LEGEND OF THE ODA

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1570 CLASH AT ANEGAWA

In the morning, Nobunaga recklessly charged, and his unit followed him closely. Hideyoshi was still preparing for battle when he saw Nobunaga's departure.

"No! not again! Men! We must go now; Lord Nobunaga has already started to engage the enemy. If he engages without us, he'll be quickly overwhelmed." 

Toshiie Maeda was desperate to rematch his duel with Nagamasa and hastily gathered troops to charge. Narimasa Sassa and Nobumori Sakuma both gathered their forces and made haste to the battlefield.

Down river, Ieyasu had his men get into formation on the south bank of the Anegawa. He led the central army. The Honda army stood to his right, and Yasumasa Sakakibara led another army to his left. Behind him was his family unit, led by Tadahiro Torii. Behind them, the rear guard led by the Mikawa upstarts. 

Yoshikage Asakura and Kagetake Asakura led the charge. Yasumasa would charge, while Kagetake and the Honda would engage Yoshikage. Ieyasu then sent signal flares up, and some of the Asakura men started attacking the Asakura troops. This led to panic and mass confusion in the Asakura forces. 

Meanwhile, upstream, Nobunaga had engaged with the Azai army. Outnumbered, he faced severe casualties. Soon, Hideyoshi's forces arrived and saved Nobunaga from certain death. However, they were still hopelessly at a disadvantage. Narimasa and Nobumori’s arrival only slowed down the Azai.

Worse still, Hisamasa Azai's army arrived with the more veteran retainers of the Azaim and did heavy damage to Hideyoshi's unit. Nobunaga, Hideyoshi and Nobumori all entered trances in an attempt to slow the Azai army. Nagamasa entered his too and started riding towards Nobunaga’s position. 

That's when Toshiie arrived, already in trance, and cut Nagamasa off. Nagamasa agreed to resume their duel, so the two water users clashed once again.  

Nobunaga was enraged Toshiie had cut him off from Nagamasa. Still, the tide of battle started to turn in the Oda's favor. Nobuharu and Nobuhide Oda soon arrived, as did Kazumasu, Nagahide and Yoshinari, followed closely by Katsuie Shibata. Oni-Shibata went straight for Haruhisa Azai. 

Meanwhile, downstream, the Tokugawa fought fiercely. Tadahiro had slain Takahiro Maeba, an Asakura commander. Shortly after, Yasumasa killed Yoshiie Yamazaki, another treasured Asakura warrior. 

Hanzo Hattori continued to prolong the chaos caused by his earlier deception and had reanimated both Asakura commanders. In life, these men were fiercely loyal to the Asakura clan; thus, their betrayal caused massive confusion. However, in the heat of the battle, Hanzo was struck in the head with an arrow. Ieyasu panicked, thinking he had been killed, but Hanzo casually removed the arrow and continued fighting. 

The Asakura troops that witnessed this were frightened. "HE'S A DEMON!". They quickly committed suicide. 

Tadakatsu Honda, with his spear Tonbokiri, entered his trance and began cutting through all Asakura troops ahead of him. Tonbokiri resembled a scythe, not unlike Yoshikage's Tsukuyomi. This caught Yoshikage's attention as he approached Tadakatsu. 

Upstream, the fighting was evening out. Nagamasa and Toshiie continued their honorable duel, as Nobunaga, bloodthirsty, got gradually more impatient. Oni-Shibata challenged Hisamasa to a duel, and the two clashed. 

It seemed that Toshiie had gained the upper hand in his duel when he suddenly was sent flying by a purple Ki blast. Nobunaga’s hand glowed purple. 

Nagamasa looked at him in sheer horror. "Is that the man you truly are? You attack your allies to get what you want? I won't forgive this injustice!..."

Nagamasa was furious, and his emotions amplified Nakisaki's power. Just then, he saw something even more horrible. Katsuie had gotten the best of his father, Hisamasa, cutting off all of the fingers on his left hand above the highest joint. Katsuie crossed his axes to finish the former Daimyo of the Azai. 

Nagamasa started absorbing water from the Ane river and ascended his trance in rage, panic, and concern.

1570 NAGAMASA'S TRUE POWER

The water swallowed Nagamasa's form. Nobunaga was not impressed with his ascended trance and continued towards him carelessly. Nagamasa would punish him for his arrogant approach. 

He let loose a rushing flood of water. Nobunaga underestimated the flood and shot a Shinidama at it. His attack was immediately absorbed, and he was swept away with the torrent of water. He was pulled to the ground hard and dislocated his arm. With only one functional arm, he couldn't surface the water. As he struggled, he started to drown. 

