Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

"Anyway, our priority for the moment is leaving the city and returning to the mountain. My parents might be able to protect us but it's too dangerous to stay here at our current power level. We need the others with us and I need to get a hell of a lot stronger before we even think about announcing my return."If the incident with Young Master Peng had taught Nobu anything, it was that he was still too weak and that his enemies were ruthless. More importantly, Yui was currently pregnant. He didn't want to risk anything happening to the baby, so, even if his mothers wanted him to stay put, Nobu wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened...As Yui had no issues with returning to the mountain, it was Nohime who answered, "Though I will not protest to an early departure, I would prefer a few days to prepare. Lady Suzuki has helped me create an information network and expand several businesses. If I disappear into thin air, everything I built these past ten years will invariably fall into the hands of another."Though he was tempted to click his tongue, Nobu managed to restrain the urge as he nodded his head and said, "That's fine. My mother and little sister would probably be upset if we departed too soon. I also have some things to work out with my Father and Grandfather so we can probably stay a few days without...any issues..."Feeling an indescribable sense of uneasiness swelling in the back of his mind, Nobu's words trailed off as he began to seriously question whether or not he had some kind of plot sense..."Is something the matter...?"Having never witnessed one of Nobu's pensive moments, Nohime was slightly taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor. As for Yui, she appeared calm yet serious as she asked, "Did you sense something? Is it another flag?"Shaking his head, Nobu briefly massaged his forehead and temples before answering, "I'm not sure. Either way, it would be better to stay on our toes and stick together until we leave the city. No more disappearing like before..."Though he knew it wasn't really her fault, Nobu directed his final few words to Yui. He knew she was just trying to be considerate of his mother but that wasn't the reason they had come to the city. She was his bodyguard, the mother of his unborn child, and his future wife. If anything was to happen, it would almost certainly happen to her.Noticing the concern in Nobu's eyes, a faint smile developed across Yui's face as she softly asserted, "It won't happen again..."Nodding his head in approval, Nobu's expression gradually relaxed. Then, noticing the shadow of a pout behind Nohime's veil of calm, he decided to explain what flags were and his presumed ability to sense them. This came as quite the surprise to the young Noblewoman, who, understanding the importance of such an ability, vowed to never reveal it.........While Nobu was enjoying breakfast alongside Yui and Nohime, Senken was seated across from an effeminate-looking youth with long black hair and crimson eyes. A frown had marred both of their expressions, as, despite being father and son, the two rarely conversed like this."Father...has something happened these past few days? I met with mother yesterday and she was behaving...strangely..."Suppressing a sigh, Senken uncrossed his arms before answering, "You're not the type of person to come to me with questions and concerns. Out with it, brat. Why did you request this meeting...?"With a sad look on his face, the young man, Nobuhiro, lowered his head before questioning, "Is our relationship so terrible we can't even eat together without tension and conflict...?"Clicking his tongue, Senken uncorked a ceramic flask before taking a large swig of the contents. He hated meeting with his Second Son like this, as, every time they conversed, Nobuhiro would readily take advantage of his feelings of guilt and failure. This was a skill he had learned from his Uncle, so, whenever they met like this, Senken couldn't help imagining his brother standing behind Nobuhiro like a puppeteer pulling his strings..."I wish..."Hearing his father's silent utterance, Nobuhiro raised his head, a hint of confusion on his face as he remarked, "I'm afraid I didn't hear you..."Meeting his son's gaze, Senken's expression became serious despite the pain visible in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to get along with all of his children, but, due to the machinations of fate and his failings as a father, his eldest had been expelled from the family while the second eldest had been led astray and manipulated by people who regarded him as little more than a convenient tool."I wish I had been a better father to you. Now, even if I wanted to patch things between us, I'm not sure you would be willing to listen. Not now..."Furrowing his brows, Nobuhiro found himself at a loss for words. This wasn't the first time he had heard an apology from his father. What made this situation different was the insinuation that his father had all but given up on mending their relationship."Listen, Hiro. No matter what your Uncle has told you, I have always regarded you as my son. The reason I didn't prepare you for the position of Daimyo was because it was never your fate to govern Owari. Your Uncle, my brother took advantage of my failings and your insecurities to turn you into his