Sekigahara

In 1570, Toyotomi Hideyoshi meets a young temple acolyte named Sakichi and is impressed by his impertinence. He recruits him into his service, and Sakichi later renames himself Ishida Mitsunari, gaining wealth, lands and prestige.

Sakichi grows within the Toyotomi household and earns the trust needed to shape his own career. He becomes Ishida Mitsunari, increasingly aligned with Hideyoshi and poised for a future leadership role.

Hideyoshi completes the unification of most of Japan and takes the title taikō. He launches expensive invasions of Korea to expand his influence, strains his treasury, and tests the loyalty of his vassals.

In 1595 Hideyori is born after years of Hideyoshi's infertility. Soon after, Hideyoshi orders the execution of his appointed heir and his entire family, under the pretext of treason. Mitsunari pleads for mercy but cannot move Hideyoshi.

During the executions, loyal maids attack Mitsunari’s men. Mitsunari is impressed by their loyalty and spares them, recruiting Hatsume to serve as a spy. This marks the start of Hatsume’s dangerous double life.

Mitsunari meets Shima Sakon, a former respected general who despises Toyotomi. He offers Sakon half of his earnings if he serves as a samurai, but Sakon initially turns him down. Eventually, he is convinced to join by the promise of a freer rule for Toyotomi’s son.

As Hideyoshi grows old and ill, Mitsunari and Otani Yoshitsugu sense that Tokugawa Ieyasu will try to dominate after Hideyoshi’s death. Tokugawa consolidates power with vassals like Honda Tadakatsu and Ii Naomasa and begins his quiet bid for supremacy.

Hatsume uses her connections to keep Mitsunari informed of Tokugawa’s moves, but the White Snake spymaster hinders her and blocks informants in Kyoto from reaching Hatsume. The information war thickens as both sides maneuver for an advantage.

In 1598, Hideyoshi succumbs to illness. Mitsunari orders the death to be concealed until Korea’s troops have completed their retreat, hoping to avoid chaos. The ruse fuels Tokugawa’s suspicions of Mitsunari’s true intentions.

Tokugawa plots to accuse Mitsunari of usurping the regency, while Mitsunari counters with accusations against the Seven Spears. Maeda Toshiie negotiates a temporary truce, trying to keep the peace between rivals.

A year after the truce, Maeda Toshiie dies and the Seven Spears plot to assassinate Mitsunari. Mitsunari flees toward his fortress at Sawayama, while Hatsume is ambushed on a road and captured, later sold into slavery.

Mitsunari forges an alliance with Uesugi Kagekatsu, and they declare war on Tokugawa. Uesugi’s forces invade Tokugawa’s home province, forcing Tokugawa to march out and confront the threat.

On October 21, 1600, the Battle of Sekigahara opens with a clash between Mitsunari’s and Tokugawa’s factions. Sakon leads a vanguard but is wounded and retreats to the battlefield clinic run by his wife. A crucial betrayal by Kobayakawa turns the tide in Tokugawa’s favor.

As Tokugawa’s forces surge, Mitsunari opts not to commit suicide but flees with the wounded and evacuates those who remain. He eventually surrenders to Tokugawa’s troops after a hard-fought defeat.

Mitsunari is imprisoned and eventually executed; Kobayakawa visits him with regret before his demise. Hatsume, having followed his fate, finally locates him and mouths the clan motto: 'If one gives oneself for all, the world will prosper,' to honor his sacrifice.