In the beginning of the movie, Ogami Itto is hired by the Owari clan to kill a tattooed female assassin named Oyuki. While on his way to complete the job, he is attacked by a group of Yagyu assassins sent by Retsudo, head of the Yagyu clan. He defeats them and continues on his mission.
Meanwhile, Retsudo sends his son Gunbei to kill Ogami and capture his young son, Daigoro. Gunbei hires a group of rogue samurai to attack Ogami, but they are also defeated.
Oyuki, the target of Ogami's mission, is revealed to be a former lover of Retsudo and has become a skilled assassin to get revenge on him. Ogami and Oyuki cross paths and engage in a sword fight, but Ogami chooses to spare her life.
Retsudo and Gunbei continue to pursue Ogami and Daigoro, leading to a final battle between the two clans. At the end, Ogami is left severely wounded and his son is taken by the Yagyu clan. The movie ends on a cliffhanger, setting up for the fifth and final film in the series.
