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 had attained that dream...
Hideyoshi Toyotomi.
Japan had been unified,
and times of peace appeared to be at hand.
However,
Hideyoshi's death cast the land back into a maelstrom.
To protect the Sanada clan and for a peaceful world, I stand by Tokugawa.
I shall fight righteously alongside Lord Mitsunari.
Osaka Castle
Our foe, Ieyasu Tokugawa.
This country belongs to the Toyotomi clan,
not the Tokugawa!
For these lands' people and justice,
please lay your lives on the line for me!
Yes, sir!
To battle.
Oyama
Mitsunari has made his move.
Pointing a sword at us, as we attack Uesugi,
is the same as pointing it at the Toyotomi clan.
We cannot let this stand.
We shall head west and defeat Mitsunari.
Yes, sir.
From here on,
our army will operate in two groups.
Under my command, one group will take the coastal route.
Hidetada, you lead the rest of the troops down the central mountain route.
Yes, sir!
Your job is to act as a supply line for arms and ammunition.
Do not be late.
I understand.
The mountain route?
Lord Ieyasu,
we should move out at once.
Don't be in such a rush.
My apologies.
Nobuyuki?
Sir?
You will assist Hidetada on his journey.
But, Father...
Understood?
Yes, sir.
What about Uesugi?
Worry not.
I've made arrangements for his forces.
We depart tomorrow morning.
Remember, we must not let Mitsunari into Kanto!
I believe we will face off at Sekigahara.
Yes, sir!
Aizu: Tsuruga Castle
News of the Tokugawa army's westerly change of bearing
traveled swiftly to Kagekatsu Uesugi's ears, in Aizu.
This is our chance.
We can attack the Tokugawa from the rear!
And it will help Mitsunari out!
Yes.
Kagekatsu Uesugi
My lord!
We've received word that Oshu's Masamune Date
is marching toward our domain!
Masamune?
That scheming Ieyasu...
Ueda Castle, home of the Sanada clan,
which had fought off Ieyasu Tokugawa's army of over seven thousand,
was currently under Yukimura's lordship.
Ueda Castle
His brother, Nobuyuki,
had set up base in Numata,
a key point in the transport route between northern and southern Japan,
that served as the trigger for that war.
Listen up, men.
We shall fight righteously alongside Lord Mitsunari Ishida.
Lord Yukimura,
what of Lord Nobuyuki?
My brother chose to fight with the Tokugawa clan.
Impossible!
Never fear!
Once Lord Mitsunari prevails,
the Sanada clan will again be as one.
Believe that day will come!
Yes!
It's a letter from Lord Mitsunari.
Thank you.
The Tokugawa have divided their forces and are marching west.
Lord Mitsunari wants us to delay the troops traversing the mountains.
Men, prepare for battle!
Yeah!
Oyama
After parting from his father, Ieyasu,
Hidetada and his forces traveled west, through the mountains,
Ueda Castle Komoro
and set up camp in Komoro,
south of Ueda.
We will now attack Ueda Castle.
Splitting our forces into four parts, we'll lay siege to the castle from all directions.
They'll probably ambush us inside the castle again,
but surely they can't handle an invasion on multiple fronts.
Our forces outnumber them ten to one!
They are no match for us.
Is it true that we're attacking Ueda Castle?
Yes.
Please reconsider.
Our mission is to reach Sekigahara as soon as possible.
Not to attack Ueda Castle.
Hmph. I know you're only trying to protect your little brother.
What?
I can see right through you.
Lord Hidetada, please take that back!
It's fine, Ina.
It is only natural for Lord Hidetada to feel that way.
But please know this.
I'm here because I believe that only the Tokugawa clan can end this strife.
I won't take any Sanada with me.
The Tokugawa army has changed course,
and is headed northward, to Ueda.
Is that so?
This is a great opportunity.
Northern Aizu
You fools!
Did you honestly think you could stop me?
Masamune!
I am the Celestial Dragon,
Masamune Date!
Masamune Date
I'm sorry, but you will die here.
Kojuro Katakura
Not so fast!
Kagekatsu Uesugi...
Just you wait, Mitsunari.
We'll join you soon!
Ueda Castle Chikuma River
Hidetada's troops split into four groups
and marched toward Ueda Castle.
However...
They were ambushed by Sanada clan soldiers lying in wait,
and suffered a major defeat.
The enemy did indeed split their forces.
They played right into your hands.
Well done, Lord Yukimura!
I didn't devise that plan.
Yukimura,
this is what happens when you underestimate a small army and carelessly attack.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I never expected such a strategy.
Now keeping that in mind, how would you attack next time?
In that case...
Brother, how did you know I would split my troops?
Not only that, you even anticipated where I'd place them.
Listen, Yukimura.
No battle exists in a vacuum.
Each preceding battle determines the next.
And if you know your territory inside and out,
you can predict which paths the enemy will take.
Remember this, Yukimura...
We observe the flow of battle,
fully utilizing our geographical advantage,
to achieve victory with a small army.
That is the Sanada clan's art of war.
Brother...
The Sanada clan's art of war you taught me that day
is bearing fruit right here and now.
Why won't the other units attack the castle?!
If I may, sir...
