Chapter 6: Problem After Problem-Sasuke

Sasuke sat up slowly. He had a massive head ache and he couldn't remember why. "SASUKE!" He opened his eyes to see Yukimura wide eyed and in his right in his face. "D-Dana? Am I back in Kai?" Yukimura back up and sat down. Sasuke was beginning to worry since Yukimura was acting strange. He looked worried and he was being rather quiet. His hands kept clenching and unclenching as if he was nervous. "Y-yes S-Sasuke. Y-you and K-Kasuga have b-been here for t-three d-days now." Yukimura never stumbled like this. Sasuke looked around and sure enough he was back home in Kai. Kasuga lay on the floor next to him while Kenshin Uesugi knelt at her side. His lord Shingen was leaning against the door frame looking worried himself. As Sasuke looked around only one person seemed to be missing from this picture. "Where's Yuzuki?"

All of a sudden everyone's attention was on him. He looked across at three very sad and worried faces. When no one answered him Sasuke asked again with more force and worry. "Where is Yuzuki?!" Neither Yukimura nor his lord Shingen spoke. Instead it was the War God who answered him. "Yuzuki made a deal with the Toyotomi ninja. In order to get you and Kasuga home safely they demanded that Yuzuki go back with them to Odawara so that Hanbei Takenaka could punish her for her betrayal of the Toyotomi. She agreed and went with them so that you and Kasuga would be safe and out of harms grasp." Sasuke couldn't believe what he just heard. "WHAT?!" He immediately stood up. "Who let her do something so stupid?! Who was with her at the time?!" Yukimura stood up slowly with his head down. "I-I'm s-sorry S-Sasuke. I should've…..I should've stopped her I'm sorry." Without thinking Sasuke grabbed Yukimura by the front of his jacket.

"You mean you just let those bastards walk away with her! Why didn't you stop her! Better yet why the hell didn't you stop them! What was going through your head?!" Sasuke looked at Yukimura's face. He wouldn't look up he just hung his head down. Sasuke let him go and ran his fingers through his hair. "Look I'm sorry Yukimura it's not your fault. I shouldn't be wasting my time yelling at you for no reason. I need to go get Yuzuki back." Kenshin stood and placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "I think we all would like to get Yuzuki back but we must use caution. We need a plan of action. The Toyotomi have a very strong and highly trained military force and they also have the upper hand in numbers." Shingen nodded his head. "He's right Sasuke even with the Takeda and Uesugi combined the Toyotomi could be a problem. WE need a little more help before we go charging into Odawara." Yukimura then was suddenly alert and had a grin on his face. "What about Masamune's forces?!" Sasuke grinned as well. "Well if we asked it's not like he could say no. The One-Eyed Dragon owes Yuzuki his life after all." Shingen nodded. "Then go to him and ask for his help. We must have Yuzuki back with us."

Sasuke nodded. "Yukimura come with me." The brunet nodded his head. "Alright let me go get my horse I'll meet you out by the gates." Sasuke nodded. Kasuga then sat up blinking her eyes a couple times. "What's going on?" Kenshin knelt down next to her as he was when Sasuke first woke up. Kasuga's face reddened. "L-lord Kenshin." He had his face mere inches away from hers but he had a serious and determined look on his face. "We are planning on rescuing Yuzuki my most beautiful blade." Then Kasuga became confused. "What do you mean?" Kenshin stood up and looked outside of the door as Yukimura came by with his horse. Sasuke turned to Kasuga and took a deep breath. "Look Yuzuki saved us from the Toyotomi and now we are planning to get her back. Lord Shingen, lord Kenshin and yourself will stay here and make a plan while Yukimura and I go north to ask the One-Eyed Dragon for help."

