Oda Nobuna no Yabou volume 1 chapter 5

Status: COMPLETE

Chapter 5: The Oda Clan’s internal rebellion

In order to prevent a further intensification of the stand off between Nobuna and her younger brother, Nobukatsu, Inuchiyo went absconding from Kiyosu.

However, even then, they weren’t able to stop the internal rebellion of the Oda clan.

Just three days after Inuchiyo went absconding, Nobukatsu’s chief retainer, Shibata Katsuie visited Nobuna at Kiyosu castle and gave a melancholic sigh.

Shibata Katsuie, nickname ‘Riku’.

From a young age she was known as the strongest fierce general of Owari, a girl commander who if given a spear, shows a prowess of being invincible in the whole of Japan.

However, because she has a straight forward personality, she wasn’t able to have a sense for difficult things like politics or the like.

God doesn’t bestow two gifts, she was the representative chosen.

While her position is that of Nobukatsu’s chief retainer, Katsuie was Nobuna’s fan from way back.

Although she’s blunt, poison tongued and her quirky and eccentric actions stand out, there has been a rare occasion before her father, Nobuhide died when Katsuie let out a sigh while showing a lovely smile inadvertently.

Nobuna isn’t just pretty looks, she has cute expressions where you want to adore her while playing with her cheeks.

However, after losing the one who understood her the most, Nobuhide, she obstinately closed off her heart, made her tongue sharper, she started getting irritated and displeased with her retainers.

That’s why, the people around became arrogant and thought to themselves “If it’s about sociability, wouldn’t our Lord who has established opinion about him as well be better?”and started to plan a rebellion.

Katsuie always wants to completely remove the friction between Nobuna and Nobukatsu......although she thinks that, but she doesn’t know what she should do to accomplish that.

This time too, because Nobuna’s page, Inuchiyo cut down Nobukatsu’s page, once again, Nobukatsu and the young samurai around him, having not learnt from their mistakes, planned a rebellion saying “This time for sure, let’s chase out that foolish daughter of Owari”.

Katsuie shouted at Nobukatsu and the people surrounding him countless times to make them desist but, it was of no use.

Conversely, the people surrounding him said:                                                                                  

“Katsuie-dono, didn’t you more or less run back here without fighting in the battle with Nobuna-dono before?”

“The best spear wielder of Owari was a lie, huh.”

“Could it be you had a understanding with Nobuna.”

It was the cleaning up of the blame.

(I can’t draw my bow against Nobuna-sama. This is troubling, why are there so many idiots...although I am an idiot as well to not be able to get a plan to solve this)

Although Katsuie is the chief retainer assigned to Nobukatsu, the lord of Owari is till the end, Nobuna.

To fight with Nobuna, there’s no way she can do that.

Although she says that, there’s no way she can give Nobukatsu a death penalty as well. That too will become an act of rebellion towards the Oda clan.

For Katsuie who didn’t have a personality with an underside, there was no word such as ‘Rebellion’ in her dictionary.

It’s straightforward loyalty.

She’s from warrior class where her ancestors had been fighting generation after generation for the Oda clan.

Because of that, she thought of the confrontation between the Oda clan bitterly.

(If I cut down all of these stupid people surrounding him, will Nobukatsu-sama also open his eyes.....since Nobukatsu is easy to be elated, he’s just being used by those who are flattering him)

She thought that but, if she perpetrated that purge, the small hearted Nobukatsu would fall into a panic and it seems like it would finally become something that cannot be undone.

Also, the people surround him maybe idiots with a narrow outlook but they aren’t that bad a bunch that they need to be killed.

While she was undecided, Nobukatsu gave the order that made her head hurt.

“Hey, Katsuie. Could you try having a negotiation with sister by suggesting her to hand over Inuchiyo. If sister doesn’t agree, then it’s a battle for sure this time!”

“Haa~”

That Katsuie is right now in the main citadel of the Kiyosu castle.

There are only 3 people in the room.

Nobuna, and Sagara Yoshiharu serving in replacement of Inuchiyo.

The place is Nobuba’s tea room.

Tea ceremony was very popular in the centre of culture, Kyo or Sakai. (T/N: Kyoto was called Kyo in the ancient times. Kyo literally means the capital)

Nobuna who was sensitive to fashion had made a personal use tea room in Kiyosu castle and had started gathering the tea utensils but, with just her followers seated, she didn’t have any intention of following proper etiquettes or the like, today too, she was sitting in a cross legged position on the cushion. (T/N: In tea ceremony, people sit in a seiza posture, google it up)

Since if she sat in a seiza posture, her legs would fall asleep.

Today, Nobuna’s way of preparing tea, couldn’t be called appropriate, but with the self taught way she had put a large amount of matcha in the bowl and had poured the seething water into it and stirred it. While it was still hot, she drank it in one gulp.

Finally, while muttering that her stomach was empty, she started chewing on the Nagoya specialty, Tebasaki.

Since there are bones in Tebasaki, there’s a method to eat it too but Nobuna was eating it her own way. She stuffed the Tebasaki with the bone in her cheeks and crunched it in low noise in her mouth, then she spit out the cleaned bones without flesh skilfully while saying ‘Fuu~, no matter when I eat it, the Nagoya chicken meat, Tebasaki is delicious.’

She really doesn’t look like an important female feudal lord.

The person in question herself spouted that, rather than eating it bit by bit, it was faster to swallow it whole. It’s the same reason as a watermelon, it’s a waste of time removing the seeds of it before eating.

Another one not knowing any etiquette, the one called 'Saru', Yoshiharu was to working hard to do a sham of a tea ceremony, but it was still better doing that.

Although during the time when she was having tea with Saitou Dousan, she had done it properly. But that was more of a 'putting one's best clothes on', after all. Yoshiharu gave a sigh.

"You, really are haphazard. If you're going to ignore the etiquettes of preparing hot water for tea then don't build a tea ceremony room in the first place."

