~ OOC // vatheon Application ~
[ Player Name ] : Bellflower
[ Personal LJ ] : fightingoutside
[ Age ] : 23
[ Timezone ] : GMT
[ Character's Name ] : Akechi Mitsuhide
[ Character's Age ] : 24
[ Series ] : Samurai Warriors 3
[ Canon Point ] : Several weeks after the Battle of Yamasaki, during his story mode.
[ History ] :
A samurai of Mino born into the warring states period of Japan, Mitsuhide spent the first part of his military career serving the Saito (due to the family links he had within). It was rather clear from early on, however, that this clan was not one that possessed either the drive or the desire to make an attempt at bringing peace to the land. Despite having an excellent strategist in the form of Takenaka Hanbei, its leader was a man named Tatsuoki who would rather spend his time indulging in his love of women and alcohol. Though he remained loyal, Mitsuhide was fully aware that it was only a matter of time before the clan fell and this indeed happened.
It was down to the actions of Oda Nobunaga, the man rapidly becoming known as the 'Demon King.' Mitsuhide was intrigued by Nobunaga's vision and ability, but did not immediately join him, choosing to wander the land for a time before deciding there was no other man as capable and offering his services to the Oda.
The problems started almost immediately. There was no question that Nobunaga was powerful, that he had a great vision, and Mitsuhide came to believe in him very quickly. The man was also, however, a brutal, unforgiving tyrant who was quite prepared to destroy anything that got in his way. This was not something the naive Mitsuhide picked up on at first, and even when he began to get a closer glimpse at his Lord's methods he managed to excuse much that he did. It was simply unthinkable to him the person he had chosen to follow would not act in the way he viewed as best for the land. At the first great battle he participated in, Nagashino, Mitsuhide attempted to minimise deaths in his own way even as his Lord used their rifle units to utterly decimate their enemy, the Takeda. A great victory, perhaps, but it was also a total bloodbath, and it was likely here that Mitsuhide first began to feel a slight feeling of doubt in the path he had chosen.
Not long after the destruction of the Takeda clan, Nobunaga began to plan an assault again the Mouri. The Mouri was lead by the famed Motonari, who possessed a large navy, and without a decently sized one of their own the Oda would not stand a chance in the inevitable sea battle. Because of this, Mitsuhide decided to call upon the help of a friend on behalf of his Lord. This friend was Chosokabe Motochika, Lord of the island of Shikoku and commander of a famed navy of his own, who did not hesitate to offer assistance when asked. An alliance was formed between the two clans, and though he could not know it Mitsuhide had effectively started a chain of events which would later on ensure his life took a very dramatic turn.
With his friend close to his side, Mitsuhide followed Lord Nobunaga to battle at Kizugawa. It was here that he would suffer the biggest shock to his system so far. Upon defeating several units, a group of peasants surrender to Mitsuhide, who is pleased with the opportunity to avoid more bloodshed. He escorts them to safety... only for Nobunaga to order them killed by another of his generals. This astounds the young retainer, who cannot fathom why his Lord would do such a thing. Motochika calls him idealistic and challenges his faith, saying that if he truly believes in Nobunaga then he must be willing to prove it. The shaken Mitsuhide proceeds through the enemy lines and manages to board the Mouri flagship, encountering Mouri Motonari there. The man also questions Mitsuhide's faith and says, basically, that it is unwise to idealise a person too much, as well as referring to Nobunaga as a 'hero and not a leader,' someone who could never rule the lands well.
After the battle is won, Mitsuhide is more troubled than ever but chooses to continue holding onto his belief. This does not last long, however, because Motochika approaches him shortly afterwards and mentions that Nobunaga will come after his lands soon. Mitsuhide refuses to believe that Nobunaga would break an alliance in such a manner, but as it turns out, Motochika is right. His friend returns home and days afterwards Nobunaga gives orders to his men to prepare for an invasion of Shikoku. Unable to deal with this, Mitsuhide's immediate reaction is to travel as quickly as possible to Motochika in order to talk with him.
