In The Elusive Samurai episode 4, as Hojo Tokiyuki was spending his days in preparation for his upcoming battle, Ashikaga Takauji was plotting devious plans to exterminate Hojo’s bloodline entirely.
Previously in The Elusive Samurai episode 3, Hojo Tokiyuki was ridden with doubt about his worth and capability as a leader and he was also doubtful if he could ever take back Kamakura.
It was time for a gentle push from Yrishige, he performed a miracle and showed his military power to Tokiyuki boosting his morale and advice him to bond with his retainers, Sizuku, Nezu Kojiro, and Mochizuki Ayako.
For that purpose, they decided to go hunting together, oblivious to the fact, that a monstrous beast was waiting for them there.
According to rumors, it was a flesh-eating ox demon, that chased them, an arrow couldn’t pierce its skin, so it was next to impossible to defeat it.
In front of immanent death Sizuku devices a plan trusting Tokiyuki’s evasive skill.
The plan was that Tokiyuki would lure that beast to a ridge below which existed a pointy rock, and Kojiro and Ayako would lead that beast down that ridge, on that pointy rock, which would impale that beast, killing it.
The plan worked, they tested their first victory without any help from any adult.
however, as happy as the ending may be, there was a dark cloud gathering in Tokiyuki’s fate, since someone was plotting something against Yorishige of Suwa.
To know what happens next, keep an eye on The Elusive Samurai episode 4.
Table of Contents
Ashikaga Takauji, A Demon Hidden In Human Skin
Due to his meritorious act of claiming Kamakura for the past emperor Godaigo ending Shogunate rule and initiating the emperor’s rule again, Ashikaga Takauji was rewarded with a letter from the emperor’s respected name.
That was not all, the emperor also proposed he take up an official position in court, however, Takauji had something more sinister planned.
Takauji wasn’t satisfied only with a measly official position in the royal court when he could dominate the whole court.
Yes, he planned to push his retainers forward to gain a majority position in the court while maintaining a humble position as a general in name only to maintain a nice public image.
His charisma was enough to maintain a generous image to others, and he also succeeded in cementing his position in the royal court, he simply killed two birds with one stone.
Takauji was becoming more and more cold and calculative and more like a demon.
It was the right description which his house steward Moronao said, that Takauji’s smile is slowly losing its human touch.
All that remained was to find and eliminate the remaining bloodline of the Hojo clan to prevent any further conflict.
Arrival Of Demon’s Advent
Takauji’s official ascension was over and he had already planned to cut off the bloodline of the Hojo clan entirely.
Takauji had suspicions about someone from the Hojo clan hiding in the Suwa of Shinano province since one of Hojo’s top retainers Suwa Yorishige resides there.
That was the reason, Takauji recommended one of his retainers Ogasawara Sadamune as the governor of Shinano, who was first among others who betrayed the Hojo clan.
Takauji planned to use him and his authority to eliminate Hojo’s remnant which he was sure about existing there.
There was another identity of Ogasawara Sadamune, he was the most excellent archer in the whole country whom even the emperor acknowledged, his archery style is even being used in modern Japan!!
So, he was the most perfect candidate to search for the Hojo clan’s remnant, due to his excellent perception and near-perfect eyesight.
Well, all that remained for Sadamune was to approach Suwa Yorishige, and with his authority, he could do as he wished in Yorishige’s territory.
Sadamune arrived as a demon Takauji’s advent, in Suwa, declared his authority over Suwa, and demanded the handover of the Hojo clan’s remnants if any existed.
However, Yorishige acted as if he knew nothing about that.
A mind game was going on between Sadamune and Yorishige at this point In The Elusive Samurai episode 4.
Sadamune even performed the atrocity of shooting an arrow, aiming at the ear of a shrine maiden.
All of this action was to create mental pressure on Yorishige, but veteran Yorishige remained stoic in the face of Sadamune’s torment.
What Suwa Yorishige Planned In The Elusive Samurai Episode 4?
Enduring the torment of Sadamune was paramount for the future plan, and Tokiyuki also had to keep his cool despite how much he despised Sadamune for his actions.
However, there seemed to be nothing to worry about Tokiyuki since despite his young age he knew how to be calm and analyze a situation objectively, since despite his hatred for Sadamune, Tokiyuki was able to acknowledge his skill in Archery.
This astute nature of Tokiyuki further propelled Yorishige to cook up a plan for weak Tokiyuki to progress at least in Archery.
In this way, an initial phase in The Elusive Samurai episode 4 ended.
Next, what remains is to learn about the plan, which Yorishige named Kakure Oni(hide and seek).
The plan was as follows.
As Sadamune searches for the Hojo clan remnant, Tokiyuki hides in plain sight to learn his Archery skills by observing.
But this plan holds the potential risk of death upon discovery for Tokiyuki.
Well, as Tokiyuki is known for his thrill-loving personality, it would be safe to assume that he would more than welcome this idea.
As bait, Yorishige hosted a festival of Dog-Shooting, in which competitors shoot running dogs in an enclosed place with blunt arrows, and score counts according to the parts of the body of the dogs they hit.
The bait worked brilliantly.
Sadamune learned from the assistant governor Ichikawa Sakefusa about the news, he planned to intervene in the festival, and taking advantage of that he planned to search for the Hojo clan’s remnant.
What Happened In The Dog-Shooting Competition?
As expected, Sadamune arrived at the festival location on the designated day, to execute his plan of weakening Yorishige’s authority in Suwa and finding the Hojo remnant.
A critical event was about to unfold in The Elusive Samurai episode 4, as a bet was placed in which authority of crackdown in Suwa territory for Hojo Remnant would be allowed to Sadamune upon victory.
At the same time, if Sadamune loses he has to turn back.
Tokiyuki would face his first obstacle Sadamune with the alias of Chojumaru in this competition, where the score also will be counted if one hits the contender along with the dogs.
Everyone else was against the plan since Tokiyuki’s lack of combat prowess was known to all, however, Yorishige did stick to the plan in the hope of Tokiyuki’s growth.
It became evident that Tokiyuki also knew how to fight for significant things if necessary as he accepted that challenge.
At the very beginning of the first half of the competition, Tokiyuki aimed for Sadamune though Tokiyuki missed him, but Tokiyuki’s action incited Sadamune and made him target Tokiyuki for the remainder of the first half.
In between each of the attacks launched by Sadamune, there is a long pause for determining the target and winding up strength, so in the meantime, Tokiyuki kept on shooting a previously set easy target dog to score up some point.
The strategy worked and Tokiyuki simply evaded the next shots from Sadamune with his excellent evasive skill.
It was fun to watch the metaphors in which some of the arrow shots of Sadamune were compared with the speed of the baseball’s top major leaguer’s pitching speed.
However, here the plan failed, as Yorishige planned for Sadamune’s last shot to miss since he would be confused about which to shoot, Tokiyuki’s body or the dog, instead Sadamune used his excellent equestrian skill and entered Tokiyuki’s blindspot and shot successfully him in the head.
One last shot remained for Tokiyuki now, but Tokiyuki was thrilled for his fate was hanging from a thread.
With this cliffhanger The Elusive Samurai episode 4 ends.
So, to know about the outcome of the competition, stay tuned for the next episode…
