Rout at Mount Hiei

Part 1

Mount Hiei's winter.

Encamped upon the spiritual mountain Mount Hiei, where women

are prohibited, the allied Asai and Asakura forces led by Shougakuin

Gousei launched an assault during the night. They once again

waged a defensive battle, retreating back to Mount Hiei once their

situation turned disadvantageous, but that night they received

unbelievable news from their scouts.

"Oda Nobuna still lives! She has personally taken command of the

Oda army surrounding Mount Hiei, and it looks like they are

preparing to burn the whole mountain!"

Asai Hisamasa refused to believe such a report.

Just the fact that Oda Nobuna still lived was shocking enough, but

to think that she wanted to attack Mount Hiei?

"Im...Impossible... To burn Mount Hiei!? Mount Hiei has close to

800 years of history! It is the most esteemed holy mountain in every

Japanese Buddhist community!! No no, it is a divine pillar that people

have worshiped ever since they believed that Gods live in spiritual

mountains."

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

"Is Oda Nobuna crazy? A woman daring to attack mount Hiei is

already extremely disrespectful, but now she wants to burn Mount

Hiei!?"

Opening up "Tales of Genji" beside him, Asakura Yoshikage

exclaimed, "What a crazed girl." as he stared at the moon

"I admit defeat, Oda Nobuna. As expected from a woman

proclaiming to conquer the world. You are fundamentally different

from the other women of this era."

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

The still composed Asakura Yoshikage sighed, "Oda Nobuna

holds the resolve to battle to the end with us, and we were not

prepared for her determination at all."

"Listen Hisamasa, Mount Hiei's grounds are flat. It's totally unlike

Mount Gifu where one can hold back most any attack. Because we

never expected our enemy to attack, we did not make any

preparations to defend. If she really attacks us, Mount Hiei is too

vulnerable to grant us victory."

Yoshikage continued.

"Our plan has backfired with Oda Nobuna's resolve to ignore

Mount Hiei's prohibition of women... If they really start burning Mount

Hiei, Oda Nobuna will become the enemy of all Japan's Buddhist

communities, and her dream of conquering the world will never be

fulfilled. She must know this, yet deciding to burn Mount Hiei

anyways, this is becoming exciting...."

"Oda Nobuna really wants to burn Mount Hiei, and is preparing to

die with us; is that fellow actually a demon lord? Or is she just a rural

girl with no common sense..... I really want to see her with my own

eyes --no, I must bring her back with me to Ichijodani...." Asakura

Yoshikage's eyes shimmered with an abnormal light as his lips

curled into a sneer.

The cowardly Asai Hisamasa had turned deathly pale.

"Th...Thi...This isn't the time to joke around, Yoshikage-dono. Now

that you mention it, weren't you the one who chose Mount Hiei as

our base? Hurry and do something!"

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

"Hisamasa, we have three options. The first is to initiate the attack,

though it is too late if they start burning. We would have to lead our

whole army to battle with the Oda army, using our speed to bet

everything on the outcome."

"They might have predicted that we will attack once we received

the report of them burning Mount Hiei. If so, they have already

prepared their formation and are waiting for us to fall into the trap

ourselves. Isn't there a more foolproof plan?"

"Arara... You're quite the paranoid coward..." Yoshikage laughed at

Hisamasa before explaining the second plan.

"Our second option is to let the monks of this mountain negotiate

with them, telling them that if they burn Mount Hiei every Buddhist

community will rise against the Oda clan. With this in mind, the

monks will ask to postpone the battle. If Oda Nobuna isn't truly crazy

she is sure to agree to our request, allowing us to retreat back home

with no injuries. At the same time however, the once-surrounded

Oda army will gain a chance to breath and the situation will

stagnate."

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

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

"Seeing that there is no chance to win, you surrender to Oda

Nobuna. You return your position as head back to Nagamasa who

married Oda Nobuna's sister and become a monk. With this, the

Asai clan will escape the fate of total annihilation."

"Surrendering is impossible!" Hisamasa jumped to his feet as

blood rushed to his head.

"T...To let my son Nagamasa become the conqueror of the world.

I've gone so far as to completely betray the Oda clan. Surrendering

is not possible at all, Yoshikage-dono!"

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

"Yoshikage-dono, here we should use the second plan! We can't

wrap Mount Hiei into this because of us; we should stop the battle

and engage with the Oda clan head on later."

Listening to Hisamasa, Tsuchimikado who was sitting at the side

laughed, "Ara ara, the despicable betrayer suddenly wants to be

ethical. Why not just honestly say that you don't wanna die?"

Shougakuin Gousei, though silent all this time, finally declared, "If

that's the case, let me be the missionary to negotiate with the Oda

army! Uwahahahaha! Unclean women wanting to burn Mount Hiei. I,

Gousei will never let you do as you wish. Besides, the very idea of a

truce formed on equal terms makes me sick to my stomach. Just let

me shout, 'Girls, kneel in front of me!' and demand their surrender."

Gousei's words became only more heated as he continued "This

main hall houses the 'Holy Flame' that has been burning for more

than 800 years. We must protect it. I, Gousei will never let those

crazy bitches do as they like. I won't let them burn Mount Hiei!"

"Shoukaguin Gousei, the self-declared enemy of all women, if this

disillusioned and petty guy becomes the missionary... It will really be

interesting if the negotiating of the truce fails." Yoshikage sneered.

Part 2

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

Kyoto, Myoukaku Temple.