As water filled his body, he thought, "A man's life is but 50 years…. is this how my story ends? I'll never take Nagamasa's head; I'll never see Azuchi Castle finished; I'll never see my son’s, Ieyasu, or the Monkey's potential realized. Most importantly…. I couldn't unite the land and build my new world…. Perhaps, I was a fool after all…." 

Downstream, Ieyasu was faring much better. Yasumasa, Tadahiro, Sadaharu, Masayoshi and Heihachi had taken so many heads they lost track. Tadakatsu had killed everyone near Yoshikage and had challenged him. Yoshikage arrogantly refused.

"I am Yoshikage Asakura, leader of all who oppose the Demon King Nobunaga! I have no time to babysit children. Guards! Come slay this rabble!"

Tadakatsu was furious, and in his anger, he paused and heard Tonbokiri speak to him. "Tsukuyomi thinks he's above us…. Tadakatsu, I've granted you a spear that can pierce any shield. I gifted this to you because you're going to be the greatest warrior of all time. I know how Tsukuyomi works: he can change anything scratched by his blade. He can make it too heavy to move. That is why…. I shall grant you a shield that cannot be pierced by any spear!" 

Back upstream, Nagamasa Azai continued to rampage, dealing heavy damage to the Oda forces. The Mino three attempted to stop him, but they were quickly swept away with a powerful flood. Hisamasa was able to escape, as Katsuie's attention turned to Nagamasa. Katsuie entered his dual trance and donned his obsidian armor. As he and Nagamasa prepared to engage in combat, not far from the Oda main camp, Nobunaga awoke, coughing violently, spitting water from the depths of his being.

1570 TADAKATSU HONDA AT ANEGAWA 

Nobunaga looked around, seeing his half-brother Nobuhiro. 

"Nobuhiro, you surprised me again, brother. I figured you would have held me underwater."

Nobuhiro smiled, "I deserve that; I spent many years as a bad brother. Those days are over, though. You are my King. I'll do whatever I can to see your new world."

An Azai unit spotted and pursued them. Nobuhiro groaned, "Can you stand? We have uninvited guests." He drew his blade and motioned Nobunaga toward the main camp. Before Nobuhiro could engage the enemy, he heard someone shout.

"Shippuden!" 

The Azai troops were blown away by an orb of wind. Hideyoshi had dispatched their assailants. 

Nobuhiro ordered Hideyoshi to get Nobunaga to the Main camp. The monkey obliged, and the two continued toward the camp. Nobuhiro warned the Azai troops attempting to stand up. 

"If you want to pursue my brother…," he plunged his sword into the back of the soldier closest to him,  "I'll send anyone who stands in his way to hell." 

Nobunaga and Hideyoshi arrived at their camp. Hideyoshi stood guard outside.

Meanwhile, downstream, the Tokugawa were pushing the Asakura back. Tadakatsu has ascended his trance, and in this new form, he had a new set of incredibly heavy armor. 

Yoshikage laughed, "Very well, boy, if you're offering your head, I'll take it!" 

He started clashing with Tadakatsu but was no match for his might. 

Yoshikage was enraged. "Then let’s see how well you fight with a weapon that's ten times heavier." Yoshikage smirked as he increases Tonbokiri's gravity. His smile quickly faded to a look of horror as Tadakatsu sliced into his left shoulder. 

"How is that possible!? Our speeds were even! How did you get so fast after I made your weapon heavier?" 

Tadakatsu laughed. "Foolish old man, Tonbokiri isn't just sharp enough to cut a dragonfly or unbreakable armor! It's the power to overcome! No matter how heavy the burden, I'll adapt and overcome. I'll improve endlessly if necessary. I'll rip the moon from the sky to defend lord Ieyasu." 

Yoshikage smiled, "Then I suppose I'll have to change my tactics. With a mere scratch, I'll make that armor unbearable, and you'll be crushed under its weight!" 

He brought the Tsukuyomi down onto Tadakatsu's armor.

Meanwhile, upstream, Katsuie fought valiantly, but Nagamasa Azai was too powerful - his water being the weakness of both of Katsuie's Onika. 

Katsuie lie defeated, leaving Nagamasa unhindered and with the Oda camp in front of him. It was then that an innocent-looking Oda unit returned to the main camp to protect Nobunaga. 

When Hideyoshi checked the commander's name, the man stabbed Hideyoshi in the gut, then kicked him down, yelling, "I am Naotsuna Endo of the Azai! I've come for Nobunaga’s head!" 

Naotsuna has disguised his unit to look like Oda troops. Nobunaga was in danger and unable to defend against him. Naotsuna spotted Nobunaga and charged him with a spear in hand. 

Nobunaga attempted to summon his blade, but his injury made defending himself impossible. 