Sasuke then ran out the door and headed for Ōshū. Sasuke ran as fast as he could and Yukimura had his horse d the same. In a matter of hours they were busting through the gates of Yonezawa castle. Yukimura jumped of his horse and the two of them ran to the back courtyard where Masamune and Kojuro were sparring. Upon seeing his rival Masamune stopped his sparring session and looked at Yukimura with a slightly shocked grin. "Sanada Yukimura what brings you rushing in here out of the blue likes this." Sasuke took a step forward. "Lord Masamune we come here in need of your services. Yuzuki Hitomi of the Sanada ninja corps has risked her life for me and the Uesugi ninja. She is currently being held prisoner by Hanbei Takenaka and we need your help to get her back to Kai safely."

Masamune then took a minute to process the information he just got and then he looked straight at Sasuke. "Yuzuki Hitomi. That's the purple haired girl that saved my life back at Nagashino isn't it?" Sasuke nodded. Masamune turned to Kojuro and his retainer nodded. "I'll get the boys ready." Masamune walked over to Sasuke and Yukimura. "Now tell me how exactly did Yuzuki get kidnapped?" Sasuke clenched his fist. "I was on a scouting mission when I got attacked and defeated. The ninja that attacked me were Yuzuki's former ninja corps. They used me and the Uesugi ninja that was with me as bargaining tools. They let me and Kasuga go as long as Yuzuki came back with them to Odawara so that Hanbei Takenaka could punish her for betraying him. We need to get to her before he hurts her. We have to."

Masamune got a serious look on his face and nodded. "What the hell are we doing sitting around here? We got a friend of ours in trouble so let's get a move on." Kojuro came back around with Masamune's horse and Kojuro was ready to go himself. Yukimura was on his horse as fast as he could and when everything was ready they took off for Kai. Lord Shingen and lord Kenshin were waiting for them at the gates with both armies ready and waiting. Lord Shingen nodded to the One-Eyed Dragon in greeting and he got a nod in return. "It's nice of you to join us Date Masamune." Masamune rolled his eye. "I'm here because I owe Yuzuki big time."

Sasuke walked up to his lord and bowed. "Lord Shingen what is our plan for getting Yuzuki back?" Kenshin had moved closer to the group looking very determined. "While the armies clash at the front gates as a distraction you and Kasuga are to sneak by and enter Odawara castle, find Yuzuki, and get back to us safely. As soon as we can see you we will withdraw and hasten our way back to Kai. Avoid any conflict if you can we want to end this as quickly as we plan to start it." Sasuke nodded along with Yukimura and Masamune. "Sounds like a plan." The One-Eyed Dragon seemed ready to go and so did everyone else. Lord Kenshin drew his sword and pointed it forward. "We are off to save a friend let us be swift and successful. Bishumonten divine guidance will assure us victory!" All of the men cheered and they started their march for Odawara.

As soon as Sasuke could see the gates of the castle he split off from the army and met up with Kasuga. They took a longer route around to the side of the castle where they started their search. They crept down the hallway and froze when they hear a loud thump. They waited a few moments and continued on when they froze again hearing a muffled scream. "That was Yuzuki!" Sasuke had recognized the voice immediately and had the urge to race down the hallway. He took a deep breath and looked at Kasuga. She put her hand on his shoulder giving him a warning look. "Are you sure that was her?" Sasuke nodded calmly. "I would recognize that voice anywhere. She's being hurt we need to hurry." Kasuga shook her head. "Sasuke remember what my lord had told you. We need to be in as little conflict as possible. We need to find out exactly where she is and wait for an opening."

Sasuke nodded and followed Kasuga. They stopped when they reached a door that was partially opened. They peered inside to see Yuzuki on the ground with her hair in her face. She wasn't moving much but Sasuke could tell she was shaking. Standing to the side was none other than Takenaka Hanbei. He had his back to the two snooping ninja but his foot had moved to being rested on the side of Yuzuki's head. "My dear Yuzuki it would appear that Ishidate has done a number on you. I told him he was allowed to punish you as he saw fit and I supposed he has had his fill." Sasuke watched as Yuzuki spat blood onto Hanbei's other foot. She then swung her legs around and they connected with the back of Hanbei's sending him flying towards the ground. He landed on his butt hard and cursed. He stood up quickly and kicked Yuzuki in the stomach sending her rolling across the floor. After Hanbei had regained his composure he turned and made his way to the door.