pawn. Now, even if you were to become Lord of Owari, we both know you wouldn't be the one in control..."With a far more sincere expression of distress on his face, Nobuhiro balled his hands into fists as he weakly replied, "You're wrong..." in a voice that quivered with anger, indignation, and a fair amount of grief.In spite of his words, Nobuhiro understood the truth contained within his father's. His Uncle had demonstrated, time and again, that he was the most suited to govern Owari. He was the only one that could ensure the prosperity of the province during these trying times, so, once he ascended to the position of Daimyo, Nobuhiro had been intending to install his Uncle as his Chief Magistrate, Chamberlain, and Minister of Trade. These three positions were typically supposed to keep each other in check, so, the moment Senzo occupied all three, he would be Daimyo in everything but name.Shaking his head, Senken's brows furrowed as he closed his eyes and revealed, "Your eldest brother has returned..."Though this was the matter his Uncle had sent him to confirm, Nobuhiro was still surprised to hear his father reveal the truth. He felt as though a pit had been opened in his stomach, and, despite his efforts to appear calm, his brain was buzzing due to a sudden and instantaneous bout of lightheadedness."Impossible..."Shaking his head a second time, Senken assured, "It's not impossible. In fact, it's the primary reason your grandfather and I never attempted to groom you as my successor. We have been preparing for your brother's return since before he was expelled. Now that-""Why didn't you tell me...!?"Slamming the table before him with enough force to crack its surface, Nobuhiro's expression revealed desperation and panic as he stared back at his father. He had never felt so betrayed, so insignificant in his entire life.Opening his eyes, Senken's expression became a mask of calm as he explained, "If news of your brother's survival had been leaked to the outside, countless people would have done everything in their power to ensure his death. I was intending to tell you once you were old enough to keep a secret. By then, it was already too late. You allowed your insecurities to be taken advantage of by your Uncle and I was too preoccupied with my responsibilities to take notice..."Realizing his words could be misconstrued as him blaming his son, Senken's mask of calm gradually transitioned into an apologetic expression as he lowered his head and said, "I failed you, Hiro. If I had been a better father, none of this would have happened. Now, I dare not ask for your forgiveness. Instead, I implore you to be understanding. You're a good man and your brother is something this country desperately needs right now. Before you let your Uncle turn you against him, I want you to recall what it was like when Nobu was around. Imagine what it's like to be trapped within your body for eighteen years without being able to move so much as a single muscle. If that's not enough, imagine how saddened your mother would be if the two of you ended up fighting against one another..."Clenching his hands and teeth, Nobuhiro had to fight against an almost overwhelming urge to tear up. He knew his father was right, but, at the same time, he still felt betrayed. What was he supposed to do with all this anger and resentment? What was he supposed to do with his life now that he knew his brother was almost guaranteed to ascend to a position he had been preparing to occupy ever since he was eight years old?"I hate you..."Voicing the sentiment he had compartmentalized up for years, Nobuhiro was surprised by how painful it was to actually vocalize his hatred. The pained expression on his father's face didn't help any. Rather, it caused the sour feeling building in his nose to become even more potent as a knot promptly formed in his throat...With a visible layer of moisture spreading across his eyes, Senken surprised Nobuhiro by nodding his head and answering, "I understand..." in a heartwrenching tone. Then, with a forced smile on his face, he appended, "I probably deserve that. Just...please...promise me that you won't allow your hatred towards me to pollute your relationship with your brother. One of my biggest regrets was turning against my brothers and crippling one of the people who should have served alongside me as my greatest ally. If I had been a better man at the time, your Uncle and I would have made Owari a much better place. Don't repeat the same mistake...be better than I ever was..."Desperate to guide his son back to the correct path, Senken punctuated his words by forming a bluish-purple blade with his left hand. Immediately thereafter, he sliced through the tendons of his right hand even as Nobuhiro reached forward, exclaiming, "Father! No...!" in a panicked tone.Smiling in spite of the fact his right arm was now dangling by flesh and sinew, Senken reacted to Nobuhiro's panic by extending his left hand to embrace the befuddled youth. An arm was a small price to pay for his children's futures. If this could bring his sons together, he didn't care if his career as a warrior had come to an end. There were more important things in life and he had already made the mistake of being a terrible father once. There was no way in hell he was going to let his pride get in the way of setting things right...Not this time.........(A/N: Shanks vibes...)