Onikage laughed. "Foolish boy, just surrender the arm to me! I don't care if the bones are shattered; I'll make it move - it's got to be better than death. You can trust me." 

Nobunaga carefully considered his options, but he was quickly running out of time as Naotsuna closed the gap between them. Then, a spray of blood covered the camp wall...

1570 DEATH AT ANEGAWA 

Kagenori Kurosaka, an Asakura general, gathered the last of the Asakura reserves from the main camp and attempted a counterattack on the Tokugawa line. He was quickly blocked by Heihachi Honda, thrown from his horse and killed. 

Shinhachiro Maeba and his oldest son Shintaro took control of the counterattack in Kagenori's stead. Tadahiro Torii and Tadazane Honda moved to reinforce Heihachi, and the Maeba father and son were pushed back and slain. 

Tadakatsu Honda thoroughly bested Yoshikage. Unable to scratch Tadakatsu's thick armor, Tsukuyomi was unable to kill him. Eventually, Yoshikage proudly presented his neck. Tadakatsu took one mighty swing with his Tonbokiri, and the top of Yoshikage's Kabuto fell to the ground. 

Tadakatsu turned his back to him. "I am Tadakatsu Honda, the strongest warrior from Mikawa. I don't have time to kill foolish old men.”

Meanwhile, at the Oda camp, Naotsuna Endo gasped for air but only inhaled blood. Hirohide Hirate removed his spear from his throat, granting him death's release. 

"You shouldn't have attacked my king!" 

Nobunaga smiled at his surrogate son, "Your grandfather would be proud, my boy. I'm not afraid to admit I am." 

Nobuharu Oda arrived with an urgent report. 

"Brother, Nagamasa Azai is approaching the Main camp! You must flee! The monkey has agreed to hold him off with me; we will buy you enough time to…." 

Nobunaga interrupted him, " I refuse to run from that traitor again. Someone, place a sword in my mouth! I'll kill that boy with any arms if needed.”

As Nagamasa and his troops made blind haste towards the Oda camp, they were cut off by Nagahide Niwa and Yoshinari Mori. The two Oda Samurai dealt heavy casualties to Nagamasa's troops. However, when they engaged Nagamasa himself, they were quickly brushed aside by his powerful flood ability. His ascended water-based trance, near a body of water and powered by Nagamasa's emotions, made him an incredibly powerful opponent. Hideyoshi and Nobuharu watched as Nagamasa got closer. 

When all hope seemed lost, the captain of the Royal guards arrived…. Mitsuhide Akechi. 

Downstream, Yoshikage was shocked that Tadakatsu had refused to finish him. However, his fast-approaching troops didn't feel the same. They were thirsty to claim his head as a trophy.

As they approached, Kagetake and Kagetaka Asakura rode promptly and rescued him, rushing him to the main camp. However, to their chagrin, when they arrived there, they witnessed a horrible scene.

All the defenders in the camp were headless. Before the bodies lay a pile of heads, and behind them, the Hattori ninja. However, with the Hattori ninja were several familiar Asakura vassals. 

This terrified Yoshikage because one of these men, Tsuneoki Abe…. was supposed to be dead. In fact, Yoshikage had recently watched him die on the battlefield. The only Asakura retainer alive in the camp was Kageyuki Uozumi. Kageyuki was in charge of the camp's defense and was dueling Hanzo, but after seeing his lord and noticing Hanzo had gotten distracted by Yoshikage, Kageyuki ran his sword through Hanzo's neck. 

Yoshikage was relieved to see Hanzo die…. Except, he did not. Instead, Hanzo cut Kageyuki's hands from his sword. He then pulled the sword from his throat and jammed the blade into the right side of Kageyuki's surprised face. 

After witnessing that horrific scene, Yoshikage called for a full retreat. Though most of the Tokugawa army was too exhausted to pursue the shattered Asakura, one unit had seen very little combat and intended to make up for it. 

The Tokugawa rearguard, the Mikawa upstarts, led by the Kosaka Brothers, soon caught up to the Asakura.

1570 VICTORY AT ANEGAWA 

Mitsuhide Akechi stared down at Nagamasa. 

"Lord Nagamasa, why do you fight against Lord Nobunaga? I know you are a just man. Surely this war conflicts with your honor. Please, stop this madness. There's still time." 

Nagamasa was distressed. "Lord Akechi, I recognize you too are a man who holds honor and justice above all. But Nobunaga attacked lord Asakura, and the slaughter at mount Hiei…. he's becoming something terrible and refused our peace terms…. So, for the sake of the Azai and the Asakura, I must slay him. That is the only way."

Mitsuhide knew he could not shake him off his resolve, so he summoned his brilliant diamond blade, the Kamikaze. "Then, in the name of justice and for the sake of peace, I must stop you! Diamond Dust!" 

