Why must we retreat?!
Why can't I and my staff go and kill Yoshikiyo?!
Why do you think we've formed a Kakuyoku formation?!
No more than a hundred of their men will escape our trap!
If we retreat now, Sir Baba's men can advance and destroy them all!
No, we will not retreat! Not matter what happens, we won't do that!
Please, this is not the time to indulge oneself!
What will you gain by personally killing Yoshikiyo?!
What?!
Sir, we won't make it... If we retreat, they'll get us from behind.
If we move elsewhere, they'll outflank us!
We won't prevail if we retreat now! Guard our Lord!
We'll wait here... then we'll attack them all at once!
The horsemen! Charge!
Takeda Harunobu... Here I am!
We now know that Murakami can never oppose us again.
The way today's battle progressed was highly unusual.
Clearly, Yoshikiyo staked everything on this battle.
Yet, he not only failed to destroy you, but he also lost most of his men.
It's doubtful he can do much anymore, all by himself.
Which means that, from now on...
Kansuke... how many more years will it take?
Sir?
Until the day we take Nagao Kagetora's head!
No matter how many years it takes, we shall certainly see it happen!
Sir Itagaki Nobukata has died in battle!
Sir Itagaki has died in battle!
Sir Nobukata...
I... am without words...
For me, nobody could possibly replace Sir Nobukata.
Now I feel as if I've been deserted, left all alone in a barren field...
No... I'm not the only one left behind...
There is also Princess Yu, and Prince Katsuyori.
You are a man who rarely voices your thoughts...
But, please, at least for today...
...I need you to tell me...
...that you, like Sir Nobukata, will lend me your strength.
The reasons why he transferred those two to Suwa...
...and what I plan to do; my treasured goals... these you know all too well.
No, I know not.
We all think differently.
However, Sir Yamamoto, I wonder if you're not being too indulgent?
You don't kill the one who ought to be killed...
...yet you seek to fight Nagao Kagetora... it's ridiculous!
"The one who ought to be killed...?"
The other woman.
"From the mountain that way... to the mountain this way...
"What is it that comes dashing?
"Popping out of its head are... two long and narrow...
"...ears, sticking out...
"Why, it's a rabbit, sitting..."
Wow, now that's something!
With that many kids, forget about battling armies...
...and start worrying about the battling heirs!
All right now...
She may be a very important person... But, talk about a problem!
I wanted to bear the Lord's children... even if it were wrong for me to do so.
Have you any idea why I've come here?
No, I haven't.
But, I do sense something frightening.
To be honest, I've come to take your life.
Did the Lord order you to do so?
If it's true... that the Lord ordered you to do so...
...l'm willing to die, at any time.
I don't know her. Nobody by that name.
You are certain that you do not know her, sir?
No, never heard of her.
She's the daughter of a famous family in Ina Domain, the Aburagawa family...
...the Princess Okoto.
You say that you do not know her, sir?
Uh-huh. What about her? So, what if I know her?
If you insist that you don't know her, sir...
...then I must personally slay her at once.
Did Princess Yu tell you to kill her?
No, the Princess is not aware of this matter.
We must take care of it before she hears any of this.
It'd just be too disheartening... for me to have to tell her.
I need your decision, sir!
No, you mustn't! Don't chop off the girl's head!
No, she won't lose her head... But, Lord, you must lose your hair!
What?! Are you telling me to become a monk?!
From now on, you must not fight fate, and devote yourself to Buddhism.
In order to protect your family legacy, which has endured for generations...
...I ask you to take a vow of chastity!
Is that what you've dreamt of achieving?
I want you to become a noble figure, one who will live on...
...in the hearts of not just those in Kai and Shinano...
...but those in a much larger world!
So, I must become a monk?
February, Tenbun 20 (2552) Takeda and Kansuke shave their heads and become monks.
It took Kansuke three years to persuade Lord Takeda to take holy orders.
Father, why did you become a monk?
Now, now... Katsuyori...
You see, your father played too many naughty games...
...so the gods had to severely punish him.
Father, is that true?
Well, I guess that's about right.
Kansuke, did the gods punish you, too?
Alas, poor Kansuke had to go along to keep your father company.
No, I was punished by the gods as well!
A very, very severe punishment indeed, straight from heaven!