The conversation they have is a fateful one. Mitsuhide expresses his distress at Nobunaga's actions and says that he does not know what to do. Motochika, however, says that if Mitsuhide had wanted to continue fighting for Nobunaga's ambition he would have stayed with him, and suggests that his friend gives into his desires, doing what those he has 'trampled underfoot' demand; in other words, take up arms against Nobunaga. It is enough to persuade Mitsuhide. Though he does so with regret, he chooses to defend his friend, lead his troops to Honnōji (where his Lord was staying) and attempt to slay Nobunaga.
It is a hard battle for him on almost every level. He has to take out former allies in order to get to Nobunaga, including his childhood friend Noh (who tells him that he should not show any hesitation in his mission), and would likely not have managed it at all were it not for Motochika's support along the way. When he finally engages Nobunaga in combat, the Demon King shows no surprise or anger at his former retainer's actions and Mitsuhide almost gives up his mission, unable to bring up the strength to kill the man. Motochika's words spur him to action, however, and he manages to do what many thought impossible by slaying his Lord.
Afterwards, however, he almost suffers a total breakdown.
The act of betrayal causes him a great deal of guilt and pain, and he is at first unable to bring himself to take up his blade again in order to fight those who will inevitably come after him in their bids to seize power or get revenge. As at Honnōji, however, Motochika acts as his pillar of strength and successfully guides him to the fight at Yamazaki, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi plans to kill him off.
Throughout the battle Mitsuhide constantly expresses his inability to go on without Nobunaga and is only able to keep fighting with the reassurance of his friend, who tells him what he needs to hear. Despite the odds against them, they manage to swing the battle their way and even get close to the main camp of their enemies. Unfortunately, it is not to be. Kuroda Kanbei, a devious strategist who had once served Nobunaga himself and was now working for Hideyoshi, sets up a trap which Motochika falls into, mortally wounding him. Mitsuhide goes to his aid but it is far too late to save him, and despite Motochika urging his friend and ally to continue on in honour of the dead, it is too much for Mitsuhide and as he says, he cannot go on without his friend at his side.
Taking Motochika's shamisen with him, he retreats from the battle and from the rest of the world, leaving the fate of the land to Hideyoshi. The strength to continue fighting is gone from his body, and he finds an isolated place where he will be able to live alone with his grief and regret.
[ Personality ] :
The absolute core of Mitsuhide’s personality is his soft heart. He is a man of emotion, a compassionate soul who seeks to do the right thing at all times. This is what drives him; despite loathing war and killing, he took up his blade in order to try and help end the war plaguing his home of Japan. Observing the suffering of innocents was all the motivation he needed to do so.
This kindly nature, however, is coupled with a naïve and idealistic one.
Evident in his original trust in Nobunaga, a man whose attitude and morals completely went against his own, Mitsuhide can have a hard time seeing beyond the surface of people’s intentions if they are not immediately obvious. He can latch onto and idealise a person for quite some time before becoming aware of their real nature, and even then will search for excuses before being forced to accept the truth of what he is seeing. Having his belief in someone broken this way is an immensely painful experience for him; he wants to see the best in people and cannot handle it well when forced to accept the darker sides of those he cares for/believes in.
If it’s immediately obvious that someone has intentions he would consider evil, then he would fight and oppose them without hesitation. He has somewhat of a black and white view of the world, putting certain acts under ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in his mind. This is largely responsible for his increased self-doubt and pessimistic attitude towards himself after he betrays Nobunaga; in addition to having to face the fact that he judged his Lord wrongly, he has committed an act he considers unforgivable, regardless of its intentions. In his eyes, betraying one’s Lord is a major sin, so he thereafter considers himself a sinner and someone who would deserve an untimely death.
All this adds up to a soul who really does not cope well on his own through hard times. The support of a strong person, which would be his friend Motochika throughout Honnoji and right up to Yamazaki, can keep him going, but without one he will give up rather quickly. You might say he is dependent on others to really cope with the harsh realities of life.
On a simpler level, Mitsuhide is soft-spoken and intelligent (though definitely in a more academic manner as opposed to anything else). He is the kind of person to take note of natural beauty and point it out to others, usually in a rather poetic/romantic manner. Polite and respectful, to the point that he will still refer to those close to him with the appropriate title (Motochika is Lord Motochika, Noh is Lady Noh, for example); talk that he considers to be of a private nature will shock and embarrass him very quickly.
