Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

After returning to the castle aboveground, Nobu briefly excused himself to use the bathroom before meeting up with his father and grandfather in one of the more traditional rooms. Both fell silent when he entered, but, before he could ask what they were talking about, Senken beat him to the punch, asking, "What do you know about the situation in Asai?"Though Hitomi had already informed him about Nobu's reaction to the death of Tako, seeing his son apologize in the Dragon's Chamber caused Senken to have doubts. He was originally planning to let Nobu take charge of the situation. If the latter wanted to settle down and focus on building a family, however, he had no intention of opposing him. It was a little unorthodox but he could easily lead the Oda Clan for another decade if his son wasn't ready to step up.Not expecting his father to suddenly mention Asai, Nobu found himself at a momentary loss for words. His beatdown and capture two days prior had helped to put things in perspective. He was still weak, and, the moment he found himself surrounded by enemies, he was basically fucked.With that thought in mind, Nobu closed his eyes and took a long and deep breath before opening them to say, "My information specialist, Kumiko, has gone through all the documents related to the recent turmoil in Asai. I've also gone through a number of documents personally so I have a pretty good idea what's been going on..."Nodding his head in approval, Senken pulled out a large scroll, seemingly out of thin air, before unfurling it on the ground and asking, "And? What do you think we should do about it? Like, if you were the person in charge of dealing with the rebellion, how would you resolve things?"Furrowing his brows, Nobu hesitated to answer. In response, Senken just waved his hand in a casual gesture of dismissal, saying, "Relax, kid. I'm not going to go back on our previous agreement. You're free to continue staying in Yumegakure for as long as you like. We're just interested in hearing how you might tackle the situation."Seeing that the scroll was actually an extremely detailed map of Asai and the surrounding region, a glimmer of interest appeared in Nobu's eyes. It even included a breakdown of the balance of power between the various factions that had rooted themselves within the city. This included color-coded properties, and, more importantly, an outline of each faction's military forces.Before discussing things further, Nobu pulled out his stone tablet to take a photo of the map. This was something he had been trying to get his hands on for quite a while, but, thanks to the contract that restricted their actions, neither Hitomi nor Suzune was allowed to give him a detailed map as it was considered a state secret strictly regulated by the Imperial Family. Anyone found in possession of a detailed map would immediately be tried as a spy, so, with the exception of Daimyos, Generals, and a few affluent merchant associations, everyone else was completely ignorant in regards to the shape, structure, and territorial breakdown of the Archipelago.With several other reincarnators running around, Nobu knew it was only a matter of time before he would need to wage war against them. The Goddess had made it pretty clear that the others were unaware of each other's existence, and, based on how his father and grandfather had been acting, Nobu felt it was safe to assume they couldn't openly discuss their true identities or past lives. Thus, with the expectation that he would be pitted against eight other reincarnators, each in possession of a balance-breaking cheat, Nobu decided to start planning ahead.Fortunately, just as he took a snapshot of the map, yet another notification appeared on Nobu's stone tablet. When he saw what it was, a massive grin developed across his face as a tattered and ancient-looking map had appeared as an App on his Home Screen. It didn't immediately reveal his surroundings, but, in exchange for a substantial amount of Aura, he could basically send out pulses of energy that mapped everything in a 100m radius.Seeing the weird look on his son's face, Senken's serious expression morphed into a wry smile as he asked, "You still with us, kid...?"Blinking back to awareness in response to his father's words, Nobu adopted a wry expression of his own as he explained, "Sorry. My Heavenly Treasure just unlocked a mapping function. It consumes a lot of Aura, but I can use it to create an overhead map of everything in my surroundings. Better yet, it apparently lets me save any maps I've scanned directly. I'm not sure if it updates in real-time, but I now have a map of Owari-Asai stored in my stone tablet."Hearing Nobu's explanation, both Senken and Senichi were shocked. Everything they learned about Nobu's Heavenly Treasure made it appear increasingly broken. At the same time, however, they felt it was remarkably suited for someone with the destiny of uniting the Archipelago.Recovering quicker