Chapter Summaries

After Sesshomaru retreated, Hojo Akitoshi ordered Nameless killed and used her actions to make Kagome question Inuyasha. Meanwhile, Takeda Shingen mobilized his full army to attack Hojo Ujiyasu’s forces at Kawagoe.

• Hojo Akitoshi returned from the vortex, celebrated victory with his samurai, and ordered Nameless killed while Jaken was kept alive.
• Kagome pleaded for Nameless, but Hojo explained that she abducted children and killed them, so Akechi Mitsuhide cut her down.
• Kagome began wondering whether Inuyasha had harmed villagers and resolved to keep him from becoming a full demon, widening the distance between them.
• Sesshomaru’s passage had destroyed the Imagawa Army, giving Hojo’s defensive forces breathing room and strengthening the Hojo Army.
• Takeda Shingen mobilized his entire army to seize the chance to crush Hojo Ujiyasu’s main force at Kawagoe.

Hojo Ujiyasu’s brother Masamasa accused Hojo Akitoshi of abandoning the Battle of Kawagoe and urged Ujiyasu to challenge his leadership, but Ujiyasu defended Akitoshi and beat Masamasa. Hojo Akitoshi then entered the command tent as the brothers argued over clan leadership.

• Masamasa reported that Takeda Shingen’s forces had withdrawn after another assault on the Hojo camp.
• Masamasa complained that Hojo Akitoshi had left the battle and said Ujiyasu should lead the clan instead.
• Ujiyasu rebuked Masamasa and insisted that Akitoshi’s contributions had strengthened the Hojo.
• Masamasa suggested that Akitoshi might be dead and hinted that they could take advantage of his absence.
• Ujiyasu struck Masamasa with a riding whip, and Masamasa protested that the clan leadership had passed to a branch family.
• Hojo Akitoshi entered the command tent while the brothers argued.

Hojo Akitoshi punished Tame Masa for drinking before the Battle of Kawagoe and questioned Ujiyasu about the Hojo clan’s resources for dealing with demons. After learning that domains relied on deities, monks, Onmyoji, and shrine priests, Akitoshi considered how faith and demons might shape Japan’s religious traditions and focused on defeating Takeda Shingen.

• Hojo Akitoshi entered Ujiyasu’s tent unnoticed, and Ujiyasu and Tame Masa knelt before him.
• Ujiyasu apologized for Tame Masa’s disrespect, and Tame Masa begged Hojo Akitoshi to forgive him for drinking and speaking out of turn.
• Hojo Akitoshi ordered Tame Masa to receive fifty strokes for drinking before victory was secured, and Tame Masa left without protest.
• Hojo Akitoshi asked Ujiyasu about the Hojo clan’s resources for dealing with demons, and Ujiyasu explained that domains relied on deities, monks, Onmyoji, shrine priests, and the Onmyo Bureau.
• After Ujiyasu left, Akechi Mitsuhide urged action, but Hojo Akitoshi said the Hojo clan was one united family.
• Hojo Akitoshi reflected on deities sustained by faith and offerings, then declared that defeating Takeda Shingen was the immediate priority.

Takeda Shingen and Takeda Nobushige discussed Hojo Akitoshi’s absence and the threat posed by the Hojo Army, while anticipating Uesugi Kenshin’s opportunistic attack. Shingen remained determined to cripple the Hojo forces and wondered what Akitoshi was doing.

• Uesugi Norimasa praised Takeda Shingen and mocked Hojo Akitoshi, while Shingen hid his contempt for Norimasa and the celebrating allies.
• Takeda Nobushige reported that the camp defenses were secure and that the Hojo Army had shown no unusual movement.
• Nobushige warned Shingen that Akitoshi’s absence was likely tied to the growing danger from monsters and argued that the Hojo Army’s training and tactics made it a major threat.
• Shingen agreed that the Takeda-led alliance should cripple the Hojo Army while Akitoshi was away, but doubted they could destroy it outright.
• Shingen predicted Uesugi Kenshin would attack whichever side weakened the other and wondered what Akitoshi was doing.

Hojo Akitoshi launched a night attack on Takeda Shingen’s camp using fiery projectiles that plunged the camp into panic. Takeda Shingen watched the spectacle and admired the young Hojo leader as the raid began.

• Hojo Akitoshi and Akechi Mitsuhide secretly joined the Hojo Army’s main force and prepared an elite raiding force outside the Takeda coalition’s camp.
• Hojo Akitoshi praised Takeda Shingen’s defenses, then ordered the attack to begin as the raiders armed themselves.
• Taro and Heijiro spotted fiery meteors in the sky, but Heijiro panicked, fell from the watchtower, and failed to raise the alarm.
• The fiery projectiles frightened soldiers throughout the Takeda coalition’s camp, triggering a nighttime panic.
• Takeda Shingen watched the spectacle from outside his command tent and admired Hojo Akitoshi.

