Le clan Takeda avec son chef, Shingen Takeda, rêve de prendre Kyōto et de s'emparer du pays. Mortellement blessé, il ordonne de dissimuler sa mort.
A petty thief with an utter resemblance to a samurai warlord is hired as the lord's double. When the warlord later dies the thief is forced to take up arms in his place.