The mask comes off for Hiro-matsu

Five days confined to the castle, Blackthorne decides: first and last he is Pilot. Toranaga's mother sends word that Zataki agrees, Sudara's family to go as hostages within ten days. Hiro-matsu, sword laid aside, formally proposes to depose his master and prevent Osaka; Toranaga laughs, drops the mask and reveals the surrender was a ruse to gain time. Mariko's Osaka papers are signed. In the great cabin of Erasmus the lovers embrace and Blackthorne asks her help to take the Black Ship. Yabu returns the strongbox of silver, grants freedom to sail, and hands over two hundred ronin, including Uraga, the ex-priest, while Alvito is forced to interpret. A ronin insults Yabu, who takes his hands and head. Yuriko deduces that Toranaga never meant to surrender. Gyoko tells Mariko she lied to Toranaga for her, that Kiyama paid for the Amida, and that Kiku is with child, by one of three men.

The mask comes off for one man only. Clavell lets Hiro-matsu, the most loyal, be the one who proposes deposing his master, so the reveal of the ruse lands on the right ears. Gyoko's last secret, the pregnancy, is a bomb planted for chapter 61.