At the same time, downstream, the Asakura were in dire straits. The upstarts closed in and had almost caught up with Yoshikage. Just then, Jurozaemon Magara and his son Naomoto rode out and cut off the upstarts. 

Naomoto declared, "My Lord, you must escape - we shall hold them here!" 

The Magara warriors fought valiantly to ensure the Asakura could escape. Eventually, Jurozaemon collapsed to his knees and looked up at Gorojiro.

"I can fight on no further. Take my head to your Lord, but make sure you tell him of our last stand!" Gorojiro readied his sword, captivated by his last stand, and answered, "Aye, sir Magara!" as if he had been his commander. 

Naomoto lasted a while longer but was eventually surrounded and stabbed many times. With their sacrifices, the Asakura managed to escape across the other river, returning them to Echizen. Ieyasu, upon hearing of the Magara's valor, named them among the Heroes of Anegawa. 

Back upstream, Mitsuhide had launched his Diamond dust, and Nagamasa's had launched his Flood. But the Diamond Dust was diluted by the torrent of water, and Mitsuhide too was washed away. 

Only four remained undefeated at the Oda camp. Hideyoshi and Nobuharu at the gate, the strategist Hanbei, and Nobunaga himself, who was still wounded. 

Hideyoshi walked towards Nagamasa and yelled.

"He trusted you! Nobunaga trusted you with his greatest treasure, Lady Oichi. I can only imagine what kind of hell this war is putting her through! For that, I will never forgive you!" 

Before Nagamasa could defend himself, Hideyoshi had hit the ground beneath himself with a powerful wind attack, launching himself at Nagamasa. With this attack, he was able to knock him from his horse, a feat no one else to this point had managed. 

Nagamasa quickly recovered and launched a flood at Hideyoshi, who deflected it with a wall of air. However, as the struggle continued, Hideyoshi, exhausted from the battle, ran out of Ki and was washed into the camp along with Nobuharu. 

Nagamasa proceeded to enter the camp. When he did, Nobunaga, sword in his non-dominant hand, rushed him but was sent flying backward with a crippling jet of water. 

As Nagamasa turned toward Nobunaga, Nobuharu rushed him again. Nagamasa heard the clanging of his armor, turned, and stabbed him with both of his swords. Nobuharu was ran through and was bleeding from his mouth.

With the last of his strength, he called to Nobunaga. "Brother…. run!" 

Hirohide Hirate grabbed Nobunaga and attempted to pick him up but wasn't strong enough. 

Nagamasa, eventually starting to fatigue, declared, "Time to end this," and charged at Nobunaga, swords at the ready. 

Seeing Nobunaga in danger, Hideyoshi used the rest of his ki to vault in front of him and die in his stead. That’s when Hanbei, noticing his friend Hideyoshi in mortal danger, extended a single finger. 

Nagamasa's blade stopped just short of Hideyoshi's neck. He was still and confused. 

"I can't move, why can't I….?" 

Hanbei, with a string made of ki protruding from his fingertip, explained, "This is my most powerful seal! It immediately sealed all ki, even the ki that allows movement. However, it is at a terrible price. Holding this seal for a minute will take a month from my life. But it matters not - I had to protect my friend. No cost is too high for Hideyoshi. Someone, quickly take Nagamasa's head!" 

Hideyoshi collapsed, too tired, as did Nobunaga. Hanbei started to sweat. Just then, Toshiie arrived with his nephew Toshimasu. Hanbei yelled, "Nagamasa is paralyzed! Kill him now. I can't hold him forever!" 

Toshiie readied his Trident but soon remembered that when he had been vulnerable to Nagamasa and offered him his back to concentrate on Nobunaga, Nagamasa had spared him. 

He then dropped his Trident and pushed Nagamasa out of the camp's threshold and down the muddy slope before the camp. 

Nobunaga, Hideyoshi, Hanbei, Hirohide and Toshimasu were shocked. Toshimasu, trying to rectify the situation, grabbed a spear and attempted to throw it at Nagamasa, but like any time before, it was like his whole being cramped, and he simply dropped the spear. 

As Nagamasa started to stand, he looked behind him, seeing his army approach. He was about to lead a charge on the Oda camp. 

Toshimasu looked to his uncle and said, "Congratulations, uncle, you've just killed us all!"

Toshiie looked at the approaching army and sighed.
But there was yet one player to arrive. Suddenly,  another army slammed into their left flank. It was the Tokugawa. 

The scattered Oda army, seeing Tokugawa reinforcements, gathered momentum and counterattacked, slamming into the enemy’s right flank and forming a powerful pincer attack. 

Nagamasa, now exhausted and wounded, sighed.

