The Oda Clans internal rebellion

In order to prevent further intensification of the stand off between Nobuna

and her younger brother, Nobukatsu, Inuchiyo absconded from Kiyosu.

However, even then, they weren't able to stop the internal rebellion of the

Oda clan.

Just three days after Inuchiyo absconded, Nobukatsu's chief retainer,

Shibata Katsuie visited Nobuna at Kiyosu castle and gave a melancholic

sigh.

Shibata Katsuie, nickname 'Riku'.

From a young age she was known as the strongest fierce general of Owari, a

girl commander who if given a spear, shows a prowess of being invincible

in the whole of Japan.

However, because she has a straight forward personality, she wasn't able to

have a sense for difficult things like politics or the like.

God doesn't bestow two gifts; she was the representative chosen.

While her position is that of Nobukatsu's chief retainer, Katsuie was

Nobuna's fan from way back.

Although her blunt, poisoned tongued and her quirky and eccentric actions

stand out, there had been rare occasions before her father, Nobuhide, died

when Nobuna let out a sigh while showing a lovely smile inadvertently.

Nobuna doesn't just have pretty looks, she also has cute expressions which

makes you want to adore her while playing with her cheeks.

However, after losing the one who understood her the most, Nobuhide, she

obstinately closed off her heart, made her tongue sharper and started getting

irritated and displeased with her retainers.

That's why, the people around him became arrogant and thought to

themselves "If it's about sociability, wouldn't our Lord who has established

opinion about him as well be better?" and started to plan a rebellion.

Katsuie always wanted to completely remove the friction between Nobuna

and Nobukatsu...but although she thinks that, she doesn't know what she

should do to accomplish that.

This time as well because Inuchiyo, Nobuna's page, had cut down

Nobukatsu's page, once again Nobukatsu and the young samurai around

him, having not learnt from their mistakes, planned a rebellion saying "This

time for sure, let's chase out that foolish daughter of Owari".

Katsuie shouted at Nobukatsu and the people surrounding him countless

times to make them desist but, it was of no use.

Conversely, the people surrounding him said:

"Katsuie-dono, didn't you more or less run back here without fighting in the

battle with Nobuna-dono before?"

"The best spear wielder of Owari was a lie, huh."

"Could it be you had an understanding with Nobuna."

It was the cleaning up of the blame.

(I can't draw my sword against Nobuna-sama. This is troubling, why are

there so many idiots...although I am an idiot as well to not be able to get a

plan to solve this)

Although Katsuie is the chief retainer assigned to Nobukatsu, the lord of

Owari is till the end, Nobuna.

To fight with Nobuna, there's no way she could do that.

Although she says that, there's no way she could give Nobukatsu a death

penalty as well. That too will become an act of rebellion towards the Oda

clan.

For Katsuie who didn't have a personality with an underside, there was no

word such as 'Rebellion' in her dictionary.

It's straightforward loyalty for her.

She's from the warrior class where her ancestors had been fighting

generation after generation for the Oda clan.

Because of that, she thought of the confrontation between the Oda clan

bitterly.

If I cut down all of these stupid people surrounding him, will Nobukatsusama also open his eyes.....since Nobukatsu is easy to be elated, he's just

being used by those who are flattering him.

She'd thought of that. But, if she perpetrated that purge, the small hearted

Nobukatsu would fall into a panic and it seems like it would finally become

something that cannot be undone.

Also, the people surrounding him may be idiots with a narrow outlook, but

they aren't that bad a bunch that they need to be killed.

While she was undecided, Nobukatsu gave the order that made her head

hurt.

"Hey, Katsuie. Could you try having a negotiation with sister by suggesting

her to hand over Inuchiyo? If sister doesn't agree, then it's a battle for sure

this time!"

"Haa~"

That Katsuie is right now in the main citadel of the Kiyosu castle.

There are only 3 people in the room.

Nobuna, and Sagara Yoshiharu serving in replacement of Inuchiyo.

The place is Nobuna's tea room.

Tea ceremony was very popular in the centre of culture, Kyo[40] or Sakai.

Nobuna who was sensitive to fashion had made a personal use tea room in

Kiyosu castle and had started gathering the tea utensils but, with just her

followers seated, she didn't have any intention of following proper

etiquettes or the like. Today too, she was sitting in a cross legged position

on the cushion.

Since if she sat in a seiza[41] posture, her legs would fall asleep.

Today, Nobuna's way of preparing tea, couldn't be called appropriate, but

with the self taught way she had put a large amount of matcha in the bowl

and had poured the seething water into it and stirred it. While it was still

hot, she drank it in one gulp.

Finally, while muttering that her stomach was empty, she started chewing

on the Nagoya specialty, Tebasaki.

Since there are bones in Tebasaki, there's a method to eat it too but Nobuna

was eating it her own way. She stuffed the Tebasaki with the bone in her

cheeks and crunched it in low noise in her mouth, then she spit out the

cleaned bones without flesh skilfully while saying 'Fuu~, no matter when I

eat it, the Nagoya chicken meat, Tebasaki is delicious.'

She really doesn't look like an important female feudal lord.

The person in question herself spouted that, rather than eating it bit by bit, it

was faster to swallow it whole. It's the same reason as a watermelon, it's a

waste of time removing the seeds of it before eating.

Another one not knowing any etiquette, the one called 'Saru', Yoshiharu was

working hard to do a sham of a tea ceremony, but it was still better doing

that.

Although during the time when she was having tea with Saitou Dousan, she

had done it properly. But that was more of a 'putting one's best clothes on',

after all. Yoshiharu gave a sigh.

"You really are haphazard. If you're going to ignore the etiquette of

preparing hot water for tea then don't build a tea ceremony room in the first

place."

"Shut up. Tea is a drink. Isn't it fine drinking drinks while just savouring

them. Rotating your tea cup and saying things like [It's well made] is what

withered old men do, it's not my hobby. While drinking it so slowly, won't

the essential tea cool down."

