The leader of the Chigetsu Unit who returned from Ōmi to Shinano. Despite her youth and striking beauty, she commands the troop with dignity, gently watching over novice priestesses and young Ohana with a warm smile. While strict in etiquette and ritual discipline, she possesses deep maternal compassion and deeply protects her companions.

Appointed by Takeda Shingen as the Supreme Head of Shrine Maidens across Kai and Shinano provinces. Originally from Ōmi, she wed Mochizuki Moritoki but was widowed at an early age. Establishing a training sanctuary in Nezu, she oversees the rigorous spiritual conditioning and covert network of Nonō priestesses.

A young novice taken into the Chigetsu Unit from Ōtsu, merely five or six years of age. Fearless, cheerful, and delightfully talkative, her innocent demeanor softens the hearts of everyone around her. As she grows, she begins to manifest remarkable spiritual sensitivity.

The patriarch of the Nezu clan, a robust and battle-hardened warrior of fifty winters. Alongside his twin brother Jimpei, he serves the Takeda and Sanada houses, safeguarding the ancestral mansion and village of Nezu. He personally brings Kiyone, the orphaned daughter of the late Sanada Nobutsuna, entrusting her to the Chigetsu Unit.

The daughter of Sanada Nobutsuna and Okita-no-kata, and the betrothed of Sanada Nobuyuki. A noble ten-year-old maiden who lost her father at the Battle of Nagashino. Dressed in refined kimono, her calm yet guarded eyes conceal deep grief and fierce resolve. Escorted by Joan, she joins the Chigetsu Unit as a novice.

The twin brother of Nezu Joan. Supreme master and custodian of Kōyō-ryū ninjutsu. In contrast to his austere elder brother, he is approachable, affable, and socially adept. Gently supporting the troubled Chiyome, he lightens heavy atmospheres with witty humor while tirelessly conducting intelligence operations across the land.

Daughter of Nezu Genchō and younger sister to Joan and Jimpei. A gallant noblewoman of breathtaking beauty who galloped freely across untamed fields. Beloved by Takeda Shingen, their passionate romance across the Motome River led to her marrying into Kai and giving birth to Katsuyori, though she tragically passed away in her twenties.

The paramount daimyō of Kai Province, known as the Tiger of Kai. While visiting Nezu, he became completely captivated by Princess Satomi's equestrian elegance and rhythmic drum beats. Standing across the Motome River, he passionately confessed his love. Renowned as a hero of profound humanity who recognized and employed Jimpei for his miraculous shinobi speed.

An elderly servant who manages domestic affairs and watches over the priestess sanctuary in Nonō Alley, Nezu. She warmly welcomes the Chigetsu Unit upon their return from long travels, comforting them with hearty simmered fish, black beans, and news of the calico cat Buchi giving birth.

An eighteen- or nineteen-year-old priestess of the Chigetsu Unit. An intelligent maiden possessing the sharpest memory among her peers. Leveraging her flawless recall, she specializes in "Ikikuchi" (oracles channeling living intents), while bringing levity to tense situations with her mischievous, comedic wit.

A sixteen-year-old maiden of the Chigetsu Unit, known for her gentle silence. A natural prodigy who mastered "Shinikuchi" (channeling spirits of the deceased) within six months of arriving at the sanctuary. Her supernatural mediumship gained immense renown across provinces, earning Chigetsu's deepest admiration.

At twenty-two or three, she is the eldest among the young maidens of the Chigetsu Unit. While she does not perform oracles, her dazzling classical dances captivate crowds everywhere they travel, serving as the vital vanguard to attract spectators. Possesses an outspoken, reliable "big sister" disposition.

A consecrated priest (Shinji Mai-Tayū) affiliated with Nishinomiya Ebisu Shrine in Nezu. The official director of the Nonō tours, he guarantees the maidens' physical safety and ethical training. Serving as a crucial conduit to the Sanada clan, he delivers orders directing their next journey toward Matsumoto.

Another seasoned unit leader residing in the same Nezu sanctuary as Chigetsu. She commands a unit composed of slightly older, highly experienced priestesses. Days before Chigetsu returned, Umezono led her own troop out toward Mikawa Province on an extensive spiritual and reconnaissance mission.

Eldest son of Sanada Masayuki and betrothed to Sanada Kiyone. Deeply worried for Kiyone's sorrow, he rushes to her side offering dried horsemeat and a handcrafted jade comb. Clumsy yet profoundly caring, he bristles when rebuffed, yet never wavers in silently watching over her from the shadows.

A student at the miko training sanctuary, bonded with the exceptional tiercel "Kumoimaru." A spirited girl of Kiyone's age. Though initially teasing Kiyone with mischievous taunts, she feels an instinctive kinship through the shared "Ne" character in their names, only to turn pale upon later discovering Kiyone's noble lineage.

