Chapter 5: Kuroda Kanbei “Strategy”

The great flames rose up from Honnoji and Nengonji.

Those flames seemed to reflect Nobunaga’s fierce nature, and also his turbulent life. Sparks scattered in countless numbers, and the heat burned the skin.

Through it all, Mitsuhide ran. I chased after him.

Behind the main hall of Nengonji, beyond the office building, horses were tied up.

“What is this—?!”

Mitsuhide shouted as he burst out from behind the office and stopped. Pressed down by his voice, my knees gave out. I crawled across the gravel and stuck my face out from behind the building.

Three silhouettes glowed in the firelight—it was unmistakably Oda Nobunaga, Mori Ranmaru, and Akechi Mitsuhide, all seen from behind. The three of them were facing the same direction. No—they were keeping wary watch all around, while focusing their glare on a single point.

There stood Kuroda Kanbei, surrounded by soldiers in formation, guarded by a few retainers, confronting Nobunaga.

“Kanbei—!”

Nobunaga roared. As he moved slightly, I noticed an arrow stuck in his left arm. Nobunaga drew his sword and slashed the arrow off at the shaft.

Mitsuhide stood in front of Nobunaga to shield him.

“Kuroda Kanbei! To unite the realm requires Lord Nobunaga’s power. At this crucial time, when he is laying the foundation for unification, why this outrageous act?!”

Mitsuhide’s words were filled with anger.

“……”

“Answer, Kanbei!”

“Outrage? Laughable! This world is gekokujō—the low overthrowing the high! Why should one hesitate to seize the realm?!”

“Then I ask you! Kuroda Kanbei, can you govern this age of turmoil? Tell us—how many generals would follow you?”

“There is no need to answer!”

Kanbei declared firmly.

Mitsuhide glared at him.

“Kuroda Kanbei! By raising your hand against Lord Nobunaga, do you truly accept the resolve to become a rebel and enemy of the Oda army?!”

“……”

Kanbei gave no reply.

Driven to the limit, Nobunaga tried to step forward past Mitsuhide.

“Lord Nobunaga, it is dangerous!”

“Stand aside, Mitsuhide! At this stage I will neither flee nor hide!”

Nobunaga brushed aside Mitsuhide with the hilt of his sword and advanced.

“Kanbei—!”

He roared with a voice like the rumbling of the earth.

“Kanbei! Is this disturbance the doing of Hideyoshi, or your own will?!”

“……”

Kanbei remained silent.

“What do you fear, Kanbei? If you have cornered me, you have nothing to worry about.”

Nobunaga laughed with a sharp glint in his eyes.

“Kanbei!”

Mitsuhide shouted.

All around, beams and pillars cracked and burst, and parts of the building collapsed here and there.

Dragging his leg, Kanbei stepped forward two or three paces. In a hoarse voice, he spoke.

“Fear? Of course I fear—when the one I face is a demon…”

“Insulting fool!”

Mitsuhide barked instantly.

“Wait, Mitsuhide.”

“But, Lord Nobunaga…”

“Enough!”

“Yes, my apologies.”

After exchanging those few words, Mitsuhide held back.

“Kanbei, speak your mind!”

“As a retainer of Hashiba Hideyoshi, I bear no grudge against Lord Nobunaga!”

Kanbei spoke firmly.

“Then is this disturbance Hideyoshi’s doing?!”

“No, it is not. Hear me out.”

“……”

Nobunaga stared silently at Kanbei.

“The generals scattered to the frontlines are indeed strong. The reason the Oda army has advanced so swiftly is because Lord Nobunaga’s will draws out each general’s abilities. That much I admit.”

“What are you getting at?!”

“Men exert their strength when a threat stands before them. But when government stabilizes, that threat becomes discontent and turns back upon you. Lord Nobunaga—you and your retainers are bound by threat, not by trust.”

“Insolence, Kanbei! To insult Lord Nobunaga any further—I, Ranmaru, will not allow it!”

Mori Ranmaru brandished his sword and rushed at Kanbei.

“Stop, Ranmaru!”

But before Nobunaga’s call could reach him, two spears pierced Ranmaru’s abdomen.

“Ah…”

Ranmaru looked at the spears in his belly, turned toward Nobunaga, and smiled.

Then with his left hand he grabbed one of the shafts, swung his sword down, and severed it. As he reached for the second, his knees gave way.

“Ranmaru—!”

Nobunaga’s cry gave him strength one last time—he stood again, sword raised, and stepped forward.

Thud, thud, thud!

“Guh…”

Three more spears stabbed into his body. Pushed back by them, Ranmaru fell on his back. But in the next instant he moved—still lying there, he hurled his short sword toward Kanbei.

