Our cover's blown. They're about to surround us now.
We've found the decree. Time to bail.
My job is not to protect you.
Follow me with everything you've got if you don't want to die.
On my mark.
We're barging in together.
And here's your souvenir!
The smoke and light make it hard to see the thieves!
Get rid of the smoke!
Give me that.
I can hear it...
I can hear it.
They distract us with fire and are climbing the fence in the opposite way.
My archery skill is still far inferior compared to Lord Sadamune!
Has the lord not arrived yet?
They escaped through the fence!
By the name of Lord Ogasawara, don't let them escape!
It's a sign from Genba.
Let's lure out the pursuers.
Yeah.
Over there. They're on horseback.
I heard the galloping sound of horses,
but I couldn't hear the kids' footsteps from the fence to the horses.
Those horses are probably baits prepared beforehand by their ally.
I don't detect any sound made by footsteps either.
That would mean...
They're close by...
Inside that forest...
They're holding their breath silently.
Where...
are...
you...
hiding?
Sadamune's shadow, Sukefusa Ichikawa...
Those superhuman ears are a cheat in this darkness...
My illusions of blind spots don't work.
This is bad.
At this rate, he'll find us.
Should I sell him out right here?
I messed up.
I had to mess with the naive prince and teach him about reality...
Well...
I'm leaving him.
I can get away by myself.
No!
No one will notice this tiptoeing!
In a game of tag,
this amount of distance makes it easier to be spotted when moving!
(Nanbokucho Game of Tag)
(Sukefusa Ichikawa - Man of Sharp Ears) Found you.
Curses!
It was a mistake to bring a big sword!
I can't get around fast!
Hey...
Don't worry. The blade struck a tree, so I was only left with a scratch.
Why did you save me, even though I was about to abandon you?
You could've run away on your own.
I doubted you earlier.
I won't be able to apologize if you die.
I have a feeble spirit,
and I'm also not quite capable.
There may be times down the road when I doubt you again.
But I can swear this.
That I will never betray you.
Because I enjoy escaping with you.
Even from demons who I can't escape on my own.
With your various skills, we can break away.
Thinking about it makes my heart race.
Even if you're on your last legs...
Even if you betray me...
We'll definitely be together when we run away!
Despite having been betrayed by a large number of people,
he himself has never betrayed any of his allies.
One would say he is a pretty single-minded general,
in these times when turnover and defection were commonplace.
Where are the thief rascals?
Darn it! My eyesight at night is getting worse with age.
Oh, you fool...
You have me.
Oh, it's you, Sir Ichikawa!
Did he just speak to me casually?
With you around, we can kill those thieves lurking at night!
Even though I'm much older and higher ranking than him...
Why is he speaking casually?
We hid horses just past the forest. We should be close.
Yeah, let's go.
You're bleeding quite a lot.
If you keep moving, you'll hit the ground real soon.
Wha...
Lightning strike?
Here he comes.
That was Sadamune's arrow.
No way... The sound of his horse is like a town over.
He can't possibly aim well in this darkness...
We still have some distance to our horse.
With him on my back, we can't outrun his arrows.
Cursed kid...
Trust my ears and shoot away, Lord Sadamune.
How many of our enemies have we buried in the dark with our hands?
All right, Lord Sadamune.
Let's start with the wounded kid, shall we?
Okay, Sir Ichikawa.
You will adjust my aim with your hearing.
I could've just ignored a debt I can't see...
But if I can see the debt...
I gotta make sure I pay it back!
Look at you two old farts, happily holding hands on a horse.
What a pain.
I'll just take you both out at once.
Oh? I've heard of a kid with a fox mask like him.
A kid thief called Genba Kazama, eh?
Kazama?
Yes. His father was expelled from the family for using cowardly techniques,
became a disgrace to other warriors, and was reduced to a thief.
The Kazama are a branch of the Suwa clan living in Shinano.
Well, well, well!
I suppose Yorishige ordered you to steal the Imperial Command, eh!
What command?
I just thought I'd play around and tease you warriors.
Birds! I can't hear where he's going!
I don't know about killing,
but I can't just lose to some rigid warriors...
...in a game of tricks!
Stop trying to confuse us with your useless moving!
But you're too naive!
I'm not one to miss my shots at this range!
Lord Sadamune.
There!
He cut the string with his tool!
That's foul play!
Foul?
My accomplice once had his eyes sparkle at my shenanigans.
You people are old-fashioned.
No wonder that warehouse only had old documents.
Which is why I told my accomplice this.
Paper is not for stealing.
It's something you burn and play with.
Huh?
The oldest document in which the description "Shinobu" appears...
is the Taiheiki, which describes this period.
In an era when integrity was disappearing from samurai warfare,
those who could infiltrate covertly and sabotage were in high demand.
Thus began the era of ninja.
He's gone?!
He escaped in a moment of distraction from the fire in the warehouse!
Lord Sadamune!
Is the decree still inside the warehouse?!
Get the wounded brat and have him spill who's behind this!
The sound of hoof...
It's the bait who managed to run away!
I can't reach them at this range!
We all fell for the fox-masked kid's tricks!
We came to rescue you,
but look at you, so tattered and bruised.
Genba! Couldn't you handle him a bit softer?!
She's right!
We managed to escape from the two because of Genba.
It was fun.
I hope we can play tag together again.
Genba.