"Shut up. Tea is a drink. Isn't it fine drinking drinks while just savouring them. Rotating your tea cup and saying things like [It's well made] is what withered old men do, it's not my hobby.While drinking it so slowlky, won't the essential tea cool down."

"Also...if you sit cross legged with that short kimono, I-I can see it."

"No problem. In this tea room, there's no one else except me, Riku and the pet Saru. There's no man here."

"If you're going to say that, I'll look as much as I can....Gya?"

While he was trying to peek through the gap between her thighs, she threw the cup with the hot water on his head and he was in agony.

"Hoooooooot."

"That cup is expensive. You'll have to reimburse if it breaks."

"P-Princess. I didn't come with the Saru for playing arund."

Katsuie was having cold sweat while gripping the tea cup thinking on the proper method of how to drink, she suddenly sprang up saying that.

"That's right. So, what's the matter?"

"Um...that is, I came here regarding the incident with Inuchiyo!"

"...If it's about Inuchiyo, she is absconding. Even I don't know her whereabouts."

With her cheeks puffed, Nobuna turned her gaze outside of the window.

For Nobuna, Inuchiyo had been accompanying her since childhood like a dog, her one and only friend and retainer whom she could open up to. No, she was more like a real younger sister.

Katsuie who knows that, has her head torn apart more and more thinking what Nobuna's condition would be.

"N-Nobuna-sama, he said to hand over Inuchiyo....otherwise he would rebel again...is what he..."

"Since he's an idiot, he must be egged on by those surrounding and said that because of that, right? Riku, can't you suppress Nobukatsu?"

Katsuie was prostrating herself.

"M-My humblest apologies! I may be able to brag about not having lost to anyone on the battlefield but, um, for things like this, the only ways I can think of are threatening them or cutting them down."

Nobuna gave a sigh.

"Haah. Jeez, sounds like Katsuie. If you can't suppress Nobukatsu anyways then, isn't it fine to take my head in the next battlefield."

"T-There's no way I can do that! If I have to take a stand against the princess, then it would be better to commit seppuku."

Nobuna explained to Yoshiharu that the reason why Nobukatsu loses to her whenever he rebels is because Riku withdraws without fighting.

"I wonder how you aren't killed by Nobukatsu for that, Katsuie"

"It's because he doesn't have any other honest retainer with him. The bunch of guys around him are all puny young guys, they can't do anything in a battle. He understands that without Katsuie they have no chance of winning against me."

"It seems like a gathering of second and third-rate guys....those who don't know their own limits are in fact more troublesome."

"They aren't as troublesome as you though. There is only one retainer in all of Owari who argues with the feudal warlord. "

Katsuie regretfully drooped her shoulders saying that if possible, she would have wished to have been born as Nobuna-sama's direct retainer.

That's right. If it's under Nobukatsu, your prowess is like pearls before swine, lamented Nobuna.

"Then, Nobuna-sama. are you saying that no matter what, you won't hand over Inuchiyo..."

"I can't hand over something which isn't there."

"Then, once again there will be an internal strife..."

"If he continues to provoke me any further, I will confront him face to face. Tell that to Nobukatsu, Katsuie."

"W-What?"

"If he rebels against me the next time, no matter how much mother appeals for his life, I will kill him. Convey that to him"

"T-That is-"

"Suruga's lord, Imagawa Yoshimoto has full-fledegedly started preparing for the march to the capital. If Yoshimoto starts moving, the first to be invaded would be us. I don't have the luxury to worry about internal strifes in Owari."

"U-U-Uh....that would be the fall of the Oda clan...!"

Katsuie had completely fallen into panic.

As if thinking that she was an idiot for not knowing what to say in situations like this, she started hitting hit her head.

"Also, I have had enough of looking after that troublesome little brother! Whose fault was it that Inuchiyo had to run away? Wasn't it because he firstly meddled with Inuchiyo?"

"However, princess, Nobukatsu is the one and only little brother who is connected by blood with you."

"It's fine. In this world of the Warring States, I don't need a younger brother who keeps on causing trouble."

Muttering that bluntly, Nobuna's white cheeks were really strained.

"Ah geez, the tea's gone bad."

With a voice that meant that she could burst out in anger any second, she drank the thick tea in the bowl in one gulp.

Yoshiharu said, "Hey, are you really going ot abandon Nobukatsu? He's an idiot but he ain't that bad a guy. Besides, he's like a younger version of you appearance wise."

"A princess feudal lord like me, you know is"

"Hm?"

"Even if we get defeated in battle, if we let down our hair and abandon all claims to our house, we will be forgiven. That is what I was taught. However, men are different. Even if they surrender, if they're not forgiven, their heads will be fall. Furthermore, if you look at it from Imagawa's perspective who's full of talent, Nobukatsu isn't military commander material, who he would want to take in as a retainer.Besides he habitually rebels."

With displeasure clearly visible, the sight of Nobuna muttering that was, unusually weak.

"That's why no matter what way, a person of his calibre will not be able to survive in the Warring States world. Even if I hand the country over to him, the result will be the same. No, it would be worse since this Owari province would be destroyed."

However, Nobuna raised her head.

"If Riku isn't there, my plan to conquer Japan will fall apart. There's no stronger military commander than you, in this province of weakling soldiers of Owari. One of us will have to go, Nobukatsu."

"But, princess!"

"Riku. Right now, if there is a battle in Owari, both sides would be trampled by Imagawa in no time. If you believe this Nobuna to be the Lord of Owari, lure out and capture Nobukatsu at once. That is for Owari, for its people and for conquering Japan."

"....B-By our will."

"You don't have to be pained by it. My eyes are always looking ahead, 10 years ahead, 100 years ahead. Even if no one understands, I have confidence. If you have feel pained by it, then instead of praying the Buddhist prayer, pray 'It is for all the people in Japan.'. It's fine for me alone to bear all the sins."

That expression was with resolution, and her eyes showing resolve.

Katsuie lowered her head without thinking.

