Nobunaga's aunt, Lady Otsuya, was entrusted with defending Iwamura Castle, but in 1572 she surrendered to the Takeda by marrying general Akiyama Torafusa (Nobutomo), defecting to the Takeda side. Enraged, Nobunaga recaptured the castle after the Battle of Nagashino in 1575 and had both Lady Otsuya and Akiyama crucified — an episode that illustrates his ruthless side, even toward blood relatives.