" Don't hide!" "Come out!" " We know you threw the horse dung!" " I told you not to do it." " Ouch, why did you do that?" " It's too late now." " Young Lord..." " Don't call me that!" " They look though." "That's why we got to fight them." " Don't bow to them." " I know." " Scared?" " Scared out of my wits." "I'm not scared." " Once you dash out, don't stop." " That's right." " Hesitate and you're dead." "Keep fighting." " I got it." "I better get lots of rice cakes." " All you want." " Really?" "Brother!" "Shouldn't you stop them?" " They'd never listen." " How can you laugh?" ""The Fool Who Conquered Japan"" "ODA NOBUNAGA" "SUEMORI CASTLE OWARI" "Sire!" "I'm all right." "What trick is this?" "!" "It's no trick!" "It's normal to fly back." "The musket has power!" "It takes practice to fire it well." "Please, try it again, Sire!" " Don't be ridiculous!" " Never mind, Shibata!" " But..." "Get Out!" "This can't be used in war." "It's a waste of time!" "Young Lord!" "Your attire...!" "You are before the Great Lord." "Please, change at once." "What was that sound?" "A musket, Sire." "That?" "This is a musket?" "How do you fire it?" "Light the fuse... and pull the trigger." "Holding the musket against your..." "Mother!" " Would you kill Lady Toda, my Lord?" "!" " Awesome!" "Nobunaga!" "Apologize!" "Come here and apologize!" "Father, buy these." "They'll kill an enemy 60 feet away." " Enemy?" "Are you calling me an enemy?" "!" " I won't buy them." " Why not?" " They're not suited to use in battle." "That's all." "No other weapon will shoot so far." "It takes too long to fire." "By the time the gun is loaded and fired, enemy spears will run you through." "Long distances will make accurate shooting difficult." "This is only good for target practice." " Hey..." " Yes?" "I like it!" "I'll buy it." "Deliver this to my castle." "Young Lord!" "Yes, sir!" "I'll have it delivered at once!" "Lord Nobunaga, how will you make the payment?" "How much?" " 1000 kan for one hundred." "Yes, 1000 kan, not one kan less." "Got no money." "How can something be bought without money?" " Absurd!" " Yes." "I'll make you my magistrate, in return." " How's that?" " Magistrate...?" "Me?" " Well?" "What are you doing, Sire?" "It's absurd!" "You can't make merchant your magistrate!" "Merchant. townsman, what's the difference?" "It's settled." " You're my gunnery magistrate now." " Yes!" "Wait!" "You can't make such a decision yourself!" "It insults other vassals who serve the Oda!" "Enough!" " Let him do as he pleases." " But Sire..." "Nobunaga..." "Why not dress a little more neatly, instead?" "Young Lord..." "Never mind." "You were not summoned here to see muskets." "I, Hirate Masashide, met with Saito Dosan of Mino as ordered by the Great Lord." " Mino?" " Saito Dosan?" "Why did you meet with our enemy?" "I proposed a marriage between Dosan's daughter and Lord Nobunaga." " Are you mad, Masahide?" " I had no great exceptions." "Since our losses in battles last year, we have been surrounded by enemies." "For our security, we must make peace with Mino." "That is the only way to supress other Lords." "I know that very well." "What was Dosan's answer?" "He asked for three days." "Three days?" "I hardly think Dosan will agree to it." "Why do you say that, Shibata?" "Dosan is called "Viper" because of his cunning." "instead of wasting his time in making peace, Dosan would attack!" "I don't wish to say this, but Lord Nobunaga is not popular in our clan." "Dosan would not send his daughter to such a man." " You go too far, Hayashi." " Perhaps he doesn't go far enough." " Mother." " After all..." "Dirty and sweaty, Nobunaga plays with village rowdies." "Such a man could never save the Oda." "My Lady..." "Lord Nobunaga is not playing." "He is training himself for war that must come." "Stop it, Masahide." "I don't want the Viper's daughter." "My Lord..." "Marriage isn't for me." "What kind of an attitude is that?" "!" "What have you, his guardian, been teaching him?" "!" "Forgive me, my Lady." "Do you see, my dear?" "Such a fool can never lead the Oda." "Please