than his son, Senichi asked, "Can you transfer the details to a piece of paper? If you can actively map your surroundings, that is an unbelievably useful ability in a tactical setting. It could also make managing the territory a lot easier."Since he couldn't find anything that would allow him to superimpose the map onto an object, Nobu eventually shook his head before answering, "No, but I can probably draw it out if I have a piece of grid paper. The map on my stone tablet also uses grids so I shouldn't have any problems creating a copy. I'm not the best artist but I'm pretty good when it comes to linework."Nodding his head in understanding, Senichi decided to shelve the topic of creating updated maps until later. That wasn't the reason they had gathered like this, so, with various duties awaiting him, he decided to get back on track, saying, "Well, we can discuss that later. For now, why don't you try answering your father's question? Your Heavenly Treasure is clearly oriented towards rul...managing others. Let's hear what you have to say."Though he furrowed his brows in response to his grandfather's clearly intentional slip, Nobu was eager to end this conversation so he could rendezvous with Yui. Thus, after taking a moment to organize his thoughts, he answered, "If you had asked me this question a few weeks ago, I would have insisted on assigning a specialized task force to assassinate the current Governor. After that, I would place an embargo on trade with Granus before expelling their ships from port..."Rather than admonishing Nobu for his lack of foresight, Senichi just nodded his head in approval while Senken adopted a strangely proud look on his face. This caused Nobu to feel uncomfortable as the advice he had received from both Hitomi and Suzune left him doubting this was the correct course of action.Noticing Nobu's discomfort, an amused chuckle emanated from Senken's throat before he teasingly inquired, "You're surprisingly sensitive, ain'tcha?"Glaring at the ashen-haired man, Nobu briefly considered telling him to shove a bamboo shoot up his ass. Fortunately, Senken beat him to the punch, adding, "Truth be told, I don't dislike that way of thinking. When I was your age, I got into a lot of trouble because I disliked how political everything was. Hell, if we're being completely honest, I was closer to twice your age before I finally got my shit together..."Scratching the back of his head, Senken's smile became somewhat awkward as he recalled all the trouble he and his friends had gotten into. If his father and the members of his entourage hadn't been there to bail him out, he probably would have lost his life on more than a few occasions...Taking advantage of his son's silence, Senichi decided to add, "Demonstrations of power are vitally important to the stable management of a territory. If this incident didn't involve another country, it might have worked. Unfortunately, we-"Before Senichi could finish speaking, Nobu gave the man an incredulous look, stating, "I said that was the plan I would have come up with weeks ago. The Matriarch of the Yoshitsune Clan and their Information Elder have already explained to me why such a course of action isn't acceptable in this instance. Since then, I have been thinking of other plans to try and resolve everything in a way that ensured the greatest number of benefits for the province..."While he wasn't particularly fond of being interrupted, Senichi just supplied a curt and patient nod before gesturing for Nobu to continue. He knew exactly what kind of woman Hitomi was, and, while he felt the Yoshitsune Clan had too much sway over his grandson, there wasn't much he could really do about it. Nobu had already cooked rice with the Guardian of the Yosthisune Clan, so, depending on what the fates had in store, the Oda and Yoshitsune Clans would be one and the same...With his father and grandfather patiently awaiting his explanation, Nobu took another deep breath before going on to assert, "Trade with Granus has become integral to our economy. In spite of this, I still believe the best course of action moving forward is to place an embargo on trade. So long as we are openly trading with them, the Imperial Family will be unwilling to support our deposition of the current Governor..."Since the Imperial Family had prohibited trade with foreign countries, the Oda Clan was, technically speaking, in gross violation of the law. The only reason the Imperial Family hadn't cracked down on them was because the Oda Clan was among their most powerful allies and one of the only families that still supported the Ashikaga Shogunate. They were also the largest consumer of luxury goods imported from the Heavenly Kingdom and Granus, so, when it came down to it, they would be the most affected if trade suddenly ceased. It was an amazing example of the 'rules for thee, not for me' mentality..."While we await the decision of the Imperial Family, we'll send a representative to conduct a public audit. In actuality, they