Please take care of...
of the Toyotomi and my son Hideyori...
I won't take any orders from you.
Goodbye, Mitsunari.
K-Kiyomasa...
Later.
Please wait, Lord Kiyomasa...
Lord Masanori!
We'll have to move on.
We must protect the country.
Otherwise, we'll end up with more graves.
Why do you tell me this?
Together, we will defeat the enemy and bring victory to the just!
To protect the Sanada family and for a peaceful world, I stand by Tokugawa.
I will fight righteously alongside Lord Mitsunari.
I knew this day would come.
I'm ready.
Summer grasses grow,
leaving but the dreams of the
long-gone warriors.
The dream of unifying Japan was held by many lords of the warring states.
Shingen Takeda.
Kenshin Uesugi.
Nobunaga Oda.
And finally, one man stood on the brink of attaining that dream:
Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Having gained the position of imperial regent, unification was close at hand.
Only Sagami Province remained.
Sagami Province
From his base in Odawara, Ujiyasu Hojo ruled the entire Kanto region.
But despite massive attacks,
Odawara held fast, turning the battle into a stalemate.
It's been three months! Three months!
We've surrounded the castle and done nothing for three months!
Isn't there anything we can do?
Mitsunari, don't sit there like you're so important, just because you're supreme commander!
Mitsunari Ishida
Calm down, Masanori.
Kiyomasa Kato Masanori Fukushima
That paper-pusher doesn't understand war!
Sakon Shima
If we'd taken them down in the first battle...
Was that not because you charged forward, breaking ranks?
Yoshitsugu Otani
Th-Th-That isn't the only reason.
Either way, we must win this battle!
Well, why don't we let Mitsunari handle this one?
Kanetsugu Naoe
After all, he's the supreme commander.
Whatever!
An impenetrable castle indeed.
Odawara Castle is well-built, but that isn't the only reason why it's so strong.
Nobuyuki Sanada
The Hojo family and its retainers have something that they must protect with their lives.
That determination makes them strong.
Yukimura Sanada
Something that they must protect...
Three months have passed already since Lord Mitsunari set out to besiege Odawara Castle.
Ieyasu Tokugawa
It appears that the famed Ujiyasu Hoho is giving them a difficult time.
The Lion of Sagami indeed.
Hidetada Tokugawa
Naomasa Ii
Allow me to go.
I shall conquer it immediately.
Tadakatsu Honda
Back down, Naomasa.
Hideyoshi Toyotomi
You're a lively one.
But don't worry. Mitsunari will take care of everything.
Right, Nene?
Nene
He will, my lord.
He can handle it.
Then, regarding Kanto, after we defeat Hojo...
Toshiie Maeda
I wish to have Lord Ieyasu oversee it.
Takatora Todo
The great Kanto region, ruled over by Hojo for many years...
Only someone of Lord Ieyasu's stature could lead it.
What do you say?
I accept.
All right... Let us finish the unification of Japan!
Yes, sir!
Father, why did you accept such an offer?
What good is Kanto? It's just wide and empty.
We, the Tokugawas, are going to end up as second-rate daimyo!
Father!
Delicious!
Your seasoning is perfect!
Hideyoshi, that bastard... I thought he'd give up in a month.
Ujiyasu Hoho
He's surprisingly patient.
Hayakawa
They must be waiting for us to give in.
In a battle of patience, we Hojos cannot lose.
Princess Kai
Of course not...
I won't let Hideyoshi have his way with the people of Kanto or our retainers.
On the other hand, maybe it's time to wrap this up.
It's time.
All units, move out.
We will take Odawara Castle in full force.
Lord Mitsunari...
Princess Ina
All units?
You had us wait all this time, and that's your plan?
Wait, Mitsunari... You know we can't win with a straightforward strategy.
Look at the castle.
Previously, at meal times, we saw smoke rise from all
They must be running out of provisions.
I get it!
They're running out of food!
We've been waiting for their morale to weaken?
My lord, you should be clear about these kinds of things.
People won't understand.
No, wait.
If we take it by force, the people will resent us.
What's your point?
Considering our future as Kanto's governors, we should avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
It's love.
In order to head off any opposition after we take command,
we must display our authority with an overwhelming victory.
Love for Toyotomi, I see.
They may be exhausted, their defenses are strong.
Both sides will suffer great losses.
I agree.
Hojo's troops shouldn't be underestimated.
