"We will go directly to Imagawa Yoshimoto and his clan," I announced in a clear voice. "But we will not declare war on him."
A murmur of incomprehension immediately rippled through the assembly.
"Go to them?"
"That's suicide..."
"How can we approach them without causing a quarrel?"
One of them stepped forward, looking worried.
"What guarantee do we have that Imagawa will understand that we're not coming to fight? They could attack us before we even speak." "
I let a few seconds pass, allowing the tension to ease slightly.
"I'm no expert on history," I continued calmly. "But there is one symbol we all know. A symbol that transcends eras, wars, and borders."
They now looked at me in silence.
"The white flag."
Some exchanged surprised glances. Others nodded slowly, already understanding where I was going with this.
"We will go to meet them under a white flag. We will carry no hostile intentions. We will not draw our weapons. We will not provoke anything. "
I took a step forward.
"In this Sengoku period we are replaying, codes of honor still exist. Even the most ambitious lords respect symbols. If he wants to march on Kyoto, crushing everything in his path, he has no interest in massacring a clan that has come to negotiate."
A more thoughtful silence fell.
"We will not present ourselves as enemies," I concluded. "We will present ourselves as an unforeseen variable."
I could see relief in some of the looks on their faces after my words. Shoulders relaxed. Murmurs of approval rose timidly.
But deep down, I knew I couldn't convince everyone.
That's when a man stepped forward and raised his voice.
"Enough."
His tone was sharp, almost accusatory. He stood up proudly.
"My name is Haru."
Silence fell again, but it was no longer peaceful. It was charged.
Haru scanned the assembly before pointing his chin slightly toward me.
"Everything he says is a lie."
A shiver ran through the group.
"He claims he wants to avoid war. But in reality, he seeks to confront Imagawa. He is willing to sacrifice some of us if it means he can win the battle."
A murmur immediately broke out.
"What?"
"That's not true... is it?"
"You don't know that!"
Some who had seemed reassured just seconds earlier took a step back, their faces once again uncertain. Doubt, swift and corrosive, had crept in.
A voice rose among those who were hesitant:
"Wait, let's hear his reasoning. Why do you say that, Haru? What are you basing it on?"
Haru held the gaze of those looking at him without the slightest hesitation.
"I'm no history expert either," he said. "But one thing is obvious. Asking for peace from a lord like Imagawa inevitably involves sacrifices. "
A heavy silence followed.
Then, a few voices rose in agreement.
"He's not wrong."
"In times like these, peace is negotiated with lives."
"You can't cross an army of men with a simple piece of white cloth..."
I clenched my teeth slightly.
In a sense... Haru was right. I couldn't promise them that peace would be achieved without killing. I couldn't guarantee that no blood would be shed. That would be a lie.
I took a step toward him.
"In that case, Haru," I said calmly, "what should we do? If even peace involves sacrifice, what is your alternative?" "
Haru didn't look away.
"I have been given a quest," he replied.
"A quest that could save us all."
Haru straightened his shoulders and declared in a more confident voice:
"My quest is simple. We must find the temple on Mount Hiei."
An intrigued silence was his reply.
"It's a sanctuary," he continued. "A sacred place that grants divine protection to those who enter it. True protection. Not a negotiation. Not a gamble. A guarantee."
Whispers of hope rippled through the assembly.
"Divine... protection?"
"So we don't have to face Yoshimoto anymore?"
"We'd be untouchable?"
Haru raised his hand to silence them.
"I'll leave the choice up to you," he said, giving me a meaningful look. "Either you follow his plan and negotiate with Imagawa, at the risk of having to offer sacrifices. Or you help me find the temple on Mount Hiei."
The group froze. Two paths. Two promises of survival. Two opposing visions.
I could feel the hesitation hanging heavy in the air, almost palpable.
Then, as if the world itself had decided to remind us of the reality of our situation, something changed.
Our clothes.
Without anyone giving orders, we gradually found ourselves dressed in clothing from the Sengoku period. Modern fabrics disappeared, replaced by traditional armor. I could feel the weight of the metal on my shoulders.