give the leadership to his brother, Nobuhide." " Is he such a fool?" " No ordinary fool, Sire." "The greatest fool in all Owari." "As long as he's not ordinary, right, Mitsuhide?" "Yes." "I did not mean extraordinary, sire." "Everyone says, if fool Nobunaga becomes Lord, the Oda will fall." "He has the greatness to fell the Oda?" "No, my Lord." "His dress is that of a beggar's." "He is demeanor, crude and vulgar." "Except for his guardian, Hirate Masahide, everyone is scheming to make the brother Nobuyuki Lord." "The greatest fool in all Owari?" "Princess Noh is here." " You called, father?" " Sit here." "Why all this formality?" "I just now decided to wed you to Nobunaga of Owari." " Are you sending me to the greatest fool in Owari?" " Yes." " And if I refuse?" " I will not allow it." "Allow me to ask this, then..." "Why have you chosen a man of such repute?" "Why do you think?" "Because he is a fool?" "And why?" "With an idiot lord, the Oda will grow weak." "As his father-in-law, you can acquire Owari with no trouble at all." "A wise villain needs only to wait." " Princess!" " Never mind." "Very clever." "You are truly my daughter." "I wish you were right, but you are not." "I've become bored with people." "But the more I hear about this Nobunaga, the less I think he will bore me." "That is why I shall marry you to Nobunaga" "It's a kind of amusement." " Amusement?" "!" " A man can't survive without amusements." "I am to be wed for your amusement?" "!" "What if he truly is a fool?" "If he is truly a fool..." "At the first opportunity... kill Nobunaga in his sleep." "Yes, father." "Mitsuhide..." "Send a message to the Oda." " Have them receive her in five days." " Yes, my Lord." "A "fool" is a fool with nothing in his head." "I had heard of this man whom they called Owari's greatest fool." "But i never dreamed that he would be my husband." "Damn, Young Lord's horse got faster." " Let's go!" " No!" "I'm hungry!" "Is it true Lord Nobunaga is nowhere to be found?" " How quick you are to find out?" " Where did he go?" "!" " The Young Lord never tells me where he goes." " What if he is late for the wedding?" "!" "It will be an insult to the Princess from Mino." "It is nothing to fuss over." " I have sent men to look for him." " What?" "Have you become a fool, too?" "The chief minister should not be calling the Oda heir "fool"." "I only spoke the truth." " We don't accept that fool as the heir." " Silence!" "The Young Lord is not a fool." "It is only your expectations that he does not fulfill." " Chisato?" " Yes." " Where are we now?" " Shonai Pass, Princess." "We shall soon enter the Nagoya Castle area." "Stop!" "So this is Nagoya." "How small, compared to Mino!" "I do not know why our Lord agreed to this wedding!" "I wonder what kind of man he is." " Do you mean Lord fool?" " No." "The Greatest fool in Owari." " As you ordered, I added more gunpowder." " They'll shoot farther with more power." " But it will take longer for the fuse to light." " Never mind, make 300 muskets." " 300?" " Will you be using them in battle?" "Muskets shoot farther than spears can reach." "They're more accurate than arrows, as well." "Takeda Shingen also form a gunnery squad, but while they were loading the muskets, the enemy rushed them." "That's why I want 300." "While one man reloads, the next one will fire." "When he reloads, the next will fire." "If three lines of gunners fire by turns, the tide of battle will change!" "My Lord." " Kitsuno, I'm hungry." "I want water and rice." " How nonchalant!" "I can't serve you food!" "A wedding is being held in the castle, it is your wedding!" " There will be an uproar if you do not return." " They must be cursing and criticizing me by now." " Speak to him, brother!" " Our Lord never listens to anyone." "It is not proper to miss ones own wedding!" " Sir Hirate, what is happening?" " The Young Lord is not here!" "Soon..." "I am sick of hearing "soon"!" " He shall soon be here." " You said you knew where he was!" " I do." " Then why will you not go and bring him here?" "This is our Lord's