if she wants to invade Kyoto?" 

"This situation really makes me wonder why did she build a Tamonyama castle on the path that connects here to Kyoto." 

"She must have not want us monks to pincer attack Yamato which will become an empty castle." 

"Looks like we both look at each other as destined enemies." 

"I don't even know just how much frustration I had bottled till now, but tonight we have something planned, it's time to settle the debt!" 

The opinions of the monks are totally in sync, and that's to "fight it out with Matsunaga Hisahide."! 

"...Sorry, umm, there's something I don't know if I should say, if we fight against Matsunaga now, won't we be helping the Oda clan? Our situation will be kinda weird, we should think through it." 

There's only one monk called Tsutsui Shouken who asked everyone for restraint. 

But at this moment, almost all the monks had charged right into the side of the Matsunaga army and started the battle. 

"Don't fear, we have the Buddhist guardian, the three head and six arms Asura's protection!" 

"Tonight, let us destroy the enemy of Buddhism, Matsunaga Danjo!" 

There are a few monks too who had the Asura's talisman hanging on their chest before charging into the enemy's formation bare-handed. 

For one, this is to motivate their allies, the other is to wish for the powers of Asura to shock the enemy. 

"Hahaha, this is our secret plan. The enemy's soldiers will soon fear the powers of Asura and scatter!" 

"Exactly, ordinary soldiers have no guts to be the enemy of Buddha." 

This isn't just a simple battle. 

The enemy is that Matsunaga Hisahide who betrayed Koufuku temple, betrayed Buddhism. 

So even if they use such an extreme method, it will definitely be forgiven. 

But the enemy Matsunaga army's soldiers had a confused expression even when they are right in the midst of the battle. 

No, after seeing the talisman of Asura, they seem to become excited. 

"..... Answer our prayers, Ahura Mazda." 

"....Who decides the trajectory of the sun and stars." 

"..... Who decides whether the moon wanes." 

"......Please bless us with your intelligence, Ahura Mazda!" 

They snatched the talisman on the body of those monks as they started moving forward in a crazed manner. 

"What? What are these people talking about!?" 

"Why, why aren't the power of Asura punishing them and yet?" 

"It even blessed them with it's protection!" 

I don't understand... The unease was spread amongst the monks in an instant as their formation collapsed soon after. 

Facing the fearful monks, the Matsunaga army showed not a hint of mercy as they extend their hands and snatch their Asura talisman. 

"UWAHHHH!" 

"SAVE ME!!!" 

Seeing that the frontlines had collapsed, the monks at the back pulled out the second secret weapon that they had prepared just for Matsunaga Hisahide. 

The secret weapon that the monks of Todai and Koufuku temple had prepared together is... 

"Don't retreat! The divine beast from the south is here!" 

"The deers are here!" 

"Ngeeh! Ngeeh!" 

Correct, it's the deers 

Shikas(Deers) had been viewed as a divine beasts from ancient times. 

Though it might not be useful against the demonic Matsunaga Hisahide, the normal soldiers will never have the guts to attack them. 

Upon releasing them, the trained deers aimed their sharp antlers and charged towards the Matsunaga army. 

But this plan was still useless towards Hisahide. 

"Biiiiooooohhh!" 

"Wha....." 

"WHAT IS THAT!?!?!?" 

"BIIIIOOOOOHHH!" 

"UWAHHHHH!" 

From the midst of the Matsunaga army came never seen before huge beasts, their roar easily make the deers trembled in fear. 

The queen from another country, Matsunaga Hisahide was riding on a huge beast that had a long nose as she commanded the soldiers in battle. 

"WHAT IS THAT!?" 

"MO...MON....MONSTERRRRRRRRRR!" 

That was an elephant. 

Hisahide leisurely sat on the elephant she bought from Namban, on her hand was a long smoke pipe. 

"Hoho, there's only one thing I want and that is the head of Oda Nobuna. All who opposes me will die, haha... Hahahaha" 

The deers who never seen such a huge animal had all turn their heads around and escaped to the depths of the forest. 