The kabuto helmets were placed on our heads, imposing and solemn. The do and kusazuri armor protected our torsos and hips. Some even saw a sashimono appear on their backs, floating slightly, proudly bearing the Nobunaga clan crest.
The black and gold symbol flapped in the wind.
We had officially become the Nobunaga clan.
As if that weren't enough, katanas also appeared at our sides.
The perfectly forged blades rested in their lacquered sheaths, hanging from our belts as if they had always been there. The simple touch of my hand on the hilt was enough to make me understand one thing: this world left us no escape. It armed us.
This event brutally reinforced the idea that destiny could hardly be changed. We were given armor. We were given weapons. We were placed in a specific role. Everything seemed to be pushing us toward confrontation.
I took a slow breath.
"I won't force anyone," I said. "Those who want to follow me are free to do so. Those who prefer to follow Haru are just as free."
A heavy silence followed.
Saé moved slightly closer to me and whispered,
"Aren't you afraid that no one will join your plan?" "
I replied in a low voice:
"No."
It was obvious that some had been given a clear quest: to follow me, whatever the cost. The roles could not be assigned at random. If I was destined to embody Nobunaga, then others were destined to support me.
And my suspicions were confirmed.
A first step echoed behind me.
Then a second.
Then several more.
Without a word, a number of clan members came to stand beside me. Some with determination. Others with hesitation, but they were there.
I hadn't counted.
But one thing was certain.
There were many more of us than the group Haru had just formed.
"Thank you," I said, turning to those who had chosen to follow me.
Even though, deep down, I knew that for some it wasn't just a choice... but an obligation dictated by their quest.
No sooner had I finished my sentence than the ground began to shake.
A low rumble swept across the plain.
Before our eyes, several castles began to materialize on our land. The foundations rose from the ground as if they had always been buried there, waiting for their moment. The walls rose stone by stone. The towers soon dominated the horizon, proud and imposing.
Our land, once a simple empty plain swept by the wind, had just become a real territory.
A domain.
A stronghold.
I immediately understood what this meant.
I turned to the group.
"Do you understand?" I asked. "These castles are not a gift. They are a temptation."
All eyes turned to the brand-new walls.
"They appeared to give us a reason to fight. If we let Imagawa raze our land, we will have nothing left to protect us from the other clans. And above all... we will have nothing left to protect our regalia."
The word weighed heavily.
Edano then stepped forward.
"In that case, it would make more sense to defend the castles," he said. "Rather than going out to meet Imagawa. We would have the advantage of the terrain."
The wind made the sashimono behind us flap.
I shook my head.
"We will stick to the original plan."
"We are leaving. Now," I declared without hesitation. "The timing is perfect."
Several surprised looks turned toward me.
"Now?" someone repeated.
I nodded.
"Yes."
Without further delay, we mounted our horses. The leather creaked under the weight of our armor, and hooves struck the still-fresh soil of our newly established territory. The sashimono bearing Nobunaga's crest fluttered in the wind, contrasting with the white flag we carried at the head.
We advanced toward Imagawa.
Not as conquerors.
But as messengers of peace.
The landscape passed before our eyes until, in the distance, the banners of the Yoshimoto clan appeared. Their camp stretched out confidently near Okehazama, orderly, vast, impressive.
Our troops stopped at a respectful distance.
A tense silence fell.
Then a voice rose behind me.
"Why did we leave so early?" asked one of my men. "Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision?" "
I did not turn around immediately. My gaze remained fixed on the enemy banners fluttering in the wind.
I turned my head slightly toward him.
"Observe the Imagawa clan. Look at them carefully."
He narrowed his eyes toward the enemy camp.
From where we stood, the height gave us a perfect overview. We could see the tables set, the open sake jars, the laughter that rang out even from this distance. The soldiers were feasting, eating their fill, some already singing as if victory were theirs.
"They're celebrating..." whispered one of my men.