wedding." "He must not be forced, he must come home of his own will." "How easygoinig." "How can that fool do anything proper?" "!" "Hey!" "Stop it!" "I won't be responsible." "The viper will be furious to learn the groom was absent." "Princess Noh has arrived." " I am Noh." " Welcome to Owari." "I am happy that you have come safely." "I am Noh." "Allow me to serve you all my life." " Princess, that is..." " Yes?" "I am Nobunaga's younger brother, Nobuyuki." "Eh?" "A pleasant scent." "The scent of Mino is new to me." "The Princess never uses a sachet." "How kind..." "Nobuyuki loves his brother and is very considerate of him." "Where is Lord Nobunaga?" "!" "Well..." "The idea!" "We come to this godsaken land...!" "I've never seen anyone so irresponsible!" "He seems to be a genuine fool." "Let us inform the Old Lord at once." "He might even allow you to return!" " Father might be happy with this." " Nonsense." "Why must such an intelligent, beautiful girl, wed the fool of Owari!" " The greatest fool." " Oh, true." "Who's there?" "*meow*" "Intruder!" "Begone!" " What a fuss." " What?" "I'm the Lord of this house." "Eh?" "!" "N..." "No..." "No..." "No..." "No..." "No..." " Nobu..." "N-Nobu..." " I am Nobunaga!" "Forgive my rudeness!" "Go away." "You, too." " Leave us alone." " Eh..." " What?" " Well..." " Eh... the Princess is tired from her journey..." " Take this and go." "Yes." " So, you're Viper Dosan's daughter?" " So, you are Owari's greatest fool?" "I suppose..." "Now's your chance to run away." "I'm not afraid." " Oh?" "Do as you please then." " Is that all?" "You missed your own wedding!" "You must have something to say!" "I never took you for my bride." "It was only arranged by our parents." "You're not the only one." "I never became your bride, either." "Give me the cat." "Sorry." "I wonder if our Lord returned home safely." "If he persists in his behavior, no one will serve him." "Don't worry." "How carefree you are!" "Only Hirate serves our Lord faithfully!" "If anything should happen to the Great Lord, everyone will revolt against our Lord." " They'll follow him in the end." " Eh?" " Our Lord has a boundless greatness." " What nonsense." "I know no other Lord to use muskets in battle." "He saw the value of muskets at once and attempting to amass them." "That's uncommon insight." " Not that a woman would understand..." " How insulting." " How do you feel?" " About?" "How do you feel about our Lord?" "I've always wanted to know." "Kitsuno!" "Kitsuno!" " My Lord!" " Water and rice!" "You never gave me any, so I couldn't sleep." " You were married today." "Please, go home." " I will go after I have eaten." "No, go home!" "And... never come here again." " Why?" " Young Lord have a bride from Mino and you are now heir to the Oda." "You shouldn't be coming here to eat my food." "I only threw oil on the enemy's fire." "Are you referring to your mother?" "This is the only place I can lay down my sword." "So he's truly a fool?" "Not only did he miss the wedding, he stays at a vassal's home." "and rejoices at amassing a few muskets as a bandit chief would." "How Princess Noh will suffer with such a man." "I think I should go and bring her back at once." " Mitsuhide, it's too soon." " Sire!" "If he were a true fool, Noh would've asked to return." "But she hasn't." "She hasn't learned... what claws Nobunaga is hiding." "In war, even women must fight." "Noh's duty is to spy on Owari and the Oda." "My daughter knows without me telling her." "*meow*" "*meow*" "Somehow, in midst of this bloody intrigue," "I married the greatest fool in Owari." "Then, with my father Dosan behind them, the Oda enjoyed a brief period of peace." "However..." "Chin in, Kinji!" " Straighten up, Daizo!" " Yes!" "Fire!" "Father!" "You've mastered it." "No, go on!" "Don't mind me." "I had heard they were village rowdies, but they're fine soldiers." "They just don't know themselves, like me." "Men who know themselves can't advance." "Perhaps I came to know myself too well." "After losing in battle, I only thought of protecting my castle." "But that