Nene tried her best to shake Hanbei awake.

Manase Belchior who prescribed the medicine to Hanbei said, "It's

regrettable, but I think she still needs a few days." and tried to stop

Nene many times, but Nene was not willing to give up.

Now that Yoshiharu and Juubei couldn't return, Nene's last hope

was the genius strategist Hanbei, and she refused to give up.

"Hime-sama woke up, but because of Onii-sama's death she

ordered Mount Hiei burned together with the Asai and Asakura allied

forces in a fit of anger! She won't listen to the advice of her retainers

at all! Now, the only one who could stop Hime-sama is Hanbeidono!" Nene shouted as her hands shook Hanbei's body... She didn't

even notice the tears flowing from her eyes.

"...Uhh...Uhhh... Onii-sama and Akechi-sama can't come back

anymore... Goemon-dono isn't here either... If even Hanbei-dono

doesn't wake up, Nene... Nene doesn't know what else to do

anymore....."

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

And then...

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

Hanbei finally opened her eyes.

"Hanbei-dono! You've woken up!"

The tear stricken Nene hugged Hanbei tightly.

It came true...

Of Nene's countless prayers while she cleansed herself with cold

water, one of them had finally been heard by the heavens.

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

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

going to get bad!"

Behind Nene, there was a heavily built man with a single namban

monocle and a blonde haired sister with a cross hanging on her

chest. The sister explained "After losing both Sagara-sama and

Akechi-sama at the same time, Hime-sama lost her senses. Though

it's just desserts for those monks who are so arrogant to take up

arms and challenge the Oda clan, for the dream of conquering the

world, Hime-sama's plan of burning Mount Hiei is just too reckless!"

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

"I've heard that Mount Hiei holds the highest place of learning in

Buddhism in all of Japan. We can't just burn the valuable treasures

full of knowledge. Even though the monks at Mount Hiei have

forgotten their place and taken up arms, we can just disarm them!"

The sister was Louis Frois, who had permission to build Namban

churches in Kyoto.

The two of them had rushed over after hearing Nobuna's sudden

change, planning to drop by Myoukaku Temple to talk with Sagara

Yoshiharu before going to meet Nobuna. Instead, they learned of

Yoshiharu's death from Nene.

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

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

unconscious!"

The crafty Hanbei instantly understood what had happened and

what may happen in the future.

Whether it was the result of Manase Belchior's treatment or

Nene's prayers that moved the heavens, the fever that had tortured

Hanbei was totally gone and Hanbei had a clear head now.

"I understand. Everyone, we need to go to the front camp now to

rectify Nobuna-sama's misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?"

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

Mizusaka Ridge."

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

"I will explain to Nobuna-sama the specifics. Nene-sama, please

wait here for Yoshiharu-sama's return... Yoshiharu-sama will

definitely return!"

Caressing the shivering Nene's hair as she mumbled, "Onii-sama

is still alive...?", Hanbei smiled.

"Of course, because Yoshiharu-sama isn't a bad guy who would

suddenly die and abandon such a cute sister."

Part 3

The preparations for burning Mount Hiei had been completed.

Half of the Oda army, under the command of Niwa Nagahide,

Shibata Katsuie and Maeda Inuchiyo, was stationed at Sakamoto

facing Mount Hiei. In truth, they were chased away by Matsunaga

Hisahide because she rejected the plan to burn Mount Hiei.

The rest of the army was concentrated at Kyoto, at Nobuna's base

on Mica Slope.

The night's air was dry and windy.

The conditions were ideal for a fire.

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

front of her.

Time had not yet healed the wound on her abdomen, and

occasionally a surge of pain washed over her. Nobuna however

could no longer distinguish whether this pain was sent from the

wound, or from her own heart.

Matsunaga Hisahide stayed at Nobuna's side like a mother and

fed her the drug frequently.

"The preparations are all finished. We will reduce Mount Hiei to

ashes tonight, Nobuna-sama; please give the order."

"....Dearuka."

Hisahide did not change Nobuna totally into her puppet like she

did with Kuchiki Shinano, because if she did so she would destroy

Nobuna's heart. Hisahide, who doted on Nobuna like her own

daughter, refused do that to her.

But Hisahide pressed the confused and hurting Nobuna to keep

taking the drug, calling it a "painkiller", as she whispered words of

vengeance.

"Let all people of the world know there aren't any gods or

Buddhas. Burn Mount Hiei to a pile of ashes."

"We must kill all those fallen monks who treat women as if they

aren't human, kill all of them."

"Those enemies who had taken your beloved, we need to let them

know their foolishness for defying the conqueror of the world. We

must make them regret being born into this world."

With these poisonous words she had stolen Nobuna's will,

unintentionally making her little more than a puppet.

If this continued, Nobuna's heart would be consumed by this drug

Hisahide prepared. Eventually, she would become a puppet without

any sense of self.

But Hisahide, seeing Nobuna as her own daughter, was overcome

with the desire to heal Nobuna's feelings and blinded to her actions.

I don't know how to truly heal Nobuna's great suffering, but I can at

least make it my mission to kill off all of her enemies. Hisahide could

only think.

But, Nobuna was trapped by the pain and sadness of losing both

Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide and an immense fury towards Asai

Hisamasa's betrayal that led to their deaths.

It's all fine now... The dream of conquering the world, or the dream

of sailing the world... Without Saru and Juubei, there is no longer any

meaning to those dreams anymore.

