Chapter 10

Regardless of time and place, laboring people have always enjoyed gossip.

As long as the plot is sufficiently dramatic and the characters vivid, there will be plenty to talk about over tea and after meals.

Without the constraints of authority, adding a few names of those in power would excite the masses even more.

Oda Nobutomo finally couldn't resist and killed the entire Sasa clan? Oda Nobunaga sent troops to crush Oda Nobutomo and beheaded him? The young master of the Sasa clan traded his body for reinforcements? Truly, beauty brings disaster; just thinking about it is so thrilling.

There was no need for Hina to run around. After the autumn harvest, the bored farmers and idle samurai lacked topics to discuss, and this major piece of gossip instantly ignited everyone.

The news spread quickly, already out of the district and spreading throughout Owari Province. In a month, it would likely reach the shogun's residence in Kyoto, where they would chat about this latest gossip.

The guardian lord Sasa family was overthrown by the Oda family of Iwagoya, and the Oda family of Iwagoya was overthrown by the commoner Oda family of Kiyosu.

The Kiyosu Oda family destroyed the puppet Sasa family they had set up, and the Oda family was wiped out by their own steward, Oda Nobunaga, in a coup.

What a chaotic drama of the collapse of order, with the added touch of the young master of the Sasa family sacrificing himself for his clan. Hmmmmm...

A group of samurai would seem out of touch if they didn't sigh and lament at tea parties and banquets, unable to join in the fun.

The solemn and conservative traditional samurai would applaud the seven trials and eight tribulations of the oath, shedding sympathetic tears for the young master's wife.

No matter what, the subsequent developments were beyond Oda Nobunaga's control. For now, he could ignore Hina and focus on sorting out the Sasa family's affairs.

"Yona, Yuki, can I trust you?"

In the private room, shielded from outsiders, Hina looked seriously at the two women.

"Seven trials and eight tribulations for the revival of the Sasa family!"

The two women knelt before Hina.

"I will perform your coming-of-age ceremony today."

"Lord Hina! How can this be?"

Yona was greatly alarmed.

The coming-of-age ceremony (genpuku) is a rite of passage for young samurai women, where an elder ties up their hair and places a black cap (kazura), also known as the kazura ceremony.

As servants, Yona and Yuki had no right to undergo the genpuku ceremony because they were not samurai.

Since ancient times, the samurai lineage has been monopolized by the Minamoto, Taira, and their followers.

Minamoto no Takauji, the third shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, sought recognition from the Ming dynasty as the King of Japan, and massacred the imperial family and the court nobles, leaving only the Fujiwara clan among the court nobles.

Although the world is now in turmoil, it is the samurai world that is in chaos. If a farmer or servant were to raise a banner and declare independence, they would be quickly attacked and eliminated to prevent further trouble.

In the end, those whose lineage is not recognized have no right to become samurai, and the Minamoto, Taira, and Fujiwara families divide the world.

What Hina is about to do is too shocking for the people of this world to even imagine.

For the Oda family's Fujikichi to rise, he must marry into a samurai family to gain recognition. How could Yona and Yuki, mere servants, possibly undergo the genpuku ceremony to become samurai women?

Hina, of course, understood this. He waved his hand and said,

"From today, you will be Takada Yona and Takada Yuki. Your maternal family, the Takada, has served the Sasa family of Mutsu Province for generations as hereditary retainers.

During the Onin War, Mutsu Province was weakened and unable to support the clan, so some of the clan members were relocated to Owari to seek refuge with the Sasa family.

This time, the Sasa family of Owari has suffered a sudden disaster. Although I am male, I am also the head of the family, so it is appropriate for me to perform your coming-of-age ceremony."

Hina casually fabricated a story. Yona narrowed her eyes and thought for a moment, then asked,

"Many people know that Yuki and I were servants in the household."

"Many young retainers serve in their lord's household, so it's not unusual."

"We haven't learned swordsmanship, archery, or firearms, so we can't serve as samurai women."

"I don't need you on the battlefield. I need loyal household stewards. Yona, you are intelligent and resourceful, and can help me manage the household affairs.

Yuki, with your stubborn and quiet nature, can guard the territory and intimidate the village's tough women. To revive the Sasa family, I need your help."