The monks had no more leeway to think about a thing like what will happen if they become the allies of the Oda clan. 

The things happening right in front of their eyes were the actual disasters! 

If they didn't defeat Hisahide right here, it was without a doubt that Koufuku temple and Todai temple would both be reduced to ruins by her. 

There's no doubt about it. 

Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide plans to use this revolt to eliminate all the enemies obstructing her, which are Nara's shrines and temples, reducing all of them to ruins. 

"Allow me to enjoy the pleasure I should have enjoyed the last time I tried burning Mount Hiei." 

The fire in the forest is getting bigger. 

During the midst of the fire, Hisahide suddenly shouted out loud. 

"..... Ah....Ahahahahaha, burn, burn it all! Burn all and everything to ashes!" 

Her voice is extremely weird, almost as if she was possessed. 

"De....De....Demon!" 

"Ju...Jus....Jus....Just what is she!?" 

The monks felt fear from the bottom of their heart. 

If this goes on, the five towers that the Koufuku temple is so proud of will be burned down! If we can't protect the Buddha statue, the Todai temple's great Buddha and the Shousouin that has all the treasures will...... 

"Why... Why do you hate us monks so much?" 

"Ya...Yamato is a province of gods, we will never hand it over to a demonic woman like you!" 

The monks were furiously thrusting the spears in their hands by the elephant's feet but with a single swing of the long nose of the elephant's nose, it sweeps the monks like a grass cutter. 

This is a never seen before beast from another country. 

Even if they want to attack, they have no idea just where the weak points are. 

And... 

"..... Answer our prayers, Ahura Mazda." 

"....Who decides the trajectory of the sun and stars." 

"..... Who decides whether the moon wanes." 

"......Please bless us with your intelligence, Ahura Mazda!" 

Even if they were cut, the soldiers of the Matsunaga army continued to march forwards with a confused face. 

"Bastard Danjo! Don't tell me you gave these soldiers mustard poison!?" 

"These fragrance, it can't be wrong!" 

Hisahide propped up her smoke pipe and said while she narrowed her eyes. 

"Foolish humans, that deity that you guys know as Asura is Ahura Mazda~" 

"Ahura.... what!?" 

This woman's state of mind is definitely abnormal now. 

How scary... 

At this moment, under the brilliance of the jinx star in the sky and the eyes of Hisahide who was shining with a brightness unique to only predators, it's almost like she had turned into the goddess of a different religon. 

But it's definitely not a loving goddess. 

But a goddess of destruction with an air of crazed passion, filled with rage towards this sengoku era that's filled with contradiction. 

"You ignorant people who had locked yourselves all this while in this small island country, I will teach you all out of kindness of my heart. Ahura Mazda is a Persian god that disappeared in the long flow of history. It is the first god who judge justice and evil, a god that summons disasters in this world and the god of destruction that gives the final judgment over fools." 

No... 

This woman right in front of them is totally different from the Matsunaga Hisahide who always have an alluring smile on her face. 

Her two eyes exude a golden brilliance. 

Both eyes are as if they are ones from a snakes, staring at it's prey. 

These are evil eyes! 

So this is her real nature!? 

This had far surpassed that of a poisonous scorpion! 

"Matsunaga Danjo! If you aren't kept by Koufuku temple when you're small, you will have perished amidst the flames of war!" 

"Had you forgotten the gratitude?" 

"Remember the teachings of Buddhism!" 

Ku.... Kukuku... 

Hearing them, Hisahide laughed out loud. 

Her laughter was so cold that it would freeze anyone who heard her to the ground, but the smile on her face was as attractive as a goddess. 

"Gratitude? The only things I remember are the pain that those hypocrites gave me as they torture me, all the while forcing upon me the ideology of women being dirty, as well as the skills of using a spear to kill!" 

Just by locking gazes with the current Hisahide was enough to tighten your heart. 

As if the evils facing her could not find any place to hide. 

No, where had I seen this pair of eyes... 

Asura... 

These are the eyes of Asura! 

"....Sc....Sc....Sca.... Too scary....!" 

