He stood at a distance from the young lord, watching him eat in silence while staring at the elder across from him. "He really gives off an aura of strength, of body and his mind. I wonder what he's thinking about now since the young lord is being quiet."
"Takechiyo, you seem to be quiet. Are you thinking about my alliance with Imagawa? Do you think that I will turn you over to them since you took back your family and destroyed one of their castles?"
"Not at all Shingen. I was just enjoying this cut of fish. It's quite interesting. Did you get it from the waters around here?"
"Hahaha. I didn't know you were a gourmet. Yes, this tuna was caught in the coastal waters not far from here. The fish seem to be fatter than the fish you get back him."
"Interesting, I will have to savor the taste as much as possible then. Or just buy a lot of fish from here in the future." He looked at the smile on Shingen's face. "The young lord has learned a lot in these past few days." He stood staring at the hall they were in. "Interesting that he doesn't have his family in here with him, and it's just him and the young lord. Maybe its time for the discussion." He nodded with hope in his eyes. "It's down to this. The young lord has to perform well." He looked at the young lord with hope in his eyes.
"You've been my guest here for the past couple of days, and you've seen my family and lands. What do you think so far? Have I done a great job?"
"Yes, you have indeed Shingen. You've gone through a lot of troubles and strife to get where you are today. I commend your hard work and effort. Masanari. Pour me a cup. I wish to toast the lord of this land here." He moved forward pouring a small cup of sake in the young lord's cup.
"Your servant seems very skilled, in how he moves. I wonder if he's touched a sword before." He bowed at the young lord. "He has only basic skills. All my close servants go through some form of basic training. They have to keep me safe after all."
"As long as he can be trusted, what we're about to discuss can not be spoken aloud to others." He saw the young lord nod. "I only bring trusted people into my service. I trust Masanari with my life."
"That's good to hear. Shall we begin after we toast?"
"Yes. To Shingen the genius lord of these lands. I have much to learn from how you manage these lands so well."
He watched as they both drank sake together. "Now to business. After talking with you these past days, I'm willing to form an alliance with you, since you also show care to the importance of family."
"Does that mean you will end your alliance with the Imagawa?"
"For a price, I will." He smiled. "Finally. The young lord has done it."
"What do you ask for?"
"I want Suruga."
"That is acceptable. For the help of removing the Imagawa and teach them the importance of not separating family, I will agree that the Takeda can have the lands that the Imagawa have wasted all their years living there."
"Hahaha. Excellent. I thought that I may have to give you reasons as to why I want those lands, but it seems your care for family, and revenge is more important."
He nodded as he stood behind the young lord. "He's done very well. We've got a tiger to feed, but the moment he bites the hand feeding him, he'll be removed."
"You're right. Family is important to me, and I've missed them for a long period." He smiled at the words of the young lord. "He has been practicing this very hard. He's making the tiger purr as if he was a kitten."
"Than, we agree. We shall form an alliance and take down the Imagawa, and as the result, I get the lands, and you get some of the loot, depending on the number of men you bring to the battlefields."
"I understand. That's only fair. I'll provide men for the armies that you lead."
"You want me to lead them as well?" He watched the young lord nod. "I think its a great idea, to show them how a great general can lead men into war."
"Hahaha. I agree. Then, I'll be the general for the alliance. However, there'll be something that I want during this time?"
"What's that?"
"I want your servant to serve me during this time. What do you say to that?"
"You want Masanari? I can give you any servant, but you want him?"
"Correct. I see he has skill with his feet, so I wish to see what else I can teach him."
"How about if he serves me, but as the general you can control the units that I'm in, and also the unit Masanari is in?"
"You mean you also wish to fight personally?" He smiled as the young lord nodded. "How else can my servant and I learn from such a great leader as yourself?"
"Hahaha. You're very sweet with your words. Fine I agree. Not only will I lead as general of the alliance, but I'll make sure that both you and your servant learn about my ways." He watched as Shingen put an empty bowl on the table. "I'm full. I think this is where I'll call it a night. We can sign the agreement in the next few months. I'll find an auspicious day so that we can celebrate the new alliance between the both of us." He frowned when he saw Shingen tap the table. "There's one thing that I do want to ask you since we're alone."
"What do you want to know?"
"Are you going to side with the Oda house and their upstart?" He looked at the young lord shaking his head. "He's too young, and I don't have anything that I can learn from the young head."
