It is spring and the townspeople are entertained by a swordsman skilfully slicing paper into small pieces. While Sabu and Ichi are out drinking, there is a burglary at the Nagasakiya store and the family and employees are all killed. Unfortunately, Sabu arrives late smelling of alcohol. The perpetrator is Gennai, the Will-o-the-Wisp. Meanwhile, the swordsman, Danbei Todoroki, moves in next door and Ichi recognizes his wife Maki as the woman he loved years ago. She was the daughter of a samurai and he was a humble blind masseur, but they still have affection for each other...