Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Though he didn't want to admit it, Nobu was powerless so long as he remained, well, powerless. To make matters even worse, he had already used his name and the status that came with it in order to make things easier for himself. Yui and Yuriko never would have treated him so graciously if he was 'just' Nanamori Natsu. It was also the only thing preventing him from being unabashedly played to death or becoming breeding stock for a bunch of thirsty kunoichi. In other words, without his name, he was nothing...Or was he...?"Thinking about what else he could provide, Nobu met the silver-haired woman's gaze before calmly asking, "What do you want from me? You had to have brought me here for a reason..." in a resolute tone.Nodding her head in affirmation, Hitomi set down her tea and explained, "I want you to be the man you were meant to be. It's as simple as that."Frowning in response to the straightforward answer, Nobu was about to ask what his other options were when the woman went on the explain, "I believe you might be overthinking this. Tell me, have you actually thought about what returning to the Oda Clan means? You claim you don't wish to be involved in politics, but is that actually true? If so, why are you so concerned with the management and affairs of my family? Is that not politics...?"Though he wanted to argue they were two separate issues, the only arguments Nobu could think of were simple platitudes. He would arbitrarily be elevating himself to a moral high ground, but, unlike in his world, that actually had consequences here. There weren't any laws guaranteeing freedom of speech, and, even if he was rightfully offended by something, he couldn't take it to Twitter or spam the comments sections of a news feed. In this world, the only things that mattered were power and status. He, technically, already had the latter, but, without the power to back it up, even status was meaningless to those who didn't strictly observe it...Seeing Nobu seriously considering her words, Hitomi gave another small nod before returning to her tea. He might be unbelievably immature, but, considering he had very little experience with this world, she didn't expect him to adapt immediately. She had no idea what kind of world his soul had wandered off to, only that it was drastically different from their own. Thus, while most people would have quickly lost patience with him, Hitomi wanted to believe that the Goddess who informed them of his condition and destiny hadn't lied.........Far beyond the world where Nobu had reincarnated, a certain golden-haired Goddess with elven ears adopted a frown unsuited to her immaculately sculpted face. Unfortunately, before she could check to see who was badmouthing her, a hole opened in the ceiling of her office. From within, an inordinately fat person with greasy skin, unkempt hair, and thick-rimmed glasses dropped into her office like a bag of trash tossed down a chute. This immediately elicited a sigh from her throat, as, even before the man's consciousness had returned, she could tell he was another sleazeball otaku that would either hit on her or make unreasonable demands.........After sitting in contemplative silence for the better part of twenty minutes, Nobu cautiously asked, "Can't I become like a scholar or something? I can't really explain the details, but I possess a bit of knowledge pertaining to things like construction, infrastructure, and farming. If you agree to let me stay here, I can provide knowledge and information that might drastically improve the quality of life of people in the village..."Since he really didn't want to return to the Oda Clan, Nobu was seriously considering living among the Yoshitsune. He didn't agree with their way of life, but, so long as they gave him room and board without involving him with their 'education system', he could ignore them until he accrued enough power. He also wouldn't need to part with Yui and Yuriko, who, over the last three days, had grown on him more than he would ever admit.Though she was tempted to refuse him outright, Hitomi seriously considered Nobu's proposal. So long as he didn't cause any trouble, having him stay in the clan compound wasn't a particularly bad idea. His mother and father were also likely to accept. They were well aware of the 'destiny' that had been assigned to him, but, in spite of this, they were far more concerned with his safety and general well-being than any prophecy. Had she not vowed to commit ritual suicide if Nobu died during the two years he spent on the street, she never would have been able to convince them to let her stress test the potency of his destiny in regards to his survivability.Seeing no real downsides to the arrangement, Hitomi slowly nodded her head before saying, "I can agree to let you stay