I don't understand complicated stuff, however----

She is definitely not a fool. Her body understood that this person is indeed the Lord of Owari.

And also, Yoshiharu kept on staring that face of Nobuna from the side.

===============================

At Nobukatsu's castle.

"A-Are you going to betray me, Katsuieeee? Wait, please wait!"

"M-M-My deepest apologies!"

Within 3 seconds, Katsuie had controlled Nobukatsu and the surrounding guys and had captured them

Nobukatsu had come humming "So how was my sister's reply?", was captured by the wrist by her. Seeing him unable to move, the surrounding guys became pale and immediately dropped their swords and spears.

Unfortunately there was not one amongst the retainers around him who had enough courage to try to take on Katsuie.

"This is her highness' wishes, Nobukatsu-sama!"

"Y-You mean that my sister ordered my arrest?"

"Even if it means to put my life at stake, I will petition spare your life Nobukatsu-sama, so please come with me to Kiyosu castle."

"No waaaay, I don't want to dieeeee! Someone, help me!"

It's impossible, we cannot win against Katsuie-dono.

There's no other way left but to put our heads together and beg of Nobuna-sama for forviness.

That sort of weak opinion was the only thing that could come out.

That sudden surrender instead made Katsuie feel dejected.

(I am sooo stupid! There was no way this bunch could ever be on par with Nobuna-sama! Not to mention that them fighting against Imagawa is impossible. They will be turned into dust with one hit! If the chief retainer, I, had made a decision faster---)

Having captured Nobukatsu and the rest, she resolved herself that even if it meant her own life, she would would at least save Nobukatsu. With that resolve she headed back for Kiyosu castle.

At Kiyosu Castle.

Katsuie returned with a white attire on.

She started reporting about the developments to Nobuna who was sitting on the chief seat with an unpleasant look on her face and eating the speciality of Nagoya, Tebasaki.

Sitting beside Katsuie was Nobukatsu, in tears and trembling.

Sitting in a row on both the left and right of Katsuie and Nobukatsu, the chief vassals of the Oda clan were whispering to each other:

(There's no chance of Nobukatsu-dono being saved any more)

(Nobukatsu-sama will finally make her decision too)

While talking fast like that, they were sending gazes of pity toward Nobukatsu.

"Uwaaah, I am being pitied by everyone? Someone, please plead for my life, it's my honest request~~"

"Leave it to me, Katsuie."

Katsuie once again turned to Nobuna.

"Being his chief retainer, Nobukatsu-sama's misconduct is my misconduct too. I don't understand complex things but, please forgive everyone with just taking my head here!"

With a highly refreshing voice, she declared that.

It seems she was prepared for giving her life since the moment she was ordered to capture Nobukatsu.

However, Nobuna cannot approve it.

"Katsuie. There's no way we can win without you. Didn't I say it before? If we calculate the gains and losses of the decision, it is already decided that it should be Nobukatsu who should die."

"Uwaaah? Sister, I won't oppose you once more, so please forgive me! My eyes have opened! The fool was me, who kept on thinking of my small dream of the making the Nagoya speciality, Uirou popular across Japan and revolting against you everytime. Sisteeeeer~~~"

Having awoken from his ambitions, Nobukatsu begged for his life.

"I don't want to die! However, please don't kill Katsuie, she hasn't ever opposed you, not even once! But I don't want to die too."

Which one does he want, while thinking like that in the lowest, Yoshiharu grabbed his head.

"I have made my decision. From today on, Riku will serving under me as a substitute for my chief - retainer. The group serving Nobukatsu shall be exiled. And Nobukatsu shall commit Seppuku here." (T/N: Seppuku means to disembowel oneself by using the sword in a slashing motion in the stomach. See the wiki for more details)

"Seppuku? That sort of painful way of death is impossible, I can't do that, big sis?"

"I see. If you are going to refuse, I will just have to personally behead you."

Nobuna took the sword from the page and stood up, and descended to the level where Nobukatsu was sitting.

"Princess, Nobukatsu-sama is your real younger brother. Please forgive him."

"Silence, Riku! If I can't even suppress one rebellion within in my clan, there's no way I can proclaim conquering Japan, right? The rest too, listen well! From now on, if there's anyone who opposes, be they may my family, I will kill them! I will throw away my emotions, and will become the sixth devil king. That is for the sake of conquering Japan, and for the sake of our people!"

The foolish Nobuna's appearance has already disappeared.

The current Nobuna looked like she had changed into an unmatched beauty with a gaze so sharp that it gave one the shivers.

In that hand of hers was a large sword.

Nobuna threw her motions, and had become the Goddess of War herself fighting for conquering Japan.

Someone muttered that she looked like the Buddhist God of War, Marishiten.

So beautiful, so divine, and also, so dreadful.  

It was like there was no one who could oppose her.

The retainers had bowed their heads and trembling, Yoshiharu who was in the lowest seat stood up.

"Wait, Nobuna. Don't go on killing your own younger brother."

"I....Idiot! Saru, even you will be beheaded!" Katsuie let out a voice which sounded like a shriek.

However, Yoshiharu was thinking that since he came by some mistake to the Warring States Era, even if he dies, this era would be like how it was supposed to be.

Also, he couldn't stay put.

Nobuna's appearance right now was turning exactly into the image he had seen in Warring State games and dramas "The cold hearted and cruel devil, Oda Nobunaga."

With no reason, he thought that he didn't want that.

Nobuna and he started staring at each other from a close distance which looked as if their noses were touching.

However, she wasn't the usual her.

It was Nobuna who was changing into the devil of the Warring States.

Katsuie was thinking about the nerves of steel of this Saru, and wondering if could really be an unbelievable guy, or a run of the mill idiot, doubting her own eyes.

"You really opposed me. You will die here anyways, Saru. If you have anything to say, say it now."

"Alright, I will speak my mind! If you turn into a devil and kill Nobukatsu here, you will continue on to kill and kill and kill the ones around you who are close to you, and continue to spend the rest of your life like a devil! Are you fine with that?"

