On a March night, the magistrate launches a search for contraband guns. After seeing a suspect cargo, Sabu questions the trader Bishuya who says it was a shipment of kettles. Bishuya then sends three ronin after Sabu, but Ichi arrives and defeats them without drawing his sword. Bishuya then sends his bodyguard, a ronin master swordsman to kill Ichi, but after an initial skirmish they are interrupted and agree to face each other again that night. They meet on a bridge and Ichi defeats the bodyguard, but lets him go...