here, but there will be conditions. First and foremost, I will need to explain the situation to your parents. They will most likely wish to see you, so, if you're serious about following through with this, you'll need to control that temper of yours in order to alleviate any concerns they might have. As for the other conditions...well, that would depend on whether or not the information you can provide has any real value. This is neither a resort nor a vacation home. If you truly wish to stay here, you'll need to earn your keep. Since you are a member of the Oda Clan, we can't use you for breeding purposes. However, if you can't find anything substantial to contribute, we can always have you and Yui assist in the education of kunoichi trainees. It's pretty rare to have a willing male participant so it would undoubtedly provide some much-needed insight for the trainees preparing to undertake their first missions..."Despite his best efforts, Nobu was unable to prevent a shiver from passing through his body when he imagined being used as reference material by a bunch of scantily-clad, if not naked, trainees. He wasn't an exhibitionist, and, though he had willfully ignored Rynka's peeping, the fact he was even aware of her said a lot about how attentive he was to being watched.Noticing Nobu's discomfort, the smile on Hitomi's face faded for the first time as she plainly stated, "You are not in a position to have everything your way. If you want to speak concerning the matters of my Clan, become the next Lord and coordinate with the next Matriarch to reform things over the next hundred or so years. You might not like kunoichi, but clans like ours are the pillars supporting the nobility. Without eyes and ears in other countries, we would never know what our enemies are plotting. Without hands and feet working behind the scenes, the only way to settle disputes would be to go to war. You might have revisionist fantasies, Oda Nobunaga, but mere ideas don't change a thing. Power, money, and time do."Though he couldn't help frowning in response to the woman's words, her final statement resonated deeply with Nobu's personal views. Power, money, and time had also governed his previous world, and, were it not for the fact he had been born in the US, a place where citizens often had an ample supply of all three, life would have been significantly more difficult. The living conditions of some second and third world countries were nightmare fuel for the people of his generation, and, though it had only been two months since his reincarnation, he was already nearing his wit's end knowing that things like the internet simply didn't exist.Believing he would have more freedoms here than in the Oda Clan, Nobu eventually took a deep breath before nodding his head and answering, "Fine. I'm confident that I can provide more than enough information to avoid having to participate in those kinds of bullsh...I mean, those kinds of lessons. Just promise me that, even if my knowledge isn't up to snuff, you aren't going to ask me to rub one out in front of a bunch of brats. I would, literally, rather commit suicide."Restraining the urge to laugh, Hitomi's usual smile returned to her face as she mused, "I'm sure we can work out the specifics of your 'participation' when the time comes. For now, I'll have someone guide you to an available room. You will stay there until I send a missive to the Oda Clan and hear back from them. As for Yui, she will be along to attend you after gathering the other kunoichi from her generational group. Though a few of them might have trouble adapting to the sudden change, there are at least eleven girls who are quite eager to meet you..."Offering an awkward smile in response, Nobu resisted the temptation to say he didn't need eleven kunoichi waiting on him hand and foot. This was tantamount to insulting their very existence, and, if they were anything like Yui and Yuriko, his acceptance would mean a lot to them. There was also a high probability that all eleven were ridiculously beautiful girls, so, at the very least, he wouldn't be bored during his stay in the Yoshitsune Clan...Noticing the tell-tale glimmer in Nobu's eyes, the smile on Hitomi's face became marginally more prominent as she said, "So long as you remain 'Oda Nobunaga', I will not tell you what to do with your kunoichi. However, while you might not be concerned with such things in the present, there is a chance you will require their services in the future. I would suggest you leave at least half of them with their virginity intact. Our kunoichi are educated to imprint on the first man they sleep with so it will become a serious issue if they become too attached to you. It will be even worse if you become attached to them. There are few things more dangerous than a renegade kunoichi that has become infatuated with her