Come here now...
Your father has become a monk in order to be reborn...
...as a general even more powerful than he was before.
He has changed his name too...
...to Takeda Shingen.
"Takeda Shingen?"
Yes. "Takeda Shingen?"
Kansuke, did your name change, too?
Yes, I changed it to...
...Yamamoto Kansuke-Dooki!
"Dooki?"
"Strong as a devil..."
...and praying to live only to fight battles! Do you understand?
This is the first time the three of us are drinking together.
That's right, now that you mention it...
But, it doesn't feel as if this is the first time.
It feels like we were always like this. Don't you think so, Kansuke?
Lord...
What's wrong?
Nothing...
You know, my bald head feels cold! Get me a hood.
Certainly.
Now that I've become a monk... and I can't lay my hands on women...
If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content.
If you tell us to conquer Kiso, we'll do so.
If you tell us to conquer Echigo, we will.
We'll do whatever you wish, Princess.
Me?
Why do you say such kind words to me tonight?
At this moment, our clan is facing its greatest challenge.
Kansuke and I have done our best to consider all possible options...
...but we haven't been able to settle on anything.
Say what's on your mind... I will decide, based on what you have to say.
First, I'd ask you to conquer Kiso.
And, to strengthen the alliance that exists between us and...
...lmagawa and Hojo. I believe that is very important.
Princess Yu and Kansuke... you are just like a married couple!
Personally, I'd go for Echigo first...
But... I'd do it the way that Kansuke would've...
...or the way he might've wanted to do it.
"When our forces are at peak strength... that's the moment we'll take Echigo!"
Kansuke, isn't that right?
That's right. That's exactly right, sir.
Excuse me, sir. Sir Itagaki has arrived.
Really? Show him in.
So nice of you to come. Just having drinks with my family. Come on in.
Sanada Yukitaka of Ueda had sent us an emergency messenger, sir.
What's the matter?
It contains news of what's going on with Nagao in Echigo, sir.
His perennial request to be appointed to the post of Kanto Deputy...
...was granted by Shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru on March 2nd.
So, not just Echigo and Noto... but he'll be...
...in charge of all eight provinces in Kanto?
Additionally, in honor of the event, his name will be changed to Uesugi...
...as was strongly requested by his predecessor, Uesugi Norimasa.
That means, he's no longer Nagao Kagetora... but Uesugi Kagetora?
No, sir. Apparently, Kagetora has taken holy vows...
...and thus had begun a new life as a devout Buddhist monk.
And so, he will go by the name of "Uesugi Kenshin."
"Uesugi Kenshin..."
Uesugi Kenshin and Takeda Shingen...
February, Tenbun 24 (2555) The army of Uesugi Kenshin marches to Shinano.
Takeda Shigen's army camps at Unnodaira in Shinano.
They're nothing like the opponents we've faced in the past, sir...
The army seems to be very confident, and proceeds without concealment.
Yet... they are marching in formation, and thus can fight at a moment's notice.
Uh-huh... The Echigo Army... So they're the Echigo Army.
The Takeda and Uesugi armies face each other at Unnodaira. Forthree days, neither side moves.
You keep telling us to wait... How long must we do so?!
Their six thousand against our fifteen thousand... we can wipe them out!
Don't be in such a hurry!
When they push, we'll pull back. When they pull, we'll push.
For the time being, we'll continue to do this.
Sir, do you think the same way as my brother does?
I do.
Uesugi Kenshin is young and full of energy.
He's all fired up, and will attack us any day now. That's when we'll...
Uesugi's army is moving!
Lord, in today's battle... please do not even think of killing him.
It's sufficient for us to merely observe his fighting style.
I'm fully aware of that!
It doesn't look as if they will attack us.
Perhaps they'll retreat.
What?!
Kansuke, I could see him from here...
...faintly... but surely, with my own eyes!
Backlit by the sun... there was his white hood!
I must thank you for coming from so far away.
You don't look pale at all... I can't imagine how you could be ill!
She's been feeling better these last few days.
All of a sudden, I wanted to see your face, Kansuke, so I dispatched a messenger.
Please excuse my selfishness.
Not at all! Whatever you desire, I am in favor of it.
I'm feeling much better today.
Kansuke...
