A well-dressed young man staggers into the Chirinuya. Nio, Taro, and Hajime struggle with his demands, but things take a turn for the serious when a swordsman comes for the problem customer's head. Who is this young man, and what makes him a target?

Nio risks his life in a desperate bid to buy time for Iemochi's escape, but the Shogun can't bring himself to abandon a child. When all seems lost, Hijikata joins the battle. But can even he defeat the white-clad assassin?