Fujieda Baian is admired during the day as a skilled acupuncturist. However, at night, he is a highly skilled assassin, taking on contracts to quietly eliminate those whose existence is deemed toxic to society. Baian's latest target, assigned by his boss Otowa, is Shirakoya Kikuemon, the head of a powerful organization in Osaka. In the past, Baian had been indebted to Shirakoya, but due to a conflict involving the swordsman Kosugi Jūgorō, their relationship has turned adversarial. After his lover is abducted, Shirakoya storms into Edo. With his life now targeted, Baian resolves to confront Shirakoya in a desperate final showdown.

A ferry captain named Sugisaki (Takahashi Hideki) and his first officer, Kojima (Funakoshi Eiichiro), participate in a photoshoot conducted by camerawoman Yamaka Shiori (Ohama Tomoko) of the ferry. The ferry reaches Miyazaki and Sugisaki and Kojima go to the hotel where a showing of Yamakawa's photos is being held. Yoshizawa (Nakajima Hisayuki), a magazine editor, is waiting for Yamakawa at the hotel.