物語は、後に「人斬り」と恐れられる男、岡田以蔵の悲劇から始まる。純粋に強さを求める心優しい青年だった彼は、師・武市半平太の冷酷な謀略によって心を壊され、復讐の念から最初の刃を振るう。
以来、彼はただ命じられるままに人を斬り続ける、魂のない人斬りへと堕ちていった。
The story begins with the tragedy of Okada Izō, a man who would later be feared as a "manslayer." A kind-hearted young man who simply sought strength, his spirit was broken by the ruthless machinations of his master, Takechi Hanpeita, and he wielded his first blade out of a desire for revenge.
From then on, he descended into a soulless assassin, killing people only when ordered.