"Come, Nobuna-sama. Take these corrupt monks who used

Buddhism to do whatever they want and plunge them into the depths

of despair. Whether it's Asai Asakura who stole your beloved from

you, or those fallen monks, burn all of them right now. Please give

the order for the attack!"

Nobuna, caressed by the smiling Hisahide thought, Yes... Those

bastards who stole my most important person... those companions

that shared my dream... If I don't kill them all... the revenge for Saru

and Juubei... I can't take it anymore..., her heart was slowly sinking

into darkness.

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

she mumbled.

".....Troops, burn... Mount Hiei..."

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

"PLEASE WAIT!!!"

Takenaka Hanbei ran into the camp gasping for breath.

Accompanying her were Imai Sougyu and Frois.

"Nobuna-sama! Mount Hiei is both this country's ancient authority

and symbol of Buddhism throughout Japan. If we set it ablaze, all the

Buddhist communities will rise up against Nobuna-sama! And, if we

were seen as enemies to the Osaka Honneko temple, which has a

shocking amount of worshipers, then Nobuna-sama's dream of

conquering the world will be delayed at least 10 years!"

Hanbei, who had rarely ever been brave, tried her best to

persuade Nobuna, resolving to stake her life on her decision.

"And if you do that, you will lose the support of the people! Though

it's a fact that those monks have fallen to a hopeless level, the

common people do not know of this! They... They will just see

Nobuna-sama as a cruel sixth demon lord who killed the buddha!

And the Tendaizasu of Mount Hiei is the elder brother of Himikosama, if you burn Mount Hiei, the kingdom will lose their trust in

Nobuna-sama too! All of Japan will treat Nobuna-sama as an

enemy!"

Nobuna looks at Hanbei's face wordlessly.

She still can't think properly.

....Am I still wandering in the dream world....? Or... But... Enough,

Things like Tenka Fubu... it's already... meaningless... If I don't have

the ambition for Tenka Fubu, Saru or Juubei won't die... If I don't...

act now... Saru and Juubei's revenge.....

Nobuna, her mind clouded with drugs, had lost normal decisionmaking skills.

That which controlled Nobuna now was only her tremendous fury.

"Nobuna-sama! Please wake up!"

Hisahide narrowed her eyes and scolded Hanbei, "Shut your

mouth, this battle is to take revenge for your master, Sagara

Yoshiharu."

But Hanbei did not stay silent.

"Matsunaga-sama, the one who should shut up is you! I noticed

just now what you have been feeding Nobuna-sama. Nobuna-sama

isn't your puppet!"

"It's just medicine to kill the pain, but... This medicine cannot heal

the pain in Nobuna's heart. If Nobuna-sama doesn't kill off all of her

enemies, her pain will never go away!"

Dearuka... As expected, this is... a continuation of the nightmare

too.... Nobuna thought dreamily.

"....When once you served Miyoshi Nagayoshi-sama, you fed your

master huge amounts of drugs, then coerced the confused

Nagayoshi-sama to kill off those retainers who were loyal to him!

Maybe, you already have plans to kill Shibata-sama, Niwa-sama and

the aide Inuchiyo-sama? After finishing this battle and burning Mount

Hiei, you will continue to isolate Nobuna-sama.... That is not an act

of loyalty!"

Matsunaga Hisahide snorts at Hanbei's words, coldly replying, "I'm

confused by what you said. Isn't it the responsibility of a servant to

reduce the master's pain?"

"Those are two different matters! We should bet our own lives to

stop our master when she starts walking onto the wrong path. This is

the responsibility of us retainers as well! And, though I don't know if

Akechi-sama is safe, Yoshiharu-sama wasn't killed by the Shikigamis

at Mizusaka Ridge!"

Nobuna-sama's face changed to shock.

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

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

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

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

reality.

If once again she could sigh, "I am really happy." and show her

relief to live in such a world, someone whispered to her again, "It's all

a dream."... She didn't want to experience that despair again.

Scared, I'm so scared...

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

"I, Hanbei couldn't go along with Yoshiharu-sama due to my

illness, so, I asked Zenki-sama to take care of him before he went

out. And, Goemon also went along with him to save Asai Nagamasasama. Hattori Hanzou himself was inside the back troops Yoshiharusama was leading in the 'Retreat of Kanegasaki'. After that,

Matsudaira-sama and Akechi-sama went to rescue Yoshiharu-sama

and witnessed Yoshiharu's death... With these clues, the mystery is

now solved!"

".....Mystery?"

"Yoshiharu-sama was born and lived in a peaceful era without any

wars, and thus is a very kind and gentle person. He isn't someone

who could coldly watch his important companions die one by one

without doing anything. But, he also isn't one who would throw away

his own life to protect his important companions, least of all his most

precious Hime-sama. This person is someone who never gives up.

An insatiable, greedy person; no matter what, he will grab it with his

hands! So....."

Nobuna is confused.

Hanbei's words, were they spoken in reality, or... As expected, this

was still a dream.

Maybe, the wishes in her heart became the form of Hanbei,

consoling her with false hope.

Or maybe,

Just maybe....

"Nobuna-sama, in the kouga ninja arts there was a trick named

'Finely Hidden'. Rumor has it that in this trick a substitute is used to

replace the master, and that substitute is blown to pieces for his own

master, a cruel ninja art. Because the substitute was blown to

pieces, there would be no way to see the real identity of the body.

