Story:

Nobunaga studied Yoshiaki for a few breaths—then suddenly threw his head back and laughed.

It was neither mockery nor gentle consolation, but a satisfaction shaken loose from deep in his chest: the sound of a man watching heaven's gate finally open on its own.

"Very well."

The instant those two words landed, the whole council room flared as though someone had splashed spirits onto a fire.

Nobunaga pressed one hand to his knee and leaned forward, ambition burning in his black eyes until it nearly scorched.

"Since Yoshiaki-dono has walked all the way to my Gifu on his own... then from today, the Oda clan escorts you to the capital." His voice was low, yet each word struck like an iron nail driven into board.

"If the Miyoshi block us, I'll cut them down. Whoever bars the road, I'll crush through. Kyoto—I will claim it back for you myself."