"Stop! Don't look over here!" 

The monks finally started to cower. 

But Hisahide continued to lead the soldiers controlled by drugs forward. 

"I Matsunaga Danjo Hisahide, under the name of Ahura Mazda orders to destroy all who abuses the name of gods and Buddha to blatantly militarized themselves, torture women, shaken the country and continued to take from the people. Burn Todai and Koufuku temple down to ashes!" 

But the Shosoin of Todai temple contains the Rajantai that must be used to save Hanbei. 

At this moment, Goemon finally reached her. 

She dropped down onto the saddle that Hisahide was sitting on the elephant. 

"Are you insane, Matsunaga-shi!?" 

"You're wrong, Ninja. This is the true me." 

"To save Takenaka-shi, the Rajantai inside Todai temple is necessary." 

"What about it? I want to burn down Todai temple, all who opposes me shall all be burned too." 

"Looks like even if I persuade you not to revolt, it's useless!" 

"Correct, before I hugged the head of Oda Nobuna which is still flowing fresh blood with my two hands, I will never stop." 

"Why... Why did you do such a thing to Hime who you doved(loved) as a daughter!?" 

".... It's because this inauspicious star is just so pretty..." 

Looks like she herself had been affected by the mustard poison... Goemon analyzed. 

If this was the case, I can only kill her. 

"....Your life, I'm taking it." 

Goemon slashes apart the roof of the saddle and threw a shuriken at Hisahide. 

And then, using the opening where Hisahide used the smoke pipe in her hands to deflect the shuriken, Goemon charged at her with a dagger in her hands. 

The place she aimed could only be one. 

And that was the neck of Hisahide. 

"Can't let you burn Todai temple." 

"It's useless..." 

Goemon suddenly found herself being fixated in the air, unable to get near to Hisahide at all. 

"Huh?" 

It's the puppets. 

A puppet in the shape of a girl was tightly wrapping herself to Goemon's body. 

The hands of the puppet turned to a weird angle, like the tentacles of a squid, they snatched away Goemon's freedom. 

The puppets are just dolls, and not a living thing so they will not emit any killing intent. 

Not discovering this point is the reason why Goemon lost. 

At this moment, the red eyes of Goemon and the golden eyes of Hisahide were crossed gazes. 

The always calm Goemon let out a confused sound. 

"....Matsunaga-shi....!?" 

"Shut up, Ninja. Stop talking, die." 

Kacha.... 

From the air, flesh blood start gushing out... 

and lands on the heads of the soldiers by the legs of the elephant. 

"Uwahhhh!" 

"Bo....Boss...!" 

"Yo...You gotta be joking....!" 

Using the chaos, the Kawanamishuu who planned to climb up had all let out shrieks of shock. 

And the Matsunaga army was scattering those monks, filled with resolve to die as they shout "If we retreat here, Buddhism and Yamato will be destroyed!" 

Kyoto, Honnou temple. 

On her bed, after hearing the new aide Senchiyo reported, "Matsunaga Danjo had revolted at Yamato." 

Nobuna only said "Dearuka..." 

and keep staring at the ceiling, not moving an inch. 

The smart bishoujo aide Manmi Senchiyo was in actual fact a spy that the Kampaku, Konoe Sakihisa sent as part of the anti-Nobuna force. 

She had faked Nobuna's order and asked Yoshiharu to "execute Kuroda Kanbei's younger sister" and the one who stopped Yoshiharu from talking with Nobuna at Honnou temple was her too. 

After gaining Nobuna's trust, Senchiyo started to sow discord in the Oda clan from the interior. 

Konoe Sakihisa had once employed an assassin to try to snipe Nobuna. 

But in the end, it failed. 

Not just having extremely tenacious will to live, she had the famous doctor Belchior Manase on her side and Matsunaga Hisahide who was well versed in using poisons. 

In such a situation, assassinating Nobuna in a day was extremely difficult, so Senchiyo employed a long term technique like slowly tightening the noose on Nobuna's neck. 

And Nobuna did not notice Konoe Sakihisa's schemes and Senchiyo's true identity till now. 

