Kind of Black

February 1581, Nobunaga organizes a parade through Kyoto to show his forces to the emperor. The three teamasters (Tsuda Sougyuu, Imai Soukyuu, Senno Soueki) in the audience assess the wardrobes of different generals: Nobunaga, Mitsuhide, Shibata, Sasuke, Oda Nagamasu. After, Nobunaga walking with his three sons (Nobutada, Nobukatsu, Nobutaka) congratulates Mitsuhide on his efforts. Mitsuhide uses the opportunity to ask Nobunaga to end the exile of general Sakuma Nobumori. Arguing he's trying to establish a new order, Nobunaga refuses asserting men older than him are no longer of use. Soeki has a master potter Chojiro craft him a black teabowl. In May, Hideyoshi and Sasuke go to Soeki's for tea. There Hideyoshi is introduced to Soeki's daughter Ogin. Sasuke go prepare tea with another disciple of Soeki, Souji. Souji, who has seen five times the masterpieces Sasuke has, teaches him about the value of tea jars. Sasuke mentions the Tsukumonasu, but Souji says three surpass it. Meanwhile, Hideyoshi tells Soeki about his battles against the Mori. Soeki then points that like Hideyoshi he is the son of a commoner, and that he ultimately wants Hideyoshi to rule, not Nobunaga.

東の北条と和議を結び、各地を平らげた信長は「御馬揃え」をおこなう。左介は数奇者の心意気を示さんとのぞみ高い評判を得たが、信長の実の弟・長益の登場によって至福のときは長くは続かなかった。