"Lord Asakura has retreated? The battle is lost. Everyone, return to Odani!" 

And so the Azai retreated. The Oda had won the battle.

1570 AFTER ANEGAWA 

The Azai and Asakura were defeated. Nobunaga's forces and officers were beaten and wounded. 

With no nearby reserves, Nobunaga was forced to call off his sieges of Yokoyama Castle and Odani Castle. 

He would leave his son Nobutada, Yoshinari Mori and Koroku Hachisuka to build a castle at Mount Usa to serve as a base for his future invasion of Omi. 

He sent Mitsuhide to the capital, mainly to keep Hisahide Matsunaga in check. He, however, wrote a letter to Mitsuhide, scolding him for his failure at Anegawa, and instructed him to read it daily, to be reminded of his inability to protect his main camp.

Mitsuhide was annoyed at his immature behavior but forgave him regardless. Nobunaga returned to Gifu and brought most of his generals and retainers to discuss Anegawa. He proceeded to scold his men who lost to Nagamasa. 

Katsuie, the Mino three, Nagahide, Narimasa, Nobumori, even Hideyoshi and Hirohide were scolded, despite each had risked their lives to personally save Nobunaga. 

But none received a worse scolding than Toshiie.

"From this day forward, I shall henceforth be calling you by your former name, Dog. You honorable fool, you let pride and honor blind you! Because of that, you let the traitor escape! Your worthless spear bearer did more than you! From this day forward, that pathetic boy that can't even throw a spear is your commanding officer. That's right; you now receive your orders from him. Consider this mercy for your years of service. In the future, prove to me you're more useful than a man physically incapable of fighting."

Toshiie was distraught and requested permission to claim his own life. His nephew Toshimasu asked to claim his life in his stead as his commander. 

Nobunaga shamefully refused both, claiming they needed to live with their mistakes and shortcomings. 

He then declared, "I am disappointed with you all - however, I'm even more disappointed in myself. So, I vow to become a better leader, and you all vow to be better warriors. Look at the Tokugawa! They destroyed the Asakura because they fought with purpose from the first day forward. Let us fight with purpose. To fight for a new world! A united world, where I am the King, and you all no longer have to fight. We will lick our wounds; then we will destroy the Coalition! The Azai, the Asakura, the Miyoshi, the Ikko Ikki and anyone else who opposed us. We can't be remembered for our failures! Let us be remembered as conquerors!" 

Nobunaga would go on to praise Hanbei for his deeds, and then he dismissed his retainers. Then he would rest, recuperate strength and start planning his invasion of the Azai once again. However, a threat closer to home would interfere with his plans sooner than he could have expected.

1571 THE MONKS OF NAGASHIMA

At Nobunaga's behest, the Mino Three sent 1,000 troops to Nagoya Castle from Ogaki Castle in Mino. This wasn't an act of war, but the Ikko Ikki from Nagashima Castle construed it as one and raided the troops. 

Blocked from Nagoya and with no retreat route, two desperate envoys were sent to Nobumori Sakuma and Katsuie Shibata. 

Nobumori and Oni-Shibata sent relief units to save the Mino Three and capture Ganshoji, which consisted of several temples and fortresses surrounding Nagashima Castle. 

At first, Katsuie defeated the initial raiding party and captured the nearby Waju island communities. Bokuzen Ujiie recommended they withdraw, but Nobumori Sakuma recommended that they cross the river while the waters were low and take Nagashima Castle by surprise. 

Shinran, the head monk of Ganshoji, was expecting an attack. He had his monks rake the riverbeds, turning them into mud. When the Oda troops attempted to charge across the river, the mud bogged them down. That's when the monks began firing on them. 

The Oda abandoned their horses and trudged forward through the mud and gunfire, thinking their situation would improve as they reached the opposite bank. However, Katsuie was shot and had to pull back, leaving his troops under Bokuzen Ujiie, the only one of the Mino Three who was brave or foolish enough to participate in this battle. As they arrived on the bank, they faced serious casualties and could only advance when the muskets reloaded. 

However, just as they started to close the gap, Shinran ordered the Dams to be opened. A rushing torrential flood swallowed most of the Oda army away. Those who survived by rushing forward were caught in the line of fire of the Gun monks. 

Such devastating tactics shattered the Oda ranks. The monks then opened their gates and charged. Nobumori called for a full retreat, where Bokuzen volunteered as the rear guard. 

Nobumori used his Onika power to form a narrow bridge, and with that and Bokuzen's valor, the surviving Oda forces were able to escape across the river. However, Bokuzen was surrounded by the monks. Seeing this, Nobumori saluted his comrades' valor and destroyed his land bridge, vowing to one day die fighting as his comrade had on that day. 

