Worse still, their father died from illness and left them a large debt that compelled their mother Nobuko to work day and night in order to repay the debt, and consequently the brothers were separated as Naoharu was sent to Torin-ji Temple.
さらに追い打ちをかけるように、その父が病没してしまい多大な借金だけが残され、母・信子は借金を返すため昼夜を問わず働き続け、また直温は東林寺に預けられて兄弟は別れることとなった。