will never do." "War can only be ended with war." "Nonbunaga..." "There is no one but you." " Me?" " I shall fight once more." "You are the only one who can accompany me." "No matter what they say, it is you who must succeed me." "Only you." "Fire!" "How vexing." "Only two men believe in the fool." "but they are the Great Lord and Hirate who has 300 men." "Can we not dispose of him?" "Dispose...?" "They give me a chill..." "Those savage eyes, that voice." "They are not like mine, at all." " But you're Lord Nobunaga's natural mother." " That is why I must be rid of him." "A child who doesn't obey is worse than a stranger." "But the Great Lord greatly depends on Lord Nobunaga." "And Lord Nobunaga is amassing troops." " We can't easily move..." " Think of a way." "Do something." "When Nobuyuki is Lord, you shall have a castle." "Think." "Use any means possible." " Hayashi..." " Yes?" "Isn't spring nice?" "Indeed." "Put the powder in here, then the ammunition." "Then push it down." "This is where you light the fuse." "Then fire." "Just aim and pull the trigger." "Use more powder for farther targets, use less on rainy days." "You're absent from the castle is a great deal." "I don't like being cooped up inside." "Should you ignore her?" ""Her"?" "She came practically as a hostage in marriage." "Who but you can cherish her?" "You're in love with her?" " You love the Viper's daughter?" " That's ridiculous." "Want her?" " Don't be silly." " You can take her if you kill me." "Stop it, brothers can't kill each other." "You can never tell." "Even if you don't want to, many want you to kill me as Mother does." " Absurd!" "She's your biological mother..." " She has the need to control others." "She doesn't want a brat who won't obey her." "Stop this!" "If you want to kill me, use this." "I'd never kill you!" "Look." "You hit it." "Your first shot." "Amazing!" "Sire!" " Another pest." " Sire!" "Lord Nobuyuki!" "It's terrible!" "The Great Lord...!" "The Great Lord...!" "Hayashi..." "Have the funeral arrangements been made?" "Yes." "It will be at Manshoji." " How many monks will you summon?" " A hundred, my Lady." " Summon three hundred." " Yes." "And, call as many neighboring daimyo as possible." "We must demonstrate Oda power, go." "As you say, my Lady!" "Words can't express my condolences..." "Father..." "How did Father die?" "After having dinner, the Great Lord went to the bathroom and fell ill." " Apoplexy?" " Yes." "Are you sure?" "Wasn't he killed?" "What's the matter?" "How dare you glare at me before your dead father?" "Lord Nobunaga, please rest assured." "The Great Lord suffered no pain." "How truly fortunate." " We can take comfort in this." " "Fortunate"?" ""Comfort"?" "Father started as mere magistrate, and took this and of Owari!" "He wouldn't have wanted a peaceful death." "Father..." "Though he lost, father wanted to die fighting." "Young Lord!" " It is a sacrilege!" " Masahide!" "You should know Father's anger." "Hirate!" "Nobunaga is a fool because you pampered him!" "I am very sorry, my Lady." "Pardon!" "Not even twenty men could pull out the sword." "They were forced to remove the floor." "Princess, our Lord is back." "I will fight once more." "Only you can accompany me." "What?" "I don't want your sympathies." "Flowers can't hurt... or betray." "Rest here." "It is more comfortable than the floor." "Lord Nobunaga was friendless, and I was here as a hostage." "We were both alone, but because of his father's death, for the first time, for but a fleeting moment, we shared the feelings in our hearts." "We would like you to succeed our late Lord." "Nonsense, brother must succeed him." "Nobuyuki..." "Do you think the Oda can be united... with a fool as their Lord?" "But father wanted Nobunaga to be Lord." "And who committed that outrage at your poor father's bed?" "At this rate, no one will serve us." "Mother..." "We are at a crisis." " Please save the Oda house." " Troops and townspeople will serve you." "Wait!" "For me to become Lord." " Brother must be..." " Killed." " It's treason!" " No!" "It's Heaven's