The morning sun rose over Nagoya Castle, but it brought no warmth. Instead, it cast a pale light over a fortress choked by silent panic.
Subaru stood on the wooden veranda of the guest pavilion, watching the chaotic movements in the courtyard below. Messengers covered in dust and sweat were arriving every few minutes, their horses panting heavily. The air was thick with the scent of burning incense from the central keep—a desperate, fragrant barrier against the approaching shadow of death. Lord Nobuhide's condition had plummeted overnight.
Subaru focused his eyes on the passing samurai, and his system interface flared to life, overlaying the grim political reality in numbers.
[REGIONAL CRISIS: THE FRACTURED SPHÈRE]
[PROVINCE: OWARI (Total Rice Yield: 150,000 Koku - Highly Divided)]
[ODA CLAN STABILITY: 34% (Critical)] [INTERNAL FACTIONS:]
1. Oda Nobunaga (Heir Apparent): 20% Support
2. Oda Nobuyuki (Younger Brother): 55% Support (Backed by Hayashi)
3. Independent/Neutral Kiyosu Oda: 25% Support (Waiting to invade)
The numbers are even worse than the game described, Subaru thought, his eyebrows furrowing.
In Nobunaga's Ambition, Owari looked like a single territory. But in the reality of 1551, it was a geopolitical nightmare. The Oda clan didn't even control all of Owari. They were surrounded by hostile cousins in Kiyosu and Iwakura, while the massive, terrifying tiger of the east—Imagawa Yoshimoto—was watching from Suruga with over 25,000 troops ready to march.
"Staring at the clouds won't grow the rice, Ryu."
Subaru turned to see Nobunaga walking down the veranda. The young heir looked as if he hadn't slept a wink, yet his eyes were sharp, vibrating with a dangerous energy. He was holding a wooden practice sword, carelessly tapping it against his palm.
Oda Nobunaga
INT: 96 | POL: 100
Current Mood: Suppressed Rage, Calculating.
"I was not looking at the clouds, My Lord," Subaru said, bowing slightly. "I was looking at the ledger of your clan. The balance is heavily tipped against us."
Nobunaga let out a sharp, cynical snort. He leaned against the wooden pillar, looking out at the same courtyard. "You see it too, then. The elders are already smelling a corpse. This morning, three of my brother Nobuyuki's retainers 'accidentally' redirected a shipment of supplies meant for my musket corps to the southern garrisons. They are already cutting my lifelines."
"They are preparing for the funeral, My Lord," Subaru said calmly, his modern, analytical mind dissecting the timeline. "They expect you to make a scene, to prove to everyone that you are the 'Fool' so they can legally strip you of your inheritance and place your brother on the seat."
Nobunaga's grip tightened on the wooden sword until his knuckles turned white. His high POL (100) stat meant he understood the trap perfectly, but his volatile temperament made him want to smash it with brute force. "Let them try. If Hidesada or my brother think they can take Owari, I will burn this castle down with them inside it."
"Brute force will play right into their hands," Subaru countered, stepping closer. "If you fight them now, the Kiyosu Oda will invade from the north, and the Imagawa will swallow the south while you bleed. You must let them think their trap is working."
Nobunaga turned his head, his sharp eyes pinning Subaru. "Explain."
"Your father's death will be the catalyst," Subaru whispered, using his knowledge of history as his ultimate weapon. "At the funeral, the entire clan and all your rivals will be watching. They expect a proper, mourning lord. If you give them that, they will find another excuse to poison you or betray you slowly. But if you give them exactly what they expect—the ultimate display of a madman—they will become arrogant. They will think you are incompetent and delay their open rebellion, giving us time to consolidate the loyal forces."
Subaru was referring to the infamous historical event where Nobunaga would throw ceremonial incense at his father's altar. It was a scandalous act that alienated many, but Subaru saw the strategic value: it bought Nobunaga time by making his enemies underestimate his political sanity.
Nobunaga stared at Subaru, the wooden sword freezing in his hand. A slow, brilliant, and terrifying smile spread across his young face. "You want me to play the madman to blind the vipers? Ha! You truly have a wicked mind, Ryu."
Before Nobunaga could say more, a loud, panicked cry echoed from the main keep. The temple bells began to ring in a rapid, erratic rhythm—the signal of a death knell.
A samurai rushed into the courtyard, dropping to his knees. "Lord Nobunaga! The Lord Patriarch... Lord Nobuhide has passed away!"
The air in the castle instantly turned to ice. The whispers stopped. The political struggle was no longer a shadow game; the clock had just struck zero.
Subaru's vision flashed with a massive, blood-red system notification that filled his entire line of sight:
[CRITICAL HISTORICAL EVENT TRIGGERED: DEATH OF ODA NOBUHIDE] [MAIN QUEST: The Suiside of Tradition / The Funeral at Bansho-ji]
[TIME REMAINING UNTIL EVENT: 48 Hours]
[WARNING: Hayashi Hidesada is actively mobilizing hidden troops. Failure to navigate this event will result in immediate Clan Civil War.]
Subaru took a deep breath, his gamer adrenaline surging. He looked at Nobunaga, whose face had hardened into an emotionless mask of marble. The board was set. The pieces were moving. And Subaru was about to help the "Fool of Owari" shock the entire nation.