will just be a figurehead while a team of experts investigates the Governor's family and negotiates terms and pledges support to the other influential factions in the region. This includes the merchants of Granus, who, in exchange for being able to stay in port, will need to pay a leasing fee..."Though he actually wanted to investigate Granus and try to seize some of their tech, Nobu wasn't too optimistic about their chances of success. Thus, taking advantage of the fact it took literal years to complete a round trip between their two countries, he wanted to put pressure on those currently in port using the inbound ships as leverage. After all, while those currently present might have more than enough supplies to set sail, those just arriving would have no choice but to resupply."Our end goal will be to renegotiate terms and redistribute power in Asai so that a repeat incident is less likely to occur. If the merchants of Granus refuse, we will take inbound vessels hostage and force them to exchange their goods in exchange for the supplies necessary to return. We may end up making an enemy in the long term but we should be able to benefit for the next seven years or so. In the end, this is the consequence their actions have mandated. If we give ground in the pursuit of profits, they will become even more brazen in the future. Instead, we should focus on increasing our revenue through internal production and distribution. Relying on imports from another country will place us in a precarious position if we ever find ourselves at odds with our neighbors..."As the merchants of Granus were disgustingly opportunistic, it wasn't even remotely difficult to imagine them increasing their prices the moment Owari entered into conflict with the surrounding Provinces. They would basically be able to name their prices, so, in an effort to teach them a lesson and temporarily remove them from the picture, Nobu was more than willing to step on a few toes.Hearing Nobu's surprisingly rational assessment of the situation, smiles developed across the faces of Senken and Senichi. Nobu had even pointed out a few things they had overlooked, so, while they still had a number of misgivings about the future, the notion that Nobu would be the one to unify the Archipelago was now firmly cemented in their minds...And thus they laughed.......(A/N: Our boy is as clever as he is petty xD...)

After discussing the matter at length, Senken asked the question Nobu had been anticipating since his return from the bathroom, specifically, "What are your thoughts about being the representative we send to Asai? At your current rate of growth, the members of your entourage should be able to reach the pinnacle of Platinum by the deadline of our original agreement. If you consent to become the next Patriarch, we can even prepare some Mithril for those closest to you..."Though Nobu had made it pretty obvious he didn't want to govern, Senken knew it would prevent a lot of future problems if his son ascended to the position of Daimyo. Nobu had a very progressive mentality. Without the status and authority to back his aims, there would be no end to the number of obstacles preventing his success.Shrugging his shoulders, Nobu answered, "I have three children on the way. I don't mind being the representative but I think it would be pretty fucked up of me to pack up my bags and wander off so soon after their birth. As for the whole Patriarch thing...what about my younger brothers? You must have been preparing one of them to take charge, right?"Exhaling a sigh, Senken ran his fingers through his hair before staring listlessly up at the ceiling and answering, "Your brother, Nobuhiro, was a good kid but he...no, I allowed the words of my younger brother to pollute his way of thinking. As for Nobukatsu...he is too naive to ever rule over others. At best, he could be a puppet..."Hanging his head in shame, Senken fully expected Nobu to admonish him for his failure as a father. Instead, Nobu exhaled a notably exasperated sigh, remarking, "Of course..." before shaking his head and adding, "If your brother was able to influence his way of thinking, there's no reason others can't do the same. I don't really have an interest in becoming Patriarch so I don't mind supporting him as an advisor if he has a suitable frame of mind. The circumstances of a person's birth shouldn't decide whether or not they are qualified to rule. If he's spent the last seventeen years preparing to become the next Lord of Owari, he's a hell of a lot more qualified than I am..."Recalling how he used to have a very similar mindset, a wry smile developed across Senken's face as an awkward chuckle emanated from his throat. Fortunately, his father was also present, so, instead of having to sound like a hypocrite, he was able to remain silent as the middle-aged Oda explained, "The problem is that your brother lacks a Heavenly Treasure. So long as you are in possession of the stone tablet, people will always believe you're more suited for the position. Beyond that, there is the matter of the Yoshitsune Clan...I believe you're overlooking an important factor..