will." "Nobuyuki..." "It is to protect you and Oichi, please understand." "To protect us?" "What mother would hate her own son?" "True, I was harsh with Nobunaga, but it was all to make him a worthy successor." "I never truly hated him!" "But Nobunaga never understood." "He never corrected his behavior." "If Nobunaga should become Lord, disgruntled vassals will surely revolt someday." "If that happens, you and Oichi will die as well." "My only wish...!" "is to protect you and Oichi." "I want you to succeed your father... and unite the Oda." "Please understand my feelings." " Where are you going, my Lord?" " Hawking." "You must not!" " We are still in mourning, you must not spill blood." " I don't believe in superstitions." "But your vassals and people believe in them." " Lord!" " Don't go!" "What?" "Masahide is right." "Please behave as a Lord." "If you persist in your ways," " the vassals will shun you." " They already do." "Want something?" "Mother will scold again." "She doesn't want you talking to the fool." "Brother, please apologize to mother." "What did you say?" "Mother does not hate you, only your behavior." "If you apologize and change your behavior, you would get along with her." "Brother..." "She hates me." "That's all there is to it." "What would my apologies change?" "Give it water." "I won't obey anyone." "Don't you turn into a puppet either." "Nobuyuki..." "Don't see only what's inside the castle." "Look outside of the castle, too." "Lord Nobuyuki... you have come?" " Yes." "He scolded our Lord for going hawking." "Isn't he impossible?" "He only does as he pleases." "Please come in." "I shall prepare tea to thank you for all the sweets." " I take my leave." " Is anything the matter?" "Many people are displeased... when i visit my brother's castle." "Excuse me." "Lord Nobuyuki...!" "Such hardship for you, Sir Hirate." "I would suffer anything for my Lord." "How can you serve him so faithfully?" "He is such a fool." "I admire him immensely..." "Not because the late Lord bade me be guardian." "When I accompanied my Lord on his maiden battle at 14," "I was surprised at his composure in battle and his ability to assess the situation." "My Lord Nobunaga will surpass even the Old Lord!" "It is my duty to help him achieve it." "My Lord." "Yes..." "The Flower Festival is tonight." "Why not join the others in sake?" "Nobuyuki came to my castle today." "He can't fight." "I don't want to let him." "Do you like fighting, my Lord?" "You don't hate it or like it." "Fighting is necessary." "What about me?" "Do you feel the same about me?" "You neither like nor hate me." "I'm necessary?" "For me..." "This is enough." "My Lord!" " Sire!" " What's the matter?" "Hirate Masahide committed hara-kiri at his home." "He left a letter for you." "Ever since your childhood, I have served you loyally." "But the clan has little confidence in you." "Everyone calls you "fool"." "I am to blame for it all." "So I shall apologize by slitting my belly." "If you regret my passing at all, please take to heart what I shall write, and conduct yourself in a manner befitting the Lord." "A rope for a belt and tea-whisk topknot are not suitable attire for a Lord." "Never lie down before others." "Never urinate where-ever you please." "Refrain from picking your nose or biting your nails." "Always cherish Princess Noh." "For peace in Owari, always work with Lord Nobuyuki." "and long preserve the Oda house." "To Lord Oda Nobunaga from Masahide." " What are you doing?" "!" "Sir Masahide died to write that note!" " Quiet!" "He betrayed me." " Don't be absurd!" "He died for your sake!" " I thought he alone understood." "He did!" "Sir Hirate knew your every thought and feeling!" " That is why he chose death..." "to show that you must change!" " What do you know?" "!" "Death ends everything." "It changes nothing." "Interesting." "With his guardian Hirate dead, the fool is all alone?" "Yes!" "The senior Oda counselors hope to crush Nobunaga who is now helpless... and make his brother Nobuyuki the Lord." "Hirate thought, if he killed himself, the fool would