Tsuchimikado would never do such a thing like blowing up

Yoshiharu-sama, who could be exchanged for a reward, so I think

Hanzou-sama hid the fact of blowing up Yoshiharu's substitute. Of

course, Yoshiharu-sama would never do a cruel thing like asking one

of his companion die for him, but luckily there was someone very

suitable for this task inside the back troops. He is..."

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

Nobuna.

Shikigami, summon.

Zenki with his fox face appeared in front of Nobuna.

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

the floor.

"Ahh, it's as Hanbei-dono said, even if I am blown to pieces, I

won't die at all. So I performed this 'Finely Hidden' trick together with

Hanzou, to see if we could deceive that Tsuchimikado. Thanks to

Akechi Mitsuhide's sudden appearance, Tsuchimikado's attention

was drawn away and the trick worked, it seems."

Nobuna still muttered, "This is a dream, I'm deceiving myself with

another dream.", and didn't seem to believe it at all.

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

me immediately?"

"Ohh, my master, Hanbei-dono had been unconscious all this

while, and I can't materialize here without being summoned, so we

couldn't report even if we wanted to.

"If this isn't a dream... then where is Hattori Hanzou....? Where is

Takechiyo....? Why didn't anyone tell me anything... those two....?"

"I'm afraid Hattori Hanzou-sama hid the 'Finely Hidden' trick while

in the midst of the enemy territory. It's likely he only revealed the

truth once he had escorted his master safely back to Kyoto." Hanbei

said.

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

"Yes, Matsudaira-dono is someone who cherishes her friends, so

I'm afraid that she set out immediately to save Yoshiharu-sama

hidden in the ground after hearing the truth. Now she must be

leading quite an amount of troops in the mountains of western Omi."

"....Really... Is that true....?"

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

deductions?"

Before Hanbei could respond, a new voice cut through the

discussion.

"Yes, yes, it's like this~! Because we were in a hurry, we forgot to

leave a letter to Kichi-nee-san to say the truth~"

"...Hattori Hanzou, here! It was quite a hassle, but because the

back troops who had returned to Kyoto safely immediately

volunteered to join us in our rescue mission, our mission has now

been accomplished!"

"I...I...I...I...I'm so sorry, Kichi-nee-san! So many things had

happened. I had not even brought any troops from Kyoto over to

Mizusaka Ridge previously."

The tanuki eared Matsudaira Motoyasu and the darkly attired

Hattori Hanzou had returned to the camp.

And right at their heels,

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

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

"We of the back troops, a total of 150 surviving, are now

commander's loyal retainers!"

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

Yoshiharu!"

"Ohoh, you finally survived back to Kyoto!"

It's these idiots who have miraculously survived through the

"Retreat of Kanegasaki" yet returned to western Omi without rest to

save Yoshiharu.

These were the companions from the back troops.

All of them had countless wounds on them, but their expressions

were as bright as the sun.

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

"We finally let Hime-sama and commander Yoshiharu survive and

meet again in this world!"

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

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

satisfaction.

But....

"It's fake... This is a dream. I... had a very similar dream just

recently, didn't I? I know. This is a dream. This is just a dream... No

words can describe it, it's still all dark. So this is it, this is a dream

that I wish for... A dream that would never happen... Hope that was

lost, a future that will never come... This is just that...."

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

And....

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

From these sweaty men, a young man that was in even more

tatters than the rest of them walked in front of Nobuna.

"Hurry and kiss Hime-sama, commander!"

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

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

now!"

Sagara.... Yoshiharu...

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

But,

Even if it's a dream, an illusion...

It's okay if it's fake...

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

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

Even that, is a good thing.

I almost can't see through my tears.

Even so, I wish to meet this man again.

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

anymore..."

"Oi, Nobuna? Why are your eyes so misty!? What is going on, it's

me! Sagara Yoshiharu!? Hi, it's me. ME! OI!"

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

"Anyway, Nobuna....? What is with you, why do you look so sad?

Your appearance is weird!? Don't tell me, don't tell me you are

regretting again!? Or, or you are crying because you regret the

decision to kiss with me!?"

Yoshiharu walked nearer.

A step,

And another step.

Just like a real living Yoshiharu,

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

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

With a *piak*, her face was slapped.

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

strange.

"Yoshiharu-sama, Nobuna-sama drank too much of the drug that

Matsunaga-sama prepared. She seems to not be able to distinguish

her dreams from reality... But, I believe if it's Yoshiharu-sama, you

will definitely be able to bring Nobuna-sama back to the real world,

*Sob*Sob*" Hanbei informed Yoshiharu.

"Geez, I tried my best and finally returned here after all that

trouble, but there's no helping it! Ok, Nobuna! In the western

fairytales, a sleeping beauty can only be woken up with a prince's

kiss! Well, though I'm a monkey prince from the monkey country....."

Eh...?

This is...

Don't tell me, he wants to kiss me?

His lips are getting nearer...

Wait,

Wait a minute...

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

Ah....

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

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

So...

So... Anything he wants then.

"....."

Nobuna did not resist.

Closing her eyes, she waits for Yoshiharu's lips

"Go! Commander! Go! Commander!"

Those companions from the back troops started cheering.

"Nobuna? N...Not running away? Th...there's no helping it then... If

that's the case... I'm taking the reward!"

At that instant when their lips were about to touch,

Inhale*

The overly anxious Yoshiharu did a big sneeze.

...

Uwahh?

This... This stench is....?