Lord...it never, ever, ends well..."Without waiting for Nobu's response, Hitomi raised her index and middle fingers to produce a peculiar blue aura that flickered several times before evaporating into thin air. Almost immediately thereafter, a woman wearing the skimpiest outfit Nobu had seen thus far appeared out of thin air before promptly bending the knee, head lowered and her right fist touching the ground as she said, "Kunoichi Chikako greets the Matriarch! Please tell me how I can be of service!"Instead of looking down at Chikako, Hitomi's heterochromatic gaze lingered on Nobu for a brief moment. This went unnoticed by the man in question, as, from the moment Chikako appeared, his gaze had wandered to her largely exposed buttocks. It was only after several seconds had passed that he averted his eyes and noticed her watching. This resulted in him promptly averting his eyes, and, though he attempted to conceal it with a frown, Hitomi could see the embarrassment hidden beneath his mask of frustration.("How cute. His personality suits Yui well...I'm actually a little envious...")As that thought crossed her mind, Hitomi looked down at the patiently waiting Chikako and said, "Chika-chan, there is someone I would like to introduce you to. Afterward, you will need to guide him to one of the spare bedrooms in the East Wing. Understood?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Chikako immediately answered, "Understood!" before rising along with Hitomi's gesture. Truth be told, she was actually quite nervous to be in the same room as a man. However, that was paltry compared to the rollercoaster of emotions she experienced when the Matriarch said, "This is Oda Nobunaga, First Son of Lord Senken. In other words, from this day forward, he is your Lord and Master. Fortunately, he has already encountered your little sister so I'm sure the two of you will have plenty to talk about. Now, be a dear and escort him to his room~."......(A/N: This granny is pretty wicked...it's no wonder Yui's a closet Sadist (UwU)...)

After following Chikako to his room, his eyes wandering to her largely exposed ass more than a dozen times throughout the relatively short journey, Nobu found himself seated across from the red-eyes beauty who, like himself, had half her face was concealed with a mask. This was far from her most prominent feature, however. No, the thing that stood out the most, so much so that he genuinely had a hard time not staring, was the fact that the woman was garbed in little more than a black loincloth with transparent meshes covering her breasts, arms, and thighs. Her breasts were on the smaller size, roughly around the transition point between an A and a B-cup, but, thanks to her peculiar garments, it was hard not to stare at them since he could clearly make out the shape and color of her nipples through the transparent mesh...Noticing her Lord's eyes consistently deviate to her breasts, a not-so-subtle heat began spreading through Chikako's body. She had felt anxious and confused when she first learned that the man in front of her was her Lord, but, now that he was 'sneakily' eyeing her body, she actually felt relieved. After all, first impressions were extremely important, and, more often than not, even the Lords they served held kunoichi in contempt. The man sitting before her, however, showed no obvious signs of disdain or disgust. Rather, he almost seemed captivated by her body, his gaze tickling her skin and her heart every time he looked towards her...Noticing the outlines of a smile beneath Chikako's facemask, Nobu's expression became somewhat awkward as he scratched the back of his head and asked, "I'm guessing you're Rynka's sister, right? I can't imagine you being related to that pink-haired psycho..."Lowering her head, as was proper when addressing those with a higher status than oneself, Chikako dutifully replied, "My Lord is correct. Rynka is my half-sister. We share the same mother, Yoshitsune Miwa-sama. I hope she hasn't done anything to offend you..."Though he was tempted to mention that Rynka had nearly buried him alive, Nobu got the feeling that Chikako would do something extreme if he did. She gave him a similar feeling to the one that Yuriko had been giving him ever since they had sex. It was like she was eager to prove herself, and, if he ordered her to, there was a very real chance she would head off to wring Rynka's neck without hesitation.Recalling the warning given to him by Yui's Grandmother, Nobu realized that it might not be such a good idea to regard the kunoichi around him as normal girls. The education they had received had turned them into something completely different than the women he had dealt with in the past life. Thus, while he was more than a little tempted to have Chikako point her fat yet flawlessly sculpted ass toward him, Nobu decided