"Also...if you sit cross legged with that short kimono, I-I can see it."

"No problem. In this tea room, there's no one else except me, Riku and the

pet Saru. There's no man here."

"If you're going to say that, I'll look as much as I can....Gya?"

While he was trying to peek through the gap between her thighs, she threw

the cup with the hot water on his head and he was in agony.

"Hoooooooot."

"That cup is expensive. You'll have to reimburse if it breaks."

"P-Princess. I didn't come with the Saru for playing around."

Katsuie was having cold sweat while gripping the tea cup thinking on the

proper method of how to drink, she suddenly sprang up saying that.

"That's right. So, what's the matter?"

"Um...that is, I came here regarding the incident with Inuchiyo!"

"...If it's about Inuchiyo, she is absconding. Even I don't know her

whereabouts."

With her cheeks puffed, Nobuna turned her gaze outside of the window.

For Nobuna, Inuchiyo had been accompanying her since childhood like a

dog, her one and only friend and retainer whom she could open up to. No,

she was more like a real younger sister.

Katsuie who knows that, has her head torn apart more and more thinking

what Nobuna's condition would be.

"N-Nobuna-sama, he said to hand over Inuchiyo....otherwise he would rebel

again...is what he..."

"Since he's an idiot, he must have been egged on by those surrounding him

and said that because of that, right? Riku, can't you suppress Nobukatsu?"

Katsuie was prostrating herself.

"M-My humblest apologies! I may be able to brag about not having lost to

anyone on the battlefield but, um, for things like this, the only ways I can

think of are threatening them or cutting them down."

Nobuna gave a sigh.

"Haah. Jeez, sounds like Riku. If you can't suppress Nobukatsu anyways

then, isn't it fine to take my head in the next battlefield."

"T-There's no way I can do that! If I have to take a stand against the

princess, then it would be better to commit seppuku[42]."

Nobuna explained to Yoshiharu that the reason why Nobukatsu loses to her

whenever he rebels is because Riku withdraws without fighting.

"I wonder how you aren't killed by Nobukatsu for that, Katsuie."

"It's because he doesn't have any other honest retainer with him. The bunch

of guys around him are all puny young guys, they can't do anything in a

battle. He understands that without Katsuie they have no chance of winning

against me." "It seems like a gathering of second and third-rate guys....those

who don't know their own limits are in fact more troublesome."

"They aren't as troublesome as you though. There is only one retainer in all

of Owari who argues with the feudal warlord. "

Katsuie regretfully drooped her shoulders saying that if possible, she would

have wished to have been born as Nobuna-sama's direct retainer.

That's right. If it's under Nobukatsu, your prowess is like pearls before

swine, lamented Nobuna.

"Then, Nobuna-sama. Are you saying that no matter what, you won't hand

over Inuchiyo..."

"I can't hand over something which isn't there."

"Then, once again there will be an internal strife..."

"If he continues to provoke me any further, I will confront him face to face.

Tell that to Nobukatsu, Katsuie."

"W-What?"

"If he rebels against me the next time, no matter how much mother appeals

for his life, I will kill him. Convey that to him."

"T-That is-"

"Suruga's lord, Imagawa Yoshimoto has full-fledgedly started preparing for

the march to the capital. If Yoshimoto starts moving, the first to be invaded

would be us. I don't have the luxury to worry about internal strifes in

Owari."

"U-U-Uh....that would be the fall of the Oda clan...!"

Katsuie had completely fallen into panic.

As if thinking that she was an idiot for not knowing what to say in

situations like this, she started hitting her head.

"Also, I have had enough of looking after that troublesome little brother!

Whose fault was it that Inuchiyo had to run away? Wasn't it because he

firstly meddled with Inuchiyo?"

"However, princess, Nobukatsu is the one and only little brother who is

connected by blood with you."

"It's fine. In this world of the Warring States, I don't need a younger brother

who keeps on causing trouble."

Muttering that bluntly, Nobuna's white cheeks were really strained.

"Ah geez, the tea's gone bad."

With a voice that meant that she could burst out in anger any second, she

drank the thick tea in the bowl in one gulp.

Yoshiharu said, "Hey, are you really going to abandon Nobukatsu? He's an

idiot but he ain't that bad a guy. Besides, he's like a younger version of you

appearance wise."

"A princess feudal lord like me, you know is"

"Hm?"

"Even if we get defeated in battle, if we let down our hair and abandon all

claims to our house, we will be forgiven. That is what I was taught.

However, men are different. Even if they surrender, if they're not forgiven,

their heads will fall. Furthermore, if you look at it from Imagawa's

perspective who's full of talent, Nobukatsu isn't military commander

material, who she would want to take in as a retainer. Besides he habitually

rebels."

With displeasure clearly visible, the sight of Nobuna muttering that was,

unusually weak.

"That's why no matter what way, a person of his calibre will not be able to

survive in the Warring States world. Even if I hand the country over to him,

the result will be the same. No, it would be worse since this Owari province

would be destroyed."

However, Nobuna raised her head.

"If Riku isn't there, my plan to conquer Japan will fall apart. There's no

stronger military commander than you, in this province of weakling soldiers

of Owari. One of us will have to go, Nobukatsu."

"But, princess!"

"Riku. Right now, if there is a battle in Owari, both sides would be trampled

by Imagawa in no time. If you believe this Nobuna to be the Lord of Owari,

lure out and capture Nobukatsu at once. That is for Owari, for its people and

for conquering Japan."

"....B-By your will."

"You don't have to be pained by it. My eyes are always looking ahead, 10

years ahead, 100 years ahead. Even if no one understands, I have

confidence. If you feel pained by it, then instead of praying the Buddhist

prayer, pray 'It is for all the people in Japan.'. It's fine for me alone to bear

all the sins."

That expression was with resolution, and her eyes showing resolve.

Katsuie lowered her head without thinking.

