Chapter 88

### Kōki 2nd Year (1574) Early March, Ōmi Province, Higashiyama, Hachimantō, Hachiman Castle, Kuki Motonao

Jūzō and Kobē appeared in the room where the calendar was kept. Jūzō was dragging his foot, a painful sight, and I had heard that he could no longer perform as a ninja. Jūzō winced as he tried to sit down.

"Jūzō, stretch out your leg."

"Hai, but—"

"It's fine. There's no need to hold back in front of me. If it hurts, you can use a cane."

"I'm not that old yet."

Jūzō smiled wryly. Kobē was also smiling wryly. How could they smile when I was so sad?

The Hachiman ninjas were attacked by the Hatano ninjas while Jūzō was leading the procession. There were about twenty of them. The attack took place more than halfway through the Ne-no-Hirayama Pass. The Hatano ninjas attacked with bows and guns, and then rushed into the procession. A chaotic battle ensued, involving the guards, the Hachiman ninjas, and the Hatano ninjas. Jūzō was injured in the chaos, with wounds to his left arm and left leg. The arm wasn't too serious, but the leg was bad. I heard that he would have to drag his leg from now on.

The Hatano ninjas killed the decoy Jūzō had prepared and immediately fled. Jūzō said that none of them should have made it back to Tamba, as the Iga ninjas were waiting for them. Jūzō had anticipated that the Hatano ninjas would attack on the way back, not on the way there. He had asked the Iga ninjas to block their escape route. The Hatano ninjas, focused on identifying him, didn't realize their retreat was cut off by the Iga ninjas. They were just pawns in Jūzō's game. The reputation of Jūzō and the Hachiman ninjas in the world of ninjas was further elevated.

"Lord, I have long wished to pass the leadership of the Hachiman ninjas to my son, Kobē. I humbly request your permission."

"Understood. Kobē, I leave it to you."

"Hai."

The Hatano ninjas suffered heavy losses in the attacks in Tamba and Ise. Jūzō and Kobē believed that organized attacks were no longer possible. There was no obstacle to Jūzō's retirement...

"Jūzō, you've worked hard. Do you remember the night we met? You sneaked into my sleeping quarters. I'm grateful you came, and I thank you for it."

I bowed, and Jūzō cried out, "Lord!" It sounded like a scream. I felt a lump in my throat when I heard Jūzō's voice.

"Please raise your head! Lord!"

I raised my head, but I couldn't see Jūzō's face clearly. Even after wiping away my tears, I couldn't see clearly. I moved closer to Jūzō, but my vision was still blurry. I grabbed Jūzō's body. It was large and strong.

"I'm sorry, Jūzō. I've taken away your life as a ninja. It must be more painful than death for you. I'm sorry."

You can no longer run freely or hide in the darkness to deceive the enemy. You can no longer do what you used to do. It must be painful.

"Lord..."

Jūzō sobbed. I cried too. I remembered many things. No matter how difficult times were, I never strayed from the path because Jūzō was there.

"Jūzō, I'm sorry."

"What are you saying? If we hadn't met you, we would have withered away in some corner of the world. Thanks to you, we were able to step out into the world. I am not dead. I still intend to serve the Kuki family and you with all my might."

"Jūzō... Yes, that's right. I rely on you, Jūzō."

"Hai."

There's no time to cry. Jūzō is already moving forward. I must also walk forward...

"Kobē."

"Hai."

"Spread rumors among those who support the Hatano and Akai that I am furious about this incident. Warn them that supporting the Hatano and Akai is dangerous."

"Understood. I will isolate the Hatano and Akai."

This is the first mission Kobē will receive as the leader of the Hachiman ninjas. He is determined.

"Um, and send people to Harima."

"Others like Bessho, Koyama, and Akamatsu, right? I've already sent them."

"You're reliable, but it's not enough. Send people to Inga too. After Tamba, the next target will be the Hongan-ji. Inga will definitely move."

"I see."

Kobē nodded.

"Also send people to the Mōri. Aki is strong with the Ikkō-ikki. There will definitely be some movement."

"Hai."

### Kōki 2nd Year (1574) Early March, Ōmi Province, Higashiyama, Hachimantō, Kurono Kagechō

When I returned to the mansion, the sub-leaders were gathered. The first group leader, Sasayama Sentarō Shigetaka. The second group leader, Masaki Yaemon Masahiro. The third group leader, Murata Denbei Tsunanori. The fourth group leader, Ishii Sukezo Mitsuhide. The fifth group leader, Segawa Naizō Shōryō. The sixth group leader, Sasaki Hachirō Masahide. The seventh group leader, Mochizuki Shuma Nobuyoshi. The eighth group leader, Sata Yajirō Mitsushige. The ninth group leader, Masuda Senbei Yukiho. The tenth group leader, Tōma Hazuki. The first group leader had changed with my father's retirement. The original sub-leader, Kosakai Shūsuke Yukihiro, would now work alongside my father. They had already moved to a newly prepared mansion. This mansion was to be the residence of the Hachiman leader.

