Puhah! Welcome back to the main vanilla story! The plot thickens...

Now, eagle-eyed historians among you may notice some discrepancies in characters' age and timeline. As always, it's all for story's sake. For example, Nobunaga's and her retainers' age are closer here than in canon, when her male version at times was old enough to be their father. Ditto with the European landscape discussed in this and the following several chapters... including a new fandom crossing over! Honestly, don't expect this latest one to have a major impact apart from in the omakes because it's just laying the foundaiton of both HV-S01: RKR's rewrite and another HV project I have in the pipeline. Additionally, it's just serving as the baseline for this latest arc and its main antagonists. I'm no longer comfortable chucking out story elements if they can't loop back to the main plot as a whole.

I've been loving Lostbelt 6 so far! It provides me with so much inspiration for HV-S01: RKR's remake. Now, more and more characters in that story are facing the chopping block... Though, I'm warning you guys, if you're uncomfortable with the amount of M-rated content in this story, there's going to be lots more in that new version... Fufufufu...

Mailbag drop time!
neverplayedmgs: Nah, you don't need to feel sorry for your criticisms regarding the past 2 chapters because they're right. I know people enjoy it, but clearly this site isn't the one they're using for full-on lemon stories. Still, like I said, I hope to keep it under leash and somewhat on occasion.
Incredibly spot on for Kiichi and Lian (that's how the raw manga spelled her name, because I don't enjoy using katakana for foreigners' names). Regarding Mai, Ai, and Senju-douji... I'll leave it to you to stew and find out! Don't think you'll pry the answers out of me! Hahahaha! Again, thank you for your praise, and accurate analysis of what's wrong with HV-S01: RKR. As much as I'm proud of it as my 'first born', it's undeniable it's far from the writing standard I want to achieve. Look forward to the rewrite!
Ghost151:
Yes, as a result of the changes the Heroic Vessels have borught and the fact my Character Sheets don't contain deliberate game-balancing Rank-Down, since I'm attempting to portray them as close to their series' version, real life, and future development as possible, in contrast to FGO's need for the former. In-story, I keep mentioning how much Mystery has changed compared to Proper Human History as a result of the HVs' presence and changes made, directly resulting in the difference you've noted. On a lighter note, yes, he needs every bit he has to survive.


"Why are we here, again?" Kōtarō, with an exasperated face, asked the white-haired Princess General beside him. "And I'm not taking a half-baked excuse for an answer, Nagao-sama."

"Eh…" She scratched her cheek, showing exactly the hesitancy which brought dread to the redhead's heart. "Training, I guess…"

"…for us both? I believe that person must be insane for doubting our capabilities," he took a stab in the dark, uninterested in asking, "For you or me?" to the airheaded Kagetora. If not on the battlefield, this person truly had little common sense. "Besides, where are your retainers? It's rare Kanetsugu-dono isn't around you, yelling at clouds."

"Ahahaha! What an apt description! You sure know her well!" Kagetora laughed to the point of arching her back rearwards, her white feline bangs shaking along her effort. Suddenly thrusting her index finger excitedly in front of Kōtarō's nose, she exclaimed, "Correct on all accounts! Though… I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you this… It should be Ujiyasu's prerogative!"

The following sentence almost made him, and the Fūma shinobi present – currently lounging around among the canopy – to fall off their perch.

"I think she's surrendered to Nobunaga-kun already… or has she?" Oblivious to the effect she's having on them, she quipped, "Where's Kanetsugu when I need her? Geez…"

A female voice, perhaps from one of the kunoichis present, shakily queried, "W-What… What do you mean by s-surrender?! Explain y-yourself!"

"O-Oi! Behave yourself!" Her male colleague beside her harshly whispered, clearly thoughtful of Kagetora's – and most Princess General's – habit of striking down anyone who slighted her in any way. "Nagao-sama, perhaps you could… explain things better?"

"Hm? Oh, no, it's fine," she waved her hand dismissively against the kunoichi's perceived rudeness. "But… again, I think this is something someone at Kōtarō-kun's level should hear from Ujiyasu herself. What do you think, young man?"

The Fūma Kage shrugged his lean, yet muscular shoulder. "The people here are those I trust the most. If what you suggested should've occurred, then I would've told them all anyway."

- Clap!

Bringing her palms together loudly – enough to elicit winces from those present with sensitive hearing – she began, "Well… I don't see why not? 'Surrendering', I mean," she added, eyeing the kunoichi who spoke out of turn earlier. Traditionally, only Kōtarō should have the right to speak, much less demand harshly, to Kagetora, though she clearly didn't mind… this time. "Have you not noticed the current trend? Of how easily Nobunaga-kun can move around without resistance? Clearly, Heika has chosen to back her… and not me or Ujiyasu."

"That's a bullshit reason, Nagao-sama… with all due respect," Kōtarō quickly interrupted, frowning in displeasure. "That excuse has never prevented you – or your clan – from resisting central control and pushing Echigo's independence." Stepping closer to her, more for dramatic effect than actual threat, he pointed out, "There's still something you're hiding from us… Were you corresponding with the Buddhist temples? Can I take this as their stance as well?"

