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In February of 1582, the illustrious Takeda Clan faced a huge crisis. Nine years had passed since Takeda Shingen's death. They were invaded by Oda Nobunaga. In the mountain where the guard approached, a young Takeda vassal advanced alone.
Due to the invasion by Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Katsuyori abandoned Shinpu Castle. He fled to Iwadono Castle, but was betrayed. Sanada Nobushige and family head to Iwabitsu Castle, but are accosted by bandits.
In March 1582, the Takeda met with demise. Former vassals were being killed by Nobunaga, but Sanada Masayuki decides to serve the Oda. Sanada had no assurance that the Oda would accept them.
Masayuki, who was summoned by Oda Nobunaga, headed to Suwa with Nobushige. The Sanada's bitter resistance towards the Oda was open knowledge. Will Nobunaga forgive Masayuki? On March 20, 1582, Masayuki entered Hokke-ji Temple to meet Nobunaga.
The Sanada's subjection to the Oda was decided. Sanada Nobushige went to Nobunaga's stronghold in Azuchi to deliver Matsu as a hostage. The Honno-ji incident occurred before dawn the following day.
Two days after the Honno-ji incident, shocking news of Nobunaga's death spread throughout Japan. Nobushige and others attempted to escape Azuchi Castle, which was occupied by Akechi's army.
Masayuki takes a big gamble. While Takigawa Kazumasu attempted to stop the Hojo, he was aiming to recapture Numata and Iwabitsu Castles. However, Kazumasu had Tori as hostage.
The Hojo took advantage of the situation. They were trying to usurp the former Takeda fiefs. Masayuki, who sided with the Uesugi, had given Nobushige secret orders behind the scene.
The struggle for supremacy started with Nobunaga's death. The Hojo and the Tokugawa will finally clash. Behind the scene, Sanada Masayuki thought of a scenario that no one would have imagined.
The Sanada's alliance with the Tokugawa dealt a crushing blow to the Hojo army. But the Tokugawa and the Hojo suddenly joined in alliance. Hence, the Sanada would lose their fief. What will Sanada Masayuki do next?
The Sanada absolutely refused to relinquish Numata Castle. The Hojo pressed the Tokugawa to persuade the Sanada. Backed into a corner, what strategy did Ieyasu take?
Muroga Masatake, the Tokugawa assassin,was killed by Sanada Masayuki. As a result, the Sanada Clan subjugated Chiisagata in Shinshu. It also started the long struggle against the Tokugawa.
Genjiro Nobushige became a hostage of the Uesugi. Enabling the Sanada to become allies with the Uesugi again. The decisive battle with Tokugawa Ieyasu was imminent.
The Sanada army crushed a huge Tokugawa force at Ueda Castle. It was the first of two battles at Ueda. But during this battle, Genjiro lost his beloved wife, Ume.
Taking Uesugi Kagekatsu's lead, Nobushige visited Osaka to pay homage. Nobushige was astonished
by the size of Osaka Castle. Then Regent Hideyoshi appeared before him.
The Sanada refused to submit to Regent Hideyoshi. However, the Uesugi submitted to Hideyoshi. Nobushige, in Osaka as a hostage to the Uesugi, was caught in a dilemma.
Nobushige became one of the Regent's mounted guards. Immediately afterward, Hideyoshi granted Tokugawa Ieyasu permission to invade the Sanada. Hence, the Sanada faced their gravest crisis.
Hideyoshi offered his mother to Ieyasu as a hostage. Which compelled Ieyasu to pay homage. Regent Hideyoshi unification of the Land was within reach.
Masayuki finally goes to Osaka. He becomes a Daimyo under Tokugawa Ieyasu. Chacha helped Nobushige with his father's affairs.
Hideyoshi received Nobunaga's niece, Chacha, as concubine. He was at the height of power. Unable to defy Hideyoshi, the Sanada were pressured to take a Tokugawa princess as a bride.
Hideyoshi got Emperor Go-Yozei to visit Jurakutei. The following year, Chacha gave birth to a boy. It appeared as if Hideyoshi had acquired everything he desired.
Hojo Ujimasa finally agreed to pay homage, but on the condition they get Numata Castle from the Sanada. The arbitration was about to begin to determine the true owner of Numata.
Hideyoshi finally decided to punish the Hojo. 210,000 soldiers were gathered across the country. A war unprecedented in history was about to begin.
Odawara Castle was surrounded by Toyotomi's colossal army. The Hojo mounted a do-or-die defense. In order to persuade Hojo Ujimasa, Nobushige infiltrated Odawara Castle.
