The Regents vote for war

At dawn the Regents meet in the smoke-scented donjon: Ishido, Kiyama, Zataki, painted Ito and Onoshi the leper behind his litter curtains, with Ochiba watching. Ishido insists the ninja "were only after loot"; Kiyama counts a hundred and forty-seven Toranaga dead and three protest deaths. Onoshi forces the point: cancel the passes now and every daimyo will convict the Lord General by default. The vote goes against Ishido; everyone may leave. Kiyama predicts Toranaga will subvert the Emperor's visit. Kiyama calls for war. An earthquake shakes the room, passes, and the Regents vote for war unanimously. Blackthorne wakes deaf and checks himself for wounds. In the garden Ochiba weighs Ishido and Toranaga, "as if I'd take a peasant to husband". Dell'Aqua, praying in his ruined chapel for Naples, learns of the war vote, and Friar Perez scorns the Papal Order: a Spanish bishop is coming.

The morning after, as committee. Clavell lets Onoshi, the leper behind curtains, be the one who forces Ishido to release everyone, so that the death buys exactly what it was meant to. Blackthorne wakes deaf, which is the chapter's method: the political consequences are heard through a wall. The earthquake votes for war.