Just by looking, Konoe Sakihisa was just a normal official with black teeth and pale skin. 

And to unify Japan, Nobuna had tried her best to get together the ruined palace. 

Abandoning the century long war, the Ashikaga shogunate was no longer suitable to rule this country. Nobuna was considering to change the forgotten palace to a symbol that represents the new unified Japan. 

So the idea that the leader of the officials to try his best to eliminate her, no, to be dumb enough to do that had not entered her mind at all. 

"The "self-proclaimed shogun" Ashikaga Yoshiaki that the Mori clan supported had sent letters persuading them to surrender to all the daimyos of the provinces, even to the generals of the Oda clan which were scattered everywhere." 

To make Nobuna even more suspicious, Senchiyo continued to say. 

"I think Matsunaga Hisahide is under the influence of Ashikaga Yoshiaki, such a situation will likely happen elsewhere too. 

Nobuna has no more ideas. 

Because of the golden skull incident of Asai Nagamasa, she was despised by her birth mother, Tsuchida Gozen. 

Though she did not have any impression, she had given the order of executing Shojyomaru and had betrayed Yoshiharu and Kanbei. 

And now, even Matsunaga Hisahide who was like her second mother had finally betrayed her. 

(Danjo had once betrayed me too, but it was to test whether I have the potential to rule the world. It's different this time, Danjo had truly abandoned me.) 

Anger? No, she did not have such an emotion in her heart now. 

(It's I who betrayed my companions first, this is just what I deserved.) 

Tears were once again flowing out despite her wishes. 

Following her birth father, even her god-father Saitou Dousan had passed away. 

Unrecoverable cracks had formed in the relationship with her birth mother and now, even Matsunaga Hisahide who was like her god-mother had betrayed her, she had lost the irreplaceable Sagara Yoshiharu and Kuroda Kanbei who bears the same dream of crossing the vast seas. 

(It's reasonable that I will be abandoned by Yoshiharu after the order of executing Shojyomaru, but why even Danjo....?) 

Why did things become like this, just why...? 

"....Uhh.... Uh.... Uhhh...." 

Nobuna's strong heart started to collapse. 

She did not know that Senchiyo is currently celebrating in her heart (Everything is going smoothly, with this, all will be over!) 

"Hime-sama, I had chosen the list of retainers that are most likely to revolt, with the start of executing Matsunaga Hisahide, please eliminate the traitors of the Oda clan." 

The list that Senchiyo had prepared includes, Sagara Yoshiharu, Akechi Mitsuhide, Shibata Katsuie, Niwa Nagahide and Takigawa Kazumasu, all core members of the Oda clan. 

Though she had prepared this list long ago and had planned to submit it once the chance presents itself, but even Senchiyo herself did not expect that the "chance" will come so soon. All these are thanks to Hisahide "timely" revolt. 

Rather than assassinating Oda Nobuna herself, this is the determining strike. Using Oda Nobuna herself to clear the Oda clan's retainers, the Oda clan will definitely be destroyed. Just by thinking all these, Senchiyo can't help but laughed out in her heart. 

".... I.... I see." 

"Please give the order to execute them." 

"....But...." 

Nobuna can't not hesitate. 

The names on the list are all irreplaceable companions that had fight with her from Owari and Mino. 

Though she had made an unforgivable mistake. 

But even so, she don't believe it no matter what. 

"Hime-sama, to stabilize the Oda clan, the master have to clear off all unstable elements in the interior of the clan! If we don't take this chance that Matsunaga Hisahide had just revolted, we won't make it in time!" 

"....I can't." 

"If you can't do it, Hime-sama will be killed! 

"....Such a thing... It's impossible." 

"The proof had already been assembled." 

"....Impossible... This is impossible!" 

Senchiyo bite down on her teeth. 

A little more! 

Even when she had been forced to such an extent, Nobuna did not abandon her trust for her retainers. 

"Shibata Katsuie and the rest had been feeling jealousy over the fact that Sagara Yoshiharu had been tasked with being the commander against the Mori clan." 

