Chapter 7

Quick question: would it be at all useful if I added "Previous"/"Next" links to posts?

Beyond Time, Living in Sengoku

Chapter 7: Father's Death

It was a sudden death. Oda nobuhide had died.

He fell ill and lied in bed for some time, but neither medicine nor prayers helped, and at the age of 42 he died.

Oda nobuhide, who was originally of low ranking status, worked as a daimyou in the Sengoku era.

He was a great commander who overcame struggles and defeat, ruled over Owari throughout Nishimikawa for a period of time, increased the interests in the commercial city of Tsushima, took control of Atsuta, increased economic strenght, and stimulated commerce.

Nobuhide's funeral was held at Manshouji Temple, which he had built during his lifetime, and was a grand ceremony. It is said that as many as 300 monks, including ones who traveled from away, were present.

"Can you come out soon?"

I asked in the hallway in front of nobunaga's room in Nakano Castle.

It had been two hours at that point. Nobunaga hadn't left the room since the news of the death. His tutor, Masahide Hirate, looked nervous that nobunaga wasn't ready for the funeral yet.

"What the hell is that child doing?"

"I've been calling him for a while, but he's not responding."

That exchange had been repeated many times.

Hirate traversed the long corridor and called nobunaga again through the sliding doors. Although there was no answer, he could not open the sliding door without permission and was worried about what to do. Suddenly, the sliding door in front of us opened with a bang.

"I'm going out!"

"Child, child, change your clothes..."

Hirate followed nobunaga. Nobunaga was wearing a kimono with his sleeves off and had both his long sword and wakizashi at his sides, held there with ropes.

"Lord, change your clothes… Lord Hirate… Please wait…"

I hurriedly chased after Hirate, holding a wooden box on my right side that contained the kataginu and hakama for the ceremony.

Hirate was chasing nobunaga riding a horse. I wrapped the ceremonial robes in a furoshiki, grabbed it, and started chasing after them.

I overtook Hirate and approached nobunaga.

"Lord, please change into ceremonial clothes."

"Don't worry, this is fine."

Nobunaga said before whipping the horse.

We arrived at Manshouji Temple.

The sutra of the monks, said to be three hundred, resounded on the grounds of the temple. I was impressed by the number of people who were present to burn incense at the altar. Hearing of nobunaga's arrival, the daimyou's ministers Hayashi Hidesada, Aoyama nobumasa, and Naitou Shousuke rushed over. None of them could hide their astonishment at the sight of what nobunaga, the chief mourner, was wearing.

"What is the Lord thinking about!"

"The great fool of Oda!"

"This is not appropriate for the head of the family."

Criticism towards nobunaga could be heard being whispered by many attendees. In contrast to that, his younger brother nobuyuki was being praised.

"As expected, there is a great difference between Lord Kanjurou and his older brother nobunaga." Kanjurou was a pseudonym of nobuyuki. Unlike his older brother, he was wearing the proper clothes and being well-mannered.

"Lord Kanjurou would be more appropriate for the role of head of the family of the minister of justice."

Nobunaga didn't display any sign that he cared about what was being said.

"Child, at least change your clothes."

He ignored Hirate's directions of sitting down, and instead walked towards the altar.

"You, how rude!"

The quivering voice belonged to nobunaga's birth mother, Tsuchida Gozen. As a samurai practice, nobunaga, a legitimate child, was separated from his mother immediately after birth and raised by a nanny. It was thought that the nanny was disliked, while Tsuchida Gozen greatly loved nobuyuki, who she raised by herself. The main reason was that the nanny was also her husband nobuhide's concubine.

"Kanjurou."

Nobunaga looked at nobuyuki, sitting in the place of the chief mourner, and putting his hand on his chine said,

"It looks like you're still too young to be by yourself."

Around nobuyuki there were such people as Shibata Katsuie, Sakuma Morishige, Sakuma nobumori, and so on. Nobunaga ridiculed nobuyuki for sitting next to his mother.

"Shut up! Nobunaga, Kanjurou is different from you. Shame on you."

Whether she hated nobunaga or not, Tsuchida's gaze did not show a single sliver of affection.

I was watching the scene from where I was standing against the wall at the corner of the hall. The red sunshine light of dusk was shining on nobunaga's face, and staring at his father's mortuary tablet, he seemed to be crying.

I recalled how about half a month ago, three people were sitting side by side in the inside garden of nobunaga's castle. At that time, nobunaga didn't say much, but seemed to enjoy his time with nobuhide.

I was nervous because of what had happened with nobunaga the day before, but after that night nothing special happened. It was if nobunaga was empty.

(Watching over the Oda family.) I didn't know the meaning of nobuhide's words, but I could remember his gentle glance.

In a world of war, that quiet moment was very rare.

After a few minutes, nobunaga suddenly grabbed the incense.

(No way.) I covered my mouth. The venue is noisy.

Nobunaga threw the throwing ceremonial incense at his father's mortuary tablet.

The place had become loud. Everyone argued that nobunaga was a "great fool". Tsuchida Gozen was so upset that she lost consciousness.

Nobuyuki noticed his mother. "Mother, mother." Nobunaga looked at the situation and left.

"Lord,"

I tried to chase nobunaga, and was approached by a monk nearby.

"Is he a son?"

He was looking in the direction nobunaga had gone.

"Ah, yes. He's Oda nobunaga."

"I see. Then I don't have to be concerned about it."

The monk smiled with kindness in his eyes.

"That person, he's the samurai who will rule the country."

After saying that, he silently left.

"Oh!" I got back to my senses and run to where the horses had been left.

I was running alone towards Nagoya Castle. In the evening, the spring breeze was cold on my face, by the freedom of being on a horse wasn't bad, so I made a detour. Even though I was coming back from a funeral, my desire for freedom was stronger, and I wanted to taste this feeling a little longer.

When I arrived on a wide plain, I saw the shadow of a person in the distance. It didn't take long to realize that it was nobunaga.

I slowed down the horse and slowly approached him.

"What happened?"

Without turning towards me, he spoke knowing who I was.

"I made a short stop. I'm sorry."

"Well, it's fine."

I brought the horse next to nobunaga. His horse was taller than mine so I had to look up. He had a sad profile, like in front of the altar.

"Beautiful."

Nobunaga said in a small voice.

"It really is."

The sun set on the unobstructed Owari Plain, turning the whole area orange. It was the first time I saw that scenery, and found it fantastic.

"Let's go home."

Nobunaga declared with a firm tone.

Nobunaga had grown up disliked, not knowing the love of a mother, he was barely trusted by the Oda family, but unlike the rest of the world, nobuhide loved and protected him. Nobuhide's sudden death threw nobunaga into the rough seas.

Notes:

– Kataginu: sleeveless ceremonial robe for samurai.