"That's right. I said I am fine with that, right? It's for the sake of all the people of this nation! As long my retainers don't faithfully follow my orders, the dream of uniting Japan is impossible, you know? Since they are all fools who can't understand what I say anyways, they just have to stay quiet and listen to what I say! I don't need a younger brother who will oppose me!"

"Shut up! 'Conquering Japan', my foot, you stupid woman."

"W-What?"

The retainers started stirring.

There remains no way that Saru can be saved!

"You got it!? If I forgive Nobukatsu since he's my kin, it will unfair to those soldiers, people who died in the battlefield.  Although a person maybe a samurai or a farmer, or a townsfolk, everyone's equal. If I can protect the lives of the citizens of Owari by killing him then it will be a gain for everyone. Am I wrong?"

"That's why your brain is too good! No one can follow you! Besides, the hearts of humans are not just made of logic!"

"Huh? What's that, do you want to put off the issue at hand?"

"Do you hate your brother so much that you want to kill him? That's not it, right? It's because you didn't want to plunge your weak little brother into this chaotic world that you succeeded your family on your own, right? Even then, killing him with your own hands is like mistaking the cause for the end!"

"S-Saru! You rebutted me just for the sake of saying that? How cheap of you!"

"Like it's cheap! I don't want to make you into a frightening guy like a devil! I want you to stay the way you were when you were happily spinning the globe with your hands."

Instead of swinging the sword down, she punched Yoshiharu in the cheek with her free hand.

Blood started running down from Yoshiharu's nose.

"Shut up, shut up! Idiot, idiot, idiot! Even though you are just a monkey! Then what do you want me to do?"

"Forget about conquering Japan for now! This is a problem of your family! It's fine for you to become honest with yourself! What do you really want to do to Nobukatsu?"

"......Isn't it obvious I don't want to kill him! There's no way that there's a girl who wants to kill her own younger brother! Don't make me say everything, idiot!"

On Nobuna's cheeks, finally a single line of transparent tear was trickling down.

"Sister!", crouching at Nobuna's feet, Nobukatsu let that out without thinking.

"Then, isn't it fine if you say that! You are the lord of Owari! You are the most important here, right? If you had said that honestly, it would have finished with that, you really are an un-cute girl."

"W-W-What did you say"

She showed her tears in front of the retainers.

Not to mention, of all things, be scolded by the monkey.

Although Nobuna had decided to act like a devil infront of her retainers from now on, she became flustered, and got distracted. And also, she had shouted in a blunt way.

"I-I-I got it! I forgive Nobuktasu!"

Sister....

Nobuna lowered herself to where Nobukatsu was lying prostrating.

"H-Hmph. Kanjuurou....instead of a sword, I will give you an Uirou."

The page handed over the finely cut Uirou into Nobuna's hands.

"Here, have this. It's your favorite food."

"....Is it alright, sister?"

"It's a sign of reconciliation."

"....T-Thank you for the food...."

Nobukatsu took the Uirou from Nobuna's hands and put it in his mouth.

Before the family was broken up over the battle for inheritance, he almost everyday had Uirou given to him like this by Nobuna. (T/N: In case anyone forgot what Uirou is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uir%C5%8D  . )

Compared to the high class 'Youkan', the Nagoya made Uirou is a dish for the masses. The sugar is lesser,  and it feels refreshing. (T/N: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C5%8Dkan)

Even so, Nobukatsu in his younger days felt it was tastier than any feast when Nobuna merrily gave him a portion of Uirou while saying "Here, here, Kanjuurou, I will give you some feed."

The reason Nobukatsu liked it in the first place was ------because his elder sister gave it from her hands, as a sort of reward to him.

Even so, he was employed ambitious people and flatterers around him, and started making light of his sister.

He made that elder sister of his, more proud than anyone else, cry in front of her retainers.

While chewing on the Uirou, Nobukatsu regretted from his heart about how foolish he had been.

"How is it? Tasty?"

"....It's salty, it's like Mentaiko. Sister" (T/N: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentaiko)

"Stupid. That's the taste of your tears."

"No. It may be the taste of your tears."

"Hmph. The thing flowing down my eyes is water."

With this, the case of killing Nobukatsu had been settled.

While narrowing her eyes, Nobuna stood up.

"Now then----Saru, insulting me all you could in front of my retainers, I will cut you down! I will definitely cut you down!

Yoshiharu gave a yell.

"Alright, cut me, cut me!"

"I will really cut you down without you saying it!"

He dodged it!

".....No, on second thoughts, please stop! You will straight down the devil course if you cut me too....probably.....no, it's not like killing me will have much of a damage on you, huh?"

"I have no idea what you are saying! Don't use Saru language! You sure keep mumbling like a monkey....anyways, I am going to cut you down for being disrespectful!"

"Wait, please wait!"

The chase after his life had begun in front of the retainers.

Nobukatsu was crouched down shedding exaggerated tears, saying 'Big Sister, please forgive this foolish younger brother'. However, he had no courage of saving Yoshiharu. Even Katsuie was dumbfounded with Yoshiharu's courage (or one could say stupidity) of having belittled Nobuna while she had turned into a devil.

"Goemon, save me! Wait, could she be away? Is it her day off? Isn't her holidays surprisingly too many?"

"How dare you make me cry, you are too cheeky for a monkey! Die!"

"Well well. Both the princess, and Saru-dono too, please keep it at that."

The retainer with enough courage to finally restrain the two's endless chase was Nobuna's military commander who rose the ranks from a page, Niwa Nagahide.

In continuation with the substitution, young military commanders were large in number. Nagahide who had been a page till just a while back was only 20 years old. She was like an elder sister to Nobuna.

However, the air drifting about her was not that of an adult's, but if asked, it was more like a 'class committee president sort of elder sister like feel', a person who seemed like she had a friendly smile.

