Kansuke is given a chance to talk to Ujiyasu Hojo, the head of the clan. However, Ujiyasu refuses to make Kansuke his retainer, sensing that Kansuke is driven by resentment against Takeda. Kansuke leaves Sagami and heads to Shinano. Meanwhile in Kai, Nobutora decides to conquer Shinano since the alliance with Imagawa enabled him to be off-guard about the southern border. In Shinano, Kansuke happens to meet again Heizo. Heizo is with his current master Sanada Yukitaka, who rules a small area of Shinano. The army of Takada leaves Kai and Harunobu also heads to Shinano for his maiden battle. At the news that Takeda’s troops are advancing on the Unnokuchi castle, Kansuke is sent to the castle as a messenger of Sanada.
武田を討てるのは他にいないと北条氏康に仕官を願い出た勘助だったが、その望みが私怨を晴らすことに過ぎないと見た氏康は聞き入れなかった。甲斐では今川との和議が成立し背後の心配がなくなった武田信虎が信濃侵攻を宣言し、その戦いが嫡男・晴信の初陣となることが決まった。そして北条に断られた勘助が次に向かったのがその信濃だった。葛笠村の住人・平蔵と偶然再会した勘助は平蔵が仕える真田幸隆（佐々木蔵之介）と出会う。真田家は領土こそ小さいものの家中はよくまとまり、当主・幸隆の下、強い団結力を誇っていた…。