come to his senses." "and his enemies would put aside their arms." "Instead, this has placed the fool in crisis, how pitiful." "What will you do?" "If Nobuyuki should revolt against Nobunaga, Princess Noh will be in grave danger." "Prepare to rescue Noh." " I shall send Inogo Hyosuke to Nagoya." " Also... prepare to send troops at once." " At once, sire?" " Yes." " And send a message to Nobunaga." " What message, sire?" "Some time has passed since the wedding, but I have yet to meet my son-in-law." "So I, Dosan, wish to express my condolences on the deaths of Nobunaga's father and Hirate Masahide." "I wish to have a leisurely dinner with my son-in-law." "I shall prepare a banquet at Shotokuji in Tonda." "I request the pleasure of his company, tell him so." " My Lord!" "Will you...?" "!" " Mitsuhide!" "Don't reveal everything." "You must not go, you will be killed." " Why should my father-in-law kill me." " Because you are surrounded by enemies." "Helpless!" "Frank, aren't you...?" "Go on." "My father will kill you because you are weak now." " Yeah..." " It is true!" "He is meeting you at Tonda on the border." "As soon as we're apart, he will send someone to take me away." "When you arrive at the destination, he will say you behaved rudely and use that excuse to kill you." "So it's like this...?" "The Viper planned this meeting to kill me?" "Yes." "After he kills you, my father will probably attack Owari." "They are probably preparing their army in Mino now." "It's not a joke!" "You don't know how dangerous my father is!" "." "If his victim is weak, the Viper will tear it apart!" "I know how dangerous your father is." "My father could never defeat him." "I'm wondering..." "Why would tell me such things." "I don't wish to see my father kill my husband." "I'm not your husband yet." "I am your wife." "I'm going." "There are many snakes and lizards in Owari as well." "But they're only like hairy worms, weak and filthy." "I want to see a true Viper." "Trap?" " Dosan is setting a trap for Brother?" " I'm quite sure." "Our spy in Mino reports that troops are being readied." "Stop him, Daigaku." "Brother must not go." "Daigaku..." "There is no need to go." "Why not, Mother?" "Mino could attack." "We can't be fighting over the succession now." "The Viper will rid us of the fool." "Let him do it." "In the Oda Lord's absence let us seize his castle." "Even at your urging, I don't wish to take Nobunaga's castle." "If that's the case, will you confront Nobunaga directly?" "Resign yourself." "Now that Mino is moving, we, too, must take resolve." "Princess Noh is in Nagoya Castle." "After killing Nobunaga, Dosan will attack Owari." "We shall take Nagoya Castle before then." "take Princess Noh hostage and negotiate peace with Mino." "Then Princess Noh will be your wife." "My wife?" "Surely, you would not object to that." "My Lady..." "Your plan doesn't account for failure." "If Lord Nobunaga should return safely, we shall be traitors with nowhere to run!" "Nobunaga can't defeat Dosan without a decent army!" "With a cowardly guardian like you, Nobuyuki can't advance!" " Forgive me." " Nobuyuki, this is no plea or recommendation." "It's an order!" "You needn't sit and let the Viper take Owari!" "To save Owari, you must take this action!" "Lord Nobuyuki..." "Please!" " Nobuyuki has decided!" "Amass our troops!" " Yes!" " How many have I shot?" " About 300." "I see." " Are you thinking of how to fight the Viper?" " No, I'm not." "I'm afraid." "For first time, I'm afraid of meeting a man." "Go on, laugh." "I don't know much about fighting, but a man with no fear of death..." "can never continue winning." "Young Lord..." "I'll do anything." "So will the others." "They'll all come." "It's thrilling to be with you." "It gives us joy." "We'll follow you to hell." " Kitsuno..." " My Lord, there is someone to see you." "Daigaku!" " What is it?" "I'm surprised you found me here." " I came here once with Lord Nobuyuki." "What's up?" "I heard you were going to see Lord Dosan, so you might need advice on gift-giving." "Don't be so obvious." "Didn't