Kagetora mysteriously smiled. These few seconds of silence were enough for the others present to analyse the implication of the conversation.

Indeed, at times, silence spoke louder than words. This wasn't only about Kagetora's sudden pause, but also from the other supposedly major forces regarding Owari's expansion – now reaching the point of absolutely dominating Honshu's centre – in contrast to their vehement opposition when she first started her expansion. Since the decision by the Tripartite was taken to form the ambush at the Battle of Onegashima, it's odd the Fūma barely had any work related to the Owari Princess General, with Hōjō Ujiyasu allowing them to go back to their usual daily missions like a regular shinobi clan.

It's only chance fortune they encountered both Kagetora and the Oda forces in Harima – along with their 'mother', of course – while on a seemingly compoletely unrelated task: Kōtarō's responsibility to put down his recently-summoned forebear, dragging his closest jōnins with him.

Still, it didn't make sense of the Tripartite's stance. Not only that: southern fiefdoms were planning on allying with Nobunaga, and her relationship with Nanban merchant groups was excellent.

Things were going… too swimmingly for her.

Taking a small breath, Kagetora continued, "Well, you'll have to ask Kennyo and Kyonya for that. I haven't gotten into much contact with them… maybe Haruna knows more?"

Kōtarō was forced to pinch the bridge of his nose, sighing, "Once again, please clarify… how we all got into this situation."

"Nah, can't be bothered."

"Find Kanetsugu-dono, at once." Kōtarō's voice cut through the temperate forest, clearly Reinforced. His shinobis all silently acknowledged the command and flickered away. "Then, let us wait for your retainer to arrive and explain things better, shall we?" He eyed Kagetora coldly, who's averting her gaze elsewhere with a mischievous smirk.

However, right after that, a different female voice rang through them. "Eh? Where's everyone? Didn't we ask you guys to show up on time?"

"Eh… there's been an emergency for them," the white-haired Echigo Princess General emphasized the last two words, before quickly rectifying, "As for my group… Perhaps I forgot to tell them?"

Hisui grinned from her new perch atop… no, upside-down from one of the larger nearby branches. Kunoichi uniform was designed for this movement in mind, and thus tucked in neatly and tightly enough to showcase her modest curves. There were imitations out there with perverted intentions in mind, cut away at parts clearly with quick-and-dirty sex session in mind for 'ease of access' – though, apart from that, her clothes were unusually different from the norm.

Soon, several shadows arrived behind her, some of them having enough tact to cover their features unlike the confident Hisui. One of them, masculine and left arm asymmetrically larger than his right, shuffled intimately closer to the redheaded kunoichi… well, as close as someone crouching the right way up could get to a girl standing upside-down like a gecko, anyway.

Kōtarō frowned at this open display of affection, reminding him of his various moments of weakness when confronted by his 'mother', leading to his group's missions' failure and stolen credit. He realized this was simply a child's stubbornness of refusing to acknowledge there was a weakness in him, personally agreeing with the notion of shinobi code of emotionlessness to allow his large clan to continue surviving in this competitive era. The aforementioned two mistakes had cost the Fūma dearly in terms of reputation. Ujiyasu was generous enough to insist on paying them the proper amount regardless of the result… but that might also speak for her passivity against Nobunaga, eager not to cross the latter's path too much.

"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Jō," Hisui replied sweetly, clearly not caring her relationship with this man was revealed to whom technically could still be called opposing forces. Tilting her head back to where Kagetora and Kōtarō were standing, she declared, "Then, let this joint exercise begin!"


The group gathering only grew larger and larger by the day, since it turned out Owari's shinobi force wasn't just those few shadowy figures.

It took Kōtarō and the rest of the Fūma shinobis some time to acclimate working together with a different team again after several generations of carving a big enough slice of the available work to become independent. Uniting to complete a larger-than-life mission was… old-fashioned, akin to when their recently-resealed first Kage was just starting out in Nihon with a lack of human resource.

Additionally, despite Hisui's earlier showmanship, the other parties involved had little misgivings about how dangerous and important this task was. Yes, that included Kagetora – and eventually her late-arriving retainers – dropping her carefree attitude in favour of seriously discussing a particular formation with an abnormally tall and bulky young man with bushy braided hair. As expected from Echigo's Bishamonten, once a blade was placed in her hands, she instantly turned into a genius not only in behaviour but also in verbal communication.

…at least until her most recent idol showed up, but that's for later.

The first bigshot who came after Kagetora was a pretty little thing wearing a large floral round hat by the side of her hair, itself tied in pigtails long enough to act as whips, clearly more than she was tall. Wearing a custom kunoichi uniform he could instantly tell was uselessly expensive and more decorative than functional, its black-and-white colour combination was at least not as extravagant as its design: sleeveless top with a miko-like ritualistic rope-and-sash acting as a belt, while black fabric was tied around her thin legs in what he could only describe as a lecherous, 'easy-to-access' manner.