"Yes."
I paused for a moment, then calmly continued:
"They are convinced that it's already a done deal. They see us as nothing more than a minor obstacle on the road to Kyoto."
"And is that a good thing?" someone behind me asked.
A slight smile touched my lips.
"That's precisely why we're coming now. "
I finally turned to face them.
"An angry man seeks confrontation. A worried man closes himself off. But a cheerful man is more open. He listens more. He feels superior. He thinks he's in control of the situation."
Edano's expression darkened as he gradually understood.
"You plan to exploit their euphoria..." "
"Exactly."
I pointed to the camp with a nod of my chin.
"Their mood makes them confident. And excessive confidence lowers their guard. In this state, Yoshimoto will be more inclined to agree to a discussion. He will want to show his magnanimity. His greatness."
I tightened my horse's reins.
"This isn't a rash decision. It's the best possible moment."
The wind flapped our banners.
"Good."
I grabbed the white flag attached to my saddle.
"I'll raise the white flag and we'll ride towards them. I know where Imagawa is staying. There's no need to go through his generals. "
I moved my horse forward slightly.
"I'll go first..."
"Bun."
Her voice cut me off.
I turned around. Saé had placed a firm hand on the reins of my mount. Her gesture was not abrupt... but it was determined.
Her face was tense. Too tense.
"What is it?" I asked, already annoyed by the interruption.
She lowered her eyes for a split second, as if it cost her to hold my gaze.
"I did everything I could not to realize it..." she whispered.
"Realize what?"
Her fingers tensed slightly.
"I thought it had worked. That I had managed to circumvent the objective."
A heavy silence fell between us, broken only by the distant laughter from Imagawa Camp.
I frowned.
"Saé. What are you talking about?"
She took a deep breath, as if each word would tear her apart.
"The goal of my quest has changed."
My gaze hardened.
"Changed... how?"
She finally looked me in the eye. There was embarrassment. Frustration. And something even more painful.
Slowly, she took out an object hidden in her sleeves.
An incense burner.
Finely crafted. All too familiar.
She handed it to me without a word.
I didn't take it immediately.
Her voice trembled despite herself.
"If you don't use it... my quest will not be validated."
I felt my stomach knot up. If her quest wasn't validated, she would die.
The wind seemed to stop around us.
Saé looked away slightly.
"I was supposed to use it myself..." she said in a low voice. "Activate it at the decisive moment to ensure our victory."
Her fingers tightened one last time on the blackened metal.
"But since I didn't... the condition has changed."
She swallowed.
"Now I have to give it to you so you can use it in my place."
Her life now depended on my choice.
I held her gaze for a few more seconds... then I took the censer.
The moment my fingers touched the cold bronze, a translucent window materialized in front of me.
[Item Name: The Incense Burner of the Whispering Skies
Type: Potion
Rank: A
Evolution: None
Description:
A small, blackened bronze incense burner, its simple appearance evokes a simple ritual object used to purify the air.
The moment its lid is lifted, a fine and unusually light smoke escapes from it. It rises straight up into the sky. When the smoke reaches the clouds, it causes a gradual disruption of the atmosphere, ranging from a sudden thickening of the fog to sudden rains.
Attributes:
- Damage: ★★ | 2 stars
- Defense: ★★★ | 3 stars
- Mana: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
- Resistance: ★★★ | 3 stars
! Warning:
Once opened, the censer cannot be closed again until the smoke has finished rising.
The phenomenon affects allies and enemies alike.
Repeated use in the same region permanently weakens the local climate, causing seasonal imbalances and unforeseen disasters].
As I looked at Saé, seeing the tension in her features and the gravity of the situation, a thought struck me with full force.
Everything had been calculated from the start.
Every move, every hesitation, every plan, every false choice we thought we were free to make... everything had been orchestrated.
Destiny was not a thread that could be cut or twisted. It was not malleable. It was not... negotiable.
There was no way to change it.
No escape.
And in this chilling realization, I understood that I would be forced to take part in this battle.