I don't understand complicated stuff, however----

She is definitely not a fool. Her body understood that this person is indeed

the Lord of Owari.

And also, Yoshiharu kept on staring at that face of Nobuna from the side.

===============================

At Nobukatsu's castle.

"A-Are you going to betray me, Katsuieeee? Wait, please wait!"

"M-M-My deepest apologies!"

Within 3 seconds, Katsuie had controlled Nobukatsu and the surrounding

guys and had captured them

Nobukatsu had come humming "So how was my sister's reply?", was

captured by the wrist by her. Seeing him unable to move, the surrounding

guys became pale and immediately dropped their swords and spears.

Unfortunately there was not one amongst the retainers around him who had

enough courage to try to take on Katsuie.

"This is her highness' wishes, Nobukatsu-sama!"

"Y-You mean that my sister ordered my arrest?"

"Even if it means to put my life at stake, I will petition to spare your life

Nobukatsu-sama, so please come with me to Kiyosu castle."

"No waaaay, I don't want to dieeeee! Someone, help me!"

It's impossible, we cannot win against Katsuie-dono.

There's no other way left but to put our heads together and beg of Nobunasama for forgiveness.

That sort of weak opinion was the only thing that could come out.

That sudden surrender instead made Katsuie feel dejected.

(I am sooo stupid! There was no way this bunch could ever be on par with

Nobuna-sama! Not to mention that them fighting against Imagawa is

impossible. They will be turned into dust with one hit! If the chief retainer,

I, had made a decision faster---)

Having captured Nobukatsu and the rest, she resolved herself that even if it

meant her own life, she would at least save Nobukatsu. With that resolve

she headed back for Kiyosu castle.

At Kiyosu Castle.

Katsuie returned with a white attire on.

She started reporting about the developments to Nobuna who was sitting on

the chief seat with an unpleasant look on her face and eating the speciality

of Nagoya, Tebasaki.

Sitting beside Katsuie was Nobukatsu, in tears and trembling.

Sitting in a row on both the left and right of Katsuie and Nobukatsu, the

chief vassals of the Oda clan were whispering to each other:

(There's no chance of Nobukatsu-dono being saved any more)

(Nobuna-sama will finally make her decision too)

While talking fast like that, they were sending gazes of pity toward

Nobukatsu.

"Uwaaah, I am being pitied by everyone? Someone, please plead for my

life, it's my honest request~~"

"Leave it to me, Katsuie."

Katsuie once again turned to Nobuna.

"Being his chief retainer, Nobukatsu-sama's misconduct is my misconduct

too. I don't understand complex things but, please forgive everyone with

just taking my head here!"

With a highly refreshing voice, she declared that.

It seems she was prepared for giving her life since the moment she was

ordered to capture Nobukatsu.

However, Nobuna cannot approve it.

"Katsuie. There's no way we can win without you. Didn't I say it before? If

we calculate the gains and losses of the decision, it is already decided that it

should be Nobukatsu who should die."

"Uwaaah? Sister, I won't oppose you any more, so please forgive me! My

eyes have opened! The fool was me, who kept on thinking of my small

dream of making the Nagoya speciality, Uirou popular across Japan and

revolting against you everytime. Sisteeeeer"

Having awoken from his ambitions, Nobukatsu begged for his life.

"I don't want to die! However, please don't kill Katsuie, she hasn't ever

opposed you, not even once! But I don't want to die too."

Which one does he want, while thinking like that in the lowest, Yoshiharu

grabbed his head.

"I have made my decision. From today on, Riku will be serving under me as

a substitute for my chief-retainer. The group serving Nobukatsu shall be

exiled. And Nobukatsu shall commit Seppuku here."

"Seppuku? That sort of painful way of death is impossible, I can't do that,

big sis!"

"I see. If you are going to refuse, I will just have to personally behead you."

Nobuna took the sword from the page and stood up, and descended to the

level where Nobukatsu was sitting.

"Princess, Nobukatsu-sama is your real younger brother. Please forgive

him."

"Silence, Riku! If I can't even suppress one rebellion within my own clan,

there's no way I can proclaim conquering Japan, right? The rest too, listen

well! From now on, if there's anyone who opposes me, regardless if they are

my family, I will kill them! I will throw away my emotions, and will

become the sixth devil king. That is for the sake of conquering Japan, and

for the sake of our people!"

The foolish Nobuna's appearance has already disappeared.

The current Nobuna looked like she had changed into an unmatched beauty

with a gaze so sharp that it gave one the shivers.

In that hand of hers was a large sword.

Nobuna threw her emotions, and had become the Goddess of War herself

fighting for conquering Japan.

Someone muttered that she looked like the Buddhist God of War,

Marishiten.

So beautiful, so divine, and also, so dreadful.

It was like there was no one who could oppose her.

The retainers had bowed their heads and were trembling, Yoshiharu who

was in the lowest seat stood up.

"Wait, Nobuna. Don't go on killing your own younger brother."

"I....Idiot! Saru, even you will be beheaded!" Katsuie let out a voice which

sounded like a shriek.

However, Yoshiharu was thinking that since he came by some mistake to

the Warring States Era, even if he dies, this era would be like how it was

supposed to be.

Also, he couldn't stay put.

Nobuna's appearance right now was turning exactly into the image he had

seen in Warring State games and dramas "The cold hearted and cruel devil,

Oda Nobunaga."

With no reason, he thought that he didn't want that.

Nobuna and he started staring at each other from a close distance which

looked as if their noses were touching.

However, she wasn't the usual her.

It was Nobuna who was changing into the devil of the Warring States.

Katsuie was thinking about the nerves of steel of this Saru, and wondered if

he could really be an unbelievable guy, or a run of the mill idiot, doubting

her own eyes.

"You really opposed me. You will die here anyways, Saru. If you have

anything to say, say it now."

"Alright, I will speak my mind! If you turn into a devil and kill Nobukatsu

here, you will continue on to kill and kill and kill the ones around you who

are close to you, and continue to spend the rest of your life like a devil! Are

you fine with that?"