to take the Matriarch's advice to heart until he got a better grasp of the situation. Besides, so long as he toughed it out for a bit, Yui and Yuriko would undoubtedly lend a hand...As that thought crossed his mind, Nobu decided to shift the topic away from Rynka, asking, "What can you tell me about the other girls in your generational group? I've already met Yui and Yuriko, so focus on the others and yourself. Shizune and Yuriko mentioned something about specialties so I'm assuming you have a few of your own?"Lowering her head a second time, Chikako didn't hesitate to explain, "My Lord is correct. Though I am proficient in each of my Clan's techniques, my specialties revolve around infiltration, stealth, and assassination. As for the others...I believe they would prefer to tell you themselves. Please ask again when they are present. I don't want to steal away their opportunity to make a good impression on our Lord. Please forgive me..."Seeing Chikako press her forehead to the ground as a show of sincerity, an uncomfortable feeling spread through Nobu's body as he furrowed his brows and said, "It's fine...also, you don't need to apologize for things like this. I'm pretty new to all this but that kind of over courteous behavior just makes me feel uncomfortable. When we're alone like this, it's fine to act casually."Raising her head, visible confusion could be seen in Chikako's crimson-red irises as she cautiously inquired, "Is that my Lord's order...?"Nodding his head, Nobu explained, "Yeah. We might be spending the next few years together so we might as well get to know each other. Besides, I've never been a fan of all that prim and proper shit. You can act like a proper kunoichi when you need to, but, when we're alone like this, just relax. Your constant bowing and shit is making me tense..."With an even more confused expression on her face, Chikako remained silent for several seconds before replying, "I...see..." in an uncertain tone. Then, after an even longer period of contemplation, she tentatively asked, "When my Lord says to act casually...what does he mean...? I haven't received any training like that...at least, not that I can remember..."Though she had been taught how to blend in with crowds, observe targets, and even emulate their behavior, Chikako, like most kunoichi, didn't know what it meant to act casually. She had only ever left Yumegakure a single time, and, even then, she hadn't really interacted with anyone outside of slitting their throats. She had been taught how to observe a mark over an extended period of time so that she might 'borrow' their identity, but, other than that, the only way she knew how to act was in strict adherence to the Clan's teachings...Not expecting such a question, Nobu found himself at a momentary loss for words. He could tell from the serious and concerned look she was giving him that Chikako wasn't attempting to pull his leg or bullshit him. She genuinely had no idea what he was talking about, so, after a while, he just shook his head and explained, "Well...the first thing you need to do is relax. Like, you don't need to force yourself to sit in an uncomfortable position just because it's considered proper. Also, when we talk like this, you don't need to call me Lord. Just call me Nobu, Nobu-sama, or something similar. It sounds hella weird to hear girls my own age referring to me as Lord and Master..."Furrowing her brows at the mere notion of referring to her Lord without honorifics, Chikako said, "If it is what my Lord commands, I will do my best. However, if acting casually is your only command, I don't think I can refer to you without honorifics. The mere thought of such things fills my heart with an extreme feeling of discomfort. Are Yui-sama and Yuriko-dono able to refer to you as such...?"Recalling how both Yui and Yuriko began referring to him as Lord the moment he revealed his true name, an annoyed grimace developed across Nobu's face. He might be bothered by honorifics, but, in a society built upon them, it was apparently even more uncomfortable for people to refer to him without them. This was yet another difference in his way of thinking compared to the people of this world, so, after a brief moment of silence, he just muttered, "Whatever..." before following it up by saying, "Call me however you please. Just don't be overly formal about it."Displaying a visibly relieved smile, Chikako restrained the urge to bow as she softly replied, "My Lord is a very kind man..." before surprising him quite a bit by trying to emulate the way he was sitting. This meant sitting on her ass with her legs crossed in a relaxed lotus position that left very little to the imagination despite a black cloth covering her front. After all, much like the rest of the clothes she was wearing, it was also transparent.........As Nobu was just