Bokuzen took at least 50 monks with him to the grave, and though he was their enemy, the monks prayed for his soul after he had fallen. With more than ten stab wounds and three arrows in his back, Bokuzen walked into the river and collapsed, never to be seen again.

The Mino triumvirate was forever disbanded with Bokuzen's death. Nobunaga was furious about Morinari Ando's refusal to participate in the battle and ordered him to exile. He then planned to have Ittetsu Inaba murdered, summoning him before himself and an audience to explain his cowardice, but the man, knowing of his fate, had prepared a death poem about himself.

‘Of the three Mino warriors, was he the greatest or the worst? He wasn't either. The best lies at the bottom of the river, and the worst has gone away. He simply is, and perhaps, soon he will no longer be.’

Nobunaga was so impressed by this display he ordered his assassins to stand down. He gave control of Ogaki Castle to him and gave him a new name, Yoshimichi Inaba - Mino's boldest warrior.

Nobunaga still needed someone to pay for this failure. Nobumori Sakuma and his cousin Morimasa arrived at Gifu. 

Morimasa presented Nobunaga with a rope with ten monks' heads on it. 

"I apologize, Lord Nobunaga. The battle was chaotic. This is all I could gather while my comrades fled, but I guarantee I personally slew each of these men personally for you. I didn't want you to be empty-handed from this campaign." 

Nobunaga was seriously impressed, and he started to recall his presence around Nobumori in past campaigns. Nobunaga asked, "Nobumori, what did you bring to amend your failure?" 

Nobumori responded, "I brought mine and Shibata's men home safely, using Sanno's mountain powers. I promise I'll lead another attack…." 

Nobunaga interrupted him, "No, you will not. Effective immediately, all your land and titles belong to Morimasa. You are exiled. I hope the rest of your life is long enough to reconsider your failure. Now go, but remember to leave Sanno for Morimasa." 

Mitsuhide jumped to defend Nobumori.  

"My Lord… I know another defeat has left a bitter taste in your mouth, but please don't punish lord Sakuma for it. He's a good man, and a loyal warrior, and it is thanks to him our armies still stand!" 

Nobunaga glared at him, "He's being exiled, and that's that! If you admire him so much, feel encouraged to join him!" 

Mitsuhide bowed his head and watched one of the most respected and powerful Oda warriors to ever live walk away into exile. He would never forget this.

1571 YOSHINARI MORI AT USAYAMA 

After the defeat at Nagashima, Nobunaga continued to build his forces to crush the weakened Azai and Asakura coalition. The Ikko Ikki monks and the Miyoshi were also part of the same coalition, but they didn't work in tandem with the Azai-Asakura, and continued to ask them for assistance in marching on the capital, to no avail. Without reinforcements, Nagamasa selected a much easier target, Mount Usa. Stationed there was Yoshinari Mori and Nobutada Oda, heir of Nobunaga. Yoshinari Mori was preparing a message for his house back in Mino. 

‘To my lady, I hope Lord Nobunaga will attack the Azai soon. After we defeat them, I can come home to Mino. It's funny; our commander here is Lord Nobunaga's heir, Nobutada. The boy is around the same age as Nagayoshi. I originally thought I'd hate receiving orders from a boy, but he is smarter than most men I know. It makes me miss our boys. I know I've been away for a while. I haven't even seen Tadamasa, and last time I was home, Rikimaru was an infant. Please read this to our boys. Nagayoshi, when I get back, I'll finish your spear training. I know you'll become a powerful warrior someday. Ranmaru, you will be a handsome young man, and I'll have no problem finding you a wife someday. When I get back, I will teach you the way of the sword. Bomaru, Rikimaru and Tadamasa, my greatest regret in life is that I have not spent much time with you all, but I swear I'll change that soon. I can't wait to see the warriors you all grow into. I'll see you once all of Omi is ours." 

He finished his letter and sent his messenger home to Mino, hoping to see a return letter someday. 

However, the next day he would receive distressing news instead. The Azai army, in full force, was marching on the castle. Yoshinari rushed to inform Nobutada. This wasn't the best time for an attack, as the fortress at Usayama was unfinished, and when Nobumori Sakuma returned to Owari, he had taken 2000 troops that he never replaced, leaving Yoshinari and Nobutada with a mere 2000 troops and an unfinished fortress.

Koroku Hachisuka had also departed for Azuchi's construction site. Yoshinari recommended a tactical withdrawal, but Nobutada, being the son of Nobunaga, wanted to perform his own Okehazama success. So, he ordered a full charge at the Azai.

This would prove a mistake. Within the hour, they had lost half of their troops. Seeing no other option, he told Nobutada to retreat to the nearest Oda castle. Nobutada, seeing how fast his men were being slaughtered, reluctantly agreed. 

