STORY

In 1581 Japan's most powerful warlord, Nobunaga Oda, with 50, 000 soldiers, wages war on the province of Iga. The area is targeted because it is the center of "shinobi," the martial art practiced by Ninja. Nobunaga had become concerned that the Ninja were gaining power and could cause disorder among clans that might result in civil war. Ten years later, Nobunaga's successor, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, unifies the country as Shogun.

Juzo (Kiichi Nakai), one of the few survivors of Nobunaga's carnage, is a skilled Ninja. After fleeing from Iga, he stays in the mountains like a hermit until his former master gives him the mission to go to Kyoto, the capital, to assassinate Shogun Hideyoshi. This gives Juzo a chance also to avenge the massacre of his family at the hands of Nobunaga.

On his way to Kyoto, Juzo is approached by a mysterious young woman, Kohagi((Mayu Tsuruta). They are strongly attracted to each other and become lovers even though Juzo knows she is a spy and that her goal is to learn about the plot against Hideyoshi.Gohei(Takaya Kamikawa), who works for the city magistrate in Kyoto but was formerly a student of "shinobi" under Juzo's master, is determined to stop Juzo.He believes that if he succeeds, he will be re-instated to the life as a samurai.

Juzo faithfully pursues Hideyoshi, all the while dealing with interference set up by Gohei. When he finally manages to sneak into Hideyoshi's private rooms, he has second thoughts....