Hojo Tokiyuki was supposed to escape Kamakura in The Elusive Samurai episode 2 and reach Suwa to hide and save his life, but an unexpected chance for a head-for-a-head kind of revenge came to him.
Previously, in The Elusive Samurai episode 1, the successor of the shogunate of Kamakura, the youngest son of the Hojo clan Hojo Tokiyuki was enjoying his regular escapade until he met with a Shinto priest Suwa Yorishige, and started pondering on Yorishige’s divination about him becoming a renowned warlord when he turns 10 year old.
He couldn’t believe that, because, firstly it was expected of him to become a puppet ruler just like his sickly father, and secondly he lacked the skills required of any ruler.
However, the luxury of enjoying his escapade and pondering on the future came to an end when a trusted vassal Ashikaga Takauji betrayed the shogunate by joining forces with rebelling past emperor Godaigo and destroyed the maximum part of the Kamakura and Hojo clan.
Tokiyuki had to flee with the help of Suwa Yorishige although reluctant, because Yorishige made him taste the joy of being alive by pushing him between enemy forces, and Tokiyuki survived.
So, finally, he decided to hide in the region Suwa, which was a region under the rule of Yorishige, and bide his time until he became capable enough to take back Kamakura.
To learn what’s next, we need to look into The Elusive Samurai episode 2.
Table of Contents
Why Escaping From Kamakura Was Difficult?
Hojo Tokiyuki was supposed to reach Suwa with the help of Suwa Yorishige and hide there until he took Kamakura back from the grasp of the betrayer of Hojo clan Ashikage Takauji.
However, for that arduous process to be successful, he had to, first escape Kamakura, which seemed impossible since strict martial law was placed in the whole of Kamakura, as shown in The Elusive Samurai episode 2.
All the samurai and soldiers with their banners, who pledged loyalty to the Kamakura shogunate in the past, betrayed Kamakura by the drop of a hat under the leadership of Ashikage Takauji and were strictly guarding the exit pathway of Kamakura.
That’s why, Yorishige had no other choice but to wait hidden and bide for the correct time when the security became lax and was planning to escape towards Suwa with his daughter Sizuku and Tokiyuki towards Suwa.
Until then he suggested Tokiyuki wait it out and play this oddly futuristic Sugoroku game(dice game) with him!!
However, Yorishige’s attitude towards the overall situation didn’t give a dependable vibe to Tokiyuki and he also couldn’t believe Yorishige’s suggestion of taking revenge by surviving by playing hide and seek(onigokko) with his enemies.
What Was The Reason For The Revenge In The Elusive Samurai Episode 2?
Finding Yorishige undependable, Tokiyuki decided to find surviving loyal members of the Hojo clan by himself.
However, in his search, he came across a rumor or should I say the news, about the execution by beheading of one member of the Hojo clan.
The member who was executed was none other than Hojo Kunitoki, his elder brother from another mother, which was unbelievable for him.
He pressed those people who were discussing that execution for further details and found out that Godaiin Muneshige, his brother’s direct uncle and the one in charge of protecting his brother sold him to the enemy.
However, when he mentioned this news couldn’t possibly be true, his brother couldn’t die, he raised suspicion among those citizens about his identity, thank god Yorishige’s wit saved him, as he declared him as a priest apprentice, who was in a brotherly relationship with Kunitoki.
All these betrayals broke something within Tokiyuki, watching that, Yorishige decided to help Tokiyuki take revenge on his brother’s uncle Muneshige to help him move forward and prove to him that revenge is possible using onigokko(hide and seek).
Next, we will see, how that is possible in The Elusive Samurai episode 2.
How Did Hojo Tokiyuki Prepared For The Revenge?
After Suwa Yorishige decided to show Hojo Tokiyuki, the betrayer of his brother Godaiin Muneshige’s current deplorable condition in The Elusive Samurai episode 2, all that remained was deciding how to exact revenge on him.
On the other hand, Muneshige was planning on capturing Tokiyuki since capturing Kunitoki didn’t bring him any fruitful results, and he was cast away after being used and becoming more like an oni(demon), of the onigokko(hide and seek) Tokiyuki was supposed to play to exact revenge on him.
Tokiyuki fulfilled the first requirement of his revenge, which was learning about the metaphorical oni(demon) or the enemy, Muneshige.
Since Tokiyuki never took any fighting skill lessons seriously, what he needed most was reliable allies who would work as his hands in his mission.
Yorishige volunteered himself to find Tokiyuki such allies, and he did so.
Nezu Kojiro of the Nezu clan and Michizuki Ayako of the Mochizuki clan, were the retainer clan of the Suwa clan and the Suwa clan was the retainer of the Hojo clan, so both of those clans ultimately served the Hojo clan indirectly.
Kojiro and Ayako may be of the same age as Tokiyuki, but they were the best martial artists among their peers, so they were capable enough to help Tokiyuki in his revenge, and both of them felt that the weak Tokiyuki needed protection.
How Did Hojo Tokiyuki Take His Revenge?
Preparation for revenge against Muneshige was done at this phase of The Elusive Samurai episode 2, all that remained was the execution of the plan.
Team Tokiyuki staged an ingenious plan of luring Godaiin Muneshige to the location of Tokiyuki, which was an opening inside a forest.
Just as Muneshige did with his brother Kunitoki, Muneshige acted as a worried and gentle uncle to get close to Tokiyuki for betraying him, oblivious to the fact, that Tokiyuki was waiting there laying a trap for him.
Upon getting close enough after seeing Tokiyuki’s pitiful state, which was acting obviously, he also acted his part and got close to him.
That was a game of trick or be tricked.
Ultimately Muneshige was tricked since upon getting close to Tokiyuki, Muneshige was attacked by Kojiro and Ayako.
However, the skill difference between them and veteran Muneshige was large enough to repel their attack with ease.
Even after their joint effort, Kojiro and Ayako weren’t able to do much against Muneshige.
Well, that’s to be expected, there was a huge difference in the experience and sheer strength between them and Muneshige.
However, after getting attacked and getting away by the skin of his teeth, Tokiyuki seemed to be somewhat exhilarated, which was not natural to others, noticing that, Yorishige ordered Kojiro and Ayako to stand back and leave the playing field to Tokiyuki.
According to Yorishige, Tokiyuki can be weak but not a coward, Tokiyuki just enjoys the thrill of being between life and death situations and escaping from there, in general, he loves escapades betting his life.
Previously, when Kamakura was peaceful, he only showed this side of him in moderation, but in times of turmoil, his talent really shined.
Next, Yorishige asked Kojiro and Ayako’s impression of Tokiyuki, which was extremely favorable, they were awestruck by Tokiyuki’s courage, so Yorishige told them protecting Tokiyuki wouldn’t be an option, instead supporting him in battle would be the correct choice.
Finally
Now that we have seen, the way Tokiyuki and his team were dealing with Munehige at this stage of The Elusive Samurai episode 2, what is happening inside the mind of Muneshige?
Fear was slowly gripping his mind, as he felt that killing Tokiyuki was nearly impossible, on the reverse side, Tokiyuki could target his neck while escaping from his blade for eternity, this fear dulled Muneshige’s blade and clouded his judgment.
So, taking the chance of the moment of Muneshige’s weakness, Kojiro and Ayako again launched a joint attack on Muneshige and caught him off guard, creating a chance for Tokiyuki to attack.
Taking advantage of the chance, flapping his wings of revenge, Tokiyuki Beheaded Muneshige.
After Tokiyuki took his first revenge on behalf of his father, brother, and the dead citizen of Kamakura he obviously will continue his journey with his allies, so to find out about the next step of his journey, stay tuned…
