After the earthquake, Blackthorne finds Fujiko badly burned and her maid Nigatsu dead. A doctor treats Fujiko, and Toranaga orders Blackthorne and Fujiko housed at the fortress. Grieving his ruined garden, Blackthorne reflects on Shinto and names a rock for Ueki-ya. Omi hosts him for a bath, where Blackthorne meets Omi’s domineering mother and gentle wife Midori, recalling Mariko’s lessons about Japanese family, adoption, divorce, and Toranaga’s perilous marriages.

Naga arrives with thanks and escorts Blackthorne to Toranaga. In private, Blackthorne proposes seizing the Portuguese Black Ship, recruiting renegade Europeans at Nagasaki, or training samurai over time. Toranaga rejects any land attack by foreigners, permits only actions at sea beyond Japanese waters, and reminds Blackthorne he is samurai in Japan. Fujiko will follow to Yedo by galley; moneylenders are discussed for crew costs; departure is set for tomorrow.

Alone with Mariko, Toranaga weighs Blackthorne’s hatred of Jesuits and pursuit of money as useful leverage. They debate Christian lords and loyalties, and Toranaga offers to free Mariko from Buntaro; she declines for now. Toranaga muses on opening the Empire, treaties, and sending ambassadors—perhaps even a woman. He orders Mariko to attend the officers’ meeting and later to take Blackthorne to buy Kiku’s contract as reward.

At the council, Toranaga publicly outlines his plan: when the rains cease he will declare “Crimson Sky,” expects Ishido’s illegal impeachment, and frames his stance as defense of the Emperor. He orders the Attack Regiment to ready for Yedo under Buntaro with Omi second, and Yabu to mobilize Izu against Ikawa Jikkyu. The earlier rainy-season strike decision is kept secret.

Toranaga then rewards Blackthorne: a Yokohama fief worth 2,000 koku, rights to 200 retainers, full hatamoto status, ten horses, twenty kimonos, equipment for his vassals, and the title Chief Admiral and Pilot of the Kwanto. He gifts master-forged swords, honoring Blackthorne’s rescue. Toranaga inflames war spirit further, promising Yabu Suruga and Totomi after Ikawa’s defeat, while Omi plots amid the acclaim.