*tak* *tak* *tak*Hearing a soft knocking outside, Nobu set aside his cup of coffee before calling out, "It's open." in a dull tone.While it wasn't exactly a typical response, the person outside the door understood Nobu's words to mean they could enter. The door promptly slid open to reveal a bald, monk-like man with strikingly feminine features. It was only after the 'man' lowered his head and spoke that Nobu realized he was actually a woman."There is an emergency situation that requires your presence. Lady Suzuki has sent me to retrieve you. Please, follow me.""Huh...?"As he was currently in the middle of eating, Nobu wasn't too enthused by the sudden summons. In spite of this, he ended up rising to his feet and brushing a few stray crumbs from his yukata, asking, "What happened?" in an audibly annoyed tone.Bowing even lower, the 'masculine' woman replied, "Forgive me, Young Master. I was not informed of the details."Clicking his tongue, Nobu pulled out his stone tablet to sneak a photo of the Sorcerer Supreme wannabe. He had figured out that he could analyze specific parts of a person's Status at a reduced cost, so, rather than revealing all of the woman's information, he purchased the data on her Status Conditions for 8,911AU.Noticing nothing amiss, Nobu slipped the stone tablet into the sleeve of his yukata before turning to Yui and Nohime, saying, "Let's go. Remember to stay on your toes."Nodding their heads in affirmation, Yui and Nohime rose to their feet at nearly the exact same time. Then, surprising the bald-headed woman, they promptly flanked him with serious and determined looks on their faces.As Nobu's identity wasn't exactly known as of yet, the bald-headed woman found herself at a loss for words when she saw Nohime standing so close to him.Fortunately, like the majority of servants within the Inner Sanctum, the woman was sensible enough not to stick her nose into the private affairs of Nobles. Unless her Lord or Lady specifically asked her to reveal something, she would never speak of Nohime's 'infidelity' to others........."Sen-chan! How could you do something like this!? Have you lost your mind...!?"Smiling wryly in response to his wife's words, Senken rubbed the visible knots atop his head as he explained, "It was an investment in the future. Besides, it's not like I need my right arm to wipe the floor with people. This just makes things more interesting."As he had always been ambidextrous, Senken wasn't concerned with the crippling of a single arm. He had also made the cut as clean as possible, so, as long as he didn't get some kind of infection, he should be able to regain about 70% of the limb's functionality. He would be weaker, sure, but it wasn't as if he was helpless. Even with no arms, he would still be able to barrel through his enemies like a train with its brakes cut.Though it was well known that Mithril possessed magical qualities that made it exponentially easier to manipulate than other metals, its most unique property was the fact it was virtually indestructible against non-magical weapons. Since it was also extremely resistant to magic, those at the Realm of Mithril Lord were regarding as Gods of the Battlefield.Hitting her husband for the umpteenth time, Nana appeared even more upset as she shouted, "I don't care about that! You can't just go around hurting yourself...!"Understanding his wife was just worried about him, Senken didn't complain about the growing number of bumps on his head. Instead, he pulled her closer to him, an apologetic expression on his face as he whispered, "You know I didn't do this to make you upset...tell me, what can I do to make it up to you...?"As she had always been weak to all forms of intimacy, the anger in Nana's expression promptly gave way for a far more bashful look. Unfortunately for Senken, her anger was far from abated, so, after a moment of silence, she whispered, "Let me accompany Nobu-chan to Yumegakure. I don't want to miss any more of his life and I want to be there when Yui-chan gives birth. I also feel there is a powerful connection between our son and Hime-chan. I want them to be able to spend more time together..."Surprising Nana quite a bit, Senken only hesitated for a brief moment before nodding his head and reluctantly replying, "Sure...just-"Unable to contain her excitement, a radiant smile blossomed across Nana's face before she gave Senken a kiss. Immediately thereafter, she separated him, casually performing a playful spin as she happily chimed, "Hime-chan is going to be so excited~!"Adopting yet another wry smile, Senken suppressed his urge to sigh by running his fingers through his hair. The truth of the matter was that he had already anticipated his wife's request the moment he saw Nobuhime's initial reaction to Nobu. He had even discussed the matter with his father and was currently awaiting a reply from Hitomi, so, while the thought of spending even a few days away from his wife was maddening, Senken had already resolved himself to do whatever it took to ensure the best possible future for his family...