Yoshitomo feels chagrined at remaining in his low status, while Kiyomori is climbing up the ladder of success. Yoritomo, Yoshitomo's eldest son, meets Kiyomori for the first time and gets overwhelmed by his strong presence. Meanwhile, Fujiwara no Nobuyori, Emperor Go-Shirakawa's aide, holds Shinzei in check as he is gaining in power. As Yura's illness worsens, Yoshitomo tries to obtain medicine from Kiyomori, however, Yura tells Yoshitomo to never bow his head to the Taira family and passes away. While Yoshitomo is struck with deep grief from losing Yura, Nobuyori approaches Yoshitomo with plan to eliminate Shinzei.
出世を果たしていく清盛（松山ケンイチ）と、父・為義（小日向文世）を犠牲にしても身分が上がらない義朝（玉木宏）。信西（阿部サダヲ）の策略の犠牲になった義朝の心に無念が渦巻き始める。一方、信西の権勢はさらに増し、後白河上皇（松田翔太）の近臣・信頼（塚地武雅）は信西をけん制する。そんな中、義朝の妻・由良御前（田中麗奈）が病でこの世を去る。行き場をなくした義朝に信頼は接近し、信西の首を取れと持ちかける。
