"Kochoki" "Young Nobunaga"
You've lost some weight since I last saw you, haven't you?
"Advancing Toward the Capital" You've lost some weight since I last saw you, haven't you?
"Advancing Toward the Capital" You need to be sure to eat more!
I know, I know. I love you too!
Maeda-sama! You've moved up in the world; there's no need to put in a visit here.
It's nothing to do with status. Unless I see these guys' faces, I can't relax.
This raises problems, Yoshikane-sama!
Silence! I'm going falconing! Bring out a horse!
"Shiba Yoshikane"
You heard me; bring out a horse!
Um...
At present, Nobunaga-sama is in the midst of a war with the Ise no Kami house.
We have no horses we can spare, my lord.
You could manage to spare just one or two horses!
We cannot, my lord.
You... To whom do you think you're speaking?
I am Shiba Yoshikane, Lord Protector of Owari!
I know full well that you are Shiba Yoshikane-sama, my lord.
Nevertheless, we cannot grant you a horse.
We do not know when it might be needed for Nobunaga-sama's conflict.
Miscreant...
Huh?
Hold, my lord, please.
Ikeda-dono!
Th-This ill-mannered lout!
To flout the words of the Lord Protector of Owari is unforgivable!
It's just as you say, Yoshikane-sama: He is ill mannered.
Toshiie, cut your belly open immediately, here on the spot.
Eh?!
As you have heard, I shall have this man lay open his belly immediately.
May I ask you, Yoshikane-sama, to perform the ritual beheading after?
If Yoshikane-sama, head of the Shiba Buei clan, shall serve as kaishaku,
surely this man will cut his belly open without hesitation.
Understood. I shall disembowel myself.
Be ready, Yoshikane-sama.
I've had enough. Deal with him as you will.
Whew... What is the story with that guy?
You know as well as I do that Nobunaga-sama
was the one who took vengeance on the killer of Yoshikane-sama's father.
Yes, and that's why he's under Nobunaga-sama's protection.
The Shiba clan are Owari's Lord Protectors, but in name only.
The one holding real authority is Nobunaga-sama.
And Yoshikane's kept around without serving any real purpose, right?
It's likely just an occasional diversion, the way he raises a ruckus like that.
It's a nuisance, the way he makes trouble for people.
Just what did you mean to do if he'd said he would perform kaishaku for me?
If one man's life, yours, would put his issues to rest, I'd call it a bargain.
You are the worst...
In 1559, as chastisement for plotting an uprising against Nobunaga-sama,
Nobunaga-sama and Nobukiyo-sama attacked the Oda Ise no Kami clan
and forced them to relinquish Iwakura Castle.
"Oda Nobukiyo"
That was exactly what people mean when they say he "fights like a demon god."
"Sakuma Morishige" "Sakuma Nobumori" It's only natural that Nobunaga-sama's managed to unify Owari.
"Sakuma Morishige" "Sakuma Nobumori" Now at last we can sleep easy at night!
So you haven't been sleeping well till now?
It's just an expression!
"Shibata Katsuie" "Murai Sadakatsu" "Takigawa Kazumasu"
They have arrived.
Congratulations.
Ah, welcome, my lady!
Kitsuno-sama, too--come in!
--Ha, I wish you could've seen how Nobunaga-sama was in the battle.
--Hey, Toshiie, don't butt into the middle of things... --Ha, I wish you could've seen how Nobunaga-sama was in the battle.
When he called out, his voice echoed over the entire field, and roused our spirits.
"Ohana" "Kitsuno" When he called out, his voice echoed over the entire field, and roused our spirits.
"Ohana" "Kitsuno" Nobunaga... and ordinarily his voice doesn't carry at all.
Elder... Brother...
Nobukatsu?! Nobukatsu!
Nobunaga-sama?
Tonight we drink heartily.
Drink up, everyone!
Yeah!
Nobunaga-sama doesn't usually drink this much--tonight's a rare occasion!