"Very well, Sir Mori, but the enemy will easily catch us. So what's the point?" 

Yoshinari responded, "I won't be joining you. You're Lord Nobunaga's heir. I refuse to let the enemy take your life. We will buy you enough time to retreat. Do me one favor…. ask Nobunaga to take good care of my sons." 

Nobutada agreed. While fleeing, he took one glance back at Yoshinari. At that moment, he respected him even more than his father, the conqueror. 

Yoshinari ordered what was left of his men to hold the line as long as possible. He then walked back to the gate and drew his Nagamaki. Using his blade, he drew a line in the sand in front of the gate. Next, he planted his sword in the ground and drew out his spear. Soon, his ranks folded, and the Azai rushed him. 

He stood strong and declared, "As long as I live, none of you shall pass this line!" 

He cut down every man brave enough to approach him, keeping the enemy busy long enough for Nobutada to retreat. Eventually, Nagamasa himself challenged him to a duel. He planted his spear in the dirt and drew out his sword. 

Yoshinari managed to pierce Nagamasa's shoulder, causing him to drop the Nakisaki. 

Nagamasa kneeled. "I've been defeated, Sir Mori, take my head to your Lord…." 

But Yoshinari stood still, and didn't answer him. Nagamasa looked up at him, noticing his many wounds. Yoshinari Mori had died moments before he could claim him as captive. Nagamasa was even more impressed that he fought so fiercely with such wounds and ordered his men not to touch him. 

The Azai did take Usayama, but thanks to Yoshinari's sacrifice, Nobutada escaped unharmed. 

Nagamasa sent his body to Gifu unmutilated. 

Nobutada would form a close bond with Nagayoshi. Nobunaga would have Ranmaru, Bōmaru and Rikimaru train with Hirohide Hirate to succeed as Nobunaga's page and bodyguard. Nobunaga was determined to make Azai pay for this death.

1572 DESTINY OF THE ODA

In Gifu Castle, Nobunaga's mood was particularly foul one day. 

He retired early and sulked alone in private, going as far as to dismiss his guards. This was foolish, considering how many people wanted him dead. 

In fact, this day was a day for assassins. While Nobunaga sulked in secret, a person crept up behind him with a short blade. 

"Don't move," they whispered softly. 

Nobunaga asked, "This again?" and turned to face the assailant. 

"For the sixth year in a row, you grieve for that whore! I am here for this life and the next, and you still weep over her! What was so special about her to you?" 

Nobunaga responded, "She wasn't a whore! She was the mother of our children! She gave me the only thing you could not!" 

Lady No was furious at his response and brought the Sekanso blade to his throat. "Shall we meet our destiny tonight? First, you, then me. Then you can see the mother of your children once more. Put it to rest, and then we can spend eternity in the next life together." 

Meanwhile, some distance from the castle, Toshiie and Toshimasu Maeda trained. Toshimasu was technically in charge of the Maeda as punishment for Toshiie's failure to kill Nagamasa, but Toshimasu still saw Toshiie as his leader. 

The young man only really had Toshiie and his wife, Lady Matsu. He spent his life alone. Born with uncontrollable power, he was abandoned by his father Kazumasu Takigawa, sealed by Gon Takenaka and imprisoned by the Saito as a monster. 

Eventually, another "Monster" imprisoned by the Saito, Lady Yuki, daughter of Dosan Saito, would come to adopt him as a brother. Sometime later, Toshiie would accidentally wound her. She sealed the monster trapped inside of her inside of Toshimasu. Toshiie would raise Toshimasu out of obligation and guilt. The only problem was that the seal Lady Yuki used was so strong it prevented Toshimasu from exerting any more power than basic functions, making it impossible to be a warrior. 

Toshiie knew the truth but never told him. So while Toshiie trained, he attempted to train Toshimasu, knowing it could never work. Their training was interrupted by a civilian. 

"Excuse me, Sir, that mon on your clothing… is that the Maeda clan?" 

Toshiie smiled and said, "Yes, I'm Toshiie Maeda, and that's my nephew Toshimasu…." 

The man suddenly pulled out a sword.

"I'm Sohei of the Ikko Ikki! The Oda are enemies of the Buddha. I'll take your head, Maeda!" 

The monk ran at the unarmed, tired Toshiie, knocking Toshimasu to the ground en route. One of Toshimasu's rings fell off, and the young man screamed in agony as his muscle mass increased suddenly and rapidly. He then grabbed a spear and threw it into the assailant with such force he was sent flying backward. 

Toshimasu collapsed, and Toshiie was stunned by the incident. He scurried to find the lost ring and eventually returned it to the finger it fell from. 

