Takeda Harunobu

Takeda Shingen, Kai's daimyo during the Warring States period, was widely renowned for commanding the strongest cavalry force during those turbulent times. His tactical acumen and diplomatic finesse led to many victories, making him a tremendous threat to the other daimyo.

"The people will be your castles, your walls, and your moats. Mercy is your ally. Cruelty is your enemy."

Height/Weight: 185cm, 85kg

Origin: History

Region: Japan

Alignment: Lawful-Evil

Sub-Attribute: Human

Gender: Male

"My cavalry will settle this!"

A daimyo of the Warring States period. He was the eldest son of Takeda Nobutora, Kai's leader at the time, and his given name was Harunobu. The name Shingen, as he is commonly known, was a name given to him posthumously. He took over leadership of the family after he expelled his father Nobutora to Suruga, as they were not on good terms. He then proceeded to oppress the land of Shinano by savaging the local population.

Afterward, he battled Uesugi Kenshin of Echigo many times in Kawanakajima, but no clear victor emerged, so he set his sights on Imagawa, as the clan had placed a salt embargo on him. After Imagawa Yoshimoto was killed at Okehazama, Takeda invaded Suruga, which had fallen into turmoil, and established the Takeda clan's golden age.

He also led his forces to the west and thrashed Oda Nobunaga and Tokugawa Ieyasu's combined forces at Mikatagahara so thoroughly, the beating left a lifelong scar on Ieyasu's psyche. He later invaded Mikawa, but fell ill and died in the middle of his campaign, unable to achieve his goal.

"Raise the banner over Seta..." heh...

A true genius military commander who embodies the Takeda's strongest in the Warring States. He is a natural-born champion. He was blessed with both a strong physique and great intellect. Prideful and confident, his refusal to use both hands in a fight against an opponent he does not consider worthy is but one example of his arrogant style of fighting.

His exceptional talent made his childhood difficult, as he tended to see all around him as foolish, including his father, Nobutora. Seeing this, Nobutora tried to distance Harunobu from himself by attempting to appoint his younger brother as heir, but Harunobu determined that decision would lead Kai to its demise, and so he expelled his father so that he could instead claim lordship for himself. At this point, Harunobu had not ever experienced failure, and so he never doubted his supremacy...until he met Nagao Kagetora, later known as Uesugi Kenshin.

"In the world of the Warring States, no man can best me."

...Kenshin was a woman, so that's still true.

Tiger of Kai: A

Shingen was given this moniker after winning numerous battles with his skillful military tactics and diplomacy, becoming widely renowned during Japan's turbulent time.

Crimson Flame: A

A torrent of red magical energy in which Shingen shrouds himself. A magical circuit that burns his own blood and raises his howling spirit. Its output is overwhelming, but it is not exactly fuel efficient.

Shieldless: B

Takeda's sacred treasure, said to have been passed down by Shinra Saburou Yoshimitsu. This armor is so impenetrable that it needs no shield; normal attacks can hardly scratch it. When wearing this armor, Shingen boasts such overwhelming defensive capabilities that he is like a fortress himself.

『Kurokumo』

Black Cloud.

Harunobu's favorite horse was known for its fierce temperament, and Harunobu was the only one who could ride it. The horse rampaged through Kai with its powerful physique and tremendous strength, but after a fierce one-on-one with Harunobu, the two came to respect each other. The horse was the epitome of heavy cavalry fit for the Warring States period when clad in armor, and now it has transformed into a sweet ride in the form of a car in response to Harunobu's desire.

『Furinkazan』

Rank: B

NP Type: Anti-Army

Range: 1–50

Maximum Targets: 500

Swift as the wind, silent as the forest, inescapable as flame, immovable as the mountains.

Because he was summoned in the province of Kai, where Shingen was at his most powerful, he manifested as the embodiment of the Takeda clan and wields power far greater than what he possessed in life. He is able to manipulate four different alignments of magical energy and incorporate them into his tactics. Even one of these attacks is incredibly powerful, and so the sheer force would be unimaginable were they to be unleashed in rapid succession. Once his battle fan is raised, a stormy wind blows across the battlefield, allowing him to deploy his army without being detected by the enemy. His cavalry, engulfed in flames, charges into the enemy and crushes them, using the final blow of his moving mountain technique.

"Be swift as the wind and silent as the forest. In plundering, be inescapable as flame, and immovable as the mountains.

At its maximum release, twenty-four Takeda generals and their armies from the past can be summoned, but this significantly damages Shingen's Spirit Origin, to the point that it may cause him to disappear, making this Noble Phantasm something of a double-edged sword. It also consumes a great deal more magical energy than an average Master would be able to tolerate, so this Noble Phantasm is unlikely to be released at its maximum power, save for in the most exceptional circumstances.

I'm certain there was no man out there who could've bested me. But there was a woman who did. She was the first human—I guess you could call her human—I met who transcended rationality. I could never tell what it was her gaze fixed upon, and the corners of her lips always curved up into a smile.

Faced with the incomprehensible, Harunobu was struck with fear for the first time in his life, but he rose to try to overcome it. He came up with more military strategies, prepared, even incorporated magecraft, trained himself, enriched Kai, and put everything he had into surpassing Kenshin and fought on. He became the strongest general in the Warring States period, with little to no chance of losing to anyone other than Kenshin. Even Oda Nobunaga determined it would be impossible to take on Takeda Shingen in his lifetime. However, Shingen was never able to settle things with that incomprehensible something he was so fixated on. The turbulent times, his birthplace, and the Takeda clan did not allow it, for he shouldered everything while he fought, and he died without ever saying a word about his desire.

I may have some regrets about how things ended, but I understand. But, well...if it was in any way possible...I would've liked, just once, to have beat her to a pulp with everything I had. It may have been a trivial wish that just stroked a single man's ego. And from the outside, it may have seemed like nothing more than losing a fight to a neighbor's kid.

But that was precisely what made that man so strong.