Right! I'm with you!
What's wrong?
Mm, that good cheer is just for show.
His grief over losing Nobukatsu-sama-- Nobunaga-sama still hasn't...
"Juuami"
What's the story with that monk?
He's one of the Douboushuu--
a group that excels at flower arranging, tea ceremony, things like that.
So they smell money and try to cozy up to the ones who have it, eh?
What's this?
An incense burner, my lord.
Huh, it's a remarkable design.
It's of Chinese make, my lord. By rare good fortune it came into my hands,
and since it was so beautiful, I wanted to show it to you, Nobunaga-sama.
I shall show you how it actually burns incense.
This incense is of an extremely rare type.
This certainly does smell good...
Nobunaga-sama, is anything--
Nobunaga-sama!
You filth! What were you trying to do to Nobunaga-sama?!
I wasn't doing--
What's happening! Nobunaga-sama?!
He must've been exhausted. This incense relieves tension--
Stop lying! Show me what you're hiding in your robes!
I don't know what it is you speak of, sir.
I'll make you show it to me by force, then!
Stop it, please! I don't have anything!
Why, you--
Toshiie-dono!
I'm telling you the truth! That monk was trying to kill you, Nobunaga-sama!
Kazumasu, you were there too, correct?
Something felt wrong, and when I entered the room,
Toshiie-dono and the monk were already engaged in a scuffle.
We couldn't investigate the incense, as it was scattered all over the floor.
Toshiie, you don't have any evidence, do you?
What that monk was carrying concealed in his robe... was this.
A hairpin... Is it possible to kill someone with this?
The Douboushuu are a troupe of what were originally monks.
They have strong ties to shrines and temples in every region.
If we don't have evidence that this fellow targeted Nobunaga-sama's life,
they're certain to raise a ruckus.
It would be bad to make enemies of them right now.
I shall hold myself to account.
What?!
I will leave this place.
Toshiie!
If I'm no longer here, there will be no justification for the Douboushuu condemning Nobunaga-sama.
Since I'm the one who killed the monk....
If one man's life will put this issue to rest, I'd call it a bargain... right?
However, if need arises, I will come running to Nobunaga-sama's side, I swear.
Toshiie!
It's fine this way.
Until the day we meet again... be well.
Kichou left; Nobukatsu is dead. This time it's Toshiie...
I haven't been able to safeguard anything.
Right now, there's much coming and going of the Douboushuu between Owari and Mino.
Could this mean Saitou Yoshitatsu is pulling the Douboushuu's strings?
No... he's merely serving as a link.
The one doing the secret communicating seems to be...
...Shiba Yoshikane-sama.
What?! This coming and going: it's an exchange of correspondence?
Yes.
Get your hands on that correspondence.
Yes, my lord.
What on earth does he mean by summoning me to him?
I cannot possibly imagine, my lord.
Damn! Are there no limits to rudeness?
What on earth is this about?
Be seated, there.
There's something that concerns us...
C-concerns you? What is it?
It's come to our attention that the Douboushuu have been crossing back and forth into Mino.
Mino's Saitou Yoshitatsu-dono has his eye fixed on Nobunaga-sama for any opening.
So what of it? How does this have anything to do with me?
We've gotten our hands on some correspondence...
...and it's unfortunate.
Wh-What are you trying to say?!
That you petitioned Saitou Yoshitatsu-dono to assassinate Nobunaga-sama;
that Yoshitatsu-dono attempted to oblige you by using Juuami.
All this is evident in this letter!
What Toshiie was saying was true!
Have you forgotten that it was Nobunaga-sama who avenged your father's death?
Stop this!
This is the epitome of repaying debt with treachery!
Yoshikane-dono. I want to hear you tell this in your own words.
Did you set me up to be attacked?
Yes! That's right! What's wrong with that? I am Lord Protector of Owari!
Release me, insolent dogs! Who do you think I am?!
Betrayed... again.
Nobunaga-sama, in despair, banished Yoshikane-sama.
