02x11 - Zoku: Watashi no Hotokesama

[bunniefuu]

Two years ago, Takauji Ashikaga's betrayal

brought about
the fall of the Kamakura shogunate.

Tokiyuki Hojo, the heir to the shogunate,
has been biding his time in Shinano

under the protection of Yorishige Suwa,
building his strength

and waiting for the chance
to retake Kamakura.

Troop strength, morale, timing, resolve.

Everything is finally in place.

The time has come.

Let us begin the battle
to reclaim the realm.

Live on and bide your time

Just carry your life and
pierce through this destiny

Wear your shame and chase your dream

For the people who believed in you

[The Elusive Samurai]

Things that won't make history

All those foolish little things

They tangle and untangle, over and over

And we breathe

What should I devote this life to?

What fate awaits me?

Even this emotion like curse

If it keeps me tethered

Live on and bide your time

Just carry your life
and pierce through this destiny

Wear your shame and chase your dream

For the people who believed in you

Come and find me, follow my clapping

Life is short, so sing and dance

Flowers will bloom for those who run

Is the Emperor unharmed?

Who could have done such a thing?

- [Kyo - Godaigo's Residence]

- Meanwhile, Kyo was in turmoil over the
attempted assassination of the Emperor.

I hear Mr. Takauji was attacked
that same day as well.

Who else was involved?

He could not possibly
have done this alone!

The thing is, Sir Saionji refuses to talk.

Strengthen our defenses.

To target both Takauji and me
at the same time...

Such an elaborate scheme
may be part of a plan to attack Kyo next.

- [Emperor Godaigo]

- Order Ashikaga to summon
the warriors in the Kanto region

- and have them defend Kyo.

- Yes, Your Majesty!

- [Takauji Ashikaga]

- Mr. Takauji!

An Imperial Command from the Emperor.

It seems the court nobles can no longer
contain the situation on their own.

Perhaps we have no choice
but to turn to the warrior families.

Who set this in motion?

That child...

My instincts told me he was insignificant,

but I should not have let him escape.

To think my instincts were wrong...

- You met Doyo Sasaki's daughter,
met Masashige Kusunoki,

- [Yorishige Suwa]

- and failed to assassinate
Takauji Ashikaga?

You couldn't foresee that much coming?

I could vaguely see
that you might make it back alive.

But I never imagined
you'd go through so much all at once.

I'm sorry.

I acted recklessly
without considering my position.

No.

In the end,
the outcome exceeded our expectations.

By now, the turmoil in Kyo
must be at its peak.

There could be no better time
to begin the great battle.

- We have evaded the Tengu's surveillance

- [Moritaka Suwa]

and our preparations for w*r
are now safely in place.

All that remains is to decide which route
we shall take to advance on Kamakura.

As our commander-in-chief,
I would like you to choose, Lord Tokiyuki.

[Suwa] [Kamakura]

- The route most favored among our
retainers is the shortest southern route.

- [Takeda]

- It's the fastest route

- for breaking through the heavily defended
Takeda forces of Kai province.

- The other is the longer northern route.

- [Ashikaga]
[Nitta]

- It's flat.

- But we'd have to pass through
the Ashikaga and Nitta strongholds.

After all, I think the shortest,
fastest route

for a surprise attack on Kamakura is best.

Aye! The Takeda would be
no match for us now!

I think...

we should take the longer northern route.

The northern route
will be a difficult one, Young Lord.

- [Nitta] [Kamakura] [Ashikaga]

- Takauji and Yoshisada are in Kyo,

- but the retainers left at their
strongholds are formidable too.

- And beyond them, the long road ahead
is filled with enemies!

Lord Tokiyuki, may I ask your reason?

While I was traveling around Kyo,
I heard what the warriors were saying.

Many warriors had grown disillusioned
with the Emperor.

The Nitta retainers in particular
have many grievances,

so even if we attack now,
they are unlikely to unite.

I heard that Yoshisada Nitta,
the man who actually attacked Kamakura,

had only a small force when he first
raised an army at his stronghold.

But as soon as Takauji
entrusted his young child to him,

warriors flocked to him,
drawn by the Ashikaga name.

By the time he reached Kamakura, his
force had swelled to tens of thousands.

I believe that what a child
of the Ashikaga could do,

a child of the Hojo can do as well.

Even if we take the southern route

and reach Kamakura
by the shortest, fastest way,

at worst it will become a small conflict
involving only Shinano's troops.

So what if we first flee from Kamakura?

We could follow the Nitta's path,
holding up a young child as a clear symbol

while gathering warriors dissatisfied
with the current regime

and advancing on Kamakura.

If we make use of Tokiyuki Hojo,

I thought we might be able
to do to the enemy

what they once did to Kamakura.

I'm surprised.
- As expected of Lord Tokiyuki.

Lord Tokiyuki,
where did you devise this strategy?

On the journey back from Kyo.

Though Fubuki and Shizuku
worked out the finer details.

I only laid out the general plan.

I don't want the troops of Shinano

to shed blood needlessly
in a frontal as*ault.

