Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

-Reverse the Pendulum: Approximately Nineteen Years Ago-In an effort to prevent the younger generation from machinating against the old, the Oda Clan had embraced a tradition that prohibited the descendants of the current Lord from producing offspring until they had proven themselves competent in regards to politics and provincial management.The number of Clans that had been destroyed due to intergenerational conflicts, even in recent history, numbered in the dozens. Thus, it wasn't until the twilight of his forty-forth year that Oda Senken, son of Oda Senichi, sired his first child...After waiting patiently for nine months, Senken, an inordinately tall man who resembled a bandit more than a Noble, could be seen impatiently pacing outside a sealed room. Everyone who saw this couldn't help feeling extremely nervous, as, prior to his promotion to Daimyo, Senken had made a name for himself as a vicious warrior rather than a scholar or a statesman. Many even assumed the position of Daimyo would be passed to his younger brother, but, surprising everyone, his father had designated the rather tyrannical youth to be his successor.At this point in time, Senken was still a brash individual who only really cared about himself and the people closest to him. It would be more than a decade before he exceeded everyone's expectations and earned recognition as a wise and benevolent Lord who cared deeply about his people. For now, he was the type of man who would unhesitantly draw his blade against anyone who dared to annoy him. Even his siblings were not exempt from this, as, some months prior, Senken had surprised all of Nian by severing the arm of his younger brother when the two of them were drinking in private.Simply put, even Senken's most trusted vassals feared the silver-haired man who had made a habit of walking around with his muscular chest and biceps exposed. They kept their heads lowered when he was near, and, unless called upon, they would do their best to blend into the background so as not to affect their Lord's mood."Dammit...it's already been twelve hours...I swear, if anything happens to Nana...I...I'll slaughter every physician in this god-forsaken manor...!"Hearing their Lord's remark, the kunoichi and warriors lining the hall couldn't help producing a cold sweat. The only person unaffected by Senken's anxiety-induced bloodlust was a burly middle-aged man wearing reddish-brown armor adorned with crimson and gold. His battle-hardened expression and mane-like brown hair made it clear he wasn't someone to be trifled with, but his most notable features, excluding his golden eyes, were the white haori and crimson scarf adorning his body. The latter might not matter to most people, but the former indicated that he was none other than Oda Senichi, the incumbent Lord of Owari until Senken could produce an heir."Calm down, boy. It's behavior like this that allows people to criticize you..."Glaring in response to his father's words, the only thing preventing Senken from drawing his sword was the knowledge that he was no match for his father. He might be one of the youngest people in recent history to reach the pinnacle of Platinum before the age of fifty but his father had reached a similar point before he was even born. As a result, the latter was currently sitting at Mithril 5, weaker than his prime but still several times stronger than anyone from Senken's generation.While others might wince under Senken's glare, Senichi just leaned forward slightly, a challenging look on his face as he waited to see what his foolish son would do. Fortunately, just as the tensions increased to the point that they could be cut with a knife, the door behind Senken opened to reveal a young woman with raven black hair and peculiar blue-red eyes.Before the woman could open her mouth to speak, Senken turned around on his heels, grasping her shoulders as he shouted, "Hitomi! What took so long!? Is Nana-chan okay...!?"Paling in the face of Senken's fervor, Hitomi's eyes briefly flickered towards Senichi, silently pleading for his intervention as she attempted to calmly explain, "Lady Suzuki is in good health. There were a few complications with the delivery, but she will recover with a bit of rest..."Though he was considerably relieved to learn that his wife was okay, Senken's expression hardened when Hitomi's words trailed off. His grip on her shoulders tightened to the point that those closest could hear bones creaking as he asked, "And my child...?" in a somber tone of voice.Before Hitomi could answer, Senichi placed his hand on Senken's shoulder, stating, "She is here to tell you exactly that. Stop threatening your subordinates when they will readily give you what you ask for..."Clicking his tongue in response to his father's words, Senken reluctantly released Hitomi's shoulders as the former urged her to continue with a serious nod. Under normal circumstances, Hitomi would have returned a smile and thanked him for his assistance, but, understanding better than most how temperamental Senken could be, she promptly yet stoically explained, "The child, a boy, appears to be in good health at approximately 4kgs. However, no matter what we try, the only stimuli he reacts to is nursing. Other than that, he is completely unresponsive. He doesn't cry out when pricked, and, no matter how many times we check his body, there isn't a trace of Aura present within..."Were it not for the fact his father was holding his shoulder with a vice-like grip, Senken might have attacked Hitomi in spite of their long history. He felt like she was actively toying with his emotions by mentioning his son's health only to immediately take the wind out of his sails by following it up with progressively worse news."I want to see them. Take me to my wife and child. Now."Looking towards Senichi, Hitomi waited until the former