The only flaws in her appearance were the black ribbon covering her right eye – Kōtarō instantly thought of several of his kunoichis whose face was scarred – and the hideous red markings running and spiralling all across her otherwise unblemished skin.

This woman was the one who accompanied Danzō into the Sengo forge and acted all buddy-buddy with his 'mother'.

"May I sit with you?"

'Ah, speak of the Nanban devil…' he borrowed a foreign phrase to mock this unfortunately ugly girl internally, though he politely smiled and nodded, making space for the petite woman to sit among them. "Momochi, will you kindly make our guest some tea?"

Indeed, it's break time for their first 'session' – the 'joint military exercise' Hisui claimed, even though the members gathered here were as far away from the adjective 'military' as possible – but because of the relative newness of the whole thing, the various factions hadn't truly blended together perfectly yet, resulting in clear groupings over this impromptu dinner. Obviously, the shinobis gathered here – bar Kagetora, of course – were used to working odd hours, and thus the training actually started and ended well into dawn, making this supper more like an early breakfast instead.

The woman waved her hand. "Actually, I was thinking of talking you all into joining us for snacks. I won't be sitting long," she explained, further gesturing behind her towards the mishmash group which contained Hisui and Jō. "However, in this small opportunity, let us introduce ourselves before going forward."

"Really?" The young man folded his arms and raised his brows in suspicion. "Then, I have to decline going first. After all, you know us so well, considering your… sources."

Chiyome shook her head, smiling wryly as if faced by a precocious boy. "I mean personally. I know your names, yes, but what about yourselves? This kunoichi who's your chief assistant for that division – I'm assuming you're still separating the two? Momochi-san, then?"

The girl eyed her leader, seeking permission or denial whether she should join the conversation or not. Not finding anything concrete, she finally nodded carefully after a pause of several seconds. "That is my name, yes."

The eye-patched small woman didn't mind the hesitation, instantly following up, "Then, is it my turn now?"

"Why do you need to ask that?" Kōtarō, slightly annoyed, clipped, "Is that not obvious?"

"Tsk, tsk." Chiyome wagged her index finger. "Considering your behaviour, I find it prudent to ask." Before he could confirm or deny anything, she added, "You're the type who immensely dislike it if things don't go according to your wish, no? Not just regarding physical events, but how people talk to you." She giggled when his eyes twitched and expanded with various negative emotions. "It's obvious enough your subordinates should've picked up on it. Were they too polite to point it out to you before this?"

However, he didn't indulge in her verbal barb, merely taking several moments to think of an appropriate – or smart – response to say. "You're describing most people. I don't find it embarrassing I'm similar to them. My other attributes differentiated me enough – again, just like most people."

A flimsy response, he knew, and one he'd take some grief in the short future. But it's the one with no obvious holes to poke through – the only disadvantage being it'd make him look weak. However, he already knew this woman was a lot stronger than them put together, and the Fūma wouldn't mind some painful honesty from its leader.

Of course, Chiyome weren't the 'most people' he described and hid behind. "If the one standing here was Danzō-san, will you reply in the same manner?"

- Schwing!

"Kage-sama!" Momochi chided sharply, as Kōtarō drew the short tanto worn on his back directly towards Chiyome's smirking face quickly in a straight line. "Don't fall for it…"

"Oh, he wants to," the thin woman taunted, "as do you all."

Her tone didn't waver in the slightest despite the fact the shortsword's tip stopped just shy of her visible eye. Instead, unthinkably, she actually moved forwards and pressed the steel with her forehead… and Kōtarō's grip gave way first when she managed to walk all the way up his personal space and right near his chest, to the point her shorter figure had to crane her neck upwards to talk to him. He winced as healing Magecraft instantly worked on his sprained wrist, bent beyond its limits by her literal bull-headed approach.

He didn't have the opportunity to check, but he's sure not Reinforcing his tantō and giving it his all earlier was a mistake, resulting in a dulled and rolled kesaki.

The sun should rise soon, but darkness still covered this training area, aided by the thick canopy and persistent thin mist. Under the flickering flames' light, Chiyome's serpentine marks danced along with it demonically. "Just as I thought," she concluded after staring into his expression for several seconds, before taking an exaggerated step back and turned around, showing her half-open back and even more horrific scars. "Well, do join us if you've finished sulking. How easy…"

- Thud!

Kōtarō threw his tanto tip-first onto the ground in frustration, harshly whispering to Momochi, "Why the hell do you have to butt in?! I'm perfectly capable of having this type of conversation myself!"

Unexpectedly, instead of her usual reply, she simply sighed and shook her head. "I don't want to say this, but… Chiyome-dono is hurtfully right. We should join them. The training's going to be long."

"H-Hey, wait…!"

The redhead stretched out one hand towards his subordinates, who'd begun to walk towards the larger group gathered around the centre of the semi-clearing, filled with a louder chatter of speech and drink now.

None of the Fūma actually responded to Kōtarō's final request, forcing him to follow them lest he'd be left behind.