"That's right. I said I am fine with that, right? It's for the sake of all the

people of this nation! As long as my retainers don't faithfully follow my

orders, the dream of uniting Japan is impossible, you know? Since they are

all fools who can't understand what I say anyways, they just have to stay

quiet and listen to what I say! I don't need a younger brother who will

oppose me!"

"Shut up! 'Conquering Japan', my foot, you stupid woman."

"W-What?"

The retainers started stirring.

There remains no way that Saru can be saved!

"You got it!? If I forgive Nobukatsu since he's my kin, it will be unfair to

those soldiers, people who died in the battlefield. Although a person may be

a samurai or a farmer, or a townsfolk, everyone's equal. If I can protect the

lives of the citizens of Owari by killing him then it will be a gain for

everyone. Am I wrong?"

"That's why your brain is too good! No one can follow you! Besides, the

hearts of humans are not just made of logic!"

"Huh? What's that, do you want to put off the issue at hand?"

"Do you hate your brother so much that you want to kill him? That's not it,

right? It's because you didn't want to plunge your weak little brother into

this chaotic world that you succeeded your family on your own, right? Even

then, killing him with your own hands is like mistaking the cause for the

end!"

"S-Saru! You rebutted me just for the sake of saying that? How cheap of

you!"

"Like it's cheap! I don't want to make you into a frightening guy like a

devil! I want you to stay the way you were when you were happily spinning

the globe with your hands."

Instead of swinging the sword down, she punched Yoshiharu in the cheek

with her free hand.

Blood started running down from Yoshiharu's nose.

"Shut up, shut up! Idiot, idiot, idiot! Even though you are just a monkey!

Then what do you want me to do?"

"Forget about conquering Japan for now! This is a problem of your family!

It's fine for you to become honest with yourself! What do you really want to

do to Nobukatsu?"

"...Isn't it obvious I don't want to kill him! There's no way that there's a

girl who wants to kill her own younger brother! Don't make me say

everything, idiot!"

On Nobuna's cheeks, finally a single line of transparent tear was trickling

down.

"Sister!", crouching at Nobuna's feet, Nobukatsu let that out without

thinking.

"Then, isn't it fine if you say that! You are the lord of Owari! You are the

most important here, right? If you had said that honestly, it would have

finished with that, you really are an un-cute girl."

"W-W-What did you say"

She showed her tears in front of the retainers.

Not to mention, of all things, was scolded by the monkey.

Although Nobuna had decided to act like a devil infront of her retainers

from now on, she became flustered, and got distracted. And also, she had

shouted in a blunt way.

"I-I-I got it! I forgive Nobukatsu!"

Nobuna lowered herself to where Nobukatsu was lying prostrating.

"H-Hmph. Kanjuurou....instead of a sword, I will give you an Uirou."

The page handed over the finely cut Uirou into Nobuna's hands.

"Here, have this. It's your favorite food."

"....Is it alright, sister?"

"It's a sign of reconciliation."

"....T-Thank you for the food...."

Nobukatsu took the Uirou from Nobuna's hands and put it in his mouth.

Before the family was broken up over the battle for inheritance, he almost

everyday had Uirou given to him like this by Nobuna.

Compared to the high class 'Youkan[43]', the Nagoya made Uirou is a dish

for the masses. The sugar is lesser, and it feels refreshing.

Even so, Nobukatsu in his younger days felt it was tastier than any feast

when Nobuna merrily gave him a portion of Uirou while saying "Here,

here, Kanjuurou, I will give you some feed."

The reason Nobukatsu liked it in the first place was ------because his elder

sister gave it from her hands, as a sort of reward to him.

Even so, he has employed ambitious people and flatterers around him, and

started making light of his sister.

He made that elder sister of his, more proud than anyone else, cry in front

of her retainers.

While chewing on the Uirou, Nobukatsu regretted from his heart about how

foolish he had been.

"How is it? Tasty?"

"....It's salty, it's like Mentaiko[44]. Sister"

"Stupid. That's the taste of your tears."

"No. It may be the taste of your tears."

"Hmph. The thing flowing down my eyes is water."

With this, the case of killing Nobukatsu had been settled.

While narrowing her eyes, Nobuna stood up.

"Now then----Saru, insulting me all you could in front of my retainers, I

will cut you down! I will definitely cut you down!"

Yoshiharu gave a yell.

"Alright, cut me, cut me!"

"I will really cut you down without you saying it!"

He dodged it!

".....No, on second thoughts, please stop! You will go straight down the

devil's course if you cut me too....probably.....no, it's not like killing me will

have much of a damage on you, huh?"

"I have no idea what you are saying! Don't use Saru language! You sure

keep mumbling like a monkey....anyways, I am going to cut you down for

being disrespectful!"

"Wait, please wait!"

The chase after his life had begun in front of the retainers.

Nobukatsu was crouched down shedding exaggerated tears, saying 'Big

Sister, please forgive this foolish younger brother'. However, he had no

courage of saving Yoshiharu. Even Katsuie was dumbfounded with

Yoshiharu's courage (or one could say stupidity) of having belittled Nobuna

while she had turned into a devil.

"Goemon, save me! Wait, could she be away? Is it her day off? Isn't her

holidays surprisingly too many?"

"How dare you make me cry, you are too cheeky for a monkey! Die!"

"Well well. Both the princess, and Saru-dono too, please keep it at that."

The retainer with enough courage to finally restrain the two's endless chase

was Nobuna's military commander who rose the ranks from a page, Niwa

Nagahide.

In continuation with the substitution, young military commanders were

large in number. Nagahide who had been a page till just a while back was

only 20 years old. She was like an elder sister to Nobuna.

However, the air drifting about her was not that of an adult's, but if asked, it

was more like a 'class committee president sort of elder sister like feel', a

person who seemed like she had a friendly smile.

