02x07 - Boku no Ojisan

[bunniefuu]

Tokiyuki's uncle, Yasuie Hojo.

He is a man who will soon stir up a storm.

LET'S DO THIS

Uncle!

GOOD

I'm so relieved you're safe!

Lord Tokiyuki!

I'm the one who's overjoyed
to see you safe!

-Splendid.
-I'm surprised his own uncle

is still alive.

Indeed.

He is the younger brother
of Lord Takatoki himself,

the man at the pinnacle of the shogunate.

He truly was at the very heart of it.

POWER

It was Lord Yasuie who arranged

for Lord Tokiyuki to be entrusted
to my care

during the fall of Kamakura.

Come to think of it,

Uncle, how did you escape that chaos?

I simply passed myself off
as one of Nitta's soldiers.

Wounded soldier! Let us through!

The pain…

NO PAIN

I escaped Kamakura by posing
as one of the enemy's wounded soldiers.

NAILED IT

You've got some nerve, boss.

While your clan was dropping like flies,

you still ran away so shamelessly.

Naturally, they asked me to die with them.

Come, Lord Yasuie. Join us.

But this is what I told them.

JUST DIDN'T WANT TO DIE

"It's not that I cling to life.

I swear I'll reclaim the throne,

so that your deaths will not be in vain."

His forehead…

I can see something on his forehead.

Uncle,

your forehead says
you just didn't want to die.

Oh, my!

Lord Tokiyuki, you're quite observant!

For the past two years, I've traveled
throughout the Tōhoku region,

rallying the remaining Hojo loyalists.

Everywhere we fought,
we lost and had to run.

You are our last hope.

Yorishige Suwa.

Have you made the preparations
to ensure our victory?

Yes.

For the most part,
everything is progressing smoothly.

However,
I have foreseen a troubling future.

I'd like to discuss it
with you over there.

Very well. Let us go!

LET'S DO THIS

Cut it out! Just go already!

He wears everything on his face.

The way he ran for it, you'd never think

he was a prominent figure
of the shogunate.

My uncle has always done
whatever it takes to survive.

He was always scheming
out of self-interest,

obsessed with power and staying alive…

MAKE NICE WITH
THE FIGUREHEAD KID AND CASH IN

…yet it all showed plainly on his face.

ALSO I'M BORED
SO COME PLAY WITH ME

-Come play with me.
-I loved how genuine he was.

He never hid behind the mask of a warrior.

THE ELUSIVE SAMURAI

Looks like all the players
are finally coming together.

So the great battle
is just around the corner.

That means things are only
going to get more dangerous.

The brat's never boring to watch.

-Don't make me sound like I can't fight!
-But is he really worth

risking my life for?

Unlike him,

I have no enemy to avenge,
nor a clan to protect.

Getting off here is an option, but…

I'll think about it later.

Something's there.

Or am I imagining it?

Yorishige has Suwa Grand Shrine
heavily guarded.

No one should be able
to slip in that easily.

A thrown weapon?

Your instincts are impressive.

A tengu mask?

So, you're a shinobi after all.

Just as the reports described,
the fox mask of Shinano, Genba Kazama.

Or perhaps his successor.

Either way, it makes no difference.

You'll be dead soon enough.

Wait! Wait! Calm down.

I'm completely unarmed!

Besides, who's this Genba, anyway?

It's just a fox mask for festivals.

Look. Take a closer look.

That was no technique.
Just a parlor trick.

Save your tricks
for the demons in the underworld.

There's a fight over there?

Calling for others to protect you?

At this rate,
you'll never be able to protect your lord.

Genba Kazama.

Not as impressive as the rumors suggest.

-Genba!
-That sound just now…

I need to speak with Yorishige.

This could be a very serious situation.

I've posted guards just as you asked.

No need to worry about an attack
or anyone listening in.

Go on, Genba. Who attacked you?

My old man once told me about them.

A band of shinobi
directly serving Ashikaga.

The Tengu.

With their lightning-fast martial skills
and infiltration techniques,

they say there's no secret
they can't uncover.

KYO - TWO YEARS EARLIER

On May 7, 1333, Takauji Ashikaga

wiped out the shogunate forces in Kyo.

THE FOLLOWING DAY, MAY 8,
KŌZUKE PROVINCE

The following day, May 8,
in Kōzuke province,

Takauji's ally, Yoshisada Nitta,
was at a loss.

The plan was for Lord Takauji
to capture Kyo

while I launched my attack on Kamakura.

YOSHISADA NITTA

But I have no idea
what's happening in Kyo.

Yoshisada Nitta has yet to learn
that Kyo has fallen.

At the time,
it was impossible for news to travel

from Kyoto to Gunma in a single day.

If Lord Takauji has been defeated,

my small force
cannot hope to defeat the shogunate.

Should I call off the uprising for now?

My lord!

Reinforcements! Around 2,000 strong!

They're our clansmen from Echigo!

How did they know to come?

I hadn't even told my own clan
about the uprising yet.