Owari rarely had time to do anything superfluous throughout its existence, accentuated by its current Princess General's love for efficiency and breaking traditional convention. As such, its newly-formed information department didn't even have a name, despite having several heavy-hitters like Goemon, the recently-joined Hanzō (though he technically was simply an ambassador for their alliance with the Iga Clan), Chiyome, Danzō, Kazumasu, and so on.

Actually, they certainly had a heavy influence from existing large clans – Chiyome and Kazumasu were educated under Kōga, Danzō was clearly a Fūma, and Hanzō was the current Iga Kage. Goemon was talented enough to lead her own small clan from scratch in her tender age, though even then her underlings were converted mercenaries taught various practical shinobi techniques, and not a group with a well-defined syllabus and training from birth.

Besides, the members directly beneath these people's level came from all walks of… shinobi life. The Usui forest they're currently conducting joint training with the Fūma and warriors of Echigo was an example – the land's current owner became a shinobi after his family's lifetime being brigadier; ditto his female partner. Both Hisui and Jō grew up in the faraway Sunken Valley up north, in Hokkaido's icy highlands, under the care of Minamoto Tomoe's descendants.

As explained long before, they called themselves 'Named Ones', solely for the reason they had these silly animal-themed nicknames instead of using their real ones, in lieu also to their lack of cohesive group name. Obviously, they're far above jōnin-level, but their superiors' insistence on delaying of simply having one name made them… simply don't care anymore, and would only smile wryly when asked of such a small thing by their contemporaries.

There were no longer 'Usui Clan', 'Sunken Valley Clan', 'Okami Clan', and so on. The Minamoto Clan's secret backing of the Oda meant the Royal Family's the one who's actually calling the shots, and Nobunaga simply didn't care much about it either.

Thus, their strange, currently-anonymous state.

Still, structure remained – something they all considered necessary, regardless how much independence both Himiko and Nobunaga gave them.

Muramasa was technically at the top, simply by virtue of not having anyone among them who could actually defeat him in combat – mock or real. There were also several high-ranking 'consultants', such as Shuten-dōji, who often shared their techniques, insights, and opinions whenever they felt like it, clearly outside the chain of command. As such, the de facto leaders were Chiyome and Danzō, both of whom were directly a step below the aforementioned group in terms of maximum combat potential.

Then, Hisui and her 'gang' followed. Well, technically the level after them also were 'Named Ones', but their codenames weren't as… well, short. They were recruited from the nobles' forces in the capital, formed into an 'Interior Ministry', and retained their childhood name alongside their nickname. Because they were considered as hadn't abandoned their 'old selves', their rights and responsibilities were appropriately lower. They were the cloaked group who tussled with Hanzō several months ago when they were introduced to the rest.

Still, they're nothing but obedient… and to Kōtarō's relief, untalkative as well.

After the late supper/early breakfast, they took a break to nap in shifts, preferring to continue the joint military exercise when sunlight was stronger and capable of penetrating the canopy and mist. Everyone present knew early morning and late dusk in the forest were no different than actual night time in terms of light arriving on the floor. Darkness training had long been a pastime they all could do with their eyes closed – literally – so there's no advantage in prolonging said session just for familiarization and formation exercise.

As a result of his stubbornness, the Fūma was only left with some leftovers from the main feast… though still quite delicious. This, he felt, was rather a petty revenge for his attitude from Chiyome, since he'd spotted there should be enough good portions for everyone. A silent, "Know your place!" kind of declaration, perhaps, but his subordinates barely seemed to mind. He silently clicked his tongue at the opulence promised at the end of this day, which seemed to have swayed them away from his stance.

Not wanting to have a heated debate this far from home – he still hadn't received an official reply from Ujiyasu regarding her supposed stance. Better blend in and hide his irritation, preferably around someone so eye-catching his negative points were hidden from the gaze of anyone annoying.

'I better spend my time reading the newcomers… and the ones I still haven't got a hang on,' he decided, knowing everyone else was doing the same thing to him anyway.

There were several clear leaders in terms of strength. Chiyome was the obvious one, but she's constantly covering herself with some sort of genjutsu to prevent scrying eyes digging into her minute mannerisms – actually similar to what she did when he's facing against his first namesake; 'The figure on the rooftop…' – so his efforts since before last night, when he first saw her in the Sengo forge, had been for naught.

Come to think of it, so too was it against his 'mother', himself constantly failing to come to a satisfactory conclusion how Owari had brainwashed and was now controlling her to the extent she'd slash at Momochi, but retained memories about her first life and original Fūma techniques…

He shook his head when he, once again, came to that conclusion.

The female redhead who was leading the discussion, Hisui, had just as annoying a mouth as that petite woman. In contrast to most women in this era, she cropped her hair short, just barely brushing her shoulders… and, despite her obvious skill in regulating her body temperature – a customary skill for any outdoorsmen, not just a skilled kunoichi like her – she constantly wore traditional Hokkaido winter wear. Kōtarō's not so well-versed in northern culture to identify whether she's Ainu or not… only her crimson hair, a slightly different shade than his, indicated her foreign ancestry.

