This will be my last TW:S2 story of the Sengoku Jidai.
This is my first time writing a novel in English (which obviously is not my first language).
Please pardon my broken English and enjoy!

Settings
Clan: Uesugi
Settings: Legendary, Domination
Version: V5607
DLC: Blood Pack, Ikko-Ikki, Hattori, Sengoku Jidai units
MOD: none

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Table of Content

Video: Making a God of War

Episode 01. Feud of Brothers
Episode 02. Long-time Enemies
Episode 03. Dragon of Echigo
Episode 04. Tower of Fortune
Episode 05. When Time is Ripe
Episode 06. Shikoku Under Siege
Episode 07. Duel of Untouchables
Episode 08. Making a Siegemaster
Episode 09. Friend, or Enemy
Episode 10. The Hidden Fleet

Upcoming
Episode 11. The Good Thief

Introduction - Torachiyo (1530-1544)

Chapter 1. Clouds of Kasugayama Castle
Chapter 2. Oath under Bishamonten
Chapter 3. Crisis of Nagao Clan
Chapter 4. Plot of Rizenji

Book 1 - Nagao Kagetora (1545-1546)

Chapter 5. Tohachi Bishamon Tenon
Chapter 6. Mind Preparation
Chapter 7. Making a God of War
Chapter 8. Valuable Promises
Chapter 9. Match-Making Trip
Chapter 10. Plan of Expansion
Chapter 11. Twin Dragon
Chapter 12. Reconciliation Effort

Book 2 - Dragon of Echigo (1546-1548)

Chapter 13. Enjoying a Drink
Chapter 14. Chaos in Hokuriku
Chapter 15. Last Mind Standing
Chapter 16. Uesugi Norimasa
Chapter 17. A Plot to Exploit
Chapter 18. The Treaty of Ueno
Chapter 19. Heaven and Earth

Book 3 - God of Fortune (1548-1550)

Chapter 20. National hero in making
Chapter 21. Three Generations of Tragedy
Chapter 22. Dilemma of the Righteous
Chapter 23. When the Sky Dips Beneath

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Characters (will be updated as the story progresses)



長尾景虎 Nagao Kagetora (later known as Uesugi Kenshin)
Born in 1530. The second son of the Echigo Daimyo Nagao Tamekage (長尾為景). Named "Torachiyo (虎千代)" at birth, where "tora" (tiger) reflected that he was born in the zodiac year of tiger. His favorite novel is The Tale of Genji (源氏物語), a masterpiece depicting Japanese nobles' romance in the 11th century. Torachiyo was sent to Rizenji, the Forest Spring Temple, to become a monk between the age of 7 and 14. He was volunteered by the clan officers to assume the leadership of Echigo, as his elder brother Harukage proved to be a incompetent leader.



宇佐美乃美 Usami Nomi
Born in 1530. Daughter of Usami Sadamitsu (宇佐美定滿 1489-1564), lord of Biwa Island Castle and a family officer of the Nagao clan. When Nomi was 7, she travelled to the great temple of Todai-ji in Nara, and took a sacred oath in front of the giant statue of Bishamonten (毘沙門天), the God of War.



長尾政景 Nagao Masakage
Born in 1526. Leader of one of the prominent Nagao families. He married an elder sister of Uesugi Kenshin. When conflict arose between Uesugi Kenshin and his elder brother, Harukage, Masakage intended to side with the (quite incompetent) incumbent Harukage.



廬名夜也 Ashina Yaya
Born in 1525. Daughter of the Ashina clan daimyo, Ashina Morikiyo (蘆名盛舜).



管家茂子 Maoko the Housekeeper
Maltz's avatar in the story. As "子" (ko) is a typical girl's name in Japan, Maoko is a lady born in around 1510. She was a doula during Torachiyo's birth, and remains the nanny of Torachiyo until he becomes a monk in Rizenji (Forest Spring Temple) at 7. When Torachiyo assumes power at the age of 15 as Kagetora, Maoko is promoted from a maid to housekeeper due to her past ties with Kagetora.

Since the game's virtual world often makes abbreviations and mistakes, Maoko's primary job is to convince the characters that all nonsense actually make sense, and make the story more similar to the actual, more complicated world. As the executioner of commands, she gladly handles all trivial issues and decisions for the clan.

Selected secondary characters



長尾為景 Nagao Tamekage
Born in 1489 (some sources say 1471). Daimyo of the Nagao clan, ruler of Echigo. In 1506, he succeeded his father as the Shogunate's Deputy Guardian of Echigo. Once forced to retreat to Etchu and Sado Island due to his military campaign against the weakening (actual) Guardian of Echigo, the Uesugi clan (not the same Uesugi family which Kenshin later adapts), he finally controlled Echigo in 1510.



