Iga Ninjutsu is Good (Hattori: Legendary, Domination, V5445)

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Chisato, did you read the latest Pocket News?"
Chisato: "Yep. The famous Takeda stack of doom is feared to arrive in Wakasa in the near future."
Goemon: "That's the front line. Did you read the 4-point subtitle font?"
Chisato: "There is one? Let me see..."

Chisato: "Take... take out Takeda?"
Goemon: "The HQ must be worried about the imminent dominance of the Hojo-Takeda alliance. A balance of power must be restored in eastern Japan. Let the Hattori agents pour into Takeda lands!"
Chisato: "I shall sabotage their farm in Echizen!"
Goemon: "How?"
Chisato: "Burn it!"
Goemon: "It is a fertile farm, they grow rice in the water."
Chisato: "So I will hand-pull each rice sapling at night!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "I am exhausted... Why don't we let Takaoka weaken Takeda?"
Goemon: "Because Takaoka has cancelled our alliance and become openly hostile."
Chisato: "After we turned most of their lands into smokes? Probably a reasonable response..."
Goemon: "If Takaoka's reputation holds, they will declare war before the buffer period is over."
Chisato: "What does the HQ want us to do?"
Goemon: "There is already a ninja keeping a Takaoka's main army sabotaged in Tajima. Let's see how long we can hold Takaoka for!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "A Takeda army is heading toward Wakasa! It is not a huge stack, but still a threat!"
Goemon: "Sabotage them!"
Chisato: "How?"
Goemon: "er... tier up their shoes at night!"
Chisato: "But my back still hurts from the farm sabotage..."



Momochi Sandayu: "Congratulations, Chisato! You have shown true modesty of a ninja, approaching your missions with nothing but patience and determination."
Chisato: "Master? Weren't you training in Bizen?"
Sandayu: " The better we are, the more humble we should be. A mature rice stalk bows down. The sea is lower than the river so it receives their water. The large trees attract the wind. The fat pigs goes to the slaughter house first. You are now ready to become a level-6 Ninja in the Hattori clan, the most respected Ninja!"
Chisato: "I am? I am finally there?"
Sandayu: "Yes. Here I present you this mask. From now on your name should be no longer Chisato. But the anonymous. You have no name nor fame, so you can focus on your missions. Clans shall fear your mask, for there are many."
Chisato: "I am not the only level-6 ninja?"
Sandayu: "You are actually the fourth who received this honor. It is OK, that only shows your modesty to let others reach the finish line first. At the end you all get the same mask. There is no difference."
Chisato: "But I want to advance further like the Master."
Sandayu: "This is already the highest level of ninja."
Chisato: "But doesn't Iga Ninjutsu states that we have to keep pursuing higher levels? Once I reach the higher level, I can understand the secrets of Iga Ninjutsu and the true law of the universe..."
Sandayu: "That's just a saying to shut up the beginners so they stop asking questions that I cannot answer. There are no higher levels. I know as much as you in terms of Ninjutsu... "
Chisato:
Sandayu: "Oh by the way here is a helmet you can use."
Chisato: "A bamboo basket covering my head?"
Sandayu: "Double protection!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "So Master, am I going to see you ever again?"
Sandayu: "Of course, there are annual clan meetings... Oh I almost forgot. You can now shop completely free in Iga Ninjutsu's associated stores."
Chisato: "Free? Like... take whatever I want?"
Sandayu: "Yes. They won't call the Metsuke when you walk out with unpaid merchandise. So don't bother with tag swapping."
Chisato: "So... I can live for free every day? "
Sandayu: "Oh there is a time restriction. You can only shop for free between 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Sunday to Thursday."
Chisato: "Does any store open during that period?"
Sandayu: "Who said you have to wait until they open?"
Chisato: "So I have to break in? Then of course I do not have to pay..."
Goemon: "Have Iga Ninjutsu stores insured for thievery?"
Sandayu: "Of course~"



Chisato the anonymous: (murmuring)
Goemon: "I can't hear you with your double protection. Take them off!"
Chisato: "I wonder which clan will be connected to our new trade port in Inaba?"
Goemon: "Oh, the HQ has signed a deal with Honma."
Chisato: "Did they pay all their cash?"
Sandayu: "Of course~"
Chisato: "Master, please return to Bizen to continue your training..."

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Ha, Takeda and Hatakeyama has declared war. Hatakeyama already stole Takeda's Kaga! And our monk has incited a rebellion in Echizen. I wonder where Takeda's stack of doom is..."
Hattori ninja: "Chisato, please leave this Takeda stack to me. You go ahead and see what else to sabotage!"
Chisato: "OK!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "There is no sighting of Takeda army in Mino! But of course there is smoke in Mino."
Hattori Monk: "Thanks, we will work something out in Mino right away."