At this, the Shiba Buei clan fell apart, and Nobunaga-sama became Owari's ruler.
Thereafter, a messenger arrived from the shogunate.
It seemed that rumor of Yoshikane-sama's banishment
had reached Ashikaga Yoshiteru, nominal holder of the Shogun title.
So you've received a summons from the shogunate,
demanding you explain the particulars of why you banished the Lord Protector?
It's a nuisance, but I don't suppose I can disregard it.
Gather them all together.
So we're going up to the capital?
You're the seven I've selected.
But this is an extremely small number.
There are dangers, but taking a large force wouldn't be acceptable.
We might be viewed as raising arms against the Emperor.
Off we go!
"Lodging"
So this is crucian carp sushi...
It's my first time to try it... but it's quite an odd flavor.
Oh! Maybe it's because we're near the capital; I can't get used to this food.
Thank you.
Beware of itinerant monks.
Ah, Tsuneoki-dono! Want to try one of these, Tsuneoki-dono?
You there!
You fiend!
An assassin for Mino... but how did you know?
I can't...
"The Capital" "Owari"
Thus did Nobunaga-sama arrive at Kyoto, the Capital.
So this is the Kamo River.
What wonders the Capital has; this bridge is remarkable.
You can see a five-storied pagoda too!
You guys. We didn't come to the Capital for sightseeing.
And there was the incident at that inn. Be on your guard.
Now now, Tsuneoki, it's only natural to be excited about seeing new sights.
I mean, look how wide this street is!
Nobunaga-sama...
Nobunaga-sama and company took lodgings in a temple
and awaited permission for an audience with the Shogun.
However, that permission was not readily granted.
To summon someone and then not grant an audience... what on earth is that about?
There are so many people surrounding the Shogun that word takes too long to get through to him.
They're making a mockery of him.
How long do they mean to make him wait?
And in doing nothing but wait, the body starts to grow lax as well.
I think I'll go swing my sword a bit.
I'll come along.
Shall we join in too?
Yes, sure.
Pardon me, sirs!
Huh?
We are arrived after hearing that Oda Kazusa no Suke-dono is present here.
So I shall at last be granted an audience with the Shogun?
Yes, you may look forward to that pleasure. Your request has gone smoothly.
At long last.
Exactly.
Come on, stop all this complaining.
We'll meet with the Shogun and be right on our way back to Owari.
What's wrong?
What?!
It can't be...
Even this was a trap?!
You're agents of Mino?!
They're tough!
Protect Nobunaga-sama!
Was the summons a trap by Mino too?
Curses! Nobunaga-sama's been pulled away from us!
Retreat!
It's all we can do just to hold them back!
Nobunaga-sama!
Hold!
After everything, it's you, Kich--
No! In appearance, in name... I am not the person I was before.
Is that so...?
Then you won't come and stay by my side?
I am your shadow.
If you wish it... I will continue to stay near your side forever.
Nobunaga-sama!
So this supposed audience was ultimately a trap.
We'll set out back home to Owari early tomorrow.
And furthermore, you there...
Yes, my lord.
How are you named?
Baba Reijirou.
Reijirou, is it...
I'd like to ask you to join the Cloaked Guard.
As to your origins, we'll ask no particulars.
Yes, sir!
You saved Nobunaga-sama from that crisis! I have no objections!
Your skills are superb, beyond a doubt!
How about it?
I accept, my lord.
However much he's betrayed,
people who will join with and follow Nobunaga always seem to appear like this.
Uh-huh.
That's... Nobunaga-sama.
"April 1560"
Reports say that the Yamaguchis of Narumi Castle, both father and son,
have been forced to commit seppuku by Imagawa Yoshimoto.
How brutal, to murder those who were obedient to him!
So does this mean Imagawa is rousing himself to action?
At this very time, Nobunaga-sama's greatest test was about to fall upon him.
"Next Episode"
"Okehazama"
"Look forward to next week's episode!"