A ninja of the Agatsuma clan disguised as an ascetic mountain priest (yamabushi), accompanying young Sanada Nobuyuki. Slender and reserved, he remains quietly in the background awaiting his lord's commands, yet exhibits breathtaking supernatural speed and taijutsu the instant danger strikes.

The fourth son of Takeda Shingen and the regent head (Jindai) of the Takeda clan. In the wake of the catastrophic defeat at Nagashino, he immerses himself in solitary archery practice to drown out his retainers' growing discord. Hearing his maternal uncle Nezu Jimpei unveil Shingen's true trust, he weeps and rekindles his resolve to lead Kai.

The supreme patriarch of the Sanada house and father to Nobuyuki and Yukimura. In his thirties, he foresees the ultimate collapse of the Takeda clan and the perilous vacuum to come. An incomparable master of cunning who orchestrates covert infiltration of Numata and positions Nonō networks far ahead of his rivals.

The second son of Sanada Masayuki, destined to be revered as "Japan's Number One Warrior." At seven years of age, he sits absorbed in a corner of the Sanada residence, passionately stacking wooden blocks into miniature citadels. His father Masayuki silently recognizes in him an extraordinary latent genius exceeding even his elder brother.

A priestess overseen by ritual priest Maruyama Hyōgo in the East Quarter of Nezu, two or three years older than Oboro. Flaunting ornate hairpins and fine silks, she burns with competitive disdain toward Chigetsu's West Quarter unit. Haughty and quarrelsome, she mocks Oboro's humble attire, sparking an explosive brawl.

A five-year-old child of unknown origin rescued by Jukyō. Washing away the mud revealed an otherworldly, breathtaking beauty, prompting Jukyō to raise the child hidden as a girl apprentice. Discovered to be a boy by Ohana, he is apprehended by Mochizuki Rokurō and later trained as the legendary cross-dressing ninja "Yuri Kamanosuke."

Leader of the East Quarter Nonō priestesses. Rescuing an orphaned child of angelic beauty (Okama), she knowingly concealed his male gender to raise him as a shrine maiden. Exposed during the Ebisu festival by young Ohana, she is interrogated by Mochizuki Rokurō and marched to the head manor.

A Kōga ninja dispatched from the Mochizuki house to Chiyome's service. Serving as festival security during the Ebisu fair, he intervenes in a brawl and is instantly entranced by Oboro's beauty and poise. Acting upon Ohana's revelation, he unmasks Okama as a boy and escorts the parties to the head manor for interrogation.

District magistrate overseeing civil affairs of Numata Castle. A native local baron loosely affiliated with both Uesugi and Hōjō, he frets over Fujita Noto-no-kami's unreasonable construction levies on the peasantry. Brokered by monk Kohei, he holds a clandestine meeting with a disguised Masayuki, deeply contemplating shifting allegiance.

A deputy warden under Uesugi Kenshin residing in Numata Castle's inner citadel. Formerly a senior steward to Shōgun Ashikaga Yoshiteru, he sought refuge at Kasugayama following the Shōgun's assassination before being posted to masterless Numata. Beset by internal factionalism, his authority is steadily eroded by Sanada infiltration.

An Uesugi commander holding the third bailey of Numata Castle. He relentlessly demands excessive corvée labor from local barons to construct decorative gardens and scenic ponds, inciting bitter resentment from Kaneko Mimasaka-no-kami and Onda Echizen-no-kami. This bitter discord becomes Masayuki's primary wedge to split the garrison.

One of the local barons of Numata. Outraged by Fujita Noto-no-kami's tyrannical decree ordering garden construction right before spring rice planting, he storms home in a fury. Venting his bitter grievances to his wife, he completely overlooks the wandering priestesses Chigetsu and Kiyone resting in his parlor, inadvertently leaking vital internal discord.

The wife of Onda Echizen-no-kami. Hearing of the renowned Azusa-miko (Chigetsu and Kiyone) lodging at the Tajima-ya inn, she invites them to her manor to hear the spirit of her departed mother. Moved to tears by Kiyone's divine necromancy, she pacifies her furious husband with a wry smile upon his tempestuous return.

A Buddhist monk dwelling in Wada, Kaminumata. Astute, pragmatic, and closely acquainted with magistrate Kaneko Mimasaka-no-kami. Offered a lucrative coin reward by Mochizuki Rokurō, he readily brokers a secret midnight rendezvous between a disguised Sanada Masayuki and Kaneko at Unkoku-ji temple.

