Otori Takeo's future is uncertain. If he is to reclaim his Otori heritage, he must fight for it - but his army is untrained and Takeo, despite his legendary skills as an assassin, knows nothing of warfare. Can he defeat those who seek to destroy him, and so bring peace to the Three Countries?
To take what is rightfully his, Takeo must conquer the warlord Arai Daiichi and the nobleman Lord Fujiwara, but every step is fraught with danger for him and his great love, Shirakawa Kaede. Their destinies are determined by forces beyond their control.