After parting from Shizuka at Yoshino, Yoshitsune proceeds to Kumano worrying about her. His concern proves right as Shizuka is found and captured by chasers. In Kamakura, Yoritomo dismisses the nobles who have disobeyed him and executes his policies in which warriors dominate politics. Alarmed by Yoritomo’s such strong attitude, the ex-emperor Goshirakawa plots to make use of Yoshitsune again. The ex-emperor secretly gives a notice to temples and shrines to shelter Yoshitsune. Learning the ex-emperor’s move, Yoshitsune sends the ex-emperor a letter and asks him to withdraw the order of hunting Yoshitsune down. At Ohmi, Yoshitsune is reunited with some of his retainers who have been separated from him in the shipwreck. They tell him that Shizuka is taken captive in Kyoto. In the capital, Tokimasa, Yoritomo’s father-in-law, locates and beheads Yukiie and questions Shizuka about Yoshitsune’s whereabouts.
