While the internal power struggle within the Fujiwara family is heating up, Tadamori, who has been promoted after completing the reconstruction of Mt. Koya, is struck down by an illness. Meanwhile, Nariko plots to embroil the Heike family in the power struggle of the Fujiwara family, however, Kiyomori urges Tadamori to reject Nariko's order. Tadamori for the first time tells the members of the Taira family that his purpose of life was to build a samurai-oriented country. After declaring his intention of making Kiyomori the head of the Taira family, Tadamori passes away.
美福門院（松雪泰子）の策略は、増長する忠実・頼長親子（國村隼・山本耕史）をワナにかけ、その報復に平氏を使って彼らを襲撃させるというものだった。病床の忠盛（中井貴一）は判断に迷うが、そこに安芸から清盛（松山ケンイチ）が帰り、ある決断を迫る。すべてのもののふたちに、武士の世の夢を与えた誇り高き男がついに世を去る…。そして次の平氏の棟梁（りょう）になったのは…！第１部完結。