The Hojo Clan met their demise in the Odawara Battle. With Date Masamune's submission, there was no power to defy Hideyoshi. Toyotomi Hideyoshi has unified the country.
Having pacified the lands, Regent Hideyoshi stood unchallenged. But his son, Tsurumatsu, suddenly died at age of three. Dark cloud hung over the Toyotomi.
A second son was born to Hideyoshi and Chacha. Hideyoshi could not hide his joy. Meanwhile, Toyotomi Hidetsugu who was now Regent, receded into gradual solitude.
With Hiroi's birth, Regent Hidetsugu lost his sense of belonging. Feeling cornered, Hidetsugu abandoned his post which was unprecedented.
Under the direct prodding of Hideyoshi, Nobushige takes Haru, the daughter of Otani Yoshitsugu, as his lawful wife. Nobuyuki is put in charge of constructing Hideyoshi's newly-planned Fushimi Castle, but things don't go smoothly. Meanwhile, Kiri meets Hosokawa Gracia and becomes interested in the Christian religion. Hideyoshi, at the height of his power, worries about the future of his son and heir Hideyori. However, old age begins to mercilessly eat away at Hideyoshi.
Fushimi Castle is destroyed in a massive earthquake before its completion. Masayuki, who had been ordered by Hideyoshi to build the castle, feels he has nothing to live for and becomes depressed. Hideyoshi starts talking about invading the continent again. He also cracks down on Christian missionaries. Tama, with whom Kiri has become friends, faces danger together with other Christians. Hideyoshi's senility only gets worse and creates confusion among Ieyasu and the other daimyos. Nobushige desperately tries to hide Hideyoshi's condition.
Recurrent natural disasters and another war in Joseon (Korea). The anxieties heightened. Then, Taiko Hideyoshi's death was approaching.
Uesugi Kagekatsu [Kenichi Endo], Ukita Hideie [Kazuya Takahashi] and other prominent daimyos are now in charge of running the Toyotomi government. Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] and Mitsunari [Koji Yamamoto] are busy throwing parties in a desperate effort to lure more daimyos to their respective sides. Kato Kiyomasa [Hirofumi Arai] and Date Masamune [Tomoharu Hasegawa] lean toward the Tokugawas and Mitsunari finds himself gradually losing ground. Mitsunari makes a move, ignoring objections from Nobushige [Masato Sakai] and Otani Yoshitsugu [Ainosuke Kataoka].
Utterly ignoring Hideyoshi's will, Ieyasu strengthens his influence. Mitsunari [Koji Yamamoto] decides to raid the Tokugawa residence in the Fushimi Castle town in order to take the life of Ieyasu. However, the assassination plot is leaked to Honda Masanobu [Masaomi Kondo], who raises the alarm and calls out to the daimyos to come to the protection of the residence. In this way, Masanobu tests the daimyos to see whether they will support the Tokugawa family. The odds are suddenly against Mitsunari. In a bid to help Mitsunari, Nobushige [Masato Sakai] visits Masayuki [Masao Kusakari] and makes an outlandish proposal.
Mitsunari [Koji Yamamoto] is forced into confinement after a failed assassination plot against Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino]. However, Kiyomasa [Hirofumi Arai] isn't satisfied with the punishment and plans an assault on Mitsunari. Nobushige [Masato Sakai] fears a breakout of violence in the Fushimi Castle town and he tells Kiri [Masami Nagasawa] to return home to Ueda. Instead, Kiri goes to stay with Tama [Manami Hashimoto]. Nobushige and Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] rise up to protect Mitsunari. Ieyasu decides to attack Kagekatsu [Kenichi Endo] in Aizu. The Battle of Sekigahara is drawing near!
The Sanadas are on their way to join the Tokugawa-led campaign against Uesugi when they receive news that Mitsunari [Koji Yamamoto] and Yoshitsugu [Ainosuke Kataoka] have raised an army in Osaka to topple Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino]. At Inubushi in Shimotsuke Province, Nobushige [Masato Sakai], Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] and Masayuki [Masao Kusakari] engage in a heated debate over which side they should join. What decision do the three men make? Meanwhile, Kiri [Masami Nagasawa] goes to rescue Tama [Manami Hashimoto], who is being held hostage by Mitsunari.
Masayuki [Masao Kusakari] and Nobushige [Masato Sakai] part with Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] and head to Ueda Castle to prepare for the attack by the Tokugawa forces. On their way, they visit Numata Castle. However, Ina [Yo Yoshida] takes unexpected action against them. Meanwhile, Nobuyuki is ordered by Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] to spearhead the attack on Ueda. Hidetada [Gen Hoshino], together with Honda Masanobu [Masaomi Kondo], advances his troops in his first battle. Nobushige devises a plan in the hopes of repelling the Tokugawa forces while also avoiding a battle with Nobuyuki. Sasuke [Takashi Fujii] brings shocking news.
