Broken to the Fist

After the devastating aftermath of the chain shots, Yabushige's army is caught off guard by the unexpected arrival of Toranaga's forces. Among Toranaga's soldiers is Buntaro, who had miraculously survived an ambush. Toranaga is furious with Nagakado for his reckless actions and decides to strip him of his command over the cannon regiment, assigning it to Omi instead.

Buntaro's return creates tension, especially for Mariko, who must continue to serve both her husband and Blackthorne. Buntaro moves in with Mariko and Blackthorne, his presence causing friction. In the midst of this, Blackthorne places a pheasant in front of the house, a gift from Toranaga. Due to his limited Japanese, Blackthorne tells the gardeners that they will face death if they touch it. Despite its smell, Fuji, the head gardener, is instructed to leave it untouched.

During a dinner, Blackthorne and Buntaro engage in a sake-drinking session. A drunken Buntaro forces Mariko to reveal her tragic family history: her father, Akechi Jinsai, had murdered the previous Taikō and, in his disgrace, was forced to execute his family before committing seppuku. Mariko's marriage to Buntaro was an atonement for this betrayal.

Later, Buntaro violently assaults Mariko, prompting Blackthorne to confront him with a pistol outside the house. Buntaro, remorseful and blaming the sake for his actions, does not fight back and offers his sword to Blackthorne as a sign of shame. The following day, Blackthorne tries to persuade Mariko to leave Buntaro, but she refuses and decides not to speak with Blackthorne unless ordered by Toranaga.

Meanwhile, the gardener Uejirou, confused by Blackthorne's orders, removes the pheasant. He is later executed, with Toranaga's spy Akinao using this incident to cover his own tracks. Blackthorne is devastated by Uejirou's death, but Muraji convinces Yabushige and Omi that Uejirou was the spy they had been seeking.

Following Uejirou's death, Blackthorne meets with Toranaga, asking to leave Japan. During their meeting, a massive earthquake hits, causing a landslide that buries Toranaga. Blackthorne heroically saves him, even though Toranaga's army suffers significant losses. This event makes Blackthorne realize his deep care for the Japanese people despite their cultural differences.

In Osaka, the remaining regents convene to decide who will replace Toranaga on the council. Lady Ochiba, the consort of the late Taikō and mother of the heir, arrives and declares that she will take control of the council from Ishido, aligning with Toranaga's intentions to weaken Ishido's power and draw his armies out of Osaka. 88.Shogun-5.md