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu's tone and body language become marginally more hostile as he asked, "What do you mean...?"Adopting an even more serious expression, Senichi explained, "The Yoshitsune Clan is bound by an exceptionally powerful contract that has been certified by the Goddess of the Harvest, Inari-Okami-sama. Every member of their line is fated to obey the Lord of the Oda Clan. This is one of the main reasons we do not allow for formal marriages between our two Clans..."Though he was briefly confused by Senichi's words, it didn't take long for Nobu to understand the greater meaning behind them. The former, noticing his realization, nodding his head in a solemn manner, stating, "That's right. Your children will also be influenced by this contract. If you refuse to become Patriarch, you are placing their fate in the hands of another. Your brother might be a good man at heart but envy and jealousy are powerful emotions..."Resisting his almost overwhelming urge to release a string of curses, Nobu opened and closed his fists a few times before asking, "Is there a way to annul the contract...?"As there were no traces of the contract whenever he viewed a person's status, Nobu assumed it was a part of the Curse that influenced even honorary members of the Yoshitsune Clan. If so, he should be able to remove it himself, but, just to be safe, he wanted to hear what his grandfather had to say.Somewhat surprisingly, Senichi nodded his head before crossing his arms and explaining, "There is. However, it comes at the cost of Inari-Okami-sama's blessing. Annulling the contract would imperil the people of Owari, so, for the last six thousand years, the Yoshitsune Clan has dutifully carried out their responsibilities for the greater good..."Glowering the moment he heard the phrase 'for the greater good', Nobu had to fight hard against the urge to tell his grandfather to shove the greater good up his ass. He had always detested such sayings, as, more often than not, the 'greater good' was used as a justification to perpetuate some of the most heinous acts in human history. It was an excuse used by the people in power to avoid personal responsibility and bypass having to spend time and resources on alternative solutions.Unfortunately, while there were countless parallels between Terra and Earth, the latter had a distinct lack of evidence to prove the existence and power of Gods. Terra was the opposite in this regard as the influence of Gods could be seen pretty much everywhere. Depending on your actions, there was a very real chance you could inadvertently insult one of them. Then, depending on how spiteful and petty they were, they could literally sacrifice a fragment of their power to curse you and your family for hundreds of generations...Realizing that it might not be so easy to annul Inari-Okami's Curse, a look of grim resolution slowly formed across Nobu's face. There was no way in hell he was going to let someone have compulsory authority over his children. Thus, after a long moment of silence, he clenched his hands to the point his knuckles had turned white before saying, "Fine...fate wants to place me in charge of the Clan? I'll do it. Just don't blame me if and when shit hits the fan..."Contrasting Nobu's expectations, Senken and Senichi adopted gratified and appreciative smiles as the former said, "No worries, kid. If that happens, we'll be right there with you. Becoming Patriarch doesn't mean you'll have to handle everything alone. Rather, our most important duty is delegating responsibilities to others. That means, once you take over as Patriarch, you'll have the singular right to pick and choose who you want as ministers and retainers. If you really want to support Nobuhiro, you just need to be a better big brother than I was..."Though he had thought this numerous times over the past two days, Nobu couldn't help thinking that Senken was both an amazing person and an incredible father. The man just took everything in stride, and, though it was very clear he had made numerous mistakes over the years, he didn't allow them to weigh him down. It was truly commendable.What Nobu didn't know was that Senken and Senichi had come to a similar conclusion in regards to him. Most people would resent being forced into a position they didn't want, yet, after a mere three exchanges, Nobu had already accepted the reality of his situation. More importantly, the look in his eyes showed resolution rather than resignation. This was something that generally took a long time to form, yet, as if it had been slumbering within him his entire life, Nobu was already exhibiting the resolve necessary to be a leader.........While Nobu was inadvertently strengthening his position in the hearts and minds of Senken and Senichi, a young man with inordinately long black hair and slightly feminine features