Takoyaki....!?

"Isn't this... This isn't the Saru from my dream!? The Yoshiharu in

my dreams will never have such a nauseating stench from his mouth

just before kissing!"

In Nobuna's vision, though she still wandered in a dark dream, a

light appeared in an instant.

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

"What is most unacceptable is that piece of vegetable stuck

between Saru's front teeth; that's the worst!" The emptiness inside

Nobuna from Hisahide's drug disappeared in that instant.

This isn't a dream!?

So...So as to say... This fellow is the real Saru, and those "Go!"

"Go for it!" "Kiss her!" soldiers are all... real!?!?

Nobuna's pale face flushed bright red immediately.

"Eh....EHHHHHH!?"

Bham*

Nobuna who had regained her consciousness hurriedly gave

Yoshiharu's nose a headbutt.

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

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

fingers.

"GO AND DIEEEEEEE!"

And then,

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

"If we do that now, we can't hide it from the retainers!" Nobuna

fiercely released a combo technique towards Yoshiharu.

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

Piak*

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

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

"Sh...SHUT UP! In the teachings of Christianity, isn't it said that if

your right cheek is hit, then you present your left!? So, prepare

yourself to be beaten up obediently!"

Yoshiharu's left face received a slap soon.

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

good."

Frois ran over in a hurry and hugged Yoshiharu.

"Frois-chan! This violent woman is too much! I just wanted the

promised reward... Why did I have to go through such a thing!? Ahh,

this world is full of darkness....!"

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

Watching Yoshiharu use Frois's well endowed body to comfort

himself, Nobuna believed it in an instant.

This is it.

This is without doubt, the real and only world.

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

But... The real Saru is a hopeless fellow who is obsessed over

Riku and Frois' cow-like breasts!

So, there's a need to discipline him!

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

"Don't wanna! You will never understand. I, who was cheated by

you who renegade on your promises! As the replacement for your

lips, I want to be nursed by Frois's warm breasts, like a baby!"

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

this...."

"Uwahhh! What are you doing, traitor! Pervert! HURRY AND GET

THE HELL AWAY FROM FROIS'S BREAST NOWWWWWW!"

Without thinking, Nobuna sent a kick to the twisting ass of

Yoshiharu as she tried to suppress the urge to cry out.

This isn't a dream.

This isn't a dream!

It's true!

The real Yoshiharu had returned!

"You did it commander! Right after getting beaten by Hime-sama,

you dove straight into sister-sama's breasts, what a high standard!!!"

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

"This is Sagara Yoshiharu!"

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

At this time...

"Wait a minute! The one who saved gorilla-senpai and allowed him

to scrape through is me, Juubei Mitsuhide! Everyone, why have you

forgotten all about Mitsuhide!?"

That wide forehead.

The kumquat that had served as an accessory was missing, most

likely eaten due to thirst during the journey,

Akechi Juubei Mitsuhide kicked away the back troops soldiers as if

she were walking through nothing and forcefully came in between

Frois and Yoshiharu.

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

"What is with 'too', Nobuna-sama! The useless Hattori Hanzou let

gorilla-senpai stay underground and retreated from Mizusaka Ridge,

I, Mitsuhide replaced him to help gorilla-senpai! Without this genius

Juubei Mitsuhide, senpai would already be a corpse buried in the

ground!"

Hanzou was taken aback. "Don't tell me, you survived after

dropping into such a huge crack... Even seasoned ninjas will most

likely perish after experiencing such a situation... The tenacity of

Akechi Mitsuhide is as terrifying as that of a roach."

"Maybe, this lass had some strange destiny awaiting her!?"

Hanzou mumbled with a rare frightened expression.

"Well, those back troops soldiers that disguised themselves as

escapee hunters did help me and senpai who were hiding in the

cave, so I won't pursue the matter of Hanzou and Matsudaira-dono

abandoning Mitsuhide and running off by themselves."

Exactly, those escapee hunters who attacked Mitsuhide and

Yoshiharu in the cave were actually those companions that had

escaped back to Kyoto but headed back in, led by Hanzou and

Matsudaira. Their speech had been covered with the Owari accent,

but Mitsuhide and Yoshiharu had not noticed that at all, most likely

due to the seriousness of the situation.

The experts that were standing at the forefront of the group were

ninjas from the Hattori squad.

Were those people hiding in the caves real, or were they a trap?

To confirm this, they had to act like escapee hunters to the end.

The companions from the back troops started whispering to each

other.

"Damn it, we didn't notice it was the two of them at the start, but

now it's just like we're peeking."

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

"Though we don't know how, the atmosphere seemed strange.

Without knowing it, we let them continue on."

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

"If I'd have know that earlier, I wouldn't have acted in such a

humiliating monkey play no matter what... I regret it! You guys, forget

all of it!"

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

UWAHAHAHA!"

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

"You guys! That was all a fake! FORGET ALL OF IT NOW! If you

dare leak out even a word, I will kill all of you!"

Under Mitsuhide fierce stare, they became silent and shivered.

"Monkey play... What kind of play is that...?" Nobuna can't help but

feel curious, but, it does not matter anymore.

It's not a dream. The real Yoshiharu and Mitsuhide survived and

have come back to my side. That alone is enough.

"So I say, Nobuna, hurry and stop this plan of burning Mount Hiei!

As you've seen, both Juubei and I are alive and well! I'll say this first,

we are not ghosts or illusions or anything like that!"

