After being invited to take tea with renowned tea master Sen no Soeki, Sasuke is challenged about his acceptance of a prized tea bowl in in in payment for allowing an enemy of Nobunaga to escape. Soeki allows Sasuke to become his apprentice in exchange for the tea bowl. Following this, Sasuke learns of Nobunaga's ambitions beyond the shores of Japan.
織田家三茶頭のひとり、千宗易の出現は左介にとって己の運命を変える出会いであった。翌年の夏、完成した安土城の天主閣をたずねた左介は、その圧倒的なけんらんさと信長の心意気に心酔する。
