Battle of Okehazama - Thrice Met with Hanbei - Update 25
After the commotion caused by his takeover of Inabayama Castle, Hanbei Takenaka left his homeland of Mino and was residing in Omi.
Hanbei Takenaka:
So, Inabayama has fallen… Well, it’s about time. I have a good feeling about this… Today’s a good day for a journey. And you, who’s been watching me this whole time… I think I’ll finally get to meet you.
Once Hanbei had gotten word that Inabayama Castle had fallen to the Oda, he left Omi behind.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
What?! Hanbei’s back in Mino?! I really want to go see him, but… First I’ve got to let Lord Nobunaga know!
Thrice Met(Quest)
A young genius resides in Mino. Hearing that, the ever sharp Hideyoshi Kinoshita wastes no time in seeking the rumored mastermind, yet…
Employ Hanbei Takenaka
Employed Hanbei
Nobunaga Oda reached out to Hanbei Takenaka on the tactician’s return to Mino, asking him to join the ranks f his retainers. Though Hanbei responded, he immediately went quiet and stopped all contact.
Nobunaga Oda:
Monkey.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Y-Yes, my lord?!
Nobunaga Oda:
What of Hanbei Takenaka? Where is he now? What is he doing?
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
O-Oh, he’s… You know, my lord, I’ll go and check on him right now!
Hideyoshi visited Hanbei’s mansion to find him leisurely relaxing instead of engaging with any sort of work.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
H-Hanbei! What are you doing?! You just showed your face once and haven’t been to the castle since! Do you know how mad Lord Nobunaga is? Oh, if you don’t say anything to him, he’ll…
Hanbei Takenaka:
That’s the thing.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Huh?
Hanbei Takenaka:
See, on that note, Lord Nobunaga and I just do not agree.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
What do you mean agree?
Hanbei Takenaka:
Well, Lord Nobunaga is possessed of a bit too much harshness. Were I to serve under him, I would eventually vex him and find myself out of a head.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Well…Well, if it comes to that, I’ll protect you!
Hanbei Takenaka:
Protect me? And how would you do that?
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
…Right now, I have no idea.
Hanbei Takenaka:
…Yet you went and said you would?
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Well, I don’t know how I could do it as I am right now – that’s all! But when I rise up in the ranks, I’ll have you covered!
Hanbei Takenaka:
Then please come again, Lord Kinoshita, when you rise up in those ranks. With that, I will take my leave.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Wait! Hanbei, I can’t climb the ladder without you! Damn it! I…I’m not giving up!
Hanbei Takenaka had no desire to work under Nobunaga, and though he showed himself when summoned, he immediately disappeared again. As others were appalled and others still gave up, Hideyoshi Kinoshita showed not the slightest hint of quitting. He continued to visit Hanbei’s mansion fueled by pure determination.
Hanbei Takenaka:
Lord Kinoshita. No matter how many times you may come, I have no intention of serving Lord Nobunaga.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Ah, is that so?
Hanbei Takenaka:
And I believe I have said this before, but allow me to say it again. Please leave our next meeting for when your station has improved.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Now, about that. I want to take back what I said last time.
Hanbei Takenaka:
Oh…? Did you come today to say that?
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
No, I came to tell you to join us.
Hanbei Takenaka:
Lord Hideyoshi… I expected a greater deal of understanding from you.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Wait, I’ve got the perfect idea. You should just work under me, Hanbei.
Hanbei Takenaka:
…
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
You wouldn’t get along with Lord Nobunaga, right? In that case, you should just work for me. That way, I can protect you. See?
Hanbei Takenaka:
I see… Indeed, that does sound like it could work out.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
It does, doesn’t it? Good idea, if I say so myself.
Hanbei Takenaka:
And yet, your plan has a critical flaw.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
What? It does? Just what would that be?
Hanbei Takenaka:
If we are a poor match, Lord Kinoshita, the plan falls to pieces.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
…Hahaha! You’ve got a point! So, what do you think? We match?
Hanbei Takenaka:
Haha… Well, I’d have to think on that.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
I think we get along pretty well! Like a fish and water! Oh, it’s about time for dinner. Hanbei, I’ll visit you again – let me know your answer then!
Hanbei Takenaka:
Fish and water… Quite the bold statement. A rather interesting man, that Kinoshita.
Hideyoshi was seven years older than Hanbei, and, when all was said and done, a retainer to the Oda clan. A man of his stature visited Hanbei, a mere ronin, time and time again.
At the time, such an act was socially unthinkable. Witnessing that eagerness, Hanbei could not help but be moved.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Nene said we’re having fish tonight… Boy, am I starving!
Hideyoshi visited Hanbei Takenaka for the third time.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Oh, Hanbei! You actually came out to see me this time!
Hanbei Takenaka:
Well, even Zhuge Liang came out of his dwelling when visited the third time. Though I cannot match Zhuge Liang, should I fail to respond to your three meetings, well… I’ll be the laughingstock of the land.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
I don’t really get the reference, but you mean you’ll join me, right?
Hanbei Takenaka:
Indeed, my lord, I will. However, as you said, I will be under you, rather than Lord Nobunaga.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Sure, sure! Details! Who needs ‘em? Not me, and not you. Welcome aboard, Hanbei!
Hanbei Takenaka:
I swear I will bring you to the top of the nation, Lord Kinoshita. That will be a worthy dsplay of my talent.
Hideyoshi Kinoshita:
Ha ha ha! The nation, huh? Gotta shoot for those stars. Well, like I said, glad to have you in!
And so Hanbei Takenaka, known to later generations as a genius tactician, came to fight by Hideyoshi’s side.
Thrice Met(Quest) Completed!
Historical Tidbits
I can’t really find anything on Hanbei and Hideyoshi being quite this homoerotic historically, but it also wouldn’t surprise me. Homosexual and Bisexual relationships were decently common in Sengoku Japan. Nobunaga himself had a male lover, as did Shogun Yoshiteru as I’ve mentioned. This may be a bit of the developers trying to make a joke though and play on Hanbei being described as feminine.