"Such a thing isn't possible, I don't believe it!" 

"And after reaching Harima, Sagara Yoshiharu had a beautiful princess knight named Yamanaka Shikanosuke as his subordinate as he immersed himself everyday in debauchery with her." 

"....Eh?" 

Senchiyo finally discovered Nobuna's weak point. 

So this is it, huh? 

Nobuna's weakness is the rumors about Sagara Yoshiharu. 

For some reason, compared to the rest of her retainers, only Sagara Yoshiharu was unable to obtain all of Nobuna's trust. 

And the essence of it is because she was filled with suspicions over Sagara Yoshiharu's pervertedness. 

Though she feels that it might be a little childish, but Senchiyo had decided to attack here. 

"Yamanaka Shikanosuke was a vagrant who once served the Amago clan. Her beauty had been known as the no 1 beauty of Amago as she had always been fighting for the sake of reviving the Amago clan. And, Yamanaka Shikanosuke.... Her breasts are much bigger than Hime-sama." 

"Br....Breasts!?" 

It's effective. 

Though I don't know why, but it's effective! 

"Sagara Yoshiharu had agreed that as long as Yamanaka Shikanosuke use her body in exchange for his help to obtain Izumo and Shikanosuke had also agreed to become Sagara Yoshiharu's wife. From then on, the both of them had been immersed over each other's body." 

"....Th....Tha.... That Saru....!" 

"After having her breasts touched by that uncouth monkey, for some reason Yamanaka Shikanosuke had an enjoyable expression on her face. And the fact that Sagara Yoshiharu is a lecher is already a well known fact." 

"Du....During the time that I had been sobbing over the fact that I had killed Shojyomaru by accident, that fellow actually brought a woman back to camp and ru....rubs her breast....!" 

Senchiyo shouted out in her heart (Damn it...) 

The eyes of Oda Nobuna who should be in depressed had somehow started to emit sparks of anger. 

Her whole body was exuding scary vibes. 

Damn, that strike just now had an opposite effect! 

Should I have continued elaborating on the revolt of Matsunaga Hisahide? 

Not serving Nobuna long enough, Senchiyo did not have a complete grasp of her complicated emotions. 

"Please wait, Hime-sama! Rather than Sagara Yoshiharu, please do something about Matsunaga Hisahide's revolt! According to reports, Matsunaga Hisahide had already moved out towards Kyoto! If we can't even hold on to Kyoto, the anti-Nobuna forces will definitely be roused up. Please give the order to attack!" 

"But... right now I only have a few aides and small amounts of bodyguards. Such a tiny amount of manpower isn't enough for battle." 

"But Matsunaga Hisahide does not have any intention to show mercy, and if we ran away from here, we will be ridiculed by everyone." 

"......" 

Nobuna had seemingly lose any motivation to live on. 

Her reason is telling her to bear the ridicule and live on... 

But after betraying Yoshiharu and Kanbei, I had been abandoned by Danjo. I had lost the right to be the ruler of men now, right? 

When Yoshiharu had attacked both Juubei and me in that tea room, that lecherous behavior of him had been exposed. 

"....I can never get it, huh?" 

Nobuna finally discovered the fatal weakness buried deep in her heart. 

(Being despised by Mother, there's a huge hole in my heart that I can never fill. There might be a time that I will do cruel things that even I myself don't believe.) 

It's enough already. 

I had lost Danjo, lost Yoshiharu and lost Harima. I betrayed others and had been betrayed by others too... It's enough already, a thing like the world.... 

A thing like the world, I should give it to Juubei who is luckier than me and had grown up basking in her mother's love.... 

Just when Nobuna is about to say the line that gives up everything, suddenly..... 

"Oh~ hohohoho! To actually dare block my path, what a bunch of rude aides!" 

Someone that no one expected suddenly budged into Nobuna's bedroom. 

"You will disturb the princess." 

"Please return." 

"You can't go in." 

Though the aides tried their best trying to stop her, they were all kicked off by elegant kicks. 