Normally, Nagahide has a gentle personality where she rarely interferes in Nobuna's affairs but, if it went on like this, there was a chance that Yoshiharu might really be cut down in their playfulness. Hence, she stood up.

"If Nobukatsu-dono swears loyalty to the princess, that's 80 points. Isn't it fine with that?"

"No, Manchiyo (Nagahide's nickname). If no one gets punished, the retainers won't understand."

While putting power into the swung down sword, Nobuna's expression became sour.

By the way, their battle was in a stalemate since the moment when Yoshiharu had in seriousness grabbed the swung down naked sword above his head.

"That person is of a lowly status, not to mention he's your pet monkey. More than that, finishing things up with Nobukatsu-dono is more important."

The elder sister like Nagahide with an unreserved healing smile suppressed Nobuna's anger.

Yoshiharu was moved by how dependable a person she was.

"Hmph. Then Manchiyo, how do you plan on finishing this case?"

"Let's see..."

It was the first time in his life he had seen that blunt, poison tongued and brutal elder sister shed tears for him. He was deeply moved. He decided that from now on he would be reborn and would work to serve his elder sister. Having decided that, Nobukatsu prostrated at the two's feet, and displayed an unusual side different from his normal smartass attitude.

"Sister. If you are going to forgive me, I won't be influenced by the bunch surrounding me ever again. I will proudly throw away my Oda surname! From now on, I will take the surname of the branch family, 'Tsuda'!"

".....That's a good idea, Nobukatsu-dono. 90 points."

"Furthermore, I will change my name as well! The reason I got so feverous over trying to win and win against my elder sister is because this name 'Nobukatsu' brings bad vibes with it! From now on, I will serve my sister with a completely clear heart, like the flow of the Kiso river. That's why I will taken on the name of Nobuzumi! (T/N: The Katsu of NobuKATSU means to 'win'. The 'Zumi' of NobuZUMI means clear/transparent)

".....That may have been stretching the flattery too far. 3 points."

Yoshiharu thought to himself that it really was in the spur of the moment, just like Nobukatsu.

"H-Hmph. Well, it's fine. Then, from now on you are Nobuzumi Tsuda, Kanjuurou."

Kanjuurou is Nobukatsu's childhood nickname.

"Thank you very much, sister!"

Having been called once more by that name by his elder sister, Nobukatsu----no, Nobuzumi was happy.

164

"D-Don't get ahead of yourself! If you oppose me once more, no matter what anyone says, I will kill you!"

"I won't oppose you ever! I won't ever forget the love I received from you! If it's for you, I will even die!"

".....Gros.....! G-Get trained as a military commander under Katsuie for some time! You are too weak as of now and won't be of any use!"

"By your will!"

In order for Oda Nobukatsu, now called Tsuda Nobuzumi to serve as a military commander under Nobuna in the future, he had become a subordinate of Katsuie.

The bunch around Nobuzumi who had stirred many rebellions would be for some time placed in house arrest, and after arrangement of their transfer, will transferred away from Nobuzumi to other jobs.

And so, the incident of Nobukatsu had been settled.

With the tension gone, Katsuie let out a long sigh, Niwa Nagahide proclaimed with a smile "With this the case has been settled, 93 points." She gazed at the site of Nobuna trying to hide her embarassment by kicking her younger brother.

By the way, Yoshiharu had been forgotten in between, and was still in the pose of seriously trying to stop the sword that Nobuna had swung down with his bare hands and saying "It still isn't settled! Someone, take the sword away from Nobuna's hands~"

Even though she was kicking her younger brother with her feet, she would not let go of the sword that was in her hands to punish Saru.

===========

That night, Yoshiharu returned to the five leaf aralia tenement, and started picking out the leaves from the hedge on his own.

The hedge was more or less gone but there was still barely around 1 cup soup's worth of leaves left.

However, there was no sign of Inuchiyo in the Maeda house next door house which was now clearly visible with the hedge gone.

 Yoshiharu thought 'What could she be doing right now....we have to hurry up and inform her that the clan's internal rebellion issue has been settled.'

"Damn, it seems I am going to become homesick. It's lonely without Inuchiyo here~"

He howled into the night sky 'Goemon, hurry up and bring back Inuchiyo!'.

However, there was no reply. It seems that Goemon is out of Kiyosu due to some other work.

"Well,  taking care of her followers as well, she sure is a busy one.....she may be collecting information about other countries."

Giving up and returning to his room, there were visitors who had entered his room.

Firstly, there was Nene of the Asano house opposite to his, who had come after finishing the business.

"Saru-sama! I heard you admonished the princess this time! No matter how many lives you have, it won't be sufficient at this rate!"

While scolding Yoshiharu, she was taking out the boiling soup with a ladle from the pot.

"Saru, you are way too disrespectful towards Nobuna-sama! I-In reality I really want to behead you but I will overlook it this time only."

Even Katsuie who had a different social status had come over here.

She was in a rare Yukata appearance.

For a moment, Yoshiharu started staring at her bountiful breasts floating on her tensed body. The next moment he knew it, he had received a straight hit on his face from an enraged Katsuie with all her might.

Using his natural talent, he barely managed to twist his neck and let the damage subside, but there was no doubt he had received shock in his skull as well and hence Yoshiharu was shaking.

"Hey, Saru-kun. I bought the Nagoya speciality 'Uirou' as thanks for today. Be thankful, hahaha."

And, not even having been called, and with no intention of ever calling him, Nobukatsu, or, Nobuzumi had dropped by in flashy clothes like a dandy and was firmly seated on the seat of honour as if it was natural in this scenario.

"Saru-kun, to common people like you it may be a rare sweet but, Uirou is tasty. It's sweet and melts in your mouth. Furthermore, the aftertaste is refreshing. I will someday make this Nagoya speciality popular all over Japan.

An image of Inuchiyo being given Uirou as feed by Nobuna was conjured in Yoshiharu's mind.

"Uirou, huh....it was Inuchiyo's favourite food....."