"That's good. The reason why I ask is because you'll have to side with someone, at this time. The land in your family is small, and there are larger powers around at play. You need to find a strong family to join under. I hope that after the eradication of Imagawa you decide to join my Takeda banner." He smiled at Shingen's words.
"Thank you for your advice. I'll be watching you on the battlefield as well to see how you turn your lands into something amazing, just like it is here."
He smiled at the young lord. "He's intelligent. He knows that he lacks in certain areas, and is willing to learn to become stronger. Smiling monk and I have chosen well it seems." He followed the young lord out of the small dining hall and knelt on the ground in front of him heating up tea for him to drink, back in his room.
"So young fortune teller. It seems your vision was once again true. Now we head back tomorrow, and wait for the time to sign the agreement." He poured the tea in silence filling the cup for the young lord. "You'll learn a lot from the tiger, my lord. He has many years of experience and his skills on and off the battlefield are amazing."
"Once I learn from him, I'll be stronger than he ever could be." He smiled as the young lord drank the tea. "Yes, you will."
"Don't say its because I have you serving me." He shook his head. "I wouldn't say that, but I would say that you have me to keep an eye on your back, and one day in the future, a talented general to lead your men from the front."
"You mean that spear bearer?" He nodded. "The one and the same."
"What do you see in that child? He's still young, he hasn't even lost his first love yet." He smiled. "Don't worry he'll grow up into someone that you can use."
"We shall see, if these visions of yours for the future come to pass, you'll really be a demon Masanari. It's late. We have a long trip back tomorrow. Go back and rest, soon you don't have to keep playing as my servant." He stood up bowing at the young lord. "Being your manservant isn't that much of a trouble, and it allows me some freedoms, that I can come and go to places like this."
"You see everything to your advantage." He shook his head. "Not for my advantage. My lord's advantage."
"I see. It seems you also learned how to use that tongue of yours. Now go, I'm tired, and wish to get some rest. I'll call you if I need you." He bowed closing the door behind him, walking to his smaller room next to the young lord. He looked inside and saw the unmasked shinobi bowing at him. He returned the bow.
"Young Hanzo, I assume that your meeting went well with the tiger." He nodded at them as he knelt on the ground looking at the unmasked shinobi wearing Takeda clothing. "This went better than I thought it would. Also, the young lord played his part well. All we have to do now is keep an eye on the tiger, and act when everything is set and done."
"I'll make sure some of the garden keepers stay around here and keep passing information along to you." He nodded, turning to look out the window, and the lanterns of the city starting to be lit. "A beautiful city, a pity it's bound to fall to the young lord."
"You can see that happening?" He nodded. "I can. I see the young lord becoming the owner of all the lands in Japan." He pointed to the window. "All of that work that Takeda has done here will be part of the young lords."
"Yes. I'm starting to believe that as well young Hanzo. I think your father also can see that. You and the smiling monk were very busy on Kuruma." He smiled. "The smiling monk made sure I was aware of what was happening in Japan."
"Why did he do that?" He looked back through the window. "He did that so I would be able to piece together the future of Japan. This age is coming to an end, and a new one will begin where peace will be throughout the lands of Japan."
"Peace? Through a unified Japan?" He shook his head. "A unified Japan isn't enough. It needs rules, procedures, prosperity, a future. At the moment, there is no future here for Japan. Just clans fighting against clans."
"Where is the young lord going to learn these skills from, if you see him leading Japan into this new era?" He pointed to the door. "The tiger here will teach him those things. Look around at this place. It is running well, however, the tiger is only a pea in this large shell game. The one whos holding the shells is the young lord."
"What about Oda?" He drank a cup of tea, kneeling on the ground again. "Oda, is a season, the one who starts everything rolling towards the change. All that we're missing is the one who brings the money to the new era."
"There's another player apart from the young lord?" He nodded. "I don't know who it is, but they will join house Oda and be ranked similar to the young lord in the future."
"Do you think they'll become an enemy of the young lord?" He nodded. "Of course, but Oda will keep him in line, after those two, then the young lord will own Japan."
"You're telling me that the young lord will become shogun of the new era?" He nodding smiling at the unmasked shinobi in front of him. "Correct. This place needs peace, we've been fighting for too long. We need time to recover, and if we keep fighting all the wealth of the country will turn into nothing."
"I look forward to this peace you and the smiling monk see. I'll leave you to your thoughts young Hanzo." He nodded watching as the unmasked shinobi climbed out of his window, dropping down to the roofs below.