Synopsis

In the sixth year of the Kanbun era, a brutal incident occurred in the Takeda domain of Bungo Province where twenty-six people, including the castle deputy and his entire clan, were murdered. The sole survivor, young Jiromaru, fled and spent years in Edo honing his swordsmanship skills. Now calling himself Yamakawa Saijiro, he returns to Takeda after fourteen years to seek revenge against his uncle, the current castle deputy Tamada Kozaemon.
 
When Saijiro finally encounters Kozaemon after so many years, he finds him vastly different from the imposing figure he remembered from that horrific day. His uncle now appears shabby and disheveled, showing no interest in his high position or honors despite his rank—earning him the nickname “stray crow” among the locals.
 
Unexpectedly, Saijiro meets and becomes drawn to Kozaemon’s daughter Eri, who is renowned as the beauty of Takeda. Torn between love and vengeance, his heart wavers in turmoil. Yet despite his conflicted emotions, his burning desire for revenge continues to drive him forward as he vows to fulfill his oath to kill his uncle…