mother send you here... to see if I was really going to see Dosan?" " No!" " Never mind." "Look after Nobuyuki, though." "If I should be killed," "Nobuyuki will succeed me as Lord." "Help him then." "Sire!" "Please, don't go to see Dosan!" "Once you leave, Lord Nobuyuki will attack your castle!" "What're you talking about?" "Nobuyui would never betray me." "Of course, Lord Nobuyuki is not the instigator." "But... he can no longer evade the schemes of Lady Toda and Hayashi." " Lord Nobuyuki lacks the strength to oppose them!" " Stop!" "Sire!" "He'd never kill me." "What is the matter?" "You came to visit, but haven't said a word." "You know, don't you?" "That Lord Nobunaga is going to meet my father." "I tried to stop Lord Nobunaga." "As you know, my father is capable of anything." "I failed." "Lord Nobunaga only said, "I'm going."" "But that is good." "Good?" "Lord Nobunaga decides for himself... what he will do." "He would not be himself... if he did as I said." "I believe... from the bottom of my heart... that Lord Nobunaga will safely return." "You believe it too, don't you?" "Forgive me." "You always listen to my chattering." "Please say something." "This is the last time." "Yes?" "This is the last time that I shall come here like this." "Why is that?" "I must prepare for battle." "There have always been battles." "For me, the true battle has only begun." "Lord Nobuyuki had come to tell me of his betrayal." "I attempted to stop the conflict... by telling him of my faith in Lord Nobunaga." "But I saw that, deep in Lord Nobuyuki's eyes, there glowed an intense envy of Lord Nobunaga... and a great hatred now laid bare." "The brothers could no longer live in harmony." "And finally, that fateful day came." "I'll see your father's oily face now." "In case they should steal your sword away, keep this hidden in your robes." "My father's gift to me when I came to be wed." "If you turned out to be mere fool, he bade me use this to kill you." "If the Viper turns to devour you, kill him with it." "All right." "If I come back safely..." "If you come back...?" "I'll marry you then." "What do you think?" "Let us discuss it when you come back." "Look after things." "Yes." "It was May, when warm breezes blew." "Lord Nobunaga has departed Nagoya Castle!" " He has?" " Yes!" "Men!" "The time has come!" "How is Dosan's side moving?" "According to our spies, Dosan has surrounded" "Shotokuji with 3000 men." "Nobunaga will be fortunate, to amass 500 of the village rowdies." "He could never fight 3000." "The enemy is not Nobunaga." "The enemy is Dosan, who will have killed Nobunaga." "But before they come to attack Owari, we must fell Nagoya Castle." " Understood?" " Yes!" "Sire!" "I shall give the order to march." "Wait!" "I will do it." "We march!" " Sire, Lord Nobunaga's party has arrived." " He has come?" "That was fast." "Let's see." "Are those Nobunaga's young attendants?" " Quite a few." " I estimate 200, sire." "200 boy generals?" " If 200 are in the front, he's brought 500?" " Next is the archery squad." "He scrounged up all he could." "There are about 300 archers." "300..?" "We can cut them down." "Is my son-in-law next?" "Princess!" "A message has come from your father." "What does it say?" "Flee the castle." "A palanquin will take you back to Mino." "Your father said you would understand." " I am not leaving!" " Princess!" " My Lord left me in charge here." " Princess!" "You should know by now!" " Lord Nobunaga is never coming back." " Yes, he will." "Eh?" "My Lord will return." " The archers aren't Nobunaga's main army?" " Next are spears-men." "Those spears..." "Long spears!" "Modeled after my own!" "Wretched fool!" " There are about 300!" " What's this." "Mitsuhide?" "What?" "Didn't you say 500 was the most he could muster?" "!" "I don't know." "He always went to the village, so I thought he'd assemble village youths." "I never expected so many...!" " When will I see Nobunaga's face?" " The next squad should be Nobunaga's!" "Sire!" "After the archers are the gunners!" " Gunners?" "!" " 300 of them." "I myself