"1556"
May 1556.
"1556" Saitou Dousan and his eldest son, Saitou Yoshitatsu, at last fell to warring.
Though Nobunaga-sama dispatched troops in support, it was too late;
Saitou Dousan, the Viper of Mino, had been slain.
Father...
Another dream about Dousan-dono?
Yes... He's encircled by a serpent and burning in flames.
Not being raised as his child, I still have a grudge in my heart.
But then why...
He was your real father. It's only natural you should grieve at losing him.
Kichou, you said you begrudge Dousan-dono.
But when people die, they need to be forgiven.
You need to forgive Dousan-dono as well, Kichou.
Thank you, my lord.
"Kochoki" "Young Nobunaga"
"Parting"
Huh? What's the matter? Let's hurry home and get dinner;
you've gotta be hungry too... Huh?
There's not so much as a bug chirping.
Now this is a fine pickle!
"Inabayama" "Inuyama" "Iwakura" "Kiyosu"
Headache-inducing circumstances continued for Nobunaga-sama.
"Inabayama" "Inuyama" "Iwakura" "Kiyosu" One situation, Oda Ise no Kami Nobukata-sama, lord of Iwakura Castle,
"Inabayama" "Inuyama" "Iwakura" "Kiyosu" conspiring with Saitou Yoshitatsu, was pressing Nobunaga's back to the wall.
Furthermore, Inuyama Castle's Oda Nobukiyo-sama
began to show signs of going his own way.
Why is it one thing after another like this, even though I don't want war?
"Sakuma Morishige"
Does nobody have a solution to break through this deadlock?
Now that I think about it...
Have you got something ingenious, Toshiie?
Have you heard the talk of the serpent of Midori-ga-Ike Pond?
Serpent?
I'm told a great serpent came up and dragged down a whole ox;
it's a hot topic of conversation.
Is that connected to what we were discussing just now?
It isn't...
Is this any time to be talking about such things?!
A serpent, eh?
Kichou was saying she's having a lot of dreams with serpents, too, recently.
Dreams of serpents are good omens, my lord.
"Sassa Narimasa" "Takigawa Kazumasu" "Kawajiri Hidetaka"
Doesn't it mean you and Kichou-sama will soon have an heir, Nobunaga-sama?
Huh? Hey, now--it's not about anything like that!
Wow, this is cause for celebration!
You too? Just hold on now!
Ow!
A serpent, eh?
Have you heard? About the great serpent of Midori-no-Ike Pond?
They're saying it swallowed up an ox!
That means we can't go anywhere near Midori-ga-Ike!
"Suemori Castle"
It's confirmed that the rumor has spread.
Things are proceeding as planned. Feel free to spend money on this.
Work at marshalling people to spread the rumor still further...
...so that it reaches even Nobunaga's ears.
Yes, sir.
Oh?
Elder Sister...
I heard!
I hear you have a little something to celebrate?
Don't eat too much kelp; they say it harms a child in the womb.
Elder Sister! Kichou only said that she had a dream about snakes.
That's right. I'm not pregnant.
You've got this all wrong...
I don't have anything wrong! Listen--for the stability of the Oda house,
an heir is an absolute necessity. So take good care of your health, all right?
This is it! In foreign lands there's a giant snake called a python.
One of those just has to be the source of this "great serpent" uproar.
It's likely that a python escaped from Yaraj has taken refuge in that pond.
What's wrong?
Oh, no, nothing...
I don't think it's nothing.
Is there really any snake large enough to swallow up an entire ox?
Are you saying it's not a snake?
No, my lord; I don't know...
Are you concerned about what my sister said?
No...
Then what is it?
I haven't borne a child, and relations with Mino have been cut off.
There's no point at all to my being here, is there?
Do you truly believe that?
Even having become Defender of Owari, I'm still surrounded entirely by enemies.
I have no time to relax. Except when I'm with you, like this...
Nobunaga-sama...