beginning to grow accustomed to the presence of the nearly-naked Chikako, a soft thud could be heard outside his door prior to a mature woman's voice softly stating, "Pardon our interruption. We were informed that our Lord, Oda Nobunaga-sama, was staying here. May we enter?"Before answering in the affirmative, Nobu uttered a confused, "We...?" while Chikako, seemingly recognizing the voice, quickly fixed her sitting posture. This caught Nobu's attention, but, rather than overthink things, he just nodded his head and stated, "Enter." in what he believed to be an authoritative voice.Following his command, a ridiculously attractive woman with silvery grey hair and honey-colored eyes opened the door before entering alongside a scary-looking chick with animalistic armor and a dirty woman with unkempt brown hair that extended down to her ass.Though the outfits and figures of the first two women caught Nobu's attentions, the mere presence of the third caused him to frown. She seemed to take note of this, but, unlike the other kunoichi he had seen thus far, she just stretched the back of her head, ostensibly oblivious to the looks she was receiving from the other girls as she casually stated, "Sorry about the smell. I'm just a stable hand so I'm not really sure why Kumiko decided to pull me along. I mean, I'll do what I can, but I doubt your Lordship needs someone who flunked out of the kunoichi program. The only things I'm good at are collecting shit and making manure..."Hearing the woman's somewhat brash tone, Nobu was actually a little relieved to know that not all the kunoichi were as robotic as Chikako. Manure was actually extremely important in a society that was heavily reliant on agricultural goods, and, though he could only remember the basics, he knew it could be used to make things like compost, fertilizer, peat, paper, and even building materials. It was, quite literally, a shitty job to have but that didn't mean it was useless.Unfortunately, the other two girls saw him covering his already masked face and interpreted it as if he was offended. The scarier-looking of the two beauties, a woman with ashen-grey hair tied into a loose ponytail, immediately motioned to unsheathe a ridiculously long katana from her back as she said, "Kazue. Apologize to Lord Nobunaga-sama."With black and red body armor that gave her an almost demonic and bestial appearance, complete with a fang-toothed mask covering the lower half of her neck and face, it was readily apparent that the ashen-haired woman specialized in combat. She even possessed intense blue eyes that seemed to pierce through whatever she was looking at, and, were it not for the fact she still displayed a fair amount of skin around her back and thighs, she could have passed as a fierce warrior rather than a kunoichi.Showing a troubled yet unfrightened expression, the unkempt-looking woman, Kazue, was about to perform a dogeza when Nobu interrupted the tense atmosphere, saying, "Calm down. And you, put away that fucking massive ass meat cleaver. I don't need you getting offended on my behalf."Without any hesitation whatsoever, the ashen-haired woman sheathed her sword before promptly falling to one knee, lowering her head, and saying, "I have been presumptuous. Please punish me, Master."Though she had yet to say or done anything, the other grey-haired beauty, Kumiko, also lowered her body as if she was prepared to receive a punishment. After all, she had been about to rebuke Kazue, and, even if she hadn't followed through on it, the intention was still there. This forced an exasperated sigh from Nobu, but, in spite of this, he couldn't help staring at the stressed fabric of Kumiko's outfit, muttering, ("She has massive tits...") within his mind.Waving his hand in a dismissive gesture, Nobu surprised the duo by saying, "Whatever. Look. I'm not going to punish you or anything. Just chill out, take a seat, and introduce yourselves. If we're going to be spending the next few years together, we might as well try to get along. Now, since I already heard your names, how about we start with you, the girl with the big tits. Kumiko, was it...?"Hearing the way her Lord had referred to her, Kumiko stared at her breasts for several seconds before looking up and offering a smile as she answered, "My Lord heard correctly. This one's name is, indeed, Kumiko. It is my life's greatest honor to finally meet you, Lord Nobunaga-sama. If there is ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, please let me know."Interpreting Nobu's comment as interest, Kumiko drew her arms a bit closer together in order to emphasize her already ample bosom. She was easily a D-Cup, and, though she was just as petite as every other girl he had encountered thus far, the people Nobu had met with even larger breast thus far were Shizune and that white-haired vixen that attempted to charm him. Yui's Grandmother was just as flat as she was, and, despite her birthing a rapacious brat with ginormous breasts, Shizune's had only been around a B-Cup, if that...Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Nobu tore his eyes away from Kumiko's breasts with a bit of reluctance before shifting his attention to the armored girl kneeling next to her and saying, "You're next...? Wait, now that I think about it, I didn't actually hear your name...?""Kiku. This one's name is Yoshitsune Kiku. It is my life's greatest honor to be in service to the Young Lord of the Oda Clan. It is my privilege to safeguard you and cut down your enemies. If there is ever anything you need to be killed, please do not hesitate to ask. I will succeed or die trying."Taken aback by the woman's fervor, Nobu didn't even need to ask in order to understand what Kiku specialized in...."Wait...Kiku...as in Chrysanthemum?"Though he couldn't see it due to her mask, a smile spread across Kiku's face as she bowed her head and answered, "My Lord is well-versed in the Old Tongue. Yes, my name means Chrysanthemum." in an audibly gratified tone.Sensing the woman's satisfaction, Nobu swallowed the words that nearly escaped his mouth before internally remarking, ("Well...that explains why she is such a tightass...")......(A/N: Chrysanthemum is slang for anus/asshole (UwU)...)

Amused by Nobu's attempts to get her to leave, the pink-haired beauty moved to place her hands on her hips, pulling open her kimono in the process. Then, while eyeing the rather sizeable tent that was being pitched by her young quarry, she stated, "This is my home. It is perfectly acceptable to be nude. If you don't like it, you're more than welcome to leave~."Attempting to do just that, Nobu supported himself using the wall as he gradually made his way towards what appeared to be a window. Before he could get more than a few steps, however, the woman cheekily reminded him, "Be careful of the Kitsune covering the mountain. If they see you in your current state...well...you only have yourself to blame..."With that said, the pink-haired woman leaned her shoulder against the wall, arms crossed as she watched Nobu freeze in place. If he truly tried to escape through the window, she would need to stop him, as, once the Kitsune got going, there was a very real chance they would ravish him even after his death. One of the rituals mandated by Inari Okami was for her 'daughters' to offer up the lives of men through ritualistic intercourse. Thus, with the exception of a few outliers, most Kitsune were 'extremely adept' at sending men straight to Heaven.Though he couldn't remember the details, Nobu could clearly recall the muddleheadedness he had experienced during his previous encounter with the buxom, white-haired, Kitsune. He didn't know how strong she was, but, even if he mustered every ounce of willpower he possessed, he wouldn't be able to offer any meaningful resistance against her charm. If the other Kitsune joined in, even a Dragon's Vigor might not be able to save him from the animalistic girls.After thinking things through, Nobu turned his back to the wall and allowed himself to slide down, a plan forming within his head. He could infer from the way the woman was behaving that she was trying to avoid directly offending him. She probably wouldn't escort him back to Yui's Grandmother but that didn't mean he was completely out of cards to play. Thus, after failing to soothe the fire in his body even after ten minutes, he surprised the pinkette quite a bit by simply exhaling as hard as he could...Surprised by Nobu's lung capacity, the pink-haired kunoichi was about to compliment him when he suddenly fell over, his body seizing for a few several seconds before becoming completely still."..."Tilting her head to the side, the pink-haired kunoichi waited for nearly three minutes, absolutely silent as she watched the expansions and contractions of his chest."Did you really just knock yourself out...?"As those words left her lips, the pink-haired kunoichi tentatively approached Nobu before squatting in a way that left nothing to the imagination. Even this didn't cause the young man to stir, and, after a while, even the tent between his legs began to subside.Extending her fingers to check his pulse, the woman confirmed that Nobu's condition was rapidly stabilizing. This caused a frown to mar her nearly perfect face. Her original intention had only been to bully him a bit without revealing her identity. She hadn't come here with the intention of trying to seduce him, but, since that's the way things played out, it was remarkably problematic that she had failed. If he harbored any resentment towards her when all of this was over, even ritual suicide might not be enough to appease the Oda Clan's wrath..."Haaaa...how troublesome. All