*tak* *tak* *tak*Hearing the soft tapping at the door, Nana promptly slid it open, shouting, "Nobu-chan~!" before practically pouncing on the latter. This left Nobu more than a little confused while the servant who had guided him there gawked with a look of wide-eyed, slightly mortified realization. After all, as far as the general populace of Nian was concerned, Nobu was long dead.Noticing the servant woman's presence, Nana quickly released Nobu from her hold before issuing a light cough and saying, "Thank you, Sanae. That will be all..."Coming to her senses the moment she heard Nana's words, Sanae folded her hands over her lap before bowing in a deep and respectful manner as she replied, "As you will, Lady Suzuki. It has been my pleasure to be of assistance."With a curt nod and a wave, Nana dismissed Sanae before ushering Nobu, Nohime, and Yui into the room. Then, just as Nobu was about to ask what the emergency was, Nana's enthusiasm reemerged as she exclaimed, "Nobu-chan, Yui-chan, No-chan, I have great news~!"Blinking in confusion, Nobu awkwardly accepted his mother's renewed embrace as he confusedly looked toward his father. In response, Senken just held up his heavily wrapped arm, a wry smile on his face as he mouthed, "Good luck."Though he was even more confused, Nobu gave Nana a light pat on the back, asking, "What's the great news?" before following up with, "We were kind of in the middle of breakfast..."Willfully ignoring that latter half of Nobu's words, Nana maintained a radiant smile as she released him from her embrace and explained, "Your father has given me permission to come and stay with you on the mountain. I'll be bringing Hime-chan with me so you can play with her while I teach Yui-chan and No-chan how to care for children.""Wait, what the f-you're coming with me?"Adopting an artificial yet effective pout, Nana weakly inquired, "Do you not want to spend time with us...?"Feeling an unexpected bloodlust, Nobu noticed his father glowering at him with his cool yet fucking scary golden eyes. Yui also noticed this, but, understanding she wouldn't even be able to buy time if Senken was serious about attacking, she didn't bother to put up her guard.Blinking a few times in an attempt to suppress the subtle yet distinguishable twitching of his right eye, Nobu forced a smile as he replied, "Don't be stu-silly. Of course I want to spend time with the two of you. You're my mom and my baby sis..."Ignoring the awkwardness in Nobu's behavior and tone, Nana's expression reverted to her normally bubbly self as she covered her mouth and issued a soft giggle."Don't worry. I'm not going there to pester you or get in the way. You see, the Suzuki Clan used to be famous for their swordsmanship. Since you have only recently started your training, now is the best and only time for me to pass on our hereditary techniques. I also want to watch over Yui-chan and make sure there are no issues with her pregnancy. Other than that, I would be happy if you just had tea with me every couple of days..."As this was the first time he was hearing about his mother's side of the family, Nobu's brows perked up as he parroted, "Suzuki Clan? Hereditary Techniques...?"Happy that Nobu was at least a little interested in his heritage, Nana squinted in satisfaction before raising her left hand to reveal a somewhat ancient-looking golden band. If someone were to look at it with a magnifying glass, they would find a runic inscription that resembled a sword carved along its surface.As the runes inscribed upon the bracelet lit up, a crimson light manifested in Nana's hand before quickly taking the form of a dated but strangely intimidating longsword. Its black hilt was covered in blotches that resembled rust, and, unlike the katanas typically wielded by Nianese Warriors, the blade was completely straight, bound in white cloth, and sealed with numerous talismans."The Suzuki Clan is not native to Nian. Our Ancestors immigrated to the Archipelago thousands of years ago after losing in a succession