"Ahh...Hmmm."

Yoshiharu's voice awakened the moved Nobuna and, straightening

her back, she slowly stood up from the bench.

"Anyway, I went berserk just now so suddenly, but I had promised

Saru! Kiss... Nan...The Nanban word is kiss, right? If... If I don't kiss

with him...."

Though she wants to fulfill the promise right now and kiss

Yoshiharu, the retainers are all watching from the side. "T...To think

that my lips will be stolen by this Saru... St...Stop joking... I don't

wanna, but since I've promised him... And without Saru's back

troops, we would all have been killed... But, but like I thought, if it's

not when we're alone...."

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

Yoshiharu.

"NOOOO! Now I must concentrate and try to break out of this

situation. Giving Saru his reward... That can wait till we are alone!"

Everyone was cheering, "Come and cry it out, hurry and cry it out,

hug Saru now." As blood rushed towards her head and everyone is

staring... "How can I cry out now!"

The urge to hug Yoshiharu tightly and cry into his chest was so

strong that it's almost unbearable, but she must endure it. Nobuna

bit her lips.

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

capable in the wilderness!"

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

Yoshiharu laughed.

That vegetable that was jammed between his front teeth was

revealed again.

Comparing this to Asai Nagamasa's elegant smile was like

comparing shit to a moon. "Of course Yoshiharu is the shit.", the

difference is obvious; he had no relationship whatsoever with the

word "elegance".

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

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

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

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

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

"What a totally uncalled for criticism and malicious tongue... But,

it's the normal Oda Nobuna once again, ahh, that's good!"

Looking at Yoshiharu's energetic smiling face,

Nobuna's body... She felt a warm strength flowing out from the

depths of her body, and was filled with that strength.

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

but...

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

With this, she could finally live with Yoshiharu in the same world. A

dream had been fulfilled.

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

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

With just this thought,

She felt an inexhaustible strength.

She felt she could, and she would definitely break through this

dangerous situation.

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

this."

Matsunaga Hisahide held out the drug slowly to Nobuna's lips, but

Yoshiharu shouted, "Wait, wait!" and snatched the drug away.

"Hisahide! Don't let Nobuna drink such a weird medicine from now

on! Before meeting me, wasn't Nobuna in a dazed state!? Your

medicine is too suspicious!"

"Saru, without Danjo's medicine, I would have died from the

gunshot wound. I might have drank too much, but don't pursue the

matter on my account."

"If you say so. Ok, Hisahide. Please don't do such a dangerous

thing from now on!"

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

After being scolded by Yoshiharu, the stunned Hisahide obediently

admitted her mistake and retreated. This gave Yoshiharu a shock.

".....Nobuna-sama is a strong child, and... It seems she found a

'medicine' far stronger than my Persian drug, huh? The medicine I've

prepared is totally useless, hoho."

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

".....Geez... What a blockhead!"

Hisahide refused to continue, buttoning her mouth closed.

"Wait, it's not what you think, don't say anymore, Danjo!" Nobuna

rushed to stop Hisahide.

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

Nobuna then immediately called back the retainers that were

chased out of the camp.

"Sa...Sa...Sa...Saru, Mi...Mi...Mitsuhide are still alive? Ah, Ah,

Legs, yes, are there legs?"

While crying and trembling, they confirmed that Yoshiharu and

Mitsuhide had legs.

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

Hime's berserk actions!"

"Hurray! Not a ghost, not a ghost!" Shibata Katsuie was so happy

that she started waving her arms and legs in a wild, uncoordinated

dance. Because she was a bit too happy though, she ended up

kicking away the soldiers beside her.

"From now on, we need to negotiate with Mount Hiei. We aren't

out of this crisis... But just from seeing both of your expressions,

hmmm. Full points." Niwa Nagahide said with a quiet laugh. Her

eyes hide traces of barely held tears.

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

Inuchiyo reached out her hand towards Mitsuhide's accessory, but

Mitsuhide shouted, "N.O.P.E!" and rejected immediately.(!)

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

With this, other than Goemon who was rescuing the imprisoned

Nagamasa and Nobusumi, all the retainers of the Oda clan had

finally reunited at Nobuna's side.

"Everyone! Though I want to celebrate Saru and Juubei's return,

we are still pinned down by the Asai Asakura allied forces! If this

goes on, the Miyoshi and Rokoku clans will definitely attack Kyoto

from behind. Once the shogun Imagawa Yoshimoto is captured, we

lose! Are there any good plans?"

"Once it starts snowing, the Asakura troops will have no choice but

to retreat back to Echizen..." Yoshiharu nodded and said.

"Compared to Shikoku, the Miyoshi clan is more likely to advance

from Settsu. At the same time, Kouga will lead the Rokoku to attack

Southern Omi, sealing off our main path connecting Kyoto and

Mino." Imai Sougyu explained. His information came from his rival,

Tsuda Soukyu. Though Tsuda Soukyu had once used Konoe

Sakihisa's plan to defeat Nobuna, he was currently supporting

Nobuna's actions outwardly, but this may all have been a farce to

hide his own ambitions.

"Dearuka, though it's regrettable that we fell into the enemy's

trap... now isn't the time to regret. What we should do now is lure the

Asai and Asakura allied forces out from Mount Hiei and battle it out

with them, but these irritating fellows are being difficult."

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

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

what."

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

points."

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

"Mount Hiei's missionary request an audience!"