Oddly enough, the older man she appeared to be intimate with, Jō, positioned himself somewhat lower than the other members, judging from his speech pattern and body mannerism. A rather unkempt but… barely above-average face, his most eye-catching attribute was his aforementioned larger left arm, covered with black wrapping undoubtedly carved with invisible runes to contain it. Kōtarō also didn't rule out the possibility it was artificial in nature, instead of the mystical explanation everyone of this era currently preferred. Apart from that, his appearance wasn't remarkable in the slightest – a valuable trait for a shinobi.

That aspect didn't apply to the man who assumed second-in-command behind Hisui, who towered over everyone else like a bear among wolves. With muscles figuratively – perhaps literally, too – coming out of his ears, tall and wide frame, long and thick hair reminiscent of a fluffy bird of prey, as well as the gigantic nodachi he carried diagonally across his back… all of it made the Fūma Kage wonder how on earth could he passably perform many of a shinobi's subterfuge responsibilities. They hadn't formally introduced to each other, but he overheard others addressing this large man as 'Fukuro'.

Additionally, prat of his stubbornness came from the reason the entire Fūma Clan members he brought here had been identified and profiled already, spread among those present… at the very least. Thus, he couldn't fathom how his subordinates could doubt him and consort with the people who literally now held their lives in their hands, not to mention the livelihood of their family as a whole.

'Mother…'

No, it's useless to wish she was here, because he couldn't control his expression whenever he did. Chiyome was far more perceptive than anyone he'd ever met, and they're already compromised enough right after their loss and captivity in Okehazama.

The other noteworthy individual was the unusually beautiful and dainty woman, hair tied in a topknot and thin braid going down her back. Her kunoichi uniform was somewhat the most modern among these already-abnormal bunch, with a shortened haori slung over her upper body and half-concealing her thick, Central Plains-like attire now fashionable among Ming merchants, drawing clues to where she usually operated for Kōtarō.

This trend actually came a few centuries late, because the first spread of this combination was by the Golden Horde back in the Heian Period. Of course, wearing it back then would've meant instant capture and execution – such was Ming's, Goryeo's, and Nihon's view about Mongol at the time. The remains of that 'glorious' empire were now, ironically, back to their people's long-standing desire to remain a nomadic community, spread and fractured all over Central Asia after one too many civil war and unsuccessful counterstrike against new foreign forces.

Unfortunately, Yoshitsune wasn't one of them, denying her of her long-lasting wish of retaliating against the Mongol invasion during her era.

And that, he assumed, was the end goal of this first joint exercise.

He told them an abbreviated version of his analysis when he trudged and finally sat down around the main campfire, surrounded by these supposed 'leaders'.

The large man – 'Fukuro', he kept reminding himself – eyed him strangely. Not quite antagonistically, as was typical when a newcomer voicing his opinions loudly, but not entirely friendly, either… which was what Chiyome was feigning, thinly smiling and attempting to mimic what he remembered his 'mother' did. Still, if Fukuro noticed, then he didn't show any further indication he desired to take things that way. "Not bad. But… further hypothesis will have you face-to-face with the Empress herself."

Hisui chipred up after she finished sipping her hot tea, "Probably only your face, though. You're going to have to leave your body with me."

"I get the threat even without you saying it, people," Kōtarō grumbled. "Do you think it's fashionable asking to tear others' heads off the first time you meet?"

Chiyome chuckled. "Well… standard procedure, I suppose?"

Kōtarō's gaze landed on Jō – the person he presumed was most reasonable among them. Fortunately, he didn't disappoint. "We should focus on the next few steps at hand, and not at the final problem… lest we lose our way and arrive at a completely different destination instead."

"Ah, but there's where your advice mirrors exactly what you said," Chiyome butted in, gulping down an entire serving bottle of sake right after. "This man… boy, actually; cannot see anything but the very next step in front of him."

"What would it take for you to stop antagonizing me?!" The redhead shot back, though quite mindful to keep his snarl low… though no less pointed. "Once the Fūma's employ here is over, then we can start slitting each other's throats! Do you-"

He was interrupted when a barely-audible flicker passed through the woods, appearing right behind Chiyome. When he saw the scarred petite woman barely reacted at all, he knew this was a friendly.

"What is it, Kaede?" Said woman spoke while still keeping her eyes on him. "Don't just stand there and announce your presence in silence."

As a response, the ponytailed kunoichi – in an 'regular' uniform, much to Kōtarō's relief for the change of pace amidst all the new information he'd had to process so far – bent down and whispered something, making sure her long hair obscured her lips' movement from his watchful eyes. Thus, he switched his attention to Chiyome or the others' expressions', hoping for the former's façade to crack a tad or the latter to react from something they overheard.

However, they were unchanged to the point he thought what was conveyed was of no importance at all. The kunoichi – Kaede – also didn't ask for verbal confirmation before she flickered and left, barely acknowledging the rest who were technically her superiors… much less him.

