Episode 21 –
[details=spoiler]It’s time to go after Hachioji Castle. Fifteen thousand seasoned troops against three thousand defenders that are mostly farmers, and the battle was over in a day. But Hideyoshi didn’t stop there. He had the place burned to the ground and left no survivors. I can tell that Naoe was against the order to kill the women and children, for there is no righteousness in that! Neither Naoe nor Mosuke felt right about this battle, but Naoe says that it will bring an end to the war.
Hideyoshi is pleased with the way that Hachioji Castle fell, and everyone being slaughtered. Even the news of the suicides of the some of the women and children please him. But he still wants Hojo to fall and he wants Odawara Castle next. Hideyoshi sends a visual message, in the form of exposing his new fortress, to the Hojo clan that they can’t ignore. The sight of that huge fortress disheartens not only Hojo’s troops, but also his people. Hideyoshi already declares his victory over Odawara!
Hojo surrenders upon the promise that the people will be spared. The cost of this is Ujinao’s suicide, but Hideyoshi banished him instead. However, Hideyoshi did accept the ritual suicide of his father and the others. Odawara Castle is also burned to the ground. Naoe wonders what his true father would have thought of all this. Uesugi can see Kenshin in Naoe and I think it scares him a bit.
Suibara comes to Naoe with a problem. Uesugi has been married to his wife for eleven years and there is still no heir. Suibara is worried about the future of the clan and told his lord to get a concubine, but Uesugi is against it. Suibara is very overdramatic, but the clan does need a successor or there will be problems down the road. Naoe visits with Uesugi and tells him that a concubine may not be such a bad idea, but Uesugi can’t do that to his wife or the honor her clan.
Naoe urges Uesugi to let his true feelings out and after a small fist fight, Uesugi laughs hysterically, and tells Naoe that he doesn’t want an heir. He wants to make Naoe’s offspring the successor to the clan. That surprises Naoe! In the end, Uesugi never had any children with his wife, and finally bowed to the opinion of having a concubine, who gave Uesugi a son.[/details]
Episode 22 –
[details=spoiler]Now that things have settled down, the story turns back to the Bodhisattva statue. Naoe receives word that that Nara’s sculptors of Shukuin have been murdered by Iga ninjas. Naoe tells the messenger that the ninjas are Tokugawa’s men and that they are after a Jizo Bodhisattva statue.
Jirobo sends a message to Naoe via White Cloud that the statue has been taken! Actually, it was taken some years ago by Oda Nobunaga and he knows its secret. The current location of the statue is unknown. Could it have been destroyed in the Honnoji Temple fire? Most seem to think that the statue went with Nobunaga to the afterlife, but Naoe isn’t so sure.
Sagen finds Jirobo once again where the Honnoji Temple once stood. Even more threats of torture can’t help Sagen find something that no longer exists. But as he prepares to kill Jirobo, a voice calls out from the darkness, claiming to know where the statue is. The moonlight reveals the caretaker of Nobunaga’s grave, but he doesn’t seem to be an ordinary man. A small stone marks the spot where Nobunaga died – where not even a single bone was left to bury.
The caretaker claims he hid the statue in a cemetery by Nobunaga’s command. The strange little man tells Jirobo the location, using a “hidden speech” technique. And then he tells Sagen. Unfortunately, he gives neither man enough information to actually find the statue. He gave Jirobo the name of the headstone that the statue is hidden under, and he gave the location of the cemetery to Sagen. The men will either have to work together or else there is going to be more unending torture in someone’s future to get the other piece of the puzzle.
Sagen doesn’t believe the strange little man and tries to attack him. However, the man revels himself to be the ghost of Nobunaga’s ninja! They will have to believe him now![/details]
Episode 23 –
[details=spoiler]The story returns to Jirobo and the statue. The strange little man is really Nobunaga’s ninja. But is he dead or alive? He disappears, saying that this is Uesugi’s and Tokugawa’s war. Sagen stops his men from attacking Jirobo, for White Cloud is standing right behind him. Sagen heads to the cemetery and Jirobo follows him.
Jirobo has an idea of the cemetery they are headed to and Sagen seems to confirm it. But every man on that road is an Iga ninja, so Jirobo won’t be able to get ahead and reach the cemetery first. Sagen tells Jirobo that it’s his turn to be the guide. But Naoe is on his way to help! He’s ready to die and that would defeat Ieyasu’s purpose. Sakon will go with him, if only to witness this.
How Sakon dealt with the three assassins was pretty amusing. Instead of beheading them, he only cuts their hair. He tells them to cast everything away and become his aides. Now, it shall be six against the 300 Iga ninjas![/details]
Episode 24 –
[details=spoiler]As Naoe and Sakon travel towards battle, White Cloud shows up, badly injured and bleeding, with Jirobo on his back. Jirobo is just as injured, but relates what happened. Sagen’s ninjas attacked Jirobo, but White Cloud showed up just in time. However, Sagen was ready for him. The dog was shot repeatedly, but still managed to save Jirobo and ran with him all the way from Mount Koya.
Naoe removes the armor from White Cloud and praises his dog for a job well done. Tears fall from the dogs eyes, surprising Naoe. Mosuke explains to the others that White Cloud is part of their family. As he tells the story of how Naoe found White Cloud and made him a vassal, the dog closes his eyes and dies. Heartbreaking! I admit I had to tear up a bit.
White Cloud is buried beneath a tree and I’m a little amazed at the tiny grave for such a big dog. Naoe says that the tree shall be his headstone. And it’s on a road that they will always pass. Jirobo finally breaks down, but Naoe comforts him. It’s time to avenge White Cloud!
Sagen and his ninjas have reached the cemetery at Mount Koya. They intend to dig up every grave there until they find the statue. Sagen is warned that Jirobo is returning with help, but is surprised to hear that there are only seven. LOL He was expecting a thousand. Then he hears that Naoe is one of the seven. And Naoe has a strategy! And of course, it’s a righteous one![/details]
Episode 25 –
[details=Spoiler]Naoe’s plan was a good one, but the Iga ninjas are still attacking. Sagen has a plan of his own. He hid his ninjas within Naoe’s farmers! But Naoe tricked them into exposing themselves. Ha! And Naoe’s “farmers” were really soldiers in disguise. In the heat of battle, Naoe sends Mosuke to get the statue.
Mosuke digs the statue as the others protect him. I love the music here! Naoe orders Mosuke to toss it into the fire. Mosuke races towards the fire, clutching the statue, but Sagen strikes him down. However, he’s alone now – all of his three hundred ninjas are dead. The final showdown will be between Sagen and Naoe. Naoe is going to avenge White Cloud. Sagen thinks he’s so smart, but I know Naoe is smarter.
And he is! Sagen admits defeat and stabs himself. He asks Jirobo to finish the job, and he does. The Jizo Bodhisattva statue is thrown into the fire and burns. The letter is destroyed too. Thus the secret of Naoe’s birth is protected. A righteous end to a righteous story! Great show![/details]