A powerful warlord of Agatsuma who, alongside his younger brother Teruyuki, serves as deputy warden of the precipitous Iwabitsu Castle, claiming descent from the ancient Unno branch of the Shigeno clan. Welcoming Masayuki back to the Sanada leadership, he is commanded to seize Numata Castle, passionately rallying his warriors.

A gentle gentleman of Ishikura Village, Tone District. Formerly the master of Ishikura Castle, his deep aversion to bloodshed and indecisive affability caused his domain to be forfeited. Grieving the loss of his beloved child, he dispatches his servant Noraji to request a spiritual oracle from Oboro, weeping tears of pure joy upon hearing his child's voice.

A servant to Ishikura Mikawa. Dispatched by his master to locate and guide the spiritual priestesses. Gentle-hearted, he worries for women traveling unescorted and escorts them along pitch-black nocturnal mountain paths. Yet when suddenly confronted and lethal-threatened by the menacing Kirigakure Saizo, he flees headlong in pure terror.

A lethal Iga shinobi known as "Kirigakure" (Hidden in Mist). Bluntly claiming to seek a man named "Saizo," he pays Oboro with Kōshū gold for an oracle, only to press a gleaming dagger to her throat, accusing her of being a Tokugawa spy. Yet, mesmerized by Oboro's unwavering audacity and striking beauty, he passionately commands, "Become my woman."

A brilliant young ninja of the Agatsuma clan. Renowned for single-handedly infiltrating Shiridaka and Nakayama castles to ignite devastating blazes, for which Takeda Shingen personally awarded him a priceless golden horse barding. Teaming with Rokurō, he executes a pincer assault on Saizo, though the Iga master slips away beneath blinding smoke.

Daughter of Warita Shimosa. Seeking to repay her eternal debt to Sanada Nobutsuna, who personally saved her life during the fall of Kashiwabara Castle, she approaches Iori in Numata seeking appointment as martial instructor at the sanctuary. She commands an uncanny lethal art, spitting concealed sewing needles with lethal precision to impale flies mid-flight.

A hereditary elder councillor of the Takeda house. During the Otate-no-Ran succession conflict, he accepts a massive bribe of one thousand ryō from Uesugi Kagekatsu, cajoling Katsuyori into signing the fateful Kai-Echigo Alliance. This disastrous turn alienates the Hōjō clan and accelerates the Takeda's tragic downfall.

A powerful senior official of the Takeda clan. Conspiring with Nagasaka Chokan, he accepts a thousand-ryō clandestine payoff from the Uesugi, manipulating Katsuyori into ratifying the suicidal alliance. Constantly identified by Sanada Masayuki as a toxic, destabilizing element corroding the sovereign house from within.

Son of Hōjō Ujimasa. Learning that castles throughout Kōzuke—Nakayama, Shiridaka, Nagukurumi, Yamana, and Hocchi—have all capitulated to Sanada Masayuki's subversion, he exclaims, "With that demon, there is no telling what devilry he schemes!" Marshaling five thousand elite horsemen, he launches a fierce counter-offensive.

The former Deputy Shōgun (Kantō Kanrei) of the East. Coldly shunned in Numata following Hōjō dominance, he is rescued by the warm-hearted Ishikura Mikawa, who invites him to his hermitage for lavish hospitality. Through Ishikura's gentle arrangements, he escapes safely over Shima and Kinone passes toward Echigo.

A samurai lord of Numata. Unable to bear the sight of former viceroy Uesugi Norimasa being treated with callous disdain at Unkoku-ji temple, he personally welcomes him into his own domain at Sasao, sheltering and honoring the fallen aristocrat with deep respect and warmth.

The supreme daimyō of the Sagami Hōjō clan. Hearing how Ishikura Mikawa risked his life to harbor their fallen enemy Uesugi Norimasa, he marvels: "Though an enemy, to risk all for his ruined lord without wavering is the mark of a magnificent samurai!" Deeply moved, he grants Ishikura a fief and strictly forbids any trespass upon his sanctuary.

Father of Warita Shino and chief figure among the revered "Agatsuma Seven Horsemen." As overwhelming Hōjō forces threaten to fracture the Agatsuma clan into defection, he fears for his family's survival. Yet moved by daughter Shino's fierce gratitude toward the late Sanada Nobutsuna and Gemba's fiery plea, he resolves to stand firm with Sanada.

A bellicose general dispatched by the Hōjō to command Numata Castle's inner citadel. Despised by local barons like Fujita Noto-no-kami for his overbearing conduct, his absence during an official mission to Odawara is exploited by Fujita's defection, enabling Sanada Masayuki to seize Numata in a bloodless masterstroke.