"Congratulations."

When I informed them of the change in leadership and the lord's approval, they congratulated me.

"What's wrong? Your face doesn't look good."

"Ho ho ho, Yajirō, the leader is blushing."

Everyone laughed at Hazuki's words. Hazuki was as usual.

"It's not that, it's heavy."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Today, I asked the lord to change the leadership. The lord was crying, saying he felt sorry for my father. I was envious and jealous, but more than that, it was heavy. I wondered if I could really earn such trust from the lord."

Everyone fell silent. There was more than just a lord-vassal relationship between my father and the lord. It was a strong bond built over twenty years of service.

"Leader, that trust was not built by the previous leader alone. It was built by all of us, the Hachiman ninjas."

"Yaemon is right. You are not alone. We, the Hachiman ninjas, support you. No matter how heavy it is, we will support you."

The second sub-leader, Masaki Yaemon, and the third sub-leader, Murata Denbei, encouraged me. Yes, I am not alone.

"Understood, I rely on you. The Ise mission and the change in leadership have been busy. I've heard the situation from my father, but I want to hear it again from all of you."

Everyone nodded.

"What about the Shōgun?"

"He hasn't changed."

Sasayama Sentarō answered.

"We were able to bring a maid serving close to Lady Osako into our service."

"Hmm, what was the price?"

"Money. Her parents are sick and the medical expenses are high. We have verified this."

"And what did you find out?"

Sentarō smiled slyly.

"Lady Osako says the Shōgun doesn't trust the Kuki."

"..."

"He said the lord doesn't respect him."

"And?"

"The Shōgun doesn't trust the court either. If things continue like this, the Ashikaga will be abandoned by the samurai, the court, and the government. The lord has become the Shōgun of Ōmi, and he seems quite dissatisfied."

The room fell silent. Sentarō's smile disappeared.

"The Shōgun is not necessarily foolish."

Everyone smiled wryly at Sentarō's words.

"Sentarō, don't cut ties with that woman. Also, bring other women into our service. I heard that a daughter of the Ōguchi family has joined the Shōgun's service. If possible, bring someone close to her. Can you do it?"

"Definitely."

Sentarō nodded confidently. He might already be working on it.

After that, I spent about an hour listening to the sub-leaders and giving instructions. When they left the mansion, my wife came in.

"How do you feel about becoming the leader of the Hachiman ninjas?"

"I thought it would make my heart leap, but it doesn't."

"Really? It doesn't leap?"

"It doesn't leap."

My wife laughed freely. I never thought she would laugh so much. I was deceived, but maybe that's not so bad.

"It's a difficult situation. The lord is eccentric but kind."

"Don't misunderstand, Kirin. I don't have any complaints about the lord."

"Then what is it?"

"I have no complaints. The position of the Hachiman leader is heavy, and that's the reason."

My wife laughed.

"You don't have to carry it alone. We can carry it together, can't we?"

"... The same as the sub-leaders."

"Of course."

It's always like this. I never thought she would talk so much. Women are natural ninjas; men are easily deceived. But maybe that's not so bad... My wife is smiling. I can't say it out loud.

"Tea, please."

"Hai."

### Kōki 2nd Year (1574) Early May, Yamashiro Province, Katsurano, Aoyama, Muromachi, Hosokawa Fujitaka

When I arrived at the Muromachi, my brother, Mibuchi Yamashiro-no-kami Fujihide, was waiting for me. He immediately invited me to his room. I could guess what the conversation would be about. I sighed inwardly. Lately, I can't even sigh freely.

"The Hatano in Tamba have been destroyed. Saemon-no-suke Hideharu committed seppuku."

"Is that so?"

I wasn't surprised, and neither was my brother. It was something that was bound to happen.

Since this spring, those who had supported the Hatano and Akai have been defecting to the Kuki. They feared the relentless attacks by the Kuki after the Hatano ninjas attempted to assassinate the Shōgun. The Akai were already destroyed before the Hatano, with their head, Akai Arakurō, committing seppuku. There was no real battle. They couldn't even hold out in a castle and had no choice but to commit seppuku. It was said that they were forced to do so by their retainers. The same situation likely applied to the Hatano Saemon-no-suke, who also committed seppuku. They couldn't fight and had to maintain their honor by committing seppuku.

"With this, Tamba has become Kuki territory."

"That's right."

"The Hatano, Akai, Utsu, and the Ichi of Tango have all been destroyed. There will be no anti-Kuki movement in Tamba."

"That's right. It's quite different from when the Miyoshi gained control of Tamba."