"Oh~ Hohoho! Nobuna, how's your body? This Seii taishogun Imagawa Yoshimoto had personally come to see you! Ima! Gawa! Yoshi! Moto!" 

Correct. 

This unexpected person is the current shogun puppet, Imagawa Yoshimoto. 

The multiple lines of defense that Senchiyo had spent her time devising had all been forcefully trespassed by Yoshimoto's elegant kicks. 

Looking at this, even Senchiyo can't help but let out a lament. 

"Just what did you come here for?" 

"Who are you? I'm here to talk to Nobuna." 

"Ehhh, it's just a little more.... No one called for you, hurry and go back!" 

"That can't do." 

With a thud, Imagawa Yoshimoto's feet landed right in the abdomen of Senchiyo who was charging over. 

"Imagawa style, secret technique of soccer, "Dancing wind of the white bird", there's still much for you to learn, aide." 

Uwahh, with a lament, Senchiyo's whole body twisted as her head landed on the tatami mat. 

Nobuna was shocked by what happened in front of her. 

"Yo...Yo...Yo...You....You.... What are you doing here? I did not call you." 

"Even so, when the biggest thing in history is happening, I will appear since I'm the Seii Taishogun." 

Seeing Yoshimoto opening up her fan and laughing loudly, Nobuna can't help but stood up and shout... 

"....Everything is already over! The real shogun is back, everyone are thinking that it's me who burn Kamigyo! Saru had cheated on me and I had even ordered Saru to execute Kanbei's younger sister! I had become a true demon lord of the sixth realm! I'm alone already!" 

At the same time she was shouting loudly, tears were pouring out again. 

"It's obvious that Danjo would abandon me! Tenka Fubu is finished already!" 

But Yoshimoto was still "Oh~ Hohoho" laughed loudly. 

"Well well, just because you did not come out of Honnou temple at all, I had personally came to visit you. I did not expect that great Nobuna-sama to actually wish to give up the quest of Tenka Fubu?" 

"I already said, I had betrayed my companions and been abandoned by them! Walking the path of the demon lord by myself is something that I can't bear!" 

PIAK!!!!!! 

Nobuna's vision was violently shift to the side all of a sudden. 

After half a second of delay, she then discovered that she had been slapped by Yoshimoto. 

"....!?" 

"Nobuna? When did you become so weak? Where did the you who was so gallant in the Battle of Okehazama go to?" 

Yoshimoto was furious. 

"During that time, you were misunderstood by almost everyone, and ridiculed like an idiot. But even so, you had only been moving forwards the path that you firmly believed in, that's what a true hero is! And now just when you've achieved something, why are you shutting yourself in a room and crying non-stop like a coward!? Are you the Oda Nobuna that I had acknowledged?" 

"....Yoshimoto" 

"How could you.... You are the one who defeated me! Then replacing Imagawa Yoshimoto to unify the world is your inescapable fate. Use your hands and courage to achieve it! You had once defeated I who lead a huge army under unfavorable terms! But now you...." 

Nobuna feels her eyes starting to regain strength. 

"I will never agree to a thing like surrendering before even fighting, I will never acknowledge it!" 

Yes... 

I had always been charging at the forefront of the troops. 

Even if no one understands me... 

Ever since meeting Yoshiharu, understanding each other and having the love Dousan and Danjo poured on me like I'm their daughter, I had lost the composure of the "Fool of Owari". 

(I wish for Yoshiharu and Danjo's love with all my heart but after knowing the feeling of being loved, I had forgotten the principle of "Forging my own fate with my own will.") 

Ever since that fire of Kamigyo, Nobuna who was lost was finally revived at this moment. 

She had gotten back the real her. 

But there's only one thing... 

Only one thing that she can't forgive herself no matter what. 

"I've betrayed Saru, during the time I fainted, I had given the order to execute Shojyomaru, only this..." 

This is the only wound that can't be healed in Nobuna's heart. Upon thinking here, she once again had the urge to give up on herself. 

But Yoshimoto "Oh~ Hohoho" laughed instead. 

"Though Sagara Yoshiharu has a monkey face, he was the best man in the world that even I acknowledged! How can he accept such a dumb order silently!?" 