Chiyome, seemingly content in lording over his cluelessness, held a mocking smile for several long seconds… before giving up and stretched her body, scrunching her otherwise pretty face cutely and sighed lengthily. "A guest has arrived. Now," she clapped her hands once as emphasis, before adding, "while we wait for her arrival here, let me tell you where you're right or wrong… from the perspective of things related to your mother."

He tensed, but kept his mouth shut after being under verbal counterattacks for so long from her; only gesturing with his jaw for her to continue.

"Honestly, she's the one who's supposed to be here, you know," she began, twiddling with her long ponytail and keeping it off the ground – never mind she was rushing and moving amidst the similarly dirty forest a while ago without hesitation. "However, a… recent incident made her rather shy coming out to public spaces, so I have the whole crew here to replace her."

"Oi, Chiyome-sama, we're not that weak!" Hisui chirped, laughing when the thin woman shrugged, clearly implying she's unsure of the reply to that statement. "Boy, I assure you, we can cause some trouble for her."

"You're speaking to someone who's had his butt whooped – and his whole team – by Danzō-sama alone. Do you think that amount of words will console him?" Fukuro grunted, barely bothered by Kōtarō scathing gaze. "Besides, I am mostly the reason you can make that statement, Hisui-dono. Just because you have the best tongue doesn't mean you can speak of things like that."

"Fine, fine. You're strong, I know," the redhead cheekily waved his warning off, before whispering some jokes into Jō's ear… who, like since before, barely reacted at all.

"Regardless, I respect you for feeling so strongly of her." Noticing Kōtarō's surprised expression, Chiyome chuckled. "I really do. Family… was something our training sadly often excluded. It's rare finding someone like you: young, successful, and is not eager to slit their own parents' throat." She casted her gaze downwards momentarily. "Personally, there were times I wanted to do that as well. Am I proud of it? Of course not."

"Get to the point," he tersely requested.

"But what she said was true."

"Which part?"

- Fwip.

She unfurled her eye cover to ensure she could stare at him with both eyes. A pair of red eyes met a mismatched one of dull purple and bright serpentine gold.

"About the part of her not being your mother anymore."

On that cue, he attacked.


"Oh, dear… What happened to him? C-Can we get him down?" Louíse quivered in her step when she saw the mangled body of a redheaded man, strung upside-down from a tree with just a string around his ankles. "H-He's still breathing…!"

"Yes. I intentionally left him so," Chiyome politely explained, smiling sadistically with both eyes closed. "What good is an example if he can't last for a few days? Besides, that's another boon of having you here, Sister."

The kunoichi's Portuguese was heavily accented, but the venom contained in her voice was unmistakeable in any language. Despite being a veteran to many battlefields herself, Louíse gulped nervously.

"You can take off your eyepatch here, Bontenmaru-chan,"Chiyome added, in a rare occasion she was required to look down on someone shorter than her. The blonde bangs peeking out from the Nanban-style black hoodie stirred, but no word came in reply. "Are you too shy around here without your girlfriend, Nobunaga-sama?"

"S-SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

Finally, a slightly chubby face looked up sharply from her one-eyed gaze towards… what remained of the now-unconscious Kōtarō, to Chiyome. With her fair skin and blonde hair, just the slightest blush would mar Masamune's expression… and she was bright red from that accusation.

At the sight of this exchange, Louíse sighed, before switching back to Japanese, "Bontenmaru-chan… What have I taught you? A denial so fierce just confirms what the other party wants to hear."

Obviously, the little girl was too flustered to hear her mentor's critique, flapping her spindly arms about and flustering her hoodie messily. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! That perverted Demon King is in no way girlfriend material!"

"Oh? So are you currently in the market for one, then?" Chiyome devilishly smirked, continuing to press on while pinching on this new weakness she'd establish. "I can introduce some good girl to you…"

"W-Who said that?!" The little girl almost shrieked, and only the realization they're under the balmy early noon sun in a forest far away from home she stopped utilizing the full breadth of her vocal cord. "I-If I'm going to get m-married, it's going to be a f-fetching y-young man! One of great standing and gentle to girls! N-Not like K-Kippōshi-san…!"

"Ah, Bontenmaru-chan… Again…" Louíse sighed disappointingly at the open goals her charge and student had just presented this vile serpent.

Chiyome's golden serpentine eye glittered, contrasting its boundlessly deep purple counterpart. "Hmm… For you to address Nobunaga-sama so familiarly… How many times have she bedded you, I wonder? She must cherish you greatly if she allows you to speak that name in public…"

"UUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Unfortunately for her, no one else in the forest cared for her frustrated cry, pale skin burning as brightly as the muggy sun with a red blush.

Shaking her head constantly on the way, letting her nun habit sway alongside both her movement and body's incredible curvature, Louíse couldn't help but admire how much more advanced Nihon was than the intelligence the Church and Europe had gathered of it. In fact… this nation was perhaps the most culturally complex, yet united among the countries she'd visited. Various races, beliefs, and classes all lived together in harmony.