If we aren't careful, we'll end up hurt.
If you keep talking like that, we'll never take Odawara Castle!
Yukimura...
Jeez, Tsukimaru.
Kunoichi
Tsukimaru
Yukimura, are we moving out?
I will simply do what I can!
Yukimura?
Let's go, Tsukimaru.
In any case, we won't know until we try!
If we fail, we can't just brush it off.
First, we should send an emissary to see how they respond—
I will not negotiate.
But...
Looks like the messenger's already left.
That's...
He looks quite vigorous for a messenger.
Nobuyuki...
Hey, something is coming!
An enemy?
Does he intend to attack alone?
Don't let him near the castle!
Fire!
I thought it might be difficult...
Very well!
Fire!
Impossible.
Stop!
I have no desire to fight you!
Who do you think you are?!
Ujiyasu Hoho!
I challenge you to a duel!
What?
Fight me!
Nonsense!
I won't let you go any farther.
Six coins...
Sanada?
I desire only to fight Ujiyasu.
Put down your weapon!
I won't let you!
I know it was a surprise attack, but I didn't think we'd let them in so easily...
It's getting fun.
Yukimura...
Kai!
Not bad, kid.
Father!
Are you Ujiyasu Hoho?!
Yeah, that's me.
My name is Yukimura Sanada.
I challenge you to a duel.
I couldn't have asked for a better person to end this with.
Come, Yukimura Sanada!
Here I come!
Thanks, Tsukimaru.
You made me reveal this... Good for you!
Kotaro, stay out of my way.
Kotaro Fuma!
You...
Nobuyuki Sanada.
So these are the Sanada brothers.
Yukimura, I'll watch your back.
Brother...
This is the soul of the Sanada!
What honest eyes.
Maybe Toyotomi isn't so bad after all, if he has such honest men.
They're strong...
That doesn't mean we can back down now.
Yeah!
Don't flinch! Go!
Father!
Yukimura!
My lord...
I'm done!
This war's over!
What a joke.
Say, Sanada brothers...
Yes.
Tell the next ruler of Kanto...
That if they make the people cry, I won't forgive them.
Also, take care of them for me.
They are my precious family.
Yes.
We promise.
We've united Japan!
You did well, Mitsunari!
Yes, sir.
What's wrong? You should look happier.
I fought disgracefully.
Because of my incompetence, victory took a long time.
It was only because Yukimura Sanada broke through that we won today.
By attacking when the enemy is weak, we can minimize our losses.
Not just our own, but for the enemy, as well.
Watching the smoke from their cooking fires lessen for three months...
It must have been arduous.
There may be people who complain about you.
But I understand you better than anyone.
It's love.
Mitsunari, you supported me well up till today.
Hideyoshi...
Kiyomasa, Masanori, come on.
You've all grown into good boys!
There, there.
Lady Nene
You did well.
You can finally live life with a smile, my lord.
Indeed.
Everyone, this is cause for celebration!
Drink up!
Yes, sir!
We'll finally have that peaceful world you were talking about, Brother.
Yeah.
From now on, we must work together
to protect the Sanada family and bring prosperity to the people.
That is our duty.
Yes, Brother.
But don't worry Nobuyuki too much.
Right, Yukimura?
S-Sister...
You're totally Sanada's wife now, Ina-chin.
Wh-What?
You fought him before. Why did you end up marrying him?
Leave me alone!
Ina-chin's getting shy!
Ina has it rough, too, being married off to a nobody like Sanada.
Sanada is just getting started. They have promise.
You think so?
Lord Ieyasu...
Yes, sir.
Mitsunari?
Yes.
You two are the pillars of our rule.
I hope you will work together to support me.
Yes, sir.
Nobuyuki Sanada! Yukimura!
Come!
Yes, sir.
Good job.
The Sanada brothers are, indeed, reliable.
Moving forward, I'll be counting on you.
Yes, sir.
What a happy day.
The Best Cherry Blossoms in the World
Episode 1
Sengoku Musou High School
Block 1
Tadakatsu Honda, social studies teacher.
Class 1-1
This will be on the exam.
Unification of—
Remember this well.
Oda—
Battle of Nagashi—
Honnou—
The exam is next week!
To Be Continued
Eh?
Next Episode
The next story...
The chaotic, heartless Warring States world tests the bonds of friends and brothers.
At the end of the tension, what do they decide?
Next time: Inubushi's Departure.
Inubushi's Departure