Normally, Nagahide has a gentle personality where she rarely interferes in

Nobuna's affairs but, if it went on like this, there was a chance that

Yoshiharu might really be cut down in their playfulness. Hence, she stood

up.

"If Nobukatsu-dono swears loyalty to the princess, that's 80 points. Isn't it

fine with that?"

"No, Manchiyo (Nagahide's nickname). If no one gets punished, the

retainers won't understand."

While putting power into the swung down sword, Nobuna's expression

became sour.

By the way, their battle was in a stalemate since the moment when

Yoshiharu had in seriousness grabbed the swung down naked sword above

his head.

"That person is of a lowly status, not to mention he's your pet monkey.

More than that, finishing things up with Nobukatsu-dono is more

important."

The elder sister like Nagahide with an unreserved healing smile suppressed

Nobuna's anger.

Yoshiharu was moved by how dependable a person she was.

"Hmph. Then Manchiyo, how do you plan on finishing this case?"

"Let's see..."

It was the first time in his life he had seen that blunt, poison tongued and

brutal elder sister shed tears for him. He was deeply moved. He decided that

from now on he would be reborn and would work to serve his elder sister.

Having decided that, Nobukatsu prostrated at the two's feet, and displayed

an unusual side different from his normal smartass attitude.

"Sister. If you are going to forgive me, I won't be influenced by the bunch

surrounding me ever again. I will proudly throw away my Oda surname!

From now on, I will take the surname of the branch family, 'Tsuda'!"

".....That's a good idea, Nobukatsu-dono. 90 points."

"Furthermore, I will change my name as well! The reason I got so feverous

over trying to win and win against my elder sister is because this name

'Nobukatsu' brings bad vibes with it! From now on, I will serve my sister

with a completely clear heart, like the flow of the Kiso river. That's why I

will take on the name of Nobusumi[45]!

".....That may have been stretching the flattery too far. 3 points."

Yoshiharu thought to himself that it really was in the spur of the moment,

just like Nobukatsu.

"H-Hmph. Well, it's fine. Then, from now on you are Nobusumi Tsuda,

Kanjuurou."

Kanjuurou is Nobukatsu's childhood nickname.

"Thank you very much, sister!"

Having been called once more by that name by his elder sister, Nobukatsu--

--no, Nobusumi was happy.

"D-Don't get ahead of yourself! If you oppose me once more, no matter

what anyone says, I will kill you!"

"I won't oppose you ever! I won't ever forget the love I received from you!

If it's for you, I will even die!"

".....Gross.....! G-Get trained as a military commander under Katsuie for

some time! You are too weak as of now and won't be of any use!"

"By your will!"

In order for Oda Nobukatsu, now called Tsuda Nobusumi to serve as a

military commander under Nobuna in the future, he had become a

subordinate of Katsuie.

The bunch around Nobusumi who had stirred many rebellions would be for

some time placed in house arrest, and after arrangements of their transfer,

will be transferred away from Nobusumi to other jobs.

And so, the incident of Nobukatsu had been settled.

With the tension gone, Katsuie let out a long sigh, Niwa Nagahide

proclaimed with a smile "With this the case has been settled, 93 points."

She gazed at the sight of Nobuna trying to hide her embarrassment by

kicking her younger brother.

By the way, Yoshiharu had been forgotten in between, and was still in the

pose of seriously trying to stop the sword that Nobuna had swung down

with his bare hands and saying "It still isn't settled! Someone, take the

sword away from Nobuna's hands~"

Even though she was kicking her younger brother with her feet, she would

not let go of the sword that was in her hands to punish Saru.

===========

That night, Yoshiharu returned to the five leaf aralia tenement, and started

picking out the leaves from the hedge on his own.

The hedge was more or less gone but there was still barely around 1 cup

soup's worth of leaves left.

However, there was no sign of Inuchiyo in the Maeda house next door

which was now clearly visible with the hedge gone.

Yoshiharu thought 'What could she be doing right now....we have to hurry

up and inform her that the clan's internal rebellion issue has been settled.'

"Damn, it seems I am going to become homesick. It's lonely without

Inuchiyo here~"

He howled into the night sky 'Goemon, hurry up and bring back Inuchiyo!'.

However, there was no reply. It seems that Goemon is out of Kiyosu due to

some other work.

"Well, taking care of her followers as well, she sure is a busy one.....she

may be collecting information about other countries."

Giving up and returning to his room, there were visitors who had entered

his room.

Firstly, there was Nene of the Asano house opposite to his, who had come

after finishing the business.

"Saru-sama! I heard you admonished the princess this time! No matter how

many lives you have, it won't be sufficient at this rate!"

While scolding Yoshiharu, she was taking out the boiling soup with a ladle

from the pot.

"Saru, you are way too disrespectful towards Nobuna-sama! I-In reality I

really want to behead you but I will overlook it this time only."

Even Katsuie who had a different social status had come over here.

She was in a rare Yukata appearance.

For a moment, Yoshiharu started staring at her bountiful breasts floating on

her tensed body. The next moment he knew it, he had received a straight hit

on his face from an enraged Katsuie with all her might.

Using his natural talent, he barely managed to twist his neck and let the

damage subside, but there was no doubt he had received shock in his skull

as well and hence Yoshiharu was shaking.

"Hey, Saru-kun. I bought the Nagoya speciality 'Uirou' as thanks for today.

Be thankful, hahaha."

And, not even having been called, and with no intention of ever calling him,

Nobukatsu, or, Nobusumi had dropped by in flashy clothes like a dandy and

was firmly seated on the seat of honour as if it was natural in this scenario.

"Saru-kun, to common people like you it may be a rare sweet but, Uirou is

tasty. It's sweet and melts in your mouth. Furthermore, the aftertaste is

refreshing. I will someday make this Nagoya speciality popular all over

Japan."

An image of Inuchiyo being given Uirou as feed by Nobuna was conjured

in Yoshiharu's mind.

