The story begins in media res, with nine young samurai, led by the earnest Isaka (Kenichi Matsuyama), deep in a discussion about graft and corruption in their clan. They suspect that the elderly chamberlain, Mutsuta (Makoto Fujita), is the guilty party, a suspicion the superintendent, Kikui (Tokuma Nishioka), is investigating — and is coming to question them about. Overhearing them, a scruffy ronin (Oda), tells them they are dead wrong: the chamberlain is being falsely accused, while the superintendent is in cahoots with the bad guys.