Shinjuro Tateoka, the young son of a master swordsman, suddenly finds himself in charge of his father's dojo (school) when his father leaves him a note saying he's left on a journey but doesn't know when he'll be back. When the Tokugawa shogunate asks him for help against Mikage, a rogue samurai who stole a powerful sword from the shogunate, Shinjuro has to fight for his dojo, his honor, and his life.—Dana Uehara