"Uirou, huh....it was Inuchiyo's favourite food....."

"Now, it's time to toast now that the Oda house has become!"

"Huh, Nobusumi? Aren't you still the age of a middle schooler?"

"I didn't change my surname to middle school[46]. I am Tsuda."

".....Well it's fine, it's the Warring States period, after all."

Cheers! Nene said it in a hooraying way.

"D-Don't become arrogant, Saru! Just by becoming close enough with

Nobusumi-sama to have 'Uirou'.....I-If you look at the girls of the Oda

house in an amorous way, I will kill you then and there!"

It seems Katsuie is the only one still left with a grudge against Yoshiharu.

She by mistake, carelessly came in an unlady like Yukata appearance.

Maybe because of that, Yoshiharu's peeks towards her breast feel 10 times

more perverted now. The good opinion formed during the day of him 'Being

a guy who shows unexpected promise' did a complete turn and returned

back to her original opinion with the thoughts 'H-H-He's only staring at my

breasts....Kuuh, he is a monkey after all!"

In the first place, no matter what, his attitude towards Nobuna is too bad.

One can't think of him as a retainer.

After that she had tried recommending to Nobuna "If you can't think of any

way to discipline him, it would be better to just execute him" but Nobuna

replied "If he was a human, I would have executed him but since he's a

monkey coming from the country 'Future' or something, there's no point in

getting angry over him." With those words, she wrapped it up.

That too, was annoying for Katsuie.

(T-That Saru, he's favoured by Nobuna-sama.....! T-That's why he can say

that much and she doesn't get actually angry! More like, if a normal foot

soldier did something like that, there would be no place for arguments and

he would be executed without any questions asked!? Kuuh...It's somewhat

vexing!)

To say in other-words, this would be jealousy of not getting Nobuna's

affection.

"Anyways, if I too was selected as Nobuna-sama's page, I could have been

fed Uirou with a 'Say Ah' from Nobuna-sama's hands everyday by

now.....Ah, I am pissed off, I will drink through tonight! Hey, Nobusumi,

Sake, give me Sake!"

"Eek, Katsuie didn't use honorifics with me? K-Katsuie, your eyes seem

glazed?"

It seems Katsuie is weak to alcohol, and starts picking fights when drunk.

"It pains me to say it but ever since Saru came, Nobuna-sama might have

gotten more cheerful! Ever since her father, Lord Nobuhide's funeral, it felt

like she would crush anyone who dared to approach....doing her obstinate

pretence of a fool, she didn't open her heart to anyone, but to think that she

would shed tears for Nobusumi's sake.....beautiful....they were beautiful

tears.....I-I doubted myself thinking that that Nobuna-sama may actually be

a fool.....idiot! Idiot! The real fool is me, Shibata Katsuie."

"Tears? Wasn't it just some dirt that may have entered her eyes and was

coming out?" Yoshiharu commented. Katsuie smacked him on the head.

At the same time she didn't forget to strangle Nobusumi with her other arm.

"I-I have decided that from now onwards, I will exhaust all the limits of a

servant to work for Nobuna-sama's sake! This is a warrior's pride!

Suddenly, it seems like a path opened in front of my eyes! Kukuku.....at the

very least, if my head was a bit better~"

"Well, it's cause all the nutrients you take go to your breasts."

The drunk Katsuie once again hit the loud mouthed Yoshiharu.

Nene egged Katsuie further by saying "Here, please have some more" and

kept on refilling her cup wth the unrefined sake. Katsuie kept on downing it

in one gulp.

Even while being kicked Yoshiharu thought (Oh! The drunk Katsuie's

voluptuous breasts are a mild shade of pink.....I-I-It's irresistible~). He tried

to control his heavy breathing. In comparison to that, Nobusumi who was

clutched by the neck by the superhuman strength of Katsuie was far from

those sentiments, he could not even breathe properly. Barely being able to

hold his stand, his neck gave a crunching sound.

"Eeek. Forgive me, Katsuie~~"

"S.H.U.T U.P.! It's cause you kept on planning rebellions, even I was going

to get hated by Nobuna-sama for it! No, my trust points are already below

Saru!"

"K-Katsuie, haven't you drank too much? Eeek?"

"Starting tomorrow, I will train you day in and day out! At the very least, be

energetic enough to not die from the practice!"

"Calm down, guys." Nene and Yoshiharu came in between the two and

separated them.

"Saru-kun. We will bear the responsibility of Inuchiyo and call her back, so

rest assured."

"I am counting on you."

"Leave it to me. Saru-kun. I will never forget the things you have done for

me! I will definitely repay the debt, that is what it means to be a noble.

From now, I will act alongside you in battle!"

'What are you saying, if you don't follow the princess' orders and work

under me then I will be in trouble.' Katsuie murmured it like a sulking

woman while having collapsed onto Yoshiharu's thighs.

"Nobusumi. You seem to look really bad in battle though....?"

"I may indeed be weak but the cute girls of all over Owari work for me as

my personal guard unit. Depending upon the situation, they may be very

useful."

"Che. As expected of the younger brother, a handsome guy....damn it, if this

guy flirts with all the girls, I won't be popular?"

"Hahaha. Saru-kun. Be more cheerful. One day, when you are able to

become a human, you may be able to get a girl! Although my personal

guard unit is big with 100 girls in it."

He may want 100 girls in quantity but if that means to compromise in

quantity then he will be satisfied if the most beautiful girl in Japan is with

him. While thinking that and nodding, Nene hits Yoshiharu on the head.

"Geez. For a half human like you, Saru-sama, playing with girls is too

early!"

"Why?"

After that, as if having remembered it, the dead drunk Katsuie brought out

the now completely cold 'Miso Udon', and once again started entangling

with Yoshiharu while blurting 'Take this! You, Saru, are saying that you

can't eat my Miso Udon?"

I am sick of Nagoya specialities! While thinking that, Yoshiharu's cheeks

were stuffed with the cold and stretched Miso Udon.

