Nobunaga and Ashikage Yoshiteru - The Oda and the Azai

In 1568, Nobunaga received a visitor who would offer him a unique opportunity to expand the power and influence of the Oda clan like never before. This bloke's name was Ashikage Yoshiyaki, and he was the brother of a former Shogun. He came to Nobunaga with an offer that was going to greatly benefit the both of them. And so by creating this alliance between the Oda and the Azai, he was able to get that road straight across to Kyoto without bloodshed.