A prominent warlord of Sarashina and former vassal of Murakami Yoshikiyo. During the war council at Nagukurumi Castle, when Masayuki requests him to unite the fierce, recalcitrant Agatsuma ninja, he accepts with a resolute nod across a battle-scarred countenance, officially founding the legendary "Sanada Shinobi" corps.

Son of Unno Teruyuki. Operating under Masayuki's direct orders, he leads a vanguard of seven hundred cavalry across the swirling Tone River beneath cloak of night. Raising thunderous war cries, he launches a lightning assault on Myōtoku-ji Castle on the opposite bank, scattering Yabe Bungo-no-kami's garrison in frantic retreat.

Hōjō warden of Myōtoku-ji Castle. Surprised by Unno Yukisada's night assault, he sorties with two hundred horsemen, only to be crushed by Sanada Masayuki's roaring "Crescent Moon Formation" wielding a massive naginata. Completely routed, he blows retreat conches and flees in panic toward Numata Castle.

A stalwart commander under Sanada Masayuki. Following the burning of Myōtoku-ji and rampage across Shimonumata, he is garrisoned alongside Ideura Tsushima-no-kami as warden of the captured Myōtoku-ji stronghold, tasked with solidifying the vital strategic perimeter.

Younger brother of Hōjō Ujimasa and master of Musashi Hachigata Castle, styling himself Lord of Awa. Marching with three thousand cavalry to recapture Ogawa and Nagukurumi castles from Masayuki, he suffers severe defeat against Sanada guerrilla ambushes. Attempting a second offensive with Nagao Norikage, he is completely halted by tempestuous floods.

Lord of Shiroi Castle. Allied with Hōjō Ujikuni, he captures Nakayama Castle with fifteen hundred elite troops to establish camp, only to be crushed in a devastating pincer attack by Sanada Masayuki, who had outflanked him atop Mount Amagoi. Utterly routed, his shattered forces are driven in headlong retreat down Wada Slope.

A fourteen-year-old page who bears Lord Masayuki's personal katana. Discovered at age seven wandering onto the battlefield searching for his father bound for Nagashino. When a brutish warrior named Gonsuke slanders Masayuki, Juzo unsheathes his master's blade and executes him on the spot. Though imprisoned, his reckless, fierce loyalty endears him deeply to Masayuki.

A rough, rowdy soldier in the Sanada encampment. Loudly mocking Lord Masayuki as a "cowardly weakling" among his drunken comrades, he is suddenly confronted by fourteen-year-old Kakei Juzo, who draws Masayuki's katana shouting "By Lord Masayuki's decree!" and cuts him down, plunging the entire camp into chaotic uproar.

Lord of Morishita Castle, situated barely one league south of Numata Castle. Swayed by Masayuki's masterful diplomatic subversion, he defects to the Sanada. His capitulation enables Masayuki to encircle Numata in a lethal vice between Nagukurumi and Iwabitsu to the northwest and Morishita to the south.

A defending commander stationed at Numata Castle. Observing the unstoppable momentum of the Sanada host and the cascading defection of surrounding bastions, he concludes further resistance is futile. Vacating Numata Castle alongside district magistrate Kaneko Mimasaka-no-kami, he presents his formal surrender at Masayuki's camp at Nagukurumi.

An indigenous warrior lord of Numata. Having weathered decades beneath the shifting dominion of Uesugi and Hōjō, he smoothly pivots allegiance under Masayuki's meticulous subversive overtures. When Masayuki formally enters Numata Castle, he rides forth in full regalia to offer joyous felicitations.

A local baron holding Shimonumata manor. Won over by Masayuki's calculated subversion, he abandons his Hōjō ties and rushes to greet Masayuki upon his formal procession into Numata Castle, presenting costly gifts and congratulatory homage to secure his lands under Sanada dominion.

Wife of Takeda retainer Suwa Katsuuemon. A spirited, vibrant warrior woman who relentlessly trains with a three-foot naginata blade against burly male sparring partners in Kai Fuchū. Warmly welcoming fellow Shinano priestesses and young Sanada Kiyone, she shares clandestine Kai rumors and reveals Nobutsuna's ancestral estate.

Half-brother to Takeda Shingen and bearer of the prestigious Ichijō lineage. Passing forty years of age with solemn gravitas and keen wisdom, he was entrusted by Shingen as guardian to Katsuyori. Discerning the deep corruption sown by sycophants like Nagasaka, he is gripped by dark foreboding upon his abrupt reassignment to Sunpu.

A dignified senior lady-in-waiting who has accompanied Lady Sagami since her days in Odawara. Distraught by Lady Sagami's precarious isolation following the shattered Kai-Sagami alliance, she weeps softly: "Her destiny is too cruel to bear." Though urging her mistress to seek safety in Odawara, she faithfully resolves to remain by her side to the bitter end.