“What?!”

Off guard, Kanbei flinched as the blade grazed his arm.

“Missed… huh…”

With those words, Ranmaru died.

“What persistence… I underestimated him, thinking him a mere page.”

Kanbei stepped back.

“Ranmaru—!”

Nobunaga screamed.

“Now, with all force, strike down Oda Nobunaga and Akechi Mitsuhide!”

Kanbei flipped his war fan forward, and ten musketeers stepped up and leveled their guns. Nobunaga and Mitsuhide retreated warily.

“Fire!”

Bang, bang, bang!

As the volley rang out, a black shadow leapt forward.

“Ugh!”

“Toshimitsu!”

Mitsuhide cried.

“Seems I made it in time.”

Toshimitsu smiled. Sword in his right hand, he spread both arms wide.

“You…”

“Lord Mitsuhide, quickly—take Lord Nobunaga away!”

His voice was deep and powerful. Standing as a shield, Saitō Toshimitsu took every bullet into his own body, yet remained standing.

“Lord Nobunaga, quickly!”

“Very well. Toshimitsu, you have my gratitude.”

Nobunaga answered Mitsuhide and called out to Toshimitsu, then turned back the way they had come—toward me.

Since the muskets of that time needed time to reload after one shot, Kanbei had not calculated for Toshimitsu’s sacrifice.

“Saitō Toshimitsu!”

Kanbei roared. Toshimitsu glared at him.

“Toshimitsu. You, like me, are a strategist among Oda’s senior retainers. Surely you see that this is justice.”

“What gives you the right to declare justice?!”

Toshimitsu’s eyes were fierce.

“To strike down one’s brother, to attack one’s sister’s in-laws, to burn Mount Hiei—are Lord Nobunaga’s acts not madness?”

“Kanbei! To storm Honnoji, burn it, and slaughter comrades who fought at our side—is that your justice?!”

“Great deeds require small sacrifices. You, too, must have seen countless corpses in war.”

“Yes. I have seen more corpses than cherry blossoms. But I have never tasted the fruit of betrayal!”

Toshimitsu declared.

“Toshimitsu, I had hoped to share drinks with you, but it seems I am disliked.”

“Perhaps we could have been good drinking companions…”

Toshimitsu looked at the blood seeping from his chest.

“My time has come. A pity we had no chance…”

He swayed and collapsed forward.

“Don’t let them escape!”

Kanbei’s shout was aimed at Nobunaga and Mitsuhide retreating.

“The muskets?!”

“Almost ready!”

“Enough—after them!”

At his command, soldiers surged forward.

Spears rained like storm-driven rain, striking at Nobunaga and Mitsuhide from the side.

Slash!

One grazed Nobunaga’s right leg. He stumbled over the embedded shaft and fell.

“Lord Nobunaga!”

Mitsuhide, a few steps ahead, turned back and lifted him up by the arm.

Nobunaga stood, but could no longer run.

“Mitsuhide.”

“Yes!”

“I am indebted to you.”

Nobunaga smiled faintly.

“What do you mean?!”

“It is enough. It ends here.”

“Do not falter! Do not give up!”

“I swore I would draw my own curtain. I will not suffer the disgrace of another’s blade.”

He spoke calmly.

“Lord Nobunaga…”

“This is gekokujo. No need for loyalty—live as you will.”

With those words, Nobunaga leapt into the flames. In an instant, the fire swallowed him.

“Lord Nobunaga—!”

Mitsuhide screamed, then glared back at the pursuers.

“I have no regrets left! Whoever dares, come at me, and die with me, Mitsuhide!”

He raised his sword in middle guard, his face stern, his eyes blazing with reflected fire. The enemy faltered.

Dragging his leg, Kanbei reappeared.

“Mitsuhide. It would be a waste for such a general to perish. How about showing your skill under Lord Hideyoshi?”

“No more words!”

Mitsuhide’s expression did not change.

“Then let this chaos be blamed on you alone.”

Kanbei’s face hardened.

“What—?!”

Mitsuhide’s rage peaked. His sword shook with fury as he raised it overhead.

“Prepare yourself, Kanbei—”

“No—!”

As Mitsuhide stepped forward, I could not hold back and shouted.

He turned, and all eyes, Kanbei’s included, fell on me.

“Lady Tamao? Why are you here?”

“Mitsuhide, stop! What good is it if you die here?”

“This is the way of the warrior.”

“Even if you die, Lord Nobunaga won’t return!”

“Still, this is…”

Before he could finish, Kanbei shouted,

“So, the girl saw… Musketeers, shoot that girl!”

The gunners leveled their guns. Mitsuhide pulled me behind a great tree.

