At Yokosé, Zataki arrives for Toranaga’s answer. Toranaga declares he will go to Osaka and submit to the Council to preserve the realm’s peace. His samurai reel: Buntaro contemplates shared death, Naga nearly attacks Zataki, Omi seethes and fantasizes revolt, and Yabu almost challenges Toranaga before backing down. Toranaga forestalls violence by sending Naga for writing tools, then privately warns Zataki he is safe only while Toranaga’s mother remains hostage.

In worsening rain, Toranaga writes and dispatches his formal acceptance despite protests. He orders a rapid redeployment: he will return to Anjiro, then travel via Atami and Odawara to Yedo with Buntaro commanding his escort; the Musket Regiment will sail to await him at Yedo under Yabu; Omi will move to Mishima to guard the Tokaidō and prepare palanquins, assisting Hiromatsu against interference by Ikawa Jikkyu. Toranaga approves Mariko’s journey to Osaka later, first sending her with Blackthorne to Yedo via Mishima, and expects Blackthorne to improve his Japanese with the newly received dictionary.

Toranaga departs in his palanquin. Buntaro halts to warn Mariko that Blackthorne is responsible for her, then bids her a charged farewell, hinting their reckoning will resume at Osaka. After the column vanishes into cloud, Blackthorne recalls the morning’s hawking when a bodyguard, using Blackthorne’s blade, killed an obstructing oil seller in one stroke—christening the sword “Oil Seller” and souring the day.

After bathing, Father Alvito confronts Blackthorne, delivering the Jesuit Portuguese–Latin–Japanese dictionary at Toranaga’s request. He predicts Toranaga’s fall in Osaka and Blackthorne’s likely ordered seppuku, insisting nothing Blackthorne plans will change the outcome. Blackthorne blusters about returning with English ships; Alvito remains serenely certain Blackthorne will never leave Japan.

At dusk, Mariko rejoins Blackthorne. Gyoko asks if Kiku should entertain; Mariko declines and deftly traps Gyoko into hinting at a discount on Kiku’s contract while confirming travel with them and a Mishima stop. Mariko proposes they forget outside troubles during the journey, speaking intimately in Latin while vowing discretion. Captain Akira Yoshinaka, leading a hundred-man escort, sets guard protocols; Mariko preserves Blackthorne’s privacy. Kiku passes by, and the evening closes with plans set and unease lingering.