Formal consort of Takeda Katsuyori, known to history as Lady Hōjō (Keirin'in-dono), younger sister to Hōjō Ujimasa. Merely seventeen years old. Refusing to flee back to Odawara despite her homeland's hostilities, she chooses to share life and death alongside Katsuyori. Through Chigetsu's mediumship of her forefather Sōun, her resolve as a true Bandō warrior's daughter is forged.

The immortal founder of the Hōjō clan. Summoned from beyond by Chigetsu's sacred necromancy (Shinikuchi) in answer to Lady Sagami's anguish. Speaking in a resonant baritone echoing Ujiyasu and Ujimasa, he commands her: "Live with pure valor without shame, as befits a daughter of Bandō," banishing all lingering sorrow from her heart.

The legendary third-generation head of the Hōjō dynasty, renowned as the Lion of Sagami, and father to Lady Sagami and Ujimasa. Appearing in Lady Sagami's fond recollections, his timeless ethos—"Live and die with the fierce dignity of a Bandō daughter"—continues to serve as her unshakeable spiritual lodestar.

A massive jujutsu instructor at the sanctuary whose towering, fearsome frame stands in comical contrast to the delicate name "Aika" (Graceful Flower). Selected by Shino to test young Kiyone, he reaches out with full martial intent to seize her lapel, only for Kiyone to unleash ancient Taoyame-buri, launching his colossal bulk flying through the air to crash onto the floor.

A lethal swordswoman of the sanctuary possessing slender, cold beauty. Flaunting the alias "Sho the Ten-Slayer," she attacks the unarmed Kiyone with a swift, merciless wooden sword strike. But stepping inside her perimeter with fluid irimi movement, Kiyone locks her wrist and hurls her across the dojo in an effortless shoulder throw.

A diligent student in the sanctuary's martial discipline. Following Aika and Sho's shocking defeats, Shino immediately points to her: "Midori, you are next!" Stepping forward obediently, she too is swept off her feet and tossed aside by Kiyone's divine Taoyame-buri technique alongside her fellow peers.

Daughter of Takeda Shingen and formal wife of Kiso Yoshimasa. Cradling her newborn third son, Yoshihito, she is a proud noblewoman who reveres the warrior spirit of Tomoe Gozen. As Takeda prestige crumbles, she keenly senses the creeping demonic temptation poisoning her husband's heart toward Oda defection, weeping for her clan's doom.

Ruler of the rugged Kiso Valley and husband to Princess Mari. Witnessing the Takeda's fading glory, a dark demon of opportunism overtakes his mind. Abandoning the weak to curry favor with the strong, he secretly plots treasonous defection to Oda Nobunaga—igniting the fatal trigger that tears open Shinano's southwestern border to invasion.

The newborn third son of Kiso Yoshimasa and Princess Mari. Crying softly within his mother's warm embrace, he nurses hungrily from her bared breast, growing up in pure innocence. Amidst the gathering tempest threatening the Kiso house, his tender existence symbolizes his mother's profound maternal vitality and undying love.

A Takeda surveillance inspector (Metsuke) garrisoned in the Kiso Valley. When Princess Mari subtly probes him regarding her husband Yoshimasa's questionable movements, he stammers awkwardly: "Being merely an inspector, I would never imagine Lord Yoshimasa harboring treason." He stands frozen before the ominous omens enveloping the valley.

A supreme elder kinsman of the Takeda house and master of Suruga Ejiri Castle. Alarmed by the loss of Takatenjin Castle, he fiercely petitions Katsuyori: "Construct a new citadel at once!" prompting the building of Shinfu Castle. Yet, disgusted upon seeing Katsuyori drowning in drunken revelry believing false peace, he secretly initiates clandestine overtures to Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Son of the noble Takeda Nobushige and cousin to Katsuyori. He had pledged his own daughter to the high-value hostage Gobōmaru (Oda Nobunaga's sixth son). Summoned to Dairyū-ji by Nagasaka Chokan, he capitulates to their short-sighted peace scheme, reluctantly sanctioning the repatriation of his prospective son-in-law to Oda hands.

The sixth son of Oda Nobunaga, later known as Oda Katsunaga. Raised at Iwamura Castle by Lady Otsuya, he was taken hostage to Kōfu when Akiyama Nobutomo captured the fortress. Through Nagasaka Chokan's unauthorized diplomatic gamble, he is abruptly returned to Nobunaga without Katsuyori's direct consent.

The paramount warlord striving to unite all Japan under the banner of Tenka Fubu. His domineering consciousness is summoned forth through Oboro's living oracle (Ikikuchi). Receiving his returned son Gobōmaru, he haughtily sneers: "A sensible decision to yield him unbidden," lulling Katsuyori into fatal complacency while secretly preparing Kai's total annihilation.