nodded his head in consent before bowing low and answering, "Very well. Please, follow me..."Since the birth of a mainline descendant of the Oda Clan was such a significant event, it often took place in the most secure location in the entire clan, the Vault of the Ancestors. This was the location of the Oda Clan's personal library, mausoleum, and armory. It was also where they stored all of their most precious minerals and resources, so, as could be expected, it was sanctified ground protected by countless traps, barriers, and, most importantly, spell formations that permitted access to only a select few members of the Oda and Yoshitsune Clans.With the declaration of Senken as the next Daimyo, Hitomi's position had recently been elevated from Information Elder to acting Matriarch. She was also the kunoichi who had been assigned to guard Nana when she first arrived at the Oda Clan, so, despite his antagonistic behavior towards her, Senken actually trusted Hitomi quite a bit. They had grown up together, and, though it wasn't particularly well known, she was actually his first woman due to his reluctance to sleep with any of the kunoichi that had been assigned to him. She had effectively taught him everything he needed to know about pleasing a woman, and, though they hadn't slept together ever since his marriage, she was still one of the few people he would sincerely trust with his life."Sorry..."Without taking her eyes off the path, a delicate smile adorned Hitomi's face as she answered, "It is understandable that my Lord would be perturbed by this situation. You've done nothing warranting an apology. Please, don't mind it..."Crossing his arms, Senken decided to remain silent in response to Hitomi's remark. This earned him a pat on the shoulder by Senichi, who, remembering his own anxiety prior to Senken's birth, stated, "The lass is right. If you didn't worry in situations like this, you wouldn't be fit to call yourself a man. However, as a father, you must learn to conceal that worry behind a mask of stoicism. Your children will come to view you as the roof that shields them from storms and the mountain atop which their foundation is established. No matter how difficult it gets, you must appear steady and unshakeable. Only when those who follow after you have succeeded can you consider your life well spent..."Looking towards his father, Senken's expression became uncharacteristically serious as he nodded his head and answered, "I understand..." in a somber tone. He understood better than most that he wouldn't even be here today if not for his father's support. There had been times when they literally butted heads, but, every time he got in over his head or wandered too far from the beaten path, his father had always been there to either support or knock some sense into him.........After more than half an hour of roaming through a complex network of tunnels, Hitomi, Senken, and Senichi finally reached the chamber containing the most precious treasures of the Oda Clan. It was here that Nana had given birth, as, despite substantial debate among Scholars, it was generally considered a blessing for children to be born next to precious materials such as Mithril, Orichalcum, and Adamantine. This was also where the most famous Lords and Heroes of the Oda Clan had been enshrined, so, even if they somehow managed to sneak their way past all the defenses, most people would find themselves cursed the moment they trespassed this sacred place.Located within the depths of this hallowed ground, an extraordinarily beautiful woman with peculiar black hair, tinged with crimson, could be seen shedding silent tears as she cradled an unresponsive infant in her arms. Her ruby-red eyes, usually vibrant and full of life, appeared to be completely dull as she gently prodded the baby's cheek, pleading, "Please cry...please..."Unfortunately, even after several hours had passed, the baby remained completely motionless. The only time he would react at all was when she attempted to breastfeed him. This filled her with hope in the beginning, but, with her baby becoming unresponsive immediately following the all too short session of feeding, despair and helplessness became the only emotions visible in the woman's eyes.Seeing his wife in such a state, Senken's heart and body immediately tensed as he resisted the urge to simply turn around and depart the room. He couldn't stand seeing the woman he loved like this. She was the light of his life, the very meaning of his existence. Now, however, she appeared just as dull and lifeless as the child in her arms. This terrified him far more than any enemy or beast he had ever encountered, but, recalling the words of his father, he forced himself to step forward.Feeling a warmth embrace her body, Nana raised her currently sightless eyes, unfathomable despair exuding from every fiber of her being as she meekly uttered, "I'm so sorry..." in a tone that pulled at the heartstrings of everyone present. It took every last bit of Senken's willpower to restrain the tears threatening the surge forward like an opportunistic army attempting to rout an enemy. Fortunately, despite feeling a painful twinge in his throat, threatening to choke the life out of him, he was able to sound calm and poised as he whispered, "You've done nothing wrong, Nana...you gave birth to a healthy baby boy...from here on, leave everything to me..."Though he had no idea what he was going to do, Senken resolved himself to do everything in his power to protect both Nana and their child. He didn't care what it took. He would return the smile to her face and make sure his son could stand proudly above his peers. It didn't matter if he had to experience great suffering or lay down his life in the process. So long as he could protect the things that matter most to him, there was nothing he wouldn't give.........(A/N: This chapter hit me right in the kokoro...)