Sounded like a utopia, yes, but Nihon was also perhaps the closest thing resembling that promised land she read God promised humanity. It's ethereal and intangible, fleeting in and out of history across rulers and eras, each one holding a legitimate claim over that adjective. Still, what persisted was also the adjective 'finite', and they all came to an end eventually.

She'd taught this to the Owari faction when invited a few times to trade both goods and intellect, herself having been strangely nominated as the Nanban merchants' representative after the death of one priest and the reluctance of another. Not even a strongly-worded letter to that cute junior of hers, holed up in a pirate island along the southern coast, could change that timid boy's mind. She heard he'd found himself a beautiful, gallant knight, so perhaps a similar situation to Masamune was budding there.

Who was she to judge?

Those discussions were also for solidifying Nanban's presence here after a presumed theft of an Imperial Regalia – a crime which could justify complete foreign blockade and antagonism for at least a decade until reparations were made. The letter increasing her authority hadn't arrived yet from the Portuguese throne, since her liege was busy using this scene to push back Spanish hegemony in the peninsula and around the global trade routes. As a result, she had to also be well-versed in other European customs – not just her own – so she could represent them well.

She wanted to curse her own inability to say 'no' to those hopeful eyes, but her Guardian Spirit stopped her with a motherly smile. As a result, she was helpless to prevent the Owari faction from incorporating her informally into their ranks by offering her as much administrative 'help' as possible, so she could spare the minimum time she liked into her missionary duties, instead of forced into a political and restrictive role.

It's fortunate Nobunaga was… fond of Masamune, to say the least. This mismatched couple would never admit it, maintaining a public rivalry, befitting Princess Generals of their stature… before reverting to a dishonest professional relationship behind the scenes. The redhead clearly had current lovers of her own, and Louíse's mentorship of Christian values into Masamune complicated the little girl's feelings, despite the buxom nun not minding her charge's… personal choices.

The grande mestra always spoke out against the Church's general hypocrisy regarding romantic relationships of all sexual orientations, and so Louíse would follow the points the former explained in her various sermons, both in public and private.

When she heard the grande mestra was coming here, saying she was ecstatic was clearly an understatement. The worry of how Nihon would receive a person of such global reputation and power – in addition to being a great warrior herself – flew away. Even her anger and disappointment of Cabal lessened when the information passed through her brain.

That was the main topic of today.

"Yes, I've heard of the great teacher," Chiyome confirmed, nodding in appreciation when Louíse told her of the plan she'd overheard. "My husband was… wary of her the most." She quickly raised a palm to interrupt the nun's thoughts, explaining, "Not in a negative sense. His worries are mostly of her impact for the more… extreme sects around here – the same ones we're currently attempting to, at the very least, pacify."

Louíse sighed in relief. "I've had bad experiences with similar groups. Without the grande mestra's personal presence, it's at times difficult to get through them, even with God's blessings in me." Smiling wryly, she added, "The opponents we fought on the ocean back then could also be included."

Noticing the undertone of Louíse's words, Chiyome shook her head. "We've never blamed you or your group, Sister Louíse. Religion… is complicated, and ripe for unsavoury characters to take advantage of. And take this from a person who's lived her entire life in an empire with thousands of gods and methods of worship."

"At least, that's quite a bit better than most monarch's decision," the nun admitted happily. "However, I've lost contact with the scout observing the grande mestra's route. Therefore, I can't tell you about the time of her arrival."

"Is there a problem?"

"Ah, no, no. Mestra Jeanne has a knack of escaping observation without notice. Because all the scouts respected and are enamoured of her greatly, they're also not putting forth their best effort." Slightly embarrassed, Louíse added, "She's also travelling with her new students, so perhaps she's picking up yet another lost soul on the way. She's nosy like that."

Chiyome laughed. "Sounds like someone I know very well."

"Indeed."

Masamune was busy training with Kagetora, her eyes shining with excitement at receiving tutorship from the famed warrior. The little girl had long grown bored of her secular travelling life under guise of technical exile from her clan, and was eager to jump into tis opportunity to both prove herself and build her reputation as – 'Finally!' – a come-of-age adult. She casually ignored the fact she's technically joining the 'family' of the woman she so vehemently denied as having an attraction towards, despite Chiyome's and Louíse's constant teasing.

The little girl left the two older women alone to their discussion… one whose topic she considered 'boring'. So, here they were.

"What about the rest of Europe? I couldn't help but overhear some tension unrelated to your presence here, but regarding who's sponsoring the men we defeated. Do you have further information regarding that?" Chiyome changed the topic, inquiring whether there's anyone else they needed to worry about.

Louíse paused for several seconds in thought. "It's difficult to say, with so many factions having their own interests." Her words brought smiles to the women's faces, with the nun adding, "Sounds familiar, huh? Well, let me brief you of the main players and their likely states. Fortunately, my merchants are now so very kind to divulge what they learnt in their travels. How pious and admirable!"