my problems would be removed if I could simply kill you...but that isn't really an option...how vexing..."Thanks to the alliance between their two families, a cursed mark would appear on anyone, Oda or Yoshitsune, who had killed a member of the other family. It wouldn't just affect the offender, either, but everyone with knowledge of the incident. This meant, even if she ground Nobu down to a paste and fed him to the koi fish in the pond, the entire Yoshitsune Clan would be implicated when the stigmata invariably appeared upon the Matriarch and several others."Well...I can always try to seduce him again. Judging by his previous reaction, I doubt he would be able to hold out if I entered his room late at night..."While thinking of numerous ways she could obtain Nobu's 'forgiveness', the pink-haired beauty wrapped her aura around his body before carrying him back to the room he had initially fled. She didn't even bother to fix her kimono, as, much like the other members of the Yoshitsune Clan, she was actually more comfortable naked than clothed...After reaching her destination, the pink-haired woman sat in a proper seiza technique outside the door before politely bowing her head and saying, "Hitomi-kacho...I have brought the Oda Clan's lost lamb..."Following an appropriate period of silence, a soft yet stern voice could be heard from inside the room, replying, "You have my gratitude, Suzune-dono. Please, come in, place him atop the futon, and then immediately depart."Raising her head only after the Matriarch had finished speaking, Suzune slid aside the bamboo door before deliberately yet gracefully depositing Nobu's unconscious body as instructed. Afterward, she folded her hands neatly over her exposed front before bowing in a courteous manner and promptly departing once Hitomi gestured for her to leave.Waiting until Suzune had completely departed, the silver-haired woman, Yoshitsune Hitomi, shifted her heterochromatic gaze over to the disheveled Nobu, a gentle smile appearing across her face as she mused, "You made me waste some good tea, Waka-chan. However, as I expected you to return much sooner, I suppose this is your win. Still, to think you could resist the curse of the first men with such a meager cultivation base...it makes me wonder what other curious qualities you picked up while your soul was wandering another world...eighty points..."Had he been awake to hear Hitomi's musings, Nobu might have been surprised if not for the fact he had already anticipated this, and several other, tropes. He was even anticipating that some kind of global threat would occur the moment he was consolidating his power or trying to take a break. After all, it was far too 'convenient' for this world to be directly inspired from Earth, and, based on the information provided by Shizune, there were ongoing tensions between every major nation. If 'nothing' happened over the several-hundred-years he might spend as a Cultivator, that would be a hell of a lot more surprising than some cataclysmic threat appearing just as he wanted to relax.........Feeling less of a headache than before, Nobu opened his eyes to find that he was back in the room he had started in. This time, however, he wasn't alone. Instead, the same silver-haired woman from before was sitting patiently at the table, eyes closed until she felt her gaze on him and asked, "Are we finished exploring...?" in an audibly teasing tone.Grimacing in response to the woman's words, Nobu forced himself to a seated position, without approaching the table, and asked, "Just what do you want with me? I already told Yui, but I have no intention of returning to the Oda Clan and stirring up trouble. I just want to relax, write a few books, and focus on increasing my cultivation. I'd rather cut off both of my feet than willfully involve myself with all that political bullshit."Waiting until Nobu had finished speaking, Hitomi, without so much as a twitch of her brow, nodded her head and said, "I see..."Expecting her to say more, Nobu remained quiet for several seconds until he saw her close her eyes and continue drinking tea. This caused his left brow to twitch, but, rather than immediately lash out, he took a slow yet steady breath before asking, "Where is Yui?"Opening her eyes, the smile on Hitomi's face became marginally more prominent as she answered, "I do not believe that is any of your concern. If you choose to remain unaffiliated with the Oda Clan, there is no sense in allowing you to interact with our kunoichi. You might not care about politics but that doesn't mean others hold them in similar regard. If we were to entrust our kunoichi to you and you ended up antagonizing an enemy state, there is a good chance you would ignite a war between provinces. Thousands, including yourself, would have to be sacrificed all because you're too chicken