長尾晴景 Nagao Harukage
Born in 1509. Successor of the Nagao clan, ruler of Echigo since 1537. Famous for his poor health and irrelevant interests. As rebellions in Echigo were left unsuppressed, more and more family officers plot to replace him with his younger brother, the future Uesugi Kenshin.

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... And we're off again.
I'll be following this as usual.

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Chapter 1. Clouds of Kasugayama Castle

Kasuga Mountain (yama) Castle is located, as you guessed, on top of the Kasuga mountain.
Twenty years ago, the Nagao clan took control of Echigo. Since then, the Nagao family lived in the Kasuga Mountain castle.
There is a waterfall behind the castle, accompanied by a little shrine, a bridge, which frequently spans a beautiful rainbow beneath.
A few years ago, the daimyo Nagao Tamekage remodelled the castle to a perfect square shape.
In the middle of the short walls was their humble two-storey house that people reportedly could not find the door in.
People used to criticize the unimaginative design of the new look. They rather stare at the waterfall.
But eventually they got used to it.

The Kasuga Mountain makes up the western rim of the Seki River (kawa) basin. Looking east, one can see dozens of miles of rice fields.
In late winter or early spring, the morning fog could cover the entire Seki River basin. Then on top of the Kasuga mountain, there is a spectacular view of the "sea of cloud" beneath.
The blue sky on top, the white clouds at the bottom, while the sea of cloud reflects the yellow and orange bits of the morning sun.
People could temporarily forget their worries in the mundane world, and merge their mind with the tranquil and grand nature.
And so goes the name of Kasuga, "spring sun".

February 18, 1530

Nagao Harukage: "Father, what a beautiful sea of cloud!"
Nagao Tamekage: "Yes. This magnificence will all be yours one day."
Harukage: "What's ..ficence? Is it related to defecation?"
Tamekage: "You are 21 years old but speak like a 2! Where did you go when you skipped class?"

Tamekage gave his son's head a few solid knocks.

Midwife Maoko: "My lord, the baby is born! A boy!"
Tamekate: "Wahaha. This one started kicking and punching in the womb. I knew it is a boy."

The midwife carried out the crying little baby, whose face look especially red under the morning sunshine.
The baby's limbs are chubby. There is a thin layer of fine hair covering his shoulder and forehead.

Tamekage: "What a strong baby. What should I call him?"
Midwife Maoko: "Madam suggests that since he was born on the Spring-Sun mountain, we call him Spring-Born."
Tamekage: "MEH. There are already so many spring-born, autumn-born around. Only four options - too many with identical names. Hm, isn't this year the year of Tiger? How about Tiger(Tora) chiyo?"
Maoko: "My lord, there are only 12 options. And you never heard of Dog-chiyo or Pig-chiyo..."
Tamekage: " There is actually a Pig-shiro clan nearby. Who are you? How dare you challenge my authority? Guards! Push this midwife off the mountain!"
Maoko: "My lord~ turn around and look!"
Tamekage: "I won't fall for your childish trick!"
Maoko: "No~ look quickly! It is beautiful!"

As Tamekage turned around, he was stunned by the view.
A large cloud was making its way here from the Shinano mountains, with golden-orange rims and rainbow-color aura.
As if it was accompanied by the chorus of angels, enchanted by the bells of the morning valley.

Tamekage: "I have never seen a cloud so beautiful..."
Maoko: "I heard that when a god reincarnates to become a baby, he rides a beautiful cloud. This is probably it..."
Tamekage: "Hm... what a sweet tongue. OK, you are forgiven. Come, cloud~"
Harukage: "Come, cloud~"

By the calling and waving of the people on top of the Kasuga mountain, the golden color slowly approached...
But suddenly, there comes a gust of powerful, chilling south wind!

"WOOOO----"

And the golden cloud was blown away to the northern sea.

Tamekage: "What a monsterous wind! Well, it looks like this god is not born into our family."
Maoko: "Looks like the cloud is heading toward a little island on the sea..."

The midwife looked at the baby with a little sympathy and murmured.

"This is the sixteenth century and people still buy this crap, stupid baga..."

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Chapter 2. Oath under Bishamonten

Built 700 years ago, Nara's Todaiji (東大寺) is a holy site of Japan's Buddhism. Faithfuls of different branches flock its hall.
A giant gold statue of the Buddha is located in the middle of the Great-Buddha Hall.
In the corners of the hall stood four tall stone statues of guardians, Tamonten, Zochoten, Jikokuten, and Komokuten.
Each guardian was carved with skills and passion, frightening and humbling.