Afterward, he went to find the assassin to see if he was still alive. He found him pinned to a tree with the spear. The force in which he collided with the tree sent a chill down his spine. He now had seen why his nephew's terrible power could never be unbound. 

"This Kid has been chosen by destiny to do something great. It's my responsibility to make sure he does just tha…. But if I let him out of his cage too early…. " 

As luck would have it, Toshimasu would not recall any of the events, and Toshiie passed it off as heat stroke.

Sometime later, Nobunaga grabbed No's wrist, and she dropped her blade. He then pulled her closer.

"My Queen, we will have all of eternity together... But for now, I must conquer the land. I'm sorry to dwell on the past. From now on, only the future will fill my mind." 

No smiled. "My foolish King, we won't live to see the land conquered. A man's life is but 50 years; you'd need 100 to take the whole land. Fifty years or less sounds right. Your destiny is linked with Atsumori. The good die young, and you're the best! I told you once, did I not..?" 

1572 FATE

In Odani Castle, Nagamasa spoke with his wife, Lady Oichi.

"I'm sorry if my decision has caused you despair, Ichi. But at this point, I have to fight. For the sake of the Azai and the Asakura, for your sake and our childrens’ as well. If we lose against the Oda…." 

Oichi smiled and placed her hand over his. "Lord Nagamasa, I am your wife first, and Nobunaga's sister second. You forget I've lost many brothers already. Nobukatsu, Nobuoki and Nobuharu. I'll miss my brothers, but I still have you and our children. That's all that matters to me. If we lose, I will gladly accept the same fate as you. That's what Lady No taught me. That's my conviction for the Azai." 

Nagamasa was an honorable man, who made a hard decision, and Oichi was a loving wife and sister forced to choose between families. Fate can be cruel. 

Ieyasu Tokugawa was also dealt a harsh fate. His grandfather and father died young due to the Imagawa's ruthless plotting. The Oda abducted him, and his father refused to betray the Imagawa. The Oda took pity on him and raised him with the Oda brothers. 

His mentor Heihachi Honda and his loyalists Tadahiro and Mototada Torii, Yoshinobu Natsumae, Sadaharu Aoki and Masayoshi Naruse would become family. They were with him during his captivity. 

Eventually, he was traded to the Imagawa in exchange for land and the life of Nobuhide's oldest son, Nobuhiro Oda. He was then groomed as a slave to the Imagawa. He was eventually liberated from the Imagawa when Nobunaga finally severed Yoshimoto's head from his neck. 

Ieyasu then partnered with Nobunaga. It was then that fate handed him several more losses in the form of the Oda brothers, who he considered his siblings. When Nobukatsu took his own life after losing to Nobunaga, Ieyasu's innocence died with him. He remembered Nobukatsu always treating him like a member of the family. When Nobukatsu died, he swore to end the age of war and build a world where a man would never be forced to fight his brothers again. He went on to defeat the Imagawa and add additional talented individuals to his family. 

Hanzo, former Daimyo of Iga, his ninja Grandmasters Masashige Iga, and Heihachi's nephews Tadazane and Tadakatsu. Tadakatsu had defeated Yoshikage Asakura the Tsukuyomi and immediately impressed Ieyasu. Ieyasu tasked him with training the prodigy Naomasa Ii. Ieyasu had an outstanding battle record, having won most he participated in; however, soon, fate would present his harshest test yet….

In the Shogun's Nijo residence, a meeting was taking place. Yoshiaki Ashikaga the Shogun met with Hisahide Matsunaga and a large monk with a dark aura about him. 

"Hisahide, have you been in contact with the Uesugi and Takeda yet?" asked the Shogun

"Yes, my lord; the Takeda are preparing to treat with the Uesugi, march through Mikawa and then plan to siege Gifu, with the Uesugi protecting their rear. We can expect this move within the same," answered Hisahide. 

"The Ikko monks in Nagashima and Kaga, as well as here in the Capital, are spreading rumors and seeing discourse about the Oda, so uprisings are incipient. Two influential bandit leaders will raise banners in Iga soon, and the Kitabatake clan may also revolt. Furthermore, Motonari Mori sympathizes with our alliance against the Demon King. We may expect his assistance in the near future, too. Everything is going according to Keikaku," Kennyo Hongan-ji, leader of the Ikko Ikki, said menacingly as he opened a third eye on his forehead. 

Hisahide smiled. "Within the year, the Oda will mobilize everything they have against the Azai and Asakura. Even if they are destroyed, they will have served their purpose. The Oda will be crippled, and even if they manage to defeat the Takeda, Azai and Asakura, they won't be strong enough to handle our combined forces - after the Oda are gone, the Shogunate will fully control the land. Fate smiles on us tonight."