The Hidden Blade

In spite of Munezo's modest pay as a samurai, he is able to lead a comfortable existence in his mother's household, with his younger sister and a pretty young neighbouring farmer's daughter named Kie who has been taken on as a maid. After Munezo's mother dies, Kie marries the son of the wealthy Iseya family of merchants. Later, Munzeo is shocked to hear that Kie is seriously ill due to an unhappy marriage. Kie returns to Munzeo's household and brief moment of bliss returns. When Munzeo starts to fall in love with Kie, he receives an assignment to kill the clan's traitor Yaichiro.