I thought perhaps
the answer lies in a path

that, at first glance,
seemed beyond conventional thinking.

His experiences in Kyo
have clearly helped Lord Tokiyuki grow.

He has learned to consider not only
what lies immediately before him,

but the realm as a whole.

- Then it is decided, Tokitsugu.
We go north.

- [Tokitsugu Suwa]

- Yes, Father.

However, before we set our sights
on Kamakura,

there is one paramount obstacle
in Shinano.

Sadamune Ogasawara, the Shinano governor.

He was among the first to
abandon Kamakura and side with Takauji,

rising over these two years to become
the most powerful force in Shinano.

If we leave Shinano to march on Kamakura,
he will undoubtedly strike us from behind.

To eliminate any threat from our rear,
we must begin by defeating him.

I shall take on that
battle-hardened warrior myself.

However, Sadamune has one commander
who is an unpredictable factor even to me.

Lord Tokiyuki,

I would have you take down
Sadamune's wild card... that Shokan.

A mysterious strategist
who drifted here from parts unknown.

Of everyone in the Suwa forces,

the one who knows him best
is none other than you.

What I fear most
is another dramatic reversal

from one of his unorthodox schemes.

I would have you prevent that
before it can happen.

I made this decision after seeing the
strategic insight you displayed earlier.

As you are now,
I am certain you can do it.

You're in the presence of our lord!

Don't falter!

According to the report from Tengu
sent by Lord Takauji,

it is unlikely that Suwa
will make w*r anytime soon, but...

What could an outsider know?

Yorishige will raise an army.

I have known him a long time.
I know that better than anyone.

My lord, I have a report.

Inukai and Tokoiwa, whom we thought
we had already driven off,

are hiding in the mountains
and repeatedly attacking our troops.

At this rate, the strength
of our forces will gradually diminish.

I am counting on your judgment, Shokan.

See to it that you take Yorishige's head!

Leave it to me.

I owe you my life, my lord.

I shall repay that debt
by slaughtering every last Suwa soldier.

Hi-yah!

They've got plenty of spirit.

So all these guys are on our side?

They are the Kamakura Party, formed by
surviving retainers of the Hojo clan.

They are to serve as troops
directly under my command.

Well, what do you think, Chojumaru?

- Deep in the mountains,
in a place unknown to anyone,

- [Leader of "The Kamakura Party"
Hachiro Miura]

- we have continued sharpening our fangs.

Mr. Yorishige sent a messenger himself.

That must mean the decisive battle
is finally at hand.

For those of us who remained loyal
to Lord Hojo until the very end,

these past two years have been hell.

Our comrades were ex*cuted as criminals
by traitors

and cast out by clans
that had abandoned their lords.

Even so, we never wavered
in our sworn loyalty.

All for this moment!
For a battle fought in honor of our lord!

I'm grateful.

By the way, Chojumaru.

Under whose command does Mr. Yorishige
intend to place us?

The fierce warrior, Mr. Unno?

The Heavenly Eye, Mr. Nezu?

The ever-adaptable Mr. Mochizuki?

I can't wait!

All three are renowned commanders whose
names resound across the b*ttlefield!

Men we can entrust our lives to!

To think we might serve under that Unno!
That Nezu! That Mochizuki...!

For two years...

At last, our suffering through those days
of being reviled as traitors

will be rewarded!

Mr. Miura!

I know you have all endured much,
but now, at last...

Well...

It's me.

It's me.
I'll be the one commanding all of you.

What?

They looked so disappointed.
You'd think it was the end of the world.

They don't know who you really are,
Young Lord.

It can't be helped.

They'd probably be happy
if you told them though.

You must not use the Hojo name yet.

I also wish to keep it secret
until the last possible moment.

But if you rely on your name
to command obedience,

you cannot earn true trust.

When Lord Yoshinaka Kiso,
the hero of Shinano, raised an army,

he too won the hearts
of Shinano's warriors

by prevailing in his first battle.

You, too, must defeat that Shokan

and thereby win the unwavering loyalty
of the Kamakura Party.

I'll become one.

A commander-in-chief
worthy of being held up as their leader.

Perfect, my lord.

Demon-heart Buddha Blade will not work
a second time once it has been seen.

What is more, Shokan
is cautious and his defense is flawless.

Even for a first-rate warrior,

defeating him with a sword
would be extremely difficult.

So this is a new technique
designed to pierce the throat

of such a formidable opponent.

I call it...

- [Two-Fanged Bare Blade]

- ...Two-Fanged Bare Blade.

You've got some secret plan
of your own too, right?

Well, I picked up some stuff in Kyo
and tinkered with it a little.

So getting stripped of everything
wasn't all that happened to you.

What'd you say, punk? You wanna go?

Our measures against Shokan himself
are complete.

What remains is a plan
to defeat the army he commands...

Shizuku's plan looks promising.

With her intimate knowledge of Shinano,

let us bring down the army led
by the outsider Shokan.

But there is just one problem
with my plan.

- [Shokan's Army]

- To eliminate the enemy threat completely,
I'd need 300 horsemen.

- The Kamakura Party's hundred
lack the necessary striking power.