The petite woman eyed the nun's massive breasts in response, sarcastically praising, "Of course they are. Whoever gets to your good books is fine enough for us."

Chiyome thought highly of this woman, ranking her incredibly well in her list of potential women her husband, in his wondrous lust, might covet. He hadn't shown any indication of that, but he also did the same before deflowering her back in their youths, so who knew? After her Apotheosis and moulting, she found her thoughts and personality to be more aggressive, with base instincts barely controllable through Muramasa's presence and her new family's camaraderie. Danzō was dragged along with this… evolution, and had busied herself elsewhere in shame after repeatedly losing herself to Chiyome's venomous words.

She herself didn't really know what drove her to saying and manipulating those things… but she certainly didn't regret the pleasure resulting from her actions. Additionally, it made them all much closer together, introducing each other to parts they previously didn't showcase even in private.

Her husband was quite… disturbed later in the morning when he woke up, but some quick thinking and encouraging during the subsequent cuddling calmed him down somewhat.

She couldn't let him know how much she's eager to throw herself into similar things she'd seen his previous lovers did in the Dream Cycles. He never inquired to any of them regarding the latter, so for now, she'd play the role of the perfect wife to bring him the greatest happiness, just as much as he'd done for her in her entire adult life. She's sure the other girls had their own plans, but recent events had robbed them of the chance to collaborate properly in how to do exactly that.

Louíse began her rather long monologue, so she used one of Yamata-no-Orochi's perks to perform a pseudo-[Memory Partition] to half-heartedly log any important information into her mind, while also considering future moves – both for her personal and Nihon's issues.

Currently, there were 5 major powers battling for supremacy in Europe – 'major' as in their historical aristocracy and not necessarily their outright military power, which at times trailed some ancient and rising Asian powers. Great Britain held the oldest Mystery, but not the strongest anymore after Italy consolidated Christian powers and established Vatican City. However, even the latter had its influence – and subsequently its Thaumaturgical Foundation – severely weakened when the latest saintess, Jeanne, openly rebuked and consistently went against its doctrines after they tried to burn her at the stake.

They failed, obviously, but not for a lack of trying.

Spain and Portugal clearly had the most versatile naval forces – at least for their merchant ships – if not matching Great Britain for its maritime military supremacy. Competing neck-and-neck despite being close neighbours and related aristocracy, Nihon's latest debacle with Nanban came from these two factions, though Edward Kelley was clearly simply a mercenary lending his strength under orders of his home country.

France was the oddball, in that it was relatively average in almost everything else. While it meant it also had little weakness to exploit, it didn't have the strength to push its colonies beyond the relatively easy-to-get Africa and its hard-to-access resources with current technology. Despite being Jeanne's birthplace, and the kingdom she fought for early in her career, their failure of keeping her was internationally seen as imperial weakening, though the Saintess repeatedly stated in casual settings leaving it was her personal choice, and wasn't politically influenced like what she did to the Catholic Church.

These five pushed the Age of Discovery, after eastern trade routes were cut off by powerful Islamic kingdoms in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, exacting near-impossible taxes for the European people to enjoy the luxuries first brought and popularized by Marco Polo. Since they were located relatively close to each other, and had to share sea routes along the coasts of Africa and South Asia, friction and skirmishes happened often and without warning – neither do they require authorization from their home states for engaging.

What made their situation more precarious, at least behind closed doors, was the great density of Mystery taken away by Jeanne and her faction, supported by the most recent Dragon's Heritage lineage holder in Hungary. Scientists, artists, philosophers, engineers, activists… The very people the various superpowers suppressed, Jeanne unearthed and gathered them under her tutelage and protection. And since openly harassing her would incur the wrath of hundreds of millions of believers, the rulers couldn't help but leave her alone with gritted teeth. Trying to close off borders was futile, since a small talk and simple smile from her were all that's required for the guards to let her through anywhere.

In fact, she's famous for strolling directly into imperial palaces unopposed, just to have a 'stern talk' with those same leaders.

This pressure from all sides led to them taking bolder and bolder actions, such as outright attempted theft of the Yasakani-no-Magatama – though the fact said Sacred Treasure technically never left Nihon's waters was 'theft' or not was Himiko's problem to solve – leading to never-ending chaos among them.

And one Nihon was fully expecting to take advantage of.

That said, it's not as if it could launch an attack the opposite of what should've happened in another reality, centuries later, with Europe's gunboat diplomacy against East Asia's closed-off trades – that was, aiming Nihon's cannons straight at European coastlines. Great Britain was able to do that after stabilizing and establishing its eventual naval supremacy, and had little worry sending several battleships to blackmail eastern powers wouldn't compromise its own national security.

As of now, if Nihon attempted the same thing but with more primitive weapons, Ming and Goryeo wouldn't sit still.

But that's still several steps further in the making. Right now, with this assembled force, Nobunaga would attempt her first try at unifying Honshu.

"Then, can we count on your backing in this conquest of the southern lands?"

"Of course. By God's will, it shall be done."