[ Strengths/Weaknesses ] :
Mitsuhide is a samurai trained in fighting with a katana, using a mixture of Kenjutsu and Battoujutsu techniques. The first refers to the basic sword techniques and the second to attacks done 'from the draw.' Battoujutsu in particular requires good reflexes and has ensured he has become a rather swift opponent; not the most physically strong, but more than capable of dealing out damage should he need to. In addition to this he possesses musou skills, a sort of 'battle magic' that in his case can augment his attacks with energy and when focused increase his strength for a very short time.
The man is intelligent and sometimes used in battle as a strategist, though he is very loathe to use any technique he considers dishonourable or cruel (which, in the service of the Nobunaga, was quite a disadvantage). It is demonstrated that he is also quite effective with a rifle and has a good aim with such weapons.
As mentioned in his personality section, however, Mitsuhide is very naive and can be too trusting for his own good. He is also prone to bouts of depression, tends to be very pessimistic about himself and is quick to lose confidence. This has made him into someone who really cannot cope well on his own; he needs the support of others to truly be able to cope with difficult situations.
[ Other Important Facts ] :
* As well as destroying the last bit of faith he has in himself, the death of Motochika in canon causes him to feel he is unworthy of 'name and rank.' If pushed he might give the alias of 'Nankobo Tenkai,' but only for the sake of convenience. He genuinely believes he has no right to his name anymore.
* Characters in canon frequently point out how lovely his hair is, justifiably so! It's very long, straight and shiny, and if asked he'll mention how easy it is to care for too.
* Samurai Warriors is a relatively obscure fandom, so I’ve compiled a small info post here for relevant videos.
[ Sample ] :
1.
He had sinned.
That was that. How could it be denied, when he had killed his own Lord? Taking action against the man whose methods had come to horrify him had been done in defense of his friend and his morals, but how could anything justify an act of betrayal like his own? It was wrong.
“How could you do this to us, Mitsuhide?” said Lady Nene, stepping out of range of his strike.
One could not rewind time. What was done, was done. Nothing could change it.
“Lord Nobunaga is dead…” said Mitsuhide, ducking just in time to avoid the cutting edge of a throwing knife. “That is how it is. We must keep moving forward.”
So he’d been told, anyway. Motochika, his closest friend, had stood firmly with him and advised him throughout the past few weeks. Without his companionship Mitsuhide would likely be dead already, having succumbed to his own despair. Strong words and a firm hand kept him going. Whenever he spoke of his sins, whenever he mentioned that he likely deserved to be slain by Hideyoshi, his friend would tell him enough to keep him going. ‘You must go on, for the sake of those who have stood with you.’ ‘If you do not fight, you would be forsaking all those who have fallen at your hands before now.’ ‘Nobunaga has no voice now; you must speak for him.’
It was just enough to keep Mitsuhide’s blade sharp, to push him forward in their bid to secure a peaceful land. With sad eyes and an unsettled heart he had marched on Yamasaki to battle the Toyotomi army, those who had once been his friends and allies. Those who now hated him.
Their main camp was close now, and Motochika was heading to seize the mountain. Capture both, kill Lord Hideyoshi and Japan would be one step closer to being rid of war. It sounded so simple, but…
“You won’t get away!” yelled Nene, eyes burning as she attacked with both of her ninja blades. “Nobody will lay a hand on my husband!”
Mitsuhide parried her attack and launched one of his own. The edge of his blade cut lightly through the woman’s skin, drawing blood. He remembered being fed by her once; she was a kind person who mothered anyone she considered to be a friend. Now they were locked in battle, both aiming to kill the other.
I… cannot continue to dwell on such things, he thought, sliding his blade back into its sheath in preparation for a strike from the draw. I have to… I have to move forward. Listen to the voices of the dead and move forward.
He wasn’t alone. He had a duty, and he could fulfil it because he was not alone. Face settling into something of a determined expression, his hand rested on the hilt of his blade until Nene recovered from the last blow and stepped back into range. In one smooth, swift movement it was out, slicing through the air and sending the ninja straight onto the floor with a scream.
Hideyoshi was next. All of his best generals had been immobilised or were fighting elsewhere, ensuring it would be a clean, one-on-one battle between the two of them. That would be right. He owed his former ally that much, at the very least.
