muromachi period, 1336-1573

"In order to seize the Suwa domain, the conniving governor of Shinano, Ogasawara Sadamune, seeks to prove that Tokiyuki, in his guise as Chojumaru, is a Hojo clan survivor. Tokiyuki must face the all-seeing gaze of his adversary, as well as Sadamune's equally perceptive henchman. And even if Tokiyuki can escape Sadamune's machinations, his trials are far from over. When Suwa's hard-pressed allies come under attack from superior enemy forces, Tokiyuki and the Elusive Warriors must ride to their aid. Can they snatch victory from the jaws of defeat?"--Back cover.

"Kiyohara, the malicious and decadent governor of Shinano, is determined to crush any dissent within the province. When Hoshina Yasaburo, a member of the Suwa sect, rises up in rebellion, Suwa Yorishige dispatches Tokiyuki and the Elusive Warriors on a clandestine mission to aid the rebel leader. But how can Tokiyuki help the Suwa sect when its soldiers are more determined to die in battle than to achieve victory?"--Provided by publisher.

"In medieval Japan, eight-year-old Hojo Tokiyuki is the heir to the Kamakura shogunate. But the Hojo clan is in decline, and Tokiyuki's peaceful days of playing hide-and-seek with his teachers come to an abrupt end when his clan is betrayed from within. The lone survivor of his family, Tokiyuki is the rightful heir to the throne, but to take it back, he'll have to do what he does best--run away! After the massacre of his family by the traitor Ashikaga Takauji, Tokiyuki flees with the help of a handful of loyal retainers who have also survived the purge. One of them is Suwa Yorishige, an ally of the Hojo clan and lord of Suwa province. The slightly odd Yorishige also claims to be clairvoyant and foretells that Tokiyuki will one day become the ruler of Japan. But for the moment, escaping from enemy territory is the priority!"--Provided by publisher.