In feudal Japan, women are vulnerable, in need of protection, and capable of deception. Jokichi of Mikogami, a drifter, has not yet fully revenged the death of his wife and son. He searches for Kunisada Chuji, who in turn has hired the knife-throwing Windmill Kobunji to kill him. Kobunji and Jokichi meet in the winter, near Sasago Pass, when both have rescued women: Jokichi has saved the lute-playing Oyae whose clan and whose lover want her dead; Kobunji has rescued Oharu, a well-born woman married to an innkeeper. Is this rescue a whim or something deeper? And why does Jokichi become the consumptive Kobunji's protector? What ultimately will Jokichi do about Oyae?
Hirayama Yosuke
Um grupo de samurais mata todos os moradores de uma vila de pescadores. O samurai Magobei (Tatsuya Nakadai), indignado, abandona o clã, a esposa e a cidade onde morava. Três anos depois, os samurais do clã planejam um massacre semelhante e decidem matar Magobei para silenciá-lo. A partir daí começa o acerto de contas entre o clã e o ex-samurai.
Before leaving prison, Oida uncomfortably enters into an agreement with his cell mate: in exchange for a half-share of 30,000,000 yen, he is to assassinate three strangers given to him on a list. However, upon meeting his first potential victim, Oida has second thoughts. Yet, even as he tries to back out, the body count starts climbing. Oida must now try to alert the people on his list of their impending danger, and find out why they are being targeted in the first place.
Gennosuke, guerreiro de um clã, mata um dos ministros do clã como parte de um plano revolucionário. Ele é perseguido por seus companheiros que buscam desesperadamente por vingança, porém Gennosuke recebe a ajuda de um mestre espadachim que poderá dar a ele uma chance de sobreviver.