"By the request of Tendaizasu to protect Mount Hiei, I, Shougakuin

Gousei am here to seek a surrender from these female warriors!"

A heavy-set man appeared, a noxious stench of alcohol emanating

from his whole body.

"That fellow tried to ambush us in the night but was defeated by

Katsuie, and then escaped back to Mount Hiei."

"Using the rule of 'Prohibiting girls' as a shield and not knowing

any shame, what a rough and cowardly man. 0 points."

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

Though Nobuna and the rest put on a disgruntled expression,

Gousei started talking seemingly without a care in the world.

"What a chaotic era this is, what anarchy, unclean girls holding

weapons and fighting with men... How regrettable and pathetic."

Gousei said such things and rejected the tea brought forth by

Inuchiyo, bluntly saying once more, "Unclean."

"...If that's so, please eat some Uiroumochi." Inuchiyo endured as

she held up the plate.

"It might be poisoned." Gousei kicked the plate away, not even

wanting to touch it with his hands, and continued bellowing like he

didn't care about the situation.

"Asai Hisamasa-dono and Asakura Yoshikage-dono could not

tolerate your actions of burning the holy Mount Hiei. Oda Nobuna,

I'm now giving you the chance to surrender to us. State your

conditions."

"He's just a missionary, yet he knows no shame...." Katsuie

whispered to Yoshiharu at her side.

Nobuna replied with a composed face. "Rather than surrendering,

how about we negotiate on equal terms!? We have a few conditions

on our side."

"First, hand over Sugitani Zenjuubou who tried to assassinate me.

It could hardly be pleasant if the rumors were to spread of an

assassin hiding in a holy mountain used by monks for training."

"Hmph, that is impossible. That useless Sugitani Zenjuubou has

been exiled from Mount Hiei. We do not know where he has gone."

"Dearuka. Well, I don't really care about that fellow, but there is no

leeway in the next three conditions."

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

"First, give us that Omyouji who acts like a thief, sneaking into the

'Retreat of Kanegasaki' and almost killing Saru and Juubei, that

Tsuchimikado!"

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

He agreed rather easily... Maybe there's a trap somewhere...?

Nobuna started to have doubts, but now isn't the time to hesitate.

"Second, Mount Hiei must sign an agreement to never help the

Asai and Asakura clans, and will disarm all monks from this day forth

and return the disciples back to the original tasks of a monk."

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

possible!?"

"Refusing is not an option! Originally, monks should not take up

arms. Isn't your job to worship Buddha and save the common folk to

get closer to the essence of Buddhism? If you love fights, how about

you go become a soldier!? As a soldier, I will not object to you going

to war for the conquest of unifying the world. Those men who are not

willing to stop being a monk, yet still want to wave weapons around,

you guys are just too shameful!"

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

"Uwahh, what is with this pressure, just a few of them were able to

produce such an immense pressure." Gousei replied with difficulty,

his face breaking out in a sweat.

"Do you agree? If you don't disarm completely and stop supporting

both the Asai and Asakura, you monks will be burned to ashes! This

is not a threat! It's a final warning!"

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

"You are monks in appearance, but aren't you guys just soldiers

grouped together and pretending to be monks!? Waging war means

people die, no matter what side they're on! To us warriors, we are

betting our own lives on this battle! Just attacking us one-sidedly,

daring us to retaliate so you can use your bullshit reasoning, saying

we were disrespectful towards Buddha; we don't take that kind of

bullshit here!"

"But... Monks without any weapons who have not broken any

rules, monks that are high in moral values should be plentiful on

Mount Hiei, shouldn't they?"

In actual fact, we chased away all those monks when they started

lecturing us... Gousei thought in his heart, as his tone can't help but

shake a bit.

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

shock.

"Those monks who ignored all your wrongs for all these years,

they are all guilty!"

"Yo...You really don't you have any respect towards Buddhism, do

you!? You deserve heavenly punishment, you brat!"

"Wrong! What I don't respect are those hypocrites and despicable

bastards who hide behind the symbol of Buddhism as they do all

kinds of bad things! If there really is a God or Buddha, they will never

punish me for punishing these villains for them."

"That's why I say... It's because you have ideas like that that we

reason with you at all..." Gousei mumbled.

"Then, this is the last condition! This is the most important one, I'll

never compromise on this."

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

"The place to sign the peace agreement must be at... The main

hall of Mount Hiei! I will personally go into Mount Hiei and sign it!"

"That is the one thing I could never allow!!" Gousei shouted with

fury as he stood up violently.

"Stop joking, you damn brat! You namban lover and punishment

deserving fool! The main hall is a holy place that has housed and

worshipped the 'Holy Flame' for several centuries. To Mount Hiei, it's

like the heart, the most holy place of all! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO

ALLOW UNCLEAN WOMEN IN IT!"

Part 4

Negotiations broke down.

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

sign the agreement on your behalf?"

"Shut up Saru. A guy like you won't understand, but doing things

like prohibiting women in this new era that has accepted namban

culture... We will be too outdated if we continue treating women as

unclean! That fallen monk's expression seemed to say, 'Ahh,

because of all the female warriors, the air here had become dirty...',

and it pisses me off. I can't help it if I just subconsciously add

another condition!"

"Setting a new condition subconsciously!? Control yourself a little;

if this goes on, our efforts at the 'Retreat of Kanegasaki' will be

wasted!"