was making his way through the silent halls of Inuyama's Inner Sanctum.Seeing the young man walking through the halls, every servant immediately lowered their heads as a gesture of respect. In spite of this, the youth regarded them as little more than air as he bypassed each and every one of them without so much as a curt nod or a polite greeting. It was only after he reached his destination that the youth's previously expressionless face, adorned with ruby-like eyes and sharp eyebrowed, morphed into a polite smile."Forgive me for the intrusion, Kaa-chan, but there is a matter I would like to discuss..."Without waiting for a response, the youth slid open the door before turning statuesque when he noticed the room's other occupants. The smile on his face immediately faded away, and, in its place, a look of disdain marred his fair features as he stated, "You shouldn't be here...""Hiro-chan! What did I tell you about being rude to Nohime-chan...!?"Furrowing his brows, the young man, Nobuhiro, glared at Nohime as if she was responsible for his mother chastising him. Then, much like the servants he passed along the way, he decided to ignore her as he turned towards his mother and offered an apologetic bow, stating, "Forgive me, Kaa-chan. It appears my training has left me somewhat fatigued..."Though she adopted a slight pout in response to her son's behavior, the woman, Nana, eventually raised herself to her feet before approaching him and asking, "What's wrong?" in a motherly tone.As it was unusual for his mother to meet him at the entrance, Nobuhiro's brows raised as he looked over her to stare at Yui. He didn't recognize who she was, but, feeling his mother was attempting to conceal yet another secret, his eyes sharpened as he muttered, "I don't believe I've had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Kaa-chan's guest..."Increasing Nobuhiro's suspicions, Yui stared directly at him for a brief moment before offering a curt nod. This implied an unordinary status, as, even if they were Warriors affiliated with the Oda Clan, everyone was obligated to lower their heads to him...Smiling wryly in response to her son's words, Nana attempted to guide him out of the room so they could speak elsewhere. Nobuhiro didn't resist this, but, before departing the room, he made sure to commit Yui's features to memory. He had made a point to memorize the names and faces of every single person with access to Inuyama's Inner Sanctum. If his mother was trying to keep the woman's identity a secret, he would do everything in his power to uncover her origins.........Following the departure of Nana and Nobuhiro, Yui promptly found herself as the focal point of Nohime's icy glare. Now that they were alone, ignoring the fact that Nobuhime was resting at the side, the onyx-eyed woman didn't hesitate to say, "I can't do anything about my husband choosing you. However, regardless of the circumstances, my position as the official wife remains unchanged. Once you have given birth, you will renounce any claims your children have to an inheritance. Do I make myself clear...?"Surprising Nohime quite a bit, Yui's expression hardened as she stared directly at the woman and said, "You're making a grave mistake. These are not things we, as women, can decide. Lady Suzuki and I have both explained Nobunaga-sama's peculiarities to you. If you continue thinking like this, it is only a matter of time before Nobunaga-sama annuls your marriage. He cares little for politics and outright disdains many of Nian's cultures and traditions. If you believe your status as a Princess affords you some inalienable right, you're going to be severely disappointed when Nobunaga-sama shatters your expectations..."Though she understood the importance of the alliance between Owari and Mino, Yui knew Nobu better than anyone else in Nian. She knew he would tolerate being married to Nohime if it meant keeping the peace, but, the moment anyone attempt to force him to behave a certain way, he was bound to lash out. This was one of his more peculiar yet praiseworthy qualities. He was remarkably easy to convince if you played off his sensibilities, but, the moment you attempted to force him, he would do everything in his power to oppose you. He had a remarkable sense of responsibility, but, unlike others with similar dispositions, he was unwilling to capitulate to threats. If you tried to force him, you might succeed in dictating his actions, but, given enough time, it was inevitable that Nobu would get his revenge...Glowering in response to Yui's words, Nohime clenched her hands into fists. Before she could say anything in retaliation, however, Nobuhime began to make a series of disgruntled baby sounds that demanded attention. Unfortunately, despite her bridal training, Nohime had no experience dealing with children. As a result, she could only observe as Yui sprang to her feet and skillfully resolved the situation.........(A/N: Nobu is beginning to learn that fate is not so easily eluded...)