Will you take me out to the garden?
Yes, ma'am.
Kansuke... you're going back to Kofuchu, are you not?
No, I will be heading over to Kawa- nakajima in North Shinano.
Kawanakajima?
I think that the decisive battle between our Lord and Uesugi will be fought there.
Why do you think so?
Should the armies of both sides assemble there...
...the terrain is such that neither will be able to withdraw.
Are you feeling tired?
This may be the last year in which we can talk like this.
You must be joking, ma'am! Such nonsense!
No... I don't have much time left to live.
The Lord knows this already, I think.
I wish not to hear such words from you.
If you leave this world, Princess... I shall accompany you!
However... at this point, I cannot allow myself to die...
...no... I cannot die even if I'm killed!
I have three wishes...
First, to behead Uesugi with my own hands.
Second, to see Prince Katsuyori's maiden battle with my own eyes.
And, third...
...to see the Takeda domain stretch from the northern to the southern seas...
...in a world that is at peace.
Kansuke, why don't you try to grow up a little?
Indeed, you never change!
You keep holding on to a dream... a big dream...
On the other hand... I've tried to live my life in the way I wanted to...
...yes, I feel as though I've done just that...
...but I also feel as if none of my wishes have ever come true.
Kansuke... I ask this of you... Please take care of Katsuyori.
I do not want to die.
Not until I get to see his maiden battle with my own eyes!
I do not want to die...
Kawanakajima
We need a castle around here.
A castle?
Oh, I see! This is where we'll eventually battle Uesugi!
With a castle here, "the strong shall be stronger," as the saying goes!
It can be a small one, as long as it's well-guarded.
Two or three hundred soldiers stationed at the castle...
...will deliver the final blow to the Uesugi army...
...when they try to flee from my forces!
I see!
Of course, the Lord of the castle will be Prince Katsuyori...
...and it is there that he'll have his glorious maiden battle.
Boss!
Boss, Sir Itagaki is here.
I believe that we will be fighting the Uesugi by the spring, at the latest.
We should have more than enough time to build a castle here.
I see. And...?
A castle is definitely needed, sir.
And I request that Prince Katsuyori be assigned to the castle.
Prince Katsuyori... yes...
Should our forces perish here at Kawa- nakajima, all would be for naught!
We must endure, at all costs...
...so that, no matter what, at least Prince Katsuyori will live on.
Are you saying... that, if we fight here, we'll lose?!
We have always maneuvered our forces so that...
...we only fought battles which we knew that we could win.
But, in a battle with Uesugi's Echigo army...
...it's impossible to predict the outcome.
Both sides will lose many men, and the battle will become a wild melee...
...in which preplanned tactics will be of no value whatsoever.
When that happens, it will become a battle of individual single combat.
Echigo's troops, who are used to bloody man-to-man fighting...
...will, in the final stage of the battle, be far superior to our warriors...
...who lack this kind of experience!
I wonder if you're really the son of Sir Itagaki Nobukata.
It is Lord Takeda's wish that we destroy Uesugi right here.
I, for one, have lived to see that day.
Yet, you contend that we'll lose if we fight them here?!
I lack eloquence, as you know. Please forgive me for the way I say things.
I wish to win... No matter what! I do wish that we win the fight!
But, to do that... you must not underestimate anything!
Underestimate?! You mean, I'm underestimating something?!
Wanting to win... and the ability to win... are two different things.
Please do not let your dreams cloud your vision.
If you follow too great a dream, it may lead us to a terrible defeat.
What?!
Sir Itagaki!
Underestimated?! What have I underestimated?!
Sir Yamamoto... please return to Takashima Castle at once.
Princess Yu... has passed away!
On night of the 23rd...
...she died peacefully at Kosaka Kan'on Temple.
Lord Takeda will be traveling from Kofuchu... Please leave at once!
The funeral march will begin at 3am tomorrow...
The procession will originate from the castle's north-west gate.
From there, it will proceed to the main gate... and then left...
...to the cemetery of Kosaka Kan'on Temple.
For the incense rites, following Lord Takeda will be...
...Prince Katsuyori... Sir Samanosuke Nobushige...
...Sir Takeda Shoyoken... Sir Yamagata Masakage...
...Sir Kosaka Danjo...