After speaking, Hina bowed to the two women, who quickly avoided him.

He had no choice; in this world, women are valued more than men. He needed some female members of the Sasa family, and loyalty was more important than ability.

He needed time to train his body and learn martial arts to fight for his future, and he couldn't be distracted by household affairs.

Trusting Yona and Yuki was the best option, as long as the issue of their identity was resolved.

Now it was up to the two women to have the courage. This matter was too shocking, and if exposed, all three would face certain death.

This was also a form of insurance, binding the three of them together and increasing trust. On the other hand, because it was so shocking, no one would suspect.

Yona hesitantly nodded, accepting Hina's decision. Yuki, with her usual cold expression, would do as Hina commanded.

After a simple hair-binding and cap-tying ceremony, the two Takada samurai women were born.

"Takada Yona and Takada Yuki will serve the Sasa family of Owari, with the rank of light-footed samurai and a stipend of fifteen koku and thirty stones."

"We swear to serve the Sasa family with our lives, and to perform our duties diligently."

The two sides completed their oaths, and their relationship became closer. There were still some samurai clothes left in the household.

Hina also bestowed them, as he had learned swordsmanship from the household samurai women, though he was not given much attention due to his gender.

He quickly taught the two new samurai women some basic skills, at least enough to fool the village women.

After two days of this, seeing that the two women had some semblance of samurai, it was time to go to the village.

They followed the stream downstream, walking on a mountain path worn by the feet of passersby. All three wore hunting robes, with swords and short swords at their waists.

Yona occasionally twisted her waist, not used to the outfit. Yuki, on the other hand, had a cold and stern face, exuding the authority of a samurai woman.

"Yona, who is the village headman? What is he like?"

"The headman is called Koichi, the largest landowner in the village. His family and relatives number nearly twenty households, making him a major figure in the village. He is usually respectful when visiting the household, a cautious old woman."

"He hasn't come to visit or inquire in the past few days, so he may not be as respectful as he seems. You will be responsible for the negotiations."

As they approached the village, Hina fell silent, and Yona nodded.

The village was lively after the autumn harvest, with a good harvest and no war mobilization. The villagers wanted to enjoy a peaceful winter.

Children were running and playing, men were sitting together doing handwork and telling jokes.

Women were either sleeping in their houses or gathered on the roadside, drinking cheap homemade liquor.

Some part-farmer, part-soldier light-footed samurai were tidying their bamboo armor and helmets, and polishing the splinters on their bamboo spears.

Seeing the three samurai enter the village, the villagers' voices gradually lowered, and some hurriedly moved away.

Hina didn't say anything, just standing at the village entrance, staring at the distant thatched houses.

Soon, a thin, dark old woman and several women who looked like farmers ran over.

"Koichi greets the three samurai lords. What are your orders?"

"Koichi, are you tired of living? What about this year's autumn harvest? No one has reported the grain being stored.

You are in the presence of the new head of the Sasa family, Sasa Hina. Kneel down!"

Yona glared, speaking harshly.

Koichi knelt down, her back bent from years of labor, and she fell to the ground with a strange curve.

"Unjust, my lord. The other day, there was a great fire and fighting at the main house in the middle of the night, which the village could hear clearly.

Thinking that the main house had some business to attend to, we didn't dare to approach.

We were waiting for orders from the main house to properly handle the matter."

Seeing her respectful and fearful expression, Yona said,

"The main house is fine. Send people to store the grain today, and I will personally supervise it."

"Yes, yes, but... what is your name, my lord?"

"I am Takada Yona, the head of the light-footed samurai of the Sasa family. Look carefully, and if there is any negligence, my sword will not be forgiving."

"Yes, yes... but..."

Koichi slightly raised her head, her small eyes darting around.

"I heard that the young master of the Sasa family is called Hina... Could this be...?"

"Rude! Is it your place to inquire about the main house? Do your job properly!"

"Of course, of course... I just thought... Young Master Hina is of noble birth... Why should he deal with such trivial household matters?

Such rough tasks should be supervised by the women of the household, don't you think?"

Yona's eyebrows furrowed, and before she could speak, Yuki drew her sword and slashed at Koichi's head.