Meanwhile, on the plains of Shimamoto, Tomoteru advanced alone without hesitation. Against a lateral attack from an enemy samurai, he leaned his body back, dodging, then drove his katana into the opponent's stomach.
Tomoteru moved forward relentlessly. His katana sliced through wind and flesh with precision, his breathing steady, his eyes sharp. An enemy attempted a side strike; he pulled his torso back just in time and, with a swift turn, pierced the blade into the enemy's stomach. The man fell to his knees before collapsing lifeless.
Masanobu was not far behind. Leading a detachment of veterans, he broke through the enemy line with surgical strikes. A spearman tried to stop his advance, but Masanobu dodged, grabbed the opponent's wrist to unbalance him, and finished with a sharp blow to the neck. He did not even watch the body fall. He pressed on, cutting down anyone in his path.
The enemy's resistance was fierce but disorganized. The pressure from Tomoteru and Masanobu's assault divided their forces, leaving them exposed. The allied soldiers noticed this and seized the opportunity.
Tomoteru ducked to avoid a naginata strike and, in a fluid motion, slid to the enemy's side, slashing his flank with a clean cut. Another samurai came from behind, attempting a stealth attack. Tomoteru spun quickly and blocked with his blade, pushing him back before striking his neck.
Masanobu scanned the battlefield. He saw the enemy line beginning to waver and decided to press even harder. With a gesture, he ordered his men forward.
"Do not stop! They are retreating!"
The war cries intensified. The ground was covered in bodies, blood staining the armor. Swords clashed, archers released their arrows, and horses neighed as they moved between the combatants.
Tomoteru noticed a group of samurai attempting to reorganize their defense. There was no time. He charged, breaking the formation with quick, deadly cuts. A precise strike of his katana pierced an enemy commander's armor, and he fell without a reaction. The impact was enough to demoralize the men around him, who hesitated.
Masanobu saw the opportunity and attacked with brutality. A diagonal cut split an opponent's chest; he spun, blocked another blade, and countered, stabbing the enemy in the abdomen. The man staggered back before falling.
The plains of Shimamoto were now consumed by chaos. The scent of iron and death filled the air. The clash of swords and the screams of the wounded echoed everywhere. The soldiers of their clan advanced with confidence, pushing the enemies back.
Tomoteru did not slow down. He dodged an axe strike, sidestepping and driving his blade into the exposed armpit of the enemy. He quickly pulled the sword out and turned to face the next opponent. The fluidity of his movements displayed years of training and experience. Every step was calculated, every strike efficient.
Masanobu, from afar, saw an enemy standard-bearer attempting to reorganize the warriors. That could not be allowed. He rushed toward him, dodging attacks and cutting down anyone in his way. Upon reaching his target, a powerful strike felled the man, and the banner fell to the ground, stained with blood. The enemy's morale collapsed completely.
The retreat turned into disorder. The remaining soldiers tried to flee but were pursued and mercilessly cut down. Tomoteru and Masanobu paused for a moment, surveying the battlefield. The worst was over.
Now, with most of the plains open amidst the hundreds of dead—both Miyoshi allies and shogunate supporters—Tomoteru rode freely to the edge of the plains to observe the state of the Katsura River. After only a few minutes, his troops were nearby due to their advance across the plains. He arrived, took in the scene, and called for Masanobu, who rode alongside hundreds of thousands of other samurai in the advance on Shimamoto.
Tomoteru looked toward the Katsura River, where Yoshitsugu's troops continued advancing after their victory against the shogunate supporters. The remaining enemies tried to retreat chaotically but were hunted down and eliminated. In the distance, Yodo Castle—belonging to the Matsunaga Clan, an important Miyoshi ally—could be seen. The path was almost clear.
He pulled his horse's reins and turned to Masanobu, who arrived at his side, still covered in enemy blood.
"Masanobu, I want you to keep pressing the shogunate forces here in the Shimamoto plains. We cannot give them time to regroup," Tomoteru ordered.
Masanobu nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the dirty sleeve of his armor.
"And you?"
"I'm going to Yoshitsugu. We need to coordinate the next move. If we don't maintain momentum, they might attempt a counteroffensive."
Masanobu did not argue. He knew Tomoteru well enough to understand that he would not make this decision lightly. With one last glance, he turned his horse and raised his hand to his men.
"We continue the advance! Cut down anyone who still holds a sword against us!"
As Masanobu reorganized the ranks, Tomoteru descended the hill and rode toward the banks of the Katsura. Yoshitsugu stood at the front of his men, watching the crossing. When he saw Tomoteru approach, he nodded and waited.
"A good victory here," Tomoteru said as he dismounted. "But they have not been completely driven out yet."
Yoshitsugu crossed his arms.
"They are retreating, but they have not broken completely. If we give them space, they will regroup in the north. We must keep up the pressure."
Tomoteru observed the bodies floating in the river, soldiers pulling spears and katanas from the blood-soaked ground.
"What bothers me is something else. Why attack Settsu with such force? If Ashikaga truly wanted to crush the Miyoshi, he should have targeted Kyoto first."
Yoshitsugu took a deep breath, thinking before answering.
"Maybe he believes that taking Katsura first would secure a direct passage to Kyoto. If he controls the river, he can supply his troops and avoid direct battles in the capital until he is ready."
Tomoteru nodded, absorbing the explanation. It made sense. But it also meant they needed to act quickly.
"Then we must anticipate this move. Simply driving them out of here will not be enough. We need to go further."
Yoshitsugu allowed a slight smile.
"Exactly what I was thinking. Ideally, we should follow the Katsura, secure total control of the river, and press into the region near Kyoto. If we succeed, we might even force Matsunaga Hisahide to reinforce our side with more troops."
Tomoteru remained silent for a moment. The idea was bold. He did not fear a great war, but his thoughts went straight to his son. There was much to teach before the conflict escalated further. But hesitation was a luxury he could not afford.
He steadied his gaze and lifted his chin.
"Then we will do it. Masanobu will remain in the plains, clearing out the remaining shogunate forces. Meanwhile, the two of us will lead an offensive along the Katsura."
Yoshitsugu smiled, satisfied.
"With this, we not only weaken Ashikaga but also secure an advantage over Kyoto before he even realizes it."
Tomoteru tightened his grip on the horse's reins, feeling the weight of the plan on his shoulders. If they failed, they could be crushed by a devastating counteroffensive. But if they succeeded, Ashikaga would lose a crucial move.
"Then it's decided. Yoshitsugu, prepare your men. Tomorrow, we begin the advance along the Katsura."
Yoshitsugu nodded and turned to give the orders.