In July 1903, Saneyuki married Sueko Inou. Ritsu brings Shiki’s keepsake to the household of a newly-wed couple. Ritsu talks quite freely with Sueko and tells her about Shiki’s childhood. Since conflict between Japan and Russia has become unavoidable, the Navy organized a combined fleet. The Minister of the Navy, Gonbei Yamamoto unexpectedly appoints Heihachiro Tougou as a Commander-in-Chief. On the other hand, Saneyuki was ordered to be responsible for war strategies and would bear the future of the Japanese Navy. Before getting on the flagship battleship Mikasa, Saneyuki and Sueko visit the place of Yoshifuru and Tami where his mother, Sada stays, and spends time with entire Akiyama family. Meanwhile, in Russia, Akashi Motojiro was employed in espionage provoking revolutionaries by order of Gentaro Kodama. Even though Jyutaro Komura, the Minister of Foreign Affairs had continued negotiations to avoid war with Russia, the government finally decided to begin the war in February 1904.