Takeda Shingen tried to quell the camp panic caused by the Hojo Army’s Fire Meteors, but white phosphorus flames and poisonous smoke sent the Takeda allied army back into chaos. As Hojo Akitoshi’s cavalry approached, Shingen ordered his samurai to gather and prepared to break through toward the Dragon of Echigo.

• Takeda Nobushige warned Takeda Shingen that the camp was in a panic as Fire Meteors fell on the encampment.
• Takeda Shingen mounted the command platform and used his authority to calm some of the soldiers.
• Soldiers trying to extinguish white phosphorus fires were burned, while poisonous smoke caused others to collapse and renewed the panic.
• Takeda Shingen recognized the approaching Hojo Army and ordered his samurai to assemble for a breakout toward the Dragon of Echigo.
• Takeda Shingen dismissed the remaining troops as Uesugi Norimasa’s men.

Hojo Akitoshi led the Hojo Army’s Fully Armored Cavalry into the allied Takeda camp after they toppled its Wooden Wall, then cut through the enemy ranks. As Takeda Shingen retreated, the raiders kept calling out the names of the samurai Hojo Akitoshi had slain.

• Takeda Shingen and Nobushige saw the Hojo Army’s Fully Armored Cavalry approaching and marveled at Hojo Akitoshi’s rise and military preparations.
• Hojo Akitoshi ordered Akechi Mitsuhide and a small detachment to use Oil Bombs and Grappling Claws to bring down the Wooden Wall around the allied Takeda camp.
• Hojo Akitoshi led his cavalry across the fallen wall and charged into the camp, proclaiming himself the Kirin of Sagami and challenging Takeda Shingen.
• Akechi Mitsuhide shouted that Hojo Akitoshi had slain a hundred men, boosting the Hojo Army’s morale and deepening the allied Takeda soldiers’ panic.
• Hojo Akitoshi killed several allied Takeda samurai, while Takeda Shingen retreated and lamented that his army had no warrior of such valor.

Hojo Akitoshi’s surprise attack routed Takeda Shingen’s forces, forcing Shingen and Nobushige to flee while Sanada Yukitaka tried to delay the pursuit. The chapter ended with Hojo Akitoshi chasing the brothers toward Uesugi Kenshin.

• Takeda Nobushige helped Takeda Shingen mount a horse, but Shingen loudly protested that he could not abandon his fighting warriors.
• Hojo Akitoshi charged through the camp, identified Shingen by his red helmet, and mocked him as Shingen shed his helmet and armor to escape.
• Sanada Yukitaka charged Hojo Akitoshi, was knocked from his horse, and tried to win favor by praising Hojo and invoking his dream of restoring the Sanada clan.
• Akechi Mitsuhide ordered Sanada Yukitaka captured and then followed Hojo Akitoshi, while Yukitaka persuaded the cavalrymen to leave him unbound.
• Takeda Shingen and Takeda Nobushige organized counterattacks, but Hojo Akitoshi broke them and continued pursuing the fleeing brothers toward Uesugi Kenshin.

Hojo Akitoshi pursued Takeda Shingen until both armies slowed near Uesugi Kenshin’s approaching forces. As Uesugi Kenshin’s riders halted nearby, Akitoshi prepared to meet the famed dragon.

• Takeda Shingen and Hojo Akitoshi traded challenges as the exhausted Fully Armored Cavalry fell behind during the pursuit.
• Hojo Akitoshi slowed his army to rest the horses, and Takeda Shingen realized he was wary of Uesugi Kenshin’s next move.
• Takeda Nobushige inferred that Takeda Shingen had fled toward Uesugi Kenshin in hopes of turning him against the pursuing Hojo Army.
• The Bishamon Banner came into view, and both Takeda Shingen and Hojo Akitoshi watched Uesugi Kenshin’s forces approach.
• Hojo Akitoshi wondered about the rumors surrounding Uesugi Kenshin before Akechi Mitsuhide reported that Kenshin had halted without attacking.
• Several riders bearing the Bishamon Banner emerged from Uesugi Kenshin’s formation, apparently including Kenshin himself.

Uesugi Kenshin, Hojo Akitoshi, and Takeda Shingen weighed the risks of confronting one another after the Takeda Army’s defeat. Hojo Akitoshi and Takeda Shingen rode forward to meet Uesugi Kenshin, leaving the three rivals poised for a tense encounter.

• Uesugi Kenshin explained to Nagao Masakage why neither Takeda Shingen nor Hojo Akitoshi could safely attack his small party.
• Hojo Akitoshi ordered Akechi Mitsuhide to ride forward with him lightly equipped rather than charge with the Hojo Army.
• Hojo Akitoshi reasoned that attacking Uesugi Kenshin would provoke Takeda Shingen, while withdrawing could let the Uesugi and Takeda forces ally against the Hojo.
• Takeda Shingen realized his schemes had failed and agreed to ride out with Takeda Nobushige to meet Hojo Akitoshi and Uesugi Kenshin.