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Chisato, Oda has declared war on Hojo! And Takeda has declared war on Oda!"
Chisato: "The HQ's judgment was correct - we must act fast to prevent the domination of Hojo-Takeda alliance in eastern Japan."
Goemon: "And I heard that Oda has sent an emissary to Hattori, requesting an alliance."
Chisato: "So Oda wants to divide Japan up to two sides, Hojo-Takeda vs. Oda-Hattori..."
Goemon: "Yeah. But why would the Hattori goes to war when it cannot expand any further for 4 more years?"
Chisato: "Let's hope Oda can hold off Hojo..."
Goemon: "Yeah. When Date is defeated by Hojo and Honma, Oda will be the next..."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Goemon, what's going on? People are organizing protests on the streets."
Goemon: "Not very long ago the clan decided to give merchants higher status compared to farmers. The farmers are not very happy about this, fearing that they will be ripped off by the merchants."
Chisato: "Hm... merchants pursue profits whenever they can. This goes against our societies' core values. That's why merchants were purposely suppressed so they can't buy anything with their money."
Goemon: "But a rich clan is a winning clan. Both Farming and Town are both important sources of income. Early on we rely on farming, but towns will provide progressively more income..."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "So what should the HQ do about the unhappy farmers?"
Goemon: "I guess there will be a temporary reduction of clan-wide tax."
Chisato: "But won't this also lower the tax on the rich merchants?"
Goemon: "You would think the clan could set different tax levels on different things..."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "The Ninja team advance to North Shinano! Still no sign of Takeda's monster stack! But there is always smoke whenever Hattori ninjas go."
Monk: "And a rebel army follows the monk!"

[Maltz]

Yasunaga: "Welcome to the spring festival general meeting again! It seems that the last meeting was just yesterday."

"We will keep an close eye on the eastern clans. For now, our agents are unleashed onto Takeda! We must topple Takeda before Hojo and Honma defeat Date!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "What's up with the long line up in our recruitment centers? Is half of the public restroom on repair?: "on_sweat:
Goemon: "They are here because Hattori's military power has achieved the highest ranking of "Terrifying". Before people hesitate to join because they are afraid to die. Now they know the chance of they get to sent to the frontline is low... not really."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Hm? Takaoka has declared war on us? I have not even noticed..."
Goemon: "We already expected them to backstab us... spiritually. They have nothing to stab us. Our ninja permenantly paralyze their full-stack army, and they can't afford another full-stack. So they are stuck in a permenant checkmate mode."
Chisato: "Hm... the only thing that keeps them alive is that we want to avoid triggering the Realm Divide."



Chisato: "It looks like Date is about to be defeated, down to their last province."
Goemon: "It is time to use Date's remaining cash!
Chisato: "What a memory for Date's last moment, at least they traded with the Legendary Hattori clan of the west..."

End of Chapter 11

[Maltz]

Chapter 12. Musashi Gathering



Chisato: "We have caused total chaos in Takeda's territory! They are suddenly down to two provinces, which were owned by Hatakeyama a year ago... and Hatakeyama has taken some of Takeda's provinces..."
Goemon: "These clans only know about attack, so they will keep going forward, leaving their rear completely undefended."
Chisato: "At least we weakened Takeda in time. What's the status of Oda and Hojo's war?"
Goemon: "When Hojo focused their military in the north against Date, Oda actually managed to steal Hojo's capital, Sagami!"
Chisato: "Hojo did not defend their capital against a clan at war?"
Goemon: "Apparently no."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Hm... the Hatakeyama army is making rapid advance on the rebel provinces. Maybe soon they will replace Takeda."
Monk: "Hatakeyama never forgives us for taking their Kinki provinces. Let's topple Hatakeyama!"
Chisato: "Yes, let's do it! I will tie up their shoes at night!"
Goemon: "Now you can shop for free, why don't you try some extravagant approach?"
Chisato: "Like what?"
Goemon: "Like... dump truckloads of instant noodle on the road side? Soldiers love them~"
Chisato: "Yeah!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Goemon, I know that Hattori is famous for its Ninja. How about other agents like monks?"
Goemon: "Thanks to our early control of Yamato, we had a good start of hiring capable monks. I think we just had the first level-6 monk in the clan."
Chisato: "Do they have to wear masks, too?"
Goemon: "On the contrary, the higher level the monks, the less clothes they wear. The level-6 monk is half-naked. Nothing on the head."
Chisato: "Why are they not afraid of being targeted?"
Goemon: "There is a Nobel Peace Prize waiting if they get targeted..."

[Maltz]

Hattori Yasunaga: "Welcome back to the general meeting~ It seems that we just had the previous one earlier today..."

Hojo and Honma has defeated Date. This means that Hojo will be able to pull back all its army to fight Oda, unless Honma suddenly decides to attack Hojo. We expect Hojo's power to quickly grow and fill in the vaccum left by Takeda. Agents, remove Takeda and Hatakeyama as soon as possible, so you can focus on Hojo!