But as he turned to head to the Toyotomi main camp, everything changed.
“Chōsokabe Motochika has been defeated! Lord Kanbei has taken him down!”
He heard the cry, heard the cheers as Hideyoshi’s men realised that the greatest obstacle in their battle had been taken down. At first it struck him numb, disbelief filling his mind, but a few seconds was all he needed to gain control of himself again. Without any hesitation he turned around and bolted towards the mountain, weaving through both allies and enemies as he sought out his friend and greatest supporter.
It didn’t make sense to him. Motochika was too strong to have been defeated, even by a man like Kuroda Kanbei. The message, it had to be false, had to be a lie. There was simply no way it could happen.
At heart he knew otherwise, however, and by the time he found his friend his eyes were already wet.
There were many dying men before Motochika, and while his raised head indicated consciousness he was clearly moments away from reaching his end. Blood poured from a very visible wound on the exposed part of his chest, too much blood for there to be any chance of survival. Mitsuhide was at his friend’s side in seconds, checking for a pulse he knew would be fading away.
“Lord Motochika… you are wounded!” he managed. “That fiend, he… he did this to you!”
“The living must go on…” muttered Motochika, looking up through hazy eyes. “It… it is the only proper way… to honour the dead…”
That was it. There would be no more words from his mouth.
Mitsuhide stared down for a moment, unable to process it. Motochika was dead. His friend, his ally, dead. It had happened so quickly, so swiftly. The heavens had taken the man’s life without any warning at all, giving their favour to Kanbei and ensuring his tactics, whatever they were, were effective.
Was this a punishment? Had his own sins been punished through the spilling of Motochika’s blood?
“Lord Motochika… I… I cannot do it,” he mumbled, lowering his head. “Without you, I cannot go on…”
He did not have the strength to create peace by himself. It just wasn’t there. He had killed his Lord, failed his friend. To keep moving forward… it would be too painful to do.
2.
[He wasn't panicking. Not as such, anyway; there was worry in his features, and definitely a sense of confusion about him. He just wasn't moving much, wasn't saying much, eyes staring up at the dome of blue above his head as he thought.]
[It couldn't be a dream. Stuck in a new place, a place far removed from Japan, from his little mountain hideaway? A place so unreal it could well have been spun during a person's sleep? The earlier sensation had certainly made it feel like one, and he might have thought so with just that evidence, but the ache in his muscles was not something he'd ever experienced during his dreams and he was soaked through to the skin. All of his senses, in fact, felt a little too alert for that explanation to make sense. That meant it had to be real.]
Magic..?
[Mitsuhide closes his eyes, drawing in a shaking breath and twisting a lock of still-wet hair between his fingers. No master of magic was powerful enough to create an illusion this grand, so maybe one had pulled him into the odd place where he now stood instead. But why?]
[His hand curls around the hilt of the katana at his side.]
[Everything about the situation spoke of danger. He had no living friends now. Everyone he knew that still lived hated him, for good reason, and many he didn't know likely hated him too. Nobunaga's supporters, the men who kept faith in the Demon King no matter what he did... most surely believed him dead, but there was no way he could say for certain that some didn't know he was still alive somewhere. Hideyoshi most certainly did, but he'd let Mitsuhide go for reasons unknown to him and was therefore unlikely to still harbour thoughts of revenge.
[The Battle of Yamasaki had been enough for him.]
You need no more, do you? No... those precious lives were enough punishment for you...
[That grief was still fresh, still strong and overwhelming. Mitsuhide lowers his head and focuses on the surroundings. Losing himself in it now would not get him out of his situation... though in all honestly, he could not deny that he deserved to be punished. Every day since that battle he'd found himself thinking that he should have been the one to fall. Not his men, not his dear friend.]
[A sparkle does more to distract him from his thoughts than his own will, and he looks around to spy a tiny orb of white light. It's just... hovering around him. Odd. Was this part of the magic too?]
It's just too strange...
[Trying to make sense of it was clearly not going to do him any good right now. There was only one option left to him, and that was to move. It was a city he was in, however odd it might be, and be they enemy or not he would have to try and find others.]