"It must be that traitorous bastard from the Date Clan. We'll need to report this finding to the Imperial Court as soon as possible."After leaving the Dragon's Chamber and retreating far beyond the Yamata-no-Orocihi's ability to perceive, this was the first thing Senichi said. In response, Senken nodded his head, an inordinately serious look on his face as he said, "I had almost forgotten about that bastard's betrayal. Shouldn't the Uesugi, Ashina, and Satake Clans have dealt with him by now...?"As the lands occupied by the Date Clan were practically surrounded by forces loyal to the Imperial Family, Senken couldn't understand how they had failed to take action. The leader of the Uesugi Clan, Uesugi Kenshin, was the current generation's 'God of War'. She might be a woman, but, much like Musashi, she had managed to make a name for herself in an unreasonably short period of time. She was only in her thirties, but, thanks to the blessings of Bishamonten, one of the Shichi-fuku-jin, she could even fight people a full Realm above her without giving ground.Understanding his son's thoughts, Senichi shook his head, stating, "Even if Kenshin is known as the Dragon of Echigo, she can't simply charge into enemy territory on her own. You forget that she isn't an original descendant of the Uesugi Clan. She acquired her title and position as compensation for sheltering the previous patriarch, Uesugi Norimasa. Though he agreed to her terms and took her as his successor, Norimasa has been doing everything in his power to seize Echigo as install his son as Daimyo. If Kenshin were to leave the capital for an extended period of time, that old bastard would quickly claim it for himself."With intensely furrowed brows, it was pretty obvious that Senken wasn't enthused by his father's words. Nobu, however, had become fully alert, his expression showing shock and mild incredulity as he asked, "Uesugi Kenshin is a woman? Who's next, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro?"As his words were intended more as a joke than anything else, Nobu felt a little enervated when his father and grandfather stared at him with somewhat confused expressions before the latter replied, "I've never heard of this Sasaki Kojiro but Miyamoto Musashi is, indeed, a woman. In fact, she is the most powerful female cultivator in Nian and the single most deadly threat to its warriors. If you ever see or hear about a woman with wild, vermillion hair walking around with a giant machete, don't let your curiosity get the better of you. Just run."Nodding his head in approval of his father's words, Senken added, "There is a saying in Nian. When Musashi nears, you either flee or die. Any warrior who crosses paths with her, even as a mistake, is fated to be struck down. It doesn't matter how many people you send. Trying to oppose Musashi is like trying to redirect a hurricane or slice through a tsunami. She is a walking natural disaster."Hearing his father's and grandfather's words, Nobu couldn't help massaging his forehead with his left hand. The way they talked about Musashi made it seem as though it was only a matter of time before he encountered the infamous redhead. Hell, he was even beginning to suspect he had been transported into the world of an eroge. After all, Yui and the others had expressed, time and again, how difficult it was to be a female cultivator in Nian. It couldn't be a simple coincidence that two of the most powerful warriors in Japanese history turned out to be female...Recalling that the Musashi of his world was born almost fifty years after his namesake, Nobu took a moment to organize his thoughts before asking, "Just out of curiosity...are there people named Abe no Semei and Benkei running around...?"Before answering Nobu's question, Senken and Senichi exchanged glances with one another before the latter ultimately nodded his head and answered, "Abe no Semei is one of the Sacred Guardians protecting Nian and the Imperial Family. She is widely considered to be the most powerful Onmyōji in history. As for Benkei...they are a little more obscure, but, according to intelligence reports, they have been traveling around the country in an effort to gather a thousand different weapons..."Hearing his grandfather's reply, Nobu needed to take a seat. He had studied Japanese History for two years and had even traveled abroad with his mother on numerous occasions. He wasn't exactly a history buff, but he knew the basics about a lot of Japan's most famous and influential people.Though they appeared in numerous video games and anime related to the Sengoku Period, Abe no Semei and Benkei had both lived and died hundreds of years before its onset. The only reason they appeared in games and stuff was because of their prominence in Japanese Folklore. Abe no Semei was the most powerful Onmyōji to have ever lived while Benkei, alongside being the Chief Retainer of Minamoto Yoshitsune, another remarkably famous figure, was rumored to have defeated more than three-hundred soldiers and samurai during his last stand at the Battle of Koromo River. In the end, his enemies literally had to pepper him with hundreds of arrows as trying to fight him directly was tantamount to suicide...