At first this was about politics. But it's something else now.
Thank you.
Hold on.
Is something wrong, my lord?
That's it! I owe you my thanks, Kichou!
"Inuyama Castle"
I see:
Marry Oichi-sama to Nobukiyo-sama, in order to seal an alliance.
Right. The source of the bond between me and Saitou Dousan-dono
was in Kichou's coming here to me.
Oh, right! Nobukiyo-sama has been estranged from you,
but if you could improve relations by these means, it'd mean no more warring and such!
Oichi, we've moved ahead with these talks without regard for your feelings,
"Oichi" Oichi, we've moved ahead with these talks without regard for your feelings,
"Oichi" but this, too, is for the good of Owari.
There's no other way than to marry you to Nobukiyo. Forgive me.
It's for your sake, Elder Brother. I'll be glad to go and become a bride.
Oichi...
In this way, it came to pass that Oichi-sama traveled to Nobukiyo-sama's home.
On this occasion, into Nobukiyo-sama's keeping, our Oichi--
"Oda Nobukiyo" On this occasion, into Nobukiyo-sama's keeping, our Oichi--
"Oda Nobukiyo" Dispense with the introductory remarks. I know it all from the letter.
Are you Oichi?
Y-Yes, my lord.
Hmm. Still just a child, aren't you?
It's all right. Come over here.
Eh?
I said come closer.
Oh--yes.
Closer.
Y-Yes...
Hmm, your looks are only so-so...
I'll be with you for many years--
Still early for you to bear children... Don't be nervous!
I can't hand over Oichi to a cad like you.
Y-You...!
I'm sorry!
You're not the one at fault, Elder Sister!
Going by what I've heard, I would've slapped him too.
I did wrong by Oichi too...
And how is Oichi-sama?
She's crying.
That being said, the engagement was a big failure, eh?
Since you slapped the guy she was supposed to marry...
What were you doing here? Who hired you?
Nobukatsu-sama, you mustn't give up yet.
For I, Tsuzuki, have already taken the next needed measures.
I swear I will bring good news, my lord.
That talk about a snake: it's no longer a joke.
The commonfolk of Owari are all frightened.
They're saying nobody will go near the pond now out of fear.
As things stand, we can't just ignore this.
I have a good idea. In order to capture this supposed great serpent,
we'll drain all the water from the pond.
I see! When the serpent shows itself, having nowhere left to hide, we'll capture it!
It could be a way to lift Ohana's spirits, and Oichi's too.
We'll head over to Midori-ga-Ike Pond tomorrow.
Is that so?
What's the matter?
Ah... Nobunaga-sama.
The rumor of this pond's serpent has spread throughout all Owari.
Nobukatsu-sama said if Owari's commonfolk were afraid,
let's capture the serpent and put those commoners' minds at ease.
So that's what Nobukatsu was thinking? I was thinking the very same thing.
Where is Nobukatsu?
Nobukatsu-sama suddenly took ill; he's taking his rest at Suemori Castle.
Is he... For Nobukatsu's sake, let's capture this Great Serpent.
At this very moment, retainers are scooping out the pond's water.
You guys help too!
This snake--what's it like?
They say it swallowed an ox, so it must be of incredible size.
I'm scared!
--It is scary, isn't it! --What if it eats us?!
What is it?
Nothing.
Nobunaga-sama, come over here, please!
You can see well into the pond from here, my lord.
Right!
Kichou!
Kichou-sama!
It seems the serpent isn't coming out today. Let's wrap it up.
I feel certain we'll put on a good showing and catch the serpent tomorrow.
I hope you'll come too, Nobunaga-sama.
Sure, let's do that.
Kichou-sama.
I wonder if I'll be dry by the time we get home?
Why did you do what you did?
What are you talking about?
I know you fell into the pond on purpose, my lady.
Please keep this a secret from Nobunaga-sama.
Why?
An assassin was here.
Could that be?! Then this uproar is a plot of Nobukatsu-sama's?