...Sir Anayama lzu...
...Sir Ryozuni Bungo...
Life is strange...
The Princess was able to live for ten extra years...
On that day, had you intervened even a moment later...
...l'd probably have killed her right here... and killed myself as well.
But, I am glad that she lived...
She was happy...
No... woman will ever live as happily... as she did...
7 Years Later, November, Genroku 3 (2560) Construction of Kaizu Castle at Kawanakajima is complete.
Starting next year, Young Lord... you'll be the Lord of this castle!
I can hardly wait!
Kansuke, when will you stop calling me "Young Lord?!"
I'll be of age next year, you know that!
You're absolutely right, sir!
Indeed... it has taken us a long, long time to build this castle...
Since your mother's passing...
...how many times has Kenshin attacked us here in North Shinano?
Three times.
First, at Tokura. Next, at Nakanojo. And, finally, at Zenkojidaira.
Due to all the battles we've had to fight at those places...
...construction of this castle had to be delayed.
But, from now on... it is we who can attack Kenshin at any time!
Kansuke, when will Kenshin attack us again?
He'll be here sooner than you think. Much sooner...
Why do you say that?
Kenshin attacked Hojo of Odawara, then disengaged in mid-battle.
Can you tell me why that happened, Young Lord?
That's... That's because...
...he's concerned about what our forces might be doing.
That's exactly right!
As long as the Takeda army exists, he can't possibly control all of Kanto.
He tried attacking Kyoto twice, but failed...
...and now that we've established this castle as a base for our army...
...he must sit, pinned, in his home domain!
The "Tiger of Echigo" will soon be heading to Kawanakajima.
But, we'd better not fight him until next year...
...until after you, Prince Katsuyori, come of age!
August, Genroku 4 (2562). Uesugi marches from Kasuga Castle. He advances towards Kawanakajima with an army of 23,000 men.
The Takeda army consists of 28,000 men, organized into 28 troops. It takes three days forthe army to depart from Kofuchu.
To Kawanakajima!
It has been a long time, Princess.
We've been busy fighting battles and building castles these last few years.
I'm sorry that I haven't been able to visit you often. Please forgive me.
Princess, please rejoice... the time has come for my dreams to come true!
Lord Takeda's army of 18,000 men, with our Fuurinkazan banners in hand...
...is heading to Kawanakajima as we speak.
However, I have one regret...
...and that is that Prince Katsuyori isn't of age yet...
...and so, this won't be his maiden battle.
But, as long as we get Kenshin's head, lmagawa will be next...
...so, I believe, there's no need to rush things.
Princess... I wish to be at your side as soon as possible.
But, as there are matters I must take care of first... please be patient.
Please give my regards to Sir Itagaki as well.
Young Lord! Th... That outfit!
You mustn't fight, not until you're of age!
Sir Nobusato, what's the meaning of this?
Kansuke, don't worry.
As much as I'd like to, you know that I'll not go out and fight until I'm of age!
Sir...
But, you know... I look good in it, don't I?
Sir...
Nobusato told me, "Our First Troop, led by Kansuke, will be here soon...
"...so wear the armor."
Oh? Sir Nobusato said that...?
I know that you're disappointed that this won't be my first battle.
He said that the least I could do was to let you see me in my outfit...
...as if this truly were my maiden battle!
Oh! Sir Nobusato told you that?!
Well, Kansuke? Do I look all right?
Of course you do! You look so perfect in it!
In five years or so... without a doubt, you'll be the best warrior in the land!
Kansuke, I understand that you're leading the vanguard this time.
Yes, sir.
In that case, I shall give you a gift.
Sir?
Go! Hop on your horse!
Sir? Go! Hop on your horse!
Sir?
Come on! Go!
Sir... Come on! Go!
Sir...
Hop on your horse!
All you men, don't be so modest! Hop on also!
Sir!
Hop on!
Sir!
This is the man who will lead you to Kaizu Castle...
...the commander of the Yamamoto Troop of the Takeda Forces...
...Yamamoto Kansuke!
Everyone, let us wish him all the best! Hurray for Kansuke!
Kawanakajima, on the Chikuma River Uesugi Takeda Saijo Mt. Kaizu Castle
Kawanakajima, on the Chikuma River Uesugi Takeda
23,000 men 28,000 men
It's as if they know that this could be their last chance.