All the other units have been pinned down by repeated Sanada clan ambushes.
Wh-What?
What now, young master?
Only our unit still holds an overwhelming numerical advantage.
Why do we not charge in anyway?
That would just lead to a repeat of the previous battle.
I know.
There's no need to enter the castle at all.
All we have to do
is set that puny castle on fire, and burn it to the ground.
Lord Nobuyuki,
all of the units that went into the mountains
were ambushed and lost many men.
I knew it.
Let's join the fray.
But we're...
Lord Hidetada's life is in danger.
He's already fallen into Yukimura's trap.
Bows, at the ready!
Fire—
Wha...
Wh-What are you doing?
Bring out our gunners, quickly!
So the enemy commander is Hidetada Tokugawa!
Brother!
Lord Hidetada, please retreat!
Quiet! I'm not about to let a Sanada order me around—
Please retreat!
Brother...
Lord Yukimura,
the enemies in the mountains have all retreated.
Good.
We'll fall back, too.
Who would've thought we'd run into Lord Nobuyuki?
We should have seen it coming.
But regardless, it also isn't a confrontation we can avoid.
All units have sustained heavy losses.
Curse you, Sanada!
I will capture Ueda Castle,
no matter how long it takes!
Lord Nobuyuki...
That's my Yukimura.
He's good.
He's a formidable foe.
It looks like he still holds my teachings
on the Sanada art of war close to heart.
I never thought I'd have to fight my brother
at the same castle I built with him.
But, Brother...
There's no turning back for either of us.
This is my brand of justice.
My ideals.
I must do this to defend
what Lord Mitsunari is trying to protect.
Lord Mitsunari, I'll stall them here for as long as it takes,
so please bring victory to our cause.
Sekigahara
Sekigahara, in Mino-no-kuni,
is a tiny plain surrounded by mountains on all sides.
To its northwest lies Mt. Sasao,
Mt. Sasao
Sekigahara
where Mitsunari Ishida set up camp.
It seems Yukimura's doing well, too.
The winds are blowing our way.
Good.
Though right now, it's a headwind.
A headwind is perfectly fine by me.
We shall also be going, then.
Mitsunari,
meeting you changed my whole life.
When I was accused of being a spy, you defended me
and did what you thought was right, even at the expense of angering those around you.
And now, once again, you should believe in your cause to the very end.
If anyone dares stand in your way,
I will destroy them!
It's laughable, really.
My lord's bonds with Kiyomasa and Masanori were considered thicker than blood,
and yet he ruined them, due to his own awkwardness.
Does that mean he had so great a cause, he would go to such lengths to protect it?
Good grief.
My master's a real handful...
A tailwind!
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
Meanwhile, Ieyasu Tokugawa and his forces set up camp
at the base of Mt. Momokubari, to the east.
My lord,
as you predicted, Sekigahara will be the battlefield.
Yes.
But Lord Hidetada is running behind schedule.
Right now, our army hasn't enough weapons or ammunition.
Will we wait for Lord Hidetada to arrive?
Human hearts are most fickle.
We cannot let this chance slip away.
We will move out at the break of dawn.
Yes, sir.
I don't like this one bit.
What do you mean?
Our vanguard is filled with Hideyoshi's aides.
Is letting them handle the front lines
really what's best for Tokugawa's forces?
What would you do?
I...
Think we'll run into Mitsunari?
Who knows?
But I can say this for sure...
I don't, for a second, doubt the path I have chosen.
You don't have to spell it out!
I already know that!
I'm just wondering if that's the case for Mitsunari.
Well, my mind is made up.
I'm going to smash his face in, and make him come to his senses!
I wish it were that simple.
This is the Sanada clan's home.
Having lost our lord and our honor,
we escaped to these lands,
to find this cherry tree here.
We were enchanted by its unparalleled beauty.
Let's build a castle here.
Yes, Brother!
It'll be the Sanada clan's new home.
Yes!
That is why I must defend it, no matter what.
So one day, Brother can return home.
Lord Hidetada,
please stop this at once.
Lord Ieyasu entrusted us with these valuable arms and ammunition.
We won't have to use much to fell that puny castle.
Keep your nose out of this!
Get the women farther inside the castle!
Lord Yukimura, we must evacuate at once!
That's the enemy's base camp!
How's Ueda Castle looking?
No signs of movement yet, sir.
So there's nothing they can do?
How pathetic.
Fortify the defenses.
The enemy is coming!
What are you saying?
Wh-What's going on?
That's where we left the gunpowder.
All our gunpowder's being detonated!
Don't falter!
The enemy will be here any moment now!
What?
Episode 3
The Siege of Ueda Castle
Sengoku Musou High School
3rd Period
Unification of Japan Nobunaga Oda
Following this battle,
Nobunaga Oda greatly increased his political power.
This will be on the exam.
Mitsunari,
that notebook...
Battle of Okehazama Nobunaga Oda
With your writing all blotted out, your notes will be useless.
Mitsunari,
wake up already!
To Be Continued
Next Episode
The next story is the fateful Battle of Sekigahara.
Walking their own paths,
believing in their own causes,
these men will stake their very way of life on this clash.
Next time: "The Sekigahara Sunset."
Episode Four The Sekigahara Sunset