Just as Senken had formed his resolve, a feminine voice echoed throughout the vault, surprising everyone within as it mused, "How tragic...it's amazing how a single selfish decision can have such a drastic influence on the course of history..."With his son currently tending his wife and child, it was Senichi who manifested a gigantic katana formed from a deep blue metal, exclaiming, "Who goes there!?" in a booming voice that caused a neatly stacked pile of gold to capsize from the baritone vibrations.In response to Senichi's outburst, a golden crack appeared out of thin air as a phenomenal aura, unlike anything the room's occupants had ever felt, descended upon them. From within the crack, an indescribably beautiful woman with golden hair, glowing blue eyes, and pointed ears emerged, answering, "You may address me as Imina Ataraxy, Goddess of the Six Paths. I have come bearing a message. More specifically, a prophecy. Now, I would advise you to kneel..."Without waiting for the people present to abide, Imina gestured with her hand, and, as a result, everyone present within the vault, sans Senken and Nana, was forced to bend a knee. Those that attempted to resist, Senichi included, found their knees impacting the ground with enough force to crack the marbled flooring."Very good. Now, listen closely. I dislike having to repeat myself, and I am far too busy to answer questions..."Tapping the air with her right hand, Imina created a three-dimensional projection of Nobu from his previous life before proceeding to explain, "Due to a particular set of circumstances, the soul meant to dwell within your child has been delayed. The easiest way to explain this is that they are currently living in a tangential world, one with a similar yet decidedly different history to this one. Now, let's move on to the prophecy..."Manifesting an antiquated scroll veiled in golden light, a smile developed across Imina's face as she opened it and read, "The Beasts of Calamity will soon awaken, heralding the beginning of the end. If Nian is to survive, it will need to be unified under a single, solitary, banner. Though only the future knows what form it will take, the first son of the Oda Clan has been chosen as one of the candidates to guide the people from the current era into the next. Whether or not this new era is one of peace and prosperity...well, that will ultimately depend on the people guiding him..."Though the last part wasn't part of the prophecy, Imina decided to give Nobu a hand by mixing in a vague warning. Time didn't flow linearly from the perspective of the Gods so this event was actually taking place after her little text conversation with Nobu. His straightforward apology had influenced her to take a look into his previous life. When she learned he wasn't actually an Otaku, she even felt a little sorry for him, but, rather than admit she had made a rather severe mistake, Imina decided to pull a few strings to make sure he didn't experience any bad ends before he had a chance to grow.To this end, a golden light shot from the ancient-looking scroll and into Nobu's infant body as she said, "Well now. That takes care of that. Since I said I wouldn't be answering questions, I trust there aren't any? Good. Take care of yourselves. That brat should return to his body before his twentieth birthday. Till then, do your best."Finished with what she intended to say, Imina waved her hand towards the statuesque group of people before spontaneously collapsing into a golden mote of light that subsequently exploded outward in a vibrant pulse that restored their movements and healed their wounds. This included the sequelae suffered by Nana during her delivery, so, while the light had yet to fully return to her eyes, she appeared marginally more hopeful as she asked, "My baby...he's going to be okay...?"While he couldn't even begin to describe how lost and confused he felt at the present moment, Senken immediately regained his senses when he heard his wife's question. At the same time, the resolution he had previously formed came back in full force as he gently squeezed her hand and answered, "I'll make sure of it..."