("Well...at least I didn't loop myself into thinking that the events of my life would follow the history of my namesake to a tee...")Now that he was aware that people like Abe no Semei and Benkei were present, Nobu could safely assume that other famous figures would be present. This didn't just apply to Nian, but the world as a whole. After all, Inami had proven that people could easily survive for thousands of years. To that end, it was safe to assume that many of the most famous and influential figures from various myths would be present in other countries. To make matters worse, some of these figures would probably be the reincarnators he was presumably expected to defeat..."It's like playing Civ...for keeps..."Shaking that thought from his mind, Nobu looked towards his father and grandfather, who, as could be expected, appeared confused by his behavior. In response, he just smiled wryly, elbows resting on his knees as he asked, "So? What now? You didn't bring me down here just to show me that snakehead and tell me about some inherited duty, did you?"Scratching the back of his head, Senken appeared moderately uncomfortable as he answered, "Well...kind of? I mean, protecting this place has been the sacred duty of the Oda Clan for the last six thousand years. It was important that you at least knew about it. I have no intention of telling you how to live, but, for the sake of our family and the people who depend on us, there are certain things you need to keep in mind when you're making decisions. Take it from me, kid. If your selfish decisions result in the suffering of others, you'll end up regretting it for the rest of your life..."Wincing in response to his father's words, the smile on Nobu's face promptly faded away as a mild feeling of indignation swelled within his heart. He was well aware of the truth contained within such words as he was still regretting the decision he made prior to his reincarnation. If he had been born normally, he would have been able to accrue a tremendous amount of power by the time he was in his teens. Instead, his decision left him playing catch-up while his parents and entourage had been made to suffer as a result of his selfishness...Exhaling a sigh, Nobu surprised both Senken and Senichi by suddenly closing his eyes and saying, "Sorry..." in a meek, nearly inaudible tone. They didn't know exactly why he was apologizing, but, understanding he was being sincere, the duo exchanged glances before Senken walked over, his voice awkward yet caring as he ruffled Nobu's hair and said, "Don't worry about it...whatever you think you did wrong, we forgive you..."Though he frowned in response to having his hair ruffled, Nobu felt a sourness in his nose when he heard Senken's words. At the same time, a feeling of tightness spread through his throat and chest as memories of all the times the man had apologized to his catatonic self played in his mind.........When she learned that Yui was pregnant with Nobu's child, Nohime wanted nothing more than to strangle the 'harlot' for daring to seduce her husband. She had never felt so betrayed in her entire life, and, were it not for the presence of Nana, she might not have been able to keep her cool.Fortunately, as part of the explanation, Nohime had also come to learn about Nobu's Heavenly Treasure. She wasn't given every detail but she was informed about its ability to drastically improve a person's cultivation in a short period of time. This was spectacular news, as, despite putting on a false smile and pretending it didn't bother her, one of the things Nohime had always resented was her inability to cultivate freely.Though she was a princess and possessed remarkable intelligence, Nohime had been denied the right to cultivate freely as a result of Nobu's death. The only reason most females were allocated cultivation resources was to ensure they gave birth to a powerful heir, so, with her husband dead, the Elders of the Oda Clan had done everything in their power to deny her resources.While others near her age were at the pinnacle of Silver or even breaking into Gold, Nohime had been forced to stagnate as a Rank 9 Iron Warrior for more than a decade. It was one of the things that had always bothered her so it was a tremendous relief when she heard Nobu had the ability to drastically increase a person's Aura in a short period of time. She was in such a good mood, in fact, that she was nearly willing to forgive Yui for seducing her husband.Nearly."I'm curious to know, Yui-dono. What, exactly, were the circumstances that led to you and another becoming pregnant with my hus-with Nobunaga-sama's child? I was informed that the Yoshitsune Clan had laws strictly forbidding their Kunoichi from bearing the children of the Oda Clan. In fact, I believe the penalty for breaking said laws is execution via flogging...""No-chan! What are you saying...!?"Hearing Nohime's words, a fretful expression developed across Nana's face. She didn't expect her surrogate daughter to insinuate that Yui should be executed for her actions. Sure, the law might be clear on such issues, but, in the face of true love, rules and traditions were meaningless. She could see how Nobu looked at Yui, so, even if she cared dearly for Nohime, Nana wasn't going to tolerate such insinuating remarks.Fortunately, Yui had already been expecting such a question, so, before Nohime could even pretend to apologize, she calmly stated, "It was the decision of my Lord and Master, Nobunaga-sama. When you meet, you will quickly learn that Nobunaga-sama is unlike any other man living within Nian. His values are drastically different from ours and he has no interest in any culture or tradition that limits a person's individual freedoms. I can understand why you would hate me, Nohime-san. You are well within your rights to do so. However, no matter what, I will continue to walk this path alongside my Lord."With an indifferent expression that could put an extra layer on ice, Nohime stared directly into Yui's obsidian-blue eyes. She could see the resolution contained within the younger woman's gaze, but, after working herself to the bone for the better part of ten years, Nohime refused to believe anyone was as resolute as she. Thus, while she was prepared to adjust her behavior in accordance with her husband's sensibilities, she had absolutely no intention of recognizing Yui, or anyone else for that matter, as her equal.........(A/N: That one decision of Nobu's had far-reaching effects...)

Chapter 125: Rationale