The greatest of the four guardians is Tamonten (多聞天), whose named derived from legends that he frequently attended Buddha's lessons.
As Tamonten holds a treasury tower on his right hand, he was a "tower-holding" wealth-bringing guardian.
When Buddhism subsequently spread to Japan, he became a god of warfare due to the halberd in his other hand.
Tamonten is also called Bishamonten (毘沙門天), a direct sound translation from his original name in ancient India.

Maybe it does not matter whether people ask Bishamonten for wealth or victory - the faithfuls always cherry-pick the trivial incidences to confirm their faith.
No wonder soldiers recruited in this area (Yamato) has better morale than the those from the rest of Japan.

July 19, 1537

This day, the meeting of destiny took place in Todaiji.

Nanny Maoko: "Young master, come and crawl through this hole under the pillar. You will grow smarter!"
Nagao Torachiyo: "No way! What if I got stuck?"
Nanny Maoko: "I crawled through it when I was 13! Young master is only 7 years old. It is safe~"
Torachiyo: "I want to return to Echigo. I want to read Tale of Genji back in Kasugayama castle."
Maoko: "Young master, Tale of Genji is a romantic novel. In this treacherous world, romantics cannot live for long... although they may have many children before dying."
Torachiyo: "I want to go home! WAAAAAA~~~"

The summer cicada rub their wings on the tree; the little boy stamps his feet on the ground.
While Torachiyo is throwing a tantrum on the floor, there is another child nearby, kneeling down in front of the statue of Tamonten, eyes shut.

"From today, I shall cleanse my mind and forgo my desires. I will take the burden of all misfortunes and sufferings, so I could relieve people from their miseries. Bishamonten, please have sympathy. Please enlighten me with your wisdom."

When the child finished her oath, she bowed down and knocked her forehead on the floor seven times, in front of the statue maybe 100 times of her size.

"What a serious oath!" Nanny Maoko thought. But when she turned around and looked at the source of the voice, she saw a little girl with her long hair curled on top of her head, wearing a full body of cherry pink. Why would a little girl come to Todaiji and make such an oath...

Maoko: "Oh wow! Isn't this Sir Usami?! What a coincidence to see you in Nara."
Usami Sadamitsu: "Oh my. Isn't this young Torachiyo? Having a bad mood today?"
Maoko: "Thanks for recognizing my existence..."
Torachiyo: "Uncle Usami, I want to go home... Bring me home!"
Maoko: "What a display of rudeness! Young master needs to control his temper."
Usami Sadamitsu: "It is fine~ Oh, please let me introduce... this is my daughter, Nomi. Nomi, this is Torachiyo, the young son of Lord Tamekage, the Guardian of Echigo."
Usami Nomi: "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Usami Nomi elegantly bowed down.
Just like Torachiyo, Nomi also had two rows of tears under her dark watery eyes.
Yet with her upright posture and confident smile, every move of Nomi gives a hint of magnificence.
She feels 1000 times more mature than Torachiyo.

Maoko: "Are you a human being..."
Torachiyo: "...er..."

Torachiyo's mind is lost as he stares at Usami Nomi.

Usami Sadamitsu: "Torachiyo, you are welcome to visit Biwa Island anytime."
Maoko: "Ah... that would bring too much trouble for lord Usami."
Usami Sadamitsu: "Not at all. I am the lord of the Biwa Island, a family officer of the Nagao clan. It would be my pleasure to take you on a tour of our humble tiny island just off the shore. So where is Torachiyo going next?"
Maoko: "WE are heading to the Imperial Palace in Kyoto to meet up with Lord Tamekage, who is now having a Tea Ceremony with other daimyos."
Usami Sadamitsu: "Oh... then there is no business for an uninvited family officer to stick around. Let's meet back in Echigo, then."
Usami Nomi: "See you in Echigo."
Maoko: "Bye~"

Nomi beamed the sweetest smile before she turned around. Just a few seconds later, the Usami father and daughter disappeard in the bright sunshine outside Todaiji.

Torachiyo: "Biwa island... Biwa island..."

Torachiyo was completely conquered by Nomi's smile. His mouth could not seal completely, as a thin string of saliva hangs all the way from his mouth to the floor.

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Some photos to share. I took them myself when I travelled to Japan in 2008.



Todaiji, Nara.

Very big! One of the most famous temples in Japan.

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