......Though she obviously left out the parts she wasn't aware of, Hitomi gave a general summary of the events leading up to and occurring after Nobu's birth. This included the agreement that allowed her to ascend to Mithril and retain the position of Matriarch to the present day. After that, she detailed everything Nobu had revealed to her, spinning it in such a way that guaranteed they would want to support him rather than impede him.As the most senior member of the Yoshitsune Clan, it was Inami who followed Hitomi's explanation by asking, "Are you suggesting we shift our allegiances to Oda Nobunaga rather than the Oda Clan as a whole? What if he decides not to become the next Daimyo? Or, even worse, what if the path he chooses leads to the destruction of Nian rather than its salvation?"Without flinching, even as ghostly purples flames began to manifest around Inami's tails, Hitomi answered, "That Goddess was able to violate the restriction prohibiting Gods from manifesting in this world without a Grand Ritual and a designated Altar. If we accept her words at face value, the destruction of Nian is the least of our concerns. If these Beasts of Calamity are the same as those who brought an end to the Age of Gods, the entire world will be endangered, not just our homely little Archipelago..."Frowning in response to Hitomi's words, Inami's tails began to flicker and undulate as she rose to her feet and said, "I will meet-"Before Inami could finish speaking, Hitomi's aura erupted outward as she coldly exclaimed, "You will not!"Though Inami was inarguably the most powerful person in the entire Yoshitsune Clan, her authority was still lower than the Matriarch. She was also a Kitsune and the physical vessel of Inari Okami, so, until the Spring season had come to an end, Hitomi would never allow her to meet with Nobu.Baring her teeth, a violent aura began to surge from Inami's body until every other Elder present promptly surrounded her. A few of them might not be particularly fond of Hitomi but she was still the acting Matriarch. Her word was law within the Yoshitsune Clan, so, if Inami attempted to force the issue, they would have no choice but to restrain and temporarily seal her.Realizing she was out of line, Inami forcibly suppressed her bestial urges before lowering herself into a dogeza, inordinately large vulpine ears touching the ground as she said, "Forgive me. I let my emotions get the better of me...it won't happen again..."Confident that Inami wouldn't actually attack her, Hitomi had remained seated despite her previous outburst. She also understood that Inami's interest in Nobu was unquestionably exacerbated by her contract with Inari Okami, so, rather than taking the matter to heart, she simply stated, "If he is still living among us, you may meet with Nobunaga-sama towards the end of Summer. As for everyone else, you will need to confer with Suzune-dono. I intend to place her in charge of watching over our Young Lord until his departure. I trust there are no complaints...?"Though they were more than a little interested in meeting with the man implied to have the ability to unify and lead the entire nation, none of the Elders spoke out against Hitomi's decision. Rather, now that they knew why she had been allowed to remain Matriarch, most of the resentment they had built towards her rapidly faded away. After all, they were discussing matters related to the fate of Nian, their clan, and the world as a whole. Now wasn't exactly the time for infighting.........After enjoying a delicious yet awkward meal, courtesy of Cho, Nobu looked around at the kunoichi present within his room before passing his gaze over the hungry-looking children that had recently come into his 'possession'. Cho had only brought enough food for him to eat, and, now that he was thinking about it, he hadn't actually thought about when the trio would eat or where they would be staying...Deciding to shift the burden to Yui, Nobu eyed the stoic beauty as he asked, "What should I do with these three? I don't really have the time or patience to watch over a bunch of brats, but I don't want them to grow up in the same way as you girls...no offense..."Appearing nervous the moment they heard their new Master's remarks, Sachiko, Nariko, and Midori immediately shifted their rounded eyes to Yui, varying degrees of fear visible in their gazes. Things had been going relatively well for them until now, but there was still a chance they would be forced to suffer should their Master suddenly lose interest in them.Feeling uncharacteristically disconcerted by the trio's gazes, Yui resisted the urge to fidget around in her seat as she looked towards Kumiko, Cho, and Kazue before saying, "The three of you will take them as disciples. You don't have to confer all your skills to them, just enough to make them useful to our Lord. They will serve as his personal Maids and Attendants in the future."Though she understood that Nobu wouldn't want the trio he saved to become standard kunoichi, it would cause all sorts of problems if they were allowed to benefit from his benevolence without cost or compensation. If they couldn't be of use to their Lord, they would either need to be disposed of or supplanted by people