Uesugi Kenshin... is even more prepared than in the past.
We either wait for his attack, or launch one of our own...
...but, as he's much younger than you, Lord...
...l'm sure he'll run out of patience and come after us first.
That'll be the moment... That'll be the decisive moment for us all!
But, their men number 13,000... while we have 18,000.
With 5,000 less men, it's doubtful that Uesugi will even...
...consider attacking us here at Kaizu Castle.
Do you think so? Do you think that my strategy is faulty?
Sir, are you not aware of it?
Aware of what?
Our men will all be leaving the castle today...
...to attack Uesugi at Mount Saijo.
U... Under whose orders?!
I see you've heard about it.
Are you really planning to launch this attack?!
That's right.
Do you have a specific reason?!
No, I don't. Do you have a specific reason?!
Only that... All of a sudden, I wanted to plan an attack.
Such an explanation is totally unacceptable!
For over thirty battles, I have planned our strategy...
...and not once have I failed!
Now, in our present situation...
Your strategies have never failed.
Each time, you and I were of one mind...
...or, perhaps I got dragged along by your ideas.
But, at least this time around, I want to do it my way...
Exactly as I please.
Lord!
"If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content."
You know very well who spoke those words.
Very well, sir. We shall carry out the attack, as you wish.
However, please allow me to plan the strategy.
First, we'll launch a frontal assault...
...in Crane's-Wing and Fan formations.
We'll need to be prepared to fight using all these maneuvers.
The problem is... how do we lure the enemy from Mt. Saijo...
...out into the open field?
My men will act as bait.
Of course, I am prepared to give my life.
If each of my men kills one of theirs, we can destroy twelve hundred.
In the meantime...
We'll surround them?
I see... It is a tactic that basically guarantees our victory...
...but at the cost of the lives of many of our men!
The attack on Mt. Saijo will proceed as follows...
The fog... as if heaven-sent... is more than we could hope for...
...as we will use it to our advantage!
13,000 men of the main force will be ordered...
...to advance as close as they can to the enemy's position...
...and launch an attack without waiting for the fog to clear.
That's the only way!
You want our vanguard to surround the enemy?
The enemy will not believe this to be our main force...
...so they'll attack and head straight to Kaizu Castle, I believe.
In the meantime, our First Troop will leave the castle...
...and move to Hachimangahara, where 3,000 of our men will...
...attack the enemy from the flank!
Victory will be ours, Kansuke!
Sir Itagaki Nobusato will lead the vanguard.
Good! We're set!
We shall not wait for tomorrow, but depart immediately!
Our forces are ready to march.
Sir Itagaki Nobusato should be heading out soon.
Something's different about him... I've never seen him look like that before.
Buhei...
Huh?
You were fifteen when you first came to work for me, weren't you?
Uh-huh.
It's been almost twenty years since we began serving Sir Yamamoto...
But... this time... I'm afraid.
I'm off!
Sir Yamamoto... after my father passed away...
...I came to consider you to be my father! Farewell!
Hidden by fog, Takeda fords the Chikuma River and camps at Hachimangahara.
Itagaki Nobusato's assault on Mt. Saijo is to begin at 6 in the morning.
What time is it?
A little past 6 o'clock.
Why don't we hear any battle cries coming from Mt. Saijo?!
I believe that the attack has been delayed, due to the fog.
But, it's way past 6 now! What's the matter with Nobusato?!
The fog must be delaying their attack, sir.
What's taking them so long?!
The fog might be dense...
...but, by now we should be hearing battle cries from Mt. Saijo!
The fact that the fog is dense is highly advantageous to us.
The closer our men can get to the enemy, the better our chances.
It's unthinkable that Sir Itagaki Nobusato is failing, sir!
I want to believe that!
But, Nobusato might've... lost control of his troop formations...
...perhaps due to this thick fog...
...or perhaps...
"...or perhaps...?"
Perhaps there were no Echigo forces at Mt. Saijo for our men to attack!
You must be joking!
What other explanations are there?!
Kansuke... find the watchman!
Sir!
Who goes there?!
"Wind!"
"Mountain!" "Wind!"
I'm Yamamoto Kansuke of the main troop! Are you the watchman?