A samurai commander of the Takeda clan. When Sanada Masayuki fiercely opposes and declines the commission to construct Shinfu Castle, Katsuyori appoints Sone in his stead as chief commissioner of fortifications, ordering him to rush construction of the massive new capital fortress at breakneck speed.

Lord of the impregnable Iwadono Castle and hereditary elder councillor of Kai. Witnessing Katsuyori brush aside Masayuki's warnings to build Shinfu Castle and carouse in drunken celebrations over illusory peace, he is thoroughly disillusioned. To protect his own clan and lands, he begins clandestine overtures toward Oda and Tokugawa.

Son of Unno Yukisada. Following his father's tragic death during the defense of Numata Castle, locked in mutual slaughter with Inomata Noto-no-kami, he inherits his father's unyielding will and loyalty, faithfully serving as a steadfast commander under Sanada Masayuki and Nobuyuki.

Lord of Naegi Castle in eastern Mino. A die-hard Oda partisan who participated in the burning of Mount Hiei. Never forgetting the bitter humiliation of having his castle captured by Katsuyori, he eagerly accepts Oda Nobutada's orders following Nagashino to orchestrate the clandestine subversion of Kiso Yoshimasa, serving as a chief architect of Kai's downfall.

Eldest son and chosen successor to Oda Nobunaga. Governing eastern Mino from Iwamura Castle, he directs aggressive operations to dismantle the weakened Takeda realm. Utilizing Toyama Tomotada, he masterminds the covert subversion of Kiso Yoshimasa from the shadows, cracking open the gateway into southern Shinano.

A clandestine emissary dispatched by Toyama Tomotada of Naegi Castle. Concealing his mission beneath the guise of formal New Year felicitations, he visits Kiso Yoshimasa to broker the terms of his betrayal against the Takeda. Overheard through sliding screens by Princess Mari, this covert pact ignites the fatal unraveling of Kai.

A senior retainer and palace usher (Mōshitsugi) of the Takeda house. Inside Shinfu Castle's main palace, as freezing winds howl outside, he receives the breathless dispatch from inspector Kayamura Sakyōshin announcing "Kiso Yoshimasa has rebelled!" Instantly grasping the catastrophic gravity, he rushes into the New Year banquet to report to Katsuyori.

The legitimate heir of Takeda Katsuyori, reaching his sixteenth year—the age designated in Shingen's will for assuming formal leadership. When Nagasaka Chokan attempts to interject cowardly excuses, Nobukatsu roars: "Silence, Nagasaka!" fiercely condemning the sycophants who alienated loyal vassals and abandoned ancestral Tsutsujigasaki. His breathtaking majesty eclipses even his father.

The former patriarch of the Sanada house and deceased father of Kiyone. A chivalrous hero of fiery passion who risked his life behind enemy lines to rescue a trapped maiden (Shino) expecting nothing in return. Though martyred at Nagashino, his unyielding creed—"Lay down one's life to shelter others"—lives on as an eternal beacon guiding Kiyone and Shino.

The fifth son of Takeda Shingen and heroic lord of Takatō Castle. Enraged by Oda Nobutada's surrender summons, he brutally cuts off the ears and noses of the envoys, casting them back to the Oda lines. Welcoming Sanada Nobuyuki and Kiyone to his doomed keep, he prepares for a ferocious last stand against tenfold Oda hosts.

A loyal garrison samurai of Takatō Castle. Receiving word that Masayuki's heir Nobuyuki and Lady Kiyone have bravely arrived bearing frontline sympathy, he promptly carries out Lord Nishina Morinobu's command to escort the honored guests into the inner keep.

A formidable shinobi of the Agatsuma clan. When Shino and Gemba are heavily surrounded by roving cutthroats near Takatō Castle, he leaps forth upon Rokurō's advice donning the infamous dragon-crested helmet of "Demon Musashi" Mori Nagayoshi, bellowing ferocious commands that scatter the terrified bandits in instant panic.

A ferocious vanguard commander of the Oda host feared across the land as "Demon Musashi." Glinting in his gilded dragon-crested helmet, he scrambles atop the roofs of Takatō Castle, ripping away tiles to fire volleys of matchlock shot and arrows in wild fury. His famously flamboyant helmet is later stolen and used by Tajima to impersonate him.

A samurai general of the Takeda house. Confirming Oyamada Nobushige's fatal betrayal at Iwadono, he delivers the bitter truth to Katsuyori. Trapped at Mount Tenmoku, he weeps as Lady Sagami begs him to serve as her second, performing the tragic ritual before witnessing Katsuyori's final breath and falling upon his own blade in heroic sacrifice.