The night had approached while the 4 were creating a big ruckus.

While Nene and the rest were sleeping soundly, for some reason only

Yoshiharu's mind was clear and he couldn't sleep.

He left the Five Leaf Aralia tenement, and headed towards the inner citadel.

Around this time, Nobuna who had reconciled with Nobusumi must be fast

asleep...N-No, it's not like I am thinking about Nobuna or anything! He

was having such thoughts.

While climbing the hill road, he ran into Nobuna wearing her sleeping

attire.

She was no longer the 'Devil Nobuna' he saw in the day.

She was the usual normal girl with a displeased look on her face.

"Oh. I was going to come for you."

"Me?"

"Come with me."

He was brought into Nobuna's room in the main citadel.

(The two of us alone this late in the night.....?)

It can't be...?

With his chest throbbing due to weird expectations, Yoshiharu entered

Nobuna's room and sat on the lower seat.

Nobuna was gazing at the moon from the porch, while holding the globe

dearly, she murmured something.

For some time, as if having forgotten that she had called Yoshiharu, she

gazed at the moon.

That pure white skin glistening under the moon's light and that ordered face

which appeared from the side, those long eyelashes, that intense look in her

eyes, Yoshiharu just kept staring at her without saying anything.

(As long as she keeps quiet, there may not be anyone as beautiful as her in

the whole of Japan...)

It seems the Oda house has a lineage of beautiful girls and handsome boys.

That's why Nobukatsu's face at least was handsome, but the beauty oozing

out from Nobuna itself is at a completely different level from humanity.

Yoshiharu got curious as to what she could be looking at.

It seems she was singing the lyrics of a Noh song popular that time.

Human, if you compare

That which is beneath the heavens for 20 years

It will become like a dream

The desire of the ones destroyed

Obtaining life once again

Yoshiharu thought to himself "I seem to have heard it before but, 'Human,

comparing for 20 years' seems a pretty short time".

"H-Hey, Nobuna. What was the business you had with me?"

"Hm? Ah, you....were here."

Having come back to her senses abruptly, she returned her gaze to

Yoshiharu.

What's with her pupils, they're sparkling. Such pretty eyes.....B-But, I am

not really charmed by her or anything! This violent uncute girl isn't my

taste! Besides everything is ruined the moment she opens her mouth!

Yoshiharu became serious and murmured this in his heart.

"I was not here by accident! You called me here, right?"

"That's right. You said that you knew that this world is in the form of a

sphere, right? You even knew the location of those barbarian countries."

"Yeah. What about it?"

"I didn't believe your words at all but I started rethinking that they may

actually be true."

"Why is that?"

"Firstly, you were able to guess what the viper was thinking but.....I thought

that may have just been a bluff. That isn't proof of you having come from

the future. But you know."

Nobuna murmured that the location of the barbarian countries that he

pointed out were more or less correct.

"This globe is my treasure. I got this during my childhood from a person

my father brought along, a missionary of the barbarian nations who came

from the port of Tsuda. I learnt a lot from that missionary with the blue

eyes. The fact that Japan is just a tiny island nation on the Earth, the fact

that on that island nation, fellow Japanese were fighting each other, the fact

that science was flourishing in those barbarian nations and they were

inventing a lot of things one after another, such as the Arquebus rifles, the

fact that someday with their strong military strength and economic strength

they would swallow up Japan as well...that the rulers of those countries

desired 'The country of Gold, Jipangu[47]'. It seems there are rulers who

want to make Japan a colony as well."

"Well that's the responsibility of Marco Polo."

"You know, while I was being taught a lot of things by that missionary, I

started thinking that I someday want to make Japan one, and jump out of

Japan and travel around the world. I want to make a strong ship fully made

of steel, board it and cross the 7 seas with it. I want to see it with my own

two eyes, everything of this huge world which the Japanese people haven't

seen. That's why, that person who came from beyond the sea is my starting

point."

That sure sounds like a gentle missionary. Yoshiharu nodded.

"Well, he talked in new language all the time which would make you

shocked. He's dead already though...."

"I see. Sorry."

"For some reason, the people who I fall in love and depend on, all die soon.

My father was the same. It seems the viper is also being pushed around by

the nobles in Mino.....It's because he said that he would hand over the

province to me. He may even die."

Nobuna gave a smile which seemed lonely.

It looked like she wanted to say something different but Yoshiharu can't get

what she wants to say.

"Hey, Saru....you said.....that if I killed Kanjuurou, I would kill someone

else close to me next and continue on like that, right?"

"Ah, yeah."

"I wonder why you can declare it so confidently. There is no way a

thickskulled idiot Saru like you can know my heart."

I wonder why I can't avert my gaze from her eyes.....Yoshiharu started to

realise that his cheeks were becoming redder and redder.

[Why am I being so impatient!] Thinking like that, he tried to once again

regain his spirits and was somehow able to open his mouth.

"T-That is because I came from the future. Trust me."

"Then, you know my future in its entirety? " Nobuna inquired.

"I don't know your future. But, if it's about a certain Warring States Feudal

Lord who really resembles you, I know more or less about him--------after

killing the younger brother who revolted against him, a part of his heart

broke, and lost control of himself. Then----"

Nobuna stopped Yoshiharu from speaking further by sealing his lips.

"You don't have to speak any further than that. If you do, I will kill you."

"Why? If you can know the future, it will be useful, right?"

If she knows her own future, won't the meaning of life with all its joys and

sorrows and laughs and tears go away? Nobuna laughed.

"It isn't your future. I only know the future of a different person who is

exactly like you. Even that is knowledge gained through Games or Manga,

so I only know about major events."

"Even then, if you tell me about the future, I will kill you. I don't want to

feel like I am being controlled by you."

"I see. That may be the case"

Indeed, living like what someone else says is not like her, no matter how

you look at it. Yoshiharu agreed.

"Got it, I won't say it again, so rest in ease."