[ Questions? Comments? Concerns? ] : None. ♥
[ Personal LJ ] : fightingoutside
[ Age ] : 23
[ Timezone ] : GMT
[ Character's Name ] : Akechi Mitsuhide
[ Character's Age ] : 24
[ Series ] : Samurai Warriors 3
[ Canon Point ] : Several weeks after the Battle of Yamasaki, during his story mode.
[ History ] :
A samurai of Mino born into the warring states period of Japan, Mitsuhide spent the first part of his military career serving the Saito (due to the family links he had within). It was rather clear from early on, however, that this clan was not one that possessed either the drive or the desire to make an attempt at bringing peace to the land. Despite having an excellent strategist in the form of Takenaka Hanbei, its leader was a man named Tatsuoki who would rather spend his time indulging in his love of women and alcohol. Though he remained loyal, Mitsuhide was fully aware that it was only a matter of time before the clan fell and this indeed happened.
It was down to the actions of Oda Nobunaga, the man rapidly becoming known as the 'Demon King.' Mitsuhide was intrigued by Nobunaga's vision and ability, but did not immediately join him, choosing to wander the land for a time before deciding there was no other man as capable and offering his services to the Oda.
The problems started almost immediately. There was no question that Nobunaga was powerful, that he had a great vision, and Mitsuhide came to believe in him very quickly. The man was also, however, a brutal, unforgiving tyrant who was quite prepared to destroy anything that got in his way. This was not something the naive Mitsuhide picked up on at first, and even when he began to get a closer glimpse at his Lord's methods he managed to excuse much that he did. It was simply unthinkable to him the person he had chosen to follow would not act in the way he viewed as best for the land. At the first great battle he participated in, Nagashino, Mitsuhide attempted to minimise deaths in his own way even as his Lord used their rifle units to utterly decimate their enemy, the Takeda. A great victory, perhaps, but it was also a total bloodbath, and it was likely here that Mitsuhide first began to feel a slight feeling of doubt in the path he had chosen.
Not long after the destruction of the Takeda clan, Nobunaga began to plan an assault again the Mouri. The Mouri was lead by the famed Motonari, who possessed a large navy, and without a decently sized one of their own the Oda would not stand a chance in the inevitable sea battle. Because of this, Mitsuhide decided to call upon the help of a friend on behalf of his Lord. This friend was Chosokabe Motochika, Lord of the island of Shikoku and commander of a famed navy of his own, who did not hesitate to offer assistance when asked. An alliance was formed between the two clans, and though he could not know it Mitsuhide had effectively started a chain of events which would later on ensure his life took a very dramatic turn.
With his friend close to his side, Mitsuhide followed Lord Nobunaga to battle at Kizugawa. It was here that he would suffer the biggest shock to his system so far. Upon defeating several units, a group of peasants surrender to Mitsuhide, who is pleased with the opportunity to avoid more bloodshed. He escorts them to safety... only for Nobunaga to order them killed by another of his generals. This astounds the young retainer, who cannot fathom why his Lord would do such a thing. Motochika calls him idealistic and challenges his faith, saying that if he truly believes in Nobunaga then he must be willing to prove it. The shaken Mitsuhide proceeds through the enemy lines and manages to board the Mouri flagship, encountering Mouri Motonari there. The man also questions Mitsuhide's faith and says, basically, that it is unwise to idealise a person too much, as well as referring to Nobunaga as a 'hero and not a leader,' someone who could never rule the lands well.
After the battle is won, Mitsuhide is more troubled than ever but chooses to continue holding onto his belief. This does not last long, however, because Motochika approaches him shortly afterwards and mentions that Nobunaga will come after his lands soon. Mitsuhide refuses to believe that Nobunaga would break an alliance in such a manner, but as it turns out, Motochika is right. His friend returns home and days afterwards Nobunaga gives orders to his men to prepare for an invasion of Shikoku. Unable to deal with this, Mitsuhide's immediate reaction is to travel as quickly as possible to Motochika in order to talk with him.
