Gou for the first time meets Tokugawa Hidetada, formally named Takechiyo, who later is to become her husband; they end up in a quarrel because of Hidetada's cold and sarcastic personality. Meanwhile, distrust between Rikyu and Hideyoshi deepens by Mitsunari's plot to remove Rikyu. Hideyoshi finally defeats the Hojo family seizing control over the country; however, Rikyu, disgusted at Hideyoshi's over-inflated ego, is unwilling to obey.
江（上野樹里）は、後に夫となる徳川秀忠（向井理）と初めての出会いを果たす。しかし、すべてに冷めた皮肉屋で、江とぶつかり、２人の初対面はケンカ別れとなってしまう。一方、三成（萩原聖人）は利休（石坂浩二）の排除に動き、利休と秀吉（岸谷五朗）の間に溝が生じていく。やがて秀吉は関東の北条家を攻め、ついに天下統一を果たす。しかし、天下人として慢心する秀吉に、利休だけは服従しようとはしなかった…。
