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 a time of peace appeared to be at hand.
However,
Hideyoshi's death cast the land back into a maelstrom.
With Ieyasu Tokugawa growing more influential by the day,
Mitsunari Ishida tried to prevent his rise to power.
In order to settle their score once and for all,
the two marched their armies to Sekigahara.
Having separated and gone their own ways,
the Sanada brothers faced off again
amidst a massive siege of Ueda Castle
led by Hidetada Tokugawa.
Nobuyuki...
I shall protect you, no matter what.
Brother!
Yukimura.
You must run, Lord Hidetada.
Brother, please stand aside!
I'm afraid I can't.
Then I'll have to force my way through!
Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle
Yonezawa Castle
While Yukimura squared off against Hidetada's forces,
Kanetsugu, too, was in the midst of
Hasedo Castle
a fierce battle in Northern Aizu against Oshu's Masamune Date.
Just you wait, Mitsunari!
Meanwhile, with Sekigahara covered in a dense fog,
thousands of soldiers lay in wait
for the imminent signal to commence warfare.
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
The Eastern Army, led by Ieyasu Tokugawa,
put Masanori Fukushima and Kiyomasa Kato on their front lines,
leaving Ieyasu's main unit in the rear.
This was a "flying wedge formation."
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
On the other hand, Mitsunari Ishida's Western Army
deployed its main force at Mt. Sasao,
with troops on both flanks bidding to surround the enemy.
This was an "inverted wedge formation."
With the numerical advantage created by Yukimura stalling Hidetada's forces
and a formation that fully utilized his geographical superiority,
Mitsunari's preparations to defeat Ieyasu were complete.
How much longer?
I'm sick of waiting here.
Settle down, Masanori.
Lord Ieyasu's waiting for this fog to lift.
But while we're sitting here, the enemy might attack us!
Wait for the signal.
Lord Ieyasu has left the vanguard in our hands.
No matter what happens, we'll be the ones to draw first blood.
Huh?
Is that...
Naomasa?
That sneaky bastard!
This is Tokugawa's war.
I'm not about to let Hideyoshi's lapdogs
hog all the glory!
So Naomasa did charge in, after all.
What?
I am the Tokugawa Army's Naomasa Ii,
and I shall land the first strike!
R-Red armor?
It's Ii's Red Devil!
It's time.
All troops, advance!
There's the signal.
Finally... I thought I was gonna explode.
Charge!
Not yet.
Hold your positions.
Fire the cannons!
Cannons?
Damn, he's using cannons!
Don't break formation!
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
The Eastern Army had begun their advance,
but the artillery fire forced them to run for cover.
When their formation began to fall apart,
the Western Army surrounded them on both flanks,
and commenced a pincer attack.
Charge!
Surround them and finish them off.
Kobayakawa...
So far, so good.
Our army's at a disadvantage.
The cannons' delay in arrival is really hurting us.
Run away, Lord Hidetada!
R-Right.
Ueda Castle is the Sanada clan's home!
I shall protect it from any and all attacks!
I won't retreat from the path I've chosen, either!
Brother!
Our cannon fire has thrown the enemy into chaos.
Their command chain's broken, so they aren't putting up much of a fight.
With their escape routes blocked by the inverted wedge formation,
our allies are taking them out, one after the other.
This battle mustn't be allowed to drag on.
We must settle things while Yukimura stalls the other troops.
We're going for the kill.
Inform Kobayakawa.
Yes, sir!
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
The Western Army, while attacking their surrounded enemies relentlessly,
looked to finish things in one fell swoop
by sending Kobayakawa's unit, on Mt. Matsuo, the signal to move out.
Will Kobayakawa make his move?
The Western Army camp has fired a smoke signal.
Be sure to keep them surrounded.
Lord Yoshitsugu?
I'm moving out.
There is something I must do.
I knew it. He was allied with Tokugawa.
Kobayakawa's unit is not moving!
Ieyasu set me up...
Lord Otani's going to confront him!
You planned this?
Yes, but we still don't know if he'll do our bidding.
