Cherry Blossom | | Ikemen Sengoku | |

Chapter 4: Who Are You

"Y/N's prediction was spot on, Nobunaga-sama" says Hideyoshi as he bows respectfully.

There is a handful of paper documents in Hideyoshi's hand. It is the report of the capture of a spy sent by Uesugi Kagekatsu's (Kenshin's adopted son) allies and the success in preventing the surprise attack by them. The rest of the daimyos in the room were all in silence, as if they all are processing their thoughts.

"Well, well, so that 'brat' really did help us out this time?" Masamune breaks the silence of the room with a smirk of amusement on his lips.

"Indeed, if he is a spy from the enemy, giving out this information had lowered the enemy's strength by half and foiled their plan." Hideyoshi puts down the document in front of him as he takes a seat in the main chamber of Azuchi Castle.

"It is impossible for this information to be a coincidence... The way Yahiko's plan had led our army to the success infiltration and seized the enemy's base is simply, impossible." Mitsunari smiles, impressed with the plan that Yahiko had come up with.

(Here, Mitsunari is still calling Y/N as Yahiko because she is still under the disguise of a man and the Oda force does not yet know her real name.)

Being a strategist of the Oda army, a praise coming from Mitsunari himself is not to be slightly taken. Yet, no one in the room could have ever guessed, the information Y/N had given them is based on historical texts that Sasuke had read from one of the textbooks of the Sengoku era and had relayed the information to her earlier to save her from this pit.

Nobunaga remains in silence, but he is not any less intimidating. None of his retainers dare to step in his sight the past 2 weeks ever since Yahiko was deemed as a spy. All of his retainers are scared of being pulled into his wrath.

"However, how did he get himself on such information even before our spies did?" The question comes out of Mitsuhide's lips sounds nothing like a question, but like an amused statement.

The whole room is then filled with silence again, Mitsuhide's comment had strike the main point.

---Back in the dungeon---

"Y/N -neechan, will we be okay?" The young boy, Yahiko, looks up into Y/N eyes with his innocent orbs.

Y/N hugs the boy with her weak arms with eyes full of guilt. The boy in her arms was wounded badly because of her. She doesn't dare to touch his back for she scared it will hurt the boy because of his injuries. She had taken his name and identity to come serve as Nobunaga's taster after making the local magistrate angry. However, it only took a month for her identity to be revealed. Not only that, Yahiko was captured very soon after and was injured during the confusion.

"I promise, we will be okay, Yahiko... I won't let them touch you again..." Y/N whispers, her voice is weak, but she tries to sound as strong as possible for Yahiko.

Just then there were footsteps echoing in the dungeon and the guard soldiers stand up straightly and bow respectfully to the men that were making their ways down to the cell.

"Yahiko, Nobunaga-sama summons you." Hideyoshi and Mitsunari appear in front of the cell.

Y/N looks up at the two powerful men standing in front of her. She knows they are calling for her since they still do not know her real name. She nods before looking back at the weak Yahiko boy still in her arms.

"I'll be back to get you out of here, you stay here and wait for me, alright?" She smiles lightly before following Hideyoshi and Mitsunari out of the dungeon.

"... Please be alright..." Yahiko whispers under his breath as he watches the back of the 3 people disappearing down the hall.

On the third main floor in the main chamber of Azuchi Castle, Y/N is forced to kneel down on both her knees by one of the soldiers who followed them. The soldiers bow at the daimyos in the room before they left the room. Nobunaga's main daimyos are all in the room, all of their attention are focused on the young girl still in disguise as a man in the middle of the room. Their eyes are filled with questions that are demanding an answer.