"Now, it's time to toast now that the Oda house has become!"

"Huh, Nobuzumi? Aren't you still the age of a middle schooler?"

"I didn't change my surname to middleschool. I am Tsuda." (T/N: The joke doesn't come out in English but Nobuzumi confuses the word of Middle school to mean a surname, 'Middle School'. Remember that there was nothing such as 'Middle School' during those times)

".....Well it's fine, it's the Warring States period, after all."

Cheers! Nene said it in a hooraying way.

"D-Don't become arrogant, Saru! Just by becoming close enough with Nobuzumi-sama to have 'Uirou'.....I-If you look at the girls of the Oda house in an amorous way, I will kill you then and there!"

It seems Katsuie is the only one still left with a grudge against Yoshiharu.

She by mistake, carelessly came in an unlady like Yukata appearance.

Maybe because of that, Yoshiharu's peeks towards her breast feel 10 times more perverted now. The good opinion formed during the day of him 'Being a guy who shows unexpected promise' did a complete turn and returned back to her original opinion with the thoughts 'H-H-He's only staring at my breasts....Kuuh, he is a monkey after all!"

In the first place, no matter matter what, his attitude towards Nobuna is too bad. One can't think of him as a retainer.

After that she had tried recommending to Nobuna "If you can't think of any way to discipline him, it would be better to just execute him" but Nobuna replied "If he was a human, I would have executed him but since he's a monkey coming from the country 'Future' or something, there's no point in getting angry over him." With those words, she wrapped it up.

That too, was annoying for Katsuie.

(T-That Saru, he's favoured by Nobuna-sama.....! T-That's why he can say that much and she doesn't get actually angry! More like, if a normal foot soldier did something like that,  there would be no place for arguments and he would executed without any questions asked!? Kuuh......It's somewhat vexing!)

To say in otherwords, this would be jealously of not getting Nobuna's affection.

"Anyways, if I too was selected as Nobuna-sama's page, I had be fed Uirou with a 'Say Ah' from Nobuna-sama's hands everyday by now........Ah, I am pissed off, I will drink through tonight! Hey, Nobuzui, Sake, give me Sake!"

"Eek, Katsuie didn't use honorifics with me? K-Katsuie, your eyes seem glazed?"

It seems Katsuie is weak to alcohol, and starts picking fights when drunk.

"It pains me to say it but ever since Saru came, Nobuna-sama might have gotten more cheerful! Ever since her father, Lord Nobuhide's funeral, it felt like she would crush anyone who dared to approach.......doing her obstinate pretence of a fool, she didn't open her heart to anyone, but to think that she would shed tears for Nobuzumi's sake.....beautiful....they were beautiful tears.....I-I doubted myself thinking that that Nobuna-sama may actually be an fool.....idiot! Idiot! The real fool is me, Shibata Katsuie."

"Tears? Wasn't it just some dirt that may have entered her eyes and was coming out?" Yoshiharu commented. Katsuie smacked him on the head.

At the same time she didn't forget to strangle Nobuzumi with her other arm.

"I-I have decided that from now onwards, I will Nobuna-sama exhaust all the limits of a servant to work Nobuna-sama's sake! This is a warrior's pride! Suddenly, it seems like a path opened in front of my eyes! Kukuku.....at the very least, if my head was a bit better~"

"Well, it's cause all the nutrients you take go to your breasts."

The drunk Katsuie once again hit the loud mouth Yoshiharu.

Nene egged Katsuie further by saying "Here, please have some more" and kept on refilling her cup wth the unrefined sake. Katsuie kept on downing it in one gulp.

Even while being kicked Yohshiaru thought (Oh! The drunk Katsuie's voluptuous breasts are a mild shad of pink.....I-I-It's irrestible~). He tried to control his heavy breathing. In comparison to that, Nobuzumi who was clutched by the neck by the superhuman strength of Katsuie was far from those sentiments, he could not even breathe properly. Barely being able to hold his stand, his neck gave a crunching sound.

"Eeek. Forgive me, Katsuie~~"

"S.H.U.T U.P.! It's cause you kept on planning rebellions, even I was going to get hated by Nobuna-sama for it! No, my trust points are already below Saru!"

"K-Katsuie, haven't you drank too much? Eeek?"

"Starting tomorrow, I will train you day in and day out! At very least, be energetic enough to not die from the practise!"

"Calm down, guys." Nene and Yoshiharu came in between the two and separated them.

"Saru-kun. We will bear the responsibility of Inuchiyo and call her back, so be rest assured."

"I am counting on you."

"Leave it to me. Saru-kun. I will never forget the things you have done for me! I will definitely repay the debt, that is what it means to be a noble. From now, I will act alongside you in battle!"

'What are you saying, if you don't follow the princess' orders and work under me then I will be in trouble.'  Katsuie murmured it like a sulking woman while having collapsed collapsed onto Yoshiharu's thighs.

"Nobuzumi. You seem to look really bad in battle though....?"

"I may indeed be weak but the cute girls of all over Owari work for me as my personal guard unit. Depending upon the situation, they may be very useful."

"Che. As expected of the younger brother, a handsome guy....damn it, if this guy flirts with things all the girls, I won't be popular?"

"Hahaha. Saru-kun. Be more cheerful. One day, when you are able to become a human, you may be able to get a girl! Although my personal guard unit is big with 100 girls in it."

He may want 100 girls in quantity but if that means to compromise in quantitiy then he will be satisfied if the most beautiful girl in Japan is with him.  While thinking that and nodding, Nene hits Yoshiharu on the head.

"Geez. For a half human like you, Saru-sama, playing with girls is too early!"

"Why?"

After that, as if having remembered it, the dead drunk Katsuie brought out the now completely cold 'Miso Udon', and once againsted started entangling with Yoshiharu while blurting 'Take this! You, Saru, are saying that you can't eat my Miso Udon?"

I am sick of Nagoya specialities! While thinking that, Yoshiharu's cheeks were stuffed with the cold and stretched Miso Udon.

