He didn't press further about who broke the alliance, instead turning to ask about the situation of the Niwa Family: "I heard Lord Niwa Uemon died in battle?"
Niwa Uemon's full name was Niwa Uemon Genpei, and he was Niwa Nagahide's uncle. Before the Battle of Okehazama, Oda Nobunaga ordered him to take several hundred men from Iwakura Castle and launch a desperate assault on Nagami Castle, in order to cover Oda Nobunaga's main army as it quietly moved towards Muro Mountain.
There was nothing Niwa Nagahide needed to hide about this. When the funeral was held, even Harano would have to send someone to offer condolences.
He simply let out a sigh and said, "Yes. Not only my uncle, but Lord Sasaki Junren (Shouji) and Lord Maeno Kobayashi also died in battle."