actually willing to work for the benefits they would receive.Nodding in response to Yui's proposal, Kumiko pointed towards Sachiko, smiling as she said, "If my Lord wills it, I'll take this little one under my wing. She appears to be the calmest and most collected among the three. At the very least, I can prepare her to be a courier."With Nobu, albeit reluctantly, nodding his head in response, Cho and Kazue each selected their new disciples in turn. Midori ended up being chosen by Cho, so, by process of elimination, Nariko would be learning the basics of medicine from Kazue.Upon learning their fates, Sachiko and Nariko appeared greatly relieved. Midori, however, paled the moment she heard she would be apprenticing under Cho. Nobu noticed this, but, before he could ask, Kumiko chimed in to say, "Well then, now that everything has been decided. Why don't the six of us get to know each other over a meal?"Raising his hand before the girls could motion to leave the room, Nobu's expression formed into a frown as he asked, "Is there something you're keeping from me? I don't mind you girls having a few secrets, but how am I supposed to trust you if you can't be straight with me?"Smiling wryly in response to Nobu's words, Kumiko shifted her gaze towards Cho only to find the latter smiling radiantly as she said, "Please, don't mind me. I've already achieved my dream, so I've no qualms about the truth being exposed."Frowning even deeper, Nobu asked, "What truth...?" in a stern tone of voice.Though the atmosphere immediately became tense, Cho maintained a radiant smile on her face as she casually explained, "The life expectancy of a poison taster and chef is generally between 23~25 years. Midori is afraid that her lifespan will be reduced by studying under me, but I can-""Wait, wait, wait. Hold the fuck up. You're telling me you only have, what, six or seven years left to live? What kind of bullshit is that...!?"Rather than diminishing in the slightest, Cho's smile became even more radiant as she pressed the tips of her fingers together and happily chimed, "My Lord is genuinely concerned about me. I just might be the happiest kunoichi in the world right now~."......(A/N: Oof...)

Though it knocked him down to Rank 2 Mortal Breath, Nobu didn't regret investing his Aura into Sachiko, Nariko, and Midori. The maximum amount of Aura he was able to accumulate in a single day was around 432 at Rank 5. With the trio of girls contributing to his base, he was earning approximately 427 without any additional effort. More importantly, the amount they could contribute wasn't affected by his Rank, so, even if his system did have a 'reset' function, he could drastically reduce the amount of time it took to recoup his losses.When broken down to its most fundamental level, the stone tablet basically allowed Nobu to grow exponentially stronger based on the number and strength of people following him. Had he allowed himself to be reincarnated naturally, it wasn't an exaggeration to say that he would be earning upwards of a million Aura every single day from Yui alone. Instead, he now had to play catch up by quite literally relying on children, but, seeing how happy the trio was as they familiarized themselves with their stone tablets, Nobu couldn't help smiling until Kumiko took it upon herself to ask, "My Lord...it may be imprudent of me to ask, but can you please explain the current situation...?"Having just spent the last two hours watching her Lord advise the three trainees in the use of an invisible device, Kumiko could no longer restrain her curiosity. She was a kunoichi who had been specifically trained to collect information in order to help her Lord make more informed decisions so it made her feel indescribably uncomfortable having no idea what was going on.Shifting his attention away from the trio experimenting with their camera app, Nobu noticed the uncertainly visible in the face of Kumiko and several others. This caused his smile to turn slightly wry, but, having already decided there was no sense in doubting people who would readily lay down their lives to preserve his, he explained, "You'll have to wait until I'm stronger to experience it for yourself, but I basically have the ability to duplicate a stone tablet that has a variety of useful functions. For now, I'm trusting you girls with watching over and protecting these three squirts. They might not look like it, but they're the key to helping me grow strong in a short period of time."Hearing their Master's remark, Sachiko and Midori appeared equal parts excited and nervous. Nariko, however, adopted a massive grin on her face as she enthusiastically exclaimed, "Just leave it to