“Cut her down if need be!”

Kanbei’s voice rang out.

At that moment, the building Nobunaga had entered collapsed in fire.

“Lord Nobunaga…”

Mitsuhide bit his lip, as if silently bidding farewell. Then he turned.

“Lady Tamao. Even at the cost of my life, I will protect you.”

I nodded to his strong words.

But there was no escape. The next moment, Mitsuhide intercepted a soldier’s sword strike.

“You are the first—!”

He roared, parried the blade, and slashed through the man’s torso.

“Who’s next?!”

He shouted.

“Don’t just stand there! Attack all at once!”

Kanbei ordered.

The soldiers closed in with swords. Even Mitsuhide could not stop ten blades.

“No!”

I screamed.

Vrrrm—Crash!

Suddenly, from the shadows, a great object burst out and sent soldiers flying.

The car door banged open, and Miki jumped out.

“Ah—I ran them over! I hit people! What do I do?!”

She flailed in panic.

“Miki, it’s okay! They’re wearing armor, they won’t die!”

I grabbed Mitsuhide’s hand and pulled him into the back seat.

“Go, Miki, go!”

I shouted frantically.

She nodded rapidly and leapt into the driver’s seat.

The gear shifted into reverse, tires screeched, the car spun and skidded, turned 180 degrees, and halted.

Panting, she switched to drive and floored it.

But the courtyard was blocked with fire and rubble. Behind us, pursuers closed in.

“Miki, hurry!”

“I’m trying, don’t push me!”

“They’ll catch us!”

“Fireworks! The big ones!”

“Yes—the fireworks!”

I reached under the seat and pulled out large launch tubes.

“These are for sky rockets! It’s dangerous—”

“Tamao, just fire them!”

“W-what?!”

“Point the tube at them, light the fuse, simple!”

Mitsuhide aimed one out the window. I lit it with Miki’s lighter.

Whoosh—Bang! Crackle!

Brilliant explosions scattered the soldiers’ ranks. They tripped over each other and fell.

“Yes!”

Miki pumped her fist.

I sank back, relieved. Mitsuhide turned the empty tube in his hands, marveling at it.

“Tamao, Mitsuhide, hold on tight!”

Miki swerved hard, spotting the gate ahead, now a tunnel of fire.

“Going through!”

She gunned the car. But just before the gate, soldiers rushed out to block the way.

“No way!”

“Do not falter!” Mitsuhide shouted.

“They won’t move!”

“Impossible!”

Miki yanked the wheel left. The car spun violently and slammed into a small shrine, then skidded straight into the blazing hall.

We screamed as flames swallowed us.

“Tamao… Tamao…”

“Mmm… just five more minutes…”

“Tamao…”

“Five minutes…”

I opened my eyes and sat up.

“Mitsuhide? Where are we?”

I looked around—it was dark, lit only by moonlight. A bamboo grove, a path.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Miki?”

“Hello!” Miki waved from the driver’s seat.

“Miki…”

“Tamao, we might have jumped again…”

Her words filled me with dread.

“Jumped? Did we make it back?”

“I don’t know.”

Mitsuhide frowned.

“What do you mean? Explain.”

So, we told him—about time itself. At first skeptical, he listened quietly, then sighed.

“If this is the path we must accept, then so be it.”

His wisdom allowed him to embrace what he could not fully grasp.

“Then first, we must find people. Learn what year this is.”

We agreed. But he warned, “Night travel is perilous. Wait for dawn. Rest—I will keep watch.”

Exhaustion overcame us. I leaned back, but tears welled up.

“I feel… cast out. Like I don’t belong anywhere…”

“Tamao…”

Dawn came. The bamboo glistened with sunlight.

But Mitsuhide was gone. I rushed out and found him returning with water.

“Here, fresh spring water,” he said, handing me a bamboo flask.

As he did, pain struck his arm.

“You’re hurt!”

“Just muscle pain…” he admitted sheepishly.

Together, we laughed until the tension broke.

But then, three villagers leapt from the bamboo, thrusting spears. Mitsuhide cut them down in an instant.

Terrified, the farmers begged forgiveness. They claimed they mistook us for bandits—because of the car.

Mitsuhide forgave them kindly.

But Miki intervened sharply, pretending he was of shogunal lineage, and cowed the villagers into guiding us.

They agreed to take us to a temple up the stone steps beyond a giant zelkova tree.

As we climbed, I clutched Mitsuhide’s sleeve with unease. He covered my hand.

“The road exists to be walked. There is no turning back.”

We smiled, though I felt deep unease inside.

At the top of the steps, a great shock and choice awaited us—though I did not yet know it.