The sun was beginning to set behind the hills of Hirozaka when the castle came into view. During her previous visit Saika had discovered that dusk was when the castle gates opened for storage and supply runs and personnel changes. It was the time when the castle was least protected. Men would be preparing dinner, others would be moving supplies, others would be having a chat before the guard change for the night. There was no better time to strike, and Mitsuhide had planned their arrival to coincide. Saika had to give him that, had they arrived half an hour earlier or later, things would probably be a little more difficult, yet somehow he had still gotten them there within that small window.

He halted his army and took a moment to consider the castle in the distance. Saika had informed him of all she had seen in and outside the castle walls. Not terribly well defended, and a barebones staff that would be even more barebones now that men had been called north to fight the Wada.

“Alright Kenichi, I want you to watch and listen very carefully. I want you and your men to wait here. The Yashiro forces in and around the castle are going to see us coming and try to close the gates. That’s okay. They’re not going to succeed. Once we get in, I want you to follow us and provide support from the rear, just in case any other units are hiding someplace we don’t know about, okay?”

Kenichi nodded, but his eyes betrayed how scared he was. Mitsuhide slapped him on the shoulder.

“Chin up, boy! They don’t get much easier than this! Why, the castle is just there, ripe for the picking. How kind of young Sou to take his men north and leave all these fruitful areas unattended. Like taking candy from a baby, really.”

Kenichi nodded again, Mitsuhide’s words providing him with little strength.

“Remember, once we’re inside the castle gates, okay?”

“Yes, sir.”

Mitsuhide motioned to Saika and she joined his side.

“If your information proves good…”

“Have I ever let you down yet?” she retorted.

“No, no you have not,” Mitsuhide agreed. “Once we’re inside the castle walls, find whoever’s in charge. Bring him to me. Alive.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Mitsuhide drew his horse forward and turned to his men. His bannermen came running up beside him, flanking each side of his horse with his personal motto flapping in the wind, “Umisen Yamasen.” A thousand seas, a thousand mountains. Saika found it to be a strange motto for a man to choose for himself, the meaning amounting to a sly old fox who had seen and done everything, and could handle any situation through pure cunning, but it sure did fit him to a tee.

“Alright men, listen up. I’m not going to give you any rousing speech today. Why? There’s simply no need! Hirozaka Castle sits before us, waiting to be rescued. To bring her into our fold. We’re going to do what we always do, we’re going to go in and we’re going to win!”

The men cheered. Mitsuhide smiled, turned his horse and began charging for the castle, his men in hot pursuit. The mounted samurai led the way, followed by their units of spearmen and archers, and the remaining foot soldiers bringing up the rear. The sound of hooves and feet on the dirt was thunderous, and as they closed in on the castle a horn finally sounded. It was the Yashiro men, who had realised too late that they were under attack. Mitsuhide’s men were inside the castle walls before they were able to close the giant gates.

It was a massacre. Mitsuhide dismounted from his horse and in full armour - making his otherwise average build look far more impressive than it really was - stalked through the men, cutting down any in his path. The residents inside the castle walls were unarmed and unprepared. Kuroda forces flooded the yard, slaughtering all before them indiscriminately.

Saika entered the castle and quickly made her way to the lord’s residence. It was empty, everyone either already hiding or outside in the fray. It didn’t matter, she knew where the main room was, and it was there that she found the vassal who had been left in charge. He was attempting to put his armour on, and looked up as the door opened.

“Who are you-”

One of Saika’s small daggers swiftly landed in his shoulder. It was non-lethal, but incredibly painful. He dropped to the ground with a loud cry and Saika walked over, yanked the dagger from his shoulder and held it to his neck.

“This way, if you don’t mind.”

She lead him outside, stopping at the entrance. The sight was horrific. Everyone had been slaughtered, even the women and children. A few stragglers were still trying to escape, but Kenichi’s forces had closed in on the gate. There was no escape.

Mitsuhide stepped forth, covered in blood. “And who might you be?”

“Ha… Harada Makoto,” the man mumbled, taking in the carnage before him. Mitsuhide removed his helmet, revealing his face. He tapped the crest on his helmet.

“Kuroda Mitsuhide. What a fine castle you have here, yes, very nice. But I’m afraid we won’t be requiring your services here any further. It belongs to us, now. Kenichi! Come here, my boy.”

The young boy made his way through the men, his sword held precariously before him. He was covered in blood. His helmet was just a little too big for his head, his armour sagging just a little too much. In a year or two he would fill it out nicely, but right now he just looked like a child playing grown up.

“There he is.” Mitsuhide smiled as he walked up beside him. “I have a present for you. I present to you… sorry, what was your name again?”

“Harada Makoto.”

“Yes, that was it. Harada Makoto. I present to you Harada Makoto, vassal of the Yashiro, clan that kidnapped your sister.”

“Hey now, I didn’t… that was nothing to do with…” the man began stuttering again, his hands held up in defeat.

“Silence! Have some dignity in the face of death. It’s more than you’ve granted others, I’m sure.”

The man fell silent. Mitsuhide looked down at Kenichi.

“I want you to do the honours.”

“Me? Why?”

“Do you not want revenge for your sister?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“So, here you are. He’s not the first, and he won’t be the last of those loyal to the Yashiro to fall. Killing him is nothing to me. But to you, my dear boy, to kill the vassal in charge of such an important castle in his first battle, well! That’s surely something to remember.”

Mitsuhide gave Kenichi a push forward. The boy was still scared. He looked up at Saika, her arm around the man’s neck, dagger pointed at his throat. He was begging her with his eyes. This wasn’t battle. It was murder, and he was a scared 12 year old boy with no idea what to do.

“Come on, son, finish him!”

Kenichi nervously looked back and forth between Mitsuhide and the pleading man before him. He looked up at Saika, perhaps hoping she had some answer for him. If he didn’t kill the man he would be humiliated and Mitsuhide would simply move on to the next child to start his claim war, but he was frozen in place. He’s probably never even cut a man with his sword, let alone killed one, Saika thought.

The man was going to die either way, whether Kenichi held the knife or not. She nodded to the young boy, quickly thrust the dagger into the man’s throat and kicked him in the back of the knees. He fell onto Kenichi’s sword, gasping. The tip of the sword emerged from his back, the man’s body slowly sliding down towards the hilt. Kenichi pushed him aside in horror, blood gurgling from both his throat and chest. The men cheered. Mitsuhide looked snidely at Saika. She shrugged. The deed was done, and as far as any of the men could tell, Kenichi’s blade had just tasted its first blood. The boy had just taken part in his first successful battle, and the castle was now Kuroda’s.

“Get rid of the body, but keep his head. I must send Ryobe a gift in exchange for this beautiful castle we have received.” Mitsuhide put a hand on Kenichi’s shoulder. The boy started. He was still looking at the dead body before him. “Come, my boy, let’s have a drink and celebrate. I’m almost a little disappointed at how easily this all went, but now I’m thirsty! Come! Let’s inspect my new quarters!”

Kuroda men set about hanging those still alive from the castle walls, while Mitsuhide and Kenichi went inside to celebrate their successful takeover, perfectly executed with minimal casualties. It would be their launching pad for further excursions north. The Kuroda expansion into Yashiro territory had officially begun.