A Tengu brought us word.

A Tengu?

A single Tengu traveled
throughout Echigo in just one day,

spreading word
that you were rising to attack Kamakura.

How strange indeed.

No matter.



I hesitate no longer.
We march on Kamakura!

Forward, men!

Aye!

Thus, Yoshisada Nitta took advantage

of the Kamakura shogunate's distraction
with Takauji in Kyo

and succeeded in bringing down Kamakura.

TAIHEIKI, VOLUME TEN

This episode of the "Tengu's Message"
is recorded in the Taiheiki,

a chronicle written by people of the time.

It is easy enough
to dismiss it as fiction.

Yet Japan's first simultaneous coup
in the east and west

was such an extraordinary feat that it
almost defies explanation without a Tengu.

It suggests that people regarded it
as a mystery even at the time.

They are said to travel
about 240 miles in a single day.

Apparently, they played
a major role in the intelligence w*r

that brought down the shogunate.

I have heard tales of the Tengu as well.

They say there is
a long-established academy

known as the Ashikaga School,

with a division dedicated
to training skilled shinobi.

According to historical records,
the first person to employ shinobi

was Moronao of Ko, the Ashikaga steward.

Whatever the case,
we need to call off the great battle.

Otherwise
they'll find evidence of the rebellion,

uncover the brat's true identity,

and that'll be the end of everything.

We must protect Lord Tokiyuki.

Recently, I foresaw an ominous future.

If Lord Tokiyuki stays in Suwa,
he is destined to die.

The wisest course would be
for him to flee as far away as possible.

As Genba said,

our plans require major changes.

Shall we proceed with our plan,
Lord Yasuie?

I'll take care of it.

Lord Tokiyuki.

Leave Shinano

and travel to Kyo with Lord Yasuie.

To Kyo?

The great battle
is scheduled for next month.

LET'S DO THIS

I will be meeting with our allies in Kyo
to plan the uprising.

KYO - SUWA

If you come with me,

we can completely evade
the Tengu's pursuit in the meantime.

The enemy would never suspect

that two members of the Hojo
main family would enter Kyo.

With so many people in Kyo,

it should be easy
to disappear into the crowd.

HOJO

Besides,
if you aspire to become the ruler,

I have always believed
you should see Kyo for yourself.

Kyo is at the forefront
of every aspect of culture.

It is home to extraordinary people,
such as the Emperor,

Takauji, Nitta, Kusunoki, and many others,

though they are our enemies.

Kusunoki?

You should've had Kusunoki
teach you the art of w*r.

Naturally, you must avoid
running into any of them.

Even so, there is immeasurable value
in experiencing the atmosphere of Kyo,

where so many brilliant minds gather.

I want to go to Kyo.

Then you should depart
as early as tonight.

-Tonight?
-That soon?

As a matter of fact,
I had anticipated such a situation.

The Suwa Sect has already set our plans
in motion using emergency codes.

What have you been eating these days?

Nozawana pickles.

Nozawana pickles?

That's troublesome.

They really make the rice disappear.

Better watch your waistline.

Indeed. If salted salmon is added as well,
I won't be able to stop eating.

SADAMUNE IS GATHERING TROOPS

IF ICHIKAWA JOINS, THE SITUATION
WILL BECOME DANGEROUS

But how do we get the young lord
out of Shinano?

The Tengu are probably
still watching Suwa Grand Shrine.

If they see a child leaving,
they'll surely become suspicious.

As for that, we shall use the confusion
caused by the mysterious intruder

to our advantage.

We will spirit him away
while covering our tracks.

The only drawback is that
there will be no time for farewells.

A fire!

Lord Yorishige's residence is burning!

Where did it start?

It seems one of the torches fell over!

Damn it! We put out more torches
to guard against intruders,

and now it's come back to bite us.

Dispatch messengers
to the nearby Suwa Sect Warriors.

We'll need more hands
to stop the fire from spreading!

At once!

What's your assessment?

At this point, I can't tell
whether it's simply an accidental fire,

or one staged to destroy documents
proving the rebellion.

Keep your eyes on their movements.

Understood.

If this was intentional,
their response was astonishingly swift.

Had that fox not sensed me…

-Are you still with me?
-Yes!

We'll meet up with my retainers
who set out separately.

They're farther ahead.

Kyo, too, is full of dangers.

It always pains me to send you away
based on an uncertain future.

Yet I believe you will grow even more
through this journey.

I long to see my child
overcome danger and grow strong.

As your surrogate father,

I know that letting you go
is also a form of love.

Go now!

Do not look back, Lord Tokiyuki!

Yorishige is following them.

Why are you coming too?

Well, I was worried about Lord Tokiyuki.

If the Tengu see you,
our whole cover will be blown.

Hurry back!

Stop making that face.

Father, you're embarrassing yourself.
Go home. Now.

-Go home!
-Go home!

GO HOME GO HOME GO HOME

It was in June that Tokiyuki,
filled with anticipation,

set out for Kyo.