The conversation they have is a fateful one. Mitsuhide expresses his distress at Nobunaga's actions and says that he does not know what to do. Motochika, however, says that if Mitsuhide had wanted to continue fighting for Nobunaga's ambition he would have stayed with him, and suggests that his friend gives into his desires, doing what those he has 'trampled underfoot' demand; in other words, take up arms against Nobunaga. It is enough to persuade Mitsuhide. Though he does so with regret, he chooses to defend his friend, lead his troops to Honnōji (where his Lord was staying) and attempt to slay Nobunaga.
It is a hard battle for him on almost every level. He has to take out former allies in order to get to Nobunaga, including his childhood friend Noh (who tells him that he should not show any hesitation in his mission), and would likely not have managed it at all were it not for Motochika's support along the way. When he finally engages Nobunaga in combat, the Demon King shows no surprise or anger at his former retainer's actions and Mitsuhide almost gives up his mission, unable to bring up the strength to kill the man. Motochika's words spur him to action, however, and he manages to do what many thought impossible by slaying his Lord.
Afterwards, however, he almost suffers a total breakdown.
The act of betrayal causes him a great deal of guilt and pain, and he is at first unable to bring himself to take up his blade again in order to fight those who will inevitably come after him in their bids to seize power or get revenge. As at Honnōji, however, Motochika acts as his pillar of strength and successfully guides him to the fight at Yamazaki, where Toyotomi Hideyoshi plans to kill him off.
Throughout the battle Mitsuhide constantly expresses his inability to go on without Nobunaga and is only able to keep fighting with the reassurance of his friend, who tells him what he needs to hear. Despite the odds against them, they manage to swing the battle their way and even get close to the main camp of their enemies. Unfortunately, it is not to be. Kuroda Kanbei, a devious strategist who had once served Nobunaga himself and was now working for Hideyoshi, sets up a trap which Motochika falls into, mortally wounding him. Mitsuhide goes to his aid but it is far too late to save him, and despite Motochika urging his friend and ally to continue on in honour of the dead, it is too much for Mitsuhide and as he says, he cannot go on without his friend at his side.
Taking Motochika's shamisen with him, he retreats from the battle and from the rest of the world, leaving the fate of the land to Hideyoshi. The strength to continue fighting is gone from his body, and he finds an isolated place where he will be able to live alone with his grief and regret.
[ Personality ] :
The absolute core of Mitsuhide’s personality is his soft heart. He is a man of emotion, a compassionate soul who seeks to do the right thing at all times. This is what drives him; despite loathing war and killing, he took up his blade in order to try and help end the war plaguing his home of Japan. Observing the suffering of innocents was all the motivation he needed to do so.
This kindly nature, however, is coupled with a naïve and idealistic one.
Evident in his original trust in Nobunaga, a man whose attitude and morals completely went against his own, Mitsuhide can have a hard time seeing beyond the surface of people’s intentions if they are not immediately obvious. He can latch onto and idealise a person for quite some time before becoming aware of their real nature, and even then will search for excuses before being forced to accept the truth of what he is seeing. Having his belief in someone broken this way is an immensely painful experience for him; he wants to see the best in people and cannot handle it well when forced to accept the darker sides of those he cares for/believes in.
If it’s immediately obvious that someone has intentions he would consider evil, then he would fight and oppose them without hesitation. He has somewhat of a black and white view of the world, putting certain acts under ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in his mind. This is largely responsible for his increased self-doubt and pessimistic attitude towards himself after he betrays Nobunaga; in addition to having to face the fact that he judged his Lord wrongly, he has committed an act he considers unforgivable, regardless of its intentions. In his eyes, betraying one’s Lord is a major sin, so he thereafter considers himself a sinner and someone who would deserve an untimely death.
All this adds up to a soul who really does not cope well on his own through hard times. The support of a strong person, which would be his friend Motochika throughout Honnoji and right up to Yamazaki, can keep him going, but without one he will give up rather quickly. You might say he is dependent on others to really cope with the harsh realities of life.
On a simpler level, Mitsuhide is soft-spoken and intelligent (though definitely in a more academic manner as opposed to anything else). He is the kind of person to take note of natural beauty and point it out to others, usually in a rather poetic/romantic manner. Polite and respectful, to the point that he will still refer to those close to him with the appropriate title (Motochika is Lord Motochika, Noh is Lady Noh, for example); talk that he considers to be of a private nature will shock and embarrass him very quickly.