If you were to meet a lord you want to serve, even for no profit...
Take his money regardless!
Keep robbing him even if you serve him in the afterlife!
Fine.
I'll have you contract me a land.
Just so you know, I won't forgive failure in payment.
If you fail to pay, I'll follow your descendants,
all of them, and hunt them down.
So that means...
You'll play tag with my kids too?!
Is that what you're saying?
Nooo!!
I'm saying you're going to hell on earth if you don't reclaim the nation!
So you'll play with me once you get the land?
Just how spoiled can you be?!
Genba, stop moving around!
We're gonna crash!
Go away.
You can't evict us unless you can present the actual decree.
We know about you people.
You're trying to cheat us out of our lands by saying it's the Imperial Command, eh?
No way we're listening to someone who doesn't have a decree!
Got a problem? Then show us the decree!
Curse you, Suwa people... What a useless revolt...
But a decree can be reissued in a month!
You're just prolonging your eviction!
We have a problem, my lord!
We can no longer take Suwa land!
Whaaaaaat?!
(Kyoto)
I'm the one who destroyed the Kamakura Shogunate.
I have killed about 1,000 of the Shogunate's senior officers!
I'm the one who ordered Takauji's rebellion.
It's hard work, you know, flying back in time with the Buddha...
Most of them claim false credit for the bounty.
Who knows how many years it'd take if we were to verify each of them.
And our important government affairs can't be dealt with...
This is a pain.
Right!
The emperor said it's a pain!
(Leave things as they are) Leave the territories other than
(Leave things as they are) the Hojo territory untouched.
And it seems to also include the Suwa territory.
Me so saaaaad!
- Let's just wait for another opportunity. Me so saaaaad!
Curse you!
Speaking casually?
Suwaaaa!!
We did it! Finally, peace!
The stalling work has succeeded.
If we had meekly surrendered the territory to the Ogasawara,
you would never have returned.
You even obtained a reliable retainer.
I really can't thank you enough, Lord Tokiyuki.
Yeah, Genba joining us sure is reassuring.
- Although, he's got some character... - Come on, pour me some too!
With his techniques,
maybe we can have him infiltrate Takauji's room and cut his throat?
That's not possible.
He can never be killed by assassination.
This is a good opportunity, Lord Tokiyuki.
You should know your enemy thoroughly now.
The portrait of the man called Takauji Ashikaga,
immeasurable even to me.
Finally, you're traveling with few men.
(Emperor Godaigo's Son - Prince Moriyoshi)
This place will be your grave. (Emperor Godaigo's Son - Prince Moriyoshi)
If it isn't you, Prince Moriyoshi.
I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as a general.
Your Majesty.
Why have you repeatedly tried to kill me?
You will surely defy the emperor one day.
For my father's sake,
I shall dirty my own hands!
Protect Lord Takauji!
The servants are no match for him.
His followers are also very diverse, ranging from stray warriors to monks and lowlifes.
He's a man who can attract a lot of people with his charm.
Leave this one to me...
No, he's only after me.
If I can speak to him face-to-face, surely the misunderstanding will clear up.
Are you sure, Brother?
Not a problem.
He's just some royal general with his followers.
Your Majesty!
It's Takauji!
Kill him!
Please, calm down.
Don't flinch! Push forward!
Whoops.
Now that's a lot.
Takauji Ashikaga...
My hunch was right.
You're a monster who doesn't belong in this world!
Please wait for a moment, Your Majesty.
We'll soon be alone.
All right, it's done.
Your Majesty.
Please, believe me.
Have faith in my loyalty to the emperor.
I can't compare to him in a duel!
But I'm not alone.
If I join forces with my comrades,
I'll be able to...
What's the commotion here?!
He's drawing his sword...
You people! Just the right time!
Back me up...
Lord Takauji...
Lord Takauji!
Kyah! Lord Takauji!
It's him in the flesh!
Are you okay, my lord?!
Are you hurt?
It's nothing.
Thank heavens...
Lord Takauji...
We're worried about you. Let's have you checked up in the office.
They were my comrades yesterday...
But why are they...
My emperor!
He must not be allowed inside!
Something inhuman is buzzing around!
My emperor!
Lord Takauji...
So that happened in the capital...
Unassassailable military force plus a different level of attractiveness.
That is Takauji Ashikaga.
He won against the son of the emperor so easily in a power struggle.
That is not the Takauji Ashikaga you used to know.
Allow me to ask again, Lord Tokiyuki.
Are you prepared to stand up against the apex?
Young Master!
Do something about Genba!
He's not only getting drunk and touching the shrine girls' butts,
but is also jumping around the room!
He's declared that he's going to spray pee all over the place as he jumps,
so people are starting to pull out their swords!
We were talking about the apex, but things got low so bad now...
Let's go take care of him, Young Master.
Gotta smack the fox-masked brat's butt for some scolding.
Sure.
Sir Yorishige.
You gave me companions.
You showed me how to fight.
You also gave me confidence.
They're all still very small,
but they're the proud treasures you gave me.
No matter how far I compare to Takauji, I won't give up.
I'll just gather more treasures and go against him many times!
Takauji and Tokiyuki.
The invincible lion...
and the rabbit, out of sight.
Get him!
Yeah, do it!
The lion is still unaware...
that one day...
he will fear the little rabbit.
Spin, spin.
(Episode 7 (1333): The Children in Winter) Coming forth!