At that time, the Hatano, Akai, Utsu, and Kawanagahara were still alive. Their defection from the Miyoshi led to Tamba's separation from the Miyoshi. But now, only Kawanagahara remains, and Tango is already Kuki territory.

"The north of Kyoto is under control. The Kuki will grow even larger, and the shogunate will face pressure."

"..."

With the addition of Tamba to Ōmi, Iga, and Settsu, the Kuki territory has expanded. The remaining areas are Kii and Yamato... Perhaps it would be better for my brother to accept that these areas will also become Kuki territory. The current situation is ambiguous. What does the Shōgun think...

"If the Hatano ninjas had killed the Shōgun..."

My brother sighed. Here we go again.

"You missed. I heard they attacked a procession where the Shōgun wasn't present."

"That's true, but it was a close call in Tamba."

My brother wants the Shōgun dead. When I heard that the attack in Tamba was blocked by armor, he was extremely disappointed. His tone was full of resentment, which I found truly tiresome.

"Brother, do you think killing the Shōgun will increase the shogunate's authority?"

My brother looked uncomfortable.

"I don't think so, but he's in the way. The Kuki are too powerful. Don't you think so?"

"... I admit the Kuki are powerful."

My brother nodded in satisfaction. Foolish... My brother is only focused on the Kuki's power.

The decline of the shogunate began before the Miyoshi and Kuki expanded their power. Why can't he see that? Increasing the shogunate's authority and reducing the Kuki's power are not necessarily linked. The Shōgun and my brother should have used the Kuki to increase the shogunate's authority. If they had done so from the beginning, the Kuki would not have ignored the shogunate. But in reality, the Shōgun is trying to distance himself from the Kuki.

"Minister of the Right, think about it. There's no need to destroy the Kuki. The Shōgun is the problem. If he's gone, the Kuki will naturally become smaller."

"What do you mean by that?"

What is my brother thinking? Surely not...

"I'm considering using the Kōga ninjas."

"Will Frost Platform accept it?"

My brother smiled slyly. It was a chilling smile.

"Frost Platform is not involved. I have a contact among the Kōga ninjas. I plan to ask them."

My brother is losing sight of the bigger picture. I can't keep up with him.

"Are you in your right mind, brother?"

"I am."

"Stop it. It will only result in unnecessary deaths."

"It might not go as planned."

My brother insisted. I sighed.

"Brother, it will be you who dies. Do you understand that?"

My brother tightened his lips. He was not convinced.

"Brother, do you really think the Kōga ninjas will accept the mission?"

"Money will make them accept."

He sounded confident. But how much money will they demand to target the Shōgun? Does he understand that? No, it's not about money. I don't think the Kōga ninjas will accept the mission.

"They won't accept it. If they do, they will be killed."

"..."

"Brother, listen. If the Kōga ninjas target the Shōgun, he will assume Frost Platform is behind it. The Kuki army will flood from Kōga to Yamato. Do you think Frost Platform and the Kōga Sannin will want that?"

"..."

The Kōga are in Ōmi, and the Kuki have the Hachiman and Iga ninjas. It would take a lot of courage to make the Kuki an enemy.

"Frost Platform and the Kōga Sannin don't want that. They will definitely kill the Kōga ninjas who accept the mission and the one who commissioned it, which is you. They will do this to prove their loyalty to the Shōgun."

"..."

"Even if it succeeds, it won't be good."

I sighed again.

"The Shōgun has the Hachiman and Iga ninjas. It won't be easy to succeed. The Hatano tried and failed, and they were destroyed. Do you know what happened to the Hatano? They couldn't even hold out in a castle."

"..."

"Surely the Shōgun wouldn't think of such a thing."

My brother looked away. Foolish, why is he so foolish...

"If it's known that you commissioned the mission, everyone will assume the Shōgun is behind it. Do you think the Shōgun's life will be in danger?"

My brother's expression changed.

"Are you suggesting assassinating the Shōgun, like the Miyoshi did to the Hikone?"

"I don't know. But it wouldn't be surprising. Stop it. It will only bring disaster to you and the Shōgun."

"..."

"I have given my warning. I will take my leave."

I left my brother's room, leaving those words behind.

The Shōgun and my brother are not seeing the reality. Even if the Shōgun is killed and the Kuki's power is reduced, it won't increase the Ashikaga's power. If it's known that the Shōgun was behind it, he will be despised by the daimyos. The Kansai region, which has just settled, will be thrown into chaos again. How will the shogunate and the Shōgun be treated in that situation... Even if the Shōgun tries to increase his power, assassination is not the way. The shogunate will only become more miserable. Why can't they see that...

I must write a letter to the Shōgun. Mentioning the Kōga by name would be unwise. It might cause trouble for Frost Platform and the Kōga Sannin. Yes, I will write that the Hatano ninjas are a frequent topic of discussion within the shogunate and advise him to be cautious. That should be enough to convey my message.