Kubi (首)

NECK

Osaka, autumn, 1579.

Retainer Araki Murashige's rebellion against Oda Nobunaga's campaign

to unify japan has lasted one year and three long months.

Murashige asked for support from other warlords opposed to Nobunaga,

including Mouri Terumoto, ruler of the Chugoku region.

Fight! Reinforcements are on the way!

Araki Murashige

Wipe out these Owari bastards!

But the reinforcements never arrived.

Don't run away! Don't run away!

You!

Don't you run away!

Cowards! Don't run away!

Don't run away!

After the castle fell, Murashige disappeared.

Hashiba Hideyoshi

Akechi Mitsuhide

Niwa Nagahide

Takigawa Kazumasu

His Lordship approaches!

Oda Nobunaga

Oda Nobutada Oda Nobunaga Mori Ranmaru

Monkey and Balding,

Bug-eyes and Prodigy,

the gang's all here, but not a peep out of any of you.

I was having fun hawking, but you screwed it up.

A scolding in your dialect makes the blood run cold.

We beat 'em this time,

but we only took back our territory, didn't add any.

Your soldiers are slobs and slowpokes.

And you'all let the main man, Murashige, get away!

I'll track down Murashige, and catch him dead or alive!

It's up to me to decide if Murashige lives or dies.

Not for you to decide, Balding, you shitty idiot!

But still,

even you fools are better than Nobutada and Nobutaka here.

They're my own sons, but they're so stupid it shames me.

One generation is plenty of the Oda Family rule.

After that, one of you'all can take over.

I'll choose whoever works hardest as my successor,

so work for me like your lives depend on it!

Yes, Sir!

Got that?

A moment, Sir!

What about Murashige's clan members that we captured?

Kill 'em all! What the hell else?

Huh?

Come to think of it, you were friendly with Murashige, right?

Don't tell me you let him get away out of pity?

I swear to the gods, I would never!

Then, shut the fuck up and behead the whole Araki clan!

But even if you catch Murashige,

don't you kill him.

You bring him to me, no matter what.

Mitsuhide,

get Monkey's help to capture Murashige.

The rest of my idiots!

Escort me until I'm safely out of here!

Yes, Sir!

For him to even mention a successor,

this recent battle must have taken heavy toll on His Lordship Nobunaga.

Yes, and Murashige resisted to the bitter end.

If Chosokabe and Mouri had joined the rebellion,

we wouldn't be idly sitting here.

But,

His Lordship Nobunaga was so fond of Murashige,

can he actually kill him?

Murashige, you're not up to seizing Mouri's clan.

This is Monkey's shrewd plan.

Mitsuhide,

you strategize with me to capture Shikoku and Koshu.

Yes, Sir.

Murashige, go to Settsu with Nobutada.

Please wait, Sir.

I am not...

a babysitter!

Babysitter?

How dare you?!

You talking back to me?

You've got some balls.

If you don't want to babysit,

what will you do?

If you won't let me seize Mouri,

let me lead the men seizing Shikoku or Koshu.

I want to go wild there

to make Your Lordship happy!

An admirable offer.

But there's no part for you!

Know your place!

I am, um,

I live only for Your Lordship. Please let me play a part.

Give me a part!

If you want to take Mitsuhide's place so bad,

go ahead and kill Balding.

I give you permission.

You'll agree, right?

No...

Don't tell me you're full of lies!

No, my loyalty to Your Lordship remains pure.

Makes me suspicious.

If you truly live only for me,

your bowels should be beautiful.

Use this for "harakiri".

Murashige is a brave warrior. You must not let him die like a dog.

So it's your turn, you busybody!

Then, you take Murashige's place and commit harakiri!

No!

He is the brave warrior!

Allow me.

Second me!

Give me the creeps!

Brave warriors sucking up to each other! What are you two up to?

You're spoiling my fun!

Playing with men's lives for entertainment...

You idiot!

From the moment you're born, life is one big joke!

You piss me off.

Murashige,

eat this sweet.

Yes,

I will do so with pleasure.

You are such

a dear, dear man!

Given my peasant roots,

I find Murashige and Lord Nobunaga's relationship

beyond understanding.

Infatuations among samurai are certainly complicated.

But where the hell is Murashige?

Hey, wait! Hey, that's mine!

Wait, you.

Sosori Shinzaemon

What is Master Rikyu talking about?

There's no trace of Murashige in this broken down castle.

Hanji, Choji, find anything?

Leave it!

Look at that priest,

better he strip and bury them than pray over them.

The priest was a warrior in disguise!

Not so fast!

This man fits the description,

no question about it.

Master Rikyu was spot on!

You've got the wrong man. I'm not Araki Murashige!

Nobody here ever said, "You're Master Araki."

Kyoto Rokujo-gawara

Behead!

Mosuke Tamezo

It's disgusting to massacre an entire clan.

They're a warrior clan, they should have more valuables.

A miserly bunch today.

Mosuke, look at that woman,

she's with a child.

Behead!

Let's go, Mosuke! Time to grab treasures!

Sakai Rikyu Residence

Mamiya,

Sen no Rikyu

bring the item.

I plan to accomplish great deeds,

so I offered my prayers to the gods.

To be the successor?

You'll have to work hard,

if you're to succeed Lordship Nobunaga.

The greatest goal for a warrior is to become ruler of the land.

Isn't that right, Lord Mitsuhide?

No, I have never once dreamed of ruling the land.

It's perfectly fine for all of you

to be inspired by word from His Lordship,

but as long as you work for that man,

you can never have enough heads.

Murashige's rebellion last year,

cost him dearly.

After dedicating myself to him body and soul, I only get Settsu Province.

I refuse to follow the bastard!

Listen,

the first night you held me in your arms,

you said, "When the time comes, we will rise up,"

remember?

Hold your tongue and withdraw.

I'll beg for your life.

If you desist now, you can get off with exile.

Better yet, tell me to commit harakiri.

I'll die happy if you second me.

You,

care for me that much...

We're enemies at war, now.

Behave accordingly.

But Lord Mitsuhide,

I hear you tried to persuade Murashige, after he raised his army.

Lord Mitsuhide handled that situation admirably.

I pray the fugitive is captured soon. No doubt,

if Mitsuhide captures him he'll be favored to succeed.

I've also heard rumors that Mitsuhide set up Murashige to fake a rebellion.

Now, now, there's...

My clan and the Araki clan are related by blood, that's all.

If you're repeating baseless rumors, I hope

you're prepared to pay the price.

No, no, nothing like that.

I make a habit of washing my neck well each morning.