shit to embrace the responsibilities that come with being born a member of the Oda Clan..."Taken aback by the woman's words, Nobu found himself unable to speak. He wanted to say she was just talking out of her ass, but, as the Matriarch of a kunoichi clan, her knowledge of this world and its politics made his own look like a joke. Hell, he could barely even accept what he had seen during the relatively short journey up the mountain. This clearly wasn't his world, and, even if he genuinely believed everyone was touched in the head, the reality was that the vast majority of people would view him in a similar light..."I guess this is how I become the 'Fool of Owari'..."Though he had muttered the words to himself, Hitomi could both read lips and had exceptional hearing. She wouldn't be the Matriarch of a kunoichi clan if she wasn't capable, so, the moment she heard Nobu's musing, an expectant smile spread across her face before she, once again, closed her eyes and continued drinking tea. When dealing with hot-blooded people like Nobu, it was best to let them do most of the talking. The more you tried to reason with them, the more they would try to argue with you. Shere merely needed to explain the cold hard truth to him, and, so long as he wasn't completely hopeless, he should be able to reason his own conclusion without any additional guidance.Seeing Yui's Grandmother return to drinking tea, an extremely frustrated expression appeared on Nobu's face as he genuinely didn't know what to do. The simplest answer seemed to be going off and doing his own thing, but, even if he changed his name and attempted to lay low, people were bound to take notice of him as his cultivation increased. She had also mentioned enemy shinobi. If they were to discover his true identity, it wouldn't matter if he claimed he was unaffiliated with the Oda Clan. They would still attempt to capture him, and-Interrupting his own train of thought, Nobu's brows furrowed even deeper as he asked, "What will happen to Yui and Yuriko if I choose to abandon my name...?"Maintaining her characteristically calm and confident smile, Hitomi met Nobu's gaze before, once again, saying, "I do not believe that is any of your concern. We are a kunoichi clan. It would be one thing if you were a member of the Oda Clan but you've already expressed your desire to abandon your duty and set out on your own. The less you know about our family and its affairs, the better..."Finished with her words, Hitomi was about to return to her tea when Nobu shouted, "That's fucking bullshit! You've already ruined countless girls' lives with your retarded ass traditions! Yui and Yuriko don't need someone like you telling them what to do! Besides, they already pledged themselves to me! You have no right to keep them here...!"Waiting until Nobu had finished, Hitomi, without so much as a single change in expression, casually explained, "I have every right. I am the Matriarch of the Yoshitsune Clan. I am charged with ensuring the survival of my family and safeguarding the next generation of kunoichi until they have attained the skills necessary to complete their missions and return home alive. So, unless you can offer me a realistic alternative, you would do well to hold your tongue. I receive my orders from only one man, and you, Oda Nobunaga, are not him. You don't even have the courage to accept who you are yet you believe you have the right to question others? Ridiculous. You don't even have the strength to leave this place of your own accord. Were it not for the pact we have made with the Oda Clan, you would be spending the rest of your days died up and drained of every last drop of semen you ever produced. Ironic, isn't it? You purport not to care about your identity yet it is quite literally the only thing protecting your menial little life..."Gnashing his teeth in response to the woman's words, Nobu wanted nothing more than to scream out at the top of his lungs. The only problem was that he couldn't actually think of anything to say. All of her words struck at the very heart of the matter, and, even if he wanted to refute them, what could he possibly accomplish with his current power? Even the naked little girls that had swarmed him along the path could probably toss him out of the village, yet here he was thinking about how to force the most powerful member of an ancient kunoichi clan to listen to his demands...Feeling a powerful migraine swelling from the back of his mind, Nobu brought his left hand to his face and began massaging his temples. At the same time, he tried thinking about how he might be able to convince her to let Yui and Yuriko go, but, without anything to offer but his name...what else could he use as collateral...?......(A/N: It doesn't matter how right you think you are if society itself opposes you...)

Chapter 45: Compromise