Hiro-matsu and Blackthorne are admitted to Toranaga’s audience room. Blackthorne refuses to prostrate fully, sitting cross-legged under intense scrutiny while Toranaga calmly repairs a falcon’s feather, signaling control. The room’s guards and protocol emphasize Toranaga’s power and caution.

Father Martin Alvito emerges as interpreter, openly acknowledging enmity yet promising accuracy. Toranaga interrogates Blackthorne about England, the Netherlands, Spain, and Portugal; the religious schism; and Blackthorne’s destruction of a cross. Blackthorne argues he is a licensed privateer and trader, not a pirate, but admits he fights enemies at sea and seeks profit, which disgusts Toranaga. Toranaga warns that in Japan foreign quarrels mean death.

Pressed on rebellion, Blackthorne concedes the Dutch rose against their lawful king, adding “unless you win,” which briefly amuses Toranaga. Blackthorne boasts of English-Dutch sea power and predicts victory. He details the voyage via the Strait of Magellan, time and distance, then reports his rutters and papers were taken; Toranaga calls theft a capital crime and says it will be investigated. Trade talk is deferred.

During a tense pause, Alvito silently restrains Blackthorne and recalls prior counsel with the Jesuit Father-Visitor: the order already holds Blackthorne’s rutters and may use them to damn him as a pirate. Alvito steels himself, believing Blackthorne’s words have already condemned him in Toranaga’s eyes.

Ishido enters with guards, trading barbs with Toranaga and mocking Blackthorne. To defuse and posture, Toranaga dismisses Blackthorne as an arrogant oddity of little value and orders him taken away and held with common criminals. Alvito informs Blackthorne of his detention, duration unknown.