So it's a matter of numbers.

I've got it.
- Ayako?

Do you have a plan?

Come on, just tell us.
- Let us hear it.

We'll each fight like three!

With your strength, Ayako, you might
be able to take on even more than that.

If we can split up the enemy formation...

Then we hit their main force
and finish it in one stroke?

It would be more practical
to cut off their supply lines instead.

Thank you, everyone!

I'll see if I can come up with something.

That said...

A plan to make up
for our lack of troops...

What would Mr. Kusunoki do
in a situation like this?

- [Ugh. The deadline's so close.
I wanna run away.]

- His handwriting is so terrible
I can't read any of this!

- And isn't he clearly writing about things
that have nothing to do with this?

It took me all night and I barely managed
to get through the introduction, but...

To me, strategy can only be found

in the experiences I have lived through.

Who I have met in life,
what I have seen and what I have felt...

If I make sure not to forget
each and every one of those things...

Then, at an unexpected moment,
an unexpected memory

may become a tool for defeating the enemy.

Who I have met... and what I have felt...

Those two intense years
I spent in Shinano...

My memories...

Say Plan A, you got no doubts,
it's sunny all about

You had my back, so here's our runway

Say Plan A, you got no doubts,
you're alive

They'll laugh, it'll be sad,
but you'll be all good

Plan A

Plan A

- Run away to victory

- [Let's Do This]

- They're all memories of weirdos!

No, that's rude.

I can't call everyone in Shinano
who's helped me a weirdo.

There must be some normal people too.

Remember. Something useful...

Something useful...

No, that's not what I mean!

Would it be too reckless to use that?

No. Everyone in Shinano does it.

If I modify Shizuku's plan slightly,
it will fit perfectly.

I've found our reinforcements.

With this, we can defeat Shokan.

Father. Brother.

Please watch over
Tokiyuki's true first battle.

Die, damn you!

You die!

I think I'm gonna puke.

Haven't sweated this much since
we stole that temple bell and ran for it.

Ain't that the truth.

Brings back memories.

We've done nothing but train.
I'm getting soft.

Hey, don't you think it's about time

we went and knocked
the rust off our blades?

Sounds good.

Everything around here belongs
to the boss now, right?

A little robbery to blow off some steam
should be fine, right?

Yeah. That much should be allowed.

Anyone who resists, we'll k*ll.

I saw a sexy one out on the western edge.

Nice. Shall we go pay her a little visit?

Maybe after dark?

Boss...

The moment we go back to being bandits...

we give up any chance
of dying as warriors.

If you want to do it,
do it without your head.

That way,
no one will see the culprit's face.

No. We'll go back to training.

The boss these days, I swear...

I hear you successfully captured

the eight peasants who fled
after failing to pay their annual taxes.

Well done.

This is a reward from Lord Sadamune.

He also spoke very highly of you.

There is no need for a reward.

I merely serve this land and its people.

How commendable, Shokan.

You speak like you're some kind of Buddha.

I'm counting on you.

Much depends on your efforts.

Lord Manor Steward.

Here you are.

Those pickled melons look delicious.

Thank you, as always, young lady.

Grandmother has commanded me to
deliver these while they are still cold.

What? If that is an order,
then there is not a moment to lose.

I had better eat them at once.

Everyone says our new manor steward
is good at his job

and cares about the people here.

Are you going off to w*r?

Probably.

Why do you go to a w*r?

In a w*r,
you fight enemies with swords, right?

I don't want you to die,
Lord Manor Steward.

What's wrong, Lord Manor Steward?

Hey... Are you all right?
Lord Manor Steward.

All that we'll do is take your teeth
and tongue out nicely,

gently slice the tendon in your right leg
and make you sl*ves.

These children have to suffer hell
for the rest of their lives.

The peace and freedom they enjoyed
under their parents will never return.

Die... Die... Die...

How I pity them.

A pitiful life of despair.

Lord Manor Steward, are you all right?

In darkness, I lose my way and suffer.

When light shines,
it exposes the sins of my past.

In the end, wherever I go,
this world is hell.

You see, young lady, this old man...

had his heart cleansed by the Buddha
and his life saved by my present lord.

To repay the debt I owe my lord,
I must k*ll the Buddha.

I don't really understand.

But if a kind and wise manor steward
like you has decided that,

then I'm sure it must be right.

Make sure you come back alive.

Promise me.

Of course.

This old man is frighteningly strong.

If you want "romantic"

Love me more than anyone else

You're such a gentle person

And I know that's why
you are so kind to her, too

It's fine, it's totally fine

Just carry all the heavy luggage for me

You act cool in front of everyone

But when we're just
the two of us, you act cute

Be loyal like a dog

And don't disappear like a cat, okay?

Sometimes it makes me feel a little sad

I look up at the stars,
feeling sentimental

Who are you with right now,
and what are you doing?

Hey, if you can love and be loved,

I will keep your heart racing

If you're not going to choose me

I will send you straight to absolute hell

I can't hear you

I don't care anymore

If you want "romantic"

Love me more than anyone else

[Episode 24 [1335]: The Age]
Let's go!