Five Leaves kidnaps the heir of Kanou house, but the head of the house only agrees to pay half of the ransom. The messenger requests that the hostage be killed in secret because he is not of his father's blood. The youth cannot believe this, but Ichi instructs that the hostage be released now that he knows the truth about his paternity. Ichi's actions suggests to Masa that Ichi himself had been kidnapped some time ago. Souji's old acquaintance, Jin, arrives for a few days and is looking for Seinoshin...