At dawn, Toranaga turns a hunting day into cover for war preparations, instructing Naga to draft orders and confirming intelligence with Omi and a wounded guard, Kosami, about the Osaka ninja night. He recalls having steered Mariko to concede Erasmus’s vulnerability while secretly planning for Blackthorne to build anew if the ship were destroyed.

At the coastal camp, Yabu presses for a southern attack after Jikkyu’s death; Hiro-matsu weighs the risks. Toranaga suddenly accuses Yabu of complicity in the Osaka bolt-hole and Sumiyori’s murder, based on servant testimony and Kosami’s account. With no proof but full authority, Toranaga strips Yabu and orders seppuku. Yabu accepts, names Omi his heir, issues ruthless last directives, and dies spectacularly.

On the road, Toranaga reinstates Sudara as heir and orders a limited Tokaidō thrust as a feint while containing Zataki, dispatching Sudara to prepare Mishima. He promotes Omi to command the Musket Regiment, grants him the Mishima fief, then privately reallocates Yokohama’s holding to Blackthorne at Anjiro to build a warship. Omi publicly delivers Yabu’s head and inwardly parts from Kiku, whom Toranaga plans to reassign.

Toranaga settles personal matters: Fujiko refuses to alter her death pact but will govern Blackthorne’s Anjiro household and suggests Midori as a suitable wife for him; Kiku is steered toward becoming Blackthorne’s consort or wife; Gyoko’s son is made business overseer for the ship project and Gyoko advances the Yoshiwara plans. Toranaga frees his peregrine Tetsu-ko skyward in honor of Mariko.

Meanwhile, Blackthorne organizes salvage of the wreck and artillery, devises a buoyancy plan, and drills his men—ordering all to learn swimming. Father Alvito visits to apologize for prior wrongs; they agree to a truce in Mariko’s memory, and Blackthorne learns she had received absolution. Blackthorne rededicates himself to building The Lady and dreams of future seas.

Hunting in the hills, Toranaga sends hare for Blackthorne’s pot and inwardly finalizes strategy: the Tokaidō push will mask a northern main thrust toward the capital corridor. The narrative leaps ahead: in foul weather at Sekigahara, Toranaga wins decisively, takes forty thousand heads, captures Ishido alive, and has him publicly executed after prolonged humiliation.