Gousei interrupted without a trace of fear, "Inferior women will

never enter the main hall, on this I will never compromise. If you

don't like it, feel free to cut off my head, but can you girls do it?

Uwahahahaha!" while looking at Nobuna and Yoshiharu's couple

quarrel.

"Though I can understand Hime-sama's feelings, it won't be good

if the negotiations break down, 8 points."

"They are the monks of the holy Mount Hiei, but to enforce a rule

like prohibiting women, they are totally treating us like fools! Even if

they are disarmed now, they might rise up and become our enemy

again using the reason of prohibiting women. We should just burn

them after all!"

"Actually, this incident was caused by the Asai and Asakura clan

using this rule of Mount Hiei. So, as long as this rule exist, Mount

Hiei will very likely be the base for any anti-Nobuna forces... But,

burning them isn't good... *Sob*Sob*."

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

Unforgivable!"

"These monks seem to be quite stubborn~ Kichi-nee-san too is

known for her stubbornness~ How troubling~"

"There's a saying between merchants, 'For profits, it's okay even if

the conditions are disadvantageous'. Right now, peace is our most

important objective. The last condition is too forceful."

"Both in Europe and Japan, why does the religious world treat

women to be unclean? Maybe it's because women possess breasts?

The expression of Gousei when he is looking at my breasts seems to

say 'The servant of demons', full of fear and hatred; it makes me so

scared... *Shiver*Shiver*"

"They know nothing about us yet treat women as unclean. These

bastard monks don't even have the respect to let us kill them. Since

this is so troublesome, allow me to poison them all."

"T...Th...Though I don't really understand the situation, what is

everyone doing now? Uhh...Uhhhhhhh....."

The opinions are totally divided.

And to the wary Gousei, Hisahide's special skill of seduction was

useless as well.

Yoshiharu, who was knowledgeable about the sengoku games

was also troubled by the rule of prohibiting women.

If there were no cute girls or big-breasted girls in the world, even

the perverted Yoshiharu might not survive a day, so he could not

comprehend the ancient views that women were unclean at all.

Nobuna, whose perfectionist mindset had surpassed others by

300 years could not suppress her feelings of wanting to both disarm

Mount Hiei and, at the same time, remove the rule that prohibited

women on the mountain.

"If...If that's the case, we won't get anywhere if Gousei dislikes

women. So, why don't the bishoujos of the Oda clan serve them to

let them change their impression on us?"

Katsuie actually voiced her ridiculous idea, and Yoshiharu was

instantly excited, replying "Good idea, everyone can cosplay as

bunny girls, mikos and maids to serve those monks! I can have

some good eye candy too!"

Nobuna rejected loudly, "Huh? Miko? Maido!? Won't that be

conquering the world using seduction!? If we really do it, the images

of self-respecting female warriors everywhere will… "

"Uwahhh.... I'm so sorry, so sorry Hime-sama! I...I...I... didn't mean

to suggest things like conquering the world using seduction!"

With teary eyes, Katsuie seems about to burst into tears as

Yoshiharu continued saying.

"....This isn't good. Nobuna, don't worry about the rule! They will

remove it by themselves around the Meiji era, so...!"

"Meiji? When will that be!?"

"Umm, around 300 years from now."

"Huh? Are you an idiot!? Do I look like I can I wait for 300 years? I

want to destroy this stupid rule now!"

"Uwahhh, aren't you greedy!?"

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

Most likely he was afraid that the female warriors present would

turn him into a hostage.

"Uwahahaha! It's about time for me to go. If you want to force us to

remove our rule of prohibiting women, we might as well get burnt to

ashes! Come at us then!"

At this time.

Someone unexpected... The sister Frois tugged at Gousei's

sleeves with all her efforts and refused to let go.

"Please wait! Please talk again with Nobuna-sama! If this goes on,

Mount Hiei will...."

"Ohhhh!? A priestess from the evil sects of namban? But, these

shockingly big breasts... Ahhhh, don't touch me, DON'T TOUCH ME!

My power... My power will be sucked away!"

Gousei kept shouting, "Ohhhh, let me go, let me go!" and seemed

to dislike Frois a great deal. Sweat started flowing down his face;

Frois' call for reason seemed to have the exact opposite effect.

Just when Nobuna was preparing to give up...

"Oh hohohohoho! Nobuna-sama, you seem troubled. For a time

like this, please ask for this Seii Taishogun!"

The Seii Taishogun everyone had completely forgotten even

existed, Imagawa Yoshimoto elegantly appeared wearing sandals

commonly worn by mikos.

Nobuna stared at Yoshimoto, her face immediately clouding with

impatience.

"Huh? When did you change back to "warara"[3]? You are now my

puppet, yet you still put on such airs!"

"Ararararara, since I've become the Seii Taishogun, using warara

again is obvious! Actually, I should refer myself as "chin"[4], but since

I don't want to give Himiko-sama trouble, I will have to endure with

just "warara"!"

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

"Yes, that's it! At such a time, we can only rely on Himiko-sama's

decree!" Yoshiharu slapped his own leg.

"At such a time, even if all we have is this Imagawa Yoshimoto, it's

better than nothing!" Mitsuhide agreed as well.

Niwa Nagahide smiled and said, "As a missionary candidate, this

is brilliant. 80 points."

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

Nobuna said.

"You guys can just wait here! I will use my godly negotiation skills

to get the decree! Ohohohoho!"

Imagawa Yoshimoto believed firmly that she could complete the

historic task of getting the royal decree herself.