[ Strengths/Weaknesses ] :
Mitsuhide is a samurai trained in fighting with a katana, using a mixture of Kenjutsu and Battoujutsu techniques. The first refers to the basic sword techniques and the second to attacks done 'from the draw.' Battoujutsu in particular requires good reflexes and has ensured he has become a rather swift opponent; not the most physically strong, but more than capable of dealing out damage should he need to. In addition to this he possesses musou skills, a sort of 'battle magic' that in his case can augment his attacks with energy and when focused increase his strength for a very short time.
The man is intelligent and sometimes used in battle as a strategist, though he is very loathe to use any technique he considers dishonourable or cruel (which, in the service of the Nobunaga, was quite a disadvantage). It is demonstrated that he is also quite effective with a rifle and has a good aim with such weapons.
As mentioned in his personality section, however, Mitsuhide is very naive and can be too trusting for his own good. He is also prone to bouts of depression, tends to be very pessimistic about himself and is quick to lose confidence. This has made him into someone who really cannot cope well on his own; he needs the support of others to truly be able to cope with difficult situations.
[ Other Important Facts ] :
* As well as destroying the last bit of faith he has in himself, the death of Motochika in canon causes him to feel he is unworthy of 'name and rank.' If pushed he might give the alias of 'Nankobo Tenkai,' but only for the sake of convenience. He genuinely believes he has no right to his name anymore.
* Characters in canon frequently point out how lovely his hair is, justifiably so! It's very long, straight and shiny, and if asked he'll mention how easy it is to care for too.
* Samurai Warriors is a relatively obscure fandom, so I’ve compiled a small info post here for relevant videos.
[ Sample ] :
1.
He had sinned.
That was that. How could it be denied, when he had killed his own Lord? Taking action against the man whose methods had come to horrify him had been done in defense of his friend and his morals, but how could anything justify an act of betrayal like his own? It was wrong.
“How could you do this to us, Mitsuhide?” said Lady Nene, stepping out of range of his strike.
One could not rewind time. What was done, was done. Nothing could change it.
“Lord Nobunaga is dead…” said Mitsuhide, ducking just in time to avoid the cutting edge of a throwing knife. “That is how it is. We must keep moving forward.”
So he’d been told, anyway. Motochika, his closest friend, had stood firmly with him and advised him throughout the past few weeks. Without his companionship Mitsuhide would likely be dead already, having succumbed to his own despair. Strong words and a firm hand kept him going. Whenever he spoke of his sins, whenever he mentioned that he likely deserved to be slain by Hideyoshi, his friend would tell him enough to keep him going. ‘You must go on, for the sake of those who have stood with you.’ ‘If you do not fight, you would be forsaking all those who have fallen at your hands before now.’ ‘Nobunaga has no voice now; you must speak for him.’
It was just enough to keep Mitsuhide’s blade sharp, to push him forward in their bid to secure a peaceful land. With sad eyes and an unsettled heart he had marched on Yamasaki to battle the Toyotomi army, those who had once been his friends and allies. Those who now hated him.
Their main camp was close now, and Motochika was heading to seize the mountain. Capture both, kill Lord Hideyoshi and Japan would be one step closer to being rid of war. It sounded so simple, but…
“You won’t get away!” yelled Nene, eyes burning as she attacked with both of her ninja blades. “Nobody will lay a hand on my husband!”
Mitsuhide parried her attack and launched one of his own. The edge of his blade cut lightly through the woman’s skin, drawing blood. He remembered being fed by her once; she was a kind person who mothered anyone she considered to be a friend. Now they were locked in battle, both aiming to kill the other.
I… cannot continue to dwell on such things, he thought, sliding his blade back into its sheath in preparation for a strike from the draw. I have to… I have to move forward. Listen to the voices of the dead and move forward.
He wasn’t alone. He had a duty, and he could fulfil it because he was not alone. Face settling into something of a determined expression, his hand rested on the hilt of his blade until Nene recovered from the last blow and stepped back into range. In one smooth, swift movement it was out, slicing through the air and sending the ninja straight onto the floor with a scream.
Hideyoshi was next. All of his best generals had been immobilised or were fighting elsewhere, ensuring it would be a clean, one-on-one battle between the two of them. That would be right. He owed his former ally that much, at the very least.