dispute. This sword, Chi Xiao, was one of the few possessions our Ancestors were able to escape with during the conflict. While not as mystifying as your ancient stone tablet, it is a heritage item on the level of a Heavenly Treasure. Once you are ready, I will pass this sword to you so that you might one day pass it to another..."Staring blankly at the sword cradled in his mother's arms, Nobu was half-tempted to reach out and touch it. Instead, he adopted an uncharacteristically solemn look as he nodded his head and said, "I understand..."While his words were the antithesis of how he really felt, Nobu got the impression that passing on her Clan's sword and techniques meant a lot to Nana. As for the history of the Suzuki Clan and the importance of the sword, he expected those would be revealed when she, or, more specifically, he was ready.Exhaling a subtle yet clearly relieved sigh, Nana's expression somehow became even more loving as she returned the sword to her bracelet and said, "I'm glad. You're going to be so busy starting next Spring. Now is really the only opportunity I have to teach you our Clan's ancestral techniques. If you had refused..."Resisting the urge to reach out and caress the remarkably beautiful woman's face, Nobu adopted what he hoped to be a sincere smile as he said, "Relax...I might have a preference for blunt weapons and fists but you can be damned sure I'm going to work my ass off trying to master everything you want to teach me. Just don't go all tiger mom on me..."Tilting her head to the side, Nana asked, "Tiger mom...?" with an innocent and genuinely curious expression on her face.Though it probably wasn't the best idea, Nobu went on to explain what a tiger mom was and how behaving like one had disastrous consequences. Unfortunately, the moment he was finished, Nana, very innocently, replied, "Isn't that just normal training...?"......(A/N: Anyone else getting the impression the sword is just a plot device to get Nobu to venture to the Heavenly Kingdom (O w O)...?)

Though he had effectively exhausted himself during the second, markedly more tender session of lovemaking, Nobu gave Nohime a few minutes to recover before rolling onto his back, exhaling a sigh, and asking, "How was it? You okay...?"With a somewhat dull yet impassioned look on her face, Nohime rolled towards Nobu, her hand coming to rest on his chest as she replied, "It was...better than expected..." before following it up with a soft, "I'll be fine after a bit of rest..."Meeting the raven-haired woman's gaze, Nobu nodded his head in affirmation before surprising her as he said, "For this next part, you should pay close attention. I do what I can to make sure my women get off but you'll need to learn how to give as good as you get. I can't do everything on my own..."Hearing Nobu's words, Nohime was momentarily confused. It was only when she noticed Yui out of the corner of her eye that she both remembered the woman's presence and understood what Nobu was trying to say."Pardon me..."After positioning herself so that she was straddling Nobu's left leg, Yui made her sure hair wasn't in the way before bending down to take his half-erect penis into her mouth. She didn't even bother to clean it, so, along with a growing sense of hostility, Nohime couldn't help feeling disgusted as she witnessed Yui taking Nobu's penis to the base without hesitation.Ignoring Nohime's gaze, Yui skillfully kneaded Nobu's glans with the back of her tongue before slowly pulling her head back as his penis swelled within her mouth. When he was fully erect, she lowered her head a second time, this time allowing his penis to enter her throat as she closed her mouth around his shaft to create a tremendous amount of suction using her mouth and tongue...Clenching his teeth, Nobu's lower back and hips trembled as a jolt of pleasure ran up his back. He hadn't expected Yui to go all out from the very beginning. The tip of his dick was also sensitive after two rounds of sex so his lower voice quivered as he muttered, "Holy shit..."Seeing the look of ecstasy on Nobu's face, Nohime's hostility quickly turned to resentment as she shifted her gaze to Yui. The tenderness Nobu had shown during their second round of lovemaking had given her the impression that Nobu had been captivated by her body. Now, she realized he was just being considerate. Compared to Yui, her skills weren't simply lacking, they were nonexistent...Just as a pouty expression marred Nohime's face, a startled yelp emanated from her throat when Nobu spontaneously