I can't say...
But if it is, I want to bring this to an end without Nobunaga's knowing.
Hey, what're you doing?! We're going home!
Yes, my lord!
"Kiyosu Castle"
Today everyone's out snake-hunting again at Midori-ga-Ike Pond.
Why do only I have to stay and hold down the fort?
I wanted to see the snake too...
Maeda-dono! So this is where you were!
Huh?
Oda Nobukiyo-sama has come.
What?! Direct him into the reception hall!
But he was asking where Ohana-sama is, and in an agitated state...
Did you tell him?
When I said she'd gone to Midori-ga-Ike to see the serpent,
he said he was going over there.
He means to unburden himself of his grudge over that slap,
possibly by means of killing Ohana-sama!
Quite foggy today, isn't it?
We're starting to see the bottom of the pond.
Today's the day we round up the Serpent of Owari.
This isn't the time--what is it?
No, sir, it wasn't us...
Huh?
So they were your men, as I guessed.
Who are you?!
Please tell Nobukatsu-sama to dispense with this short-sighted thinking.
Whatever happens, I will not allow you to interfere with Nobunaga-sama!
Oh! I wondered who you were. Nobunaga-sama's honored wife, eh?
Is someone there?
I'll make Nobukatsu-sama supreme ruler of Owari; I swear it!
And I will defend Nobunaga-sama!
I thought it was odd yesterday when you stumbled into the pond... deceiver...
Kichou-sama! You're wounded...
What are you doing here?
It's fine; Nobunaga-sama hasn't caught on, my lady.
More importantly, you need treatment immediately.
Don't...
Pardon me...
Stop it!
Kichou-sama... so many...
Is it laughable?
That someone as damaged as I should long to be with Nobunaga forever...
Would you scoff at this?
I would not.
Then I'll scoff at myself.
What's happened at this pond-- that it was a plot of Nobukatsu-sama's--
we must inform Nobunaga-sama.
They've already made their final attempt.
Curses... They're on their guard now. Is this the end of it?
Huh?
Is that...?
Nobukiyo-sama?!
Nobukiyo-sama, what on earth are your intentions, coming all the way out here?
Hold on, Nobukiyo-dono!
This is bad!
As things are going, this'll turn into war!
Calm down, Nobukiyo-dono!
Now's the time...
What the...?
There wasn't supposed to be a real serpent!
Nobukiyo-dono, behind you!
I'm gonna--
Look out!
Elder Sister!
What is--
Try to harm Ohana-dono, will you?!
Nobukiyo-sama?
Now! We'll bring down this Great Serpent!
Ready, pull!
What's this all about?
I've never seen a woman so strong-willed as you, my lady!
I truly, deeply want you to be my bride!
In this manner, it came to be that Ohana-sama would go and wed Oda Nobukiyo-sama.
Kichou?
I've thought something was off since you stumbled into the pond. What happened?
Nothing, my lord...
It can't be nothing if you sustained such a wound.
It is nothing, my lord.
So what about the python? I heard all about it from Yaraj--
that you asked him to release that snake.
To what do you refer? I know of no such thing, my lord.
As close as we are, how are there things you still must keep secret?
Tell me, Kichou.
Nobunaga-sama... I really... I truly...
Kichou...
Kichou!
Nobunaga-sama, I ask a favor.
What is it?
If you're with Kitsuno-sama, I'm certain you can be happy.
What are you saying?
Kichou!
Kichou, wait! Kichou!
Kichou...
You don't know anything about where Kichou went?
You don't know why she left?
Kichou, where did you go?
There can't be any place left in Mino for you to return to...
I'm not giving up. I will, without fail, bring death to Nobunaga
and make Nobukatsu Owari's supreme ruler...
No. Nobukatsu is no more than a puppet. The supreme ruler will be me!
"Next Episode"
"Elder Brother and Younger Brother"
"Look forward to next week's episode!"