In Part I we see the young would-be swordsman setting out to achieve greatness in war, achieving nothing because fighting on the losing side, & then beginning his long period of wandering & training, with the goal always in mind of his duel with Kojiro. Part II builds toward that great duel on Ganryu Island, with considerable focus on Musashi's planning & forethought as to how to gain an advantage.

A master swordsman, Ryunosuke and a young ronin, Shiba Gennoshin, who was a subordinate of the accounting magistrate, meet Miyoshi, who was working as a doctor in Edo, and Higashi, a retired doctor. They travel with Michimaro Nokoji to punish evil.

Teacher Shizuko and her literature club students are caught up in a murder case while on vacation in Izu. The victims are Kazumasa, who was in a relationship with Shizuko's friend Ritsuko, and his wife.