Supreme head of the miko training sanctuary (Sempo Chiden Shinjo). Following Chigetsu's counsel, she assigns the harrowing trial of "invoking Lady Sagami's departed spirit" to novice Shion. Deeply shaken by Shion's overwhelming spiritual manifestation and tearful chanting, she reverently acknowledges Shion's miraculous ascension alongside Kakumyō.

Senior vice-instructor overseeing ascetic discipline at the sanctuary. Present alongside Sempo Chiden during the novices' graduation trial, he watches in stunned amazement as young Shion channels Lady Sagami's spirit, flawlessly reciting the poignant death poem mourning her husband Katsuyori, nodding in profound awe at her transcendent powers.

A prodigal maiden possessing full mastery of shurikenjutsu, two or three years younger than Kiyone. Marked by prematurely pure white hair from childhood trauma, yet blessed with sweet dimples, she is destined to become Sanada Yukimura's beloved wife. In her trial, she channels Lady Sagami, weeping bitterly as she recites: "In this chaotic world of disheveled black hair..."

Formal consort of Sanada Masayuki and mother to Nobuyuki and Yukimura (later Kanshōin). Having finally reunited with young Yukimura after escaping Kai, her heart breaks when Masayuki announces he must dispatch the boy as hostage to Umayabashi. Weeping in fierce wrath, she rebukes her husband: "Are you an ogre? Are you the Great Demon King himself?!"

A consummate shinobi of the Agatsuma clan whose prowess rivals Gemba and Shimosa. When Masayuki commands: "Serve Yukimura as if he were my very life," an electric shock ripples through his soul, prompting a sacred vow of devotion. Accompanying young Yukimura to Umayabashi as page and bodyguard, he walks beside him through all destiny to come.

Oda viceroy of the Kantō provinces and lord of Umayabashi Castle, an arrogant figure basking in Nobunaga's borrowed glory. At a seance arranged by Yukimura, Oboro's faux-mediumship channels Nobunaga's roaring rebuke, reducing him to trembling prostration. When news of Honnō-ji strikes, his bravado instantly collapses into panicked flight.

A baby boy born to Karasawa Gemba and Warita Shino. Named "Sasuke" by young Sanada Yukimura from afar, meaning "one who aids others and serves righteousness." Cradled in Sakon's arms letting out a spirited, vibrant birth cry, his arrival symbolizes indomitable new life rising above the brutal fires of Sengoku war.

An Agatsuma shinobi operating a sake shop in the castle town of Hamamatsu. An affable, lighthearted man who maintains covert courier communications linking Chiisagata and Agatsuma. Visiting Yukimura and Sakon's lodgings in Hamamatsu, he delivers the joyous dispatch of Gemba and Shino's newborn son, bringing boundless delight to both.

A young short-tailed Japanese macaque tamed by Gemba. Following the esoteric training rituals of Agatsuma ninja, the young monkey is placed beside newborn Sasuke's pillow. Squeaking affectionately at Gemba, he is destined to grow alongside Sasuke, nurturing the boy's superhuman acrobatic reflexes and animal kinship.

The supreme commander of Tokugawa espionage (Head of the Iga Doshin). Operating under Ieyasu's direct orders, he enforces airtight surveillance over young hostage Yukimura while weaving a web of intelligence. Clandestinely recruiting Iga survivor Saizo, his sinister shadow monitors every move of Sanada Masayuki and the Agatsuma clans.

Supreme daimyō of the Tokugawa clan and master of Tōkaidō. Meeting the young hostage Yukimura surrendered by Masayuki, he is astounded when the boy nonchalantly demands grilled eel with calm audacity. Chuckling wryly: "He is truly Masayuki's spawn," he deepens his intuitive wariness toward the perilous genius of the Sanada bloodline.

A steadfast veteran general of Mikawa. Present before Lord Ieyasu, his beard bristles with boiling indignation when the young hostage Yukimura insolently demands: "Bring forth Hamamatsu's famous grilled eel at once!" Roaring: "Insolent brat, know your place as a hostage!" he embodies the fierce hostility that will explode at the Battle of Ueda.

Only daughter of Inoue Kiyomasa of Watanuchi and master koto player. Married to young Sanada Nobutsuna, she bears Kiyone and her siblings. She cleverly repaired Shingen's war-fan cord using tough Mochizuki horse leather before Kawanakajima. After Nobutsuna's death at Nagashino, she planted an evergreen pine in their garden, playing her koto before his bloodstained surcoat in eternal devotion.

The founding patriarch of the Sanada house. Serving Takeda Shingen, he achieved legendary exploits by capturing the impregnable Toishi Castle and pacifying northern Shinano through peerless subversion. Instructing his heir Nobutsuna: "To capture Haruyama Castle, fall in love with your foe and serve them with absolute sincerity," he established the spiritual foundation of Sanada strategy.