me, Nobunaga-sama! Nariko won't let you down~!"Though it still felt awkward to hear a little girl address him with honorifics, Nobu managed to nod his head approvingly before returning his attention to Kumiko and saying, "If you can find me some paper and something to draw with, I'll make a user manual for you and the others to memorize I also want to draw up some clothing designs. Based on how complex some of your outfits are, I assume the village has its own tailors and artisans, correct?"Nodding her head, Kumiko answered, "Though most of our cold weapons are manufactured within the Oda Clan, the majority of our clothes and ninja tools are produced by specialists within the village.""Nice..."Since it would be a pain in the ass to think about external trade at this point, Nobu was happy to hear he could rely on the clan's experts. He would still need to find a way to pay them, but, since Hitomi had basically gifted him the trio of Midori, Sachiko, and Nariko, he still had a fair amount of money. It would probably cost him an arm and a leg to have all his clothes custom tailored, but there was no way in hell he was going to spend the rest of his life walking around in traditional Nianese clothing...As that thought crossed his mind, Nobu looked down at his lanky frame with a frown. He was practically just skin and bones right now, and, were it not for his unique cultivation technique, his stamina would be complete shit. This was unacceptable, so, while it would ultimately have to wait until later, he began to think about methods to improve his physique as Kumiko sent Chikako off to retrieve the supplies he had requested.........After spending much of the morning uninstalling traps and gathering her things, Yui returned to Nobu's room to find that there was a considerable amount of noise emanating from within. This made it difficult to announce her presence, so, after flaring her aura, she waited until Aiko opened the door before peering inside to find three young girls gathered around her Lord as he hunched over a drawing table.Frowning slightly, Yui made her way over to Kumiko before asking, "What happened while I was gone? Where did these three children come from...?" in a soft tone of voice.Handing over the 'manual' their Lord had prepared, Kumiko began explaining everything that had transpired since Yui's departure. This left her feeling more than a little exasperated, but, at the very least, she had now confirmed that Nobu did, indeed, possess a Heavenly Treasure.Heavenly Treasures came in all shapes and sizes, but, no matter what form they took, the one thing they had in common was that they allowed their users to achieve great things. It was the type of thing everyone coveted, but, unless you were chosen by the Heavens, even stealing a Heavenly Treasure was remarkably difficult. Their recipients were protected by fate, and, even if you did manage to kill or capture them, there was no guarantee you would be able to steal their treasure.Though Nobu's was unlike anything she had ever seen or heard of, Yui was absolutely certain it was a Heavenly Treasure of the highest grade. The ability to empower themselves was quite common among Heavenly Treasures. Nobu's, however, allowed him to empower both himself and others. This made it exponentially more valuable than the majority of Heavenly Treasures, as, throughout history, nations had been built and brought to ruin by people possessing such objects.Noticing Yui approaching, Nobu raised his hand in a casual manner, saying, "Yo. Welcome back." in a relaxed tone of voice. This caused the trio crowding around him to startle slightly, as, even among the younger generations, Yui was quite famous as an 'outcast' within the village. It didn't even cross their minds that they were technically outcasts themselves, but, fortunately for all parties involved, the trio had enough wherewithal to hold their tongues as Yui approached.After waving the girls away, Yui took a seat next to Nobu before looking down to see what he was working on. It wasn't the best drawing she had ever seen but it was far from the worst. As for what the image contained, it appeared to depict a rather muscular man with a short-sleeved shirt, pants, greaves, gauntlets, and several other items of clothing that had been meticulously drawn to include details such as metal fasteners and how the pockets should be arranged.Surprised by the amount of detail present within the image, Yui's brows perked up as she remarked, "This is remarkable. I don't think I've ever seen a belt quite like this one. My Lord appears to possess a talent for tailoring..."Laughing dryly in response to Yui's remark, Nobu resisted the urge to explain how his