Confined in Yedo, Blackthorne wrestles with desire for Mariko and duty to his crew and vows at dawn to be Pilot first. Fujiko tends him; he goes through motions of intimacy but remains emotionally distant. Meanwhile Toranaga receives word that his brother agrees to host Sudara’s family soon, a potential hostage move.

Toranaga summons Hiro-matsu and, after drawing out his loyal opposition, reveals that agreeing to go to Osaka was a ruse to buy time. He orders a public seven-day postponement, tasks Hiro-matsu to contain restless generals, and lays out a plan to hold Mishima, Hakoné, and Odawara while delays erode Ishido’s alliance, then to strike when conditions ripen.

Mariko receives travel papers for Osaka and is sent to the wharf. She and Blackthorne secretly embrace aboard Erasmus and discuss his plan to take the Black Ship to coerce Christian daimyos, which she judges sound if war comes. Father Alvito arrives to interpret; instead of Toranaga, Yabu appears, returning Blackthorne’s silver and granting him freedom at sea, docking rights, and 200 ronin vassals with arms. Blackthorne accepts them and the apostate Uraga as translator. When a ronin insults Yabu, Blackthorne imposes order, gives the man his sword, and Yabu kills him, blooding his blade.

That evening Yabu, elated, consults Yuriko. Omi’s secret report via Mizuno details Buntaro’s covert meetings with Zataki, Iron Fist’s readiness for treason if needed, and Jikkyu’s mustering. Yuriko infers Toranaga’s true design: win time, secure Zataki with hostages, unleash Blackthorne against Nagasaki and the Black Ship to distract Christian lords, then launch Crimson Sky. She urges protecting Blackthorne from Jesuit reprisals and funds a poison plot against Jikkyu using diverted silver.

Mariko independently reaches the same conclusion and arranges to see Blackthorne. Gyoko visits, claiming she denied any affair to Toranaga, warns that Kiyama once hired assassins against Blackthorne and may again, and reveals Kiku may be pregnant—possibly by Blackthorne, Toranaga, or Omi—while advising caution with Uraga in Nagasaki. Toranaga’s façade of surrender thus gives way to quiet preparation for war.