[Maltz]

Abe Noriaki: "My Lord, did you summon me again?"
Yasunaga: "Yep. I just noticed one mistake in our plan... Bow Warrior Monk requires level-2 Bow Dojo, so we need to get Way of the Bow first!"
Noriaki: "Does that mean we will have a delay in triggering the Realm Divide?"
Yasunaga: "Hm, maybe not, because we can train Bow Ashigaru first. But we will have to rearrange the research sequence."
Noriaki: "It is OK, the Kisho ninja and Bandits can wait. They are not very useful anyway."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Goemon, I heard that Takaoka has a large fleet on the sea. Has our navy fought them?"
Goemon: "Yeah. Our Medium Bune crushed them like bugs."
Chisato: "So the Hattori naval strategy is to use nothing but Medium Bune? Sounds risky."
Goemon: "The HQ made the tough decision to delay naval techs to post-Realm Divide. The rationale is if we trigger the Realm Divide early enough, the enemy clans will not have ships better than Medium Bune."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Hm... now there is a nother long line-up outside our recruitment centers. Must be about the recruitment commercial featuring warrior nuns. "
Goemon: "Actually they are not warrior monks, they are samurai!"
Chisato: "So we will have some elite Naginata for the future First Army!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Goemon, I heard that our trade with Hojo was disrupted because Oda took Hojo's capital, and Hojo moved their capital to Ito peninsula, which does not have a port..."
Goemon: "Yeah. We have addressed that problem."
Chisato: "How?"
Goemon: "Our monk has turned Ito into rebels. So Hojo's capital is again linked to a port."
Chisato: "So we can again sign a trade deal with Hojo. I wonder whether Hojo is willing to pay all their cash?"
Momochi Sandayu: "Of course~"
Chisato: " over 20000 koku earned from this... this is insane!"

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Chisato! Takeda and Hatakeyama have been toppled by our agents! The HQ has issued the new order - Hojo!"
Chisato: "On my way! I am Kozuke province, and I can see Hojo's Metsuke coming!"
Goemon: "Remove them from service!"
Chisato: "Yes!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "I heard Hojo is planning a counterattack to retake their capital Sagami. Any update?"
Goemon: "Our agents have arrived at the border. Their daimyo Hojo Ujiyasu suddenly had back muscle spasm..."
Chisato: "So that means Hojo will be unable to attack Oda temporarily?"
Goemon: "It seems that there are more Hojo coming down. Our agents will be overwhelmed quickly. "
Chisato: "I will meet them in Musashi!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Nice, I heard we have just started hiring elite Bow Ashigaru from Buzen and Hoki."
Goemon: "Yes. The strength of the Hattori army will increase very quickly from now on."

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Hm... there is another report of Takaoka's navy. They probably wanted to block our trade port in Hizen."
Goemon: "We have been pumping out elite navy non-stop from Hizen. This is just dessert for us. "

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Here I am in Musashi! Let me see.. together there are more than 4 full stacks of Hojo army!"
Goemon: "It looks like they are gathering around their daimyo. If we stop one of their stacks on their way, maybe the rest of the stacks will wait for them?"
Chisato: "Good idea! Let's try it! Here comes a truck load of *** megazine on the roadside!"

[Maltz]

Hattori Yasunaga: "Welcome back to the annual clan meeting. There is only one simple objective - weaken Hojo as much as possible before we trigger Realm Divide!"

Commissionner of Supply - Sawada Takamochi: "Oh I have one thing to report! We have started shipping new units to Kinki from three recruitment centers. Due to a carefully planned relay chain, all units arrive at their destination the same season it came out from the recruitment center."
Yasunaga: "Excellent work!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Report: When we distract the Hojo Horde in Musashi, our monks have been hyperactive, inciting rebellion in many Hojo provinces!"
Goemon: "Good work! Keep it up! But the HQ wishes to leave the two northern provinces of Hojo untouched."
Chisato: "Why?"
Goemon: "Because there is Honma behind Hojo. After Realm Divide they are all our obstacles. Hojo actually serves as a firewall that blocks Honma's expansion. It is better we keep it that way."
Chisato: "Understood!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Goemon, I heard that the Wako has reached a breakthrough in technology. They no longer make Trade Ships exclusively."
Goemon: "Yep, the age of easy free Trade Ships is over. But that changes little of our naval strategy - lots of Medium Bune never fails. And when we park the right-sized fleet at the right place, the Wako actually actively seek battle. Saves a lot of work!"

[Maltz]

Hattori Yasunaga: "Generals and agents, welcome back! It felt like we just had a meeting less than an hour ago... But we have an urgent situation! Hojo has been severely weakened, and there is no point to wait further to trigger Realm Divide!"

Commissioner of Warfare - Fujiwara Norioki: "But we don't have five armies yet. Enough for four, though."
Yasunaga: "Good enough. We will have three armies in Kinki, one army in the north to take care of Takaoka."
Commissioner of Supply - Sawada Takamochi: "No problem!"
Yasunaga: "The Kinki army will be led by our three best generals!"
Commissioner of Finance - Minamoto Tomokata: "How about the Fifth army promised to me? "
Yasunaga: "The recruit process will continue. So you will get your fifth army as planned."
Commissioner of Development - Momochi Sandayu: "So I will be leading an invasion along Tokaido?"
Yasunaga: "Yes. Tokaido is full of great-clan provinces: Owari, Migawa, Kai, Sagami. So it has to be done by a Development expert. "

Yasunaga: "All agents, slowly pull back from Hojo and work on Oda! They are our closest obstacle!"
Anonymous x 5: "Yes!"