The shadow of power had not yet dissipated, and the Oda clan was once again in turmoil. Oda Nobumitsu, lord of Furuno Castle, was assassinated in his residence by one of his retainers. The news shook Kiyosu Castle. Oda Nobunaga was forced to promote his veteran retainer, Hayashi Michikatsu, to the position of lord. However, a lingering suspicion had already begun to grow within him.
One day, without warning, the sound of Nobunaga's horse's hooves shattered the tranquility of Furuno Castle. Like a hawk patrolling his territory, he suddenly arrived at Hayashi Michikatsu's residence. This startled Hayashi Michikatsu, who was secretly plotting to replace Nobunaga with Oda Nobuyuki, with a shudder of fear. Nobunaga's sharp gaze swept across every corner of the courtyard. Though he remained silent, Hayashi Michikatsu felt a chill at the back of his neck—had his plans been discovered?
Nobunaga's departure was followed by the frightened Hayashi Michikatsu, unable to contain his fear. He joined forces with Shibata Katsuie and launched a brazen rebellion, swiftly dispatching troops to cut off the vital routes from Furuno Castle and Atsuta to Kiyosu Castle. For a time, Kiyosu Castle was reduced to an isolated island in the storm, its connection to the outside world abruptly severed.
However, the blockade did not deter Nobunaga. As if unaware of fear, he calmly ordered his retainers to defend the city while he personally led his elite troops in a direct attack on the rebels. A cold rain fell, and the Odai River was swollen with water, causing his men to hesitate. But Nobunaga, without hesitation, whipped his whip and shouted, "Cross the river!" He led his troops, galvanizing their morale. They forged ahead across the turbulent river, charging like a divine force from heaven to reach the positions of Hayashi Michikatsu and Shibata Katsuie.
This relentless offensive threw the rebels into disarray. At this critical moment, Oda Nobuyuki, one of the masterminds, saw the situation as hopeless and was the first to leave the camp to surrender. With their leader lost, Hayashi and Shiba were utterly terrified. They threw off their armor and swords, prostrating themselves before Nobunaga's horse, begging for mercy.
Nobunaga, always known for his unconventional ways, once again displayed unexpected generosity, sparing everyone's lives. However, could the lure of power be extinguished with a single pardon? Soon, unwilling to accept defeat, Oda Nobuyuki again plotted a rebellion at Suemori Castle. This time, Shibata Katsuie, a retainer who knew Nobunaga's methods well, made a ruthless choice to protect himself: he rushed to Kiyosu Castle overnight and fully informed Nobunaga of his former master's plan.
Soon, Oda Nobuyuki was summoned to Kiyosu Castle. The brothers met again, only to face the fate of life and death. Nobunaga, without hesitation, ordered his brother's execution. The loyalty and samurai dignity once championed paled in the face of the cruelty of power, leaving only the undercurrent of betrayal and lies surging through the family bloodline. No sooner had the tragedy of fratricide ended than another turmoil arose. Nobunaga's half-brother, Oda Nobuhiro, jealous of his younger brother's power, secretly colluded with the Saito clan of Mino and laid a deadly trap: the Saito army would stage a feint attack, with Nobuhiro acting as an insider. The plan was to annihilate Nobunaga once he emerged from the city to meet the enemy.
However, Nobunaga, as if possessing a "god's eye," keenly perceived the situation. Far from leaving the city, he ordered his entire army to be on high alert, fortifying the city walls and clearing the fields. Unable to capture the city and running out of food and supplies, the Saito army retreated in frustration. Nobunaga's plot, his desperation exposed, led him to rebel within the city, but it was swiftly suppressed by Nobunaga.
Defeated and bound, Nobunaga looked ashen, convinced of his inevitable death. However, Nobunaga once again made a decision that shocked everyone—rather than punishing his repeatedly treacherous brother, he treated him with kindness. This extraordinary generosity ultimately won Nobuhiro over, and he became a devoted general under Nobunaga.
After completely quelling the family strife, Oda Nobunaga finally set his sights on a broader goal: unifying Owari Province. His next target was the clan of Oda Nobuyasu, the guardian deposed from Iwakura Castle.
In Iwakura Castle, a farcical drama unfolded between father and son. Oda Nobuyasu intended to dethrone the eldest son and enthrone the younger, alienating his eldest son, Nobuaki, in order to pass the family business to his youngest son, Nobuie. Long-suffering, Nobuaki struck a decisive blow, rallying the castle's veteran retainers to expel his father from the castle. Forced into exile in Mino, Nobuyasu likely never anticipated that the rift he had created would spell the end for Iwakura Castle. After seizing power, Oda Nobukane failed to diligently govern the country. Instead, he indulged in alcohol and sex, neglecting state affairs. Oda Nobunaga seized this golden opportunity and immediately allied himself with Oda Nobumasa of Inuyama Castle, marching his army directly towards Iwakura. Amidst internal and external adversities, Iwakura Castle quickly fell, and Oda Nobukane surrendered.
With this, Nobunaga laid a solid foundation on his path to becoming the lord of Owari. His ambitions, grounded in blood and fire, were steadily advancing towards the entire world.