Toyotomi Hideie, Lord of the Warring States

In the third month of the first year of Tensho, 1573, at dawn on the twenty-first day, the townspeople below Ishiyama Castle had just risen and picked up their farming tools to prepare for spring plowing. Suddenly, the castle's Otemon gate swung open, and several mounted retainers raced out. They galloped off to gather the local lords at Ishiyama Castle and announce the birth of an heir to the Ukita family. For the forty-one-year-old Ukita Naoie, who had painstakingly restored his family's fortunes from ruin until it became a powerful house ruling across the provinces of Bizen and Bitchu, the greatest worry of his life had been having no heir to carry on the family line. Before long, the first rays of sunlight from the east streamed into the palace at Ishiyama Castle. Ukita Naoie entered the council chamber carrying a baby in his arms. The retainers, led by senior vassal Hanafusa Masayuki, bowed in greeting. Everyone could clearly see the rare smile on the face of the forty-one-year-old strategist.

"Gentlemen, this is the heir to the Ukita family, Hachiro!" Hideie faced the assembled vassals and, without even taking his seat, held Hachiro up for them to see.

"Yes, my lord! May good fortune attend you for many years, and may your family be blessed with many descendants." "We pledge our lives to the young lord."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.