But as he turned to head to the Toyotomi main camp, everything changed.
“Chōsokabe Motochika has been defeated! Lord Kanbei has taken him down!”
He heard the cry, heard the cheers as Hideyoshi’s men realised that the greatest obstacle in their battle had been taken down. At first it struck him numb, disbelief filling his mind, but a few seconds was all he needed to gain control of himself again. Without any hesitation he turned around and bolted towards the mountain, weaving through both allies and enemies as he sought out his friend and greatest supporter.
It didn’t make sense to him. Motochika was too strong to have been defeated, even by a man like Kuroda Kanbei. The message, it had to be false, had to be a lie. There was simply no way it could happen.
At heart he knew otherwise, however, and by the time he found his friend his eyes were already wet.
There were many dying men before Motochika, and while his raised head indicated consciousness he was clearly moments away from reaching his end. Blood poured from a very visible wound on the exposed part of his chest, too much blood for there to be any chance of survival. Mitsuhide was at his friend’s side in seconds, checking for a pulse he knew would be fading away.
“Lord Motochika… you are wounded!” he managed. “That fiend, he… he did this to you!”
“The living must go on…” muttered Motochika, looking up through hazy eyes. “It… it is the only proper way… to honour the dead…”
That was it. There would be no more words from his mouth.
Mitsuhide stared down for a moment, unable to process it. Motochika was dead. His friend, his ally, dead. It had happened so quickly, so swiftly. The heavens had taken the man’s life without any warning at all, giving their favour to Kanbei and ensuring his tactics, whatever they were, were effective.
Was this a punishment? Had his own sins been punished through the spilling of Motochika’s blood?
“Lord Motochika… I… I cannot do it,” he mumbled, lowering his head. “Without you, I cannot go on…”
He did not have the strength to create peace by himself. It just wasn’t there. He had killed his Lord, failed his friend. To keep moving forward… it would be too painful to do.
2.
[He wasn't panicking. Not as such, anyway; there was worry in his features, and definitely a sense of confusion about him. He just wasn't moving much, wasn't saying much, eyes staring up at the dome of blue above his head as he thought.]
[It couldn't be a dream. Stuck in a new place, a place far removed from Japan, from his little mountain hideaway? A place so unreal it could well have been spun during a person's sleep? The earlier sensation had certainly made it feel like one, and he might have thought so with just that evidence, but the ache in his muscles was not something he'd ever experienced during his dreams and he was soaked through to the skin. All of his senses, in fact, felt a little too alert for that explanation to make sense. That meant it had to be real.]
Magic..?
[Mitsuhide closes his eyes, drawing in a shaking breath and twisting a lock of still-wet hair between his fingers. No master of magic was powerful enough to create an illusion this grand, so maybe one had pulled him into the odd place where he now stood instead. But why?]
[His hand curls around the hilt of the katana at his side.]
[Everything about the situation spoke of danger. He had no living friends now. Everyone he knew that still lived hated him, for good reason, and many he didn't know likely hated him too. Nobunaga's supporters, the men who kept faith in the Demon King no matter what he did... most surely believed him dead, but there was no way he could say for certain that some didn't know he was still alive somewhere. Hideyoshi most certainly did, but he'd let Mitsuhide go for reasons unknown to him and was therefore unlikely to still harbour thoughts of revenge.
[The Battle of Yamasaki had been enough for him.]
You need no more, do you? No... those precious lives were enough punishment for you...
[That grief was still fresh, still strong and overwhelming. Mitsuhide lowers his head and focuses on the surroundings. Losing himself in it now would not get him out of his situation... though in all honestly, he could not deny that he deserved to be punished. Every day since that battle he'd found himself thinking that he should have been the one to fall. Not his men, not his dear friend.]
[A sparkle does more to distract him from his thoughts than his own will, and he looks around to spy a tiny orb of white light. It's just... hovering around him. Odd. Was this part of the magic too?]
It's just too strange...
[Trying to make sense of it was clearly not going to do him any good right now. There was only one option left to him, and that was to move. It was a city he was in, however odd it might be, and be they enemy or not he would have to try and find others.]
[ Questions? Comments? Concerns? ] : None. ♥