That checkpoint belongs to either
the imperial court or the Ashikaga clan.

The inspections look extremely strict.

Besides…

HOJO

Lord Yasuie might as well have
Hojo written across his forehead.

He'll be recognized instantly.

Is there no other way?

The only alternative is to take
the long way over the mountains.

But the slopes are too steep,

and even that would be difficult
unless we leave the horses behind.

No. We're not about to throw away
our horses and baggage

over the likes of them.

I have an idea,

but I'll need about half a day
to get it ready.

There was a post town a little way back.
Pass the time there.

So then, how about
we grab something to eat?

No. I'd rather not waste our money here.

I hear Kyo can get expensive!

ALREADY IN SIGHTSEEING MODE

Exactly! They say Kyo has clothes
and food we've never even seen before!

I want to spend the whole trip
talking like I'm from Kyo.

Father only gave me
a little spending money,

so we need to spend it wisely.

Oops, my apologies.

Must be t*rture
for you poor folks to look at.

Genba.

Where did you get that much money?

I squeezed it out of Yorishige.

Spotting the enemy shinobi
was no small feat.

I told him Suwa
might've fallen without me.

That's true.

Thanks to you, the enemy never learned
of our plans for the great battle,

and my lord escaped safely.

-That reward is well deserved!
-What?

On that note,

could you lend me some money?

I ran out long ago.

Fubuki kept wasting his money on food
at every post town we passed.

He practically finished off
all the food we brought by himself.

Well, that's your own fault.

I'm stuffed.

There's nothing better than feasting
while the poor look on in envy.

I do feel sorry for Fubuki now.

It may not be much,
but let's bring him something to eat.

Forget that hopeless idiot.

By the way, where's he?

Over in that bamboo grove.

He said he's training
to take his mind off being hungry.

I'm starving.

He only missed one meal,
and look at those hungry eyes.

Looks like he's still got more to him
than meets the eye.

Hey.

In return for the food,
answer me something.

That Tengu told me
my fighting style wasn't technique,

just a trick.

I never felt I could beat him.

It felt like there was some
fundamental difference between us.

What do you think it was?

Well, Shinobi techniques
aren't really my expertise.

But if I had to say,

you need to develop techniques
with greater destructive power.

Otherwise,
you don't project any real menace.

Menace?

Your specialty is using tricks
to hold your enemies back.

But on a b*ttlefield
where everyone has accepted death,

tricks won't stop anyone.

If they can feel,
"He could k*ll me if he wanted to,"

then they'll truly hold back.

If there's a difference between tricks
and true technique, that's it.

I get it.

If I can create truly deadly tools,
simply carrying them concealed

will make my bluff believable.

Precisely so.

By the way, are you sure
Lord Yasuie's plan will work?

If he has "Hojo"
written across his forehead,

there's no way it'll work.

I'm sure it'll work.

Let's go meet up with him.

He told us
to cover ourselves in dirt first.

Genba, the fox mask will draw attention.

Take on a different face.

If we're talking about menace,

my uncle has it as well.

It doesn't matter
that his true feelings show on his face.

He simply forces his way through
with sheer menace.

HOJO
PITIFUL

Have mercy!

If we can't make it to Kyo by tomorrow,
we'll drop dead out here!

I've been promised work as a servant
under Lord Kinmune Saionji!

These poor children lost their mother.

At last,
I'll be able to give them a decent life!

This is the first decent job

a shabby country samurai like me
has ever been offered!

I even borrowed money
to buy this horse and these gifts!

I beg you! Please! Please!

Enough already.

-Get through!
-That hurts!

You're so pitiful
you're making me feel miserable.

Just don't drop dead around here.
It'd be a nuisance.

Yes, sir! Thank you so very much!

WE DID IT

Well, that's about the gist of it.

I skipped meals for half a day,
rolled around in the mountains,

and played the perfect pitiful samurai.

I GOT THIS…

Hiding your true identity behind
a little temporary misery is nothing,

Lord Tokiyuki.

Because we are the mighty Hojo.

HOJO

It is said that Yasuie Hojo,
the younger brother of the ruler,

infiltrated Kyo
by posing as a country samurai

visiting the capital for the first time.

HUH?

He survived the bitter power struggles
within the shogunate,

quietly slipped away when it fell,

DOESN'T HURT ONE BIT

…incited rebellions wherever he went…

LET'S DO THIS

…and even infiltrated Kyo
to carry out an unprecedented plan.

-Let's do this.
-He was one of the greatest schemers

of his age.

Perhaps Tokiyuki inherited his vitality

not from his frail, spiritless father,
Takatoki,

but from this uncle instead.

The brat and the boss get more interesting

when they're in danger.

Menace, hey?

Maybe I'll invent something
truly impressive myself.

Just so I can see the look
on that Tengu fool's face.

Come, Lord Tokiyuki. Kyo is just ahead.

Whenever you need someone's pity,
leave it to me!

EPISODE 20 [YEAR 1335]:
IRREPLACEABLE

Let's go!