have only a hundred..." "The fool has 300?" "!" "Mitsuhide, Hotta..." "Nobunaga by far exceeds our expectations!" "Yes..." "He's here!" "Nobunaga's main guard!" " Look at his attire!" " Is he such a fool?" "Sire, what shall we do?" "His attire is insulting!" "Let us kill him at the banquet as planned." "His father-in-law has come in dress robes!" "His insolence is reason enough to kill him!" " Princess!" "Princess!" "Something terrible has happened!" " What?" "Lord Nobuyuki is coming to attack this castle!" "What shall we do?" "!" " What?" "!" " Calm yourself!" " But..." " Let us wait for our Lord's return." " Princess...!" " Don't you think it's to quiet?" " Not even a bird chirping." " Really." "Lord Nobunaga has arrived!" "Lord Nobunaga!" "This is, Lord Saito Dosan." "I am Nobunaga." "I am glad you've come, son-in-law." "At the banquet, neither of them said one word." "Son-in-law..." "Let us meet again." "Yes." "If any harm should threaten you," "I shall always send troops to aid you." "Does the Viper of Mino... enjoy fighting?" "Be good to Noh, will you?" "I'm glad we met!" "If I had attacked without meeting you," "I, Dosan, would have been the greatest fool." "Mitsuhide..." "Hotta..." "If I should die, serve that man." "He can survive this age of war." "Three years later, my father Dosan would be killed by his son Yoshitatsu." "As my father advised," "Toki Mitsuhide, later known as Akechi, would serve my Lord." "No one could have guessed then... that Akechi would later kill my Lord at Honnoji." "Reporting!" "Lord Nobuyuki's army of 1500 has come from Suemori Castle!" " They surround Nagoya Castle!" " Where's Nobuyuki?" " Waiting for word at Suemori Castle!" " Have Ando Tatewaki secure our defenses." "Hold them off until I return." " Yes, my Lord!" "At last began the bloody fight between brother and brother." "Sire!" "Our forces in the forest are evenly matched with the enemy!" "Lord Nobunaga has arrived on the field!" "He's here?" "Sire!" "Fujimaru's hurt!" "Fujimaru!" "Young Lord...." "Once you dash out... never stop." "Hey!" "Fight!" "We've got to win!" "You must lead the charge!" "Lord Nobunaga's army, was far smaller than Lord Nobuyuki's." "But they were bound by faith and friendship and fought with dogged perseverance." "After three days, Lord Nobuyuki's army surrendered." "What's the matter with you?" "Who's going to eat all those rice balls?" "!" "Bathe him." "The battle ended, but another was only beginning." "I, Gonrokuro, planned the entire revolt." "Lord Nobuyuki is innocent!" "Yes!" "It's true!" "Nobuyuki was led astray by his vassal!" "Let my death ease your anger!" "Assist me, if you will, for pity's sake." "Quit it!" "I don't want to see your innards." " But..." " Stop it, Gonrokuro!" "Brother..." "This was none of Mother's or Shibata's doing." "I, Nobuyuki, did it of my own will." "I see." "Nobuyuki..." "Now..." "This must be settled!" " Are you mad?" "!" " Stop!" " But...!" " Stop!" "Clear the room." "Leave us!" "It's been a long time... since we faced each other." "Why won't you kill me?" "Kill me." "Kill me." "Kill me." "I never expected you to attack me." "If I hadn't attacked, you would have." "This will keep happening." "As long as we're both alive, men will fight... and die." "And fight again." "How many must die?" "Keep out!" "Come in!" "Nobuyuki killed himself for his treason." "Assist him." "Brothers would never kill each other." "I'd never kill you." "Senkuro..." "Manchiyo..." "War is out there." "I'll conquer Japan." "I will!" "As if obsessed with his words, my Lord fought as a king of devils." "But deep in his lonely heart, he hoped to make the world into one of peace." "How many could have known that?" "CAST" "ODA NOBUNAGA Kimura Takuya" "NOBUYUKI Tsuboi Michitaka" "NOH Nakaya Miki (Nakatani Miki ?" ")" "KITSUNO Aso Yumi" "IKOMA HACHIEMON Nagashima Toshiyuki" "HAYASHI TOSHIKATSU Tsukayama Masane" "LADY TODA Ishida Ayumi" "HIRATE MASAHIDE Kobayashi Nenji" "ODA NOBUHIDE Natsuyagi Isao" "SAITO DOSAN Nishida Toshiyuki" "Translation:" "KIKU-TV (Hawaii) Editor  Timer: k361  keiko1981"