Following the Western Army's defeat in the Battle of Sekigahara, Nobushige [Masato Sakai] and Masayuki [Masao Kusakari] surrender to the Tokugawas. Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] and Tadakatsu [Hiroshi Fujioka] frantically plead with Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] for mercy. As a result, Nobushige and Masayuki are spared their lives and ordered into exile at Mount Koya. However, in return, Ieyasu imposes harsh conditions on Nobuyuki. Meanwhile, Nobushige drops in at Osaka, where he finds out how Mitsunari [Koji Yamamoto] and Yoshitsugu [Ainosuke Kataoka] met their end. What awaits Nobuyuki and Masayuki at Mount Koya?
Masayuki [Masao Kusakari] and Nobushige [Masato Sakai] are confined in Kudoyama village in Kishu. Masayuki repeatedly pleads for a pardon through Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi], but Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] ignores the appeals and steadily pushes ahead to unify the country under his rule. Meanwhile, Kiri [Masami Nagasawa] and Haru [Mayu Matsuoka] start living under the same roof. Haru starts to worry after hearing Nobushige and Kiri reminisce about their time in Shinano. Time goes by and Masayuki knows he has not long to live. One night, Masayuki imparts to Nobushige the stratagems to be used if and when the Tokugawas and Toyotomis clash in the future.
Nobushige [Masato Sakai] is enjoying life in Kudoyama with Haru [Mayu Matsuoka] and the others. He tells Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] that there is no need to plead for a pardon for him anymore. However, as a father, Nobushige is worried about how to raise his eldest son Daisuke [Seishu Uragami]. Meanwhile, Taka [Yukino Kishii], whom Nobushige had helped flee to Luzon, comes visiting and brings a unique ribbon from overseas. Looking at the woven ribbon, Nobushige comes up with an idea. One night, a mysterious figure appears and says he has come to fetch Nobushige.
One day, while Nobushige [Masato Sakai] is enjoying his life in Kudoyama, Ukita Hideie's former vassal Akashi Teruzumi [Kensaku Kobayashi] comes visiting. Akashi entreats Nobushige to fight against Tokugawa Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] at Osaka Castle. Nobushige refuses, but then someone appears before him. What does Kiri [Masami Nagasawa] say to Nobushige when he learns about the parlous situation faced by Toyotomi Hideyori [Taishi Nakagawa] and Chacha [Yuko Takeuchi]? Pressed to make a difficult decision, Nobushige calls his son Daisuke [Seishu Uragami] and urges him to draw lots.
Yukimura [Masato Sakai] has made up his mind to fight for Toyotomi Hideyori [Taishi Nakagawa]. However, learning that masterless samurai are gathering at Osaka Castle, Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] orders the number of guards to be increased at Kudoyama. Yukimura contrives a way to get out of Kudoyama. Meanwhile, Nobuyuki [Yo Oizumi] receives an order from Ieyasu to go to war. Nobuyuki wants it to be his two sons' first battle, but Ina [Yo Yoshida] puts forwards a suggestion of her own. Yukimura heads to Osaka Castle and has a fateful reunion with Chacha [Yuko Takeuchi].
Yukimura [Masato Sakai] and Chacha [Yuko Takeuchi] meet each other again after many years. Meanwhile, a fearful Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] hurries to take to the field after learning that Yukimura has joined the Toyotomi side. Among the masterless samurai who have gathered at Osaka Castle are Goto Matabe [Sho Aikawa], Mori Katsunaga [Kenichi Okamoto] and Chosokabe Morichika [Kenji Anan]. Toyotomi Hideyori [Taishi Nakagawa] wants Yukimura to serve as commander in chief, but Matabe and Katsunaga fiercely reject the idea. Yukimura then proffers a plan.
As the Tokugawa troops march onto Osaka Castle, Chacha [Yuko Takeuchi] secretly meets Yukimura [Masato Sakai] and asks him to do something for her. Meanwhile, the Five Osaka Generals hold a war council in the presence of Hideyori [Taishi Nakagawa]. Yukimura insists on launching an attack on Ieyasu [Seiyo Uchino] in Kyoto, but everyone else is against such plan. Gradually, Katsunaga [Kenichi Okamoto] comes to approve of Yukimura's idea. However, Matabe [Sho Aikawa] remains adamantly opposed and argues that they should entrench themselves in the castle. Eventually, the time comes for Hideyori to make a decision.