mother tried to ease the tensions between him and his father by teaching him how to design cosplay props and costumes. He was remarkably bad at sewing and cutting fabrics but he enjoyed the design process more than he ever let on. He had even considered cosplaying as one of his favorite characters from a game called Drakengard, but, fearing it would be a gateway to becoming an Otaku, he ultimately scrapped the idea after producing a replica of the main character's sword from foam and acrylic.Though the notion was a bit cringe, Nobu couldn't deny that the prospect of roaming around as a mysterious swordsman was a little enticing to him. He was a young man, and, while it was bound to bring him all kinds of troubles, who wouldn't want to be a badass if given the chance? At the very least, he didn't want to become some pansy-ass bitch who only sits around and gives orders. Sure, he would prefer a slow and easy life, but, knowing there were people whose lives depended on him, Nobu couldn't tolerate being a burden.With that in mind, Nobu began to doodle the outline of an ax as he stated, "I don't like how baggy the clothes of Nian are. They're uncomfortable and they shift around too much when I'm trying to move around and exercise. Something more form-fitting and elastic like this would be much better. Besides, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm not particularly fond of the culture and traditions of Nian. This should make it pretty clear I'm not like other Nobles..."Seeing the ax her Lord was outlining, a thoughtful glimmer flickered across Yui's eyes. The majority of Nobles used ceremonial swords such as katanas, and, though they were equally proficient in the use of polearms, spears, and bows, most duels were settled using the traditional Nianese weapon. It wouldn't be a problem if he was a simple soldier, but, as someone with the potential to become the next Daimyo, Nobu was bound to receive substantial criticism if he endeavored to walk around with such a 'barbaric' weapon in hand.Though she wanted to caution him against such a thing, Yui ultimately just nodded her head with a supportive smile on her face. She could tell he was genuinely enjoying himself, perhaps for the first time since they met. Thus, rather than risk upsetting him, she just continued silently observing from the side until Cho arrived with lunch.........Immediately following Nobu's departure, Hitomi retreated to the innermost chamber of the main estate to find five inordinately beautiful women waiting for her. This included the perennially pink Suzune, a fierce-looking warrior with gold and black horns protruding from her head, a woman with vaguely snake-like features, an overtly seductive beauty with tattoos covering much of her exposed flesh, and a deceptively youthful-looking girl with inordinately large vulpine ears and six black tails framing her petite figure.In order, the women were Suzune, the Information Elder, Fumetsu, the Security Elder, Yumie, the Poison Elder, Koharu, the Torture and Interrogation Elder, and, last but not least, Inami, the High Priestess, Guardian, and Elder representing Inari Okami-sama. The latter was inarguably the oldest and most powerful member of the Yoshitsune Clan, but, due to her contract with the Goddess Inari, she was unable to become Matriarch and could never, ever, leave the mountain.Wearing her characteristic smile, Hitomi made her way to the seat at the very head of the assembly before sitting down and saying, "I'm glad you were all able to attend on such short notice. I wonder if the arrival of our Young Lord has anything to do with your sudden availability~?"Before any of the other Elders could speak, Inami took it upon herself to state, "Hitomi-sama. Why did you agree to let the Young Lord of the Oda Clan stay within the main estate without conferring with us? Do you truly believe it wise to allow a man to live within a domain blessed by Inari Okami-sama? If any of our people were to fall in love with him, the Goddess will not remain just sit idly by. You should be well aware of this. The Yoshitsune Clan is not allowed to love freely."Though she wanted nothing more than to flick or pull Inami's inordinately large ears, Hitomi just nodded her head in understanding before proceeding to explain, "I have gathered everyone with the intent of informing you about certain truths regarding the Young Lord. Once you hear what I have to say, I believe most of your concerns will be allayed. Now, listen closely...the very survival of the Yoshitsune Clan may hinge upon the decisions we make today..."......(A/N: Massive ears and six tails...that's a lot of fluff (O w O)...)

Chapter 59: On the Edge of Despair