"!?" 

"That man will never kill girls! Nobuna, is that your extent of trust towards him!?" 

"....But..." 

"Sagara Yoshiharu is the world's biggest lecher who can't even abandon me who was the enemy of the Oda clan! So even though it's still a small girl, he will definitely save her!" 

"....Yeah....!" 

Yeah... 

If my order was a mistake, Yoshiharu will never obey it. 

And there's also Takenaka Hanbei beside Yoshiharu. 

Those two will never obediently execute Shojyomaru. 

"Why did I feel troubled, I believe in Saru... Believe in Yoshiharu!" 

"Yeah, that man would definitely trust you and had long since discovered that there's something amiss in that order." 

"Yeah! You're right!" 

From god knows when, I had become fearful over losing Yoshiharu's love. 

And so, I misunderstood, 

and become suspicious, 

as well as being passive and weak. 

But as expected, I should obtain everything with my own hands. 

Whether if it's the world, or Yoshiharu... 

And Matsunaga Hisahide's heart, I will definitely show you that I will get it back! 

The shadows clouding Nobuna's heart all this while was scattered at this moment. 

"A life of 20 years..." 

She started to sing the Atsumori softly. 

This part of the Atsumori was sung before she headed out to battle with Imagawa Yoshimoto at Okehazama. 

A life of 20 years, 

Compared to the age of the world, 

It is fleeting like a dream. 

Is there anything, 

That lasts forever. 

Hanging on her waist the tiger skin and calabash, 

Nobuna changed to the attire while she led Inuchiyo and the rest in the city and walked out of the bedroom. 

"That's the way, Nobuna. Lead the aides and guards to battle it out with Matsunaga Hisahide!" 

"....Yoshimoto, I won't thank you, but instead, I will build a Nijou castle for you." 

"If so, I won't thank you for that too. As a shogun, having a castle for herself goes without saying, oh ~hohohoho" 

"I'm going out to battle Danjo now, are you joining as shogun?" 

"Uhh, ow ow ouch... I'm actually ill... and going back to Nijou castle now." 

"Oi~!" 

Like the wind, Yoshimoto ran down the walkway in an instant and with a blink of an eye, she had disappeared. 

After saying such things, she still hate fighting? Even Nobuna was shocked by this scene. 

"Give me a horse!" 

While walking forward, Nobuna gave the order to attack. 

"Hi...Hime-sama, please wait." 

"Senchiyo! Go and gather all of the aides and guards! I'm going out to face Danjo!" 

"Ro...Roger." 

"Where's the army of Danjo right now? Have they entered Kyoto?" 

"No...Not yet. Matsunaga Hisahide is fighting with the monks of Koufuku temple at Nara. Unexpectedly, it has been going on for quite a long time." 

"Eh? Koufuku temple?" 

Weird, if they had ignored the monks, invade Kyoto and assault Honnou temple right away, I would have died instantly but why.... 

Nobuna have no feelings of hatred or anger towards Matsunaga Hisahide. 

Even now, she admires her like her own mother. 

That smiling face filled with love and her dangerous maternal side of her that uses poison to drug her just because she had put in too much feelings are all ways that she shows her love. 

She did not forget the gratitude of being saved by Danjo during the retreat of Kanegasaki. 

But why did she betray me, I must ask her the reason myself. 

If it's because I do not have the capacity to be the ruler of men, I will prove to her that that's wrong. 

For now, I must face Danjo on the battle. 

"Manmi Senchiyo, since you suggested this battle, you will be the vanguard!" 

"Eh? But I don't have any experience in actual combat, a heavy responsibility like the vanguard, I'm afraid..." 

"No arguing! I will be standing at the forefront of the troops together with you, battle with me!" 

"....Ye....yes." 

"If you have any military talents, I will raise you to be a commander." 

Nobuna's spirit had fully recovered by now. 

Though Senchiyo had made various small actions in secret, the main force that confused Nobuna to that extent was actually the miasma released by the evil spirit at Kamigyo. 

