太平盛世元禄年间,将军亲赐给家老的宝刀被游方武士·风祭兰之介掠走。家老之子·犬饲平四郎为追回宝刀,携幼时好友共同上路,却被风祭打得落花流水。平四郎有幸被剑术高手沟口半兵卫及其爱女小春搭救。勉强保住性命的平四郎报仇之心难泯。但是和平主义者沟口却坚持反对用武力解决问题……Three centuries ago, a precious sword has been stolen by Kazamatsuri -- the sword, which historic and symbolic value is priceless for the clan (Shogun Tokugawa donated it to clan 80 years before that, at the same time that he established them as the local rulers). Lord's counselor's young son Heishiro goes to retrieve the sword himself to protect the clan from the shame or possible demise. He is accompanied with two friends, Shintaro and Tadasuke, and followed by the ninjas of the clan. After Kazamatsuri wounds Heishiro and kills one of his friends, the young aristocrat still wants revenge more than sword itself, but meanwhile have to recover from his wounds, in the small forest house of a lonely samurai and his daughter. At the same time, Kamazatsuri stays in nearby town in the entertainment center run by Okatsu and falls into her. The older samurai tries to dissuade Heishiro from fighting with Kamazatsuri, but is himself gradually drawn into the conflict.