Entangled alliances and double allegiances are the name of the game on Shogun.

So it comes as no surprise that Toranaga doesn't trust some of the people who have sworn their loyalty to him, including Yabushige.

Blackthorne has survived an attempt on his life, and Toranaga wants Yabushige to help him get to the bottom of the matter.

Yabushige is Toranaga's vassal, but he's very much looking out for number one, especially since he thinks the Lord of the Eight Provinces might have reason to lop off his head.

Yabushige reveals that his loyalties are for sale:

He won't betray Toranaga for his seat on the Council of Regents, but he will betray Ishido if Toranaga gifts him the Suruga province.

Toranaga agrees to the arrangement in exchange for Blackthorne and Lady Kiri's safe transport to Ajiro

His real plan is to smuggle himself out of Osaka disguised as his consort Kiri.

Blackthorne keeps the ruse going by creating a diversion during their departure, a surprising display of loyalty to Toranaga.

But the scheme is thwarted when the Christian daimyos from the Council of Regents attack the transport, thus alerting escorts working for Ishido that Toranaga is in their midst.

Toranaga, Mariko, and Blackthorne escape to the galley, only to find that their blockaded in Kiyama's men,

They board the Black Ship, where tense negotiations take place.

When Blackthorne receives word that he'll be left in Osaka when the Black Ship departs, he hatches a plan to break through Kiyama's blockade on his own -- and he does so, with the help of Rodrigues.

Toranaga resigns from the Council of Regents, thus saving his own life.

And once they're safely out to sea, Blackthorne and Toranaga solidify their alliance and unite against their common enemies.