gave her nipple a pinch. She had been laying next to him with his arm partly pinned beneath her body. As a result, Nobu was able to pull her even closer to him, his hand and arm embracing her before grasping her right breast.With his other hand tapping Yui's head like a fighter on the ropes, Nobu was given clemency long enough to say, "I'm not going to tell you to stop being jealous but you need to cut it out with the whole envy thing. This isn't a competition. If it was, what makes you think you could compete with someone who has spent half their life training? Instead of resenting someone else for an ability you never even tried to master, focus on learning..."Though he felt like an irredeemable asshole for saying such a thing in the present situation, Nobu knew the only way to get Nohime to change was to call her out whenever she exhibited her hatred and resentment for others. She might come to resent him in the long run, but, if he just ignored her behavior outright, it wouldn't be long before she was either trying to boss Yui around or bar people like Onihime from sharing his bed...Demonstrating her bias to the fullest, Nohime briefly directed a look of resentment towards Yui rather than Nobu. It faded away almost instantly, but, for that very brief moment, even Nobu could feel the woman's bloodlust. It was the kind of feeling he got when handling a venomous snake back in his previous world, so, while the odds of Nohime actually poisoning someone were slim, he made a mental note to check the statuses of his entourage at least four times a day..."I understand...if that is Danna-sama's request, I will abide..."Hearing the frigid chill in Nohime's tone, an exasperated sigh escaped Nobu's throat. He was half-tempted to tell her off, but, understanding it was impossible to change people over the course of a few hours, he decided to just drop it. Instead, he gently caressed the top of Yui's head, his fingers combing through her silky-black strands of hair as a sign to continue where she left off.........Without something like Dragon's Vigor to magically enhance his libido, Nobu could only shoot an average of 2-3 times before he was completely spent. With Yui at the helm, however, he managed to pump out a fourth shot before firing a blank when she was demonstrating how to ride him side-saddle. After that, he shared his chest with the two raven-haired women, forcing them to face one another at the cost of feeling in both arms...Fortunately, while it was pretty obvious Yui wasn't fond of Nohime, the enmity between them was completely one-sided. It would take Nohime trying to kill Nobu for Yui to truly resent her. Thus, for the most part, she wasn't all that bothered by Nohime's behavior. If anything, she empathized with what the woman was going through as it was perfectly natural for someone in her position to be at least a little upset.In nearly every other situation, Yui and Inami would have been sentenced to death the moment it was discovered they were pregnant with Nobu's children. On the off chance they were spared, they would have been forced to shave their head and become monks. As for their children? They would be adopted into one of the branch families or sent away to serve one of the vassal houses without ever learning of their identity.Though she would have disagreed with this sentiment half a year ago, Yui was well aware of how fortunate she was to be chosen as the leader of Nobu's entourage. His absence had made her life a living hell, but, now that they were together, everything Nobu did ended up improving her situation and strengthening his position as a central figure in both the Yoshitsune and Oda Clans.If she were being completely honest, Yui was unable to wrap her head around Nobu's ability to win the hearts and minds of others despite his brash and confrontational nature. His Heavenly Treasure was unbelievably powerful but that didn't really explain why people trusted him.The conclusion Yui had come to, time and again, was that her Grandmother and Lord Senken were conspiring together in preparation for war. It was the only conclusion that fully explained why they were so willing to support Nobu in spite of his explicit contempt for the cultures and traditions they were supposed to protect...Having reached this conclusion shortly after Nobu's first confrontation with the Elder Council, Yui wasn't even remotely surprised when he revealed, "I've decided to respect my father's wishes and become the next Daimyo." during breakfast. Instead, an expectant smile developed