Mitsurugi stayed with the Noujima Murakami clan, which chose to not give in to Hideyoshi Toyotomi. The Murakami-navy, once feared as pirates and rulers of the Inland Sea, refused to bow to the people of the land. They chose to protect their existence as proud men of the sea. After the victorious battle, he was decorated for his service and invited to see the Murakami commander, but he still could not fill the emptiness in his heart. The Murakami commander mentioned that there was no life left for his people and the wars were over.