Yessir, I'm here with an emergency report...
Several hundred cavalry have gathered on the field below!
Are they our men, or the enemy?!
Lmpossible to tell, in this fog, sir!
Go! Go and check again!
Yessir!
Kansuke, what's going on at Mt. Saijo?!
There's not a sign of Uesugi's men, just as you suspected!
What?!
Uesugi also exploited the fog... by moving all his troops...
...and has surrounded us here at Hachimangahara!
You've made a major blunder, Kansuke!
I am truly sorry, sir...
The enemy has deployed across the nearby valley...
...and is moving to the right!
Several dozen of their horsemen are approaching from the east!
Over 10,000 Echigo troops are advancing on both flanks!
Lord!
I have made a strategic error, sir! It is my first and only blunder!
The battle has only begun. Don't berate yourself yet!
But... our main force, 12,000 strong, is not on the field of battle!
Still, Nobusato's Men-in-Red will soon bring them back.
Until then, we must hold out with what we have!
Charge!
Nobushige's defensive action is quite remarkable.
Yes, sir... At present.
Akiyama's men on the right, and Yamagata's men on the left...
...they're all holding up well, sir.
But, this is probably it... We can't hold out much longer.
Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?!
Not yet... Not yet, sir!
Nobushige's been killed?
His was a splendid death, sir!
Nobushige... if only you'd held out a little longer...
...you could've heard our cries of victory!
What an unfortunate man you were.
Lord... I am truly sorry, sir...
Kansuke... remember what Princess Yu used to say...
"If you wish to fight a battle, do so to your heart's content."
This is a battle both of us wanted to fight.
So we must fight! We must!
Lord!
Lord, we must commit Baba's rear guard.
But, we cannot jeopardize the safety of our men in the center.
All right! Except for my guards, commit all our liege vassals!
Yessir!
Where are Itagaki's men?! Where are the Men-in-Red?!
Sir... They're nowhere to be found!
Sir Yamamoto...
Please take care of the Lord.
As you must know, the rear guard won't last long.
I, Naito Shuri, and the liege vassals, will attack the enemy's main troop...
...in an attempt to reverse the tide of battle.
Of course, I know that our chances are slim...
...but, if we do nothing, we're doomed.
With the Chikuma River at our backs...
...we've no choice but to attack, and fight to the death!
Sir Shuri... you're not the one to carry out that task.
But you are indispensable, Sir Yamamoto.
You must survive as long as you can, no matter what.
I've been waiting to fight this battle all my life...
...only to make a major blunder.
I know that my own life won't be enough compensation for my error...
...but, please... allow me to do what you've proposed.
If we can hold them off for just two hours, it'll help our main troop.
Then, we might see things change to our advantage.
Are you going, Kansuke?
Until Itagaki's men arrive... you must live on!
The same goes for you, Lord!
Farewell...
All right. Go!
We will attack the enemy's main troop!
Do not be distracted by their auxiliary forces!
Uesugi Kenshin's head... that is all we're after!
Go for it, men!
Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?!
Not yet, sir!
They're not here yet!
Yaoemon!
Yes, sir!
Any sign of Itagaki's men yet?!
Not yet! We can't see them yet, sir!
Buhei, how's our main troop?
Sir, they're all right! Our Fuurinkazan banners still stand high!
All right! We're going!
There!
Kenshin!
Where are you...? Uesugi Kenshin, reveal yourself!
Boss!
Buhei!
Yessir!
How's our main troop?! Yessir!
How's our main troop?!
The main troop...
...our Fuurinkazan banners... still stand tall...
Buhei!
Watch out!
Yaoemon!
Sir Nobusato!
Charge!
Victory!
Lord! Princess... Princess Yu!
I've led us to victory! We've won!
Kansuke...
We won the day at Kawanakajima.
But, we suffered heavy losses.
From a strategic standpoint...
...neither side could claim victory. It was a draw.
You fool!
How could your judgment fail you, just when everything depended on it?!
You were blinded by too great a dream...
...too great a dream...
...and by love...
You fool...
You fool!
They each dreamed their dreams, and then left the world.
No plum tree remains in this farmyard now.
Only the mountains and rivers of Koshinenstu endure. Mute witnesses to all that transpired here.
The End