"My. Don't you think of wanting to control me?"

"I am not of this world. The one who can unite Japan in this world is

Nobuna, only you. That's why, I feel like wanting to place my bets on your

dream. With the extent I can see ahead, if I feel like you are losing your

way, I will secretly manage somehow. I won't let you know about the future

that I know. It's fine with that, right?"

"That's fine. Then let's do the ceremony of being a Lord and retainer

officially." Nobuna said it in a brusque manner.

"I can't keep you as my pet monkey forever. It's time to make you a real

Samurai."

"Ah, that's fine. By ceremony, you mean in the warring states style? How

do you do it?"

"Let's see, the barbarian way of doing it seems cooler and doesn't use Sake.

Here. Kiss my hand swearing your loyalty to me."

She thrusted out her white hand roughly.

Yoshiharu realised [This is....like a knight swearing loyalty to the

princess...right? ]

Yoshiharu thought 'I see, since Nobuna is a princess commander, this fits.'

Even so, I wonder why my heart is pounding so fast.....

"Sagara Yoshiharu. Respect me as your Lord, and swear fealty to me."

"....Y-Yeah. U-Understood....."

He didn't oppose her like usual.

It's the moonlight's fault. In the night, the pale shining of the moon is too

beautiful, and because of that Nobuna is looking like a princess of

someplace.

He kneeled at Nobuna's feet, and pressed his lips on her hand.

Although she gripped swords, her fingers were soft and smooth.

"Do you swear loyalty to me for eternity?"

If he says 'I do', he'll become Nobuna's servant for life.

He tried acting tough by speaking prudently.

"Till the time I find a way to go back, I guess."

Even though there's no way he can know the way back to his previous

world, he tried saying that line.

".....I see. Then it's fine with that. Till then, that is."

He couldn't muster the courage to confirm with his eyes what sort of face

Nobuna was making right now.

"Yeah. I definitely won't betray you. I will make your dream come true."

"If that's the case, if my dream isn't fulfilled no matter how much time

passes, you won't be able to go back."

"Yeah, that's right."

He is nervous grabbing Nobuna's hands. His throat was dry.

"But, Saru. What about you?"

"Eh?"

"What about your dream? I have to reward you for your service

appropriately. I can grant your dream."

My dream.

Um....finding a normal job, having a normal family.....no, that was a modest

dream I had in the previous world.

In this world....in this world....the thing I am aiming for....my dream is.....

He was way too nervous.

Suddenly, the smile of old man Toukichirou came to his mind.

(That's right. I promised to inherit his dream. I want to get promoted

quickly and construct his grave)

"Hey. Saru? Is your dream one which I can fulfill?"

If I am not mistaken, the old man's dream was-----

"T-That was it. My dream is ------to become super super popular with the

ladies! This is the only one!"

"H-Huh?"

"Living as a man in the chaotic world of the Warring States period, I will

feel great with a lot of girls serving me. This is the only one after all!

However, I am a man who may fuss over quantity, but even more on

quality! Just having the numbers doesn't mean it's fine, I want to make the

most beautiful girl in Japan my wife and make out with her!"

...

BAM!

Nobuna withdrew her hand hurriedly and made it into a fist. She then aimed

it at one side of Yoshiharu's face and hit him with all her might.

"Woah? A surprise attack? What the hell are you doing."

"Y-Y-You, of all things to say, what the hell are you spouting? M-M-MMaking the most beautiful girl of Japan your bride?"

Nobuna's whole body was completely pale.

She was frozen

"Why are you getting mad? I just honestly said my dream. How is it, can

you grant it?"

"T-There's no way I can grant that dream! No matter what, yours and my

status is way too different, you know? Gross, seriously gross."

"Eh? W-Wait! I just said the most beautiful girl in Japan, it's not decided

who I was talking about, you know? In the first place, why do I have marry

you?"

"Stop it! If you mention the most beautiful girl in Japan, it's obvious it's me!

How else are you asking me to interpret it?"

"You are too self obsessed! Not to mention, it's growing worse, you know?

Just a while back you were the self proclaimed most beautiful girl in Owari

province, you know?"

Yoshiharu thought. If she's this self obsessed, it will be exciting in a

different way.

"Uwaaaaah, I am getting goosebumps on my whole body? Gross. Look at

this, because of your weird proposal, my jewel like bare skin is covered

with goosebumps."

"You don't have to show it! Your one and only redeeming feature is ruined

in appearance too."

"Oi, oiiii. Just by imagining myself to be Saru's wife and bearing Saru's

child, warm stuff is coming out from my stomach!?"

"You don't have to vomit! My naive ear will be hurt so stop it!"

Yoshiharu cried. At least blush a little! Why are you shaking with such a

strong reaction! Hey, don't act like you are going to puke! Uwaah, I am

seriously hurt!

Crying in unmanly weeping, once again Nobuna's fist came flying at him.

He was able to predict it this time so, he swiftly dodged it.

"Hey, don't run away. Wait and get hit!"

"For the time, reform that overboard self obsession of yours! Where on

earth do you find a beauty calling herself one?"

"Shut up! What's this earthen stone tree[48] that you keep saying, what the

hell is it?"

"Don't get angry without even knowing the meaning! You may be a beauty,

but only in the face! Your personality isn't cute! You are brutal, not

straightforward, selfish, and immediately resort to violence! That's why, if

you look at it from my aesthetic sense, you are no good!"

"Saru....I-I-I won't forgive you....This time, this time for sure I will kill

you!"

"Don't unsheathe your sword for every small thing"

"Hey, wait!"

"Who the hell will wait in such a situation!"

In the end, it became a chase.

It continued from the inner citadel to the third citadel, a late night Saru

pursuit.

If he stopped, it would be instant beheading. Was the Nobuna pursuing him

from behind in order to cut him, actually smiling because she was enjoying

it or actually in seriousness pursuing him wildly? He could not confirm it

that night.

He had his hands full with just running away.