KASAHARA Kiyoshige, lord of Shiga Castle in Shinano opposes TAKEDA Harunobu and holds his castle with his followers including the remnants in the attack of Uchiyama Castle. Harunobu plans to make a general attack to them. MURAKAMI Yoshikiyo takes advantage of the absence of one of his enemies TAKANASHI Masayori who stays in Echigo and plans to support Kiyoshige. But he doesn’t dare to use maneuvers.
Nagao Kagetora (Gackt) is expected to take over the Nagao clan by his vassals
Echigo is actually ruled by the Nagao clan, deputy shugo of the province instead of the Uesugi clan, the true shugo. As the heir Harukage is delicate and mediocre, some vassals hope that Kagetora will take over the clan. But he says that reprisal is empty in front of them. At last Harukage commands his men to kill him but Kagetora's vassals drive them back thunderstorm while he plays the biwa.
Kansuke (Seiyo Uchino, right) and SANADA Yukitaka (Kuranosuke Sasaki, centre) worry about Ichibei's betrayal
AIKI Ichibei, one of the members of Shinano Senpo Shu visits MURAKAMI Yoshikiyo and tells him that the members includes him are forced to be at front. Then he says that he plans to cause internal conflict within the Takeda Army, and begs of him not to support those who are against Harunobu in Shinano. This is informed to SANADA Yukitaka and Kansuke by Hazuki. They worry about the betrayal of Ichibei. At that time, SUNOHARA Wakasanokami, vassal of Yukita tells his master that a strange man visits him.
Heizo (Ryuta Sato) asks Yukitaka to employ him again
It is Heizo. He asks Yukitaka to employ him again but he is a spy of Yoshikyo in reality. Ichibei sees through it and ignores him in the castle. And Harunobu orders ITAGAKI Nobukata and AMARI Torayasu to beat the reinforcements of UESUGI Norimasa to isolate Shiga Castle. But the two superior vassals are afraid of the self-conceit of Harunobu.
Itagaki Nobukata (Sonny Chiba, right) and Amari Torayasu (Raita Ryu) worry about the self-conceit of Harunobu
Harunobu is eager for victory. The underground water vein of Shiga Castle is blocked and Kiyoshige is supposed to surrendered the castle to Harunobu but he doesn't. Kansuke instructs surrender to him with the heads of the soldiers of Norimasa’s army, but he never surrenders. Harunobu grows impatient and orders OYAMADA Nobuari to raid the castle. When he enters a burning castle, he finds a woman crawls out of a room. She is Miru hime, daughter of HIRAGA Genshin. Three hundred soldiers are killed and many people are redeemed by their relatives or sold.
Kansuke instructs surrender to Kasahara Kiyoshige
After that, Kansuke and Yukitaka find Ichibei in the garden of the castle. He confesses to them that he was dispatched to there as spy by Harunobu who persists in winning. He also says that Heizo is a spy of Yoshikiyo. At that time, Kansuke sees Miru hime escorted by Nobuari. He approaches her but she abuses at him.
Oyamada Nobuari (Seiichi Tanabe) sees a woman in a burning castle
After that, Harunobu permits Nobuari to have Miru hime as his concubine. He tells Kansuke about it and the relationship is similar to that of Harunobu and Yu-u hime. He also says to Kansuke,
"You seem to be afraid that she will cut my head while I am sleeping."
Then he gives a loud laugh and leaves.
Nobukata and Torayasu still worry about their lord and Shinome feels sad when she knows the human traffic by Harunobu. Yukitaka says that he has not known the grief caused by losing a battle yet. And Harunobu tells Yu-uhime that he is so afraid of being defeated.
The images are from the video of "Furin Kazan".