The night had approached while the 4 were creating a big ruckus.

While Nene and the rest were sleeping soundly, for some reason only Yoshiharu's mind was clear and he couldn't sleep.

He left the Five Leaf Aralia tenement, and headed towards the inner citadel.

Around this time, Nobuna who had reconciled with Nobuzumi must be fast asleep......N-No,  it's not like I am thinking about Nobuna or anything! He was having such thoughts.

While climbing the hill road, he ran into Nobuna wearing her sleeping attire.

She was no longer the 'Devil Nobuna' he saw in the day.

She was the usual normal girl with a displeased look on her face.

"Oh. I was going to come for you."

"Me?"

"Come with me."

He was brought into Nobuna's room in the main citadel.

(The two of us alone this late in the night........?)

It can't be......?

With his chest throbbing due to weird expectations, Yoshiharu entered Nobuna's room and sat on the lower seat.

Nobuna was gazing at the moon from the porch, while holding the globe dearly, she murmured something.

For some time, as if having forgotten that she had called Yoshiharu, she gazed at the moon.

That pure white skin glistening under the moon's light and that ordered face which appeared from the side, those long eyelashes, that intense look in her eyes, Yoshiharu just kept staring at her without saying anything.

(As long as she keeps quiet, there may not be anyone as beautiful as her in the whole of Japan......)

It seems the Oda house has a lineage of beautiful girls and handsome boys. That's why Nobukatsu's face at least was handsome, but the beauty oozing out from Nobuna itself is at a completely different level from humanity.

Yoshiharu got curious as to what she could be looking at.

It seems she was singing the lyrics of a Noh song popular that time.

Human, if you compare

That which is beneath the heavens for 20 years

It will become like a dream

The desire of the ones destroyed

Obtaining life once again

Yoshiharu thought to himself "I seem to have heard it before but, 'Human, comparing for 20 years' seems a pretty short time".

"H-Hey, Nobuna. What the was business you had me?"

"Hm? Ah, you....were here."

Having come back to her senses abruptly, she returned her gaze to Yoshiharu.

What's with her pupils, they're sparking. Such pretty eyes.....B-But, I am not really charmed by her or anything! This violent uncute girl isn't my taste! Besides everything is ruined the moment she opens her mouth!  Yoshiharu became serious and murmured this in his heart.

"I was not here by accident! You called me here, right?"

 "That's right. You said that you knew that this world is in the form of a sphere, right? You even knew the location of those barbarian countries."

"Yeah. What about it?"

"I didn't believe your words at all but I started rethinking that they may actually be true."

"Why is that?"

"Firstly, you were able guess what the viper was thinking but.....I thought that may have just been a bluff. That isn't proof of you having come from the future. But you know"

Nobuna murmured that the location of the barbarian countries that he pointed out were more or less correct.

"This globe is my treasure. I got this during my childhood from a person my father brought along, missionary of the barbarian nations who came from the port of Tsuda. I learnt a lot from that missionary with the blue eyes. The fact that Japan just a tiny island nation on the Earth, the fact that on that island nation, fellow Japanese were fighting each other, the fact that science was flourishing in those barbarian nations and they were inventing a lot of things one after another, such as the Arquebus rifles, the fact that someday with their strong military strength and economic strength they would swallow up Japan as well......that the rulers of those countries desired 'The country of Gold, Jipangu'. It seems there are rulers who want to make Japan a colony as well." (T/N: In case you didn't know, Japan is the western name given to the land of the rising sun, Nihon. The subtlety doesn't come out properly but Nobuna uses Nihon when speaking in Japanese  and Jipangu in the country of Gold)

"Well that's the responsibility of Marco Polo."

"You know, while I was being a taught a lot of things by that missionary, I started thinking that I someday want to make Japan one, and jump out of Japan and travel around the world. I want to make a strong ship fully made of steel, board it and cross the 7 seas with it. I want to see it with my own two eyes, everything of this huge world which the Japanese people haven't seen. That's why, that person who came from beyond the sea is my starting point."

That sure sounds like a gentle missionary. Yoshiharu nodded.

"Well, he talked in new language all the time which would make you shocked. He's dead already though...."

"I see. Sorry."

"For some reason, the people who I fall in love and depend on, all die soon. My father was the same. It seems the viper is also being pushed around by powerful clans in Mino.....It's because he said that he would hand over the province to me. He may even die."

Nobuna gave a smile which seemed lonely.

It looked like she wanted to say something different but Yoshiharu can't get what she wants to say.

"Hey, Saru.......you said.....that if I killed Kanjuurou, I would kill someone else close to me next and continue on like that, right?"

"Ah, yeah."

"I wonder why you can declare it so confidently. Isn't there no way a thickskulled idiot Saru like you can know my heart."

I wonder why I can't avert my gaze from her eyes.....Yoshiharu started to realise that his cheeks were becoming redder and redder.

[Why am I being so impatient!] Thinking like that, he tried to once again regain his spirits and was somehow able to open his mouth.

"T-That is because I came from the future. Trust me."

"Then, you know my future in its entirety? " Nobuna inquired.

"I don't know your future. But, if it's about a certain Warring States Feudal Lord who really resembles you, I know more or less about him--------after killing the younger brother who revolted again him, a part of his heart broke, and lost control of himself. Then----"

Nobuna stopped Yoshiharu from speaking further by sealing his lips.

"You don't have to speak any further than that. If you do, I will kill you."

"Why? If you can know the future, it will be useful, right?"

If she knows her own future, won't the meaning of line with all its joys and sorrows and laughs and tears go away? Nobuna laughed.

"It isn't your future. I only know the future of a different person who is exactly like you. Even that is knowledge gained through Games or Manga, so I only know about major events.

"Even then, if you tell me about the future, I will kill you. I don't want to feel like I am being controlled by you."

"I see. That may be the case"

Indeed, living like what someone else says is not like her, no matter how you look at it. Yoshiharu agreed.