across her face as she looked forward to being able to prove herself on a real battlefield.Unfortunately, what Nobu said next made Yui's expression sour as he immediately segued into the subject of Nohime's cultivation. This was immediately noticed by Nohime, who, for a brief moment, adopted a victorious grin until Nobu went on to explain, "By the time we're preparing to head down to Owari-Asai, I expect both of you to be around Mithril 1-2. My family has prepared enough Mithril for two people to break through, but, as my cultivation technique doesn't require it, I've decided to invest it in the people I trust...don't let me down..."Though she was a little annoyed to learn that Yui would also be breaking through to the Realm of Mithril Lord, Nohime comforted herself with the assurance that her Mithril was the portion that had initially belonged to Nobu. As for Yui, she just adopted a faint smile, as, even if she and Nohime had the exact same cultivation base, the difference in their skills ensured she would always come out on top..."As far as the populace is concerned, I died more than a decade ago. We'll need to earn their trust if I'm going to secure my position as Daimyo without too many complaints. To that end, I'll be relying on the two of you to perform to the best of your ability once we arrive. That isn't an exaggeration. I won't know for sure how things will turn out until we actually get there but I'm planning to have the two of you participate in the negotiations with Granus. You'll need to get used to things like that if you're going to be my Strategist and General in the future..."Hearing Nobu's words, looks of disbelief flashed across the faces of Nohime and Yui. Not even the latter had anticipated that he might promote her to the position of General in the future. With the exception of Uesugi Kenshin, women weren't allowed to hold such important positions. There was a longstanding belief that women were too emotional and narrow-minded for positions of power and authority, so, even if their strength far surpassed their male contemporaries, the most distinguished title they could hold was Personal Attendant or Concubine to a Provincial Lord/Daimyo...Amused by the duo's remarkably similar reaction, a smile developed across Nobu's face as he said, "Would you look at that...the two of you are already on the same wavelength. Give it another eight months and you may even be as close as sisters..."Furrowing her brows, Nohime resisted the urge to declare she would never regard a Kunoichi as her sister. Instead, she decided to focus on the more important matter, stating, "While I can appreciate the gesture, installing women to positions of power isn't the best way to win the people's trust. The cultures and traditions of Nian have persisted for thousands of years. Attempting to change the way people think takes time..."Shaking his head, Nobu surprised Nohime a second time by stating, "I don't really care. You see, the problem with your way of thinking is that you only take into consideration the status quo. The trust I'm talking about has nothing to do with that. In fact, I'm planning to flip the status quo on its head. I mean, seriously, the way things are right now is so fucking back-asswards that I feel like smashing my head against the wall every time I learn something new about our society..."Reinforcing his statement, Nobu reached up to massage his temples, an exasperated look on his face as he exhaled a tired sigh. Then, with a serious expression on his face, he said, "The trust I'm talking about is something more fundamental. All people, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity desire the freedom to make their own decisions. That's the only reason people even care about things like power and wealth, as, without them, they're pretty much forced to listen to someone else. As females in a feudal society, I doubt I need to tell you how much that fucking sucks..."Though neither of them vocalized a response, Nohime and Yui would be lying if they said they didn't empathize with the things he was saying. Their lives had been decided for them before they were even born, and, while this wasn't anything particularly abnormal within Nianese society, there was no denying they wouldn't have preferred making their own decisions. Thus, while they couldn't shake the feeling Nobu was saying something sacrilegious, they also felt a giddiness that seemed to radiate from deep within their subconscious minds.........(A/N: Nobu is playing with fire...)

Chapter 133: Investment