What is the truth behind Lord Toranaga's first kill in Shōgun? His half-brother, Saeki Nobutatsu, decided to tell tall stories about Lord Toranaga, which he exposes by the end of episode 7.
CONTENT SPOILERS: This article contains spoilers for Shōgun, so proceed with caution.
Saeki and His Tall Stories About Lord Toranaga's First Kill
Lord Toranaga initially thought that he could trust his half-brother, Saeki, to join his allegiance, which would allow the former to proceed with the Crimson Sky plan (aka unleashing their armies down on Osaka).
On the night that Saeki is welcomed into Toranaga's base, he decides to tell the story behind his half-brother's first kill, aka the General Mizoguchi.
Although he wanted to uplift Lord Toranaga's reputation with the "ridiculous" story, this did not sit right with Toranaga, especially since it didn't merit the extent of his strength.
READ MORE: Shōgun: Why is Saeki Not on Lord Toranaga's Side in Ep 7? Half-Brother Betrayal Explored
Lord Toranaga Reveals the Truth About His History
Unfortunately, as much as Lord Toranaga expected that his half-brother would help him accomplish the Crimson Sky plan, Saeki had other plans in mind. In this case, he sought out the open spot on the council of regents.
Considering that Lord Toranaga was ambushed by his own blood relative, he decided that upon surrendering, he ought to expose the truth behind Saeki's tall stories about him.
In contrast to Saeki's story of how Lord Toranaga executed General Mizoguchi in a single blow, the latter tells the truth: it took him nine times before he even got close to beheading his enemy.
Instead of a simple clean slate on the neck, Lord Toranaga's first kill was still a messy, bloody sight, but he intentionally told the truth because he wanted to prove that most heroic stories are shrouded in lies and fantasies.
READ NEXT: Shogun: Does Toda Buntaro Actually Kill Lady Mariko in Ep 7? Her Seppuku Wish Explained
Meanwhile, Shōgun episode 8 titled The Abyss of Life premieres on Hulu on April 9.
Follow our official Facebook page for more news coverage and other explainer articles! Check out more right here on Epicstream.