If that spirit controlled by Tsuchimikado released the miasma once again to Nobuna, it might go their way again but that's beyond what Senchiyo can control. 

And once one was tainted by that miasma, recovery wasn't easy at all. 

Both the mind and body should have been slowly tainted. 

But who could have thought that Oda Nobuna was able to revive completely in such a short amount of time, this was far beyond what Senchiyo had predicted. 

The mental strength of those with the talent to be the ruler of men are truly frightening. If I've known this from the beginning, I will have ignored master's order of "Don't try assassinating, destroy Oda Nobuna's mind slowly instead." and kill her myself when she's in a coma. 

But now, it's too late to cry over spilled milk. 

Oda Nobuna's mental strength and her luck are abnormal. 

I might fail too if I had tried assassinating her then. 

Senchiyo decided in her heart (I can only treat this battle as a chance for the Oda clan to kill each other.) 

"Roger, I Manmi Senichyo will risk her life to contribute for the Oda clan." 

"That's the way." 

And so, a small amount of troops started to move out from Honnou temple. 

"The destination is Yamato, Nara!" 

Changing back to the attire of the "fool", Nobuna moved at the head of the troops while Senchiyo and the rest of the aides moved in a hurry behind her. 

Moving from Kyoto to Nara needs less than a day. 

And that's why Nobuna can't understand why did Matsunaga Hisahide waste her time by fighting with the monks and giving up the chance to kill her. 

But at the same time, this give rise to an opportunity to forgive Matsunaga Hisahide. 

Hisahide and Dousan was once a pair of lovers. 

But due to the huge gap of their age, I had been suspecting whether "Dousan was a lolicon" 

From her heart, Nobuna did not wish to kill Matsunaga Hisahide. 

But the spies that Konoe Sakihisa had put by Nobuna's side wasn't just Manmi Senchiyo herself. 

Like the wind, after they passed through Mount Inari, they reached the huge lake connecting Kyoto and Yamato. From the depths of the lake, a huge black shadow rushed out to attack them. 

The horse instinctively felt fear and won't move no matter how their masters urge them. 

Nobuna and the aides had no choice but to stop. 

"You.....!" 

Correct. 

This huge shadow that emerge from the depths of the lake was the same spirit that infected Nobuna with it's miasma at the fire of Kamigyo. 

But at that time, the spirit was just a translucent shadow. 

It can't let out any sound too. 

But now, it have an alien-like body formed by blood red muscles. 

There's no face, nor anything that can be called skin. 

Both it's eyeballs and the nerves on it's face are bulging out. 

It's voice was very similar to a human too. 

A voice very close to a young man. 

Somehow, it was filled with sadness, and at the same time, a voice filled with hatred. 

"I didn't expect that you could stand again after you were infected by my miasma, Nobuna. Was my miasma not enough?" 

(I seem to have heard this voice somewhere) Nobuna noticed this. 

While hugging the horse tightly to soothe it's uneasiness, Senchiyo who was behind Nobuna laughed in her heart, (The spirit had mutated! You won't be able to win it with such a puny amount of soldiers, you Oda Nobuna! Be infected by it's miasma again and die.) 

Takenaka Hanbei, the Onmyouji who was well-versed in defeating demons and spirits wasn't here. 

Even if their opponent is a monster, Shibata Katsuie and Niwa Nagahide who can continue to fight without losing their calm weren't here too. 

Though he was always running his tongue off, Sagara Yoshiharu who will always find some strange way to get all of us out in a crisis wasn't here too. 

The opponent wasn't a samurai and not even a human. There is no way of knowing how to defeat it. 

But I was caught unaware by it in Kamigyo. 

I won't lose to it again. 

A spirit who had forgotten what it is...! 

I will definitely surpass you! 

Leaving the trembling aides behind, Nobuna charged right at the spirit. 

"DON'T DISTURB ME! I'M GOING TO MEET WITH DANJO RIGHT NOW!" 

The spirit started crying, 

"Oda Nobuna! I'm going to pull you into the darkness where not shred of light exist, together with your heart....."