On the first day of the Ansei Era, November 1854, in Azabu, Edo, Ryoan Tezuka and his father return home early in the morning after spending the night with geishas. Meanwhile, Manjiro Ibuya a young samurai recruit of the Fushuu clan joins their daily march to the castle for the day. However during the strenuous race uphill, master Shusaku Chiba falls and dies...