"Got it, I won't say it again, so rest in ease."

"My. Don't you think of wanting to control me?"

"I am not of this world. The one who can unite Japan in this world is Nobuna, only you. That's why, I feel like wanting to place my bets on your dream. With the extent I can see ahead, if I feel like you are losing your way, I will secretly manage somehow. I won't let you know about the future that I know. It's fine with that, right?"

"That's fine. Then let's do the ceremony of being a Lord and retainer officially." Nobuna said it in a brusque manner.

"I can't keep you as my pet monkey forever. It's time to make you a real Samurai."

"Ah, that's fine. By ceremony, you mean in the warring states style? How do you do it?"

"Let's see, the barbarian way of doing it seems cooler and doesn't use Sake. Here. Kiss my hand swearing your loyalty to me.

She thrusted out her white hand roughly.

Yoshiharu realised [This is....like a knight swearing loyalty to the princess...right? ]

Yoshiharu thought 'I see, since Nobuna is a princess commander, this fits.'

Even so, I wonder why my heart is pounding so fast.....

"Sagara Yoshiharu. Respect me as your Lord, and swear fealty to me."

"....Y-Yeah. U-Understood....."

He didn't oppose her like usual.

It's the moonlight's fault. In the night, the pale shining of the moon is too beautiful, and because of that Nobuna is looking like a princess of someplace.

He kneeled at Nobuna's feet, and pressed his lips on her hand.

Although she gripped swords, her fingers wee soft and smooth.

"Do you swear loyalty to me for eternity?"

If he says 'I do', he'll become Nobuna's servant for life.

He tried acting tough by speaking prudently.

"Till the time I find a way to go back, I guess."

Even though there's no way he can know the way back to his previous world, he tried saying that line.

".....I see. Then it's fine with that. Till then, that is."

He couldn't muster the courage to confirm with his eyes what sort of face Nobuna was making right nmow.

"Yeah. I definitely won't betray you. I will make your dream come true."

"If that's the case, if my dream isn't fulfilled no matter how much time passes, you won't be able to go back."

"Yeah, that's right."

He is nervous grabbing Nobuna's hands. His throat was dry.

"But, Saru. What about you?"

"Eh?"

"What about your dream? I have to reward you for your service appropriately. I can grant your dream."

My dream.

Um....finding a normal job, having a normal family.....no, that was a modest dream I had in the previous world.

In this world....in this world....the thing I am aiming for....my dream is.....

He was way too nervous.

Suddenly, the smile of old man Toukichirou came to his mind.

(That's right. I promised to inherit his dream. I want to get promoted quickly and construct his grave)

"Hey. Saru? Is your dream one which I can fulfil?"

If I am not mistaken, the old man's dream was-----

"T-That was it. My dream is ------to become super super popular with the ladies! This is the only one!"

"H-Huh?"

"Living as a man in the chaotic world of the Warring States period, I will feel great with a lot of girls serving me. This is the only one after all! However, I am a man who may fuss over quantity, but even more on quality!  Just having the numbers doesn't mean it's fine, I want to make the most beautiful girl in Japan my wife and make out with her!"

............

BAM!

Nobuna withdrew her hand hurriedly and made it into a fist. She then aimed it at one side of Yoshiharu's face and hit him with all her might.

"Woah? A surprise attack? What the hell are you doing."

"Y-Y-You, of all things to say, what the hell are you spouting? M-M-M-Making the most beautiful girl of Japan your bride?"

Nobuna's whole body was completely pale.

She was frozen

"Why are you getting mad? I just honestly said my dream. How is it, can you grant it?"

"T-There's no way I grant that dream! No matter what, yours and my status is way too different, you know? Gross, seriously gross."

"Eh? W-Wait! I just said the most beautiful girl in Japan, it's not decided who I was talking about, you know? In the first place, why do I have marry you?"

"Stop it! If you mention the most beautiful girl in Japan, it's obvious it's me! How else are you asking me to interpret it?"

"You are too self obsessed! Not to mention, it's growing worse, you know? Just a while back you were the self proclaimed most beautiful girl in Owari province, you know?"

Yoshiharu thought. If she's this self obsessed, it will be exciting in a different way.

"Uwaaaaah, I am getting goosebumps on my whole body? Gross. Look at this, because of your weird proposal, my jewel like bare skin is covered with goosebumps."

"You don't have to show it! Your one and only redeeming feature is ruined in appearance too."

"Oi, oiiii. Just by imagining myself to be Saru's wife and bearing Saru's child, warm stuff is coming out from my stomach!?"

"You don't have to vomit! My naive hear will be hurt so stop it!"

Yoshiharu cried. At least blush a little! Why are you shaking with such a strong reaction! Hey, don't act like you are going to puke! Uwaah, I am seriously hurt!

Crying in unmanly weeping, once again Nobuna's fist came flying at him.

He was able to predict it this time so, he swiftly dodged it.

"Hey, don't run away. Wait and get hit!"

"For the time, reform that overboard self obsession of yours! Where on earth do you find a beauty calling herself one?"

"Shut up! What's this earthen stone tree that you keep saying, what the hell is it?" (T/N: Self obsession can also be pronounced as Earthen Stone tree)

"Don't get angry without even knowing the meaning! You may be a beauty, but only in the face! Your personality isn't cute! You are brutal, not straightforward, selfish, and immediately resort to violence! That's why, if you look at it from my aesthetic sense, you are no good!"

"Saru....I-I-I won't forgive you.......This time, this time for sure I will kill you!"

"Don't unsheath your sword in every small thing"

"Hey, wait!"

"Who the hell will wait in such a situation!"

In the end, it became a chase.

It continued from the inner citadel to the third citadel, a late night Saru pursuit.

If he stopped, it would be instead beheading. Was the Nobuna pursuing him from behind in order to cut him, actually smiling because she was enjoying it or actually in seriousness pursuing him wildly? He could not confirm it that night.

He had his hands full with just running away.