Nor how this war will turn out.
What are you doing, Lord Hidetada?
Fire!
Wh-What's going on?
Fall back!
Now's our chance.
All units, retreat!
The castle!
Lord Yukimura...
Ii's Red Devil,
this is as far as you go.
You seem too injured to stop me, though.
I think this is the perfect handicap.
En garde!
I see now.
What's up?
Mitsunari's only using the cannons to intimidate.
That fool's deliberately firing away from the soldiers.
Ha, how soft.
But it's just like him.
Let's go break his face, Masanori.
Yeah!
Enemy at twelve o'clock, heading our way!
Kiyomasa, Masanori...
They're coming.
My lord, we must hold them off.
How about firing the cannons at them?
I know.
I have to attack them.
My lord!
Lure them in,
and wait for my orders.
Yoshitsugu!
You won't pass.
I knew I'd run into you.
Curse you, Sanada!
Our goal isn't to defeat the Sanada clan, but Mitsunari.
If we hurry to Sekigahara and aid Lord Ieyasu,
the land will be brought under one rule.
Oh, shut up.
Will we make it in time?
I cannot say.
All we can do is hurry there.
My lord, we can't let them advance further!
Your orders, sir!
Tokugawa's main unit is making its move.
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
Kiyomasa and Masanori's unit
was closing in on Mt. Sasao's base, where Mitsumoto had set up camp.
Kobayakawa's unit still hadn't moved,
so Ieyasu moved his own unit out,
in a bid to support his flanked army
and take control of the see-saw battle.
My lord!
Fire.
At what?
The soldiers.
He's firing at us now.
Mitsunari!
I'll be on my way.
Yes.
You seriously think Mitsunari will be able to
prevent the Tokugawa clan's rise to power?
You're out of your mind!
I'm simply fighting for the man who's earned my total respect.
What?
Laugh if you must.
But you know,
I don't regret having chosen this path for a second.
Very well... I'll cut you down!
My lord,
the wind is changing directions...
It isn't too late!
Join me, Yoshitsugu!
You ask me now, of all times?
You know the tide flows Tokugawa's way!
So why?!
I simply wish to learn what I can see
if I go against the flow.
Then we can't walk side by side anymore?
This is the path I chose.
Yoshitsugu!
Let us chase after our own dreams
and see where they take us.
Yoshitsugu!
We knew it would come to this...
Forgive me, Mitsunari.
Is this where your dream led?
Yoshitsugu!
That damned Mitsunari!
Lord Tadakatsu?
Tadakatsu Honda...
My lord!
Kobayakawa has turned on us!
My lord!
Both the Otani and Shima units were wiped out.
Mt. Sasao
Mt. Matsuo
Sekigahara
Mt. Momokubari
The loss of Yoshitsugu and Sakon caused
the Western Army's inverted wedge formation to fall apart.
And when Kanetsugu began marching toward Mitsunari's camp,
the battle was decided.
I shall be the one to protect the Toyotomi clan!
Mitsunari!
This battle is already over!
Mind your own business!
I'm not finished yet!
Ieyasu!
Lord Yukimura!
Lord Nobuyuki is here, with Tokugawa troops in tow!
What?!
Why did you return?
We shall stand with Lord Mitsunari to the last—
The war is over.
Mitsunari was defeated.
Th-That can't be.
I don't believe you!
He was defeated!
That we stand here should be proof enough.
Th-Then...
Did Lord Mitsunari...
Ieyasu...
Mitsunari...
There may be people who complain about you.
But I understand you better than anyone.
Lord Hideyoshi...
Lord Mitsunari!
Episode 4
The Sekigahara Sunset
Sengoku Musou High School
4th Period
I shall go against the flow.
Tokugawa Electronics
This is strange.
Tokugawa Electronics
How?
To Be Continued
Next Episode
The next story is Yukimura's life-or-death trial.
Amidst the voices crying for blood
and those begging for mercy,
what kind of decision will Nobuyuki make?
Episode Five The Destination of Life
Next time: "The Destination of Life."