Patriarch of the Watanuchi-Inoue clan and lord of Haruyama Castle. Trapped and exhausted between the Uesugi host and his estranged main clan, he is approached by young Sanada Nobutsuna escorted by the Abbot of Rendai-ji. Offered Shingen's generous fief grant (350 kanmon) and an earnest proposal for his daughter Okita, he is moved to the soul by Nobutsuna's chivalrous honesty and yields to the Takeda.

The young heir of Inoue Saemon-no-jō and younger brother to Lady Okita, several years older than Masayuki. Inside Haruyama Castle, when Iyoku Uneme performs the ancient Taoyame-buri sacred dance, Shinzaemon joins in on his Japanese flute, harmonizing with his sister's koto zither and Masayuki's drum in a breathtaking impromptu performance that enchants all present.

Abbot of the Shingon temple Rendai-ji near Haruyama Castle. A burly, bearded man in his forties clad in black Komusō robes. An old acquaintance of Iyoku Uneme through the covert Takeda "Mitsumono" espionage apparatus, he disguises Nobutsuna and young Masayuki as traveling itinerant performers, safely escorting them into Inoue Kiyomasa's fortified manor.

A dedicated page to Sanada Nobutsuna. At the catastrophic Battle of Nagashino, when his lord fell under devastating matchlock gunfire, Saizō braved the hailstorm of lead alongside Shirakawa Kageyu to wrap Nobutsuna's severed head within his bloodstained battle surcoat, returning it safely to Kai before committing ritual seppuku to join his master.

A loyal page to Sanada Nobutsuna. Amidst the hellish carnage of Nagashino, he fought desperately alongside Kitazawa Saizō to prevent their fallen lord's head from falling into enemy hands, securing it safely within Nobutsuna's scarlet battle cloak. After delivering the sacred remains to the Sanada family in Kai, he took his own life in supreme martial fidelity.

The sovereign lord of Echigo Province (Nagao Kagetora). Discerning the Takeda's "Woodpecker Strategy" at Kawanakajima, he descends Mount Saijō beneath the morning mist to deploy on Hachimanbara. Unleashing the unstoppable "Winding Wheel" array, he charges Shingen's command tent on horseback in his white cowl, slashing his blade down upon Shingen's war fan.

A ferocious veteran general of the Takeda clan. When Shingen is assaulted by Kenshin at Hachimanbara, Toratane rushes forward bellowing "I have slain Kenshin!" thrusting his heavy spear. But Kenshin effortlessly deflects the spearhead; in blind fury and agonizing regret over his missed prey, Toratane drives his spear with monstrous force clean through a massive roadside boulder.

The legendary master strategist of the Takeda clan. Architect of Kaizu Castle, built as the vital forward bastion of Kawanakajima. During the Fourth Battle of Kawanakajima, he devised the famed "Woodpecker Strategy" to flush out the Uesugi host. Sensing Kenshin had outmaneuvered his stratagem, he charged alone into the enemy ranks in self-sacrificing redemption.

The heroic secret courier of the besieged Nagashino Castle. Swimming the river to Okazaki to secure news of Nobunaga and Ieyasu's relief army, he was captured by Nezu Jimpei upon his return. Commanded by Katsuyori to shout lies to make the garrison surrender, he instead roars at the top of his lungs: "Hold out for two or three days! Tens of thousands of relief troops are coming!" Though immediately crucified, his roar galvanizes the garrison to endure.

Eldest daughter of Honda Tadakatsu (born to Lady Otome), also known as Inahime. A fiercely independent, high-spirited tomboy samurai maiden. Encountering young Ohana cornered by a vicious stray hound near Hamamatsu, she dispatches the beast with a swift strike of her wooden sword. Astounded by Ohana's sudden mediumship channeling Nabenosuke's spirit, she strikes Ohana's belly with her wooden blade to snap the spirit back to its senses.

The eldest son of Honda Tadakatsu (born to his formal wife Lady Oku), around seven or eight years of age. Brandishing a practice wooden sword, he dashes after his elder sister Komatsuhime. The instant he lets out a careless yawn, his living spirit is inadvertently drawn out by Ohana's mediumship, leaving his physical body frozen upright like a vacant wax doll.

The supreme martial paragon of the Tokugawa clan and father to Komatsuhime and Nabenosuke. Wielding his legendary greatspear "Tonbokiri" (Dragonfly Cutter) beneath his iconic antler-crested war helm, he fought in fifty-seven pitched battles across his lifetime without suffering a single scratch. His fierce martial ethos lives on directly through his fiery daughter Komatsuhime.